The Viking - January 2019 by The Viking

the

viking

Loudoun Valley High School / Purcellville, VA /January 2019 / Vol. 57/ Issue 4

Friends of the Viking Students of Loudoun Valley High School have been producing The Viking for over 40 years. The Viking is run by a staff of students and distributed through the school and surrounding community. It is a free publication that is supported by local advertisers and patrons from local families. Your support helps us with equipment, software, printing fees, and distribution costs. The Viking Patron ADS: Print Name:

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FEATURE

20132 and we will print your name in each issue and mail it to your house!

4 5 6

Viking Highlights

Looking Back on 2018

The Good Fight

COMMUNITY

OUDOUN UMBER

Hardware 121 N. Bailey Lane, Purcellville 540-338-1840

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Vikes on 3!

The unified basketball team embraces the concept of togetherness

Accountability

Recent movements such as Me Too and Time’s Up, hold celebrities responsible for their actions

Remembering the highlights of last year’s biggest events

Students describe their experiences becoming volunteer paramedic and firefighters

Active Alumni

Former Valley athletes continue to play in college

ENTERTAINMENT

“Your neighborhood lumber yard”

Custom & Stock Millwork

Winter track is pre-seaon for most runners, but for others, it’s their first time participating

OPINION

12 13

Latest Listens

The Tipping Point

After a slew of recent releases in the music industry, here’s what we’re listening to now

Cutting Cable

With streaming services like Netflix more popular than ever and cable prices on the rise, is it time to ditch cable all together?

From customers to servers and business owners, the practice of tipping needs to end

Senior Robby Adams lunges towards the basket in the game against Martinsburg on Dec. 13. Valley lost 47-72. (photo/Gillian Krug) JANUARY 2019

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BUZZ

VIKES ON 3!

Valley’s Unified Special Olympics team embraces the concept of togetherness in a memorable victory against Riverside BY SAHANA ARUMANI AND ABBY KEANE

The winter track team warms up in rows together. Junior Johnathan Grossi, junior Allie French and sophmore Jake Robey do jumping jacks in their row.

VI K I NG H IGHLIGHT S

Winter Track Edition Winter track starts the running season for many track runners BY RILEY GREEN AND CALEIGH MARSH

“In a normal game you see somebody score, and it’s just another thing, but in these games, you see somebody score, and it means the world to people,” Senior Zach Franco said.

Senior Jacob Lautenschlager shoots a basketball while warming up with his team.

Senior Mariah Thompson and sophomore Anastasia Stubbs share a laugh before their practice. “My teamates are my family,”Thompson said. “They push me to be the best I possibly can.”

Senior Sam Affolder stretches his legs out on a cold afternoon as he gets ready to practice. Affolder transferred to Valley last year and is now one of the team’s top runners, committed to Washington University.

Senior Joshua Baird high-fives junior Taylor Gammill, embodying the Senior Zach Franco and sophomore James spirit of the event. Nunaley strategize during the game against Riverside. Senior Paris Dinh warms up with her team before pracitce. photos/Caleigh Marsh layout/Caleigh Marsh

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JANUARY 2019

photos/Anna Garbe layout/Caleigh Marsh JANUARY 2019

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With recent movements such as Me Too and Time’s Up, celebrities are being held responsible for their actions BY CASEY MARRIN

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1 in 15

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.

Children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year

A LOOK BACK ON 2018 January

BY RILEY GREEN

•Larry Nassar, the USA Gymnastics team doctor, was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison for sexual assault. •The Minnesota Vikings won their divisional match up versus the New Orlean Saints on a miraculous walk off touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs.

June

February

•Parkland High School lost 17 students and faculty members in a devastating school shooting.

May

•The Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

March

•Philadelphia Eagles win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

•UMBC men's basketball became the first 16-seeded school to beat a 1seeded school (UVA) in NCAA March Madness history.

April

•Donald Glover released his single about issues of race in the US titled This is America.

•Avengers Infinity war had a record-breaking opening weekend.

July •Lebron James signed a four year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Quick Stats

August

•Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault.

September

•Crazy Rich Asians debuted in theaters. It became the first Hollywood movie with an all-Asian cast in 25 years.

•Rapper Mac Miller died at age 26 due to a drug overdose.

IPV alone affects more than 12 million people each year

33% women and more than 25% men in More than

the United States have experienced rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime

22-25% American women will face domestic violence at some point in their lifetimes

layout/Casey Marrin 6

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JANUARY 2019

December

•41st president of the United States, George H. W. Bush, died at age 94.

November

•Stan Lee, the mastermind behind the Marvel comics, died at the age of 95.

•The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams had a historic shootout, as the Rams defeated the Chiefs 54-51.

October

•Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning's record for all-time passing touchdowns in NFL history.

photo/Creative Commons layout/Riley Green and Colin Bunn JANUARY 2019

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FEATURE

THE GOOD FIGHT

1,300 people,” Peterson said. “When you have so many people working together, it doesn’t seem like a lot of work, and we were able to do so much.” Peterson has found a way to reach out to the community, but he’s found a group of people with which he’s formed a bond. This contributes to a beneficial learning environment for him to get acclimated to this fast-paced job.

Students work as volunteer, entry-level paramedics and firefighters

BY KERRY WEBSTER, BRIANNA HENRIQUEZ AND LOGAN STUP

Aide Catherine Johnson, senior

First responders are the lifeline of each community. These organizations are mostly comprised of volunteers who put their lives on the line on a weekly or even daily basis to keep citizens out of harm’s way. Several students at Valley have taken the initiative to make a difference in their community by becoming involved at Stations 2 and 14 right here in Purcellville. These students have either become emergency medical technicians, aides or firefighters that each contribute to keeping the community thriving and safe. An EMT is an entry-level paramedic that is tasked with providing care for people who are involved in traumatic and life-threatening accidents. They have to be ready at a moment’s notice while on the job, as calls can be frequent. The number of calls the stations can get in a day can vary drastically. One moment it can be quiet, and the next there can be calls flooding in from distressed community members. Senior Catherine Johnson is an aide at Staton 14 who rides the ambulance to take notes while the victims are being transported as well as making 8

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JANUARY 2019

cannot be saved, no matter how hard these sure supplies are ready and available on the skilled professionals try, and as a teenager, that ambulance. can be a lot. “They (calls) vary drastically,” Johnson said. “I think more people should join, but you “Some days I will get five calls in 12 hours,” have to be a specific type of person to do it Johnson said. “Which is a lot because a call because not just anyone can go out there and lasts about an hour and a half on average when watch someone die,” Johnson said. “I personally transporting to the hospital.” haven’t experienced it. People To become an aide, one has to turn in an who have seen the worst of the application to Station worst, I look up to them. Every I get, I never know what 14, which is the rescue I think more people call it’s going to be. It could be the side. Once accepted, aides have to go through should join, but you have worst call of my whole life.” Senior Caleb Peterson is also an eight-hour CPR to be a specific type of certification course along heavily involved with Station person to do it because 14 as an aide, and he feels that with a certification for he has grown both as a person blood-borne pathogens. not just anyone can go and contributing member to These certifications are out there and watch society. Both stations work to essential to riding on an someone die,” ambulance as an aide. save lives, but they also reach All first responders not Catherine Johnson out to the community through fundraisers, drives and family only have to be equipped activities. skill-wise, but they have “We collected food to be prepared to see donations for our breakfast people die. There are circumstances in which people with Santa, and we fed just over

“

“I’ve met so many awesome people there that I don’t think I would’ve known beforehand,” Peterson said. “It’s like a family to me.” This type of volunteering is in high demand, but there are not many people answering the call right now. Loudoun County as a whole is short on volunteers, and this puts a strain on all the stations. Current volunteers are having to do more than one weekly rotation to fill in some of

the gaps at their respective stations. “We’re really short-staffed on volunteers,” senior and volunteer firefighter Reese Goodlin said. “So the county and the station is introducing a paid staff with our night shifts because we don’t have enough people.” Getting certified to be a firefighter or EMT is not an easy task. It often takes months of rigorous drills that test your control in a fire or emergency medical situation. Furthermore, most calls firefighters receive are medical emergencies in which they are not required to combat fires. “The most challenging part of the job is all the training,” Goodlin said. “It’s repetitive, and there are some times when you have to do a training burn, so you have to go and fight a fire. It’s really physically exhausting, but it’s well worth it.” A group of firefighters rides on two seperate apparatuses when driving to a call. The first and primary apparatus job is fire suppression—those who ride on the engine. They are tasked with going in and dealing with the fire first hand. The second apparatus is the tower truck. Those assigned to that truck are tasked with searching for potential survivors. Senior Josh Castro has gotten both his firefighter and EMT certifications. He has spent countless hours training alongside seasoned firefighters and EMTs learning how to become an extremely experienced one himself. “To get your fire certification, you had to go through a six-and-a-half-month class, mainly at night and on the weekends.” Castro said. “It was mentally demanding. For an EMT certification, I went through a two-month course.” The lessons they learn not only help them in their higher education, but also in everyday life. “I will continue to use the comradery that you learn in the fire service, the leadership skills you develop as part of a team, and the work ethic,” Goodlin said. Many EMTs and firefighters have been so positively impacted by the experience that they plan to seek out something similar in college or use it in another field. “I want to go to college and major in health and human physiology,” Peterson said. “Then either go to medical school or graduate school. Hopefully it’ll lead me in that direction, and I can get some patient care hours before then.”

Firefighter Josh Castro, senior

photo/Gillian Krug layout/Brianna Henriquez and Kerry Webster JANUARY 2019

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COMMUNITY

ActiveAlumni Former Valley athletes continue to play in college BY GILLIAN KRUG Purcellville has connected as a community with help from athletics. Whether it’s a state championship, Gatorade Player of the Year, a record-breaking accomplishment or even a First Team Conference winner, Purcellville spreads support to all athletes. Friday nights are designated for basketball and football games where students, parents and friends dress up in green, yellow and white and cheer as loud as they can. This popular social hobby proves how deeply influential athletics are to this community. Drew Hunter (‘16) is currently training in Boulder, Colorado with Tinman Elite for the upcoming Olympics in 2020 but misses the small-town aspect of Purcellville. “I always felt so involved and cared for during my time at Loudoun Valley High School,” he said. However, that “small town feel” does not hold him back from working hard and pursuing his dreams. His passion for running fuels his drive to never give up, and he appreciates the

opportunity and ability to create a career out of this immense love of running. “I think that is so rare for many kids our age to really be able to cultivate our passion into a career,” Hunter said. “I am so fortunate to be able to do that.” Signing with Adidas opened up the opportunity for Hunter to be able to compete at the highest level with some of the strongest runners. He said running for Adidas is everything he dreamed of. It has opened many doors for Hunter to get to the level he wants to be at. Emily Thompson (‘16) has realized the tremendous difference between high school and college basketball. She plays Division III at Mary Washington. “I thought I knew what hard was in high school,” she said. “But I was wrong.” Higher expectations from coaches and players who were the best on their high school teams raises the competition and pressure significantly. Thompson did not play as much as she had

DREW HUNTER ADIDAS

hoped her freshman year, but it taught her a necessary skill—perseverance. “You learn to keep pushing through the hard times,” she said. “You are part of a bigger thing than yourself—a team.” Thompson is now a starter and captain. She appreciates that college basketball has taught her time management and productivity on and off the court. However, she will forever miss how close knit the fans were at Valley. “People are very into Valley sports,” she said. “I enjoyed being a part of that community.” However, compared to Thompson, some alumni are farther away from home. Hanna Tadie (‘17) attends Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. It’s more difficult for her family to attend her lacrosse games because it is nearly six hours away. “It’s much harder especially for my brothers, who are working or in school full-time,” Tadie said. Handling academics and athletics simultaneously is a difficult skill. The time, stress

and continuous effort put in can be draining. Jordan Miller (‘18) plays Division I basketball for George Mason. Miller had 14 points, one rebound, and two steals during his debut game this past Friday. Living up to his repuation, his first shot was a dunk. He found he had to shift his focus from competing in high school championships to earning a spot in the NCAA tournament. “It’s very demanding,” he said. “It’s basically a job.” The love and passion for playing their sport keeps these athletes moving forward. That’s why Jake Huerbin (‘18) did not end his lacrosse career after high school. Huerbin’s coaches expect 100% out of him, but he said he is very glad to be playing at the University of Tampa. “It’s a grind, but I couldn’t give up the sport,” he said. Many student athletes start playing their sports and even train with club teams at a young age to be able to have the opportunity to play in college. However, for Natalie Morris (‘18), she started running in high school, never expecting to continue into college. Now, she is running cross country and track at Cornell. Once Morris improved throughout high school, she discovered her underlying love for the sport. She said she never really took much time to think about whether she should continue in college because running at a collegiate level became a natural path for her to take. “I just knew it was the next step for me,” Morris said. While coaches are present at every level of a sport, college coaches are even more serious and

“I just

knew it was the next step for me.”

Natalie Morris challenge every single one of their players. They hold them to a higher standard to cultivate the best athlete and person out of each player. Tadie’s lacrosse coaches at Cornell are involved in every aspect of her life from course scheduling to stress to grades and family troubles. Their overwhelming help made the transition for Tadie a lot easier to accumulate to an unfamiliar area. “They really aim to provide plenty of support so I can be my best on and off the field,” Tadie

said. But the assistance doesn’t stop there. Teammates are just as passionate about the sport and push each other to improve. These teammates make the experience even sweeter. Thompson and Huerbin both believe that in college the sport is taken more seriously because the players are more committed. “We are always looking to better each other,” Huerbin said. Tadie says teammates are even more beneficial than the coaches. They have become her closest friends, instantly contributing to the adjustment to Cornell. They also provide a support system for her. “Everyone takes on trying to get to 7 a.m. lift in the middle of a snow storm together,” she said. For Marcos Pierce (‘16), his relationships with his lacrosse coaches and teammates at Dominican College have taught him hard work, discipline and commitment. “During practice and games, everyone is there for one reason,” Pierce said. Gaining closer friendships, learning time management and understanding a little more about their interests in life, student athlete alumni say they are pleased with their decisions to continue sports into college. “Getting to wake up and train for something I care about means the world to me,” Hunter said. “Getting to travel, meet incredible people, and dedicate my life to this sport is all I can ask for.”

EMILY THOMSPON #23 MARY WASHINGTON

JORDAN MILLER #11 GEORGE MASON

photo / @perfectshot

layout/Gillian Krug

THEN & NOW @drewhunter00 @emilythompson2 @officialmillertime 10

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JANUARY 2019

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ENTERTAINMENT BY LOGAN STUP AND BEN KEANE

itunes.apple.com

i am > i was - 2018 - Grade: A12

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Comethazine looked like a promising artist on the rise with with a musical style that felt like a combination of rap artists 21 Savage, Smokepurpp and Playboi Carti. His first project from 2018, “Bawskee” was certainly not for everyone, but was good enough to popularize the rapper and give him a large fan base. Unfortunately, “Bawskee 2” doesn’t build off the first project, but rather feels like the leftovers from it. With 10 songs coming in at 17 minutes, it feels very much like “Bawskee 2” is a collection of scrapped songs from the rapper’s debut album. “DEMAR DEROZAN” is the only song that could potentially stand out, but every song feels like Comethazine is trying to build on the success of his two hits. When it comes to short projects like this it’s important for every song to have a distinction from the other. In comparison, Lil Uzi Vert’s 2016 mixtape, “Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World,” is a collection of nine songs that all feel very different from each other and is remembered as one of the best mixtapes of the decade because of the variety between songs like “Scott and Ramona” and “Money Longer.” Comethazine appears to not even being trying to do this. It feels as if the rapper is happy with the money he made off his monster year and will now just try to coast on that for the rest of his career.

Bawskee 2 - 2019 - Grade: CJANUARY 2019

ELLA MAI

EARL SWEATSHIRT

Ella Mai’s selftitled debut studio album was produced by DJ Mustard and debuted at #5 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Overall, this album was an easy listen with a lot of promise but did not live up to the hype. Some songs were semi-forgettable such as “Whatchamacallit,” featuring Chris Brown. It sounds like a recycled and reused Chris Brown verse from 2010 with an honestly lackluster chorus. Furthermore, it seems as if she is trying to replicate Rihanna’s early musical style. As the album has been classified as a “throwback R&B album.” Unfortunately, most of Mai’s just do not have the same revisitable properties, such as catchy lyrics and choruses. However, this album is very well produced. DJ Mustard is a veteran producer and beat maker, and that definitely shows. There are four singles: “Naked,” “Boo’d Up,” “Shot Clock” and “Trip,” the latter of which is the most popular song on the album with over 21.7 million plays on Soundcloud as of press time. “Trip” has a beautiful piano-filled melody. However, is a tad too repetitive for my taste. “Boo’d Up” has the most to offer on the album. The rhythmic, foottapping beat is almost infectious at times. Furthermore, this song featured the most unforgettable chorus and is surprisingly not overdone. Ella Mai is potentially the next big R&B artist, especially considering Rihanna has not released an album in almost 3 years. Mai is without a doubt a talented individual, but she may still be finding her sound.

“Some Rap Songs” by Earl Sweatshirt was released Nov. 30, 2018. The third studio album was highly anticipated by fans, as it was teased multiple times before its release. From Sweatshirt’s early days with Odd Future, the early 2010s rap collective, he set himself apart with his lyrical ingenuity and promise as a solo artist. The best and most concise way to describe the album is different, but in a great way. Earl’s work features 15 songs with only two that exceed 2 minutes with a minimal four features. What stood out to me was how almost every song pulled in the listener and felt like the perfect succinct length. Earl’s coarse and distinct voice contrasts greatly with the rhythmic smooth beats to produce a unique sound that stands alone. The beats are best described as psychedelic with a lot of overtones and layers. The melodies are silky-smooth and may sound similar at times but never get old. There are two singles, “Nowhere2go” and “The Mint” featuring Navy Blue. “The Mint” almost feels like a throwback 90s beat with a modern twist. “The Mint” is the longest song on the album at 2 minutes, 45 seconds, which is almost out of character for Earl. My personal favorite is “Playing Possum,” as it features an earsoothing monologue from his late father, Keorapetse Kgositsile, a South African political activist and poet. As a fan who’s been with him since his Odd Future days, it’s interesting to see his artistic progression as he take leaps in his music.

Ella Mai - 2018 - Grade: C

itunes.apple.com

It’s strange looking at 21 Savage’s rise from being a widely disliked figure in the hip-hop community to being thought of as one of the best artists working today. Since 2017’s “Without Warning,” he has yet to do any wrong, with solid features all 2018 and finally ending with the release of “i am > i was.” With 15 songs and a run time of 51 minutes, 21 Savage delivers one of the year’s best albums. The list of featured artists consists of J Cole, Schoolboy Q, Childish Gambino and Post Malone. Subject matter on the album is largely the same, with lyrics being about typical rap tropes, but in some songs like “a lot” and “monster”, 21 Savage opens up to listeners and tells a deeper story. For those looking for an album more predicated on lyricism and storytelling, “i am > i was” probably isn’t the album for you. However, for those who want to sit back and take in 15 songs with only two weak tunes “good day” and “a&t,” “i am > i was” is a solid album that cements 21 Savage as one of the best artists from the new era of hip-hop. Standout songs like “monster,” “a lot” and “asmr” give the album the staying power necessary to make this one of 21 Savage’s best projects.

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21 SAVAGE

After two breakout hits in “Bands” and “Walk” from 2018,

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COMETHAZINE

Some Rap Songs - 2018 - Grade: A-

layout/Logan Stup and Ben Keane

Cutting Cable With streaming services like Netflix more popular than ever and cable prices constantly on the rise, is December brings an excuse to watch favorite holiday movies it time to ditch cable all together? whether funny, heartfelt or a little bit of both Since the early 2010s, streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have rapidly become the go-to ways for people to watch movies and television. The growth of services like these single handedly closed video rental stores like Blockbuster, and cable networks could be next to leave the regular lives of people around the country. As of 2018, almost 60% of Americans own a subscription to at least one streaming service and 51% of those subscriptions are to Netflix, reports CNBC writer Steve Liesman. According to the same article, 20% of people are subscribed to a streaming service and don’t have cable compared to 30% who have the opposite. The movement to ditch cable and rely solely on streaming services is largely because of young people in college or just out of it. They have no need for the breadth of cable’s channels and no interest in paying the $39 to $100 monthly. A premium subscription to both Netflix and Hulu costs less per month, so there is essentially no need to pay the expensive bill for cable television. With the rise of streaming services has come somewhat of a television renaissance, with more shows being released and being used as adaptations for novels. While channels such as HBO have played a major role, Netflix, HULU and Amazon Prime have all garnered their fair share of Primetime Emmy nominations with shows like “Stranger Things,” “The Marvelous Ms. Maisel,” “A Handmaid’s Tale,” “Master of None” and “Mindhunter.” Shows like these that transcend that of what network television has to offer make ditching the maze that is finding something to watch on cable rather enticing. Perhaps the main argument for keeping cable would be that, as great as a site like Netflix is, one can’t watch any sports on it,

BY BEN KEANE

as games air live. However, streaming services such as HULU, DirecTV Now and PlayStation Vue all offer live TV packages, which cost less than cable, for those concerned about that issue. There does seem to be a definitive best option for those who wish to leave Cable behind for one streaming service and paying just a single monthly bill. An HDTV antenna is the perfect substitute for cable TV if paired with a streaming service like Netflix or HULU. Costs vary, but the average for an HD antenna is around $30, users pay no monthly fees, and the devices allow you to watch local channels, which include ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. The option to pair a streaming service with an HDTV antenna acts as the perfect combination to replace cable while costing far less. With cable prices increasing annually and most popular shows available on streaming services, cutting cable is a more appealing option than ever. Services with live TV for an additional price serve as a great option for people willing to pay prices that are still well below that of cable’s. But for those who don’t want to pay that can still find a very appealing option in sticking to their standard Netflix subscription and the purchase of an HDTV antenna.

photo /Image via www.vpnsrus.com layout /Ben Keane JANUARY 2019

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OUR

EDITORIAL

The Tipping Point From customers, to servers and buisness owners, the practice of tipping needs to end BY COLIN BUNN

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JANUARY 2019

Cover/Seniors Catherine Johnson and Josh Castro (photo / Gillian Krug) Above /Junior Trent Dawson gets ready to shoot while junior Cooper Thunell waits for the rebound during the Jan. 4 game against Woodgrove. Valley won the game 74-70. (photo / Garrett Hennessey).

VIKING

THE

The meal has ended and the bill arrives. Some people pull out a tip calculator while others crunch numbers in their head. Customers give meager change, twenty dollar bills or sometimes nothing. It can be a stressful experience for both the server and customer. So, why do we tip? Tipping is an outdated and inadequate system that should be abolished. Although a common practice, it’s terrible for the employees, customers and businesses alike. Supposedly, the reason we find tipping an acceptable practice is because it’s meant to reward excellent service and punish bad service. A long list of flaws come with this line of thinking. When a customer receives a long wait for food or a wrong order, there is no way to know if it is the server’s fault. The server being the contact point between the customer and the business means that they either get all the blame or all the reward, which is not fair. Furthermore, many times the server does not know what he or she did wrong. A server who gives bad service will not be able to tell why a customer felt they had subpar service based solely off a ten percent tip. There could be a thousand different reasons why the experience was not good, but simply speaking with your money tells the server nothing. A customer is not sending a message to their server when they tip less. If anything, any message they’re trying to convey is lost in a void. In the end, the customer gets worse service and the server is underpaid. Being underpaid is a problem with tipping. The federal minimum wage for servers is just $2.13 per hour. Tips are supposed to compensate for the lower minimum wage. Yet, a study done by the coupon site Vouchercloud found that only 23 percent of adults tip the industry-expected 20 percent. Even good servers aren’t being adequately compensated. This would be bad enough in any other industry, but according to the Department of Labor, the restaurant industry is the biggest violator of labor laws. The Department found that the industry owed $39 million in unpaid wages. Underpaid staff does not lead to good service. People in gratuity-based jobs should be paid minimum wage. Such a change, while seeming impossible, would be a straightforward and simple process. The biggest obstacle to the public accepting a world without tipping would be “sticker shock.” This is the term coined for when a restaurant raises prices in order to pay their servers higher wages and the customers are stunned. However, the overall bill will be about the same since the “tip” is added in to the bill. Another perceived drawback is a loss in profits

Newsmagazine Staff 2018-2019

Editors-in-Chief Brianna Henriquez Kerry Webster

by companies since they would have to pay their servers more. The results of a 2014 study done by Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) show this couldn’t be further from the truth. When workers’ salaries are higher, their productivity is increased because they stay at their jobs longer. Since the employee is doing a better job, the company makes more money because of the better service. According to ROC, across the world, restaurants that pay their staff higher hourly wages have more sales. The message is clear. When restaurants pay their employees higher salaries instead of relying on tips, they make more money. It doesn’t take a PhD to understand what all the signs are revealing. Tipping is trouble for everybody. Countries in Europe figured this out long ago. Tipping, while accepted in many countries, is not essentially required like it is in the United States and the amounts given are much lower, five to ten percent at the maximum. America is behind the rest of the world when it comes to this issue. Servers are paid less than what they are “supposed” to make, customers receive worse service and businesses lose money when tipping is widespread. So here’s a tip: Until society realizes how moronic tipping really is, be nice to your waiters, waitresses and pizza delivery drivers. Until there’s a change, please given them theirs. photo / Gillian Krug layout / Colin Bunn

Online Editors Ben Keane Colin Bunn

Sports Editor Riley Green

Photo Editors Gillian Krug Caleigh Marsh

Ads Managers Grace Jennings Lauren Madey

Writers, Photographers, Business and Promotional Staff Bailey Kuhn, Elle Pickering, Garrett Hennessey, Marissa Del Borrello, Ella Krug, Erika Gessell, Casey Marrin, Allison Dunkleburg, Jared Sanders, Logan Stup, Abby Keane, Katherine Curtis, Kathleen Grupe, Sahana Arumani, Emelyn Schneider, Jennings Felt Adviser Shari Adwers, MJE

Letter from the Editors

Dear Vikings, The Viking is a completely student-run and studentfunded newsmagazine, meaning that our staff is responsible for everything you see printed, unless otherwise credited. All interviews are fairly represented, and audio files are kept for reference.

Throughout the school year, our goal is to serve the student body by covering a variety of topics, ranging from serious political controversies to pop culture events. Finally, The Viking is lucky enough to have a faculty and student body overwhelmingly supportive

of our newsmagazine. Thank you for your readership and your feedback. Thanks, Brianna Henriquez Kerry Webster Editors-in-Chief

JANUARY 2019

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