The Churchill Observer- February 2016 by Kelly Knarr

Montgomery County Public Schools Winston Churchill High School 11300 Gainsborough Rd. Potomac, MD 20854

thechurchillobserver.com

Volume 40 - Issue 5

Thursday, February 25, 2016

A National Blue Ribbon School

CHS Security Guard ‘Stu’ Wins Service Award By Isabel Dibble News Editor

HS security guard Craig Stewart, best known as “Stu,” has been chosen as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 2016 Supporting Services Employee of the Year. The SEIU and the Montgomery Business Roundtable for Education (MCBRE) established the award to select the employee who best exemplifies the motto, “Education Works Because We Do.” Nominees are judged on a variety of topics such as initiative, creativity, dedication and contribution to the students, staff and the broader community. The nominees must also have respect and admiration from others. “I was stunned,” Stu said. “I have never won anything in my life, so this award is very nice.” Four fellow CHS staff members nominated Stu for the award, including Principal Joan Benz. According to Benz, main office Secretary Patrice Thomas first proposed the idea to nominate Stu. Thomas then organized the group of four staff members to support the recommendation. “I get excited when I talk about Stu,” Benz said. “Stu has incredible

commitment and dedication. He is one of the key people in the school who lets us, the students and staff, have a very safe environment at CHS.” Stu’s commitment and dedication to CHS is shown through his stellar career. He has been working at CHS since the fall of 1977, leaving for only a year in 1980. “I’ve seen parents come through, and even grandparents now,” Stu said. Throughout the 38 years he has dedicated himself to CHS, Stu has no complaints when talking about his job. “I’m very grateful that CHS does not have a lot of major problems like other schools do,” Stu said. “The best part of my job is interacting with the students and staff because I like the CHS community, and that’s why I’ve been here so long.” Many of the staff members have been influenced by Stu’s dedication to the school. “I’ve worked with Stu for over 20 years as his supervisor,” Security Team Leader Terry Bell said. “I consider him second in charge. He will go out of his way to be friendly towards a student and be helpful.” Stu’s dedication is appreciated by not only the staff but also the students. “I remember one morning

junior year, I had walked into school after a night of getting next to no sleep because of homework,” senior Isabel Jordan said. “Stu saw me and pulled me aside and asked if anything was wrong, if I was okay and that I could talk to him whenever I needed to. I really appreciated and needed that, and I think it’s amazing that we have someone at CHS like Stu to remind us to always be kind, compassionate and gracious to others, no matter the circumstance.” In addition to taking care of staff and students during the school day, Stu’s devotion to CHS extends to the evenings with his help in the athletic department. “Stu plays a major part in the athletic department and for athletic events,” Bell said. “In terms of assisting the athletic director, he’s the number one guy. He is very dependable, and CHS is like his second home.” According to athletic director Scott Rivinius, he has worked more hours with Stu than anyone else in the building, and he loves it. Rivinius acknowledges how dependable and knowledgeable Stu is and cannot think of anyone else more deserving of the award. During a regular staff meeting in the auditorium

Mon. Feb. 8, Benz announced Stu as the winner for the SEIU award in front of the whole staff. “Dr. Benz made me come down to the front of the auditorium with her,” Stu said. “She announced the winner of the award, and I received an ovation. It was very nice for the staff to do that.” Stu will receive a $1,000 cash award and the MCBRE will donate $1,000 to any MCPS school Stu selects, which he has decided will be CHS. He will be officially recognized and honored for the award during the Champions for Children Gala May 5 at Wheaton High School. “I’m going to take my family with me,” Stu said. “My wife, daughter, two sons, daughterin-law and grandchild. They are really happy for me.” The CHS community appreciates the hard work that Stu has put into this school throughout his career. “As a security guard, Stu is responsible for our physical safety, but his immense talent for making people feel valued offers a different kind of security,” senior Alexandra Conway said. “Stu makes you feel important, confident, and cared about, and that’s what makes him such a beloved member of the Churchill staff.”

MCPS Search for New Superintendent Comes to a Close By Eugenia Cardinale Observations Editor MCPS’ search for a new superintendent is over. The Board of Education (BOE) Feb. 4 conditionally appointed Dr. Jack Smith as the next superintendent effective July 1. Smith is currently the interim superintendent of Maryland schools and former superintendent of schools in Calvert County Public Schools in Prince Frederick, Maryland. “I am very thrilled because from my cohorts and people who have worked with Dr. Smith when he was a superintendent, he is supposedly amazing,” Principal Joan Benz said. “He is student-centered. He looks at data. He is skilled at working with the budget to bring resources to the county schools.” According to a MCPS press release, the BOE reviewed applications from over 70

different applicants from all to working with him to over the United States. A improve communication with crucial part of the Board’s administration and students. search was finding a new “I will be working with superintendent who would Dr. Smith on a robust student be engaged in the community, outreach plan so that he and Smith is known for using knows about the amazing innovative strategies in the accomplishments of our classroom. students every single day,” According to Benz, the Guerci said. “In addition, it is county is composed of three imperative that Dr. Smith is unions, and each of those passionate about working on unions composes a profile of behalf of all students to ensure characteristics they would like that all of us, regardless of to see in a superintendent. what we look like or what The members of the our background is, are able to Montgomery County thrive in our futures.” Education Association sent out PHOTO COURTESY OF MCPS WEBSITE. USED WITH PERMISSION. a letter congratulating Smith Jack Smith will become the new superintendent July 1. on his appointment. According to a Feb. 4 Washington Post article, Smith is honored and Black History Month Random Acts of Kindness New Mall Restaurants excited to start working with the county on Teachers and Mall food CHS should behalf of the children. students recollect court give Black Student Member of favors that others welcomes History the Board junior Eric Guerci was involved did for them. new Month more in the decision to additions. recognition. appoint Smith, and Page 7 Page 5 Page 13 is looking forward

Opinions

Features

Arts

News

February 25, 2016

Bill Seeks to Increase Freedom of Speech New Voices Act to Benefit Student Journalists, Advisers By Emiliana Cardinale Production Manager The Supreme Court decision in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier in 1988 limited freedom of speech for high school journalism students by giving administrators the right to censor school publications. The guidelines were vague and therefore allowed the censorship of practically anything the administrators disapproved of. Since this decision, legislators have responded by passing and writing laws to provide all students with more freedom. Last year, the John Wall New Voices Act, an act that increases freedom of speech for student journalists, unanimously passed through the state legislature in North Dakota. Following this, people in 20 states came forward to work on New Voices laws across the country. “This unanimous passage gained a lot of attention and really jump started the movement across the nation,” said Maryland-D.C. Scholastic Press Association President Gary Clites. “Similar New Voices Acts have been introduced in four states including Maryland. The New Voices Maryland Act is largely based on that North Dakota Bill.” The New Voices Act of Maryland has officially been introduced for passage as Senate Bill 764. The Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee will hear testimony for the bill on March 2. After the North Dakota bill passed, Clites felt that attitudes had changed and reached out to Senator Jamin Raskin about the possibility of a bill for Maryland. He also contacted the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) Executive Director Frank LoMonte who has contributed greatly to the Maryland New Voices bill. “Several legislators have expressed interest in being sponsors, and now

INFOGRAPHIC BY EMILIANA CARDINALE.

The New Voices Act is intended to increase student journalists’ freedom of speech and was introduced to 20 states last year. Many of these states, including Maryland, were inspired by North Dakota’s first passage of the act. it’s just a matter of deciding who wants to sign on and file the bill,” LoMonte said. “We feel confident that a bill will be filed in the 2016 legislative session, and it could be voted on as soon as this spring, in time to become law for the next school year.” The act not only aims to increase students’ freedom and protect journalism teachers from retribution for their student’s actions, but it also aims to help establish when censorship is appropriate. “The truth is that in most cases when administrators have censored school publications and students have asserted their rights, the local press, PTAs and school communities have supported the students,” Clites said. “In most cases, the administrators have been forced to eventually allow students to publish the censored articles, embarrassing admin-

istrators and schools. Better guidance as to when censorship is appropriate and when it is not will help administrators avoid these embarrassing situations.” Providing guidelines for what can and cannot be appropriately censored is also beneficial to administrators as well as students and advisers. “A New Voices law lays out limited reasons that a public school or college could censor speech in school-affiliated media,” LoMonte said. “The journalism that is getting censored today that won’t be censored if New Voices becomes the law is journalism that exposes unflattering truths about a school or journalism that takes on sensitive social or political issues. Schools would be forbidden from censoring or punishing student journalists just for reasons of PR image control, which is by far the most common reason that students report being

censored today.” According to Clites, by teaching children from the time they begin school that they have a right to express themselves, the school system can demonstrate to the public, especially the younger population, how to utilize their freedom of speech. “If we want to teach students that America guarantees freedom of speech and of the press, they must see that modeled in the schools they grow up in,” Clites said. “This bill is a step toward teaching our high school students that their rights under the Constitution are real and are an important part of citizenship in the USA.” Maryland citizens who feel compelled to support the bill can contact their legislators to let it be known. Log onto http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/ to find legislators.

Students to ‘Request’ not ‘Register’ for Next Year’s Courses By Lauren Roseman Production Editor

PHOTO BY LAUREN ROSEMAN.

Junior Alex Chung thinks about which classes to “request” for next year.

CHS has undergone changes to the class registration process in order to make the system more efficient and more reflective of the way registering for classes actually works. One way counselors have made the registration process more realistic is by simply changing the phrase “registering for classes” to “requesting classes.” “Changing the terms from ‘registering’ to ‘requesting’ makes sense if students aren’t guaranteed those classes,” junior Taira Dolan said. In addition, counselors are no longer handing out the course bulletins when they speak to classes, but they are available to print from the CHS website. The counselors are only giving bulletins to incoming eighth graders. “It’s super eco-friendly of the coun-

selors to not hand out those thick course bulletins, which were unnecessary as everything was online anyway,” junior Jennifer Chen said. Also, students now only choose alternatives for their elective classes, not their required core classes. “Being able to have alternates only for electives makes sense to me because your main classes are the most important,” Dolan said. According to Counseling Head Robin Moore, this makes it easier for counselors to understand exactly what class will replace a class if it is unavailable. Last year, the registration process was more drastically changed to allow for students to register for classes online, giving the students more time to discuss their classes with their counselors. “It’s all about streamlining the process for an easier process,” Moore said. “We’re always looking for a better way to do things.”

February 25, 2015

Observations

Satin in Hall of Fame

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Senior Philip Satin (second from left), joined by seniors Zach Ruvo, Charlie Butler and Markus Hurd.

By Fiona Asbury Editor-In-Chief

By Eugenia Cardinale Observations Editor Senior hockey player Philip Satin was inducted into the Maryland Hockey Hall of Fame for his achievements over his high school career. Satin qualified for this honor by scoring his 100th career point during his junior year. According to Satin, the honor means

Photographs Win Awards

a lot to him because the “Hall of Fame is very small and a lot of great players never made it.” “I would like to thank my teammates for their support,” Satin said. “My teammates were so happy for me and they wanted it for me, probably more than I wanted it.”

Alum Earns Perfect AP Score By Arielle Gordon Arts Editor

CHS alumnus Neil Luo, who graduated in 2015, was one of 54 students worldwide to achieve a perfect score on the 2015 AP Microeconomics exam. Luo, who now attends Duke University, received the maximum score possible on both the multiple choice and free response sections of the exam. “I was very excited for him,” AP Economics teacher Monica Malanoski said. “I set it as a goal after two of my students got perfect scores a few years ago. I challenge them. If anyone in the world can get it, why can’t my students get it?”

PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNAH HANSEN.

“Aspen” by Hannah Hansen received an honorable mention at the Montgomery County HS Photography Show.

Sophomore Makes TV News PHOTO COURTESY OF FINEST HOURS.

Students Win Art Awards By Lauren Roseman Business Manager

Congratulations to junior Sara Miller, senior Carly Rosenfeld, and sophomore Rebecca Wolfson for being recognized in the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards seeks to recognize some of the most creative and talented teens in America. Artists like Andy Warhol and Truman Capote have been recognized in this competition in the past. Miller won a Silver Key in the science

fiction/fantasy category for her story “Eschaton.” She also received two Honorable Mentions for “Her Descent” and “Obscurity” in the same category. For her piece “Cavern Conquest,” Rosenfeld received an Honorable Mention in the poetry category. “I wasn’t expecting to win anything because it was my first time submitting written work,” Rosenfeld said. “I was surprised and excited.” Wolfson won an Honorable Mention in the poetry category for her piece “The Seven Stages of Life.”

Music Department Disney Trip By Adam Gruner Staff Writer

The chorus, band and orchestra went on a joint trip to Disney World from Jan. 21- 24, where they performed Disney songs and explored Disney World. The different ensembles worked with professional musicians to play and record Disney soundtracks. The full orchestra recorded a Frozen medley and Tangled melody, while the band performed a track from Tarzan. Choral music students participated in a singing and dancing workshop led by a choreographer to Disney Park theme music. “We learned a whole new number and it was very cool to see what happened behind the scenes at Disney,” senior Adam Newburger Showstopper said.

The artwork of CHS seniors Emma Siritzky and Hannah Hansen were both displayed in the Montgomery County High School Photography Show at the Washington ArtWorks and Washington School of Photography Gallery, with the opening reception on Feb. 5 and the exhibition lasting until Feb. 26. Siritzky placed second and Hansen received an honorable mention. According to Daily Campello Art News, the exhibition features photography work from Montgomery County high school students and their instructors, giving hundreds of high school students the opportunity to display their work professionally for the first time. According to photography teacher Amy Gilbert, the show was open to all Montgomery County art students, and there were more than 150 entries from around 15 different schools. “I took [the picture] in Aspen, CO over the summer,” Hansen said. “It was really cool to see my work appreciated and that other people liked it too.”

By Jasmine Baten Opinions Editor Congratulations to sophomore Sean Nguyen, who was featured on ABC 7 news for his accomplishments on the CHS Swim and Dive Team. News reporter Scott Abraham interviewed Sean Nguyen, Nguyen’s father, Sony Nguyen, and Head Swim and Dive Coach Chris Tappis at Eleanor Shriver Aquatic Center about Nguyen’s journey through swimming and experience swimming for CHS. Nguyen has been swimming since he was 3 years old and currently specializes in events like the 50 yd. and 100 yd. freestyle. He plans to pursue swimming in the future. “I love the water,” Nguyen said. “I really want to swim for the rest of my life.”

PHOTO BY EUGENIA CARDINALE.

SGA to Host Sadie Hawkins Dance By Anna Baranko Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS ATKINSON.

Chorus Department visits Epcot.

CHS is hosting a Sadie Hawkins dance Saturday, March 5 in hopes of boosting school spirit. For Sadie Hawkins, girls ask guys to attend the dance. There was a lot of debate about whether the dance would actually happen. The SGA created an online petition in favor of the dance and administration approved it. The SGA plans to advertise the dance more to inform students about it. Tickets are $15 “The more activities that we have

at Churchill, the better the experience is for students,” sophomore class sponsor Evan Rosenthal said. “So this is just another dance, another opportunity for students to get together in a positive way and have a good time.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA HEIMLECH.

A student “proposes” with a cupcake.

February 25, 2015

Opinions

The Churchill

Observer Editors

Editors-in-Chief Fiona Asbury Michael Fox Online Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Greenzaid Chief Production Manager Emiliana Cardinale Production Editors Thomas Atkinson Eugenia Cardinale Ben Dross Sara Heimlich Ariel Levchenko Sarah O’Brien Lauren Roseman Sofia Williamson Becky Wolfson News Editors Isabel Dibble Arjun Swaminathan Opinions Editor Jasmine Baten Observations Editor Eugenia Cardinale Features Editors Madison Hurr Balbina Yang Arts Editor Arielle Gordon Sports Editors Jake Certner Nathan Deychman Fact Checkers Brooke Weiner Sofia Williamson Social Media Editors Peter Durand Sara Heimlich Maya Rosenberg

Managers Advertising Manager Brooke Weiner Business Manager Lauren Roseman Circulation Managers Rebecca Jackson Rebekah Sklute Sai Sreenivasan Contest Manager Becky Wolfson Adviser Kelly Knarr

Our Policy The Churchill Observer is published monthly by the students of Winston Churchill High School, 11300 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, Md. 20854. Advertising and subscription rates are available by e-mailing churchill.observer@gmail.com. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff, faculty or the student body. Every effort has been made by the staff to ensure that the news is accurate and free of bias. Editorial opinions are those of the Observer staff, and personal commentaries and cartoons reflect the opinions of their writers. Letters to the editor must be signed, and assertions must be documented upon request. Send letters to the editor to churchill.observer@gmail.com The Observer is a public forum for the purpose of expressing the views of and informing the Churchill community.

We Have a Microphone, Now Speak Up

CARTOON BY KEVIN HO.

If The Little Mermaid taught us anything, it was to value our voices. Oftentimes, students take their voice and ability to represent themselves within the school system for granted. Or they underestimate it. Whether or not students use their voice for prom or progress, it’s time to realize just how powerful the student voice can be. At CHS, organizations like the Student Senate and the Observer aren’t well-acknowledged by students who aren’t involved. Students not in the Senate are happy to have a lunch period free of obligation, while students who aren’t part of the newspaper flip through to check on scores or the article they were interviewed for. And while students are free to pursue whatever they’d like, it’s important to realize that every single one of these groups works to make the student voice heard. Students want a Sadie Hawkins Dance? Scheduled. Students want a day to recog-

nize LGBTQ classmates? Scheduled for every year. Students want to raise awareness about mental health? An Honors Society is already on it. Students need a Wellness Weekend that actually doesn’t assign homework? Published. But CHS students can push further. While this year’s major breakthrough was the establishment of UP Day, the student voice can be used to tackle much larger issues, from the constant and concurrent problems of stress and cheating to undercurrents of racism and general avoidance of acknowledging and accepting minority groups. Still, it’s important to take note that recent improvements could have been made years ago, had students banded together and taken control of issues as a student body. Instead, small minority groups have tried to in-

spire change, but their limited numbers have resulted in their voice going unheard. Fortunately, there’s a new wave of student empowerment sweeping through with the New Voice Act, which aims to protect student journalists and their advisers from unnecessary censorship a n d consequences from administration and the new SMOB Voting Bill, which will give the SMOB more authority. If students were worried about becoming involved in their education and school environment, there’s no need to be now. According to the Feb. 4 MCPS House Bill, the new bill will give the SMOB power to vote on collective bargaining, capital and operating budgets and school closing, reopenings and boundaries. According to Executive Di-

rector of the Student Press Law Center Frank D. LoMonte, the New Voice Act benefits the entire school community, as people need students to report the news about what’s going well and what’s not going well in their schools. Take the staff of the Rockville High School newspaper, the Rampage, for example, which exposed the dangerous levels of toxins and lead present in school water. At CHS, student publications have provided information on subjects like student use of heroin and marijuana so as to encourage change. In fact, student publications were able to publish material on topics ranging from sex to alcohol to online censorship to school cheating scandals. Rarely do students appreciate just how great it is that CHS usually lets the student voice ring. Really, the solution is simple. Students, make the effort to be involved in school issues, so that we’ll be prepared to be part of a world of change and constant progression.

By Nathan Deychman Sports Editor

so just for the sake of voting, for the experience, for the chance to pick up that “I Voted” sticker. Unfortunately, they are probably doing it without a complete understanding of their actions. Young voters are often clueless as to why they voted for whoever they did since they perceive politics more as entertainment than as a national institution. According to a survey of 60 CHS students, over 54 percent considered themselves only somewhat up-to-date on current political events and over 33 percent placed themselves as either a five or a six on a spectrum of one to 10 measuring how politically aware they are, with 10 being the highest. Although many students don’t keep up with politics, those that do are able to through various media outlets such as social media, newspapers and television, where they can watch debates and keep up with the candidates. Some voters only have vague knowledge of candidates’ personalities rather than policies, often through no fault of their own. Modern politicians have moved from focusing on issues plaguing the nation and the world to looking good for a camera. This election has taken the concept a step further, turn-

ing into more of a circus of insults and gaffes rather than discussions of politics. Politics run the country and politicians run politics. It’s time

to wake up, CHS. It’s imperative that young voters gain a better understanding of what the impact of their votes and involvement have on their future.

BSERVER O OPINION

Young Voters, This is Your Primary Concern The 2016 Presidential Election is rapidly approaching, meaning that many upperclassmen at CHS will be eligible to vote and plan to do so. However, many of these students are not prepared for the responsibility of voting. Voting requires a general understanding of the candidates and their backgrounds, which many voters, especially high schoolers, do not have due to a general lack of political awareness. If a student wants to vote, it’s his or her civic responsibility to understand the credentials of the candidate and why they would be a strong leader of our country. Every vote is important. According to the National Census, 11 percent of voters in the last Presidential Election were between the ages of 18 and 24. Young voters make up a large portion of total voters, so students need to understand that their involvement matters. Voting isn’t just a step into adulthood, it’s an action that bestows immense responsibility upon the voter. Many of these young voters who will be eligible to vote for the first time in 2016 will likely be doing

INFOGRAPHIC BY NATHAN DEYCHMAN.

Many students plan to vote in the 2016 Presidential election, though many admit they are politically unaware.

February 25, 2015

Opinions

Black History Month Deserves Recognition

By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editors

Attempting to find any trace of support for Black History Month is like trying to find a well-rested junior: impossible. Over the past few months, CHS has sponsored a variety of events to support many groups, from the UP Day supporting LGBT students and Churchill vs. Cancer to the fundraiser this month to celebrate Valentine’s Day. However, the festivities for Black History Month seem to be missing. It’s difficult to understand why CHS, a school that prides itself on its diversity, has done nothing to represent its minority of African-American students this month. CHS must do more to represent its minority of black students. According to an MCPS document of the CHS 2014-2015 student population, 7.9 percent is black and 55.7 percent is white. One of CHS’ rare forms of representation is the Black Student Alliance (BSA), which holds meetings every Friday throughout February. Besides that, there is nothing remotely supportive of African-American students. This is an issue that must be accounted for. African-American students don’t get the attention they deserve. As a black student myself, I feel that if I do decide to speak out, not only will my opinion be left unheard, but I will

be judged by other students for making “everything racial.” In a school that promotes acceptance for all, stigmas’ still plague students and staff. A simple acknowledgement of Black History Month by having facts about prominent black leaders on the Daily Dose, or having the library showcase books by black authors, would go a long way in making CHS’ black community feel more accepted. As a black student, I feel I am both underrepresented and misrepresented. Living in a predominately white area, it’s easy for me to feel like the odd one out on many occasions, but for one month a year, this feeling of anxiety should end. For once, black students should be able to come together and share pride in our culture, rather than just listen to fellow students claim that they aren’t prejudiced because they love Beyoncé. I have been called the “n-word” and have been referred to as an “oreo” just because I don’t fit into the stereotypes of black culture. Going through the halls of CHS, I have heard my fair share of white students using the “n-word,” which they know is wrong but continually use. It’s time that awareness is raised and people finally learn that it’s not okay to say these things. Black History Month should be used as a time to educate people about black history and social issues such as Black Lives Matter. Students need to be more educated on racism and how it still exists today. They should not

PHOTO BY THOMAS ATKINSON.

One in every eight students at CHS is black. Since CHS prides itself on diversity and acceptance of all students, the school should acknowledge the history and experiences of all groups. feel bad for past injustices, but they should instead become an ally for causes today. As the new generation entering the world, it is up to us to end these prejudices and inequalities, but this

will not happen if CHS, its students and its organizations don’t step up and develop real support and change for the African-American community, through the simple acknowledgment of Black History Month.

achievement in a way that both levels the playing field for all students and reduces “excessive achievement pressure.” At first glance, these goals are admirable. It goes without saying that in order to create a student body equipped to better the world, college admissions officers need to select students who put service to others before themselves. Often, a student’s service can be overlooked when the student doesn’t receive outstanding recognition. With the ever-increasing pressure for students to create the perfect resume, students can feel trapped into creating an application that does not effectively reflect who they, but rather what they think admissions officers want to see, with service being one aspect that often gets falsified. With the SSL system currently in place, students are already known to embellish their community service, exaggerating their importance in a cause they might have little passion for. Once compassion is advertised, every student will try to embody it, which is a positive change for our community and for our world. However, character could become just another item that students feel they can exaggerate or modify in an application. Perhaps the best way to gauge a student’s level of commitment to serving others is in a face-to-face interview. However, alumni interviews are already not offered at every college, and putting the interviewer in the position of “fact-checker” is hardly fair. The Making Caring Common project is endorsed by 88 different admissions officers from a wide array of colleges, indicating that the schools are sensing a lack of passion and caring in their student bodies or that they simply need a change. Though requiring students to write an essay explaining an incident in

which they are compassionate could help the school figure out whether the student is a kind person, it doesn’t help to give students more of an opportunity to foster a deep interest in something or create a passion for a certain service. Many prospective college students know the system by now, and pad their resumes with an assortment of activities that they may have little interest in. Is shifting focus of the application process from the college’s perspective truly going to bring focus back into a student’s life? Attempting to alleviate the students’ pressure for achievement is meant to allow students to grow as a person rather than as a set of statistics and test scores. But the changes to the college application process just direct students’ stress elsewhere. Not to mention, regardless of what sort of items a student must now put on his or her application, he or she will still be putting an application into a pool with thousands of others. The inherent competition cannot be avoided. Students will still want to do everything in their power to elevate themselves from others. Though changing the idea of achievement from SAT scores and AP classes, two statistics that have linked achievement with socioeconomic status, lowincome students will still face the issue of having less access to counseling and preparation. When it comes to actually going to college, a student who has taken harder classes will be more prepared, so regardless of whether it is “required,” students with the access to these classes and additional resources still have an advantage. Also, eliminating the requirement for exceptional scores does not make these scores obsolete. Colleges are still looking for high-achieving students and students will do everything in their power to present a resume that reflects that. A change is undoubtedly needed in the present college application. But we have a long way to go. The proposed modifications should be just a first step, not an end goal.

Focusing on Character Won’t Lead to More Compassion By Fiona Asbury Editor-in-Chief

College admissions officers face a daunting task: they must take piles of paper and weave them into a qualified, enthusiastic and cohesive student body, a group of students who will band together and change the world. As admissions officers sift through applications, they look for individuals with a personality that will benefit the university, but how do SAT scores, GPAs and one 500-word personal essay entitled The Trip That Changed My Life offer a glimpse into what kind of a person each student is? A change is much needed in the college application process and the focus needs to be taken off the pressure-inducing standardized tests and AP classes. However, these proposed changes cannot prevent the cut-throat

competition that is still present in the application process. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s project Making Caring Common, the answer seems to lie in their movement, Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern For Others And The Common Good Through College Admissions, which seeks to encourage high school students to focus on meaningful involvement both intellectually and morally. Colleges are looking to focus on character as well as credibility in academics in an effort to reward students who may not stand out in the current application process, but are truly good people. According to the report, colleges should promote meaningful student service, assess students in a way that accounts for varying family and community contributions and redefine

PICTURE BY FIONA ASBURY.

A new college admissions movement, led by Harvard, seeks to emphasize applicants’ character as much as other qualities.

February 25, 2015

Opinions

VR Makes Real Learning Virtually Impossible By Sofia Williamson Production Editor

A decade from now, students won’t learn by interacting with their peers and teachers, or by experiencing their physical world with their senses. Instead, they’ll learn by putting on a pair of goggles and sitting completely still. Four representatives from the Google Expeditions team visited CHS on Dec. 17 to allow students to take a virtual field trip using the company’s cardboard virtual reality (VR) viewer. While the Google Expeditions program intends to enhance a student’s educational experience, it may actually end up destroying a student’s ability to interact with other people and the physical world. I had the opportunity to go on a virtual expedition myself. This past summer, VR technologies such as the Oculus Rift and Google Expeditions were just being released to the press as a possible product for consumer sale. Using a pair of heavy goggles and headphones, I was transported through time to a city in Belgium 700 years ago, and I could use 360 degree vision to see the animation all around me. After overcoming the initial awe of being inside a real animation, it was hard to think that what was around me really wasn’t the world I know and love. It frightened me to think that this type of technological isolation could be how a student like me, only a decade or so into the future, has history class. According to the Family Education Network, studies have confirmed that one of the top methods for children to learn in school is through a tangible experience in which they can collaborate, or kinesthetic learning. Kids learn best by doing, not watching. Because students in a virtual reality setting are not in a physical, tangible

world, they will have a harder time learning the material given to them through only their sense of vision. Also, without person-to-person collaboration in schools, children will become more and more isolated from their peers and

ing, it can cause a condition in which one eye turns outward, or a “lazy eye”. VR viewers isolate students in the outside world and affect a their physical ability to see their real, physical surroundings.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCO GRAMKEE.

The new Oculus Rift is quickly becoming a very popular device. more immersed in technology, causing them to lose crucial social skills necessary for their daily lives. According to Venture Beat magazine, beyond eliminating social and collaborative efforts, VR technology could have numerous effects on eyesight. In children, whose eyes are still develop-

According to a UK Virtual Reality blog, VR goggles can also cause motion sickness, or “cybersickness.” Spending a long period of time in a virtual environment can cause shifts in perception and balance. Some people are affected after only 30 minutes of using the goggles. A new program called MakerSpace

may offer an alternative to Google Expeditions. It would actually make use of a students’ tangible world and allow them to interact with others. According to Educause, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the intelligent use of information in education, a MakerSpace is a physical location where people gather to share resources and knowledge, as well as work on projects and network. It has emerged as a powerful learning force, allowing hands-on learning through the use of a 3-D printer. MakerSpaces have been put into college campuses like Tufts University to encourage joint project collaboration. To be clear, innovation in technology isn’t bad. Innovation in technology that limits human interaction and hands-on learning is. Programs like MakerSpace would be the perfect alternative to VR because they are still visual technology in 3D, but allow people to collaborate in the actual world. However, VR technology would work well for journalism, psychology and global issues as it allows for people to truly see in 3D the hardships that take place around the world. For example, the New York Times already offers a free, 3D video on their website that allows the viewer to be immersed in the grievous scene at the candlelight vigils in Paris after the Nov. 13 attacks. While Virtual Reality technology may have wonderful applications in other areas such as journalism, it has absolutely no place in education. If a person’s ability to make person-toperson connections and use their five senses in their physical world is taken from them, they may lose their ability to learn from their surroundings in the way that humans have always done, by doing.

The Lack of Urinal Dividers Pisses off Male Students By Cristian Edwards Online Sports Editor

This is possibly the biggest issue for all males at CHS and it should not be taken lightly. The question, you ask? Urinal dividers. Through my four years at this school, I’ve been dumbfounded as to why there haven’t been urinal dividers installed in every boys bathroom. As a voice for the male population, we need them. For those of you who are not aware of what a urinal divider is, it’s a slab of plastic installed between urinals in bathrooms to protect the privacy of those who use them. Privacy is key for people when they go to the bathroom. It’s the whole reason stalls have a lock on them, so why can’t urinals have that same necessity? Between classes, the bathroom is packed full of students waiting in line only for the stalls, rather than the urinals. Because of the urinal’s openness and severe lack of privacy, they don’t even serve a purpose in being there. They make students feel too exposed. What’s a bathroom without privacy? What are stalls without doors or private bathrooms without locks? The two need the pair to coincide perfectly. Urinals need urinal dividers to achieve their full potential. If everyone who only had to go “number one” would only use the urinals, the bathroom traffic would be completely evaded, but nobody wants to. Whether it’s fear or straight up refusal that keeps males from using urinals, no one truly knows how to properly use a urinal without dividers. The only way to properly use urinals that have no dividers is simple; only the urinals on the far right and far left can be used. By contorting one’s body away

from the middle section and facing the wall or stall while using the urinal, one manages to successfully keep his privacy in such an uncomfortable situation. The middle urinals are not, and should never be, used under any circumstance. During the countless times I’ve been inside a CHS bathroom, I cannot recall a student using the middle urinal, ever. When men use the middle urinal, it completely crushes the little sense of privacy one has when using a urinal. It’s an unspoken rule when there are no dividers: there must be a one urinal space in between urinal-users. With urinal dividers installed in the bathrooms, full privacy will be obtained, and all would be right in the world. The efficiency of the bathrooms would be sped up immensely as no student would feel like he was subject to judgment, and the stall toilet seats would be cleaner because using every urinal would be socially acceptable. Dividers are needed not only in between urinals, but to also separate the urinal closest to the sink. With this only being a problem in four bathrooms, one extra urinal divider would be needed in those select bathrooms. Therefore, with the 25 urinals in the nine boys bathrooms throughout the entire school plus the extra four needed in between the last urinal and a sink, the school would need to install 20 dividers. A single plastic divider and installation parts would cost roughly $132 according to partitionsandstalls.com, pending county approval. With 20 dividers needed, the total cost would be around $2,700 for the urinals alone, with additional costs for work and labor. However, according to CHS Business Manager Lisa Wellek, the approval and funding for urinal dividers must come from the MCPS Department of Facilities

Management, and not from the school alone because it is a modification of existing space. For the implementation of dividers, our school must submit a Facility Project Request Form to the stated department. From there, the department determines whether the proposed project is within their budget and if it meets necessary qualifications, like improvements to safety and security. Urinal dividers are a major improvement to a student’s safety and security. They secure the personal well-being of students and protect students from judgment, which can affect a student’s emotional status. “If a project cannot be funded through the Department of Facilities Management, schools can identify alter-

nate funding sources for consideration, such as proceeds from a fundraiser or the PTSA,” Wellek said. Urinal dividers are the solution to almost every single problem a male unconsciously faces every single day they come to school. Formerly an underrated issue, I hope to create a change in the way the bathrooms here at CHS are used for our current and future student body. So my message to the Department of Facilities Management and to our PTSA is this: with the help of urinal dividers, you can make an overwhelmingly positive impact on every single male student in the school system.

PHOTO BY ARIEL LEVCHENKO.

The lack of dividers between urinals makes boys unwilling to use them due to awkward closeness and lack of privacy.

February 25, 2016

Features

CHS Appreciates Random Acts of Kindness

PHOTOS BY EMILY WANG.

Social Studies teacher Kate Blanken recognizes the friends who brought her food when she was sick for two weeks last school year. By Emily Wang Online Arts Editor Some students think kindness is the act of showing extravagant gestures or gifts for someone, but sometimes it is the little things that one person does for another, stemming from feelings of compassion, that exemplify the true meaning of kindness. “The more we perform random acts of kindness, the more connected our society will be,” Modern World History and Psychology teacher Evan Rosenthal said. “For example, our school can be fragmented sometimes, and acts of kindness can bring it together.” Random Acts of Kindness Day, which was originally a holiday only celebrated in New Zealand, is now celebrated around the world on Feb. 17. As the name implies, this holiday is meant to encourage acts of kindness in the community, locally and worldwide. “I think random acts of kindness make us stop and appreciate the simple things in life,” AP Psychology and Sociology teacher Kate Blanken said. “It’s the simple things that are beautiful, and help us manage the tough days.” With the ever relentless pace of technological development and the increasing addiction to smartphones and social media, some fear that our tech-culture is preventing people from physically interacting with one another. “I see little groups of students sitting together at lunch and not talking to each other,” AP Art History and ceramics teacher Paul Dermont said. “Things can be done anonymously, and that takes the empathy away. It’s easier to send a pointed email than doing it in person.” Though “liking” a photo or “retweeting” an online post may seem like an appropriate substitute for a physical display of compassion, they are not the same. Interacting via electronics may be

convenient and hassle-free, but according to Dermont, electronic communication takes away the human connection and empathy. “You might think you’re doing something so insignificant, like just picking up an eraser for someone who dropped it, but it means a lot that you made that effort even when you really didn’t have to,” senior Julia Wang said. In honor of Random Acts of Kindness Day, students and faculty shared acts of kindness others have done for them: Junior Nick Mason: For Mason, the act of kindness that impacted him happened last year after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his tibia and couldn’t perform in the county track meet. “Just a few days before the county race, a dear friend of mine, [senior] Alex Conway, expressed great kindness to me,” Mason said. “She was sad that my season had suddenly been cut short and I wouldn’t be able to run in the last race of the season.” Conway had recently suffered an injury herself, yet she spent her time helping Mason stay fit by doing exercises with him that did not involve putting weight on his legs. Despite only being able to attend the last meet of the season after recovering from her injury, she managed to run a personal best. According to Mason, not only did her compassion aid him through his injury, but her recovery inspired him to overcome his own injury and return to running the following year. Evan Rosenthal: “The random act of kindness that I experienced was when I was in my first year of teaching and I got in a car accident,” Rosenthal said. Rosenthal had partly ruptured his Achilles tendon in the accident and was forced to stay out of school for a couple of days. According to Rosenthal, when he

returned, he found that a couple of students had made a banner to support him and hung it in his room. “I think that as a teacher, sometimes we do not know if the students appreciate what happens on a daily basis, but when I saw the banner, I knew that the students cared about me as a person,” Rosenthal said. Paul Dermont: “We were away for the weekend for the big snow storm and our neighbors knew that the longer the snow sits, the harder it gets to shovel,” Dermont said. “So as they were shoveling, they not only did their car, but also dug ours, a path to the house and the sidewalks.” This act of kindness prompted Dermont to return the gesture. One act of kindness sparked another, as Dermont demonstrated just how much a simple act of kindness can affect a community. “The day after [the snowstorm], everybody got together to work together to shovel an entire block,” Dermont said. “By people doing these acts of kindness, I was willing to jump in and help.” Kate Blanken: “When I was sick last year and stuck at home for two weeks, I had a few friends who took turns bringing me home-cooked meals,” Blanken said. “It was so surprising and delicious.” The simple gesture of bringing homecooked meals not only spared her the effort getting out of bed to cook, but it also uplifted her and made her grateful for their care. Brendan Roddy: Resource and ceramics teacher Brendan Roddy still remembers when an act of kindness was shown to him. While on the way back to college, after feeling a little homesick, Roddy discovered that his Bay Bridge toll had

been paid for by the person driving in front of him. “It was a very simple thing but made a huge difference to me and my idea of paying it forward,” Roddy said. In return, when he was driving over the bridge, either on the way to college or to the beach, he would pay for the car behind him. Sophomore Ray Pasco: On a two-hour delay school day, an upperclassman offered Pasco a ride to school so he would not have to shiver in the cold while waiting at his bus stop in the morning. According to Pasco, he managed to get help on an assignment, get an A, and, most importantly, remain dry for the rest of the day, setting him off on the “right foot.” Senior Julia Wang: Wang cannot choose one act of kindness that impacted her the most because each act is important in its own right. One such act was when she and her boyfriend entered a parking lot and a stranger offered up his spot with the meter filled. Another act of kindness came from one of her old friends. “She texts me almost every two months or so just to say ‘hi’ and that she misses me, or that I’m important and to keep my chin up--all these really positive things that lift my mood and just let me know she’s thinking about me,” Wang said.“Kindness is contagious because after those events, I’d smile at strangers on the street and hold doors open for strangers that were far away from the door, or let someone into my lane,” Wang said. One act of kindness leads to another, so be kind to those around you on not only Random Acts of Kindness Day but every other day of the year.

Sophomore Ray Pasco demonstrates his appreciation for the upperclassman who offered him a ride to school on a chilly morning, allowing him t0 get to school early and get help on his assignments.

Features

February 25, 2016

Students Give Military Service Their Attention

By Sara Heimlich Production Editor

The typical college senior might roll out of bed at 10 a.m., grab some breakfast and head across campus just in time for an 11 a.m. class. However, Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Colin Asbury is not a typical college senior. His day begins at 5:45 a.m., giving him enough time to wake up, get ready and eat before training freshmen at 6:30 a.m. From there, his day only strays further from that of any normal college student’s. Having the “normal” college experience after high school is not what every student aspires to do. For some, enlisting in the military, attending a military academy or joining a military program is a dream they have had for years. “Part of my job includes school, but my primary focus is to become a leader for the Air Force, an officer who will take men and women into combat,” Asbury said. Asbury trains freshmen in general military skills, physical fitness and leadership, and he works under the supervision of active officers. Among the perks of attending a military academy is free tuition along with a monthly stipend. “We are reminded daily that our ‘free school’ is because we are expected to pay with our lives if the mission should go that way,” Asbury said. “I don’t see that as a drawback, but it certainly was a sobering fact to confront as an 18-yearold kid. Now it’s just a fact that is part of what I’ve decided to do.” Asbury will graduate a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and is required to serve for at least five years after graduation. He will be attending pilot training in Texas. AP Literature teacher Haroot Hakopian enlisted in the army for a full-time job following his third semester of college at the University of Maryland in 1987 in order to pay for his tuition without having student loans. He recommends that students looking for careers in military service focus more on similar programs such as the Peace Corps, but not necessarily the military itself. “At the time I joined, the U.S. hadn’t been involved in a conflict for about 20 years,” said Hakopian, who served four years of active duty and two years in the National Guard. “From the time I joined until now, it’s been consistent conflict all over the world, and I know everyone understands that’s a part of the military, but that’s a huge decision to make. It’s life or death. It’s really hard for someone in high school to think that way.” Instead of joining right after high school, many students may join the military during college or later in life. According to an April 23, 2014 article

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLIN ASBURY.

CHS ‘12 alumnus and senior Air Force Academy Cadet Colin Asbury loudly welcomes a new cadet to basic training this past summer. from RAND, a think tank that provides research and analysis to the United States Armed Forces, a majority of army recruits enlisted later in life as opposed to directly after high school. An alternative to a military academy or enlisting is to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Course (ROTC), an elective training program taken alongside regular college classes. The curriculum includes leadership training, classes and the guarantee of graduating as a commissioned officer in the military. The program offers financial support in college and a monthly stipend. CHS ‘15 alumnus and Penn State freshman Andrew Marders joined ROTC to fulfill his desire of becoming a great leader and serving his country. “I am willing to sacrifice everything to protect the world we live in,” Marders said. “Everyone should be given the opportunity to enjoy the freedom and liberty we are born with. The Army is a place I can do all of the above.” Graduates of army ROTC must serve for three years in the army. They have the option of serving full time or part time while pursuing another career. According to Marders, a notable gain of the program is becoming a well-rounded individual who lives by the army standards of “loyalty, duty,

respect, honor, integrity, personal courage and selfless service.” CHS senior Jacob Storch hopes to join the program in college. “As I grew up, I wanted to do something without bravado, something that would allow me to achieve something bigger than myself,” Storch said. “I guess it is based on national pride and patriotism, but I really want to preserve the American way of life. I loved my childhood, and I felt the military would allow me to protect that way of living for forthcoming generations.” CHS sophomore Richard Baker is part of Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force that teaches students ages 12 and older to perform emergency services and give students an aerospace education. Baker has recently been promoted to Cadet Master Sergeant and hopes to join the Air Force. “I’ve always been interested in the military and thought they looked cool and did great work,” Baker said. “I wanted to be a part of that.” CHS sophomore Guy Kibler is also in the Civil Air Patrol alongside Baker, and hopes to join the Air Force as a special agent, which he was inspired to pursue from his natural interest in law enforcement. Though Hakopian warns of the mili-

tary’s potential dangers, the lessons that he took away from it have stuck with him throughout his life. He left the military with consistent motivation, the knowledge of how to adopt a positive outlook on life, and most importantly, having selfdiscipline, all lessons he could not have learned in another career. “There’s a quote that says, ‘selfimposed discipline is the greatest freedom,’” Hakopian said. “In our daily lives you can choose whatever you want to do. Choosing to be disciplinary makes your life a lot easier no matter what you’re doing.” Although Hakopian came out of the military with hopes of becoming a pediatrician, after he realized the amount of schooling it would require to obtain this goal, he decided to become an English teacher when one of his counselors helped him realize teaching was a strength of his. Technology teacher James Nugent joined the military in 1980 following his college years and after job hunting but finding nothing of interest. When he commisioned, he figured it would be a temporary, four-year job. However, he ended up staying for 21 years. Nugent started off his time in the Navy “hating” his job, but came to enjoy the constant change of pace and day-today ongoings. “When you put yourself into the real world with real world considerations, it’s on you to make the right decisions and to learn from experience, not a textbook, how to be better at your job and, if you’re lucky, a better person,” Nugent said. “I don’t consider recruiting for the military as part of my job, and joining the military is not something I would lightly or casually recommend. If someone were legitimately interested in it, I would certainly talk to them about it, but it’s a very personal consideration, a decision with wide ranging ramifications.” Nugent became a chemistry teacher after his service, inspired by his high school chemistry teacher. “[The Navy] reminded [me] of how small I am in the scope of an otherwise huge world, but one in which I get to play a part that I’m happy with,” Nugent said. “Actually, the latter comes with this job, too, but it comes in very different ways.” Hakopian is thankful for the lessons his service taught him and he continues to apply them to his life today. “There’s nothing in life now that can compare to the stress, tension and danger I was in, so it makes my daily life really, really easy,” Hakopian said. “My wife gets mad at me after she asks how I can’t get stressed out and I respond, ‘Well nobody is shooting at me, so there’s that.’”

February 25, 2016

Features

Turning on Your Technology Can Be a Turnoff

PHOTO BY BALBINA YANG.

Technology has changed romantic relationships, making face-to-face interaction less frequent and communication more impersonal. By Balbina Yang Features Editor There is no question that technology is influencing high school teens. From online relationships to newly coined terms of endearment, such as ‘ily’ (I love you), ‘imu’ (I miss you) and ‘bae’ (before anyone else) sent via text, technology has changed the way we view our love lives. “Every day, we’re becoming more reliant on technology, and relationships are following that trend,” sophomore Katie He said. “Just look at apps like Tinder. Gone are the days where you had to actually go places to meet new people. All you have to do now is curl up on your couch and swipe left or right.” With technological improvements,

there really is no need for one to go out and socialize. That is, why would you when you have dating apps on your home-screen and ‘ily’ saved to your keypad? Technology has allowed simpler access to things that could not be easily vocalized before. For teenagers of the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine a world without electronics. Through Facebook, one can share and like photos; through Twitter, one can tweet and favorite viral videos and through iMessage, one can send the occasional ‘imu’ and heart-face emoji to a significant other. Using technology is painless, and with these benefits, people have opted to merge their social lives with their virtual identities. According to a Feb. 9 Match.com article, over 40 million Americans use online dating services with an estimated 48 percent of couples breaking up over

email. So many people are involved in Internet-based relationships, which goes to show that uploading signs of love onto the screens may have become just as important as expressing love face-to-face. Even if a relationship starts with face-to-face interactions, it almost always ends up morphing into text-based “feels,” also known as waves of emotion that cannot be adequately explained. However, technology has indeed allowed people to keep in touch despite long-distance barriers. “Since I’m in a long distance relationship right now, technology is keeping us close together,” junior Alvin Chung said. “Last year when we were still in the same state in the same school, technology was only a way to communicate while not at school; it did not hurt our emotional or mental health at all. When we were eating lunch, our phones were not a part of our face-to-face conversations unless we were just trying to take bad pictures of each other or one of us had to use it for some important reason.” Although ‘ily’ is more convenient for button-pushing teens, actually sending that ‘ily’ or maintaining a relationship through tweets may not be as personal as one would hope. “I personally do not like it when people overuse the shorthand “ily” and “imu” because it definitely devalues the meaning of the words ‘I love you,’” senior Nicole Menkart said. “Those words should be said to someone’s face whom you truly do love. The courage it takes to say that to someone in person is what makes it so special.” According to a 2010 New York Magazine article, teenagers text each other more frequently than they have face-to-face conversation. In addition, emojis have proved to be better suited to deal with the “emotional heavy lifting for which written language is often

problematic.” It is likely that teenagers will continue to use emojis and acronyms. Even if they are as meaningless as they seem, they are labor-saving and their range of choices will only expand. Yet, as technology continues to advance, a crucial question comes to mind: is technology really that important compared to the role it plays in our social lives? “Technology is a great source of communication and probably the best source,” sophomore Elyse Richards said. “You can contact pretty much anyone instantly. I would say that now that I have technology there’s no way I could live without it. Unable to contact friends, see what everyone is up to, watch TV, movies, I would feel so unplugged from the universe.” With its pros and cons, technology has become a double-edged sword. Although it has made us forget the true value of a relationship based on physical contact, it has also allowed us to connect with millions of others through simple posts and messages. In terms of relationships, whether filial or romantic, emojis and acronyms are likely to continue to flourish. Take “bae” (“before anything else”) for example; despite being another meaning for “poop” in Danish, the acronym has now become a word used and coveted as much as “omg” and “lol.” With the upward trend in usage and the pervasiveness of media, little roundfaced icons and words as long as three letters, it is safe to say that technology has become the truest “bae” of them all -- even “bae” itself. “Technology will continue to grow and people will continue to be reliant on it,” sophomore Emily Stein said. “Fads will come in which technology becomes ‘uncool’ but overall our world will continue to be taken over by technology and technology-based relationships will transpire.”

February 25, 2016

Features

Parcells er Steven of the h c a te y g Biolo n Coast e Wester iverenjoys th tes and the biod s. ta United S rticular region hold at a p is kids th th y sit y, I had ent out il m fa a “As d I w fan nd 6, an were 4 a ells said. “I’m a big of t c r West,” Pa and we spent a lo h] t ic s h e of the W tional Parks, [w ry. a a N in d r ao time in e just extr are Glab to d n u we fo d out are that stan The two ellowstone, which Y cier and st.” just so va

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As spring break is right around the corner, many CHS students and staff seem uncertain of their travel plans. If you happen to be one of these people, have no fear because some CHS teachers are here to

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS.

The West Coast includes several scenic national parks such as Glacier National Park. Algebr enjoys t a 2 teacher Lau h r to its re e East coast of F a Rhodes laxing b lorida d e ue aches. “In th Florida e United Stat e is s said. “O a good choic , I think e,” Rho n the G des water is ulf of M white, a really calm, t exico the h n pletely d the water is e sand is crystal just com cle East Co ast of F ar. Of course t waves, lorida h he w a waves. hich is good if s a lot of If in the U you want a w you want a n tion is F ited States, yo rm beach u lo r on r ida, bec can be c ause Ca ly opold.” lifornia

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By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor Sarah O’Brien Production Editor

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World ld and AP Modern Wor Christopher Forer History teach ds Key West, an en m m co t at the ney re located righ te. a d ri lo F of area e sta t point of th southernmos ving on some part “You’re dri where it’s eight ges oking of the brid you’re just lo and d n a g n lo miles ater, stal clear w out over cry snorkeling,” Forney t there’s grea t is a really quirky, es W ey itary said. “K ’ve got a mil ou Y . n w to y funk ay scene, y vibrant g le such ll a re a , se a p b tic set of peo at nevand an artis th ’s 0 ‘6 e th om as hippies fr eat place.” n a ’s It . ft er le

Key West

February 25, 2016

Features

Philosoph y and U teacher Eric Imp .S. History erial rec mends P om a there is ris, France beca great eth use n many his torical sig ic food and hts to see “The att . ing to go ractions are not anywhere go, chance ju st to enjo but having a y the side culture a wa n as the Pa d spend a few d lk ays risians d o yourself in the cu , immersing best way lt to get to k ure, is the now a pla Imperial said. ce,”

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give advice on the best places to travel domestically. Don’t want to stay in the States? The teachers suggest a few places students can spend spring break that are all outside of the U.S.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC IMPERIAL.

Imperial poses with his sons outside of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. P World ld and A er Forr o W n r e Mod ristoph beacher Ch History te ts Southeast Asia ers s e d ney sugg ulture an . its rich c ts f is o r e u s to u a c odate m e m o c c a e c pla s I’v vices to e coolest sia: Vietth k in th “I ast A in Southe Forbeen were bodia and Laos,” m fe a dif rent nam, C just really g you’ll s t’ “I . id a nothin ney s t of rally, like architectu ere. There are a lo urh to see elsew at accommodate hes, services th ere are great beac vith y ll d a n e a ists, t a r uins, jus food. ancient r culture and great n brant, fu at first sight.” e It was lov

Southeas Asia

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Destinations xt Trip

PHOT

Forney poses in front O COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER FORNEY. of a temple in Southeast Asia.

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Galapagos Islands

eler in Beh est s i r K ld her a trave h Teac Spanis ds Spain as fact, she is en in s. In recomm for student e trip to Spa n h o t i t r a o s tin to spon in beexcited ring. d Spa now n e p m s k om next ere, I lly rec “I rea e I lived th that maybe isit sinc n’t cause e places to v r books do ’s u h I o t “ t . t all of ides and er said stul e u h g e B t,” tour with u abou travel ow tell yo ool when I able to sh s c e pretty ecause I’m tivities, plac e b v c o a l s e dent favorit hy I fell in . My y m w m e on lac the e reas first p ve and th ain in the when I ha ts p s n i S e stud with orite or al fav ng my person sure of seei shop or try n a o o the ple ir Spanish t ly ‘churros c y l e a p h a p use t ood, especi e so h ain, m f s e w k Sp a ne te.’ It ma e with to me v o a l l o n c i o ew ch all e it’s n them f to see d. It feels lik i like I d .” n i aga

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Arts

February 25, 2016

CHS Performing Arts Puts on Quality Shows ‘You Can’t Take It With You’

Stories by Arielle Gordon Arts Edtior The winter play You Can’t Take it With You was performed Feb. 19 and 20 and will continue this weekend, Feb 26. and 27. Despite facing many challenges including six snow days and scheduling rehearsals to accommodate students who are in the play and Blast, the show opened as scheduled. “The week off for snow days means we missed a week of rehearsal,” said junior Taira Dolan, who plays Mrs. Kirby. “Theater Director Naomi Ratz is extremely organized so we had everything ready by opening night.” According to Dolan, the cast has enjoyed working together to put on the show. Most find the rehearsals to be a good time but enjoy the live performance. Senior Griffin Godsick, who plays Mr. Kirby, has fun on stage with his fellow actors and loves “making people lose themselves in a wonderful show.” As a result of spending so much time getting the show together, many of the cast members have greatly improved their acting skills since the beginning of rehearsals, according to Ratz. “I’ve seen fantastic growth within members of the cast since our first rehearsal,” Ratz said. Putting on the play requires students to balance school work, rehearsals and other theater work, such as memorizing lines, along with other extracurriculars. “The most challenging part has been

finding time to get in all my school work and staying after school for the play rehearsals,” sophomore Areya Campbell-Rosen said. Ratz is hoping that the play will draw a large crowd to support the cast members and watch their hard work pay off. According to Dolan, the cast promises to bring audiences “giggles, chuckles and snorts.” You Can’t Take it With You is a comedy that features “general mayhem, sprinkled with a touch of hilarious chaos,” Godsick said. Upcoming Performance dates: Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27 @ 7:30pm, in the auditorium. Ticket Prices: Online: At the Door: Student: $8 Student: $10 Adult: $10 Adult: $15

‘Blast’ 27: Elements

Blast 27: Elements will open March 11 and continue March 12 and 18-20. This year’s theme of Elements incorporates songs that represent the four classic elements: earth, air, fire and water. The broad theme has allowed director Matthew Albright to incorporate many different genres of music into the production. “This year’s Blast has very diverse songs ranging from rock to pop and ballads,” senior and Blast band leader Anthony Ratinov said. Blast also has many new features, such as enhanced lighting with “double Upcoming Performance dates: Friday, March 11, Saturday, March 12, Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19th @ 7:30pm, Sunday, March 20 @ 2:30pm, in the auditorium.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL WU.

Student dress rehearsal for You Can’t Take It With You. Tickets can be purchased online at wchsarts.com.

the amount that we had two years ago” and more dancers that will improve the visual quality of the performance for audiences, according to Albright. “The level of dancing is awesome this year,” Albright said. This year, for the first time, a danceonly audition was held, and many dancers are joining Blast for the first time, including members of CHS poms. “Since I’m a pom, I’ve become very accustomed to performing in gyms and on football fields, so I’m excited to dance in a different setting,” junior Tatiana Teixeira said. Additionally, student costume leader Michelle Gelling has worked with many of the student leads to find and buy costumes for their different numbers. “There are definitely some numbers that have fun costumes that I’m excited to see come together with the good songs,” Gelling said. On top of new visual elements, the Blast band has collaborated with the singers to accompany each song. “It is a great experience being able to work with singers and dancers,” Ratinov said. “It involves lots of managing and communication skills — something we musicians don’t do that often.” Veteran Blast performers are excited to participate in their final run of the show and end their time in the production on a high note. “I’m really excited about how good Blast is going to be this year,” senior and Blast vocal captain Natalie Hwang said. “We have an awesome cast, a great set list of songs, talented singers and cool costumes.”

February 25, 2016

Arts

New Restaurants to be Tried in the Food Court By Sarah O’Brien Production Editor

The CHS community grew up going to Westfield Montgomery Mall; however with so many upgrades, it is hard to recognize our childhood mall. B|Bop|Q, Shanghai 66, Chloe’s New York Style Deli and Jamaican Me Crazy have all been introduced to the mall food court in the last year. All are locally and family owned.

on Korean favorites, and while the standard bowl filled with rice or chop chae is available, tacos, burritos, Korean chicken and fried dumplings are also on the menu. There are many options for vegetarians, including vegetables such as radish, white cucumber and cabbage kimchi. “We recommend chop chae and chicken,” manager Kevin Choe said. Shanghai 66 Shanghai 66, a spinoff of Bob’s 66

PHOTO BY SARAH O’BRIEN.

Montgomery Mall recently added restaurants to its diverse food court. B|Bop|Q B|Bop|Q, located near Macy’s Home, is your go-to for Korean Fusion, fast-casual eating. B|Bop|Q offers a progressive take

Shanghai in Rockville, focuses on making healthier Chinese food, following the Chipotle-esque fast-casual model, and is located across from B|Bop|Q. “Most Chinese restaurants are not

considered healthy because they are fried and oily, but there is no frier in the house,”co-founder William La said. “We buy local vegetables and organic foods.” La is a Wootton High School alumnus and was aware of co-founder Johnny Chaw’s interest in business and food, so he decided to open this local restaurant with him. Shanghai 66 offers a create your own Chinese box, bao burgers, which are typical burger toppings in between steamed, bread-like buns, or dumpling combos. La and Chaw recommend the Muy Thai, the deluxe version of the create your own Asian box, which is filled with coconut curry, spicy mayo, beef, three chicken dumplings, fried scallops, tomatoes and cucumbers. Another popular option, The Works, is a variety pack with dumplings and bao burgers. Chloe’s NY Style Deli Next to Shanghai 66, Chloe’s NY Style Deli offers great options to satisfy your delicatessen needs and serves allday breakfast. Named after owner Caje Fernandes’ 3-year-old daughter, the restaurant has been family-owned and operated since its opening in April 2015. Although he is not Jewish, Fernandes has been working for local delis for the past 20 years and has been featured in Bethesda Magazine. “I cook everything in-store,” Fernandes said. “People love our reubens, knishes, corned beef, bagels, pancakes and desserts like macaroons.” Jamaican Me Crazy Jamaican Me Crazy, located near Naples, serves Caribbean food and drinks, and is family owned and operated, with the restaurant originally opening as a food truck in D.C. by founder Ngozi

Radway. With creative names for foods such as the “Dutty Mon Sandwich” and the “No Worries Wrap,” it’s difficult to not enjoy the food. Walking up to the restaurant, the sound of happy reggae fills your ears and grabs your attention. “I recommend the Mellow Yellow Curry Chicken,” Radway’s mother, Eugenie Brown said. “However, the Oxtail is our number one seller.” Lolli and Pops Candy shop Lolli and Pops, which has 21 stores open nationwide, still manages to achieve the feeling of a local business. According to assistant store manager Emily Wilkins, Lolli and Pops is just like walking down main street in Disney: a lot of fun. The store, located next to Alex and Ani on the first floor, offers a wide array of treats, from lollipops to astronaut ice cream to retro candies to yard-long Twix bars. There are different themed sections, such as Minion, Star Wars and Harry Potter. Additionally, the store features an international section, with Mexican and Asian candies, as well as vintage and local sections. The employees at Lolli and Pops are clad in candy-striped aprons and straw hats, following a retro candy shop look. Its bright blue entrance stands out against the bland mall, captivating shoppers as they pass by, while happy 1920s music plays inside the store. “I like that it is uniquely different than other candy stores because they sell candies that you haven’t really thought of before,” freshman Ryann Storch said. “It’s like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory in the mall.” In the near future, Menchie’s frozen yogurt and Tara Thai will also be added to Montgomery Mall.

Baking a Difference: Students Deliver Birthday Cakes By Becky Wolfson Contest Manager Birthdays are a time to be joyful and celebrate, traditionally with cake and candles. However, not everyone is given the privilege of having a birthday cake on such an occasion. CHS sophomore Allison Wachen vowed to help combat this issue when she founded the Montgomery County chapter of Birthday Cakes 4 Free (BC4F). “Before starting the chapter, I loved baking and cake-decorating and was baking more cakes than I could eat,” Wachen said. “I read about the national organization in a magazine and couldn’t imagine a birthday without cake and thought that the chapter was a great way to give back to the community.” BC4F provides free birthday cakes for financially and socially disadvantaged children and senior citizens. Out of the 65 chapters across the U.S., the Montgomery County Chapter is the only one that bakes primarily for homeless shelters and other charities rather than taking individual orders. According to sophomore and Chap-

ter Treasurer Carolyn Youstra, BC4F allows students to be creative while making children and seniors feel appreciated on their birthdays. The Montgomery County chapter began delivering cakes in September 2015. In an average month, BC4F bakes 15-20 cakes for five local charities: GreenTree shelter in Bethesda, Seneca Heights Apartments in Gaithersburg, Interfaith Works’ Children in Action Program in Rockville, Becky’s House in Wheaton and Community Vision Day Program in Silver Spring. According to Wachen, the chapter has donated almost 100 cakes and aims to bake 500 by 2018. Originally intended to be a club at CHS, the chapter was told by administration that the act of donating birthday cakes to charities was considered a liability and that the cakes violated the food policy at CHS. “This was a big disappointment to the chapter, and I am so proud that we have 60 members despite not being allowed to be a CHS club,” Wachen said. Because the BC4F chapter is not a school specific club, it is open to all students in Montgomery County, and

COURTESY OF ALLISON WACHEN.

CHS sophomores in BC4F bake and deliver birthday cakes to those who can’t afford them.

students with lots or no baking experience. Joining the chapter provides an opportunity to give back to the community and meet new people. According to junior Isabel Srour, her favorite part about BC4F is making others happy while having fun in the process. BC4F meets once a month and cakes are delivered to Wachen at school the Friday before each monthly delivery weekend. Certain charities offer up to three SSL hours for donating a cake. Additionally, during the delivery weekend, BC4F hosts a social at a CHS student’s home where the baked cakes are iced and decorated. “It’s important to remember that BC4F addresses a need that most people take for granted: receiving a birthday cake,” Wachen said. “Donating a birthday cake to a person who has never received one makes the recipient feel valued and creates a special memory on his or her birthday.” For more information on how to get involved, students can visit www.birthdaycakes4freemocomd.com.

By Maya Rosenberg Social Media & PR Editor It’s not every day that a professional actor is nominated for the prestigious Helen Hayes Award, and it certainly is not every day that a high school sophomore is recognized for this award. Sophomore Ethan Miller has had his talent validated with his nomination for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical Production. The Helen Hayes Award, named after famed actress Helen Hayes, has recognized excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. “I was dumbfounded when I found out,” Miller said. “It’s a pretty big deal, at least for me.” The show for which he was nominated, The Turn of The Screw, is an original show written and directed by Matt Connor and Gregory Smith. The show is based on Victorian writer Henry James’ gothic novella of the same name. Miller played Miles, a recently orphaned, wealthy child who lives with his careless uncle. “The Turn of the Screw is an intense and unique piece of musical theater,” Miller’s vocal coach Susan Derry said. According to Derry, who acted alongside Miller in the show, the sixperson cast had to work closely with one another and there had to be absolute trust as the subject matter was incredibly difficult to handle, especially for a young person. Miller made his performance look easy because he was committed to telling the story of the show to the best of his abilities. For Miller, the road to this nomination has been a long one, with many twists and turns. According to Ethan’s mother Jenni-

Arts

Student Art Spotlight: Ethan Miller

PHOTO COURTESY OF ETHAN MILLER.

Sophomore Ethan Miller was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for his work in The Turn of the Screw. He has been acting since he was 6 years old and has performed in many professional theater productions. fer Miller, Ethan’s love for music began at the age of 2 when he was given a guitar and created his own songs. While Miller began acting at the tender age of 6 when his mom enrolled him in an acting, singing and dancing class, his first role in a production was not until third grade at Beverly Farms

Elementary School. The Washington Opera Center worked with the third grade students to write and produce their own original show, the Endangered Ranger. Miller’s next production was Oliver with his temple, Har Shalom, at the age of 9. Miller first acted professionally in

February 25, 2016

Gypsy at Signature Theatre in 2014. “In a professional show, there’s going to be a friendly environment, but it’s way more work focused,” Miller said. Balancing school and theater can be difficult at times, but Miller has done it for years. According to Miller, who sometimes partakes in multiple productions at one time, he intertwines school into everything that he does. He will do his homework on his way to rehearsal, at rehearsal and study as much as he can at home. “He’s developed a strong work ethic,” Jennifer said. “It takes a lot of work to be involved in a show.” While he participates in productions outside of school, Miller is also an active member of the CHS theater program. He was most recently in CHS’ production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying as the leading role, J. Pierrepont Finch. Senior Natalie Hwang played Finch’s romantic interest, Rosemarie Pilkington. “It’s pretty obvious when you see [Miller] act that he has talent and that this is something he’s done professionally,” Hwang said. “I thought that in How to Succeed he did a really amazing job of creating a bit of a ridiculous character that was still believable and not go too over the top.” Theater has impacted Miller in tremendous ways. “Theater has allowed Ethan to grow as a person,” Jennifer said. “His ability to work with different people, from professional adults to children, his self confidence and his maturity have all grown exponentially because of his involvement in theater.” While Miller is enjoying his time in theater now, he hopes to develop a career in theatrical acting in the future. “I’m definitely going to try to pursue acting,” Miller said. “You have to be the best you can possibly be, and the luckiest you can possibly be.”

February 25, 2016

Arts

Drake Versus Meek Mill:Who’s the Winner? By Dani Miller Staff Writer

Oh man, oh man. Not again. In typical rap beef fashion, the first single off of Drake’s upcoming album, Views from the 6, is a diss track against rapper Meek Mill, reviving a supposedly dead fight from this summer and once again asking the age old question: “Who’s better: Drake or Meek Mill?” In an attempt to answer this polarizing question, one must visit the place that always seems to play a role in celebrity feuds: Twitter. It all started last July when Mill decided to voice his frustrations on Twitter about his belief that Drake uses a ghostwriter to write his raps. Naturally, Drake responded to this seemingly outrageous accusation the only way he knew how, through his music. Through two songs, “Charged Up” and “Back to Back,” Drake went after virtually everything from Meek Mill’s girlfriend, Nicki Minaj, to his net worth, a respectable $3 million according to the Celebrity Net Worth website. “Back to Back” became an instant success, debuting at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100’s chart and even getting nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance.

The artists added fuel to the fire with the recent release of diss tracks from both parties. Currently, the public is divided over who has the better song, and who is the better artist. Some people believe that Mill put up a good fight against Drake. According to the Daily Beast website, nobody even considered Meek Mill originally, but with the release of his new song “War Pain,” it is clear that he’s not going down easily.

However, other CHS students do not share these views. “Drake is better by far,” sophomore Moncef Guen said.“His lyrics, his style and flow are all more advanced than Meek’s.” Regardless of who’s considered better, it is clear that this fight will affect both of their careers, whether it be for better or for worse. According to a study by Nielsen Music, cited on Billboard Music’s website,

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS.

Meek Mill (left) and Drake (right) are both hip-hop artists who have had a long history of verbal spats with one another via their music.

Drake’s album sales went up 12 percent in the wake of the Drake vs. Meek rap feud this summer, while Mill’s album sales went down 45 percent. For Drake, increasing album sales may be his intention with this beef, but for Mill, perhaps his main goal is any publicity at all. “I didn’t even know who Meek Mill was before this,” freshman Kareena Nambiar said. “He’s only relevant because of Drake.” This beef has propelled a virtually unknown rapper, recognized most due to his famous girlfriend, to a name that everybody’s talking about, whether or not people think that he won the feud. In fact, both parties are undoubtedly, so massively affected by this feud that some people have theories that this is all a publicity stunt. According to the Loud Banter website, this feud is benefiting Drake and propelling his career so greatly that the possibility of Mill secretly making money through this shouldn’t be ruled out. So who won this beef? In a way, everyone. Drake’s album sales surged dramatically, Meek Mill’s rising infamy proved that “all publicity is good publicity,” and the fans caught a glimpse of what is currently one of the most interesting rap feuds of our generation.

Untraditional Superhero Movie Soars in Ratings By Ross Tanenbaum Online News Editor

With great power comes great responsibility. The new movie Deadpool puts a twist on these famous words. The highly anticipated movie Deadpool was released Feb. 12 into theaters. The film follows Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds, The Proposal) on his quest

to get revenge. After Wilson is experimented on, he is given the power of accelerated healing and adopts the alter ego, Deadpool. He uses his mercenary skills and new powers to save his girlfriend and get revenge on the man who ruined his life. This is the first film to focus on the “Merc with a Mouth,” and many fans are excited to see the hero brought to life. “My favorite thing about Deadpool is that he is an overpowered anti-hero

who does not take himself too seriously,” senior Juli Malacane said. “This allows for action packed fight scenes, along with clever jokes and tons of fourth wall breaking.” Deadpool is a very controversial hero as his comics tend to have cursing and a lot of gore. The new film is rated R which is unusual for a superhero movie. Many people feel that the R-rating will isolate some viewers because kids will not be able to see it and people who are

uncomfortable with extreme violence will be turned off by this film. Others feel that there is no way to make an accurate Deadpool movie without making it very inappropriate because this would be more authentic. “Deadpool is a hero for more mature audiences and tends to use vulgar language and graphic violence,” Malacane said. “Deadpool can’t be Deadpool without the crude humor and graphic action scenes.”

Arts

February 25, 2016

Oscars Receive Criticism over Lack of Diversity By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor Jasmine Baten Opinions Editor

I think my color TV is broken! For the second year in a row, the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences has not nominated any actors of color for an Academy Award. In a time where we have a black president and numerous racial awareness movements, one would expect to see award shows depicting an accurate portrayal of our country’s different cultures. Instead, only a few non-white actors seem to get recognition at all, whether it be by the Academy or as well-developed characters in shows. It’s past time that we face the reality that racism isn’t just limited to the already-accomplished task of abolishing slavery. It has continued on in almost every facet of our lives, and it needs to stop. Movies such as Creed and Straight Outta Compton which featured strong black actors and received lots of critical praise, were completely left out of the nomination list, leaving many wondering if there was not something wrong with the movies themselves but with those voting on them instead. According to a Jan. 2016 New York Times article, 94 percent of the Academy voters are white and their average age is 62. Basically, this means that a homogeneous group is deciding which movies and actors get nominated, and while they’re probably not obviously racist, the results of their votes make it quite clear that there’s a “winning type,” with little room for a different voice. The Oscars’ snub provoked actress Jada Pinkett Smith and Director Spike Lee to announce their intentions to boycott the Oscars in addition to the developing of the exasperated but truthful

PHOTO BY THOMAS ATKINSON.

Criticism of this year’s lack of diversity in Oscar nominations is not a new trend. Few awards have been given to actors of color since 2000. Twitter hashtag: #OscarsSoWhite which was started by April Reign, a Managing Editor for BroadwayBlack.com The sad part is that this isn’t the first time this has happened. The Oscars saw a similar rebellion from Marlon Brando (The Godfather) in 1973, when he asked a Native American activist to accept his award and explain that he didn’t attend because he felt that non-white characters were being inaccurately and unfairly portrayed. The issue of racial representation in American awards ceremonies has been around since the Oscars began 87 years ago, and not much has changed since then. This lack of representation in the Oscars may contribute to the even bigger problem of Hollywood not offering as many roles to minority actors. The small percentage of non-white actors that are in movies often times have very small roles. The even more startling proof is in the “Every Single Word” movement, started by Tumblr user Dylan Marron, in which movies are condensed to only include lines spoken by non-white characters.

According to the Every Single Word videos, childhood favorites like the Harry Potter movies have less than five minutes of script spoken by characters of color out of the 19-hour franchise, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy’s only lines belonging to non-white characters are spoken by Orcs (the disfigured zombie-warriors). Then there are films like Jaws and Into the Woods that have absolutely no lines spoken by even a single non-white character. This limited racial representation isn’t just an annoyance. It points to both a deeper sense of ingrained prejudice that today’s society has come to accept as the norm as well as a disappointing lack of relatable characters and actors for non-white viewers. Whether certain celebrities’ actions are worthy of admiration, the truth is that they and their characters are role models, and it’s essential that an adolescent or child grow up with a role model they can relate to, whether that role model is an actor or a character an actor has played. Though relating to a character or an actor’s personality

is one thing, teenagers should be able to choose a mentor that faces the same struggles as they do. For some CHS students, the struggle to find that mentor would be difficult, considering that CHS is extremely diverse. Students vary in every way, from race and religion to sexuality and size. It is at this most critical time, when students are discovering who they are, that realistic role models be made available, even if that mentor provides support from a screen. It’s easy to find and adore a fierce hero with Matt Damon in The Martian. Even easier to find a quirky but loveable girl: Jennifer Lawrence in Joy. It’s even possible to find a trans character in Eddie Redmayne’s performance in The Danish Girl. Now try to find a non-white equivalent for each. After all, Selma was a huge fan favorite, and Will Smith’s performance in Concussion was widely praised. On a similar scale, shows like Orange is the New Black, Sense8 and Quantico exist, where racial diversity is obvious. But the problem lies in the fact that these actors and shows are too few and far between. Though the discrimination may be accepted as a disappointing pattern for past generations, a rise in awareness and new movements should be arousing a desire for change in this generation. Ranging from #BlackLivesMatter to #MuslimLivesMatter, pro-diverse movements have sparked a global revolution, proving how there truly is strength in numbers. These movements started with shootings and other horrific incidents and have transformed into calls for change. Hopefully these movements will prove the aptitude that non-white cultures wield and how important it is to feature people of color. And whenever that representation finally shows itself, we’d like to thank the Academy.

CHS Community Needs to Shine More Light on Theater By Eugenia Cardinale Observations Editor It’s the night of the big show. As the actors bow to a deafening applause, tech crew stands stage left, watching. I may have only joined tech crew this year, but I’ve wanted to join since I was a freshman. I thought I understood the amount of work that the tech crew put into each production, but I had no idea. From building the sets, which involves a lot of power tools and is not as easy as it looks, to setting up sound and lights, it’s a long and difficult process. Here at CHS, the theater department has the privilege of having the resources to be able to put on several shows each year. Yet, I find that few people actually come to see the shows we put on, or appreciate the amount of work that goes into each show, especially from a behind-the-scenes perspective. Imagine spending weeks building and painting sets, and the day after the last performance, tearing it all down. That is exactly what tech crew goes through each production. As someone who has grown up loving theater, I often forget that not everyone understands the benefits of supporting those in the arts. According to a 2015 PBS Parents article, involvement in the fine arts has many positive impacts on student learning. It engages students and helps them become more culturally aware. Involvement in theater arts also helps students with their interpersonal relationships and social and academic skills. The most popular show at CHS is Blast. Blast is a long-standing tradition

at CHS and a lot of work goes into it. It makes the choral department a lot of money and is an amazing production, but it shouldn’t overshadow the other productions. Blast is not the only production at CHS. When I tell people I’ve been doing tech crew after school, they ask me how Blast is going. When I tell them we’re still working on the winter play, I get a puzzled look—“What play?” Tech crew has a lot on their plates in the winter to spring season because they have to make and put up the sets for both the winter play and Blast. There are people who have to go from play rehearsal to Blast rehearsal, or have to pick which one to do. Sometimes, tech crew doesn’t have enough time to do it all, so they priori-

tize Blast over the winter play. According to theater Technical Director Ben Schnapp, CHS spends significantly more money on Blast than the musical and play, partly because Blast brings in more revenue. Blast deserves the attention it gets. But some people need to realize that the winter play and Blast are different, well-produced productions and deserve equal attention. Sporting events are considered huge school events where you’re intended to come support the school and show you have spirit. The theater productions should also be considered school events. At the pep rallies, we cheer for the sports teams, not for the cast of the musical, play, or Blast. Our plays are already high quality.

Freshman Ethan Finke uses tech power tools to cut a piece of wood that will help finish the set design.

Imagine how much more we could support our young artists if more people came to see the shows. More attendance means more funding, which leads to better shows. You should come out and support your fellow students, not only because of the amount of work they put into each show, but because it is not easy, and the performances are very high quality as CHS is home to great theater talent. Supporting these shows will not only help build up our school’s theater department, but it will also impact your life. Theater enriches your life.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL WU.

Freshman Jungheyon Lee finalizes decals during Tech Week, the week leading up to opening night.

February 25, 2016

Sports

Senior Wrestlers Take Down the Competition By Nathan Gertler Online Sports Editor

Wrestling, or Wrasslin’ as the CHS team likes to say, is considered one of the toughest sports at Churchill, and this season, it has shown it in a big way. The CHS wrestling team stands at a staggering 26-6 in tournaments this year, along with an impressive 10-4 record in dual meets. Leading the surge has been senior captain JJ Bravo. “My main focus as a captain is to show our upcoming varsity wrestlers that any one of them has the ability to be a high level wrestler,” Bravo said. Beginning with wrestling’s rigorous offseason workouts and preseason routines, Bravo has filled the leadership void left by CHS alumnus Giulian Groce last year. Fellow senior and co-captain Mitch Bloch has wrestled alongside Bravo over the years, and has tried to be a role model for the team as well. “JJ and I strive to lead by example and share our passion for the sport with our teammates,” Bloch said. “I think both of us have definitely improved our technique, and we are driven to finish our careers off strong.” In what has been a record season for wrestling, the Bulldogs still strive to finish the season on a high note by either winning or sending some of its wrestlers to states. The expectation for every wrestler to come into a match and win has been a main reason for the team’s success this season. “What makes this year’s team different is that many of our top wrestlers believe they are top contenders to be top guys in the county,” Bravo said. “Going out there and expecting to win is a great mindset to have in wrestling, and many of our guys this year expect

PHOTO COURTESY OF JJ BRAVO.

Senior captain JJ Bravo sets an example for his wrestling teammates as he gets ready to take on his opponent. Bravo has led the team this season to a 26-6 record in tournaments and a 10-4 record in dual meets. to win every time.” Another key aspect to the team’s success this season has been each athlete’s dedication to work hard and come together as a group. According to Bloch, everybody shows up to practice ready to push themselves as hard as possible to help

make each other better. Bravo believes that this unity and hard work stems from the team’s leaders, and players need to follow the actions of the captains. “I started wrestling as freshman, like most of them, and if their captain can go out there and win big matches, it shows

them that they have the chance to do so as well,” Bravo said. “I try to instill hard work, dedication and maturity into the team, and I lead by example. If I’m always working my hardest during practice and never make excuses, and they see that, I’m hoping that will inspire them to push themselves.”

Sports

February 25, 2016

Boys Basketball Catches Fire After Slow Start

By Jake Certner Sports Editor

After a disappointing 1-4 start to the season, the now 12-9 boys varsity basketball team has turned it around and propelled itself into relevancy as it looks ahead to the playoffs. The Bulldogs have climbed their way back to a respectable season by taking down some of the best competition MoCo has to offer. “We have learned to win as a team, and a lot of that is mental toughness,” head coach Robert Bean said. “In the past we didn’t handle adversity nearly as well, and without a doubt, the driving force behind our success has been our confidence level.” The Bulldogs put together a sevengame winning streak in the middle of the season, sparked by back-to-back wins against Whitman Jan. 8, 54-40, and a buzzer beater against last year’s state runner-up B-CC Jan. 12, 45-44. “We were showing glimpses of our true potential early on, but to be able to hit a buzzer beater against a state runner-up at their place was big,” Bean said. The players agree that the buzzer beater was a defining moment in the season that sparked the team’s revival. “The end of the B-CC game was most significant for me,” senior captain Jonathan Wilson said. “Instead of putting our heads down and giving up, we stayed in it, fought back and stole a game on the road.” Wilson has been an integral part of the team’s success. He is the team’s top three-point shooter, shooting over 35 percent from beyond the arc, and plays a crucial role in leading the team. “Our success cannot be pinpointed to one player as far as actions go,” Bean said. “Each game new players have shown leadership qualities, but as far as vocal leaders, Jonny Wilson has settled into that role both on and off the court.” Knowing what the team is capable of,

PHOTO COURTESY OF BERNARD GREEN.

The team gathers in a huddle on the court during a game to get the players pumped up. The team went on a seven-game win streak at one point this season after starting 1-4. the Bulldogs are looking forward to the postseason, and perhaps a shot at the regional championship. “After we beat two of the top teams in the region, we knew we were capable of being legitimate contenders,” Wilson said. The team is confident in its abilities and believes it can compete with any opponent and potentially make it to the state championship held at the University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center. “I hope we can get on a streak again and make a run to the Xfinity Center,” junior captain Bradley Leventhal said. “We can beat anyone in the county.” Leventhal leads the team in points per game, and has impressed both the

fans and the coaching staff with his leadership and play. According to Bean, Leventhal’s performance has “exponentially improved” in all aspects over the last year. It’s not just confidence and mental toughness that has brought the Bulldogs their newfound success, but also their ability to play as a unit and win together, especially on defense. “We’ve been focusing on improving our defense all year, and it’s been a major part of our success,” said sophomore Reed Moshyedi, a starter for the Bulldogs who is second on the team in rebounds per game and third in scoring. Defense is a prominent part of bas-

ketball; it is the one aspect players can confidently bring day in and day out whether or not they are scoring. “My man Shultzy [junior Michael Shultz] has been a beast on defense,” Bean said. “He didn’t score that much during our seven-game win streak, but he was on lock down all seven games. We were best with him on the court, and if he came out it was most likely because he needed a rest.” Assistant coach Jake Eskin is brand new for the Bulldogs this year, but his presence hasn’t gone unnoticed over the team’s successful season. “He’s really helped us on defense, which is something he takes pride in,” said Moshyedi. “When you have a new young coach like that it makes it a lot easier to win games.” Eskin has been able to get through to the players, but the coaching staff also has a great deal of respect for what he has helped them to accomplish. “Having an assistant in practice that knows the game and has great leadership qualities makes a big difference,” Bean said. “His energy and enthusiasm definitely influences the team’s energy.” On top of all of the inside changes and progressions that have led to the team’s success, the fans have also stepped up and helped in some big-time scenarios, most notably the home games against Whitman and Wootton Feb. 4, 76-63. “[The student section] makes a huge difference,” said athletic director Scott Rivinius, who was also the team’s interim coach during the first games against Whitman and B-CC. “The players really feed off that energy, and it makes for a great atmosphere.” Needless to say, Bean has been very proud of what the team has been able to accomplish and has the utmost confidence going forward. “They have worked hard and looked sharp,” Bean said. “I hope that we have short memories and take it game by game. If we focus on the process then the winning will take care of itself.”

Swim and Dive Finishes Successful Season with a Splash By Eliza Asbury Staff Writer

The boys swim and dive team finished second at the MPSSAA State Championships Feb. 20 after placing fourth in the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships (Metros) Feb. 6. Girls swim and dive followed up with a third place State title, and a second place Metros finish. After an undefeated season last year for the girls team, with Metros and State championship wins, and a successful season for the boys team, both teams ended this season with a strong finish. Leading up to Metros, both teams went undefeated in the regular season. At the Division I Championships Jan. 30, the girls team brought home a first place title and the boys team brought home second. At the Feb. 13 Regional Championships, the girls finished first once again, and the boys finished third. “I think the team did well because of how we approached dual meets this year,” senior captain Hannah Lindsey said. “We had a plan going into each

meet. We saw our strengths and weaknesses as a team and put swimmers in events we knew they would do well in.” At the boys diving portion of Metros, juniors Mory Gould and Parker Johnston placed first and third, respectively, scoring a total of 45 points for the boys team. In the girls diving competition, senior Brighid Dunn finished third, and senior captain Elaina Faerber finished fourth, combining for a total of 39 points. During the swimming finals, many CHS swimmers, including Lindsey and juniors Emily Wang and Zachary Einhorn, finished in the top five of most races, ensuring the team’s high overall score. Although the girls team didn’t achieve its third consecutive Metros win, it did have a few first place finishers at Metros with the girls 200 yard medley relay (Lindsey, juniors Hanan Bandak and Wang and senior captain Katie Wright) and Lindsey’s first-place finish in the girls 100 yard backstroke. Fifty-three teams come together to

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEB LINDSEY.

The swim and dive team cheers during the swimming finals at Metros. compete during this one meet. “Metros is important because it involves both public and private schools,” Tappis said. “We get to compete against teams that we normally don’t.” This year, on the girls’ side, Sherwood High School finished first by a wide margin, with an overall score of 376 points, beating CHS’ runner-up score of 302 points. “I am very happy with the outcome of Metros,” Lindsey said. “We knew this year would be difficult because we lost major points in Finals; however, I think we swam the best we could with the swimmers and divers we had.” Although some may consider swimming to be an individual sport, meets

like Metros require the whole team to work together in competition. “I like Metros because everyone is there, and when people swim, everyone cheers for each other,” Bandak said. “It’s very exciting and fun.” According to boys senior captain Lucky Sun, the team worked well together and the team’s success was a “team effort.” At the State Championships, Lindsey brought home two State titles for the girls team, while Gould and Einhorn each placed first in an event as well. “There is a large senior class of girls that have accomplished a lot these last years,” head coach Christopher Tappis said. “It was their last hurrah.”

February 25, 2016

Sports

Ski Club Would Lift CHS Students’ Spirits By Karly Emery Staff Writer

Students ski and sled down snowcovered hills each winter season, an activity they could do more often if given the opportunity to join a school ski club. CHS should provide a school ski club for students. This program would organize transportation to a ski resort nearby like Whitetail or Liberty and give students an opportunity to exercise and ski with peers. With a ski club, students would get the chance to learn to ski or continue to improve their skiing abilities by challenging themselves on the slopes with their peers. For many, winter is commonly looked upon as a time of depression. It is the season of exams, and students are at their peak of stress. Skiing gives students an opportunity to de-stress and take their minds off of their schoolwork. Having a ski program at CHS would give students ample time to relax during the winter season. According to a 2009 University of New Hampshire study on skiing, winter brings people into a seasonal depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Skiing can help cure this condition by combining fresh outdoor air with physical activity as well as exposure to sunshine. Participating in an activity with a group of people who share the same interest is more beneficial than participating in an activity alone. Additionally, a ski club would give students the op-

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN EISLER.

The Bryce ski team poses as a group at the top of the slopes at the Whitetail resort. School ski clubs would have similar experiences traveling to ski resorts and skiing as a group. portunity to branch out and make new friends who share the same interests. This ski club will reinforce the aspect of safety and comfort that students feel within the school community, as a classmate or chaperone will always be someone there to help someone when they encounter an obstacle. According to freshman Ryan Needle, it is fun to ski with friends and in an accident, have someone there to help you. Though a ski trip will be beneficial,

it’s obvious that there will be challenges that come along with this event. There may be conflict in the process of organizing these ski trips but many other schools have made it possible. According to freshman Ben Eisler, some of the challenges of starting a ski club would be getting approval from the school, making sure the skiing is safe and organizing all the trips. Yearly, juniors and seniors attending CHS are given the opportunity to attend

the school Quebec trip. This trip allows the students to ski and socialize. If CHS provided a ski club, this yearly experience could be experienced frequently and not reserved for upperclassmen. CHS should consider all the benefits that skiing has to offer its students. The skiing community at CHS would grow if a ski club were an option. Students will be provided with a fun winter activity that is not available in the area locally.

Teacher Coaches Have Double the Responsibilities By Max Kandel Staff Writer

Teachers coaches have the extra responsibility of managing their time between their students and players, and managing both isn’t as easy as X’s and O’s. “It is a challenge to balance my work

as AD and as a teacher,” athletic director and AP Comparative Government teacher Scott Rivinius said. “I do enjoy both roles, so the time constraints are worth it.” During the season, a teacher coach’s schedule becomes hectic, and free time is hard to find. However, teachers who coach have to make sure they are fulfilling both jobs the best they can.

“I come to school at 7 a.m. and Monday through Wednesday I get home at 9:30 p.m.,” English teacher and head football coach Albert Song said. “On Friday game days I get home at midnight. It’s a long day.” While managing both jobs can often be stressful, most teacher coaches agree that the extra work is worthwhile as long as their students are successful in the classroom and their players are working hard on the field. “I do it because I hope I’m helping my players and students do what they want to do in life and, to me, that’s good enough,” Song said. Using techniques from both jobs can help teachers become better coaches and coaches become better teachers. While most teachers’ teaching and coaching styles are not identical, each teacher coach definitely has some common strategies. According to girls basketball coach and AP Psychology and Sociology teacher Kate Blanken, the relationships she has with her players and students are what make the two jobs similar. “You have to have a teaching style and a coaching style,” Blanken said. Teachers who coach not only have a passion for coaching their athletes, but also for teaching their students. While all teachers realize coaching must come second to teaching, they agree they would not do both if they didn’t love it. According to Blanken, she knew she wanted to coach in middle school while playing basketball, but the passion for teaching came when she attended a program at Richard Montgomery High School, which was a behind-the-scenes experience of what teaching would actually be like. “I coach because I love sports and I know what a positive impact it had on my life, and I would like to have the same impact [on my players] that I had,” Blanken said. Earlier life experiences motivate many teachers to coach, and whether the experiences are positive or negative, each teacher’s individual road to

coaching is unique. “When my brother passed away, I realized life is short and what would I want to be doing if I were to die tomorrow,” Song said. “I went into coaching [because] I knew it was a big part of my life and my brother’s life.” Some teacher coaches were inspired by influential people in their lives who made them want to have the same experience that they received when they were younger. “I had some good role models as teachers and coaches, and I try to emulate that in both roles,” swim and dive coach and calculus teacher Christopher Tappis said. Teacher coaches take on the duties of being a mentor both inside the classroom and on the fields. They take on nearly double the responsibility to receive the double reward of changing a student’s life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF FRITZ.

English teacher and football head coach Albert Song gives the team a pep talk before a game.

Montgomery County Public Schools Winston Churchill High School 11300 Gainsborough Rd. Potomac, MD 20854

thechurchillobserver.

February 25, 2016

Volume 40 - Issue 5 By Ben Dross Production Editor As a humble athlete, varsity girls basketball player and junior Coco Kuchins prefers to let her game do the talking for her. The soft-spoken point guard is known for many things, including her scoring ability, intense defense and ability to control the tempo of a game. Kuchins has led the Bulldogs to a 14-4 record while averaging 15 points, five assists, 2.5 blocks and a mind-boggling seven steals per game. However, even with these expectations to uphold, the only thing that Kuchins is focused on is the game. “She’s definitely more of a leader in the way she plays,” sophomore teammate Gabriella Baker said. “Her athleticism and her love for the game make everyone want to play better.” Kuchins’ biggest reason for her success is her athleticism, according to Baker. “Coco is a successful basketball player due to her athleticism, experience and attitude; all three play a large role,” head coach Kate Blanken said. “She is also very well-rounded. Coco’s defensive abilities may stand out even more than her tremendous offensive abilities, making her an all-around threat.” While Kuchins averages 15 points a game, it’s what she

PHOTO COURTESY OF COCO KUCHINS.

Kuchins dribbles the ball down the court during a recent game. She has led the team to a 14-4 record. does on the defensive end that is so impressive. Her talents for stealing the ball are unmatched by anyone else in the county. “Coco has rare athletic gifts, including her speed, anticipation and hops,” Blanken said. “She has played competitively for years, and is involved in club basketball, which has provided the experience needed to become a successful basketball player. She loves to play and, although she is one of the best players in the county, she is a

very selfless player and loves to see her teammates do well.” According to Kuchins, her favorite part of basketball is getting “a good block or a really good steal.” Kuchins has proven to be a natural leader on the court and is loved by her teammates. In a Feb. 5 game against Walter Johnson, all of the girls’ talent was put on display. The team dominated, winning 6737. Kuchins had 17 points in the win, and she felt that this

A National Blue Ribbon School was the teams’ best showing all season. “Everyone was able to get points, and as a team we were working well and communicating,” Kuchins said. Kuchins is an amazing shooter as well. She put up 17 points against B-CC, 19 against Rockville, and a season high 29 points against Northwood. She did not forget about defense either, compiling 15 steals against Northwood. “Coco is our point guard and leads the team by running the offense,” Blanken said. “[She] is a large part of every game plan.” Some may argue that the greatest part of Kuchins’ game is her attitude. While she’s a selfless player on the court, averaging five assists per game, she is also selfless off the court, with her contagious spirit passing on to the rest of the team. “She’s really fun in practice,” Baker said. “She’s always smiling.” Now, Kuchins is starting to look toward the future as she is receiving offers from many schools, including UMBC, Loyola (Md.) and the Air Force Academy to play Division I Basketball. Her teammates and coach could not be more proud. “It’s always fun coaching Coco and seeing how she responds in games,” Blanken said. “I am excited to see where the college search will lead her.”

Track Battles Injuries During Successful Season By Kyle Emery Staff Writer MCPS schools may have closed for the last week of January, but that didn’t stop the relentless winter track team from shoveling almost three feet of snow to train and compete against some of the toughest teams in the state. At the beginning of the season, seniors Michael Hughes and Alexandra Conway incorporated dynamic stretching into their new team workout routine. “After we do a mile warmup, we do dynamic stretching instead of static stretching in order to avoid stressing muscles as well as avoid the risk of any injuries,” Conway said. The team is all too familiar with injuries as some runners, including seniors Jason Shefferman and Jacob Grant, missed the whole winter sea-

Boys Basketball: 12-9 Girls Basketball: 15-4

son due to preseason ailments. Despite losing some key runners to injury, the boys team was still able to find success. For the 3200m run, Hughes had the fifth fastest time in the county with 10:03, and senior captain Mitchell Welter had the fourth fastest time with 9:52. The 4x800 relay (seniors Josh Freilich, Hughes, Welter and junior Matthew Goldsmith) came in second in the county and qualified for States. “The boys distance and jump squads have had really good seasons,” coach David Warren said. “From the beginning to the end, they have progressed nicely.” The girls had a very respectable season this year and a profound number of athletes from the team made it to States. Junior Julia Reicin, who won the open 800m at regionals and qualified for states this year, was a key component to the

girls success. Other than Reicin, freshman Karis Lee, (55 meter dash), senior captain Sydney Veator and sophomore Lucy Lee, (55m hurdles) all qualified in their respective events. On top of independent qualifications, the 4x800 team (juniors Reicin, Becca Clem, Gwen Asbury and Tess Horn) finished a tremendous season, making it as far as States. “The girls program, as well, is incredibly deep and has progressed nicely throughout this track season,” Warren said. According to Welter, Northwest is one of the toughest competitors the CHS track team faced because they had a talented team, which included hurdlers, sprinters and distance runners. Although winning is arguably the most important standard of the sport to each runner, consistent improvement can be just as valuable.

Records:

Indoor Track and Field Next Meet:States held on 2/23

Dawg Data 7

Number of games in boys basketball win streak.

Steals in one game for Coco Kuchins against Northwood.

.76

Seconds by which the girls 200 yard medly relay broke the regional record.

140

Goal differential for varsity hockey this year.

.06 PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX ZARYNOW.

Senior Michael Hughes runs his leg of the relay. “We always have high expectations for the kids as well as the program, and as coaches, we want to do our best to help the kids place high in all meets,” Warren said.

Seconds by which junior Julia Reicin won the girls 800 meter at the 4A West Regionals. *as of 2/22

as of Feb. 23

Boys Swim and Dive: 5-0 Girls Swim and Dive: 5-0

Wrestling: 8-4

Hockey: 20-1-1