Vol. 48 » Issue 3

volume 48, issue 3 NON-PROFIT ORG. U. S. Postage PAID Permit #6754 Bethesda, MD

October 26, 2009

Walt whitman High school

7100 whittier boulevard

NEWS

by jamie norwood Rustling their papers restlessly the 11 other delegates in the final “round robin” flit their eyes nervously toward the judges panel. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Finally senior Ben Lewis hears his name and walks out of the room with the top speaker prize, adding

Cell phone companies expand their coverage in Metro stations. Pg.3

OPINION

to the numerous awards the debate team scooped up at the tournament.

Debaters traveled to New York City Oct. 16 for one of the most prestigious tournaments in high school debate, The Big Bronx Invitational. They stole the show, snagging multiple awards and beating out 99 other schools to win the Team Sweepstakes Championship.

“We know how to get rid of the nerves and go out there to do our thing,” Lewis says.

Seniors Perry Green and Emily Massey were declared co-champions of LincolnDouglas debate, a one on one type of debate that focuses on philosophical issues.

This is only the fourth tie in the 40-year history of the tournament.

PRO/CON Pg. 4

IN-DEPTH

Pg. 10

FEATURE

Life as a twin: it’s like looking in a mirror all the time. Pg. 7

ARTS

“

I hope to show work in multiple galleries in NYC, but we’ll see what happens.

-Antonia Mazuranic (‘06) Pg. 14

SPECTATOR

Football playoff system evaluated.

Pg. 18

Few people know who he is or how he came to lead the football team onto the field every Friday, but everyone who has seen a Whitman football game has seen Ramon De Paula.

De Paula (’03), who has Down Syndrome, first joined the team as manager in the fall of 1999 while Dean Swink was coach. He has been an integral part of the team ever since, acting as a manager, coach and motivator.

“I like coaching the team, making a big difference,” he says.

By the time Jim Kuhn became head coach in 2007, De Paula had long been an important part of Viking football. De Paula’s positive attitude and dedication immediately struck Kuhn as something special.

“He is an inspiration to all the kids,” he says. “He always looks on the brighter side of things, even if things aren’t going the way we would hope them to. It’s a

see

DEBATE page 2

on ‘obscene material’

Giuliana Rancic (’92), the host of E! News, excited students and faculty alike when she paid a visit to her alma mater on Oct. 12 to film a segment for her reality show “Giuliana and Bill” and talk to Black & White and yearbook students.

Production and camera crew began to pour into the building as seventh period ended, prompting hushed conversations and quizzical glances from passing students.

Others reacted less subtlety, like a visiting parent who exclaimed, “This is so freaking exciting! I’m never in the right place at the right time.”

Rancic entered the lobby as the eighth period bell rang, greeted the excited parent, and headed for the office, where she was met by principal Alan Goodwin, who escorted her around the building.

As the two made their way to room B-212, Rancic inquired about lockers, the football team, the school’s ranking in US News and World Report and her former teachers. Math teacher Susan Wildstrom, was among the names Rancic mentioned.

“I would love to see Mrs. Wildstrom,” Rancic said.

“I want to know if she still remembers me. We used to drive her crazy.” see

Explicit Towson newspaper column and UMD porn screening raise concerns by nikhil gupta

RANCIC page 9

photo courtesy

ARIESHA WIKRAMANAYAKE, YEARBOOK

E! news anchor Guiliana Rancic (‘92) visited journalism students on Oct. 12 to film a segment for her reality show.

Ramon De Paula embodies Viking spirit

by Will Brownlee

Massey had high hopes for the weekend and was pleased with the outcome.

“I wouldn’t say that I expected to win; there were 178 debaters,” she says. “Mathematically it was unlikely, but winning was the goal. It was very surprising to actually do it. Being a cochampion made the victory even better.”

E! host Giuliana Rancic (‘92) Universities returns to film reality TV show crack down

by Ryan Hauck

billion

The amount a tax on sugar could net over 10 years, according to the CBO.

“

theblackandwhite.net

DEBATE TEAM ROCKS THE BRONX

Inside Look

$50

Bethesda, maryland 20817

great thing to have him out there for us.”

De Paula has been passionate about sports since a young age, notes his mother, Haydee De Paula. In high school he wanted to be involved as much as possible, so he started by putting away equipment in his freshman P.E. class, where he met Swink. The two developed a bond, and Ramon approached Swink about managing the team.

“I was turning in a health form for my older son, who was on cross country, and the gym was full of football players,” Haydee says. “Ramon saw Mr. Swink in the crowd; Ramon went over to him and returned and said, ‘Mom I’m the football manager,’ and that’s how it started.”

His mother initially worried about a lack of supervision, but was assured De Paula would be in good hands.

“After the first game I didn’t worry anymore; he was part of it,” she says. see

DE PAULA page 19

photo by

SILVIA TURK

Ramon De Paula and Ameed Nsouli conference on the sidelines at a recent game .

Recent events at Maryland universities including sex advice columns and pornography screenings have brought the issue of student free speech into the limelight.

Carrie Wood, editor-in-chief of Towson University’s independent newspaper, the Towerlight, resigned from her post Oct. 2 after a humorous sex advice column caused major controversy among students and staff.

“The Bed Post” was a regular column in the paper that gave students sexual tips and advice. Written by an anonymous female journalist under the pen name “Lux,” the series has been running in the paper on Mondays since the beginning of the fall semester. With titles like “How to Make the Feeling Mutual” and “Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night…,” the column consistently contained explicit and graphic content.

“If her legs tense and her toes point and she forgets to breathe, please keep doing exactly what you’re doing,” Lux wrote in one piece entitled “Tips and Tricks to Make Her Smile.”

While many students considered the column helpful and entertaining, some administrators felt that it was inappropriate and so they initiated efforts to cease its production.

University President Robert L. Caret first expressed his concerns in a formal letter to the editor, in which he stated that the column was unnecessary and reduced the merit of the paper as a whole.

“Sex as a topic is one thing, but tabloid journalism is not what we should be offering our readership,” he wrote. “You must decide if you want to succeed and distinguish yourselves or give in to such non-journalism.”

Caret met with Wood soon after writing the letter, and after a long discussion about the column, Wood left with “good feelings.” Wood was then shocked to wake up on the morning of Sept. 30 to find that Caret had emailed her personal address, pressuring her to remove the column from print. Caret included the university lawyer as a recipient of the email and wrote in a “bullying” and “threatening” tone, according to Woods.

“That’s really what bothered me,” she said. “It seemed like a personal attack.”

The paper became fully independent in 2003, after disagreements over a similar column called “Between the Sheets.” Even though the Towerlight remains the main paper for the university, the school’s only official connection is as an advertiser. see

SEX COLUMN page 6

2

News

October 26, 2009

Peoples Road repairs disturb commuter traffic Dirt back online after shutting down

by Stephanie Haven

Despite the county’s promise to maintain only minor traffic delays, drivers in the community have complained about sitting in traffic along Bradley Boulevard during rush hour without moving for several minutes.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation began resurfacing Huntington Parkway, which runs from Bradley Boulevard to Old Georgetown Road, in an ongoing project that started Aug. 17.

To improve the conditions of Huntington Parkway, construction staff continue to work on the road during weekdays posing possible traffic and transportation problems, although the DOT predicted only minor traffic delays. The county also warned residents that construction is noisy and disruptive.

“I know that I sat at one light for like 10 minutes without moving,” senior Andrew Dahreddine said. “The construction workers take forever to let cars through. They should be doing the construction at night.”

The county created a Pavement Management System in 2008 to determine what kind of repair work are necessary for different levels of damaged roads. The system was created as part of this county’s pavement preservation efforts.

Roads in good condition receive pavement sealing; roads in fair condition receive a new top layer of asphalt; and roads in poor condition require reconstruction and resurfacing. The county expects that the resurfaced roads will last about 20 years before another resurfacing is necessary.

Next spring, construction crews from Division of Highway

Huntington Parkway

Shaded section around Huntington Parkway marks construction zone

Services will resurface Seven Locks Road at night to minimize interference with the comparatively higher level of traffic than that on Huntington Parkway.

Later this fall, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as part of the federal economic stimulus package, will fund projects across the country to improve highways, roads and provide jobs.

“It’s a good program for putting people back to work,” said Randy Paugh, chief of the Pavement Management Section for the DHS, in an interview. “It’s not just about fixing roads. You’re taking people that would normally not have a job and putting them back to work.”

The federal government will send an outline to the county that designates what kinds of projects they are allowed to use the funds for. 

Whitman debate sweeps at Big Bronx continued from page

1

In Congress, a form of debate in which students advocate for assigned bills, junior Ross Slaughter took second place while senior Jessica Sheehan took fourth place.

Debate coach Anjan Choudhury says he couldn’t be happier with the results.

“I was surprised that we won everything all together just because I’ve never seen a team do that before,” he says.

Choudhury says his debaters should be getting all the credit for their wins.

“I’ve been so busy working with the first-year students,” he explains. “And they didn’t even go to this particular tournament!

I don’t deserve any credit for this; it’s 100 percent them.”

Despite her coach’s modesty, senior Sarah Houston says his contributions have been invaluable to the team.

“Anjan literally spends his life doing this kind of stuff,” she says. “Our awards are just a testament to his time. He cares about us so much.”

Houston won the championship in Public Forum, a two-ontwo debate that focuses on persuasive argument, with senior Rachel Umans. However, Houston says she had entered the tournament with much lower expectations.

“This was my first time debating with Rachel,” she says. “We had never debated together – not one round. It was awesome to win because in the type of debate we did two girls had never won.”

Houston says the debaters are still riding the high from their win.

“It was totally a team effort,” she says. “Our entire team, the entire time. This kind of stuff never happens. It was an amazing feeling.” 

photo by

SARAH HOUSTON

photo courtesy

Go to theblackandwhiteonline.net for a full list of Seniors Emily Massey and Perry Green (above) were named winners.

BEN LEWIS

co-champions, while senior Ben Lewis (below) won the “Round Robbin.”

MLA citation rules change with the times

by Rachel Lerner

Since former Whitman teacher Amy M. Kleppner first published her “Research Paper Procedure” manual in [] it has become a necessity for every English student. Each year, students consult their manuals for citation guidelines, ensuring that they don’t accidently plagiarize.

But the copy of the manual most students purchased freshman year is now outdated. The Modern Language Association released updated work citing guidelines in the seventh edition of the “MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers”, April 8 – the first major change in citation regulations since 2003.

The most dramatic changes include the elimination of URLs for web citations and underlining for published works. MLA has also added the name of the publication medium to the end of every citation. For example, “Print,” will be included at the end of every book citation.

MLA no longer recognizes print as the default medium of sources, marking a great milestone in the evolution of online research, according to the MLA website.

Media center specialist Ginny Trulio expects new and updated research manuals to arrive in November. In the meantime, Trullio has been passing out the new guidelines to every English class she meets with.

Students can find the new guidelines online at http://owl. english.purdue.edu and http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/ citmanage/mla. The popular citing tool, Noodlebib (www. noodlebib.com), has also updated its guidelines.

Old MLA works cited: Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. New York: Little, Brown 2005.

New MLA works cited: Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. New York: Little, Brown, 2005. Print. graphic by

NEILL ROBERTSON

Despite the availability of online resources, English resource teacher Beth Rockwell suggests that every student purchase a new research manual.

“I think the way the manual has been put together is very beneficial for kids on how to cite information,” she said. “I would totally encourage purchasing one.” 

Despite efforts last year to shut down website’s funding, creators renewed efforts to host web forum

by James Dionne Peoplesdirt.com is back, asking students the familiar question: “Got Dirt?”

The controversial website re-launched after Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler shut it down last spring.

“The guy who runs the site said that he would re-open the site with a Russian server,” Gansler said. “I’m not sure if that’s how the site is up again, though.”

The forum created national controversy last year when a former Whitman student made death threats against assistant principal Jennifer Webster and several students on the site.

There were also many negative and hostile threads concerning specific students.

The site’s content spans all grade levels and impacts a wide variety of people. One sophomore said that she couldn’t avoid references to posts on the site about herself.

“People would always bring it up and talk about it,” she said. “And no one believes you when you say something isn’t true.”

Despite some people’s negative experiences, others think that students are overreacting. One junior, who plans to continue using the site, noted that people take what’s posted on the site too seriously.

“Obviously it’s going to be damaging to some people’s psyche, but they really shouldn’t take stock in it,” he said.

Last spring, Gansler worked to close the site without violating the First Amendment rights of the site’s owner.

He tried to cut off the site’s resources and force it offline.

“We went to the companies who advertised on the site and alerted them to cyber-bullying and threats that were being made on the site,” he said. “Most advertisers were horrified to be on the site and immediately withdrew their ads.”

Gansler then contacted the site’s host, GoDaddy.com, and convinced the company to terminate its relations with Peoplesdirt.com because of contractual violations. People’s Dirt claimed to be an “educational bulletin board” in their contract with GoDaddy, but Gansler contended that the site was simply a forum for gossip.

Gansler had to work around the First Amendment issues involved with shutting down a public forum. However, libel laws can apply to the Internet as well, according to Julie M. Carpenter, a partner at Washington law firm Jenner and Block.

She writes a journal on Internet law and practice.

“The Internet is subject to similar restrictions applied to anyone,” Carpenter said. “If you put content on the Internet, you’re responsible for that content.”

Gansler said that he would once again work to take down the site, but he doesn’t think that will be necessary. The site no longer has advertising revenue, so he thinks it will eventually just run out of money.

Despite his success in shutting down the site once, Gansler notes that Internet policing is repetitive and tedious.

“Controlling the Internet is like a game of whack-a-mole,” he said. “You hit it one place, and it pops back up in another.” 

October 26, 2009

News

3

Dismal international rankings prompt changes to math, English curricula Common Core Standards Initiative tries to improve US student test scores in math and English through national guidlines

by Rachel Lerner Ever since the U.S. placed 14 internationally in math achievement, behind countries such as Australia and Canada, legislators have been looking for a program to replace the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Educators and critics widely consider it a failed attempt to raise the country’s math achievement to an internationally competitive level.

Cue the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which state officials hope will put the U.S. back in the running.

The CCSSI develops universal standards in English and math instruction for kindergarten through grade 12.

“As state school chiefs, we have been discussing and building momentum for state-led, voluntary common standards that are both rigorous and internationally benchmarked for the past two years,” said the Council of Chief State School Officers president Ken James in a press release.

The initiative started when international results showed that, despite national acts such as NCLB, American teenagers lagged behind teenagers in other industrialized countries.

“States came to us and said they were ready [for a change],” CCSSO communications directors Kara Schlosser said.

Maryland was one of the first states to join CCSSI, said Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Education.

“None of the national legislation has ever worked,” he explained.

The first draft outlines the career and college readiness standards and can be found at corestandards. org.

“This is phase one of the project,” Schlosser said.

“We are using them as goalposts. When you graduate th

Metro expands cellphone coverage photo by

SARAH KLOTZ

by James Dionne

graphic by

NEILL ROBERTSON

from high school, these are the standards that you have to be able to have reached to be able to get a job or get into college.”

English standards cover reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Math standards cover precision, logic, solving complex problems, organization, consistency and using technology. Standards will be grade-specific.

“Starting out in kindergarten, you’re ultimately developing and moving towards the college and career readiness goalposts,” Schlosser explained Reinhard said it’s too early to say how Maryland will implement the standards. “Everything is still up in the air,” he said.

A validation committee of national and international education experts is currently editing the standards, which will be ready for adoption by 2010. 

Dropped cell phone calls in the DC Metro may soon be a thing of the past. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority began expanding cellular network coverage to 20 of the busiest Metro stations Oct. 16, and plans to extend service to the entire metro system, including tunnels, by 2012.

The change will allow Metro riders on all cell phone carriers, including AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile, to get service in stations. Previously, only Verizon customers could send or receive calls in stations.

The transit agency agreed to expand coverage last year as part of a funded mandate from Congress.

The agency had to extend the network in order to secure $1.5 billion in federal funding.

“The expansion is partially because of the federal requirement and partially because it’s something the customers have asked for,” she said. “We see it as both a convenience and safety issue.”

Many riders have already taken advantage of the improved cell phone signals. Sam Olchyk, parent of senior Ross Olchyk, takes the Metro to work everyday and noticed the better reception on his Verizon phone this week.

“Even in the short period since the new policy went into effect, I have used my phone and blackberry to communicate with clients and family without having to wait until exiting the Metro station,” he said.

Some local stations, including Bethesda, Friendship Heights and Gallery Place will see an immediate increase in service. The transit authority plans to extend network coverage to all 47 stations

by Oct. 2012. 

The Suburban Hospital Human Motion Institute® Announces

Free Sports Injury Screening Clinics Screenings provided by sports medicine physicians for athletes (over age 6) and other active adults WHEN: Saturdays, 9 am to 11 am in October and November (walk in only; no appointments).

Check www.suburbanhospital.org/HMI for updates to the schedule.

LOCATION: Suburban Hospital 8600 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, Maryland Physical Therapy Department (4th floor) REQUIREMENTS: Consent to screen must be filled out by all participants. Minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian and have consent signed by parent or guardian.

For more information, go to www.suburbanhospital.org or call 301-896-MOVE SB-1686

4

Opinion

PRO

By Jess Littman

P

resident Obama, with support from other major politicians, has suggested adding a tax on soda and other sugary drinks to his healthcare reform program. The tax is intended to combat obesity by making drinks high in sugar and calories more expensive.

It would also provide more healthcare funds for those who already suffer from obesity, diabetes and other diet-related problems. Congress should include the sugar tax in healthcare reform because it will combat nutrition-related medical problems without substantial negative implications.

The minimum suggested tax, three cents per 12 ounces of soda, could raise up to $50 billion in 10 years, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.

This miniscule price increase would hardly burden consumers, and it would provide an important source of revenue for new healthcare programs.

Dieticians and economists estimate that an even larger increase in the price of soda and other sugary

October 26, 2009

SUGAR TAX?

drinks—10 percent—would lead to an eight to 10 percent decrease in consumption of these unhealthy beverages. Sugary drinks may be one of the top causes of obesity, and obesity can lead to heart disease and type two diabetes. With the new tax, money spent on products that cause health problems will go towards solving those problems. While the small price increase probably won’t cause a large decrease in consumption, the money collected will be an important addition to funds for health care legislation.

Opponents maintain that the tax will not raise enough money to fully fund healthcare. However, the costs associated with healthcare reform are skyrocketing, and the sugar tax will raise billions that will certainly contribute.

An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine by several doctors and dieticians on the benefits of the sugar tax estimates that revenue from the federal tax could approach $15 million in the first year. Additional state taxes could raise up to $1 billion in the states where consumers spend the most on these beverages.

Consumption of high-sugar drinks leads to obesity, which can lead to heart disease and type two diabetes.

Congress should implement the sugar tax, which would be a small price to pay to improve nationwide health. 

CON

By Beatriz Forster

S

ince R-rated movies are inappropriate, the government should tax movie tickets to deter people from acting unlawfully. So the argument goes for the newly-proposed soda tax. The Obama administration says that by taxing soda by one to three cents, people would be deterred from purchasing it, which would cause the obesity rate to go down.

Although proponents of “sin taxes” like those on alcohol and cigarettes may say that the taxes are justified because bystanders suffer from the effects, this doesn’t hold true for soda. Drinking soda isn’t detrimental to others, and, frankly, consumers should continue to be able to make their own decisions about what they choose to purchase. People who drink soda already know that it’s unhealthy and could hardly think otherwise after seeing the nutrition facts required on every can of sugary delight.

Perhaps the most alarming part of the soda tax is that it would limit consumer choice and go against the capitalist equation the American economy is based on. It would be more expensive to purchase desired products like soda simply because the government thinks that it for “unhealthy.”

Apart from the fact that I would rather choose my own beverages than follow the recommendations of Washington politicians, the argument that soda taxes would improve American health by lowering obesity rates just isn’t true. For example, West Virginia has had excise taxes on soda since 1950 and Arkansas has had them since 1992, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rank both states among the nation’s 10 most obese states.

Linking soft drinks to obesity oversimplifies the problem. Reuters, citing the Journal of the American Dietetic Association and Beverage Digest, says that U.S. sales of carbonated soft drinks fell 3 percent last year, the lowest rate since 1997, yet obesity rates continue to rise. According to the New York Times about 30 percent of adults are obese.

The proposed soda tax is also too minimal to be effective. The Mercatus Center for Public Policy at George Mason University concluded that soda would need to have a 1,200 percent tax on it, making the beverage cost a whopping $9 per can. This price tag would certainly set a precedent for most expensive edible, artificial mixture.

Many of soda’s biggest fans are among low and middle-income Americans already struggling in the recession. The Congressional Research Service issued a report this summer that over 70 percent of soda tax costs in the first year would be paid by those earning less than $91,297 annually. Americans are already having trouble making ends meet and burdening them further with a futile tax is irrational.

The soda tax evidently isn’t about promoting obesity awareness or about solving real issues at hand; rather, it seems that this is a hollow plan for funding healthcare reform based on the ridiculous notion that unhealthy items should be taxed in order to “reduce” obesity. Obesity wouldn’t cease to be a problem, nor would a soda tax fill the funding gap for healthcare. At the end of the day, the government will probably be contemplating imposing another so-called “sin-tax” to pay for the rest of healthcare, maybe this time on R-rated movies. 

Guidance should advise students early on about SAT, ACT, SAT II

By Molly Kaplowitz

Guidance counselors need to be more proactive about advising students, starting from their freshman year, about the standardized tests they will take throughout high school. Counselors should advise students about which subject tests to take and when; how subject tests pertain to the college application process, and the difference between the SAT and the ACT. In February every year, guidance counselors talk to juniors about the SATs. By this time it’s often too late.

Students could’ve taken courses freshman or sophomore year that they didn’t know had corresponding SAT II subject tests. Students have also already determined their junior year schedules, not realizing the courses they signed up for might not lend themselves to any of the subject tests. This disadvantages students who now have to take two or more subject tests months or even

years after they took the corresponding course.

If counselors were to meet with each year’s freshman parents to discuss the subject tests, students and parents alike would be better informed. At the end of sophomore year and again at the beginning of junior year, guidance counselors should explain differences in the ACT, SAT, and SAT subject tests to students as well as suggest methods to prepare for the various tests that students may not be aware of.

The SAT involves alot of reading, math, and writing, whereas the ACT focuses on grammar and reading, higher-level math, and includes a science section.

Currently, guidance counselors use their students PSAT scores to gauge which test — the ACT or the SAT- is better fit. To further help students make this tough choice, the guidance department should samples of each test to help students decide which to take.

Waiting until the middle of junior year to talk to students about their options is not very helpful. By this time

many students have had to choose between the ACT’s and SAT’s because there are only so many days the tests are given. Because many schools don’t require SAT II’s with the ACT’s and vice versa, students have to ensure they have time to take every test needed for their applications. Furthermore, students can only take so many tests on the same date – already the process is overwhelming.

At the end of sophomore year and again at the beginning of junior year, guidance counselors should explain differences in the ACT, SAT, and SAT subject tests, as well as suggest preparation methods students may not have been aware of.

With the assistance of their guidance counselor, students will gain better insight on which tests to take and when to take them, without the stress. Counselors suggestions will help steer students toward better decisions regarding this tough process. 

48, Issue 3 Volume 2009-2010 The Black & White is published 10 times a year by the students of Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817. The Black & White is an open forum for student views. Subscriptions for the 2009-2010 school year include the Black & White and The Spectator. Pick-up subscriptions cost $20 and mail subscriptions cost $25. The newspaper aims to both inform and entertain. The editorial board establishes Black & White policy.

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october 26, 2009

opinion

5

Limiting discussion of sex ultimately hurts students

By Kevin Hoogstraten One-night stands, phone sex and campus hookup hotspots. Not exactly your typical school newspaper fare, but “Lux,” an anonymous columnist for the Towerlight, Towson University’s independent student newspaper, covered these issues and more in her column, “The Bed Post,” until the column was moved online two weeks ago. Carrie Wood ended up resigning as editor-inchief of the paper after clashing with Towson President Robert Caret, who found Lux’s articles inappropriate for a student newspaper. Unfortunately for Caret, the Towerlight is published by Baltimore Student Media, a non-profit run by alumni, students and professors that has no affiliation with Towson. Thus, Caret and administrators had no right to interfere with their publication.

After the Towerlight ran a Bed Post piece on how to pleasure a man without intercourse, Caret wrote a letter to the editor expressing his disappointment with the column. This was a perfectly acceptable way for him to voice his views, and should have been the end of his involvement.

Yet after the Towerlight decided to keep publishing the column, Caret sent Wood an aggressive and threatening e-mail to her personal account. Due to her response, Wood resigned Oct. 2.

Schools from across the state have experienced much stricter regulations with regards to obscene material. Recently students and staff at the University of Maryland screened a pornographic movie on campus as part of a larger effort to prompt discussion about free speech

on campus. Administrators hosted speakers from Planned Parenthood to discuss safe sex in tandem with the screening. However, state legislator Andrew Harris asserted that the movie had no educational value and threatened to cut state funding for the university if they proceeded with the event. In fact, the Maryland legislature has decided to regulate the display of obscene material on all state funded university campuses, becoming the only state with such a policy.

After Wood’s resignation, the editorial board decided to run The Bed Post exclusively online. While this was ultimately their choice, the Towson administration’s pressure prompted the decision. New editor-in-chief Rachel Fauber says that President Caret threatened to pull Towson’s ads from the paper, evict it from its on-campus office and restrict the paper’s distribution rights, among other threats.

Caret saw a column in an independent newspaper that he, personally, disagreed with, so he tried to silence the column’s voice through intimidation. Even though Towson has as much legal control over the Towerlight as it does the Washington Post, Caret was willing and able to make life hell for the paper if it didn’t do as he said. Such petty bullying undercuts the ideas of free speech and open debate that colleges supposedly promote.

Not only did Caret and Harris attempt to silence free speech, their arguments for doing so were weak. Caret claimed that the content was inappropriate for a student newspaper and could shock and appall readers, while Harris felt the

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pornographic film had no educational value. Of course, appalled readers could simply choose to avoid the column. Or they could stop picking up the Towerlight, a response sure to get the paper’s attention.

Maryland students offended by the film could avoid the screening or actively protest the showing themselves.

ELENA TOUMAYAN

This growing trend of limiting free speech on college campuses undercuts the very virtues education was founded on: freedom of expression and active discussion. Students can give feedback and force changes without the bullying of Caret, Harris and others. 

Keep suspended students on track Funds needed for program that helps students break cycle

By Stewart Longsworth The Montgomery County Council has cut spending on an effective program for supporting suspended students. Student Help and Academic Resource Program, or SHARP, is a volunteer-run, county-funded program that helps students keep up with school work and address personal issues when they are suspended from school. Suspended students, who would otherwise sit at home with nothing to do, spend part of the school day attending the SHARP program at local sites. Yet SHARP has lost much of its Montgomery County funding due to county budget cuts and decreasing referrals. The result: Boyds, Silver Spring, Bethesda, and Montgomery Village school communities have seen SHARP close its doors.

Suspended students shouldn’t be left behind.

When students are assigned out-of-school suspensions, SHARP keeps them out of a cycle of falling behind in school, and then getting suspended again. The County Council should fund new SHARP sites and give more students access to this valuable program.

SHARP has been a reliable partner to suspended students, aiding them with school work while keeping them in a monitored setting during their suspension. Of all students involved with SHARP, 98 percent completed 75 percent of the work assigned during their suspension, according to a county study conducted earlier this year.

Students who attend SHARP are rarely suspended

a second time, says Dorothy Mitchell, a SHARP chairperson. The dedication of SHARP volunteers and employees has drawn praise from the likes of County Executive Isiah Leggett, county councilmember Valerie Ervin, and school board chairperson Nancy Navarro, as well as the appreciation of local school administrators like Sherwood principal William Gregory and Gaithersburg assistant principal Michael Ridge.

Yet even as notable supporters honor the program, the County Council has cut 75 percent of its SHARP funding. New MCPS policies have resulted in fewer out-of-school suspensions, and SHARP has accordingly served fewer students—referrals to SHARP are down 35 percent from last year, according to an October 7 Gazette article. With the county revenue shortfalls, SHARP was a natural target for budget reduction.

If one looks at the program as a whole, it certainly makes sense to cut funding when overall SHARP referrals go down. But SHARP doesn’t work as a whole; it is a series of local program sites connected in name and mission. The drop in funding affected these sites unequally. Instead of scaling down all SHARP operations to fit a lower number of referrals, the drastic budget cuts have forced four of seven program sites to shut down. Now, many suspended students who previously could have accessed these SHARP sites have nowhere to go.

The County Council should reprioritize its spending, redirecting enough money to reopen as many of the

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ELENA TOUMAYAN

closed SHARP sites as possible. Keeping up with school work is important to students and their education, and organizations helping them to do so during suspensions deserve funding even when the county budget is tight.

SHARP funding is money well spent. The County Council can rest assured that any money they appropriate is going to a dedicated group that has reliably supported suspended students, a role that makes a real difference in the students’ lives. 

By: Elena Toumayan

6

Feature

October 26, 2009

Towson EIC : ‘Students need to have healthy discussion about sex’

photo courtesy THE TOWERLIGHT photo by

DANIELLE BLOCH

Illegal fireworks light up Homecoming football game At least ten students planned the stunt for months

by Parissa Jaseb

In the last few seconds of the third quarter of the homecoming football game, something big, bright and colorful caught the crowd’s eye: fireworks, exploding right above the baseball field. The game continued despite the ruckus, but the crowd was abuzz for the remainder of the game.

Assistant principal Kathlyn Carroll saw the incident from the stands and remembers thinking that the school planned the display. But she soon realized that the school administration couldn’t have organized the show, because fireworks are illegal in Maryland.

“It looked beautiful, but it’s considered vandalism,” Carroll said. “We also can’t tell who did it; all we saw were dark figures jumping over the fence.”

Sophomore Melissa Kantor also witnessed the scene at the game. She thought that the fireworks added another thrilling aspect, noting that everyone around her jumped excitedly and cheered even louder after the display.

“I first thought it was a part of Leadership [SGA], but then I heard it was not planned by the school,” she said. “Still, everyone loved it. It was a

great cherry on top of our win.”

It caused a frenzy throughout the stands, which made it difficult for the administration to calculate what had just happened.

“It took administration a while to process it,” Kantor said. “They didn’t go to check it out until the fireworks had ended.

They were watching it all happen too.”

Carroll, along with the rest of administration, didn’t find enough evidence to proceed with an investigation.

“By the time Officer Aubrey and Mrs. McHale got down to the site, no one was there.” Carroll said. “There was no sign of it being anyone from the school.”

A group of 10 students set off the fireworks. One of the members of the group said that they had prepared for the stunt months beforehand.

“It was definitely a group effort, and there were many of us who worked on it,” he said.

After the students set off the fireworks, they jumped the fence and ran from the field.

The student said that the group planned the fireworks with only good intentions, thinking that everyone would enjoy the display, including the administration. 

“The Bed Post,” a sex column in the Towson University newspaper, sparked controversy earlier this year when the editor-in-chief was prompted to resign after running it in the paper. continued from page

1

Because of the paper’s independence, Caret couldn’t stop it from being published. Instead, he threatened to pull university advertisements, which account for around half of the Towerlight’s total advertising revenue.

In an article announcing her resignation to her readers, Wood wrote that she wished she’d never run the column to begin with. Wood explained that, while she felt that the topic of sex shouldn’t be ignored, she was against the way “The Bed Post” explored it.

“I think there needs to be a way for students to be able to have healthy discussion about sex,” Wood said. “Was this sex column the right place for that discussion? I don’t really think so.”

In another recent event, students at the University of Maryland worked with the administration to screen the adult film, “Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge.” in early April, in an attempt to both entertain students and prompt debate about freedom of speech.

In fact, coordinators went so far as to invite a representative from Planned Parenthood to speak about safe sex after the screening. While the administration supported the event and the discussion that was supposed to follow, state legislators viewed the movie as inappropriate with little educational value.

Republican state senator Andrew P. Harris had such strong feelings on the subject that he threatened to cut state funding for the university if the screening continued.

In reaction to the disagreement over the movie screening, the Maryland legislature intends to govern the display of obscene material in state universities.

It will be the first state to do so. The 11 state-funded colleges and universities in Maryland are required to submit their school’s official policy on the subject to the Maryland General Assembly by Dec. 1.

While the assembly will not formalize university policy until the end of the year, policymakers say they intend to impose as few restrictions as possible. 

October 26, 2009

Feature

7

Twin Life

by Zach Schloss

Senior Emily Savage doesn’t know where her own twin sister is applying to college.

“It’s kind of weird because my mom won’t let us read each other’s essays. I don’t know where she’s applying exactly,” says Emily, referring to her sister, Susannah. “We definitely don’t want to go to the same college because of the whole establishing your own identity thing.”

Establishing your own identity can be hard enough in any high school. Imagine how hard it’d be having a twin.

Identical twins, such as juniors Gus and Will Holdrich, are constantly mistaken for one another in class and by their peers.

But they’re not alone. 34 pairs of twins and two sets of triplets roam Whitman’s hallways.

It can get to be a pain for some twins when teachers don’t acknowledge the differences between them.

“We’ve had a teacher for three years now and only this year did she realize who was really who,” Emily says. “People see us as ‘the Savages.’ They don’t take the time to figure out which name is attached to which girl. It’s like going through an

identity crisis because you don’t want twins do better because they’re so closely to be known for the beliefs and for the matched.” actions of someone else.”

But schoolwork is also one of the Lisa Hemmer, Susannah and Emily’s things that can lead to competition, often mother, says that they had a hard time a major aspect of twin life. getting individual friends growing up.

“They did everything pretty much the “It’s not that they didn’t try. It’s a same,” Hemmer says of her daughters. hard dynamic,” she says.

“The girls are extremely competitive, and Identical twins may face this problem so if one did one thing, the other had to even more often. The Holdrichs, identical try it and see how well she did.” twins, began wearing different colored And now that the Savages are applying jackets when they were little so others to college, the competition could become could tell them apart. To this day, Will tougher, although Emily claims most of still wears a blue jacket while Gus wears the competition has diminished since a green one. childhood.

Math teacher “For a while, I Susan Wildstrom We’ve had a teacher for guess it was kind has taught of bad because we three years now, and only c o m p e t e d o v e r numerous sets of twins and says that and stuff,” this year did she relize who grades they tend to score she says. “My mom similarly on tests. actually says that was really who.

She admits she has she wishes she had always had difficulty sent us to different -Emily Savage telling twins apart. schools just so “With Gus and that we could be Senior twin Will Holdrich, I completely separate finally got that Gus and not compared had silver eyeglasses,” she says. “It was to each other.” crazy, but again they were like two peas Many colleges, including the University in a pod. Susannah and Emily don’t even of Maryland, Texas and MIT, say they try look alike, but my problem is, unless I to deliver the same admissions decisions have them in front of me together over to twins, according to the USA Today. an extended period of time, it’s hard to The dean of admissions at the University tell.” of Virginia even says they often alter the There are some benefits. Twins decision on one twin to match the other. use each other to study and discuss Other universities, however, have created material. unique two-for-one scholarships with the “They have one another to study intention of attracting twins. with, and that’s good,” says Nancy Segal, Nearby George Washington University a professor of psychology at California offers a 50 percent discount for the second State University in Fullerton. She’s twin, and Lake Erie College in Ohio gives also the director of twin studies at the each twin the scholarship in alternate university and the author of two books years. on the subject.

But pedagogical problems may persist “Friends study together, so twins when twins attend the same school. Segal study together,” she says. “Actually says she has been a legal witness in a

“

”

photos courtesy

Juniors Gus and Will Holdrich (above), are seen here in on their first days of school.

few serious cases where twins have been wrongfully accused of cheating.

“When they take an exam, often they answer questions the same way or make the same unusual mistakes, and professors who are unfamiliar with twin research will automatically come to the conclusion that the twins have cheated when in fact they haven’t,” she says.

Twins Eve and Elliot Rosenbaum applied together to Harvard last year and both were admitted to the university. On the other hand, Hemmer says that her whole family believes it would be best for Emily and Susannah to separate.

“Not only do twins have to separate from parents and their other sibling, they have to do an additional separation as a twin,” Hemmer says. “I think college is a really good time, because it’s different.

You go into a dorm, and you meet all these new people.”

And while most twins tend to look at each other as siblings rather than friends, when they’re not fighting over the keys to the car, they can provide each other with companionship few others can provide.

“As a little kid there are so many people who are like, ‘I had this imaginary friend,’” Emily says. “I never needed an imaginary friend because I always had Susannah.” 

EMILY SAVAGE AND WILL HOLDRICH

Senior twins Emily and Susannah Savage (above), are seen here in their kitchen and on vacation.

Students study abroad through scholarship program

by Jessica Gelfarb Exploring a new culture, meeting people from around the world and living in a foreign country are not typical ways to spend the second year of high school. But sophomore Amandine Roche is spending her semester studying in China through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth.

Roche, who is one of three students participating in NSLI-Y, said her experience has been truly rewarding.

She lives on campus at a Beijing school with other international students from around the world who are also participating in immersion programs. Most of the students who attend the school are fluent in Chinese. On the weekends, Roche stays with a family in Beijing.

“The best part of the program is having a host family,” Roche said. “On the weekends I can practice my speaking skills by talking to my host sibling and her parents completely in Chinese. They also take me to famous areas around Beijing like Tian An Men and the Great Wall. Staying with them has taught me a lot about Chinese home life and culture.”

English teacher Laurie Safran’s daughter Rachel Gefen also participates in NSLI-Y. Though Safran was initially reluctant to allow her daughter to miss part of her senior year, she is extremely satisfied with the program thus far.

“It provides a scholarship, looks great on a college application and helps students who want to learn a new language live in a new place,” she said.

By the end of this year, approximately 750 students will have participated in NSLI-Y over the course of its three year history. Over 1400 students applied for the program this year alone, according to American Council program officer Michelline Granjean. Because

Russia

Turkey Morocco Egypt Jordan

China

Korea

Tajikistan Taiwan

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Students have the opportunity to study in more than nine different countries through NSLI-Y, including the ones indicated above .

of its overwhelming popularity, NSLI-Y will award approximately 500 additional scholarships for students who apply to participate next year.

When the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs launched NSLI-Y in 2006, it only offered summer trips to China, Egypt or Jordan. Since then, the ECA has expanded the program and now offers opportunities for students to study abroad for one or more semesters in China, Egypt, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Jordan, Russia, Turkey, Korea or Morocco.

Shasta Conrad is a student from Kansas who participates in NSLI-Y. Conrad said the program enabled her to build strong friendships and connections with many different people.

“We are making so many friends from all over the

world,” she said. “It’s kind of cool to think about.”

Chloe Choi of Seattle, Washington is also currently living in China through NSLI-Y. She said that the program is rewarding because it has allowed her to become much more culturally aware.

“I am happy that I get to experience firsthand living in a country instead of studying it from afar,” Choi said.

“Living in China transformed my view on the people here and their values. You don’t really understand a group of people until you live with them.”

Granjean attributes NSLI-Y’s success to the growing desire that today’s youth have in learning about new cultures.

“Due to recent years and events that have happened it’s clear that Americans would benefit from more exposure to other cultures,” she said. “Kids growing up right now are more open to that. The idea of learning these critical languages is exciting to them.”

ECA program officer Katherine Starr said that the Department of State feels that the language aspect of the program is what makes it so worthwhile. Starr hopes that giving students opportunities to learn a new language will help them to develop into future leaders who understand other cultures.

“The promotion of mutual understanding is the core mission of the NSLI-Y program,” she said. “We feel passionately that learning a language of another culture is one fundamental way to achieve this mission.”

Choi said that participating in NSLI- Y has already made her a more open and understanding person.

“I have learned not to judge,” she said. “I have learned to be empathetic instead of sympathetic. I enjoy the personal growth. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who wants to expand their world.” 

8

feature

Teens upgrade to trendier smart phones

by Sahil Ansari Want to check Wikipedia on the go? Order Chipotle from your phone? Facebook stalk? There’s an app for that.

The latest generation of smart phones provides seemingly limitless opportunities for every occasion, and teenagers are at the forefront of this wave of technological advancement.

In the United States, 20 percent of teens currently own smart phones, according to a survey by CNET. Seventy-five percent of these teens currently own iPhones in the U.S., a statistic that has almost doubled since last year, according to AppleInsider.com.

Sophomore Ketan Jha attributes this phenomenon to the iPhone’s trendy appeal, rather than its superior utility.

“People get an iPhone half because it’s Apple and half because you can go on Facebook,” he says.

Junior Marisa Finelli, who purchased a BlackBerry a few months ago, admits that her initial interest in a smart phone wasn’t solely based on the phone’s technological capabilities.

“I did get it because they are cool, and I wanted a cooler phone,” she says. “A lot of my cousins have them.”

Most smart phones provide e-mail and Internet access, but more advanced models include high resolution cameras, GPS devices, touch screens and full-QWERTY keyboards. They carry many of the functions of a computer combined into one portable device.

BlackBerry, dubbed “CrackBerry” by some users because of its addictive nature, caters to professionals with specialized software, BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which simplifies the use of e-mail, calendars and contacts.

Additional monthly fees for new data plans often accompany already hefty smart phone price tags.

BlackBerrys can cost up to $550 with a $10 to $50 service charge. The BlackBerry’s main competitor, the iPhone, costs up to $299, and up to $70 a month for the data plan.

Jha owns both an iPhone and a BlackBerry, but he isn’t exactly your typical teenager.

Jha, who runs a business building and repairing computers, was ahead of the curve: he bought his first BlackBerry when he was only 11.

While he recently purchased an iPhone for personal use, he uses his BlackBerry purely for business.

“The BlackBerry is a little more graphic by SHINDUK SEO advanced so I use it for managing emails or texting; it has a more specific use,” he says. “Before I was interested [in business], it was simply fast texting; it was a phone I didn’t need at all.”

According to Pew Internet and American Life Project, over 74 percent of teens have iPods and over 70 percent use social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Combining these two factors make the iPhone the obvious choice.

This holds especially true at Pyle, where several students own iPhones more for the “cool” factor than for function.

Eighth grader James Dobson got his first iPhone in sixth grade from his parents, both iPhone users. He says he liked the concept of consolidating his cell phone and iPod, which when separate, took up too much pocket space.

“I’m super lazy and don’t like having two rectangular devices in my pocket,” he says.

The downloadable apps on the iPhone also appealed to Dobson. He says he hasn’t used the e-mail function once, but frequently goes on Facebook and plays the various games he has downloaded, like X-Plane and Civilization.

When asked if he would consider a BlackBerry, Dobson promptly answered, “Nope, I’ve always been a Mac guy. Plus BlackBerrys are for businessmen, not kids.” 

Bethesda Softworks creates virtual, post-nuclear D.C. metropolitan area

by Jamie Norwood and ZACH SCHLOSS Bethesda is a nuclear wasteland. Its buildings have crumbled to the ground.

The inhabitants have either perished or resorted to anarchy. It’s a living hell.

This is Bethesda in the year 2277, according to Bethesda Softworks. This Rockvillebased gaming company has published a number of awardwinning video games, many of which incorporate life in the metropolitan area.

The game is Fallout 3, and it’s just one of the many games created by the company that are popular with teens around the country. Bethesda Softworks also created the photo courtesy BETHESDA SOFTWORKS first physics-based sports simulation, Gridiron!, in 1986, Bethesda Softworks depicts a post-apocolyptic Bethesda in its popular video game Fallout 3. and more recently, the Elder Scrolls and IHRA Drag Racing gaming series. playing game company known for taking a smart and In Fallout 3, Bethesda Softworks’ latest top-selling massive storyline and intertwining it with a giant, video game, gamers can enter the virtual world of realistic world.” downtown Bethesda and surrounding D.C. areas—after Bethesda Softworks pioneered the technology that nuclear devastation. Wandering through the streets of a allows visual graphics to become clearer in the area virtual but scarily realistic world, players can do anything closest to the player-controlled character, a tactic that from eating mole rat meat to surgically removing a other gaming companies have since adopted, resulting mutant’s arm with a shotgun. in highly-detailed gaming universes. This trend should “The whole point of the game is really to allow you continue when Bethesda Softworks continues the Fallout to tell your own story,” says Pete Hines, vice president series with Fallout: New Vegas, scheduled for release of public relations and marketing. “You create whatever in 2010. kind of character you want, and then go out to explore “This technology allows for a great expansion of this big post-nuclear wasteland and decide who you want levels so that their games are massive—much bigger than to be in this world.” previous games on Xbox 360,” junior Jeff Gruen says.

The company used first-hand knowledge of the “You can have complete customizability.” surrounding area to draw inspiration for Fallout 3.

Bethesda Softworks landed the number seven spot on “It’s an alternate version of the world…not the one Game Developer Magazine’s highly anticipated annual we know,” Hines says. “We put a location in the world list of the top 20 game publishers, ahead of gaming giants that represented where our offices are.” like Microsoft, Sega and Atari.

Junior Tony Atkinson says that Bethesda Softworks “It’s nice to be recognized for the work you’re doing,” is his favorite gaming company.

Hines says. “Certainly we’re proud of what we’ve “I’ve played a lot of really awesome games,” Atkinson accomplished. As to what the future holds…the sky is explains. “But Bethesda Softworks is mainly a role- the limit.” 

october 26, 2009

Students head beyond borders after graduation

photo courtesy

COLLIN MORRISON

Collin Morrison (‘07) at the British outpost of the Univeristy of British Vancouver. He currently attends UBC in Canada.

by Rachel Nussbaum Every year, students go through their own personal Goldilocks fairytale, college-style. After debating the pros of some schools against the merits of others, most eventually find their “just right” fit.

Mostly, students limit their search to within U.S. borders. But for a few students every year, the perfect choice is in the next cottage over.

More and more students are flocking to the land of the free (healthcare), Canada. Some see Canadian colleges as an escape from the U.S. university hunt, from the cheaper tuition fees to the less stressful atmosphere.

“The standards are about the same, but the people are a little bit more relaxed about getting into college,” junior Carolyn Connor says.

Connor, who has dual citizenship as well as family in Canada, says her interest in Canadian colleges stems from having spent a lot of time there.

“I’m there a lot in the summer,” Connor says.

“And we talk about it a lot.”

A background like Connor’s appears to be a common thread among students interested in foreign universities.

“I grew up in Canada,” junior Julia Cline says.

“It might be difficult to adjust, but they do have a lot of students from the U.S., so they’re used to dealing with that.”

Lower tuition rates for Canadian universities also factor into students’ college choices.

The majority of University of British Vancouver programs cost around $4,500 for Canadian students, and around $22,000 for international students. In comparison, University of Maryland charges $37,414 for out-of-state students.

“A lot of students will go to school in Canada because it’s cheaper,” Janice Marmor, the Career Information Center coordinator, says. “It’s a good education, and it’s not that different from here.”

“Tuition rates weren’t my most important concern,” Collin Morrison (’07) writes from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. “But they certainly are an attractive quality that makes up for paying for flights home. Thanks to the Canadian government’s subsidies for secondary education, you can expect to pay two thirds or half of a U.S. private university.”

While the price and good reviews make a Canadian application sound appealing, Canada’s looser college application requirements might take some getting used to. Unlike the extracurricularloading and SAT prep that most students expect colleges to look for, Canadian colleges only ask for a minimal SAT score.

“The grading system would shock most Whitman students and parents,” Morrison says. At UBC, a 100-90 percent is graded as an A+, 85-89 percent is an A, and 84-80 percent is an A-.

Morrison, however, notes that because the range for A grades is so wide, getting above a 90 percent isn’t as easy as it sounds.

“The difficulty of receiving an A+ increases with the broader percentage range, meaning you may be bringing home a lower percentage overall,” Morrison says. “They mark harder because the range of A’s and a B’s are so large. In essence it’s really your GPA that won’t look as good.”

Scoring system aside, students may have to reevaluate their sports preferences, Morrison says.

“It’s painful to watch Canadian football, so you might end up as a hockey fan.” 

October 26, 2009

Rancic shares high school memories, red carpet moments during Q&A continued from page

ARTS

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1

Wildstrom had gone home for the day, but Rancic did encounter photography teacher Marjorie Scott, whom Rancic recognized from her Whitman days.

“She doesn’t look any different,” Rancic noted.

Rancic then entered the Black & White room, where she spoke with students for the remainder of the school day about her time at Whitman and her success in Hollywood.

Rancic noted that her tendency to misbehave, unusual home life (her parents spoke no English), and physical awkwardness didn’t make high school easy. In spite of her self-proclaimed “ugliness” in adolescence, Rancic was ranked #94 on Maxim’s 2004 list of Hot 100 Women.

Rancic told students that she does

not regret her high school experiences because they forced her to develop a strong personality, something she credits with her success on E! “I was the thirty-ninth person auditioning for my job when I was going in for E! I wasn’t the prettiest, I wasn’t the tallest, I wasn’t the smartest,” Rancic said. “But what I did have was a different personality, a distinct personality that set me apart from everyone else.”

Rancic, born Giuliani DePandi, moved to Bethesda at the age of seven from Naples, Italy. Her father, Eduardo DePandi, opened Bruno Cipriani, a men’s clothing store at White Flint Mall, which he still owns. DePandi attended Bannockburn Elementary School and Pyle Middle School prior to Whitman.

In high school, Rancic was a misfit

Principal Alan Goodwin escorts Rancic around the building before bringing her into B-212.

with a knack for getting into trouble, she said. Her exploits included stealing and selling interim reports; and rigging the homecoming queen vote so that she would be a nominee. According to Rancic, the latter incident led to her most embarrassing moment in high school.

“I remember after they announced my name, walking down the halls with everybody yelling ‘You fixed it!’” she said.

Once she graduated from Whitman, she majored in journalism at the University of Maryland and American University, where she received a master’s degree in the subject. Her master’s degree was an asset in a field where much of the competition had little or no education outside of high school.

After grad school Rancic struggled for four years in Los Angeles, working odd jobs.

“The worst part was trying to convince my family and friends I would make it,” Rancic said. “It only made me want to make it more.”

During this period of her life, Rancic worked in the mailroom of a talent agency. The contacts Rancic made there helped her land an audition with E! “You might be doing a minimum wage job,” Rancic said. “But that job could just change your life.”

Rancic was hired and has been at E! for eight years.

“The only downside is Ryan Seacrest,” she jokes.

photos courtesy ARIESHA WIKRAMANAYAKE

Rancic and her cameraman examine her picture in 1992 yearbook while filming the segment.

Her fearless demeanor and willingness to make mistakes also helped her along the way.

“I welcome mistakes because that’s what makes the news,” Rancic said. “I want the train wreck to happen.”

She went on to cite an instance in which Seth McFarlane used a profane word during a live red carpet interview and another instance in which Russell Crowe responded coldly to her questions.

Rancic said such “train wrecks” keep audiences tuned in to E! News.

In one memorable interview with George Clooney, Rancic “accidentally” asked him to marry her. The star politely declined, but the interview continued without a hitch and Rancic now jokes about the incident.

Instead of Clooney, Rancic married Bill Rancic, the winner of the first season of “The Apprentice,” after she volunteered to interview the hunk for a segment.

When she realized he had a girlfriend she tried to get out of the interview, but it was too late.

“I said, ‘You know Trump settled down; are you going to settle down?’”

Rancic said. “He kind of looked at me funny so I added ‘With your girlfriend?’ “‘Oh,’ he said. ‘We broke up.’”

The two were engaged eight months later, and wed in September 2007.

The pair stars in “Giuliana and Bill,” a reality show based on their life together, which airs at 8p.m. Wednesdays on the Style Network. 

better scores. better choices.

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Making the Grade

by Ned Johnson, Founder and President of PrepMatters, Inc

My favorite teacher in high school once told me that good students make good schools more than good schools make good students. At the time, I wondered whether he was nuts. Was he that self-deprecating, that humble? Wasn’t it his job to make good students? Wasn’t my high school a terrific school because of people like Mr. Broverman?

Well, Mr. Broverman was right: good students do make good schools. And that’s why grades matter.

Granted, the relationship works the other way as well. Good colleges do make students better. But, fundamentally, what makes a great college great is not the sum total of ivy on the walls, the degrees and honors of its

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are an act (granted, an important one). Your faculty and the dollars in its endowment. It is grades are your habit. You want to work to get the character and caliber of the student body. good standardized test scores that reflect your By and large, students are measured by grades. strong grades. You do NOT want to divert That’s why grades matter. High school grades effort from grades such that (grades falling) matter to college admissions folks because the two meet in the middle. Determine – they know that students who do well in before senior year – which high school are likely to do For more tips on planning your tests are right for you and well in college. testing calendar, visit the when you should take PrepMatters YouTube channel them. Planning your Now, grades may not be (youtube.com/prepmatters) testing calendar everything, but they are a strategically can not only lot. As the great Other Upcoming Webinars: save time (and heartbreak), philosopher Aristotle but also help you maintain observed, “We are what we Nov. 4th: SAT vs ACT and your grades. repeatedly do. Excellence, the Road Less Traveled then, is not an act but a So, for parents and for habit.” Your grades, then, Dec 17: Understanding the PSAT students, grades come first. are the record of what you Score Report SAT, ACT and other scores have done day after day, still matter. You’ll likely week after week, year after Registration is free. want to put in real work to year. They reflect Visit prepmatters.com for perform well. BUT, don’t homework, class work, registration information. take on hours a week of essays, quizzes and tests. test preparation if your grades will suffer. You can retake the SAT; you As you continue into this critical junior year and cannot undo a poor grade. Make it your habit spend time preparing to do well on the SAT, ACT to put grades first. or other standardized tests, remember that they

info@prepmatters.com www.prepmatters.com

6721 CURRAN ST. McLEAN, VIRGINIA 22101 703.356.6390

10

october 26, 2009

in-de

Fun and spooky holiday activities

I

by Becca Andrasko

f you’re not feeling the whole trick-or-treating thing and don’t really feel like spending the night scaring small children off your porch, we’ve got the list for you.

Hollow Hay Ride: This dimly-lit ride through the oldest part of the Valley Mill Forest features ghouls and ghosts that come at you from all directions.

Markoff’s Haunted Forest: This Embassy Row Trick-orhaunted forest includes two haunted Treating: About 21 embassies are participating in this informal courses, small spaces, ghosts and attractions like a zip-line and music Halloween tradition. All ages.

Date: Oct. 31 while you wait to enter the forest.

Times: starts at 3:30 and ends Days: Thurs, Fri, Sat between 4 and 5 p.m.

Open: through Nov. 1 Price: Free Times: Opens at dusk (around 7 p.m.) and closes when all patrons Location:Along Massachusetts Ave. near Dupont Circle. are through.

Price: $20 on Thursdays, and $25 DC Drag Queen Race: Drag Fridays, Saturdays. queens in stilettos race to the Location: Calleva Farm, 19120 finish line as a crowd gathers Martinsburg Rd. Dickerson, to cheer them on and see their Maryland. over-the-top outfits. The Drag Information: www.

Queen Race is one of D.C.’s crazier markoffshauntedforest.com/ traditions, and it’s a fun way to show Halloween spirit.

Valley Mill: Three different Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 attractions to appeal to all guests, from family friendly activities to a Times: 9 p.m. Get there early, around 6 p.m. for a good viewing scary haunted trail. spot.

Days: Fridays, Saturdays and Price: Free Sundays through Nov. 1 Location: 17th Street, between P Times: Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sundays and S Streets NW from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Washington Walks: Tour is Price: Adults $15, children 8 and offered Wednesday through under $10.

Saturday at 7:30 p.m., through Location: 15101 Seneca Rd. October 31, 2009. $10 per person.

Germantown MD 20874.

Tickets: www.washingtonwalks.

Information: www.valleymill.com/ com/ halloween Natalie Zanin’s Historic Strolls: October 30 & 31 at 8 p.m. Adults $10, children under 16 are $5.

Tickets: www.historicstrolls.com/ tickets.htm

Ghosts and gho

‘Expect anything from tp-in

by ANDREW WYNER

DC Ghost Tours: Tours are offered nightly at 8-9:30 p.m. Adults $15, children $8. Tickets: www. dcghosttours.com/ Patriot Center: Mastodon, Metalocalypse: Dethklok, Converge, High On Fire. These bands tend to be progressive rock and heavy metal.

High On Fire draws comparisons to Metallica and Celtic Frost, and Converge assaults the listener with “throat-ripping screams and aggressive smashing percussion,” according to their bio on iTunes.

Day: Oct. 31 Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Price: $35 entry fee Location: 4500 Patriot Circle Fairfax, VA 22030.

Information and Tickets: www. patriotcenter.com/tickets/ 9:30 Club: Cypress Hill — A noted Latino hip-hop group that became pioneers of ‘90s hip-hop.

But Cypress Hill is still just as cool today as they were back then. Plus, the 9:30 Club is hosting a costume contest. Day: Oct. 31, Time: 8 p.m. doors open.

Price: $35 entry fee, Information and Tickets: www.930.com/tickets/ 

A

s Halloween costumes pop up in store windows and jack-olanterns sprinkle the lawns of Bethesda homes, it’s clear the community is getting excited for the spookiest holiday of them all. While some high school students have grown out of trick-or-treating, many still find ways to celebrate the holiday.

Many Whitman teachers say they see kids celebrating Halloween differently from when they were young. During instrumental music teacher Terry Alvey’s childhood, people took the do-it-yourself route to costumes rather than buying them from commercial “We were hobos a lot of the time because it was easiest, and we could just use our fathers’ clothing,” she says.

English teacher Susan Buckingham recalls that her favorite Halloween costumes were simpler and more generic.

“When I was in elementary school we had a Halloween parade,” she says. “One year I was a fairy princess. It was my favorite costume.”

English teacher Ashley Houghton also notices how Halloween has become increasingly commercialized.

“Now costumes are much more involved with pop culture. When I was a kid, the most popular costumes were cowgirls and princesses.

Now, a lot of costumes are based on movies, like Joker or Batman costumes.”

Trick-ortreating wasn’t the only way teachers photo courtesy

e p s r e P

s e v cti

How old is too old to go trick-ortreating?

MARKO

senior Dana Max

senior Jessica Sheehan

freshman Paola O

There is no such age!

It’s always fun to dress up, and you’re never too young or old to have fun.

Technically, I’m probably too old, so I find someone with a younger sibiling and go with them.

You’re never too

october 26, 2009

epth

11

gra ph

ic b yE

ouls, then books and schools

LEN

A TOU

MAY AN

ng to egging,’ teachers reflect on Halloween antics celebrated on Halloween night. English teacher Nechellar Franklin says that Halloween activities during her childhood often resulted in vandalism.

“When I was old enough to leave the house, [teenagers] had this custom of egging,” she says. “Throwing them at each other—everything. The grocery stores wouldn’t sell egg cartons the week before Halloween.”

Social studies teacher Marisa DelSavio says her friends would raid their parents medical cabinets and then wreak havoc on the neighborhood.

“Shaving cream was a big thing back then,” she says. “People would pop out and spray other people with shaving cream.

But it was all for fun.”

Science teacher Janice Bauroth says older kids used to participate in “Mischief Night,” a night set aside for teenage shenanigans.

“You could expect anything from tping to egging, but not anything harmful,” she says.

But she notes the traditions involving vandalism are disappearing.

“Parents are paying more attention and are more sensitive about watching their children on Halloween,” Bauroth says.

Alvey agrees that parents are more wary about what their children do on Halloween.

“I think nowadays, parents are more apprehensive about letting their children out at night for Halloween,” she says.

“There are more things to be worried about.”

Despite the safety concerns or practical jokes, trick-or-treating still remains the most popular activity for children on Halloween.

DelSavio notes that the holiday has become more child-oriented.

“It seems like younger kids are trick-or-treating now more than they did when I was a kid,” Del Savio says. “You don’t see too many older kids trick-or-treating anymore.”

OFF HAUNTED FOREST

rtega

o old!

junior Lucas A. R. Kornexl

Costumes: DIY vs. store-bought

W

by Julia Weingardt

alking through the aisles of Halloween Adventure in downtown Bethesda, you spot the Joker costume that you’ve been dying to own since the movie came out last fall.

You head towards the register, browsing the wigs section on the way and decide to splurge on a $13 wig to accompany your costume. And hey, since you’re there, you pick up the $18 Dark Knight Deluxe makeup kit—just to create the full effect.

By the time you check out, you’ve spent $65.

This year, Americans are expected to spend an estimated $4.75 billion on Halloween related products, according to the National Retail Federation. That sum covers candy, decorations, parties and—most importantly—costumes.

To find their costumes each year, many people turn to Halloween popup stores, which typically open around Labor Day and close in early November.

The day after Halloween, the stores mark everything down 50 percent, package the leftover products and ship them back to the warehouse. In our area, there are four seasonal Halloween stores, operated by two dominant companies- Halloween Adventure and Spirit Halloween.

Halloween Adventure, located on Wisconsin Avenue, recently moved into the vacant space formerly occupied by the Maurice Villency furniture store. The chain, owned by Masquerade LLC, has over 80 locations in the Mid-Atlantic region and California. It offers a large variety of costumes, as well as makeup, wigs, hats and jewelry.

Spirit Halloween, owned by the popular chain, Spencer’s Gifts, has over 700 stores nationwide. The stores are

sophomore Mickey Hartz

When I was in 8th grade, Twenty…then it’s just people told me that I was creepy. too old. But as long as you still have a child in you in need of candy, you can still trick-or-treat. Yes we can!

usually situated in high-visibility, hightraffic strip centers and malls, but each store has a different inventory.

“We’re considered a gallery store,” says Eugene David, assistant manager of the Spirit Halloween in Westfield Montgomery mall. “We primarily have just the costumes and makeup—our other locations such as Friendship Heights and Bowie have the blood and the props and everything.”

Spirit Halloween offers a different take on traditional costumes.

“Typically you’ll see something like Big Bird from Sesame Street for a kid—we have that for adults,” David says. “Most of the costumes that you might see for adults that may be more bloody and gory, we actually have those for the kids.”

Debbie Schlosser, manager Halloween Adventure in Bethesda, says that the popular costumes depend on the movies released each year. Nonetheless, Schlosser says that Star Wars costumes remain a top favorite for kids. Although stores like Schlosser’s offer hundreds of costumes, some say that homemade costumes just can’t be beat.

“When the whole E.coli thing was happening, I was a bag of spinach for Halloween,” sophomore Peter Jorgensen says. “You can’t find a bag of spinach at a costume store.”

The stores’ typically high prices also turn away potential buyers. Most basic costumes range from $20 to $70, but there are even pricier options. Both stores’ websites offer collector edition superhero costumes that can exceed $1,000.

Freshman Nick Bode says buying costumes takes away from the fun of dressing up.

“I always make my own costumes,” he says. “It’s cheaper, and truthfully, I find it more fun. It’s a whole extravaganza!” 

sophomore Jonathan Lowry

Never, as long as you believe in Santa! Or until you can’t pick up a bag of candy.

Then people think you’re a freak and a pedophile.

12

Feature

octobEr 26, 2009

Former students (class of ‘09) offer:

advice, stories, and random facts

Hello from Cam b I have heard spridge! eeches from and if those traits descr a Senate cand ibed who yo in my dorm ro idate who lived need to u w e re , y o u m ig h t re o m d efine who you and a Nobel prize winner are.

This is dozen animat, learned half a enormoterrifying but also an us opport and encounte ion techniques I found great unity. re d d an ci n relief in not g men being th wearing most in front of my ly body glitter in re a li e nerdy one here and impossible to dining hall. It’s su b je ct zi n g I co u ld st u d y s I h be It’s “that time”bored. b e fo re . I a ma d n ’t im a g in ed o f fr co n ti n u o u sl es h man amazed y ea r h er e. W y “This week, e a re w a rn ed : with strathat I can sit at dinner yo n ge u rs w il an l have a W d be welcome. breakdown.” ho yo first midtermWe just had our feel impu are at Whitman may to 20 percent s, which are 15 no claimortant now, but it has that doesn’t soof our grade. If in life. on who you’ll be later might: one test und bad, finals So ch percent of ou determines 40 grades, ill out. Worry about r grade. extra B u t it ’s n o t fr ie n d s, b e ca-curriculars or a c a d e m ic s al u se th o se a re th a t’ s m a k in ways classmates ca g m e a n d m y m is ta k important, but don’t It’s more that ll home crying. with yo e th e ir im p o rt a n ce in b a si c w a y having adjusted possibil ur identity, worth or ity. our own, finds— to li v in g o n H ig h in school g fr ie nds, the no workload—we t because it is important ar e fa ce decid d with y o u ’l l larger concern b e la te r in es who s. li fe b u t What do because a so cc e r fi e ne s it m e a n to o n e w h it’s part of life, and n o t m a k e th d to su d d e n ly out wh e re y o u ca n fi g u re does a “B” m e te a m ? W h a t be. Ando you might want to v a le d ic to ri a nean if you were but wit college is the same, don’t like the ? W h a t if y o u opportuh lots more freedom, planning to mclasses you were night adnities and crazy lateajo ventures.

One of the strar in?

S o lo o k fo nge aspects o f co ll e g e is if you think Hrward to it! And th a t arvard might y o u e n d be u p su rr o u n d right diversity, but ed b y b ri ll ia n t me and for you, Facebook are quite simalso people who visit, I’ll ask anything. If you ilar in specif h ways. ic around. appily show you Suddenly,

artsy or a par being very smart, Best, tier is the norm , Sarah Stein Lubrano

from college

Sarah Stein Lubrano

HARVARD

photo cour tesy

n two or ased solely oB b e ar es ad gr sts. ut evenl, my r papers or te o aj m e , ate schoo re an th m ge Dear Whit the West Coast! I’ve though Berkeley is a hu estincredibly Hello from e rk e le y fo r a lm o st all of my professors ard extra help.

B e b e n a t U Cs now, and already I’vee accessible when I noeec l a s s e s a n d t th n d th two mo I n a d d i t i olanrs , th e re a re a ls o h the school an it w ve lo in u en e, fall osphere. room, but e x tr a cu rraicn d ev en ts a ll th e ti mat t California atm s le M er y ip b k tr rt ea y n ce sp ti n a co l of my a free al I live in m d m o is fr an n g u es n m at gi m n m om ly ra ure about co y. both of my roare incredibly friendo Costa to a leOctut Against Poverty” rallo f s t te a lo a rm f o is d flo ty fe n li si ta er “S rm iv a o so d s! to the Un , m o o ag ro s e th k a id b and social w ee -w w d A few a system it h co -e fu n — ev en about 90 p erce nt iny- California schools hade recent budget th is el it st n ey defi prote Berkel n ce ll e d g out-of-statuesed it to my walkout to p ro fe ss o rs ca st o state, so beinan rallies ve M I’ . ve t. ts si u o cu d e mas makes me stas a conversation starter class, and there weru ca m p u s th ro g h o utit ng to see s e h advantage meet new people. rc a m d n a exci and a way tol of my friends are from all day. It was reallyt b o d y ra ll y in g !

Nearly al everyone here has such th e e n ti re st u d e n o rt a n t ca u se t California, bkugrounds and experiences. to g e th e r fo r a n im pofficially say I n diverse bac n’t make a differenceis , the Now that I ca s at Whitmand the ar ad h ye r ve u I’ fo that it does m ed le an rviv prob tion process The biggestce everything. Berkeley su ve a few ege applicaco a ll h co I e, an so al eg b ll re a to e trying beginning of ool, and ther share. u is a huge scrthunities to get involvedg words of wisdom to m ething that youb o in so p p st in o re ed te lv in vo many cl g a in in d et G meth ing ate about; finre about and alwaysthso as overwhelmth is are truly passionyo w it at ally ca g in ty e ro ri happen ty that u re so vi a ti ac d e r o sh y putting tim jo ru a, a t fi rs t. I d my house, Chi Omegm and that you will en to. semester, ane m y h o m e a w a y fr o ally want and energy in m o ec t what you re b u o s a ab e. h k er h in h y nce–not il T ie m er y fa e exp hool eg sc ll h co ig r h home and mth u yo in t om lo o k m u st gh “s o ro ri ty fr I never ou th in k w o u ldme. Weather a u o e y m t a co h e w b amazing n your resu th a t I w o u ld r it’s been anipate in a impressivenoare perfectly good factoors o ic girl,” but so. fa ti ho l. also part a and locad choosing a sc en h w er experience pIrogram where I go toto h a te si u n o to co and y mentorship tary school each week I u ’r e li k e mneo t g o in g to b e o y If o u ’r e local elemen3rd grade mentee, and 20 feet th e co ld , ysc hool that geats a meet with at school credit for it! at le ss o f y p rd ap g h re actually ge W h it m a n , m o st d a y s dI o f sn o w e a ch y e a r, u st m e – a s ass (an it is . A n d lltrege, nobody U n li k e cl d f o o o g rs u w o o h h get to co only have 3rt-4class earlier than 10 soon as you l is ranked #5 I never stath e re ’s a lw a y s a to n oef will care if your schoboe for football! a .m .) b u t and reading to do outsid s or #15—except may homework makes up for it. There’g uch love,

luck and m of class that in d e p e n d e n t le a rn in n d o o G a lo t m o ressors won’t check up o n Nikki Brand here–profe e sure you’re staying oof you to makthe reading, and some track with

Nikki Brand

SARAH STEIN LU

BRANO

UC

Berkeley

tesy photo cour

ond from left) Nikki Brand (sec

rs.

r sorority siste

poses with he

NIKKI BRAND

october 26, 2009

To the editor: I didn’t know if I would miss Whitman when I left. By the time my senior year was ending, I just felt like I had been there for too many hours. From 7:25 a.m. classes (which of course I never slept through) to SGA events that ended late, it seemed like I had spent too much time at school. But now, in Boulder, Colorado, having a great time at school and learning too, I look back and miss many things about Whitman. I learned a lot there about myself and my relationships with people and in class, too.

It’s incredible how many opportunities Whitman can offer, so take advantage of them while you can.

Whitman is great; I’m sure Pyle was, too. You might not think so while you’re struggling to prepare for an exam or behind on a paper the night before it’s due. But there’s a reason you push on through the stressful times. Suddenly you are through it all and bam, you’re in college. You can stay out late, do pretty much anything you want and live in very close proximity with your 100+ best friends. One of the best things about the dorms is getting to know people from all over the country. I moved at the start of middle school and again at the start of high school, and in my opinion transitioning into college was the easiest.

It’s not like in middle or high school where everyone knows each other and groups are already formed. You come to college completely alone, but so does everyone else. You quickly form friendships with people you meet all over the place, and some of these friends may end up being among the best you ever make.

Now I’m at the University of Colorado at Boulder and loving it. I became interested in CU after seeing a picture of it on a wall in Whitman. After visiting, I knew this was where I wanted to be. Now that I’ve been here just over two months I know I made the right choice. I have joined the Alpine and Climbing Clubs and am in the mountains hiking, climbing or running

in-depth

several times a week. I’m also considering joining the CU Snowboard team now that the season has started. It’s Oct. 18, and I have already gone snowboarding twice.

I’ve also joined an a capella group. I guess I got the idea after I wasn’t booed off stage at Whitman Idol.

It’s midterm season now. I’ve spent the past two weeks cramming and will spend the next two weeks writing two papers for my International Affairs class, which together are required to be at least 22 pages. So college isn’t that easy.

It’s no secret, I might have slacked off a little in high school once I got accepted into college. Okay, maybe it was the beginning of senior year. Okay, maybe it was when I got senioritis going into sophomore year.

I might have missed a class or two. I might have even skipped a homework assignment every once in a while. But somehow I got through it and got into the college I wanted to go to.

Would I advise any of you to follow my less-than-ideal academic path at Whitman? No, I wouldn’t. You’ll be a lot better off if you work hard consistently all through your high school years (yes, even in second semester senior year). But on the other hand, high school (and college) are more than about just studying. They’re about learning about yourself and what you want to do in life. Work hard, but enjoy this time, and I hope to see a few of you in Boulder next year. Or in the mean time, if any of you happen to be renting a place in any ski town this winter, let me know and I’ll be happy to show you around…of course I might need to crash at your place.

P.S. Mr. Paulson, we all know I was your favorite student, but stop text messaging me all the time about completely random things…and accept my Facebook friend request.

WWW.THE BLACKAND WHITE. NET blogs on everything from Obama to Rockband l

l l

Doug Acker

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER

-Doug Acker

COME VISIT

l

13

sports updates pictures and quotes of the day reviews of the latest movies and albums

photo courtesy

DOUG ACKER

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14

Arts

October 26, 2009

Alums break into art business

By Adam Glazer

Walking down the halls and viewing the art that alums leave behind, students see their predecessor’s creativity and vision. Some of these alums have found ways to market their art not long after graduation.

Maggie Golightly Golightly (‘07) took AP Art and is now a studio art major at Brigham Young University.

On her newly designed website, magzlittleartboutique.com, Golightly sells small square canvases of hearts painted in an array of colors.

“I knew that the best way to circulate my art was online,” Golightly explains. “My younger brother actually designed the website for me as a present, and it’s still in progress.”

On Golightly’s website, customers will soon be able to customize their own hearts, choosing size, design and up to three different colors.

Golightly started painting hearts as gifts for friends, like a pink and zebra print heart for a roommate who loved pink.

“The hearts are on the side; I don’t make them for class,” Golightly says. “They’re fun because I get to use different colors and patterns.”

Golightly also plans to sell custom-painted sneakers on her website. The idea originated when friends noticed her artistic skills and asked her to paint their shoes.

She plans to continue her career as an artist after graduating from BYU and would like to work in either a gallery or a company like Anthropologie.

Between school and business, Golightly hopes she has plenty to keep her busy for the next few years.

“Within the past week I’ve customized two different hearts for two different people,” she says. “I hope I’ll be able to keep it going.” photos courtesy MAGGIE GOLIGHTLY

Alyssa Lesser Meanwhile, in New York City, Alyssa Lesser (‘08), who attends Parsons School of Design, is creating intricate jewelry inspired by the streets of Brooklyn.

“I worked for designers in a very industrial part of Brooklyn, and I would always see these rusty washers on the ground when I was walking around,” Lesser explains. “The juxtaposition between ‘natural’ outdoor walking areas and these industrial, forgotten findings on the ground has always sort of intrigued me.”

Lesser collected these items and made the first bracelet for herself, which was named The Kim Bracelet. As soon as some of her friends saw Kim, they encouraged her to make more like it to sell.

“The rest of the pieces formed very organically from this point on, and it was just me playing with materials and trying to create pieces that I found interesting and desirable,” Lesser says.

After sending multiple emails and making phone calls, Lesser finally contacted someone at Oak to discuss selling her work. Lesser’s jewelry line, LESS, is available for sale at Oak, a boutique in NYC, and is available on their website, oaknyc.com.

Lesser says that since a lot of time and money goes into making the pieces, it’s often difficult to make a profit.

“I sell to the store on a consignment agreement: if the jewelry doesn’t sell, I stand to lose a lot of money,” she says.

Although Lesser is working on jewelry now, her main focus is fashion. She wants to start a clothing line after she graduates.

“I am studying fashion and just making the jewelry as sort of a side project,” she says. “The pieces do reflect my aesthetic choices and definitely compliment the clothes I design.” photos courtesy

OAKNYC.COM

Antonia Mazuranic As a senior at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Antonia Mazuranic (’06) paints mostly with oil and canvas, but has recently been incorporating other elements into her works, such as collage and spray paint.

Mazuranic exhibited her art at galleries around Cleveland and had pieces auctioned and shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland and Spaces Gallery, two popular galleries in the Cleveland area.

“My work has always had a lot to do with beauty ideals, the female figure and identity,” Mazuranic s a ys . “I ha ve s o l d some pieces, and I’m just now working on a website, which will hopefully promote some sales.”

As a senior, Mazuranic has a lot of freedom to make her own work and use her own ideas. After she graduates she plans to attend graduate school for a master of fine arts degree.

“I think [painting] is something that I will always do,” she says, “I hope to show work in multiple galleries in NYC, but we’ll see what happens.”  photos courtesy

ANTONIA MAZURANIC

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October 26, 2009

Arts

15

D.C. Gallery Review

by Adam Glazer At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, “What’s It All Mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect” showcases over 50 years of California artist William T. Wiley’s imaginative paintings and sculptures and will be on display through Jan. 24.

The exhibit includes 88 of his pieces, including oil paintings on canvas, watercolor, sculpture and even a few of Wiley’s experimental films. The exhibition follows Wiley’s work chronologically and masterfully shows the progression of his ideas through art. Wiley is known for a clever use of words and phrases in his art, many examples of which can be seen in the exhibit.

Upon entering the first gallery of the exhibit, one of the most eye-catching works is “Columbus Rerouted #1”, which Wiley painted in 1961 with oil on canvas.

Wiley uses thick, heavy brushstrokes in hues of black and gray, to depict an alternate reality in which Columbus had not made it to America and been “rerouted.” Would Native American culture be preserved? This painting explores one of Wiley’s favorite motifs: voyage.

Lining the hallway leading to the next

photo courtesy

ASKART.COM

William Wiley’s ‘Studio Space’

gallery are some of Wiley’s smaller watercolor paintings as well as a larger piece, “Studio Space”. A large red square in the center offers the only source of color in the painting.

One of the most intriguing works in the exhibition is “In The Name Of (Not to worry, It’s Juxtaposition).” Upon close inspection of the painting, you can see an eyeball wearing a top hat, a yellow grinning moon and the Statue of Liberty, and many other strange objects. In the center of all the disorder and chaos is a clean, blank white space, a technique that Wiley utilizes in a few of his works.

Near the end of the exhibit is Wiley’s custom-painted pinball machine, Punball-Only One on Earth, which features cartoonish images that only Wiley could produce.

The exhibit displays Wiley’s many different techniques and styles without being overwhelming. It’s a large exhibit, so be prepared to admire and learn about the ideas and works of this outspoken artist.  photo courtesy WASHINGTON SPACES

photo courtesy

MOMA

Jasper John’s ‘Perilous Night’

By Ryan Hauck Starting this month, visitors to the National Gallery of Art can see one of the largest collections of abstract art expressionism in the United States.

The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection is currently on display at the museum. The Baltimore husband and wife team amassed pieces by renowned artists like Frank Stella and the late Robert Rauschenberg over a 46 year period before Jane’s death in 2004.

The exhibit is divided into 10 themes that parallel the style or subject matter of the pieces it contains: scrape, concentricity, line, gesture, art on art, drip, stripe to zip, figure or ground, monochrome and picture the frame.

Among the highlights are Stella’s “Flin Flon IV” and “Gray Scramble.” The latter is a simple design whose uniquely shaped canvas makes the painting notable. Unconventionally shaped canvases also distinguish much of Ellsworth Kelly’s work, such as “Purple Curve,” which is quite appropriately a curved canvas painted solid violet.

Another stand-out is Jasper Johns’ “Perilous Night,” a painted canvas with three Styrofoam arms attached.

While abstract expressionism may not be for everyone, pop artist Roy Lichtenstein’s distinctive comic book

photo courtesy

NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA

Frank Stella’s ‘Flin Flon IV’

style will appeal to fans of both traditional and modern art. Lichtenstein’s 1974 masterpiece “Cow Triptych (Cow Going Abstract)” is arguably the greatest piece in the exhibit. The piece consists of three paintings of the titular bovine, each one more abstract than the last.

The short trip to DC is worth the chance to view this impressive gallery, regardless of your artistic preference. The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection is simply too great an opportunity to pass up.

The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection will be on display at the Nation Gallery of Art until May 2. 

William Wiley’s ‘Punball - only one on earth’

‘Wild Things’ ultimately underwhelming by victoria scordato

Spike Jonze’s (year) highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved children’s book, “Where the Wild Things Are” debuted last Friday, Oct. 16 to critical acclaim and packed theaters. The movie made upwards of $32 million its opening weekend and earned a very respectable 68% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite these ordinarily reliable indicators of a movie’s quality and validity, the film was admittedly, a bit underwhelming. Not quite as original or thoughtprovoking as his other films like “Adaptation” and “Being John Malkovich,” Wild Things was Jonze’s attempt at mainstream, and dare I say it, even family fare. Though, not wanting to let go of his quirky style entirely, Jonze relies heavily on what he probably considers “edgy” touches, but are in reality, just dark and in some cases, fundamentally clichéd.

The opening scene couldn’t be any less original.

Absent father, distracted mother, indifferent older sister, and poor Max, stuck in the middle of it all. When he is finally transported to where the wild things are, the movie becomes more superficially quirky, but remains fundamentally formulaic. The metaphor positioning the monsters as “out of control” adolescents and Max as the frustrated and exhausted parental figure is made painfully obvious—though its lack of subtly pales in comparison to one of the least tactful metaphors for rebirth that has ever graced the silver screen.

In the book, Sendak portrays the Wild Things as joyous, friendly, and fun, turning the classic stereotype of monsters as villains on its head. Jonze clearly doesn’t understand this underlying appeal and thinks its “edgy” to portray the monsters

as ferocious and in some cases, just plain mean. When Max first encounters the “Wild Things” they threaten to eat him and when Carol, the de facto leader of the motley crew, finds out Max might not be an actual king, he threatens to chew off his own foot. This portrayal really just plays into the stereotypes Sendak was attempting to dispel.

Generally the movie doesn’t tend to evoke the same emotions or reactions in viewers that the book managed to in

readers. Many reviews praise Jonze’s “original” take on the story, and assert that he unearthed the “dark” subtext of the book. But, in all honesty, the book, which has many more illustrations than actual lines of texts, doesn’t seem to have much of a “dark side.” It is a children’s book after all.

The movie is also fairly boring. Jonze relies way too heavily on the originality of his idea, because while the cinematography gorgeous and the costumes are very creative, the story is pretty uninteresting. The plotline is hard to follow and, ironically enough, the movie is dialogue dependent. The filmmakers also hope the viewers will be so enchanted by young Max, played by a remarkably talented new comer, Max Records. Though, despite his undeniable charm, very few actors can carry a movie almost entirely by themselves.

All in all, the movie just didn’t succeed in hooking the viewer emotionally. The lagging pace made it hard to become invested in Max’s plight and transformation. The movie suffers from Jonze’s creative selfstifling in an attempt to make the film more “mainstream.”

The result is an unsuccessful attempt to be “edgy” and egalitarian all at the same time.  photo courtesy

IMDB

16

Spectator

Oct 26, 2009

TEAM

Spectator explains playoff selection process UPDATES

By Elizabeth Bernhard After football’s 6-1 start, the team hopes to qualify for this year’s playoffs. The process and point system that gets them there, however, isn’t so straightforward. Qualifying for the playoffs takes more than just a winning season.

The top four teams in the 4A region qualify for playoffs.

In order to rank in the top four, a team must rack up a certain number of points. Beating a team in the 4A division gives a team eight points. In addition, a team earns one point for each of its opponent’s wins.

For example, after defeating Northwest, a 4A team, the Vikings received eight points and will gain one for each of Northwest’s wins at the end of the season.

According to head coach Jim Kuhn, the five top

School 4A WEST Churchill Sherwood Whitman Paint Branch Springbrook 4A EAST Arundel North Point 4A SOUTH Wise Suitland 4A NORTH Urbana Thomas Johnson

Wins Losses Win Points Bonus Points Accumulated 7 6 6 6 5

0 1 1 1 2

55.00 48.00 48.00 47.00 39.00

14.00 14.00 9.00 9.00 8.00

69.00 62.00 57.00 56.00 47.00

7 7

0 0

56.00 47.00

22.00 23.00

78.00 70.00

7 6

0 1

56.00 48.00

21.00 15.00

77.00 63.00

7 5

0 2

47.00 33.00

20.00 18.00

67.00 51.00

information courtesy

competitors in the 4A division are Whitman, Sherwood, Paintbranch, Springbrook and Churchill.

“It’s basically five teams fighting for four top spots,” Kuhn says. “One of us is going to be left in the dust.”

MPSSAA.ORG

If Whitman, currently the number four team, moves to rank one or two, it will gain home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The team that wins the 4A West region during the playoffs will go on to play the winner of 4A East

from Anne Arundel County. On the other side of the bracket, the 4A South and North champions will play each other. The winners of these two games play each other at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the state championship.

Top teams in 4A West are currently Sherwood and Churchill. In 4A East, Arundel and North Point lead their region. Urbana and Thomas Johnson lead 4A North, and Wise and Suitland top 4A South. In order to compete with these teams, the Vikings need to stay consistent and determined in the playoff journey. 

Braving the elements, crews stays cool, places in top half

By Josh Lederman At the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta in frigid Cambridge, MA, the Whitman crew team was up against the elements, the course and even a questionable officiating decision.

Whitman’s two entries in the world’s largest two-day rowing event, the youth women’s eight team and the youth men’s four, faced 40-degree weather and a torrent of rain. The boys fought to a 35 th place finish in a field of 76, while the girls slid from 53 rd to 65 th because of a one-minute interference penalty that was added to their time.

The penalty resulted from the girls failing to yield to a passing boat coming around photo courtesy WILL BROWNLEE the biggest turn of the race. The boys had to row through freezing rain and navigate a challenging course at the Head of Charles race.

Official rules state that the passing boat’s coxswain must warn a toughest for coxswains Silverstein really make a huge difference,” Ross boat before overtaking it. According and Andrew Triay, who, in addition said. “The turn at Weeks Bridge, the to cox Claire Silverstein, the warning to coping with the elements, had to sharpest turn of the course, usually never came. navigate an intricate racecourse. messes up most crews. Our coxswain “To be honest, I didn’t even see “This was a head race [a 3-mile had pretty much a perfect turn there them,” Silverstein said, “and the race, with the crews separated by which gave us some time on all of the other coxswain didn’t yell to us.”

15-second intervals], which put a lot other crews.”

Silverstein added that once her more responsibility on the coxswain The 35 th place finish was more boat saw the other, the rowers tried than the shorter sprints,” Silverstein than enough to clinch a spot in the to steer out of the way, but couldn’t said. top half and therefore a bid in next fully clear the path.

“There were full 90-degree turns year’s regatta. The feat is even more “I think everyone agrees we did in there,” Triay added. “I’d say this impressive because, as Triay pointed the right thing,” she said. was definitely the hardest course I’ve out, many of the other entries were Even before the debatable ruling, ever coxed.” club teams, not high schools. Colleges conditions posed a major challenge.

A c c o r d i n g t o h i s t e a m m a t e s , and adult squads from around the Boys rower Jake Ross said he raced in t h o u g h , T r i a y h a n d l e d t h e t o u g h country came to compete in other freezing rain and called the weather navigation with ease. divisions, and over 300,000 fans “miserable.”

“The coxswain in this race can watched the event.  But the race may have been

Football The boys are currently 6-1, and while that is a vast improvement from last year, they will have to step up in order to maintain their winning streak. Despite its record, the team has had all-too-close wins over lesser opponents. With a daunting away game schedule ahead against Seneca Valley and Churchill, the offense needs to match the level at which the defense has been playing to ensure the team’s success.

Field Hockey After winning its first five games, the team lost five of the last six, including two nailbitters against Poolsville and WJ. Anchored by Celeste Pilato and Maia Paul, the Vikes hope to pick things up by playoffs and build off of their semi-final run in last year’s playoffs.

Girls Tennis After a disappointing loss against Churchill, the Lady Vikes won their last match against Rockville in straight sets. The team ended the season with an impressive 12-1 record thanks to junior standout Sarah Macy and number two singles player, freshman Anna Volkov. The Vikes tied for the Division 1 title with Churchill and B-CC.

Boys Soccer With a key victory at Poolesville, the boys have improved to 5-3-2, extending their winning streak to four games. Defenders Dominick Yin and Aaron May have shut down their opponents in the back field with three straight shutout games.

Offensively, Jonny Mehrez and Sebastian Cahe have provided goals for the Vikes, who begin their playoff journey Oct. 30.

Girls Volleyball The girls have slipped lately, losing seven of their past eight games. The team looks to regain its early season form which led it to a 3-0 start. Behind seniors Eva Drucker and Susannah Savage, the Vikes hope to improve their record in the last games of the season and prepare for playoffs.

Girls Soccer Despite a strong 3-1 start, girls soccer has skidded lately, losing two games 4-0 to Thomas Johnson and B-CC and dropping thier record to 5-6. With only one regular season game left, the Vikes look to senior captain Kat Barth and goalie Hannah Sasscer to lead a turn around and build momentum as they head into playoffs. 

the

Spectator Statement of Policy

Correction: Last issue’s cover photo was taken by Tom Nalls.

The Spectator is created by the staff of the Black & White at Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817. The Spectator is a publication for students that seeks to both inform and entertain the Whitman community.

The Spectator encourages readers to submit recommendations on relevant topics in the form of letters to the editor. Letters must be signed to be printed, though names will be withheld upon request. The Spectator reserves the right to edit letters for content and for space. Letters to the editor may be placed in the Black & White mailbox or in room B211, or can be sent to 2010blackandwhiteprint@gmail.com.

All content in the paper is reviewed to ensure that it meets the highest levels of legal and ethical standards. Accuracy is of the utmost importance to The Spectator staff.

Editor-in-Chief.......................................................................................................Jeremy Klitzman Managing Editor......................................................................................................Sean Hyatt Online Managing Editor..........................................................................................Louis Wolff Design Director.............................................................................................Jenna Mahaffie H e a d Co py E d i to r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S i l v i a Tu r k Sports Directors....................................................................................Caroline Lippold, Reid Kellam Feature Editors............................................................................Emma Bethel, Kevin Cecala Opinion Editor.........................................................................................................Justin Lewis Professional Sports Director..................................................................................Danny Lee Photo Director........................................................................................................Simon Engler Graphics Director......................................................................................................Danny Shannahan Production and Design Managers...................................Alex Meyer, Andrew Beers

O p i n i o n / Fe a t u r e W r i t e r s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E m i l y M a s h e k , Will Brownlee, Haley Johnson, R achel Norris, Sam Oshinsky Sidelines Writers....................................................Daniel Royston, Josh Lederman Senior Staff Writers......................................................................Ben Freeman, Tim Freeman, Aaron Hoffman Andrew Palmer, Hannah Stein Sports Writers..............................................................................................................................Elizabeth Bernhard, Lily Durston, Daniel Kluger, Elliot Markus, Juliet Mullins, Connor Vergara Online Sports Link........................................................................................................ Christian Cosans Business Manager......................................................................................Hidemi Omori Technical Director.................................................................................................Ted Knox Advisor..............................................................................................................Louise Reynolds Assistant Advisor................................................................................................................Prudence Crewdson

“

October 26, 2009

sPECTATOR

17

There’s some good possibility over the course of many years, that if there’s appropriate arena development in Europe, there could be actual NBA franchises in Europe.

- NBA Commissioner David Stern

”

PRO

Should the NBA franchise throughout the world?

BY DANIEL kluger

BY DANIEL ROYSTON

After recent overseas preseason games in the NBA, commissioner David Stern stated that there is a good chance of creating NBA franchises overseas, specifically in Europe, Pacific Asia and Africa. Though some argue that the NBA should only have American franchises, the NBA should expand the association overseas to increase global interest in the sport.

Other than from North America, the NBA’s website attracts the most visitors from Pacific Asia and Europe.

This is a good indicator of the rapidly growing global interest in the sport.

While overseas leagues would likely increase the number of fans and make basketball one of the most popular sports in the world, the biggest question of a global expansion for the NBA regards the potential organization. Stern has yet to comment on a possible format and hasn’t chosen between actual NBA franchises overseas or NBA affiliates, more like the NBDL, a minor league for the NBA. Since millions of fans in time zones worldwide wait until midnight to watch an NBA game, it only makes sense to provide them with their own teams to root for. For example, Greg Tanner, a freelance T.V producer from London, admits to staying up until the early hours of the morning to watch the NBA Finals.

Because the addition of another division of the NBA overseas would create travel and logistical problems for the new franchises, it seems logical that there should be separate leagues for the North American and overseas teams.

For example, there might be one league for Europe, another for Africa and a third for Pacific Asia. There

could be a world championship of some sort that could pit the North American NBA champions against those of other continents, similar to the FIBA World Championship.

Having franchises in other countries would provide a huge revenue boost to the league.

Currently, the NBA is losing money in the troubled economy and overseas leagues would supplement those shortcomings.

The global expansion of the NBA seems to have already started.

Preseason games currently take place overseas and plans are already in place to hold regular season games in London before the 2012 Olympics. It’s only logical for the NBA to expand as its global demand significantly increases. 

For years, NBA commissioner David Stern has pushed for a league expansion into Europe, but this vision remains a fantasy. Stern hopes to place one to three expansion teams in the continent over the next 10 years and eventually expand a few franchises into an entire European division. However, this expansion would create far too many problems.

Expanding the NBA into Europe would require new arenas capable of holding up to 20,000 spectators.

Few European cities have arenas large enough for such large fan bases, a; the Staples Center in Los Angeles is 950,000 square feet and cost $400 million to construct.

Basketball is also far less popular in Europe than it is in the U.S. Soccer, which currently dominates European sports, plays during the

graphics by

DANNY SHANNAHAN

CON

same season as the NBA and could steal potential fans away from basketball games.

While European countries have basketball leagues, franchises make little to no profit each year. Even though Europeans may stay up to watch NBA games, most European teams have to pay television stations to televise their games. If expanded to Europe, the NBA would likely face similar difficulties.

Additionally, NBA players would be reluctant to play in Europe.

While some argue that the creation of overseas leagues will help disperse talented players throughout the world and thus create more excitement for the sport globally, this forces players to move their families to a new country, leave their friends behind, and travel longer distances from game to game. It is not fair to completely alter these players’ lives to create a new leage.

The language barrier would also prove difficult for players and coaches. Since European teams would consist of athletes from numerous countries, coaches and players would most likely have to learn new languages to communicate.

Basketball heavily relies on verbal communication between players, so a language barrier would make it difficult to call plays and to give directions to other players.

David Stern dreams of expanding the NBA into Europe and eventually around the world, but this expansion would do nothing but hurt both the league and the sport. The minimal fan base for basketball in Europe would create an economic dilemma and the lifestyle of NBA players would drastically change. 

Coaches need set policy to deal with off-campus citations

by Sam Oshinsky At the beginning of every sports season, coaches warn their teams to stay away from drugs and alcohol and inform them of the consequences of getting caught with these substances. Each team is given different consequences for the same actions. But because MCPS does not have a uniform policy to deal with athletes caught with illegal substances off school grounds. Instead, coaches decide individual punishments.

Schools should be able to decide on punishment for players who get cited or caught with drugs off of school grounds, and should set consistent punishments for all teams.

Furthermore, these rules should be added to the studentathlete participation contract so the rules and consequences are clear to all athletes. Since the incidents occur off school grounds, the policy should not be as strict as the Zero Tolerance policy. The penalty for an out-of-school offense

disclaimer: photo is staged

photo by

SAM OSHINSKY

should be a one-game suspension for the first offense, 20 hours of community service before returning to practice or games for the second and a one-season suspension for the third.

Schools should create a consistent policy for out-ofschool infractions. It is unjust to force coaches to make

judgment calls about how strict to be with players because it is not part of their job. Their duty is to train their teams, not babysit them.

Not only is this unfair to the coaches, but it is also unfair to the athletes. It is unjustified for players to be punished for something that is not defined in the student athlete contract. Because the contract only discusses punishment for students caught with alcohol or illegal substances on school grounds or at school events, punishments are left up to coaches, who could enforce a different punishment for each player.

Athletes need to be aware of the consequences of getting caught with illegal substances so that they will be deterred from partaking in illegal activities and so that coaches can’t implement arbitrary punishments.

A consistent policy is necessary to clarify the confusion surrounding this topic, and to establish a set of consequences that all athletes will be aware of and subject to. 

Universities should not lower standards to accept athletes

By Emily Mashek Any university that lowers its academic acceptance standards for an athlete downgrades itself as an institution for learning and undermines the achievements of other students. The goal of colleges should be to produce educated graduates, not promote successful athletic teams of unqualified students who are less likely to earn a degree.

The priority for every student should be education, not sports. Lowering acceptance standards for athletes isn’t fair to students who worked diligently to achieve the necessary test scores and GPA to get into a school. An athlete who is accepted into a school solely

to play a sport takes away chances for academically gifted students to be accepted.

Schools with rigorous academics such as those in the Ivy League aren’t allowed to grant athletic scholarships and therefore give so-called “academic” scholarships to athletes. This takes scholarship money away from students who actually deserve a scholarship.

When an athlete with subpar grades enrolls in a top tier institution, he or she may struggle to succeed in more rigorous courses and fall behind in difficult classes, defeating the purpose of attending that university in the first place.

Division I sports are a year-round commitment, so athletes will have little

time to catch up in challenging classes. These student athletes are not ready for the academic rigor to begin with, and the large time commitment makes it worse. Student athletes sacrifice a lot of time to play a sport and can lose focus on academics.

Between practices and games, it is difficult to find time to dedicate to schoolwork.

The only way an athlete with poor grades can get into a top tier school is with the help of his or her athletic talent. If athletes are given this preferential treatment,

so should an actor that has the ability to pursue a major in theater. The actor can start his or her career in college, unlike the athlete whose sport likely won’t contribute to a future career. Admissions officers must make a final decision based on academics, not athletics Colleges want to please alumni and sports fans to attract more applicants to the university. Though the desire for the money and prestige that NCAA championships bring is understandable, the school is only hurting its reputation and lowering its standards when it accepts unqualified athletes. 

SPECTATOR

18

October 26, 2009

Love bug contagious From Bethesda to Rome, in coaching community Arrington (‘06) pursues dream

By Haley Johnson and Emily Mashek

There’s a bug in the athletic department. No, not staph infection or H1N1, it’s the love bug. Girls soccer coaches Greg Herbert and Sheryl Freedman and varsity field hockey coach Melissa Dorman were all recently engaged.

Dorman met her fiancé, T.J. Caswell, at Pyle, where she teaches special education and he teaches P.E. Both Dorman and Caswell are coaches; Dorman for field hockey and Caswell for Pyle boys softball and Whitman varsity baseball. Dorman says Caswell doesn’t know much about field hockey but they both love following professional and college sports.

“Sports are a big part of both of our lives,” she says. “When we aren’t coaching, we spend a lot of time watching football, basketball, ice hockey, anything. We go to any professional games when tickets come our way.”

Though both spend significant time with their teams, Dorman says their coaching commitments have not affected their relationship.

“I have been coaching every year since we met,” Dorman says. “The two of us always have a lot going on. He stays busy too, coaching softball and baseball.”

While sports play a large role in both Dorman and Caswell’s lives, they play only a minor role in Freedman’s engagement with counselor William Kapner. The couple met when they were both hired at Whitman five years ago and have been dating for the past three.

Though Kapner is not a fellow coach, Freedman says he is a sports enthusiast and ran cross country in high school. He supports Freedman in her coaching duties and closely follows the team’s success.

“We’re in a unique position to both be supportive of our school,” she says.

“Even though he doesn’t coach, he offers emotional support for the girls.”

Freedman says her commitment to girls soccer does not affect their relationship but that she knows games and practices will be a large time commitment during the fall.

“We rarely see each other August through October,” she jokes.

Their wedding is scheduled to take place in June of next year, and the couple will travel to South Carolina for the event.

Herbert is not as open to talking about his wedding. Despite the girls soccer team’s attempts to find out the details, senior Emily Mason says that he will not reveal very much.

“Herbert won’t tell us anything,” she says. “He’s afraid the team will crash or tailgate his wedding.”

Herbert met his fiancée Laura Maring, a 90’s Whitman alum who works at NIH as a recreational therapist, in September of last year. Maring played soccer for a year while at Whitman, and swam at Ithaca College in New York.

She now plays on four different adult soccer teams.

Herbert says their relationship remains strong despite the amount of time he spends with the team, especially since Maring recently began coming to some of the games and understands how important Herbert’s commitment is to the team.

“We actually had a joking discussion [about the amount of time I spend with the team],” he says. “I appreciate her supporting me and the girls during the season; it means a lot to me.”

With the love bug moving fast, it makes you wonder: who’s next? 

photo courtesy

GREG HERBERT

Herbert and fiancé Laura Maring plan to marry in June of 2010.

European soccer,” she says.

“He just loves their style of play.”

Although Arrington plays professionally, he hasn’t given up his education.

“Before I knew it, I was moving into a new apartment and beginning school again,” he writes on his blog. “Attending the American University of Rome, I moved into an apartment provided by the school with four other guys.

The new apartment was located just across the river from my original place, in a region of Rome called Trastevere.”

One of the reasons Arrington pursued a career in Italy was his familiarity with the language.

He now speaks almost fluent photo courtesy MATT ARRINGTON Italian, which he began studying Arrington, at right, has progressed from Whitman captain to memwhile in high school. ber of the San Paolo Ostiense professional soccer club in Rome.

His teacher, Isabella Kyser,

By Haley Johnson says that Arrington showed great interest in the language during the Matthew Arrington knows what happens three years she had him in class. when you follow your dreams.

“Learning a language is hard, but Arrington (’06) captained the varsity soccer he kept at it,” she says. “I think he team his senior year, but dreamed of taking knew he wanted to use it someday. He his game to the next level. Now, he plays knew about the culture because of his professionally for the San Paolo Ostiense club connection with soccer, and he was very in Italy. enthusiastic.”

After graduating from Whitman, Arrington But learning Italian was not the played soccer at George Mason University. only beneficial aspect of Arrington’s He started 12 of 13 games in 2007 before Whitman career. transferring to the University of Maryland He says that being captain of the for his junior year. While at George Mason, soccer team was also an extremely he decided he wanted to play soccer more meaningful experience. competitively.

“To me, personally, it was a big “After my sophomore season I decided I deal,” he says. “It was an honor to be wanted to do more,” Arrington says. “I wanted thought of in that way, to be able to talk to do bigger and better things and to play to the coach and represent the team.” professionally.”

Arrington’s mother says that Arrington prepared for a professional career Whitman soccer improved his playing by squeezing practice sessions in between as well. classes. He also worked with personal trainer “Whitman is one of the best teams Emile Mbouh on technical skills. around, and Dave Greene was a very “I would go to class and then work out and demanding coach,” she says. “That was run,” Arrington says. “I had to do weightlifting a very positive experience for him. The and just work on technical skills with the coaches really helped him develop his ball.” game.”

Arrington’s stepfather put him in contact Despite the improvement Whitman with an agent, who in turn got in contact with o f f e r e d h i s g a m e , t h e E u r o p e a n a variety of European teams. Arrington tried evaluation process differs from that out for squads in Italy and Switzerland, before of the United States, placing more landing on San Paolo Ostiense. emphasis on instincts and leadership The tryouts in Italy consisted mostly of than just athleticism. Arrington says he exhibitions against other teams. Arrington likes the European style better and finds played up to six days a week while coaches it more effective. evaluated his skills and cohesiveness with the “The United States looks for the best team. After the tryout period, the team offered athlete, not the best soccer player,” he Arrington a one-year contract, which goes says. “Really, it’s not about how big or through June. fast or strong you are. It’s about how His mom, Debra, says he has always well you play.” shown interest in playing soccer abroad and Playing professionally in the soccer that playing for San Paolo Ostiense will be a capital of the world, Arrington has fulfilling experience for him. turned his dreams into a reality.  “He’s always been interested in playing

Hall of Fame inductees return to field where it all began

By Elliot Markus

and basketball ’95), Chris Gormley (soccer’ 01), Ryan Kuehl (football, basketball, baseball, track ‘89), Craig Lake ( basketball, cross country and track ‘90), Lindsay Seawright ( soccer, tennis and basketball ‘93), Stephanie Smith ( volleyball, softball and basketball ’00).

The idea for the hall of fame began

when athletic director Andy Wetzel was replacing championship banners in the gym last year and saw the past athletic successes of Whitman.

“I realized that we had so many outstanding athletes and coaches,” Wetzel says, “I thought that we should have a way to honor them as well as our athletic history.”

Whitman’s excellence on the field is unprecedented compared to that of other schools in the county. The inductees range As Pascal Dobert stands on the same track from USA Olympians, Dobert, to NFL Super where he became the most decorated track Bowl champions, Kuehl star in Whitman history, winning four state Track and basketball star Craig Lake championships in three years, he reminisces attributes her success in sports to the connection on his journey to this day. After winning, he she had with her coach. ran for the University of Wisconsin, where he “My coach Kerry Ward had an was a six-time Big Ten Champion, an NCAA Allenormous impact on my life,” American,the1996NCAAchampionshiprunnerLake says, “He was my basketball upand1997NCAAchampion.Hethenraninthe coach and made me go out for steeplechaseduringthe2000Olympics,placing the cross-country team. I am sixth in his heat with a time of 8 minutes now a cross-country coach 29 seconds. But finally, after a long and today and hope I can positively storied career, Dobert, along with other influence people as he did.” successful alumni, returned to the high A committee selects the school where it all began to be inducted hall of fame inductees based on into the Whitman Athletic Hall of Fame’s their high school, college and first class. professional accomplishments The inductees include former as well as their character and coaches Bill Dargert (basketball and community involvement. cross country), Sam DeBone (boys and “I think being in the Walt girls soccer), James Douglas (Poms and Whitman Hall of Fame is a great wrestling)andHughHammet(boysand honor,” Wetzel says, “It is reserved girls tennis and girls basketball) as well for those individuals who have had as players Lee Ann Chang (swimming outstanding athletic careers and ‘04), Andy Corno (lacrosse ‘01), have given back to the school Anthony Dilweg (football ’84), Pascal community.”

Dobert (track’92), Daniel Engelstad Theprocessfornominating (basketball, football and baseball’03), photo by DEBORAH STEVENS next year’s class starts April 1 Courtney Gaine (soccer, field hockey and ends June 1.  From left to right, Dilweg, Gormley, Chang, Kuehl, Engelstad, Corno, DeBone, Dobert, Douglas, Lake, Smith and Gaine all stand together at half time, after their induction into the first annual Whitman Hall of Fame class.

October 26, 2009

Spectator

19

With pep talks and positive attitude, De Paula inspires team continued from page

1

part of it,” she says. “He “He and coach Swink always understood each other. Ramon always loved to be there with football players and loved cheering for them.”

When he started as manager, De Paula helped with equipment, created plays and gave pep talks. Though De Paula did not do sprints with the team or run drills with the coaches, he was always seen as a vital part of the team.

“He was one of the guys,” Swink says. “When they would lose a tough game he would take it just as hard as they would and when they would win a good game they would celebrate with him. Everyone treated him with respect and loved him.”

JV coach Dan Wolfe is close with De Paula and played football in 2003 while De Paula was manager.

Wolfe has many fond memories of De Paula throughout their relationship, but one sticks out.

“My favorite memory of Ramon is watching him run onto the field every Friday in front of the team,” Wolfe says. “I get a great sense of pride when I see that.”

Soon after De Paula became manager, representatives of Special Olympics Maryland heard of his involvement with the team and asked him to become an ambassador for them and deliver a speech to their athletes. De Paula was reluctant at first because football isn’t an Olympic sport, but eventually decided to accept the offer.

After the successful speech, Swink asked De Paula to deliver a similar speech to his team.

“Coach Swink says I can do a speech for the players too; I am going to tell them something to pep them up,” he told his mother. “I am going to tell my players to do their best, work as a team, have fun, focus and listen to your coach!”

Ramon’s initial speech inspired the players and Swink invited him to continue giving pep talks.

De Paula continued to write motivational speeches for the football team and eventually spoke at his own graduation. The assignment: talk about a person who had helped him at Whitman. His mother remembers him struggling with the task.

time off that his boss gives out as bonuses.

He says cheering on the football team is worth making sacrifices at work, especially because the team this year is closer than ever to achieving De Paula’s ultimate goal: to go to states.

“It means a lot to me to be able to help the team,” De Paula says. “We’ve never been to states before; we have a good team so far.

Hopefully we can get there.”

Getting to games, however, isn’t always easy. Because public transportation isn’t very reliable, team parents often offer him rides.

“He has all of these guardian angels watching over him, all these wonderful people who love him dearly” Haydee says.

Lynn Kline, mother of cornerbacks Carson and Larry was De Paula’s second photo courtesy FIGHTINGVIKINGS.COM grade teacher, and frequently takes him De Paula has led the team onto the field since he started as manager in 1999. to games. Larry first met De Paula in sixth “Ramon said ‘I can’t think of only one person grade and the two have been close ever since. who helped me,’” she recollects. “He related all of his “He motivates us and is always there giving experiences at Whitman and remembered all the people support,” Kline says. “He’s always wishing us well, and who had helped him. He knew that everyone was going is such a great guy. He’s always really happy and so to go away to different places in the world and would excited for football. It’s what he lives for.” meet a lot of people in their lives, and would meet De Paula wants to stay with the team people with special needs like him. He asked that when f o r e v e r . H e they met these people they would do for them what they can’t imagine had done for him.” a w o r l d De Paula received a standing ovation from w i t h o u t classmates, faculty and parents after his speech. bright lights, Although he was leaving high school, his involvement b i g c r o w d s with the team was far from over. and Viking After graduation, De Paula attended as many games football. and practices as he could. He currently works full time “I’d like to as a copy clerk for the Department of Veteran Affairs, stay with the limiting his participation to the summer and Saturday team as long practices. Still, De Paula goes to every game. as possible,” he “I come from work to football,” De Paula says. says. “They say “Work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., then take the Metro, they can’t do then my mom picks me up from the Metro and takes it without me, photo courtesy HAYDEE DE PAULA me straight to Whitman.” so I’m always De Paula works as a copy clerk for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

To make it to games, De Paula saves up coupons for there.” 

Creatine’s potential benefits tainted by possible side effects

by Sam Oshinsky

photo courtesy

ANDREA JANNOTTA

Jannotta and Laukaitis play for the Maryland Exiles, a local girls rugby team, which competes against both local club and collegiate women’s teams such as UVA and UMBC.

Rugby: not just for boys Viking girls defy stereotype, join the scrum

by Lily Durston Juniors Andrea Jannotta and Kristina Laukaitis are not afraid to play rough. In fact, both have found an athletic outlet that encourages hard-hitting aggression: rugby.

Laukaitis and Jannotta decided to join the Maryland Exiles after hearing about it through their friends and siblings who play.

“At first some friends and I went to the practice as a joke, but it ended up being really fun,” Jannotta says.

A rugby game consists of two teams, each with 15 players on the field at a time. Teams score points by carrying, passing, kicking or grounding the ball into the endzone. Though typically a male-dominated sport, rugby has become increasingly popular among teenage girls. USA Rugby currently oversees 150 girls programs across the country and women’s rugby was recently added as an event to the 2016 Olympics.

“I think it has become more popular because until now, people were unaware that there was a girls league in the area,” Jannotta says.

Laukaitis joined the Exiles last year, though the team barely had enough girls to sport a squad. In recent months, however, the team has recruited more players and now has over 20 girls.

“Last year we had to play with the Langley girls team in Virginia for a few games, but now we have a full team,” Laukaitis says.

Colleges around the country are also getting involved with the developing sport and many now offer women’s club teams.

Karen Fensterstock (’06) joined a team her

sophomore year at Syracuse University.

“I had been seeing the team’s fliers all around campus since freshman year,” Fensterstock says. “It seemed pretty exciting and I ended up e-mailing one of the girls about joining the team.”

Initially a little overwhelmed by rugby’s complex rules, Fensterstock quickly caught on. One of her responsibilities on the field was to participate in scrums, where players from both teams push against each other for possession of the ball.

“Rugby is definitively more physical than any sport,” Fensterstock says. “It is football without the pads, combined with wrestling.”

Fensterstock suffered from a herniated disc in her back from an accident in high school that eventually led to sciatica, or excruciating pain, in her left leg. Because of rugby’s physicality and roughness, she was forced to stop playing after her sophomore year.

“Getting injured was not at all difficult,” Fensterstock says, “I would be concerned if a match didn’t have an ambulance on hand.”

Despite the injuries the sport caused, Fensterstock enjoyed her time playing rugby and the close relationships she formed with her teammates.

“A game this physical forces a special bond between team members, as they work to protect each other in addition to attempting to score,” she says.

Jannotta, who played with Laukaitis on the Exiles last year, remembers the exhilaration she felt while playing.

“The best part of playing was just the adrenaline rush during a game,” she says. 

“I really haven’t had any side effects because of creatine other than the Athletes train relentlessly to become occasional cramp and muscle twitch,” the best they can be, practicing daily and the senior creatine user says.

Varsity football Coach Jim Kuhn lifting weights to gain any competitive edge they need to dominate opponents. doesn’t support the use of creatine Sometimes, however, simply training is because there’s not enough research to not enough. Though most athletes rely prove its safety.

“I don’t advocate it or condone it, but solely on their workout routines, some turn to supplemental creatine or protein I advise my players not to use creatine and other dangerous supplements,” powders to help build muscle.

Kuhn says.

The body naturally M e d i c a l produces creatine, which it professionals have uses to increase energy, build mixed opinions muscle, synthesize proteins about supplemental and slow down lactic acid creatine and protein. build-up.

Protein powders are Despite its potential less harmful than danger, creatine creatine, they say, enhances weight training but still can present and provides benefits risks. If a player such as enhanced muscle takes more than mass and improved the recommended athletic performance and dosage, he or she endurance. Junior Andre could encounter Ames is one Whitman an upset stomach athlete who uses creatine UPSET STOMACH or kidney stones. supplements.

CRAMPS Doctors agree “I take creatine to get though, that if increased strength as an TWITCHES athletes take added boost to working DEHYDRATION creatine correctly out,” he says.

NAUSEA along with protein Though Ames is VOMITING powders while aware of the potential HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE lifting, they can consequences of creatine, KIDNEY STONES benefit greatly. Elite he believes that the graphic by ANDREW B EERS Athletic Training supplement’s benefits System, a company outweigh its possible side that employs personal effects.

“I would not put any drugs into my trainers and runs athletic programs for body with no knowledge of what [they high schoolers, supports the proper use were],” he says. “Through my research, of creatine during workouts.

“Combined with proper training and I found that if taken responsibly, creatine is a harmless substance that does provide a sound eating plan, creatine helps to weightlifting gains. Prior to taking increase strength and add muscle size,” creatine, my bench press max was 160. an EATS flyer reads.

Protein is key to increasing muscle Today it is 215 and increasing.”

Other creatine users agree with Ames mass. When a person lifts, his or her and believe that taking the drug is worth muscles tear slightly and proteins help fill in those tears, which builds muscle. the risk.

“You can’t lift and expect to gain any “I use creatine because it lets me push my physical limits,” says a senior creatine mass at all if you do not take any protein,” user who wished to stay anonymous. Ames says.

Whether athletes are looking for that “I’m able to work harder for longer competitive edge or are just looking to because it gives me more energy.”

These athletes have benefited put on some muscle, they must know from supplemental creatine, they have what they’re putting in their bodies and how it could affect them. encountered slight side effects .

SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE...

20

end zone sidelines

Specatator

October 26, 2009 Number of days of the year people get free candy for dressing up like overpaid athletes.

1

count ‘em Walking sports cliché:

with Josh Lederman

Finding a role model in the world of professional sports can be like trick-ortreating at that weird house where they only give out stale leftover pretzels—not very rewarding. Fortunately, when it seems like the purpose of sports is to crush your soul, these Halloween costumes can give you a chance to get even.

Stephon Marbury: Requirements—A shaved head, a basketball and an ego that’s more inflated than Albert Haynesworth’s torso, but of course no NBA jersey since Marbury won’t be playing in the league this year.

Execution—This costume is good for loners who don’t want to trick-or-treat in groups, because given how unappealing Marbury is as a free agent, no one can be within a 20-foot radius of you at any time. Should anyone ask you to pass your basketball, stay true to character and hold onto it, because Stephon Marbury doesn’t pass the ball to anyone, not even if he’s triple-teamed by Kobe Bryant, John Cena and a hungry piranha.

Payoff—Your style of play—hog the ball, then sulk when your coach sticks you on the bench—might offend some (most of mankind), but it’ll also win you admirers and a cool nickname like Starbury (even though it’s mostly used ironically).

Requirements—To encompass as many idiotic clichés used by sports analysts as possible, you’ll need to be somewhat smart and not suffering from dozens of concussions (unlike the previously mentioned analysts).

Execution—Take some sort of chip— poker chip, potato chip, chocolate chip, tortilla chip, any chip—and tape it to your shoulder. Now people will think you have something to prove. Make sure to take friends with you and rent a bus service.

Whenever you feel like blaming them for something, don’t do it. Instead, just throw them under the bus. Literally. Imagine the reaction you’ll get if you wear a shirt that says “What it is.” (Sample conversation: “What’s your costume?” “It is what it is”).

Payoff—This costume will take some explaining, but it’ll be totally worth all the confused looks from strangers when one of them chuckles. Well, maybe not. photo by

SIMON ENGLER

WNBA player: Requirements—A tiny orange and white WNBA basketball and a jersey with a hardto-respect name like the Bethesda Fantasy (that one’s not real, but they’d fit right in with the Dream, Sky, Sun, Shock, Fever, Liberty, Mercury, Sparks, Monarchs and Silver Stars).

Execution—Be extremely sneaky, so that you can get all your candy without anyone noticing you were in their neighborhood that night—just like this summer, when America collectively failed to notice another entire WNBA season. And if you can find somebody in an NBA jersey, take a percentage of his candy and throw it in the trash can to simulate the NBA’s funding of the WNBA. Payoff—Instead of “trick or treat,” you get to use a catchy/nauseating slogan like “Expect Great.” Or as ESPN columnist Bill Simmons says, “Expect Layups.” 

Clinton Portis: Requirements—You’ll want a #26 Redskins jersey, a helmet, some pads and, of course, Daniel Snyder’s private home phone number on your speed dial.

Execution—In acknowledgement of Portis’ seeming inability to gain yardage, you must only run sideways the entire night. If you’re really committed, you can get your friend to wear a Mike Sellers #45 jersey and then spend the night picking fights with him.

Payoff—You’ll get the Clinton Portis treatment— that is, no matter how little candy you get every Halloween, people like Daniel Snyder will continue to treat you like you’re the best in the business, the Willy Wonka of trick-or-treating.

SGA “ ” SPEAKS

Aaron Schifrin PRESIDENT

Luke Rozansky VICE-PRESIDENT

Will Brownlee TREASURER

the leaderSHIP never sinks

announcements:

•Blood drive is on Nov. 5. Sign up!!

Lily Durston SECRETARY

•Keep recycling!

• Check out the SGA website @ whitmansga.com for news and announcements.

Julia Weingardt SECRETARY

Class Officers:

‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13

Mel Schwed, Nina Slesinger, Brandt Silver-Korn Zach Schloss, Hannah Sherman, Rachel Norris

Ari Kapner, Danny Milzman, Melissa Kantor Leslie Schwed, Valerie Acker, Lindsey Herschfeld