The Highlander - Issue 2 - November 2018

Volume LXIII • Issue 2 • November 2018 • McLean High School • thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

CONTENTS NEWS 3

Controversy surrounds homecoming activites

4

School board makes diploma changes

5

PTSA introduces Wellness Wednesdays

6

Mathspace receives mixed reviews

7

Administration looks to install interior cameras

8

Area private schools eliminate AP courses

9

Pride is celebrated from the library to the field

IN-DEPTH ON THE COVER 22-27 THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: FCPS faces backlash for treatment of sexual harassment accusations Cover photo illustration by Maren Kranking

OPINIONS 33

Editorial: McLean should not weight grades

34

Affirmative action should be based on income level, not race

FEATURES

35

Colleges should focus less on standardized tests

10

Teachers and students discuss women in STEM

36

Ivy League universities are not worth it

11

Interesting electives offered at McLean

37

Black Friday does not meet expectations

13

10Qs w Christopher Dobson

38

Opposition cannot handle Trump’s success

14-15 17

Highlander of the Issue: Josh Koop

Getting to know the custodians

18-19

Tysons: America’s next great city

A&E 20-21

Spotlight on theater: Urinetown

28

Sheck Wes drops disappointing album

29

Honest reviews of cafeteria food

31

YouTube meets psychology with Jake Paul

32

Fahrenheit 11/9 stirs controversy

4 14-15

SPORTS 39

Jonathan Zou places 11th in state for golf

40

Former McLean athletes further their careers

41

Athletes suffer a range of injuries

42

Football sets sights on improvement

43

Athlete of the Issue: Leila Ilkhanoff

44

Finish Line: cross country

36-37 22-27

Letter from the Editors Dear McLean, Winter is coming in hot, and so is The Highlander!

Observing the debate caused by the approval of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court on Oct. 6, our In-Depth this issue focuses on the treatment of both victims and accused perpetrators of sexual assault within Fairfax County.

The piece uncovers a slew of recent cases brought against the Fairfax County School Board regarding violations of Title IX pertaining to the handling of sexual misconduct allegations. Still, we emphasize the positive aim of McLean’s administration and the necessity for student action in the opposition of greater administrative faults within FCPS. While the In-Depth will certainly be an interesting read, we encourage you to flip through our other sections as well.

The entire staff has dedicated a lot of effort to this issue and we cannot wait for you to read it!

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

Volume LXIII • Issue 2 • November 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 Section Editors

News Editors

Dana Edson & Nicholas Lohman

Features Editors

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 Reporters

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

Elizabeth Humphreys Emma Johnson Haine Jung Waseema Khan Isaac Lamoreaux Cordelia Lawton Rohan Mani Dua Mobin Sam Naemi Brooke Newell Eren Parla

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

Adviser 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.

Issue 1 corrections - A total of $52,000 was raised for the construction of the weight room: $30,000 from donor Anton Levy, $15,000 from the boosters’ golf tournament and $7,000 from email donations - English teacher Seth LeBlanc loves Sour Patch Kids

‘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 ‘18 Crown Finalist ‘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, ‘18 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

Printed by aPrintis

Era coming to an end?

NEWS

Boys dance team cut, leadership to make decision on future of Powderpuff KATIE ROMHILT REPORTER

T

he fall of every school year brings plenty of exciting activities for students: homecoming, pep rallies and the annual girls Powderpuff flag football game. However, due to gender-based issues, some controversy has arisen regarding the exclusion of boys from playing Powderpuff while the senior boys dance team has already been eliminated.

While Powderpuff will likely remain a part of the homecoming traditions for now, its future is unclear.

“The school board has said [schools] need to look at all of our [activities] with an equitable lens,” Principal Ellen Reilly said.

“Are there single-sex things out there that are occurring in all of our schools that would exclude somebody from being a part of it?”

The Powderpuff flag football game is currently played on McLean’s field during the week preceding homecoming. The game is played between the girls of the senior and junior classes, and participants have turned the game into a serious competition.

“I had a really fun time [participating in Powderpuff] and I was able to learn [about] a new sport and the different aspects of it,” junior Kayla Eksteen said. “It incorporated a lot of things that I’ve learned from other sports, which was fun because I was able to showcase that.”

Many hope to see the Powderpuff game live on as a tradition that brings the upperclassmen together for a fun night.

Proceeds from the game also support a good cause.

“I hope Powderpuff continues next year, because it’s another opportunity for the school to come together to support a great cause: breast cancer,” Eksteen said. “It’s also been a tradition at our school for years, and it’d be sad if [the Class of 2020] wouldn’t be able to experience this tradition next year as seniors.”

One change that has already been made to the homecoming season traditions is the elimination of the senior boys dance team. In previous years they performed light-hearted, humorous dances at homecoming pep rallies.

The boys dance team tradition has led to several points of contention in the past.

In 2014, the South County High School boys dance team attracted a lot of negative attention after making a reference to drug use and hinting at sexual actions in their dance. This led to the FCPS school board sending out a letter to all schools saying the schools no longer have their support with a boys dance team.

“For the last three years, kids had been coming up to me and...I would approve the dance, and it’s just not tolerated anymore,” Reilly said.

Page design by Katie Romhilt | Photo by Maren Kranking

Now, in 2018, with other movements and conflicts, McLean is hesitant to continue to pursue the activity. After the boys dance team was eliminated, the school board asked schools to look at their other practices and the labels given to them in hopes to fix the gender-discrimination problem.

Reilly was also concerned the boys dance team could be seen as mocking the school dance team and would take away from the hard work that team puts in.

“The [competitive] dance team...works so hard at what they do,” Reilly said. “They truly are passionate about what they do, they are excellent at what they do, and that time at the pep rally, it was about them.”

While the boys dance team will not be returning, issues surrounding activities like Powderpuff have been brought to McLean’s leadership students to look at. They will deal with the dilemma of deciding how these activities will progress and fit within McLean’s culture in an appropriate way.

“I honestly think [single-gender clubs] are going to disappear sooner then we’d expect,” SGA President Tori Lam said. “I didn’t expect to see Powderpuff and the boys dance team go, even my senior year. So I don’t know if there’s much we can do about it because people would view it as bias or gender discrimination if you tried to keep people from other genders out.”

NOVEMBER | NEWS | 3

Standard Diploma requirements change

School board votes to lower number of history and science credits JESSICA OPSAHL-ONG OPINIONS EDITOR REBEKA RAFI AD MANAGER & FEATURES EDITOR

A

s FCPS discusses possible changes of its course structures, certain requirements have come under scrutiny. On Oct. 11, the school board had a vote which proposed changing the Standard Diploma requirments to allow for more areas of flexibility, resulting in changes in the number of history and science credits.

“What FCPS asked maybe about a year ago was to research where there are potential openings for student choice within the graduation requirements,” said Craig Perrier, the FCPS curriculum and instruction specialist for social studies and the Student Advisory Council (SAC) co-sponsor.

The school board motioned to change the requirements in the subjects of history and science to match the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) standards. These changes will be implemented in the 2019-20 school year if final approval from VDOE is given.

“

THESE CHANGES, IF APPROVED, WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STUDENT CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY.” — JENNIFER GLASER DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS “Fairfax [County] has a requirement that you have to take three different types of science, but the state only requires two,” Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery said.

FCPS is now looking to add another science course option for future freshmen.

“VDOE is introducing a new option for ninth grade science: Environmental Science.

All students will still be expected to take 4 | NEWS | NOVEMBER

STANDARD DIPLOMA CHANGES SUBJECTS CURRENT REQUIREMENTS 2019-20 REQUIREMENTS HISTORY

4 CREDITS

3 CREDITS

SCIENCE

3 CREDITS 3 TYPES

3 CREDITS 2 TYPES

Biology in high school, but some students may take Environmental Science before Biology,” said Jennifer Glaser, the FCPS director of counseling and college and career readiness.

The school board also decided to change history credit requirements from four to three, meaning students would only be required to take one World History course.

Outside of changing the number of credits, this would affect the order and types of courses being taken.

“If the diploma goes from four to three, what World History does that impact? Do we want students to take World 1? Take World 2? Take a combination of both? Allow them to choose?” Perrier said.

With the many decisions that have to be made before these changes are implemented, the school board is using separate entities to recommend the most favorable course of action. One such source would be the SAC. “The SAC’s role is to advise FCPS on actually changing the policy because a lot of the board members of FCPS want to consider students’ opinions when it comes to this kind of change in diploma,” SAC representative junior Sarah Gu said.

The SAC held a meeting before the school board vote to go over the proposed changes, and an informal vote found that a slight majority preferred increasing options for flexibility in course schedules.

This factored into the school board’s decision in October, along with a presentation prepared by a steering committee.

“The steering committee consisted of representation from across the school division and met several times to review options for each of the content areas,” Glaser said. “The steering committee members came to consensus on recommendations for each content area.”

Other changes have been discussed by the committee and the SAC, including adjustments in the areas of P.E. and world language.

However, these changes are in the early stages of development and need further discussion before being voted on by the school board.

“The most complex and the most widely debated topic was the change for gym class...because it is very hard to implement something new, and a lot of different teachers and students had very different opinions,” Gu said.

The steering committee has discussed various potential changes to the P.E. requirements, including varsity athletes being exempt and different waiver options for middle schoolers, such as online P.E. Offering level one of world languages in seventh grade has also been discussed by the steering committee, and some FCPS schools are already piloting it.

FCPS aims to increase flexibility in students’ schedules through all of these proposals.

“These changes, if approved, will provide additional student choice and flexibility,” Glaser said.

Infographic by Anya Chen| Page design by Jessica Opsahl-Ong & Rebeka Rafi

A new way to welcome Wednesday PTSA implements Wellness Wednesdays as part of a stress less initiative NICHOLAS LOHMAN NEWS EDITOR

T

he fond childhood memories of meticulously molding Play-Doh into creative shapes and sipping on cool glasses of lemonade have reentered the lives of Highlanders. Wellness Wednesdays, along with other student-run, school and PTSA stress-less initiatives, have brought playful activities and mental health awareness programs to the halls of McLean.

Although the PTSA Health and Wellness Committee is not new, it implemented Wellness Wednesdays this fall. Wellness Wednesdays are an extension of the therapy dog program the PTSA introduced a few years ago which provides students with an opportunity to de-stress during lunch.

“We just feel like the students are really, really busy and have a lot going on and so we’re trying to think of...activities to bring kids together to have fun together,” said Kim Todd, a member of the PTSA Health and Wellness committee.

Students have been pleasantly surprised that they are allowed to partake in such relaxing activities at school.

“When we were doing Play-Doh on the first day [of Wellness Wednesdays], one girl walked up and had just this shocked look on her face and was like, ‘Really, we can actually just play?’ I just loved the way she said that,” Todd said. “We were not asking her to do anything, [she] could just play, and that was definitely my favorite moment about that day.”

Wellness Wednesdays give busy students much-needed distractions from stressful moments in their daily life.

“I get to be with friends and experience all of the [activities], whether it’s putty or sand or whatever is available,” sophomore Victoria Sanchez said.

Page design by Nicholas Lohman

CALMING COLORS — A student takes advantage of Wellness Wednesday coloring books on Oct. 17. Coloring is one of the fun PTSA-designed activities aimed at reducing high school stress. (Photo by Jessica Opsahl-Ong) One of the committee’s goals is to work more with McLean’s mental health-focused student organizations.

“If we can all work together and create some things that are really fun for students and stress relieving, we can all be doing the same things,” Todd said. “We don’t have to have like four different clubs all doing different things.”

“

STUDENTS ARE REALLY, REALLY BUSY...AND SO WE’RE TRYING TO THINK OF...ACTIVITIES TO BRING KIDS TOGETHER TO HAVE FUN TOGETHER.” — KIM TODD MEMBER OF PTSA HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE These clubs include Minds Matter and Sources of Strength which focus on promoting positivity and other methods of improving students’ mental health.

Additionally, new clubs like the Serenity Club represent a broader movement at McLean to mitigate the amount of stress that students experience.

Currently these clubs are focused on increasing engagement with the student body.

“We want to bring in food in the morning like hot chocolate,” said senior Ella Sangree, a student leader in Minds Matter and Sources of Strength. “We’re trying to figure that out for the winter and really just a wide range of things and different activities that students can do to take their minds off things.”

Although these initiatives are an attempt to reduce stress at school, many students still fear that McLean’s stressful atmosphere will never be eradicated.

“Due to the incredibly competitive environment at McLean, the stress...will never really disappear,” Sangree said. “[But] I feel like we can definitely reduce [stress] through reducing the stigmas around mental health and really advocating for students.”

Sangree believes that McLean’s embrace of such a serious topic is a major step forward in combating mental health issues.

“We really just need to open up the discussion in our community [about mental health in order to] achieve great strides in reducing the levels of stress,” Sangree said.

NOVEMBER| NEWS | 5

Mathspace divides the pi New online math program receives mixed reviews MARINA QU REPORTER HAINE JUNG REPORTER

A

student sits in front of the computer, typing a long answer containing parentheses within radicals, radicals within irrational numbers and trigonometric values, but the only feedback is a yellow streak, indicating an inaccurate answer.

This scene may be familiar to many

*Data gathered from a poll of 100 McLean students

6 | NEWS | NOVEMBER

students this year, as McLean is a model school for the Mathspace program.

Mathspace was integrated into FCPS this year after the county's search for new applications to supplement textbooks.

“Mathspace’s proposal was far and above the others in the way [the company] responded to our requirements,” FCPS Mathematics Specialist Jennifer Allard said. “[They] included alignment to our standards in Algebra I through Precalculus as well as options to support students who need additional review in earlier content, the capacity for differentiation and opportunities for students to engage in problem solving and building conceptual understanding.”

Mathspace has received positive and negative reviews from both students and teachers.

Students report having problems in typing in answers, finding the “tips” ambiguous or unhelpful and feeling limited with the program's restrictive methods to approaching a math problem.

“I find it really annoying that I might not put in exactly what they want and [the system] will keep prompting me,” sophomore Sophia Powell said. “Doing [math homework] online is very hard compared to writing it.”

Despite students’ discomfort with many of Mathspace’s features, administrators are confident that students can overcome these difficulties.

“I think students will get used to the interface and [grow] more comfortable with the methods and conventions for entering answers, whether using the handwriting recognition or the keyboard and math symbols method,” Allard said.

Teachers recognize some of the positive features of Mathspace such as the dashboard feature that displays students’ progress in each unit. “[Teachers] get to see immediately what things [students] need to be re-taught on.

When I see [that] one area [has] lots and lots of greens and one area that is consistently red for everyone, I know I can go back and reteach it,” math teacher Ginnie Quarry-Ward said.

Nonetheless, since math is a subject that requires step-by-step processes, some say that an online program makes it difficult for students to organize their steps and thoughts more elaborately.

“Writing things down for math specifically is a better way to learn, because when you’re typing things, it isn’t fully registering with your brain,” freshman Mary Steinbecker said.

At the same time, as technology plays an increasingly prominent role in the professional world, the administration intends to prepare students for their future academic lives and careers with the use of online programs.

“These are the resources that are going to be used when you go to college,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “I understand that some kids are struggling because they don’t like doing math on their computer…but we’re hopefully blending [paper and online resources] together. That’s the hope.”

Students and teachers have suggestions to make this online program more beneficial for students.

“I think that...instead of having to [type in your answer] on a keyboard, you [should] have a pad where you click in the answer, and I also think that they shouldn’t be so restrictive when it comes to how you solve the problem,” Steinbecker said.

While many teachers have incorporated Mathspace into their curriculums immediately, other teachers are assigning homework or classwork on Mathspace at a relatively slower pace.

“Some teachers rave about it and are excited to have it," Allard said. "Others are more cautious and express both pros and cons but are willing to continue to learn and find the best ways to use it."

With the benefits and drawbacks of the new program in mind, teachers are prioritizing the quality of students’ learning experiences through Mathspace.

“I am willing to try something different,” math teacher Linda Johnson said. “Nothing is perfect and the Mathspace motto is ‘The right help at the right time,’ so I am ready to give it a try.”

Page design by Haine Jung & Marina Qu | Infographic by Anya Chen

Smile, you’re on camera Security cameras make their way into the building CAMILLE BLAKEMORE REPORTER

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tudents hop out of cars, grumbling as they walk into the rock entrance before school. On the other side of the school, a student buzzes the intercom to enter the breezeway doors. Later, freshman gym classes head out to the stadium. These scenarios are playing out in real time on the McLean security monitor every day.

Currently, cameras are only located outside the school building, but the McLean security team and administration are working to add interior cameras.

“The new cameras are going to go in the hallways, the cafeteria, the lower gym, maybe the upper gym, basically any sort of public area. They don’t go in bathrooms, they don’t go in locker rooms, they don’t go in classrooms,” assistant principal Jeff Barham said.

Safety and Security Specialist Buddy Sekely said the installment of security cameras is long overdue.

“If we’re not the last high school to get [interior] cameras, we’re one of the few [left] because when we underwent our renovation, the cameras were not approved for [either] indoor or outdoor [use],” Sekely said.

Another aspect of the proposal aims to improve existing cameras.

WATCHING YOUR BACK — Safety and Security Specialist Buddy Sekely observes McLean through a security monitor. McLean is aiming to add interior cameras in the near future. (Photo by Camille Blakemore) “We’re going to hopefully revamp exterior cameras and get better equipment out there, because the new cameras are much better resolution, so we can see things a lot more clearly,” Sekely said.

Though the cameras will have optimal viewing capability, by no means is the team planning on using constant human

Infographic by Anya Chen| Page design by Camille Blakemore

surveillance to monitor the school.

“By regulation, we [can’t] monitor all day. We would rather have our security people building relationships with students,” Barham said.

Legally, the recording is only allowed to hold a maximum of 30 days of footage.

McLean tends to retain film for 15 to 20 days.

In the past, there were several instances when cameras would’ve been beneficial. One such occurrence was in February 2016, when the band room cash box was broken into.

“The band director informed us the day after [the break in], and he told us we should no longer put money inside that box,” senior Erin Kim said. “If there were [cameras], we would’ve known if [they] were to steal something else.”

Sekely believes the installment of interior security cameras will have a positive effect on the safety of McLean’s students and faculty alike.

“Interior cameras really [bode] well for safety,” Sekely said. “[They’re] just a general great deterrent for inappropriate or criminal behavior.”

NOVEMBER | NEWS | 7

Local private schools eliminate AP classes Seven local private schools have decided to replace their AP courses NOLAN FITZSIMMONS REPORTER MATTHEW ABBOTT REPORTER even local private schools have decided to band together and announce the elimination of their AP classes by the 2022 school year. These schools are Georgetown Day, Holton-Arms, Landon, National Cathedral, the Potomac School, Sidwell Friends and St. Albans.

This decision is based on the desire for a curriculum that places more of an emphasis on quality of classroom learning as opposed to quantity of material covered, according to an article in The Washington Post. These schools believe that AP courses currently are too restrictive, putting too much focus on memorizing large amounts of material for end-of-year AP exams.

AP courses at these schools will be replaced by equally challenging classes that will put more of an emphasis on going deeper into specific subjects and on how the subject relates to current events.

Senior Aaron Yu, who enrolled in seven AP classes during his junior year, disagrees with the idea that too much emphasis is placed on memorization.

“They really do go in-depth on many things. Many classes like AP Lang go indepth on training you how to apply and use different solutions to write your essays,” Yu said.

Although these new classes will not be listed as APs on a college transcript, colleges understand they will still be very rigorous and will still be similar to AP classes in many ways.

“We would give you the weight of an AP class as we recalculated your GPA for our committee,” said Amy Hayes, the director of admissions for Birmingham-Southern College.

Students think that colleges will still take a look at the big picture that may include many extracurricular activities, while significantly valuing a strong course load that may include many AP classes.

“I believe if you want to get into a better school, they’re looking for people who are more well-rounded and do really well in school while challenging themselves,” junior Claudine Luo said.

All of the aforementioned private schools

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NOVEMBER | NEWS | 8

have tuition rates often exceeding $40,000 per year, so families with the means to afford them would not likely need any of the financial savings earned by receiving college credit for obtaining high scores on numerous AP exams. Also, many colleges don’t even give credit to students for AP exams, which is something classes have been criticized for.

This decision is not likely to impact the opinions of McLean students on whether or not to take AP classes, as they are still the most rigorous classes offered.

“

THESE SCHOOLS ARE NOT ELIMINATING AP. THEY’RE JUST NOT CALLING THEIR CLASSES ‘AP’ ANYMORE.” — CYNTHIA HAWKINS AP COORDINATOR “I think APs hold a common prestige across schools at the moment, so at least the colleges know I took a perceivably challenging class,” Yu said.

Cynthia Hawkins, the AP Coordinator for McLean High School, does not believe that the private schools’ elimination of AP classes convey a major change in their curriculum.

“These schools are not eliminating AP— they’re just not calling their classes ‘AP’ anymore. They’re still going to offer the test, and they’re still going to teach a rigorous curriculum,” Hawkins said.

She also questions the private schools’ level of meaningful deviation from the AP curriculum.

“In my view, I don’t see what they’re doing to be anything different than what I do in my class, which is teach historical thinking skills for AP US History, teach critical thinking, offer students the opportunity to inquire and study and think about things that they like,” Hawkins said.

While the private schools criticize AP

classes for not allowing enough flexibility in teaching, Hawkins disagrees.

“There’s a lot more flexibility for teachers to do things like project-based learning and inquiry-based learning,” Hawkins said. She concedes that this “didn’t always used to be the case for AP classes.”

AP classes have been highly respected due to their ability to create national standards at an advanced level, something that helps colleges and high schools compare students across the country.

“There are a lot of schools across our nation that do not have access to a rigorous curriculum, and AP is the closest thing that we have to a national rigorous curriculum at that college level that is accessible to high school students that allows everyone theoretically to be able to access it and do those advanced things,” Hawkins said.

While FCPS has not taken the elimination of AP classes into serious consideration, McLean has made some changes to its teaching of AP courses in the recent past that have helped move its teaching of them closer to what private schools are advocating.

“We have already been changing our approach to AP. I think that Portrait of a Graduate and Fairfax County have really changed our focus on what students are doing in the classroom, as opposed to this idea of teacher being keeper of all of the knowledge to having students being actively engaged in class,” Hawkins said. from 1997 to 2016 from 1997 to 2016

12,022 12,022 12,022

from 1997 to 2016

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS OFFERING AP CLASSES NUMBER OF SCHOOLS OFFERING AP CLASSES NUMBER NUMBER OF OF SCHOOLS OFFERING AP CLASSES

2,611,172 2,611,172 581,554 581,554 581,554 2,872 4,199 2,872 2,872 4,199 NUMBER OF STUDENTS STUDENTS TAKING AP NUMBER OF TAKING AP CL ASSES STUDENTS CL ASSES TAKING AP CL ASSES

Statistics obtained from Statistics CollegeBoard obtained from CollegeBoard Statistics

NUMBER OF COLLEGES ACCEPTING AP CREDITS NUMBER OF COLLEGES ACCEPTING AP CREDITS obtained from CollegeBoard NUMBER OF COLLEGES ACCEPTING AP CREDITS

Infographic by Anya Chen | Page design by Nolan Fitzsimmons

Highlanders show their pride Support for LGBTQ+ community prevalent throughout the school ZACH ANDERSON REPORTER CORDELIA LAWTON REPORTER

T

here are costs to joining the LGBTQ+ community. The threat of discrimination is not uncommon and, in extreme cases, serious hate crimes are committed against those who identify as part of that community.

“Twenty years ago, in Wyoming, [Matthew Shepard] was targeted by some individuals because he was gay. They basically tortured and left [him] tied to a fence in a very rural area where it was very cold in October, and [he was] basically left to die,” librarian Linda Shankle said. “He was still alive when they found him, but he died in the hospital.”

His death has left a lasting impact on many members and allies of the community.

On Oct. 26, the school librarians set up a memorial to recognize the 20-year anniversary of Shepard’s death. Shepard’s ashes were interred at the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. that same day.

“The librarians are always doing stuff for [LGBTQ+] awareness, like in June they do a huge display, they do stuff for [LGBTQ+] history month, they’re always asking me and the GSA what titles they can add to the library,” Gender Sexuality Alliance sponsor Seth LeBlanc said. “I think it was really sweet for them to put up the explanation of what it was, because I think a lot of kids knew what was happening [regarding Shepard],

but don’t know what it’s about at all, so it’s awesome that they did that.”

Also around McLean, the cheerleaders wore rainbow ribbons to show their support.

“We’re wearing the bows at the game and we’re wearing it in support of members of the LGBT community since it’s important to be able to express yourself without judgment,” junior Lucy Kehoe said.

Kehoe credited her varsity cheer teammate with organizing the ribbons around the school. “[My mom and I] came up with the idea of doing rainbow bows for the next game and doing little rainbow pins for the football players to wear,” junior Maddy Hecker said.

Students around the school can feel the support resonating throughout these efforts.

“I think [the ribbons are] really cool because [they’re] showing that people support the [LGBTQ+] community,” junior Maggie Callsen said, “which is really important in school since there’s not always equal representation and support from other people.”

This support comes at a much-needed time for the LGBTQ+ community. Recently, there has been multiple conflicts regarding rights for its members.

“I think sometimes our political climate has become harder for the LGBT community, so I think there’s a lot of work

REMEMBERING SHEPARD — Students gather around the memorial for Matthew Shepard displayed in the library on Oct. 26. (Photo by Zach Anderson)

CELEBRATING PRIDE — Freshman Atticus Gore and sophomore George Bridges show off their pride ribbons, which the cheerleaders wore to recent football games.

(Photo courtesy of Maddy Hecker)

left to do for people to respect each other and respect differences in people,” Shankle said. “So it’s just what we try to do in the library as things come up, to try to put out resources where people can read and become more knowledgeable about different things.”

The Northern Virginia area as a whole has been known for being more accepting than other places. The actions around the school and throughout Fairfax County support this idea.

Recently, McLean’s GSA attended a school board meeting where they officially announced October as LGBTQ+ history month for the first time ever.

“I think that, coming from the rural south, I’m still constantly surprised at how accepting both the community and the school is in regard to [LGBTQ+] issues,” LeBlanc said. “I think that Matthew Shepard’s ashes getting interred at the cathedral says a lot for gay people, but I think that trans issues get erased and ignored a lot, and I certainly think limiting the definition of what a human being can be is a really negative thing, and I think people are really starting to feel that. Trans students and allies are very afraid of what’s going to happen next and what that means. I’m positive that things will move forward.”

Page design by Zach Anderson

NOVEMBER | NEWS | 9

FEATURES

The physics of equality

Teachers and students reflect on women’s roles in STEM fields AVA ROTONDO REPORTER

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rom middle school science labs to awardwinning graduate research projects, scientists challenge the boundaries of knowledge with every discovery. Dr. Donna Strickland recently received the Nobel Prize in Physics in partnership with Gerard Mourou. Her developments in chirped pulse amplification improved laser impulses so that the lasers won’t destroy the amplifiers, solving a problem many scientists spent years puzzling over.

It’s been 55 years since a woman has won the Nobel Prize in Physics. Strickland is one of three women ever to become a physics laureate.

Strickland is becoming an example for young women who are interested in science, like the female students at McLean who are exploring their love for STEM in their extracurriculars. Sophomore Mia Hsu is an avid member of the robotics club.

“There [are] definitely less [girls interested in STEM] at McLean,” Hsu said. “[STEMbased clubs] definitely have been looking for girls.”

Physics teacher Claire Anton worked as a material engineer and became a program manager at Rockwell, an American aerospace company. She also participated in programs with the Air Force and NASA.

“There weren’t many women engineers around at the time,” Anton said. “You were the one woman in the room. You were the one woman working on the project. You were a standalone commodity.”

Science department head Christine Hicks noted that women are well-represented among the science faculty at McLean.

“I think in the science department...you see a lot of female [teachers],” Hicks said.

“Once you get out of secondary education, you see a lot fewer women.”

Outside McLean, women strive to make advancements in the sciences. Local material engineer Jessica Swallow works at a nonprofit organization as a technical researcher for government sponsors.

“In graduate school...I sometimes found myself as one of perhaps three women in a classroom of 25 or 30 people,” Swallow said.

The fact that it has taken 55 years to acknowledge a woman’s scientific achievements suggests that gender discrimination is still prevalent. Despite this ongoing issue, Swallow remains optimistic about the future.

“I do feel that women are underrepresented in many STEM fields, [but] I also think this has been improving over time,” Swallow said.

Having the resources to actually carry out research drives success.

“It’s hard to say if there’s any kind of gender

REMARKABLE ROBOTICS — Mia Hsu and Veda Hegde piece together their robot at a TSA meeting on Oct. 23. This robot is controlled by coding which students input into a computer program. (Photo by Ava Rotondo) 10 | FEATURES | NOVEMBER

“

YOU WERE THE ONE WOMAN IN THE ROOM. YOU WERE THE ONE WOMAN WORKING ON THE PROJECT… YOU WERE A STANDALONE COMMODITY.” — CLAIRE ANTON PHYSICS TEACHER & FORMER MATERIAL ENGINEER discrimination [in the sciences],” Anton said.

“It’s just that a lot of [one’s success] is not [based] only [on their] ability and drive, but it’s luck because you have to have the funding or [the project] isn’t going to work.”

Still, some feel that sexism is the ultimate barrier for women in science fields.

“I am willing to guess that there were women whose achievements were overlooked and that there was gender bias in it,” Hicks said.

Younger women pursuing STEM-based careers today confirm the fact that women are still underrepresented, but they see this in a positive light.

“There are not a lot of women in engineering,” said 2018 McLean graduate Sydney Grose, who is currently a mechanical engineering major at Auburn University.

“But, if anything, it has given me an advantage.”

With the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to Strickland, McLean’s science staff being over 50 percent female and students exploring their interests outside of the classroom, it seems like the science community is moving closer to equality.

“Try to gain useful skills as you direct your education... I advise learning to code,” Swallow said. “If you are really interested in something, pursue it. Figuring out what interests you can be an organic process and it pays off in the end.”

Page design by Ava Rotondo

Unique electives to consider

These uncommon electives offer diverse experiences EREN PARLA ONLINE NEWS EDITOR

ASTRONOMY

GOURMET & INTERNATIONAL FOODS

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Taught by Linda Gore in room S112

oncerning electives, a cooking class is likely one of the last things to come to mind for McLean students, yet Gourmet and International Foods serves as a beneficial experience for students by providing a better understanding of the different cultures of the world.

“We [practice] cooking skills, safety and sanitation at first,” Gourmet and International teacher Linda Gore said. “Then we move on to different foods around the world.”

The class also acts as a huge stress reliever.

“After working so hard in all of my other classes, cooking class brightens up my day,” sophomore Mohamed Mohamed said. “I enjoy every aspect of this class, especially the eating.”

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ompared to all of the other science electives offered, astronomy is often overlooked. Nonetheless, the course seeks to offer a unique experience through the use of McLean’s observatory.

“We are the only school in the DMV area to have an observatory,” Astronomy teacher Andrew Diller said.

McLean’s observatory provides valuable experience with astronomical equipment. To top it off, the class has a balanced workload.

“Since there is no AP exam at the end of they year, we can focus on teaching the aspects of astronomy students are more interested in,” Diller said.

DIGITAL ART

CREATIVE WRITING

Taught by Jennifer Jensen in room R193

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he Digital Art course is nothing close to an “easy A,” as it aims to teach skills necessary for future careers in art. An AP-level Digital Art course is also available.

“We learn Illustrator, we learn Photoshop, do some logo work and even animations,” Digital Art teacher Jennifer Jensen said.

“Graphic design skills definitely provide good career options for the future.”

Not only does it teach important computer skills, but the course is also a perfect place for anyone to do art.

“If you think you’re very tech savvy or if you think you’re artistic, you’re going to like this course,” Jensen said.

Photos by Eren Parla|Page design by Dasha Makarishcheva

Taught by Andrew Diller in room Y211

Taught by Seth LeBlanc in room B167

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t may not be an AP, but Creative Writing provides a lot more benefits than one might think.

“This class offers more than the typical curriculum and allows you a lot of creative freedom,” English teacher Seth LeBlanc said.

In the class, students can write about anything they desire, preparing them to be better writers in any genre. In fact, some of the students in this class have used their skills to improve upon the writing they have already done.

“Here, we allow students to write about their interests and help them be confident in their work,” LeBlanc said. “Being a good writer is all about being confident in your work.”

NOVEMBER | FEATURES | 11

www.TheWashingtonUpdate.com

12 | FEATURES | NOVEMBER

10 Qs with 10 Qs with

Christopher “Dobby” Dobson

(Physics Teacher) Photos & reporting by Sebastian Jimenez & Emily Jackson Page design by Dasha Makarishcheva

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

When I was in the 8th grade, I asked out a girl that I had a crush on by passing a note to her in the hallway and then I ran away from her because I was too embarrassed.

What came first—the chicken or the egg?

If you believe in creationism, then the chicken came first, but if you believe in evolution then the zygote to produce a new egg at the barrier between the chicken and the species that preceded it. Provided you’re willing to treat speciation as a distinct event, rather than a process, then the egg would’ve come from the species that preceded it.

If you were to teach another subject, what would it be?

I have a license to teach math, so the de facto answer is math, but I would love to teach a philosophy class.

What’s the dark side about being tall?

I’m 6’4” so I can’t fit in my van sideways, I have to go longways. Somewhere along the way it stops being beneficial and starts just being obnoxious. I can’t fit into most cars. It’s a pain in the butt to find pants because I have a 36-inch inseam—it’s longer than the largest size most stores will carry.

If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

A lawyer, more wishes and the source of the more wishes to give me more wishes. The purpose of the lawyer is in order to produce a sufficiently verbose and inassailable contract to get more wishes so I couldn’t be cheated.

Have you ever won an award?

I did FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) when I was in high school, and I went to state competition and they sent me over to nationals. I didn’t win at nationals, though. And when I was a Tiger Cub in the Cub Scouts, I won my Pinewood Derby first place.

How far have you traveled from home?

I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, and in the summer of 2017 I went to Santa Cruz, California, to teach physics to underprivileged students. I drove along the Pacific Coast highway.

What’s your favorite video game?

Minecraft. I adore Minecraft.

I’m probably going to have to say Minecraft. I love Minecraft so much. Mass Effect is a close second.

What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?

Oh gosh. When I was little there was this Dragon Ball Z movie.

I don’t remember what it was called, I don’t remember the plot, but I remember being forced to watch it by my older cousin and it scared me ****less.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I’m trying to think of a thing that’s school-appropriate to say. In the summer between high school and college, I loaded up a bunch of my friends in my minivan and we went on a road trip and slept in the back of the minivan between all the cities that we hit. We went to a couple concerts for singers that we liked. I visited my uncle and worked for him for a week to raise money to continue NOVEMBER to go on the|trip.

FEATURES | 13

HIGHLANDER OF THE ISSUE

Here’s the scoop on Koop

English teacher shares stories of his travels

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ANNA GRACE HOPKINS REPORTER BROOKE NEWELL REPORTER SABRINA VAZQUEZ FEATURES EDITOR

s he stands in the front of the class teaching about The Canterbury Tales, English teacher Josh Koop’s eyes drift to the map in the back of his classroom. He is reminded of his years of travel, all the places he’s been and his time teaching abroad. The start to these travels and eventually his teaching career were less than ordinary.

“I joined the U.S. Peace Corps. My motive there was just to broaden my inner self. The world is much bigger than my own world and I still didn’t know I was going to be a teacher at that point,” Koop said.

Koop joined the Peace Corps after he graduated from Biola University in California with a degree in philosophy. At that point in his life, Koop didn’t know he wanted to be a teacher. In fact, being a teacher was the last thing on his mind.

“I didn’t want to become a teacher because my dad was a teacher.

He taught for 40 years, and you don’t want to do what your dad does,” Koop said. “I studied philosophy at university because it was interesting.”

Little did he know, his time in the Peace Corps would drastically change his outlook on teaching. Due to his philosophy degree and his time as a tutor in college, Koop was selected to be an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher.

“So I was sent to south Thailand and they asked me to be an ESL teacher for two years because that was the most fitting [for] my diverse lack of skills,” Koop said.

14 | FEATURES | NOVEMBER

Despite his initial misgivings about becoming a teacher, Koop discovered he had a deep love for working with youth.

“Immediately, I loved the job. In particular, I realized I really found delight in working with young people,” Koop said. “It became very stark that I loved working in education—it was a beautiful thing working with young people.”

After his time in the Peace Corps, it was still not completely evident that he wanted to be a teacher. Koop applied for a teaching job primarily because he needed a job. After accepting a teaching position in his home state of California, he realized that education was what he wanted to do.

“Right away I was struck by how much I loved being with young people again, how delightful it was to my soul,” Koop said.

Quickly, Koop realized he had a deep appreciation for academia.

“I get to hear people’s stories and [get] to help them tell their stories and to build their arguments, their beliefs,” Koop said.

Koop has since been able to travel all over the world and share his love of teaching with students, including teaching in India for three months. Through his travels, Koop has been able to see some truly magnificent places.

“The northern mountains of Vietnam were mythical. California’s Sierra Nevadas and specifically Evolution Valley was one of the most tranquil places I’ve ever been. Oxford University was stunning—my favorite city in the world probably. Each has been very special to me,” Koop said.

Even though he moved to the east coast, the experiences Koop has had through his travels followed him to northern Virginia.

During his first year at McLean, his adventures have had an impact on his teaching, helping him to connect with his students.

“I think it is very interesting that he taught in Thailand,” senior Chris Davis said. “We actually had a conversation in Thai once in the middle of class.”

Outside of traveling for teaching, Koop enjoys just traveling to see unique places and learn new things. He has been able to explore a lot of different areas of the world.

“I’ve never been to South America or Africa, but [I’ve been to] all of Europe—every country, even the small countries—all of east, southeast, northeast and central Asia, Australia and New Zealand,” Koop said.

Koop’s travels have also given him another way to explore his love of nature. He has an affinity for everything outdoors, from hiking to simply running among the trees. Though these things bring Koop great joy, there is nothing that compares to his passion for rock climbing. “[Mountaineering is] similar to writing—when you’re doing something of simplicity you declutter your mind and your body and just focus,” Koop said. “I find myself most fully alive in those moments where I just worry about nothing else but the next step.”

While traveling, Koop was inspired to take up writing. He started writing as a way to keep his friends and family updated about his time in the Peace Corps, sending regular emails about his journey. “[Writing] was a way to extend people’s worlds into my little bubble and show them about other bubbles and connect them,” Koop said. “I really enjoyed telling people stories and telling about worlds and settings and conflicts and plots.”

Since then, Koop’s love of writing has only grown. He has written five unpublished books ranging from personal memoirs to historical fiction. Though Koop has found less time to write himself, he uses his passion for writing to help inspire others to write.

“Writing is a very important thing that someday I hope to rekindle,” Koop said. “I’ve chosen to teach people to gather their own voice, to walk with them as a collaborator in their writing process.”

His enthusiasm for teaching accompanied by his joyful presence in the classroom highlight Koop’s evident love of writing. “[He’s] enthusiastic and has so many interests which are seen through his teaching. He genuinely enjoys it,” Davis said.

Having been a teacher in many different learning environments, Koop’s style of teaching has changed over the years. Whether he’s teaching in India or McLean, one thing that never changes is the treatment of his students.

“He respects students the way he would respect his friends,” sophomore Alex Smurv said.

Koop brings a sense of excitement into his classes, and his students are taking notice.

“Koop is a fun teacher to have because it is very obvious that he loves teaching,” Davis said. “We as students feed off that and would like to learn more also.”

From Thailand to India to California, Koop has taught in a variety of learning environments. One thing he has done for all of his teaching career is the yearly class selfie. Koop takes a selfie with each of his classes to commemorate his time with his students.

“What got me into this job is [that] I like being with young people, and seeing life and growth and hope is beautiful,” Koop said.

“Being with young people is great and the picture is a symbol of that and our community.”

Page design by Anna Grace Hopkins | Photos courtesy of Josh Koop

THAT ROCKS — After climbing to the peak of Mt. Yuahan in Taiwan, Josh Koop smiles victoriously.

SEAS THE DAY — Koop and his wife Hanah enjoy the view at Ko Phi Phi in South Thailand.

TAKING TIME TO CHILL — Admiring the beauty of Mt. Cook National Park in New Zealand, Koop snaps a selfie with his wife to commemorate the moment.

NOVEMBER | FEATURES| 15

Meet the hidden heroes of McLean Get to know the custodians who keep this school running SEBASTIAN JIMENEZ OPINIONS EDITOR TESSA STENZEL REPORTER

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Francisco Ramos Hernandez

rancisco Ramos grew up in San Salvador, El Salvador, and recently moved to the U.S. He has been working at McLean for three months.

“If I’m being serious, as a child I never really imagined myself going to or living in the United States,” Ramos said.

Ramos never wanted to move until he got married. When he did move, he decided to find a job that would benefit others.

“My motivation for learning English is to be able to change jobs in order to work in the area that I studied,” Ramos said.

Ramos is currently in school studying English, on top of working as a custodian for McLean.

“I’m a person of service,” Ramos said. “I like to help others. I’m very patient and tolerant, both in and out of work.”

Ramos enjoys seeing how he can positively impact the students at school. He is always working throughout the day trying to help others.

“I always look to do the best job I can,” Ramos said.

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Adela Mendez

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dela Mendez recently joined the McLean community about three months ago, a contrast from her childhood in La Libertad, a province on the outskirts of El Salvador’s capital. She came to the U.S. 12 years ago.

“I’ve worked in restaurants here, but this is my favorite job. I actually love cleaning,” Mendez said. “I don’t know why I love it, but it’s always entertained me.”

Mendez said she loves to work as a custodian. The satisfaction of seeing the end result after cleaning up makes all the work worth it.

When Mendez isn’t cleaning up after the students, she tends to her kids.

“I have three kids. One boy that’s 24, and two daughters, who are 20 and 14 years old,” Mendez said.

In her spare time she likes to cook for her family.

“I absolutely love cooking,” Mendez said, “When I have time and one of my kids asks me, I cook. When I really want to, I take the whole day to do it.”

Mendez said the atmosphere the teachers create is something special about McLean.

“I love the teachers. To me, they’re the people that make the environment better,” Mendez said.

Ana Delgado

na Delgado has been working at McLean for 23 years. Originally from Colombia, she has moved back and forth several times.

“The first time I came here, it was to take it easy, but the second time was to learn English,” Delgado said. “Then I returned to my country, and I guess I was heartbroken so I came back.”

Delgado has studied at NOVA in the past, and she has a license to practice as an assistant dental hygienist. Even as a child, she remembers always being up for a challenge.

“I’m a very hard worker, ever since I was little, and I can tolerate everything,” Delgado said.

Delgado said she enjoys working in the school’s cafeteria because she loves to interact with the students.

Along with being surrounded by students, she also loves to sing and whistle throughout her day while she is working.

“I have worked everywhere in this school. But the part I have most liked is the cafeteria because it’s daytime, and I’m with the students, and I have a good companion who’s next to me every minute,” Delgado said.

She enjoys the love that the McLean community has given her.

“The teachers, the security guards and the administration have all been incredibly kind with us, and our supervisors too,” Delgado said.

Page design by Sebastian Jimenez | Photos by Sebastian Jimenez & Julia McElligott

NOVEMBER | FEATURES | 17

America’s next great city

New development in Tysons leading to a growing economy and overcrowding ZACH ANDERSON REPORTER CHARLEY ROTH-DOUQUET REPORTER

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ranes tower over the city, construction workers look over plans and trucks dump resources on site. Anybody who has visited Tysons recently has likely noticed the extensive construction and alterations coming to the city. The Tysons Board of Supervisors has been making development plans since the 1960s, when Tysons was just a simple intersection known as “Tysons Corner.”

“I’m excited to see what new buildings are coming to the area,” said junior Jerrick Bravo, resident of the Commons of McLean, a neighborhood in the city.

The Tysons Revitalization Program is the lead development group in charge of making plans for the city and ensuring that operations run smoothly. Brianne Fuller, the Tysons Revitalization Program Manager, is responsible for reviewing the work of different agencies, compiling the Tysons annual report and running the Tysons email.

“There is a lot of construction right now,” Fuller said. “[Some of the current examples are] The Boro, a couple blocks of Capital One and the Lumen Residential Building, which is about 2.6 million square feet.”

Students are excited about the anticipated development in Tysons.

“I definitely think it’s really amazing that Tysons is becoming ‘the place to be,’” said senior Naomi Berhe, who lives in Ovation at Park Crest in Tysons. “It’s super convenient to have everything at my disposal.”

The city’s newly planned construction will cause an increase in employment opportunity and residency within the surrounding area.

18 | FEATURES | NOVEMBER

“We’re planning on having 200,000 jobs and 100,000 residents at a rate of about four jobs per household,” Fuller said.

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IT’S REALLY AMAZING THAT TYSONS IS BECOMING ‘THE PLACE TO BE.’” — NAOMI BERHE

RESIDENT OF OVATION AT PARK CREST

This could cause more overcrowding at McLean High School and other area schools because many of the available jobs will attract parents of school-age children.

Though new retailers and new jobs will have a positive impact on the community, the development could have some negative effects on the area.

“The traffic by my house is already awful and I’m concerned that it will get worse,” Bravo said.

The traffic will only get worse with the new developments in the area because not only is Tysons a growing city, but the region also serves as a middle ground between Washington D.C. and the Dulles Airport.

Geographically, it will always be in the middle, but hopefully this will not be its only distinction.

“Our goal is to make Tysons an activity center where people want to live,” Fuller said. “We want there to be a variety of transportation options, such as walking, biking or taking transit to Tysons without relying on cars.”

One part of this development plan is to separate Tysons into eight different neighborhoods, four of which will be centered around the Silver Line. The Silver Line is the route for the new Metro, going from Tysons to places like Loudoun County among other Metro stops.

STOP AND GO — The current traffic in Tysons is unbearable, and it will presumably get worse with new developments.

This is the view of I-495 from Lewinsville Road just after rush hour. (Top & left photos by Zach Anderson)

Fuller said when she and her husband go to D.C., they never drive. Instead, they ride the Metro or use Capital Bikeshare, a system where pedestrians can borrow a bike, ride it to their destination and drop it off at a different station near by.

“I think [that Tysons is] very uniquely poised to build up with what people need at the time,” Fuller said.

Currently, the existing neighborhoods of Tysons are highly unorganized. There is no underlying grid or reason for the separation of the districts, but in the new plans, eight new neighborhoods are being designed and four of them will be transit-oriented, meaning the focal point of that area will be the Metro.

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THERE WAS NO TREE STANDING AND THERE WAS ONLY BULLDOZED, RED EARTH.” — JERRY NELSON

MCLEAN CLASS OF 1960

“I think my current neighborhood is a wonderful neighborhood, as it is at the epicenter of Tysons, giving me close reach to Safeway, the Metro and Tysons [Corner Center],” Bravo said. “I do not think the property owners should demolish [the buildings in my neighborhood], as it would just become another expensive high-rise that most McLean residents would be unable to pay for.”

Bravo, like hundreds of other Tysons residents, is being displaced from his rental home in the coming years in order to make room for newer, classier high-rise buildings, most with offices on the lower level. Bravo’s home in particular will be torn down to make space for a park in the city. However, this is not the first time Tysons has undergone change.

Jerry Nelson, who graduated from McLean High School in 1960, lived in Tysons when it was nothing more than a small town. “[Tysons was only a] wide frame store with a couple of gas pumps in front of it where you could stop to get ice for...a picnic in the Blue Ridge [Mountains],” Nelson said.

When the Capital Beltway and the Dulles Airport were under construction in the early

1960s, this general store was taken down.

During these years, Seven Corners Shopping Center was thriving. This economic boost paired with the growth of the surrounding D.C. suburbs spurred the creation of Tysons Corner. New developments in the area are projected to have a similar economic effect.

“More activity in Tysons will be great for Northern Virginia as a whole,” Fuller said. “[The changes] will affect Arlington, D.C. and Loudoun County. [There will be] a ripple effect, especially with the Silver Line.”

In 2015, it was decided that the city name of “Tysons Corner” would be reduced to “Tysons,” which officially came into effect in 2016. Around the same time, the city was separated from the 22101 zipcode and given the 22102 code. Tysons now appears before McLean when zooming in on webmaps.

These modifications are all a result of the increasing popularity of the city.

Nelson recalled a similar period of changes during his years at McLean High School. He described taking a bike ride to observe the construction, noting what would later become the Capital Beltway.

“As far as we could see in every direction, there was no tree standing and there was only bulldozed red earth,” Nelson said.

At the time, Nelson believed that the construction would increase the profitability of McLean’s real estate, but he also had some concerns about how McLean would handle the Tysons expansion. Now, considering the organization of local governments, he expresses similar hesitation.

“A 12-district structure with no mayor may not be a good structure for leading what becomes a new metropolis,” Nelson said.

Nonetheless, as for what is coming, Fuller says there are a number of new restaurants

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OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE TYSONS AN ACTIVITY CENTER WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.” — BRIANNE FULLER

TYSONS REVITALIZATION PROGRAM MANAGER

and retailers that could make their way into the city.

“If they have the money, developers will build things that the market calls for,” Fuller said. “We don’t particularly know [exactly when all construction will be finished], but there’s definitely a lot of approved applications that are really creating a foundation for the goals that we are hoping to achieve. You can see bits and pieces of it— you see the tall buildings that are there now and streetscapes that are coming together— it’s pretty exciting.”

The construction is set to be finished around 2050, but changes will be happening constantly until then. Just as Nelson experienced decades ago, students at McLean can expect to have these alterations impact their lives as the city grows.

“We kind of have a blank canvas,” Fuller said, “[and] I think it definitely could be America’s next great city.”

BLANK SLATE — 1960 MHS graduate Jerry Nelson recalls the old general store that was in Tysons. Shortly after this photograph was taken, the store was demolished.

(Photo obtained under a Creative Commons License)

Page design by Zach Anderson & Dasha Makarishcheva

NOVEMBER | FEATURES | 19

A&E

Urinetown set to make a splash An inside look into the making of the fall musical EMMA JOHNSON REPORTER ISAAC LAMOREAUX REPORTER

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earing that a town has to pay to pee may not be the most appealing theme, but if you’re looking for a change of pace from your typical musical, then urine luck! The fall musical Urinetown, premiering Nov. 15, is set in a future where a tyrannical government places a tax on using the public restroom due to drought and famine.

“It’s extremely funny, extremely bright and it has this hilarious message that I really wanted to share with everyone else,” theater teacher and director Phillip Reid said.

A show that parodies other musicals, Urinetown satirizes political and social issues such as capitalism, municipal politics and the legal system in order to help the audience realize the relevance of those issues. Spectators are entertained by the oddity of Urinetown while they learn about these issues. “[It’s a] show about people having to pay to pee and them bringing down the tyrannical rule of a horrible leader, which I feel is very relevant in this time that we are living right now.”

Urinetown is unlike many of the other shows TheatreMcLean has produced. Past shows like Cinderella and Seussical were popular and mainstream. Urinetown, on the

20 | A&E | NOVEMBER

other hand, is a darker and less well-known show.

“Urinetown is like my big experiment,” Reid said. “No one really knows what it’s about. It’s also really dark and not exactly family friendly.”

Members of TheatreMcLean started working to make the show come to life months before Urinetown auditions even began. “[The process] starts around six months before when I’m deciding to pick a piece,”

“

IT’S A TESTAMENT TO HOW PASSIONATE [THE STUDENTS] ARE FOR THEATER, BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT TO PUT ON THESE PRODUCTIONS...

THIS IS OUR HOME AND LIFE.” — PHILLIP REID THEATER TEACHER & DIRECTOR

Reid said. “Then, once I’ve decided it and made the announcements, the designers read the script and get an idea of how they want to design, and about two and a half months before our production we’ll hold auditions, and from there we will hold rehearsals.”

More than 100 students have been involved in the production. Among them is junior Rebecca Blacksten, one of the main actresses of the show.

“I really enjoy the way that there is really a process that is going on with the show. In one room, people are learning the dance... In another room, people are doing the music...

In the other room, people are learning the acting parts and are utilizing all of our resources to [create] one really sick show,” Blacksten said. “Everyone is really giving 110 percent which is phenomenal, and I feel that it’s become more of a piece as opposed to a random high school show.”

Blacksten plays a significant role in the upcoming production.

“My character’s name is Soupy Sue. She is one of the main ring leaders of the rebel horde and she is really easily excitable and anxious,” Blacksten said. “It’s a ridiculous show and she’s even more ridiculous. She thinks she’s some poetic goddess, but she’s really a poor woman who has no money and is sad.”

LINE UP — Ruby Larimer, Jordan Prather, Benji Harris, Graham Cole, Max Engel, Casey Prestidge and Alexandra Lagos get in character for Urinetown press photos. The musical will run from Nov. 15-18.

(Photo by Lauren Grobman)

In typical musicals, the characters are more relatable to the actors and audience.

Urinetown, however, is a little different.

“Urinetown is full of character archetypes as opposed to actual relatable characters. You know, there is the innocent maiden—all the different archetypes that sort of create a relatable but uneasy feeling about the whole show,” Blacksten said. “In Urinetown, they are so not [relatable] because their situation is so different than ours.”

The experience has been new to sophomore Casey Prestidge, who got the role of the main male lead despite the fact that Urinetown is his first musical.

“I wanted to do musicals because I’m in choir, but I am also really into soccer,” Prestidge said. “I couldn’t do the musical last year because it was during the spring and soccer is in spring season. But I heard they were doing a musical in the fall, so I decided to audition.”

On top of perfecting the acting on stage, a lot goes into a production behind the curtain. Each of the student-run departments is extremely valuable to the development of the show.

“All the heads are student heads. I don’t have an adult choreographer; I have student choreographers. They proved [they could do it] to me [during the production of 9 to 5]. I

said, ‘Listen, you create this, you be your own artists, you create and make it work,’ and we won the Cappie for best choreography last year, so...It shows,” Reid said.

Some of the department heads also have acting roles in the production.

“I talk to small businesses, I design the posters and playbill and I run social media,” said senior Lauren Grobman, head of publicity. “I’m in the ensemble as well. It’s a lot more work than I thought, since it is my first time being in a musical, so you have to learn all the dance moves and the harmonies, but it is a lot of fun.”

TheatreMcLean members had to overcome a variety of obstacles while creating Urinetown.

“McLean’s auditorium is one of the smallest theaters in the county and also one of the oldest. There’s a lot of things that don’t work in and out of this theater that I wish we could have replaced or that I wish that we had working,” Reid said. “We have worked so hard with our shows to make enough money to help our sound crew, to help our lighting crew, to buy as much stuff as we can to make work, but we are still not finished.”

The long rehearsal times also pose a challenge, requiring a great deal of dedication from the cast and crew.

“We hold rehearsal from about 3 to 6

p.m. every day and then when we get to tech week, we are in rehearsal from 3 to 10 p.m. a week before, and then on Saturday it will be from around 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Reid said. “It’s a testament to how passionate they are for theater, it takes a lot to put on these productions. The week before the show, this is our home and life.”

In spite of these challenges, the TheatreMcLean students have developed a seemingly indestructible bond.

“It’s been so much stress, but at the same time it’s so much fun,” Prestidge said.

“Everyone around me has been so supportive.

It’s a really close, tight-knit group, and I’m really proud to be a part of it.”

Urinetown will run until Nov. 18.

“If you’re not a part of theater and you want to support [us], come out to the shows,” Reid said.

NOVEMBER | A&E | 21

IN-DEPTH

22 | IN-DEPTH | NOVEMBER

THE elephant

IN THE ROOM TALIA BLAKEMORE REPORTER

MAREN KRANKING ALEX MANDANAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR

P

resident Donald Trump confirmed the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the United States Supreme Court on July 9. Twenty-one days later, on July 30, Christine Blasey Ford dispatched a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein detailing an accusation of sexual assault against the nominee.

A source close to Ford provided CNN with a redacted version of the letter on Sept. 17.

The letter read, “Brett Kavanaugh physically and sexually assaulted me during high school in the early 1980s … Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stairwell from the living room ... With Kavanaugh’s hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.”

Despite the uproar caused by Ford’s allegation in addition to harassment claims made by Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, the Senate approved Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court in a vote of 50-48 on Oct. 6.

Controversy surrounding Kavanaugh’s approval has bled into the halls and classrooms of McLean.

“I talk about [the Kavanaugh hearings] all the time in my classes and I put something on Instagram saying ‘I’m with him,’ and that Photo illustration by Anna Brykczynski

MARIA MCHUGO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

really triggered some people,” junior Easton Freeman said. “But that’s okay. I’m just sharing my opinion.”

While Freeman has faced backlash for his perspective, he remains firm in his support of Kavanaugh, questioning the credibility of the allegations.

“I just think we need to be careful about who we choose to follow and who we choose to believe,” Freeman said. “I think that blindly believing someone because they’re male or female is ridiculous. When people march and say, ‘Believe all women,’ that itself is kind of sexist. There’s definitely a lot of hypocrisy going on in that sense.”

Others condemn Kavanaugh for the mere possibility that he committed sexual assault.

“It doesn’t matter if [Kavanaugh] did it or not, but the fact that it’s being questioned should have stopped him from being confirmed,” senior Syd Kirk said. “He’s in a job interview, and when is the last time when you’ve heard of someone who’s been accused of sexual assault getting hired for a job?”

Principal Ellen Reilly attributes the spur of conversation to the school’s proximity to the nation’s capital. Kavanaugh himself was once a student at the nearby Georgetown Preparatory School.

NOVEMBER | IN-DEPTH | 23

“I think this area does lead to more political conversations,” Reilly said, “[although] I feel like it used to be more civil. We used to be able to have a disagreement about our politics and it wasn’t as polarized, as divisive. It’s not as civil—it has just lost that.”

In spite of the contention, such discussion has raised important questions regarding the treatment of both victims and accused perpetrators of sexual assault.

OPEN CASE On March 8, 2017, an unnamed male student allegedly restrained Oakton High School student “Jane Doe” as he touched her without consent and forced her to reciprocate during a band field trip in Indianapolis, Indiana.* After at least two students submitted reports of the assault to FCPS administrators, employees waited until the end of the trip to even speak with Doe. Their conversation would be confined to victim-blaming interrogation and the discouragement of further reporting.

Doe and her family claimed that FCPS was in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, providing grounds for an account of sexual discrimination. On May 23, 2018, alongside her parents and friends, Jane Doe filed a complaint against the Fairfax County School Board, citing the inaction of FCPS in response to numerous reports.

Doe’s case remains in the discovery phase, so it has not yet reached trial. Adele Kimmel, Doe’s lawyer who works for the legal non-profit Public Justice, says that Fairfax County is responsible for worsening the victim’s conditions.

“Officials really handled the reports very badly,” Kimmel said in an interview with The Highlander. “When you don’t take sexual assault allegations seriously, you are chilling the speech of other students. You are sending the message to other students that if you come forward, you are going to be further traumatized.”

Kimmel blames the training of FCPS officials for their inability to *All descriptions of the incident are derived from the plaintiff’s complaint with the Alexandria Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

appropriately handle the reports.

“If you’re saying [you were] fighting it off and that [you were] scared and shocked and trying to block someone from touching you, those are all very obvious signs of a lack of consent,” Kimmel said.

“This shows how poorly trained school officials in Fairfax County are because you shouldn’t have to use the magic words ‘sexual assault’ when you report an incident in order to get school officials to pay attention to it and to treat it like a sexual assault.”

In response to instances such as these, as well as the results of the 2017-18 Fairfax County Youth Survey, the school board adopted a resolution on Sept. 28 that claims administrators will “lead a cultural change in Fairfax County Public Schools regarding sexual misconduct.” The resolution was proposed by Ryan McElveen, Member-at-Large of the Fairfax County School Board.

“The 2017-18 Fairfax County Youth Survey presented unacceptable findings, including that 14.2 percent of students reported being sexually harassed in the past year,” McElveen said. “After reviewing these findings and dealing with several school-based allegations of sexual misconduct, the School Board has adopted a resolution I drafted with the goal of changing the institutional culture in FCPS.” As a component of this resolution, the school board is looking to implement preventative measures such as adjustments to the Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum and the institution of self-defense training programs.

“One thing I’ve been pushing for that has not been addressed systematically is to increase our self-defense training programs for both men and women in conjunction with the police department,” McElveen said. “With the interest and advocacy of students there, [one school] has piloted this program over the past couple of years, and I’d like to see it expanded to other schools.”

The school in which a version the program has been piloted happens to be Oakton High School. That is, the self-defense training program, designed for the prevention of sexual assault, is confined to the same school whose alleged mishandling of harassment accounts led to a district-wide civil suit only last May. It is anomalies like these that have caused local residents and national officials alike to challenge the district’s administration. If

2012: SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATION PROMPTS DEPT. OF EDUCATION TO INVESTIGATE FCPS

2012

2014

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT TIMELINE OF FCPS 24 | IN-DEPTH | NOVEMBER

MARCH 8, 2017: OAKTON HS STUDENT “JANE DOE” IS ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON A SCHOOL BAND TRIP

2017 2014: FCPS REACHES AGREEMENT WITH DEPT. OF EDUCATION TO REFORM TITLE IX PROCEDURES

2018 MARCH 2018: HAZING INCIDENT OCCURS AT WEST POTOMAC HS

“

continued, the mishandling of sexual assault allegations could even result in intervention by the federal government. In the case of Fairfax County, however, it already has.

FEDERAL INTERVENTION Fairfax County is currently under investigation by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the federal enforcer of Title IX of the Education Amendments. There are four open cases against FCPS: two counts of sexual harassment, one count of sexual violence and one count of retaliation—negative action taken against a student as a result of reporting.

“Fairfax County Public Schools is one of the school districts that has an unusually high number of open investigations involving sexual [misconduct],” Kimmel said. “I’ve looked at, for example, how many open investigations the Office for Civil Rights has against the 10 largest school districts, and Fairfax County has one of the highest numbers of open investigations.”

These four probes came after FCPS promised the Office for Civil Rights to reform their procedures for handling sexual misconduct in 2014. In response to a 2012 complaint, county officials agreed to adopt a voluntary resolution that outlined specific plans to make reporting procedures more accessible and safer for victims. Fairfax County failed to adhere to the majority of these adjustments.

“There were about a dozen different things that the Office for Civil Rights said Fairfax County would have to do in order to ensure compliance with Title IX, and [FCPS] hasn’t even done some of the most basic things,” Kimmel said. “When you have a very large school district that is even putting off a federal agency’s statements about what needs to be done, then you have a major problem.”

One of the commitments FCPS made to the Department of Education was to assign Title IX Coordinators, county officials that would ensure compliance with Title IX within the district. FCPS appointed its first and only Title IX Coordinator, Bryan Gibson, a week after Jane Doe filed her lawsuit—four years after they agreed they would.

“When it comes to FCPS, there are people who have mishandled [harassment and assault allegations] along the way, and for what

MAY 23, 2018: JANE DOE FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST THE FCPS SCHOOL BOARD

LATE MAY 2018: FIRST FCPS TITLE IX COORDINATOR APPOINTED

YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO USE THE MAGIC WORDS ‘SEXUAL ASSAULT’ WHEN YOU REPORT AN INCIDENT IN ORDER TO GET SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO PAY ATTENTION.” — ADELE KIMMEL JANE DOE’S LAWYER

reasons I’m not sure, [but] that is why ... we now have a Title IX [Coordinator]. We have an equity person we can go to,” Reilly said.

“They’ve formed these new offices hoping that somebody can go and say they don’t know what steps to take.”

Despite the recent efforts made by Fairfax County, issues associated with the mishandling of sexual assault accusations have not subsided.

On Sept. 28, FOX 5 News reported that South County High School would receive a new principal, athletics director and assistant director, as well as a new girls track coach due to the inadequate treatment of the reports issued by several girls on the team.

SEPT. 28, 2018: FCPS SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS RESOLUTION AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT

2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR: FCPS SETS NEW GUIDELINES FOR LOCKER ROOM USAGE

SEPT. 2018: FOX 5 NEWS REPORTS SOUTH COUNTY HS WILL RECEIVE NEW ADMIN AND TRACK COACH AFTER ALLEGATIONS

Information obtained via FCPS website, FOX 5 News, Public Justice and U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

Infographic & page design by Maren Kranking

NOVEMBER | IN-DEPTH | 25

A MILLION REASONS WHY — In response to the #WhyIDidntReport Movement, which represents the prevalence of victim-blaming in the treatment of sexual assault, The Highlander staff hung these papers in McLean’s girls bathrooms on Oct. 23. The papers were only up for two days, yet each gained significant attention from the student body.

One student wrote, “My best friend told me I was overreacting.”

Another wrote, “Because he was a close family friend.”

(Photo by Maria McHugo)

26 | IN-DEPTH | NOVEMBER

“Their names were not kept confidential and everybody knew who came forward. There was a big retaliation against them from other track athletes, parents, other kids in the school,” one of the victims’ mothers said in an interview with FOX 5 News. “There was bullying with signs saying, ‘We don’t believe liars,’ and it basically became a very public display of going against the victims that came forward.”

Considering this incident, as well as other allegations within the county, many believe that the provisions of the Fairfax County School Board have not been sufficient as far as the prevention and treatment of sexual harassment is concerned.

IMPACT ON MCLEAN While McLean itself has not experienced an instance of such magnitude in the scope of public knowledge, the school has been affected by the aftershock of other FCPS allegations.

Just this school year, Fairfax County mandated that students only use the locker rooms when a coach or teacher is within earshot. Although it has not been clarified whether a specific case prompted this new guideline, the policy follows an

investigation regarding a hazing incident at West Potomac High School in March.

“Hazing and bullying has become a pretty big problem across our country, and I think when you leave a group of high school kids alone sometimes—when you leave kids unsupervised— you never know what’s going to happen,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “That’s why we’re trying to get out front and prevent it, [as] I don’t think any of that stuff is going on if there is a coach [or teacher] in the area.”

The implementation of this policy is expected to decrease the prevalence of sexual assault, yet the guidelines do pose a few problems for some teams within the school.

“This [guideline] is new, and there are going to be some things we need to figure out,” Miller said.

“The two biggest issues are that we do have some coaches that [don’t work] in the building, and then we do have some ... for example ... [coaches who are] female who also coach a boys sport.”

As a result of the policy, many athletes are now forced to carry their equipment from class to class during the day in order to be ready for practices on time.

“I understand why they’re taking that action, [but] it seems to be a little bit unfortunate for the rest of the student athletes that were not involved,” said senior Caroline Howley, who is on the cross country team. “I think that theoretically it’s a good solution, but then logistically it’s really hard for teams when the practices start 15 minutes after school lets out.”

Miller says that the administration is already working to solve this problem. In conjunction with the new policy, P.E. teachers are required to stay for half an hour after school to supervise sports locker rooms, allowing athletes to access the locker rooms immediately after the school day ends. While the logistics of this policy are somewhat disruptive for certain athletes, the added guidelines ultimately contribute to a safer school environment.

“I believe this is a good response to locker room problems in our county,” said cross country coach Megan Ney, who teaches at Timber Lane Elementary School during the day. “I believe that sexual assault as a whole is more rampant and widespread than just locker rooms, and I think it is positive that the county and administration are taking actions to prevent any type of sexual harassment. I hope it will spark future action outside of athletics.”

At the same time, some McLean students say they have experienced difficulty in receiving an adequate response to their reports of harassment. Junior Rebecca Blacksten was told by a peer that she should be in the kitchen because she is a girl, along with other derogatory comments.

“I went to the administration with one of my friends who had been called [names] by him multiple times,” Blacksten said. “We talked to [the administration] and [they were] really nice but [they were] like, ‘We really can’t do much. Nothing will happen because we don’t have concrete proof.’”

Mirroring the obstacles faced by Blacksten and her friend, the elusive nature of proof for harassment allegations can account for the insufficiency of response.

“You obviously need proof, but we thought that our word would be enough. He was being really horrible towards us and most girls who came in contact [with him],” Blacksten said. “I think that somebody, even if it’s not the administration ... should be able to do more than just give somebody a stern talking-to about something

because that’s not going to change their mind.”

As a means of preventing sexual harassment, students in other school districts across the nation have created activist groups to meet the inadequacy of reporting processes, aiming to fill the gaps left by their administration.

“I know that there are some very strong student organizations at some schools in California where students have formed their own organizations to ensure that the student body is better informed about their rights under Title IX,” Kimmel said. “[These organizations teach] what sexual harassment is, who at the school you should be able to make a report to and how the grievance process works, helping to make sure that education training programs are provided to students and faculty.”

Kimmel says that student voice is vital to maintaining a productive relationship with school administrations, especially regarding the treatment of both victims and perpetrators of sexual assault.

“Students shouldn’t feel like they have no power in this dynamic,” Kimmel said. “They actually can demand change and if they make enough noise … they will get some of the changes they have been pressing for before something [else] happens.”

Likewise, members of the McLean administration support the interest of students in reporting instances of sexual assault.

“I know what steps I need to take as a person to keep somebody safe and to make them feel safe every single time they come in this building,” Reilly said. “I can’t do anything to undo [someone’s experience], but I want to let you know that I’m here to help you, to keep you safe.”

Whether or not the slew of Title IX cases facing Fairfax County are a result of intentional negligence remains unclear. Still, Reilly is staying hopeful in the belief that FCPS could not actively deny the justice of those students suffering the consequences of sexual assault.

“In my heart, this is a system that I’ve been with [forever]. I’m a graduate of FCPS [and] I’ve worked for FCPS for over 25 years.

I don’t think they’re trying to hide anything—I couldn’t work for a place that was trying to hide something like that,” Reilly said. “I think that people do their best and try. I have to believe that or I couldn’t come here every day.”

TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972 “NO PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES SHALL, ON THE BASIS OF SEX, BE EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION IN, BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF, OR BE SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION UNDER ANY EDUCATION PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.”

NOVEMBER | IN-DEPTH | 27

Mudboy muddies the waters

Message of rapper Sheck Wes' new album clouded by mediocre music ELIZABETH HUMPHREYS REPORTER

A

n album with a powerful message about the rough trials of life, Sheck Wes’ Mudboy was released on Oct. 5. Though the ideas are of clear importance to society, the ghastly vocals subtract from its overall appeal.

After the release of Wes’ hit single “Mo Bamba,” my expectations were set high for what the rest of album might sound like. To my dismay, this track ended up being one of the few I found acceptable.

“Sheck Wes is a one hit wonder,” sophomore Emma Messer said. “‘Mo Bamba’ is his only good song.”

Released during the summer of 2017, the song was named after Orlando Magic basketball player Mohamed Bamba, who grew up with Wes. After going viral this year, the track is currently number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Following “Mo Bamba,” he released several new singles including “Live Sheck Wes” and “Chippi Chippi,” but they seemed inferior compared to his original song and failed to make as great of a lasting impact.

Mudboy employs nightmarish beats in the body of its tracks, creating a disappointingly dreadful form of punk-trap music.

There was also the peculiar choice of making the background music of “Gmail”

Interscope Records

28 | A&E | NOVEMBER

similar to the theme of Mario Kart, which made it more comical than anything.

I’ve heard my fair share of mumble and screamo rap—songs that resemble two pots being clashed together with some added screaming. Mudboy does not quite meet this description, but it certainly possesses some of these qualities.

Wes began producing music at age 9, shaping his raw and gritty musical style.

“

SHECK WES IS A ONE HIT WONDER. ‘MO BAMBA’ IS HIS ONLY GOOD SONG." — EMMA MESSER

SOPHOMORE

The record did, however, contain a few unexpected surprises, one being “Never Lost.” In this track, Wes’ vocals are much more pleasing to the ears than they are in his other music.

The song tells the story of Wes’ hometown, Harlem, one of the worst areas of crime in New York. “Where I come from, there's hate and no love/I'm pickin’ up on their bad habits,” he wrote.

Even so, “Never Lost” is not astounding, but being a Lil Peep kind of girl it was more my speed.

Listening to hard rap can still be enjoyable, but not in the way that Wes has styled it within Mudboy. The better songs included still aren't of astonishing quality, but are at least more bearable than the others.

Wes’ opening track on Mudboy, titled “Mindf**ker,” is one of the more adequate songs, being the epitome of foreboding New York trap music. The title displays some of the explicit language that Wes uses throughout the album. “‘Mindf**ker’ is super trippy. I like when the beat drops,” sophomore Lexy Doane said.

“Most of the other songs aren’t that good

though. The album was such a letdown.”

Though the actual music is questionable, Wes succeeds in relating what it really means to be a “mudboy.”

Using his own interpretation of the term, Wes made the album cover depicting himself shirtless, arms raised and getting showered in mud.

“I’m a mudboy,” Wes said in an interview with Pigeons and Planes magazine. “I came from the mud, oozed out the concrete.

I’m not a rose. I’m a mudboy, I came from nothing.”

One of Wes’ unique qualities is his ability to rap about the harsh realities concerning the dominance of white versus black culture, while still creating a hardcore sound to match the standards of hip-hop music.

That is to say, Wes’ lyrics reveal a lot of meaning. In “Live Sheck Wes” he writes, “It gets tragic where I live, everything is negative/Police ain’t never give a f**k, they just want us in them cuffs.”

These lines dive into the exploration of the hostile dynamic between police officers and the black community.

“It is amped-up, turn-up music,” Wes said to Pitchfork magazine. “But I hate ‘Live Sheck Wes’ because people get lost in the energy and not my message."

Though Mudboy did not appease me, Wes’ music turned the heads of rappers such as Kanye West of G.O.O.D. Music and Travis Scott of Cactus Jack Records, who signed the young artist in a joint record deal this year.

At just 20 years old, Wes still has a lot of potential and time to improve. I can only hope that he will continue to work on his act and produce another song that is on the same level as “Mo Bamba.” Until then, Sheck Wes’ reputation will remain tainted by the musical tragedy that is Mudboy.

Rating: 2/5

Mudboy fails to live up to expectations set by “Mo Bamba”

Graphics by Anya Chen | Page design by Elizabeth Humphreys

Cafeteria food for thought The Highlander touches on a tasty subject ALL-AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER

PIZZA BAGELS

One of the most ordered items on the menu, the cheeseburger was our personal favorite by far. The burger is decently cooked and placed on a bun, topped with some good ol’ American cheese. If you are a fan of thin burgers, this is the meal for you. Our biggest recommendation when consuming: add ketchup. It doesn’t get more American than this!

Nobody can go wrong with a good pizza bagel. To the eye, the popular snack looked scrumptious. For us, the pizza bagels had the perfect amount of cheese to sauce ratio, but the crust was stale and rather dry.

Luckily, the crust is not as important in terms of the overall taste, and the food presents itself quite well when it comes to love at first taste.

We recommend if: you’re craving some classic American cuisine

We recommend if: you love a dry-yet-edible crust with a saucy and cheesy feel to it

SPICY CHICKEN BITES

CHICK-N-CHIPS

The chicken ball itself was a tad undercooked, but the taste was decent. Alone, the chicken would have been adequately hot in terms of temperature and spiciness. Unfortunately, the chicken was topped with some sour, spicy mystery sauce that stole the entire spotlight. We agreed we’d eat the chicken again, but our advice is to not get lost in the sauce.

At first glance, it looked like chunks of something you definitely do not want anywhere near your mouth, but we decided to give it a chance. The first bite was very…chickeny. The soggy chips did not help this meal’s case. The biggest deal breaker was the extremely odd texture and aftertaste. Leave the nacho job solely to the cheese next time.

We recommend if: you enjoy a little spice in your life

We recommend if: you want to try a nacho experiment

Reporting & page design by Carla Ballard & Julia McElligott | Photos by Julia McElligott

NOVEMBER | A&E | 29

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YouTube docuseries sparks controversy “The Mind of Jake Paul” presents unique perspective on YouTuber fame MICHELLE CHENG REPORTER

S

hane Dawson’s distinct take on interviewing fellow YouTube celebrity Jake Paul establishes a surprisingly sympathetic frame for the audience. While people may expect a harsh exposé on Paul, who is notorious for his extreme stunts and entertaining pranks that attract millions of views, viewers will be shocked to learn a more intriguing story that includes exclusive interviews and an honest perspective.

In early October, Dawson, who has over 18 million subscribers, released the first parts of his controversial documentary uncovering Paul’s real personality. Dawson’s eight-part series delves into the “behind the scenes” of Paul’s risky behavior and sets out to reveal the true origins of the infamous YouTube celebrity.

Each video spans around 40 minutes and addresses a different aspect of Paul’s life. In the first few videos, Dawson interviews Paul’s “enemies” (old friends and team members), supplying the audience with contrasting perspectives on Paul and his past drama, which includes accusations of sexual abuse, racism and extremely inappropriate pranks.

The last few videos serve as the climax of the documentary and reveal Dawson’s personal interactions with Paul, which incorporate a “day in the life” style video and a final sitdown interview.

The first few videos replicate the casual mood of Dawson’s other vlogs, using fast edits and horror-themed music to create a

more dramatic tone. This has led to harsh backlash from viewers, who believe that for a subject as serious as mental illness, Dawson should not have included the inappropriate edits and music that seem to be geared more toward entertainment and humor.

Throughout the whole series, Dawson constantly asks the camera one question: is Jake Paul a sociopath?

However, Dawson fails to provide sufficient evidence to successfully support his claim that Paul’s attention-seeking behavior is linked to a real mental disorder.

Dawson seems ignorant to the fact that, medically speaking, the term “sociopath” is outdated and has no clinical or diagnostic meaning. When Dawson attempts to increase his credibility by bringing in therapist Katie Morton, she frequently uses the phrases “sociopath spectrum” and “sociopathic tendencies,” which both employ vocabulary that is scientifically obsolete.

Dawson tries to emphasize his desire to maintain a neutral stance towards Paul and not invade the privacy of Paul or his family.

During the final interview, Dawson turns to the cameraman and directs him to turn the camera off, implying that his following conversations with Paul will be too “private” for publication.

Unfortunately, Dawson’s effort to stay the “good guy” weakens the overall message of the documentary. Nothing significant is exposed, and viewers are left with many vague, cliché answers. Dawson briefly addresses Paul’s bad reputation from accusations of racism

Image obtained via Shane Dawson’s YouTube | Graphics & page design by Anya Chen

and abuse, but he neglects to hold Paul accountable. This is perhaps the greatest flaw in the docuseries—instead of pushing Paul to own up to his shortcomings, Dawson avoids the uncomfortable situation by evoking sympathy.

Nonetheless, the emotion that Dawson is able to draw from the audience is what makes his docuseries stand out. In the last few videos especially, Dawson’s intensely personal interviews reveal an unexpected side of Paul. Dawson frequently encourages Paul to speak his truth, despite what others might think. Paul’s unscripted and unpolished dialogue contrasts greatly with the arrogant, reckless character he portrays in his own videos.

Still, “The Mind of Jake Paul” delivers necessary perspectives on Paul’s YouTube fame and showcases his “honest feelings,” which might just be skewed for publicity.

Despite the backlash and angry comments, Dawson’s documentary breaks into a new genre of YouTube.

You can spend over six hours watching this documentary if you have time to spare, but don’t expect a huge reveal at the end.

Rating: 3/5 “The Mind of Jake Paul” delivers exclusive raw emotion but fails to create an intriguing climax NOVEMBER | A&E | 31

Fahrenheit 11/9 bashes political system

Michael Moore’s documentary has an important message but is too radical

F

SARAH SOLIS REPORTER

ahrenheit 11/9 is an eye-opener to the corruption of America’s political system.

It rallies citizens to vote and it reminds them not to be the frog in the boiling water when it comes to politics. Director Michael Moore, who just received the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award for being America’s most successful documentarian, presents a movie that explores America’s political environment over the last couple years.

With loads to say in his two-hour film, Moore manages to cover everything from the media pundits accused of sexual assault and teacher walkouts to the Flint water crisis and the new wave of Democratic candidates running for political positions.

Moore begins his documentary by examining the factors that contributed to Trump’s election and transitions to the major problems America has faced during the Trump presidency. By loading the film with biting remarks, humorous stunts and questionable news montages, his movie ends up as a radical, disjointed mess.

In his most radical stunt, Moore runs audio of Trump speaking over a video of a Hitler rally to draw parallels. In a hope to elicit suprise and horror in his audience, Moore clips together videos of Trump with his daughter, Ivanka, depicting Trump as a creepy child abuser. When it comes to Trump, Moore’s antics seem immature and like an act of liberal brainwashing.

Moore dedicated most of his movie to a segment on the Flint water crisis, which was arguably the strongest part of the documentary. Through interviews, news footage analysis and comprehensive inspection of the suspect actions of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Moore makes a believable claim: something fishy has been going on in the city of Flint.

The plan to switch Flint’s water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the polluted Flint River caused the deaths of 12 people and the poisoning of thousands.

By interviewing April Cook-Hawkins, a former Genesee County Health Department secretary, Moore sheds new light onto the children’s blood lead test results. Claiming that her superior instructed her to skew and 32 | OPINIONS | NOVEMBER

Dog Eat Dog Films

falsify the results, Cook-Hawkins shows a spreadsheet of the true, lethal lead levels.

Following the release of the movie, an ongoing investigation is looking into Genesee County. If the allegations are found to be true, the amount of lead poisoning would cause neurological changes and delay the learning ability of Flint children.

The documentary then brings Obama into the equation. Moore plays a video of Obama walking onto a platform, ready to give his speech to the people of Flint; the citizens look up to him with hope and admiration twinkling in their eyes, clapping deafeningly when they see him reach the podium.

Their hope, along with mine, quickly diminishes. Obama calls for a glass of water from Flint pipelines. They watch him pretend to take a sip in shock. Their president walked into a predominantly black community and dismissed their suffering in less than 30 seconds.

Framing the Flint crisis as a microcosm of our political system, Moore concludes with the main point of his movie: our political system ignores the American people and puts money and power before our wellbeing.

Leaving us with a tinge of hope, he reminds us of the younger generation. He places his hope in David Hogg, the face of March for our Lives. He places his hope in Rashida Tlaib, who is expected to be the first Muslim American woman to ever take a seat in Congress. He places his hope in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 29-year-old woman who won the Democratic primary of New York’s 14th Congressional District in a huge upset.

While Fahrenheit 11/9 is not even close to being perfect and is stuffed full of hyperbole, the movie does a good job of reminding people about important political issues that have been continuously ignored.

Rating: 2/5

Fahrenheit 11/9 reminds people of the important political issues we face but is told so radically it can almost be considered propaganda

Graphics by Jack Stenzel | Page design by Sarah Solis

Weighted grades improperly represent assignments’ value

OPINIONS

Grade book categories create unnecessary stress for students The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

U

nder the ridiculous grading policy FCPS enforces in nearly all classes, a single grade may have a tremendous impact on a student’s final mark for the quarter.

The majority of subjects place their assignments in specific categories. Rather than being averaged as a whole, these assignments are classified by type, and each type category makes up a certain percentage of quarterly marks. This system unfairly skews students’ grades, often making it nearly impossible to recover from a single low score.

Courses in the math department are among the few who still use the “total points” system, where assignments are given a point-based value and weighed all together.

“Weighted grades didn't make sense in the math department,” math teacher Mike Farmar said. “If [a teacher] wanted to give a quiz for grading for the end of the quarter, even if [a student] got a B it could lower their average.”

Especially in a math class where assignments are scored objectively, the idea of weighted grading only serves as an obstacle for students and their grades, which is why the math department refused to add this system to their grade books.

“Even though a good grade could be scored on a quiz or a test, [it wouldn’t] necessarily increase their average,” Farmar said. “In some instances, if [a student] scored a B, their average would be lower because they already had an A average in that category.”

As grades are weighted individually by their type, they’re only calculated with others in the same category, which can prevent a student from being able to raise their grade.

For example, if a student were to do poorly on a test but score well on a quiz, then a future quiz wouldn’t have as great an impact on their overall grade as it would if it weren’t weighted.

Another issue students have with weighted grading is how the negligible homework category prevents homework assignments

from having much value. This means if a student has 100 percent in homework, which is most often the case, their future homework assignments will not raise their overall grade, regardless if the assignment scored higher than the student’s current grade in the class.

Additionally, weighted categories calculate for percentages and not the total sum of points, meaning that the number of assignments each one has isn’t taken into consideration. This is a problem for students when they do poorly on an assignment that’s placed into a category that doesn’t have many other grades.

Around five years ago when weighted grading was first introduced to the curriculum, it was a new system that most teachers weren’t used to.

“We used to use something called ‘total points,’ where every assignment was given a value,” English teacher Ken Kraner said.

“Several years ago, we had to change it... We were told it was going to make things very different.”

Despite their ability to value certain assignments relative to others, most teachers prefer the original total points system because it’s much easier to use when actually putting grades in the grade book.

“They can be confusing,” Kraner said. “I get more questions from parents and students saying they don't understand their grade so it has to be explained.”

Reporting & page design by Eric Mizusawa | Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva

Not only do weighted grades affect how assignments are valued, but they cause confusion among students at the beginning of the quarter when smaller grades cause a dramatic imbalance of their categories, improperly representing what the assignment is actually worth.

In comparison with “total points,” weighted categories don’t provide much benefit. In reality, they only make things more complex, which is why the original raw scoring method is ultimately the most convenient and least confusing option.

Because these categories are established to make up certain fractions of the quarter, weighted grades are intended to better reflect a student’s performance in specific areas.

“Weighted grading is fair and more organized than the raw scoring system,” sophomore Rahul Yadav said. “Students should benefit from it, as it allows them to see what areas they need to improve on in each of their classes.”

Though many students do benefit from seeing the specific categories they need to make improvements in, the way the weighted system is currently being implemented fails students.

As it stands, the weighted grading system only harms the students and staff of McLean.

It only really serves to confuse and complicate grade books, and therefore, FCPS should abolish this pointless practice.

NOVEMBER | OPINIONS | 33

Colleges should reaffirm what it takes to get in Affirmative action should be income-based ALEX MANDANAS & IMANI MCCORMICK MANAGING EDITORS

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“

IF MINORITY STUDENTS WITH LEGACIES AND A WEALTHY BACKGROUND ARE PRIORITIZED OVER POORER WHITE STUDENTS, IT OVERLOOKS MANY ISSUES WHICH MORE IMPOVERISHED STUDENTS FACE. — JANA KRAL SENIOR

34 | OPINIONS | NOVEMBER

“Affirmative action was greatly beneficial in a time when minorities did not have the benefit of legacy and universities were overwhelmingly white,” Kral said. “However, if minority students with legacies and a wealthy background are prioritized over poorer white students, it overlooks many issues which more impoverished students face.”

Race-based affirmative action’s original intent was to promote social mobility for those who needed it most, but in today’s climate, it is no longer the most effective way to accomplish this. By choosing to only consider income-level, colleges have a legitimate opportunity to follow through with affirmative action’s initial goal.

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ffirmative action, the policy that gives underrepresented minorities a leg up in college admissions, should be reformed to consider socioeconomic status, not race.

“I think [income level] is a greater indicator of the school that you have come from and your general preparedness for college,” government teacher Emer Johnson said.

A student’s income bracket can greatly limit their ability to do well in school. When someone has to worry about something like their next meal, it will obviously be harder for them to dedicate the same amount of time, energy and money toward their education that wealthier students can.

“I think that socioeconomic status is the greatest challenge that prospective students must overcome, and that minority students of wealthier backgrounds who can access the same resources as those of wealthy white students are usually not more impaired in terms of propensity towards academic success,” senior Jana Kral said.

For example, affluent McLean parents are willing to dish out thousands for tutoring to ensure that their children get the highest grades and most impressive standardized test scores possible. Low-income students simply do not have this opportunity, and in the eyes of grade- and score-focused college admissions boards, this could be a major obstacle in receiving a coveted acceptance letter.

The quality of education low-income students receive can also put them at a disadvantage in the competitive college admissions process. Schools in povertystricken areas often offer fewer extracurricular activities, AP courses and academic opportunities in general.

This stark disparity can be seen through McLean High School’s work with the Speak Up Initiative, an organization that attempts to close the education gap through teaching low-income students public speaking skills.

The club’s CEO senior, Asia Kurtalic, leads the sessions at Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church and Stanton Elementary School in Anacostia.

“At Graham Road the statistics are a bit better than at our other partner schools [because] a large majority of children are low income and they come from mostly stable households,” Kurtalic said. “Stanton, on the other hand, has around 50 percent of children labeled as homeless, around 10 percent reside in orphanages and nearly all of them rely on school-sponsored lunches.”

According to Reading Partners, a nonprofit aimed at increasing literacy rates among low-income students, 82 percent of elementary school students who rely on free or reduced-price lunches do not read at a proficient level. Statistics like this illustrate how impactful socioeconomic status can be on the quality of one’s education.

In its current form, affirmative action benefits wealthy underrepresented minorities disproportionately, as they have more access to resources that could strengthen their application. Changing it to be income-based wouldn’t harm underrepresented minorities overall. Instead, it would be more effective at combating the stubborn intersection between systematic racism and poverty.

CHILDREN LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE

LESS THAN 30% OF STUDENTS IN THE BOTTOM QUARTER OF INCOMES ENROLL IN A 4-YEAR SCHOOL

AS OF 2 AMONG THAT GROUP LESS THAN 50% GRADUATE

2017 POVERTY RATE MORE THAN 18% LESS THAN 11%

Data from the National Center for Children in Poverty, The New York Times and the U.S. Census

Infographic & page design by Imani McCormick

Colleges should defy the standards SATs do not provide intended insight ROHAN MANI REPORTER

I

t’s that time of the year again when SATs are just around the corner, and many have begun the process of cramming, enrolling in tutoring classes and using online resources to prepare. Students make all these efforts and more in hopes of conveying “intelligence” to their desired colleges.

This test, however, is simply not worth the anxiety and confusion students experience every year. Intelligence is more than just a number.

The American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America survey showed that 31 percent of teens feel overwhelmed, and 30 percent feel sad or depressed as a result of stress. School and school-related activities are the main contributers.

Along with the already intense pressures of rigorous courses, extracurricular activities and the overall competitive atmosphere at McLean, it is safe to say that students can do without worrying about how one test could dictate their college dreams and aspirations.

Moreover, the SAT remains an indicator of socioeconomic status rather than an actual measure of intelligence.

“Students who have more time and more tutoring are generally going to do better than those who don’t,” sophomore Henry Polk said.

College Board data from the 2014 version of the SAT revealed that students of higher income families generally achieved higher

scores. Students from families who earn more than $200,000 annually showed an average score of 1714 (out of 2400), but those of families earning under $20,000 per year had an average of 1326.

Taking the test multiple times in an attempt to improve one’s score can also add up quickly—it costs $47.50 to take the SAT.

“

I PERSONALLY CARE ABOUT MORE WHAT YOU GUYS DID FOR FOUR YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL RATHER THAN FOUR HOURS ON A SATURDAY.” — STEVEN SIMONS DEAN OF ADMISSIONS AT JUNIATA COLLEGE

Instead of the short SAT exam being an indicator of how ready students are for the college transition, students should be evaluated by their overall performance in high school.

“I personally care about more what you guys did for four years in high school rather than four hours on a Saturday,” said Steven Simons, Dean of Admissions at Juniata College.

Page design by Rohan Mani | Infographic by Anya Chen

A test should not have the same value as the entirety of one’s high school education.

However, there are some who believe the SAT provides accurate insight regarding a student’s ability to study and prepare.

“I think the SAT is not testing something beyond the high school level, but rather just a collection of advanced questions [reflecting] what we’ve learned so far,” junior Eazune Yi said. “Even though it is a lot of pressure, the SAT, unlike Korea’s version of a final college test, can be prepared for.”

Although there’s some truth to this sentiment, there are too many variables one must consider while preparing for the test as it is. Tutoring availability and time constraints due to extracurricular responsibilities are some of the factors that cause students to prepare at different rates.

Colleges should minimize the value of the SAT in favor of a new framework, where the variety of a students’ accomplishments and work go far above their ability to answer a few questions on a single weekend.

More colleges, prestigious or not, should begin to adopt an optional test policy for students with lower income and fewer educational opportunities to make the application process more fair. As colleges ultimately become more competitive, a single test should not interfere with someone’s success.

Students should not be defined by an insignificant data point, but instead on their high school work ethic and overall contribution to the community.

NOVEMBER | OPINIONS | 35

THE UNTOLD TRUTH OF

IVY LEAGUE

UNIVERSITIES Cost of going Ivy may not be worth as much as students believe DUA MOBIN REPORTER

F

rom elementary through high school, parents, teachers, coaches and communities as a whole encourage their students to attend an Ivy League university.

This is especially prominent in Fairfax County as there’s a common belief that attending such schools will enable success.

However, a number of Ivy League alumni think the added stress of getting into an elite school isn’t worth the stress it causes.

“It is fairly stressful here. We get that from many parents and surveys that we take,” said counselor John Allman, who attended Brown University. “The anxiety levels of students is one of the top three concerns.”

According to Harvard Health, extensive stress and competition is bad for teens’ mental health. This competitiveness not only affects the decision-making skills of students under stress, but it also decreases their levels of concentration.

The impact of these prestigious universities on the McLean community reflects how much popularity and influence these institutions have gained.

As a result, these colleges have become less focused on education and more businessoriented, charging relatively high tuition fees. Regardless, thousands of families across the country are willing to pay over $65,000 per year for an Ivy League education.

According to Money Market Magazine, Ivy League colleges make tremendous profits from ambitious families and students. Their report claims that attendees are willing to pay thousands of dollars for not only the quality of education, but also for the experience of 36 | OPINIONS | NOVEMBER

living on an Ivy League campus.

When families are unable to afford the fees, the Ivies provide student loans. Once such a student graduates, however, they begin their careers drowning in loans. On top of rigorous admissions processes, the cost of these prestigious institutions is ultimately not worth the reward.

At the same time, many are drawn to the Ivy League by its purely prestigious image.

When spending tens of thousands of dollars, students should have actual reasons to back their attendance, no matter the height of the school’s reputation.

“Honestly I don’t know why [students aim for Ivy League colleges] other than on the name basis,” sophomore Nathan Siegel said. “I believe that this is a problem that a lot of students going to Ivy Leagues have.

They don’t have a reason to go there. They just want to go there for the name.”

Students can forgo the costs of attending an Ivy League university and work hard at a cheaper school to minimize their debt and still receive a quality education. There’s a number of both public and private schools that charge lower tuition fees yet show similar statistics of career success.

“

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU GO BUT WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU GET THERE.”

Furthermore, college tuition in the U.S. as a whole—let alone the tuition of Ivy League universities—is dramatically more costly compared to other schools around the world. Germany, for example, provides free tuition for college studies. Canadian universities require their students to pay extremely minimal costs in comparison to American tuition fees.

Ignoring the countless institutions in the U.S., there’s a plethora of international universities that offer the same degree of education at a fraction of the Ivy League cost.

Despite the general consensus, perhaps the true benefit of attending Harvard University is not as big as its name.

As social studies teacher Anthony Puzan says, “It is not success that defines you, but how you define success.”

IVY LEAGUE COLLEGE COSTS: $53,419

$ $

Brown University

$57,208

Columbia University

$48,949

Harvard University

$53,368

Darthmouth University

$51,400

Yale University

$47,140

Princeton University

$53,534

University of Pennsylvania

$52,850

Cornell University

IN-STATE COLLEGE COSTS: $15,912

University of Virginia

$30,673

Virginia Commonwealth University

$26,726

James Madison University

$22,554

Virginia Tech

$21,969

Radford University

— JOHN ALLMAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR “It doesn’t matter where you go but what you do when you get there,” Allman said.

According to a study done by The Washington Post, Ivy alumni receive higher salaries than those from other colleges.

However, the large number of student loans create nearly the same net profit between the alumni salaries from Ivy and in-state colleges. The belief that an Ivy League resume guarantees employment is entirely misguided.

“People don’t actually care what school you went to when you are working,” Yale alum Rubina Madni said.

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE: $6,590

University of Toronto

$857

University of Vienna

$0 $4,748

University of Hamburg University of Tokyo

*Data collected from respective college websites

Infographic & page design by Dasha Makarishcheva

Black Friday is not worth the hype

Consumers fall for yet another advertising ploy DANA EDSON NEWS EDITOR

P

icture this: crowds of people flooding into the mall as the doors open after waiting hours upon hours camped outside stores in order to get their hands on the best deals.

The stampede of people push and shove as they fight their way to the prime sales.

Americans nationwide fall into the trap of Black Friday. Individuals shop during all hours of the night, wait in ridiculously long lines and are swarmed by oceans of people just to find the best bargains. Black Friday is another advertising ploy that takes advantage of these crazed shoppers.

The term “Black Friday” dates back to the year 1869 to describe the crash of the U.S. gold market. Now the term is used for one of the busiest shopping days of the year because of the massive profits made by retailers.

Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving, has become the marker of early holiday shopping and is known for retailers’ extreme overnight sales.

In a survey done by the National Retail Federation, an estimated 115 million Americans shop on Black Friday, making it one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

But the craze is slowly dying—according to Business Insider, last year’s sales fell 12 percent.

The majority of deals on Black Friday consist of door-busters that entice customers to come to the store, but stock is often limited and discounts on other products are small.

“It’s kind of a rip-off. They want to create all this hype so that things get sold and they know that people are going to constantly fall for it,” English teacher Mariya Chatha said.

“People are more tempted to buy stuff they don’t need when they see that there’s one day where they can get really good prices. I think it’s effective but I don’t think it’s worth it.”

“

THEY WANT TO CREATE ALL THIS HYPE SO THAT THINGS GET SOLD AND THEY KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONSTANTLY FALL FOR IT.” — MARIYA CHATHA ENGLISH TEACHER Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for celebration between family and friends.

Families come together to commemorate their

Comic by Dasha Markarishcheva| Page design by Dana Edson

good fortunes and well-being. When families should be bonding over a Thanksgiving meal and football games, many waste this holiday standing in crowded lines and fighting their way through mobs of people.

“I put value in family for Thanksgiving and friends,” social studies teacher Anthony Puzan said. “If I want to wait in line for a deal or something, I guess I would forgo that cost and spend time with family. I don’t think it’s worth it. I’d rather stay home with family, watch football, hang out with friends.”

Black Friday is notorious for stampedes and overcrowded malls. Data collected by the website Black Friday Death Count shows that between 2006 and 2017, there have been 10 deaths and 111 injuries from Black Friday related accidents. Although this is not a large number, shopping should never be a risky affair.

“There are a lot of cars on the road...it’s dangerous having so many people in one place,” sophomore Katie Emma Kim said.

Individuals nationwide are falling for the trap called Black Friday. The reality of Black Friday is overflowing malls, subpar sales and dangerous crowds. The holidays are meant to be spent with loved ones, not with shoppers.

Those considering doing some Black Friday shopping this year should skip the hassle and instead stay home to enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie.

NOVEMBER | OPINIONS | 37

Whiny public doesn’t faze the White House Trump upholds the law as the public protests his rightful actions KYLE HAWLEY REPORTER

T

he date is Nov. 9, 2016. The newly declared president-elect, Donald Trump, arrives at his rally at approximately 2:50 a.m. to read his victory speech. As he marches on stage, so do thousands of protesters in Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco and all over the U.S. From the beginning, the Democrats were unable to accept Trump, no matter the quality of his presidency.

In his time at the White House so far, President Trump has been one of the most controversial leaders in American history.

“I think President Trump has done a great job so far,” said sophomore Anton Lingeman, a member of a newly formed conservative club called Turning Point USA. “The stock market has been going up significantly and the economy is booming."

According to The Washington Post, the economy under the Trump Administration has reached record-breaking numbers. The annual growth rate is standing at a strong five percent as of 2018.

Meanwhile, unemployment is at 3.9 percent, the lowest since 1969. It is disappointing but not surprising that the Democrats thanked President Barack Obama for this accomplishment.

"It's not shocking [that the Democrats] would try and hand this victory to Obama," said sophomore Claire Akard, a member of Turning Point.

However, Obama was weak when it came to policy-making and upholding the Constitution, unlike Trump.

Despite the greater public opposition, the sitting president is hard on immigration laws and protective of gun rights. Moreover, he declares a DONALD TRUMP ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

"Not my president" protests break out in the U.S.

“

TRUMP IS NOT HARMING OUR DEMOCRACY WITH HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS." — DAVE BRAT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN

During his presidency, Trump has appointed Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. After both were confirmed by the Senate, the Republicans gained a 5-4 seat majority in the court which enraged the Democrats.

In an interview with The Highlander, Republican Congressman Dave Brat defended the president.

“Trump is not harming our democracy with his executive powers; past justices hurt it,” Brat said. “[Kavanaugh’s] nomination is so crucial to the country because justices are illegally trying to legislate from the bench, corrupting our democracy.”

As our head of state, Trump faced backlash for

the nomination of certain cabinet officials and the passing of harsh legislation. In addition, the public also protests his actions as the Commander-inChief.

In 2017, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad used chemical warfare to harm nearby rebelheld towns. Trump took executive action and commanded our military to strike their bases.

This was met with backlash from Democratic senators that claimed Trump should have waited for congressional approval. “[Trump] is our Commander-in-Chief. He had to take action immediately to counter the assault on these innocent people,” Akard said.

These examples of the public's reactions are fueled by the mainstream media, causing uproars.

The media aims to display the president’s supposed corruptness through false claims to garner higher ratings, which they’ll surely receive if the story targets Trump.

“The media has been way harsher on this president than any other I’ve seen before,” Lingeman said. “The Republicans are noticing what [the media] is doing and won’t fall for it.”

In December 2017, ABC announced a bombshell report regarding Trump's role in the Russian investigation, which could have ended his presidency. By noon, protesters were outside the White House gates demanding his resignation.

A few hours later, ABC released a statement apologizing for the misprint after riots occurred.

The left believes anything that attacks Trump, regardless of its credibility.

Protesters will not determine what Trump does over the course of his term. Trump’s actions throughout his presidency will show that the end truly justifies the means. He will do whatever it takes to improve the state of this Union.

U.S. STRIKES SYRIAN BASES WITH MISSILES ON TRUMP’S COMMAND

NOMINATION OF KAVANAUGH

Protests occur over him not waiting for a Senate vote over whether to attack or not

Protests against Kavanaugh take place for sexual misconduct allegations

TRAVEL BAN SIGNED INTO LAW

Massive protests occur in U.S. airports

38 | OPINIONS | NOVEMBER

just war against the people trying to tamper with the Constitution.

In comparison, under liberal leadership in 2012, the judiciary branch stepped outside of its boundaries and rewrote the Obamacare individual mandate, ensuring it was enacted into law.

Since then, the assurance to appoint Supreme Court justices who do not legislate has become a right-winged political promise.

TRUMP SPEAKS OUT ABOUT NFL PLAYERS

More players kneel during Anthem Infographic by Dasha Makarishcheva | Page design by Kyle Hawley

SPORTS

Junior golfer hits upswing

Jonathan Zou places 11th in states after third successful season ADDIE BROWN FEATURES EDITOR JACK SHIELDS SPORTS EDITOR

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olf extraordinaire Jonathan Zou recently joined the small group of McLean athletes who have found success on varsity teams at the state level. Just one month ago, he hit three over par at the state golf tournament, making him the 11th top high school golfer in the state of Virginia.

Zou’s season began when the team started training in the brutal summer heat. Their tryouts started in July, and the team practiced nearly every day in August and continued into the school year.

Even after their strenuous summer practices, Zou started off strong. He assisted the team in their wins over Yorktown, South Lakes, Washington-Lee and Herndon.

Zou’s habit of producing standout performances traces all the way back to the beginning of his golf career.

“I started golfing when I was 6,” Zou said. “I played in a local tournament here, the AT&T National, and I became intrigued and I've been playing pretty much ever since.

I’ve played in local, regional and national tournaments.”

Like many athletic freshmen in high school, Zou was immediately interested in becoming a part of the varsity sports realm.

He has been seen as an outstanding golfer since he first stepped through the school doors, but he didn’t really start hitting his peak performance until this last season.

“I came very close [to states] the previous two years, so it felt good to get the job done this year,” Zou said.

Zou has garnered high praise from his mentor, varsity golf coach Rick Eyerly.

“Jonathan is an extremely straight and accurate hitter,” Eyerly said. “He is calm under pressure and enjoys the competition.”

His teammate, senior Tori Lam, also holds him in high regard.

“He’s a good teammate because his passion for golf spreads to everyone else and he’s a team player,” Lam said. “He’s nice to everyone and he takes no days off.”

Zou’s commitment to the team is evident in his mature mechanics and positive practice habits. His teammates and coaches consider him to be one of the hardest workers on the team.

“He never takes a break from golf. He’s always thinking of playing throughout the

Photo courtesy of Lifetouch | Page design by Addie Brown

year,” assistant varsity golf coach Woody Kidd said.

Along with his talent, Zou’s hard work and dedication have opened up the possibility for him to continue playing at the collegiate level. He has endless ambition for what he can accomplish as a golfer. “[I'm] definitely looking forward to the next couple months—they’re huge for college recruiting,” Zou said. “I definitely want to play college golf whether it’s Division I or Division III, something along those lines.”

In addition to representing the high school, Zou also plays on other independent teams in order to increase his chances of getting recruited.

“It [happens] through individual, more national tournaments. Recruiting doesn’t happen through high school,” Zou said. “It’s fun but it’s not quite the caliber that college coaches are looking for.”

As a coach, Kidd is among many putting stock into Zou's future on the collegiate level, holding high expectations for the young golf prodigy.

“I think Jonathan will hopefully go to a D-I college and continue at the level he is playing at,” Kidd said.

NOVEMBER | SPORTS | 39

Moving up the field

Former McLean athletes share their first-year college experiences NICKY VARELA REPORTER

RUNNING THROUGH THE DEFENDER — Adam Taylor attacks the blocker to chase after the ball in the fall of 2017. He chalked up over 300 tackles his senior year.

EYES ON THE PRIZE — Elizabeth Zhou controls the ball as she moves her way upfield in the spring of 2018. She earned first team honors her senior year at McLean.

A

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(Photo by Imani McCormick)

dam Taylor, who’s now a linebacker at Salisbury University in Maryland, had a stellar high school football career. At McLean, he was one of the best players on the football team and one of four from 2017 to continue their football career on the collegiate level.

Throughout his career as a three-year varsity starter, Taylor’s racked up over 300 tackles, averaging 11.7 per game. In his last season at McLean, he averaged an astonishing 13.5 tackles per game.

College football can take a heavy toll on the body and the mind, but Taylor knows he made the right decision to continue.

“I decided to pursue football in college because it’s a passion of mine, and everyone I’ve talked to that had a chance to play in college but didn’t, regretted it,” Taylor said.

While high school football is a challenge for most athletes, college football, even at the Division III level, entails a major step up in the level of competition.

“The biggest difference between high school and collegiate athletics is that there is a whole new level of competition,” Taylor said. “Every single athlete was the star of their team in high school.”

The stress of schoolwork is already hard enough for most students, but the life of a student-athlete is even more strenuous. Through it all, however, Taylor still loves it.

“Go to college. It’s fun,” Taylor said. “I’m at a great school having a great time.”

Percentage of High School Football Players That Play in College:

6.9%

40 | SPORTS | NOVEMBER

(Photo courtesy of Kent Arnold)

lizabeth Zhou currently plays defender for Wellesley College in Massachusetts and has played at an elite level of soccer since her freshman year at McLean. As a four-year varsity starter, Zhou’s soccer resume includes her nominations as an all-region defender and allstate honorable mention.

For Zhou, the biggest difference between high school and college soccer has been the sheer physical difference between the players.

“There’s such a wide range of strength, I guess,” Zhou said. “So like you have older players who have been lifting for a long time and are much stronger than me [and] a first year who has never really lifted before.”

Since Zhou made the decision to play in college, she’s never looked back.

“My team has become like a second family and made the transition to college so much easier,” Zhou said. “I also get a ton of exercise which helps me avoid the infamous ‘Freshman 15.’”

Even though she’s been playing since kindergarten, Zhou has no plans to stop any time soon.

“Having played soccer for my entire life and at a very high level, I developed a love for the sport and didn’t feel like I could just stop playing once I got to college,” Zhou said. “It’s been such a big part of my life and it’s something that I love to do, so I wanted to continue it for as long as possible.”

Percentage of High School Girls Soccer Players That Play in College:

7.1%

Statistics from NCAA | Page design by Nicky Varela

Injuries run rampant Sports injuries affect McLean athletes

BANDAGING BEARD — McLean athletic trainer Michael Tierney assists Greg Beard with a foot injury. Beard injured his foot during football season. (Photo by Anna Brykczynski) DUA MOBIN REPORTER

S

uffering from sprains, neck spasms, stress fractures or even getting hit by a deer, athletes risk their bodies for their sport. This is the struggle for many McLean students including senior Caroline Howley.

“My most recent injury was a contusion in my quad muscles from getting hit by a deer while racing,” Howley said.

Injuries can demoralize students and discourage them from being athletes. Even when students are injured, they’re still required to attend practices and support the team, like junior Jerrick Bravo who injured his hip during cross country this season.

“I felt helpless,” Bravo said. “I was on the sidelines watching everyone else run and I could not do anything.”

While some ignore their injuries and blame it on the intensity of their practice, others play through their pain in order to continue competing.

“Not only are overuse injuries in young athletes much more common than is realized, [but] these injuries can require lengthy recovery periods, and in some cases, they can result in long-term health consequences,” UCLA’s Dr. John Pifiori said in an interview with the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

Athletes who don’t stretch properly can Page design by Dua Mobin

lose flexibility and those who participate in sports that emphasize specific regions of the body can experience stress fractures and other symptoms of overuse. These are the leading causes of sports injuries.

“Causes of sports injuries in general are deconditioning, not being flexible, improper form and not very much core strength,” athletic trainer Ashley Schuster said.

“

THAT WORD ‘REST’ PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO HEAR. THEY JUST WANT TO GET BETTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.” — ASHLEY SCHUSTER

MCLEAN ATHLETIC TRAINER

Additionally, many injuries have longterm effects that can restrain athletes from continuous participation. Sophomore Ellie Gersten suffered such an injury during varsity cheer leading, breaking her thumb.

“They said it won’t ever fully heal and that it will probably break again,” Gersten said.

Competition is an excellent way to motivate athletic performance. Many students, however, push themselves too hard, which can be harmful to teams as a whole.

In some cases, inexperienced athletes will be recruited to replace injured ones.

“I just felt really bad for the team because I had to get taken out,” Gersten said. “They had to put someone new in and she had to learn everything.”

The amount of rest an athlete may need for certain injuries can impede a student’s athletic career. The interval of rest demanded by certain injuries often causes students to lose their endurance. According to a study done by Harvard Health, it’s a lot harder for students to return to their earlier position in a sport after suffering an injury.

Consequently, athletes aren’t getting enough rest because they don’t want to affect their team or diminish their level of endurance. Given that many are still required to attend practice, some athletes are inclined to participate in modified practices as opposed to assisting coaches or motivating teammates as they normally do, despite the severity of their injury.

“That word ‘rest’ people don’t really like to hear,” Schuster said. “They just want to get better as soon as possible and might not want to or understand that they need to take the time off.”

NOVEMBER | SPORTS | 41

Trust the process

Highlander football team strives for improvement SKYE SUNDERHAUF REPORTER

T

he stands are filled with a sea of red Highlanders. The cheerleaders are screaming chants while the football players are stretching. Following the national anthem, the "red out" game begins.

Every student is watching the game and yelling cheers as the first quarter goes on. By the second quarter, the excitement has gone down, probably because McLean is behind.

When the third quarter comes around, the majority of people have left and so has the Highlander spirit.

Football season usually comes with hyped up crowds and exhilarating wins. The masses continue to show up, but McLean’s past two seasons have been filled with only losses.

Even with back-to-back winless seasons, the football players manage to continue training and playing their hardest.

“I have been impressed by our players' ability to stay with it. Even though we aren’t winning, they haven’t quit, they haven’t shut down. They have done a good job to keep fighting,” varsity football coach John Scholla said.

Since Scholla started coaching the

GIVING IT THEIR ALL — Ryan Jessar runs the football down field after a handoff from Logan Johnson during the home game against South Lakes on Oct. 19. The resulting score of the game was 7-43, with the Highlanders losing. (Photo by Imani McCormick)

football team two years ago, the training style has evolved. The football program offseason training starts as soon as the season ends in late November and continues through the school year. In March, the team increases its trainings to four days a week, which continues throughout the summer.

Their training consists of running agility drills on field, watching previous game films and lifting weights.

“In the weight room, we have this new app called Team Builder and it tells us the percentages of what we should be doing and how many sets and reps,” sophomore varsity captain Ryan Jessar said.

In addition to this training, the team went to a camp in southern Virginia over the summer. At the camp, the players were able to focus solely on football and their teammates.

“We spent three days in Dyke, Virginia, and we stayed together, we practiced together—we spent basically 16 hours a day with each other, which helped us bond and become closer as a team and helps us play better, too,” sophomore JV tight end Matt Duval said.

All of this training has helped refine the

team, even if it’s not noticeable yet. There is a lot of hope for future football seasons at McLean.

“This year, we are doing a lot more right and although the scoreboard doesn’t show it, it’s there. I believe next year we will be able to get some wins on the scoreboard,” Duval said.

While the varsity team has no visible signs of improvement yet, the JV and freshman teams have won one game and three games, respectively.

“Everyone tells me the same thing: for you to start seeing real change, it takes about three years,” Scholla said.

The football program continues to improve, getting better with each year.

“I’m encouraged because I have seen a lot of growth in our players from last year to this year,” Scholla said.

This season’s record does not reveal all the work and effort each player has put in, but next year’s season will hopefully include a win.

“It’s not a matter of if we win, but when we win,” Scholla said.

Page design by Skye Sunderhauf

ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE LEILA ILKHANOFF SOPHOMORE DANCER WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START DANCE? When I was 3, my mom just kind of put me in it—obviously, because I was so young... My cousin danced, which is where she probably got the idea, and then I just did it and I loved it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE SPORT? Probably just being able to express myself and being with all of my friends. It’s a lot of fun.

DESCRIBE YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT. Probably at nationals two years ago when my team won.

“

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? I wouldn’t say any specific person, probably just everyone around me who works really hard and I can just try to be like them and keep pushing myself to be better. So, I wouldn’t say anyone specific, kind of just everyone.

I’M REALLY THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF MCLEAN DANCE TEAM BECAUSE IT’S A REALLY GOOD ENVIRONMENT OF GIRLS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN AND GET TO PERFORM.”

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF THE SPORT? Probably when you don’t get something the first time because training takes a really long time. Things don’t come that easily so it’s easy to get discouraged. You just have to remember why you’re doing it.

HOW IS MCDANCE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TEAMS? A lot of my friends that I knew from my studio were on it so they convinced me to try out, and I knew it would be a good environment because I look up to them, and they’re really good dancers so that’s why I decided to try out.

WHAT DANCE ARE YOU INVOLVED IN OUTSIDE MCLEAN? I’m on McLean dance team but then I also dance at Studio Bleu Dance Center which is in Ashburn, Virginia, which is a competitive team where we do like six competitions and we do a lot of performances and conventions and stuff like that.

Reporting by Jack Shields & Rohan Mani| Environmental portrait & page design by Imani McCormick

NOVEMBER | SPORTS |43

THE

FINISH LINE

How well does the cross country program know their coach?

We asked two captains questions about Megan Ney.

CROSS GO-TO STARBUCKS COUNTRY ORDER WHAT IS COACH NEY’S...

MEGAN NEY

ELLY GLENN

DREW COLE

FAVORITE COLOR

YELLOW

BLUE

PURPLE

BIGGEST FEAR

SMALL SPACES

INSECTS

SPIDERS

FAVORITE CANDY

MILKY WAY

CHOCOLATE

CHOCOLATE

FAVORITE TV SHOW

GREY’S ANATOMY

GREY’S ANATOMY

GREY’S ANATOMY

FAVORITE THING ABOUT COACHING

WHEN ATHLETES PUT IN HARD WORK AND SHOW IMPROVEMENT

YELLING AT US

TORTURING US

FAVORITE SPORT (OTHER THAN XC)

SOCCER

SPEED SKATING

SOCCER

44 | SPORTS | NOVEMBER

HEAD COACH

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Page design by Anya Chen & Maren Kranking Reporting by Ben Brooks |Photos by Zach Anderson, Ben Brooks & Emily Jackson