January 2016

Sherwood High School 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.thewarrioronline.com

Warrior 38th Year, Issue No.3

January 14, 2016

the

Inside: News: 1-5, Hidden Talents: 6-7, Features: 8-9, Humor: 10-11, Spotlight: 12-13, Opinions: 14-17, Wondering Warrior: 18 Entertainment: 19-20, Sports: 21-24

Head Injuries on the Field Lead To Major Fallout in Classrooms

Bathroom Parties: Students must find new ways to show spirit after chaotic incident

pg. 2

Hidden Talents:

Students and staff display their unique abilities

pg. 6-7 The Real Housewives of Olney: The reality show introduces new spinoff in Olney by Bryse Thornwell ‘16 pg. 10 Freshman Haley Allen

Generations:

A closer look at the different age groups today

pg. 12-13

blocked a girl’s pass on the lacrosse field and received a blow to the head during a Saturday tournament. Senior Lauren Alexander was supervising a group of kids at work when she collided with a man playing basketball nearby and slammed her head on the floor. Sophomore Alhaji Turay was hit in the face with a soccer ball during a school game in September. After experiencing various symptoms, Allen, Alexander

a n d Turay joined the 40 students that have been diagnosed with a concussion at Sherwood this school year alone.

A concussion, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), is “a brain injury, caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, that changes the way the brain usually works.” The most common symptoms include fatigue and headaches, weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, nausea, seizures, memory difficulties or even loss of consciousness.

Concussion counts have steadily increased over the past couple of years. “More awareness and therefore more recognition has brought the number of concussions up significantly,” said Dr. Christopher G. Vaughan, a pediatric neuropsychologist who has treated Sherwood students at Children’s National Hospital.

Sherwood documented 108 concussions last year and on aver-

age sees four to six “head bumps” to the health room daily. “I think it’s mostly due to our documentation and more awareness of the seriousness of the injury. Before we weren’t required to document concussions to the county; now we are,” said school nurse Jennifer Jones.

Students suffering from a concussion follow the “Return to Learn” protocol. “We give them a little bit of work and wait until they are almost symptom-free.

If symptoms don’t decrease, we lessen the workload, but if they do decrease, we add more work until they are back at the normal classroom level,” added Jones.

The list of restrictions described on the Acute Concussion Evaluation document, sent by the doctor, includes a list of accommodations that last as long as symptoms persist. Common accommodations include multiple rest breaks, reduced homework and/or classwork, extended due dates, modified testing and a pass to the health room should symptoms worsen. Accommodations could even result in a more intensive 504 Plan which provides disability accommodations for concussions over a long period of time.

In order to accommodate stu-

dents diagnosed with a concussion, the counselors, nurse and administrators all meet to gather more information and discuss the best course of action. “I provide the medical background needed, while the administrators look at coursework … Ultimately we all agree on priorities for the student,” stated Jones.

Despite the current protocol in place, concussed students seem to have different opinions about how well they felt they were accommodated. Allen stated that all of her teachers were understanding of her condition, and she did not feel rushed or overwhelmed once she was fully healed. Turay seemed to find himself in the middle where most of his teachers were helpful, but he found he had to find out and learn many things on his own. Alexander found that some teachers were more helpful than others in her recovery process. “Teachers definitely forget sometimes that in addition to the work I have to make up in their class, I also have work to make up in four other classes,” said Alexander.

While Vaughan explains there is still a lot to learn, he stated the best treatment for concussions is “relaxation, hydration, and good sleep.”

Picking the wrong “word”: An emoji was the worst choice to represent 2015 MCPS has dramatically shifted away from suspending students. High schools have instead been mandated to rely

pg. 16 on In-School Interventions (ISI). At Sherwood, students in ISI spend a day or more in a room in the Main Office.

Students Who Do the Crime Do the Time

Money: How students make and spend it pg. 18

Cava Mezze:

A review of Olney’s newest restaurant pg. 19

Swimming:

Strong season attributed to talent and leadership pg . 24

by Danielle Tobb ‘17

As a result of efforts to keep students in school, the number of out-of-school suspensions at Sherwood has remained at an all-time low over the past two years. There were six suspensions during the first quarter of this school year. During the first quarter of 2014-2015 school year, there were just three suspensions.

The school, instead, has relied on In-School Interventions (ISI) and other measures such as peer mediation and community service. As suspensions decline, the number of students placed in ISI has greatly increased, and 39 students were given ISI during the second quarter of this school year, according to data pulled by Assistant Principal Sandi Williams.

Starting as early as February of 2012, the Maryland State Board of Education passed a new initiative to cut the number of students suspended from school because of the belief that those students were missing too much class time. The report that the board drafted concluded that there

Maya Koeppen ‘17

Students that are given in-school intervention spend their hours in this room in the Main Office. The room provides a workspace for students to complete assignments due to their absence from their classes. was little to no evidence that removing students from school for misdemeanors improved student behavior or the school’s safety.

After the Maryland State Board of Education finalized new regulations on suspensions in 2014, MCPS followed suit by adjusting its own policies. A new code of conduct includes a 10-

page matrix of different wrongdoings and detailed levels of punishment for each. These new MCPS guidelines led to an increase in ISI at Sherwood to 15 in 2014 from four the previous year.

This comes a year after suspensions at Sherwood in 2013 were at an all-time high of 49, according to Williams.

The In-School Interventions typically take place in a room located in the main office. Posted on the wall includes a set of rules that students in the room must follow. These guidelines include securing cell phones, following directions of staff members, and

see SUSPENSION, pg. 3

The Warrior•News 2

January 14, 2016

Court Reviews Affirmative Action

by Ketki Chauhan ‘16 This legal year, the Supreme Court is reviewing Fisher v.

University of Texas at Austin which deals with affirmative action and the use of racial preference in undergraduate admissions at universities across the country. The oral arguments for the case were heard on December 9. The plaintiff, Abigail Fisher, filed the case in 2008 after being denied admission to the university because of its race-conscious admission policy. If her claim is proven true, not only could the university be in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the fourteenth amendment, but analysts believe affirmative action, as a whole, may be removed from college admissions nationwide.

The case has the potential to become another landmark case like Regents of the University of California v. Bakke and Grutter v. Bollinger which have provided precedent for Fisher’s case as both decisions legitimized race-conscious admission policies in order to promote a diverse student body; however, the latter case established that race has a limited role in the admission decisions made by public universities.

The topic of affirmative action raises all sorts of debate because some believe that affirmative action is equivalent to “reverse racism” while others believe that affirmative action is essential because of a centuries-long legacy of racism in the country, which has been stirred up again by tragedies like the Charleston church shooting and the deaths of black men and women at the hands of police officers. Affirmative action has provided effectiveness as a way of having a more diverse student body on college campuses.

Rumors on the Rise for iPhone 7

by Bryse Thornwell ‘16

It’s the year 2016, which officially ends the “S” year for Apple’s iPhone and paves the way for the iPhone 7 tentatively set to be released this fall. While Apple has not yet stated which changes are absolutely definite, USA Today has released some of the modifications that reportedly will be incorporated into the new design. Some of the biggest changes include removing the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, making the phone compatible with gloves, and protecting the phone by adding more water-resistant materials.

USA Today speculates on these changes based on Apple’s recently received patents for “Glove Touch Detection,” “Electronic devices with housing port shutters,” and an informant from the Japanese blog Macotakara.

The most controversial change would most likely be the removal of the headphone jack. Removing the headphone jack would allow Apple to make the iPhone even thinner, and the standard 3.5mm plug would be modified to fit the charger port.

While at first this change seems similar to when Apple changed the charger ports from the old (30-pin) charger to the new, thinner lightning cable, headphones include a market that expands further and would lead everyone to modify their headphone products, not just Apple.

Radon Retested Across MCPS

by Samantha Schwartz ‘16

After 26 MCPS schools tested for dangerously high levels of radon, all schools and other buildings within the district have been scheduled to be retested. Sherwood’s radon levels were tested from December 21 to 24 and are awaiting results.

Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that often seeps into buildings through cracks in the foundation. This seemingly harmless gas is linked to lung cancer and thus regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA says radon should be tested for and should not exceed four picocuries per liter (pCi/l), in order to protect people’s safety and well-being.

Interim Superintendent Larry A. Bowers has directed staff to review the MCPS radon program and to establish a new baseline set of data of radon levels in MCPS facilities with the retesting data. The new radon monitoring program will be developed with guidance from the EPA to ensure an effective and accurate new policy.

The upcoming testing schedule and future test results will be accessible on the MCPS website (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org).

Administration Hopes To Redirect Spirit

by Ashley Nnabue ‘16 It is difficult to attend Sherwood and not be aware of the occasional bathroom party. Hordes of students, numbering from a dozen to more than 50 people, screaming and yelling in a hallway as they tramp into a boys’ bathroom together is hard to miss. What may seem like fairly innocent fun to the participants has proven to have the potential to become an uncontrollable and dangerous event.

Bathroom parties at the school are a fairly recent phenomena of the past four years where students, usually males, gather at a specific school bathroom between class periods to chant, jump, and build excitement for a much anticipated sports game later that day, or simply to blow off steam. The occasion tends to occur on the days of important football or boys’ basketball games, but also has taken place in past years in the late springtime as students anticipate the end of a school year.

Word gets around through mass text messages that reach nearly every individual within the school. The message sparks encouragement by highlighting the importance for everyone to participate if he or she has school spirit. Although it is meant to be fun, students fail to realize the danger and damage that bathroom parties can cause.

For the most recent bathroom party on November 13, students were encouraged to get hyped for the football playoff game against Howard. A first bathroom par-

Chase Wilson ‘17

A rowdy bathroom party damaged the C hall boys’ bathroom on November 13. Students messed with ceiling tiles and soap dispensers. ty that day took place between 6th and 7th periods in the upper C-hall. A second and larger party took place again between 7th and 8th periods in the same location.

In the frenzy, a student accidentally injured security guard Andy Blasher. As Blasher tried to prevent students from leaving the bathroom, he was shoved in the shoulder, causing an injury for which he received surgery on December 16. Blasher is scheduled to return to Sherwood in March, but will be taking legal action regarding the incident. For the time being, security guard Gabriel Palamo will be filling in.

“If people are getting hurt, it is not school spirit but unorganized chaos that detracts from it,” said Pat Rooney, the head of the

school’s security team. “It is always boys because girls are smart enough not to go into dirty bathrooms and be stupid.”

Principal Bill Gregory angrily made a public announcement to the student body during 8th period on November 13 and sternly made clear that he will not tolerate the reckless behavior that occurred during the two bathroom parties that day. He also stressed that he appreciates students’ school spirit and wants that spirit to continue, but that students need to channel it in appropriate ways. Activities such as a flash mob would be acceptable.

Gregory said that there will be severe consequences for students who participate in any bathroom parties in the future.

Uber Car Service Increases in Popularity with Strings Attached

by Naomi Lawrence ‘17 Since 2010, Uber increasingly has been used by many across the nation and other countries worldwide. This smartphone app allows users to request a car with the tap of a screen. Payments are made through an account on the app, which makes the use of cash unnecessary. In addition, drivers are given the customer’s location upon request, so there is no need to wait around for a cab to hopefully swing by. Used for nearly any occasion, users can be taken virtually anywhere.

Drivers also experience many perks. Though they are responsible for wear and tear on their car, as well as having to pay for gas, they do get to set their own hours. Although drivers are not permitted to receive tips, they are not subject to the same rigid regulations and fees that traditional taxi drivers are. One feature of Uber allows passengers to rate their drivers and vice versa.

If anyone, driver or passenger, receives too many poor reviews, the company will de-activate the

account.

It’s no wonder Uber is regarded as a leading company of appbased services. However, as the hype about the company grows, more concerns have popped up.

Earlier this year in August, district attorneys in California pressed charges against the company, accusing Uber of not completing adequate background checks on its hired drivers. San Francisco’s District Attorney, George Gascon, pointed out that the database Uber uses to check the records of potential drivers overlooks former criminals. He found 30,000 Uber employees who are registered sex offenders, and were not found in the database. Registered cab companies use a database called Livescan that checks against the sex offender registry, thereby eliminating the possibility of hiring criminals.

In addition, many Uber drivers aren’t considered employees by state law. While claiming “employee” status, one can be entitled to government benefits. However, if drivers refer to themselves as

an “independent contractor,” they avoid having to pay income taxes.

There have been several cases where people have been overcharged by Uber drivers. For instance, a woman in Baltimore was charged $362 for a 20-minute ride. Taxis would have charged a fraction of that price.

Uber’s policy also states that they prohibit drivers from giving rides to minors. However, many teenagers use the car service to get home from parties and clubs, rather than driving themselves, or having their parents come and get them. While providing an alternative to prevent drunk driving, common practice contradicts Uber’s own policy.

The Uber policy on accounts states that users must be above the age of 18 and that all information given through the account must be accurate. While this is legally appropriate for the protection of the company against liability, Uber has no methods of checking that all information is correct, and end up giving rides to minors and other people who have accounts under false names.

The Warrior•News

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January 14, 2016 Illustrated by Tyler Ruth ‘16

Increase in Students in ISI from SUSPENSION, pg. 1

The SHA-proposed sidewalk would stretch from New Hampshire Avenue to Brooke Road. The GOCA wishes to extend the sidewalk from Brooke Road to existing sidewalk in front of Sherwood towards Dr. Bird

Greater Olney Civic Organization Proposes Sidewalk along MD-108

by Tyler Ruth ‘16 The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) recently created a plan to install a sidewalk that extends from MD-650 (New Hampshire Ave) westward to Brooke Road next to the Sandy Spring Post Office to comply with requirements set in place by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) has recently sent a resolution to the SHA which slightly revises the original plan and hopes for a westward extension to Dr. Bird Road, which would allow the connection of Olney and Sandy Spring and make it easier and safer for walkers to commute to and from school.

Olney and Sandy Spring are two towns that are home to many Sherwood students.

Current-

ly, there is no way to commute from one town to the other without driving or walking along dirt paths, made from the footsteps of hundreds of students over the years.

The current plan by the SHA would leave no connection to Sherwood Elementary School and thus no connection to the sidewalk that starts to the east of Sherwood Elementary and extends to Marden Lane (.4 miles west of Dr. Bird Road). The GOCA argues that the current plan does not account for requirements put in place by the Americans with Disabilities Act as there is no connection for walkers and people in wheelchairs to make their ways across, and the whole point of the original plan by the SHA is to account for ADA requirements.

To add to the plan, the GOCA

also argues that the short trail that extends from Sherwood Elementary to Marden Lane should be extended an extra 2,000 feet to connect to Dr. Bird. They assert that “this section of road is narrow, winding and without any safety shoulder” and that it is in the best interest of all people, drivers and walkers, to extend the sidewalk through this area.

The current proposed plan has the sidewalk as a “shareduse path,” which entails a 10-foot wide sidewalk separated from the street. Shared-use paths are used by bikers and walkers alike, which will also ensure safety of not both students and drivers, as one will not need to pass bikers on the left and put themselves at risk of being hit by oncoming traffic.

The current plan for the sidewalk is to be built on the north side of 108, across from Sherwood.

completing all assignments given to them. Williams explained that during ISI, a student is provided with a reflection sheet in which the student answers questions to reflect on his or her behavior, what caused that behavior and the appropriate response in the future.

According to Principal Bill Gregory, there are few repeat offenders in ISI for behavioral issues due to its monotonous nature, and Gregory believes that ISI therefore deters students to a great extent from misbehaving again.

Social studies teacher Todd Rubinstein has had multiple students placed in ISI on more than one occasion. “For those students, the lesson is clearly not being received. These students are missing a significant amount of instruction in all of their courses.”

Rubinstein said that while the boredom of ISI has the potential to be worse than an out-of-school suspension, he has seen students in the ISI room sleeping and playing on their cellphones.

At Sherwood specifically, para-educators are in charge of taking shifts to look over the students in ISI. One para-educator noted that the students in the program oftentimes stare into space. Some teachers do not provide them with any homework to do while in the program.

The main goal of the ISI program is to increase classroom instruction for students who would otherwise be losing substantial learning time if suspended. ISI is also intended to address the fact that studies and reports consistently have found

that black and hispanic students are disproportionately suspended out-of-school. However, minority students continue to make up the greatest share of students placed in ISI at Sherwood. Unlike outof-school suspensions, the racial and gender demographics of students in ISI are not reported to MCPS or the state of Maryland.

Gregory explained that students sleeping and playing on their cell phones during ISI was a problem that needed to be resolved. The role of the para-educator is to help students with their schoolwork, and Gregory added that the para-educator should contact an administrator if a student in ISI resists or refuses to complete school work.

Gregory says that there is an important distinction between the term “ISI,” which is “to make sure students get their work done,” and “ISS,” which is a punishment for students to “just sit there.” Sherwood does not have ISS, according to Gregory. On the rare occasion when a student is given an out-of-school suspension, it often results from a more serious behavior and involves the police.

One male junior recently was put in ISI for two days after bringing a knife to school. He said that he intended no harm and that he simply forgot that it was in his backpack. The incident led to his first time placed in ISI. His teachers gave him homework to do while in the program, but not enough to keep him occupied for an entire school day. When he ran out of homework, he proceeded to sleep for the rest of the day. He believed that it did not teach him a lesson and felt that the ISI room was akin to a jail cell.

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The Warrior•News 4

January 14, 2016

Most Popular Majors at Many Colleges and Advisory Approaches Are Universities Not Seen in Highest Paid Majors Different among Teachers

by Jacob Golomb ‘16

It is winter time and seniors are waiting for college admission decisions and thinking about their educational futures. As they consider their options for college studies, they also must consider how their educational choices will benefit their job prospects.

With a variety of fields to choose from, students are faced with the decision of what to study. Here are some of the most popular majors that students choose to specialize in:

Business

Students studying business take classes including finance, marketing, sales, advertising and more related areas to learn skills to successfully run and manage businesses. With most entry-level jobs in business only requiring a bachelor’s degree, the average starting salary for recent business major graduates is around $37,000.

Psychology

Studying the human mind and behavior, psychology majors go into a variety of fields after graduation from college. Those who want to become psychologists or counselors further their education in graduate school, while others decide to pursue entry-level jobs in other areas such as education or human resources. Unfortunately, psychology

The best-paying majors by starting salary are:

• • • • •

Engineering (various disciplines) $62,000 Computer Science $61,000 Actuarial Mathematics $60,800 Dental Hygiene $65,800 Finance & Economics $55,700

Source: http://www.payscale.com

majors have an above-average unemployment rate with around 9 percent of recent graduates unable to find a job.

Nursing

Important members of the healthcare industry, nursing majors learn to provide care and assistance to patients. The vast majority of nursing jobs require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), while certain advanced nursing specialties require a Master’s degree or Doctorate in nursing. A consistently in-demand job, BSN graduates have one of the highest average starting salaries at around $50,000 and employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow faster than average in the next decade.

Education

Education majors learn child psychology, curriculum development and other related skills to become teachers. These future educators gain hands-on professional experience during college by being student-teachers at schools for a semester. Students can specialize in one of the differ-

ent fields of education including elementary, secondary, and special education. Those wanting to teach a certain subject for high school can major in that subject and complete the coursework to become a certified teacher. Many education majors pursue graduate degrees in education for higher salary and job security, as well as enhanced teaching skills.

Biology

Biology, which is the broad topic of the study of life, offers an equally diverse range of career paths for students. Though many think of biology majors as being pre-medical, they also go into many other fields such as zoology, science journalism, marine biology, dentistry, biotechnology, teaching, and research. Many biology majors develop scientific skills in college interning at hospitals, labs, and other research facilities. While many jobs in the field of biology require graduate or professional education, biology majors can get entry-level jobs as lab assistants, nutritionists, and educators.

by Emily Gilburt ‘16

Upon observing various Advisory classrooms, it is apparent that there are differences in the content taught from teacher to teacher. To a certain extent, this variance is intentional.

This year, advisory was designed to center around the needs and responsibilities of each grade.

With two pre-designed lessons, a lesson of the teacher’s choice, and a lesson to review individual academic progress, the purpose of Advisory is to ensure every student is introduced to a comfortable environment in school and provided important information and skills regarding their education. “The one advisors’ choice [lesson] was something that came out of staff. They said ‘can’t we do what we want to do,’” explained Karen Rose, the 10th grade administrator and the director of the Advisory program.

The prearranged lessons regularly offer the teachers the options for activities, such as worksheets, videos, discussions and role-playing exercises. However, some teachers completely deviate from the lessons that they have been given. In some cases, students are given “free time” in Advisory while the teacher grades papers or completes other tasks.

“The negative is that Adviso-

ry lessons are inconsistent in each class,” said an anonymous teacher.

The aim of the Advisory program is not that every teacher does the exact same lesson, but that certain skills, knowledge and materials are passed along for students. “I personally think advisory is really valuable because we’re trying to make sure every kid has access to the same information,” said Sandi Williams, the 12th grade administrator. “Now, what students choose to do with that information is where they may drop off. Or how the information is delivered—because I may deliver it one way and you may deliver it another way—but the overarching goal is every kid has access to information.”

She noted that staff members are going to put together a survey for both staff and students to complete so that the school can receive feedback about Advisory.

Williams also pointed out that it is important that students do their part to come to Advisory with a positive attitude. “I’ve randomly talked to kids about doing things about their advisors who don’t deliver a lesson and then I’ve gone to those classes and their advisor is delivering the lesson,” she said.

“Sometimes the kids are sitting by the back door and laughing. So they choose not to participate.”

The Warrior•News January 14, 2016

5

ESOL Finds a Solution To Overcrowded Classes

by Morgan Hill ‘16

courtesy of Sapna Chaudhry

Administrator Sapna Chaudhry stands outside of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building after passing her citizenship test. After months of preparing, Chaudhry can call herself an American citizen.

Chaudhry Becomes a U.S. Citizen

by Maddie Peloff ‘16 On December 18, after months of preparation, Assistant Secondary Administrator Sapna Chaudhry became a U.S. citizen.

Chaudhry, who was previously a permanent resident in the United States maintained her Indian citizenship but is finally able to call herself a U.S. citizen as well.

The process for obtaining citizenship began for Chaudhry in July of 2015 when she filed for citizenship. Two months later, she was called in for fingerprinting and photographing. There, they gave her a booklet and CD with 100 questions to study for her interview. Chaudhry reviewed constantly, listening to the CD

again and again on her way to and from work. She reached the point where she knew every answer to every question. On December 4, Chaudhry attended an interview where she answered ten history and civics questions and completed a reading and writing section. By the end of the interview, Chaudhry had successfully passed the citizenship process and her oath ceremony was scheduled for December 18.

Today, Chaudhry is a proud American citizen. She has her American flag from her oath ceremony proudly hanging on her office door and can’t wait to take advantage of the benefits of citizenship. “I am excited to be able to vote in the upcoming 2016

SHS Scores Poorly on PARCC

by Megan Werden ‘17 Last year for the first time Sherwood students, along with other MCPS high school students, took the PARCC assessment for Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and English 10. Sherwood test-takers did significantly worse than the MCPS average.

In Algebra 1, only eight percent of the school’s test-takers received a passing or excelling score, 19.8 percent for Algebra 2, and 25.3 percent for English 10. These scores were lower compared to MCPS, which had average scores of 40 percent in Algebra 1 passing or excelling, 34 percent in Algebra 2, and 44 percent in English 10.

“The overall view of the community was that students do not need to take these tests seriously since they don’t count,” said Assistant Secondary Administrator Sapna Chaudhry, who is the school’s testing coordinator.

This was the first time students took this full-fledged PARCC. The curriculum and ways the questions were asked also were different from what the students had been learning in their classes. “Students will absolutely do better on the PARCC this year.

Teachers can adapt their instruction,” said Chaudhry. She also added that teachers’ hands are often tied because of the amount of content that they are required to cover for their curricula. There was little time last year to do any preparation for the state-mandated PARCC. The school’s testing schedule also may have not been effective, as students were trying to finish the tests very quickly in order to return to their regular classes.

One idea for the PARCC scheduling this year is to have a block schedule during testing time so that students will not miss instruction in multiple class periods.

Administration wants Sherwood students, staff and families to know that last year’s scores were skewed. Since the students all knew that earning a passing grade on these tests was not a graduation requirement, scores were less than what they could be if the tests had been taken more seriously.

“This is not a reflection of our rigor or what is being taught in class. It was more the student and teacher mindset of knowing the test did not count,” said Chaudhry.

election,” said Chaudhry. “And also … apply for a U.S. passport so that I can travel, because I love to travel.”

Chaudhry is also excited about the opportunities her citizenship opens up for her two sons.

One of whom is 18 and must file for citizenship on his own, but the other, who is 16, receives citizenship status under her name.

Chaudhry’s citizenship process was very smooth, efficient and relatively quick. However, it did require a lot of work and time.

Despite this, “it really feels good to be at this point where I can call myself a U.S. citizen,” she said.

“All the struggles and the hardships that we went through as a family [were] worth it at the end.”

At the beginning of this school year, the Level 1 ESOL class had 15 students enrolled in it, following the recommendation to have 15 or fewer students in ESOL classes. Yet, by the month of December, the number of students in the class had more than doubled, and there were 37 students enrolled in the class. Accordingly, the class was split in two after long-term sub Fatin Abdal-Sabur was hired in December.

ESOL classes customarily have continual enrollment, in which new students are able to join the class at any point in the semester; whereas in other departments, students must wait until the start of a new semester.

At the end of each school year, every department makes a prediction regarding the number of students that are expected to be in each class in order to ensure that there are sufficient resources, including teachers, to accommodate those students. However, due to the continual enrollment policy, there is no accurate method of predicting the total number of ESOL students that will enroll in a given school year.

The constant enrollment policy always leaves questions for the department regarding the number of students that will enroll at each level. Mostly ESOL 1 students have been enrolling as of late, a trend unique to this school year.

“We usually have constant enrollment, but it’s more evenly spread

across the levels,” said ESOL resource teacher Laura Bernard Sanchez. In past years when multiple sections of the class had been initially scheduled, each section had minimal enrollment and an undersized class.

The department also faced budget cuts at the end of last year. After being forced to cut a full-time teacher, the department started off this school year understaffed, which obviously proved to be problematic as large numbers of students continued to enroll throughout the year.

Although the overcrowding of the class was a big problem, the ESOL teachers and students worked to ensure that the class ran as efficiently as possible. “I’m very happy with my students as they’re a great group,” said ESOL teacher Aileen Coogan. “They’re motivated and really want to learn.” The class contains beginner English learners.

The problem with the overcrowding in the ESOL 1 class was not an outlier. The ESOL department is still looking for ways to solve problems with overcrowding in other level ESOL classes.

“We still have other large classes that could use some paring down,” Bernard-Sanchez said. The department hopes that the teaching allocation will eventually be increased so that Abdal-Sabur will be able to teach for additional periods. If the allocation in changed in their favor, the department will be able to split two or three other overcrowded classes.

The Warrior•Hidden Talents 6

January 14, 2016

Freshman Competes in Acrobatic Gymnastics

by Tate Harrop ‘17 While most teens play the “normal” sports such as basketball, soccer, lacrosse or football, freshman Emma Bartoo could possibly be the only acrobatic gymnast at Sherwood. It started with the ordinary sport of gymnastics that got her interested.

Bartoo liked the idea of doing something different than just gymnastics. “It was unlike any sport I had ever seen or tried before, and I immediately got hooked,” said Bartoo.

Acrobatic gymnastics is a competitive gymnastic discipline in which partnerships of gymnasts work together and perform figures consisting of acrobatic moves, dance and tumbling, set to music. There are three types of routines including dynamic, balance and a combined, which includes both aspects.

The sport can be done in pairs or groups. Acrobatic gymnastic trios include a base, middle base and a top. Bartoo is a part of a trio at Xtreme Acro in Rockville. She contributes to the trio by being

the base, which includes holding the two other gymnasts up and throwing them upwards. Bartoo and her trio are in level eight of acrobatic gymnastics in the age group of 16 and older.

Bartoo practices for months before the competition season starts.

She practices for three hours, four to five days per week, learning a routine that is put together by professional choreographers. Practices consist of strength training and making sure the routine is perfect. The competition months start in February and go until the summer. Her competitions take place two weekends every month.

The gymnasts get rewarded for the performances based on different aspects that is scored out of 30. Bartoo has been to two national championships. Two years ago her trio received 1st place and last year they received 2nd place.

“All the hours of stress, hair and makeup, practice and preparation leading up to each competition all get forgotten as soon as I step foot on the competition floor knowing I have only two minutes to wow the judges,” said Bartoo.

Although acrobatic gymnas-

Kayla Cohen ‘17

Walsh receives thousands of likes and revines on many of his Vines.

Freshman Vine Star Is Verified

by Alleigh Keyes ‘16 courtesy of Emma Bartoo

Bartoo (bottom) performs at a national championship with team. tics is not an Olympic sport, it does have its own acrobatic gymnastics world championships held in even-numbered years. Bartoo plans to keep doing acrobatic gymnastics and is already looking at colleges that give her the chance of continuing her passion.

Sophomore Duo Perfects Their Magic Act

by Alleigh Keyes ‘16 After meeting at a Super Bowl party in 2014, sophomores Jesse Gun and Sam Hull realized that they both have a passion for magic. They showed each other their impressive repertoire of magic that ranges from card tricks to balloon art. Eventually, they developed acts and performed at local nursing homes before regularly having gigs. Today, Hull and Gun, known as the Masters of Mystery, team up to practice magic by doing shows and birthday parties.

Even though they specialize in show magic, the Masters of Mystery are acquainted with other types of magic including street magic and close-up magic. Since they have an agent who owns a magic shop at Savage Mill, the Masters of Mystery perform gigs in the mall’s shop almost every weekend. More information about performances can be found

at their website, masters-of-mystery.com.

Gun said he loves magic because it allows someone to think about a trick even after the show.

“For instance, an acrobat may have a really cool act, and you may think about the act afterward.

With a magic trick the audience member has the trick playing over and over again.” Hull agrees that reaction is one of the biggest reasons why he performs magic.

The duo performs shows that usually last about an hour in the magic shop. Viewers receive balloon animals and get to view a plethora of tricks that include juggling and plate spinning. “We have many different tricks, ranging from simple card tricks to tricks involving fire and swords,” said Gun. One of their crowd favorites is known as the Swords of Death. In the trick, Hull puts his head in a box. Then, Gun rams 15 swords in the box. After that, Gun allows an audience member to

courtesy of Sam Hull and Jesse Gun

Hull and Gun perform “Stoplight.” randomly pick a card, which ends up in Hull’s mouth.

“We love what we do right now and have a good time doing it,” Hull explained. Their work as magicians has helped them gain real-world experience in the fields of communications and marketing, which will prove useful as Hull and Gun are both interested in business.

Although not many are able to make a career out of this, these talented magicians aim to do so.

They plan on auditioning for the hit-TV show, “America’s Got Talent.”

After watching edits on Vine, an online social media platform where people share six-second videos, freshman Liam Walsh decided to experiment with editing and posting Vines. Once he thought of ideas and worked on videos using iMovie, Walsh began his journey in early November of 2014. Using the skills he learned from filming family videos and editing them through the app Splice, Walsh was prepared to take on Vine.

On Vine, some teens may post videos of themselves goofing off with friends. Others might fill up their profiles with an endless supply of singing or dancing. Instead of uploading clichéd content, Walsh takes Vines and changes them up by adding clips, audio or effects to entertain viewers. As a result of his creativity, Walsh now boasts 163k followers and has achieved a verified status, which indicates the authenticity of his identity.

As a young social media mogul, honors student and Class of 2019 SGA Vice President, Walsh is certainly busy. When he is not hitting the books, he can be found preparing ideas for Vine, making edits, or playing sports including soccer and basketball.

“Vine is really important, but school is a priority. If I need to focus on my schoolwork, I postpone my Vine schedule,” Walsh said.

Although having a prominent

social media presence can be demanding at times, Walsh keeps himself grounded by surrounding himself with supportive family and friends. His sisters Nicole and Delaney give him advice on when to post videos. Walsh’s close friend, freshman Zachary Weisenthal, is a web designer who created Walsh’s website, zachswebdesigns.com/liamwalsh. “[Walsh’s] Vines are hilarious! I laugh at every single one he shows me,” freshman Savannah Showman exclaimed.

With the future in mind, Walsh plans to attend VidCon 2016, a web convention next summer and meet other prominent Viners. As he is approaching a tipping-point, he will eventually expand to YouTube in order to reach more viewers. His creative skill set will come in handy as he plans on majoring in engineering.

“It’s always been my dream to entertain others and make them happy. Video editing and comedy has always interested me, and I seek a career in that field.

I’ve always had a creative drive to inspire and make new things, and this is my way of doing so.

It’s a really fun opportunity that I have and hearing that I made someone’s day is the highlight of it all,” said Walsh.

Dedicated to his budding stardom in the Vine world, Walsh has no intentions of stopping. To him, Vining is more than merely posting short videos online; Walsh aspires to inspire others to pursue their passions.

Involved Student Musician Sounds Like Teen Talent

by Alleigh Keyes ‘16

Senior Tyler Golsen started his musical journey at the tender age of nine when he first picked up an instrument. He was immediately hooked. With his supportive parents as inspiration to follow his dreams, he played the trombone and drums by the time he was 11. Since then, the multi-talented Golsen has learned how to play bass, guitar, piano, mandolin and ukulele. Although many recognize senior Tyler Golsen as a musician, few know about the depth of his talents.

“I became obsessed with music at the start of high school

when I stopped sports and other superfluous activities to really focus on being as good a musician as I could,” Golsen said.

He joined his first band when he was 12 and performed in various bands. In the fall of his junior year, he started his own band known as The X-Rays. “[The X-Rays have] been my personal music outlet since,” he said, and they have performed in various events including Project Change Coffeehouses at the Sandy Spring Museum, Oakdale Emory Coffeehouses and Olney Relay for Life.

As an active member of the school’s music department, Golsen is president of the music hon-

or society, Tri-M. His schedule is filled with music classes including symphonic band and jazz band. He is also in AP Music Theory and believes that it is important to learn the finer aspects of music. Additionally, he has been a part of jazz ensembles, school plays, recording projects and jam sessions. Since freshman year, Golsen has participated in Rock ‘n’ Roll. Currently, this year’s show is his main focus as he is a returning soloist and band member.

Certainly a musician’s musician, Golsen’s numerous talents and passions have been praised from peers and musicians alike.

“You can see it on his face, when you bring up music or something he is working on; a cool smile shows up,” said senior and musician Joseph Hunt. “He works hard and inspires a lot of people to do the same. I’m glad I’ve gotten to know him and be inspired by his passion for music.”

Golsen plans to continue with music into college. He hopes to combine music with other aspects of his interests, which deal with numerous forms of media including film making, journalism, plays and musicals.

“Music is what make me happy, more than anything else,” said Golsen.

courtesy of Tyler Golsen

Golsen plays a solo in Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The Warrior•Hidden Talents January 14, 2016

Encouraging Students to LVYRSLF

by Steven Witkin ‘16 Poor body image. Insecurities. Self-harm. Most students know someone who has struggled with at least one of these side-effects of growing up, but there is very little conversation in school on what to do about it. Junior Jack Rubin is trying to fix that.

In December, Rubin announced his solution, a schoolbased organization called LVYRSLF. Intended to promote a positive body image and prevent suicide, LVYRSLF plans to be a community of students helping others through positivity. The idea is inspired by Rubin’s own experience with negative body image. Afflicted with severe acne in his sophomore year, Rubin felt firsthand how negative body image can cripple everyday life and social interaction. “I went through hell, essentially,” Rubin said. “If I can take what I had to go through and use it to help others, I’d be beyond happy.”

The main obstacle an organization like LVYRSLF faces is that body image issues are very specific to the individual, and some people who are struggling with them and even depression and suicidal thoughts may not be willing to express that to a larger community. Rubin has plans to

Chase Wilson ‘17

Rubin’s club LVYRSLF encourages positivity to help other students. combat negative body image and prevent suicide on both an individual and community scale. At the first meeting of the organization, sponsored by English teacher Beth Dibler, ideas and future plans were suggested. To spread the message to the community, there are plans to sell t-shirts with positive quotes on them and donate the proceeds to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. On the individual level, plans were discussed to create a safe room for helping other people feel good about themselves.

Through this kind of non-judgmental positivity, LVYRSLF has the potential to become an active force in making the high school experience better for all involved.

Even before LVYRSLF has made any steps toward their goals, the organization has wide support. The first meeting on December 18 packed Dibler’s room with students, mostly juniors and underclassmen, who are on board with the idea of supporting themselves and others through positivity. The massive group hug that ended the meeting showed the kind of strong community that makes a movement like LVYRSLF successful. Building off this community energy, Rubin is excited for the organization’s future. “I’d love to see it spread to other schools and perhaps become an official non-profit,” he said; “I’d just like to help someone.”

Junior Travels to Ends of Earth with GoPro

by Nicole Reich ‘17

Junior Elena Gajewski-Nemes has been to 20 different countries around the entire world, making GoPro videos of her incredible adventures along the way.

To capture the amazing moments and her overall experiences, Gajewski-Nemes uses a Hero 3 Silver Edition GoPro, a camera for extreme action videography.

She takes videos and pictures from the beginning to end of her trips, editing them together into montages with iMovie software.

The videos average three minutes and include fun and upbeat music that differs for every trip.

Gajewski-Nemes started making GoPro videos in April 2015.

While around the world, she records most of the activities and aesthetic sights. The second Puerto Rico video is her favorite she has made so far. “I enjoy making these videos to share what I do, and I’m excited for in the future to be able to look back at them and see all my trips,” said Gajewski-Nemes.

Once is often not enough for Gajewski-Nemes and her family, as she has visited the Dominican Republic and Bahamas three times, Mexico and Germany four times, as well as France and Switzerland twice. Her single trips include Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Panama, Spain, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, England, Netherlands, Italy and Jamaica.

“I want to go everywhere in the world. I like seeing new places, and being able to do new things,”

7

Tech Teacher Bakes on the Side

by Elizabeth Kronlage ‘18 Breaking stereotypes, Jason Braverman is a male technology teacher who loves to bake. Years ago as a student at Hobart and William Smith College in New York, Braverman discovered his interest in cake baking while working in the school cafeteria.

“I made main courses, I ran the omelet station, but first I worked for a period of time in the cafeteria and moved my interest towards the bakery. I had made cakes before taking classes,” Braverman said.

After developing his skills in baking classes, Braverman found that the best way to get people together in college was to offer them free desert. Braverman thinks of cake baking more as a hands-on hobby with an edible component.

“I am more into the sculpture aspect of it than the experimenting with the recipe side of things, so I typically just follow the directions on the back of a funfetti cake mix,” Braverman explained.

The students in his tech classes are assigned to do a project each semester, and he bakes a cake at the end relating to that topic.

Braverman still bakes cakes for his students as well as for special occasions outside of school.

Not only does Braverman bake cakes, he even helped design the floor plan for Fraiche Cupcakery, a cupcake shop located in Bethesda, which has recent-

ly closed. Braverman sill bakes cakes for his students as well as for special occasions such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays and so on. On Thanksgiving, he didn’t bake a cake; he baked cupcakes shaped like turkeys.

“My favorite cakes have been ones in silly shapes,” said Braverman, who owns every book in the “Hello Cupcakes” series and has baked most of its recipes. He also watches shows such as “Cake Boss” and “Ace of Cakes” to see what cakes stand out to him.

Braverman has a very big imagination, and likes to make desserts for his students and family so that it can help them connect and make memories with his creative cakes.

Kayla Cohen ‘17

Braverman loves to bake cakes for his family and for his students.

Junior Rises in Beauty School

by Kayla Cohen ‘17

For An Interactive Experience, Download Aurasma

In the App Store. follow ‘thewarrioronline’ and scan this photo courtesy of Elena Gajewski-Nemes

Gajewski-Nemes goes snorkeling at Playa El Escambron in Puerto Rico.

Gajewski-Nemes said.

She loved every single one of her nine visits to Puerto Rico, which is where her mom grew up. She is very familiar with the country, and it’s her home away from home. She also has been to 13 of the 50 U.S. States, with her favorites being California, Florida and New York.

Gajewski-Nemes’ adventures vary from scuba diving, kayaking, hiking, exploring cities on a whim and tons more. Some of her best experiences were when she visited a night bay in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico where the fish glowed and sharks swam brightly in the black waters. Gajewski-Nemes drove a Jamaican bobsled in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

In Montego Bay, Jamaica, she ate

at an interactive Margaritaville, where after dinner she slid down a slide ending in the ocean and completed a trampoline obstacle course. Gajewski-Nemes got the chance to water raft on the Martha Brae River in Jamaica, zip line and jet ski in Cabo, Mexico, and swim under remote waterfalls in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico Gajewski-Nemes is looking forward to traveling more in her life, especially to New Zealand, the perfect spot for bungee jumping. “I’m just happiest when I’m traveling, and I think it’s important to experience other places and see things in a new way,” Gajewski-Nemes commented. “Plus, it’s great to make memories and try new things you never think you’d do.”

Junior Paris Holbrook is currently in beauty school and working to fulfill her dream of acquiring her cosmetology license.

She goes to Montgomery County Beauty School in Silver Spring on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for four hours on weekdays and up to eight hours on Saturday.

Obtaining a cosmetology license includes training in styling hair, applying makeup, and making acrylic nails. The process is long, and requires up to 1,500 hours of training at beauty school before getting the license. Holbrook currently has approximately 430 hours and will likely finish beauty school between 2017 and 2018 by the age of 19 years.

Ever since she was a young child, Holbrook has been fascinated by different makeup and hairstyles. “I not only wanted to do my own [hair], but also other people’s so that they felt confident in their own skin,” she said.

“Cosmetology gives me an opportunity to help others improve themselves in a beautiful way.”

In the future, Holbrook plans to open her own salon in New York for men and women so that she can bring out their inner beauty and make them feel more confident about themselves.

This past year, Holbrook participated in the Miss Mary-

land Teen USA pageant, where she did her own hair and makeup. Pursuing a profession as a cosmetologist helped Holbrook be more independent in putting together her look for the pageant rather than relying on the stylists there. “I also want to continue doing my own hair and makeup in Rock ‘n’ Roll this year, but this time with more knowledge and experience,” said Holbrook. “[If there is] anyone else who would like me to help with their look for the stage, [it’s] twenty dollars.”

Currently, Holbrook works at Symmetry Salon Studios in Bethesda twice a week. She does shampooing, clean-up and learns new techniques from a renowned woman who has styled hair for a variety of famous people and has helped with many local fashion shows. With this experience that Holbrook gains, she hopes to “help bring the beauty out in others mentally and physically, so that there is as much positivity in this world as possible.”

Kayla Cohen ‘17

Holbrook does a student’s makeup.

The Warrior•Features 8

January 14, 2016 Ever wonder why those two teachers are always hanging out? Many teachers are good friends with others both in and out of their department. The Warrior took a closer look at some of Sherwood’s most popular and longest lasting teacher friendships.

Erdman, Frensilli, and Baldwin

Kayla Cohen ‘17

by Kira Yates ‘16 AP Biology teachers Christina Baldwin, Allison Erdman and Janet Frensilli have worked together for 15 years. When they first met, the trio found each other “welcoming, interesting, and fun,” said Erdman. The three often get together at each other’s houses to hang out and relax. Their favorite memory together occurred at one of these hangouts, when Frensilli’s cat, William, knocked over a full glass of grape juice onto her white carpet, which resulted in a night full of attempting to clean the stain with salt and laughing hysterically.

The group feels that the word “mutualistic” perfectly describes their relationship because they constantly make each other laugh, help one another with problems, and organize shared materials. They also feel that this word represents their senses of humor, since they each teach about symbiotic relationships in their classes.

If they had any pet peeves about each other, it would be that they are each too perfect in their own ways. They appreciate that they complement each other well, like “ying and yang, but three, so three peas in a pod,” said Baldwin. The trio doesn’t know what they would do without each other, as they each hear out others’ problems, help brainstorm solutions and understand what they are going through.

Woolley and Allen

Chase Wilson ‘17

Cohan and Winiarz

Maya Koeppen ‘17

by Steven Witkin ‘16 Most of their students know that math teachers Thomas Cohan and Kevin Winiarz have a connection, but how close are these two buddies?

For one thing, they spend most 6th periods together, talking while drinking coffee and grading papers. It was not always that way. Cohan admits that when he first saw Winiarz, “I thought he was nerdy, because he had the short hair and the glasses.”

Winiarz, however, had a different idea. He recalls that his first impression of Cohan was that, “Tom seemed pretty interesting … but he kept ignoring me and everyone else. So I had to get his attention somehow.” He did just that, in a rather memorable way. Winiarz recalls telling one of his students, a previous student of Cohan’s, to “tell Mr. Cohan he’s a total fraud when it comes to teaching.” It worked, and at the end of that day, Cohan came to his classroom and asked, “Did you call me a fraud today? … You’re the first one to figure me out.”

Ever since that day a few years ago, their friendship has thrived off of cynicism and caffeine. So much so that Cohan is convinced that “there are two reasons why Mr. Winiarz likes me, my coffee machine and because I laugh at his stupid jokes.” Their relationship extends out of school, as Winiarz visited Cohan in the hospital, but it’s the time during school that counts. “It helps to have an adult to talk to during the day,” Winiarz said, “He typically is stained in food … but Tom is one of my best friends.”

Aguilar and Kenyon

by Morgan Hill ‘16 The collaborative relationship between Foreign Language teachers Moira Kenyon and Tanya Aguilar is, surprisingly enough, based on their opposing personalities.

When they first met, Aguilar saw Kenyon as a no-nonsense, friendly person. Kenyon saw Aguilar as a fun-loving and friendly teacher. When they got to know each other better, their personalities started to become clearer. Kenyon is more insistent on organization while Aguilar is more of a go-withthe-flow style teacher. “I’d compare it to OCD vs. not OCD,” Aguilar said. “She keeps me in check for sure and it’s fun to work with her since we’re so different and have different approaches to things.”

The duo teaches Spanish 4 and depends on each other for much more than just lesson planning and grading. They share the tradition of meeting at Passion Bakery for lunch to discuss their plans for their classes, but they also enjoy each other’s company during these meetings and appreciate spending time together. “It’s important to have a friend at work for vents, support and for fun.” Kenyon said.

by Kayla Cohen ‘17

Social Studies teachers Aileen Woolley and Scott Allen are quite the dynamic duo.

Whether it’s planning the lesson for their classes or sharing their day, these two always enjoy each other’s company. When Woolley and Allen met for the first time, Woolley could tell that Allen was “a true historian.”

Allen describes Woolley as “the mom of the group, always looking out [for others].” They both agree that the best memory they have is together coaching Sherwood’s It’s Academic team for three years. “[With] any problem that came up, it was so nice to have someone to balance [ideas with] and collaborate to solve [the question],” said Woolley and Allen.

Woolley recently started working part-time, and Allen wishes he could see her more often, which is the most he could offer as a pet peeve. As for Woolley’s pet peeve, Allen puts in so many extra hours lesson planning for his students that he makes her feel guilty sometimes.

Allen defines his relationship with Woolley as the “buddy-system,” and Woolley considers him “her person,” whom she always turns to first at Sherwood. Woolley likes that Allen loves what he does and is very dedicated to teaching. Allen feels that Woolley’s commitment and concern for her students is incomparable.

Allen thinks that it is important to have a friend at work because, often times, one feels isolated teaching in a high school and does not have much interaction with the other teachers in the same department. “It is important for me to have someone I can get honest feedback [from],” said Allen.

Woolley enjoys how she and Allen learn from each other every day. “We have one priority, and it’s the same priority. And that is to make the classes we teach better,” said Woolley.

Chase Wilson ‘17

Kinnetz and Games

Maya Koeppen ‘17

by Milan Polk ‘16 In the social studies department, Michelle Games and Josh Kinnetz are wellknown for their sibling-like relationship. “He’s like my brother,” Games said. They both teach AP World History and as Games said, have a ritualistic “habit of back and forth joking”. Most notably, Kinnetz says he likes to “poke fun at [Games’s] old age”.

When the two first met, their initial thoughts of one another were not exactly complimentary. “I thought he looked like Dennis the Menace,” Games said.

Kinnetz felt that Games was a mystery when he came to Sherwood . “I thought she was a very reserved, if not uptight individual who intrigued me, said Kinnetz. “It kind of pushed me to get to know her.”

Although they pick on one another, they really do enjoy spending time together.

“I grew to enjoy his vivacious personality and his intellectual curiosity,” Games said.

Kinnetz also finds Games’s intellect a trait that stands out. “She’s somebody who digs beneath the surface and really gets at the heart of things,” said Kinnetz.

Although they do not spend much time together out of school, the pair’s favorite memory was during this year’s National Gallery of Art field trip because they were able to learn more about one another’s artistic tastes. They are awaiting the chance to make even better memories during their upcoming Spring Break trip to Spain next year with students.

The Warrior•Features January 14, 2016

9

Students Honor Winiarz Through Social Media Ketki Chauhan ‘16

You can get

hypnotized?

Maddie Peloff ‘16

When people think of hypnotism, they tend to think of a soothing voice repeating the phrase, “you are getting very, very sleepy” over and over.

Maybe they imagine a pendulum swinging or the typical black and white image of a circle spinning.

Pop culture tends to show hypnotism in this magical, unreal fashion. However, few realize the scientific aspects of hypnotism.

Hypnotism is a state of consciousness in which an individual is less aware of surroundings and more susceptible to suggestion.

While some hypnotists perform at large arenas in Las Vegas or at parties, hypnotism is more than just entertainment. In fact, hypnotism is a widely accepted psychological technique and studied in many psychology courses, including AP Psychology.

Hypnosis begins when an individual is put in a hypnotic trance. Usually, a hypnotist induces an individual into a trance by asking him to focus his eyes on a specific image or by leading him into a relaxed state of mind in which he is more open to suggestion. Then, the hypnotist is able to guide him in certain behaviors. In a live show, hypnotists might ask individuals to respond to certain triggers, like every time the individual hears a bell ring, he must clap his hands.

They might ask individuals to forget their own names or believe they have developed super powers.

Along with these entertaining applications, hypnotism can be used for many practical purposes. Some therapists use the power of suggestion under hypnotic state to aid individuals with addiction or mental disorders.

While in a hypnotic trance, indi-

viduals are more susceptible to suggestion, making them more likely to alter their behavior and future actions. If a therapist suggests an individual cease smoking or eat healthier, they are more likely to do so. Hypnotism can also be used to make individuals feel less pain, gain self-confidence or overcome certain fears.

Despite these practical applications, many have misconceptions about hypnosis. “Some people feel it’s a ‘mind control’ process, which is not true at all,” said professional hypnotist Patti Sapp. “A hypnotist guides a person to control their own mind, after having a complete consultation with clear goals that have been set and discussed.” Sapp owns a small business in Ellicott City called Quiet Time Hypnosis where she works with individuals, helping them overcome addictions, lose weight or solve other mental health issues.

While many might believe that they cannot be hypnotized, chances are, they can. According to the Stanford scales, which determine an individual’s level of response to hypnotism from zero to 12, only about five percent of the population responds with a level of zero or no response. If you have ever driven down the road and become so absent-minded that you miss your turn, you have experienced a slight level of hypnosis. Even crying during a movie or television show is due to a slight hypnotic state. The actions on the screen aren’t real, but you’ve convinced yourself they are and have become emotionally invested. While these actions aren’t quite the same as the hypnotism in flashy Las Vegas shows, they demonstrate that even the most strong-willed individuals can usually be hypnotized.

Social media has added to the growth of communication for students across the globe. Recently at Sherwood, social media has also been used for students to honor their favorite teachers. Students in teacher Kevin Winiarz’s math class have created an account dedicated to him under the Twitter handle “@WiniarzRox”.

The creators behind the account tweet comments made by Winiarz, boasting a follower count of about seventy, which includes upperclassmen, underclassmen and even some teachers.

“I got an anonymous tip from someone to make an account [for Winiarz] because I had been tweeting so many quotes from him,” said the creator of the Twitter account. The senior is one of two who have the password to the account; however, the tweets made by the account include submissions from other students in other periods. “This way we can get the funny from all the periods.”

Alongside the Twitter ac-

An example of the various witticisms posted on “Things Winiarz Says” count is an Instagram account although most of what is sent will honoring Winiarz. It is run by a be posted. different senior and is under the “Most kids think it’s funny. handle @FlatWiniarz. “I made Some think it’s creepy, probably the account because Kevin Win- because it is, but as Kevin Winiarz was giving away copies of iarz has said, (via @WiniarzRox his yearbook picture to his fans, on Twitter) ‘I have not done my and I thought it would be fun to job unless you leave with a headturn it into like Flat Stanley (goo- ache,’” the creator of the Instagle it) and take pictures of the gram account explained. picture doing different things all Winiarz knows of the acaround the school.” count, claiming that his “prophet Creators of the account en- ic vision” led him to the account. courage other students to “slide Although his initial reaction when in their DMs” to submit tweets learning about it was “#whatstand pictures to the respective ac- witter,” he now understands the counts. Both creators also have social media platform, responddiscretion over what is submitted, ing “#ohthat’stwitter.”

Exploration of Memes Madison Dymond ‘16

A word that gets thrown around quite often is “meme.”

All teens know what memes are, but when asked the actual definition of a meme, the response is a vague answer, such as: “It’s a thing…Like a thing on the internet that becomes a thing…An internet joke...” Teens see things classified as memes and think that an example is the same thing as a definition.

The reason few people question memes is that humans want to feel included. Memes are things one is just supposed to “get.” People want to feel “in on” the joke. If one asks what a meme is, he/she will be frowned upon for not “getting it.”

Google defines memes as “an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation.” This definition is very broad, and gives us no information on why or how something becomes a meme.

According to a research paper titled “Makes a Meme Instead: A Concise History of Internet Memes” by Linda K. Börzsei,

memes were born in “The Selfish Gene,” a book by Richard Dawkins, in 1976. He coined the term meme and used it to describe any cultural ideas passed from person to person. The term was then popularized in the early 80s, as the internet became more accessible.

It is nearly impossible to identify the first meme. Many say it was the emoticon. Today, most of us wouldn’t think of that as a meme, but it fit the definition. If we go by Dawkins’ definition, we could conclude that memes have always been around, even before the existence of the internet.

Memes are primarily spread through social media, and at the top of the social media hierarchy for memes is tumblr. Tumblr has, in a sense, become a sort of headquarters for memes. The website is characterized by its popularity among countercultures and “internet people.” Tumblr is a corner of the internet that has somehow managed to not become mainstream, and the main humor of its users is exactly what memes need in order to thrive: irony.

Due to the sarcastic and dark humor of the majority of the website’s users, things that one can “like ironically” instantly become

popular. The meme will be created on any social media site, and will be spread across the internet in a series of gifs, videos and text posts.

A perfect example is the “mmm watcha say” meme. It started with a Saturday Night Live skit. The scene presented a series of over-dramatized events.

Each time one of these events occurred (specifically the shooting of a gun), Jason Derulo’s song “Watcha Say” would start playing. This song was so inappropriately used and ironic that it instantly became an extremely popular meme.

The sad truth about memes, however, is that, just like everything else, memes die. Some people will take a meme too far and drag it out to the point where it is no longer ironic; it becomes annoying. The internet is always changing and people are always looking for the next thing. Attention spans are short. And so whether it is “Why You Always Lying” or “John Cena,” it will eventually die out. The only consolation is that, with all of these dying memes and changing times, Rickrolling will always be around.

The Warrior•Humor

10

January 14, 2016

MCPS Closes School Due To Forecast Of Snow

by Madison Dymond and Milan Polk ‘16

www.starfm.com

The Housewives Are Coming to Olney!

by Will Van Gelder ‘16

The sensation known as “The Real Housewives” is coming to our very own town of Olney. The Olney edition will be an offshoot after the newly airing “Real Housewives of Potomac.” Olney was an obvious choice as it exudes class and style, which of course is necessary for any reality show. The show airing in February stars five spectacular women so here they are:

Margot Phillips (age 56) Margot is a sassy four-time divorcee, who is engaged to the love of her life, Brian Marks, the owner of the local McDonald’s franchise. Margot has six children, who are all very involved in sports and after school activities, and Margot is the coach of one of her son’s soccer teams, despite the fact that she doesn’t know how to play.

Karen Wilcox (Age 37) Karen is a successful entrepreneur who hasn’t been working since the closing of her theater, Olney 9 cinemas. She scrapbooks in her spare time, but she has had to drive all the way to Michaels in Rockville ever since Olney’s Craft Country closed.

She’s on her third marriage, but her husband has been on a “business trip” in D.C. for the last six months.

Sage Stonewell (Age 27) Sage is the youngest of the group. She’s an entrepreneur who runs a jewelry store out of her house and has sold three necklaces! Her husband, Rod Stonewell, is a retiree who loves to travel despite being 70 years old. They met three years ago at a party at Grillmarx and Rod immediately moved her into his house. Sage and Rod have been trying to have kids for a year now without success. Sage loves her husband, her jewels and her friends.

Jackie Bradley (age 57) Jackie is a great lover of the arts and is a patron at the world-renowned Sandy Spring Museum. She has three rescue dogs that she loves more than anything.

She is a devoted activist who sends her daughter to Sandy Spring Friends School and has a part-time job as a professional protester.

Felicia Cashmere (Undisclosed) Felicia is an Olney girl through and through. She has lived off of Prince Philip Drive her entire adult life. She is a devoted member of the Norbeck Country Club and is an avid Cadillac Escalade driver and latte drinker. She “works out” with her young personal trainer, Chandler, every Wednesday. Her go-to outfit is yoga pants and a white zip-up sweatshirt. Her husband is Olney’s most wealthy orthodontist, and Felicia always makes sure her teeth are straight and clean.

Yesterday, Montgomery County officials decided to close schools next week due to a 70-percent chance of one inch of snow. Fairfax County in Virginia canceled, making the decision to cancel classes two days earlier. In the past, MCPS has been met with opposition to its late cancellations and poor judgment in the face of snowfall while Fairfax County has received nothing but praise.

Last year, MCPS was sued by a family after their son, second-grader Alex McDowell, skateboarded on the ice and bruised his tail bone. “It’s completely unacceptable that MCPS didn’t cancel after hearing of my son’s injury while waiting for the bus,” said Nancy McDowell, the mother of Alex.

The family was compensated and now MCPS is attempting to alleviate the situation by canceling school even before the first snowfall of the new school year. The compensation came in a large lump sum, with the check delivered with a fair amount of press coverage that appreciated MCPS efforts. This new story gives the county a small increase in ratings in regards to snow days.

The process of deciding whether or not to cancel is up to a team of litigators hired by MCPS. One of the members, Terry Gersht, explained the careful consideration the group takes to keep students safe. “After we hear of the forecast, we all sit together and try to predict the possibility of lawsuits, I mean, injuries that could result from the inclement weather.” There are no students or parents allowed in the meetings. Gersht says it would be a liability as the citizens are biased and do not know how to make objective decisions that will affect the entire county.

Gersht and his colleagues usually take up to a full night of deliberation. He says that the county cannot afford to waste money on frivolous lawsuits, and has to seriously consider the status of schools during the harsh winter months. “With the terrible economy we don’t want to take any risks. It would be unfair to the people of Montgomery County and the hard working students and faculty of these schools. If we have to spend money on lawsuits, there’s less to go towards my associates, and so we can’t keep working for you,” Gersht said.

Gersht admits that the group has already made plans for the next school year. “The new policy is called ‘Endless Snow Days.’” The policy will ensure that the county can make as many cancellations as necessary without being penalized in any way, and instead focus more funds towards education.

The Warrior•Humor January 14, 2016

11

Drones To Land in the Fast Food Industry

by Chase Wilson ‘17 Starting January 19, Papa John’s Pizza will offer a delivery service to the citizens of the greater Olney area via quadcopter drones. “We are very excited to offer this method of delivery to our many customers. It’s been a long, hard trip but this revolutionary technology will change the future of food as we know it,” stated founder and CEO John Schnatter in a company press release. Two Papa John locations in Montgomery County are among 27 stores nationwide that will offer delivery by drones.

Papa John’s hopes that the drones will offer superior delivery times over other competitors, chiefly Domino’s.

Many students are looking forward to the idea of being able to eat a hot meal dropped right off at Sherwood via air delivery.

Beginning with the new year on January 1, Papa John’s began running a trial period of the service that made drone delivery available only to selected loyal customers. One of those selected to participate was junior Robert Hading. He is a resident of Shallow Hole, a housing community next to Sherwood, and frequently orders pizza for his friends at gatherings or just for dinner. “Ordering was easy using their new app. Just pick the pizza that you want just like it’s a normal order and take a picture of where you want the drone to drop it. Somehow, the drone figures out your coordinates. The little bit extra in the delivery fee is totally

www.supplymanagement.com

A drone carries 3 large pepperoni pizzas to their destination, the customer’s picked location. In most cases, the pizzas make it safely.

worth watching your food get dropped off on the hood of your parked car or on your front landing,” said Hading.

But not everyone is in favor of the innovation. A house neighboring the takeoff hanger of Papa John’s is inhabited by 53-year-old resident Arevalo Dilito, who is spearheading the movement to stop drones from being utilized as a commercial tool. He first got involved with the fight against the use

of quadcopters after he was flying one of his many professional kites in his backyard when suddenly, “one of those drones flew right up into my flying area and cut my lines.” Dilito called the restaurant and stayed on the line for 20 minutes waiting to speak to manager, before he gave up. “I couldn’t believe it. I even tried filing a complaint with the restaurant, but I didn’t get anywhere.”

At a community meaning that he organized, he proclaimed that he is not against the idea of air delivery completely but that he doesn’t want people to use drones. “Why does it always have to be about the next big thing of the future when there have been other ways for thousands of years? I think Papa John’s could be just as effective with it delivery with the use of a big slingshot.”

Cartoon by Sidney Brown ‘17

Past Traditionalists Born During: 1900-1945 Current Ages: 70-115 Core values: • Conformity • Hard work • Respect for authority • Trust in system and in government • Duty before fun • Individualism is not valued • Value dedication, sacrifice and hard work Stereotypes: • Reminisce about “better days” • Have a hard time adapting to change • “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”

Baby Boomers Born During: 1946-1964 Current Ages: 51-69 Core Values: • Anti-war and government • Anything is possible • Question and challenge everything • Trust no one over 30 • Challenge authority • Dislike conformity and rules • Loyal to the team • Value equality, collaboration and ambition Stereotypes: • Don’t know how to have fun • Hate “the man”

Generation X Born During: 1965-1980 Current Ages: 35-50 Core Values: • Diversity • Lack loyalty to the organization • Entrepreneurial • Informality • Balance with work and life is important • Suspicious of Baby Boomers • Value self-reliance, independence, fun Stereotypes: • Have little respect for the rules • “I can do it better than the man” compiled by Sara Casareto ‘16

Generations Present

How to Spot the Next Generation: Generation Z

Millennials

by Maya Koeppen ‘17

Born During: 1981-2000 Current age: 15-34 Core Values: • Civic Duty • Fun! • Highly tolerant • Membership of a global community • Sociable • Avid Consumers • Value confidence, diversity, and realism Stereotypes: • Are lazy and selfish • Are extremely technology oriented and obsessed • “Everyone should get a prize!”

All Generations Endure Youth

by Chris Sung ‘17 Millennials might appear an inherently flawed group of individuals. They are seemingly idealistic to the point where they are unrealistic, self-confident to the point of arrogance, empathetic to the point where they feel too much but think too little and optimistic to the point of narcissism.

However, Millennials’ disproportionate share of negative values does not mean that they represent the so-called “worst generation in history,” as espoused by many critics of this group of individuals. Rather, Millennials’ disproportionate share of these character flaws only emphasizes that they are normal—the same as every other generation that has been and will be. After all, Millennials are only human and more importantly, young.

Although this generation’s problems have been greatly emphasized, the same, if not nearly identical, things have been said about generations preceding Millennials. At one point in history, Baby Boomers, those who often criticize Millennials, were also once called the most selfish generation in the history of the United States. In addition, from the Baby Boomers, ‘Generation Xers’ were labeled as a uniquely entitled and coddled generation. Similar to the Baby Boomers and Generations Xers of the past, Millennials are no differ-

Future

ent from the once young and equally naïve generations of the past.

Despite what they were called in the past, today’s Baby Boomers and Generation Xers are no longer the “selfish generation” because over time, the people of these generations grew older and much more mature. In fact, from once being seen as rebellious and selfish youths by their parent’s generation, the people of these two older generations have gained the respect of many Millennials who look to Baby Boomers and Generation Xers as a wiser and more experienced group of adults. Similar to Baby Boomers’ and Generation Xers’ period of naivete, Millennials are going through this same phase of adolescence. With time, Millennials will also one day grow into maturity and be viewed as wise individuals by future generations.

Millennials are going through their own bildungsroman, a story of maturity and coming of age. Rather than criticizing Millennials for their inherent character flaws, problems that aren’t unique to just Millennials, Baby Boomers and Generations Xers should cut them some slack. All generations go through their own period of immaturity. Unrealistic, arrogant, impulsive, and narcissistic. One might be able to say these things about today’s youth, but one could also say it about the adolescents of any other era.

After a generation criticized for being lazy, self-absorbed and entitled, many anxiously await what a new generation, those born during the mid 2000s, will bring.

Although they have yet to be officially named (at most, they’re tentatively called Generation Z), this generation is slowly beginning to define themselves through their ideologies and their dependence on technology and science. So here’s what to expect of this new generation as they step into the societal spotlight.

Open hearts and open minds: Growing up in the shadow of economic crises and a War on Terror, members of this generation are more aware of the world around them. Going through these events have helped members of this generation slowly become more and more pragmatic in their views of the world. Members have grown up accustomed to the sometimes cruel realities of the world, and are ready to work towards a change. Consequently, they are also more likely overall to accept ideals that up until now were widely unpopular and subdued. After all, members of this generation have witnessed widespread support for same-sex marriage and have lived through two terms of an African American president. Rather than sitting around and waiting for change to occur, these Forbes-proclaimed “rebels

with a cause” will be making headlines in the near future.

Phone glued to the hip: A generation born in the era of smartphones, members are quickly taking the place of the Millennials as the poster children of the digital age. They are dependent on technology in every sense of the word- from a news source, to a form of communication, to daily entertainment-their phone is everything and they are unlikely to be seen without it. In terms of social media, they tend to gravitate towards more secretive platforms such as Snapchat and Whisper.

Digital privacy is also a generational preference as they learn from the mistakes of their predecessors. If you try to communicate with this generation, your best bet is via text because they probably won’t answer the phone.

Dressed to Repress: Members of this generation prefer the effortless look when it comes to style. The unisex fashion trend of NormCore has been gaining popularity as members look to celebrities for the new “it” look. At the forefront of this new trend are stars such as Kylie Jenner and Kanye West, whose semi simplistic looks are attracting the attention of this new generation and the media alike. Combining normal and hardcore dress, outfits usually consist of “average” clothing that aims to be non-pretentious and seemingly bland. At this rate one can expect the tourist look of dad jeans and old baseball caps to make a comeback in the near future from this new generation.

The Warrior•Opinions 14

January 14, 2016

Staff Editorial:

In Our Opinion

Free Speech in College Remains Controversial What constitutes free speech and hate speech?

tected Is hate speech pro mendment? under the First A While it may not affect us high school students at the moment, what students can and cannot say on college campuses is a pressing matter in schools across the country. Controversial event after controversial event, from a school newspaper criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement to a lecturer at Yale saying that administration should not dictate what Halloween costumes are too insensitive for students, constantly intensify the debate over whether certain acts of “hate speech” should be prevented on college campuses. Even the Warrior staff has a difficult time deciding on definitive grounds of what speech is protected under the First Amendment in colleges.

One thing is absolutely clear. Whether or not it is permitted on college grounds, “hate speech” is comments that are blatantly racist, sexist or homophobic, directed at a specific individual or group, and exists for the sole purpose of being offensive. These hateful comments may also incite violence. The controversy lies in how the colleges’ administration should react to instances of offensive or hateful speech. While some argue that administration should prevent offensive speech in order to ensure the safety of students and maintain a respectful environment, others believe that schools should do nothing at all, as that speech is protected under the First Amendment and that students should not be sheltered from speech that makes them feel uncomfort

What should studen ts do if they find speech offensive ? able. Administration should possibly step in only if there is a credible threat of violence as a result or if the learning environment is disrupted.

Given certain hypothetical examples of hateful speech, there is a controversy over how the school administration should respond. For example, if a group of students chant “Islam Kills” at a rally, some believe that the school should immediately shut down the rally and punish the students involved. On the other hand, others argue that the school should do nothing because the rally is protected under free speech, and they have every right to chant, as wrong as the speech may be. It may also be best to meet halfway by closely monitoring the rally, stepping in only if there is violence as a result.

Current seniors will very soon find themselves in the college students’ positions, so it is important for them to understand the debate over free speech, and what they should do when they find a case of hurtful speech on their future campuses. When faced with a racist, sexist, or otherwise hateful comment, there are many things college students could do in response. If they feel that the safety of the school is at risk, they may choose to report the offensive speech to a teacher or administrator, or possibly start a peaceful, non-accusatory protest of the overall issue. Otherwise, it may just be best to ignore the hate and move on.

Warrior P

the

ublished six times a year, The Warrior serves as Sherwood High School’s premier news source.

Over the years, it has received numerous state and national honors. With a staff of 35 students and one advisor, The Warrior keeps the Sherwood community apprised of local and national events.

All opinion articles represent the viewpoint of the writer. The unsigned staff editorials solely represent the opinions of the newspaper staff. These articles do not necessarily represent the views of Sherwood High School.

The Warrior welcomes Letters to the Editor of 250 words or less. They may be submitted to room C268 or emailed to thewarrioronline.shs@gmail.com. Letters must be signed, and all content received by the newspaper is subject to editing.

The Warrior staff invites feedback and corrections to printed inaccuracies.

The Warrior reserves the right to refuse advertisements.

Staff Print Layout and Production Directors ..................Steven Witkin ‘16 Kira Yates ‘16

News Editors .................................................. Ketki Chauhan ‘16

Samantha Schwartz ‘16

Specials Editors ............................................ Meghan Proctor ‘16 Megan Werden ‘17

Features Editors ..............................................

Sara Casareto ‘16

Lauren MacFadden ‘17

Humor Editors .............................................Noah Rosendorf ‘17

John Sutherland ‘16

Spotlight Editor .............................................. Amanda Allen ‘17 Opinions Editors ................................................ Ben Cooper ‘16 Chris Sung ‘17

Wondering Warrior Editor.................................Lexi Paidas ‘17 Deal ‘16 Entertainment Editors .........................................Ryan

Tate Harrop ‘17

Sports Editors ................................................... Nicole Reich ‘17

Sammie Spillman ‘16

Online Online Managing Editors .............................Ashley Nnabue ‘16

Milan Polk ‘16

Content and Copy Content and Copy Editors ....................... Madison Dymond ‘16

Morgan Hill ‘16 Maddie Peloff ‘16

Managing Photo Editor ................................ Maya Koeppen ‘17 Photographers .................................................. Kayla Cohen ‘17 Chase Wilson ‘17

Cartoonist......................................................... Sidney Brown ‘17 Pollster ............................................................. Emily Gilburt ‘16 Staff Reporters ............................................... Jacob Golomb ‘16

Alleigh Keyes ‘16 Elizabeth Kronlage ‘18 Tyler Ruth ‘16 Bryse Thornwell ‘16

Business and Publicity Directors.................... Danielle Tobb ‘17

Will Van Gelder ‘16

cartoon by Kaitlyn Davis ‘17

Advisor........................................................................... Peter Huck

The Warrior•Opinions January 14, 2016

15

-SOCIAL MEDIAIn today’s technology-driven world, social media has been both praised as a powerful medium of global communication and criticized as a harmful application that promotes cyber-bullying. Two writers from the Warrior debate whether social media is as harmful as thought to be.

Dislike the Users, Not the Site

by Milan Polk ‘16 Social media generally gets a bad wrap. Teachers, parents and anyone else with an aversion to technology often roll their eyes when social networking is mentioned. However, most opponents fail to recognize the benefits of these online communities and would rather focus on the negative.

Popular social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are generally used by teens to connect with their friends and share little details about their lives when they are apart. Opponents criticize the practice, saying social media is cutting into “face to face” interactions. However, there are more positives than negatives when social media is used correctly. This sharing of information is not wrong or dangerous if it is done wisely.

Users tend to get shamed because of the few, less conscientious peers who tend to overshare or are heavily obsessed with social media for all of the wrong reasons. Social media is inherently good; teens are able to stay close with their friends and family even when they are far away, and reach out to people with mutual interests on the other side of the world if it happens they are alone in their physical settings.

Without social media, students would not be able to connect with their friends from other schools and would find it hard to keep in touch with those they cannot regularly visit. After a spring break in another country with relatives or in an exchange program, it is tough for students, with little money or resources, to send packages or let-

ters. Social media means an easy international connection to anyone.

People can send pictures and video to one another on apps like Snapchat and immediately share short personal messages to one another.

That daily correspondence is usually only allotted to those closest to someone. With social media, distant friends and family can feel close.

These apps also increase education of current events. Teens and other avid users constantly scroll through articles and pictures that quickly summarize news and world events. Celebrities and famous personalities also tend to voice their opinions on these subjects, and users will want to keep up with news and scandal to be able to evaluate if they agree with their favorite celebrities.

The misuse of these applications are done by only some, but not many. Social media, just like any other form of entertainment, can become an obsession if not used correctly. One should not discourage the use of an item simply because certain people cannot discipline themselves into using social media responsibly. The man should never be punished for the actions of the few. Social media is a great addition to one’s life. It connects those who may be lonely and educates audiences that may otherwise be uninterested in the news.

It is the responsibility of the user to be respectful and open-minded individuals when using such technology. The heart of social media is the indivuals who create and modify the content that is displayed on these sites.

Social Media’s Negative Effects

by Kira Yates ‘16

Many young adults claim that sites such as Facebook and Instagram are harmless towards one’s health. However, as much as millennials and others want to believe social media is not harming them, it is. From lowering self-confidence to having adverse mental health effects, the reality of social media is that it has countless negative consequences on one’s well-being.

An effect of social media that has been widely publicized is that it leads to people having negative body images. When people see celebrity pictures on Instagram, they subconsciously aspire to imitate this practically unattainable body.

These unrealistic pictures, many of which have been altered with Photoshop, have been shown to make many teens feel substandard and less confident about their bodies.

Cyberbullying is another consequence of social media that is demeaning and contributes to lower self-confidence. Social medias provide a perfect outlet for cyber-bullying, which has increased with the rise of social media. The Internet facilitates cyber-bullying by emphasizing dehumanization and a lack of emotional connection, allowing users to say abhorrent things they would not say in person as they can not see the person’s reaction.

The large number of negative mental health repercussions is yet another unfavorable effect of social media. Being able to create many profiles on many social networking sites can lead people to having identity crises and double

lives. Social media can also lead to the condition “fear of missing out” (FOMO). This is a medical phenomenon in which people become anxious that they are missing out doing something with friends and is enhanced by people’s ability to constantly publicize their plans.

Social media also diminishes understanding and thoughtfulness while facilitating laziness. One site that emphasizes this is Twitter: while only permitting 140 characters at a time, the site forces people to use short cuts such as abbreviating words and phrases, using numbers to replace text and utilizing symbols to make tweets as short as possible.

Finally, social networking is highly addictive, as proven by many studies including one by the National Institute of Health, which concluded that “Internet Addiction Disorder ruins lives by causing neurological complications, psychological disturbances and social problems.” An addiction to social media has many disadvantageous consequences. For instance, an increased use of social media has been linked with an increased likelihood of obesity and many studies show that teens who spend more time on social media tend to have lower test scores and do not perform as well in school.

The constant use of social media by young adults is an epidemic that is negatively affecting its users’ mental, physical, social and emotional well-being. While the majority of people who use social media will not admit it, the facts show the detrimental effects that social medias have on users.

Solving the Crisis: Developed Persian Gulf States Should Take Syrian Refugees With a refugee crisis in the Middle East, wealthy Persian Gulf states should accept refugees to alleviate the vast amount fleeing to other countries.

by Josh Averbach ‘18 Syria’s ongoing civil war has prompted more than 11 million people to flee the war-torn nation, according to the humanitarian organization Mercy Corps.

Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey have received more refugees than any other countries because they border Syria, while various European countries are taking in fewer refugees. The crisis, however, is by no means resolved, as millions of refugees are still stateless.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Oman compose the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a partnership between the Persian Gulf States excluding Iran and Iraq. What, if any,

effort these countries have put into helping Syrian refugees is unclear as none of these nations have officially received any refugees, and they have offered little explanation about why that might be the case. A Saudi foreign minister, however, made claims that about 2.5 million Syrians have entered the country since the war began in 2011, and a UAE ambassador claims that the country has accepted 100,000 refugees during that time period. Both of these claims are unverifiable.

This lack of clarity stems from the 1951 United Nations (UN) convention which defines refugees, and obligates countries to take them in. No GCC country signed the agreement, so they have no legal obligation to take

in refugees. It is unclear whether GCC countries have turned away refugees or accepted them under a title other than “refugee.”

The GCC countries are well developed, all with top 50 world rankings in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. They share the Arabic language with Syria. These factors make the GCC countries the best equipped to take Syrian refugees because refugees would be given an elevated chance to succeed there. These countries therefore deserve praise if they have been helping refugees, and condemnation if they have not.

Because the language of both Syria and the GCC is Arabic, refugees who were successful in Syria before it descended into

chaos could put their skill sets to use in the GCC, and earn good livings. In non-Arabic-speaking countries, even refugees who were doctors, lawyers or CEOs would be forced into menial work because of the language barrier. Refugees, like everyone, are clearly better off if given a chance to succeed.

One reason why countries are often reluctant to accept refugees is the strain that an influx of poor immigrants puts on economies.

Refugees come with virtually no assets, so governments must spend money on social programs to meet refugees’ needs. To pay for this, countries must borrow money or increase taxes, both of which put stress on economies.

Because Syrian refugees could

succeed in GCC countries, however, this effect would be lessened as refugees could work their way out of poverty, and no longer depend on the government. This would allow GCC countries to be less economically burdened by Syrian refugees than any other countries.

Because Syrian refugees are in dire need of assistance, the community of nations has an obligation to assist them. GCC countries are both the best home for refugees, and the least burdened countries by their presence. While their populations are not large enough to solve the crisis by themselves, GCC countries should accept more refugees, relative to their populations, than any other countries on Earth.

The Warrior•Opinions 16

January 14, 2016

The Emoji Language: at a Loss for Words

by Isabella Pilot ‘18 If you could describe 2015 in one word, what would it be? For the staff of the Oxford dictionary, the words lumbersexual, refugee, and on fleek came to mind, but the “word” that triumphed over them all isn’t a word at all.

With over 171,000 words in the English language, the ‘Face With Tears of Joy’ emoji was crowned 2015 Word of the Year on November 16. This emoji “made up 20 percent of all the emojis used in the U.K. in 2015, and 17 percent of those in the U.S.,” according to Oxford University Press.

To understand this problem, we can first look at emojis as a whole. 845 of them are home to the keyboards of nearly every smartphone in the world, ranging from images of faces, food, flags, symbols, clothes, animals, structures, and even a pile of smiling poop. At times they are helpful; it’s much easier to send a heart emoji at the end of a message than typing out “I love you.” But is convenience enough to qualify a symbol as word of the year?

At a certain point, emojis surpass ease-of-use into pure laziness. “I love you” is eight finger swipes; more than that, “I love you” is a personal connection.

A picture of a heart, sent off in two taps, is often too quickly duplicated, watering down this expression of human emotion into little meaning anymore. Before, “I love you’s” were saved for perfect, meaningful moments, spoken out with sweaty palms and jittery nerves. Today, heart emojis are slapped onto the end of messages about the weather without a second thought.

It’s not that emojis suddenly

Let’s Talk About It

Even in today’s society, birth control, also commonly known as “the Pill,” remains a controversial subject.

by Samantha Schwartz ‘16

www.emojipedia.org

The ‘Face with Tears of Joy’ emoji, shown in the picture above, was recently chosen as the Oxford Dictionary’s “Word of the Year” for 2015. help us feel more, either. Adding a laughing face to the end of a message does not suddenly make it funnier. Emojis simply provide another outlet for today’s society to express their overly drawn-out feelings to each other; except, instead of reading about how your one friend’s day is yet again the worst day of their life, you have to suffer through 34 rainy cloud emojis as a caption on their latest post. It’s not an improvement, just the same story in new “words.”

In addition to its convenience, Oxford staff cited the ‘universal understanding’ the emoji offers to its viewers. Anyone of any language can understand that a laughing face indicates humor. However, none of the other honored words are easy for all languages to understand, but instead celebrate the uniqueness of the English Language.

The word lumbersexual, describing one attracted to men who sport hipster beards and flannel tops frequently, while a bit arbi-

trary, is extremely interesting.

The reduction of words to symbols is just something one struggles to grasp as revolutionary. It seems that after all these years of beautiful literature, informative publications, and provocative poetry under the complexity of our growing vocabulary, we would only want to expand it even more. But, as emojis demonstrate, this is not the case. Instead, we devolve to cavemen, with emojis being our own form of drawings on stone walls.

Most perplexing of all has to be the specific choice of emoji.

It is hard to pick an exact feeling to describe 2015, but the humor attached to the “laughing face” emoji seems to miss the mark.

Perhaps a gun, a police car or a fence to symbolize some hot-button debates encompassing the western world. Or, better yet, a skull to symbolize how doomed we are as a society for actually picking an emoji as word of the year.

Birth control is a taboo. It is embarrassing for many young girls to ask for, talk about and take. But why? Why is birth control something that is talked about in a whisper?

Birth control is different methods used to prevent pregnancy, but it can hold other benefits such as lower cancer risk, clearer skin, lighter and less painful periods and more. The only negative, aside from minor side effects, is its negative connotations.

Because birth control’s main purpose is to prevent pregnancy, it is immediately linked to the controversial topic of sex. Sex will always be a taboo because almost all cultures, religions, families, and so on have varying opinions surrounding the topic. But birth control should not be at fault just because of its association with sex. Birth control prevents the risk of being a teen mother and allows women to make the decision of when they should have a child. And it has countless other benefits unrelated to sex.

According to Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organization that works to advance reproductive health through birth control, 14 percent (1.5 million women) rely on contraceptive pills exclusively for non-contraceptive purposes.

Along with birth control’s reputation comes the whispers and shame. Young women typically are embarrassed to talk about the fact that they are on birth control because it is immediately assumed that they are

having sex, even when there are other reasons. But even if women are using the Pill for contraceptive purposes, why should they be shamed for protecting themselves against having a child too young or at the wrong time?

Health organizations, different publications and media understand the correlation between birth control and its negative connotation. The Center for Young Women’s Health is an organization women can turn to for information about health and wellness.

One question on the FAQ site of the Center for Young Women’s Health’s website reads, “Should I tell my friends that I’m taking birth control pills?” The answer given encourages women to “just think about what’s best for you” because “someone hearing that you are taking ‘the Pill’ may assume it’s because you are having sex.” The fact that this educational institute accounts for the negative connotation associated with birth control on its frequently asked questions site is alarming.

This organization understands that people are too quick to judge someone who is on birth control.

However, the way society reacts to the Pill should not be the deciding factor for a young woman to be on the Pill or not.

People should be more proud and supportive of birth control and its users because it is incredible to have control of your own life, whether it be planning to have a child or just regulating a period. A girl should never have to choose between health, safety and protection because of fear of embarrassment and shame.

To The Point Lack of Motivation Is Bad No Limits, No Personality

A Creative Outlook

by Madison Dymond ‘16

by Ryan Deal ‘16

by Maya Koeppen ‘17

With exams coming up, there is one thing that is vital to ensure students’ success: motivation. It is the thing they need the most and the thing they can never seem to get.

The brain capacity of a student means nothing if they are not motivated to learn and study the material.

Exams are memory tests. Memorizing and remembering takes effort, effort takes energy and energy stems from motivation. Therefore, if students are unmotivated, whether it be in the class or during the exam itself, they cannot reach their full potential.

This occurs because by the time teens reach high school, they generally have little to no intrinsic motivation. Humans are all born with a natural curiosity. They want to learn, especially at a young age. Somewhere along the journey through grade school, however, this love for learning is lost. Students then learn for grades or the multitude of extrinsic motivators schools provide.

Somehow, students must channel the curiosity they had as children and realize that one can’t go through life merely using outside factors to motivate themselves.

Everyone knows of Twitter, the hugely successful social media site that connects people worldwide all in a “Twittersphere.” Twitter largely came to be known for its brief “tweets,” publicly displayed messages from a user that capped off at 140 characters. The character limit was unique, and these quick-hitting messages provided a speedier fix for today’s hyperactive society.

However, as the technology site Re/code reported, Twitter is currently considering an update that would elongate the character limit to ten-thousand. Advocates for the change, like Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, state that by allowing for longer tweets, a user would not be forced to use a screenshot or a series of tweets to get a message across.

Twitter prides itself on its conversational way of interaction. This advantage is gone should the limit be extended. Giant globs of text would clog up one’s stream, and it would make Twitter no different from Facebook, which also has no character limit and uses “likes” as an approval of one’s post. Twitter was once an original network which influenced social media; it has no reason to change.

Every high school student in MCPS is required to take a credit worth of art, but quite frankly, it should be a little more than that. The average student spends hours in a single school day listening to lectures and reading from textbooks, all the while absorbing the thoughts of others rather than cultivating their own. Therein lies the problem. Art classes enable students to not only demonstrate a medium of self-expression but to think in a way that is mentally refreshing. Whether it’s writing a poem or taking a photograph, your mind, not your peers or your teachers, plays the creative role in your education. Such courses embody a fully immersive education where all outcomes are selfmade and restrictions are limited.

After all, does this not parallel what the real world expects? Sure there are rules and expectations in the work force, but at the end of the day, what one has to show for is persistently self-reflecting. Today, after high school, everyone wants to know what you can do to benefit society.

Knowing the quadratic equation won’t better the world, but creative thinking will.

The Warrior•Opinions

17

January 14, 2016

THE PULSE · GUN CONTROL In 2015, nearly 12,500 people died in the United States as a result of gun violence. An estimated 82% of guns used in shootings are bought legally. Some believe that the U.S. government should have tighter gun restrictions to prevent potential criminals from buying guns, whereas others believe restricting guns would violate the Second Amendment.

28%

18% “Do you support the NRA’s proposal to arm 82% teachers with guns?”

72%

YES 42%

“In your opinion, does the Second Amendment allow 64% anyone to purchase and carry guns?”

“Does anyone in your household own a gun, rifle, or pistol?”

“Are you comfortable with people lawfully carrying concealed handguns in public?”

36%

“Are you comfortable with people lawfully carrying their weapons openly in public?”

NO 58%

YES 26%

NO 74%

“Is it more important to control gun ownership or protect gun rights?”

YES 18%

NO 82%

VIEWPOINTS

What do you think is a solution to reducing the number of gun-related deaths in the United States?

“Extremely strict background checks. Our current checks don’t even require the buyer to provide a reason.”

-Matan Raphael Admi ‘18

“Let’s arm the good guys to protect the people who can’t protect themselves.”

-Nick Costa ‘18

“Firearms are meant to be a form of self-defense. No one needs an automatic assault rifle for the sole purpose of self-defense.”

-Thomas Reed ‘18

“It’s important to know who has the guns and who is in contact with them. There should be background checks with more depth, but also a check on who lives with the gun purchaser.”

-Noah Corman ‘19

“The U.S. should follow the lead of most of the world’s Democracies and have strict laws regulating gun sales and usage. It is unconscionable to permit the NRA to have such outside influence on Congress. While the NRA is within its rights to advocate for its position—a reflexive opposition to any gun restrictions—Congress should find the will to enact sensible, protective gun laws.”

-Social Studies Teacher Joyce Saadi

“Gun control should be handled with a moderate ideology. Background checks should be highly enforced, but carrying a lawful weapon should be allowed.”

-Paul Lee ‘16

“I feel that if more states pass concealed carry laws, or even open carry, shooters would be less likely to kill people.”

-Michael Gorogias ‘19

“I really don’t know what the solution would be.

Maybe spending time in an ER so that individuals can see the results of gun violence?”

-Science Teacher Emilia Gonzales *137 students surveyed

18

The Warrior Wonders...

What do you spend the most money on?

Entertainment

Food 36%

16%

Clothes

Gas 14% Other 14%

20%

Do you get an allowance?

What is the primary way you spend your money?

Yes

19%

“Going out with friends because I usually end up spending all my money on dinners and gas to get there” -Ashley Lakey ‘16

No

Or

81%

How much do you make per month during the school year?

I make...

“Buying random things at the store that I don’t need but at the moment I think I need them” -Heather Taylor ‘16 “Most likely through either new novels or video games” -Pooja Ravi ‘18 “I waste my money by always buying clothes that I won’t wear” -Jane Peuser ‘16

$0

$1-100 33%

20%

$100-200

$200-400

17%

17%

$400-500

More than $600

4%

9%

“The primary way I waste money is by eating out when I can’t find anything in the house” -Devonte Doward ‘16

If college was suddenly free, what would you spend your college savings on?

“Invest it in either the stock market or property in order to make more money” -Daniel Laguna ‘17

“I would travel the world because I love learning about new cultures” -Chloe Djomessi Siakam ‘17

“I would buy the friendship of Kanye West for the day” -Lizzie Boscolo ‘16

*127 students surveyed compiled by Lexi Paidas ‘17

The Warrior•Entertainment January 14, 2016

19

Head to Cava for a Magnificent Meal

by Lexi Paidas ‘17 Opening the heavy wooden doors and stepping into Olney’s new Cava Mezze is like walking into another world. The delicious smells and the inviting atmosphere welcome you as you are quickly led to your seat by smiling hostesses. Standing out among the numerous fast food chains that populate the strips malls of central Olney, Cava has the potential to become a popular attraction at its location in the Olney town center, located next to Starbucks.

The inviting atmosphere only continued as I sat down at my table with my party of four. The low lighting provided by uniquely crafted fixtures and the decorative walls, floors and dividers provide a very classy feeling to the restaurant. While the aesthetics of the place were very visually appealing, the noise level was exactly the opposite. The loud music, combined with restaurant-goers’ boisterous talking, made for a very noisy dinner that made normal conversation difficult.

Still, the inviting atmosphere makes Cava a restaurant suitable for anything, from a family dinner to a business lunch. The dining experience is helped as well by the excellent service. Almost immediately after sitting down, a

photos by Lexi Paidas ‘17, dc.eater.com, cavamezze.com

Cava Mezze opened in December at 3122 Olney Sandy Spring Road to positive reviews. Cava is usually a fast food restaurant similar to that of Chipotle, but Cava Mezze is a sit-down restaurant, giving it a formal feel. It serves Greek and Mediterranean foods such as tapas and gyros. waiter came to take drink orders.

Such impeccable service continued throughout the meal as both entrees and dessert were brought out quickly at the appropriate times. The waiters were efficient, friendly and always topped off my glass.

Cava’s menu is centered on serving small plates of food.

The slightly higher prices, which range for small plates from a small plate a hummus, costing $6, to a

flat iron stake, costing $14.50, are well worth it as your steaming hot food comes out and is set down on the table. The Saganaki (fried cheese covered in honey) is sweet and soft, the braised short rib is succulent, and the warm crab cakes are especially noteworthy.

It’s safe to say that the rest of the menu holds the same quality food.

Dessert, however, was an anticlimactic ending to an otherwise

All Love for ‘The Hateful Eight’

by Ryan Deal ‘16 “You got room for one more?” This ambiguous question opens Quentin Tarantino’s eighth film, “The Hateful Eight,” a suspenseful, violent and utterly captivating tale of trust, deception and prejudice amidst post-Civil War society. The line, coolly delivered by bounty hunter and former Union Major Marquis Warren, played by the always terrific Samuel L. Jackson, acts to break the fourth-wall, for 2012’s goodnot-great “Django Unchained” left some Tarantino fans wondering if the director truly had room for “one more” great film. Tarantino answers doubters with a film that belongs on the same echelon as classics “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglourious Bastards”.

Tarantino recently has floated the idea that his movie-making days may soon reach an end. He has been quoted as saying that he may plan on only making 10 movies in his career, as to not overstay his welcome. If this is the case, as unfortunate as it may be for cinema buffs, it is still refreshing to see that he puts just as much heart and effort into his films in 2015 as he did in 1992.

As the film begins, viewers are immediately enthralled by the beautiful 70mm shots of the snowy frontier. The use of a 70mm Panavision camera was a bold decision, considering the

technology has not been used in a major film since 1966, but it pays off in a big way. As a blizzard rages, Warren waves down a Red Rock-bound stagecoach. The stagecoach contains bounty hunter John Ruth (played by an outof-place yet game Kurt Russell), otherwise known as “The Hangman” due to his fondness for bringing in victims alive so that their necks snap. He is chained to captured killer Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh, who may have an Oscar nomination coming her way). Suspicion heightens when they pick up Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins, who does the best job of anyone in the film), a racist son-of-a-rebel who also happens to be the new Sheriff of Red Rock.

As the blizzard intensifies so does the paranoia of Ruth, who desperately wants the bounty that Domergue yields, and the racial tensions between Warren and Mannix. These traits reach a memorable boiling point as they settle down at Minnie’s Haberdashery, a tiny inn in which they must stay until the blizzard passes through.

At Minnie’s, the audience is introduced to more electric characters. There is Bob (Demian Bichir), a mexican Minnie instructed to watch over the haberdashery, Oswaldo Mobray (an energetic Tim Roth) who is a hangman, quiet cowboy Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), and for-

mer Confederate General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern). It is here in which the majority of the film takes place. At times, this gloriously claustrophobic location is reminiscent of the warehouse in “Reservoir Dogs,” the first film that gained Tarantino exposure.

“The Hateful Eight” is a nonstop thrill ride. As one navigates through each character’s past and story, there is equal reason to believe that any one of the men could be the liar. Tarantino, with a razor-sharp screenplay and intense scenes (in particular one shocking sequence involving Warren and Smithers), creates a true whodunit that has not been seen in quite some time. Each actor thrives in their respective role, and it makes for a passionate film.

In an era in which original ideas seem to be pushed aside in favor of big-budget remakes and prequels, it is refreshing to see that there are still creative films being made which truly break the mold. Although it may get underrepresented at the Oscars due to a crowded field, there is no doubt that with its blend of complex characters, tremendous acting performances and intense scenes, “The Hateful Eight” will go down as one of the year’s most memorable films.

Grade:

A+

amazing meal. The loukoumades failed to impress as the usual soft honey and sugar-covered donuts were downgraded into at best what can only be described as mushy sweet balls of dough. The Greek yogurt cheesecake didn’t do the rest of the menu much justice either. The congealed mix coated in sauce was hardly appealing, though the attempt at a healthier alternative to cheesecake was appreciated.

Despite the shortcomings at the end of the meal, my trip to Cava was fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for sit-down meal with Mediterranean food as it was possibly the best restaurant I’ve been to in a long time.

Grade:

A-

The Warrior•Entertainment 20

January 14, 2016

W h a t N o t t o We a r So Long, Leggings

by Morgan Hill and Samantha Schwartz ‘16

Concerts (At Fillmore)

Lamb of God - January 17

Fetty Wap - February 5 Dustin Lynch - February 13 Bryson Tiller - February 21

SHOWS N’ SHINDIGS Movies The 5th Wave - January 22 Jane Got a Gun - January 29 Hail, Caesar! - February 5 Deadpool - February 12 Zoolander 2 - February 12

graphic by Tate Harrop ‘17 and Ryan Deal ‘16

After 17 years of never matching navy blue with black or polka dots and plaid, we, as lovers of fashion, are here to share our opinions with the students of Sherwood. In each issue of The Warrior, we will choose a different fashion faux pas to critique.

This time we tackle the over presence of leggings in everyday outfits.

Leggings. They are stretchy and comfortable and easy to just throw on. But, like all articles of clothing, they have a time and a place to be worn. Leggings were originally made to be worn as workout pants or lazy-day pants.

They look great with an athletic style outfit, such as a t-shirt with a pair of colorful running shoes.

Yet, when people try to incorporate them every day, a line is crossed between comfort and style. You wouldn’t wear sweatpants or pajama pants with booties or a sweater, so why would you pair those with leggings?

We want to clarify a common misconception that there are not good alternatives to leggings.

If you are looking for an outfit that combines elements of comfort and style, you have plenty

of options as far as bottoms go.

We have heard the same excuse far too many times. “Jeans are uncomfortable.” Or “Jeans are restrictive.” These statements are false. With careful searching and consideration, finding a pair of comfortable jeans isn’t really all that hard. Hint: a pair of comfortable, durable jeans are worth the extra bucks.

We are surely not ones to say that jeans should always be worn in place of leggings. There’s a happy medium between leggings and jeans, and they’re called pants. By pants we mean the strong cotton-like chino pants that are greatly under-appreciated. They provide endless possibilities. Our personal favorite is the solid black pant, similar to what you can get from black leggings, that goes with absolutely everything. The even better news is you can find these versatile pants as comfortable as leggings, just a whole lot nicer. They add that pizazz that is lost with leggings.

Far too many stylish outfits have been ruined by the inclusion of leggings. By swapping out leggings for a pair of jeans or pants, your outfit automatically becomes more stylish, attractive and even comfortable.

Sherlock Goes Victorian ‘Tell Me I’m Pretty’ Strikes Morbid Chords in ‘The Abominable Bride’ by Milan Polk ‘16

by Meghan Proctor ‘16

When people hear the name “Sherlock Holmes,” they might think of the intelligent fictional detective from Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories set during the Victorian era. Others might picture the overly dramatic yet equally intelligent detective from the BBC drama “Sherlock” set in modern times. However, a 90-minute special of said drama combines both periods of the story almost perfectly in “The Abominable Bride.”

The special begins with a brief flashback of highlights from the show itself before presenting an alternate timeline. Set in the 1890s, the first scene where John Watson (Martin Freeman) first meets Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) acts as both a storyline set-up and a nod to fans, for it parallels the same scene from “A Study in Pink,” the first episode of the series, as well as “A Study in Scarlet,” one of the original stories from Doyle.

After introducing the main characters and their relationship to each other, the story begins to present the case. According to recent reports, a woman dressed in a wedding gown killed her husband a few hours after she supposedly committed suicide. With many people speculating the work of a ghost, Holmes and Watson investigate by observing the estate of a man who may be her next victim.

As the duo try to solve the case,

they attempt to find the people who are behind the killing.

The plot of the episode is complex and engaging to keep viewers constantly interested in the story. However, its constant references and parallels with previous seasons, especially a surprising twist that connects the plot of the 1890’s case to the present-day events of the series, is more geared towards fans than first-time viewers. Even fans can find the plot somewhat confusing if they don’t pay close attention, but the complexity of the story adds to the mysterious and somewhat dark tone, and the special episode works really well as a direct tie-in with the show.

The characters from the Victorian era slightly differ from their present-day counterparts, but only in mannerisms and speech patterns. Sherlock is still the arrogant, fast-talking detective and Watson is the same loyal army doctor from the show. Both actors do a fantastic job translating their roles into a different time period, as do the rest of the cast reprising their roles from the series.

This episode is not friendly to newcomers, but it’s an engaging story with memorable characters played by talented actors. Newcomers should watch the show first, which is nine episodes and is available on Netflix.

Grade:

A

Cage The Elephant, best known for their anthemic song “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” released their fourth studio album on December 18. ‘Tell Me I’m Pretty’ retains the varied sound the band is known for, sometimes ranging from sixties rock to modern indie flair. Not to mention the album’s producer was Dan Auerbach from the popular rock duo The Black Keys, which ensures a solid piece of work with precise artistry behind the scenes.

At times, one can even hear the influence Auerbach no doubt weaved into the record.

The album begins with “Cry Baby,” a tambourine and guitar filled song with notable lyrics that speak of death, a recurring theme throughout the record. The same idea is expressed in Cage The Elephant’s previous albums, but unlike before, “Tell Me I’m Pretty” makes no attempt to hide the dreary motif with catchy noise that often drowned out the meaning of each song. The instruments on the current record instead accentuate the words and that tell stories of love lost or desired. It is a welcomed improvement from 2013’s “Melophobia,” which started and ended with memorable sound, but repetitive lyrics. The new album exemplifies a group perfecting their music.

A band’s goal is to keep up with the times and continuously change their sound while keeping their old fans and gaining new ones. Cage The Elephant does

www.pastemagazine.com

Cage the Elephant’s album reached twenty-sixth on the Billboard Top 200. Their last record was 2013’s Grammy-nominated “Melophobia”. just that, using generally seventies rock undertones and channeling The Rolling Stones and The Who, especially in “Cold Cold Cold” and “That’s Right,” using what the band knows was successful in the past while simultaneously experimenting and creating songs that fans cannot help but wonder why they have not yet been produced.

Lead singer Matt Shultz delivers with brilliant vocals that rise to the occasion for each track that have their own individual sound yet somehow work well together.

There is clear cohesion in the record, and just enough so that the

tracks do not sound repetitive.

“Tell Me I’m Pretty” is a presentation of Cage The Elephant’s growth as a band and desire to continue to be unique and iconic in the alternative music scene.

Despite the many influences one can pick out, the record manages to sound unlike others and therefore set itself apart. Fans will find themselves playing this album on repeat, memorizing each poetic line and enjoying the rhythms.

Grade:

B