November 2012 Issue by tjTODAY Online

tjTODAY

THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 6560 Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312

Football team extends season P6

NOV. 14, 2012

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 3

Obama

wins the vote

Sienna Lotenberg, se-

in the mock debate Obama won the mock election. See

by Jenny Chen News Editor The Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology announced the regional

stimulates global conversation

members. and aspects of the project together by presenting in front of family, friends, teachers and even our pets,” Singh said. under the mentorship of Xuan Luo at the

by Tahmina Achekzai News Editor Over a dozen seniors piled in to the answers to the questions they’d listed on their phones. Soon, they would not only be asking these questions, but giving their

studied nickel’s packing structure in the On Oct. 25, a videoconference was held included sophomore Christina Zhao, juniors

“What makes our project stand out is that of juniors and sophomores representing subjects such as chemistry, geology, physics Glazer organized the meeting with

“Science competitions provide national benchmarks for excellence in

it all together in a cohesive way.” continued on p. 2

lab director Paul Cammer were with the Chinese students. “My gut feeling was that they would be

students’ participation, it illustrates that the quality of our research is well-represented in a competitive environment so students aren’t just doing great work locally, but they also stand up quite well against their peers in the whole country.”

a humanistic element to how they view their society,” Glazer said. “They feel so isolated because it’s such a homogeneous population. They want to burst out and explore the world.” founded on four pillars: diligence, rigor, democracy and pioneering. The students participating in the videoconference were part of a program that prepares

to their respective area’s regional competition to present a poster

in the U.S.

Singh, Banerjee and Bhandarkar

that it would prepare them for colleges in

scholarship and will compete at

“We all chose to come to this program

scholarship, and one team will win

Alumni athletes focus on Olympics

P11

K-pop craze spreads

performance. They require leadership and creativity – for Chinese colleges, they only require academic ability,” one

P12

changed my mind,” another student said. “China is more promising.” that in China, a college degree can land graduates a high-level job, whereas in the debt.

to judges. Presentations conclude with question and answer sessions.

student said. While the students were enthusiastic about receiving their education in the U.S., many were skeptical about staying there to continue their careers. “My original dream was to work for

Syslab students pursue research

followed the presidential debates, were puzzled with the candidates’ notion of taking jobs away from China. They clearly that China was cheating and taking jobs away from the U.S. Romney’s stance with China. continued on p. 2

P13

TJ service club members give back

news

november 14, 2012

Kudos & Accomplishments U.S. Army All-American Marching Band members announced

EIA administrator visits Four advance Energy Systems tech lab in Siemens continued from p. 1

to be in the 2013 U.S. Army All-Ameri-

to assess the risk of pneumothorax, a spontaneous form of lung collapse. -

members will travel to San Antonio, Texas to perform at the All-American

Model United Nations travels to William & Mary

the results of their work. homecoming in anticipation of the Sie-

photo by Jenny Chen

A student videotapes Energy Information Administration administrator Adam Sieminski during a discussion about crude oil during eighth period on Oct. 25 in the Energy Systems lab.

Jefferson named

Scholarship

by Jenny Chen News Editor

nominees

questions. “The most interesting part for me was

let out our energy through programming

genetic algorithms.

talk to someone working at the Department of

tion to the public.

“I think this experience will really help me since not many sophomores think

ter review of transcripts, extracurricular -

Students perform in Senior Regional Orchestra

“My purpose of the conversation was to get his opinion on the viability of going In December, 12 regional winners will

son realize the fantastic opportunity you’ve -

October Issue Correction:

“Mr. Sieminski’s visit was a unique experi“If we’re going to solve some of these big problems, we have to start somewhere. Start-

Kyu Kim, sophomores Sam Cho, Char-

a Democrat.

I’m seeing here is a lot of really interesting ef-

Video conference promotes cultural interaction

Michael You.

InvenTeam receives grant InvenTeams grant. The InvenTeam is -

continued from p. 1 “From his point of view, since the government is able to regulate the economy a lot more in China, they’re able to keep the value of currency lower. As a result, we of-

The criticism of China’s human rights values was not a new issue to the Chi-

agement China receives, trying to explain

in China, but you know, the Chinese are

“If you have been to China, the subway,

Though the purpose of the exchange

she was coming from, having spent six mer.

Debate teams compete at WACFL 1

evenings.

Douglas category, sophomore Sraavya -

The

terms of top speakers, sophomore Chris

China

Chinese may

be -

ing

viewpoint.

late to. ture.

lot. China is quite teenagers perceive American teenagers, -

tjTODAY Online

They acknowlence that technol-

To see more news, visit our website at tjhsst.edu/studentlife/ publications/tjTODAY photo by Jennifer Seavey

Principal Evan Glazer speaks with Bejing No. 4 High School students.

“I think the more we can learn from each

news

november 14, 2012

NEWSMAKERS Students debate candidates

IMO hosts middle schoolers

photo by Tahmina Achekzai

The News Sophomore Pegah Moradi speaks at the mock debate held in the auditorium on Oct. 31 during eighth period. Backstory While U.S. citizens were focused on the election between President Barack Obama and former

Lycée repeats exchange

photo by Tahmina Achekzai

The News

Math teacher and Math Team co-

photo by Mallika Patkar

The News Swing Dance Club on Oct. 26.

Backstory

Hundreds of middle school students

Backstory

weeks. Students split up into groups representing the were also members of Young Democrats and Teenage

students to contest math and encourage them to be excited about mathematical concepts.

The middle school students are grouped together questions of the debaters. “I was surprised that one of the questions was about

level into account.

junior Emma Hastings said.

due to limited space.

“I liked the atmosphere of the football game. It activities that students participated in for the mock about the candidates and to vote. game for students to challenge their knowledge of politics and the government. The game was available for

- Tahmina Achekzai

SAT Prep Exclusively for High-Achievers

during the guts round.

- Tahmina Achekzai

-Mallika Patkar

opinion

november 14, 2012

tjTODAY Volume 28 Issue 3

Are we really ready to talk to the Chinese? Lead Editorial

tj TODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unsigned majority opinion

2012 Pacemaker Finalist 2012 Trophy Class - VHSL 2012 All-American - NSPA 2012 Gold Medalist - CSPA

A group of seniors had the opportunity to videoconference with students

Editorial Board

does not agree with the treatment of Chinese -

ues such as democracy onto the Chinese?

opportunity to have an open discussion -

Editor in Chief

Mallika Patkar

Managing/Online Editor

was peppered with heavy anti-China -

Thrisha Potluri

News Editors

Tahmina Achekzai Jenny Chen

Opinion Editors

Michael Chao Arya Dahal

Sports Editors Sandy Cho Shayna Hume

China have a con-

Tara Gupta

Spread Editor Sunny Kim

Entertainment Editors

freedom the Chinese government imposes

Yena Seo Jennifer Walter

Features Editors Amy Ahn Alexis Williams Lindsay Williams

na because much of

Staff Reporters Omar Ahmed Tara Gupta Ellen Kan

China sponsored the -

Adviser Jennifer Seavey, MJE

ten on the opposite side of issues from

Printer Silver Communications TjTODAY

It serves as a vehicle for student expression and is an open forum of issues of interest and concern to the

$20 to tjTODAY

demands the exercise of accuracy, content of tjTODAY is determined

And what about the other two-thirds

tjTODAY

CARRIE HEILBRUN AND DAVID NOURSI

was the cause of much distress around the

TjTODAY

6560 Braddock Road Alexandria, VA 22312 Phone: (703)-750-8375 Fax: (703)-750-5010

edu Heilbrun and Noursi are sophomores.

opinion

november 14, 2012

Early action or regular decision? You get the advantage you need with your later applications

SUNNY KIM

W h e n Hurricane Sandy took away electricity from more than 50,000 households in Fairfax County, many commercial outlets were

people desperate for Internet connections. The most desperate group out of them all was probably the college-bound seniors afraid to miss their early college deadlines. Out of the two types of early applications, the binding early decision and the nonbinding early action, the obvious advantages in the early action option can’t be denied. Even decision applications, there are reasons that students choose to apply early action in addi-

tion to their regular applications. To start, applying early shows a college that the students are, to an extent, more interested in that college compared to the others they are applying to regular decision. Showing that a particular college ranks above other addition to the high grade point average and

of the work necessary for my other colleges, even though the deadlines for them were relatively far into the future. Thanks to my choice to apply early action, my college application deadlines are quite spread apart. Rather than having a bunch of deadlines pressuring me, I have the chance to take care of each application, one at a time.

Besides, the admission rates of students applying early tend to be higher than the rates of students applying regular. For example, from the graduating class of 2012, 73 percent of students applying early action for U.Va. were accepted while only 55 percent of the students applying regular decision got accepted. But my primary reason for applying early was none of the above. I applied early to counteract my nature as a chronic procrastinator. Even though I managed to get away with procrastinating for more than 11 years of my school life, applying to colleges was

senior year. Deadline to ask for recommendations, deadline to turn in the recommendation ARYA DAHAL packet, deadline to send in transcripts and grades to colleges. The list is boundless. The most recent one that many seniors braced for was the deadline to submit early decision and action college application. Early decision and early action are common policies which are geared toward students who view a college as a top choice. They allow applications to be turned in about two months earlier than the regular decision deadlines. This allows prospective students to tion early on. This may seem like a good deal: fewer applications, fewer essays and less stress. Frankly, early decision or early action policies are rife with downsides. One important caveat of the early decision policy is that, if accepted, students are bound

until the last minute. By completing my

to that college. For this reason, many schools such as U.Va. rescinded their early decision policy in 2006 and brought back early action policy last year. Early action may also not be such a great idea. More restricted early action where a student is only allowed to apply early to that one school. If rejected, students do not get the chance to apply to the same college in the regular decision pool. For me, a single college is not the answer. I want to have the option to choose from many

year allows a boost in the GPA and perhaps experiences and developments to add to the application. Another aspect of college application that takes time to develop is the essay. Call me an

match aid options from other schools and applying regular allows students to factor in the best available aid into their selection process. The college application process is not easy. But by choosing not to participate in the early

college essays before school started. Submitting an application early seems like a sensible option, but writing isn’t the end of the process for me. Developing ideas, receiving edits

enhance my grades, develop my essay and improve upon my application, but I also have one less deadline to worry about.

It’s 8:30 in the morning on a red day up in room 242A. We’re waiting for the reguthe seniors are half listening to the morning announce-

year. My class is comprised of many juniors and seniors, two sophomores and me. or even scary situation. However, it doesn’t I am really fortunate to be taking Calculus BC in freshman year. It is possible

from peers and teachers and adding details are all part of the cycle. However, the most important part that factored into my decision to apply regular options. If the price of the college is of any concern, regular is the way to go. Because students applying early decision are bound to that one college, they are essentially stuck

‘I feel fortunate to be able to take higher level math courses when I want to.’

what college applications are due when. Most of students, however, are not paying attention, discussing a test coming up later in the day. But I, the one and only freshman in the class, I’m just sitting there, waiting. This year, I decided to take AP Calculus BC as my

illustration by Arya Dahal

college that may or may not be the right one for me. Additionally, the grades sent in for early

My Voice Math is my passion

photo by Mallika Patkar

because of the unique situation I have been been doing math at least three grades ahead of me. By skipping Pre-Algebra, I was able ally why I am in the position I am in now. If I were at a regular public high school, taking this high level a math course would

Make good choices at your vending kiosk

W h e n walking down the hallway, you can see students struggling with a choice. They nerger the loose SANDY CHO quarters and dimes in their pockets. It all comes down to this. They pose a hard challenge: to get the Powerade or the Coca-Cola?

Regular decision gives time to improve Deadlines are what de-

Akhil Waghmare not be great because I wouldn’t be able to Fortunately, since I am a student here, I am able to take even more advanced courses. Despite the fact that I am the only freshman in the class, the upperclassmen, along with the two sophomores, treat me as their equal, as their fellow classmate. We feel like we are all in the ing through the class together. I think these types of situations help build unity between all students, from freshmen to seniors. Also, I have been passionate about math since I was very young. So, I really have been enjoying the class content, and I feel fortunate to be in a situation where I am able to take these higher level math courses when I want to. It keeps me challenged, excited about math, and hungry for more knowledge. This passion has also made me very interested in math competitions, so I decided to join the Math Team. Based on my past experiences with math, I expect I will be able to work hard enough to get an A in the class and to get culus BC, I am planning on taking more advanced courses such as Multi-Variable Calculus and Linear Algebra. So even though to some this may seem an intimidating situation, I am looking forward to the rest of the year and beyond.

inside these machines, I believe I can speak for the rest of the teenage population in Jefferson: We love sodas. However, not only is our love for carbonated drinks and sugary juices on the rise, but so is the concern from parents and school ofready hyperactive teenagers. But the biggest nightmare of parents? Childhood obesity. The question no longer becomes what drinks to get but what drinks to eliminate from vending machines for larger health reasons. And as much as it breaks our hearts, we have to admit, the adults have a point. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity has almost tripled among children and teenagers since 1980. began the switch from unhealthy snacks and drinks to healthier alternatives in school vending machines—or even restricting the presence of unhealthy drinks in the building. The Faulkton Area School District of tricts in the nation to implement a ban. Before entering any of the school buildings in that district, students have to dispose of their carbonated soda containers. healthier snack alternatives into our vending Reduced Fat, whole grain Pop Tarts, and 100 glass. But even if the school and country are slowly making a change, why at nearly every corner in many other schools do we still and sodas? The sad reality is that even if we know how all these drinks can lead to detprisingly, is money. According to a study done by the National Academy of Sciences, approximately every year, $2.3 billion worth of snacks and drinks are sold. And of course, the schools having these machines are bound to receive ets 50 percent of the revenue generated from these machines while the remaining half goes to the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) food service, paying for general expenditures such as bills and payrolls. However, turning away from the glory of money and to the necessity of health, the U.S. government began to take a stand. Earlier in a proposal to set a standard for the nutrients in foods sold outside of the cafeteria doors. They also revamped a previous program where school cafeterias were encouraged to sell twice the amount of fruits and vegetables, more grains, and fewer amounts of sodium and fat. Their mission is to encourage We know the question that is running through the minds of teenagers, especially the lovers of a nice cool bubbly drink: Is this another ploy by our parents and the school to suppress yet again one of our teenage wicked pleasures? Are we to be deprived of the comfort of cheesy crackers and sugarlaced Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew? In the mind of an average teenager, it could be a tough decision to make. But as much as I hate agreeing with my parents, all I can do is quote Virgil, “The greatest wealth is health.”

sports

november 14, 2012

Class of ‘07 graduates pursue Olympic dreams Klein prepares to try out for the Olympic crew team for 2016

Otto trains after traveling to London with U.S. Olympic crew

by Sandy Cho Sports Editor

Princeton University in 2011, Klein received an opportunity to continue rowing for a

by Shayna Hume Sports Editor

full sessions that last for 1 to 2 hours. When out, pushing the limits of his body.

“I loved rowing too much to give it up so soon. I had a great college experience, but the one activity that drove me the most

traveled to London this summer. However, ing training as a spare for the U.S. Rowing team in the 2012 Olympics. “The Olympic try-out experience could only be described as a big, chaotic adven-

help our team win,” he said. “So as I neared graduation and realized there was an avenue that could let me continue, I jumped at the chance.” Training for the World Rowing Championships and the Olympics stretched Klein to a higher standard compared to his time

Olympics. Class of 2007 graduate Christian Klein is currently training with the national rowing team at the OKC National High a chance to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

“When I was at TJ, the best guys usually -

into the Olympics and post good results a mandatory six

The invitation to join the national team

“I won lots of races and lost many races, too. As the group got more competitive ing more, and the top eight guys sort of

and many people do something on Sunday, also.” Not only did Klein participate in crew at he also excelled in math and science, pursuing advanced courses such DNA Science, and Neuroscience. He went on to major in molecular biology at Princeton. Aside from his passion for math and science, rowing was one of the factors in deciding which university to attend.

not only for ourselves but for the U.S.,” Klein said. Although this year he was not able to participate in the try-outs due to injuries, he is determined for the next Olympics.

school, his accomplishments included being on the winning varsity rowing team in the 2006 Stotesbury Cup. nitely my junior year at TJ when we were competing for the Stotesbury Cup. As a 16-year-old, it was sort of a holy grail,” bigger things, it still stands in my mind as an incredible experience.” ing with him his high school rowing experience. “When I was at TJ my life involved lots of rowing, physics problem sets, HUM papers and not much else. The thing I ships when you all experience really painful training together, race together, and all While training for his big competi-

jara in 2011, where they won the two-person second, just missing the chance to qualify. Nevertheless, when a spot opened up for a

the rowing machines, and weight and bodyweight exercises to help protect plans are for the 2016 Olympics, but is bridge University team.

London. “I was thrilled to have that experience, but I was still stinging from losing trials. When you invest so much time and energy into a sport, it sort of becomes all or nothing.

“Last year was thrilling and adventurous, but it was not an easy way to live. I

London.”

promises on everything else.”

I contacted the coaches of various schools, and they paid for recruiting trips to Coreton,” Klein said. “All of them are excellent schools, but ultimately Princeton was the one where I felt the most at home.” He currently plans to continue rowing until his retirement in 2016.

he will continue to prepare in the annual World Rowing Championships. The next one will be in the spring of 2013, held in Chungju, South Korea. “The natural progression is to go to each one of the World Rowing Championships

Admission Test right now, and over the

rowers and racers,” Klein said, “so when the Olympics come around, we can put those experiences behind us.”

to apply for 2016 matriculation in a couple of years.”

Fall sports wrap up while athletes reflect on their seasons Football

Cross Country

by Sandy Cho Sports Editor The team had a successful season, with players, including our team captains, we and our drive to win never died,” junior Tim Zhong said. performance. of the way, not just this season, but over the past three years building to this season,” head coach Kenneth Kincaid said. The team wrapped up the season

Cheer

Volleyball

by Shayna Hume Sports Editor

championships. They emerged triumphant with the boys and girls in second and fourth places respectively, both qualifying for the Northern Region championships. At the regional championships, the boys

months of intense training, the team was tired, but three new additions re-energized every-

Many prominent team members graduated last year, leaving the remaining members with a greater challenge than usual. “Our team lost so many seniors last year, but for such a young team, we are doing very

Suh since August,” junior Yana Kaplan said, referring to junior Daniel Fontenot and senior

Aside from games, the team also won several tournaments and games in the

The routine the squad used was the one they began during a clinic at the beginning of the season and that they have been practicing since.

Tournament and the Raider Rumble Invitational. ing in Districts against Stone Bridge High School on Oct. 31. Although the team was

players remain positive and ready for the next season. “The team got really close, and we all progressed as players,” junior Care Shoaibi said. “Next year, when we switch districts, I bet our season will be even more successful.”

The varsity qualifying teams for Districts niors and three sophomores. “I love the cross country girls because although we are a competitive team, we

“One of the turning points this season was

son cheer placed sixth.

Christine Mayuga said. “Considering that year.”

by Sandy Cho Sports Editor With the last game against Fairfax High School on Oct. 25, the varsity volleyball team has completed their season with an even record of 12 wins and 12 losses.

pushed through, which made it all the more rewarding when we performed perfectly at competition,” Kaplan said.

sports

november 14, 2012

by Omar Ahmed and Shayna Hume All eyes turn on freshman Varun Arkalgud as he enters the room, and his presence is immediately felt. Maybe this is because Arkalgud is wearing bright red Nike Lebron 9 basketball shoes, but it might also be because he towers above classmates at 6 feet 4 inches tall. However, as a 14-yearold, Arkalgud has yet to reach his maximum height. “The doctor says I’m going to reach about 6 feet 8 inches,” Arkalgud said. Some ninth graders who stand at a height taller than full-grown adults may be embarrassed or self-conscious about their height, but Arkalgud is not one of them. “My height is something I can be proud of. It helps me command others, and people take me seriously,” Arkalgud said. Arkalgud has always loved the sport of basketball, and already has lots of experience. He has played for an American Athletic Union (AAU) team, Virginia Elite. Arkalgud has also played for Chantilly Youth Association

(CYA). “Varun is a great teammate. He always works hard, and his height helps the team out a lot. Every time a shot goes up, I can guarantee he will get the rebound,” his freshman teammate Deepak Jayachandran said. Arkalgud understands that being both a between the two. importance. I believe that if someone works hard, they will succeed,” Arkalgud said. Arkalgud has made the Freshman basketball team for the season. “Varun is a bit more comfortable playing away from the basket but is developing a nice touch in the low post. He has shown a very improve,” Coach Mark Gray-Mendes said. Although his height is a bonus to his game, he is not taking anything for granted. basketball, but I have to persevere and continue

friends while playing, and when I’m playing, I get to be with my friends. For me, it’s one of the really constant things in life,” Sharan said. Sharan has played basketball since the second grade. Outside of school he has played on the house league for CYA. The two brothers have played together before, but only for fun or as practice. This year, Sharan has made the varsity team. “Sharan has demonstrated a tremendous work ethic and has been one of our most improved players

my skills and to show my respect for the game,” Arkalgud said. Whether in the classroom or on the court, trying to match Arkalgud’s work ethic and

Mendes said. “He had a very promising season on the freshmen team and has since become stronger and much more versatile, learning to use both hands and to be more aggressive around the basket.”

However, Arkalgud isn’t the only member

eventually play on the same level of

Arkalgud’s older brother, sophomore Sharan, also plays basketball. “I like the game because I’ve made a lot of

“It’ll be competitive, maybe with some rivalry, but it’ll be fun,” Sharan said.

Players on the rise Athletes share their thoughts about the upcoming winter season

Boys Basketball

Gymnastics

Senior David Rice

“

People are asking how we’re going to do without Richard Kuzma, but I think we’re going to be better than last year because we have a great group of seniors.

”

Swim and Dive

Senior Caroline Kerr

“

I’m really excited for the winter season because we have a lot of freshmen coming in from the fall cheer season.

”

Girls Basketball Sophomore Rebecca Clark-Callender

Junior Miles Oakley

“

Last year, we got third at States so now that we have another year of experience, the team is looking to do even better.

SAT Special

$490

SAT English

$390

SAT Math

”

“

I think this year will be better than last year because everybody is going to have a better record. We have a new coach and she’s awesome.

”

$$$ 8

spread

november 14, 2012

spread

november 14, 2012

Gender differences in expenditures

by Sunny Kim

Goyal said.

Entertainment

Spread Editor

enior Woo-Ju Kim spent the three months of her

last high school summer working at Sweet Frog

Premium Frozen Yogurt, 12 hours per week. She

had also spent the previous summer working at Ice Berry,

provide the money necessary for fuel, which lessens the economic pressure on student drivers. “When the gas is running low, I tell my dad, and he gives me a credit card and tells me to go pump gas at a station nearby,” senior Bakhtiar Chaudry said. “Other times, when my mom

18 hours per week.

up the tank on the way back.”

since my parents give me an appropriate amount of money whenever I ask for it and buy me items I ask for.” Kim is a part of the small minority of teenagers who were employed during the summer. According to the Census Bureau Current Population Survey, only 29.6 percent of 16 to 19-year-olds were employed last summer, the lowest teenage employment rate since World War II. Similarly, only 26.12 percent out of the 245 students who voted on the Intranet poll stated that their source of discretionary income came from a part-time or summer job.

“

I worked to contribute what little I could to my family’s income.

scholarships needs. “With the recession, students and parents have been asking about scholarship opportunities a lot more than the previous years,” Career Center Specialist Laurie Kobick said. “I have seen more families apply for need-based aid

–senior Woo-Ju Kim

”

available for the students who are willing to limit their college choices to their residential states. In Virginia, 78 percent of college students enroll in their own state institutions, according to the statistics published by The This is to their economic advantage since in-state tuitions for most colleges tend to cost

40%

Clothes

anticipated having to apply for aid, but economic

to make it easier on my family.” The other nominee, senior Kevin Cao, also applied for

Downloads

73%

“Because of the recession, I started bringing food from home instead of buying it at school,” freshman Angela

Books

95%

36%

Electronics

“

Clothes: 16%

40%

Video Games 16%

Car gas

62%

84%

38%

YES 18.57%

NO 81.43%

I spend about $20 per month on music by my favorite artists, such as Lana del Rey.

“ ”

–sophomore Ed Fortunato

r a C

YES 31.11%

Since I like to read and don’t have a Kindle, I buy about two paperback books per month.

% 3 :

Ele ctr Ma on ke ic -up s: : 5% 11%

Books: 3%

: 12% ads 7% nlo s: Dow me ga

”

–sophomore Rollin Woodford

Vid

“

I used to spend a lot of money on electronics, but now I spend a lot less. I learned to be content with what I have.

60%

63%

“ ”

–freshman Tanvir Sublok

Buying Riot Points (RP) is a shameful thing for gamers, but you want to anyways. It’s part of the addiction.

”

YES 88.75%

Food

37%

NO 11.25%

heavy burden to the family.”

I spend a lot of money on video games and electronics since that is how I spend my free time. Also, it takes up less money than the money I would need to go out with friends.

–senior Anna Hwang

64%

“My mom is a single mom, and she works very hard to support both me and my brother,” Cao said. “I have to pull

What do students spend money on?

“

45%

Make-up

More than 90 percent of teenagers consider themselves

of spending for the Federal Pell Grant Program, which is given to low-income undergraduates and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote education.

55%

27%

“Next year, both my sister and I will be in college so I want to get money wherever I can,” said senior Minh Bui,

YES or NO? Students answer questions about their

60%

year. At the same time, the number of Pell Grant recipients increased by 58,000. These changes led to about 9.7 million students receiving smaller awards compared to the grants they received last year.

”

–junior Lekha Narayana

s a g

“

I spend a lot of money on going out with friends, but these days, I try to do things that don’t involve as much money.

Entertainment: 22%

”

–senior Crystel Calderon

NO 68.89%

NO 41.26% YES 58.74%

entertainment

november 14, 2012

Lois Lowry concludes ‘Giver’ series photo courtesy of hollywood.com

photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com

by Shayna Hume Sports Editor Have you ever tried to describe the color yellow? In Newbery-award-winning-author Giver series, “Son,” that is the least of Claire’s concerns when she leaves the community. Yet, when Claire tries to

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ plays on beloved video games

Craig brings humor back to his Bond in ‘Skyfall’

by Jennifer Walter Entertainment Editor Wreck-It Ralph, voiced by John C. Reilly, is the villain of an old arcade game called “Fix-It Felix, Jr.” Tired of being rejected by the civilians of his game and living in a literal dump, Ralph sets out on a game-hopping adventure to prove that a villain can win a medal.

unable to remember her own past. “Son” is the fourth book of the Givshowered with awards and praise ever since its publication in 1993. However, not many have traced the progression considering that maybe there’s a reason for that. “Son” itself is split into three secClaire’s escape from the community and acts simultaneously as the prequel and parallel to “The Giver.” The second part is her introduction to society, and the series. emerges as a major character, giving her mysterious history even more allure. With Claire, at least, Lowry does not disappoint. The tale that Claire weaves from her very own Ceremony of Twelve (from “The Giver”) to when she arrives in the village (depicted in “Messenger”) ties the entire series together. Each of the parts of the novel had its own merit. However, overall, they gave the feeling that the novel’s tension was Lowry’s eloquent reveal of the connection between Claire and the protagonist of “The Giver,” Jonas. By comparison, the last section was a lot more of a disappointment, with Lowry plunging her readers into a cascade of metaphor. To that end, “Son” is a dystopian novel, but unlike other post-”Giver” publications such as “The Hunger Games,” it doesn’t delve into the physical realities of such an existence. Rather, “Son” concluded the Giver series the way it began—by focusing on a torturous mental realm and the characters that resist the temptation to it. In doing so, Lowry managed to subtly draw a much more dramatic comparison to our world than many of the current adventure dystopias. One of the most successful parts of “Son” was Claire’s transition out of the community—a theme that was implied at the ending of “The Giver” but that Lowry didn’t have time to elaborate upon there. In “Son,” we get to expe-

“When did video games become so violent and scary?” is an interesting parody of the reaction of the older generation to violent games. “Sugar Rush,” a candy- based cart racing game where the tart but ultimately sweet Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) is rejected by other racers as a computer glitch. Meanwhile, his fellow game character and rival, Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer) teams up with “Hero’s Duty” protagonist Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) to bring Ralph back to their game. villains, including “Bowser” from “Super Mario” and a ghost from bad and that’s good.” The life advice from a zombie, the anti-thesis of individuality, “Labels not make you happy. Good, bad, ugh. You must love you,” is as humorous as it is ironic. for example, the ghost from “Pac-Man” only moves in four rigid directions, are add to the viewer’s overall enjoyment. Final Fantasy fans rith Lives.” A negative point for the movie was the story’s background, which was at times nearly shoved down viewers throats. The movie is undeniably geared towards children, with some simplistic characterizations, unrealistic romance and childish puns, but the unconventional plot and heartwarming moments make it a

Opinion Editor “Skyfall” marks the third iteration of Daniel Craig as the stoic MI6 agent James Bond. The release marks the 50th anniversary and the 23rd movie in the Broccoli family franchise. “Skyfall” revitalizes the secret agent adventure with a healthy dose of humor, along with your usual car chasing, explosions, and love-making scenes. years to come. Internationally, it has already made over a half million dollars. bulant “Quantum of Solace” by establishing an enjoyable and not inyour-face pace. The action and cinematography is solid throughout. Every car-chase, explosion, and CGI-rendered scene is done to perThe script tells the story of a secret agent’s weaknesses by exploiting a more human side of him. “Skyfall” has many laughable moments where Craig’s impassive demeanor adds to the jokes and has the audience chuckling to themselves. Overall, I found myself more Although the story hits far-fetched points, the audience is generally too involved to notice. Some plot strings are tied too tight, and certain aspects of the story seem forced. As with your usual Bond All-around, the cast truly delivers in this latest installment. Daniel Craig weighs in with his usual cavalier performance, while throwing in emotion and humor in a non-awkward manner. Javier Bardem doing so. Bardem combines all the key elements of the perfect Bond villain into one: cruel humor, mental intimidation, and a lackadaisiBond, and the supporting cast all deliver a solid performance. While “Skyfall” may not be hailed as the greatest Bond movie ever, it can be considered in its own upper echelon. This movie is one of the best to have come out this year and is a must-watch, whether you are a James Bond fanatic or a mere action junkie looking for something to watch in the upcoming holidays.

‘Humans of TJ’ captures student life by Jennifer Walter Entertainment Editor Junior Nithin Bala poses in his Captain America uniform with red, white and blue sunglasses for sophomore Bridget Park. Bala’s photo was later posted online along with a quirky quote. Park, along with sophomore Anant Das, are the creators of the Facebook page “Humans of TJ,” a site the posts photographs of The page is based on the popular “Humans of New York” blog, created by photographer Brandon Stanton, whose goal is to “create an exhaustive catalogue of the city’s inhabitants,” according to his Facebook page. “It captures the essence of New York and makes you recognize the beauty of the people that surround you and the stories they have to share, people you pass by ev-

eryday and would’ve ignored otherwise,” Das said. comment or a snippet of dialogue between the photographer and the subject. “I like his captions more than his pictures because they show the personalities of the people who were photographed,” Park said. “What I really want to learn from him is the ability to capture the natural moment and the way he makes people feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts about the moment he captured.” As a fairly new site that launched on Oct. 1, “Humans of TJ” has had some trouble reaching students. ing right now is probably making people aware there is a “Humans of TJ” page. The audience is very limited since our Facebook friends are mostly sophomores,” Park said.

Junior Megan Ganley did not learn about “Humans of TJ”until a photo appeared on it of her Joker costume. “I was surprised when my picture went up, but it was cool to see what pictures people had taken,” Ganley said. “‘Humans wait for more photos to go up.” Das and Park have considered creating an eighth period activity in order to recruit more people. “We have an outline for how we want the club to be, but we don’t have the technical details ready yet,” Das said. Despite its limits, “Humans of TJ” already has 467 likes on Facebook, and the number is growing. “Our goal is to change that by adding more photographers to our team and photograph all sorts of people from every grade and even faculty,” Das said.

always known Jonas must have gone through, in a format where Lowry’s language blooms, brightening her vocabulary with adjectives of color and emotion that were notably absent while she described the community. “The Giver” was a phenomenal book, and Lowry made a good decision to have “Son” and the other sequels follow in its footsteps stylistically. However, even following that trend, it is apparent that “Son” missed out on something that “The Giver” had in abundance when it was published. “Son” was simply too neatly packaged, photos courtesy of Anant Das and Bridget Park

installment and without the intensity that had emanated from every page of “The Giver.”

entertainment

november 14, 2012

K-pop creates buzz

photo by Mallika Patkar

Juniors Alex LeFloch, Joey Valery, Julian Nguyen, Jaidan Ali and Brad Rosenblum dance to ‘Gangnam Style’ as part of the junior Musical Extravaganza during the Homecoming pep rally.

Students use K-pop to perform on campus

by Yena Seo Entertainment Editor A sea of red, white and blue erupted into

they were riding horses and swinging lassos. Such was the scene during the Junior Musical Extravaganza on Oct. 19, in which the

of the singer or group.”

Celebrations.” One such selection was the

photo courtesy of Shuvam Mishra

tension at the beginning since there were so obsession with the song, but also the dance and the bass drop at the chorus got the crowd hyped up.” Following the release of South Korean

spreading the popularity of urban dance.”

Korean culture. about the actual culture of Korea around the photo by Thrisha Potluri

was before the song, but now they do.” other parts of Korean culture, such as the food and the language. in Korean culture. features of Korean culture today,” senior soon.” want to learn about the country that produced it.” at the United Nations Headquarters. The U.S.

of views and countless parodies and reaction videos, the song has topped the charts and

parodies and reaction videos for the hit. its release. and a dance that people want to learn,” the world.

and really fun.”

photo courtesy of Hunter Clark

From top to bottom: Sophomores Adrien Bernard and Shuvam Mishra perform the elevator scene from ‘Gangnam Style’ in a video on Facebook; sophomore Daniel Suh and Urban Dance Movement practice a dance for I-Nite; and senior Ed Lee forms a flash mob to ‘Gangnam Style’ for his Homecoming asking.

features

november 14, 2012

Energy drinks render health risks Hot Apps: by Lindsay Williams Features Editor

your

How dangerous is your drink? Sib Shewit

Linda Allworth

120

80 mg

Caffeine Content (mg)

160

160 mg 160 mg 142 mg

Red Bull Hype

Amp Rockstar Monster

Energy Drinks infographic by Thrisha Potluri and Lindsay Williams

Stephanie Levin

by Amy Ahn Features Editor

Victor Shen

Luka Jelenak

Nick Lemanski

graphics by Lindsay Williams, Thrisha Potluri, and Ellen Kan information from iTunes

photo by Amy Ahn

Senior Andrew Freix works on his senior research project in the Syslab.

features

november 14, 2012

Giving Back

Clubs offer creative ways to contribute to the community

Codi’s Hats brightens moods of cancer patients By Alexis Williams Features Editor

dedicated to providing decorative hats for children

Codi’s Hats

system for the patients.

photo by Alexis Williams

chemotherapy treatment.

Sophomores Arthur He and Marisa Duong paint baseball caps on Oct. 26 in Room 212.

RAD records books for disadvantaged children By Alexis Williams Features Editor Several students gather around a microphone. They are reading the story of “Coraline” aloud, changing their

Recording Audio for the Disabled photo by Alexis Williams

Sophomore Carrie Heilbrun records the book “Coraline” for RAD on Nov. 2 in Room 145.

loves the idea that he is serving the community in a unique way that is very hands-on.

get edited and shipped,” Kripanandan said.

Keyettes services both Jefferson and outside groups By Alexis Williams Features Editor

to deliver them. It was amazing to see their reactions,” outreach. photo by Alexis Williams

Freshmen Maitri Patel, Rebecca Linick and Ellie O’Reilly make sandwiches for a local food bank on Nov. 2 in Room 228.

Hunger Banquet heightens awareness through UNICEF By Alexis Williams Features Editor

One of their most important demonstrations of the

UNICEF photo by Alexis Williams

Freshman Mahathi Kambham reads her role at the Hunger Banquet held on Nov. 2 in the cafeteria.

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features

november 14, 2012

Where are they now? by Thrisha Potluri Managing Editor Ever since his time

tory.

by Mallika Patkar Editor-in-Chief

News Editor

november 14, 2012

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november 14, 2012