VOL. 13 | ISSUE 4
Official Newspaper of Oakton High School
OUTLOOK
8. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY teachers on considering stress when assigning work
26-27. NOT THE STANDARD the harmful reality of standardized testing
DECEMBER 2018
38. THE LIFELONG IMPACT
how is personality reflected in music taste
editor
snailmail
editorial board
Dear Oakton, In the tumultuous and chaotic past two weeks, the appeal of the approaching break could not seem any further. Reading this now, however, you have finally made it to the finish line and can enjoy the bliss of holidays and the winter break. Meanwhile, in the past month, the staff of the newspaper has been working to provide stories reflective of the closing sentiments of the year and are proud to see it in digital print. For a dosage of the cheerful season, read our holiday stories from the perspective of teachers in their department baking wars (page 10) and classroom decoration competition (pages 4-5). Alternatively, in introspection into student culture, we have a review of this year’s Jingle Ball (page 39), a timeline of local holiday events (page 6-7), and the commercialization of Christmas (page 25) that affects our gift giving habits, especially considering the prevalence of electronics replacing children’s toys in this era (page 34). To further depict the holiday theme, we present previews of the NBA Christmas Game (page 20) and an ethical perspective on artificial versus real Christmas trees (page 30). In terms of school curriculum, we have at your disposal a breakdown of the snow day procedure (page 36), something to be well acquainted with considering the forecast to come. Considering the strenuousity of the past quarter, many questions and concerns have emerged and we fully intend to delve into these with Oakton teachers to ask about their considerations of stress within students (page 8). Among similar terms, we exhibit a student perspective of standardized testing and how schools are responding to this process (page 26-27). In terms of student culture, we notice the linguistic diversity at Oakton (page 9), the culture of fine arts (page 28), and prospective Ted Talk students (page 11). As the year comes to a wrap, we have to show a break down of the best winter concerts (page 37), a satirical review of the most disliked video on YouTube, the 2018 Rewind (page 43), and the top contenders for the upcoming Super Bowl (page 21). Finally, a commemoration highlighting the life and times of President Bush (page 14-15). As always, thank you for continuing to support the Outlook and keeping up with our newsflow at the oaktonoutlook.com and social medias. We hope everyone truly enjoys themselves over the well deserved break in the midst of the blissful holidays and time with loved ones. We will see you next month, with a new month (and a new year’s) worth of content.
editors in chief
jake neuffer ashleigh tain
editorial board
katarina faben riya jain emily bach courtney te zoe sauger payton wozny sahithi jammulamadaka
adviser acting advisor
elizabeth snyder joanna esty
staff writers amira bashir genevieve bavisotto sara boddie portia dai madelyn flickinger andres gonzalez katie le connor maloney alexandra martschenko claudia messina sebastian osea veronica preaskorn annabelle rosse cole starmer kariann tan asher tankel elizabeth thompson
nikhil trivedi abudukadier cainaipuguli katherine zevallos olivia garrone aubrey harrell sarah jeffries conor krouse william locklin haley longfellow kartik mukalla sally park zoe siamon pari abdollahi brendan bellingham wendy gao jacob rutzick
Editorial Policy: The Outlook is an open forum for student expression. Unsigned editorials reflect the collective opinion of the Outlook staff. Signed editorials represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Outlook or Oakton High School. Reader opinions are important to the Outlook and contributions are welcome. Make your voice heard by sending us a line about what’s on your mind. Letters to the editor may be sent via e-mail to efsnyder1@fcps.edu, or dropped off in Mrs. Snyder’s box in the main office or in room 258. The Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and content provided the meaning remains unchanged.
We will see you next month. connect with us
Ashleigh Tain and Jake Neuffer Editors-in-Chief
website
oaktonoutlook.com
@OaktonOutlook
@OaktonOutlook
drawing by gigi pham-ton interview and photography submissions are open to all
table of
contents
OAKTON OUTLOOK oakton news happiness of the holidays at oakton 3... 2... 1... happy new year! the other side to the story the oakton experience the great oakton bake off (and other contests) student ted talks: a pursuit of dissemination oakton security
indepth 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
13 14 15 16 17
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44
politics us-china trade war truce the life and times of president bush time is running out hiding money
sports winter sports check a very baller christmas top 53 superbowl contenders possible nba rule changes the redskins quarterback dilemma
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
opinion commercialization of christmas it shouldn’t be the standard should it be mandatory to take a fine arts elective
25 26 27 28
the tradition behind the mistletoe that’s a lot of trees new year’s resolutions effect on mental health 10 signs that indicate you are overworked where did all the toys go? peer pressure to cancel or not to cancel
a&e concerts to watch this winter season the lifelong impact of music a ball at jingleball the review page: avengers, the terminator, and skins blackfishing youtube rewind cardi b and offset breakup
feature 45 46 47 48 49
science olympiad scores once again sports car evolutions wreaths for our warriors why does everyone hate oakton? service dogs
4 HAPPINESS OF THE HOLIDAYS AT OAKTON claudia messina staff writer
pari abdollahi staff writer
The Oakton Spirit Scoop
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t’s that time of year again where everyone at Oakton is getting ready for the holidays. During this time, a common way to show appreciation towards whatever holiday you’re celebrating is to decorate. People often decorate their bedrooms or living rooms, but
teachers decorate their classrooms. However, here at Oakton, there is a lack of joy and decorations within a majority of classrooms as we approach the holidays. Whether it be because of the annoyance towards construction or laziness, festivity at Oakton is lacking. Although
Decorations at Oakton
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ut of the several teachers that decorated this year, Mrs. Taggarts room was one that stood out tremendously. Hard work and lots of effort were put into the making of her classroom door.
“The advisory students went and bought things for decorations. The students made the snowflakes on the 5th and they put up the decorations on the 12th. They also decorated the door with lights
but the lights kept falling.” When asked about what made Mrs. Taggart decide to decorate she replied, “The advisory students and I talked about making the class look more festive and we thought there was going to be a door contest like there was for Halloween.” With the break coming up, she was also asked how she will personally celebrate the holidays. “I will wear a sweater for Ugly Sweater Day to show my spirit.”
there is a lack of festivity, there are still a few classrooms attempting to spread the joy this season. Teachers of these classes were asked about their decorations and what inspired them to decorate this year.
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Room 159, Ms. Husman, Decorated outside of classroom with many colorful papers.
Room 151, Has various decorations in and outside of the classroom.
6 3... 2...1... HAPPY NEW YEAR! New Year’s celebration ideas that will start your twenty-nineteen off right!
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ew Year’s Eve always seems magical, as it’s filled with family, friends, celebration, and the looming promise of a new beginning. There are many events happening in our area that will help you make the most out of your New Year’s Eve, kick-start the new year, and close out twenty-eighteen with a bang (or without a bang, whatever floats your boat). If you are looking for a calm, relaxing New Year’s Eve, you might consider watching live coverage of the New York celebration on your TV, or taking a pleasant winter lights walk through the beautiful gardens at Meadowlark. If you are more of an energetic party-goer, then the Countdown to None 5K or the Jammin Java event might be perfect for you. Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest will be on for the 47th time! Starting at eight, this year’s classic evening of performances and fun will feature Christina Aguilera, New Kids on
the Block, Dan + Shay, and many other stars. For the homebody or even the total party-person, this program is an enjoyable way to fill New Year’s Eve while indulging in snacks, games, and the company of family and friends during the last precious hours of twenty-eighteen. If you are looking for a peaceful New Year’s Eve but still wish to escape the house, then the light walk at Meadowlark Gardens is for you. Meadowlark maintains gorgeous gardens that many people flock to in the spring, summer, and fall. As the weather gets colder and the plants go dormant in the winter, though, Meadowlark steps up their gardening game and uses lights to spice up their sleeping plants. As you walk through the gardens, you’ll end up encountering birds flying
maddie flickinger staff writer
overhead, bees buzzing from flower to flower, larger-than-life insects, and other light-up creatures in the friendly forest. Once you have finished your walk, you can head to the bonfire and concession stand for s’mores and hot chocolate before checking out the creatures in Meadowlark’s indoor gift shop.
haley longfellow staff writer
Photo Courtesy of Maddie Flickinger
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The Countdown to None 5K is great for people of all ages and a stellar way to close off the year. Not only are participants able to burn off some of the extra calories that naturally come with the holiday season, but the running is for a worthy cause. The Countdown to None 5K takes places with the intention of spreading awareness of the 1.3 million Americans living with Type One Diabetes. It was started by two families whose young girls are both affected by the autoimmune disease. If you are into running or just want to raise awareness for a good cause, the Countdown to None 5K presents a fun, purposeful New Year’s Eve celebration. If you’re looking to listen to good music and have an active evening, head to Jammin Java, a renowned local club owned by three brothers. You’ll experience the rush of live music, and the evening will feature three nineties tribute bands, one of which
pays homage to Wheezer. This event is suitable for all ages, and delicious, high-quality food is also available. Bring whomever you choose for an amazing night. Buy an early bird ticket for only twenty dollars! Looking for New Year’s Day plans? Start the year on a happy note and head to Mosaic District, where there will be a screening of the Rose Bowl Parade in Strawberry Park. You can watch the colorful parade of rose-adorned floats and pop in and out of stores such as Alex and Ani, Williams Sonoma, and artisan-based Fair Trade Winds. Grab a bite to eat in the company of friends at a restaurant such as Ted’s Bulletin or Matchbox for an outing that will set up a pleasant tone for the new year. However you choose to spend your last moments of twenty-eighteen, here’s to a
Image Courtesy of Countdown to None 5k
great year ahead.
Numbers Courtesy of Flashtat
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payton wozny staff writer
“Oakton is a very high-stress environment” -Ms. Husman
Ms. Husman has been teaching for 13 years, and currently teaches Latin II, Latin IV, and AVID 11, but has experience teaching grades 6-12 and Spanish classes. Ms. Husman, who tries to run a student-centered class with a balance of digital and in-person teaching, says, “For me, it’s all about students enjoying learning.” While striving to keep the classes innovative and fun, she makes sure to hit all the learning targets to optimize success. She says times that are most difficult to plan are when student motivation drops, like times right before a break or during SOL season. During these more strenuous times, she tries to be flexible with students as best as she can. “As long as people talk to me, and I know what’s going on, and I know that they have a plan, at least, I’m perfectly fine with that,” she says. However, some deadlines, like the end of the quarter, are harder to work around. Students aren’t the only ones pressed for time; teachers can feel stressed, too. Ms. Husman is a single mother and a doctoral student. So, as she is working in the classroom, she is also balancing studying for finals, completing projects, and caring for her son.
Ms. Browning
Teachers’ Points of View About Stressful Times of Year
D
ue to the upcoming break, this time of year is very stressful and many students are starting to lack motivation. With teachers piling up assignments and juggling other activities, many students feel overwhelmed. “Going to school for seven hours, and sitting in a classroom all day takes enough energy. Then going home, and working on homework and extracurriculars drains me and my peers mentally and physically,” says Addison Becker(10). Here’s a look into the teacher’s point of view during these more demanding times.
Ms. Husman
THE OTHER SIDE TO THE STORY
Another teacher, Ms. Browning, has been at Oakton for 20 years teaching honors World History 2 and AP World History. She tries to run a student-centered and open classroom usually with hands-on activities and discussions. She loves to lesson plan and searches eagerly for new ideas and enthusiasm. “This is a crazy time,” says Ms. Browning because students start to withdraw from lessons and feel flustered with other activities. During times of lacking motivation, she tries to give the students an activity that they can immerse themselves in as “a reason to come to school,” instead of focusing on the negativity. Also, when teachers start to fall behind in the curriculum, they start to lecture more and speed up. “The best way to catch up is to actually slow down,” she says. “I have to remind myself a million times that it doesn’t benefit anybody to rush.” In spite of the stress, Ms. Browning tries to interact with each student every day. “It reminds me that I’m here not so much only to teach, but to give the kids an experience that hopefully matters,” she says. Like the students, teachers can feel engulfed by stress during these busy times, too. Balancing school, activites, family and social stuff creates a large burden. Luckily, this time is filled with joy and support from loved ones.
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OAKTONA PIEREDZETHE OAKTON EXPERIENCE オークトンの経験
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How linguistic diversity impacts Oakton’s broader learning environment
he halls of Oakton High School have a tendency to feel like a symphony of languages. Spanish bounces off the lockers like mallets on a drum. French floats through the air with a light, flute-like quality. Chinese divides breaths into measures and words into beats. It’s difficult to miss their sound, but often, their music becomes background noise to more booming concerns, or simply to the day-to-day realities of high school. However, there’s a certain delicacy to their existence: one that often goes unnoticed, but speaks to the nature of Oakton’s student populous. Every sound that resonates off the walls has been crafted with years of care and thought, molded by a culture that only it can understand. Language is often seen as music is: important but momentary. Many of us listen to symphonies and hear their sound, but fail to recognize the years of time and careful consideration that went into creating their harmonies, or more, creating the people that created their harmonies. Similarly, with language, we tend to recognize the surface of their sound: the diphthongs and rolling s’ that only some can wrap their tongues around. But, language serves as far more than just a communicative device. Fluent speakers rarely learn sole-
Just as it takes many composers years to hone their skills and style, it takes many speakers years to reach a level of fluency. This journey to creation we often recognize for its products, but fail to appreciate for its lessons. ly grammar and spelling, but learn of a culture different from their own. Just as it takes many composers years to hone their skills and style, it takes many speakers years to reach a level of
fluency. This journey to creation we often recognize for its products but fail to appreciate for its lessons. Listening to the music of Oakton’s hallways would be remiss without an understanding of how it was created, and more importantly, how it continues to affect students’ experiences at Oakton. Language and music carry with them a similar quality: that they both are rooted in years of history and culture. The products of Mozart’s compositions are generally recognized for their traditional beauty, but rarely for their comments on Europe’s socio-economic divisions. Similarly, language is often recognized for the speaker’s level of fluency, but less for the culture it accompanies. Students like Roberts Jansons (11) understand this connection intimately. Like many fluent speakers, Roberts attended years of external schooling to learn Latvian, a language that, for him, has a large presence in his family’s history. In attending school, he learned not just about the technicalities of the language, but about the history of Latvia and his family’s connection to the country’s past. His education, he explained, broke down a communication barrier that had previously prevented him from truly understanding his family’s culture. Additionally, he said that the language itself allowed him to form connections outside of his family that he otherwise wouldn’t have. Summer camps and weekend schooling, for him, allowed him to build a community of like-minded and culturally-connected peers, which he said have now become some of his best friends. These types of cultural connections, while sometimes occurring externally, can also be seen internally at Oakton. Culture clubs like Chinese Society and Japanese Club serve a similar purpose: to unite students with similar cultural experiences rooted in language. These types of connections, Roberts explained, often allow students not just to explore their own interactions with language, but also to understand the importance of it in a more nuanced way. These types of interactions, however, are hindered by their natural inability to apply to everyone. It’s simply impossible for any one person to fully grasp the experiences that are embedded in languages other than their own, which makes understanding their impact on English important. Languages are innately separate, in
the sense that if English and Chinese were to be mixed, their byproduct would be incomprehensible to the untrained ear. However, that doesn’t mean that their lessons are segregated in the same way. Mr. Lawless, an English teacher at Oakton, explained that his experiences with Japanese impact the way that he thinks and teaches in a classroom setting. Japanese has a number of structural differences from English, like its use of hierarchical formal pronouns and common lack of finished sentences. But, he said that his experiences with the Japanese language and culture have taught him the importance of patience in a teaching setting. He said that his history in learning a new language has taught him to slow down when he teaches new concepts, and more importantly, to be able to communicate a similar idea in many different forms. These skills, while important for him, demonstrate the larger benefits of Oakton’s diverse linguistic community. Though teachers like Mr. Lawless carry with them a number of interesting stories from other countries, they also carry with them important lessons for students. His ability to shapeshift his teaching allows him to connect with a greater number of students, and his patience allows him to develop these relationships to have depth. In this sense, the lessons learned from other languages don’t just stay with the people that learn them, but rather have broader and more meaningful impacts on Oakton’s culture. Students like Roberts and teachers like Mr. Lawless demonstrate the importance of appreciating Oakton’s diverse linguistic population. Though language commonly exists as an afterthought in the minds of many students, its impacts are felt daily, just not in ways that are easily visible to the naked eye. Language is innately something that shapes perspective and perception, whether it exists as a booming cymbal or as a quiet violin. In learning to listen for their sounds, it’s easy to see that Oakton’s larger community is heavily impacted by the lessons that language carriers with it. But, in order to fully notice its effects, we have to stop and hear the music.
emily bach editorial board
10 THE GREAT OAKTON BAKE-OFF (AND OTHER CONTESTS)
olivia garrone staff writer
Oakton’s baking competitions bring the heat this winter
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akton High School is known for many things, from having some of the most rigorous classes, some of the most successful sports teams, and some of the most infamous renovations. This winter, however, it may be time to add a new accolade to the list: being full of some of the most ambitious bakers! For various students and teachers, the wintertime is about more than just midterms; it is also about sweets! A variety of baking competitions were planned for this winter, from an advisory baking battle to the teachers’ second annual Great Oakton Bake Off. The first baking contest, which happened during advisory on December 12th, was or-
ganised by Mr. Flowers. He coordinated the contest and invited the advisories in his hallway. Students in participating advisories had the chance to bake and become award winners! Participating students brought in their treats to be judged by two of Oakton’s administrative assistants, Ms. Manilli and Ms. Burke. A variety of different baked goods were entered. “A couple of girls in my advisory baked rice crispy treats shaped like Christmas trees,” said Ms. Taggart, an English teacher and a part of one of the participating advisories. The advisory bake off was a fun way for the classes to be festive and to segue into winter break The second baking competition happening this year is the Great Oakton Bake Off. It is currently scheduled for late January or February, and will be open to teachers. Mr. Buckley and Mr. Ahmad started the event last year to find out who was the superior baker. It was inspired by the television show, The Great British Bake Off, where U.K. amatuer bakers meet in a tent on Welford Park in Berkshire, England and compete for the title of star baker. Each week has a different theme, such as bread or biscuits (the British word for cookies), and one contestant is eliminated each week until a winner is crowned. Mr. Buckley and Mr. Ahmad were also inspired by the Netflix baking show Nailed It, which Mr. Ahmad himself appeared on. Though, while The Great British Bake Off is known for its ambitious and beautiful creations, Nailed It advertises its bakers’ less polished and often messy results. “Well, obviously we had to prove who was the better baker,” said Mr. Buckley. And so the bake off was born. They named it The Great Oakton Bake
Off, after its predecessor, The Great British Bake Off. Like TGBBO, they came up with a theme for each week, in which different teachers entered their creations. While no one was eliminated, after baking pretty much every type of cookie (and even a batch of brookies!) they ended up with a winner. Though it may not be clear from a quick glance, after digging deeper it’s apparent that Oakton High School is more than it seems. It is filled with fun, passionate, and creative people, and its creativity just might be best displayed through its baking contests. It is enough to inspire anyone to get ready, set, bake!
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STUDENT TED TALKS: A PURSUIT OF DISSEMINATION Prospective Ted Talk students share their Capstone projects and the importance of the spoken message
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n our years of high school, students are bred, within the complacency of norms, to perceive the Capstone project as a vigorous and excruciating chore. It’s demanding essays, intricate bibliographies, and extensivity are forever the bane of students’ existences, one that is truly the cherry on top of immense piles of work. And in the scheme of sheer quantity and persistent chore, it is easy to lose sight of the education and opportunities of growth students both are privileged to have and forced to endure through. Students often hear from teachers the value of the Capstone; a rare academic opportunity to form an independent and external experience, outside of rigid curriculum and among the freedom of self-interpretation. And, in this, there is power and value that puts the Capstone project on such a pedestal. This significance is easily glossed over, however, and is something students don’t often hear from one another. In the course of the project, the “Cap” is the execution of research that students pursue in their upperclassmen years. Mrs. Taggart, AP Language and English 11 teacher opened a Cap opportunity to her students to perform a Ted Talk styled speech and have it published on the Ted
website. Although still in the works, a few students have confidently emerged in hopes of spreading awareness and reaching a larger audience. Becky Woolf, junior, is developing her project around the premises of environmental apathy and polarization of
“We need action and we need it now.” - Becky Woolf, 11
ethical causes. “If our generation can’t stop or at least significantly slow- global warming, humans will never be able to,” said Woolf, “It’s up to our generation to stop this man-made phenomenon. We’ve long passed the point where we can say ‘oh that sucks’ and carry on with our lives. We need action and we need it now.” This change of attitude needs to happen within students for this is our future which we are fighting for. Through
speaking about the issue publicly, Woolf hopes to reach a wider audience than she would within the confines of her essay. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Paul, junior, is raising a discussion on the “psychological, physical, and academic effects of the foster care system on children and teens.” Seeing as a Ted Talk would similarly reach a larger audience, this could ensure a prospective endeavor that “steps can be taken to give [foster care children] the chance at a better future.” Although these actions are easily rendered excessively immense and seemingly impossible considering the target audience of students, there is still something to be taken from this lesson. Paul hopes that “knowing the challenges that some of our peers face can help us [students] understand the privilege that we come from and not take everything for granted.” If you are interested in participating in the Ted Talk effort, and possibly administering your own, contact Mrs. Taggart.
ashleigh tain editor-in-chief
TED
12 Oakton Security Looking at oakton’s safety katherine zevallos staff writer
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he Oakton security has been a little rusty for the past years until, in 2018, Oakton decided to make strict rules for the students and the teachers. Members of Oakton has been taken full responsibility for the Oakton security of high school. Oakton wants to make sure every student is not skipping class and is in their classrooms learning and hoping for a better future and education. How does the Oakton security know that there are students skipping class? Well, let’s judge by the security cameras and the voices coming from the bathrooms during class period. Yes people do need to go to the bathroom at times but some students sit there during the whole class period which is called skipping class. And on the security cameras, the members of oakton sometimes see students wandering in the hallways or leaving school grounds by their self, or with their friends. This is a common problem in a lot of schools. Oakton has always trusted the teachers but sometimes they have a trouble trusting the students. It’s been that way ever since Oakton was built. Oakton does give the students passes if they
ever wander the hallways or is late to school. There are 2 types of passes, the first one is a late pass and the second pass is a pass to excuse you for being late to class if you were at the office or with your guidance counselor. But sometimes students don’t carry their passes. I have interviewed a teacher on how he felt about the security with the new pass. “Ive been stopped a bunch of times by the guards. I know it’s not because they don’t trust us but because they’re just doing their job. Most teachers forget to bring their passes but for me, i always keep my pass in my hand.” teachers do get stopped in the hallway just like students do. The teachers are now always carrying a pass with themselves in the hallway and so are the students. Hopefully everyone this year is going where exactly where they are supposed to be instead of skipping class. Remember, Okaton is not trying to make things more frustrating. They just want you to get to class so you can build up your education and future for a better life.
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US-CHINA TRADE WAR TRUCE connor maloney staff writer
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n December 3, 2018, it was announced that there would be a 90-day “ceasefire” in the heated trade war between the United States and China. This agreement came between the two leaders deciding that they would resolve their issues through negotiations, rather than tariffs, such as the ones placed on $200 billion dollars of Chinese goods. raising the tariff from 10% to 25%. In exchange, China agreed to buy a “very substantial” amount of energy, agriculture, and “other goods” from the United States to help level the massive trade imbalance between the world’s top two economies. The deal also entails that an agreement will be made between the two world leaders, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, regarding “forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft, services and agriculture” in the 90-day period. This is also where discrepancies between the two countries begin, as the statements from both sides seem to tell different stories about the results of the trade deal. Starting off with the tariffs, the United States reports that the tariffs on $200 billion won’t be raised on January 1st, however, they will be if an agreement is not met in the 90-day period, and there will be immediate negotiation regarding the longstanding issues of technology transfer, intellectual property, and cyber theft. The Chinese government, on the other hand, reported that there will be no higher tariffs at all, with no mentions of a 90-day negotiation period. They also reported that both leaders asked their teams to speed up the talks as well as work towards getting rid of all tariffs and reach a win-win agreement. On to the more immediate agreements in the talks, the US reported that China will start buying agricultural products from American sources once again and buy a “very substantial” amounts of farm, industrial, and energy products. It was also reported that Fentanyl would be designated a controlled substance, and that President Xi would reconsider the Qualcomm-NXP deal, in which Qualcomm Inc. walked away after failing to receive Chinese regulatory approval. The Chinese reports on these issues, however, simply state that China would import more US products and goods, the supervision of Fentanyl would be tightened and revised, and that Trump and Xi would visit each other’s countries at an appropriate time. On the more political side of these negotiations, the reports in China stated that the US would continue to respect the One-China policy, both countries would boost market access, and the US will still welcome Chinese students to come to live and study abroad. The United States made no note of any of those three issues. However, it was reported that the US, China, and North Korea would work towards a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. The two countries have 90-days to work out the finer details of their trade agreements, which is much longer than the two days they had during the G-20 Summit. In this time they must reach their final agreements on the matter or the trade war will rage on, leaving both countries disadvantaged.
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POLITICS
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PRESIDENT BUSH
Celebrating the life of our 43rd president
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eorge H. W. Bush passed away on November 30, 2018. He was the 43rd vice president from 1981 to 1989 and was the 41st president from 1989 to 1993. Former President George H. W. Bush will lay to rest next to his wife and daughter on the grounds of the Bush presidential library. He had his funeral service at Washington’s National Cathedral. Bush did many exceptional things while in office, during a pivotal time for the country. Bush was born on June 12, 1924, and he was part of a family that held public service close to their hearts. So, only naturally Bush enlisted in the military at the age of 18 and became one of the youngest pilots in the navy. His career in politics began when he ran for Senate in 1964 for the Republicans. He later ran for a seat in the house and held the Republican seat till 1966 but gave it in 1970 so he could run for Senate once again. After this, he was elected U.S. ambassador for the United Nations and worked as a diplomat until he was elected head of the Central Intelligence Agency. Bush ran for president, but then he abruptly ended his campaign and went on to support Ronald Reagan and later became his Vice President. Bush ran again for the presidency and was successful in 1988. As Bush entered his presidency, not only was the country changing, but the world was changing. The cold war had just ended, and the Berlin wall was taken down. After his term, he returned home to Texas with his children and would not continue to actively participate in the Republican party. His son George W. Bush would successfully run for president in 2000, this would be the second pair of father and sons to serve as president. In 2011 Bush was awarded the President Medal of Freedom. George H. W. Bush will be sadly missed by many but will go down in history as a well-loved president and possibly the best one-term president.
sahithi jammulamadaka editorial board
zoe sauger editorial board
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december issue
Invasion of Kuwait, 1990 In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, a neighboring country. Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, had long argued with Kuwait over the rights to certain oil-rich lands. He had been preparing to invade Kuwait for several weeks, but when the attack came-on August 2, 1990, it surprised much of the world. President Bush and his administrative team were extraordinarily active, and extraordinarily successful, in building an international alliance to counter the Iraqi aggression. He also persuaded Israel to stay out of the coalition, which made it possible for Middle Eastern countries to join without seeming to unite with Israel.
Disabilities Act, 1990 President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which affected over 43 million Americans. This act is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. This act prompted better access to buildings, greater access to transportation, and fuller inclusion in the community. President Bush worked hard to get the bill passed in Congress and it successfully passed with an overwhelming majority in both the Senate and House.
Immigration Act of 1990 President Bush signed the Immigration Act of 1990, the most extensive revision to immigration law in more than a half century. The new law allowed for the admission of 700,000 new immigrants each year. The act provided family-based immigration visa, created five distinct employment-based visas categorized by occupation, and a diversity visa program that created a lottery to admit immigrants from “low admittance” countries or countries where their citizenry was underrepresented in the United States.
Panama Invasion, 1990 American armed forces invade Panama to capture Manuel Antonio Noriega, the country’s military dictator. Noriega, who had been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, surrendered on January 3, 1990.The careful planning and intensive training directly contributed to the successful execution of the operation. Despite its complexity, the plan represented a clear understanding of immediate military and political goals without endangering Panamanian lives or property.
16 TIME IS RUNNING OUT What happened at the United Nations climate change conference and why it matters Climate summit members at the conclusion of the conference. Courtesy of Time Magazine.
wendy gao staff writer
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he end of the world has always felt distant and far away - beyond this lifetime and many more. The year would have too many zeros to count and the number would be too large to name; science teachers would assure students that the year would come after the end of their lives and they need not worry. Yet, climate scientists predict the year to come as early as 2030, and perhaps the issue has become larger than just outliving the end of the world. Perhaps it’s become a matter of leaving the earth better than the way we found it. Perhaps it’s about solving a problem we created. Time has never been so crucial, and the fate of earth and its inhabitants lies in the hands of a handful of government leaders.
The end of the world has always felt distant and far away - beyond this lifetime and many more. The year would have too many zeros to count and the number would be too large to name; science teachers would assure students that the year would come after the end of their lives and they need not worry. Yet, climate scientists predict the year to come as early as 2030, and perhaps the issue has become larger than just outliving the end of the world. Perhaps it’s become a matter of leaving the earth better than the way we found it. Perhaps it’s about solving a problem we created. Time has never been so crucial, and the fate of earth and its inhabitants lies in the hands of a handful of government leaders. In 2015, 195 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions. The treaty entailed developing modalities, procedures, and guidelines to keep the global temperature rise of the century to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius, the predicted point of no return to reverse the effects of climate change. While the agreement in 2015 outlined future steps, conference members set a deadline for 2018 to decide on an action plan to execute the agreement. In early December 2018, signatories of the Paris Climate Agreement reassembled in Katowice, Poland in the 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) to implement a course of action. With nearly 200 countries in attendance, COP24 convened from Dec. 2-14. 13 days
seemingly provides ample time for the world’s most qualified and high-ranking officials and policymakers to settle on a plan for a topic as urgent as climate change. Needless to say, like all politics, politicians at COP24 struggled to agree on a solution and subsequently barely reached a conclusion in time. Despite the fast-approaching, impending doom that is climate change, political and economic divisions set world leaders apart and inhibited a timely solution. One of the most contested issues was how to keep countries accountable and transparent in their carbon emission reports. The Paris Climate Agreement involved state transparency in the disclosure of climate action, and negotiators at COP24 worked to enforce the practice. Unwilling to commit to carbon reductions unless all countries did the same, world leaders disputed how to keep countries liable and other questions like whether developing countries ought to fulfill the same obligation as wealthier nations. Officials discussed systems of implementation and which ones would be most successful, including the widely debated carbon tax policy. A carbon tax would levy taxes on companies to force them to pay for their pollution. In theory, the idea seems like an effective mode of curbing carbon emissions by deterring large corporations that are largely responsible for the high levels of greenhouse gases trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. However, economists warn that a carbon tax will
increase the costs of products that produce carbon, like electricity and transportation, things that call for large amounts of carbon. These price spikes will drive away consumers and possibly result in the failure of markets. While people are willing to make environmentally equitable decisions, the economic barrier means that is not always an option. Popular critics of carbon taxes argue that the system targets low-income populations who are unable to afford any other alternative. Among numerous other issues, a carbon tax system was only one obstacle that stood in the way of an efficient resolution. However, at the end of the thirteenth day, countries had devised a rulebook for executing the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, including how governments will measure, report, and verify their efforts to cut carbon emissions. While it is all good and merry that the committee drafted a standard for measurement, still largely undecided is the key question of how nations are even going to reduce emissions. At the end of the day and at the end of the 24th Conference of Parties, this is not about money or politics. This is about preserving earth for future generations and the young generation of today that did nothing to inherit a scorched earth. This is about the millions of people in developing countries paying for the sins of multinational oil corporate companies. This about power to the people and holding leaders accountable for the future of our earth.
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december issue
HIDING MONEY
Tax evasion should be on of the major issues of our time jake neuffer editor-in-chief
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n 2015, one “John Doe” leaked a series of documents to German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. The documents indicated thousands of celebrities, former heads of state, and government officials in a massive global tax evasion scheme. In 2016, Süddeutsche Zeitung, in conjunction with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, published the papers. A wave of protests swept the world, and laws were established from the United States to Mongolia to plug newly apparent loopholes. Two years later, the Panama Papers have filtered out of public discourse, and tax evasion remains rampant. The corporate tax rate in the United States is (currently) 35%. In 2016, Apple effectively paid 25.8%, Google paid 19%, and, in 2017, Amazon paid 0%. These are the the most profitable corporations in the world paying significantly below what they owe. High profile individuals, as well, are now known as tax dodgers, including King Salman of Saudi Arabia, now passed Director Stanley Kubrick, and Actress Emma Watson. Taxes aren’t the most interesting issue in the world. They’re certainly not as exciting as issues like climate change or human rights. Tax evasion not being thrilling, however, says nothing about the importance of the issue. Tax dodging is one of the primary vehicles through which the wealthy squirrel away resources. As automation and globalization continue, economic inequality will only worsen. Already, America sees itself in the midst of a new Gilded Age, with the top 1% owning 39% of the country’s assets. Every year, the gap between the rich and poor grows, while frustration among those on the poorer side grows with it. This is the natural state of our econom-
ic system. If you need to have money to make money, then it only makes sense that the wealthy can earn more than anyone else at an accelerating rate. And so of course wealth will pool at the top. In the past, allowing capitalism to run wild-west was permissible. When people were still necessary in the creation and selling of goods, wages were one of the two channels through which corporate cash could be returned to society. Today, though, that channel is quickly closing. Automation has killed industry jobs and cheap labor in the developing world has moved opportunity elsewhere. Society is quickly being left with only one way to redistribute wealth: taxes. It is easy to blame tax evasion on the people who do it - no one forced Emma Watson to hide her money in the British Virgin Islands. And of course corporations will take any avenue they can to not pay taxes. Their only function is money making and profit optimization. The fault, then, lies in the world’s governments. Much of the world’s financial systems are set up so that any organization or individual, with enough money, can avoid taxes. All it takes is hiring the right fixer to do it for you. These fixers money into international tax havens like Ireland or Bermuda, which charge little or even no taxes. Even Delaware is an infamous tax haven (excising nothing in company taxes). As well, tax loopholes perpetuate shell companies, “charitable donations,” trust freezing, and deferred compensation plans as means to avoid paying. When the rich do not pay, then the poor suffer. This is why tax evasion should be a much bigger deal than it currently is: It is, in essence, stealing from the needy. One of the premier issues of our time should be closing tax loopholes in the United States and around the world.
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SPORTS WINTER SPORT CHECK conor krouse staff writer
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s Oakton High School’s winter sports seasons come to a halfway point, it’s time to catch up with the many teams and their records. Every team has been doing quite well, our track & field teams, and swimming dominating their individual events, to basketball and gymnastics killing the competition, the cougars are going far in more than one sport this year. We hope to expect Districts, Regionals, and even States out of our teams!
The track team is running full steam ahead this year. With their success in the long distance races, they’re starting to make their times count. While they did not win their first meet, the Ed Bowie Classic, we hope to see more success out of them in the coming weeks. Keep running fast, track team.
Coed: 0 - 1
Oakton Basketball is off to a good start from both Varsity Teams. With the girls starting off the season with a record of 5-2, and the boys 4-2, the teams are both on a winning streak.We hope to see them continuing their success into the rest of the season, and that they return to the District championship this year. Good luck against Lake Braddock!
Boys: 4 - 2 Girls: 5 - 2
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december issue
The Oakton Swim and Dive team is set for an auspicious season, with a 3-0 record for the boys, and 2-1 for the girls. The team has been killing it in the relays thus far, and with the powerhouse swimmers such as Anthony Grimm, and Daniel Gyenis for the boys, and McKenna Witlin and Evelyn Pickett for the girls, nothing but success is ahead for the team. We hope that they continue their success into the rest of the season, and that they make their way back to the Virginia States swim meet! Good luck with Madison this friday cougars!
Boys: 3 - 0 Girls: 2 - 1
The gymnastics team has had great success so far. With their first win at their league meet, against not one but four different teams, they’re due for more in the next few weeks. However, with the three captains Bailey Kruse, Angie Zhou, and Caitlin Dixon all recently injured, who knows what may occur in the coming weeks. We hope to see them back in action soon. In the meantime, keep the wins coming ladies!
Girls: 1 - 0
20 A VERY BALLER CHRISTMAS
kartik mukalla staff writer
Christmastime in the NBA has been the site of many marquee matchups between elite teams. This year, it is no different.
Photos courtesy of Keith Allison and nikk_la
12 p.m. ET: Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks (ESPN) Starting off our gauntlet of Christmas matchups, Bucks vs. Knicks is sure to be scrappy and entertaining. The Milwaukee Bucks, long held back by former coach Jason Kidd’s archaic schematics and inexplicable coaching decisions, were fully unleashed this season after their hiring of Mike Budenholzer to replace him. Budenholzer’s system has completely opened up their offense, emphasizing extensive playmaking and easy 3-pointers and shots in the paint rather than shots from the mid-range area. This has particularly unleashed Giannis Antetokounmpo, a 7-foot tall phenom who can get to the rim at will and finish through contact. By surrounding him with shooters, the Bucks have produced the 2nd-best offense in the league. The New York Knicks, meanwhile, have seen their coaching change play out in a less apparent way. After they lost their star Kristaps Porzingis to injury, they have undergone a youth movement, with new coach Dave Fizdale leading young talents such as Alonzo Trier, Mitchell Robinson, and Frank Ntilikina in a fast-paced and energetic style. Despite their paltry record, the Porzingis-less Knicks have kept teams honest and play hard for 48 minutes every night.
3 P.M. ET: Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (ABC) Up next is Thunders vs. Rockets, a longstanding rivalry since
James Harden was traded from the former to the latter. After Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City for Golden State, the rivalry has intensified, with Russell Westbrook and James Harden battling for MVP every year. In recent years, they have also gotten a sizeable amount of supporting players to help them in their journey. The Thunder acquired Paul George, a twoway superstar capable of scoring and defending well, from the Indiana Pacers, and drafted the tough Steven Adams, one of the best rebounding and defending centers in the league. The Rockets acquired Chris Paul, a playmaking superstar and hard-nosed defender, from the Clippers and drafted the high-flying Clint Capela. Despite the Rockets’ recent struggles due to their lack of defense, this is sure to be a high-octane and interesting matchup.
5:30 P.M. ET: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (ABC)
So far in this newfound rivalry between the 76ers and Celtics, the Celtics have been the overwhelming favorite. They even beat the Sixers 4-1 in the playoffs without the services of Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward, arguably their two best players, due to the heroic efforts of their young talents Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. However, with the addition of Jimmy Butler, an MVP-caliber star, to the Sixers, they might be able to hang with the Celtics by utilizing him along with their young talents like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
8 P.M.. ET: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors (ABC/ESPN) The matchup everyone has been waiting for, Lakers vs. Warriors is sure to be a ratings titan. LeBron James is on a Lakers squad that is completely different from any team he’s ever been. Their average age is 25, they have a top 10 defense in the league. Young players like Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball have made sure that LeBron has been scoring the most efficiently he ever has been because of lowered playmaking responsibilities while also playing the lowest minutes of his career. Midseason acquisition Tyson Chandler and JaVale McGee have done an admirable job protecting the paint, averaging 15.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game combined. Even though the Warriors have looked as vulnerable as they’ve ever been, they’re still supremely deadly and the best team in the league talent-wise. They have the 2 greatest shooters of all time (Steph Curry, Klay Thompson), a perennial defensive player of the year candidate (Draymond Green), and two all-powerful scoring forces and perennial MVP candidates (Steph Curry again and Kevin Durant). Even if the Warriors struggle in this game as they previously have been and the Lakers play the best basketball that they can, they might just win through sheer talent.
10:30 P.M.. ET: Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz (ESPN) Last but certainly not least is the Utah Jazz against the Portland
Trail Blazers. While they do not have a significant rivalry, they are two very good teams that are right in the middle of the western conference playoff scrum. Both teams do not look like much, sitting at 13-15 and 1513 respectively, but their records are a result as having two of the hardest schedules in the league. The Jazz have struggled closing games out on the home floor, but their defense, anchored by Rudy Gobert, “The Stifle Tower”, is as formidable as ever. Their offense has some kinks to work out, however. Their only reliable playmakers are Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio, and Rubio’s inconsistent jumpshot makes Mitchell the only reliable shot creator. This lack of creation is alleviated by the presence of shooters such as Joe Ingles and Kyle Korver, but only so much. The opposite problem is prevalent for the Portland Trail Blazers. They have a deadly offense, headlined by one of the best guard combos in the league in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and a burly post scorer and rebounder in Jusuf Nurkic. However, their defense, despite a strong start, has been lacking despite forward Al-Farouq Aminu’s best efforts. This is sure to be an intriguing battle between two teams with opposite philosophies that are battling to stay alive in the deadly Western Conference.
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december issue
TOP SUPER BOWL 53 CONTENDERS
A preview of the top three teams most likely to make a Super Bowl run. will locklin staff writer
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s November turns into a wintery December, it can only mean one thing in the NFL, the playoffs are coming. Throughout this season there have been lots of great games, amazing individual performances and plenty of off-field drama. However, what separates this season from others is the fact that there is no clear-cut favorite for the Super Bowl. Yes, many teams have separated themselves as indisputable playoff teams, but very few have proved that they can be considered as favorites to win it all. With that said here are the teams that will most likely compete for a trip to Super Bowl 53 in February. Saints: The Saints have a great shot to make and win Super Bowl 53. They are also 11-2 on the season with wins over the Rams, Ravens, and the pre-Alex Smith injured Redskins. They have lost to the Cowboys and Buccaneers. The catalyst for there success has been a future hall of famer Drew Brees and the bevy of weapons around him. Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas have budded into stars and have virtually put the Saints offense into the realm of unstoppable. It’s not just the big three that make the Saints so good, Mark Ingram and Cameron Meredith have been solid contributors as well. On the defensive side, they have been good enough, allowing 22 points per game and 348 yards per game leading to the 14th ranked defense in the league. The only con found on this team is there struggles against an elite level defense in the Cowboys. All in all, the Saints pose a sizable threat to win Super Bowl 53. Patriots: Here we go again, for yet another year Brady and Belichick are in the hunt to win the Super Bowl. So far this year’s installment has the Patriots posting a respectable 9-4 record with wins over the Chiefs, Bears, Texans, and Colts. Despite a beatdown from the Titans and a miracle loss to the Dolphins the Patriots still boast a great chance at yet another Super Bowl run. Leading the way as always is the arguably best quarterback and coach of all time. Tom Brady despite being 41 years of age hasn’t shown that he’s fallen into the infamous father time trap that all professional athletes experience. While he has not played at an MVP level this year, he has still put up respectable numbers throughout the season. Part of this is due to some new offensive pieces. Josh Gordon and Sony Michel have fit seamlessly into the offense and Edelman, and Gronkowski is still reliable targets for Brady. The real problem that the Patriots could run into in the playoffs is stopping high powered offenses like the Chiefs, Steelers or Chargers. This year the Patriots rank on the bottom half of the league and earlier this season they gave up over 40 points to the Chiefs. Overall the Patriots have a great chance to make the playoffs not only because of the dynamic duo of Brady and Belichick but also due to there ample playoff experience and apparent home-field advantage
Rams: Some say the Rams should be the favorite to make the Super Bowl, and for good reason. They are 11-2 on the season, and they have quality wins over the Chargers, Chiefs, and Seahawks (twice) with losses to the division-leading Bears and Saints. On offense they have All-Pro running back Todd Gurley and young star quarterback Jared Goff leading the way. Though the real secret to their success is head coach Sean Mcvay. The last two seasons he has put together a brilliant offensive system which is evident by Jared Goff’s improvement since his rookie year and his genius play calling. The most significant flaws with the Rams lie on the other side of the ball. Defensively they have an all-time great talent in Aaron Donald, but there big time free agency signings have backfired. Marcus Peters and Ndamukong Suh have been underwhelming, and star cornerback Aqib Talib has battled injuries all season. As a result, they have been an inconsistent defensive team. Playing well against below average and mediocre teams while struggling against high powered offenses. They surrendered 45 points to the Saints and 51 to the Chiefs. The Rams undoubtedly have the talent and personnel to win in the playoffs but to go all the way they must find a way to limit the high powered offenses they will face.
22 THE BALLON D’OR Did luka modric deserve to win?
Croatian Midfielder Luka Modric
of dominance by Ronaldo-Messi where the award had been last won by Franck Ribery in 2013 and lastly the Golden Ball at the World Cup. The Ballon d’or has had its fair share of controversies, but not as big as this one. It is an award given to the player who has the best individual performance for the past year but many would argue in the past that the award was heavily influenced by team success, possibly more so than individual performance. Getting into the statistical side of things, Modric for club play, had 2 goals and 8 assists in 43 games. His highlight was definitely the World Cup in Russia where he had 2 goals and 1 assist and was definitely Croatia’s Talisman. Let’s now compare with runner up Cristiano Ronaldo. In total for club he would have 44 goals and 8 assists in 44 games equalling Modric’s assist output while scoring 12 times more. As for the World Cup Portugal didn’t make it past the group stage but he did score 4 goals in the 4 games he did play, including a hattrick against Spain. He also won the Champions League as he was in the same club as Modric at the time. It is thus odd that there was a 277 vote difference between Modric and Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo recently responded to his former teammate winning the ballon d’or, saying he was disappointed that he did not win the award and claimed the “numbers do not lie.” With Modric dedicating his ballon d’or title to the technically gifted midfielders in the past who were snubbed for the award, FC Barcelona legend, Andres Iniesta commented “Fifth in the Ballon d’or voting is not an insult to Messi, but for me he is the best. But it would be bad to say that it was unfair for Luka Modric to win, he had a great season.”
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi
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he Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by France Football to the male player deemed to have performed the best over the previous year, based on voting by football journalists.Originally it was only for players from Europe but in 1995 it was expanded to include all players from any origin that have been active at European clubs. This year, Luka Modric won the most prestigious award in football. He was recently awarded the ballon d’or, becoming the first player since Kaka’ in 2007 to win the award, excluding Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who have dominated the award for the past decade. The Croatian Maestro, 33, beat Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann, respectively to the coveted prize. Messi, although winning a league title and Copa del Rey with Barcelona, endured a miserable World Cup with Argentina, thus finishing fifth behind the French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe. Modric was widely expected to win in the voting, which was overseen by the magazine, France Football.There was drama as a social media user posted what seemed to be a list of vote totals. When the awards official countdown on twitter matched perfectly with the leaked totals, fans and journalists began both praising and criticizing Modric’s victory, even before the party had started in the awards ceremony in Paris. Modric is the seventh player from Real Madrid to win the trophy breaking a tie with rivals Barcelona. Both clubs have 11 Ballon d’ors which set another record. The midfield architect had a remarkable 2018, winning his fourth Champions League with Real Madrid and leading Croatia to its first World Cup final. He had also been honored by a tally of accolades including UEFA best player, FIFA Best men’s player in September beating Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, ending a similar run
sebastian osea staff writer
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december issue
POSSIBLE NBA RULE CHANGES
Many exciting rule changes have been proposed recently jacob rutzick staff writer
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he NBA has proposed many rule changes throughout its long and eventful life. The most notable being the three point line, the hand checking rule, and the temporary dunking ban. However, many rules have been proposed in the last few years that would completely change the landscape of the league as we know it. The first and most popular of these rule changes is the addition of the four point line. Stephen Curry has forever changed the game of basketball to be more three point oriented. When the three point line was introduced in the 1979-80 season teams took only 1.2 threes a game and last season the Houston Rockets took 42 three pointers a game. The center and power forward positions of the old are gone and new shooting bigs have taken their place, all thanks to three pointers. Three point shots are becoming just as easy as layups for some players. Adding a four
point line would change the game similarly to how the three point line changed the game in 1980. The NBA three point line is about 24 feet from the basket, so the real question is how far away from the basket should the four point line be. Some have said 26 feet others have said 30 feet. However, I believe that 27 feet is the perfect distance for the four point line if it were to be added. 27 feet would make the shot very difficult for an average three point shooter and it would reward highly skilled players. The main issue with the four point line is that, if implemented, it would completely destroy the back to the basket dominant big man era of basketball for good. We will have to see if the NBA decides to implement this rule in the future. I don’t know how many times I have seen a professional basketball player attempt to win an Oscar by flopping. Flopping has become an epidemic in the NBA and it has to be fixed. The
way to stop players from flopping is to punish them. However, the fines the NBA uses don’t work. Marcus Smart was fined $5,000 for flinging himself into the air after being lightly hit, but he still flops. The way to fix this problem is through humiliation. Every player caught flopping should wear a jersey with pink polka dots on it. No NBA player will want to risk public humiliation for a simple foul call, and they will stop flopping. Another solution is implementing a penalty box into the game. If a ref sees a player clearly flop to get a call then they should be set to the penalty box. Their team will have to play the next minute and a half down a player. Players will stop flopping to prevent the onslaught of scoring a four on five situation. Along with this, teams will punish players for flopping because it would prevent them from getting wins.
24 THE REDSKINS QUARTERBACK DILEMMA
Will the Redskins be able to come back from multiple season ending injuries? “This last month has been a difficult ride. Our family is beyond happy to have this man with us and home. This experience has given us great perspective and gratitude for all the people and blessings in our lives. We couldn’t have gotten through it without our amazing family, friends and community.” -Elizabeth Smith talking about Alex’s injury
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he Washington Redskins had high hopes going into this season. Alex Smith, a quarterback previously on the Kansas City Chiefs, was the starting quarterback for the season. He is a very experienced quarterback, and fans were hoping the Redskins would finally have a good season. And they were, they were winning their division and playoff chances were looking pretty good. But 10 games into the season, Alex Smith broke his leg and was ruled out for the season. Smith’s injury was bad enough, but shortly after, he was diagnosed with a severe bone infection. There is not much information on how he’s doing currently as his family wants
to keep it private, but this raises concerns whether or not this injury could end his career.first could season in years for the Redskins had quickly turned into a nightmare, The This season ending injury was a big blow to the team, lowering the morale of all the players. All his teammates can do right now is hope for he is able to recover quickly from his infection and injury. This was a big blow to the team, and have lost every single game after his injury. What seemed like the first promising year for the Redskins turned into a disaster. But the Redskins dilemma doesn’t stop there. Just 2 games later, Colt Mccoy, the backup quarterback for the team, broke his leg. Fortunately, it
nikhil trivedi staff writer
was a much less severe injury than what Alex Smith suffered, but he was ruled out for the season as well. The team desperately went looking for a new quarterback and picked up Mark Sanchez, who hasn’t been performing well. The Dallas Cowboys look like they will secure the playoff sport that the Redskins once looked like they’d take. This means the Redskins will have to fight an uphill battle for the final two playoff spots with a few other teams, and they’re chances of making it are slim. But there’s always next year, and hopefully, the Redskins won’t be plagued with injuries and will finally make their long-awaited playoff appearance.
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december issue
COMMERCIALIZATION OF CHRISTMAS Is the amount you spend equal to the amount you care?
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t’s easy for people to ignore how Christmas has negatively changed over time Whether this ignorance is seeded in the very human desire for material objects or in genuine belief that Christmas was always meant to be this way or perhaps simply the way that we, as Americans in particular, have been brought up is in the eye of the beholder. However, the undeniable fact is that the Christmas we know now is very different than the original idea of Christmas. December 25th is still remembered by Christians as the day the Jesus Christ was born and the world rejoiced and was born anew with hope and goodness. However, many people who currently celebrate Christmas don’t even know the true meaning beyond gift giving. This omission of the true Christmas spirit has been systematic and highly economic and, unfortunately, is still on the up. An estimated $717.5 billion is expected to be spent by consumers between November and December alone and 30 percent of all retail sales occur between these two months. The commercialization of Christmas becomes even more apparent when you consider the fact that we have created a day dedicated just to Christmas shopping. Thanksgiving break is not complete without the thrill and danger of Black Friday and Cyber Mon-
day and these so called holidays are yet another facet of expenditure that consumers are primed to buy into. The monetary based oppression of the Christian Christmas has been streamlined by big corporations who have exploited the holiday as yet another way to make more money off of the general population and encourage extravagant spending. Walk into a grocery or department store as early as late October and this will become excruciatingly evident. stores are beginning to start their sales of christmas decorations and gifts earlier and earlier. Many stores are known to have a decorations isle that inexplicable sells decorations for Christmas year round. So what does this mean for Christmases to come? It’s likely that this decline into mindless spending will continue on the uphill trend until the original meaning of Christmas has been lost to all except to those most devoted to the Christian religion and the original idea of the holiday.
alexandra martschenko staff writer
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courtney te editorial board
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why standardized testing is unfair and colleges are fazing them out
s someone who had recently taken the December SATs, I can safely say what all of us suffering high school students were thinking—standardized testing is the absolute worst. As I take a look back in time, I realized quickly that we as students are trained from a young age to get used to this format as early as 6 or 7. Since then, we have dedicated year after year to different standardized tests, whether it be the SOLs or an AP exam or the SATs, if you’re a junior or senior. What I find baffling is that many don’t realize that these exams are catered towards a very small, specific margin of people. This group includes those who are good at memorizing and good under pressure, and also more or less do not suffer from any test anxiety and are able to focus in a room of complete silence. While there are some exceptions to this, it’s hard to argue with the fact that these students tend to excel the most in academic standardized testing. So, what about the rest of us? What happens to the brief majority that aren’t cool under pressure, who get anxious butterflies and can’t think straight on test day? Well, I hate to
tell you that you got the short end of the straw, but you probably knew that already. While standardized testing is efficient if you’re trying to figure out trends and provide statistical evidence as a teacher or College Board administrator, it fails to account for the lower scores that are caused by other factors out of the student’s control. That’s why I don’t approve of standardized testing, and no, it isn’t because I hate academics and I don’t want to study (even though that is true sometimes), it’s because it gives an unfair assessment to someone’s knowledge. Especially in a world that puts so much emphasis on these numbers, it takes a toll of people’s self-esteem and mental health when it isn’t exactly their fault that they’re doing poorly, as long as they put in all the work beforehand. While doing badly on a test here and there isn’t the end of the world, it’s a whole ‘nother ordeal when you associate a standardized test with your future in academia. Luckily, college admissions are beginning to agree with my viewpoint. Admissions are moving more and more towards holistic evaluations rather than basing a student’s whole character on a bad
SAT or ACT score and that one C that you got freshman year. Some colleges like James Madison University (JMU) even take it a step further—they’re providing the option to opt out of sending your scores in at all. This is a bold, new concept in the world of college admissions, and while many are still requiring seniors to send their scores, it’s still a good step in the right direction in my opinion and I hope other colleges follow in JMU’s footsteps. I want to make it clear that I am by no means saying that you should just flunk the SATs because I say it’s rigged. I do think you should try your best, but also know that your entire self-worth is not based on a number and one test you take in your whole life. I honestly want to believe that after spending so much time in organizations and clubs after school, a college will consider that more than they do my SAT score. Nowadays, colleges are need realizing that standardizing testing is the end all-be-all to acceptance. I can only hope this will continue to be the case in the future.
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december issue
IT SHOULDN’T BE THE STANDARD
28 SHOULD IT BE MANDATORY TO TAKE A FINE ARTS ELECTIVE?
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or some students they’re a nuisance, for others it’s the best part of the high school experience. Regardless of how someone feels about fine arts classes, though, the fact is that in order to receive an advanced diploma it’s necessary to take a fine arts elective. High achieving students may find this as an annoying hurdle, taking a fine arts class in their senior year of highschool to receive the credit in a class they have no interest in last minute. For many other students, though, it’s simply a given that they would take a fine arts class. There’s a stark contrast between students like this compared to the population of band, orchestra, chorus, and drama students, where it’s not unusual for these students to build their whole high school experience and identity on these courses. Should students be made to take courses like this despite them having no interest? Are there any benefits to this? Personally, I believe there are a lot more pros than cons when it comes to mandatory fine arts courses. Sure, I don’t think someone should be forced into a class they really don’t want to take, but I believe fine arts courses could benefit and make students more well rounded, exploring a field they haven’t before.
This is, afterall, the reason that English, science, math, and history courses are mandatory to graduate, and the reason we are required to take two years of physical education courses, despite the lack of interest (and stamina) students may have in those subjects. It may seem petty and juvenile to say that students should be required to take fine arts classes only because other classes are obligatory, but I genuinely believe that there is a lot to take away from these classes that you wouldn’t be able to find in other classes at school. A major takeaway from fine arts classes is the sense of community not found in your standard classroom. It’s common to see flocks of band kids and orchestra kids together, or your cliche drama kid clique singing in the hallways. These classes give students the ability to bond with students that they share similar interests with and build lifelong connections. It’s also good to be in fine arts classes so students are exposed to more hands-on activities, whereas most classes are set in a classroom taking notes. Also,these classes are valuable in the fact that they allow for unique self expression. When asked what her favorite part of band was, sophomore Elaine Hopkins responded that “I really like
aubrey harrell staff writer
having such a supportive community around me and I like being able to have an activity I can do for fun. It’s good to have a strong community I can interact with outside the classroom.” While some may say having to take a fine arts class is restricting, I think of it as freeing, and, overall a positive experience. The term “fine arts” is actually very broad and relates to many classes, not just the music, art and drama departments, so it is extremely likely for someone to find a class that somehow relates to their interests. Even if it’s not specifically listed as a fine art on the course directory, there’s a good chance the class is listed as a fine art(You can ask your counselor if you’re not sure). Classes like creative writing, journalism, photography and photojournalism count as fine arts courses. If someone is hellbent on not taking a fine arts class and instead taking a class that’s considered to be more prestigious, they have the opportunity to do so as it’s not necessary to take one if the student is going for a standard diploma rather than an advanced one.
29
december issue
THE TRADITION BEHIND MISTLETOE Why Is It So Famous?
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This is a picture of white mistletoe berries. Photo courtesy to Pixabay
ecorations adorn homes and businesses, and lights glitter on roofs. BlowUp Santas and snowmen can be seen from the streets. Christmas is in the air, and people look to share a magical moment with someone special under the mistletoe. Mistletoe was not always a symbol of romance however. It was widely considered an invasive and parasitic species for a long while. However, the tradition has roots in Norse mythology. Before the mythology surrounding mistletoe, it was used as a medicine to cure ailments. Due to the fact that the berries are red even in the harshest winters, people believed it could cure infertility. Religious ceremonies were held when mistletoe was found in oak trees, These ceremonies included cutting the berries out of the tree and sacrificing two white bulls. It was hoped that their gods would bless the berries which would then be made into an elixir. The elixir was said to cure all poisons and make any animal or human fertile. There was no kissing involved until the Scandinavians started spreading Nordic mythology. In the myth, the goddess Frigga and her husband, Odin, had a son named Balder. When
Balder was older, he had a dream he was going to die. Frigga became distraught and thought if Balder died, then everything on earth would die as well. Balder was teased and had things thrown at him, because everyone thought he was immune to harm. Loki, the trickster god,
“It’s just some parasitic plant that grows on trees, but the tradition is cute” Jadelyn Lattus, grade 9. however, made a poison dart with mistletoe and threw it at Balder which caused Balder to die. For three days, all the elements tried to revive Balder, but eventually Frigga’s tears turned the red berries white. She switched the reputation of the berries and kissed anyone who walked below it.
So why do people kiss others under the mistletoe? An anonymous freshman said, “The notion of the tradition is really sweet and cute, but it’s also really cliche because it has become such an icon; even though, it isn’t likely to happen with the kiss.” In the eighteenth tradition, it was a popular tradition for British servants to steal kisses under mistletoe. The tradition stated it was bad luck to refuse a kiss under the plant. After the kiss was shared, the couple would pluck a berry. Once all the berries were gone, there was no “power” left in the plant, and kisses were no longer shared under it. Kisses under mistletoe are now a huge part in romantic Christmas movies. To some, it’s considered cheesy and cliche, but to others, it’s seen as romantic and sweet.
veronica preaskorn, staff writer
30
INDEPTH THAT’S A LOT OF TREES ...but they’re all fake
75% of high school students get fake trees
Picture credits to Wikimedia Commons
portia dai staff writer
This is a LangwaterFfarm after some snow Picture credits to Flickr
75%
of high school students get fake trees “They’re better. They smell good. And why not.” -Arya R.
I
t’s that time of year again where stores are packed and spirits are merry, but the holiday season isn’t complete until you get your Christmas tree. The question is, should you get a fake or real one? Both fake and real trees have their benefits. Fake trees may be more convenient, and while more than 50% of local high school students may believe that they are also more environmentally friendly because they can be reused from year to year, this is actually false because studies show that fake trees last around five to seven years, and after that time, are thrown
out. This may not seem like a huge concern, but fake Christmas trees ultimately end up in landfills, and the plastic they are made out of is not biodegradable. Furthermore, although real trees must be cut down every year, the trees can be used for mulch or replanted after the holiday season. Additionally, real trees take six to seven years to grow, and in this time, they can absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen and can also stabilize soil. This is ultimately better for the environment than fake trees because they are beneficial to the environment while growing
and can be reused afterwards. This year, get in the spirit of the holidays while being environmentally friendly with a real Christmas tree!
31
december issue
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH
S
ince the Christmas and New Year’s season is approaching quickly, the idea of a fresh start to a new year is rolling back around. This means you probably already have your resolutions ready to go. Setting goals are one of the most difficult things to do as a teenagerand we hear constantly how adults are struggling with these year long goals for the new year. Having a goal and not being able to accomplish it fills us with anxiety and a lack of self worth because we weren’t able to accomplish a seemingly simple goal. The key is to make it a goal, and not a resolution. Having a resolution is like wanting something about you to change. Having a constant reminder of the things that used to be bad about yourself can drive you insane, up bringing negativity into your fresh new year. So really, keeping these new year’s resolutions is the most detrimental part of the resolution tradition. I have talked to many of the students to hear if there are any positive outlooks on the New Year’s resolution tradition, and it didn’t seem like there were many. Anna Capobianco, a freshman
a resolution as a goal because it was something that she had been thinking about for a long time, where as Anna was thinking in the mindset of being forced to do something which ultimately made her give up. Most resolutions cause you to focus on the wrong parts of the goal setting process. When you seta New Year’s resolution, you become focused on the outcome. This makes it seem as if this goal will be accomplished easily, even though most of our resolutions are challenging and should actually involve lots of smaller goals in order to reach the bigger goal. For example, if your goal is to eat healthier all the time,you can’t just go from 0 to 100 on the scale of your healthy eating choices. However you can start with goals like eating healthy 3 days out of the week and slowly work towards eating healthy all the time. Though at the beginning of the year resolutions can be a beacon of hope for a better year from the last, they usually don’t become that. If you set large impossible goals, as most of us do, then you can end up with anxiety and self loathing for not being
freepik.com
able to accomplish these goals as quick or at all. So unless these pressures are things that you want bring into the new year, I would recommend not making a New Year’s resolution at all and instead focusing on smaller goals to improve yourself
worldartsme.copm
said, “ Honestly, my resolutions last stressed me out because I was gonna eat healthy all year, and since I was focusing on other stuff I was not caring at the time, but then after I felt stressed because I wanted to be healthier so I quit.” This was one of the negative perspectives. But there were some positives too. Sophie Draeger said, “ My resolution was to get better at school, like organized. And I did, having that goal pushed me to do better at school because it was something that would affect me everyday.” Sophie looked at having
Photo curttosy of clipart-library.com
32 10 SIGNS THAT INDICATE THAT YOU ARE OVERWORKED OVERWORKED At this point in the semester, it’s not a rare sight to see sleep deprived students inhaling cups of caffeine from pulling an all-nighter. But as we approach what some may call the most stressing point of the semester, it’s important to prioritize our own physical, mental, and emotional health. So in honor of what some call the most stressful time of the year, here are ten signs that indidcate that you may be overworked.
03. 05.
Irritability Along with stress comes with irritability and other negative emotions. To improve your mood, make sure that you’re not taking in an excessive amount of caffeine throughout the day. In addition, make sure that you’re having enough sleep at night. If these methods do not work, try to do a few solo theraputic activites such as a coloring, listening to calming music, or meditating.
Insomnia If you have trouble falling asleep, it may be an indication that you are overworked. In order to prepare yourself for a restful night, try meditating or journaling to clear your mind. Within a hour before you plan to fall asleep avoid electronics, homework, and any other things that may cause you stress. Consider purchasing a lavender scented candle, spray, or lotion as the scent has been proven to aid in insomnia. A calming drink can also do wonders but of course, make sure that it’s not caffeniated.
01. 02. 04.
Lack of motivation You may be burned out after overworking which often leads to a lack of motivation. To avoid this, the simple solution is to rest. If you find yourself procrasinating, set an alarm to a hour before retrying. In this time, give yourself a mental break by napping, watching TV, listening to music. etc.
You have an irregular appetite Do you have less of an appetite these days? Or do you have more of an appetite? Having a less or more of an appetite may be a symptom of being overworked. Drink enough water throughout the day to help your body distinguish whether or not you’re hungry or not and always make sure that you’re getting three meals a day in addition to an occassional snack whenever you feel peckish.
Forgetfulness It may just be the small things that you find yourself forgetting these days. To prevent this from happening, write a list of everything you need to do. (Including the small things!) Check off your list as you go throughout your list to ensure that you’re not forgetting to do anything. Another tip is to start journaling and writng down your thoughts to clear your mind. Invest in a planner, bullet journal, or even a plain composition notebook.
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december issue
06. 08. examples
10.
Lower immunity Did you know that overworking for prolong periods can cause a weaker immune system? You may find yourself sick more often due to this. The simple solution to this is to sleep enough, take a sufficient amount of vitamins a day, and exercise regulary.
Self-doubt Your confidence in yourself may deteriate as you are overworked. You can overcome self doubt by journaling, talking to someone, and reminding yourself of your own self-worth. If this feeling persists, consider talking to a trusted adult or friend about this concern.
07. 09.
Frequent tension headaches Do you often have a feeling of a tight band around your head? Or perhaps you have a fear of loud sounds or a sensitivty to light. All of these things are due to an execessive amount of stress. To treat these symptoms, take a painkiller, reduce stress if possible, drink a caffeniated drink, and put ice or heat on your muscles to help relieve them.
Short periods of saddness You may face short periods of saddness for no specific reason. Reduce anything that may induce stress and do any activites that personally help you relieve it. Whether that be reading a book, listening to music, or watching a movie
Mental block If you’re having trouble gaining inspiration on certain things, it might be a sign that you are overworked. Give yourself some time and space away from your work as previously mentioned, and come back to it with a refreshed mind.
Examples of theraputic acitvities you may want to consider participating in: - Yoga - Listening to music - Coloring - Gardening - Meditation - Journaling
sa sta lly p ff w ar rit k er
34
WHERE DID ALL THE TOYS GO? Electronics replacing toys; prevalence of devices in youth
K
ids born in the 21st century are being influenced by electronics, and because of that toys are becoming less and less interesting for kids. Kids use to ask for toys like stuffed animals or Legos, but over time they have begun asking for iPhones and iPads. They’ve been sucked into a world full of electronic devices and toys have been shadowed by it, leaving them to grow up with an unexciting childhood because they don’t get the same joy of going to a toy store to get toys and being able to play with them. Instead, they have a device where new games are just a touch away. It defeats the purpose of getting a full childhood experience that we used to have, like waking up on Christmas Day with a bunch of toys waiting for them instead of one present, an electronic device. Board games have been transferred from an actual physical game where there’s dice, game pieces, or cards to a handheld device where it can be played just by tapping the screen.
Image credits goes to Amazon Children now don’t talk about new toys they get, they talk about getting a new phone or iPad. It has become a common topic in conversations between kids, which shows how much electronics have influenced the world. They talk about what’s on their phones and their lives are cen-
katie le staff writer
tered on them. Although these devices do have benefits to them, such as easier communication and more interactive games, toys have more benefits in the development of kids. According to the Child Development Institute, it helps build motor and cognitive skills, communication skills, and expands a child’s knowledge. Electronics aren’t capable of doing all of this because the most one can do is touch the screen to interact with the apps on there, while toys engage the kids to think more and move. There are things that toys are more capable of doing than a device, for example Rubix Cubes have kids engage more by thinking and by forcing them to use their hands in order to solve the cube. An electronic device is not able to do that. Some kids grew up having a toy kitchen and this helped them with expanding their creativity and gave them a reason to move around. Having an app that has kids doing things in a kitchen by tapping the screen is not the same as having kids physically do things in a kitchen. Electronics don’t have kids interacting with things like toys do. If kids keep preferring electronics over toys, Toy stores will start losing a lot of money. They won’t have the need for toys anymore, therefore they won’t go to the stores to get any, which causes the stores to lose their customers. This is just like how people are preferring Ubers or Lyfts instead of taxis. Because of this, the taxi businesses are losing lots of money to their competitors. A place that has been really affected is in New York City, which is one of the busiest places and a place where everyone is on the move. People there always depended on taxis to get them places, but now they are having Ubers or Lyfts to take them around. The NYC taxi business is really being affected by this phenomenon. As the world evolves the people in it do too, many things will be replaced with something that is presumed to be better for them— but that is not always the case. One example of this is having electronics replace toys. This doesn’t change the generation for the better because it has kids relying on electronics at an early age
and doesn’t give kids the basic skills in life and doesn’t fully prepare them for the real world. Also, it has the ability to expose things to children that shouldn’t be brought into their lives at an early age. Kids are able to stumble upon certain things on devices easily just from their curiosity, and it can lead them to uncover the bad parts of the world that shouldn’t be introduced to them at such a young age. The replacement of toys by electronics also affects toy businesses because kids are starting to lose interest so the businesses are no longer able to provide the kids’ demands.
Image credits go to T-Mobile
35
December issue
PEER-PRESSURE ITS
&
NEGATIVE EFFECTS What is it
Your peers influence you, even if you don’t realize it. Being influenced by friends or peers with the way you act or think against your will is peer pressure. Your peers are people in the same community, age group or be involved in the same activities as you. Wanting to feel a part of a group usually pressures teens to act, dress, or think in a certain way. They have a strong desire to fit in and want to be liked. Teens afraid they will lose their friends and get rejected by others if they feel like they don’t fit in. They don’t want to be picked on or made fun of, it is the main reason they give in to peer-pressure.
How to avoid negative peer pressure
“The effects of peer pressure can be very negative for students. They start to question their own value, they can act in ways that aren’t consistent with their value system. It causes stress which can lead to depression” says Mrs. Jones. When dealing with negative peer pressure, it’s important to learn to say “no” to your peers or friends. You need to define your own values and beliefs, and if your peers want you to do something that violates your values, you should refuse them. True friends will understand you and won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to. It also helps to find friends that will not pressure you to do things that you don’t want to do, friends with similar interests will also help you stay away from negative peer pressure. Mrs. Jones also says: “By building self confidence, you can easily refuse negative peer pressure, When you feel good about yourself, you don’t feel inclined to do what other people want you to do.” No one can make you do something that you don’t want to do, you can simply step away from the pressure. You can get help by talking to you counselor, a trusted adult or to another friend.
Positive peer pressure “Peer pressure can account for the fact Peers can have positive and negative influence on you. One of the ways in which peer pressure is good is that it encourages you to improve yourself. Your peers may use positive peer pressure push you to the best. It includes positive effect on academic performance, family, interpersonal and social relationships by your friends. For example, if your grades are dropping, and you have no motivation to study, your friends can help you to be better. Sometimes their advice can have can have a greater impact than an adult’s.
that 25% of high school kids smoke, that one in four kids have had five or more consecutive alcoholic drinks in the past month and, of those, 25% admit to driving while under the influence.” (Family Resource Association)
Negative peer presssure
The term “peer pressure” is often perceived as negative. Adolescents under the effect of negative peer pressure may have behavioral problems. In order to gain acceptance from from peers, teenagers are more likely to take risks, such as violence, drug abuse, unprotected sexual behavior and reckless driving. This is particularly the case for those who lack of self-control and self-discipline. Such problems can present obstacles on their personal development.
abudukadier zainaipuguli staff writer
36 sarah jeffries staff writer
TO CANCEL OR NOT TO CANCEL? FCPS goes through many procedures in deciding whether or not to cancel school due to weather.
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e all know the feeling when we see snow in the weather forecast. Will it be enough for school to be cancelled? If there is only a light dusting of snow on the ground, it is likely that schools will still be open, where as if there are multiple inches of snow, it is likely a snow day will be in order. There are many things that FCPS officials have to consider before closing school or deciding to keep it open, but the biggest one is student safety, which is what all FCPS cancellation procedures revolve around. There are many conditions that FCPS uses to classify a cancellation, delayed opening, or early closing (pretty much the seriousness of the weather). Condition 1 pertains to the closing of schools and offices alike. After that is condition 2, which closes schools but not offices. Condition 3 pertains to delayed openings. 3A means that both schools and offices will open two hours late, but 3B means that schools will open two hours
late, but offices will open on time. Lastly, condition 4 pertains to an early closing. There are many things that FCPS officials have to consider when deciding which condition to use, or if there is a need for one. FCPS tries to send out information about the next day at school the evening before, but sometimes it is hard to tell whether the weather will be extreme enough to delay or close school, which means notifications are sent out in the middle of the night or early in the morning if needed. Fairfax County spans over 400 square miles, which could easily mean that some parts of the county got bad weather while others weren’t so affected, but if FCPS tried to close only a region of the school system, bus routes would be messed up because buses run all over the county. If a bus wereas put in a closed part of the county, it may still have been needed for open parts of the county. Officials have to take into account all methods of transportation kids use to get to school; bus-
es, cars, and kids who walk to school. Whenever there is a chance of bad weather, FCPS consults many different public safety agencies toand analyze how it could affect the safety of students. Snowstorms aren’t the only things that cause schools to delay openings or close altogether. Temperatures can also play a role in whether school is open or not. If it is below freezing, roads are more susceptible to ice if it had rained or snowed beforehand. This can pose a safety hazard for drivers. Other extreme weather can also pose a threat, such as bad thunderstorms or high winds. Knowing where to look for cancellations and delays is important for student safety. FCPS posts updates on Twitter, Facebook, and on www.fcps. edu in the case of a cancellation or delay. Parents will also get emails and text messages if inclement weather was to occur. Let’s hope for some snow this season!
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december issue
CONCERTS TO CATCH THIS WINTER SEASON
kariann tan staff writer
The cold has finally set in, but really, that does not necessarily matter in the context of going to concerts featuring your favorite band or artist. As we march on into the season of the misty air, let’s have a look at what’s in store for us in the realms of music in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia area for the next couple of months:
cupcakKe - The Filmore Silver Spring - Thursday 20th December 2018 Want to start your Christmas week on a truly iconic note? Make sure to head down to Maryland to check out the infamous but incredibly lovable cupcakKe, a social media enigma slash pop artist. Elizabeth Eden Harris, a 21 year old, is a rapper and performer from Chicago, and she will definitely make note of that during her performances. Her songs are noteworthy - ranging from titles that unfortunately I am not able to mention in this article due to their explicit meaning, but they are all worth a listen. Her show is not to be missed. courtesy of Pub Rock Live
Justin Timberlake - Capital One Arena - Friday 4th January 2019 For many years, his concerts have been one for a good time. As such, you should most certainly purchase tickets to his show as you are guaranteed an amazing performance by Timberlake himself and co. Most importantly, the show is a rendition of his critically praised album Man of the Woods, which is also another album worth devoting some time to. With groovy infused beats and masterfully layered tracks, you would be doing yourself an injustice by not checking his show out. courtesy of Cifras Gnash - U Street Music Hall - Saturday 19th January 2019 As the phrase goes on gnash’s website, “come be the newest member of gnash’s the broken hearts club now”. According to many sources who have seen him live, his shows never fail to keep you off the ground on one end of the spectrum, but also on the other end of the spectrum, make you feel like the most heartbroken kid on the block. Whether that’s something that floats your boat,, the fact that his shows are able to capture your feelings strongly, is a testament to his skills and charisma as a powerhouse artist. Make sure to buy tickets to his show in the coming weeks.
courtesy of Lisimg Panic! At The Disco - Sunday 20th January 2019 2019 is gearing up to be Brendon Urie’s biggest year in touring yet. After being beckoned to eleven tracks of pop-rock ecstasy, Pray For The Wicked crushed the charts consecutively, much to the band’s long-time fans surprise. If you are one of his pioneer fans and are worried about the setlist of his shows, there’s nothing to worry about too, considering that he will still be playing a voracious amount of tracks from his earlier eras. All in all, you’ll be threatened with a good time (get that reference?) .
courtesy of Pinimig
38
A&E
THE LIFE-LONG IMPACT OF MUSIC How the music we listen to helps us stay in tune and in touch with the world around us
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t’s a moodmaker, and a pastime — not to mention a significant indicator of who we are as people. There’s nothing quite as universally inclusive as music, technology pushing its prominence in our lives to the fullest extent. It’s easily accessible and widely consumed for that reason, giving big creative minds plenty of chances to produce songs that speak to different people in different ways. Spotify’s highly popular “Wrapped” has been prominent on social media lately, too, emphasizing again the highly influential role music is playing in our lives. Some’s total minutes listening throughout the year pushes as high 60,000 (or the equivalent of a straight month and a half of listening). Music plays an entirely different role in the lives of students than anyone else. Under a world of stress at essentially every given moment, some may find music to be a consistent source of relief. “The only time music has ever been associated with something bad in my life, it’s been what’s there to help me out of it,” said Caroline Kearns (11), who, among her friends and acquaintances, is known to have a music taste that captures her personality near perfectly. “It can be a coping mechanism in different scenarios. It’s always helped me.” Another common relationship students might have with music is as a backdrop to their studying, given the number of individuals who can be found in the library or quite classrooms donning a pair of earbuds. Briefly mentioned previously, it’s largely accepted that our tastes in music have a lot to say about our personalities. In that case, if we can have that sort of impact on the auditory media we consume, it must have a mirrored effect on us; and that it does. For some it’s liberating, and for others it’s comforting— in any case, the effect that our music has on our lives is long lasting.
emily richardson editorial board
This hypothesis is easily proveable through the use of any music database. Look up a song, album, or artist that used to run your world at a certain period of your life that has since come to pass and attempt to push away the rush of nostalgia and longing that falls over you. All of a sudden, you are connected with the world once again only from the perspective you held at the time. Be it good or bad, memories will wash over you like the ocean waves, tide deafening your troubles of the present day. You can feel every emotion you felt the moment you first listened to that song, or that album, or that artist, down to the smallest taste bud or the most random fingertip. Oakton’s own Mr. Krizel, a history and geography teacher, has had a positive relationship with music listening throughout his life. “[Music] became really important to me in college,” he said. The prevalence of the most primitive iPods were a factor, he also included. “Listening to all my own music while walking around campus was really cool. Really liberating.” On the significance of the lasting effect of music on our lives, he had to say “I can listen to a band now and think about important times in my life, like when I was in college, or going through an experience in my personal or academic life. Even today it’s easier for me to get schoolwork done when I’m listening to music. It’s essential, and It’s still very important to me.” In a world that’s so large that it’s hardly our own, a sense of individuality is often hard to find, especially for older teenagers with the dauntingness of adult life looming over our heads. Listening to music is killing two birds with one stone, when you get down to it— a stress relief from the pressures of everyday life and a determining aspect of who we are.
IN TUNE
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december issue
A BALL AT JINGLE BALL A review of iHeartRadio’s annual Jingle Ball concert in D.C.
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n the evening of December 10th, the Capitol Arena started to fill up with mostly young teens bursting in excitement as they were about to see their favorite artists. Hot 99.5’s Jingle Ball lineup included Sabrina Carpenter, Bazzi, Shawn Mendes, Bebe Rexha, NF, Meghan Trainor, G-Eazy, and The Chainsmokers. Before the show began, many people took pictures with the stage in the background, bought Jingle Ball t-shirts, and got light up bowties from the first floor. At 7:30 pm, the lights dimmed and music started to play. The arena was lit up with flashing blue lights which were from the bowties people could have gotten from the main floor. The show was opened by Sabrina Carpenter, who was the only singer to have background dancers. Although the crowd wasn’t familiar with many of her song, they cheered and continued to take videos of her. Soon after Sabrina Carpenter finished her last song, the crowd roared and screamed as Bazzi entered the stage and sang his hit song ‘Beautiful’ and exited with song ‘Mine.’ The Kane Show, who runs the radio station Hot 99.5, then came on and started to give prizes to a few lucky winners in the audience. If someone was sitting in a lucky seat, they got the opportunity to sit either in the front row or get Amazon products such as the echo dot. Next, when Shawn Mendes entered the stage, the majority of the crowd stood up with their iPhones ready to record as they sang to his ‘There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.’ He sang another five of his hit songs and covered the song ‘Use Somebody.’ Shortly after he left the stage, several people left the arena and didn’t return. The Kane Show continued to come on stage between each singer and hold contests and engage with the crowd.
photo courtesy of Josiah Van Dien
To close the show, The Chainsmokers sang their infamous songs ‘Something Just Like This,’ ‘Closer,’ and ‘Paris.’ They included special effects with fire and smoke periodically showing up on the stage, which caused the arena to be filled with the smell of something burning. Soon after the show ended, everyone began to take their last pictures and rushed to the metro, which was just a few minutes away to return home. Many people were skeptical of how this concert would turn out to be because they wanted their favorite singers such as Khalid, Camila Cabello, and Halsey. Many turned out to be dissapointed in the D.C. area when they found out that their favorite artists were not performing at their Jingle Ball but were performing at Florida’s and New York’s Jingle Ball. Regardless, the audience seemed to enjoy the concert and didn’t mind not seeing some of their favorite artists. The Kane Show did a great job in trying to engage the audience with prizes and games, however much of the crowd didn’t pay attention as they wanted to see the artists perform only. The concert also brought a variety of different artists to appeal to everyone’s taste. This included NF (a rapper) who sang popular song ‘Lie’, Bebe Rexha (a pop and country artist), Meghan Trainor (mainly a pop artist), and Sabrina Carpenter (a rising artist).
riya jain editorial board
40 Avengers Review W
The Terminator Review
ith Avengers Endgame coming to theaters in 2019, it is time to look back at the older Marvel films, specifically the original The Avengers. Although it has been six years since it came out, Avengers hen a person is asked whether or not they would watch a old is remembered fondly by many, and for good reason. While it may be inaccurate calling the movie one of the best cinematic works of all time, film, there’s a good chance that they would say no. Afterall, who would watch something that is so old, especially since there’s been more than a it’s still worthy of the praise it has received. handful of good films produced in the past decade? While this may be true for a few movies, this view is largely incorrect. Many films from the 70s and 80s still hold up, especially The Terminator, which was directed by James Cameron. Unfortunately, the recent installments in The Terminator franchise have been rather lackluster and mediocre. Despite the franchise’s fall from grace, the first film is still considered a cinematic masterpiece, and for good reason.
Part of the reason why The Avengers is considered so iconic is due to the fact that it was able to meet the hype that was behind it. At the time, everyone was simultaneously excited and nervous of the movie. It was the the grand finale and culmination of phase one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers would have determined the success of the MCU, and oh boy did it! Even though it is by no means the greatest film of all time, there is no denying that it did deliver the hype. A major factor behind The Avengers success was its entertainment factor. The audience were not interested in a film that was particularly deep or complex; they wanted to see superheros fighting against bad guys in a spectacular fashion. Thankfully, the people got what they wanted: a bunch of costumed heroes beating up a the bad guy and his army of aliens. However, cool action scenes can only go so far; what good is action scene if the audience isnt invested? Well, the audience was invested due to how well written the characters were and their interactions with each other. Some of the best parts of the film are just the Avengers insulting each other. Furthermore, there’s a certain levity to the film; neither does it take itself too seriously or too little. The serious moments are treated seriously by the film and the comedic moments are, at the least, chuckle worthy. For the most part, the special effects are spot on. In the end, what makes The Avengers noteworthy is that while it may just be “good” in each individual category, it’s when they’re combined that the movie is greater than the sum of its parts.
andres gonzalez staff writer
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Originality is key in making a good film, and The Terminator is not lacking in originality. The movie’s premise, that being a time traveling cyborg assassin from the future being sent to the past to murder the mother of humanity’s saviour, was certainly unique for its time. This, along with the intriguing plot and the haunting portrayal of a future that has been devastated by a machine uprising, made The Terminator very unique and distinct from the other films of that time. On top of that, the cast’s performance was exceptional; even Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a roundabout way. No offence to Mr. Schwarzenegger, but he’s not the crème de la crème of acting. However, his performance is well suited for being the titular antagonist, a merciless and unstoppable machine who is willing to slaughter countless bystanders if it benefited its mission of killing a innocent young woman. Similarly, even though the practical effects and stop-motion that the film uses may be dated by today’s standards, they are still impressive in their own right. Just like Schwarzenegger’s performance, they only add to the monstrous and inhumane nature of the Terminator. Finally, in terms of genre, The Terminator is very appealing due to how it can fit in any genre. Sci-fi and action are prominent throughout the movie, along with plenty of scenes that dip into the horror genre due to how unsettling, if not outright disturbing, it is. There are even a handful of comedic moments that are funny in their own dark way. The icing of the cake is the soundtrack, which is very mechanical and dark. It’s no wonder why The Terminator is considered such a iconic and influential film.
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december issue
SKINS: Does it live up to the hype? A look at the posthumously released album by XXX Tentacion
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n the last month, a few important albums have been released. One of these albums is SKINS, by the late XXX Tentacion. SKINS is the first project released posthumously by X’s record label, as well as his 3rd studio album. His first two albums, ? and 17, were generally well received; however, SKINS is an entirely different story. This album features 10 tracks at a runtime of 18 minutes, keeping in line with X’s usually shorter songs. While that is usually not necessarily a bad thing, in this case X isn’t even singing/rapping for most of the track. One notable song X has on the album is One Minute, where Kanye West is the feature. This track is a very obvious attempt to recreate the screaming songs X focused on early in his career, but fails to maintain the same appeal, with the product sounding like random notes played on a guitar while X screams unintelligibly. Overall, this album sounded incomplete and lacks the appeal of any of X’s earlier projects. Along with the song One Minute, a few pieces of merch were released in a collaboration with Kanye’s “Yeezy” brand. This merch looks like you are on your way to
worship satan, not to mention the outlandish price tag of $175 for a single sweatshirt. The profit of X’s merch goes straight to his charity, but it seems Kanye is getting some percentage of these profits for his own benefit. Even though this terrible merch was released, there still are more traditional pieces that came out, such as a long sleeve t-shirt with just the album logo on the front. This merch is much more reasonably priced, at $40 for the shirt and a digital album copy. Overall, the merch released was not great, but there were some decent pieces as well. So what does this mean for the future of X’s legacy? There are rumors that two more projects are going to be released. If this is true, hopefully the albums sound more complete, and overall better than SKINS. As well as music, X has a charity (The XXX Tentacion) which has helped many people. One example of this is the charity buying an electric wheelchair for a disabled child. This is where part of the profits from the album will go, one of the only upsides of this disappointing album. X’s album was disappointing because of the merch and the music overall, hopefully not a sign for his two coming projects.
asher tankel staff writer
42 BLACKFISHING Is it appreciation or appropriation? amira bashir staff writer
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ecently the biggest social media controversy was “blackfishing.”’ According to Urban Dictionary, the word blackfishing is defined as “o appear to have some type of Black African ancestry.” At the center of the controversy is Instagram influencer, Emma Hallberg, a Swedish model. She is accused of pretending to be black to get more followers. Emma was thought to be a mixed race due to her dark skin and curly hair, but recently a Twitter (@Addie10265601) user posted a picture of Emma with light skin and completely straight hair. “I saw her on Instagram and thought she was African American” Emma seems to use dark makeup, tanner, and wears a weave and curly lace wigs. Emma addressed this by stating on instagram, “Yes I’m white and I’ve never claimed to be anything else. And by no way, there are no ‘before’ pictures, the pictures that have been spread are just two different pictures taken on two different seasons of the year.” Emma was mostly criticized for not addressing that she was white. “Black women are in high demand, but our experience is not. They want our crowns, but not the thorns that come with our story. Every-
one wants to have beautiful brown skin, and some are willing to go to the extent of blackfishing to get it. Unfortunately, it pushes cultural appropriation to an all-time high,” Lavondra Johnson, founder of luxury skincare line Elle Johnson co stated. Many agree with this statement, given that if a black woman were to wear cornrows, some would say it is “ghetto” or “ratchet” but if a white woman were wear them, would be considered “cute” and “exotic.” This is something everyone in the beauty industry argues about, including models like Kendall Jenner who received backlash when Kendall wore an afro. It caused an uproar as people claimed that it was “appropriation” and others said they should have used an actual model with a real afro. Some may ask, ‘But it isn’t racist/offensive how is it rude? Isn’t it appreciating the culture?’ It’s okay to appreciate others culture but what isn’t okay is to steal it and claim it’s yours. Many want to be black, but don’t want to take the oppression that africans face. It also isn’t okay to use another’s culture as ‘fun’ or for fashion. It’s ok to appreciate it as long as you know the struggles of wearing and being black.
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december issue
YOUTUBE REWIND A review of the most disliked video on Youtube
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t’s December 6th, 2018. The world is in terror. The sea level rises from the heat of outrage as people slam the dislike button as hard as they can. Youtube Rewind is dropped for all of the world to see. Its purpose? To recap on all of the trends this year. Has it succeeded? In truth, yes, but not for the better. The best and most popular content creators are supposed to be the ones to bring us a pleasant video showcasing everything that has transpired this year, but instead we were greeted by relative strangers, and an absence of the number one most subscribed youtuber at its drop, Pewdiepie. Youtube missed out on remembering many big events that happened this year as well, such as the release of one the world’s most cinematically anticipated film, Avengers: Infinity war, beloved celebrity deaths such as Stan Lee, the main creator of various marvel comics, Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of Spongebob, and George HW Bush, or the winter olympics in PyeongChang. Instead of remembering the past year for its memorable moments, Youtube capitalized on cringey trends and trying to be “fresh,” and “relatable”. Youtube has had a long year. With most of its history being taken up by drama like the KSI vs. Logan Paul fight
Photo courtest of TydeOnReddit
and Pewdiepie vs. T-Series competition, Youtube still remains a platform for the average person to make content, and Youtube doesn’t recognize its community and instead shows off Youtube stars that are incredibly advertiser-friendly, despite not being popular or memorable from the past year, which is the whole point of the video after all. People have pointed out that as the years go on, the rewinds that youtube post keep getting worse and worse. As is obvious by the like to dislike ratio of the current and former youtube rewinds, people have become more aggressive towards rewinds as time marches on. Youtube is also criticized by becoming more of a corporate business than staying as the home-made video website it once was. Instead of shining light on what really matters or is hot in the Youtube community, the company rather chooses a select few content creators to host and review the video to keep the ratings in good regards. Fortunately, we live in a democracy, and the like and dislike button is open for viewers to criticize the rewind. And criticize they did. This year’s Youtube rewind is to be one of the most controversial, as it has become the most disliked video in history. The music video for “Baby” by Justin Bieber was known as the most hated mu-
sic video with an astounding 9.82 million dislikes as of its release in ye olden days of 2010 all the way to 2018. However, Baby has only reached that amount over 8 long years. Is the video still annoying? Yes, but it pales in comparison to the massive 10.35 million dislikes, which were only acquired within 7 days! With hate still swelling to a bursting point, the video has overcome Baby, as usurp the crown of “Most Hated Youtube Video”. A great achievement to be sure. Good job Youtube. In the end, what else can be said about the video? It hopes to capture the hearts of it’s viewers by capitalizing on trends like fortnite, dead challenges like the Kiki challenge, and unpopular,but still recognizable content creators. Youtube only manages to resemble an aging corporation trying to remain “cool with the kids.”
cole starmer staff writer
44 CARDI B AND OFFSET DIVORCE One really wants to be together, and the other doesn’t. Which side will win? genevieve bavisotto staff writer
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n December 9th, 2018, rapper Cardi B posted a video on her instagram, revealing that her and her husband, Offset, broke up. The couple recently had a baby together in July named Kulture, after Offsets album. It came as a big surprise to find out the couple had gotten married back in 2017. They decided to keep their marriage a secret for a year so they did not have to deal with the drama. I interviewed Sophia Bavisotto, a junior at Oakton high school. “I was surprised to see them break up, they didn’t report having problems in their relationship.” Sophia (11) “I don’t think it’s fair that some fans are blaming Cardi for the break up, it is both peoples fault together to end a relationship.” Fans are blaming Cardi saying that she just wants the divorce to gain publicity, and that she is not thinking about Offset because this will be his fourth kid with no wife, other than cardi. The singer has announced several times that the break up is not for publicity, and they simply just fell out of love. Other fans are glad to hear the news about the divorce because they believe that this was a toxic relationship. In 2017, Offset allegedly cheated on Cardi. The rapper posted a tweet about it but then deleted it a couple hours later. Although we still don’t know the whole story, fans choose to believe that Offset cheated, based on the ways his
other relationships ended. Offset told E1 News that he blames the fans for Cardi leaving him. “I think Offset has lost/ is going to lose a big amount of fans for blaming them for the break up. There is no way that it could be the fans fault.” (Who said this?) Although Cardi was the one who asked for a divorce, she is still struggling throughout the break up. Cardi’s entourage reported “she didn’t want to get out of bed, she was so upset about Offset.” On Wednesday, December 5th the rapper was scheduled to perform at a “club gig” in Miami at 3 am, but couldn’t manage to get there until 4 am, because she was struggling to leave her hotel room. Her entourage also said that they “basically had to push her into and out of the car”. Once she was performing fans reported that she was “pretty much just lip syncing through the songs and did not look thrilled to be there”. The “Bodak Yellow” singer has also been throwing some shade towards Offset. At Jingle Bash in Chicago on Saturday, Cardi was singing her song “Motorsport”, but changed the regular lyrics to “I turn Offset on / I told him the other day / We should get divorced”. This change in lyrics made fans go crazy. At Cardi B’s concert on December 15th Offset made a special appearance. He came up on stage with posters reading “Take me back Cardi”. After talking on stage for about two minutes Cardi kicked him off. The next day Offset sent out a video apologizing for his behavior. Do you think it was one of the singers fault for the break up? Or a mutual decision?
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december issue
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD SCORES ONCE AGAIN
katarina faben editorial board
Recap of Oakton Science Olympiad’s stats at their recent competition
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n Saturday, December 8th, Oakton’s Science Olympiad team competed at the National Cathedral School in D.C. for their first competition of the year. The competition involved multiple schools from the area and included numerous FCPS schools. Oakton brought students from teams A and B to the event, which featured a number of Oakton students from a variety of grade levels and amounted to a total of 30 students in all. What is Science Olympiad? Science Olympiad is an school organization comprised of students of all ages that are interested in STEM. In the school club, students compete in rigorous academic competitions, participating in a number of science- related events from herpetology to building towers. The competition is comprised of a wide variety of events broken down into two general categories; studying and building. Each pair is comprised of two to three students; each pair takes three exams throughout the course of the day and work together in figuring out material. The competition features a mixture of studying events, in which students pair up in partners and take exams on science related subjects in a shared classroom with other students. Studying events are similar to school exams, in which students have an allotted amount of time to take the test and must only work with their partner and their allowed resources to gather information. The pair has a total of 50 minutes to take the test, using only a four function calculator and one front and back sheet with information related to the test.
at the competition and are perfect for students who are interested in pursuing an engineering or technology path in the future. Students build their structure before the competition, buying the materials and building their own structure outside of school. The events involves testing the structure in front of a panel of judges during the event to score points.The pair is then scored using a rubric entailing a number of requirements they must meet. To distinguish yourself from others, you need to have one of the fastest or most efficient structures that meets all rubric requirements. Events are very competing and the competitions are not easy, as only the top 6 students place and thus receive medals. With all this taken into account; however, Oakton was able to bring home multiple medals and recognitions from this past weekend. The National Cathedral competition was a large success for Oakton Science Olympiad. This year, we were able to place in multiple events across the board, making this one of our best competitions over the past couple of years. Our team showed great dedication as everyone on the team worked really hard to make it to the event. Not only did students spend countless hours outside of school building and studying for events, but worked as a single unit to bring home multiple medals for Oakton. With their combined team support for one another, Oakton Science Olympiad was able to continue our tradition of placing at the competition, while instilling Oakton beliefs of dedication, perseverance, and commitment.
Building events are also very popular
Oakton results Anatomy & Physiology: 6th Place- Minji Kang & Megan Liu
Forensics: 5th Place- Ashley Ryu & Stella Ryu
Code Busters: 5th Place- Ashley Young, Carson Shin & Connie Zang
Geologic Mapping: 6th Place- Allison Feeney & Senouk Kim
Designer Genes: 5th Place- Minji Kang & Megan Liu
Thermodynamics: 5th Place- Justin Guo & Stephanie Zhang
EDD: 1st Place- Connie Zhang, Matthew Chung & Janey Song 4th Place- Thomas Bae, Angie Zhou & Irene Do
Water Quality: 4th Place- Allison Feeney & Senouk Kim
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FEATURE brendan bellingham staff writer
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SPORTS CAR EVOLUTIONS Electric tech moving from road to track
orsche is a world renowned sports car manufacturer that pushed the envelope of “German engineering� with each release. Est. 1931, the company has spread out of Germany and into nearly every market globally. Their early mission to win first at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race holds true today even with expansion on numerous facets of their project mission. Early Porsche race cars had nearly no competition on the track. With a rear mounted engine, these cars had better weight distribution across both axles and could move quick off the line. Porsche has remained at the forefront of motorsport technology for decades and they are not losing their spot on the leaderboard By many accounts electric motor and battery technology is at the forefront of
commuter transportation. Companies like Tesla, Nissan, and Chevy are producing electric street cars already and nearly every major manufacturer has electric alterations of their most popular models in the works. The reliability and ease of use for electric vehicles is a no brainer in comparison to the internal combustion engine. Just lacking the need for an oil change is an important distinction for consumers, but the simplicity of an electric motor and powertrain makes owning an electric vehicle a better buy. Never filling the tank is another large factor when moving people to electric from gas. Plugging in your car to charge overnight or while your at the office for your commute to and from home is the future of our personal vehicle based society. Electric is moving up on the street but how does it
fair on the track? The Formula 1 championships are seeing some competition lately. Formula E racing is a fully electric league that is gaining traction in the racing community. This fully electric future of racing is far in the future, but crossing the streams of electric and gas racing is no new phenomenon. Plug in hybrid versions of race car models like the Porsche Panamera and Chevy Corvette are gaining in popularity among drivers. The Porsche Mission E will be the company’s first electric race car. It will break records in 0-60 times and charging speeds but more importantly the vehicle will symbolize the start of a new racing generation. A generation powered by electric motors and lithium-ion battery technology.
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december issue
WREATHS FOR OUR WARRIORS
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n the third Saturday of December, all across America, the graves of fallen servicemen are decorated with holiday wreaths. People all across the nation visit national cemeteries to pay their respects to the people who fought for our freedom. Even though a major aspect of this tradition is the wreath-laying, there is a lot more to this ceremony than a leafy ring twirled with red ribbon. Wreath-laying has a foundation of gratitude that is still standing strong today. But why is this foundation so important to this tradition? The idea of wreath-laying started with a young boy named Morrill Worcester when he won a trip to D.C., but most importantly, his visit to the Arlington National Cemetery. This experience reminded him of the countless sacrifices that the veterans of this country have made to ensure his freedom. He wished he could do something meaningful to show his thanks. This wish followed him throughout his life until 1992, when it finally went into action. That year, the wreath company Worcester Wreaths had
annabelle rosse staff writer
a surplus. In this moment, Worcester remembered the idea he had had when he was a little boy. He finally had a way to give back. Plans quickly went underway and before long, an official ceremony was put into place at Arlington National Cemetery. Another began at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to honor those veterans who went missing in action. There were numberless volunteers, all who wanted to pay their respects alongside Worcester. The ceremony united a whole community that shared a core respect for the servicemen and women. Veterans, either on the field or on homeground, have all sacrificed something, whether it be time with family, a part of themselves, or even their life. Veterans have taken time out of their life and devoted it to protecting and preserving the freedom and democracy of the United States. Working their hardest and then giving even more is what these servicemen and women have done, since the birth of this country. Nobody but the bravest of the brave have the courage to do that. Everyone in America has some-
thing to thank these courageous people for, and they have a strong opportunity to show it. The Oakton Outlook visited the Arlington National Cemetery to see how this year’s wreath-laying event was. It was held Saturday, November 15th with thousands of volunteers. Even though it was raining and close to freezing, they all looked ready to help out with this important cause. The Outlook stopped one volunteer to ask some questions about just how important this mission was to them. When asked if the weather had affected how committed they were to this day event, they replied, “the weather didn’t matter since it was for a good cause.” That was also true for many other volunteers. Even though reasons for why the volunteers contributed their time varied, they all had the same underlying message. As best said by one volunteer, “These men and women have given their lives for this country. We should give them the gratitude and respect they deserve.”
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I
t’s no secret that our school is not fully loved by it’s students. Ask anyone in the hallway, and they could most likely give you a list of things they want to change. AP World teacher Mrs. Hamlin decided to let her class voice their opinions on our school by creating theses and putting them on her door after a discussion about Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. As many students at Oakton have learned or will learn, Martin Luther lead a massive reformation of the church. He wrote down his
WHY DOES EVERYONE HATE OAKTON
Students voice their opinions on our school during an interesting AP World assignment. zoe siamon staff writer
concerns with the church and nailed it to their door. Mrs. Hamlin had her class do the same thing: to write down issues with Oakton that could realistically be solved. She then invited the administration to take a look and see if there was anything that could be changed. Mrs. Lane looked it over and responded to some of the common complaints. Many students had complaints about the renovations, and even more about the ceilings. To these complaints, Mrs. Lane explained that work is being done day and night to install new pipes and wiring, and they are working as hard as
they can to speed up that process. In terms of renovations, she says that nothing is final, but phase one will be finished at some point from December 2019-June 2020, and the entire thing is projected to be finished by June 2022. So if everything goes according to plan, the current Freshman may have a chance to see the finished product. “I think the renovation has been frustrating,” says Mrs. Hamlin, “however, all of the problems that exist in the building need to be renovated to stop.” There is no real “solution” besides just dealing with it. It is frustrating, but it has to happen. Most of the other complaints fell into categories such as time between classes, cougar time, happiness, parking spots, WIFI/ Internet usage, and teacher concerns. These were her responses: “Time Between Classes – Every year we must calculate seat minutes for every class to ensure we are meeting the state mandated requirements. If we add passing time between classes, we will not be able to meet the state mandated seat minutes. Cougar time does not count towards seat minutes so that is an additional challenge in terms of finding the right amount of time per class period. Cougar Time – Cougar Time is not being taken away. We are looking at making some tweaks to it to ensure that a) there is equity between students and their ability to get help as needed and b) there is an ability to take attendance to have accountability. The current reality is that many students are being turned away from classes they are trying to get help in. Changes will be rolled out and implemented at the end of the semester. Staff members are currently working to develop a system that addresses the needs listed above, but still allows for some student choice. Student Happiness – We have added music between classes for students. If students have ideas for assemblies, they are encouraged to come talk to administration about their ideas. If anyone has ideas for spirit days or other things Leadership could do, they should reach out
to Mr. McCulla and Ms. Butterfield. More Parking Spots – Part of the current scope of the renovation is the addition of a parking lot near the kiss and ride. We are hoping that new lot will be paved by February 2019, weather permitting. At that point we will assess our parking and hope to provide additional parking for seniors. App/Internet Sites – Oakton High School administration does not control which sites/apps are or are not allowed. The decision to block sites is done at the central office level. Those decisions are based on the impact that student use of certain websites or apps impacts our server. If it impacts our ability to run the programs needed for instruction, decisions can be made to block them. Teacher Concerns- Several students mentioned a concern or wish about teaching and instruction. If a student is concerned about something happening or not happening in the classroom regarding instruction, we encourage students to have productive conversations with the teacher. If that does not work, or a student is uncomfortable with starting that conversation, Assistant Principals are here to listen and help students navigate that conversation.” The final set of complaints were related to hallway space, to which Mrs. Lane responded “If students have ideas on how to make hallways more accommodating, please come to administration. We would love to hear your ideas.” We can all agree that there are issues with our school and even with the entire school system. However, how much of it can be realistically changed? It seems unhealthy to dwell on what is wrong. And, honestly, how much does the missing ceiling impact your day? AT least it stopped leaking! #onlyatoakton
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december issue
SERVICE DOGS The importance of service dogs; their reliability and purposes
Service dogs are professionally trained dogs t\\ hat help people with disabilities, such as a hearing or visual impairment or a mental disorder. Therapy dogs, for emotional support, are not considered service dogs. Most service dogs are easy to identify because they’ll wear a harness or a vest. Usually, their gear will say “do not pet”, due to the fact that they are doing a job and cannot be distracted. Although there’s not a requirement as far as the breed, most service dogs are Golden Retrievers or German Shepards, ideally because of the traits they possess. These dogs have the size and strength to carry substantial objects, and they’re active without being overly energetic. Both breeds are extremely intelligent and easy to train in a wide variety of tasks, and enjoy completing challenges. They are also said to get along well with other animals and children. Could your dog be a service dog? Many people see service dogs and wish to take their dog everywhere they go, although this is ruining it for the people who truly need a service dog, because fake service dogs can often disturb other customers or cause chaos. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) made a rule that “one shall not interrogate or make anyone with a service dog feel inferior” However, this is making it easier for anyone to put a vest on their dog and try to pass them
off as a service dog. Doing so is only going to making it more difficult for truly disabled people to have the service that they need. George Bush, former president who recently passed away on November 30, 2018, had a yellow Labrador service dog named Sully. In a photo tweeted by Jim McGrath, Bush’s spokesman, Sully can be seen sitting directly in front of Bush’s casket at a funeral home in Texas, bowing his head in unison with members of Bush’s family. Sully will now go back in service to help other veterans at Reed National Military Center, Bush wrote in an Instagram post. “As much as our family is going to miss this dog, we’re comforted to know he’ll bring the same joy to his new home, Walter Reed, that he brought to 41.” Bush wrote. With a dog who already has advanced behavior skills, training can take anywhere between four to six
months, depending on how complex the tasks are. Then the dog must learn to perform their tasks in various environments. It takes about a
year or two for the dog to be a fully trained and reliable service dog in public access skills. There are many different purposes for service dogs. General service tasks should be completed by all service dogs, such as opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, and turning lights on and off. Although, some types of service dogs Wheelchair assistant or Medical and alert service dogs, perform some more regularly. Common tasks of a medical alert service dog consist of pulling wheelchairs, alerting caretaker to unconsciousness or lack of breathing, and retrieving medications. Service dogs serve many important tasks in our world, from opening doors to calling 911 in emergencies. Different types of service dogs serve different purposes, but all are vital for many humans. Thank you for your service!
sara boddie staff writer
SHOW: MY BRILLIANT FRIEND “My Brilliant Friend is a masterwork of a period piece. Set in postwar Italy, the show follows a girl and her best friend as they grapple with family drama and class in their impoverished Neapolitan neighborhood. The world is vivid, portraying the mafioso ridden streets of Naples in all their filth and decadence. The show is available now on HBO.” - Jake Neuffer
EDITORS’ FAVORITES
BOOK: SALT TO THE SEA BY RUTA SEPETYS “I just finished reading the suspenseful historical fiction book by Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea. The novel follows four main characters, each with their own secrets, on their way to reconnect with their loved ones during World War II. The beautifully written book is full of plot twists, and I loved every single word.” - Payton Wozny
A series of fresh monthly picks from the editorial board to our readers ARTIST: TOM MISCH
“Tom Misch is simple and modern-classical in a pop mainstream era. His music is refreshing and clean with ardent bursts of percussional jazz and slow, swaying tempos. With a story to tell and compositiona instrumentals to compose and stain emotions, Misch has evidently mastered the art of tasteful balance.” - Ashleigh Tain
BAND: THE CLASH “There’s nothing quite as universal as 80s rock music. The timeless guitar riffs and drum beats have often been overly sampled in modern music, but a more organic and fulfilling experience is listening to those songs in the raw. They ran the 1980s Britsh rock scene and, currently, their hits are running my world.” - Emily Richardson
ALBUM: ICARUS FALLS BY ZAYN “Icarus Falls shows Zayn’s versatility as an artist, touching on every topic from his exes to love, as per the usual R&B album. His voice is so smooth and charming that it’s quite forgivable since you get to hear more of it. my favorite, admittedly, is “good years” because it sounds like a one direction song and nostalgia is one powerful force.” - Courtney Te