The Stampede
The official student newspaper of Bishop McNamara High School www.stampedenews.org February 7, 2012
Now Trending: Presidential Elections 2012
The 2012 Presidential elections experience change in light of new technological advances. Megan Ardovini ’13 News Editor
Following the presidential elections has never been more convenient for a technology savvy demographic. Technology and social networking are forever changing the game for this year’s presidential race with the new release of the Presidential Election iPhone app along with the increased attention given to “tweets” and Facebook posts to track candidate popularity. Candidates, campaign managers, political analysts, and voters alike are beginning to track the popularity and potential support of a candidate through their number of Twitter followers, mentions, “retweets”, Facebook tags, likes on their Facebook page, and mentions in other media sources. All this information is even easier to get than before, because now it can come straight to
your iPhone through a new, free electiontracking application. Republican Candidate Mitt Romney’s online director, Zac Moffatt, put it best when he told Beth Fouhy of the Associated Press, “You have to take your message to the places where people are consuming content and spending their time… We have to recognize that people have choices and you have to reach them where they are, and on their terms.” This new generation of technological savvy people runs to the internet, social media, and technology to find their information and presidential campaigns are beginning to recognize this. On December 20, 201,1 The New York Times introduced the new “NY Times Election 2012” application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Their description on the iTunes website says, “[The app] features a comprehensive collection of campaign
data, with the latest poll numbers, candidate information and state-by-state updates.” This application constantly sends updates to your electronic device as news breaks and developments are made. Washington Post’s @MentionMachine “monitors Twitter and media across the Web for political candidate mentions, revealing trends and spikes that show where the conversation is and why.” Any time any of the presidential candidates are mentioned by a Twitter-user or other media source, this program keeps tally and ranks all of the candidates in order by popularity as posted on the Washington Post website at the end of the week. The social networking site Facebook has also created a page, “Election 2012 As Told by Your Votes on Facebook,” to track the number of “fans” each candidate currently has. This site is concerned with more than
just the presidential elections and also monitors the popularity of candidates running for the house, senate, or a governor position. At this point in the election, debates and campaigning are in full swing and each candidate’s time is ticking away. The primary elections and caucuses in each state have been underway since January 3rd and will go until June 26th. The jury is still out on whether this type of technology and new kind of election tracking is as telling as the polls that have been conducted during presidential candidacies long before this technology boom. Although the argument is often made that such programs are not as accurate as other alternatives, candidates aren’t seeing results as entirely meaningless because of the unfiltered and encompassing view of the American public’s view on their candidacy that no poll can ever really parallel.
School Considers New Class Schedules
Administration begins evaluating the effectiveness of the current block schedule Luciana Rodrigues ‘12 Editor-In-Chief
Administration is currently evaluating the class schedule due to concerns that the current length of classes does not allow for students to get everything they can out of a class. This change would be based on the belief that the longevity of classes does not allow students to have as much instructional, learning time as possible. We currently operate on a schedule of four classes a day, each class lasting 87 minutes long. Though this process is only in its early phases, if classes were to change, they would not get any longer, but potentially shorter to allow more classes in one day. The hour and 27 minute classes “tends to be a little too much, especially for the freshmen,” according to Mr. Victor Shin, assistant principle/dean of program development and performance, a main reason for why they are currently evaluating the schedule. The transition from middle school to high school is not always negative though, “I thought it’d be really long and boring but it’s actually not, time really flies by,” Bria Goode ‘15 said when asked about how she was dealing with this transition from 45 minutes class periods in middle school to 87 minutes now in her first year of high school. One thing that is being heavily considered in this process is the amount of actual instructional time given in each class. Thoughts toward evaluating our schedule include shortening classes, removing homeroom, or even a mix of the two said Mrs. Mindi Imes de Duclos, assistant principal and academic dean. When asked about moving toward a full schedule of
Inside This Issue Opinion: Guest writer Ken Meringolo ‘94 speaks about diversity at McNamara.... 2 Opinion: War in the D.R. of Congo.... 3 Opinion: The pros and cons of the Dream Act.... 3 Style & Culture: Annie Creamcheese.... 4 Health: Ask the Experts.... 4 Rise of the East: Asia’s rise to the world stage.... 5 Reviews: The Weeknd’s “Echoes of Silence” .... 5 News: Dual enrollment now offered at BMHS.... 6
Mr. Adam Greer subsitutes Mr. Dougherty’s AP US History class. (Luciana Rodrigues ‘12/STAMPEDE) eight classes a day, both Mr. Shin and Mrs. Duclous do not see that as a possible change. “We don’t think that [provides] optimal learning time for our students,” Mr. Shin said. Though it seems like many schools operate on block schedules, there are many different versions of block schedules as well as traditional eight class per day schedules. When asking several students from different high schools about how they feel about their class schedules, anything they have been dealing with for the past four years seems to work just fine for them. Justin Aguniot, a senior from Bishop O’Connell in Arlington, VA said that having 8, 45-minute classes a day can sometimes make him feel a bit limited in what they do during class. “I’m so used to this though; it is fast paced, but you’re always on top of things,” Justin said. Marly Kluge, a senior as well from Notre Dame High School, a Holy Cross school in Sherman
Oaks, CA, said that although an hour and thirty minutes for classes seems like a long time, it isn’t that bad. Notre Dame operates on a block schedule similar to McNamara’s with alternating Blue and Gold days. On Blue days they have periods 1, 2, 3, and 4 but seniors are not required to take a 4th period, though 4th period often ends up being a sport practice so football players would have to take “football” during their 4th period. On Gold days they have period 5, 6, 7, and then an “X” period, which is basically a free period to go home or catch up on work with teachers. While shorter classes can mean less instructional time, meeting more frequently during the week can benefit fine arts classes like band or orchestra, according to Mr. Anthony Conto, director of fine Arts. Changing to a new schedule should be done with caution and plenty or preparation, he said, which includes assessing how it
will affect the diversity of class offerings. But how effective would it be to change the schedule when students and teachers all have different priorities for their different classes. Danielle McCreary ‘12 said that though the last thirty minutes of classes are always difficult to get through, keeping the schedule at four classes a day would be a good thing, “I like to know that there’s only 4 classes I have to go through, then I’m done.” If our schedule will have any changes, though this topic is something that comes up every year, it remains uncertain when any changes will be decided on and eventually implemented. If so, administration must keep a lot in mind, but any change will always be done so that the students will be able to gain more opportunities and for more effective instructional learning time according to Mrs. Duclous.
News: Service hour requirements change.... 6 News: Time Magazine’s person of the year.... 6 Sports: Alumns Marcus Thornton and Taylor Brown start college careers with a bang... 7 Sports: Redskins look to improve with the 2012 NFL Draft.... 7 Eating Healthy: Get the facts about food you eat every day.... 8
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opinion
The Stampede
A Journey To the Center of Our Worth
student newspaper
Matthew Nunez ‘12 • Copy Chief Leslie Martin ‘12 • Design Chief Luciana Rodrigues ‘12 • Assignment Chief
“Mid”-terms weighted too much into semester grade Rachel Harris ’13 Staff Writer
E
very year, right before the school body lets out for Christmas break, students are tested on their ability to recall all of the knowledge that they have learned over the course of half a school year... or at least, what we call “half ” a school year. Counting distance learning days, there are 161 days in a school year. Logically, “half ” of a school year would be about 80 days into school. This year, the number of class days we had before midterms summed up to 67, leaving us with 94 for when we came back from Christmas break. So how can midterms be considered “mid” terms when they account for much less than half of a school year of learning? Both midterms and finals are worth 20% of our semester grade, midterms accounting for 20% of the first semester and finals accounting for 20% of our second semester grade. When added together, this equals our final grade for the class. But how can midterms and finals have the same weight on our final grade when midterms only tested on less than half of the information we learn over the course of the entire year? Bishop McNamara students are encouraged to be involved in an array of different extracurricular activities. Many of
the students who go to school here are multi-sport athletes, dancers, singers, and members of the band or different clubs. So while they are trying to excel in these extracurricular activities, which they are encouraged by the school and their parents to participate in, they must also balance in their school work and do it well. And right in the middle of all of the hustle to excel in each part of their life, they are asked to recall every last bit of knowledge that that have learned in not one class, but possibly 8. Oh and wait, if you fail this one test, your semester grade could possibly be brought down 10 to 20 percent and all of your hard work over the past few months will go down the drain. It is fair for teachers and administrators to expect the student body to study hard for finals. It is fair for the final test grade to have a greater impact on our final grades for the course. By then, other activities have ended and students have time to focus on grades alone. But there is something wrong with the fact that midterms and finals are weighted equally and it shocks me that it has been overlooked for so long. For full year classes, finals should still be worth 20% of our second semester grade, but “mid” terms should be cut to 10% of the first semester, since they test only half of the information.
Ken Meringolo ‘94 Guest Writer
T
he world we inherit seldom resembles the world we are born into. Those among us who resist opportunities to broaden our understanding of the former will forever be imprisoned in the latter. It would be fair to suggest that I did not grow up in the most racially diverse area of Maryland. In fact, the house my siblings and I lived in as children was initially one of only three in a largely undeveloped area of southern Maryland surrounded by tobacco fields. Of course, now this area is wonderfully developed and thriving, but it remains somewhat homogenous, as most hometowns tend to be. Prior to my arrival at Bishop McNamara, the bulk of my exposure to people different from me came on soccer and football fields for an hour or so at a time, once or twice a week (at most). More and more today, we are faced with the necessity of knowing how to deal with people who are different than us. The headlines are jammed with the consequences of individual and group failures in this arena. Sometimes these failures are deliberate and wrongful. Sometimes they are honest errors in judgment and still other times they are much ado about nothing, inflated to “news-of-the-day” status by folks with agendas. Most of the time, I think these failures are borne from a lack of exposure to different kinds of people at an age that allows your heart, mind and soul to discern just exactly what discrimination is and why it is so important to filter it out. At Bishop McNamara, students are given just such a chance. At Bishop McNamara, you find yourself immersed in a community that boasts representatives of not just each gender, but also of a great variety of ethnic backgrounds and belief structures. The insight that is
Jerica Deck ‘13 and Carolyn Conte ‘14, Editors| Leslie Martin ‘11, Designer
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gained from walking the halls of McNamara for four years as a student is invaluable. It sets you apart—for the rest of your life. It gives you an advantage that you can wield in every phase of your life, and sets you up for the kind of success that is simply unattainable in this world if you insist on staying inside your comfort zone. It is not just experiencing the ways in which other people are different from you that makes the Mustang journey so important. It is participating in the journey of others as they experience diversity and broaden their own understandings of the world. We are each part of one another’s experience. You are not well-rounded just because you sat in a classroom with people of different races or creeds. You are well-rounded because you actively participated in a daily dialogue with those individuals in a way that elevates everyone’s appreciation of the sense of community that is essential to the world we live in. I very much enjoy rocking my Mustang apparel. It represents not just a place I am from, but a place I am part of. A friend of mine recently observed my garb and stated that I “was Bishop McNamara from headto-toe.” I was quick to point out that it would be fairer to say that I was Bishop McNamara “inside and out.” After all, McNamara isn’t something you wear, it is something you carry inside. As a graduate of Bishop McNamara, I am no stranger to the perception of my school among other area Catholic high school alums. I will often find myself in conversation with these folks—my friends. When they and others ask me where I went to high school and hear my answer, I will invariably be faced with a raised eyebrow and quizzical stare. “Isn’t that a…”diverse” high school?” I always find it amusing that the word we derive strength from, other people put in “air quotes” that attribute
something negative it. They say it in a way that conveys some surprise that a white guy from southern Maryland now living in Montgomery County would have attended a high school in Forestville. I’ll throw up a smile and state, “Actually, it’s 50/50.” I am met with immediate disbelief. “Noooo…that can’t be true, can it?” At this point, I am into my routine, saying, “My father graduated from McNamara in 1971. I graduated in 1994, and I have three other siblings that each graduated there after me. Throughout all of those years, it has always been 50/50.” By this time, their skepticism is in overdrive. “You’re telling me that Bishop McNamara is 50% black and 50% white?” “No. I’m telling you that Bishop McNamara is and always has been 50/50…50% maroon and 50% gold.” For those of us who are privileged enough to share in this perspective, the world that we stand to inherit will be one that we will be prepared to thrive in. More importantly, the world that we hand over to our own children will be one that is increasingly independent of prejudice and intolerance. Thank you for holding dear the tradition of diversity at Bishop McNamara. Thank you for holding dear to our core belief that we are all—in every way possible—in this together. Ken Meringolo (Class of ’94) is a freelance writer and diehard Washington sports fan—a combination that has resulted in his current position as Managing Editor of HogsHaven.com, currently ranked as the #1 Redskins fansite online. He currently lives with his wife Megan and their two children in Kensington, MD. Asked if he would ever consider sending either of his children to DeMatha, Ken said, “Well, my daughter isn’t girly enough to attend DeMatha, and my four year-old son is already smarter than the average DeMatha grad.”
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Cartoon by Shannell Smith ‘12/STAMPEDE
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Jerica Deck ‘13 and Carolyn Conte ‘14, Editors | Leslie Martin ‘12, Designer
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OPINION
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Africa’s “First World War” Continues Today Bailey Allegro ‘14
Contributing Writer
A
lthough it is tragic, it is no surprise when you hear about recent deaths due to gang violence, or the killing of a normal citizen on the news today. We have heard so many stories like these that we are becoming immune to them. When was the last time you heard a news report about the struggles of many African countries? Unless a celebrity has decided to adopt a new baby, we rarely get any insight on other horrific situations in these countries, other than starvation and poverty, such as families being displaced from their homes, the rape of women and children, boy soldiers, or genocide. It has come to my attention that even though we all know about the largest documented genocide today called the Holocaust, which targeted many different social and religious groups, the largest being the Jews, a majority of people would be utterly shocked if I told them that events like this are STILL going on today. Africa’s third largest country, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been in a state of war and strife for the past 12 years. The situation in the DRC has sometimes been called Africa’s First World War. At one time, this conflict involved seven neighboring nations and was declared the planet’s deadliest conflict since WWII. Today, more than 5.4 million people have died as a result of this war, 2.7 million of those being children. Sean Carasso, founder of the organization Falling Whistles, a campaign for peace in Congo,
A young girl and her grandfather wait at a hospital in Mueso, North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in this August 8, 2008 photo released today by Medecins Sans Frontieres. Picture taken on August 8, 2008. REUTERS/Cedric Gerbehaye-Medecins Sans Frontiers/Handout (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO) has worked to promote awareness about the use of “whistleblowers” and using OUR voice as THEIR weapon. On his trip to the DRC he met with five boy soldiers who had been rescued from their rebel groups by the National Army. They showed utmost excitement and relief when they were rescued from the rebel army that they were kidnapped by and forced to be a part of. But once they were rescued they were imprisoned in a jailhouse where they experienced brutal beatings every night and nearly starved to death. These boys told Carasso all about their experiences and explained to him the “whistleblowers” who were young boys too small to carry a gun so they were simply given a whistle. In his journal entry Carasso wrote, “Their sole duty was to
make enough noise to scare the enemy and then to receive –with their bodies—the first round of bullets. Lines of boys fell as nothing more than a temporary barricade. Those who tried to flee were shot at from behind. The soldiers called it “encouragement” to be brave. Without a gun to protect themselves, the smallest boys were placed between the crossfire of two armies – forces fighting for reasons far beyond their ability to understand.” After many struggles, Carasso, with the help of global relief organizations like the United Nations and UNICEF, had the five boy soldiers released from custody of the merciless guards at the Congolese Army’s Titu compound. Like the five boy soldiers Carasso met, there are many other boys starting
from ages as young as 7 all the way up to 18 year olds, who are captured from their homes, handed a gun, and forced to kill. The process to try and get these boys back to their normal state is long and can take years to fulfill. Just to add on to the injustice given to the Congolese people, every day women and children live in fear with the constant threat of being physically mutilated and raped by rebel militias. More than 200,000 women and girls have been a victim of rape or sexual violence. In a short video by New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof, he captures the story of a 9-year-old orphan whose home was attacked by a Hutu militia consisting of remnants of those who committed the Rwandan genocide and later escaped to the Congo. They killed her parents,
and kidnapped her sisters. She fled to her aunt’s house, but after only being there for two months the same militia attacked her aunt’s home and held everyone at gunpoint. She and her aunt were both raped and her uncle was slaughtered right in front of them. The militia kidnapped her aunt’s two daughters and left her and her aunt tied up, not to be discovered until three days later. When the reporter asked a townsman how much a normal bride was worth he replied, “20 goats.” When asked how much a raped bride was worth he replied, “2 goats, if that.” Once a woman is raped, it is hard for her to feel accepted in the town. Women are often rejected by their husbands, and rape victims have difficulty marrying. Tragedies like this occur every day in the Congo. The rapes and killings have been going on for so long now that it is hardly considered ‘news’ anymore. The world itself has become a bystander, and now that we have the knowledge of their suffering we need to stop the ignorance in the making, and do what is humanly right to stop injustice and bigotry. How much louder do they have to cry for help for us to actually take action? Frontiers of Justice is a club at McNamara that works to promote awareness of social injustices. They plan events, like the presentation by organization Invisible Children, to inform students and encourage them to work together to take action, because what we do matters. If you are interested in learning more or doing something to help, please visit the club or attend one of their events.
Considering the DREAM Act: Should children of illegal immigrants receive tuition money? Jerica Deck ‘13
opinion Editor
G
ov. Pat Quinn of Illinois passed a state law that allows college scholarships to be given to the children of immigrants, whether legal or not. This trend was first started by the state of California and as more and more states are following the pattern, supporters are hoping this will lead up to the passing of the DREAM Act: the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act. If passed, the children of illegal immigrants will have the opportunity to receive scholarships, qualify for in-state tuition, and enlist in the military. The children of illegal immigrants in most cases did not choose to enter the country illegally. They were brought here as small children and sometimes even as infants. Why should they be penalized, and prevented from getting an education to better themselves? Currently, about 5-10% of undocumented high school graduates go to college. Without a degree, these kids are forced to work illegally for a small taxable
income. The DREAM Act’s benefits extend further than to just immigrants. According to the Immigration Policy Center, taxpayers will save money too: “A RAND study from 1999 shows that raising the college graduation rate of Hispanics to that of non-Hispanic whites would increase spending on public education by 10 percent nationwide, but the costs would be more than offset by savings in public health and benefits, as well as increased tax revenues resulting from higher incomes.” A whole new group of students will attend college, and colleges can benefit from the additional tuition money. Also, for those who don’t want to go to college, the DREAM act also offers them the opportunity to enlist in the military. The DREAM act would allow the children of illegal immigrants to better themselves and hopefully put them on a path to legal citizenship.
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Carolyn Conte ‘14 Opinion Editor
will disown Maryland if it adopts California’s nonsense. Their Dream Act invites the children of illegal parents to take scholarship opportunities away from legal peers. What inspired congressmen to decide immigrants who’ve never read or sworn loyalty to the constitution should benefit from true citizens’ taxes, rather than the taxpayers themselves? No matter how brave crossing the border was, illegal parents are cheating American parents. Adults who have a hard enough time struggling to save money for their own children to afford college, will now indirectly pay for illegal children to take their own kids’ seat in college. Despite undocumented teenagers’ innocence, American taxes should be put towards Americans, not towards illegal immigrants. “$11 billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments” stated Personal Liberty Digest. Currently, we’re in a recession - if you haven’t noticed - and there are plenty of other valid citizens that need help and do pay the cost of their freedom, unlike these whom California will donate limited money
towards. The government should first assist taxpayers in need of homes, clothes, food, or more. Besides, undocumented doesn’t mean poor. An ‘illegal’ person doesn’t necessarily need money, in fact they need to pay taxes. The Center for Imiigration Studies proved, “Illegal households only pay about one-third the amount of federal taxes that non-illegal households pay.” I agree it’s not their fault, but we just cannot afford to be sending them to college when it won’t even benefit them. That’s right, the money invested in these illegals’ education would be wasted since it’s still unlawful for them to be hired when they graduate. Although they still may be hired illegally, it can potentially end with prison- which Americans also pay for. Thus, this would only hurt our failing economy and wouldn’t do the immigrants any good. Any sensible country would not be promoting illegal immigrants, no matter how generous the government’s heart intends the actions to be. If they see that they can be rewarded with free college in the USA, more people will come here and not apply for citizenship so they can receive this benefit. There is a border between merciful and moronic.
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Style & Culture
Vania Brown ‘12, Editor | Leslie Martin ‘11, Designer
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Ask the Experts: Health Edition Vania Brown ‘12 Staff Writer
Ask the Experts introduces Dr. Ariel Warden-Jarrett, a Family Physician of Maryland Primary Care Physicians in Bowie, MD.
Q:
I’m trying to lose weight but I’ve heard that fad diets don’t work, and all the weight that’s lost will be put right back on. Which is more important when trying to lose weight, diet or exercise? And please don’t say they’re equal... I’m glad you have made your health a priority for 2012. Fad diets do not work in the long run. Yes, people often lose the weight, then put it back on because they did not change their eating habits. Both diet and exercise are important. However, food choices and portion sizes are extremely important. Efforts should be made to eat whole grains, more fruit and vegetables. Fast foods and sodas should be minimized. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water can help as well. The documentary “Forks Over Knives” will give additional insight to your question.
Q:
I have pierced ears, and there’s been a lump and minor bleeding on the back of my earlobes. Could it be early signs of keloids forming? What should I do? If you have a lump and minor bleeding, you may have signs of an early infection. You may also be forming a keloid, or a hyperpigmented (dark) scar. Keloids can be very difficult to treat. However, a dermatologist might be able to help.
Q:
Hi, I’m a 16 year old female, and I love to eat ice chips. Is this a sign that I’m anemic? Lots of people like to eat ice chips, especially in the summer. However, eating ice or other items like dirt, chalk, clay, paint or sound could be an indication that you MAY be anemic. This is termed pica. Many young women are anemic due to the menstrual cycle, however, most do not have pica. You may want to schedule an appointment with your family doctor to discuss this. She may draw blood work and do additional tests to really see if you are anemic.
A mannequin in an 80’s vintage dress towers in the middle of the room; racks with fashionable clothing and accessories surround it. (Selina Donahue ‘13 / STAMPEDE)
Calling all Trend Setters: Annie Creamcheese Selina Donahue ‘13 Staff Writer
Annie Creamcheese is a clothing store that, according to its website, “is where contemporary meets vintage fashion.” As I enter the store, a Death Cab for Cutie song plays over the stereo system while fashionably dressed employees scurry about arranging jewelery in glass counters and taking stock of new clothes that have arrived. Vintage shoes made by famous labels including Coco Chanel, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana sit side by side on a glass shelf. On the far side of the store, a mannequin in a 1980s evening gown stands taller than everything else in the room. Behind it is an area mainly
dedicated to a large selection of dresses that are arranged by color. Glass cases are filled with chunky jewelery while rows of racks are covered in fur coats, long bohemian skirts, psychedelic jeans, and Bill Cosby sweaters. A hat stand is by the bottom of the staircase with an array of hats including a 1960’s cream colored large brim hat and a black hat with a leather bow that calls to fans of Audrey Hepburn films. Brightly colored purses lay on random surfaces and in the back of the store there’s a spinning rack covered in $12 sunglasses. Annie Creamcheese has a selection of clothing that ranges from the 1940’s to the 1990’s. There are over 1000 dresses for girls of all shapes and sizes, making it the go-to store for students looking for a dress to prom
that’s sure to catch everyone’s eye. This includes pieces made by vintage designers such as Morton Myles, Maheen Khan, and Jack Bryan, originating from iconic fashion centrals such as Italy and Paris, France. If you can’t find a vintage number that is your taste, you can scour the newer pieces made by designers like Ximena Valero. By pairing a vintage Chanel blouse and modern sparkly skirt you can create a cute party outfit. Accessories includes large neon colored rings, pins, and winter hats with adorable animal faces, such as zebras or monkeys. Prices range up to $20 for different accessories, while rarer dresses can go into the thousands.
What Am I Doing to My Body?
Many teens are following trends that can be detrimental to their health. Michelle Weston ‘12 Staff Writer
Many teens live by the belief that if something is enjoyable and causes no immediate harm to the body, it must be okay. This common misconception gets many teens in a world of trouble. Young adults unknowingly develop trends that put a lot of wear and tear on their bodies. Some popular trends include detox dieting, body piercings, and tattooing. They continue to practice the harmful trends because they cause little to no immediate harm, but these trends can cause serious damage in the long run. A numerous amount of trends can be easily ceased, but the first step to eliminating them is learning that they are hazardous to the human body. A hot topic in the teenage circuit, according to KidsHealth (kidshealth.org), is detox dieting. Detox dieting is temporarily refraining from eating foods containing toxins. It works to cleanse the body, but “the human body is
designed to purify itself ” say the doctors at KidsHealth. Detox dieting involves taking supplements, undergoing colon irrigation, or enemas in order to cleanse the body. These procedures can become addictive, stunt growth, and will not provide much assistance with weight loss, contrary to popular belief. Another topic that is trending among teens is body art. As the decades progress, more and more trends are created to scream out individuality, whether it be a tattoo or a body piercing. Piercings are a little more common among teens than tattoos. They have been popular for a longer amount of time, but the placement of piercings are becoming more creative and unique. Some common body piercings include the belly button, ears, nose, eye brows, and mouth. Getting a piercing can be a smooth process as long as the piercer is a professional and is well versed in the procedures of performing a successful piercing. The doctors
at KidsHealth highly advise teens to stay away from “do-it-yourself ” piercings. These piercings are done by an unlicensed friend or family member and can result in serious infections. Common mistakes with “do-it-yourself ” piercings include using alcohol (not soap) and the use of hydrogen peroxide. Using a germicidal soap is absolutely necessary for pierced areas because it kills disease- causing bacteria that alcohol or peroxide alone cannot. When visiting a licensed shop for piercing, remember to stay away from shops that use piercing guns, as they are often not able to be thoroughly sterilized. Doctors at KidsHealth want to emphasize that a tattoo is a wound that requires an abundance of attention in order to properly heal. Before getting a tattoo, it is crucial to figure out if you have had all immunizations and to test for medical problems such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin disorders, and conditions that effect the immune system. During your first
trip to the tattoo parlor that you chose after extensive research, it is important to make observations. Make sure the the tattoo parlor has an autoclave, a piece of equipment that uses steam, pressure, and heat for sterilization. Most importantly, make sure you are comfortable with the environment in which the tattoo parlor is located. After getting your tattoo, do not pick at scabs that are formed and do not use petroleum jelly over your tattoo as these things may damage the tattoo that did some serious damage to your wallet. The doctors at KidsHealth have given the okay for teens to try out new trends, they just stress to look into credible sources to ensure that practicing them will not be detrimental to your health. As long as the appropriate research is done and precautionary measures are taken before impulsively jumping into a new trend, trying new things can be a fun experience.
Michael Breton ‘12, Editor | Leslie Martin ‘11, Designer
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Style & culture
5 ‘Echoes of Silence’ by The Weeknd
Taylor Parker ‘12
style & culture Editor
Hong Kong illuminates at night, China’s crowning achievement in the international, economic circuit (wikimedia.org)
The Rise of the East
As war against the debt crisis endures throughout Europe, across the globe, Asia’s powerful, economic rise to the world stage has world politics turning over Michael Breton ‘12
Style & culture Editor
French president Nicolas Sarkozy said prior to Friday the 13th that he will drop dead if France S&P credit rating goes from triple A to double A. On Friday the 13th, January 2012, Standard & Poor downgraded nine members of the eurozone. One of them was France, to double A. For Chanel’s recent Métiers d’Art pre-fall show 2012 in Paris, Karl Lagerfeld sent a sumptuous, rich, glorious collection: the most luxurious silks, rich embroideries, pearls, and gems. In the tradition of Métiers d’Art, such as 2004’s Paris-Tokyo, 2009’s Paris-Moscou, 2010’s Paris-Shanghai, this new collection is Paris-Bombay. The guests, from Bollywood actresses to fashion’s finest, arrived in a royal feast-like event and went back to the time of the Mughal’s or Raj’s opulence. It was a show of grandeur
and wealth. But not everybody saw the show as “the right time”. Anybody who knows about Europe’s major economic crisis would think this show would be a bit crass and insensitive. New York Magazine’s The Cut headlined that Cathy Horyn, famous fashion critic of the New York Times, preferred the Duchess of Cambridge’s $100 Zara dress to Chanel’s Pre-fall Show. On a less frivolous note, Europe and most of the Western world, once kings of world domination and Western imperialism are hanging on to its last trillions as they strive to save their economies. For example, Greece has one of the highest debts in the world and also the highest suicide rates. Also, the Irish are still struggling after losing more than 100 BILLION euros; even its richest man, who owed 2.8 billion euros, filed for bankruptcy but was rejected. Ouch!
And the French will mourn, as well as the Italians and seven others, no, not of President Sarkozy’s, but the deaths of their highest credit ratings. And for the United States, 2011 was not kind. Whoever disagrees, un-American! Thanks to this unkind economy, the cost of college scares young students, and their parents even more. Chanel’s shimmering Bombay mirrored what Asia is today: rich, powerful, and shiny. Once inferior to the Eurocentric imperialist nations, India, Japan, and most importantly, China have dominated the world economic stage for a very long time now that they could, in vendetta, now look Europe in the face and smile (hopefully not, that’s disgustingly evil). Starting in 200708, as the world economy crashed, China didn’t, as The Guardian UK reported, focusing on lending and investing, especially on infrastructure, rather than deficit spending
and inflation. But the emerging Asian takeover isn’t new. It began even before the turn of the century. Today, it appears only China could save the eurozone now, with $3.2 trillion in its foreign reserves coffers. As Great Britain panics in a recession, the British chancellor, George Osborne was in Beijing asking for Chinese investment. But even so, Europe and America still stand as the world’s leading and invincible powers. We have the best in everything; the best in human rights, the best in education, the best in real estate, the best in cinema, fashion, culture, the best in luxury. As the International Herald Tribune reported, Asian firms have tapped Western Business schools for future leaders. We do have Harvard and Wharton Business school. Above all, Asia’s rise would not be without the West. Asia needs Western trade and wants Western culture.
Plastic Doesn’t Make Perfect 7-year old given breast implant voucher by her mother
Christin Coleman ‘12
R
Staff Writer
ecently, I came across an article by Hilary Moss in The Huffington Post online titled “Human Barbie.” Enticed by the title, I read on to discover that for Christmas, a woman named Sarah Burge had given her 7 year-old daughter Poppy a certificate to have liposuction. This was a follow up gift to the certificate for a breast augmentation the young girl received for her birthday. Ms. Linda Corley, math teacher and parent of three, said it best: “She is setting her daughter up to feel like she’s not good enough and that she needs society’s approval.” Although, legally Poppy cannot use either gift until she is 16, I was still
outraged and astonished. The fact that the state of California allows for girls as young as 16 to have plastic surgery is absurd. At that age they are not even legal and, in my opinion, not able to make such a lifechanging decision. Ms. Corley also made me think; how far do some people go to attain society’s approval of perfection? Sarah Burge, the self-proclaimed human barbie, for instance has spent close to one million dollars on her own plastic surgery procedures; but why? Personally, I believe that societal approval is one of the main reasons she decided to indulge in so many unnecessary plastic surgeries. I will say that I am not someone who is against plastic surgery. There are some plastic surgery procedures that I would deem acceptable, such as those that are
done as a result of a medical condition, those that are to correct appearance altering accidents, and those done to enhance your beauty in a small, minimally invasive way. Mr. Leonard, also a math teacher and a father of two young girls, doesn’t really oppose plastic surgery but says, “You cross the line when you have had so many surgeries that you have gone beyond original recognition.” I would also consider encouraging very young and impressionable children to have plastic surgery to match up to society’s idea of “perfect” as going to far. Instead of embedding in our young girls that they aren’t good enough we should be teaching them to love themselves - flaws and all - and to realize that their imperfections are what make them unique and beautiful.
22 year old, falsetto singing Abel Tesfaye, commonly known as The Weeknd, has become a national phenomena with the release of his third mixtape, “Echoes of Silence.” The Weeknd has a unique voice that separates him from many other recording R&B artists and it has allowed him to gain much recognition for his “Echoes of Silence.” The very f irst song on “Echoes of Silence” is a take on Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana,” called “D.D.” It has the same beat and he actually sounds like Michael Jackson in the beginning. Even though it is similar, The Weeknd has brought his own flare to it, making it much more modern. Another great song on the mixtape would be the cover song “Echoes of Silence”. The combination of the slow melody and The Weeknd’s voice can bring chills up your spine. This song talks about a relationship between two exes that can’t be together simply because of the type of people they are, but yet they still love one another. It can relate to any age group. On the negative side, if you’re in a good mood and you listen to The Weeknd, you are in risk of that good mood fading away, as his deep topics can sometimes weigh heavy on the mind. On the other hand, the ladies love Tesfaye because of his unique delivery style. He does not degrade women and he often caters to the female population by discussing the mistakes that many men make in their relationships. Along with his different style of music, The Weeknd introduced himself at a very critical time in the music industry. With the same type of music constantly being produced by various artists, The Weeknd was like a breath of fresh air with his first mixtape, “House of Balloons.” Amazingly, “House of Balloons” still remains number one in regard to the ranking of his three mixtapes. “Echoes of Silence” ranks second followed by his second mixtape, “Thursday.” Nevertheless, The Weeknd himself still remains one of the top new artists.
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news
Megan Ardovini ‘13, Editor | Leslie Martin ‘12, Designer
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High School Student by Day, College Scholar by Night
Bishop McNamara to offer dual enrollment through Prince Georges Community College Megan Ardovini ’13 News Editor
Prince George’s Community College will offer two classes of collegiate level; Introduction to Speech Communication and Introduction to Information Technology, to juniors and seniors at Bishop McNamara High School in the spring of 2012. The classes will be take place after school from 3:30 to 6:30 on Monday and Tuesday nights starting January 30th. The Introduction to Information Technology course will fulfill the required I.T. credit needed to graduate Bishop McNamara. The Introduction to Speech Communication likewise counts toward the elective
credit requirement. According to Junior Counselor Ms. Jennifer Auchmoody, any student who participates in one of these classes completes both a graduation requirement and receives three college credits as well. “Going to college with credits is both financially and academically beneficial,” Ms. Auchmoody said, “The exposure that students will have to the structure of a college class is helpful.” Our Advanced Placement courses are still being taught during the day at a high school by a high school teacher who is familiar with teaching to high school students. PGCC will be providing their own materials, their own professors, and their
own guidelines. Ms. Auchmoody feels this exposure to a different level of learning will benefit junior and senior students headed off to college in the near future. According to the PGCC’s website, a three-credit course like those offered at McNamara this spring would cost an in-state student $665 and an out-of-state student $929. So the $425 all-inclusive cost to McNamara students is definitely financially beneficial. Mr. Victor Shin, Dean of Program Development and Performance, has worked in collaboration with Prince Georges Community College to have these two classes to serve as a pilot this year for a continued relationship between
Bishop McNamara and PGCC. He said the process was multi-faceted. Mr. Shin drew from experience with a similar program offered at his high school and our President and CEO Mr. Marco Clark met with Prince George’s Community College’s President Dr. Charlene Dukes. As for what the future holds for this partnership, students should pay attention to announcements of the courses to come in the summer and the fall semesters. As of right now plans are in the works for another opportunity for the I.T. course over the summer. Various courses, like Nutrition for example, are under consideration for the fall semester.
“Protesting” is 2011 TIME Person of the Year
Time Magazine selects “the protester,” stemming from major events in 2011 Amanda Wilson ‘13 News Editor
The person of the year in 2011, was the protester.This “person” was chosen due to the fact that there were many protests that went on through out the year in 2011. Prime examples of this are the Occupy Movement and the protesting that went on in Liberia, as well as in Egypt. Even though protester is a singular word, it pertains to all of the different people that have protested in 2011. One of the reasons that Time Magazine chose the protester was because according to them, “protesters were prime makers of history.” Throughout this article, there are many examples of why they protester was chosen as the person of the year for 2011. One of the biggest examples that they give is in regards to the Occupy
This cover appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. The person shown on the front cover is the Time Magazine Person of the Year 2011 and is infamously known as the protester. The decision for this cover was made due to all of the protesting that went on throughout 2011.
Movement, which is still ongoing. They also mention other protests that took place in regards to the anger and corruption that is felt towards their country’s government. “In Sidi Bouzid and Tunis, in Alexandria and Cairo; in Arab cities and towns across the 6,000 miles from the Persian Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean; in Madrid and Athens and London and Tel Aviv; in Mexico and India and Chile, were citizens mobilized against crime and corruption; in New York and Moscow and dozens of other U.S. and Russian cities, the loathing and anger at governments and their cronies because uncontainable and fed on itself,” Time Magazine stated. Time also mentions many of the personal experiences that happened to people around the world. One of the most memorable protesters was a man, Mohamed Bouazizi, that lit himself on fire.
“On Dec. 17, 2010, a cop started giving him [Mohamed Bouazizi] grief yet again. She confiscated his scale and allegedly slapped him. He walked straight to the provincialcapital building to complain and got no response. At the gate, he drenched himself in paint thinner and lit a match,” according to Time Magazine. Over the years, people have seen many different faces on the front cover of Time Magazine as the person of the year. Several times there have been specific people on the front cover.For example in 2008, Barrack Obama was on the cover, and in 2010, Mark Zuckerberg. But occasionally, instead of there being a person of the year, there are people of the year. For example, in 1975, the “person” of the year were U.S. women. This is just what happened in 2011.
Service Hour Program Changed
Rewards for students who complete hours early; increased hours for each grade Kevin Glotfelty ’15 Staff Writer
A new system of due dates for service hours has been implemented for the 2011-2012 school year. Freshmen service hours are now due February 24th, sophomores March 30th, and juniors April 27th. Mr. Timothy Harden, service director, changed the system for greater efficiency. In previous years, all due dates were in May. On the day that service hours were due, students crammed into the Service
Freshman service hours are now due February 24th, sophomores March 30th, and juniors April 27th. Hour Director’s office. “Having every student turn in one or more service contract in one day created numerous problems for the staff and students,” Mr. Harden said. Another change: compared to last year, each class had four hours added to their total service hour requirement. However, if students
reach half of their total by January 9, then four hours are subtracted from that requirement. At Bishop McNamara, ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students are required to complete a minimum number of hours each year, in order to one day graduate. The total required hours for
students, also known as their “Magic Number,” increases with their grade level. Mr. Harden announced this change to parents and visited every religion class. Freshman have all summer and six school months to complete 15 to 19 hours. Because juniors have the most number of hours to complete -- 40 to 44 hours -- they were assigned the latest due date.
Students of the Month Program Takes a Pause Simone Miles ‘12 Staff Writer
Although its awards have not been announced this year, the Student of the Month program still exists. Student of the Month is a program to recognize students who show outstanding achievement or improvement. Each department chooses students for one month, and a student from each grade level is recognized. Usually, the chosen students are announced on the school’s website and also on the WMAC morning show. Regular announcements will resume second semester, according to Ms. LaSandra Hayes, Director of Student Life. “ The students for September through January will be recognized at the end of [first] semester,” she said. Letters of recognition were sent to the homes of some students who received the award. Students seem eager to have the awards made more public, as in previous years. “If they don’t announce it, it seems like nobody cares,” Shane Kelly ‘12 said, who received a letter that informed his parents of the achievement.
Andrew Feather ‘13 Editor | Leslie Martin ‘12, Designer
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SPORTS
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BMHS Basketball
Thornton and Brown Back at It 2011 Basketball stars start their college careers with a bang Andrew Feather ‘13 Sports Editor
After winning numerous awards for their performances in their senior seasons, former McNamara basketball stars Marcus Thornton ‘11 and Taylor Brown ‘11 are back to their successful ways on the court. The only difference is this time it’s on the collegiate level. Thornton, the 2010-2011 Gatorade Maryland State Player of the Year, has gotten his freshman season at William and Mary off to a tremendous start. After working hard the whole summer with his trainer and in the gym, Marcus was already the sixth man (a player that plays just as much as starters but starts the game on bench) when he arrived on campus. After being the team’s breakout player through the first dozen games of the year, he was awarded with his first college start. “It feels great. Its not easy for any freshman to play a lot of minutes so to be added to the starting line-up is definitely an accomplishment,” said Thornton. Even though Marcus, who is second on the team in scoring, has been hot of late, his team hasn’t. W&M is 4-17 overall, 2-7 in the CAA and in the bottom four of the conference. Just one year after the McNamara team he led set the
school record for wins, Thornton remains unfazed. He said, “Its been a rough year for us so far, but as a natural competitor, the drive to win is always there, regardless of the team record. I’m motivated to do what’s necessary to get the win.” Things are starting to look better for William and Mary though, as they had a streak winning two of three and senior forward Quinn McDowell has refound his scoring touch putting in double digit points in six of the past seven games. With his starting role in hand and stardom in his future, Thornton recapped his first half of the season by saying, “I’m just glad that I’ve had the opportunity to have a positive impact on our team.” Like Marcus, Taylor Brown is off to an incredibly hot start to the year. Unlike Marcus though, its not because she is putting up huge scoring games as a freshman. It’s because she is a consistent contributor to Georgetown, one on the nation’s best women’s basketball teams as a true freshman. Her team is doing extremely well at 16-5 and looks to be the hunt for both the Big East Conference and the National Championship. “It feels great to have some success early in my college career but I’m
Taylor Brown ‘11 dribbles down the court at the Showplace Arena during the 2011 season (Matt Nunez ‘12/STAMPEDE) never satisfied. There is a lot of room for improvement and I’m always focused on getting better,” Brown said. About her significant early minutes she said, “It feels good to contribute to my team as a freshmen because everyone on my team is good. I feel blessed that I received significant minutes on the floor as a freshmen and I am
definitely dedicated to my role on the team. To prepare for this season and ultimately this success, Taylor didn’t just walk into the gym this fall. Before going off to college she had three workouts a week with her AAU Coach Devon Williams and she went to the gym to work out and shoot around every day.
NFL FOOTBALL
Player Profile
Maybe Next Year
Redskins look to improve their team with 6th draft pick
Jelani Scott ‘12
T
Staff Writer
he NFC East is one of the more popular divisions in the NFL. It includes the NY Giants, who will be playing the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI; the Philadelphia Eagles who despite having a rough year, still have QB Michael Vick and a great team; and the Dallas Cowboys who still have a great stadium and a somewhat promising future. And then there are the Washington Redskins. The Redskins, who have been perpetually bad for years, had yet another disappointing season and finished with a 5-11 record and no playoff berth. So now that the sun has set on the Redskins’ season, the fans are left asking the question, “Where do we go
from here?” The answer to this question, however, is actually pretty easy: the 2012 NFL Draft. Each year, the draft is the place where teams attempt to fulfill their needs with some of the best players college football has to offer. Currently, the Redskins have the 6th pick in the draft which is a pretty good pick, despite the horrible reason for why they will pick that high. But regardless of the circumstances, a spot in the Top-10 is rather coveted and the Redskins are fortunate to have it. Now the question is, who will they pick? The Redskins may have many needs but one of the most glaring is at the QB position. Throughout the 2011-2012 season, this position was shared by Rex Grossman and John Beck, who don’t exactly have Tom Brady-esque precision. And while the man that seems to be the perfect fit for this team doesn’t have it (yet) either, he still has plenty more to offer. His name is Robert Griffin III of Baylor University. When he won the Heisman Trophy in December, most of the country was shocked as standout QB Andrew Luck of Stanford who was pegged for months to be the winner. Upon further review of his numbers,
She was just all about basketball heading into her first year. She said, “Really, if I knew anyone who wanted to work out or just hoop, I made plans to go.” Its obvious that both of our two former stars have worked hard to get where they are and it’s easy to tell that their efforts have paid off.
though, it’s safe to say that the guy is the total package. He had a stellar year in which he threw for 4,293 yards, ran for 699 yards, had 37 touchdowns, and threw only 6 interceptions. Griffin has already drawn comparisons to Michael Vick, as both boast an incredible ability to scramble and avoid defenders, as well as to extend plays and gain yards. This would truly be a dream pickup for the Redskins. Based off the many different mock drafts floating around on the Web, it could very well be a reality. Despite Griffin’s phenomenal year, Luck is still projected to go #1 overall to the Indianapolis Colts, which leaves Redskins fans to pray for four tensionfilled pick announcements before them. And, luckily for them, most mock drafts have all the teams before the Redskins, passing up on RG3. Needless to say, Skins fans will have their fingers crossed on April 26th and anxiously wait to hear Commissioner Roger Goodell say: “With the 6th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins select Robert Griffin III, quarterback, Baylor.”
Dionna Joynes ‘12
Basketball, Forward/Center
Q:
Have you decided on where you want to attend?
I’ve signed to Boston University.
Q:
Do you plan on playing basketball in college? Is the WNBA in your future plans?
Yes, I plan on playing basketball in college. The WNBA is a possible future plan; I’ve always wanted to play overseas.
Q:
Describe the relationship you have with your teammates and coaches.
My teammates and I are inseparable. We sometimes don’t get along, but that’s what families do, and we grow from our mistakes and move on together. We are a close group of girls, the closet group I’ve been with since I’ve played basketball at [McNamara]. Relationships with my coaches are simple. They tell us what they expect, and we do it. We learn and interpret what they have to teach us.
Q:
What do you think is a key reason as to why you guys have been so successful this year?
I believe our success has come from true hard work and dedication that begins with practice. Our coaches told us exactly what each team did, and we went out and executed what they taught us. It clearly was a team effort... not one person could have done it by themselves.
Interview by Jelani Scott ‘12
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HEALTH
Photos and Reporting by Simone Miles ‘12, Leslie Martin ‘12, Luciana Rodrigues ‘12
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At Chipotle
Chicken Burrito Bowl 19.5 oz Calories: 785 Fat: 37.5 g Ingredients: Rice, black beans, chicken, tomato salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce Tip for eating: Split this into two seperate meals for a more reasonable portion size
Whether we realize it or not, our bodies are constantly changing. The most common way that happens is by eating. You wake up, eat breakfast and end up taking in anywhere from 200 to 500 calories in just one meal. Next you go to lunch, another couple hundred calories right there. Before you know it, you are back home snacking before eating dinner, generally the largest meal of your day. 2,000 calories is the magic number, the average amount of calories that healthy young people consume in one day, according to WedMD.com. This number ranges anywhere between 1,000 and 3,200 depending on your age, gender and lifestyle. It is also a number that can easily be surpassed in just one day. The information provided on this page can help you become more conscious of what you’re eating. It is easy to become consumed in hunger and just eat anything and everything. But try to think about what you’re eating: is it your best option? Eating well is the best way to take good care of yourself and it is something you have a lot of control over. Don’t let hunger control you. Sources: USDA, Chipotle, SAGE Dining, Product Info
Chicken Burrito
17.5 oz Calories: 915 Fat: 29.5 g Ingredients: Tortilla, rice, black beans, chicken, roasted chili salsa, cheese, lettuce Tip for eating: Go with a bowl - the tortilla alone has 290 calories
For A SNACK
Chips
Chips & Guacamole
7.5 oz Calories: 720 Fat: 40 g Tip for eating: Since these are high in fat and calories, split them with a group
1 oz Calories: 160 Fat: 10 g Tip for eating: In moderation, these are not too bad for you, but thte baked version is healthier
Gummy Bears
5 oz Calories: 460 Fat: 0 g Tip for eating: Although these are fat free they are high in sugar - only eat half a bag for a healthier snack
In the cafeteria
Cheeseburger
8 oz Calories: 230 Fat: .6 g Sodium: 530 mg Tip for eating: To make this healthier, add lettuce and tomatoes.
Mozzarella Sticks
5 Sticks Calories: 550 Fat: 10 g Sodium: 1320 mg Tip for eating: These are a good after school snack, as long as you share with a fiend.
Fries
3.2 oz Calories: 360 Fat: 4.6 g Sodium: 552 mg Tip for eating: Split these with the whole table.