The Highlander - Issue 1 - October 2018 by The Highlander

Volume LXIII • Issue 1 • October 2018 • McLean High School • thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

CONTENTS NEWS

IN-DEPTH ON THE COVER

Improving school spirit

Yoga class introduced

Blended Learning Center integrates technology in classes

Cover art by Anna Brykczynski

FCPS educational adjustments

OPINIONS

Changes to the dress code

Ban on straws

FEATURES 9

A fresh start for freshmen

22-27 FULL HOUSE: Severe overcrowding provokes countywide issues

Editorial: FCPS should start one-to-one program

Colleges should look at social media when considering applicants

Sick students impact othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; academic success

Halloween survey

32-33

Transfer students at McLean

34-35

10Qs w/ Courtney Klein

14-15 16

Highlanders of the Issue: Andy & Erin Sharpe

New teacher quizâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which one are you most like?

A&E 17

Highlander fashion

18-19

Asian representation in Hollywood

Upcoming movies

Looking back on the life of Mac Miller

Crossfire: Has America done enough to prevent school shootings? Speaking out about Black Lives Matter

4 14-15

SPORTS 36-37

Freshman girl plays on football team

38-39

Renovated weight room

Fall sports captains

New coach for varsity volleyball team

WNBA players call for equal pay

Athlete of the Issue: Ella Park

Finish Line: field hockey

36-37 22-27

Letter from the Editors Dear McLean, Despite one too many hurricane warnings, school is back in session and so is The Highlander! Read our News section for an update on McLean’s school spirit, as well as the measures recently introduced to increase student participation. After the addition of 20 new teachers this year, flip to our Features section in order to discover which staff member you resemble the most, or learn about life at sea from the stories of our Highlanders of the Issue.

Volume LXIII • Issue 1 • October 2018 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief

Maren Kranking, Maria McHugo & Jack Stenzel

Managing Editors

Alex Mandanas, Imani McCormick, & Jeremy Siegel

Photography Editors

Anna Brykczynski & Julia McElligott

Website Editor-in-Chief

Dasha Makarishcheva

Advertising Manager

Rebeka Rafi

Design Editors

Anya Chen & Dasha Makarishcheva

Copy Editors

Emily Jackson & Eric Mizusawa

Our Arts & Entertainment section explores the cultural implications of films such as Crazy Rich Asians and reflects on the impact of deceased rapper Mac Miller.

News Editors

Dana Edson & Nicholas Lohman

Features Editors

In our Opinions section, you’ll find the reasons we support the FCPS 1-to-1 initiative and find a new perspective on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Addie Brown, Rebeka Rafi & Sabrina Vazquez

A&E Editors

Carla Ballard & Anya Chen

Opinions Editors

Sebastian Jimenez & Jessica Opsahl-Ong

Sports Editors

Ben Brooks & Jack Shields

As the fall season begins, the Sports section highlights a girl on the freshman football team, while also providing a fresh look at the updated weight room. Finally, in response to the dramatic overcrowding impacting the halls and classrooms of McLean, our In-Depth concentrates on the issue of a growing student population within the county, analyzing its causes and solutions. Make sure to follow @MHSHighlander on Twitter and check out thehighlandernews.com for updates until our next issue. Come by room R133 or email us at thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com with any questions, concerns or letters to the editors, which we will do our best to print. Yours truly, Maren Kranking, Maria McHugo & Jack Stenzel

Section Editors

Matthew Abbott Zach Anderson Camille Blakemore Talia Blakemore Nick Boyer Rick Chatterjee Michelle Cheng Jackson Clayton Nolan Fitzsimmons Kyle Hawley

Reporters Anna Grace Hopkins Elizabeth Humphreys Emma Johnson Haine Jung Waseema Khan Isaac Lamoreaux Cordelia Lawton Dua Mobin Sam Naemi Brooke Newell Adviser

Marina Qu Katie Romhilt Charley Roth-Douquet Ava Rotondo Brandon Sauter Sarah Solis Tessa Stenzel Skye Sunderhauf Nicky Varela

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 InDepth 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 email 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.

‘17 Pacemaker Winner; ‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15, ‘17 AllAmerican; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘16 First Class; Hall of Fame

‘14, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18 George H. Gallup Award; ‘15 International First Place ‘17 Silver Crown Winner ‘15, ‘16 Gold Crown Winner ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18 CSPA Gold Medalist

‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘17 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

Printed by aPrintis

NEWS

Sparking a new spirit

Leadership students work to improve lacking school spirit DANA EDSON NEWS EDITOR MICHELLE CHENG REPORTER

t’s the first whiteout of the year. In the vast sea of students, only a few white specks struggle to stand out. Despite lacking participation, this year’s leadership students are striving to keep the spirit alive among the bustling crowds of McLean High School. With difficult AP classes and timeconsuming extracurriculars, many students struggle to prioritize participation in school spirit days. Entering the new school year, school spirit is especially important and influential to everyone’s high school experiences. “It’s the backbone of such a positive environment in the school,” Big Mac Executive senior Sarah Rice said. Teachers agree that school spirit has a positive impact on students. “School spirit is important because it’s a fun side of school,” leadership teacher Karen McNamara said. “Sometimes we get so focused on tests and projects and essays, and the spirit is the enjoyable part that you guys are going to remember when you leave here.” However, some students feel that spirit days are poorly communicated and organized. “When we do the videos and stuff, I know a lot of teachers don’t even turn on the news shows so it’s kind of pointless,” leadership student senior Gracen Govan said. “We also have a Twitter account, and a lot of kids don’t even have Twitter.” This school year, the leadership students are working to implement alternatives to social media to better communicate spirit days to students.

“I really want to work on making [communication] better, and not just relying on social media, [incorporating] more announcements with broadcast [and] having leadership students go to classes and make announcements,” Rice said. Leadership classes have even integrated advertising into the curriculum. “There is a committee now in our leadership class whose responsibility is improving school spirit,” McNamara said. Leadership is working especially hard on prepping for this year’s homecoming week. Students have organized lunch games and spirit days, as well as the powderpuff game, bonfire and homecoming tailgate. All grades are highly encouraged to participate in these events to foster a welcoming and positive school environment. “A large part of school spirit is having a really good connection with the school. As a Big Mac Executive and [being] in charge of the Leadership program, I think that developing these really strong relationships with incoming freshmen...generates a really amazing environment at McLean,” Rice said. “Having inclusive language will especially help freshmen and sophomores [participate]. It’s important that the environment is friendly and comfortable [for all students].” Leadership students are motivated to exceed previous levels of school spirit and increase the Highlander enthusiasm and energy. “Everyone is really invested in it and they’re all really, really excited,” Govan said. “This year we have already been way more productive than we have in the past, and Mr. Kidd and Ms. Mac have been working really, really hard.” Leadership students have faith in McLean

Photo by Anna Brykczynski | Page design by Dana Edson

and hope to spark more spirit in the current and upcoming homecoming and sports seasons. “There’s definitely a lot more school spirit that’s hidden in every student here, and so hopefully that can grow as the year goes on,” Rice said.“You feel like you are in a really inclusive and positive environment that school spirit brings. I think that that just makes every aspect of school better, academically and socially.”

McLEAN SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

Snapchat:

@mhshypesnap

Twitter:

@MHSHYPESQUAD

Instagram:

@mcleanathletics @mclean_high OCTOBER | NEWS | 3

Discovering yoga at McLean New class offers students a period of relaxation dream [to start a yoga course] because I see the benefits, I know the benefits and I felt [yoga] just needed to be offered to young students.” In addition to academic stress, students are so engaged in social media and video games that it’s often hard to find a quiet space to think and to discover things both inside and around themselves. “Yoga gives you a platform to be in relationship with the moment, being aware of your breath, your sensations while you move, the pressure on your feet,” Hott said. She began writing the curriculum proposal in the summer of 2017. After the process of getting approval from both the school and county, yoga was officially an elective at McLean by January of 2018. It’s now a class held during second period in the dance room, and it is also part REJUVENATION OF THE BODY — Yoga student of the physical education Ella Saba performs the Vriksasana pose in department. the dance room. Yoga class was newly “By 8:25 [each morning], introduced to McLean this year. we are doing yoga. [After a while], we’ll stop for a few minutes to talk about anatomy MARINA MINGYI QU REPORTER and physiology, and maybe some n the competitive environment of McLean challenges to poses and modifications,” Hott High School, high academic achievement said. “[I try to make] sure each student knows goals create pressure and stress. But among how to adjust a pose to fit what’s going on AP and honors classes, yoga provides students with them that day.” with a period of relaxation. Students often come to class with their “Senior year has been really stressful,” own stories, challenges and stresses, so the senior Ella Saba said. “[So] when I started class always ends in Shavasana, also known as getting into yoga and meditation, it started the corpse pose, which is an important step helping me.” in rejuvenating the body both physically and For many students in the class, yoga is a mentally. new experience, but that is not the case for “[Shavasana] is a great way to clear our yoga teacher Cathy Hott. Hott started yoga minds before taking on the rest of our day,” training in the early 90s and has continued senior Katherine Kelly said. ever since, going from taking classes in gyms Hott has been teaching yoga since 2002, and yoga studios to teaching it herself. and her experience has helped her with “This was a vision,” Hott said. “I had a understanding students’ strengths as well as

4 | NEWS | OCTOBER

needs and ways to make improvements. “I really like Mrs. Hott because she is very calm and understanding of everyone’s body and strength,” Saba said. In addition to teaching yoga, Hott has been a biology teacher for three years. To her, instructing yoga is somewhat similar to teaching a biology course. “[Biology and yoga] both talk about the body,” Hott said. “I love anatomy and physiology and I bring that into how I teach, which [is what] I’ve always [been doing].” Hott’s students have expressed their appreciation towards this part of the class. “Mrs. Hott explains how different body parts are connected, and how our movements of one thing can affect another for the better or worse,” Kelly said. “It has definitely made me more aware of how I’m caring for my body in daily life.”

“

IT’S SOMETHING REALLY POWERFUL EVEN THOUGH IT’S ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF; IT STILL HAS A REALLY BIG IMPACT ON THE REST OF MY DAY.” — ELLA SABA SENIOR Although some believe that yoga applies to only relaxation, it can also play a role in recovering from an injury or alleviating pain. “Personally, I have really bad back pain and I think yoga has been helping me with that,” Saba said. The class plays a significant role in increasing flexibility and balance along with alleviating mental stress. “It’s something really powerful,” Saba said. “Even though it’s only an hour and a half, it still has a really big impact on the rest of my day.”

Photo illustration by Anna Brykczynski | Page design by Marina Mingyi Qu

FCPS promotes tech-based learning

Blended Learning Center and Mathspace show increase in classroom technology BEN BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR ROHAN MANI ONLINE EDITOR SAM NAEMI REPORTER

tudents have been noticing a new addition as they walk down the red hallway where the testing center previously sat. Operated by School-Based Technology Specialist Nishi Langhorne, the Blended Learning Center aims to inform teachers about how to use technology in their classrooms. The Blended Learning Center helps teachers to further integrate technology into classrooms by educating them on possible methods of doing so. “Some teachers are implementing it more than others,” Langhorne said. An example of the effect of the Blended Learning Center is the implementation of flexible seating in classrooms throughout the school, including AP Psychology teacher Cynthia Hawkins’ room. “[Flexible seating gives students] a workplace that mirrors what you do in real life,” Hawkins said. Technology resources in classrooms are being incorporated continually in preparation for a possible move to one-toone technology. “Next year, all students will probably have their own device issued by Fairfax County,” Langhorne said. By next year, Langhorne expects to have the Blended Learning Center set up as a class to help train students to further integrate these technological resources. “Students can sign up for the class...and they would be a tech assistant,” Langhorne said. These technological learning tools are being implemented throughout the school as

part of the FCPS Ignite Plan. The initiative, developed for the 2015 to 2020 school years, centers around four primary goals: student success, creating a caring culture, creating a premier workforce and having resource stewardship. “[The plan] will provide a framework for decision making that builds upon a common mission, vision and guiding principles held by the community,” the FCPS school board said on its website. To improve the learning environment at McLean, FCPS plans to create technological resources for both parents and students in order to further learning achievement.

“

[THE BLENDED LEARNING CENTER’S PURPOSE] IS TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.” — NISHI LANGHORNE

SCHOOL-BASED TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST An example of this addition is the introduction of pilot technology classrooms, primarily within mathematics courses. These classes combine online education with teacher input. A primary aspect of the pilot technology classrooms is the introduction of a new feature called Mathspace. Typically, students

complete homework and learn new concepts on paper, but Mathspace provides a webbased learning resource where students can complete tasks and watch helpful videos. “I think the online aspects and resources of Mathspace make my homework more accessible. They make me focus more on the work—however, it is not for everyone,” sophomore Shawn Berdia said. Student complaints have arisen regarding formalities in the answer choice systems, lack of mobile support, glitchy technology and issues with graphing. Nonetheless, math teacher Steven Walker believes the program’s benefits outweigh the negatives as an effective learning tool for students. “The program encourages kids to keep up with concepts and to complete the homework. In addition, it eliminates the problem of kids copying the homework off Blackboard. It helps holds kids accountable for their work,” Walker said. The resource provides a built-in textbook aligned to the curriculum, instructional videos for teachers looking to receive extra help, custom questions with hints and a detailed progress report that better measures students’ understanding. The aim of the plan is predicated upon FCPS’ goal of learning in the digital age and the aim to implement attributes of the “Portrait of a Graduate,” as stated in the Ignite Plan. The Portrait of a Graduate focuses on the success of students in terms of being communicators and collaborators, being goal-directed, resilient individuals and creative and critical thinkers. “[The overall integration of technology] is a schoolwide initiative,” Langhorne said. TECHNOLOGY TAKES OVER — Students in math teacher Christine Ricketts’ room use Mathspace to support their learning. McLean was chosen to pilot this new program. (Photo by Imani McCormick)

Page design by Ben Brooks

OCTOBER | NEWS | 5

Educational adjustments sweep FCPS SOL changes applied to freshman class EMILY JACKSON COPY EDITOR KATIE ROMHILT REPORTER

n Fairfax County, the Class of 2022 will serve as a trailblazer for reforms implemented this year. Two key changes are affecting the educational system, including a new requisite of verified credits from the SOLs starting with this year's freshman class, as well as an updated and innovative chemistry curriculum. Recent legislative changes are a result of the signing of the 2018 Every Student Succeeds Act in Virginia, which caused the number of verified credits required by SOLs to decrease from nine for the advanced studies diploma and six for the standard diploma to five credits for each. This change

drastically reduces the amount of testing students will have to go through. “This year’s freshman class will only be required to pass five SOLs for a verified credit, and those five have to be one math, one history, one biology, and writing and reading,” McLean's assessment coach Sara Wheeler said. Over time, the number of standardized tests has substantially increased due to the demand for more specific test categories. According to a study conducted by The Washington Post, American public school systems administer an average of 112 tests during a pre-college academic career. “When I first started working 25 years ago, we just had...two tests [the students took]...that they had to meet in addition to their course work to get their diploma,”

Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery said. These changes still apply to grades 10 through 12, but they will have the greatest impact on freshmen. “I think [taking SOLs] has a negative impact on students because they're really stressful; everyone really wants to pass, and if you don’t do well it’s a lot of stress,” freshman Yanet Samson said. “A lot of parents expect their kids [to pass advanced], which also puts a lot of stress on them.”

Chemistry introduces new elements to curriculum SEBASTIAN JIMENEZ OPINIONS EDITOR learning which seeks to distance itself from its predecessor. or years, students at McLean have endured “Now the focus is on project-based many challenging and unchanging classes learning...basically making tests count for such as chemistry. In order to graduate from less percent of your grade, and projects will a Fairfax County public school, one must make up more of your grade,” Richardson take chemistry sophomore year. However, said. the county implemented a drastic change Project-based learning is a staple of the into the curriculum beginning this fall of International Baccalaureate (IB) program. 2018. This program dominates primarily in “We’re incorporating more real-world countries outside the U.S. Most schools in chemistry into it,” chemistry teacher Kim the U.S., including McLean High School, Richardson said. offer Advanced Placement courses instead The main shift from past material focuses of IB. on making the material more applicable. The “I think it’s extremely beneficial topics covered now have a greater significance and it will help students not only in outside the classroom, and the change even chemistry but in other applicable fosters opinion on these subjects. Subjects areas of life by doing projectthat were not formally addressed or discussed based learning,” said junior Sophie in the old curriculum such as nuclear energy Howery, who took Chemistry Honors and reactors are now part of the first unit for as a sophomore. this year's sophomores. Chemistry Honors is a rigorous course “We’ve been doing some stuff on nuclear widely acknowledged as one of the most energy and encourage students to form an challenging that sophomore year has to offer. opinion on it,” Richardson said. With that in mind, the shift to applicable In addition, one of the prime aspects and real-world knowledge as well as focus of the reform emphasizes a new form of on labs as opposed to Scantrons will help

6 | NEWS | OCTOBER

to streamline the learning process. “They’ll be able to learn more group skills in a professional environment later in life, which is i m p o r t a n t ,” Howery said.

Page design by Katie Romhilt | Graphic by Dasha Makarishcheva

Dress code edited for neutrality

FCPS changes language in dress code in bid for more gender equality NOLAN FITZSIMMONS REPORTER

CPS made changes to the dress code in June of this year that could have implications for students, especially those who are female. Language that was criticized as being sexist was made to be less specific and entirely gender-neutral. Before the changes, the dress code contained language prohibiting clothing that “exposes cleavage” and anything that was seen to be “sexually provocative.” As a result of the changes, the current dress code only addresses such clothing by banning anything that shows “an excessive amount of bare skin.” This change has been seen as a victory for activists who viewed the previous language as offensive towards females or indicative of a body-shaming culture. “I think it's a positive change, and what really makes it one is that I don’t think anyone can be negatively impacted by the change," said senior Kimya Shirazi, co-president of the Feminist Club. Although the wording of the dress code has been changed, Principal Ellen Reilly said enforcement of the code should not change. “It still says the same thing, just in a more gender-neutral fashion,” Reilly said. These changes were introduced by school board member Ryan McElveen, a figure who has become rather popular among FCPS students. “As the 10th largest school system in the

United States, FCPS has an obligation to lead the way in changing policies to improve the lives of students,” McElveen said. “It is critical that we do not discriminate against any group of students and respect all students for who they are.” In addition to what has been removed

“

IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY GROUP OF STUDENTS AND RESPECT ALL STUDENTS FOR WHO THEY ARE.” — RYAN MCELVEEN

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

from the dress code, one notable statement was added: “Discussion about dress code violations shall be held privately and maintain the dignity of the student.” This statement, perhaps the most dramatic of changes to the dress code, will have the most direct effect on students. In the past, students have voiced concerns about the way dress code violations are

SEXUALLY PROVOCATIVE & EXPOSES CLEAVAGE

addressed. Based on recent adjustments, however, teachers and administrators will be required to hold all conversations related to the dress code in private. “For many years students have shared concerns with me regarding the dress code and the ways in which violations have been handled by school personnel,” McElveen said. Shirazi said this change will be the most effective in reducing the controversy surrounding the dress code. “[This] was the best change made to the dress code because publicly shaming someone for their clothing is unnecessary and can draw unwanted attention to a person,” Shirazi said. Thus far, students and faculty have displayed positive reactions to the new dress code. “I have heard very few, if any, complaints about the dress code this year,” McElveen said. “The changes that were made were actually a compromise. I wanted to go further in eliminating all gendered examples of clothing from the code, but the principals wanted some consistency and guidance, so some examples stayed in.” Recent adjustments to the dress code have been made in tandem with other FCPS initiatives to create a tolerant environment. Namely, changes have been made to the Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum in order to be more inclusive of students with varying sexual orientations.

AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF BARE SKIN

DISCUSSION ABOUT DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS SHALL BE HELD PRIVATELY & MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY OF THE STUDENT. Infographic by Anya Chen | Page design by Nolan Fitzsimmons

OCTOBER | NEWS | 7

Straws suck

Straws are being banned due to harmful environmental effects

“

ADDIE BROWN FEATURES EDITOR

sea turtle squirms and screeches in pain as someone uses pliers to pull an eroded straw from its nose. The straw movement, a phenomenon in which dozens of cities, companies and restaurants have begun to ban plastic straws, has become popular after this video went viral in 2015. The National Park Service found that Americans use around 500 million straws a day. The size of straws makes it easy to skip throwing them in the recycling, leading to about 7.5 percent of plastic pollution coming from straws, according to The Washington Post. “I found out about the straw movement through Buzzfeed when they posted a video of a turtle and then I continued to read about it,” sophomore Livy Brower said. National Geographic stated that by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will exceed the weight of fish, endangering sea

STUDENTS ARE MAJOR CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE, AND BEGINNING A CONVERSATION AT YOUR SCHOOL WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OR CAFETERIA MANAGER MAY INFLUENCE PURCHASING PRACTICES AT YOUR SCHOOL.” — ALI CULHANE PROGRAM SPECIALIST FCPS GET2GREEN animals all around the world. Now, cities and businesses are implementing changes to reduce the amount of straws used. Companies and businesses such as Starbucks, Bon Appetit Management Company, Marriott hotels and multiple

SHOULD STRAWS BE BANNED?

NO YES

38% 62%

on a survey of 127 students *Survey of 127Based Students

8 | NEWS | OCTOBER

airlines are in the process of eliminating or have already banned plastic straws. Seattle has been working on implementing a ban since 2008, and by July 2018 plastic straws will be prohibited there. “I think anything that can even make a little bit of an impact is probably something that we need to be moving towards because we definitely have done a lot to put the earth in not a good place,” Environmental Club sponsor Cara Mosley said. “So with all the pollution there is out there...I mean, if taking straws out of the equation makes it better, then I’m all for it.” Straw use has not declined at McLean High School, however. “FCPS is not currently acting to remove plastic straws from the cafeteria,” said Ali Culhane, program specialist at FCPS Get2Green. “Students are major catalysts for change, and beginning a conversation at your school with the administration or cafeteria manager may influence purchasing practices at your school.” While banning straws is beneficial to the environment, it creates issues for people with disabilities. For some people, straws are a necessity to be able to drink any liquid, so it can cause problems when restaurants and stores stop offering straws with every order. “They’re going to have to do what other people are going to have to do,” multiple disabilities teacher Mark Thompson said. “They’re going to have to go out and plan ahead and plan for their own needs.” Multiple alternatives have become popular as the use of plastic straws have declined. For instance, Aardvark straws make durable, eco-friendly straws that can be completely composted. “I would hope that more people would just go find a metal one. Or find some alternative so that we’re not polluting our oceans and creating a footprint that’s bad,” Thompson said. Many hope that in the future, the use of straws continues to decline. “I hope that this changes and we can continue to change the amount of plastic used to save the earth,” Brower said.

Infographic by Anna Brykczynski | Page design by Addie Brown

It’s time for a fresh start

FEATURES

Freshmen recap their first experiences at McLean CARLA BALLARD A&E EDITOR

GRIFFIN STIEG

o far, Griffin Stieg’s freshman year has been fairly easy, especially the first day. “It was better than I expected,” Stieg said. “I thought all the teachers were gonna be mean, but they were all really nice and I didn’t get lost at all.” For some, joining a fall sport their freshman year is a helpful confidence boost in terms of feeling comfortable with the new school. Stieg plays quarterback for the freshman football team. “I knew more people in my classes because of football,” Stieg said. All fall sports start relatively early, in August, giving rising freshmen a fair amount of time to become familiar with both the students at McLean and the school itself. Stieg had it relatively easy thanks to football, but others, even with support from a sport, thought differently.

The 2018-19 freshman class compensates for

SYDNEY GLEASON

or Sydney Gleason, among many others in the freshman class, becoming comfortable took a little longer than usual. Although Gleason had an older sibling already attending McLean, junior Ryan Gleason, it had little effect on her first week of high school. Despite some initial confusion, Gleason appreciates the wide range of electives at McLean, such as Intro to Marketing, which she said has been a highlight of her school year so far. “Intro to Marketing is very interesting,” Gleason said. “I think that [marketing skills] are a very helpful thing to have in life.” Though it was not always easy, Gleason has enjoyed new high school experiences such as being able to sit in the student section at football games, getting McDonald’s after games and making new friends.

590 2,252 out of

students currently enrolled at McLean

Photos by Julia McElligott | Page design by Carla Ballard

LUKE HAAS

lso on the freshman football team, middle linebacker Luke Haas has similar advantages to Stieg. However, after starting the school year, he found his time was very limited due to football. “I have no time to do anything,” Haas said. Many freshmen’s biggest fear, imprinted onto them by older siblings as well as maybe-tooserious teachers at Longfellow, is the homework load at McLean. Despite his lack of time to do much after his football commitments, Haas has found that homework is the least of his worries. “The homework isn’t that bad,” Haas said. “I guess Longfellow prepared us for it.” Taking from Haas’ experiences so far, if time management is a struggle, maybe a fall sport is not the best option when starting at McLean. For Haas so far, freshman year has been a breeze, at least academically.

MONICA MOLINAR

nfortunately, Monica Molinar had a tougher time during her first week as a freshman. Molinar, like many other freshman girls, joined the field hockey team. Though unlike Haas and Stieg, the sport did not help on her first day. “The first week of school was kind of chaotic because I didn’t know where anything was,” Molinar said. Thanks to the friendly staff and student body at McLean, that did not last long. Molinar found that teachers and upperclassmen were very helpful during her first week of school. Molinar’s experience has given her some ideas on how to handle the difficulties of the first week. “Find somebody who looks nice and introduce yourself,” Molinar said. It’s good advice for freshmen to keep in mind during their coming years at McLean.

UPCOMING BIG MAC CONNECT GROUP MEETINGS OCT. 24 DEC. 17

| |

NOV. 19 JAN. 9

OCTOBER | FEATURES | 9

Spooky scary survey

Highlanders vote for their favorite Halloween festivities Favorite Chocolate Candy 32.9% Kit-Kat

39%

26.9% Twix

31.2% Friday the 13th

22.3% Reese’s

19.5% Halloween (Horror series)

17.9% M&Ms

10.3% The Conjuring

“My favorite is Kit-Kat because I like the wafer.” Kris Davis, senior

Favorite Fruity Candy

S S

Scary Movies Nightmare on Elm Street

“The Conjuring is the best because it scares the living daylights out of me.” Mehr Sahgal, junior

Kid-Friendly Movies

41.7% Sour Patch Kids

31.7% Halloweentown

26.6% Starburst

30.5% Frankenweenie

19%

26.8% Spongebob Halloween

Skittles

12.7% Smarties “These are so tough because I love all of the things, [except] Sour Patch Kids.” Seth LeBlanc, English teacher

Least Favorite “Treat”

38.6% Raisins

29.6% Candy Corn 17.6% Pretzels 14.2% Jelly Beans “Pretzels because they make your mouth dry and you wouldn’t want that when you’re trick-or-treating.” Elise Emmons, English teacher

10 | NEWS | OCTOBER

11% Casper The Holiday “Spongebob Halloween is the best because of the Flying Dutchman when he goes, ‘Spooky!’” WhileLily You Were Sleeping Signori, senior

Best Costume Ideas

Justin Bieber

“I dressed up as Justin Bieber with the wig and the outfit because I was dared to by my cousin.” Elena Perez, senior

Dustin from Stranger Things

“I coordinated with my other friends to dress up like all the characters and we all went to Silver Diner.” Michelle Ugarte-Nunez, senior

Purple unicorn

“The year I went as a purple unicorn in a handmade costume [was the best]. It was sweet.” Cara Mosley, STEM teacher

The Purge

“[My] Purge costume [was the best] because it looks cool and spooky.” Natalia Olsom, freshman

Reporting by Emma Johnson & Waseema Khan Page design by Anya Chen & Dasha Makarishcheva

There’s no such thing as a typical transfer Transfer students from different places face unique challenges CORDELIA LAWTON REPORTER tarting at a new school is intimidating, but it’s much more intimidating for transfer students. “[I’m] finding more friends and getting as comfortable in this environment as I was in my old one,” sophomore and transfer student Sanjna Kaul said. Kaul transferred to the school from North Carolina this year, and she is beginning to adjust to life at McLean. In the past, Kaul has also lived in Texas and India. It can be difficult to adapt into an American school, especially after transferring from another country. “[McLean is] a really big school which I’m not used to, because most international schools are a lot smaller,” said senior Ellie Murri, another transfer student. Murri has lived in Indonesia, Russia and Ukraine, as well as Virginia on three separate occasions. She has mostly attended international schools, but she spent a few years in American public schools. Murri has enjoyed trying new things at McLean. “I like all the school spirit and school activities... [and] I really love the Big Mac program. They have football games which I’ve never been to,” Murri said. Counselor Brook Dalrymple works with a

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE — Ellie Murri stands outside her home in Moscow, Russia, where she lived from 2012 to 2015. (Photo courtesy of Ellie Murri)

Page design by Rebeka Rafi

INHABITING INDIA — Sanjna Kaul smiles in Ahmedabad, India, with her aunt, Rashmi Goyal, her mom, Raka Goyal, and her sister, Smiti Kaul. (Photo courtesy of Sanjna Kaul)

number of transfer students. “If I look at the rest of the state or even the nation, [McLean] probably has the highest number of transfer students, because of how transient the area is,” Dalrymple said. We [also] have a lot of military, government families and international people.” These various backgrounds affect the challenges different transfer students face. “I think every transfer student is going to come with different needs,” Dalrymple said. For some transfer students, it may not be their first or even second time moving to a new place. “There’s often a lot of people who travel with their family, so usually when I do transfer meetings, it’s [usually] their fourth or fifth school,” Dalrymple said. Transfer students must also deal with academic challenges when having to meet certain requirements. “Academics are tough because we have specific courses that students need to take every year that [aren’t always taught] everywhere in the world,” Dalrymple said. Social studies, especially American history, is generally the most challenging subject for transfer students, because they don’t have the background knowledge that many already have growing up in the U.S. “There’s so much that students don’t realize they know just by living in the country for a long time,” Dalrymple said.

The academic obstacle often forces transfer students to repeat or take online courses, which makes it harder for them to earn the Advanced Studies Diploma. It is even more challenging for students who move to McLean partway through the school year. “Imagine just starting here without knowing anybody when everybody is already adjusted and acclimated to their classes,” Dalrymple said. Because of these unpredictable challenges, McLean’s counseling staff is pushing initiatives forward to help new students. “[Ms. Lodwig and I] are hoping to put a guide together to just increase communication and decrease confusion [about adjusting to American life],” Dalrymple said. Dalrymple encourages other students to contribute ideas to make transfer students feel welcomed in the McLean community. “If students are really passionate about assisting with transfer students or have ideas, I’m happy to sit down with anybody who would like to give feedback,” Dalrymple said. Dalrymple says one of the most important steps a student can take is being cognizant of the challenges transfer students face. “If a new student were starting in your classroom, just take a moment to imagine how it must feel for them,” Dalrymple said. “Just be aware and mindful towards opportunities to show kindness.” OCTOBER | NEWS | 11

GET THE HIGHLANDER EVERYWHERE YOU GO Add us on Snapchat mhshighlander Go to our website www.thehighlandernews.com Follow us on Twitter MHSHighlander Like us on Facebook The Highlander Newsmagazine

12 | FEATURES | OCTOBER

10 Qs with

Courtney Klein (English Teacher)

Photos & reporting by Sabrina Vazquez & Rebeka Rafi Page design by Bryan Chung

If you weren’t teaching, what would be your dream profession?

What is your favorite memory from playing basketball?

I [wanted] to be a travel book writer or I feel that deep down inside I could’ve been a pop star, but the talent just wasn’t there.

During summer tournaments we would always try to play pranks on our parents and our coach. One time, we tried to lift up his car and move it because we thought we could, but he drove a giant SUV and we were only 10 girls so I don’t know why we thought that was possible.

Do you believe in aliens? Yes, 100%, not even 100% like 500%. I think it’s so selfish and egocentric for people to think that we’re the only life form out there when... the universe is so big. There’s definitely aliens out there.

Have you had any teachers act as role models for your teaching style? My 10th grade honors [English] teacher was amazing. She didn’t believe in tests... We shared the same ideology there. Everything was just centered around books, talking and projects and making it connect to real life.

What is your favorite Halloween costume that you have ever worn? In college I was Kesha four times, but my favorite one was being Pocahontas when I was 6 years old because I liked braids. What song do you know all the lyrics to?

Why do you like teaching English? I love to teach English because I love reading. Reading is my favorite part [because I get] to talk about books every day. I really like to try [and] get kids to like reading—that’s my goal—because now kids hate it, so it’s like a little challenge. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

Right now, at 7:41 in the morning, I’d go right to my The High School Musical song— bed. What other occupations have “We’re breakin’ free, you had in the past? we’re soarin’...” What is your favorite thing about being My in college was education anmajor teacher? and Phys Ed majors, they typically Getting interact with kids every run pools, to they work at camps, and Iday. People always assume it’s really gravitated towards swimming poolshard, it’s never forbut a long time. boring. It’s like free HBO. I have all this free entertainment. What is your favorite book of all time? Harry Potter is [so] nostalgic for me. It’s the first book that my mom started reading to me and the by the end of the first book I was reading it by myself. OCTOBER | FEATURES | 13

HIGHLANDERS OF THE ISSUE

Testing the waters

Siblings Andy and Erin Sharpe spend school year sailing the Atlantic

NICHOLAS LOHMAN NEWS EDITOR

aves and wind batter the sides of the SV Boundless as a monstrous storm swallows the boat into the sea. Freshman Erin Sharpe and her father frantically rush to save their boat under the starry night sky, their safe haven amidst the rising ocean. The storm slowly dissipates, providing an exhausted family with a momentary chance to rest. Although this scene sounds like a tale out of a storybook, to Erin and her brother, junior Andy Sharpe, these high stakes moments were a daily reality during their family’s year-long sailing voyage through the Atlantic Ocean. “You can just see the force of nature and there’s also a little fun in the danger— anything can happen,” Erin said. Erin and Andy’s parents saw the epic journey as a gift they could give their kids. “[This trip had] always been a dream of my parents. For their honeymoon they went 14 | FEATURES | OCTOBER

sailing around the world for a year so they’ve always wanted to go back with their kids,” Erin said. With each member of the family holding a sailing license, the activity has always been a Sharpe family passion, but preparing to embark on the trip that began in July of 2017 was a process that took years. While the family was excited for their trip, they were still slightly anxious to separate ties with their home for a year in order to embark on their adventure on the SV Boundless. “I was super excited, [but it was hard] leaving my friends behind,” Erin said. “[However,] it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.” Because both Erin and Andy would not be attending school for a year, Andy did fall one year behind at school. As a result, he started the current school year as a junior when he was on pace to be a senior. Nevertheless, they managed to take a few classes aboard the sailboat, which they would work on for three to four hours in the morning.

“I did French 3 through a correspondence school [as well as] game design,” Andy said. “[One of my] games I’m actually going be releasing on Steam in a little bit.” A different type of schooling was just one of the many adjustments the family had to make to their suburban lifestyle. They gave up aspects of their everyday life such as the Internet, most social interactions and even regular drinking water, as the Sharpes had to make and purify their own water. Erin and Andy’s parents did their best to keep the family happy throughout the trip. “I think Erin really missed having her friends around so that was a struggle for her that we were trying to work through,” said Kristen Sharpe, Andy and Erin’s mom. “Andy really liked going to museums so we spent more times trying to find interesting and short excursions...that he would like.” Traversing the ocean was an often daunting task, one that required an extremely tough work ethic, as passages often lasted many days. Page design by Maria McHugo

“You’d be on watch for four hours, sleep for four hours, then be on watch for four hours, and you’d just repeat that for however many days [a passage] took,” Andy said. “So you’re really just sleep-deprived that whole time and feel terrible...you don’t really remember what happened afterwards.” Although the Sharpes faced many trials, their challenges enabled them to sail on a journey that would immerse them in dozens of global cultures. They visited over 87 destinations on the Atlantic Ocean, as far south as Grenada and as far north as Maine. “Going around all the different islands and seeing how different they are...[is] really interesting—people in general are the same but how they live is quite different,”Andy said. Along with the awe-inspiring moments the family experienced, the SV Boundless experienced a few humorous times as well. “There was a charter boat coming [into the marina], [meaning] they don’t own the boat and they might have never sailed before,” Erin said. “So my dad went up on deck and watched them [and then] we suddenly heard all of this banging coming from upstairs, so we all ran upstairs. The other boat is coming down on Boundless. [It’s] getting blown

from the wind onto our anchor. We rip out all of the side of their boat, and the [other crew] ended up giving us a goodie bag and we went on with our day.”

“

I THINK OF WHAT A VERY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE [IT] IS... YOU LOSE YOUR ABILITY TO TELL WHAT TIME IS.” — ERIN SHARPE FRESHMAN

The Sharpes were often placed out of their comfort zone on the trip, as they tried to live like the locals wherever they went, but these experiences proved to be some of the most

ALL HANDS ON DECK — Junior Andy Sharpe helps to set the sail of his family’s boat, the SV Boundless. The Sharpe family spent a year on their sailing vessel, traversing through the Atlantic Ocean. (Photos courtesy of the Sharpe family)

memorable in their journey. “There’s karaoke at this French bar and it was totally sketchy and in the middle of the woods, but my dad and I decided that we were going to go up and sing a song in this French bar late at night,” Erin said. Overall, the voyage provided the Sharpes with a much wider global perspective and shattered their previous stereotypes of different countries. “I really enjoyed going to Cuba,” Erin said. “I had this idea before that Cuba was this big scary communist [country]. I said, ‘It’s not going to be fun; everything is going to be concrete.’ [But] Cuba was so interesting culturally.” In many of the countries they visited, Erin had an advantage due to her language skills. “I’m the only one in the family who speaks Spanish and I would start up conversations with locals [in order to] see what they thought about America. I just [tried] to learn more about [each] country.” As the trip came to a close, the family had time to reflect on their feelings about their adventure and what they learned from it. As much as the Sharpe family enjoyed their trip, Andy said it may have been too long of a journey. “I love going to cool places around the world but [the trip was] too long... I wanted to hang with my friends [and] have good Internet. I wanted to be in a place that’s not rocking all the time,” Andy said. Although the trip was exhausting mentally and physically, it shaped the family and changed their character. “[The trip] helped my work ethic and made me want to buckle down and focus so I can do the things I want to do in the future,” Andy said. Even Andy and Erin’s parents saw a positive change in their kids. “One of the best [things] was that they... became kids that are people, not just children, that we could rely on,” Kristen said. The family’s year was like living in a distant dream. It was culturally shocking and provided the family with an experience that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. “I think of what a very spiritual experience [it] is,” Erin said. “You’re in this weird place in your body. It’s peaceful but yet not. You’re in the middle of the ocean—there’s nothing you can see, there’s the same sounds and the same things every day. You lose your ability to tell what time is.” OCTOBER | FEATURES| 15

Which new teacher are you? On a Friday night you:

Your power would be:

A. Hang out with friends B. Sleep C. Watch Grey’s Anatomy D. Watch movies

A. Flying B. Teleportation C. Reading minds D. Making people yawn

Your dream vacation would be in: A. Greece B. Switzerland C. Ireland D. London

Mostly A’s - Torrine Mazzotta, History

ntroducing Torinne Mazzotta, a former full-time soccer coach and teacher in Spain. Mazzotta is excited to include her real world experiences in her lessons. In the classroom, Mazzotta enjoys friendly competition between students. She will often include games and interactive activities to ensure students are engaged. This year Mazzotta is looking forward to being at McLean and is happy to help as many students as she can. If you are hungry for a little competition, Miss Mazzotta’s class is right for you.

16 | FEATURES | OCTOBER

Your go-to karaoke song artist is:

One thing you can’t live without is:

A. Spice Girls B. Backstreet Boys C. Shania Twain D. Right Said Fred

A. Soccer B. Sleep C. Chocolate D. Family

For a snack you grab:

Favorite ice cream flavor:

A. An apple B. Something salty C. Beef jerky D. Peanut butter monster trail mix

A. Chocolate chip cookie dough B. Coffee chip C. Chocolate peanut butter D. Rocky road

For a sports game, you would go to:

Mostly B’s - Meghan Giblin, Science

eware of new science teacher Meghan Giblin— she’s meaner than she looks. Giblin has a huge sense of sarcastic humor that she often incorporates into her lessons. Giblin has seven years of experience teaching high schoolers, and is ready to take on the different challenges McLean has to offer. Her teaching style is technology based and inquiry driven, so if you enjoy participating in technology-enhanced courses, look for Mrs. Giblin.

Mostly C’s - Haley Aguiar, Math

eet Haley Aguiar, entering her first year at McLean and her fourth year teaching. She is excited for frequent snow days and spending one-on-one time with her students. Students in her class enjoy “organized chaos” and her great sense of humor. Aguiar hopes to impact the new generation of students and help them overcome all obstacles that they face. If you enjoy sarcasm and wittiness in the classroom, stop by and say hi to Mrs. A.

A. Soccer B. Hockey C. Rugby D. Baseball

Mostly D’s - Lawrence Letkiewicz, English

elcome the new Dungeon and Dragons master in education, Lawrence Letkiewicz. During his first year at McLean, he hopes to integrate himself with the new students, teachers and environment. So far he’s loving the McLean vibe. His “goofy but focused” teaching style pushes the boundaries of a regular classroom, and his frequent dance moves and dad jokes make for a fun atmosphere. If you are looking for an out of the box teacher with many fun quirks, Mr. L is the teacher for you.

Reporting, photos & page design by Dana Edson & Tessa Stenzel

This season’s fashion falls into McLean Looking to upgrade your look or learn about new trends? ISAAC LAMOREAUX REPORTER

new year of school means a new year of fashion, and this season does not disappoint. However, what are McLean students actually wearing? And how can we fix them? “Students’ fashion at McLean is classic,” fashion marketing teacher Debra Fargo said. “Girls wear jean shorts and rompers, and boys wear polos and hoodies—nothing too edgy, just classic.” Look no further than our own halls for examples of the kinds of fashion students are wearing. Some slay the game, while others don’t play at all. “It depends on the student,” said sophomore Fiona Kilcoyne, president of the fashion club. “They might love fashion or they just might just wear sweatpants to school and not care.”

For the student that does want to upgrade their look, Fargo has advice on where to begin. “Find something that matches your personality and experiment with accessories that draw your eye.” Fargo said. Finding inspiration can help you establish a memorable style.

WHAT’S IN THIS SEASON: — — — — —

RUFFLES PAT T E R N S FLORALS L AY E R S COLOR BLOCKING

“Find a celebrity or a figure that you want to follow and follow off of them,” Kilcoyne said.

A&E

This technique can help you create your look, but you should make it your own. “What you wear should not be completely based on what celebrities wear,” Fargo said. To help upgrade your look, see what’s trending or in style and let that inspire you. Fargo recommends checking out what seems to be the bible of the fashion world: the Vogue September issue. It features trends for this season, as well as an appearance from the queen, Beyoncé, on the cover. The models look almost other worldly, trying to feature as much of what is trending as possible. “It’s a way of showing a lot of what’s in style and allowing the reader to draw from that,” Fargo said. Fashion is a unique way you can express yourself, so don’t be afraid to try new things with your look. “Explore and figure out what you like and wear it,” Fargo said.

AS SEEN IN THE HALLS... GEORGE BRIDGES sophomore

Camo jacket - Off-White Marble fade shirt American Eagle

Slim fit jeans American Eagle Old Skool Skate Vans

“HE HAS A GREAT LOOK. HE DEFINITELY HAS A STYLE... THE VANS, THE JACKET, THE JEANS, THE TOP, ALL GOOD.”

—FIONA KILCOYNE

FASHION CLUB PRESIDENT Page design by Isaac Lamoreaux Photos by Anna Grace Hopkins

JESSICA LAWRENCE junior

Jean jacket - Denim Blvd

White USA shirt - Romwe

Black leggings - Under Armour

White shoes - Roxy “[IT’S] CASUAL BUT GOOD FOR SCHOOL BECAUSE IT LOOKS STYLISH BY ADDING A JACKET WITH THE PLAIN WHITE SHIRT AND LEGGINGS.”

—ALISON CHOU

FASHION CLUB MEMBER

OCTOBER | A&E | 17

TO A LL THE STEREOTYPES I’VE BEEN BE FOR E AN OPTIMISTIC FUTURE FOR ASIAN REPRESENTATION IN HOLLYWOOD ANYA CHEN A&E & DESIGN EDITOR

e’re the Nerd. The Sidekick. The Martial Arts Master. The Trophy Wife. All overlooked, disposable and replaceable. These are the images the entertainment industry has painted us as and reinforced over the decades—that we are nothing more than the “token” character implemented to fulfill Hollywood’s loosely enforced diversity quota. For years, we were silenced while our women continued to be fetishized and our men were emasculated. We watched as our people were continuously reduced to stock characters and stereotypes. Just last year, comedian Steve Harvey made a joke on live television in which he stated, “You like Asian men? I don’t even like Chinese food, boy. It don’t stay with you no time. I don’t eat what I can’t pronounce.” Especially for Asian Americans raised in the States, many of us struggled our whole lives to differentiate ourselves from these stereotypes and truly embrace our diverse, nuanced culture that has been kept so hidden from the public. “As a kid, you don’t really think about color or race. You don’t really see the world like that,” senior Rachel Xing said. “But 18 | A&E | OCTOBER

when you grow up and you start to become a teenager and try to fit in, that’s when you kind of realize, ‘Oh, why don’t these people really resemble the way I look?’” Now, finally, we’ve begun to crack open the doors to the long overdue representation of our people. “When I was growing up, I didn’t see people who were like me as a biracial Asian American,” senior Kristen Waagner said. “I absolutely was elated to see characters like Lara Jean in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before who had an Asian mother and an American father, because I could see myself in her—I could finally see my culture and my family reflected in her, which was incredible and inspiring.” To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was especially meaningful with respect to the way it portrayed Asian culture: normal. Lara Jean Covey, the main character of the story, is half Korean, half Caucasian American. During the process of adapting the book To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before into film, many producers attempted to recast the lead as white, claiming that an Asian character would be hard to market, since she didn’t have any specific reason for being Asian— she just was.

But that is the reality: Asian Americans are just ordinary people too. In the film, Lara Jean is depicted as your typical romantic comedy lead—a quirky teenage girl who is a hopeless romantic—but that was what made it all the more significant. It enforced the idea that Asians are just like everyone else. “It changes the perception of Asian Americans as being limited to martial arts and specific roles. It adds some realistic qualities. In actuality, Asian Americans are pretty much the same as everyone else,” guidance counselor Deborah You said. “I think it’s very clear when someone looks at me, they know that I’m Asian. I’ve really come to terms with appreciating my culture as well as being an American, so it’s so exciting to see that other people are able to get a snapshot of just how normal Asian Americans are with everyone else.” A common goal among many Asian people living in the U.S. in their fight for representation is normalization. “Even now, I’m still at that point where if I’m watching something, I notice if there’s an Asian actor in that movie or TV show,” said Tara Lodwig, sponsor of the Asian American Association at McLean. “It’s almost like a surprise to me, and I would

“

love it if it gets to the point where it’s not “I just want to see more Asian people cast WHEN YOU that way anymore.” into movies. They’re doing a lot better now, GROW UP AND It’s been over 25 years since there was but there were instances [of whitewashing] an all-Asian cast in a major Hollywood like with Scarlett Johansson. She was cast YOU START TO film. This year, with the premiere of the to play an Asian character in [Ghost in the BECOME A romantic drama Crazy Rich Asians that fully Shell], and people were freaking out because TEENAGER AND immersed the audience in Asian culture, we it was like, ‘Oh, they’re casting a white were finally represented as more than just the person to play an Asian character again, TRY TO FIT IN, “token” character on the big screen again. and it’s 2017.’ That’s the stuff that is a little THAT’S WHEN “I think as of this point, Asian culture insulting. Why can’t we play our own roles?” YOU KIND OF is featured with only martial arts and very Now, with all the overwhelmingly exaggerated humor. [Crazy Rich Asians] was positive reactions to the new integration of REALIZE, a very good middle ground; it shows that Asians in entertainment, we’ve surprised ‘OH, WHY Asian productions can be very mainstream,” Hollywood with how many people not only DON’T THESE You said. “It encourages everyone to look at don’t mind seeing, but also actually want to people beyond their skin color and the way see, an Asian actor in a lead role. PEOPLE REALLY they look and really enjoy the art itself.” Asian representation is sustainable in RESEMBLE THE Crazy Rich Asians topped box office Hollywood. WAY I LOOK?’” charts—it passed $120 million at the 2018 has been a huge year for the rise domestic box office in less than a month of Asian talent in America. Korean actress — R ACHEL XING after it premiered, according to Forbes—and Sandra Oh was nominated for an Emmy S ENIO R established that films with Asian characters for Outstanding Lead Actress in Killing could attract audiences with more than Eve. Both To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before representation, but through comedy and and Crazy Rich Asians were received with the teachers that we meet, the people that artistry as well. immense success and have been picked up for we know outside of the community—and it “Sitting in the movie theater, I look sequels. Searching, a drama/thriller starring builds self-confidence,” You said. “With our around, and it’s not just a movie theater John Cho, received a 93 percent rating culture now, there is just so much diversity filled with Asians, it’s people of all colors and on Rotten Tomatoes. A new live-action and we’ve begun to appreciate diversity. I’m all ages,” Lodwig said. “It was a movie that adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender hoping that Asian Americans will be able to entertained all.” has been announced and will feature a non- take the big screen but have roles that are Casting depends heavily on demand. whitewashed cast, unlike the 2010 version. not pigeonholed to specific characters, and The USC instudy reveals that only 5.7 percent of characters speaking roleseventually become Producers make movies orderalso to draw “Seeing people that are successful and given that through this, we’ll in as many people to top watch thefilms moviefrom as are ablewere to stand as their own and notonly be 2culture and ethnic blind.” in the 100 2016 Asian. Furthermore, Asianblind American actors possible, and previously, having Asian faces pigeonholed in a specific role sheds light to This new influx of Asian faces in the were cast as leads — and both of them were male. on screen just didn’t seem to fit into the just who we are. I think we all get inspired mainstream is not a trend—it is a milestone obvious equation. by everyone—the people in our classroom, for further representation.

70%

OF THE TOP 100 FILMS IN 2015, HAD NO FEMALE ASIAN ACTRESSES AND HAD NO ASIAN ACTORS AT ALL.

49% ONLY 5.7% OF CHARACTERS IN THE TOP 100 FILMS OF 2016 WERE

ASIAN + HAD A SPEAKING ROLE AND ONLY (BOTH MALE) WERE LEADS

Statistics from the University of Southern California | Infographic & page design by Anya Chen

OCTOBER | A&E | 19

2018-2019 movie previews

Upcoming movies to look forward to this school year Quarter 2

Quarter 1 Halloween Oct. 19

Bohemian Rhapsody Nov. 2

Set 40 years after the original, a survivor of the first attack by Michael Myers prepares to take him down after Myers escapes prison.

Bohemian Rhapsody follows the band Queen as they rise to fame and defy expectations by breaking out of the mold of generic music.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Aquaman Dec. 21

Nov. 16

Newt Scamander must team up with a young Albus Dumbledore to stop a dark wizard, Grindelwald, from taking over the world.

Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman, struggles to choose between the surface world he grew up in and the underwater world he was born to rule.

“I’m so excited to see Halloween. It will be an excuse to binge watch all of the original movies beforehand and to eat candy corn.” — Kate Conklin, junior

“I’m excited to see Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald because I’ve been a fan of Harry Potter for a very long time.” — Caroline Raymond, senior

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Captain Marvel March 8

Avengers 4

Aladdin

Avengers 4 will be the culmination of all previous Marvel movies and will highlight the effects of the shocking events in Avengers: Infinity War.

Watch the live-action remake of a Disney classic that follows the storyline of a genie, played by Will Smith, granting three wishes to a street rat.

May 3

May 24

Feb. 8

Hiccup and Toothless must search a hidden world of dragons after their home has been threatened by a dark presence.

The next movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows Captain Marvel caught in the middle of a galactic war and an internal battle to discover who she really is.

“I’m excited to see the graphics in [Captain Marvel], and see the storyline behind it. I love watching Marvel movies so I’m really excited to see what’s in store.” — Ralph Whitfield, senior

20 | A&E | OCTOBER

“I’m excited about the Aladdin remake because Jasmine was always the hottest Disney princess besides Nala.” — Dylan Wedan, history teacher

Reporting, graphics & page design by Anna Grace Hopkins, Brooke Newell & Sabrina Vazquez

Fans grieve following rapper Mac Miller’s death Apparent drug overdose takes life of another prominent young artist ELIZABETH HUMPHREYS REPORTER

apper Mac Miller was found dead on Sept. 7 from a suspected drug overdose at his home in Studio City, California. At only age 26, the young artist had been battling substance abuse for years. In a 2013 interview with Complex magazine, Miller mentioned that he had developed severe depression. As a coping mechanism, he started drinking a combination of promethazine and codeine, known as “purple drank” or “lean.” Miller attempted to quit many times but was unsuccessful until November of that year, before the shooting of his reality TV show Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family. However, Miller soon went into relapse. Like other deceased celebrities, Miller gained a large following after his death. Less than two weeks after Miller died, seven of his albums reached the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200. About a month before his death, Miller released his fifth studio album, Swimming, on Aug. 3. It was supported by three singles: “Small Worlds,” “Self Care” and “What’s the Use?” As the last tracks he recorded, these have become incredibly popular. “Swimming to me was an amazing album,” senior Asia Kurtalic said. “I felt like [it] really summed up his evolution as an artist, and just had so many interesting tracks that pushed the boundaries of what you typically hear in rap.”

“

“OVERDOSING IS JUST NOT COOL. THERE’S NO LEGENDARY ROMANCE. YOU DON’T GO DOWN IN HISTORY BECAUSE YOU OVERDOSE. YOU JUST DIE.” — MAC MILLER

RAPPER

Miller’s hit single “Self Care” explained how he couldn’t keep himself together at

most times. He reflected on his relationship with his long-time girlfriend, Ariana Grande. The couple broke up after two years of dating in May of this year. In 2014, Miller released his 10th solo mixtape, Faces. On it, he discussed his battle with depression and admitted to having suicidal thoughts.

MAC 1992

MILLER 2018

“It’s been interesting to be able to see him grow from generic frat rap type songs to more artistic, experimental and introspective tracks,” Kurtalic said. A year later the artist seemed to be doing much better. “I was doing a lot of drugs around that time, which is another difference now; I’m not doing as many drugs,” Miller said in a statement to Billboard magazine. “It just eats at your mind, doing drugs every single day, every second. It’s rough on your body.” Drug overdoses have become increasingly common among celebrities, especially rappers. Drugs have always been part of the culture, gaining rappers ‘clout’ and publicity, particularly through social media. Pop singer Demi Lovato fell victim to an overdose in July, but she managed to survive the ordeal. Miller had a different view on drug usage than most rappers. He gave the impression that his own substance abuse was purely plagued by addiction. In 2016, The Fader magazine created a

Page design by Elizabeth Humphreys | Image by Anna Brykczynski

documentary about Miller’s life titled Stopped Making Excuses. In it, he said he would never be able to stop using drugs but hoped to avoid overdosing. “I’d rather be the corny white rapper than the drugged-out mess who can’t even get out of his house. Overdosing is just not cool,” Miller said in the documentary. “There’s no legendary romance. You don’t go down in history because you overdose. You just die.” He continued by explaining how using marijuana led him to do harder drugs. “I needed something a little more numbing than marijuana,” Miller said. “I think that’s what sparked me doing other drugs, because I hate being sober. I wanted a drug to do.” In spite of Miller’s honesty about his struggles with addiction, many fans blamed Grande for putting him into distress and being the cause of his prolonged issues. “There is no doubt that the breakup definitely had an impact on him,” Kurtalic said. “However, I think it’s unfair to put such a heavy burden on a single person considering there is no way she could’ve known the outcome of the situation.” Addiction is categorized as a disease, which requires treatment such as any other. A stigma surrounding Miller’s overdose is that his death was a selfish act; however, in reality, the cause was not using the mental health resources that were available to him. Rapper and former opioid addict Macklemore addressed his remorse for Miller, noting how thankful he was after he received his own addiction treatment. “Such a genuine person. Brilliant sense of humor. A true artist. Your spirit is what impressed me the most. The energy you brought to any space you were in. Contagious,” Macklemore wrote in an Instagram post the day after Miller’s passing. “We shared the same disease. A disease that is out to kill us, and when left untreated eventually will. If you’re in the midst of addiction tell someone what’s going on.” If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, call the CrisisLink Regional Hotline at 703-527-4077 or text NEEDHELP to 85511. OCTOBER | A&E | 21

IN-DEPTH

FULL HOUSE

Severe overcrowding provokes countywide issues Alex Mandanas

MANAGING EDITOR

Maria McHugo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jeremy Siegel

MANAGING EDITOR

s the morning bus approaches its last stop at 7:40 a.m., tinted windows obscure an interior packed beyond capacity. Half of the seats built to accommodate only two high school students hold three, in addition to backpacks, instruments and various sports gear. At the last stop, some are forced to sit in the aisle for the remainder of the ride. With a total population of 2,252 students, the school exceeds its maximum capacity of 1,993 by over 250 students, producing a slew of structural problems for both students and faculty at McLean. “It’s really difficult to get across the building on time with all of the traffic. I’m often late to my yellow hall classes since they’re so far from the rest,” senior Noor AlSaloum said. “I purposefully take the longer route because I know it’ll be faster than having to squish through swarms of people.” In the current academic year, the school hired 20 new teachers in order to account for the unprecedentedly large student population. While some have been required to

Jack Stenzel

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

inhabit one of 14 trailers, others have been assigned to floating classrooms. French teacher Rebecca Anderson rotates between three different classrooms every other day. “My whole teaching life is on a cart, so I have to be very organized,” Anderson said. “It’s sort of like being an actress and making sure you’re setting the stage just right, but I don’t have much wiggle room.” However, the issue of overcrowding is not confined to McLean alone. In fact, according to the FCPS Facility and Enrollment Dashboard, 13 out of 25 high schools in the county were over capacity as of the 2017-18 academic year. School board member Jane Strauss predicts the same pattern of growth will continue to impact the area. “McLean is overcrowded; Marshall is overcrowded; Centreville High School is overcrowded; Chantilly is overcrowded,” Strauss said. “We are experiencing continued student growth and we are projecting continued growth.” West Potomac High School is nearly 400 students over capacity, with a student population of 2,593. OCTOBER | IN-DEPTH | 23

“

WE HAVE 798 TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS, A BACKLOG OF NEARLY $146 MILLION DOLLARS FOR OUR MAJOR MAINTENANCE ITEMS AND A VERY LONG RENOVATION CYCLE." — KEVIN SNEED FCPS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

As a result, West Potomac senior Isabel Parkins has noted similar complications at the hand of severe overcrowding. “It’s practically impossible not to notice the overcrowding at West Potomac. It’s especially apparent during the passing periods between classes, when hallway traffic comes to a complete standstill,” she said. Despite a recent increase in the school board’s budget, FCPS remains unable to wholly compensate for the strains of dramatic population growth. “The Board of Supervisors has allowed us to spend over $155 million a year. They’ve given us an increase of $25 million a year, but in order for us just to catch up with unmet need in the pipeline, we would need a yearly cash flow of about $255 million,” Strauss said. “Our renovations are behind. We need to build new classrooms, new schools. That is our problem.” Considering the likelihood of continued population growth, the issue of overcrowding is more than a mere surplus of students within the county. LOST IN THE SHUFFLE Major development of Tysons Corner began in 2009 with the construction of the Silver Line Metro. Among the creation of additional employment opportunity, 24 | IN-DEPTH | OCTOBER

projects like the Silver Line have brought significant growth to the residential sector within Fairfax County. “We’re seeing growth in more urban areas than you’re seeing in your extended hinterlands, [so] the current housing stock—current apartments and townhouses—have become great places to live and they are affordable,” Strauss said. At the same time, the appeal of residence within Fairfax County is not only derived from its housing stock. Consistently ranked as one of the best public school systems in the state by U.S. News & World Report, FCPS schools attract a large number of potential students. Principal Ellen Reilly has received inquiries from countries as far as China regarding enrollment at McLean. “We get emails from China, from Germany all summer long that are like, ‘We want to come to your school. How do we get in?’ [So] I don’t think it’s just overcrowding—I think it’s wanting to be [in FCPS],” she said. Meanwhile, Strauss said an influx of residency can also be attributed to the return of foreign service and state department employees due to recent political developments. “In parts of the neighborhoods that feed into [the area], I’m hearing anecdotally that families who may work in foreign service or the state department are coming back,” she said. “They’re coming back and not only are they repossessing the homes that they’ve held onto, but they’re coming back with their kids.” Nonetheless, population growth is not necessarily a negative factor concerning economic advantages for the community. Namely, an influx of new residents causes the value of real estate to rise. However, the funding received by FCPS as a result of residency is not enough to compensate for the corresponding issues. “About 72 percent of our funding comes from the County Board of Supervisors and about 54 percent of their funding comes from real estate,” Strauss said. “As the value of real estate rises, it creates more revenue for the county as a whole, but it’s not a perfect one to one.” Frankly, the county’s funding capacities cannot even account for the sheer maintenance of the existing schools within FCPS, let alone the additional stresses of overcrowding. Director of the Office of Design and Construction Kevin Sneed handles the oversight of physical changes to FCPS schools, as well as the management of non-school properties. “When you consider the fact that we have more than 205 educational facilities totaling nearly 27 million square feet, the funding is not adequate to meet all of the needs of the system,” he said. “The result of the funding shortfall is that we have 798 temporary

classrooms in use throughout the county, a backlog of nearly $146 million dollars for our major maintenance items and a very long renovation cycle.” In addition to budgeting issues associated with overcrowding, there are a number of complications regarding the Virginia Constitution that inhibit accommodation progress. That is to say, each state’s constitution designates the terms of development, whether that is the construction of schools or the funding of public amenities. “Virginia is a state in which what’s called by-right development is much easier. In other words, the school board can’t say, ‘You can’t build this,’” Strauss said. “The board of supervisors cannot decline a development simply based on the lack of public amenities: roads, schools, sewers, water.” Consequently, large businesses can develop in Virginia without providing adequate public amenities to potential employees. While this increases employment opportunities, new residents are unable to enroll their children locally, exacerbating the issue of overcrowding in other schools within the county.

“In some states, their local body can say, ‘You cannot build this huge development until we have figured out how to fund your roads, your schools, your curbs or your gutters,’” Strauss said. “But Virginia is the other way around. This means that there is nothing we can do [to stop construction.]” Alongside these difficulties, Paul Stansbery, Director of Student Services at McLean, said the amount of effort required to merely approve expansion plans within any FCPS school is enough to discourage progress. “The way the process works is that [the school board] has to develop a plan and then there has to be an election period in order to create what’s called a bond. Then, people have to vote on whether or not they want to pay for that bond,” he said. Reilly said school administrators are applying great effort to the reduction of issues associated with overcrowding, despite the evident limitations. “While we want to make change, we have our limits,” she said. “We work within our confines, but we try our very best with what we’re given.”

XXL FRESHMAN CLASS — Students crowd the blue and red hall intersection as they leave school on Sept. 26. The massive size of the freshman class pushed an already oversized student body well over capacity. (Photo by Maren Kranking)

OCTOBER | IN-DEPTH | 25

IN FCPS,

THERE ARE:

798

TRAILERS TOTAL

AND

SCHOOLS THAT ARE OVER

100%

UTILIZATION RATE

TOP 3 ENROLLED SCHOOLS IN FCPS IN THE 2017-18 SCHOOL YEAR:

LAKE BRADDOCK 2811 ROBINSON 2656 CHANTILLY 2778 MCLEAN 2052

(PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 200 STUDENTS THE 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR)

Information obtained from the 2017-18 FCPS

26 | IN-DEPTH | OCTOBER Facility and Enrollment Dashboard

That being said, the addition of trailers and floating classrooms cannot suffice to curb the impacts of a growing student population. As it has before, the solution will most likely stem from the actions of the county as a whole. PLAYING THE CARDS According to a 1996 Washington Post article, in response to a 1990 census revealing dramatic growth in western Fairfax County, the school board was forced to redraw its boundaries and add the Sully District to its jurisdiction in 1991. Student population remained stagnant for a number of years until the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks increased involvement in the nearby Department of Homeland Security in 2001, drawing countless families to the FCPS school system. Officials such as Division Superintendent Scott Brabrand have publicized the likelihood of an outcome similar to the results of the 1990 census. In this case, Brabrand emphasizes the necessity of boundary changes in order to account for population growth. “Despite the planned additional capacity intended to address projected needs, uneven membership growth throughout the county will necessitate the continuation of small- and large-scale boundary adjustments to take advantage of available capacity whenever it is practicable to do so,” he said in a school board memo on Dec. 14, 2017. Despite the advantages, students have concerns regarding the impacts of boundary changes on their school life. While attending McLean, senior Asia Kurtalic resides in the Tysons Corner area, the center of relevant development. “A big part of why my parents chose to live in Tysons was that they wanted me to attend McLean,” Kurtalic said. “I would probably be pretty upset if a boundary change forced me to transfer schools.” Disregarding the boundary discussion, local administrators have looked to various construction projects with the hope for a more permanent solution to the issues of overcrowding. “As we approach the next school year, I try to reach out to the county and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to need some help one way or another—either give us more rooms for outside or do something with our building to help us run our classes,’” Stansbery said. However, while recognizing the evident need, Sneed said individual renovations occur only every 37 years according to FCPS guidelines. “Currently, the renovation cycle is 37 years. This amount of time places significant stress upon the systems in the [school] building—electrical, mechanical, roof, for example—due to the lack of funding to replace the systems wholesale before a renovation,” he said. At the same time, Strauss said any construction project is far too expensive if not for concrete evidence of continued growth. “We need to make the best use of the tax dollars given to us. We have a decision map for when will we actually use tax dollars to renovate or build new,” she said. “You don’t use

those tax dollars until you’re sure that a trend is real.” Meanwhile, in light of future predictions, the school board hopes to acquire approval for the construction of an entirely new high school within the next five to 10 years. “The board of supervisors is approving a lot of residential housing and it’s the housing stock that we know is producing a lot of kids,” Strauss said. “There are thousands of new houses going in, so we’re pretty sure we will need a new high school.” That being said, the costs associated with the construction of a new school will preclude the county from pursuing the renovations of other FCPS schools. “A typical high school site would cost more than $100 million. Unfortunately, these sums would completely consume the available capital funds, thus setting back renovations or other capacity projects,” Sneed said. Moreover, recent urban development has made it difficult to acquire land sufficient for construction. “The lack of affordable and available land has forced us to become more creative to solve the dilemma,” Sneed said. “For example, five years ago we opened an elementary school in the Bailey’s area

of the county by adaptively reusing a five-story office building. In December we are opening a three-story elementary school on the McNair Elementary site as we had no suitable options for land.” In spite of the aforementioned problems, financial barriers remain the driving factor behind the issues of overcrowding. “Funding is the primary obstacle to our ability to handle the necessary construction in FCPS. Essentially we have an annual shortfall of approximately $68 million just for renovations. This does not include the additional capacity needs as well, which increases the shortfall amount to more than $95 million annually as our enrollment will continue to increase,” Sneed said. Until the school board reaches a collective decision regarding the countywide issues of overcrowding, students will remain in the packed aisles of buses and teachers will cart their lessons across the halls as growing business commercializes the landscape of Fairfax County. “My theory is that if there's money to be made with infrastructure, people are going to figure it out and we’ll have to deal with it after,” Strauss said. “That’s the reality.”

Inside cover photo by Anna Brykczynski | Page design & infographic by Maren Kranking

TRAILING BEHIND — The trailers at McLean spread across the outdoor basketball courts to accomodate for the shortage of classrooms in the school. McLean has a total of 14 trailers. (Photo by Maria McHugo)

OCTOBER | IN-DEPTH | 27

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FCPS should equip students for OPINIONS the future Implementing oneto-one computing will propel FCPS into the 21st century The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

echnology has infiltrated McLean. Essays are no longer submitted in person; they’re due via SafeAssign on Blackboard. Math is no longer with pencil and paper; it’s being taught through online applications like Mathspace and Albert.io. With the rapid increase in technology in education, Fairfax County Public Schools needs to meet students where they are—and that means giving each student their own laptop. Technology can be a great way to level the playing field between students of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Having unlimited access to a computer could help lower-income students perform better in school. “I think the county should go one-to-one first and foremost to promote equity in the school system,” School-Based Technology Specialist Nishi Langhorne said. “A lot of students have their own personal devices but there are many, many students who don’t.” A Michigan State University study found that one-to-one computing significantly increases students’ English, math and science test scores. Additionally, the widespread use of technology in school essentially mandates that students have their own computers. “It’s really important for kids to have easy access to laptops and technology in general because if you think about it, that’s how [we] learn,” senior Aarushi Desai said. “[We] use Google, Blackboard, even the stuff teachers assign is over the internet. [Laptops would be] very useful to have with you because everyone uses technology.” This added convenience would be especially evident in the math classrooms

where online applications have essentially taken over the courses. “I noticed that in the BC [Calculus] classes, students started using computers to do all their work also I know in my math class, Multi Var, we’re using Mathspace and things that are online to do problems,” senior Bilen Essayas said. One-to-one programs have been proven to increase student performance in and out of the classroom. “One of the benefits is that with technology, teachers can kind of differentiate and meet the needs of all different learners,” Langhorne said. “I think it’s going to help students be more successful in their classes.” Despite the numerous benefits, the oneto-one initiative is not a guarantee because of its substantial upfront cost. However, in the long term, the investment could help mitigate other expenditures that cost the county millions every year. “While yes, it is an expensive initiative, I think it also takes certain expenses out of the picture,” Langhorne said. “For example, paper. You wouldn’t believe the amount of money we spend on paper and printers and

Reporting & page design by Alex Mandanas | Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva

all of those devices that we wouldn’t need as much [if each student had their own computer].” Though it is compelling, this shouldn’t be the county’s only reason for allocating the necessary funds. Fairfax County should invest in this initiative because there is a considerable need for the computers. “[Because] the school [is] responsible for your time and your internet usage, they should also be responsible for financially supporting that with the use of laptops,” junior Katherine Walker said. “It’s not [the student’s] responsibility to purchase a laptop simply because teachers aren’t willing to put things on paper anymore.” Though FCPS needs to be conscientious with its budget, investing in one-to-one computing is an imperative decision that the school board should approve at its Oct. 15 meeting. “This initiative supports 21st century learning, and I think it will prepare students... for the real world because we use technology every day,” Langhorne said. “It’s a big part of our lives and students need to learn how to use technology responsibly.” OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 29

Colleges should consider social media Social media provides insight beyond applications HAINE JUNG REPORTER

he eye-rolling of students ensued immediately after the mandatory 15-minute long “digital citizenship lesson” began, especially during the video where a monotonous voice laments the impact of social media on college acceptance. Despite such reactions, being respectful and conscientious on social media is critical to a student’s success. By means such as Fairfax County’s digital citizenship lesson, students are constantly reminded about the dangers of social media. As reckless teenagers living in a time of online networking, it’s fair that students receive these warnings, especially because college admissions officers may take a glance at personal profiles as well. The main reason colleges look at social media profiles is to learn more about each applicant’s character and personality. They generally check for appropriate online behavior, making sure students aren’t engaged in online harassment or using obscene language intended to be hurtful. “I think that [colleges should check social media] because a person’s social media can be a good indicator of their judgment depending on the kind of things they post,” sophomore Veda Hegde said. Social media helps colleges build a profile of a student that goes beyond what they write on their applications. “Colleges should definitely consider taking a look at [students’] social media accounts, to see what their usual high school life was [like]...because for the application, people tend to sugarcoat whatever they did,” sophomore Emma Lee said. College is not just a place to study but also an active community composed of students with varying interests. Thus, the values of a potential student should coincide with that of the college environment. “A four-year residential college is a home,” career center specialist Laura Venos said. “You’re basically putting together a whole bunch of people from all over the place, so I think it’s important to—at the very basic level—make sure that there isn’t strong discriminatory behavior, and that everyone feels safe on campus.” 30 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER

In addition to maintaining a healthy environment, students who are also capable of upholding high moral ethics are evidently more appealing to colleges. “From a college standpoint, because they’re accepting students from the class to represent their college and serve as a role model, it almost makes sense that they would want to find individuals who follow through [with] being role models,” counselor Deb You said. The 2017 Kaplan Test Prep survey revealed that 35 percent of 365 colleges claimed to check the social media sites of their applicants, a noteworthy increase from 2008 when only 10 percent said they did. This inevitable increase was the result of higher usage of social media websites. Although this is a notable increase, the remaining colleges who have excluded this practice should add it to their process of evaluating applications. Students also use social media in order to share their passions and accomplishments, so for some it may actually be beneficial for colleges to evaluate their social media accounts. “[Social media] could also be very great,” You said. “I think it’s definitely important for you guys as individuals to have your freedom of speech...but I think at the same time, it’s also equally important to use that platform appropriately.” Although social media is unable to

provide a complete picture of a student, it may reveal some important aspects of their personality. “I think [social media] is part of who you are in a lot of ways,” Assistant Principal Sean Rolon said. Colleges’ process of reviewing applicants’ accounts, however, should be modified, as they may erroneously reject students or revoke their acceptance based upon what they’ve seen on the Internet. Such instances include mistaking a fake account as the student’s or using their social media to make false or inaccurate assumptions about that student’s character. “When you’re a teenager, you don’t always make the best decisions and the best way to learn is through your making mistakes—and often students make mistakes and they record [them] on [social media],” counselor Greg Olcott said. “Do I think someone should have a college acceptance rescinded because of a stupid mistake they made one time? No. But at the same time... I think it should be checked and [made] sure.” While understanding the need and drawbacks to be careful on social media, colleges should consider students’ social media presences, as they serve as a type of student profile beyond the applications themselves. By doing so, they’ll often reveal the significant qualities and other characteristics that pertain to the students who apply to their schools.

Illustration by Dasha Makarishcheva | Page design by Haine Jung

Sick students sicken others

Staying home helps everyone succeed MATTHEW ABBOTT REPORTER

uring flu season, the halls are cluttered with dozens upon dozens of coughing, sniffling kids who have dragged themselves from their beds and into school because of the three AP tests they’re about to take. But even with the stress missing school can cause, students should stay home when they’re sick to avoid infecting the rest of the school’s population. Most students at McLean feel pressured by parents and the competitive environment of the school to take as many AP or honors classes as they can. So when students get sick, they feel like if they don’t come to school, they’ll fall behind. This academic pressure, along with the stress of getting into a competitive college, can weigh heavily on the average student’s shoulders. These high amounts of stress lower the efficiency of the immune system, meaning coming to school while sick can actually prolong an illness. “I would say McLean students are challenging themselves at a really high level and that can have some impacts on health,” AP Psychology teacher Meghan Percival said. Often, students will find themselves with a lot more homework than they think they can deal with. “If you’re sick for two or three days, if you stay home, you have to make up all that work and it’s definitely not worth it,” sophomore honor student Spencer Marinus said. Even though all that work can be stressful and exhausting, coming to school sick affects

other students and faculty members. Most diseases spread very easily—all that a student needs to get infected is someone to sneeze or cough on them. “Our health room averages about 350 sick or injured students per month,” clinic room aide Julie Gamboa said. That’s a lot of potentially sick kids. Not knowing how to properly prevent getting other people sick adds onto the problem. “The number one thing everyone can do to prevent the spread of disease is basic hand washing. After that, use common sense measures like covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, not sharing food or utensils and staying home when you are sick,” Gamboa said. Although Gamboa advises that washing hands can help prevent the spread of disease, students still share the same computers and door knobs. The best way to avoid spreading anything is to stay at home.

Students who say they have come to school while sick:

92%

“In general, if you are contagious, you should not be in school. You should stay at home until these symptoms are gone. You can contact my office if you are not sure when to come back to school,” Gamboa said. Most teachers understand that students need to stay home and rest when sick, and they will help students get their work done. FCPS Blackboard is a great resource to use if students are not sure what they missed. It’s a good idea to communicate with teachers to determine how best to make up for missed class time and assignments. “Teachers can help you prioritize. Particularly if a student has been out for more than one day,” Percival said. The most helpful approach a student can take is to be more aware of people around them if they come to school sick. The last thing any student wants is to feel even more drained as they walk into the classroom with a killer cough or runny nose.

Students who think they have gotten sick from another student in high school:

78%

*Data gathered from poll of 100 McLean students

Comic & infographic by Dasha Makarishcheva | Page design by Matthew Abbott

OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 31

CROSSFIRE:

America has taken essential steps to stop school shootings KYLE HAWLEY REPORTER

ince the Parkland shooting in February, activists have been demanding stricter gun laws from national and state leaders to keep students from harm’s way. However, that is not the solution the U.S. needs. The White House has already taken countermeasures over the years to prevent the school shooting tragedy occurring in our nation. School Resource Officer (SRO) Scott Davis said McLean High School is ready as can be for a school shooting. “All the students are trained. We talked to the talked to the teachers. We get training from the school system,” Davis said. “If they follow instructions like a fire drill, they should be fine.” States took the addition of resource officers seriously once the Department of Education and the Department of Justice created the Safe School-based Enforcement rubric in 2016, which suggested every school would be safer with an officer in the building. The Maryland school shooting attempt last year proved the efficiency and value of having on-duty officers in schools. The Maryland SRO responded to the scene in less than one minute and fired a round at the active shooter, preventing further harm. The Parkland shooting was a tragedy; however, a good portion of the 17 victims would still be alive if the officer had done his job. Instead, Parkland's SRO failed to confront the shooter, gravely worsening the outcome. “The death count could’ve been less if the officer followed his duty,” Davis said. Many blame the National Rifle Association (NRA) for mass shootings. However, the NRA's primary goal is the prevention of violating the Second Amendment. “The NRA is doing their job effectively,” former Republican Congressman Jack Fields said. "And it makes [the Democrats] mad." The lobby works to elect politicians who preserve the Second Amendment. They have no control over who buys the firearm.

32 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER

“Guns are made of steel, metal and wood. The people who are holding the weapon— they are the dangerous ones, not the gun,” Fields said. If President Trump and the White House moved to raise the gun purchase age, it would still be ineffective since these shooters are able to buy their weapon through a back door that isn’t monitored by the state: the black market.

“

ANY INFRINGEMENT ON OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY." — JACK FIELDS

FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN A 2016 study by The University of Pittsburgh showed that in approximately eight out of 10 cases, the convict was not a lawful gun owner, but they were using a gun that was owned by someone else. “Murders will always happen. If we outlaw firearms, we will have a massive knife stabbing problem like in London,” McLean's Safety and Security Specialist Buddy Sekely said.

Be it a gun or knife, criminals will resort to anything, and it’s up to schools to be as prepared as possible. As such, Virginia added two required lockdown drills at the start of each school year in 2016. “McLean and the students are getting more serious about lockdown drills, which is what the state wants,” said senior Sarah Rice, a student council member. Following safety measures will save student's lives, not failed gun laws like Brady’s Bill. In 1993, Congress passed Brady’s Bill. The bill imposed a five-day waiting period to purchase a handgun, and the customer would have to go through background checks. After the bill passed, a UVA study focused on a trend in handgun homicides that gradually declined. However, a California study later found that the decrease began long before the bill. “Any infringement on our Second Amendment rights needs to be taken very seriously,” said Fields, who voted against Brady’s Bill 20 years ago. “I do not believe the bill truly helped our country, and I stand by my vote.” When a school crisis emerges, we must unite as one by adding effective solutions such as increasing the amount of SRO’s in each building or adding more lockdown drills. We do not need useless legislation that fails to secure the safety of our nation's children.

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva

Has America done enough to prevent school shootings? America must make changes to keep students safe SKYE SUNDERHAUF REPORTER

chool shootings have devastated our generation and youth. We have heard about students our age getting hurt or killed as a result of school shootings. Government officials try to appease our hostility towards their inaction with “thoughts and prayers,” as if it that could satisfy us. The United States has not done nearly enough to prevent school shootings. “America hasn’t done enough because people are still dying,” sophomore Tess Mellinger said. Students are meant to learn and socialize at school. However, we are constantly looking over our shoulders in fear. Without any new legislation, school shootings seem like they’ll never end. Every year, gun violence in schools gets worse. According to The New York Times, since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, there have been at least 239 school shootings, 16 of which are classified as mass shootings. After the Parkland shooting in February, the nationwide gun debate resurfaced. The tragic event that took the lives of 17 students and staff has led more people to say that gun control is the key to school safety. According to a CNN poll, 69 percent of Americans support stricter gun laws, including 53 percent of Republicans. “I have heard more and more people say we should put away guns, period,” Safety and Security Specialist Buddy Sekely said. These stricter gun laws would be in no way an infringement of the Second Amendment as the amendment includes the words “well regulated.” Congress must also ensure, as delegated in the Constitution, the “general welfare” of all Americans. Therefore, the laws would be in place to supervise and protect the people. After the Charleston church shooting in 2015, congressional leaders wrote a bill reforming the background check system involved in purchasing a gun. However, it never even made it to the GOP-controlled

House or Senate floor. Gun safety laws never make it far, yet it is becoming increasingly evident that they are necessary. Besides adding stricter background checks, there should be more laws preventing underage people from acquiring guns. A 2004 study by the Department of Education found that in 65 percent of school shootings, a firearm obtained from the perpetrator or a relative of the perpetrator’s home was used. Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook shooter, obtained his weapon from his mother’s possession. There should be a law regarding the storing of all guns, preferably one that dictates that these firearms must be under lock and key when not being used. A 2018 study conducted by The Journal of Urban Health found that 4.6 million U.S. minors live in a household with one unlocked firearm. The only state that has a law declaring that firearms must be locked up is Massachusetts. The Brady Campaign states that Massachusetts has the third strictest gun laws in the country. It also has the lowest gun death rate in the country, according to the CDC. “I definitely don’t think people with children...under a certain age should be able to own a gun in their house,” Mellinger said. In Virginia, people 18 and older can legally own guns. This should be changed to 21, since that would prevent any high school juniors or seniors from purchasing a firearm, thus preventing another school shooting. According to the ownership manual of an AR-15, this military-grade weapon can shoot 45 rounds of ammunition per minute, a common choice for school shooters. Yet these kinds of military-style weapons are readily available in households. Countries like Canada, Japan and the UK have strict gun laws and haven’t had a mass shooting in decades. According to CNN, since 2008, Canada has only had two mass shootings while both Japan and the UK have had zero.

Page design by Katie Romhilt | Infographic by Dasha Makarishcheva

There will always be people looking to harm others, but strong gun safety regulations will drastically reduce access to weapons. Strict gun laws may not completely stop school shootings, but something must be done. Thoughts and prayers have never brought anyone back, or even prevented a mass shooting. Stricter gun laws will. Arguments against gun laws are based solely on conjecture, not on fact. Anyone can attack gun laws as a violation of the Second Amendment, but those accusations are fully unfounded, and in the end, they ignore the fact that we are not doing anything to prevent school shootings.

Are current gun laws strict enough?

Yes No

18.3% 81.7%

Has America done enough to prevent school shootings?

Yes No

10.7% 89.3%

Data gathered from poll of 300 McLean students

OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 33

TAKING A KNEE BLACK LIVES ACTUALLY MATTER IMANI MCCORMICK MANAGING EDITOR 34 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER

ll of Levi Stadium stood up, placing their right hands over their hearts for the national anthem, but Colin Kaepernick remained seated. The former NFL San Francisco 49ers quarterback was treating a shoulder injury; thus, his lack of motion was initially overlooked. But everything changed on Aug. 26, 2016, when Kaepernick took his first kneel. Football fans and publicity hawks alike took notice of this “unusual” behavior. Photos of him kneeling during the national anthem circulated Twitter, where many quickly labeled him as disrespectful. Kaepernick announced that he is raising awareness around social injustice and protesting police brutality of African Americans. However, his motive is repeatedly misconstrued as irreverence for the country, flag, police and military. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said in an interview with The Washington Post. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” There has been widespread political controversy as a result of Kaepernick’s 2016 demonstration. Students and elected officials alike have engaged in discussion regarding the implications of his actions. “Kaepernick was kneeling for the #BlackLivesMatter movement, [which] isn’t anti-white nor anti-policeit just recognizes that the police have had an entire system in place that enables the racist cops to kill and harass black people without proper consequences,” senior Lauren Grobman said. “So if kneeling in a peaceful manner is the most disrespectful thing someone can do to this country... you need to reevaluate your priorities. Kneeling is not disrespecting America. It’s acknowledging that it has the capability for progress and justice.” Themes such as police brutality and the abuse of power have colored the majority of conversation. Some support these concepts as Kaepernick’s motivation for taking a knee. “I think police brutality [and the]

discrepancies between the way white people are treated [in comparison to] everyone else need to be highlighted because it’s been going on forever,” counselor Greg Olcott said. “It’s good that people finally feel strong enough and passionate enough to go out there and fight for it.” On Sept. 6, Nike introduced its “Dream Crazy” campaign, narrated by Kaepernick, during the season opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. Since its release, there has been roaring controversy surrounding Nike’s decision to choose Kaepernick as their centerpiece. Using a visible platform is a responsibility. Kaepernick believes that using his platform to provide a voice to the voiceless matters. Nike is also using their platform to launch a campaign that sends direct messages. But it is critical to evaluate whether everyone carries the same perspective. “I see it in the way that Nike endorses somebody who hates the hard-working men and women of this country’s police forces,” junior Max Wohlschlegel said. “Don’t get me wrong, an ex-athlete getting paid to ‘kneel’ for a cause is great, but there are bigger issues that affect the black community. What about the blackon-black violence in America?” The Bureau of Justice Statistics records that the amount of white-on-white violence is four times higher than the amount of black-on-white violence. In contrast, the amount of black-on-black violence is five times higher than the amount of white-on-black violence. However, this does not justify the fact that 62.7 percent of unarmed victims of police brutality are minorities, according to Vox. Police brutality has become an incredibly polarizing issue in American society. There have been hundreds of instances of police shootings and the killing of unarmed black men. The hyper-transparency of social media has exacerbated the problem, as the atrocities are going viral online at a rapid pace. Athletes have a history of using their highly visible platforms to protest political and societal matters. In 1968, John Carlos and Tommie Smith made headlines worldwide when Page design by Imani McCormick

they raised their fists in a ‘black power salute’ on the podium after winning in the 1968 Olympics. Their quiet protest brought forward death threats, and they were expelled from the games. Muhammad Ali famously refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War, a refusal that resulted in jail time. NBA players LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and many others have helped visibly support the #BlackLivesMatter movement, wearing supportive gear following the death of Eric Garner, who was choked to death in New York. Every American has the right to speak out and to protest; these are First Amendment rights. However, speaking out is not easy, especially if nobody is willing to listen. “Some adversities that people face are more difficult to go through than they might be for people who have had things given to them. Students need to know that they can stand up and disagree with something they think is not right,” Olcott said. Meanwhile, at McLean High School, Terry Johnson, a public health teaching assistant and JV basketball coach, points to our own School Resource Officer Scott Davis as an example of a supportive and positive influence within law enforcement “Officer Davis is a good influence; he’s a good role model for the good of a police officer or law enforcer because he shows

that it is not all about just trying to show negativity to someone,” Johnson said. “I think the more law enforcement officers you have like that, society would be better and comfortable being around law enforcement.” Some may have received the Nike campaign as controversial, but it is an

“

KNEELING IS NOT DISRESPECTING AMERICA. IT’S ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT HAS THE CAPABILITY FOR PROGRESS AND JUSTICE.” — LAUREN GROBMAN

SENIOR

example of a global brand using its platform to catalyze difficult conversations. It has sparked a debate about the breakdown in respect, conduct, the current state of societal relationships, trust and abuse of power. As Americans, we have the right to speak out, and public figures have the responsibility to use their platforms in order to support a movement towards better understanding.

Learning to listen without judgment is a difficult skill. “Don’t be judgmental… No matter what anybody says, you still have to respect one another no matter how you feel, because if you disrespect someone because you feel a certain way, that’s where a lot of the issues come in,” Johnson said. “If you are able to listen, understand and find a way to make a difference together, I think a lot of things would change.” Messages such as those diffused by the very brand endorsing Kaepernick offer similar positive sentiments. “Nike says it best: Just Do It... You don’t have to know what is out there and what you are capable of doing—just try it,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “It’s hard to do it but be comfortable with who you are and love yourself first, and then you can really do anything. You should not [limit yourself ]. You never know what is going to happen.” Our society will become stronger if we learn to have difficult conversations rather than remain silent. “In a high school world, it’s hard to have a voice that is not a popular voice,” Reilly said. “It’s hard to go against what your friends are saying. Being able to say [what you believe even if it means] giving up friendships...is being able to stand up for what you believe in.”

Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.

Photo obtained via Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons License

OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 35

SPORTS

TACKLING

BOUNDARIES Freshman girl joins football team TALIA BLAKEMORE REPORTER MAREN KRANKING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

s other incoming high school girls tried out for the field hockey, volleyball, golf and cross country teams this past August, freshman Stephanie Beard headed out to the practice field with the rest of the freshman football team to begin their preseason. Stephanie is the only girl on the freshmen boys football team this year. Having watched football for years with her family, she decided to take up the sport herself when she entered McLean High School. “I’ve always liked football,” Stephanie said. “When the freshman football team started up, I had a lot of friends on the team, so I just wanted to join it and see what happened.” 36 | SPORTS | OCTOBER

Although she has never played organized football before, Stephanie made the decision that she wanted to play in high school when she first entered middle school. Because of the uncommon nature of her goal, she was initially met with hesitant reactions from her peers and family. “[In 7th grade] I decided I wanted to play football, but then all my friends were saying, ‘Oh no, a girl can’t be on the team,’ and people in my family were saying [that I] might get hurt,” Stephanie said. “But you [can] always get hurt; if you get hit down, you get back up. So I thought, ‘Why not try it,’ because it’s something that interests me.”

Stephanie plays on the team as a quarterback and linebacker. Her brother, Greg Beard, is a senior offensive lineman at McLean. He has participated in the football program since his freshman year. “I was a little confused [when she wanted to try out],” Greg said. “I wasn’t sure if she’d actually be able to make the cut because Coach Jackson treats football conditioning like wrestling conditioning. He goes all out to make sure that they’re ready for football. But I think she’s risen to the challenge and she’s doing well.” Despite the low number of girls pursuing football at McLean, Stephanie has received little criticism after the initial response. “At first some of [the players] were a little startled,” Stephanie said. “But now that it’s a couple weeks in, they’re fine with it.” Her teammates have expressed positive reactions to her joining the team. Freshman team captain Ryan Cook mentioned that he believes she has brought a new atmosphere to the team. “I think that the more diverse player base we have, the better the team we can be,” Cook said.

“We do cores, arms, legs, everything; we just even it out so that we’re all getting stronger instead of just getting one part of the body stronger,” Stephanie said. “I find it hard sometimes because it’s a lot for a human body to get pushed beyond its limits, but if it hurts, that means you’re getting stronger.” A primary reason that girls are less likely to participate in football is because of their body composition. When women enter puberty, large amounts of estrogen are produced that stunt their muscle growth. In comparison, men have high anabolic steroid levels that aid in forming muscle fibers and stimulating muscle cell division within the first 20 years of age. This difference can place women at a disadvantage when it comes to physically demanding activities such as football. “Football [is based] more on strength and that has certainly limited the involvement of women in football,” Greg said. “But there is no set gender for any sport. I believe she can play football [and] I think she can be the best.”

“

SHE DOESN’T SHY AWAY FROM ANY CHALLENGE, SHE DOESN’T GIVE ANY EXCUSES—SHE JUST GOES.” — KENNETH JACKSON Freshman football coach Kenneth Jackson said he had no misgivings about Stephanie choosing to join the team. He wants the team to embrace her like any other player. “Anybody is allowed to join the team—she’s going to be treated the same as everybody else is going to be treated, just as it should be,” Jackson said. Because boys dominate football teams at every skill and age level, it is uncommon to find a girl playing on a team. Nonetheless, Stephanie doesn’t mind playing among just boys; she doesn’t feel excluded from the rest of the team. “I don’t think that she’s that much out of her comfort zone,” Greg said. “She’s the only girl in our family, so she’s [been around] a bunch of guys. She’s tough [and] she enjoys playing the sport.” Stephanie attributes much of her football ability to her natural athleticism. Stephanie is an active softball player, explaining that her versatility in softball has helped her adapt to play football. “I think her best quality is her toughness,” Jackson said. “She doesn’t shy away from any challenge, she doesn’t give any excuses— she just goes.” Her teammates have also taken notice of her positive presence on the field. “She has good spirit, she has a competitive drive,” Cook said. “If she takes a big hit, she just hops right back up and calls a huddle.” Despite the high rigor of McLean’s football program, Stephanie enjoys the challenge of running drills and participating in conditioning. She even describes practices as fun, as well as rewarding. Photo by Anna Brykczynski | Page design by Maren Kranking

FRESHMAN FOOTBALL COACH

The National Federation of State High School Associations conducted a survey that found 224 girls played high school football during the 2017 season—only about .18 percent of total high school football athletes. “I wouldn’t say [girls on football teams] is a common thing, [but] it does happen from time to time,” Jackson said. “I know of a couple girls who have been on the varsity football team [and] the JV football team, so this isn’t the first girl ever to go out for the McLean football team. We played a team last week with a girl on it.” Stephanie is the fourth girl to be on a roster in the McLean football program since 2006. Although it is uncommon for a girl to play football for a high school, the program is always open to anyone interested in playing the sport. “Any time that there is a sport that is supposedly a male-dominated sport, we take everybody. As long as they’re willing to put in that time and effort, we’ll take them,” Jackson said. “My main focus is getting them to understand the sport, working on fundamentals, but I try to really push them in mental and physical toughness, which won’t just carry on in football, but in the game of life.” Stephanie plans to continue playing football for the rest of her high school career at McLean. Although the next three years may be tough, she is eager to take on the challenge and continue pushing the boundary between girls and football. “I think that it is rare because mostly nobody [wants to] cross that line,” Stephanie said. “But if [girls] want to, they should just keep working—try hard.” OCTOBER | SPORTS | 37

WORKOUT READY — The boys varsity basketball takes advantage of the weight room's brand new machinery, weighted equipment, floor mats and a space expansion as they head into their regular season. After receiving a new layer of paint, the final product will be complete this month, almost a full year from when its planning began. (Photo by Julia McElligott)

New and improved weight room arrives at McLean Athletes earn proper workout equipment after many years ERIC MIZUSAWA COPY EDITOR

eaturing new equipment, improved flooring and additional space, the renovated McLean weight room offers athletes a more complete workout experience than it has in past years. In the past, students experienced problems during their practices when attempting to use the old weight room equipment. The formerly unsatisfactory conditions limited students' ability to exercise properly, affecting their performance during the season. “The original equipment had been around since I was going to the school in 2004 to 2008, and I suspect it was first installed as early as 2000,” varsity football head coach John Scholla said. Undergoing frequent use over the past 18 years, it is no surprise that the school’s weight facility would fall into such a substandard state. Typical weights have a lifespan of around 10 years and electric equipment only lasts for up to seven, leaving the facility outdated for almost a decade. “The equipment used prior to the renovation was beaten up,” Scholla said. “A lot of the cable machines were broken, dumbbells were rusty and platforms had holes in them.” 38 | SPORTS | OCTOBER

Under these conditions, the old equipment caused concerns among athletes who used it on a day-to-day basis. Athletes had few opportunities to prepare for games as equipment continuously wore down. The floor mats even turned into a safety issue, causing students to trip over them. “If I was a student and I walked into our weight room, I’d immediately want to leave,” Scholla said. “Students should want to come in and better their bodies, but that’s something that never seemed to happen.” Prior to the renovation, the quality of the school's weight room was poor even compared to the standards of other FCPS schools. “You go to any other school and see that they have good equipment," Scholla said. “We want to close the equity gap between other weight rooms and meet up with the standards of other schools.” After years of students having to deal with such run-down equipment, the problem with the weight facility was recognized by the student activities department. They decided it was best to execute a full-on renovation of the weight room, which they started planning in fall of 2017. “I came to the school three years ago looking for a new project," Director of

Student Activities Greg Miller said. "I wanted to fix the weight room in order for boys and girls of all sports to get in there and work out properly.” Since the school was unable to fund the large-scale needs of construction, Miller sought out community donors and assembled fundraising programs to finance the new weight room equipment. “Our goal was to raise $40,000 in order to purchase new equipment and expand spacing,” Miller said. “Motivation is key for our athletes, and a new weight room will be good for our kids—[something] for them to be proud of and that they will want to work out in.” Miller worked tenaciously to meet all funding obligations. He organized a golf tournament, spreading the word about the project and recruiting additional supporters. Ultimately, Miller managed to raise a total of $45,000 dollars, collecting $7,000 from the golf tournament and $15,000 in email donations. Additionally, the school received an enormous grant of $23,000 dollars from Anton Levy, a former student athlete who graduated from McLean in 1992. Now a businessman, Levy was an all-time great tennis player, holding the first and only Page design by Eric Mizusawa

tennis state title at the school. He was later inducted into the McLean Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. The final expenditure in purchasing the equipment totaled at $41,602.59 dollars, leaving $3,397.41 extra to be put towards more of the school’s needs. “The new weight room includes new cable machines, new dumbbells, leg presses, bars and cardio machines that the school never had before,” Scholla said. “Also, the new floor mats are built in, which are much safer and prevents students from tripping.” After a year of steady planning and proper execution, the new weight room is nearing its completion and only awaits a new layer of paint to cover its walls. Once it receives its final modifications, all student athletes will have a chance to get in there and pursue their workouts. “Updated equipment is good to allow them to get stronger,” Scholla said. “In high school football, strength is key, and it compensates for a lot of other things such as speed or how big you are.” Although many teams have yet to enter their off-seasons, cross country is already ahead of the game on their training, beginning their weight room practices the very day it opened. “We had no issues with the old weight room except for space,” said Megan Ney, cross country and track-and-field coach. “With so many kids on the team, it was always a little tight and we never had enough equipment.” Though the runners did not have an issue with the equipment, they struggled with the

DONATIONS

$ 4 5 0 0 0 TOTAL

minimal space, which prevented them from performing intense workouts. Since cross country and track are co-ed, the team has a higher number of athletes in comparison to other teams. “We were able to expand the weight room using space from the band room,” Miller said. “The space was given to us by our band director, Mr. Weise, and I want to personally thank him for his contribution.”

[space] to fit in their workouts.” With more room to move around and work out, the expanded space allows students to improve and perfect their athletic abilities more easily. Athletes have recognized the advantage of an updated weight room. “The increased space in the weight room has improved my personal performance as it gives me a chance to use more equipment in the alloted time,” said junior Jerrick Bravo, a cross country captain. “Instead of waiting for someone to finish using a bench press or a bar, I can save time by using the new equipment, giving me more time to work out.” STUDENTS OF ALL SPORTS Nearing the weight room’s completion, students have already begun to use its new SHOULD HAVE A WEIGHT accessories. Making great progress on their ROOM THAT THEY WANT TO workouts, athletes are well on their way in preparing for upcoming games. WORK OUT IN, FOR THEM "This step towards a better weight room TO BE PROUD OF AND BETTER really shows that McLean is taking larger strides towards improving its athletic DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO department," said senior Ben Davis, a IMPROVING THEIR BODIES.” varsity football player. "When you have the equipment that makes you feel like a team, - JOHN SCHOLLA you play like a team." VARSITY FOOTBALL COACH After many years, the weight room has provided a sense of value towards students during their practices, holding high An extra section from the far end of the expectations for the turnout of their seasons. band room was added to the weight room, “The new weight room provides a more leaving plenty of space for them to install the competitive atmosphere against other schools new equipment. and makes us look more professional against “The extra space is nice to have and other teams,” Scholla said. “We’re all looking everyone seems to enjoy it,” Ney said. “The forward to a new weight room with new students feel less crowded and are now able equipment, where students can dedicate to fit in all of their workouts since there is themselves and better their bodies.”

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NEW EQUIPMENT

$7000 FROM GOLF WINS

$15000 VIA EMAIL

$23000 FROM ANTON LEVY

Infographic by Anya Chen

1 TREADMILL

1 ARM DIP ASSIST

2 BIKES

1 AB MACHINE

1 LEG PRESS

1 ERG MACHINE 1 MEDICINE BALL KIT 2 LAT PULL-DOWN MACHINES

1 LEG EXTENSION MACHINE 1 LEG CURL MACHINE

OCTOBER | SPORTS | 39

O Captain! My Captain!

Get to know McLean’s fall varsity captains Heather Geisler

Jennie Ende

Ben Piper

Jonathan Zhou

Position: Center midfield Favorite pre-game snack: Mexican caesar salad Pre-game song: “Only Girl” by Rihanna Most important thing for this season: Be the first team to score

Position: Golfer Favorite pre-game snack: Fig Newtons Pre-game song: “Crank That” by Soulja Boy Most important thing for this season: Not taking any days off, even with lots of rain

Position: Golfer Favorite pre-game snack: Chicken nuggets Pre-game song: “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons Most important thing for this season: Constant practice

George Lee

Caroline Howley

David Onyejekwe

Evan Stout

Position: 800m & 1600m Favorite pre-game snack: Granola bars Pre-game song: Rap Most important thing for this season: Supporting each other and working hard

Position: Linebacker Favorite pre-game snack: Peanuts Pre-game song: “Liberation” by Outkast Most important thing for this season: Tackling!

40 | SPORTS | OCTOBER

Position: Midfield wing Favorite pre-game snack: Almonds Pre-game song: “Burnin’ Up” by Jonas Brothers Most important thing for this season: Finishing the ball (scoring)

Position: 4x800m, 1600, 3200m & 5000m Favorite pre-game snack: Variety of fluids Pre-game song: No music, relax and visualize Most important thing for this season: Train hard and stay healthy

Position: Tight End/Wide Receiver Favorite pre-game snack: PB&J Pre-game song: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC Most important thing for this season: The two a day practices and how we worked as a team and really bonded

Photos & page design by Julia McElligott

Volleyball phenom returns

Former four-year varsity player comes back to McLean as a coach JACK SHIELDS SPORTS EDITOR

he first freshman at McLean High School to make varsity volleyball, Angela Pubal, has returned to the program— but this time, she’s here as a coach. Players and coaches have already expressed high praise for the new varsity head coach, and she is quickly making an impact on the McLean volleyball program. Pubal’s career began when she was 8 years old, playing club volleyball in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She moved to Northern Virginia when she was in eighth grade, attending Longfellow Middle School and then McLean. Pubal played on the varsity team for all four years of high school. “She was an extremely talented player. She was the player that I would never take off the court; she played almost every minute of every game from when she was a freshman to a senior,” said Steve Stotler, current program assistant and Pubal’s former coach. She made a name for herself as one of the most versatile players McLean has ever seen, being able to play any position asked of her. She has played as an outside hitter and the libero, the player who stays in the back row with a different colored jersey and is specialized in defensive skills. Pubal’s impressive high school career earned her a spot in the college recruiting process, though she eventually opted not to play past her high school years. “I went through the entire college

recruiting process; I emailed tons of schools and coaches, made a video and all that, and just decided that it wasn’t my forte,” Pubal said. “I definitely wanted to focus on college and friends; the crazy schedule just wasn’t for me.” Pubal graduated from West Virginia University in 2013 and returned to Northern Virginia to work at the American Association of Political Consultants as a marketing manager. She fell into coaching shortly after. She was involved in a successful Langley High School volleyball campaign just a year ago as an assistant coach, and she plans to continue striving for success. “Last year [Langley] won states, again unfortunately, but it was awesome, it was really cool to be on that kind of coaching staff and get that far and win states,” Pubal said. Pubal’s return filled a hot seat in McLean sports. “This year, McLean [was] looking for somebody new and people were telling me that I should think about it,” Pubal said. “[Director of Student Activities] Mr. Miller reached out to see if I was interested and then, here we are.” Pubal, who was initially concerned with a lack of coaching experience has had only slight issues with the adjustment. “[Coaching] is really hard, actually,” Pubal said. “You don’t realize how much you want to be out there and be playing until you’re

stuck on the sideline.” Pubal has excelled in creating positive relationships with her players and assistant coaches. “Seeing her in a coaching role is nice for me to see, I think it fits her well,” Stotler said. “She’s handled [the transition to coaching] really well. I think it’s been an eye-opener to her, but she’s doing a good job right now.” Players admire her knowledge of the game and efforts to always be improving. “I love Coach Pubal. She gives really good advice and does really good drills,” junior Claire Allen said. “She really takes what we do wrong in games and works on it in practice.” Pubal’s new role has fueled her passion for coaching, and she has a strong vision to improve and reach new heights. “There’s always [room for] improvement. I think we have a lot of good players. We lost a lot of key seniors who graduated, so it’s really good to see these girls step up. We’re trying to improve across the board, but particularly our movement,” Pubal said. “We really have a good mix of defense and offense this year and we have some really big hitters. I hope this year we can make it to the district finals and win the district title. I’m hoping for the best. Knock on wood!” One thing’s for sure—the McLean community will be knocking on wood for Pubal and her team. PUT ME IN, COACH — Varsity volleyball coach Angela Pubal calmly watches her team play in a rally against Herndon on Sept. 27. Under Pubal’s coaching, the team won in three sets. (Photo by Julia McElligott)

Page design by Ben Brooks

OCTOBER | SPORTS | 41

Rebounding for relevance WNBA players lead movement for equal pay JACK SHIELDS SPORTS EDITOR NICKY VARELA REPORTER

he NBA currently dominates the scene of national basketball, grossing $2.66 billion per season from TV broadcasting rights. The ABC, ESPN, NBA TV and TNT networks draw an average of 1.28 million viewers per night primarily through live NBA broadcasts. The NBA’s success is unprecedented in basketball history. Recently, however, WNBA players have called out the NBA for the large imbalance among salaries between women and their male counterparts. WNBA salaries are extremely low in comparison to the paychecks of NBA players. WNBA players make an estimate of $75,000 on average per season, while NBA players make on average $5.15 million. The most well known reason for this imbalance is the average annual income among each league and individual teams. The NBA accumulated over $8 billion in 2017, while the WNBA made only $50 million that same year, according to Adam Grosbard of Dallas Morning News. This significant imbalance has led to players such as Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins publicly expressing their frustration towards the situation. “ESPN will show you everything LeBron ate before they’ll show you a WNBA highlight,” Diggins said in an interview with Wealthsimple. Ultimately, it comes down to the WNBA’s inability to be properly advertised. “These women believe they are the leaders of their sport and they are putting in the same amount of work as their male counterparts,” said Jen Sobota, head coach of girls varsity basketball. Perhaps one of the most prevalent issues for the WNBA is how WNBA teams are owned and managed. When the WNBA was founded, the National Basketball Association owned the competition, along with their own NBA league. In 2002, however, they began to sell

WNBA teams to individual NBA owners. Unfortunately, these owners fail to provide as much financial commitment to female teams in comparison to male teams. Additionally, the WNBA currently has a less competitive layout, with only 12 teams in the league compared to the NBA's 30. Of those 12, only eight make the playoffs, a whopping two-thirds of the league. As a result, the playoffs become less competitive as almost every team qualifies, meaning the postseason isn’t a true visual of the WNBA's elite teams.

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THESE WOMEN BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE THE LEADERS OF THEIR SPORT AND ARE PUTTING IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.” — JEN SOBOTA

GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL COACH

Under these circumstances, it’s no surprise that the NBA receives higher media attention throughout their regular and playoff seasons. This results in far less publicity for the teams of the WNBA who fail to draw new viewers each season, Ultimately, this will damage the annual income of both the league and its teams. “Once you get to that [professional] level you have to realize it’s a

WNBA

$75K

business,” boys varsity basketball coach Mike O’Brien said. “In the WNBA, their business model and revenue stream is different.” Sobota and O'Brien, who coached the girls varsity basketball team for nine years, both see how the unfortunate pattern of women’s sports is also present in the McLean community. “There's simply more interest in men’s basketball compared to women’s,” Sobota said. “The only inequality I've noticed between boys and girls basketball at McLean is the amount of support given by the school community.” This is most evident in the relative game turnouts for boys and girls basketball games. McLean can enhance the women’s sports movement by providing additional support for its female athletes. In nearly all of McLean's sports, female athletes don't receive the same level of attention that males do. Regardless, there is still hope for female sporting on both professional and amateur levels. By supporting female athletes who play for high school and teams on the WNBA, fans may help to expand the boundaries of women’s basketball and the community of female sporting as a whole.

NBA

$5.15 MILLION EACH YEAR

EACH YEAR

42 | SPORTS | OCTOBER

Statistics from Forbes|Infographic & page design by Imani McCormick

k r a P Ella of the Issue

e t e l h t A

When did you start playing volleyball? I started playing on a house league in fourth grade, then I got competitive in fifth grade, and I did my first full season in sixth grade, and I’ve been playing ever since. Why did you start playing volleyball? It was just one of those sports that every girl tries and then I just really liked it because I really like team sports. It was just really fun to play. What is your favorite part of volleyball? I like how everyone is responsible for knowing how to do everything—it’s a team thing. I really like team sports and how everyone can be a leader, everyone can shine, but you have to accredit everything to the team.

: s e d a l o c Ac

n F r e s h m a et te r ll S Vo l l e y b a

What is your most memorable moment? Regionals [is my favorite memory]. Last year, we qualified for nationals and we got to go to Detroit and play. I remember that whole tournament and how well we played. What is the hardest part of the sport? Coaches that yell at you. And if I make a lot of mistakes, it’s hard to keep my head up. A setter has to touch the ball basically every point. It’s hard when you make consecutive mistakes and lose the entire point for your team. How is McVolleyball different from club teams? Even though I’m younger than the older girls, they are all really nice. I don’t feel younger. I feel like a part of the team—they are really inclusive. It’s really fun. I get to know people before school starts.

yball arsity volle club team v n o n a Freshm lly with d nationa Compete 200 in US m is in top Club tea

Reporting by Skye Sunderhauf | Photo by Anna Brykczynski | Page design by Bryan Chung

OCTOBER | SPORTS |43

THE

FINISH LINE

How well does the field hockey program know their coach? We asked a player and her co-coach questions about Kieran Brady.

FIELD GO-TO STARBUCKS HOCKEY ORDER WHAT IS COACH BRADY’S...

HEATHER GEISLER

BROOKE SLONIN

CHEEZ-ITS

BURRITOS

DREAM DESTINATION

THE CARIBBEAN OR IRELAND

IRELAND

NO IDEA

SUPERPOWER

FLYING

LIGHTNING SPEED

INVISIBILITY

TARDINESS

PEOPLE TALKING WHEN SHE’S COACHING

BAD REFEREES

FAVORITE THING ABOUT COACHING

MAKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

SEEING ME EVERY DAY

THE KIDS’ EXCITEMENT

GO-TO STARBUCKS ORDER

GRANDE CARAMEL ICED COFFEE WITH NON-FAT MILK

REGULAR ICED COFFEE

FAVORITE SNACK

BIGGEST PET PEEVE

44 | SPORTS | OCTOBER

KIERAN BRADY VARSITY CO-COACH

SENIOR VARSITY CAPTAIN

VARSITY CO-COACH

Page design by Anya Chen & Maren Kranking Photos & reporting by Talia Blakemore & Maren Kranking