April 11 Print Issue of The Pitch

The Pitch

Walter Johnson High School

April 11, 2014

Volume 59, Issue 7

6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814

Marijuana decriminalized in Maryland and D.C.

By Joshua Lang

In late March and early April, Maryland and D.C. made changes to their laws regarding possession of marijuana. The push to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana brought about new and progressive laws. Now, those who are caught with small amounts of cannabis will not be charged with a criminal offense, but rather given a citation and forced to pay a small fine.

According to NBC, Maryland and D.C. have joined 17 other states who have voted to decriminalize the use of small amounts of marijuana. As of April 7, the Maryland General Assembly has decriminalized the possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana.

Marijuana decriminalization in select states marks a huge milestone. According to CNN, only 44 years ago on Aug. 14, 1970, the Assistant Secretary of Health, Dr. Roger Egeberg, recommended that the drug be classified as a Schedule I drug, which is defined by the Drug Enforcement Agency as a drug that has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

However, restrictions have slowly been dissolving.

Some states, such as California and Colorado, started process by first legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. While considering what restrictions could be lifted, lawmakers observed the potential dangers of the drug and debated whether or not there should be increased restrictions in place. According to a study conducted by American University, “Smoking marijuana [for long periods of time] has been associated with respiratory (lungs), brain (memory), psychiatric (mental health) as well as additional health effects.”

“Marijuana” continued on page 2

Photo courtesy of Takoma Wellness Center

Takoma Wellness Center is one of the few authorized medical marijuana despensaries in D.C. According to the center’s website, it has a variety of different marijuana strains available to individually treat patients based on their diagnoses and symptoms.

PTSA to award two faculty members for education excellence

By Marissa Nardella

Every year in May since 1992, the WJ Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) honors two faculty members with the PTSA Hall of Fame Awards. According to PTSA president Renee Howell, the Hall of Fame Awards are for Teaching Excellence and Outstanding Involvement in the Support of Students, and the entire WJ community is welcome to submit their nominations.

“I think it was… a way for the PTSA to recognize... two really important services that the WJ staff provides,” said Howell.

Music teacher Christopher Kosmaceski won the award for Outstanding Involvement in Support of Students in the 2010- 2011 school year. He reflected on what winning that award meant to him.

“It’s just nice to be recognized for all the time and hard work you put in,” said Komaceski.

The award honors faculty who have gone above and beyond just teaching students. For example, a teacher

i s In

: e d

who helps students after school or teaches and coaches an athletic team, may be eligible.

“As the title of the award suggests… [it allows] students, the parents and other community members to weigh in on teachers who have shown excellence in their subject matter, and [faculty] who also offer support to students,” said Howell. “It can be support from…a staff member, a teacher, a coach or really anyone on the WJ staff.”

Each year, the awards are presented at the annual Academic Awards ceremony in May. This year, the nomination window for the Outstanding Involvement and Teaching Excellence awards lasts until April 30, and the nomination form is available on the WJ website. However, the window for voting varies year to year. At the end of April, the voting will close and the PTSA will tally the votes.

Foreign language teacher Karen Generose received the PTSA award for Teaching Excellence in the 20112012 school year. The award for Teaching Excellence

honors teachers who have demonstrated their ability to teach students, and the ability of the students to absorb and understand the information.

“It meant a lot to me [when I won the award],” she said. “When they present the award, they read quotes from your students. [It’s] so touching to hear the nice things that your students had to say about you and about your class…what my class meant to them and what learning Latin meant to them. It’s so special; it’s just such a nice acknowledgement and almost a validation of what we do here.”

According to Howell, there are two additional awards, given to community members and students. Members of the PTSA can nominate community members for the Frank J. Masci Blue Ribbon Award for Outstanding Contributions to WJ Community, and one student is selected by WJ staff for the Frank Collins Award for Academic Diligence, Tolerance, Compassion and Dedication to Schools Interests. These awards are also presented at the Academic Awards by the PTSA.

EDITORIAL pages 3-4

ARTS & ENT. pages 5-7

FEATURE pages 8-9

SPORTS pages 10-12

On page 3, editorial highlights the effects of the “Bethesda Bubble,” in which residents don’t realize diversity in Md.

The spread includes various reviews of restaurants in the newly renovated food court at Montgomery Mall.

Pet adoption and animal purchasing locations and processes are featured in an article on page 9.

On page 11, editor-in-chief Emily Cosentino takes a look back on senior Jordan Cooper’s lacrosse career.

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APRIL 11, 2014

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

New Maryland Assessments: PARCC replacing HSA and MSA

By NickWilliamson

In the upcoming school year, the Maryland Board of Education will require students to take a new type of test, known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment, which will replace the MSA and HSA tests. The assessment will be for English grades nine to 11, as well as Algebra 1 and 2, and also Geometry. The tests have been made to fit the state’s new Common Core curriculum, which focuses on general knowledge in courses, application and also basic skills applicable to every field of study.

Each state participating in Common Core collects the data from the tests, and the information is made available to the public. Individual scores are shared with students, and then school-wide data is published by the school to make sure that each meets the established standards and benchmarks. For the first few years, standards for the PARCC will be lower than for the HSA, mainly because it is a new exam.

“Two classes this year from English 11 and Geometry are piloting the tests, to help normalize it and also to see if it works online, like the state wants it to,” said principal Jennifer Baker.

The new tests are supposed to be completely online, and the state wants to find any glitches or bugs before the tests are given on a larger scale next year.

“The difference between HSA and PARCC is fairly significant; PARCC really takes it up a notch,” said Baker. “The HSA is more basic to middle-level difficulty, while PARCC is more middle-level difficulty and application of knowledge.”

Baker said the assessments measure skills better than the HSA, and also require more thinking and reasoning. The assessments are aiming for students to apply knowledge obtained in the classroom.

“I think the PARCC assessments will produce better information, since our teachers always go way beyond the HSAs, so this will be a better measure of students’ capabilities,” said Baker.

The tests will be given twice every year, starting with the Performance Based Assessments (PBAs), which can be given between the end of February and the end of March. Afterwards, the End of Year Assessments (EYAs) will be given in May. The test will be phased in over the next few years,

Dear Pitch Readers,

You may have noticed that The Pitch is significantly shorter this issue. But don’t worry, look out for those “missing pages” after spring break on April 22. We think you’ll enjoy the little surprise we have in store.

Despite the limited number of pages this month, we’re still covering a wide range of issues.

News informs about the recent decriminalization of marijuana in Maryland and D.C., as well the recent introduction of PARCC assessments to MCPS. Editorial articles include opinions on celebrity worship and sexism, as well as a column dishing out college prep advice. Feature highlights pet adoption, and Arts and Entertainment covers restaurants at the newly renovated food court in Montgomery Mall. Lastly, Sports includes a spotlight on fighting in athletics, as well as a profile on WJ lacrosse player Jordan Cooper.

As this school year enters fourth quarter and gradually comes to a close, we’ve realized our time at WJ has nearly run out. This is our penultimate issue, and throughout the year we’ve been incredibly proud of our hardworking staff.

We look forward to these last few months, and we hope you’ve enjoyed reading our product throughout the year.

As always, feel free to email us at thepitch@ walterjohnson.com, message us on Facebook or tweet us @thewjpitch with feedback, questions or comments.

Sincerely, Print Editors-in-Chief Emily Cosentino, Claudia Nguyen, and Online Editor-in Chief Megan Chun

PARCC Fast Facts A

High school English language arts (ELA)/literacy exams will be given at the end of grades 9, 10 and 11.

B

High school PARCC math exams will be given at the end of the course.

C

PARCC assessments are designed to replace current state testing for ELA/literacy and mathematics in grades 3-11.

D

PARCC will create comparability among states and equity among the students who reside in them.

E

Assessments are not intended to be used by colleges for admission decisions.

*Information from www.parcconline.org.

Infographic by Claudia Nguyen

and will start with incoming ninth graders next year taking the Algebra 1 and English 9 PARCC exams as well as the Biology and Government HSAs. Even though the test is phasing out, the HSAs will still be available to tenth and eleventh graders who need them to graduate.

Some issues regarding testing are still being discussed, such as how the schools will incorporate increased testing during a time when students are also preparing for AP exams and learning material. Also, the schools are working on making enough technology available so all students will be able to test in the given time periods. Regardless, Baker said that WJ will decide how to effectively balance all of the requirements.

“The data is also used for the School Progress Index, which measures the performance of all Maryland schools and puts them in strands,” said Baker, “WJ is a strand one school, which is the highest level of the rankings.”

Photo courtesy of Meghan Donaldson

Marijuana decriminalized in Maryland and D.C.

“Marijuana” continued from page 1

By Joshua Lang

individualized treatment and supports patient-physician interaction. Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn, one of the coowners of Takoma Wellness, stated one of the goals of However, according to CNN Chief Medical Cor- the dispensary is to provide safe and legal access to respondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, “[Marijuana] doesn’t cannabis.

“We’ve seen how much marijuana can help people, have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications. In fact, sometimes medicinally,” said Kahn. “As a rabbi, I have spent my marijuana is the only thing that works.” Contradicting career advocating for civil rights, human rights, animal statements such as these have made it much harder on rights, and more. It seems to me to be a basic human states to pass legislation that they deem appropriate right to have safe, legal access to this medicine, which can help with a wide range of illnesses and symptoms, for the situation.

In 2010, medical marijuana was legalized in D.C. with no major side effects or risks associated. All peoThe Takoma Wellness Center, which opened in August ple should have safe, legal access to medicine that is 2013, is one of a few authorized medical marijuana safely and legally grown...all around the globe.”

After seeing the benefits both medically and ecodispensaries in the area. According to its website, Takoma Wellness is a family-run business that focuses on nomically, legislatures have become much more le-

nient with how marijuana is used and now even want to expand its use. With a large amount of support backing this legislation, it is extremely likely that there will be even more restrictions being lifted in the coming months.

The Marijuana Policy Project is one organization that lobbies for the reform of marijuana policies in the U.S. According to its website, one of the ways the policy supports change is by sponsoring ballot initiatives to replace marijuana prohibition with a sensible system for regulation. Decriminalization is just one more step toward the end goal.

“Decriminalization is very important to stop jailing people for this ‘crime,’” added Kahn over e-mail. “We don’t want to see anymore people’s lives ruined by the criminalization of this plant.”

THE WASHINGTON POST ASKED:

Do you favor or oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use?

Favor Legalization

63%

Oppose Legalization Unsure or No Opinion

6%

Favor reducing punishment

16%

Completely oppose

14%

*Information from a Washington Post poll of 1,003 random adults living in Washington, D.C. from Jan. 9 to 12, 2014. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York. Results may not total 100 percent due to rounding.

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EDITORIAL

The Bethesda Bubble

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Residents in the area fail to recognize the diversity in Maryland

Photo courtesy of Wahid Ishrar

Focusing Feminism ByWahid Ishrar Last year, one of my colleagues wrote an article about the sexism attached to the term “Lady Wildcats”. her argument was that the addition of “Lady” to the term “Wildcats” sets women apart from men in a derogatory fashion. It distinguishes between the sexes—a distinction that should not influence the world of sports.

Let me recall another incident. I once held the door open for a female friend at a restaurant, and she became angry with me because she assumed I held the door open because I thought she was weak and couldn’t do it by herself.

Some women’s sensitivity to such acts stems from years of female oppression.

The Romans had laws allowing husbands to chastise their wives. In Italy, up until 1981, honor killings were viewed as different from murder, and husbands, brothers, or fathers could recieve reduced sentences for such killings. Marital rape is illegal in the U.S., but in many countries it is widely ignored.

Many oppressed groups feel the need to constantly prove they are equal, since they have been told otherwise for so long.

The goal of the feminist movement is to change people’s subconscious thought process, which, in turn, affects conscious decisions and actions. However, in many places in the world, the door incident wouldn’t register as an offense to women because they face much greater demons.

In the Maldives, a 15-year-old girl was sentenced to 100 lashes for reporting her rape by her stepfather. In Lebanon, women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, but men can—which leads to children being treated as foreigners in their own country and leads entire families to be deprived of rights such as healthcare and education. Throughout the world, many women have no say in their marriages; their families decide whom, when and how they marry.

Many women are still afraid to ask for an education or to report sexual assault. It is justifiable to feel oppressed by something deemed offensive, such as the use of the term “Lady Wildcats”.

However, maybe exhausting resources to address such issues isn’t the best course of action.

It would be much more beneficial to oppressed groups as a whole if, instead of challenging every minor offense, they addressed larger issues, such as the troubles of finding employment and the fear of being taken advantage of sexually. After our outright and conscious actions reflect the ongoing extinction of sexism, the subconscious issues should be addressed to drive the point home.

Graphic by Adriana Del Grosso

Bethesda residents fail to recognize Maryland’s economic, political and social diversity, leading to the creation of the “Bethesda Bubble.”

By NickWilliamson

Part of the reason we have such a large population in Montgomery County is that we have a lot of government workers living here that work in D.C. This population packing also leads to the misconception that Maryland is politically an extremely liberal state compared to most. With the large number of government workers, (typically a Democratic voting bloc), students have a different perspective on Maryland as a whole. The majority of Maryland’s population actually lives in areas held by the Democratic party, however most counties voted Republican in the previous election. President Barack Obama only won six counties-- but that was enough for him to still safely win the election by 600,000 votes by winning the most heavily populated counties.

Finally, students believe that the whole state is as wealthy as our county.

Maryland is considered the richest state

in the U.S., and Montgomery County has the highest per capita income, and the second highest median income of the state. The truth is that since we’re at the top economincally, other counties aren’t doing as well. In 10 other counties, the per capita income is under $30,000, while ours is about $48,000.

Our median household income is about $95,000, while 13 other counties fall below the Maryland median income of about $70,000.

Maryland may not seem like a large state to many people, but when you consider the diverse population and political, and financial factors of the state, it can really shed new light on what our Maryland is really like. In school, we intensely study diversity and culture abroad, but looking at diversity in our home state is just as important in order to burst students’ “Bethesda Bubble”.

Bethesda area is amongst the most eduAs I stared hypnotically at the elabo- cated in the country and the high conrate Thanksgiving meal before me, I centration of doctorates and Ivy League overheard the latter end of my aunt and alumni has instilled a very superficial uncle’s conversation from across the ta- perspective on education, in MCPS stuble. They spoke remorsefully of a recent dents. In Montgomery County, students psychology graduate from Carnegie completely immerse themselves in a Mellon University, who was unable to whirlwind of rigorous courses, extrafind work in his field, and resorted to curricular activities, and standardized cash register duties at the local Walmart. testing preparatory classes, all for the After paying roughly $200,000 for an purpose of receiving a higher education education at one of the most prestigious from an establishment well respected for universities in the country, this individ- its constituency of straight-A, straightual found himself earning a meager sal- laced, wealthy students. Why? Because that is what students feel ary and presumably is in large debt due the need to associate to college loans. themselves with.

Annually, graduate This man’s predicament However, the is rather enlightening. The school students borrowed purpose of 17,230 dollars, while education in a undergraduate students nutshell, is to borrowed 24,301 dollars. ensure a comThe annual income *Information from the College Board fortable future of U.S. workers in 2012 for ourselves. between the ages of 21 and 64 Exhausting $200,000 was 55,242 dollars with a gradu- over the course of four years to earn ate degree and 42,877 dollars roughly nine dollars an hour does not fulfill that purpose.Why unproductively with an undergraduate degree. squander our resources for undergradu*Information from the United States Census Bureau ate school when we should be conserving them for graduate school? The skills

and knowledge gained from a graduate education can better position them for advancement in their careers. It also ensures their endless versatility in a highly competitive work force.

Undergraduate school is comprised of various mandatory courses, many of which are irrelevant to many students’ particular interests, therefore consuming their time and impeding on their ability to delve deep into their desired field of expertise. Graduate school allows them to pinpoint interests, collaborate with professionals and immerse themselves in their subject of interest.

Obviously this young man, recently out of college, was a prominent high school student, earning grades and test scores sufficient for admission to a school of Carnegie Mellon’s stature, but what good does this success do him if after all of his work, he can’t find suitable employment in his field? Fortunately students can learn from this young man’s mistake and strive to do something different in order to progress towards new heights in education.

As Henry Ford once said, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

When residents of Montgomery County think of Maryland, there are probably a few stereotypes that come to mind. Because we live in such a wealthy, developed area, it’s easy for us to think that the rest of Maryland is the same.

Our state is diverse in terms of population, politics and wealth. Students at WJ should embrace that diversity.

One misconception is the urban versus rural aspect of Maryland-- most students believe all of Maryland is as populated as our county. Montgomery County is composed of about 355,000 households. This is a very large number compared to other counties in the state, such as Kent and Somerset counties, which are each about 8,000. In fact, only 11 of 24 counties of Maryland have over 50,000 households, and only six have over 100,000. Data shows that much of the state is actually very rural.

Graduate degrees weigh heavier than undergrad when seeking employment

By JakeWeineschke

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APRIL 11 , 2014

Things to consider when applying to college Take the SAT or ACT in the rejected, or even worse, waitlisted, at a school you have visited, you are much fall of your junior year. more likely to become upset. Save your-

Graphic by Adriana Del Grosso Photo by Sarah Schecker

By Megan Chun College. It’s a symbol of life after high school; the culminating prize after four years of hard work. Whether one aims to attend an Ivy-league school, large state university or a liberal arts or junior college, one undeniable feeling unites applicants: stress.

As a fourth quarter senior, I rest easy knowing that in just a few weeks, I will be committed to one of my top choice schools, a mid to large sized private university in southern California with respectable school spirit and relatively small class sizes. But that’s not to say this process was easy: as most any graduating senior can tell you, the college process is full of twists and turns, headaches and self-doubt. Even after my applications were done, I was a nervous wreck anticipating college decisions.

Below are a few tips to reduce the number of sleepless nights and migraines while navigating college admissions.

I know, I know. No one wants to take a large standardized test in the fall, especially when there are so many other things to worry about (“What about my Huck Finn paper?”). You will most likely still be adjusting to your increased junior year workload in your academic classes, but it’s important to get a head start on SAT or ACT, especially if you are aiming to attend a more selective college. By taking the test in the fall, you will have adequate time to prepare for your second time, which should be in the early spring, preferably March. If you have to take it a third time, June is a good month.

Bottom line: Start testing early.

self the grief and don’t hesitate to apply to schools you haven’t physically seen.

You won’t be as upset if the outcome isn’t favorable, and you’ll look forward to seeing the school if you are accepted.

Bottom line: Hold off on visits to your reach schools.

You don’t want to be potentially disappointed later on. Side note: extremely competitive schools tend to send the nicest, most flattering rejection letters.

Apply to at least one early action school.

By December, most everyone who applied to early decision schools will have heard back, and those who were acceptDon’t wait until you’re in a time crunch ed will also be committed. As people to test. I took the SAT once in May of my begin to hear back, you don’t want to junior year (right before AP exams) and a second time in October of my senior year, be the only one who has to wait until March to get your admission decisions, right in the middle of all my applications. which is typical of most regular deciDon’t be afraid to apply sion schools. If you apply early decision to colleges you haven’t to at least one school, you will hopefully have at least one college option and acvisited. ceptance under your belt before winter A lot of people feel like they have to break. It will make March much less visit every school they will apply to, stressful. which, although helpful when making a Bottom line: Strategize so that your final decision, isn’t always a good idea. first acceptance isn’t in March.

It is much easier to become attached to Having a couple of college acceptances bea school when you have invested time fore the new year will take a lot of weight and money (hold off on that sweatshirt off your shoulders, and will make potential for now) in visiting a school. If you get rejections a little less painful.

An unhealthy obsession The practice of celebrity worship ravishes America CELEBRITY OBSESSION FACTS

On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan in order to get the attention of teen actress Jodie Foster. *Information gathered from the Washington Post.

Fans paid $2500 to look at Britney Spears for 3 seconds *Information from the Huffington Post

Singer Katy Perry has almost one

million

more

followers

than U.S. President Barack Obama.

At the Oscars, Ellen DeGeneres tweeted a selfie of 12 celebrities that is the most retweeted image in the history of Twitter, with 3,427,825 retweets and 2,010,244 favorites.

By Selma Stearns

Since the ancient Greeks were infatuated with the gods of Mount Olympus, mortals have been obsessed with staying informed with the happenings in the lives of divine beings. With the spread of modern technology, it is easier than ever for celebrity-worshippers, most notably teenagers, to learn every single detail about the deified pop artists they “fall in love” with.

Magazines like People Magazine, Us Weekly, OK! Magazine, In Touch Weekly and Star Magazine, among others, publish intensely detailed “facts” about what your favorite famous person is doing every day of their lives. Movie stars playing with their kids in the park, walking on the beach and getting married all used to be relatively private affairs, but nowadays the paparazzi have become more invasive of their privacy.

When Diana, Princess of Wales, died on August 31, 1997 in Paris, many people blamed the paparazzi for causing the fatal car crash.

When celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton posted compromising pictures of singer Ke$ha, she said “He single-handedly ruined the only relationship that’s ever meant anything to me,” according to the Huffington Post.

When Justin Beiber was pulled over and cited for reckless driving, he claimed that he was speeding to escape

the paparazzi that were chasing his car.

When the French magazine Closer published topless photos of Kate Middleton sunbathing on a balcony, the Royal Family successfully sued the magazine for an invasion of privacy.

But these news sources would not resort to such intrusive measures if there was not an interested population of readers who want to know the juicy details of celebrities’ lives.

According to abcnews.com, when people feel less connected to others, they rely on celebrities to form social bonds.

“What we know of [celebrities] through People magazine and other media sources fills a gaping and painful void in our lives,” said psychologist Dr. John Lucas.

It’s true that people have been obsessing over those that they view as superior to them for a long time; for example Beatlemania was notorious for its hysteria and passion.

However, with social media it has become just as easy to follow Rihanna as it is to follow your friend from elementary school who moved away. You will likely have the same amount of interactions with both, so as one of the largest demographic groups to use social media, teenagers need to be aware that just because you have read every single one of Justin Bieber’s 26.4 thousand tweets, that doesn’t mean he is your friend.

THE STAFF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Emily Cosentino, Print Co-Editor Claudia Nguyen, Print Co-Editor Megan Chun, Online Editor ADVISOR Sylvie Ellen, Print and Online NEWS Izzy Salant, Print Editor Anna Hovey, Assistant Editor Tenni Idler, Online Co-Editor Elizabeth Winter, Online Co-Editor EDITORIAL Wahid Ishrar, Print Editor Adriana Del Grosso, Assistant Editor Anders Norberg, Online Editor FEATURE Selma Stearns, Print Editor Michael Godfrey, Assistant Editor Marissa Nardella, Online Co-Editor Amanda Gross, Online Co-Editor ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Audrey Marek, Print Editor Annika La Vina, Assistant Editor Nico Bonetta-Misteli, Online Editor SPORTS Ben Resnick, Print Editor Jake Weinischke, Assistant Editor Zeke Green, Online Co-Editor Josh Greenberg, Online Co-Editor Sabrina Greene, Online Co-Editor COPY EDITORS Anna Hovey, Print and Online Marissa Nardella, Print and Online ART Adriana Del Grosso, Co-Editor Alex Alavi, Co-Editor PUBLIC RELATIONS Sabrina Greene, Social Media Consultant Claudia Nguyen, Business Manager CONTRIBUTING JOURNALISTS Nick Williamson, Staff Writer Aram Dommerholt, Staff Writer Zack Shapiro, Staff Writer Joshua Lang, Staff Writer Chizobam Nwagwu, Staff Writer Sarah Schecker, StaffWriter

The Pitch is published eight times a year by the students of Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive,Bethesda, Md. 20814. Advertising and subscription rates are available by calling 301-803-7184. Editorial opinions represent those of The Pitch staff and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff, faculty or student body. We welcome letters, articles, photographs and artwork, to be submitted to room 193 or e-mailed to thepitch@walterjohnson.com. The Pitch is an award-winning paper that works towards providing the student body with accurate, as well as credible, information.

AWARDS Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2009, 2013 American Scholastic Press Association First Place 2010-2011 Columbia Scholastic Bronze Medalist 2010-2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Marylander Award Newspaper Division C 2011

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 11, 2014

Montgomery Mall Food court off You are here

Candy World

Chick-filA

By Alex Alavi

Candy World is probably the most exciting place in the mall, aside from Bubble Bounce, and almost certainly the most classy candy store around. There is only one drawback, besides rotten teeth: Most of the candy is stale. Since when do I break a tooth on gummy rings? Aside from that, Candy World’s pretty great.

They have Warheads, which are delicious, and a good deal of other candy you probably couldn’t find at CVS, giving you many choices. The price ranges greatly depending on what and how much you buy, because much of it is sold in bulk.

By Annika LaVina

Photo by Audrey Marek

Candy World can provide an epic sugar rush.

Snacks & Treats Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

By Alex Alavi

If you like pretzels, then Auntie Anne’s is the perfect food court place for you.

It’s got everything you could want, including Pepperoni Pretzels. They’ve got pretzel dogs, if you hate your arteries, and cinnamon and salty pretzels too. It is also one of the cheaper places in the court, ranging from three to five dollars.

Photo by Audrey Marek

Auntie Anne’s is a small and convenient stop for a snack.

Jamba Juice

By Claudia Nguyen

Photos by Claudia Nguyen

Jamba Juice features an array of colorful beverages that will not destroy your health forevermore.

Offering a variety of juices and smoothies, Jamba Juice is great for satisfying a sweet tooth while still remaining relatively healthy. Service can vary depending on the staff member, but ordering a single drink is usually relatively quick.

There are plenty of ingredients to choose from, as Jamba Juice offers both fruit and vegetable drinks that can also have certain protein, energy or vitamin boosts added if desired. Prices start around four dollars and can go up to about eight.

This delicious attraction features many items, such as their signature chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and waffle fries.

Prices vary from five to 10 dollars, and are around three to four dollars for each individual item. Although their bread can sometimes be a bit soggy, the chicken never fails to appease. Complete your meal with their signature waffle fries and a creamy milkshake, available in vanilla, Oreo, strawberry and chocolate. Customers don’t have to wait for a long time, and the restaurant features a free selection of sauces, such as Chick-fil-A sauce, honey mustard, and Polynesian sauce.

Kraze Burger

By Audrey Marek

Photos by Annika La Vina

Chick-fil-A is a well known chain and landmark of the mall.

Lunch Bistro Sensations

Kraze Burger is a little more expensive than most places in the food court, ranging from 10 to 20 dollars, but it’s worth it. Kraze features delicious burg- By Claudia Nguyen ers and fries, and incredible milkshakes.

Soups, salads and sandwiches, oh my!

It takes a little longer than McDonalds or one of the other hyper fast food Whether you’re looking for some fresh vegchains as well, but the food is always gies, steaming soups or panini sandwiches, Bistro Sensations ofhot and fresh. The service is friendly, fers a ton of different and the chain offers a wide variety of light fare options. options including vegetarian and turkey The staff service is burgers. Kraze is well worth your time a bit awkward and at the food court. sometimes difficult to understand, but the food is prepared beforehand, so wait time is very short.

Prices range from five to 10 dollars, but students are eligible to receive discounts if they present a valid student ID.

Photos by Audrey Marek

Kraze Burger is new to the mall, offering quality burgers and fries along with milkshakes.

Photos by Audrey Marek

Bistro Sensations offers variety and a student discount.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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fers options for hungry students Grill Kabob

By Audrey Marek

Grill Kabob is a lesser known place in the food court, and does not generally have an overwhelmingly long line. It is a little low on variety of food as well, featuring kabobs and gyro variations.

The food is flavorful and filling, but the service is not very good. It is inefficient and the workers are difficult to understand, and the food takes a long time to prepare. In addition, the price range is 10 to 15 dollars, not including a drink, which is higher than most options in the food court.

Qdoba Mexican Grill

By Ben Resnick

Qdoba is a popular burrito joint at the mall. Shoppers are able to choose burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and even a salad as well as chips and dip as a side. The food tastes great and it does not take much time to be served as the meal is made in front of you. Prices are not too steep as you can easily get a full meal for 10 dollars or less, and the service is efficient and friendly. If you’re eating at the mall, Qdoba is a great choice.

Asian Cuisine

Panda Express

By Emily Cosentino

One of the popular Asian restaurants at Montgomery Mall is Panda Express, which serves all of the typical Asian Photo by Zack Shapiro dishes including orange chicken, broccoli and beef, spring rolls, fried rice and Sarku Japan offers quality food that is pre- others. A student can expect to spend pared right in front of customers. six to 12 dollars. The quality of food is pretty consistent and tasty for a fast food Asian place. The service fluctuates depending on who happens to be working. It can be as quick as a few minutes, or it can be longer due to unorganized staff, problems understanding customers, or helping people randomly and not in order. The food may not the healthiBy Zack Shapiro est option, but it will certainly satisfy Sarku Japan offers a variety of tradi- the taste buds without emptying your tional Japanese food cooked on a hibachi wallet. grill as you watch. The food tastes delicious, especially the restaurants main dish, teriyaki chicken. The dish comes with your choice of a side, but stay clear of the fried rice as it is dry and lacks flavor. While the food might be good, the service is anything but. It can take upwards of 10 minutes to get your food after you order. Overall the restaurant offers great food for between five and 10 Photos by Emily Cosentino dollars if you can put up with the subpar Panda Express offers a number of dishes service.

Sarku Japan

Photo by Audrey Marek Photos by Audrey Marek

Grill Kabob features good food, but is a little pricey and slow to serve.

Photo from Flickr, Ryan

Qdoba offers an array of cuisine including tacos, pictured above.

Fare Wicked Waffle

By Claudia Nguyen Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, the waffles served at Wicked Waffle are perfect for sweet and savory cravings alike. Customers have many options to choose from ranging from dessert waffles topped with fruit, chocolate, Nutella or syrup, to a variety of toasty waffle sandwiches. Each order is made fresh and served hot, so expect to wait a few minutes for your plate. But if you’re looking for a sugary treat or a sandwich with a twist, prices are decent for a student budget ranging from approximately five to 10 dollars.

Photo by Claudia Nguyen

Wicked Waffle creates unique waffle sandwhiches and other variations on the classic delicacy.

J.Chow’s Chicken & Ribs

including orange chicken, pictured above.

Ruby Thai

By Joshua Lang

Chicken, ribs and salad are not your typical mall food.These delicious meals are some of J. Chow’s specialties, located in the Montgomery Mall food court, right next to Qdoba.With meals ranging from five to 10 dollars, the food is rather cheap for the amount they give you.

One of their best dishes is the California Chicken Salad. At first glance, it may seem like a lot of money to spend for a salad, however, when it is brought out, you cannot help being astonished by the mountain of salad piled high with two delicious crackers nestled in. The line was extremely short and the service was very Photos by Joshua Lang quick and J.Chow’s features salads, easy. sandwiches, ribs and other lunch fare.

By Audrey Marek

This food court attraction is one of the few restaurants that has not moved or changed with the massive remodel. Ruby Thai is generally less busy than Sarku Japan or Panda Express, its main competitors, but has good quality food for reasonable prices. Like Panda Express, it is Americanized Asian food, including dishes like mango chicken and fried rice. The prices range from five to 10 dollars and the service is polite and efficient, much faster than most places in the mall. They also provide larger portions than Panda Express.

Photos by Audrey Marek

Ruby Thai features tasty Thai cuisine without the line.

Dumpling Dojo

ByWahid Ishrar

At Dumpling Dojo, the service is quick and the line keeps moving at a steady pace. In addition, the servers are friendly and helpful.The variety of food is substantial and there is a dumpling for everyone, all of which are tasty and well cooked. The food is Photo by Audrey Marek easily shared with any size group, and portable for eating either Dumpling Dojo uses at the food court or on the go. convenient containers.

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FEATURE

APRIL 11, 2014

TESTING TURMOIL

Snow days diminish AP review time

By Chizobam Nwagwu

SATrauma:

Big changes to the Scholastic Aptitude Test

On March 17, MCPS accounted for its 10th emergency cancellation due to weather conditions. March 10 through 14 marked for test preparation books and tutoring. one of the few full weeks of the quarter. Due to the multitude By Joshua Lang “The SAT is being changed back to two secof snow days, MCPS issued a press release on March 20, notifyThe SAT is the monolith of all tests students tions (math and critical reading) worth 1600 toing the community of the six instructional days the county needs take during their high school careers. However, to make up which extended the school year to June 19. Before in 2016 there are some big changes coming to tal points. The writing section will be optional,” the last snow day, MCPS applied for a waiver to be exempt from the SAT. According to CNN, the SAT will re- said Murray. “The math section will not have the meeting the federal 180-day requirement since two of those days shape the simple task of filling in a bubble on a higher level skills. Also, students will not get pewere called by Maryland as a State of Emergency. Instead, they test sheet. SAT scores are one of the determin- nalized for an incorrect answer. The new SAT received a waiver allowing for the county to make up for the lost ing factors colleges use when accepting students will also not penalize incorrect answers on the school days on April 21 and June 13. into their programs. Typically, students will test.”

Students who are freshmen this year will be With Advanced Placement (AP) and final exams quickly ap- take this test for the first time during their juthe first to take the new SAT in two years, and proaching, both teachers and students are beginning to feel the nior year and then, depending on how well they pressure. Students find themselves cramming to learn material think they did, will sometimes take it again dur- will have to consider new techniques to prepare for the exam in the following years. that was unable to be covered merely a month before the exam. ing the fall semester of their senior year. “[Some techniques for preparing for the SAT “To me, [with the snow days] the biggest challenge was con“The current SAT is three sections, math, critsistency,” said AP NSL teacher Jennifer Hall. “Every [week] we ical reading and writing,” said guidance coun- include] eliminating answer choices [students] would have a couple of days off of school and then we would come selor Erika Murray. “Each section is 800 possible know are wrong, annotating the passages, studyback and have another couple of days off.There’s all this talk about points. For a wrong answer, students lose one ing vocabulary, [and] practicing writing themoving the end of the school year back but really we needed those quarter of a point. For a blank answer students sis statements,” recommended English teacher Rachel Gold, who teaches College Test Prep. days [in the third quarter].” receive zero points.”

Due to the drastically adjusted schedules, Hall said she noticed The SAT pushes the skills students developed “[Also] sometimes reading the questions before a significant drop in grades and test scores for the third quarter. in high school to their limits. The website rec- the passages help students know what to look “The material that was [covered on tests] from all the way ommends that students study for least three for [on the test].”

In conjunction with the Khan Academy, a notback from the end of January, [was not reinforced] because of the months to prepare for the test. The main goal inconsistent routine of being in class,” said Hall. “I think it was a is to test the knowledge of students, not to trip for-profit online educational organization, the College Board will be producing free test prepachallenge for us to adjust to our new semester schedule since we them up. had so many days off.”

“No longer will it be good enough to focus on ration materials starting in 2015.

“I think the new SAT will be more accessible Despite the crunch for time, many students feel that the extra tricks and trying to eliminate answer choices,” snow days have been helpful to their school performance. Extra College Board President and CEO David Cole- to students. The new test will focus on [reldays off of school provide more time to catch up on schoolwork. man told CNN in early March. “We are not in- evant words in context], as well as reading pasStudents like junior Miranda Mlilo believe that the extra snow terested in students just picking an answer, but sages from different content areas,” said Gold.

“Also, the new focus on analyzing literature, sodays have helped her catch up with her schoolwork. Likewise, sev- justifying their answers.” eral seniors said snow days have been helpful in easing the stresses The scale of the test, which is used what deter- cial studies and science passages will mimic the of senior year, but at a costly price. mines a person’s score, will be reduced to 1600 structure and content of the ACT which tends to “I would say that it has been a really nice second semester of compared to the scale of 2400 on the current use vocabulary and comprehension that [seems] senior year,” said senior Raye Weigel. “I work and then I have an test. Many colleges now feel that the current easier to students. I think the vocabulary won’t entire week of school, so having a snow day [in between] helps. tests have become disconnected from what stu- be as challenging in the new SAT.” [The snow days] have made me...more relaxed [because] they dents are being taught in high school. This has took away from the momentum of studying.” caused students to pay large amounts of money Although one additional day was added to the end of the school year, MCPS decided not to extend the third marking period. Extending the quarter is a rare occurrence. However, schools may remove holidays to make up for lost instructional time.

MCPS has not commented on the possible rescheduling of the 1. The essay is optional.

AP Exams. Therefore, the exams will continue to be administered 2. The test is scored on a 1600 scale. from May 5 through May 16.

11 CHANGES TO THE SAT

Photo by Selma Stearns

Although most students enjoyed the snow days, missing school might affect performance on AP exams.

3. The test is available in paper or digital form.

4. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers.

5. Students are asked to analyze both text and data in real world contexts.

6. A calculator is permitted only on certain portions of the math section.

7. The math section draws from fewer topics.

8. The essay measures students’ ability to analyze evidence and explain how an author builds an argument.

9. The vocabulary is focused on words that are widely used in college and in the workplace.

10. Source documents originate from a wide range of academic disciplines.

11. Students support multiple choice answers with evidence.

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APRIL 11, 2014

FEATURE

9

Students, clubs raise awareness of pet purchases

When deciding where to buy a dog, students should consider potential issues

By Amanda Gross and Marissa Nardella When thinking about getting a pet, one may ordinarily think of a chain store, such as PetSmart or Petco. However, in the D.C. metropolitan area, there are multiple animal adoption agencies and small businesses that serve as options. One establishment is Just Puppies, which, true to its name, only sells dogs.

Just Puppies is a local store with locations in Rockville and Towson. The store’s website states that they do not plan on turning into a large-scale chain because they value hands-on service. Just Puppies purchases their puppies from USDA and state registered breeders.

Junior Adrian Campos recently purchased a West Highland White terrier named Kiyo, meaning purity in Japanese, from Just Puppies in Rockville. Campos said the process of buying his dog went smoothly and only took about 45 minutes. After making his purchase, he scheduled a vet appointment for Kiyo.

“We had to pay the starting price of my puppy, which was $900, and then from there [I bought] his cage, shampoo, brush, food, collar, leash, toys, bed [and] treats,” he said.

When deciding which dog to purchase, Just Puppies allowed 10-15 minutes of play time with the dog per Campos’ visit to the store. The price was set throughout the entire decision-making process, and the store included a chart showing the price of different breeds. “[My] general opinion [of Just Puppies] would be that they’re a good puppy-selling location, [employing] very informative, kind people,” said Campos.

In contrast, senior Jon Shirazi, while not a dog owner, has been involved in animal rescue for two years and is strongly opposed to Just Puppies. “[My general opinion of Just Puppies is that it is] a puppy Holocaust essentially,” he said. “[I feel] absolute hatred towards the store’s intentions.”

Shirazi first became involved with Just Puppies through a simple Internet search, which turned up information about Just Puppies being involved with puppy mills or puppy farms, which are commercial dog-breeding facilities operated with an emphasis on

Photo by Marissa Nardella

In the puppy room at Just Puppies, dogs for sale are shown to customers, who then have a chance to interact with the animals.

profits rather than the dogs’ welfare. He also often saw peers posting photos on social media, and an argument with a friend spurred him into action. “[I wrote an article on Just Puppies’ use of puppy mills] to raise awareness, mainly around [my] peers,” he said.

Shirazi’s article was included as a link in an article published by the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation (LDCRF).

Shirazi also founded the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation Club at WJ this year.

“The purpose [of the club] is to raise awareness as a group and also offer volunteering opportunities to those who otherwise didn’t know how or where to volunteer,” he said.

Another club at WJ that raises funds and provides volunteer opportunities for shelters and organizations is A Cause for Paws.

Sophomore Solenn Cabrera founded the club because she has many pets and used to volunteer with the Montgomery County Humane Society.

“Shelter animals are the exact same [as animals in

Transgender teens share experiences

When he was a child he simply believed he was a typiIn the realm of sexuality, most people are familiar cal boy, despite being biologically female.

When schools divided everyone into males and fewith heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and males, Kibria was forced into being with the girls. asexuality, no sexual attraction. There is another rarer When using the girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms, sexual identification called transgender, which means Kibria felt as if he were with the wrong group and the individual identifies with a gender that doesn’t thought that he would have been more comfortable coincide with his or her birth sex. For instance, this with the boys.

He tried to convince himself he was means that someone could biologically be male, but simply a boyish girl, but throughout his childhood, identify as a female.

Kibria was unhappy with his birth gender. When he It is usually difficult for people to describe what tried to act like a boy, dress like a boy or wear his hair makes them “male” or “female”, but for freshman like a boy, he was constantly teased and bullied.

Imaan Kibria, his journey into discovering he was a “I was unhappy [and] I couldn’t enjoy things freely, male in a female body started when he was very young. because it wasn’t a girl thing to do,” said Kibria.

By Anders Norberg

pet stores],” said Cabrera.

Cabrera said many dogs end up in shelters because people don’t realize the responsibility of owning a dog.

Other misconceptions about buying a dog include the idea that it would be easier to purchase an animal at a chain store.

However, according to Ben Rabin, assistant general manager at Petco’s location on Rockville Pike, one thing to consider when buying a pet is that Petco does not offer dogs up for sale. Instead, it offers cats and dogs for adoption. Petco often collaborates with adoption agencies and permit them to use their space, either temporarily or permanently.

“Most people want to grow up with a puppy, so not a lot of older dogs get adopted,” said sophomore and A Cause for Paws club vice president Mireim Alibrahim.

Both Cabrera and Alibrahim agree that a major problem with animal shelters is that because of overcrowding, many dogs are euthanized.

“There’s not enough room in shelters, so they have to kill dogs,” said Cabrera. “[I wish people didn’t] assume [that] because a dog isn’t purebred it’s not loveable.”

Transgender people experience unemployment at twice the rate of the general population.

90% of transgender students heard derogatory remarks sometimes, often, or frequently in school.

90% of transgender people report experiencing harassment, mistreatment or discrimination on the job.

Transgender people are four times more Although likely to live in LGBT students poverty. overall report

high levels of harassment and assault in school, transgender students experience even higher levels than non-transgender students.

The more transgender students discuss LGBT issues in school, the more likely they are to feel like a part of their school community.

Graphic by Selma Stearns Information from Glaad.org and GLSEN

Junior Mason Saphire had a journey of self-discovery and bullying throughout school as well. He also described a feeling of dysphoria.

“Dysphoria is this feeling when you wake up, but your body doesn’t feel correct, [like it’s missing something],” said Saphire.

Kirbia explained that when it comes to transgender people, the important thing to know is that they are just regular people who simply don’t identify with the same gender they are born with.

“You should treat trans people as if they are biologically and emotionally their birth sex,” said Kibria.

“Call them those pronouns.”

Kibria and Saphire agree that at WJ, there isn’t a big issue with bullying students over sexuality, but all over the country there are thousands of students suffering. Being a transgender teen is difficult because it requires the individual to go against the gender binary in society to realize exactly who they are. These selftransformations are often fraught with bullying and emotional issues. Some transgender people feel that schools should incorporate gender neutral bathrooms, and tests and forms should allow an X option in addition to M and F for genders.

It can be hard to understand what it means to be a transgender person, or how transgender people identify themselves. Kibria said he has answered questions in the past and has no issues with explaining the concept to others.

“Don’t be afraid to talk about it,” said Kibria.

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SPORTS

APRIL 11, 2014

Caught in a pickle

Maryland’s move to the Big Ten leaves fans disapointed

By Ben Resnick On March 9, the University of Maryland men’s basketball team beat the Virginia Cavaliers in overtime during the Terps’ last home game of the season.

Most years this would be an exciting end to Maryland’s basketball season, but this win was bittersweet.

In 1952, Maryland along with six other schools formed the Atlantic Coastal Conference, better known as the ACC. This was Maryland’s last home basketball game in this conference.

In November 2012, Maryland announced they were moving to the Big

Ten conference. The reason for this sudden change was financial-based and left many Maryland fans puzzled and upset.

In Maryland’s 62 years as a member of the ACC, the Terps have formed many great rivalries within the conference.

Games against Duke, UNC Chapel Hill and UVA are always high intensity.

These high octane games have defined Maryland sports teams and have been a part of the program for longer than most of Maryland’s fans have been alive. Maryland fans always flock to these games and many are devastated that they are ending.

These foes will no longer be making trips to Comcast Center. Instead, the Big Ten schools will be making long trips to Maryland for games. It’s difficult to imagine basketball and football

schedules where the home schedule includes games against Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa and the other nine schools in the conference.

On the other hand, financially, moving to the Big Ten was a no-brainer. The school is expecting to make an addi-

the only thing that matters anymore is money. And that is a real shame.

Michael Wilbon, a Maryland resident and a host of the popular show “Pardon the Interruption” on ESPN, summed it up better than anyone. “[The move to the Big Ten] destroys the tradition and the history of rivalries, and the competition, and just says, ‘Okay, let’s pimp ourselves out, we’re going to go for the money.’ ” Sports should be celebrated for the gamesmanship, sportsmanship, hard work, dedication, determination, outstanding tional 100 million dollars in conference performances and great games. Growrevenue by 2020. This will not only help ing up watching sports, I came to love Maryland bring back sports teams that all of these traits. This move gives us the were cut due to financial shortages, but picture that money trumps all. This phiwill also fund all Maryland sports while losophy is flawed and will end up ruinstill having money that will go back to ing sports for future generations. the University and help fund the school.

This creates the feeling that games, traditions and rivalries do not matter,

creates the feeling that games, “ This traditions and rivalries do not matter; the only thing that matters anymore is money. And that is a real shame.

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APRIL 11, 2014

SPORTS

Jordan Cooper is a sure shot for Lax

Cooper started playing lacrosse in eighth grade and plans to continue to play next year at Union College in New York. Although next year will be a new and exciting opportunity for Cooper, he said he will miss playing at WJ and miss being a part of the WJ team and the traditions that go along with being a Wildcat.

“It has been really great [playing for WJ], there is really not too much bad that I Photo courtesy of Jordan Cooper can say about it,” said Cooper.

WJ varsity lacrosse seniors pose together for a picture.

“The main thing is we try to have as much fun as we can.

By Emily Cosentino [Playing lacrosse] is a hobby that everyLast year, varsity boys lacrosse went to one [on the team] likes to do, and since the regional semi-finals and lost against [they] like to do it that’s the reason they Wootton, 10 to six. This year, the team come out…just to have a really good has big goals and high expectations. For time.”

According to Cooper, as a senior he senior Jordan Cooper, this is an exciting has more responsibility on the team. time to enjoy high school sports while Younger members of the team look up still looking forward to the new experito him, which puts him in more of a ences next year will bring.

“We are really excited to see how this leadership role than he was previously season will go; it’s kind of up in the air used to. This strengthens his relationright now,” said Cooper. “We had our ship with his younger teammates.

“It allows me to connect with [the first game and won against a team that younger teammates] more,” he said. “I wasn’t really that great. Once we progcan tell them based off of my experiress through the season more, we will ences what they need to do in order to see how the team is shaping out.”

improve or just get better every day. It is just kind of a shared experience between us and them.”

Playing on the team creates strong friendships that might not have formed otherwise. “[Being on the team] allows you to make friends with people in other grades just because you don’t normally get to hang out with those people during school so after school you get to practice and you get to see them every day and you get to develop a friendship,” said Cooper.

Being on a sports team does not only help him make new friends, it also helps Cooper in his overall day to day life.

“It makes my school life a little more constructive [because] it allows me to plan out my days a lot easier,” said Cooper. “I know I am going to have practice right after school and when I get home from that I am not going to have too much time to do my work.”

According to Cooper, since there is less time for him to relax and procrastinate due to his busy schedule, he gets his work done faster, and he values his time more.

As a senior, this is Cooper’s last year playing for WJ. Although it is sad, he is excited about this upcoming year.

“I have been really proud of how the team has been playing; we have had a lot

11

of kids really step up,” said Cooper. “I am excited to see how it turns out.”

He is most excited about the games against rival Churchill and WJ lacrosse competitor Wootton.

“Those two [schools] always have great teams and they are always fun and exciting games, so those will probably be the two most anticipated games of the year,” said Cooper.

Photo courtesy of Jordan Cooper

Senior Jordan Cooper looks upfield to make a pass.

MLB Predictions

The 2014 sports section makes predictions for this years MLB season

By Ben Resnick, JakeWeinischke and Josh Greenburg

Break out performance: BR: I believe Bryce Harper will finally

have the season people have been waiting for. This 20-year-old star has battled injuries his first two years in the MLB. I believe he is ready to break out and do huge things for the Nationals this year.

JW: Kolten Wong The 23-year-old Hawaiian native broke into the Majors at the end of last season, he led the Cardinals in batting average and on base percentage at .391 and .451 respectively during spring training. Projected to be the starting second basemen on the Cardinals opening day roster, expect stellar numbers from the top-ranked second base prospect in baseball.

JG: Sonny Gray joined the Athletics rotation on Aug. 10, 2013. Ten starts later, the right-hander had a 2.85 ERA and landed a spot on the Oakland Athletics postseason rotation. After his dominant showing in the Playoffs expect for Gray to be a breakout pitcher and performer as he gets to display his talents for an entire MLB season.

mind-boggling 1.83 ERA last season and recording 232 strikeouts, Kershaw has established himself as indisputably the best pitcher in the National League if not all of MLB. Kershaw recently signed the richest contract in MLB history and you can count on a fitting performance from both him and the Dodgers.

JG: Being one of the only players ever to win the Cy Young and MVP awards in the same season, Justin Verlander was one the best pitcher in the world two years ago. Verlander was overshadowed last year by teammate and Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer. Expect Verlander to step back in the spotlight and prove he is the best pitcher in the league.

Top position player: BR: Miguel Cabrera is the

obvious choice here. Winner of the past two AL MVPs “Miggy” is hitting the ball better than anyone in the MLB and is considered the best hitter in the world. This will not change this year as Cabrera will dominate pitchers all year long once again.

Top Pitcher: JW: Mike Trout is easily one of the best BR: Clayton Kershaw would be the players to break into MLB in the last deobvious choice here as he has been bet- cade finishing runner up to Detroit Titer than anyone the past two years, but I gers’ third basemen, Miguel Cabrera in believe Felix Hernandez will be the best American League MVP voting in each pitcher this year as he will lead a much of his first two seasons in the MLB. It’s hard to believe that Trout is still only 22 improved Mariners lineup out West.

JW: Clayton Kershaw, after posting a and has probably yet to reach his prime.

Continue to expect special things from him as the 2014 season commences.

JG: Dodgers’ right fielder Yasiel Puig turned a lot of heads with his strong bat and strong arm during his rookie season last year. Puig is back and after an offseason where he was able to polish his skills. Puig is expected to be an MVP Candidate.

Dark hourse for the World Series: BR: The Oakland Athletics are not a

sexy or flashy team, but what this team does well is win. The As are as good as anyone in the AL and now have good playoff experience under their belt.

Don’t be surprised to see the As making a run in October.

JW: The Baltimore Orioles .After acquiring two high caliber stars this past offseason in Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz, the Orioles augmented a lineup already featuring reigning AL homerun champion, Chris Davis, three- time allstar Adam Jones, and star shortstop J.J. Hardy. Despite high competition in the powerhouse American League East, the Orioles are fit to make a run into the playoffs.

JG: With new addition Prince Fielder and backed up by a solid pitching rotation, the Texas Rangers are the dark horses this year with the team being overshadowed by last year’s American League West Division Champions, the

Oakland Athletics. Expect the Texas Rangers to turn a lot of heads with a revamped roster and a lot to prove.

World Series champion: BR: The 2014 Washington Nation-

als will win the World Series! I said it, they have the best starting pitching in the MLB and their lineup can hit with anybody. With an improved bench and a new manager at the helm, the Nationals will be the champions when it is all said and done.

JW: The Cardinals are National League Champions three years running.

They have made four World Series appearances since 2004, more than any other team in MLB. General Manager John Mozeliak has developed a starstudded roster with an abundance of homegrown talent. Featuring arguably the best catcher in the game in Yadier Molina and a rotation comprised of Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller, Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly, Jr., this prediction is a no-brainer.

JG: Although they might not be the favorites to win the World Series this year after an offseason with only a few key roster additions, the Baltimore Orioles will be champions at the end of the season. The O’s have key pitchers and great hitting and fielding throughout their lineup. Expect the Orioles to compete and win the World Series this season.

Sports

What’s Inside

Sports section editor Ben Resnick gives his opinion in his column “Caught in a Pickle”

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APRIL 11, 2014

Fighting in the NHL

STATS

Traditionalists still support fighting in hockey despite serious head injuries

-Individual Fighting Major leader for 2013-14 season: Tom Sestito- Vancouver Canucks -Team Fighting Major leader for 2013-14 season: Toronto Maple Leafs with 47 -All time leader in fighting majors: Tie Domi-278 -Most Penalty

minutes in single game: 419 Philadelphia Flyers vs.

Ottawa Senators

Information from Hockeyfights.com

Photo from flickr, MattBritt00

Steve MacIntyre from the Oilers and Derek Boogaard from the Rangers get into a fight during a game in Nov. 2010.

By JakeWeineschke

It was a normal May afternoon when Aaron Boogaard discovered his older brother, Derek, one of the fiercest enforcers in the NHL, dead in his apartment due to an oxycodone and alcohol overdose. He was roughly a month shy of his 29th birthday.

An autopsy conducted shortly after his death diagnosed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degeneration of brain tissue, commonly known as “punchdrunk syndrome,” and sparked escalation once again in the controversy over fighting and its role in hockey.

From the 1999-2000 season to the 2010-2011 season, Boogaard was involved in 184 altercations, averaging 15 fighting major penalties a year. Statistics like these are relatively normal for an NHL enforcer, a player who almost exclusively fights, standards. Is fighting as imperative a component of hockey as it is percieved to be, or could the game progress smoothly with the elimination of hand-to-hand combat?

This question has been answered by the contrast

Lacrosse senior Jordan Cooper shares his team experience

between the NHL and Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Through the duration of the entire season, HC Dynamo Moscow of the KHL led the league with eight fighting majors, an extraordinarily low amount when compared to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 46 fighting majors over the course of 70 NHL games this season.

Within several months of Boogaard’s death, NHL enforcers Wade Belak and Rick Rypien were similarly found dead from what was deemed to be suicide.

Both players suffered tremendous head trauma and subsequently battled with depression.

Hockey traditionalists continue to defend fighting as a critical facet of the game, as it holds players accountable for their actions, protects star players and provides momentum boosts. However, is protecting the rest of the team by designating a few players to receive brutal head trauma day in and day out a beneficial system?

Walter Gretzky, father of Wayne Gretzky, who is widely considered to be the best player in history, voiced his displeasure on fighting in the game of hockey.

“It is stupid. You want to be a boxer, go and be a boxer,” said Gretzky on a hockey blogging website last year.

Despite Gretzky’s perspective, the majority of current NHL players have adamantly voiced their opinion in support of fighting.

“I don’t want to see it diminished and I hope it’s not. I definitely think that fighting’s got its place in the game,” said Minnesota Wild forward and Team USA captain, Zach Parise in an NHL promo video on fighting.

Lastly, many NHL players consider themselves to be entertainers, first and foremost. Some believe

Graphic by Emily Cosentino

that if the fighting riles up the fans, increases attendance, and develops widespread enthusiasm about the game, then it should be left untouched. The entertaining aspect of a fight generally derives from its spontaneity and inherent adrenaline, the controversy and the excitement. Hockey connoisseurs opposed to fighting argue that when nearly 40 percent of all NHL games feature an altercation, the controversy begins to wane, the spontaneity diminishes and the excitement devolves to boredom.

The priorities of the players, NHL executives and the NHL fan base dictate when the fighting has gone too far. Until these groups recognizes the harsh consequences of brutality in the NHL, entertainment will continue to trump safety.

Photo from flickr, MattBritt00

MacIntyre and Boogaard during a fight in 2010. The pair got into a previous fight during 2009.