Volume LXII • Issue 1 • October 2017 • McLean High School • thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander
CONTENTS NEWS 3
Overcrowding at McLean
4-5
New AP exam policy in effect
6-7
Life, liberty and Juggalos?
8
Hurricane Irma strikes Florida
IN-DEPTH ON THE COVER 22-27 A Gray Area: Fairfax County grapples with Confederate history and discrimination after Charlottesville Cover photo by Sam Gollob Inside photo by Siddarth Shankar
FEATURES
OPINIONS
9
The history of the rock
31
10
Freshman survival guide
Editorial: Betsy DeVos does not represent McLean’s interests
11
Faces to know at McLean
32
Advanced Diploma limits students’ options
33
August school start is beneficial for students and staff
12-13
Highlanders of the Issue: Amanda Coughlin, Camille Duffy & Julia Koehl
15
10Qs with Jeff Barham & Sean Rolon
17
Government teacher makes classroom her stage
A&E
6-7
34-35
Crossfire: Are new methods to combat cheating effective?
36-37
North Korea needs different approach
SPORTS 38-39
McLean gets new football coach & scoreboard
40-41
Boys volleyball: only an interest club
18
The decline of movie theaters
19
Review: Luv Is Rage 2
20
To read or not to read?
21
Fall fashion
42
Caroline Howley is top 10 runner in D.C. area
28
Review: Destiny 2 video game
43
Athlete of the Issue: Hunter Jewett
29
Review: Taylor Swift’s two new singles
44
The Finish Line
30
Review: It
9
40-41
22-27
Letter from the Editors Dear McLean, Welcome back to another school year and another year of The Highlander! This year, we look forward to welcoming our freshman class—the largest in McLean history—to our already jam-packed halls. We thank you, our readers, for continuing to support us, and we hope to carry on the successes of our previous year’s staff. Check out our News section for details about overcrowding at McLean and a new AP exam policy that will affect many upperclassmen. Our Features section includes a profile of McLean’s beloved rock and our Highlanders of the Issue: three seniors who volunteered with a Bolivian orphanage.
Volume LXII • Issue 1 • October 2017 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief
Bryan Chung, Colin Edson & Siddarth Shankar
Managing Editors
Rustin Abedi, Imani McCormick & Jackson Payne
Photography Editor
Sabrina Vazquez
Website Editor-in-Chief
Jessie Friedman
Advertising Manager
Rebeka Rafi
Design Editors
Maren Kranking & Dasha Makarishcheva
Section Editors News Editors
Maria McHugo & Jeremy Siegel
Flip to our Arts & Entertainment section for reviews of Taylor Swift’s two new singles and the horror film, It.
Features Editors
Maren Kranking & Nick Monroy
A&E Editors
Justin Kim & Conor Zeya
Read all about new teacher efforts to combat cheating in the Crossfire in our Opinions section.
Opinions Editors
Jessie Friedman & Alex Mandanas
Sports Editors
Jack Stenzel & Ed Walters
The Sports section highlights McLean’s new football coach and includes an update on our scoreboard situation. Finally, our In-Depth examines racism after the violent events in Charlottesville in August. Debates over Confederate names and statues have affected Fairfax County as well. 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, Bryan Chung, Colin Edson & Siddarth Shankar
Reporters Julianne Akard Carla Ballard Ben Brooks Anna Brykczynski Anya Chen Dana Collings Ryan Dahlseid Ben Davis Pragya Dhungana Sam Gollob
Rose Harris Anna Grace Hopkins Emma Johnson Miranda Johnson Haru Kato Jake Keating Jane Lee Josh Leong Rohan Mani Julia McElligott
Adviser
Alexandria Meuret Sasha Meyman Ross Oliver Jessica Opsahl-Ong Michael Redding Haley Rose Jude Sadeq Tommy Schilder Sean Senft
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.
‘15, ‘17 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘16 First Class; Hall of Fame
‘14, ‘16, ‘17 George H. Gallup Award; ‘15 International First Place ‘15, ‘16 Gold Crown Winner ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16 CSPA Gold Medalist
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NEWS NEWS
The overcrowding effect
With arrival of larger freshman class, McLean is bursting at the seams |JACK STENZEL SPORTS EDITOR & TOMMY SCHILDER REPORTER |
S
ince the kickoff of the 2017-18 school year, traveling through some of McLean’s hallways between periods has become arduous. Major junctions are flooded with more kids than they are meant to fit, often slowing students to a complete standstill. Following an unexpectedly large influx of students, both students and faculty are faced with myriad challenges caused by overcrowding. The population increase stems from the new freshman class that has 205 more students than expected. This results in part from McLean’s appeal to prospective incoming families, as they have taken note of its national ranking among public schools. “Some families definitely came in and said they had seen our ranking in U.S. News & World Report,” Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery said. “Our building capacity—what they refer to as our program capacity—is 1,967, and we are going to have close to 200 more students than that this year.” A greater student enrollment has increased the student to teacher ratio in the school, a consequence that is part of a ripple effect derived from the county’s longstanding monetary issues. “Part of it is the county. Because of budget issues, it continually increases the ratio of students to teachers,” Stansbery said. “We are not given as much staffing as we used to get, so even if we had extra kids, Photo by Jack Stenzel Page design by Tommy Schilder Infographic by Dasha Makarishcheva
we would still have a bit larger classes this year than last year.” The overcrowding issue forces many teachers to adjust to a different classroom culture. “When classes are already at max capacity, students may not have any options about switching classes if they want to leave their current class,” said Meghan Percival, who teaches both AP Psychology and Photojournalism. “I didn’t always teach
Average population from last 5 years
2017-18 population
AP Psych in the yearbook room, but now I think we are maximizing. Things that used to be used as meeting spaces, [such as] the social studies book room, is now classroom space—we have converted spaces that are underutilized into classroom space.” Meanwhile, the effects of overcrowding most directly impact the students, who cram the halls during passing periods. “I think that the transition time should be expanded. This way, students are not reprimanded for coming to class late when the reason is out of their control,” junior Shannon Stockero said. “It would also be beneficial to take out the lockers in McLean. This would result in more space in the hallways that people could use when walking around.” The key to fixing the overcrowding dilemma is not yet clear. The county is looking into long-term solutions to alleviate the problem. “Lots of schools are over capacity, and so I believe what they’ve done instead is there’s a plan to build a new high school,” Stansbery said. “Not here, but in the western part of the county, and I think as that happens, there may be some shifting of students to spread students out evenly.” A relatively large school population is made more dangerous by the fact that the number of students is projected to grow each year in the years to come. The school's growing sense of urgency was best summarized by School Security Specialist Buddy Sekely: “It’s going to be interesting if we get more.”
OCTOBER | NEWS | 3
New AP exam policy goes into effect
FCPS to require individual payments from students who take 6+ exams | COLIN EDSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & JANE LEE REPORTER |
F
CPS made a significant change to its Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exam policies this year. As of Sept. 22, after taking six exams, students will be expected to pay for every additional themselves. Additional AP exams will cost a student $93 each, and additional IB exams will cost $110 each. This policy will give students the choice of which six exams they would like FCPS to pay for. Consequently, both AP and IB exams are now optional, due to Virginia law which states school systems may not charge fees for required tests. Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals will be exempt from exam fees. Students will still receive a 1.0 GPA boost for each AP course they take, regardless of their decision to take the exam in May or not, as opposed to the previous requirement of taking the test in order for the boost to take effect. “There is some difficulty in projecting how this policy change will impact our students,” said Chris Powell, the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs specialist. “We will continue to promote the value
and benefits associated with taking AP tests and ensure that students are supported along their academic journey.” The new policy first came up during a school board meeting in May. It was meant to be finalized in August before the start of the 2017-18 school year, but conflicting viewpoints and complications of the approval process caused a delay in the decision. “In June, we closed down schools. Then in July, they started focusing [on] how do we pay for this...so you’d have to have Finance involved, then you’d have to get Instructional Services involved...so it’s taking time. And then you have to consult all the principals and ask, ‘Is this fair?’” Principal Ellen Reilly said. Prior to the 2017-18 school year, FCPS paid the exam fees for all AP and IB exams students took. Now, with the new policy, whether to take and pay for AP exams has become a question students must consider before they register later in the school year. “All research and my 30 years of personal observation show that an AP course without the exam is not really an
Causes of $50M+ Budget Reduction 6%
3%
34%
56%
Eligible Employee Salaries
Teacher Salaries
Classroom Instructional Support
ESOL Redesign
4 | NEWS| OCTOBER
AP course. It reduces motivation, denies the student the experience of a collegelevel exam and reduces the motivation of teachers to keep standards up,” The Washington Post education columnist Jay Mathews said in an interview with The Highlander. However, teachers at McLean disagree, believing their teaching efforts will not be affected by the new policy. “We have decided that it is going to be business as usual and that nothing is going to change,” said Advanced Academics Programs Coordinator Cynthia Hawkins, who teaches AP Psychology and AP US History. The primary cause of the new policy was the need for $50 million in cuts to the 2018 FCPS budget. According to the FCPS website, “the reductions were necessary to fund required expenditure increases and address employee compensation which is a priority in FCPS’s Strategic Plan.” The new policy is a response to the teacher and substitute compensation issues that have been lingering for years. The new budget does reflect serious consideration of employee compensation. It includes approximately $2.5 billion in
Outline of New Policy Payment after six exams Exams become optional $93 per AP exam, $110 per IB exam Students who qualify for free & reduced meals are exempt 1.0 GPA boost stays regardless of the exam
employee compensation funding, with a $26.6 million investment to bring mid-career teachers closer to the market average salary. One of the biggest concerns with the new policy is that, according to Reilly, it is projected to raise only $600,000 of the $50 million cuts for which FCPS is trying to compensate, prompting students to ask whether changing the AP and IB exam policy was really necessary. “The AP testing policy shouldn’t have changed...what has our education come to if we have to pay for AP tests, college applications, standardized tests, tutors and college?” senior Nadien Gad said. The new AP exam policy is not the only measure the school board is taking to compensate for budget reductions. Students are now also required to pay an activity fee of $50 each year. The activity fee is projected to generate $1.5 million.
“We, Fairfax County, believe that AP tests are important and that [they are] what you’re preparing for at the end of the game.” -Principal Ellen Reilly McLean generates an average of 2,500 AP exams per year, the second most in Fairfax County. Last year, 16,200 students in the county took 38,000 AP tests. Many are worried the new policy will decrease the number of AP test-takers and diminish the reputation of FCPS. “AP and IB tests coupled with courses has been an academic practice in FCPS that has been helpful in sustaining a reputation of academic performance and excellence in FCPS,” Powell said. “There may be no change or a great deal of change with who decides to take exams.” Mathews, however, believes the AP exam is the end goal for an AP course. It is meant to test students on their Page design by Colin Edson Infographics by Bryan Chung
understanding of college-level content. By not testing students, the essence of an AP course is lost. “Students who do not take the AP test show no greater achievement in that subject in college than students who have not taken AP at all,” Mathews said. Some advocates in favor of the policy reason that students will be able to choose which exams they want to send to colleges. This will be especially beneficial for students who are taking AP courses primarily to earn a higher GPA rather than to receive college credit. Most of the burden of the new policy will fall onto upperclassmen who have already taken or are in the midst of taking six AP courses. They had already registered for AP courses in previous years without being informed that they would soon be paying for their own exams. “Most students don’t want to pay the fee but really want the college credit,” Gad said. “I will pay just because it would be kind of pointless to have taken an AP class and not get college credit for it.” According to a survey of 207 upperclassmen taking AP courses, 57 percent disagreed with the policy, and 54 percent said the new policy will affect the number of AP exams they will be taking. “Our approach is to trust families to make decisions based on what they feel is the best for their child...we believe that through academic advising and the education of students and parents about the value of exam participation and the potential for other benefits, we will continue to experience high [exam] participation rates in FCPS,” school board chair Jane Strauss said in an email statement. While the effects of the new policy have yet to be seen, they mark a large change from previous school years. “It’s just we, Fairfax County, believe that AP tests are important and that is what you’re preparing for at the end of the game,” Reilly said. “So, it’s changing a culture by doing this. It’s changing what Fairfax County is. And do we want that?”
Underclassmen: Will the new policy affect how many AP courses you take? YES
NO
30%
70%
Survey of 70 underclassmen
Upperclassmen: How do you feel about the policy? AGREE
DISAGREE
INDIFFERENT
16% 27%
57%
Will you choose not to take some exams due to this policy? YES
NO
54%
46%
Survey of 207 upperclassmen
OCTOBER |NEWS | 5
Life, liberty and Juggalos?
The National Mall runs wild in a Trump rally riddled with clowns |ANNA BRYKCZYNSKI PHOTOGRAPHER & BEN DAVIS REPORTER|
Mother of All Rallies — Ralliers create a platform at the MOAR in support of President Donald Trump. The rally, expecting around 3,000 attendees, only saw a few hundred, who were far outnumbered by a combination of counterprotesters and Juggalos.
H
undreds of Trump supporters and thousands of Juggalos gathered on the National Mall to rally for their causes on Sept. 16. The Trump supporters were in attendance at the “Mother of All Rallies” (MOAR) to show their support for the president. The rally was predicted to have around 3,000 people in attendance, though their numbers fell far short with only a few hundred attendees according to USA Today. Unlike the Trump rally, the Juggalo March was in full swing, garnering close to a few thousand reported attendees. The Juggalos—followers of the hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse—protested the 2011 decision made by the FBI which classified them as a gang. Between the chants and “horrorcore” music of the Juggalos around the Lincoln Memorial and the country music which blasted from the MOAR, it was difficult to even process the demands of either group. These photos convey the atmosphere of both rallies.
Green on the Other Side — A field lies vacant at the height of the Trump MOAR. Though the turnout of the Trump rally was low, chants and blaring music could be heard from the adjacent Juggalo rally that exceeded expected attendance numbers.
6 | NEWS| OCTOBER
Two Birds, One Stone — A protester displays his dissatisfaction with Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions while opposing the FBI’s classification of Juggalos as a gang.
No More Clowning Around — A Juggalo conveys the supportive family environment fostered by fans of the Insane Clown Posse.
Page design by Anna Brykczynski, Ben Davis & Maria McHugo
Pro-Trump
Wishing Walls — A woman shows her support for President Trump with a sign that became a favorite among the pro-Trump crowd.
Anti-Trump
Ohio for Trump — An Ohio resident waves an American flag in alliance with President Trump, saying he “eats, sleeps and drinks Donald J. Trump.”
Rolling with Trump — A couple takes a rest after riding their motorcycle from South Carolina to D.C. in order to attend the MOAR rally.
Photo Evidence — A Trump supporter takes a picture of a protester holding a sign that depicts the Russian translation of “Resign.” Today is the Day — A protester encourages passersby to get involved.
Smiles in Strife — Anti-Trump activists find time for laughs amongst mobs of Trump supporters and Juggalos.
Juggalos
Clown Art — A young Juggalo supporter shows her spirit with a hand-drawn poster.
Pop for President — A Juggalo proponent expresses his disapproval of the Trump administration while championing Faygo, a popular brand of soda among Juggalos.
A Family Outing — An expectant mother supports the Juggalos alongside her husband and first child.
OCTOBER |NEWS | 7
Irma strikes Florida with catastrophic force Hurricane Irma adds to record-breaking 2017 season |BEN BROOKS REPORTER|
J
ust days before it made landfall in the Florida Keys, Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 storm with 175 mph winds, the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. It devastated small islands in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Expected to make direct contact with Miami, Floridians prepared for the worst. “My [cousins] in Tampa bolted up the house and waited it out, while my uncle in Tampa evacuated inland,” sophomore Hayden Birchfield said. However, on Sept. 9 Hurricane Irma made landfall with Cuba, weakening the storm and shifting the projected major hit zone west of Miami. “My grandmother’s house in Cuba was completely destroyed,” sophomore Pedro Ordunez said. “Cuba is very prepared for hurricanes, but [Irma] was just too powerful.” The shift west away from Miami prevented a direct hit. “My grandmother in Miami went to a shelter to protect herself,” Ordunez said. According to The Weather Channel, Hurricane Irma made contact with the Florida Keys on Sept. 10 as a Category 4 storm with 130 mph wind speeds. The last storm of such magnitude to strike Florida was Category 5 Hurricane Andrew in
1992. It was significantly smaller, but more powerful than Irma. According to The Guardian, Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 storm when it slammed into Cuba, flooding the main streets of Havana and killing at least 10 people. Many homes and communities in Cuba that were already falling apart instantly collapsed. Unlike Cuba, Florida was better prepared. Mass evacuations in the entire southern half of the state implemented by Governor Rick Scott helped prevent many deaths. After Hurricane Andrew, Florida implemented much stricter building codes that have since helped builidings to survive hurricanes such as Wilma and Charlie, but neither of those were nearly the size or strength of Hurricane Irma. After Irma, Florida will have to consider strengthening building codes once again to prevent another catastrophe. Estimated costs for relief and reconstruction range from $70-$100 billion, which would near Hurricane Katrina as the costliest ever, totaling $108 billion in damage. “The high school in our town still has mold from [Hurricane] Andrew,” said English teacher Seth LeBlanc, whose aunt’s house was completely destroyed by Andrew. “Katrina [later] shut down our school for two weeks, and knocked out all the power lines.”
HURRICANE IRMA
WIND SPEEDS
of 185MPH
400
X 70 DEATHS
MILES
$
70-100 BILLION IN DAMAGES
2005 HURRICANE KATRINA 8 | NEWS| OCTOBER
2017
$
108 BILLION IN DAMAGES X 1,833 DEATHS
WIND SPEEDS
of 175MPH
400
MILES
As other hurricanes such as Katrina and Andrew have done severe long-term damage to the towns that they have hit, Hurricane Irma could cause many long-term problems as well with the Caribbean and South Florida. The 2017 hurricane season has been quite catastrophic. There have been eight named storms thus far, seven of which became official hurricanes, according to The Weather Channel. Category 4 Hurricane Harvey collided with Texas, flooding Houston and other neighboring towns. Harvey transformed from a Category 1 to a Category 4 hurricane within 16 hours between Aug. 24 and 25. The projected total cost for Hurricane Harvey is nearing $190 billion, according to USA Today, which would make it the most costly hurricane ever. Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose was at its worst a Category 4 storm before it spun up the Atlantic. As a Category 1 well off the East Coast, parts of the Eastern Seaboard up into Massachusetts experienced rain from the storm. As a Category 5 with 175 mph wind speeds, Hurricane Maria crashed into Puerto Rico early Sept. 20, leaving the entire island out of power and killing at least 30. Rain totals of over 30 inches were recorded within a 24 hour period. Puerto Rico also experienced a nine to 12 foot storm surge, according to ABC News. Maria was an incredible 450 miles wide— 50 wider than both Katrina and Irma— when it hit Puerto Rico. In the Juana Matos community in Puerto Rico, 80 percent of homes were destroyed and many were flooded with at least three feet of water. Such a devastating hurricane season is not unheard of in the U.S.; 2005 had a severe hurricane season as well. In 2005, there were at least 28 tropical depressions, 15 hurricanes, including two major storms—Hurricanes Katrina and Rita—and seven Category 3 or higher storms. Katrina hit New Orleans as a Category 3, flooding 80 percent of the city and killing 1,833 people. According to The Weather Channel, along with Katrina, Hurricanes Emily, Rita and Wilma also reached Category 5 status in the same year. The 2005 season cost over $143 billion in total, the majority of that coming from Katrina.
Page design by Ben Brooks Infographic by Maren Kranking & Maria McHugo
Rock and roll
FEATURES
McLean’s esteemed rock to celebrate its 30th birthday
|CONOR ZEYA A&E EDITOR & RYAN DAHLSEID REPORTER|
S
itting on a little patch of green grass outside entrance nine is one of McLean’s longest-lasting traditions. Donated in 1988, the graffiti rock has been a landmark fixture at the school for nearly 30 years. In the 1980s, the school building was vandalized frequently, and the McLean Class of 1988 thought of an elegant solution to this graffiti problem. Math teacher Crissie Ricketts began her McLean career in 1984 and was a member of the class that donated the rock. “The school was spending a ton of money and effort to clean up,” Ricketts said. “By the time we were graduating, we were tired of the tagging. So we donated a graffiti rock... That was our class gift.” McLean was one of the first high schools in the area to come up with the idea of having a designated graffiti area. “Since then, most schools have something like that now, but back then it was definitely a cutting-edge type thing,” Ricketts said. “I don’t know if we were the first, but it was definitely a new idea.” In its early years, the painting of the rock was not at all organized or coordinated. The rock was painted randomly, at spontaneous times, serving as a canvas for the students’ free expression. “It was graffitied all over, and it was
very colorful and changed constantly,” Ricketts said. To prevent inappropriate images or language from being painted on the rock, students were once required to sign up and gain approval from administration before painting. “When I first got here [six years ago], the rock was a little contentious, because people would have to sign up to paint the rock, and every week someone would paint over [it],” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “So we got rid of the sign-up sheet, and said, ‘If you want to go paint the rock, then go paint the rock.’ It should be one of those free-for-all kind of things.” Students can now paint the rock whenever they want, but after it is painted it must be reviewed by administration to make sure nothing offensive is displayed. “Langley sometimes comes over and paints over it, and security always has extra paint to go over it if someone paints something inappropriate,” Reilly said. Even when looked over by administration, paintings on the rock can still be controversial. In May 2016, there was controversy surrounding the “Blue Lives Matter” theme painted on the rock. Much of the school was
divided over the issue, which just shows the rock’s influence beyond the walls of McLean. The rock’s main purpose today is to inform students of upcoming events, such as Homecoming or sporting events. “It’s a good school tradition to have,” said senior Julia Koehl, who has helped paint the rock twice. “It’s really cool, especially when we were freshmen and we came in and saw the rock that the seniors had painted.” This coming spring will mark the 30th anniversary of the rock’s donation. Over the course of those years, the main purpose of the rock changed from a canvas for free expression to a place to encourage school spirit. The rock has seen controversy, thousands of students and layers upon layers of spray paint. When the Class of ‘88 donated the rock, they did not know how prominent the tradition of painting the rock would become, simply expecting it to be a solution to a vandalism problem. “I think every generation of students needs something where they can go and express themselves,” Reilly said. “It should be something that’s fun, but also something that can be remembered later on.”
Layers of History —
This chunk pulled from the rock shows all the colors the rock has been painted over the years. The chunk is over one inch thick, which adds up to roughly 600 layers of paint.
Dominate —
The rock is currently painted with the senior class slogan, “Dom1n8.”
Photos by Sam Gollob Page design by Bryan Chung
OCTOBER | FEATURES | 9
Things to know for the class of 2021 McLean community shares high school tips and tricks
|SABRINA VAZQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR & ANNA GRACE HOPKINS REPORTER |
T
he transition from middle school to high school can be confusing, and at times a bit scary. Between trying to navigate the school and balancing assignments with clubs and sports, the first few weeks of freshman year can be overwhelming. Luckily, McLean has a large support system of teachers and upperclassmen to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
the first couple weeks it’s too overwhelming ...so focus on your strengths.” The key to being successful in high school is finding a perfect balance for yourself in all aspects of life. “Take the classes that you think you can manage. Don’t overload yourself,” CarrilloKlein said.
Transition from middle school
Clubs are a great way to participate in something you enjoy and be a part of the McLean community. There are tons to choose from, encompassing a wide variety of topics. The best way to find one you like is to try several that seem interesting. “Do as many clubs and activities as you can,” Carrillo-Klein said. “Try everything and see what you like best.” One thing that comes with participating in clubs is finding a way to fit everything into your schedule. The simplest and most effective method is to have balance. “Prioritize, and get yourself together. It will help you in the long run,” senior Khyati Sharma said.
From the stories about the pool on the “third floor” to bullies demanding lunch money, there are many misconceptions that hold no truth at McLean. “I was expecting it to be more cliquey than middle school was, but once I got to high school I realized people mature with time,” senior Havi Carrillo-Klein said. However, there are some notable differences between middle and high school. For one, the amount of work that is assigned is more time consuming, and freshmen often don’t expect the workload to be so heavy. “Don’t underestimate the amount of work you’ll have,” English teacher Bridget Donoghue said. “[From] my experience, a lot of the freshmen didn’t do their reading the first night that they had it...and they failed a quiz because they didn’t.”
Clubs/Extracurriculars
Spirit Days
Classes
Trying to figure out which courses to take is a major component of the school year. It’s important to focus on what you’re good at and to not stress about the number of honors classes or APs you take. “Do what you’re good at and take the honors levels of those classes, and then everything else take non-honors so that you are not overwhelming yourself,” Donoghue said. “I feel that freshmen especially sign up for honors everything and then they realize 10 | FEATURES | OCTOBER
A common tradition before big games and school dances is spirit week. It is a quintessential part of the high school experience and a great way to show off Highlander pride. There are some staples of spirit week such as Hawaiian day or red, white and black outs, but the themes are always changing, with new ones added every year. “Spirit days get really hype because it just makes everyone happier and the mood of the school is more exciting when everyone is participating,” Carrillo-Klein said. Spirit days are also a great change from the
normal mundane activities of school life. It’s a great experience to walk through the halls and to see everyone dressed up, participating in fun games during lunches or cheering at pep rallies. Spirit days encourage students to live in the moment and enjoy their high school experience. “Don’t live for the weekend. You’ll miss everything in between,” Sharma said.
Working with teachers
It may seem like teachers’ only jobs are to inform students and assign hours of homework, but teachers are a great asset for help with understanding assignments or for general advice about McLean. “A lot of time freshmen are afraid to ask questions, so it’s important to start building that relationship early enough that they feel comfortable talking to a teacher and asking for help,” Donoghue said. Teachers and counselors are great for extra support with assignments and for providing additional help when needed. Teachers are often available before or after school and during Highlander Time to offer help and advice. “Make good relationships with your teachers because they can be really good resources. Go to them for help because they are really good about that,” Carrillo-Klein said. High school may seem like it lasts a lifetime, but in reality it goes by incredibly fast. The best way to enjoy it is to participate in things you enjoy and try not to stress over what you can’t control. “Don’t overload yourself or stress yourself out. It’s not worth it,” Carrillo-Klein said. “You’ll get through four years. It goes by really quickly.”
Graphics by Anya Chen & Anna Grace Hopkins Page design by Sabrina Vazquez & Anna Grace Hopkins
Faces to know
Some of the many people at McLean students can rely on |HARU KATO REPORTER & SEAN SENFT REPORTER|
With a new school, new staff and a new start, freshmen and transfer students have a whole lot on their plate. Here are some notable people to look to for help and advice. Laura Venos: Career Center Specialist
Laura Venos helps students with everything that happens after high school: college, jobs, military and more. She’s available whenever the building is open, typically 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. “I want to support everybody that comes in,” Venos said. The career center is especially helpful for students searching for financial aid and other opportunities after high school. Venos’s tip for new students is “definitely join one club or sport to get to know more people and to get a better feel of the high school.”
Joan McCarthy: Head School Librarian
Joan McCarthy is more than just a person who works with books. She is willing and able to help you with “finding good authoritative sources online and in books, and with in-text citations and works cited for both MLA and APA.” McCarthy encourages all students to come into the library for help, but if students can’t find time to come in, send an email to her at jkmccarthy@fcps.edu or to the other librarian, Linda Shankle, at ldshankle@fcps.edu.
Julie Gamboa: School Health Aide
“I’m not a nurse, not a medical professional, but I’m trained to do a lot of things,” Julie Gamboa said. When you’re feeling ill or have gotten an injury, Gamboa is the person you go to. She’s here all day every day, usually from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Her greatest health tip for students is to eat breakfast. “[Not eating breakfast] is the biggest problem I see,” Gamboa said. “Kids come and tell me that they’re not feeling good, and when I ask them why, they say they haven’t eaten breakfast.” Gamboa also emphasizes the importance of washing hands in order to avoid illness.
Scott Davis: School Resource Officer
You’ll see SRO Scott Davis walking all over school, making sure everything is under control. Davis does more than just keep the school safe. “I’m here as an adult for students to talk to,” Davis said. “We’re here to help, not to make students’ lives harder.” Although his tall stature makes him look intimidating, Davis is one of the most friendly and amusing people at McLean. Davis encourages students to try to make new friends to make their experience here more enjoyable.
Beth Werfel: School Psychologist
“There is a solution to every problem. I absolutely believe that. It might not be an easy solution or it might take some time, but there is always a solution,” Beth Werfel said. This willingness to be there to support and help students is something that hasn’t gone unnoticed at McLean. No matter how big or small the issue, Werfel is here to help guide everyone. Werfel is at school every day and is open for counseling at any time. You can set an appointment by emailing her at bawerfel@fcps.edu or going into her office, S115, right by student services.
Buddy Sekely: Security Specialist
If you have any issues with other students, questions about parking passes or any safety problem, Buddy Sekely and his three assistant security specialists (Paul O’Neill, Joe Sefchick and Jim Wears) are the people you see. All the security specialists are very kind, helpful and fun to talk to. They are at school from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A great way to reach them is going to the front office to have them contact security or by heading down to their office in the cafeteria. “A safe environment is what we aim for because you can’t learn if you don’t feel safe,” Sekely said. Security is not only here to prevent students from misbehaving in school, but they are also people students can rely on for all kinds of personal problems. Photos by Haru Kato & Ed Walters Page design by Imani McCormick
OCTOBER | FEATURES | 11
Highlanders of the Issue
Highlanders spend summer helping in Bolivia Bolivian orphanage benefits from the Salomon Klein Kids Fund Cochabamba, Bolivia — This is where the Salomon Klein Orphanage is located, and where the money and support for the fund goes.
Bonding with the Kids —
Julia Koehl hangs out with children at the orphanage during her trip.
| JAKE KEATING REPORTER |
A
s most students lazed about their houses and hung out with friends, several McLean students devoted their time to a more charitable cause the past few summers. Seniors Amanda Coughlin, Camille Duffy and Julia Koehl have traveled to Bolivia to donate their efforts to helping a small orphanage in Cochabamba. They went to the orphanage as a part of the Salomon Klein Kids Fund, a nonprofit organization founded by Coughlin’s father, Michael Coughlin, in 2013. “Initially, we went down to visit family...but we were walking through Cochabamba and we noticed the orphanage. My wife wanted to go in, and it is that kind of fate that changes your life,” Michael Coughlin said. Amanda Coughlin is one of the organization’s board members. Duffy and Koehl have also accompanied her on some of her trips since the foundation was formed. “I would say that going to Bolivia was truly one of the most unique and enriching experiences I have ever had,” Koehl said.
12 | FEATURES | OCTOBER
Playtime —
Camille Duffy plays with an orphan at the Salomon Klein Orphanage. Duffy has visited Bolivia three times to volunteer her time to aiding the orphanage.
While the picturesque landscape of Bolivia can be captivating, it was the children who truly stole the girls’ hearts. “Each year we build relationships with these kids, making it harder and harder to leave every time we go,” Duffy said. “Two summers ago, I became really close with a 1-year-old named Maikol. I cared for him every day and I spent most of my summer with him. His mother was 14 and addicted to drugs. She gave him up when he was just four months old.” Duffy showed great emotion while telling Maikol’s story. “She still held limited custodial rights, so she would come into the orphanage and play with him every so often. I had met her a handful of times, and while I didn’t have a high opinion of her, it was still painful to watch her say goodbye to Maikol,” Duffy said. “The next year I came back...Maikol and I would spend all of our time together. He was by far the hardest goodbye, but I knew I would see him the next year.”
Though the girls’ experiences in Bolivia were generally rewarding, heartbreak was just as present and unavoidable, considering the nature of their work. “This past summer, I went back down to Bolivia and was so excited to see Maikol. I went into the orphanage looking everywhere for him, until someone told me that his mom had kidnapped him a few months earlier. No one has seen Maikol or heard from his mom since,” Duffy said. These stories are nothing new in developing countries, and there is nothing that can be done to completely prevent them. However, the Salomon Klein Kids Fund is proactive in making a difference. “What I was exposed to in Bolivia truly changed my life and how I perceive the world around me,” Amanda Coughlin said. “The most amazing part of the entire experience is going back and watching these kids grow up. They have had unfortunate young lives and I believe that we have helped them in one way or another.” Duffy and Koehl are both extremely thankful for their experiences in Bolivia. “The kids have been through a lot and I think that the Coughlins going to the lengths they did to help the orphanage speaks to how touching that place really is,” Koehl said.
The Coughlins and the girls have worked tirelessly during their visits, striving to maintain and grow the support for the organization. Their efforts to help the Salomon Klein Orphanage are already making an impact. “I know that Amanda and her family have really made a difference [with the Salomon Klein Kids Fund],” Koehl said. Any time the kids come up in conversation, each girl instantly bubbles with enthusiasm, smiles spread wide across their faces. They talk at length about how amazing the children are and how they can’t wait to go back down to see them again and continue the work of the organization. The foundation’s mission is to raise funds and awareness for the Salomon Klein Orphanage. Based on the tremendous love and care the girls put in, however, they seem to raise more than just funds—they raise spirits as well. “While we seem to be the ‘heroes’ of this story, we aren’t. The kids that we saw down there are some of the bravest people we have met, and the people that work there are even stronger,” Duffy said. “These kids deserve better, and we are—and the foundation is—committed to making a difference.”
Page design by Bryan Chung Photos courtesy of Amanda Coughlin, Camille Duffy & Julia Koehl
Taken —
Maikol was an orphan and friend of the girls. He was kidnapped two years after their first trip by his mother, and he has not been seen since. Camille Duffy had been the closest with him and was torn apart when she learned of his disappearance.
Best Buddies —
Amanda Coughlin visits Bolivia every summer to volunteer at the orphanage and to see all the kids she loves.
OCTOBER | FEATURES | 13
10 Qs with
Jeff Barham & Sean Rolon
(New Assistant Principals) Reporting by Alexandria Meuret & Emma Johnson Photos by Sabrina Vazquez Page design by Bryan Chung
If you could be in any Disney movie, what would it be? JB: I would be in Cars. I’d probably be like Mater—I just like having fun. I like to make things simple, but I like to have fun and not take things too seriously.
Sean Rolon (left) and Jeff Barham (right)
What’s your biggest fear?
What is your favorite part about being an assistant principal?
JB: I want to make sure that wherever I go I’ve left a positive impact, and I think my biggest fear would be putting a lot of time into something and not seeing that happen...I just want to make sure my legacy is there in a positive way and people will say I did well helping people.
JB: My favorite part is helping students achieve their full potential. I love seeing how students grow from ninth through 12th grade.
What advice would you give students to have a great year?
What’s your favorite cheese? JB: I like Gouda. I had a really nice grilled cheese with Gouda last night; it was awesome.
JB: Just get involved. Try new things, try to get out of your comfort zone...get outside of what you know, and it’s good to fail as long as you learn from that... Find something you care about.
Who’s your role model?
How did you become interested in being an assistant principal?
SR: I’m trying to think how nerdy to make this...I’m going to say Captain Picard from Star Trek... He is adventurous, loyal and respectful, and I grew up watching him with my dad every day.
SR: I worked at Marshall High School before this and was presented with several leadership opportunities there. [I] really enjoyed the opportunity to work with the school at large, not just in the classroom, and it hooked [me].
What do you think of McLean so far? SR: Love it, it’s great. Great teachers, great administration, great students, great community. [I] feel very supported here, very welcome here. It’s a very welcoming place.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you on the job?
If you could only play one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
SR: While I was a teacher I gave myself a concussion...I was mocking someone and just didn’t realize I was 6’5’’ and I was in a door frame, so yeah, good times with that concussion.
SR: Bruce Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams.” It always put me in a better mood and... reminded me|ofFEATURES a bright future. OCTOBER | 15
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Queen of the blue hall
Julia Braxton, Miss Virginia runner up, uses McLean as her new stage
S
|JUDE SADEQ REPORTER|
tepping off the Miss America stage and into the blue hall, government teacher Julia Braxton has begun a new performance as one of McLean’s AP Government teachers. Braxton started competing in the Miss America system at age 16. She began her career as a teen representative for the District of Columbia, and she participated in her first national pageant in high school. Braxton attended The Duke Ellington School of Arts, where she was an honor roll student and participated in several extracurricular activities, including the school’s annual talent show. The Miss America system distinguishes itself from other pageant systems by including a talent portion, something most pageants don’t include. Braxton was a vocal major at her high school and thought this would be a great opportunity for a scholarship and a chance to sing on stage. “I looked at it like another talent show, but as I got more involved, it was great since I kept raising money, which I ended up using to pay for college,” Braxton said. She attended the College of William and Mary and transferred to the University of Virginia her second year. Braxton continued to compete until last year, when she was awarded fourth runnerup in the Miss Virginia pageant. “It was a great scholarship opportunity, and I really like performing,” Braxton said. When participating in Miss America, each contestant is allowed to adopt or create a platform they’d like to advocate for.
Crowning Achievement — Julia
Braxton is awarded top five at the Miss Virginia pageant in June 2017 by former Miss Virginia, Michaela Sigmon. (Photo courtesy of Kimberley Needles)
As Miss Greater Prince William County, Braxton created a platform called “Don’t hate, educate.” She visited several schools and camps, teaching kids the importance of sharing opinions in a respectful manner. The way Braxton’s students behave in the classroom inspired her platform. “If I can replicate the respect and civility my students express when discussing different viewpoints about a topic on a larger scale, we would live in a better place,” Braxton said. Not only did teaching this platform benefit the kids, it also taught Braxton a lesson—being around children rekindles her hope for a better future. “I feel like a lot of the hatred and intolerance we see in our society is because
people aren’t exposed to people with different backgrounds or socioeconomic statuses,” Braxton said. “‘Don’t hate, educate’ is about educating yourself and being open to different viewpoints of those who don’t look like you or worship like you.” The Miss America organization has helped Braxton pay off her student loans, but not only did Miss America benefit Braxton financially, she also learned priceless lessons that will stick with her forever. “Ms. Braxton is an eloquent speaker. She teaches confidently and passionately as if the classroom is her stage,” said senior Spencer Lukehart, one of her students. In her short time here, Braxton has developed close relationships with her colleagues. “Ms. Braxton carries herself with such poise and is very put together,” government teacher Rachel Baxter said. Braxton’s next move is to compete in the Miss State Fair of Virginia pageant. If her performance in the classroom is any indication, Braxton will own the stage for the rest of her pageant career.
Leaving a Mark — Julia
Braxton teaches children at an elementary school in Charlottesville about her platform, “Don’t hate, educate.” (Photo courtesy of Julia Braxton)
Page design by Jude Sadeq
OCTOBER | FEATURES | 17
A&E Movie theaters get boxed out
New sources of entertainment lead to a decline in theater popularity |JESSIE FRIEDMAN OPINIONS EDITOR & JOSH LEONG REPORTER |
U
ndercutting the blockbuster summer season is the growing sense that the box office is no longer the behemoth it used to be. Industry executives recently admitted to The Los Angeles Times that the landscape is rapidly changing, with streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube becoming increasingly popular. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, Hollywood is losing its grip on teenagers, with a 10 percent drop in their attendance from the previous year. Watching movies or television from the comfort of home not only saves money, but is also seen as more convenient.
“If you truly want to experience the movie in the way it was meant to be experienced, going to a movie theater is the best way.” -senior Daniel Meakem For the busy person, nothing is as convenient as choosing the best available time for watching movies. “Watching at home is for sure the most time efficient,” English teacher Elise Emmons said. “I don’t go [to the theater] as often as I’d like to. I definitely used to go more, I would say. I go like once a month if I’m lucky.” To others, like English teacher Heather Bovaird, theater opportunities have dwindled even more dramatically. “Probably two, maybe three times a year? Not very often. I specifically made time over the summer when we were off [from school], and when my kids were still in daycare, to go see Wonder Woman,” Bovaird said. Another reason movie theater attendance has been decreasing is due to the cost of tickets. “I think Netflix is more worth it because the price is better—it’s only $10 a month,” freshman Carlene Naughton said. However, others maintain their belief that the theater experience is well worth the price. 18 | A&E | OCTOBER
“With everything that’s included with these movie theaters, I don’t think it’s too expensive for what they provide,” Emmons said. For Bovaird, cost makes her pickier when deciding on family outings. “Especially when you have kids,” Bovaird said. “I’ve got to pay for the two tickets for me and my husband. You’re gonna want to get some snacks—which are more expensive than the tickets—and then you’ve got to pay for a babysitter...it adds up.” However, the experience and quality of film supplied by theatrical releases still continue to attract many customers. Theaters stand strong in their ability to enable viewers to immerse themselves in escapism. “If you truly want to experience the movie in the way it was meant to be experienced, going to a movie theater is the best way,” senior Daniel Meakem said. “Especially for a movie that I’ve been anticipating or a movie I care a lot about, I want to experience it in full before I dilute it by watching it on the smaller screen.” But does the recent drop in movie theater attendance correlate with a broader decline in the theater industry and Hollywood? Emmons doesn’t believe theaters are dying. “I think [dying is] an aggressive term. But I think that we’ve seen that with CDs and with going out to the store and buying
a CD. That’s dying out because everything is streaming now—everything is digital,” Emmons said. “I think we’re seeing that with movies now, that you can stream things from your home.” Emmons believes that the movie industry can rebound from its recent struggles. “The film industry is just going to have to roll with that and kind of change and morph with the times, and that’s the reason why there’s been a downshift in movie theaters just like there’s been a downshift in sales of CDs,” Emmons said. Naughton disagrees, anticipating the recent surge of streaming platforms to permanently displace theaters. “I think movie theaters are dying, because people just have movies and TV shows at their fingertips, and not a lot of people like to go to movie theaters,” Naughton said. “It’s a good activity, but people just like Netflix better.” Despite the swarms of students flocking to online streaming and in-home consumption, Meakem feels like people are missing out on the raw potential of theaters. “I feel like filmmakers put a lot of work into making movies that look as good as they possibly can, and convey all kinds of different feelings,” Meakem said. “If you watch it on a smaller screen...you miss out on a lot of the power that a movie can have.”
Infographic & page design by Josh Leong
XO FAN Llif3: Luv Is Rage 2
Atlantic Recording Corporation
Uzi fan and novice discuss his first album in two years |ANYA CHEN REPORTER & IMANI MCCORMICK MANAGING EDITOR|
IMANI, UZI FAN: Lil Uzi Vert pushes himself to the edge with his new album Luv Is Rage 2. He exposes the destruction of heartbreak and potency of zeal in his music. I guess you could say he’s pulling a J. Cole and getting more emotional with his work. ANYA, UZI NOVICE: Honestly, I knew nothing about hip-hop, let alone who Lil Uzi Vert was, before listening to the album. I’d say Uzi was an interesting introduction to a new genre. I surprisingly enjoyed the fusion of R&B, hip-hop/rap and rock that he presents throughout Luv Is Rage 2. IMANI: The eccentric blend of genres creates a cool, yet slightly overpowering vibe. If you’re new to the Uzi scene, you might think that the instrumentals drown out the lyrics. Still, there’s a good variety of slower trap rhythms along with faster paced tracks you can jam out to. ANYA: As a hip-hop novice, I feel like the repetitiveness and exceedingly autotuned quality of some of his songs might be difficult for some audiences to get accustomed to. The song “Feelings Mutual” was a little tough for me to get into initially because of how autotune-heavy it is, but it grew on me over time. Uzi’s lyrics are what really sold me in the end; they’re what i love most about the album as
a whole. His raps constantly delve beyond the surface level—there’s a message behind each of his songs that he’s trying to communicate. IMANI: Previous albums, such as Luv Is Rage, capture a more bombastic, less heartbroken Uzi. In this new album, the musician strives to broaden his audience by featuring collaborations with other artists such as Pharrell in “Neon Guts” and The Weeknd in “Unfazed” while also exposing a more genuine, vulnerable side of himself. Luv Is Rage 2 covers heartbreak involving his exgirlfriend Brittney Byrd, the upsides and downsides to fame as well as his struggles with mental health and addiction in the past. ANYA: Since his rise to fame in 2016 with his single “Money Longer,” Lil Uzi has gained worldwide success. Luv is Rage 2 has hit number 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and it’s obvious why. I can now say that I’ve fallen in love with the raw energy and emotion of Uzi’s unique aesthetic.
Graphics by Dasha Makarishcheva Page design by Anya Chen & Imani McCormick
OCTOBER | A&E | 19
To read or not to read? Movies cannot replace literary experience |JULIANNE AKARD REPORTER|
“W
hy do we have to read this? Can’t we just watch the movie?” This thought often pops into our minds each year in English class, even if we actually enjoy reading. Each novel requires an investment of hours of time in our already busy schedules. Watching a movie and reading the same story require different skills, but with limited time, how many movies would pass the English class test? Which movies follow the book’s plot closely enough to be a timesaving book alternative? “Students always tend to ask about whether the books [we read] align with the movies,” English teacher Kendra Stolee said. “The books are always better than the movie.” Reading serves a different purpose than watching a movie. “You might imagine it differently,” Stolee said. Occasionally, scenes from a movie can be beneficial to understanding the tone or the setting of a work. For example, Stolee will often show different versions of Shakespeare’s famous balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet. Stolee said that one of her main motivations as a teacher is to keep her
students thinking critically. “Movies can never replace the power of the written word,” Stolee said. “The ability to close-read—you can’t get [that] from a movie.” Teachers often try to prevent students from just watching the movie instead of reading the book. In Stolee’s class, reading quizzes are often formulated with movies and online sources like SparkNotes in mind. “I usually warn students ahead of time [that] watching the movies is not going to suffice,” Stolee said. Other English teachers agreed that reading tests ensure students are reading and interacting with the text. “When I give a reading test...I really don’t want it to be like a punishment to the students,” English teacher Michael Enos said. Although reading quizzes measure a student’s comprehension of a text, reading literature is really about more than doing well on quizzes. “When the answer becomes the only thing that’s valuable, something’s lost,” Enos said. Some movies are decent renditions and are worth watching in tandem with reading. “I really like the movie To Kill a
Mockingbird. It’s done very well,” Stolee said. She did, however, mention that some movies are more accurate than others. Even critically-acclaimed movies based on books do not follow their book’s plots perfectly. “The movie Of Mice and Men is not a bad version, but...they change it,” Stolee said. Students often seek movies to save time and avoid reading, such as freshman Tessa Stenzel, who watched the movie version of her assigned English class book instead of reading it. “It was really bad because apparently there was a character in the movie that wasn’t actually in the book,” Stenzel said. “[My teacher] had also watched the movie so she knew I hadn’t read the book.” If caught, watching the movie may cost students even more time than reading the book. Stenzel added that watching the movie is not something she would ever recommend. “Even if you don’t get caught, it’s just not good,” Stenzel said. While it might make for a helpful study review tool, watching the movie is not the best alternative to simply sitting down with a book. “The movie will never take the place of the book,” Stolee said.
To watch or not to watch?
Lord of the Flies
visually shocking, some symbolism lost 20 | A&E | OCTOBER
Romeo and Juliet
The Crucible
modernization is confusing
movie lacks subtlety of play
Focus
20th Century Fox
Bazmark
Castle Rock
(1 = completely different from the book; 5 = identical to the book)
Pride and Prejudice
some plot variance Page design by Julianne Akard
FALL fashion A look into the styles that fill the halls this autumn |ROSE HARRIS REPORTER|
What is your favorite part of fall clothing? “Definitely all the maroon and the colors of the leaves.” Outfit Details: SWEATSHIRT: Received as a gift JEANS: Marshall’s SHOES: Vans
What is your favorite part of fall clothing? “I love the sweaters, ripped jeans and the boots.” Outfit Details: SHIRT: Urban Outfitters JACKET: Madewell JEANS: American Eagle SHOES: Vans JEWELRY: Urban Outfitters and a market in Costa Rica
Jennie Ende
Isaac Conyers Sophomore
“I like to wear something that is definitely cozy but also screams that I like to keep it rebellious.”
What is your favorite part of fall clothing? “The fun jeans.” Outfit Details: SHIRT: Urban Outfitters JEANS: TJ Maxx SHOES: Vans JEWELRY: Free People and Madewell
Avery Dahl Senior
“If it’s rainy outside I’ll probably wear something darker, and if it’s sunny I’ll probably wear something brighter.” Photos by Rose Harris Page design by Imani McCormick
Junior
“I would describe my style [as] laid back, boho, cozy, and it [has] to be comfortable.” What is your favorite part of fall clothing? “I like the crisp feeling of fall air, and being able to wear a light jacket, like a jean jacket or an all-leather jacket, that makes you feel perfect.” Outfit Details: SHIRT: J.Crew BLAZER: Frank & Oak PANTS: Bonobos SHOES: Marshall’s
Dylan Wedan History Teacher
“The best fall style is when you look like you are going to your English countryside manor house to drink tea and read romantic poems by candlelight.” OCTOBER | A&E | 21
IN-DEPTH
22 | IN-DEPTH | OCTOBER
SAM GOLLOB REPORTER
MARIA MCHUGO NEWS EDITOR
SIDDARTH SHANKAR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
JEREMY SIEGEL NEWS EDITOR
OCTOBER | IN-DEPTH | 23
March on Washington—
Hundreds of protesters join the March to Confront White Supremacy in D.C. on Sept. 6.
To be Determined —
Graffiti on the student walk outside J.E.B. Stuart High School alludes to the school’s new name, which will be decided on Oct. 26.
H
undreds descended upon the National Mall on a gray Washington day, reclaiming the streets built by slaves over 200 years before. They passed by the very steps where Martin Luther King, Jr. shared his dream of civil rights in the sweltering heat of August 1963. Many of these protesters had been marching 10 days through Virginia as part of the March to Confront White Supremacy, a response to the violent events that transpired in August in Charlottesville. Though the marchers passed through Fairfax County, the racism they chanted about remains. Government teacher Julia Braxton personally experienced this as a student at the University of Virginia. When Braxton left her apartment at UVA in 2015, an unexpected symbol was hanging from her neighbor’s door. “I saw a Confederate flag, which [I’d] never seen before,” Braxton said. “And it had an AK-47 on it.” Emblazoned with the words, ‘I dare you to come take it,’ her neighbor’s display was one of many racially charged incidents within the UVA community over the past few years. Just before Braxton’s experience, a black UVA student, Martese Johnson, had a violent encounter with Alcoholic Beverage Control agents that made national news.
24 | IN-DEPTH | OCTOBER
“A UVA student had been assaulted and bloodied by the police after they thought he had a fake ID,” Braxton said. “After that incident occurred, the environment on grounds was very different and very racially charged... It brought out the worst of UVA in many ways.” Two years later, UVA has made national headlines once more. On Aug. 11 and 12, a gathering of white supremacists and neo-Nazis protested on campus and in the city of Charlottesville against the Charlottesville City Council’s decision to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee from a park. While racism, hate and discrimination seemed far removed from students and faculty at UVA, the events of early August again confirmed that such principles survive in Virginia. “I think I can speak for a lot of UVA students that it disgusted me that this kind of hate was walking around our school,” said Liam Zeya, a UVA student and McLean Class of 2016 graduate. “It was difficult for me to wrap my head around [the idea] that this type of political energy exists today and was in a place I call home.” The demonstrations that impacted the UVA campus provoked a great deal of student response. Organizations most targeted by the displays, such as the Black Student Alliance and the Minority Rights Coalition, have gathered support and facilitated dialogue about the
incidents and their prevention. “It’s caused a lot of people to realize [that] we need to be having these conversations. We need to put ourselves in the shoes of other people,” said Meaghan O’Reilly, a UVA student and McLean Class of 2016 graduate. “Are we perpetuating systems of oppression here? Are we creating an environment in which some people don’t feel safe or valued?” Many student organizations have been campaigning to remove traces of a complicated history from their school buildings and grounds. “They were just so outraged and they were so angry, and they genuinely felt that seeing these names on the buildings made them feel unsafe,” said Shivani Saboo, a UVA student council representative and McLean Class of 2016 graduate. “It impacted them so much; they were so scared, they were crying [and] they were yelling.” The debate over how to properly address Virginia’s history is not confined to the campus of UVA, but pervades Fairfax County as well, most notably with the renaming of J.E.B. Stuart High School. What’s in a Name? There are more public monuments to the Confederacy in Virginia than in any other state. J.E.B. Stuart High School, six miles from McLean, is just one of these places. Stuart, a cavalry commander and general, fought for the Confederacy and was an affluent slaveholder. “When Stuart was opened, it was the same time frame as McLean High School...it was after the case of Brown v. Board of Education and there was active resistance in Virginia,” said a visibly emotional Jane Strauss, chair of the Fairfax County School Board. “It was very difficult. I was in high school and I was appalled by what was happening in Virginia. I’ve publicly cried twice over this.” J.E.B. Stuart High was named in 1959, the same year the Fairfax County School Board was forced by lawsuits to create a plan to desegregate public schools. The plan would not have integrated schools fully until 1971, 17 years after the landmark Brown decision. “None of us can actually know what was in the hearts and the minds of the school board at the time...but we certainly know the history of the times that surrounded Virginia and the segregation of schools,” Strauss said. Opposition to the high school’s name came to the forefront two years ago after the shooting of AfricanAmerican churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, by white supremacist Dylann Roof. Shortly afterwards, 39,000 people signed a change.org petition to rename J.E.B. Stuart that was created by former Stuart student and Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore. Moore declined to comment for this article. Students at J.E.B. Stuart, 78 percent of whom are minorities, appealed to the school board, finding discomfort in going to a school named after a Confederate general. “A black student at J.E.B. Stuart...said to me that she
was happy she did not have to take gym class anymore, because she did not want to wear ‘Stuart’ on the back of her shirt,” said Peggy Fox, WUSA 9 Northern Virginia Bureau Chief. “Why should we force a black person who believes that this is the name of a Confederate leader who fought for the South—the South trying to preserve slavery—why should we force her to wear that name?” That student, sophomore Kayla Longmyer, has become a major proponent for changing the name. Longmyer was obligated to wear uniforms that bore the name of a Confederate leader, which she resents. “We were forced to buy the uniforms and the uniforms have ‘Stuart’ on them. I really don’t want to do that again. I don’t want to have to wear that,” Longmyer said. The movement to change the name was mostly student-run, as Stuart senior Lily Beres attests. “People didn’t really know much about it until the middle of last year, and then we got 150 kids to wear T-shirts to school that said ‘change the name,’” Beres said. “That was a really interesting moment after such a long time working toward [the name change].” Though the J.E.B. Stuart name bears a negative connotation for many, others—including alumni—have a different view of the issue. “Alumni and students at J.E.B. Stuart, when they think about the name, they’re not necessarily thinking about the Confederate soldier. They’re thinking about their friends, their experiences, the community around them, and that should not be underappreciated,” said Chris Grisafe, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for school board, at an Aug. 23 candidate forum. “When you pull the name, and especially if you frame it as, ‘Hey, you’re a bigot if you don’t,’ that tears the community apart unnecessarily.” McLean students have also taken both sides on whether or not J.E.B. Stuart should be renamed.
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A black student at J.E.B. Stuart... said to me that she was happy she did not have to take gym class anymore, because she did not want to wear ‘Stuart’ on the back of her shirt. -WUSA9 Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Peggy Fox
OCTOBER | IN-DEPTH | 25
“There are some that will still be angry that we’ve [renamed J.E.B. Stuart], but I have to stand up for what I believe in,” Strauss said. “We are not erasing history... we are listening to the hearts and minds of our students.” Fox agrees with Strauss that renaming schools does not erase history. “People do not like change. They’re so attached to statues and names,” Fox said. “But changing a name does not erase history. It’s still printed in the history books.”
Reclaiming the Streets
— The rainy weather didn’t stop protesters from chanting as they approached the Lincoln Memorial (top) and Georgetown (bottom).
“The issue I have with changing all this is...we’re wasting money that could be going to other programs that help people,” senior Ryan Murn said. “The debate should really be how we should be educating our children on why this happened and why it’s bad.” Others have pointed out that the renamed J.E.B. Stuart would be an opportunity to honor minorities. Of Fairfax’s 25 high schools, none are named after women or people of color. “There are plenty of better people that we could have monuments to that we don’t have monuments to,” senior Ellie Hall said. “There are plenty of women and people of color who have done important things in this area.” A May 2016 community survey indicated 56 percent of the Stuart pyramid was against changing the name, yet the Fairfax County School Board still resoundingly voted 7-2 in favor of the change in July.
Whitewashed The conflict over Virginia’s history of discrimination does not merely extend to J.E.B. Stuart, but to classrooms across Fairfax County. In May, a George Mason University study concluded that FCPS hires African American teachers at a disproportionately lower rate, asserting it is not just a lack of black teaching applicants, but rather an example of workforce discrimination. While examining job application data in 2012, the study’s authors found that both black and white applicants were similarly qualified in terms of test scores and credentials. However, while 13 percent of the applicant pool was black and 70 percent of the applicant pool was white, black applicants only received six percent of job offers while white applicants made up 77 percent of job offers. “I don’t think that we are looking at racism going on. We just need to have improved practices,” Strauss said. The school board has taken measures to increase the amount of minority teachers, including raising salaries and allowing Fairfax schools to hire earlier, alongside other means of closely monitoring applicant pools. “It’s hiring earlier, it’s making sure that principals are interviewing a diverse pool, and then it’s re-training everybody...also, we are increasing pay,” Strauss said. “There is no one demographic that has a majority; we are
just everybody. And so, we are determined to improve our abilities to attain a diverse pool of staff.” The most recent data for the 2016-17 school year shows that only about 18 percent of Fairfax teachers are minorities, compared to a student population that is 59 percent minority. Strauss attributes much of this gap to the personal networks a potential teacher or principal may have developed in their communities. “A certain number of hires will be interviewed at the school who may not initially be drawn from the central pool. These applicants may already be known to the principal or others working at the school,” Strauss said. The Mason study also found that when minority teachers were being hired, they were employed by schools of lower socioeconomic status than that of their white counterparts. Braxton attributes this to the altruism of the prospective hirees. “A lot of my [black] colleagues felt an obligation to help higher need areas,” Braxton said. “We know that those areas have a really hard time finding teachers who are willing or able to teach their kids.” Despite the limiting factors, McLean saw a more diverse group of hires for the 2017-18 school year. Principal Ellen Reilly does not accredit this to the improved practices, but to the overall appeal of the school. “We did a really good job this year of hiring a more diverse staff. Truthfully though, it has not come from me going out to try,” Reilly said. “It was just that we [had] people coming here and wanting to be here. I got lucky.” A low concentration of minority teachers is not unique to FCPS. According to findings by the Albert Shanker Institute and the American Federation of Teachers, the shortage of minority teachers is a nationwide problem—minorities only account for 17 percent of teachers on average nationwide. “[It’s] not just African Americans—it’s Hispanic, it’s Asian, it’s the French native speakers, it’s anybody,” Strauss said. “We are the world and we want the world to be working for us.” The Aftermath At its heart, the U.S. was founded upon diversity and cultural inclusion. However, this does not make the country immune from discrimination. The events in Charlottesville brought to the surface the complicated legacy of discrimination in U.S. history. “This event really could have happened in a lot of different places...before, I never thought [it] could ever happen at a place like UVA, but it did, and it was really horrific,” Zeya said. The protests and debates that are still happening on campus have resonated throughout the university community. “This is probably something that’s going to stick with the students and the faculty for a really long time,”
O’Reilly said. “Just figuring out how to portray the events that happened here and how to discuss them... [it] isn’t something that’s going to go away quickly.” Even in Fairfax County, Robert E. Lee High School, Lee Highway, Jefferson Davis Highway and other names and statues are prevalent symbols of a complicated past. In the coming years, communities across the state will have to confront this troubled history. “This has been a problem in Virginia for a lot of years. It’s a very Southern state in its heart,” state delegate Kathleen Murphy said. “The statues really just serve to deepen our political and ethnic divide... instead of instructing us about the history of the commonwealth, I think that they incite violence.” On the state level, Murphy said legislators are seeking a resolution to these long-standing issues. “We’re going to be, as a caucus, looking at how we put forth several bills and see which ones that we can get passed,” Murphy said. However, Murphy believes legislative and government actions are only one part of eliminating racism. “When you go over to schools, you still hear young kids using the n-word like it’s an okay thing to do because they’re so young and so cool. It’s never okay.” Murphy said. “All of us can make it better when we stand up and we say that it is never okay.” Virginia’s legacy of racism will be acknowledged across the state in the coming years as the battle over names and statues will inevitably continue, as it has in Charlottesville. Murphy said there is no reasoning that can account for the level of hate still existing today. “The excuses they use don’t bear any relationship to the truth,” Murphy said. “I want to know why they’re so frightened of someone who is brown. We’re all just people.”
Photos by Sam Gollob & Siddarth Shankar Page design by Bryan Chung, Sam Gollob & Maria McHugo
Peace Out —
A woman shows her solidarity with the March to Confront White Supremacy amongst a group of protesters on the streets of Georgetown.
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The statues really just serve to deepen our political and ethnic divide...I think that they incite violence. -state delegate Kathleen Murphy
OCTOBER | IN-DEPTH | 27
View From the Last City — The
protagonist looks out over the futuristic landscape in Destiny 2. This shot is from the market.
(Screenshot by Ross Oliver)
Destiny 2 fails to fulfill its destiny Successor does not distinguish itself from the first game |ROSS OLIVER REPORTER| estiny 2, a first-person shooter and action role-playing game developed by Bungie and published by Activision, has you playing as a guardian, a soldier that has been resurrected and tasked to protect The Traveler, a mysterious entity that grants immortality in return for protection from the threat of other alien species. I initially had high hopes for Destiny 2; however, those hopes were sadly dashed when I discovered that, besides a couple menu changes, the game is a carbon copy of the original. It seems more like a $40 downloadable content for Destiny than a sequel. The best way to describe it would be “as wide as an ocean, but as deep as a puddle.” The story lacks any sort of impact. During the beginning of the campaign, the Red Legion, one of the aliens, attacks The Traveler, causing you to lose your light and rendering you mortal for once. That might have been interesting, except that you instantly gain your light back 10 minutes later. The 29 adventure missions and public events lose their appeal quickly once you realize that there is barely any variation between the mission types.
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28 | A&E | OCTOBER
In fact, the entire game is repetitive, devolving into a boring grind where you’re playing the game for five hours and barely making any progress on your character. It becomes a chore playing this game, continuously bowling over waves of enemies with the only difference being the locations. Even the raid, normally the most exciting part of the series, has lost its appeal. The new Leviathan raid is incredibly frustrating, and it is impossible if you don’t have six Destiny-holics at hand. The mechanics are tedious, and they can be annoying when some of them glitch or don’t work as intended. It definitely wasn’t as enjoyable as Vault of Glass, the first raid in Destiny. The Crucible—the player vs. player portion—doesn’t fare much better. The matches last too long, and with the lack of game modes and maps, the multiplayer ends up being too repetitive as well. However, if there’s one thing Destiny 2 does right, it’s that it manages to look amazing and feel realistic. Bungie does a great job making the player feel like they are on a planet or moon. The shooting mechanics are fluid and crisp, and I enjoyed the menu setup and how easy it was to group up with
friends. In addition, the narrative, though shallow, is clear-cut and linear, unlike Destiny. But even the graphics don’t amount to much when the locations themselves fall flat. There are four main settings: Earth, Io, Titan and an alien planet called Nessus. All of them are gigantic, bringing up the potential for explorative and non-linear gameplay, yet you’re only allowed to explore a tiny piece of each of them. It’s like going on vacation and then being told you can only stay in your hotel. Destiny 2 spent almost three years in development, but debuts with lackluster content, just like its predecessor. The game had a $500 million budget, so where did all the money go? It had the potential to be so much better, with a more intriguing story and more variety within the game, but instead turned out as a glorified expansion pack. I would recommend waiting for a price drop on this one.
Rating
Page design by Justin Kim & Bryan Chung
Dear Taylor Swift, look what you made us do Swift’s drastic change of style divides fan base |CARLA BALLARD REPORTER|
W
hen Taylor Swift released two songs from her upcoming album, Reputation, to be released Nov. 10, fans had high hopes that maybe, just maybe, she would go back to her country roots. After hearing both songs, “...Ready for It?” and “Look What You Made Me Do,” a painful number of times, fans like myself are currently mourning the loss of our beloved boy-crazy country singer. “Look What You Made Me Do” came out on Aug. 24, and as excited as I was to hear it, the song itself gave me nightmares. Its chilling lyrics of revenge and its accompanying music video's images of Swift's corpse haunt me to this day. As for the other song, “...Ready For It?” released on Sept. 3, all I hear is Taylor talking into the mic, with maybe a few attempted high notes. It’s not Taylor, it’s not Swift. “[Her new songs] are so different—it’s maybe not what her fans had expected or hoped for, so a lot of fans are disappointed,” junior Leah Horan said. Disappointed is a mild way to put it; we’re on the verge of hosting a pretend funeral for the one artist whose songs used to save us in
any given situation. Whether it was listening to “You Belong With Me” in your bedroom on a Friday night, or blasting “We Are Never Getting Back Together” after a ferocious breakup, Taylor’s music played a major part in almost each and everyone’s lives. Starting at 16 years old with her first album, Taylor Swift, Swift rapidly gained fame with her songs by continuing to write about things we listeners could best relate to: breakups, boys, friendships, high school and family. “You could feel her emotions and feelings in her writing because she took her songwriting process very seriously back then,” Horan said. “Song writing to her was almost like writing a diary—she would just put everything into it.” As she continued to write country gold, she released albums such as Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010) and Red (2012). Her 2012 album began to set a different tone as Swift started to truly live the life of an adult and ease a little more into the pop culture that was forming around her, but the good ol’ Taylor whom we love was still identifiable within her songs. This was, of course, until she released 1989 in 2014. It was at this point that we lost Taylor
to the world of pop music, where the focus of the album was more about city life and dreaming big. 1989 sounds like what you'd typically hear in the soundtrack of a movie about a group of girls trying to make it in the Big Apple. But it was still Taylor, and her songs still gave us that happy feeling every album had been capable of. Some fans even preferred this new version of Taylor to the country girl. “I would go for old Taylor as far as her last album—not as far as super country Taylor, because I didn’t like that. If she could have just frozen herself in time after 1989...,” English teacher Seth LeBlanc said. Some even say they prefer this newer Taylor, but they are few and far between. Others, like me, who have heard her new songs, have lost what little hope they had left of getting our curly-haired, guitar strumming Taylor back. “I don’t like the direction she’s going, but I think maybe she’ll be even better eventually,” LeBlanc said. We can only hope. After hearing the line about the old Taylor in “Look What You Made Me Do,” when Taylor says “she’s dead,” all we can say is ditto, Taylor. Ditto.
A Swift Timeline of Taylor On June 19, 16-year-old Taylor releases her first single “Tim McGraw.” On Oct. 4, Taylor releases her first official country album, Taylor Swift.
Sept. 13: Taylor’s feud with Kanye West begins after the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
2008
2006
Taylor wins “Best Artist” at the 2011 American Music Awards.
2010 2009
Taylor released 1989 on Oct. 27. Her song “Blank Space” stood at #1 on the Top 100 for seven weeks.
2012
2011
Taylor releases her Her third album, Speak second studio album Now, comes out on Oct. 25, (and my personal later becoming Album of favorite), Fearless, the Year. standing #1 on the Billboard 200 for a total of 11 weeks.
Year.”
2015 2014
On Oct. 22, Taylor releases her fourth album, Red. The album quickly debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
Graphics and page design by Carla Ballard & Dasha Makarishcheva
Taylor wins a total of three Grammy Awards for “Best Music Video,” “Best Pop Vocal Album” and “Album of the
2017 2016
Taylor releases two songs On Nov. 7, from her new album 1989 celebrates Reputation, both erupting a whole year in a battle of the fans due the top 10 on the to the big change in her music. Billboard 200.
OCTOBER | A&E | 29
Read all about IT It is back, but is It better? |JUSTIN KIM A&E EDITOR|
I
t, possibly one of the laziest titles you can put on a story. It can mean anything, from a moldy lunchbox to a My Little Pony doll. In the case of Stephen King, It is a semi-bald clown who has an obsession with red balloons. I suppose King read one too many Batman comics and developed a phobia of clowns. I can’t disagree—I was never the same after my 7th birthday party. Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, It tells the story of seven kids dubbed the “Losers’ Club” battling a clown named Pennywise, and follows them into adulthood with the clown still stalking them. On paper, that’s horrifying, but as a 27-year-old miniseries, it was bound to show its age. I guess It is supposed to be scary, but what was genius in the 90s now falls flat. Perhaps it’s the side effect of watching too many Friday the 13ths, but I could read the movie like a book the whole time, which is rather ironic. A kid is led to a shady storm drain in the rain? Oh, he’s fine, he’s just talking with that nice clown—well, would you look at that, his arm’s coming off. I’ve heard that It is supposed to be more of a coming-of-age story than horror, but that doesn’t work when the acting is as charming as Nicholas Cage’s head on a Jim Carrey action figure. The only exception is Tim Curry as Pennywise, acting creepy and silly enough to create a memorable performance. But even he fails to be truly scary, as the horror effect is marred when he’s clowning around in makeup that looks like he kissed my last birthday cake. In fact, the effects in general scream the 90s. The blood looks genuine—genuinely like tomato sauce, and the props look like Toy Story rejects. When I see a decapitated head in the fridge suddenly babbling its head off, I’m deeply amused, but I don’t think that was the movie’s intention. I’m not entirely sure how this film even got a cult following; perhaps it’s due to its campy “horror” nature, but for me, there’s no nostalgia factor to defend this miniseries. How do you muck up a demonic clown stalking a group of kids? It is a travesty in the most literal sense.
30 | A&E | OCTOBER
|HALEY ROSE REPORTER|
2I
1 9 VS 0 9 1 0 7
t is no secret that the It miniseries terrified a generation of clown-fearing kids when it graced TV screens in 1990, which begs the question: Why bring It back? Director Andy Muschietti offers a good answer to that question with an adaptation that, while lacking in pure horror, has a great ensemble cast and more than enough hype for a sequel. It takes place in 1988, a 30-year flash-forward from the book’s 50s setting, and deals exclusively with the first half of the book when the protagonists, dubbed the “Losers’ Club,” are children. When young Georgie Denbrough mysteriously goes missing, older brother Bill and the rest of the Losers’ Club embark on a trip to avenge his death and defeat It, a shape-shifting monster that haunts their town every 27 years. The Losers’ Club itself is what makes It more than just a formulaic horror movie. The kids’ fast-paced dialogue works to ease the audience’s fears. Richie, the loud mouth of the group, is easily the funniest character, while Eddie gives us someone to root for when Bill’s acting sometimes falls flat. The same cannot be said for the “horror” elements of It, as they leave something to be desired. School bully Henry Bower’s sociopathic tendencies make him the most chilling villain in the movie, but Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise sometimes veers over the top, making him more comical than scary. Some of the other horror scenes seem superfluous, such as the iconic sink scene where blood completely drenches Beverly’s bathroom; compared to the more subtle counterpart in the miniseries, the overthe-top nature of said scene only makes it silly rather than terrifying. The CGI is at times obvious, such as when the losers wade through water full of rubberylooking human heads in the climactic scene. While it’s hard to say It succeeds as a horror movie alone, it makes up for its downsides with a talented ensemble cast, a fresh twist on the source material and a heartwarming message of friendship. Ironically, it was kind of the feel-good movie of the summer. After this success, its sequel will no doubt be highly anticipated.
Page design by Dasha Makarishcheva
DeVos does not fight for public schools
OPINIONS
Her priorities are unrepresentative of what matters to McLean Photo obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license
The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board
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etsy DeVos, the Secretary of Education, does not prioritize the values of FCPS or any other public school system in the country. She is ill-informed, incompetent and her insatiable urge to privatize education is disheartening. So far her actions as Secretary of Education are indicative of an often sexist, business-first approach to education. A recent example is her distasteful handling of the epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses. Though Title IX, which bars sex discrimination in schools and outlines sexual assault policies for colleges, was in need of reform, the way she and her department handled it reduced the matter to shallow victim-blaming. DeVos’s civil rights chief recently told The New York Times that 90 percent of sexual assaults on campuses are a result of drunk and breakup sex. This delegitimizes victims of sexual assault and is indicative of a larger problem with women’s rights in general. “FCPS is supposed to be inclusive and everyone is supposed to be equal [here],” sophomore Rachel Kulp said. “If the boss of everyone’s boss has those opinions, it will trickle down.” According to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities, genderbased discrimination is prohibited. As a community, McLean and other FCPS schools seemingly value this sentiment, yet DeVos’s stances on such issues will disrupt this, particularly
Reporting by Alex Mandanas Page design by Bryan Chung
when it comes to sexual harassment. DeVos is unqualified for her position for reasons beyond sexism. She is the least qualified Secretary of Education since the position’s conception in 1977. She has never attended a public school or taught in a classroom and does not have a degree in education. “She’s a business leader. If you were on a plane and opened the cockpit and saw that a monkey was flying the plane, you’d say, ‘Oh, that’s not good,’” physics teacher Dean Howarth said. DeVos’s view that education should mirror the business world has been obvious, as she is a staunch proponent of privatizing American public education. “As Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos has made it clear that she will prioritize charter schools and other alternatives to public schools,” junior Elinor Frothingham said. DeVos’s trademark issue is parental choice, which allows parents to use public funds to send their children to private schools. If a religiously affiliated private school is given tax money, it may be a violation of the First Amendment. DeVos has been eager to advance a religious agenda in education. She has been quoted saying that education reform should be aimed at “advancing God’s kingdom.” “We’re teaching you how to do algebra. We’re teaching you how to do a sport. We’re teaching you how to do well on a physics quiz. [DeVos encourages] the notion that it is an affront to...teach [you] knowledge in
its secular form,” Howarth said. “The convolution of those things is really dangerous.” The dangers of parental choice also include the diversion of funds from public schools. “As we have seen in FCPS, public schools need the entirety of their budgets, if not more, to keep school programs and activities going,” Frothingham said. Funds are necessary for supporting quality educators, and alternatives like parental choice will decrease the amount of money school systems will have available to pay teachers. With FCPS already failing to adequately compensate teachers, DeVos’s policies will just make matters worse. “In the long run, you’re going to start losing talent. Here’s some economics for you: you get what you pay for. And that happens very slowly,” Howarth said. “What’s happened to compensate for that is not a restructuring of the political system that provides funding for schools; it’s making education so that anybody can do it. That’s cheapening the art of education.” When it comes down to it, DeVos will not have a sudden negative impact on Fairfax County. Rather, her policies will gradually devastate American public schools. These impacts will be most consequential for the students passing through the halls of McLean in 20 years. “These problems are going to take a generation to correct,” Howarth said. “In a generation, one of the best school systems in America can turn into a crappy school system in America.”
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She’s a business leader. If you were on a plane and opened the cockpit and saw that a monkey was flying the plane, you’d say, ‘Oh, that’s not good.’ -physics teacher Dean Howarth
OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 31
Advanced Diploma boxes students in
Options for specialized diplomas should be available REBEKA RAFI AD MANAGER & JESSICA OPSAHL-ONG REPORTER
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he current diploma system has numerous requirements which are not beneficial for all students. It does not help every student achieve their academic goals. The Advanced Diploma is a ticket of certification on the final high school transcript that proves a student has taken and passed certain courses. To receive the diploma, students are required to have the following number of credits for each subject: three years of a foreign language, four math, four English, four laboratory science, one economics or finance, one fine arts, and one online course. Hindering students from exploring other areas of study for the sake of receiving an Advanced Diploma prompts them to take classes simply to fulfill requirements, rather than pursuing fields of interest. Having various advanced diplomas in conjunction with specific subjects such as fine arts or STEM can better suit students’
“For students who really love music or art or STEM, if there were diplomas that were specifically geared toward that, that would be good for those students to focus more on those areas they knew they really liked.” -Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery interests and help prepare them for their future majors. “[With specialized diplomas] students have the option to choose which diploma they want to graduate with, so they can pick based on which diploma tailors to their interests best,” senior Samara Elahi said. The current diploma system does not allow students to outline a preferable schedule, without restricting numerous opportunities. “I’ve known what I want to focus on in college for several years now and getting a head start would come in handy,” said senior 32 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER
Rajshri Dakshinamoorthy, a STEM-oriented student at McLean. “For students who really love music or art or STEM, if there were diplomas that were specifically geared toward that, that would be good for those students to focus more on those areas they knew they really liked,” Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery said. Although specialized diplomas would be useful, some may worry that they would not push students to broaden their horizons. “However, [the multiple diploma system] doesn’t allow for students to become wellrounded in all subjects, limiting their freedom to explore new topics,” Dakshinamoorthy said. Furthermore, if a student is unsure of which diploma to work towards, they would still have the option of receiving a standard diploma, thus eliminating concerns over students choosing a career path too early. It should be noted that the specialized diplomas would maintain the general skeleton of the Advanced Diploma, while allowing students to target a primary subject of interest. Fairfax County would be ahead of other counties with this change. According to Virginia’s Department of Education, most states have a one or two diploma system. However, some schools do offer a more
specialized high school experience, embracing the idea of the specialized diploma. One example of this is Cranston High School in Rhode Island, which implements Career and Technical Education (CTE). CTE allows students to choose a career type and study specific classes for it on top of their high school diploma. Though this is not the same as the proposed system, it also gives students the opportunity to choose an area of interest and develop it further. According to an online article published by The Cranston Herald, “Having this targeted career training allows a student to delve deeper into their interests and to leave high school with more than just an academic diploma.” Cranston’s students have an added advantage by having a base experience for their chosen career, and Fairfax County should be able to do the same. However, to ensure growth there must uniform change throughout the county. Fortunately, this implementation of multiple diplomas might be coming to FCPS soon. “I do think the state is looking at some of those things, so it wouldn’t surprise me if there were some changes in that direction in the next two or three years,” Stansbery said.
Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Page design by Rebeka Rafi & Jessica Opsahl-Ong
Early school start benefits McLean community Students and staff members will have more time to prepare for exams | ROHAN MANI REPORTER
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any McLean students were perplexed when they walked into their first class of the school year on Aug. 28—a full week before Labor Day. This change was due to the new FCPS scheduling policy. Although it was a challenge this year, in the long run, this new schedule will provide benefits for both students and staff. The Fairfax County School Board cited numerous reasons for this scheduling change on their website. Members of the board stated that the change allows for “more instructional time before winter break, enhanced flexibility to help students and school staff members meet college application deadlines, and [the ability to end] the school year earlier in June.” The switch will indeed help students and staff by better preparing them for classes and future exams, in addition to providing an earlier end to the school year. The school board was informed that FCPS qualified for a waiver from the Virginia Department of Education, enabling them to start school a week earlier. To qualify for the waiver, FCPS must have missed at least an average of eight days due to weather conditions or emergency situations during any of five out of the previous 10 years. FCPS then sent out surveys to all parents and staff and collected results, concluding that 53 percent of the 42,000 FCPS parents and 64 percent of the 14,000 FCPS teachers Page design by Rohan Mani Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva
supported an earlier start to the school year. Finally, the board decided to make the change official. Many school districts start in early August, but they still take AP and IB exams at the same time as FCPS, giving them more time to prepare. Starting earlier can boost students’ scores on the exams, as they will be allotted more time to study, which eases pressure on teachers. Before, teachers had to cram material toward the end of the year in order to cover the entirety of the curriculum, and in years with snow days this problem only became worse. AP World History teacher Woody Kidd acknowledged that the move will provide many benefits for teachers. “It helps teachers prepare students because they have an extra week and a half. This also allows us to better recoup in the case of inclement weather. The move in general gives us a longer time to prepare students for the AP exam,” Kidd said. Principal Ellen Reilly approved of the move as well, citing her past experience with an earlier start to the school year. “I experienced this at another school in Falls Church where we started two weeks earlier," Reilly said. "At first the kids were like, ‘This stinks,’ but once they were released in early June, they were like, ‘This is the best thing ever.’” Reilly sees additional benefits for both students and staff in the long run as well.
“[There will be] less downtime at the end of the year, early graduation and preparation for seniors [and] more test preparation before SOL tests and AP exams,” Reilly said. Some students were concerened about the shortened summer as a result of the change. Those who take part in band or football started practicing in early August, and they were greatly affected by the earlier school start. Nicholas Scharlat, a sophomore who plays for the McLean football team, had a significantly shorter summer due to the early training for football. “My summer was especially short this year because of football, which starts training in early August, and even before that we have green days three times a week and weight lifting everyday. The early start to the school year reduced my vacation to only one full week of summer,” Scharlat said. It is important to remember that this year’s summer was the only sacrifice in terms of length. School will end earlier this year, returning summer to its usual length next year. Everyone should be aware of the long-term benefits of the move, rather than focusing on the shortened length of one summer. The repercussions of the earlier start are negligible and are clearly outweighed by the positives. Altogether, the early start will improve the overall environment of Fairfax County schools for administrative officials, staff and students at McLean. OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 33
CROSSFIRE:
McLean’s new swing at cheating misses the mark |NICK MONROY FEATURES EDITOR
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t the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, every student at McLean was subjected to a presentation in their English classes regarding the dangers and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and sharing work. Students were also introduced to new honor code policies such as pink Scantron cover sheets to prevent wouldbe cheaters from looking over and copying down answers from their neighbors. These changes, combined with many others, have been enacted to stop the cheating problem at McLean. Despite this, cheating will remain a prevalent problem. The memories of cheating scandals at McLean have yet to fade from the minds of students and faculty. Two years ago, both the Spanish 2 and 3 final exams were compromised when students took pictures of the answer sheets with their phones. The AP English Language and Composition final was also compromised last year because some students discovered the multiple choice section’s answers on the internet and spread them around.
“The reason people cheat is because there is so much pressure put on them [by] teachers, friends, parents...they aren’t thinking about the honor code during a test they didn’t study for.”
-junior Erida Dervishi
Herein lies the problem: students cheat. A 2012 report by The New York Times showed that although students who have trouble in class are known to cheat, more than ever there are students at the top of their classes who cheat in order to thrive. 34 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER
Last year, McLean was ranked as the number two high school in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report, behind only the selective Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. While McLean has become a place where academic prowess can be praised, it has come at a price. Such a high level of excellence means students who are unable to work at the same level can feel marginalized and less intelligent than their peers. While this may take a toll on them mentally, it can also hurt them in one of the most stressful and difficult moments of their lives: applying for college. “It can be tough making yourself stand out when you come from a place like this,” McLean Class of 2013 graduate Riley Hayduk said. “Everyone takes a million APs, with a thousand extracurriculars in there too. It makes [applying] for college a real struggle if you don’t have a fantastic GPA and all those other things.” Current students also see how negative this environment of high achievement can be for their peers, which just goes to show that this problem is nothing new to McLean High School.
“The reason people cheat is because there is so much pressure put on them [by] teachers, friends, parents. There are so many expectations, [so it] is difficult for a lot of people to keep up. They aren’t thinking about the honor code during a test they didn’t study for,” junior Erida Dervishi said. Is it reasonable to believe that changes in the honor code will completely eradicate cheating? Absolutely not. Despite the provisions and adjustments made in the past, McLean still faces issues with cheatng year in and year out. “I don’t know [if the changes will work], but something has to change. McLean isn’t the first school to have issues with cheating and if it continues, it’s not going to be good for our reputation in the community,” English teacher Elise Emmons said. While the administration’s attempts to create a fair and balanced environment for students to take tests are valiant, more time should be taken to look at the reasons students are trying to cheat in the first place. Until then, there is only so much changes in policy can do. Comics by Dasha Makarishcheva
Will teachers be successful in their efforts to reduce cheating? Teacher communication promotes academic integrity |JESSIE FRIEDMAN OPINIONS EDITOR
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t’s no secret that McLean was struck by numerous cheating scandals last school year, but this year teachers are determined to fix the lack of integrity apparent in our student body. Through open, candid conversations and a greater emphasis on the honor code, teachers will be successful in their goal to decrease cheating at McLean. English department head Susan Copsey believes that she can reduce cheating through communication with her students. “It’s important that as teachers we engage in dialogue with our students, and that we have these conversations about academic integrity,” Copsey said. “This is not about us saying, ‘You’d better do this.’ This is about us, as a community, discussing the importance of academic integrity, and about students really thinking about it and engaging in discussion with their teachers.” The goal of this communication is to establish meaningful relationships with students and to develop mutual respect. “It’s important to establish that relationship because ultimately it’s about our
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| students being successful and taking pride in their work,” Copsey said. To implement this goal of increased communication, the English department started the year with discussions about plagiarism.
“This is not about us saying, ‘You’d better do this.’ This is about us, as a community, discussing the importance of academic integrity.” -English teacher Susan Copsey “In my department, every single teacher started out the year with two plagiarism lessons. That sets the tone that we are taking this seriously and that we want students to take this seriously,” Copsey said. Students said they have respect for their teachers after experiencing these talks.
“In Ms. Braxton’s class on the very first day, she gave us a speech about UVA and about how important the honor code is there. It’s so important to her that we respect that honor code,” senior Caroline Brunner said. “At the end of every single test I take, I see that honor code written at the bottom, and it just reminds me of how much respect I have for her and how I would never want to have her and other teachers lose respect for me.” The English department has also come up with other methods to promote integrity. “We are requiring that students write the honor code on all of their papers,” Copsey said. “We’re using a declaration of authorship cover sheet for all major papers turned in.” Through constant reminders of the importance of academic integrity, honest work will feel like a necessity to McLean students. Reminders of integrity are helpful, because cheating can drastically impact students’ futures. It is important that students are aware of the possible consequences of cheating, and these conversations can ensure this awareness. The agenda provided by McLean explicitly states that information on honor code violations is available to teachers writing college recommendations. Students who are concerned about their futures will heed the warning clearly printed in their agendas. A poor letter of recommendation can jeopardize one’s admission into their dream college or any college at all. “Who is going to write a cheater a good recommendation?” senior Sidnea Strelser said. A combination of teachers’ determination to create a community dedicated to academic integrity and students’ greater awareness of the possible consequences for breaches in academic honesty will strengthen integrity at McLean for this school year and for many years to come. OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 35
North Korea needs different approach Diplomacy is more effective than threats of “fire and fury” |RUSTIN ABEDI MANAGING EDITOR
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oom. Another missile is launched from Pyongyang. For the past two decades, the North Korean government has slowly developed a nuclear arsenal and has been in direct confrontation with its neighbors South Korea and Japan, both prominent allies of the U.S. Even though nuclear tests have been taking place for over a decade, President Donald Trump has responded to every threat with his own, leading both sides down the road of a spiraling situation that inevitably leads toward military conflict. This should not be the path forward. “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Trump said in an Aug. 8 speech. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” The president has not calmed down since those notable comments. At the United Nations General Assembly this year, he let the whole world know how he felt about the continuing North Korean missile and nuclear tests and dubbed the country’s leader “Rocket Man.” “Now North Korea’s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life,” Trump said. “The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself.” On top of this dangerous rhetoric, the hysterical media coverage only worsens the situation and puts the public in an unnecessary state of fear when a military conflict should obviously not be the solution. “TV news can have a tendency to try to sensationalize things. In some of the coverage, it [has] been...blown out of proportion to make it seem like it’s some big scary thing [in order] to get more people to watch the news,” history teacher Rachel Baxter said. Though North Korean tyrant Kim Jong Un is perceived by many as irrational, crazy and unpredictable, that is not the case. Like all dictators, Kim wants to maintain 36 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER
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control over his country. Any nuclear strike on the U.S or another major country would lead to the destruction of his regime. “Kim Jong Un and his father make very radical statements,” Baxter said. “Just because they make those statements doesn’t mean they are going to attempt nuclear war on us.” The situation has not been improved by top Trump administration officials, as U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley hasn’t done much to calm the worries of the international community when it comes to the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.
“Kim Jong Un and his father make very radical statements. Just because they make those statements doesn’t mean they are going to attempt nuclear war on us.” -history teacher Rachel Baxter “We have pretty much exhausted all the things that we can do at the Security Council
at this point,” Haley said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sept. 17. “We’re trying every other possibility that we have, but there’s a whole lot of military options on the table.” Despite what Haley says, there are not really any feasible solutions through military force. Millions of both South and North Korean lives are in the immediate line of fire in the event of a military escalation in the region. There have been negotiations with North Korea in the past. In 1994, the Clinton administration worked with Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un’s father. At that time, North Korea agreed to a freeze of its nuclear weapons in exchange for the removal of sanctions, the eventual normalization of relations and two light water nuclear reactors that would have been inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency along with fuel for them. Congress was slow in fulfilling some of the requirements of the 1994 deal. The deal broke down in 2003 after it was discovered that North Korea had a uranium enrichment program. The U.S. refused to send any more fuel and North Korea withdrew from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, leading to the current predicament where Kim Jong Un now sits atop an arsenal of nuclear weapons. Although it is rarely reported in the mainstream media, recent statements suggest
Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva
that the North Korean regime would be willing to negotiate if the U.S. and its allies backed down from its current provocative military actions. From the North Korean perspective, it is easy to understand why they would be angered by the most advanced, nuclear-capable warplanes in the world being flown near their territory. On July 4, Kim Jong Un announced that his country would not take its nuclear weapons or long range missiles off the table “unless the U.S. hostile policy and nuclear threat...are definitely terminated.” Unfortunately, the Trump administration hasn’t taken this approach. Both U.S. and South Korean forces have continued their joint military exercises. The North Korean population, among the most isolated group of people on Earth, have a sour history with U.S. airplanes and bombers, many of which fly close to the regime’s airspace.
“The major source of these [problems] comes from… foreign intervention. All we are going to do is push the problem further.” -junior Neha Rana
America’s forgotten war has never been forgotten by the North Korean population. In that war, the United States-led coalition heavily bombed the Korean Peninsula after South Korea was invaded. After the war, then Air Force general Curtis LeMay, head of the Strategic Air Command during the Korean War, stated that “over a period of three years or so, we killed off...20 percent of the population.” This mindset is still present in the minds of many North Koreans, so any threat of force is not going to be a deterrent to potential nuclear proliferation. “The major source of these [problems] comes from...foreign intervention,” said junior Neha Rana, an officer for McLean’s Model United Nations team. “All we are going to do is push the problem further.” Sanctions are not enough of a deterrent either. With China adamant on preventing
Page design by Rustin Abedi Infographic by Bryan Chung
a refugee crisis on its borders, it will use its veto power to prevent tough U.N. sanctions that can cause the collapse of the regime in North Korea, a doomsday scenario given the stockpile of nuclear weapons in the country. As a result, the sanctions that have been in place have not done anything to curb North Korea’s nuclear arsenal development. “Those sanctions aren’t going to do anything,” Rana said. “It’s like placing the embargo on Cuba. It’s pointless.” The Trump administration is declaring diplomacy to be obsolete in dealing with Kim Jong Un. Military options are now being considered. The only problem is that there are no military solutions to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Millions of North and South Koreans lie in the path of the inevitable and imminent destruction if military force is exercised. The situation couldn’t be solved militarily even if North Korea did not have a nuclear weapons arsenal. South Korea’s capital, Seoul, lies only 35 miles away from the Korean Demilitarized Zone. There are 25 million people within Seoul’s metropolitan area, all of whom are well within range of Kim Jong Un’s conventional weapons. Any military action would put these people at risk, along with the thousands of U.S. soldiers that have been stationed there since the end of the Korean War. Unfortunately, the lessons of Iraq and Libya haven’t seemed to play a role in the U.S. government’s way of thinking. Those countries did not have nuclear weapons or devices even comparable to the destructive capabilities of North Korea’s arsenal. Interfering in those countries has not enhanced global security nor kept American lives safe. Instead, the current bipartisan pattern of the U.S. government threatening unfriendly countries has led to nuclear proliferation around the world. The world is much less safe when nations feel as if they have to make nuclear weapons in order to keep themselves from being attacked. Kim Jong Un is mindful of what happened to certain dictators who did not have favorable relations with the U.S. and other Western powers. Instead of the current approach of military exercises, bombastic statements and ineffective sanctions, engagement with the regime should be the way forward. Not only might it produce a compromise where
2003
North Korea expels weapons inspectors and withdraws from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons after the Bush administration declares the country to be in violation of the Agreed Framework due to allegations of uranium enrichment.
1994
The Clinton administration created the “Agreed Framework.” In return for freezing its nuclear arsenal, North Korea would get two light water nuclear reactors, sanctions removal and receive shipments of heavy fuel oil to address its power needs. In response to an invasion of South Korea, the U.S. bombed and virtually destroyed all of North Korea’s major cities during the Korean War. Gen. Curtis LeMay, head of the Strategic Air Command during the conflict, said bombers “killed off...20 percent of the population.”
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both nations can find terms to agree on, but it could potentially avert millions of deaths. The international community has proven in the past to be able to negotiate signature agreements that avoid unnecessary warfare. A prime example would be the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a 2015 agreement between Iran and the world’s leading powers that has, in two short years, diffused a situation that could have spiraled into yet another costly war in the Middle East. The world’s leaders are up to the challenge. It is now the responsibility of our government to negotiate an agreement that will avert nuclear war. Both the U.S. and North Korean governments must engage seriously to ensure peace through diplomacy.
OCTOBER | OPINIONS | 37
Heart and Scholl
SPORTS
McLean alum John Scholla returns home to rebuild football program John Scholla is well aware that many of the 15 head football coaches that preceded him at McLean over the past 62 years did not enjoy great success. It’s what drives him to be different. It’s special to coach at your own school. He lived it as a player. The move to go young with a rookie head coach worked with one Highlander alumnus who took the program to historic places 27 years ago. Scholla is hoping to repeat history. | JACKSON PAYNE MANAGING EDITOR |
Bleeding Red and Gray — John Scholla hands off as a sophomore quarterback in a 2005 game (below) and coaches from the sideline against Edison on Sept. 15 (right). Coming back to coach at McLean has been a dream come true for Scholla. (Left
photo courtesy of MHS yearbook; right photo by Jackson Payne)
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ince former Highlander quarterback John Scholla graduated from McLean in 2008, the varsity football team has gone a combined 36-57 with three different head coaches. Despite this slump, Scholla always held a flame for the idea of returning to coach at his former school. “I feel like to come back and coach at your alma mater is the dream that most coaches have,” Scholla said. “Anyone that denies that is probably lying.” This past spring, Scholla’s dream became a reality when he was named the new varsity football head coach at McLean, replacing Shaun Blair, who left after three seasons to take a position on Westfield’s defensive staff. Scholla, with just two years of coaching experience as a special teams coordinator at Madison, was not nearly as experienced as other candidates, but it became clear during his interview that the young up-and-comer was the right choice for McLean. “The big thing with Coach Scholla was his energy,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “We felt that our program needed someone who would be all in and really commit to building this football program, and Scholla has given us that.” Scholla inherits a program that has won just two games over the past two seasons, but after being a part of a Madison staff that went from 1-9 to 9-1 in just
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two years, he is ready to tackle the rebuilding effort at McLean. “[Rebuilding the program] is a process, which I knew coming in, and it’s not going to happen overnight,” Scholla said. “At Madison we were in a similar situation where the program wasn’t great, but we were able to instill those principles and work ethic that we expected out of our student athletes.” Other McLean alumni on Scholla’s coaching staff include running backs coach Greg Love (Class of 2008) and freshman assistant Francisco Bermudez (Class of 2011). After just a short time learning under the new staff, members of the team are already noticing a significant culture change within the program. “I can say without a doubt that there is not one selfish player on our team,” junior running back Logan Johnson said. “Coach Scholla pushes us to our maximum potential and helps us realize our roles as a team rather than a group of people. Everyone shares one common goal, which is to win. I don’t think I’ve ever been closer with a group of guys in my life.” Scholla has adopted several program slogans to inspire the team through the rebuild, such as ‘trust the process’ and ‘make the dash count.’ “‘Make the dash count’ means that on your gravestone the dash between your birth and death dates is what tells your life story,” Scholla said. “I feel like if our kids can embody that motto and soak up everything they can out of every single day, they’re really going to like that end result of the process.” The hiring of a young alum such as Scholla to rebuild the program has been done before at McLean, with former All-Met Highlander safety Karl Buckwalter (Class of 1981) taking the job in 1990 following a rough 1-19 stretch. Within two years, Buckwalter’s Highlanders became the first team in school history to win a playoff game, and in 1995 the team won their first region title and advanced to the state semi-final. Buckwalter left in 1999 as the winningest football coach in school history, and Scholla is confident that history can repeat itself. “We just want to build for the future while being competitive this season,” Scholla said. “We know that we aren’t going to make it to where we want to be after year one so our goal is to set this program up for sustained success year after year, which is not an easy thing to do and will take time but I feel like we’re moving in the right direction.”
@FAIRFAX (8/25) The rematch of last year’s dramatic homecoming game saw McLean’s defense give up just 10 points, their lowest total since 2014, but the offense failed to execute as the Highlanders fell 17-0.
Stats: George Stimson: 11 carries, 38 yards Luka Karony: 4 catches, 83 yards
Photo by Imani McCormick
MARSHALL (9/1) The Highlanders led the Statesmen 14-7 at halftime thanks to touchdowns from junior running back George Stimson and senior receiver Carter Govan, but Marshall’s rushing attack proved to be too challenging in the second half as McLean ultimately fell 35-14.
Stats: Omar Varela: 8-18, 96 yards, TD, INT Govan: 3 catches, 55 yards, TD
Photo by Imani McCormick
@EDISON (9/15) Junior Luka Karony brought a kick back 86 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, but McLean failed to find the end zone again and lost 19-7 despite shutting the Eagles out in the second half.
Stats: Adam Taylor: 8 carries, 41 yards Karony: 122 kick return yards, TD
Photo by Jackson Payne
McLean scores new board
Years of campaigning to replace outdated model finally pay off |JACKSON PAYNE MANAGING EDITOR|
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ast year, local business F.H. Furr offered McLean a groundbreaking stadium naming rights proposal that would have led to a new scoreboard for the football field. The current scoreboard has been operating since 1989 but has been showing its age in the past few years. The deal, however, was ultimately shot down by the Fairfax County School Board despite a tremendous effort by the McLean Athletic Boosters Club. “The county’s big issue had to do with the naming rights aspect [to the proposed F.H. Furr deal],” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “FCPS definitely wasn’t against McLean getting a Page design by Jackson Payne
new scoreboard, but the issue came down to the naming rights and how both the county and F.H. Furr didn’t really feel comfortable with everything, so the deal fell through.” All was not lost following the rejection of the F.H. Furr deal, as FCPS stepped in to help fund the project. “We were notified over the summer that the county was generous enough to aid us in purchasing a new scoreboard,” Miller said. “Everything is going into production now so we hope to have it up and running in time for the spring sports season.”
Prayers Answered — An artist’s rendering of McLean’s new scoreboard. The design has remained the same even after the F.H. Furr deal fell through. (Photo used with express written consent of Daktronics) OCTOBER | SPORTS | 39
Varsity blues
Boys volleyball program thrives despite lack of varsity status
|MAREN KRANKING DESIGN/FEATURES EDITOR & JULIA McELLIGOTT REPORTER|
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his fall marks the boys volleyball team’s sixth season. With practices and games twice a week, a program of over 30 boys and a plethora of experienced coaches, the group seems to have it all—except for a varsity letter. Boys volleyball is one of the multiple sports that Fairfax County does not formally recognize as a varsity sport. Although it is recognized as such at the Virginia state level by the Virginia High School League (VHSL), not all counties are required to conform to this classification. “About six years ago, [Fairfax County] actually experimented with having boys volleyball as a club sport,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “But across the county, it was not popular enough to make it a varsity sport. If they are going to have a sport across the lines, they need to have it be so it’s almost every school, if not every school, participating.” The lack of interest in boys volleyball in 40 | SPORTS | OCTOBER
Fairfax County is not the only reason boys volleyball is not a varsity sport—the county’s budget also plays a major part in the decision. “I think the big reason is budget. Schools
“If they are going to have a sport across the lines, they need to have it be so it’s almost every school, if not every school, participating.” -Director of Student Activities Greg Miller have to pay for more referees, and arrange the transportation,” Miller said. “We’re very, very short on bus drivers in our county. The more sports you have, the more transportation you have to provide.” Boys volleyball has since been demoted
to an interest sport. An interest sport is considered to be a school club and is not affiliated with the McLean athletics program. “The county doesn’t want [McLean administrators] going to a boys volleyball game because then it shows that maybe we’re affiliated with it, and we’re not supposed to be,” Miller said. Interest sports are also not funded by the school. Because of this, the team is forced to find ways to finance itself. “[The program is] self-funded by the players,” league commissioner Mike Markovic said. “So we are able to use the gym space for community use, but the uniforms and the referees and insurance and all that kind of stuff is paid for by the boys.” The team is currently a part of the Northern Virginia High School Boys Volleyball League (NVHSBVL). This year, they have 14 teams competing against each other. This is the largest that the league has been since its establishment, but the program
LEVELS of sports at McLEAN: VARSITYsport CLUBsport
includes boys volleyball
INTERESTclub $ funded by school Mc affiliated with school
$
not funded by school
Mc affiliated with school
= 1 varsity sport
Attack Mode
— Senior
Mateen Karimian jumps to attack a ball during practice. The team practices twice a week.
Digging
It — Senior Chris Clancy passes a ball during practice on Sept. 21. So far, the boys team is undefeated with a record of 2-0.
is still hindered by the limited available budget. “We almost had three teams this season, but we didn’t have the benefit of available gyms and many other issues,” boys volleyball co-coach Tony Awad said. The boys have dedicated both time and money to the continuance of the program. They enjoy every second of the game and work hard, while maintaining their positive attitudes. “[The team is] usually very chipper and happy; the team effort is shown by everybody,” Awad said. Since the sport isn’t considered a varsity sport at McLean, some students are deterred by the lack of
$ Mc
not funded by school not affiliated with school
recognition or a reward of a varsity letter. However, this hasn’t stopped the players from working hard. “I’m still going to play—I still think it’s going to be fun,” senior boys volleyball player Chris Clancy said. “I don’t care if we win or lose.” According to Markovic, Fairfax County has made a deal with the NVHSBVL regarding club status. “There are 25 high schools in Fairfax County, and we need more than half—13—[to participate] and there has to be one in each of the districts. Then they would give us club status.” Although this feat sounds daunting, the league is well on their
way to meeting this goal. “We are getting better; we have teams in the south part of the county now,” Markovic said. “We have a team at West Springfield and West Potomac, so we do have a pretty good distribution of players.” Despite Fairfax County’s decision to not make boys volleyball a varsity sport, the McLean community would be more than willing to accommodate for it. “If Fairfax County called tomorrow and said, ‘From now on, boys volleyball is a varsity sport,’ we would embrace that with open arms and support them the way we do with all our other sports,” Miller said. Markovic and Awad have high hopes to advance the future of the boys team. “Boys volleyball used to be a club sport in Fairfax County,” Markovic said. “We are hoping to get club status back, and maybe even someday varsity.” FOR A FULL LIST OF CLUBS AND SPORTS AT MCLEAN, GO TO
mcleanactivities.org Photos by Imani McCormick Page design by Maren Kranking
OCTOBER | SPORTS | 41
Girl on the run
Junior is top 10 runner in D.C. area |MIRANDA JOHNSON REPORTER|
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unior Caroline Howley has been named to the All-Run Washington Preseason Team 2017, an honor given to the most elite runners in the D.C. area. Howley started running at an early age, and it has been a part of her life ever since. She began running competitively in elementary school, and since then has developed a passion for the sport that continues today. “I started running in third grade with Girls on the Run. Then in sixth grade, I decided I wanted to do something a little more competitive so I started running with the program,” Howley said. “I found out it’s something I really enjoyed and liked to be competitive in so I just kept going with that.” During the fall cross country season, Howley competes in the 5,000 meter race. For spring and winter track, she competes in the 4x800 meter relay, the mile and the two mile. When the team is not practicing, Howley takes her training into her own hands. “We have practice every day except for Thursdays,” Howley said. “On Thursdays I go on my own run and do some crosstraining.” Track and cross country head coach Megan Ney meets with Howley every week to discuss and construct training regimens for each off day. These drills range from abs and hip exercises to long runs. “Each week we’ll kind of decide, ‘What are you doing on Thursdays,’ which are our days off, and, ‘What are you doing over the weekend if you’re not competing,’” Ney said. “Both of us keep in constant communication to see if she’s hurting or injured and what we need to do to work together to make sure she can compete on the weekend.” Howley has achieved many accolades including Most Improved and Most Valuable Player awards from McLean, Honorable Mention for All-Met in cross country, as well as All-State in the two mile and cross country. Despite her success, Howley faced a few road bumps hindering her performance at 42 | SPORTS | OCTOBER
the start of her sophomore year. “I had a right knee injury caused by IT [iliotibial] band inflammation,” Howley said. “I went through a lot of physical therapy, cupping and massage therapy, in addition to running on an Alter-G treadmill, to help me get back to training.” Recovering from her injury was a long, uncomfortable process. However, Howley kept an open mind and all of the work she put into recovering helped her become a stronger athlete. “As a result of the injury, I do a lot more strength training for my hips, glutes and ankles which, in addition to preventing injury, have helped me become an all around stronger runner,” Howley said. As a captain for the McLean track and cross country teams, Howley leads the team through example. Her hard work and motivation rub off on her teammates, inspiring them to strive for greatness. “She is a great leader for the team. Not only athletically, but she knows how to inspire her teammates and work alongside them so that she is still part of the team even though she is a little more elite than everybody,” Ney said. The combination of Howley’s work ethic and natural talent makes her a force to be reckoned with. Her progression through the years is evident, and she continues to work harder each day to achieve her maximum potential. “She works incredibly hard, I think at practice she sets a good example for all the other athletes,” Ney said. “She always has her eye on where she wants to go.” Howley has begun the preliminary process of talking to colleges, as she waits for official school visits. “I’ve been talking a little bit [to colleges]. It’s hard because they don’t really start recruiting until after your junior year,” Howley said. Despite all the distractions of high school, Howley has always come back to running. “I know that no matter what she does, she’ll still run, even if she isn’t doing it competitively,” said junior Jane Anne Tvedt, Howley’s teammate. “She just likes running.”
Photo by Sam Gollob Page design by Maren Kranking & Siddarth Shankar
t t e w e J r e unt
H
e u s s I e h t f o e t le
Ath
enior Grade: S lf Sport: Go ver : b Clu Dri Favorite
Who is your role model in golf?
What are your favorite courses to play at? I like Congressional [Country Club]. I’m not a member there, but my friend takes me out sometimes. I’ve also played at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; it’s ranked top 10 or top five in the U.S. I’ve played [there] three times and that was pretty awesome. What do you see as the strongest part of your game? Weakest part? Probably my driving and my putting. My length helps me a lot on the course. [My weakest part was] probably my short game, but it’s improved a lot recently. How do you overcome the challenging mental aspects of golf? It’s been hard in the past, but it’s improved. If something happens, you can’t do anything about it, really, so you’ve just got to pass through it and forget about it.
Accolades:
Justin Thomas. He’s a cool guy off the course and he’s a pretty good golfer. He’s in his 20s too, which is pretty cool. How hard is it to manage golf with other aspects of your life? It’s a lot. You have to put a lot of time into it, especially during school. It takes about three hours [of practice a day]. You need to have real dedication to do it and to become good at it. How has coming to McLean at the start of junior year affected your time on the team? I went to a boarding school in Rhode Island and I played there too. [The upperclassmen] have been good role models. What is your most memorable moment in golf? About a month ago when I won the [George Pavlis Memorial] tournament with McLean. I shot my low round, a 71.
vlis 7), George Pa 1 0 (2 e c n re fe Con 017) First Team Allt Champion (2 n e m a rn u To l Memoria Reporting by Ed Walters
Page design by Bryan Chung Photo courtesy of Hunter Jewett
OCTOBER | SPORTS | 43
THE
FINISH LINE Highlander athletes answer tough questions
MATTHEW DUVAL FRESHMAN FOOTBALL
SOPHIE GARZIONE SOPHOMORE FIELD HOCKEY
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
ABBI HOBBS JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL
What’s the scariest movie you have seen?
Mind reading
Annabelle
Invisibility
The Conjuring
Time traveling
Don’t Breathe
Flight
What’s your favorite show to binge watch?
JACK REED SENIOR CROSS COUNTRY
The Birds
What mythical creature would improve the world if it existed?
Parks & Rec
The Chupacabra
Criminal Minds
Unicorns
What are your favorite The Office
Santa
Magnum, P.I.
Gnomes
44 | SPORTS | OCTOBER
Photos by Imani McCormick Page design by Bryan Chung Reporting by Michael Redding
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