The Pitch
Walter Johnson High School
November 25, 2013
Volume 59, Issue 3
6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814
High school censorship silences sounds of students
By Izzy Salant and Anna Hovey
is also looked over by the SGA and its sponsor, Rainer Kulenkampff, who Homecoming is a time go through the same task for sports, dancing, being of deciding what is school rejected by dates and so appropriate or not. He many other forms of selfexplained how he goes expression. At WJ, homethrough the process. coming comes with anoth“After considering what er tradition: The movie. was school appropriate This year’s movie sparked and what was important some controversy among to the story, I discussed students, as some were the sensitive material with upset with the amount of the SGA and we typically alterations made to the came to a consensus on movie. There were scenes whether or not scenes or removed, including some content was appropriate.” that were deemed sugCangarlu’s scene was gestive, inappropriate or not considered appropripotentially offensive to ate, after examination, and students. Treasurer Ryan Cangarlu acknowledged Cangarlu’s main scene inthat while he may not have cluded various parts that found the scene offensive, could be considered offenit is administration’s job sive and were ultimately to step in if they believe cut. others will. While adminCangarlu’s scene deistration may not love to picted his attempt to get Photo Illustration by Sarah Schecker censor the video, it is their to school, in which his car Students who were bothered by the censoring of the homecoming movie this year voiced their opinions to Cangarlu. Baker responsibility to provide breaks down, causing him explained that she doesn’t enjoy censoring, but she will do it if need be. a safe environment. Even to go on an adventure and leaving the SGA to find initial anger passed, I started to realize that administra- so, he spoke to Baker about his scenes in the movie the missing money themselves. However, there were tion wasn’t making its decision personally against me, in person to plead his case, and she suggested that he scenes within this section that could be deemed in- but they were really just trying to make sure that peo- re-film those scenes. Cangarlu did not have time to do appropriate, such as when Cangarlu is in bed with ple in our school weren’t offended. School shouldn’t so, unfortunately, as the airing of the movie was only a friend senior Gilliam Levy, which he was told could be a place where anyone feels mocked or ridiculed.” Principal Jennifer Baker agreed, and added why she few days away at that point. Since his scene did not air, be insulting to gay students. In another scene, when Cangarlu uploaded the video to Youtube and posted Cangarlu sang along to a song that included the lyrics censors something in the first place. “We [shouldn’t] be promoting drugs and alcohol the link on Facebook, so people still had a chance to “children obey their parents in the Lord” and he was see the scene. told this could be offensive to non-Christian students. or making fun of certain groups,” she said. “No one “I was really happy with the reception of the [cut] After these parts were removed, Cangarlu felt his part should be offended. I look [at the movie] through a scene,” said Cangarlu. “A bunch of people talked to in the movie had lost its fluidity, and decided to re- certain lens, as 2300 students and the public viewing me about it on the days following the release on Facethis, and I think if any of it could be interpreted as ofmove all of his scene. book. They were all really supportive.” “At first, I was really upset that I needed to cut the fensive.” Besides Baker and the administration, the movie “Censorship,” continued on page 4 different parts of the scene,” said Cangarlu. “After the
Abuse of animals in the food industry is not a paltry matter
By Adriana Del Grosso Thanksgiving, for many students, usually involves gathering around the table with family to share a meal that features turkey. The meat production industry is a massive industry in the U.S., and production spikes around the holiday season. The average American consumed nearly 17 pounds of turkey in 2009, ac-
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cording to National Geographic, which is 6.6 pounds above Canada and nearly twice that of the other three leading countries. The U.S. demand for poultry has put pressure on the agriculture industry to produce large quantities of meat quickly and cheaply.
“Abuse,” continued on page 5
EDITORIAL pages 5-8
Americans need to pay more attention to people of diverse backgrounds since they are the link between different cultures and languages.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT pages 9-12
Music at and around WJ is featured in this issue’s spread, including POP Fly, pictured above.
Illustration by Alex Alavi
FEATURE pages 13-16
SPORTS pages 17-20
A look into WJ’s past concerning driver’s ed and why it is no longer a class at the school.
Girls Cross Country wins their first state championship since 1999.