Issue 2

current

the

Thomas A. Edison High School

Our

Thomas Edison High School • Volume 53• Issue 2• 5801 Franconia Road • Alexandria, VA 22310 • February 3, 2017

by

identity

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is our

Ryan Pinkney

diversity

current

the

what’s inside NEWS:

Trump anxiety (3) “It’s Academic” (4) Samsung crisis (4) Online Content (5)

FEATURES:

Policy Statement (7) JROTC Kevin Ly (9) Centerspread (10)

OPINIONS:

Open letter to Trump (12) MYP Project (13) Editorial (15)

SPORTS:

The Current is a student-edited publication serving the Thomas A. Edison High School community.

The Current Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Justin Askenazy Managing Editor Ryan Pinkney News Editor Camryn Anderson Opinions Editor Jessica Cruz Sports Editor Will Dobson

Online Editor Ryan Pinkney Arts Editor Jillian Brooks Business Manager Spencer Parker Copy Chief Will Dobson Adviser Carl Irvin

Staff Writers & Photographers Mikias Abebe

Mollie Coogan

Spencer Parker

Theresa Collins

William Rash

Eric Thurman

Aya Zaraket The Current is the official newspaper of Thomas A. Edison High School published quarterly by the journalism staff. It serves as a vehicle for student expression and is an open forum of issues of interest and concern to the school community.

Year-long subscriptions are available for $20. Subscription forms may be ordered via email at edisoncurrent@gmail.com. Subscription forms may also be picked up in room C-215.

The staff is deeply committed to a code of journalistic ethics that demands the exercise of accuracy, good judgment, and impartiality. The content of The Current is determined by the editorial board.

Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff of The Current, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors or staff members. Signed editorials and letters to the editor reflect the views of the authors.

The Current solicits advertising, but reserves the right to reject any material deemed libelous, disruptive, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

Letters to the Editor may be submitted to edisoncurrent@gmail.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

With any general questions regarding The Current, please email edisoncurrent@gmail.com

Super Bowl (16) Letter from the Editor: Puppy Bowl (17) Dear Edison community, speak up and hope you will In a time of unprecetake the time to consider Column as I see ‘em (17) dented vitriol and racial your perceptions on race.

ARTS:

A capella group (18) District Band (18) Movie Review (19) Grammy Predictions (20)

February 2017| The Current | 2

divides, it is important that we remember that not everyone fits the stereotypes that those in power perpetuate. Some students whose cultures are under the microscope in today’s society offer their takes on why the stereotypes don’t hold water. We thank them for their willingness to

Meanwhile, check out our stories on Edison’s “It’s Academic” appearance, District Band, and the Super Bowl, all of which occur this weekend.

Thank you!

Justin Askenazy Editor in Chief, The Current

news

Wikimedia Commons via

Rhododendrites of

Courtesy Protesters of President Donald Trump in Manhattan on 12 November 2016. protesters in New York marched from Union Square to Trump Tower.

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Gage Skidmore of

A

s of January 20, 2017, Donald Trump is officially the new president of the United States.

Trump was elected president after he won the Electoral College with a total of 304 electoral votes over Hillary Clinton’s 227 votes.

Trump’s decision to run for president was a shock to many and his election was even more appalling. Many people across America and here at Edison are scared of who our president is and what he might do.

Junior Isabel Nieves thinks that it is a terrifying situation because of the person that Trump is and because of his past.

“I do not trust him to be our president. As a woman in America, I am truly scared for what Trump has planned,” said Nieves.

Trump has been known to say many degrading things about women. In 2005, he was recorded during a conversation in which he was bragging about grabbing women “by the p---y.” There have been many other times where he has said offensive things not just about women, but about people of a certain race or culture.

Sophomore Megan Lankford thinks Trump will have a negative impact on America.

“What he has said thus far about females, people with different races and people with disabilities has been rude, and it sets a tone that you don’t want to set as the president of the United States,” Lankford said.

The previous disrespectful comments are not the only factors that are causing people grief.

Junior Selam Berhane said, “If his presidency is anything like his campaign, I will be

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Camryn Anderson news editor

Flickr

Trump anxiety hits the student populace

Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally in Arizonia during the presidential race. The rally was a special event at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix. worried. But, if he takes a difthe march in D.C. expressed ferent approach that protects their strong discontent toeveryone and helps the counwards Trump. try, that anxiety will eventually “Americans should contingo away.” ue to stand up for what they Trump’s critics say some believe in now that he is presof the things that Trump has ident,” said senior Danielle done thus far are very quesEmhof. tionable and it is no surprise The fear and anxiety that that they are causing people people are having about Donanxiety. ald Trump becoming presi“I disagree with some of dent is very real. According his decisions, for example, his to students, an effective way choices for his cabinet. I don’t to combat that fear is to make think that the secretary of their opinions heard and not education [nominee Betsy De- to back down.

Vos] is very qualified for her Although this is a scary job and I think that the public time for many people in Amerschool systems will be going ica, Nieves said she believes downhill,” said Nieves. it is a great opportunity for Now that Trump is presieveryone to come together dent, the people who did not and fight for what they think support him are beginning to is right. reach out more in attempt to “I think that we need to make a change. stand up for what we believe On Saturday, January 21, in and we cannot let him take many people participated in a away our fundamental rights.

Women’s March in WashingWe need to voice our opinions ton, D.C. and multiple other and make a change,” said cities across the world. Many Nieves. of the people who attended 3 | The Current| February 2017

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“I

t’s Academic” is a television quiz show that features schools in Baltimore, Central Virginia and Washington D.C. The most notable participant on this show is none other than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but there are many other successful people who have been on the show.

The questions on “It’s Academic” cover many topics, including math, science, English, history, and other general knowledge. To prepare, Edison students study those topics and watch previously aired episodes of the show.

During the recruiting process, any student can come to the meetings. The

team members who move on to compete on the television show are chosen by history teacher Jeffrey Pandin, the team sponsor, after a certain amount of time.

Edison’s team has been competing since the start of the show in 1961. Since then, Edison’s Academic Team has won the National District Championships in 2011, and have placed second and third in many other years. junior Alex Woodcock, senior Henry Uddyback, junior Melina Rogers, junior Sophia Moustaid, sophomore Sean Inturias, sophomore Hussain Hassan, sophomore Griffin Viehmeyer, junior Catarina Lanfranconi, and junior Alberic Karina-Plun are the nine members of the team who competed in Nov. of 2016.

Uddyback, who competed

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Mollie Coogan staff writer

Academic Team

Academic team to go live on NBC

Edison students senior Henry Uddyback, junior Alex Woodcock, and junior Melina Rogers with “It’s Academic” host Hillary Howard. at this year’s “It’s Academic”, said, “ It was a very interesting experience. It was strange being in front of the camera instead of behind it. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun.”

Episodes of “It’s Academic” air every Saturday at 10:30

a.m. on NBC4, and the episode featuring Edison will air for the first time on Feb. 4.

The team was not able to comment on how well they performed, but they invite the community to tune in and see for themselves.

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Aya Zaraket staff writer very company has its ups and downs, but when Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 was released into the hands of consumers, there was a tiny problem.

The issue started with the lithium battery. When the phone charged, it would heat up and become prone to catching on fire, which occured several times, according to news reports.

The Samsung webpage features a heading containing the details on their accident. According to the Samsung website, the company has issued a program called the U.S. Note7 Refund and Exchange Program, which explains certain incentives when exchanging or refunding the smartphone.

“We are offering up to a one hundred dollar bill credit from February 2017| The Current | 4

Daily Mail

Beware of Samsung battery explosions

An exploded cell phone battery from a Swiss teenager who suffered multiple burns. Samsung recently recalled all Galaxy Note7 phones in order to protect their safety. away for good. select carrier or retail outlets Furthermore, they have if you exchange your Galaxy issued a new update, for those Note7 for another Samsung who still carry the phone, smartphone,” said the policy. to stop the phones from According to the website, as charging, making it unable to of January 22, 2017, more than 96 percent of all Note7 phones function.

Some Edison students released have been returned. believe in quality, but also They have been either refundprice. “There’d be no point in ed or exchanged and taken

buying an Apple [phone] for a higher price, because they both don’t explode, and are safe,” said freshman Eden Wolde. “Samsung phones now have been new and improved and updated.”

Apple users believe that Samsung has hit a wall. “No one is going to buy another product from them again.

Nobody will trust it anymore,” said freshman Brian Richardson.

“One mistake can be fatal,” said Wolde.

However, the company has come up with new ways of inspection and are including an eight-point battery check for their phones.

Although the chances of a phone catching on fire were less than getting hit by lightning, Samsung has taken initiatives to ensure its customers are safe.

featured content from our website

Edison hunts for new head football coach Camryn Anderson news editor ead football coach Rodney Boyle will not return to the position next season, which leaves an opening for the job.

Last month, four potential candidates were evaluated for the first time by players themselves along with the athletic directors at Edison.

Freshman and varsity quarterback Brandon Alliata said, “I felt good about being part of the evaluation process and it’s awesome getting to know the possible coaches before they assume the position. It’s a really great way to get us all involved with the program and motivate us to get out for the upcoming season.”

The four coaches being evaluated are Edison alum and former football player Chad Lewis, head coach from

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Life Touch

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Edison football runs on to the field. The team record from the past season was a 1-9 record.

Florida Dan Margurite, head coach at Washington-Lee High School Josh Wild and former Virginia Tech football player and coach Orion Martin. They each had opportunities to run an indoor practice, weight room workout or a chalk talk for 30 minutes.

The final two coaches will be reevaluated in the following

weeks. The new head coach will be responsible for assembling an all new coaching staff.

Junior Shabir Kohistany is excited to see who the next coach is. “I’m very excited to see who the new head coach is. All of the candidates seemed great to me and I trust the Athletic Department to

choose the right one. I believe this will build the first block for Edison football to be great again, and we will make it great again as a team and a school,” Kohistany said.

After a rough season with a 1-9 record, the Eagles hope that a new coach will be able to turn their championship prospects around for them.

Celebrity Spotlight: Gina Rodriguez

Jussica Cruz opinions editor

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olden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez has made giant strides in her acting career over the past five years. She first received attention for her role in “Filly Brown” in which she starred alongside the late Mexican singer Jenni Rivera. In her next big role she found herself working for The CW, starring on the show “Jane The Virgin.”

Rodriguez is often found playing comedic roles. Her character on “Jane The Virgin” allows her to portray herself as a struggling Latina writer. This aspect of her role is reflected in Rodriguez’s personal life, as she struggled to become an actress. Because of her experiences, Rodriguez is an advocate for the

Actress Gina Rodriguez walking on the red carpet at the 2014 Alma Awards. She was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in 2015. inclusion of people of color in Hollywood.

Rodriguez frequently speaks out about the importance of seeing people of color on the screen. She has said she believes that being able to see people of color on

the screen will inspire hope in others to achieve their dreams.

She even began an Instagram movement with the hashtag #MovementMonday, in which she posts a picture of a Latino celebrity every Monday in order to honor their successes.

More recently, Rodriguez organized the Young Women’s Honors Awards Ceremony with help of companies such as Marie Claire. The Young Women’s Honors Ceremony aired on Dec. 19, 2015. The purpose of the awards ceremony was to honor ten women who have accomplished great things and to display to a young audience that they are capable of achieving anything they want.

Rodriguez continues to use the attention directed toward her to bring light to issues of importance. She is involved with several charities and is even a member of the board of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. By using her celebrity status, Rodriguez inspires other to change “What if ?” to “I can.”

5 | The Current| February 2017

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current EHS The Current on the web http://www.thecurrentonline.org/

February 2017 The Current | 6

features

The Current Policy Statement

T

he Current and thecurrentonline. org are, respectively, the print and World Wide Web editions of the the student news magazine of Thomas A. Edison High School in Alexandria, Virginia. The two editions are referred to collectively as The Current in this policy statement.

The print edition of The Current publishes an abridged policy statement in each issue and at least once per year publishes this complete statement. The full policy statement is always available on thecurrentonline.org.

As preservers of democracy, schools should protect, encourage and enhance free-speech and positive exchange of ideas as a means of protecting our American way of life. The Current has been established as a forum for student expression and as a voice in an uninhibited, free and open discussion of issues.

Content of The Current, therefore, represents only the views of the student staff and not school officials.

The Current and its staff are protected by and bound to the principles of the First Amendment and other protections and limitations afforded by the Constitution and the various court decisions implementing those principles.

Online media may be used by students to educate, to inform and to entertain both the school and the wider community and are entitled

to the same protections and subject to the same freedoms and responsibilities as all other student media as outlined in this policy.

Online media are forums for expressive activity and are similar to traditional media in their freedoms, responsibilities and professional obligations. As such they will not be subject to prior review or constraint.

Student journalists may use online media to report news and information, to communicate with other students and individuals, ask questions of and consult with experts and to locate media to meet their news gathering and research needs.

As a forum for student expression, The Current will not be reviewed or restrained prior to publication.

The Current staff will strive to not publish any material determined by student editors or the student editorial board to be unprotected, that is material that is libelous, obscene, or materially disruptive of the school process, an unwarranted invasion of privacy, a violation of copyright or electronic manipulations which change the essential truth depicted in photographs.

With this in mind, student journalists have sole right to determine content of official student publications. By not interfering with The Current or other publications content, school officials are therefore not liable for or responsible for content.

The Current’s adviser will

not act as a censor.

In case questions arise over specific copy as defined within this policy, the advice of a practicing communications attorney would be sought. The services of the attorney for the Student Press Law Center are recommended.

The definitions of protections, unprotected speech and other obligations can be found in the Fairfax County Public Schools Student Rights and Responsibilities booklet available to each student at Thomas A. Edison High School.

The The Current editorial board as a whole will be responsible for determining editorial opinions, which represent the opinions of the majority the editorial board.

No single staff member of The Current will be held responsible for editorial content decisions.

The Current is a tool in the learning process of journalism and operates as a learning laboratory. Because full participation as a staff member of The Current is co-curricular, only students currently enrolled in a journalism class at Thomas A. Edison High School are considered for staff positions.

As a forum for student expression The Current will accept for consideration all letters to the editors, guest articles and suggestions from any reader.

The Current publishes all letters to the editor provided they are 300 words or fewer and contain the author’s full name and address. Articles

and other submissions may be rejected by the staff if they are deemed inappropriate for The Current’s needs.

The staff reserves the right with to withhold a letter, article or column for more information if it determines the writing contains items of unprotected speech as defined by this policy. All submissions will be edited for spelling and grammar and checked for verification.

Should a submission contain errors in fact, excessive grammatical errors or be too long, it will be returned to the author for resubmission.

Deadlines for letters for the print edition of The Current will be no later than two weeks before the next publication date.

The The Current editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any advertisement, but generally accepts advertisements deemed appropriate for a public forum for young adults.

In cases involving political or issues advertising, efforts will be made to solicit all points of view. The ultimate decision for all advertising rests with the The Current editorial board.

The Current may cover student, staff, faculty and alumnus deaths as the editorial board is made aware of them. The board reserves the right to decide not to cover a death based on relevance, timelines, and circumstances decided on by the editorial board.

7 | The Current| February 2017

Edison JROTC of

Courtesy Edison JROTC march in the stadium at the Pass in Review on Oct. 28, 2016. Senior and Lt. Col. Kevin Ly marches at the front of the parade.

February 2017 | The Current | 8

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“L

EFT, LEFT, LEFT RIGHT LEFT!” This is a familiar sound for Edison’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC). Nearly 170 students are currently in Edison’s JROTC program, making it one of the largest organizations at Edison.

Senior Kevin Ly earned the rank Lieutenant Colonel for the 2016-2017 school year, which is the highest rank one can achieve in JROTC. Only one officer every year reaches this rank, and they become responsible for leading the battalion the whole year.

Ly joined the Eagle Battalion freshman year and said he was very excited to get involved. “I wanted to join JROTC my freshman year. I wasn’t sure it was something I wanted to continue after high school, but after my first year of being in JROTC, I decided that it was something for me to pursue,” Ly said.

Ly’s leadership career started his sophomore year when he interviewed for and received the position of Public Affairs Officer. He was in charge of taking pictures at JROTC events and updating the battalion website regularly.

Ly said this position, though considered low stress, was a good opportunity for him to start his reputation as a leader and set him on the right course for his future position of Lieutenant Colonel. Ly said being a Public Affairs Officer allowed him to “start off early.”

Ly has been on the drill team for all four years he has been in JROTC, which also contributed to him being able to achieve the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ly said that drill team is where “we learn how to march with rifles and learn how to conduct color guards.” The drill team then competes with other teams in the county. It is competitive and requires availability after school to practice. Ly was able to gain experience and learn

Courtesy

Ryan Pinkney managing editor

Edison JROTC

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current Ly marches into senior officer position

Senior and Lt. Col. Kevin Ly and Maj. Gen. Bradley Becker step on the field at Military Appreciation Night Sept. 9, 2016. The JROTC sponsors this event, and they carry out special events for military members. important discipline skills while on the team. Ly said that the team has done well since he has been on it. They placed third last year at their Forestville inspection.

Ly is the commander of the whole battalion, which brings significant implications. Ly has the responsibility of overseeing all the activities in the battalion and program. He works with the other leadership staff to coordinate the events for the three competitive teams (Drill, Marksmanship and Raider). Ly conducts the weekly leadership meeting and is the ceremonial student head of the program. Ly marched at the head of the program’s Pass and Review on Oct. 28, which is a ceremony where the battalion parades around the football field during a home game. Ly said, “You are really at the head of it and you have other people to back you up.”

Ly said the most memorable event in JROTC was “the change of command ceremo-

ny at the end of the school year because you get to see the transition between years. It shows the development of the program over the years.”

Ly said he is proud of the program this year and is grateful for JROTC at Edison.

“It gave me something to motivate me to achieve and provided me a tight group of friends that all work together for a common goal,” said Ly. Ly said he plans to continue pursuing a military career. “I plan on doing Navy ROTC at Virginia Military Institute or Old Dominion University and then continue to serve in the U.S. Navy.”

For those interested in the JROTC program, Ly said, “It gives you an experience of leadership. It does not matter where you are; you will get a chance to lead. Even one year will give you experience and help you with time management. It is not just for the military but can give anyone great skills if they are willing to work hard.”

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9 | The Current| February 2017

I

am Latina and my entire family is college educated.

As a senior completing the college application process, I have found a recurring theme in my conversations with peers (and even some adults) about college admittance—being Latina.

Somehow, over the past few months I have managed to hear the comment, “You’re Hispanic so I’m sure you’ll get into college no matter what,” or similar comments more than once. Whether they are born out of ignorance or a strange jealousy, these comments suggest to me that there seems to be a belief that no amount of hard work or personal accomplishment is as valuable in the college application process as having the title “Hispanic.”

This stereotype not only devalues the hard work of individual students—who just happen to be Hispanic—put into their academics and extracurriculars, but it also suggests that Hispanic kids are somehow not deserving of the opportunities provided to

Catalina Ferguson guest writer

I

am Latina but I’m not brown-eyed.

A glance at me reveals that I am of average height, I have long hair, and I probably have a questionable sense of style. What many expect the least is the fact that I am Colombian; I’m Latina. When

February 2017| The Current | 10

them.

My grandparents immigrated from Spain to the United States in the 1960s. Both were college educated, and my grandfather had recently received his PhD in psychology from a leading Spanish university. However, when they arrived in the U.S., no one would hire him. My grandfather was a PhD psychologist and nobody wanted to hire him because he was an immigrant, just a foreigner who didn’t speak enough English.

Eventually, somebody looked past stereotypes that follow any individual that doesn’t speak English in America, and they gave him an opportunity.

He was hired as a psychologist at a mental hospital and he spent the subsequent year taking classes to become fluent in English. My grandfather eventually became the head of the psychology department in that hospital.

I am incredibly privileged to be a third generation college attendee, but this is not the case for many Latino families.

According to the 2015 fact book called The Condition

of Latinos in Education by Excelencia in Education, the Latino high school dropout rate is higher than that of other groups and while Latinos have increased college attainment in the past ten years, Latinos still lag behind other groups and are severely underrepresented in graduate programs.

Whether a Latino student is a first-generation or a third-generation college attendee, their successes in academia should not be belittled.

Ultimately, what held my grandfather back was lack of opportunity -- the fact that he couldn’t prove his worth as a psychologist until someone gave him the chance.

So no, being Hispanic does not mean that

first meeting someone, I am often met with the comment “Woah! You’re Latina? You’re Hispanic? I thought you were white! You look white...” For me, this started when I first came to Edison in 10th grade, and it shocked me. I’ve moved often, with Virginia being the first place I’ve lived within the U.S. Now, the comment doesn’t shock me, but rather

it disappoints me. I’ve heard comments made, not only about me, but about others who don’t fit the Latino stereotype. All I can say, want to say, and will say is that being Latina or Latino is not about looking a certain way or acting a certain

I will get into college “no matter what.” I, and every other Latino student, have worked equally as hard as other students to achieve our academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Checking off that box on a college application is about opportunity, it’s about someone giving us a chance to prove our worth. And that is something that every kid, Hispanic or not, deserves.

Photo by Jessica Cruz

Monica Alicea guest writer

I am not ...

Photo by Jessica Cruz

the

current

way. It’s about being part of community and embracing your heritage.

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feature

I

Photo by Jessica Cruz

Photo by Jessica Cruz

was born into a country that boasts diversity, the same country that chose a president who adulterates it.

A “melting pot” turned into a shooting range, my diversity and culture are placed aside in exchange for stereotypes, fast food, and political attacks through words of hatred and fear.

When people ask about Latinos, the first thought is immigration and in a nation that thrives off of our diversity, when I see my community in the news it’s all about adversity. Words such as rapists, drug dealers, criminals and illegals have stereotyped and adulterated a community that lives off of family values; those same “illegals” working for their kids back home and for a better life do not deserve being a platform for blame.

The current president’s platform has only enforced and spread the

Rania Elseidy guest writer

W

aking up on November 9, 2016 as a Muslim in Donald Trump’s America may have been the scariest day of my life. After hearing a man who is going to represent and con-

trol the country I was born in say that he wants to ban all Muslims from entering the country, I didn’t feel very

comforted.

At the start of 2016, my Muslim friends and I joked about what kind of president Trump would be if he miraculously got elected. Hypothetical jokes on how we’d be put into internment camps and have Muslim IDs are not so

stereotypes of my community, but at this moment there may be no other national symbol for my community as big and loud as he is.

Through my volunteer work and personal experiences, I see hard work and family values; from working double shifts at different jobs to being victims of mass exploitation, I see how my community works to care for their families and strive to be proactive. I read about the mass exploitation, and I learn that those same “illegals” throw their lives and hands in sacrifice for a better life for their family. I realize our biggest values revolve around family and work, and I notice how our silence means my community is taken for granted.

I have gratefully had the opportunity to be part of both the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Hispanic funny today.

Hearing my younger siblings, just 10 and eight years old, asking when we are going to have to move out of the country is a question I wish I had never heard from such young voices. It saddens me to see such bright, young kids having to worry about whether their parents are going to have to be deported because they are not citizens or just because of their beliefs.

All Muslims can agree with me when I say we are living on edge, fearing day by day what is going to happen to us next.

On Wednesday, January 25, Trump made an executive order to ban anyone from multiple majority Muslim

College Institute’s summer programs.

Through these programs, I learned what really defines my community, as I learned that my era of Latino students are going to and graduating from college in record levels. I realize our parents’ sacrifices are paying off. Therefore, in my final year of high school, I can say that the best way to describe my community is not with an adjective, but a verb. We are the Hispanic and Latino community, and we are rising.

I am Latino but I’m not as the president portrayed me.

I am Latino but I’m not illegal, I’m not in a gang, and I’m not the source of the lowest job unemployment rate we’ve had in years.

I am Latino but I’m not staying silent.

countries migrating to the US. I only fear that this is just the beginning.

However, no matter what my guts feel like right now, we all know that there is a huge population of American Muslims and we will not sit quiet.

Yes, there is much work to be done, not only by Muslims but by the many other marginalized groups that feel threatened in this country. Our common struggles became one struggle that we will use to defend ourselves and fight for what we deserve. I will not settle until I can assure my younger siblings that our country peacefully welcomes us once again.

Courtesy of Pixabay

Rodrigo Amestegui guest writer

...what society thinks I am 11 | The Current| February 2017

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current

An open letter to Donald Trump Jessica Cruz opinions editor

February 2017| The Current | 12

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Fibonacci Blue

D

ear Donald, I will not refer you to as Mr. Trump, or anything resembling any bit of a formal greeting. I do not care if you find this disrespectful. You have said many disrespectful things about so many people and you have not earned my respect. If you have not realized by now, then you should know that I am incredibly shocked and disappointed that you have won the role of president for the next four years. I knew you were a real threat; once I understood that your campaign was a serious one, I knew you would be able to convince the small-town blue collar workers that you are the solution to all their problems. What I did not know was that you would be valued more than a woman who has been in politics for over 30 years now. I am utterly disappointed in America.

Donald, there are many reasons why I do not believe you are fit to run this country. Your lack of political experience is obviously a major issue. You probably think that you can run a country the way you run your businesses. I am only 18 years old but I can guarantee that soon enough you will discover that running a country is nothing like running a business. Sure, the skills that you have as a businessman will help, but they are not enough.

They will never be enough.

Those same skills are the ones that have led you to be a very rich man, but those skills are the ones that will lead you to your doom. You think that because you have these skills that you can get away with as

After Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 election, people protest in St. Paul, Minnesota. About 300 people were present to show their dissatisfaction with the former President-Elect. much as you please. You will not be able to get away with ruining a country. You will not make America great again.

Secondly, you treat everyone who is not white and male with such disrespect.

You have said things that offend homosexuals, women, African-Americans, Muslims, and Latinos. You have been accused of sexual assault 12 times. I cannot tell you how hard it is to tell my younger cousins that the man who is running their country is a man who has committed an act that so many others are reproached for.

It is hard not to believe that your “locker room talk” is more than just that. How can I believe that you have not sexually assaulted any women when your only defense is that they aren’t pretty enough?

You have not once apologized for the manner in which you approach and speak about women. You simply shake it off as if it is not important.

You do not realize that you are promoting rape culture and unfortunately you are teaching a new generation that “boys will be boys” is an excuse for sexual assault and that girls should be shamed for the things that have been done to them.

You have given yourself the liberty of calling Mexicans rapists. You instigate Islamophobia and homophobia.

You are the leeway for the people who hold themselves back from discriminating. Their excuse is soon going to be “Trump said it, so why can’t I?”. You are a horrible example not only to the young, developing minds of America but also to the older, doubtful minds. How will you make America great again if everything that comes out of your mouth creates tension in our society? How do you expect to cause a positive impact in our country when you are the only one who will benefit from the system you will create?

You have created a wave of fear in our country. I have a friend whose mother told her she has to wear a cross everyday now so that she does get not confused as a Muslim. African-Americans are more afraid than ever. If we protest and we speak out, it is because we want to work towards a country in which unity is actually possible. You are not the image of unity.

In addition to your lack of respect for many of the people who you are meant to be leading, your political actions and policies reflect your ignorance.

Since your inauguration, anything relating to critical issues like climate change and LGBTQ+ rights has been removed from the White House website. Choosing to ignore and deny that climate change exists actively presents a danger to the environment that we need to protect.

You signed an executive order that will remove any international funding for family-planning organizations that are related to abortion. This makes women in America wonder how much time there is left until you remove their rights too.

The plans for the construction of the wall on the US-Mexican border have been initiated and you claim that Mexico is going to pay for it, but Mexican officials have blatantly stated that there is no way that they will provide funds for it. If anything, you are simply increasing unnecessary tensions between the two countries.

The only reason that you were able to obtain the status of president is because you based your entire political campaign off of false promises. The small-town blue collar Story continued on next page

Chris Aviles

For the sake of this country, I hope you are not as awful as you display yourself; however, I do not expect much from you. I think that this country is too much for you too handle. In the past eight years, we have seen President Obama age greatly. He is fifteen years younger than you and has much more political experience. If the presidency can make him age the way it has, imagine what it will do to you, an inexperienced loudmouth.

Remember, this is going down in the books.

Good luck, Donald. You’re going to need it.

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workers believe you when you insist that you’ll bring jobs back into America. Donald, you are a businessman yourself. You know that you are never going to be able to force companies to stay in America.

Your false promises are going to get you nowhere.

I watched the entirety of your inauguration through a screen and although I knew the moment was coming, I could not believe my eyes. A vast majority of this country is mourning Hillary Clinton’s loss. I am not sure we will ever get over this.

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Seniors Chris Aviles, Genesis Hernandez, and Rafael Parayaoan pose at the Women’s March with other marchers. The march took place a day after Trump’s inauguration.

Jillian Brooks arts editor

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ntroduced this year to the current sophomores was the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program Personal Project.

The project allows students to choose a topic that interests them and then complete a project based on it over the course of four months. Students meet with an assigned faculty advisor to receive help and advice on their project.

Although the intentions behind the project are well meaning, allowing sophomores a level of freedom and creativity with their project topic that is not normally granted in classrooms and teaching them how to organize a large project, this alone is not enough to make up for the downsides of the project.

To start, there are no obvious benefits. There is no grade attached to the project, therefore no grade point average boost. Students complete classroom projects to receive a grade on it which then either bumps up or lowers their grade in a certain class.

When there’s no grade, there

is no incentive to complete the project or any reason to do it in the first place. Without that grade, it is a pointless project.

During the winter months, the peak of this project, all sophomore chemistry students are completing a science fair project on top of other homework assignments. Depending on the chosen science fair topic, it can be quite time consuming on its own, which leaves any remaining time to be budgeted among graded assignments and extracurriculars which produce tangible results. There is no time to waste on an insubstantial project.

Most students who make the decision not to be a part of the project are not dropping out because they don’t want to do it; they make this decision because they truly have so many other responsibilities that taking on another project wouldn’t be fair to themselves. This shows a level of maturity that needs to be respected and noticed by the faculty in charge of the personal project.

“I’m not doing the project anymore because I didn’t have

Courtesy oF International Baccalaureate Organizaton

New MYP project: Hit or miss?

IBMYP is a subset of the International Baccalaureate Program and is designed to help introduce middle schoolers, ninth and tenth graders to the IB workload. The Personal Project is similar to projects IB students create. time and it quickly became evident that I would not be able to meet any of the deadlines.

There was so little information given about it that I didn’t figure this out beforehand,” said sophomore Maggie Landis.

While adding a grade would take away from the intentions of the project, which is designed to allow sophomores a creative outlet without the pressures of a graded project, it should be emphasized that this is an optional opportunity.

A student who attempts to

leave the project faces slight resistance and can feel guilty about not participating. To correct presented problems, any biased feelings towards students who choose not to be a part of the personal project need to be removed from the situation. Advisors need to understand the difference between a student who would be taking on too much if they followed through with the project and a student who simply does not want to participate.

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current Is the Electoral College helping or hurting American democracy?

Eric Thurman staff writer

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n 2012, President Donald Trump tweeted, “The Electoral College is a disaster for a democracy.”

This is one issue, in one of the most divisive elections ever, where he agreed with his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In a similar statement given in 2000, Clinton said that, “it’s time to do away with the Electoral College.” Here’s why they’re right.

The Electoral College is not a fair system to elect the President. It is time to reform the system itself or to get rid of it altogether.

There are many arguments against the Electoral College, but one stands out: it allows the loser of the popular vote, the person who the citizens most oppose, to win the presidency.

When the system is used in U.S. elections, it allows a candidate who received the majority of the votes nationwide to lose the election to the candidate who received the most electoral votes, which does not accurately reflect how a population voted.

This is a result of how the votes are counted. In all but two states, whichever candidate receives a majority of the votes receives all of that state’s electoral votes.

In 48 states, a candidate needs only to win 51 percent of the vote to claim all of the state’s electoral votes. This ignores the votes of almost half the electorate. How the electoral votes are given leads many to feeling as if their vote doesn’t matter, which contributes to low voter turnout.

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President Donald Trump tweets about his views on the Electoral College in 2012. He constantly informs his followers about his stances on political issues.

The problem is exacerbated by how the Electoral College distributes electoral votes. The rules of the Electoral College mandate that each state receives three votes to start with - this means that states that would receive only one vote if they were distributed evenly receive more votes than they should, getting the extra votes from takes away votes from states with larger populations.

This means the Electoral College acts as if fewer voters live where they do, and more voters live where they don’t.

While rare, an election with this outcome has happened four times in American history, most recently in the 2016 election last year. That means that in seven percent of all elections, the loser has won the presidency.

It seems only logical that the candidate who wins the most votes should win the presidency, so why does the system Americans use to elect their president not assure this outcome?

“The Electoral College is an unfair system that disproportionately favors voters in some states over others,” said senior and first-time voter Tim Etter.

“The fact that over 2 million people voted for the loser over the winner is pretty telling.”

In the form of potential solutions, there have been many. For a replacement, there’s the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact - an agreement among states and the District of Columbia to award all of their electoral

tion. Instead of starting each state with three, give each state one mandatory electoral vote, and distribute the rest by population.

While the historical origins of the Electoral College, many of which stemmed from the founding fathers’ own pasts as British citizens, as well as more divisive issues such as

“The Electoral College should be abolished, or at the very least, altered.” votes to the winner of the overall popular vote. So far, though, it has only been adopted by D.C. and ten states: Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, Hawaii, Washington, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Rhode Island and New York - who combined make up only 165 of the needed 270 electoral votes for the Compact to have an effect.

Over the years, many moderates have proposed a less radical proposal, one that calls for an alteration to the system that would cause it to evenly distribute the votes to accurately represent the popula-

the counting of slaves in population counts, are a complex combination of concerns of the government back then, it is clear the current system no longer accommodates the needs of voters now.

Government teacher Angela Hunter said, “The Electoral College is a relic of a different time, with roots in benefiting the then pro slavery south that now inaccurately reflects the current political climate.”

To serve the best interests of the electorate, it’s clear the Electoral College should be abolished, or at the very least, altered.

opinions

STAFF EDITORIAL

FCPS.edu of

n the wake of Karen Garza’s departure as superintendent of FCPS, school board members have begun the process of determining her successor. Meanwhile, however, Interim Superintendent Steven Lockard has taken on the duties of running one of the nation’s largest school systems.

While Lockard is in charge, he has the chance to continue Garza’s progress on behalf of FCPS students, and there are a few initiatives he should prioritize.

Lockard must continue to pay attention to student mental health and wellness.

Student suicides have been a recurring problem for FCPS throughout the past few years.

One even hit close to home this year with the death of Hayfield junior Conner Worosz in October.

Lockard should encourage schools to take steps to support students and teachers in their efforts to combat depression and suicide. Even small gestures can make a difference. According to two Woodson High School alumnae in a recent Washington Post article, their school

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Steven Lockard’s first priorities

FCPS Interim Superintendent Steven Lockard took charge of the school system upon Karen Garza’s departure in December. offered a monthly “Milk and Cookies Day,” which made students “feel appreciated” and know they were being rewarded for “all our hard work.” Initiatives such as this can go a long way towards brightening a student’s day and improving their mental health.

At the same time, a broader effort should be made to address the issue. Many students are likely unaware there is a school psychologist available to them, along with

Super Sponsors THE PINKNEY FAMILY THE ASKENAZY FAMILY THE DOBSON FAMILY

teachers and counselors who are trained to recognize signs of depression. A countywide campaign to raise awareness of these resources would surely help students seek out the support they need in their times of stress or despair.

Despite the consistent budget constraints, Lockard should continue to advocate for the expanded use of technology in the school system.

After starting a program at Chantilly High School and its feeder schools to distribute to

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each student their own laptop, FCPS should introduce the initiative at other schools, especially ones where access to technology is less abundant.

In the Edison community, students would unquestionably benefit from having their own laptops. They would be more likely to complete work on time, online research could be done on the spot and teachers would be able to adapt their lessons to include more interactive activities.

Lastly, Lockard should revisit a topic we have discussed in this forum before: Garza’s decision to mandate only one gown color at graduation.

Seniors were told at their last meeting that graduates would be wearing blue gowns, without any debate or student voice allowed. Of course, this prompted groans of displeasure from the seniors. We are disappointed that this policy has been continued this year and urge Lockard to immediately rescind it.

The policy infringes on one of the few freeedoms of expression students have, and while well-intentioned, its ideas should be implemented in another way.

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15 | The Current| February 2017

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SUPER The Falcons

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had the league’s best offense this season in terms of points per game. However, the Falcons offense had trouble with turnovers in the regular season, but those issues seem to be less pronounced in the postseason.

Quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown no interceptions in the playoffs, while Patriots quarterback Tom Brady matched his regular season total of two in the first playoff game. The Falcons will have to attack the Patriots secondary through the air and keep pace with the Patriots offense. This game is going to be a shootout, and the Falcons have a very capable offense.

Coverage of the Super Bowl starts February 5 at 6:30 p.m. on Fox. Will Dobson sports editor

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The Patriots

are led by one of the greatest postseason quarterbacks of all time, Tom Brady, who just won his NFL record seventh AFC Championship. The Patriots enter the Super Bowl as three point favorites according to several oddsmakers. However, not only do they have the Vegas odds on their side, they have playoff-tested impact players on their team, such as former Super Bowl MVPs Brady and cornerback Malcolm Butler. With Brady, the Patriots have a very good chance at a Super Bowl title.

The Falcons’ quarterback, Matt Ryan, has far less playoff experience. Also, the Falcons had a lackluster record on the road this season, losing to the Eagles and the Seahawks. The Patriots had a strong showing away from home, going undefeated in 8 games. New England may be the more comfortable team playing away from their own turf.

Final Score Prediction Falcons-24

Patriots- 28

Lombardi Trophy courtesy of Teo’s89 via Wikimedia Commons Falcons helmet courtesy of American Football Wiki Patriots helmet courtesy of ClipArtFest

sports

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl Jessica Cruz opinions editor

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ach year, Animal Planet hosts a football game with a twist.

The players are puppies who are up for adoption, and the half-time show are a few kitty cheerleaders who are up for adoption as well. The puppies are always split into two teams: Team Ruff and Team Fluff.

On the Animal Planet website, there are many activities in which viewers can participate leading up to the Puppy Bowl. Just as people participate in fantasy football, the website allows viewers to see the puppies’ statistics and decide which ones they will root for.

On the website viewers can also find the Puppy Bowl

Locker Room Cam and the Kitten Fan Club Cam where viewers can watch as the puppies and kittens interact with each other live. Adoption stories from previous Puppy Bowls are also available.

The Puppy Bowl first aired in 2005. This year, the Puppy Bowl, just like every other year since its first broadcast, will air on the same day as the Super Bowl. However, The Puppy Bowl starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m., so it will not prohibit viewers from watching the Super Bowl. The Puppy Bowl Pregame Show begins at 2 p.m.

Some of the companies that provide funding for The Puppy Bowl are Pedigree and Subaru. The referee this year is actor Dan Schachner, who has refereed the Puppy Bowl for the past six years.

Courtesy of moviesinla via Flickr

The canine classic returns for its twelfth airing

Timber, from Team Ruff, looks towards the camera during a break in the action at last year’s puppy bowl.

“I don’t think people realize how many animals are in shelter and this gives them the platform to find a forever family and spread the word about adoption,” said senior Desiree Johnson.

For Puppy Bowl XII, 34 different animal shelters

contributed to filling up the spots on the teams with adoptable puppies and kittens. This year there will be three special needs dogs participating in the Puppy Bowl. Each of the teams will also get a mascot: Orlando the Screech owl for Team Ruff and Muffin the Chinchilla for Team Fluff.

Will Dobson sports editor

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n the NFL this season, field goals have been missed at an alarming rate. Extra point percentages have been low as well, but that is the result of the extra point placement being moved back. With six of the last ten Super Bowls being won by less than a touchdown, the quality of kicking is a large factor in the success of the Super Bowl teams.

The playoff significance of kicking is evident in this postseason and postseasons of the past. Last year, the Vikings’ playoff hopes were crushed

when kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard chip shot to advance the Vikings in the playoffs. This year, albeit at a different point in the game, the Green Bay Packers failed to answer the Atlanta Falcons scoring on their opening drive. The Packers trotted out Mason Crosby, who had made an NFL-record 23 straight playoff field goals. missed the 40 yarder and set the course for the rest of the game, a 4421 rout by the Falcons.

Kicking will be an important part of either team’s Super Bowl success this year, because the game will probably end up being a shootout.

Atlanta’s kicker, Matt Bryant, was the third most efficient kicker in the NFL this season,

Courtesy of Ed Schipul

Column as I see ‘em: NFL kickers’ impact in big games

Texans kicker Neil Rackers kicks a field goal from 45 yards out.

Kcikers are an integral part of postseason success in the NFL. while Stephen Gostkowski, the Patriots kicker, was ranked 18th. However, Gostkowski has more playoff experience, and his career field goal percentage is higher. There is a good chance that the Super

Bowl will come down to one of these two kickers, and one of them will have to buck the trend of missing key field goals.

17 | The Current| February 2017

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dison’s band program has been preparing to audition and perform for their district performing group. The band program had several students selected to participate and receive recognition for their talent.

The District 10 Honor Band is taking place Feb. 2-4 at Hayfield Secondary School, and it is an opportunity for band students to work with other students to prepare a concert over the course of a weekend. There are 13 schools in the district that participate and students have to audition in front of judges.

Junior Steven Kirby, who plays the french horn, said that there can be up to 70 students auditioning on one instrument. Not all of these students will get in, as it is competitive.

The audition requires significant preparation. Senior

Kevin Chesson, who plays percussion, said, “District Band is difficult to get in to.

It requires hours of discipline and honest work to make it to this group.” Chesson, who auditioned, said he was a little nervous about the audition but was comforted in the amount of preparation he had.

Chesson said he prepared for roughly six weeks before the audition, practicing almost every day during those weeks.

Typically 10 to 15 band members are selected to participate in District Band.

Chesson placed fourth out of 45 percussionists who auditioned and this will be the second time he has participated.

For Kirby, this will be his third year in a row being selected for District Band.

The District Band event takes place over three days where the musicians come together to rehearse. They will perform a concert at the end of the three day event.

Students often miss school on

Steven Kirby

Edison band students achieve at districts

Ryan Pinkney managing editor

Junior Steven Kirby on the stage at district band in Feb. 2016. He is accompanied by his french horn.

Friday to allow for additional rehearsal time.

The rehearsal days are long -- often seven hours or more.

Kirby said the long rehearsals are one of his favorite parts of District Band and that they are fun. He said he also loves playing the challenging music and getting to meet new people.

Both Kirby and Chesson are looking forward to District Band with their fellow band members and the experience

they will develop at the event.

“District Band is great because you get to experience many great musicians’ talents, and you get to show your own.

Everyone goes home learning something new,” Kirby said.

Chesson said, “District Band is beneficial because the musicians who push themselves to practice consistently could be rewarded with an opportunity to play advanced music with other students who take music seriously.”

Arts department welcomes new a capella group Inception A Capella is the latest addition to the four choirs currently at Edison

February 2017| The Current | 18

Cooper

fellow schoolmates and community members.

The club is in the planning The a capella ladies sing the national anthem before their perforphase of mance for rising freshmen. performthe acapella group this year ing on Valentine’s Day to and we will have to wait and showcase their debut perforsee.” Those who are intermance. ested in participating should Sterner said that Edison’s contact Cooper. “If you want Got Talent, “is on my list of to join in, then just do it,” possible performances from Cline said.

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here’s a new club in town and it’s hitting the right note.

Edison students now have the opportunity to be part of an a cappella group that inspires students to sing joyfully without the accompaniment of any instruments on Friday mornings from 6:45 a.m. to 8 a.m.

The a capella group’s teacher sponsor, choir director Anna Cooper, started the program to promote community outreach and speaking towards the next generation through music. Cooper said,

“any ninth, tenth and eleventh graders interested in singing with a groovy club can do so starting next year when it takes full force under the leadership of Edison students.”

The president of the group, senior Madison Sterner, said the group is a “singer’s safehaven,” a place where student singers can cherish bonds and create a family within the group. The other club officers are vice president Angelo Cline, music director Sebastian Peterson, social media manager Erin Arnold and secretary Alena Smith. Cline and Peterson said they are excited for the string of performances they have been preparing for

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Mikias Abebe staff writer

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Universal Studios Website of

Courtesy Taylor-Joy, Richardson and Sula are being held captive in their kidnapper’s basement. A large portion of the movie takes place in this room and the other areas in the basement.

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plit”, which is categorized as a horror thriller movie, surrounds a man with 23 personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls. The story mainly takes place between the basement in which Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) is hiding the girls and the office of his psychologist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley).

Director M. Night Shyamalan begins the tension in his plot immediately at the beginning of the film. Crumb (who is really being overtaken by one of his many personalities) kidnaps the three girls within the first five minutes of the movie. This quick, but efficient, manner of establishing the conflict gains the audience’s attention.

James McAvoy manages to portray his 23 (and at the end, 24) personalities flawlessly.

Sometimes he is a nine-yearold boy named Hedwig who is looking for company and other times he is a middle aged woman named Patricia who is simply aiming to gain power. There are scenes which demonstrate McAvoy’s impeccable performance.

Thanks to Shyamalan, the audience is able to see close ups of the actor’s face when his personalities change every three seconds. McAvoy’s facial expression changes so quickly and adapt to each personality he is playing that it leaves the audience in disbelief.

While the movie mainly focuses on McAvoy’s character, it would be nothing without the three kidnapped girls: Casey (Anna Taylor-Joy), Claire (Haley Lu Richardson), and Marcia (Jessica Sula). Claire and Marcia appear to be nervous and frantic characters, while Casey displays herself to be calm and collected. The juxtaposition of these char-

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Jessica Cruz opinions editor

Universal Studios Website

“Split” leaves the audience wanting more

McAvoy portrays Hedwig, a nine year-old boy. This is one of the many personalities shown throughout the film.

acters creates contrasts that enhances the appeal of the end of the movie: only one of them survives.

Taylor-Joy’s character pulls the attention away from Crumb when Shyamalan introduces frequent flashbacks of Casey’s life. Casey had a troubled past and in the end, this is what saves her. However, by exclusively showing flashbacks of Casey’s past, Shyamalan neglects to showcase the past of the main character.

Despite the fact that this movie is a horror thriller, Shyamalan includes humor.

McAvoy captures the essence of childhoodthrough the personality of Hedwig, who asks silly questions and makes foolish comments. Other personalities perform subtle actions that cause laughter in the audience. For example, the personality named Patricia has humorous facial expressions, sometimes at the least indicated moments.

While the conflict keeps the

audience on the edge of their seats, the end of the film is quite disappointing. Crumb develops a 24th personality, but this one is different in that it has superhuman powers and a tendency to destroy anyone in its way. The superhuman qualities that The Beast, as it is referred to, displays a sense of surrealism that is not hinted at during any point in time.

It is a plot twist that some may love, but without the inclusion of this sudden change the film may have been better. Within the last three minutes of the movie, it is revealed to the audience that by including a supernatural aspect Shyamalan makes a connection to another one of his more successful movies.

Overall, the plot could have been developed in a more efficient manner that would have left the audience feeling more satisfied. However, the acting and other devices utilized by the director almost make up for this lack of substance in the film.

19 | The Current| February 2017

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Do youGrammy love Kanye the way Kanye loves Kanye?

The award predictions Edison students express their love and dislike for Kanye West

Jillian Brooks arts editor

Talia Carter

Song Of The Year: arts editor

Best Rock Album:

Tell Me “Kanye I’m PrettyWest — Cage The Elephant “Formation” — Beyoncé sucks because he California — Blink-182 “Hello” — Adele “I think he’s a musical genius from doesn’t actually make music. He Magma — Gojira “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” — Mike Posner the beginning. Even though he’s talks somewhat decently fast Death Of A Bachelor — Panic! At The Disco “Love Yourself” — Justin Bieber kind of crazy with social media now, I Weezer about things that don’t really sit — Weezer “7 Years” — Lukas Graham think he’s still a good musician.” welloffers in schools. realthe mostThey’re variety innot music and “Hello” is an anthem that people all over the world “California” -sophomore Selam Berhane ly appropriate and he justItsays has the most mass appeal. coulditbe can belt from the top of their lungs.

The song was most likely thattry Panic!

Thesome Disco street has more appeal number one on the Billboard Top 100 chart for 26 argued to andAtget cred.” whileJosh it definitely strays weeks and while there is not a wide range of mel- but “Death Of A Bachelor,” -senior Barrett “He’s a cool guy. I’d vote for from the typical pop album, is not at the rock level odies within the song, it showcases Adele’s vocal him that for president in 2020.” of “California.” ability stuns and wows an audience.

-junior Faith Odegbami

Best New Artist:

Best Urban Contemporary Album:

Kelsea Ballerini The Chainsmokers Chance Rapper “He’sThe pretty trash. His music Maren Morris isn’t even that good and his Anderson Paak clothing is overpriced. He The Chainsmokers are arguably the most wellmakes ridiculous statements. known new artist of 2016. They began their climb He’s kind of an idiot.” to stardom with “Roses,” and since that hit they -junior Angelo have collaborated with stars suchCline as Halsey and Daya. Their music is catchy, upbeat and has unique melodies which draw listeners in.

Ology — Gallant “I just think that he’s just totally full of himself. He Lemonade — Beyoncé obviously thinks he’s been We Are King — KING Malibu — Anderson .Paak disenfranchised and he’s Anti — Rihanna not. He takes it out on other Beyoncé is simply so popular there no people andthat he’s justis really chance she is not going to win.

The Grammys rude. He’s just an awful are pera popularity contest and out of the other nomison in my opinion.” nees, she is most definitely the most well known -senior Danny Ehrlich and so there is a very good chance she will come out successful in this category.

Best Pop Solo Performance:

Best Rap Performance:

“Hello” — Adele “Hold Up” — Beyonce “Love Yourself” — Justin Bieber “Piece By Piece (Idol Version)” — Kelly Clarkson “Dangerous Woman” — Ariana Grande “He’s a lyrical genius.

He’s a fashThis song will win simply because it is a heartion god. He’s gorgeous, flawless, breakingly emotional song and people are more inperfection. He could be my dad if clined to vote for a song that makes them feel sad he wanted to. Great rapper overall. or depressed. The other songs nominated simply He’s compete pretty cute.” cannot with the pure, raw emotion that -sophomore Dakessian “Piece

By Piece (IdolBrandon Version)” portrays.

“No Problem” — Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz

April February 2016|2016| The Current The Current | 24 | 24

“Panda” —Desiigner “Pop Style” — Drake Featuring The Throne “All The Way — Fat that Joe &Kanye Remy Ma Featur“IUp” believe West is just ing French a Montana & Infared publicity stunt. Everything that “That Part” — ScHoolboy Q Featuring Kanye he does, everything that you see West is just for publicity, just for likes.”

“Panda” is one of the most played songs in the -senior Jamyra White category and as with the other categories, popularity wins. It may not be the best but people know “Panda.”

20 | The Current| February 2017