Volume 88 Issue 6

The Beacon

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School Vol LXXXIX No. 7

Friday, April 25, 2025

www.jrbeacon.com

Boys' ultimate frisbee team ranked first in the country Clara Doyle Simone Meisnere Joao Braga Web Technical Editor Games Editor Contributor

The Jackson-Reed boys’ ultimate frisbee team is ranked first in the country and has qualified for the High School National Invite (HSNI). This annual tournament features the top 16 teams in the country and crowns one team the best in the nation.

This is the first time in the program’s history that they have

been ranked first in the nation.

Head coach Dave Ohls said that “it’s incredible to see the team go from a small program ten years ago with barely enough players to a program with strong girls and boys teams.” He attributed this growth to the incredible work players, parents, and coaches have put into the team.

As of April 10, the team has already won two tournaments: Queen City Tune Up in North Carolina and Youth Ultimate League of Arlington (YULA).

Th e y a r e a l s o c u r r e n t l y undefeated.

“Under Coach Dave, we

have consistently grown as a team, with many players joining the team every year,” said junior varsity player Mitchell Lillie.

Despite the team's success, there’s an understanding among players that the work is far from over. “We’ll see how it turns out,” Mitchell added. “We need to keep practicing and keep up our work ethic so that we can improve even more as a team.”

In March, the Tigers won the YULA invite tournament for the first time in the program’s history, in a 13-4 final. The see FRISBEE on page 13

Security breach leads to violent altercation PHOTO BY ELI SCHWARTZ

BROKEN IN - A door propped open on campus allowed two nonJR students to enter the building and target a student.

Edith Corrigan Conaty Alice Patterson Managing Editor Features Editor

PHOTO BY MARCELO RUGGIERO

DIG DEEP - Assistant coach Marcelo Ruggiero poses with the team after winning the YULA invite.

A Jackson-Reed student was violently attacked last month by two non-JR students who breached security and entered the school through a propped door. The attack appears to have been targeted, and no weapons were involved.

The Beacon is not naming the JR student due to privacy concerns. The students are believed to attend another DCPS

high school.

The incident occurred on March 20 around 1:30 pm in the hallway outside room 316A. One ninth grader who witnessed the incident said they saw students form a “big ring” around the JR student and the two assailants.

According to a Metropolitan Police Department report, the JR student was walking in the hallway where the two students, who were not named, approached him and then “punched and kick[ed]” him.

According to the ninth grader, see BREACH on page 2

ICE shows up at DCPS school; JR unveils new resources to support students and families Isadora Groves Noa Gordon Editor-in-Chief Sports Editor

As immigration enforcement breaches the DC community, Jackson-Reed is mobilizing to support undocumented and affected students and families.

“I find it incredibly important to let all students know that this is a safe place and that we will protect them in this building,” 12th grade counselor Patrice Maites said.

Since President Trump

took office with the promise of mass deportations, Immigration Enforcement and Customs (ICE) agents have been spotted around the district. Trump reversed a decades-old policy restricting ICE action in schools, prompting fear and uncertainty among school communities.

On March 26, ICE agents attempted to detain a DCPS contracted healthcare employee at H.D. Cooke Elementary School in Adams Morgan. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, it was the first time that ICE agents

targeted a DCPS employee.

Fo r m a n y i n t h e J R community, DCPS’s response to the policy change initially felt slow. But the school district recently provided resources for JR staff.

Lizbeth Garcia, assistant strategy and logistics and student support specialist, said that JR received resources from DCPS around a month and a half ago.

The school was given red “Know Your Rights Cards” printed with constitutional rights and a script of what to say if approached by a

federal agent.

Garcia said that they also received “What Should You Do, Qué Debes Hacer” posters, which are displayed in non-instructional staff rooms, including the counseling suite, attendance counselor rooms, and other designated areas, and were also made available to teachers.

The poster is split into six tips, among them: “You have rights, use them!” (“¡Tienes Derechos, úsalos!”); “If an immigration see ICE on page 3

PHOTO BY ELI SCHWARTZ

Information posters displayed in rooms across the building.

School faces budget cuts as projected enrollment drops Rohini Kieffer Dani Wallace Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor

Jackson-Reed’s proposed 2025-26 budget will drop by less than one percent, about $200,000, compared to this year. The cut corresponds with a projected decrease in enrollment of 200 students, as Hardy Middle School students

will no longer be given the option to feed into JR. B a s e d o n t h e cu r re n t a l l o c a t i o n , e i g h t g e n e ra l teaching positions will be eliminated at JR. Despite the reduction, Principal Sah Brown said that he feels “confident we can continue to run the programs and have the offerings that are going to give our students a wellrounded education.”

Due to salary increases and the projected enrollment drop, the school faces a $1.9 million funding gap. However, Brown noted that “the percent of money that we spend in our budget toward classroom teachers overall has increased and there is a decrease in our investment in administrative positions.”

The decisions on how to handle the budget reduction

were ultimately made by Brown, with feedback from the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) and the Personnel Committee, a board of staff members who advise the principal about staff positional changes. The LSAT also surveyed staff, students, and families to gauge what positions the community would like to preserve most.

“The survey didn’t upend what we were thinking, but it did

reinforce that teacher positions are important and should be attempted to be preserved as much as possible,” said Science Department Chair Will Gomaa, who sits on the LSAT. The majority of funds allocated to all DC public schools are based on projected enrollment numbers, with each additional student adding see BUDGET on page 3

The Beacon

2

More colleges require test scores for class of 2026 Clara Doyle Web Technical Editor

As of March, over 50 private and public colleges have reinstated their SAT/ACT requirements for the 2025-26 admissions cycle, and it is anticipated that others may as well.

While many Ivy League and other private universities reinstated this policy last year, the shift is no longer isolated to private institutions.

Purdue, Ohio State, the University of Florida, and the University of Texas at Austin are some of the numerous public schools to announce this policy change.

Schools are shifting back towards test scores primarily because they offer a way to compare students from different parts of the country and backgrounds.

When Dartmouth decided to reinstate its testing requirement last spring, they argued that the policy would help “high-performing students who may attend a high school for which Dartmouth has less information to (fully) judge the transcript.”

On the contrar y, many opponents to standardized testing believe that it increases inequities and bias in college admissions.

In 2015, a College Board study showed that students from families earning less than $200,000 scored the lowest, and those earning more than that scored the highest.

However, schools like Dartmouth argued that even though someone’s score may be outside of Dartmouth’s

BREACH from page 1

a teacher appeared at the scene after a few minutes. Shortly after, security guards arrived.

According to the police report, the two students took the JR student’s phone and “smashed it on the ground.”

The two students then left school property without being detained and fled the area. They were later apprehended by police and charged with simple assault and destruction of property, the police report said.

JR community members reacted with concern to the security breach. The ninth grader said that the attack “makes [them] feel a little unsafe. There’s people breaking into our school.”

Asked whether the incident made him question his and his students’ safety, math teacher Rudi Feiler said, “It does.” Social studies teacher Margaret Pierce added that, “It definitely gives me pause. I personally believe that there are a lot of areas and opportunities for failure of safety protocols just because we are at a large school with a lot of moving parts.”

Government teacher Amy

acceptance range, it could still be a good score in the eyes of admissions officers because scores are “assessed through that local framing.”

Additionally, when some schools are getting upwards of 150,000 applications, test scores are another way to assess applicants and make a decision.

Upon hearing the news of an increase in test requirements for universities, juniors at JR are changing the way they think about the SAT, but not necessarily where they are applying. Junior Madelyn Woods said that “it won’t necessarily impact where [she] chooses to go, but it will definitely impact how seriously [she] takes the test.”

Junior Anna Yoder added that she’s “not just taking the test more seriously for schools that are now test-required but even for schools that are test optional but will look at scores.” Yoder said “[she] wants a good score to impress schools even more now.”

Changing test-optional policies are greatly impacting the way standardized tests are viewed by students and the pressure put on them to achieve their desired score.

W hile the maj orit y of schools are yet to reinstate testing requirements, and many have made a commitment to being permanently test-optional, the shift of these schools represents a change in the value placed on standardized test scores in a college application. •

Collins said that the incident did not make her feel an “increased lack of safety” at JR. But she agreed that the school's size poses a challenge, especially concerning the number of exterior doors.

“Anybody can prop open the door for a variety of reasons. That is problematic,” Feiler said.

Other students also expressed safety concerns. “I think it's kind of concerning that they were able to get into the school when they’re not students here,” said freshman Josephine Gavin. “Usually I feel safe at school, but that definitely was a safety hazard,” added senior Alyssa Gilbert.

Others did not feel as worried. “I feel like it raises a safety concern, but in general, I feel pretty safe at this school. I feel like most of the time, it's targeted, so I feel pretty safe,” said senior Gianna Peterson. Freshman Leah Fletcher added, “I feel like this is a one-time incident. I’ve never felt unsafe in this school.”

Teachers were notified the day after the security breach in an email from Principal Sah Brown. “I always think that teachers should be notified when there are safety concerns, especially because a lot of teachers are in the building for extended time after school,” Collins noted.

Pierce added that

NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

DC faces $1.1 billion budget cut as Congress blocks local control Grace Harscheid Affomia Debebe Junior Editor Contributor

The District of Columbia Local Funds Act is currently stalled in the House of Representatives, following Senate approval. The bill seeks to restore DC’s budget following a proposed 1.1 billion dollar cut to DC spending in March, which Mayor Muriel Bowser protested. The budget cut would be devastating to DC’s autonomy.

In March, the House of Representatives passed a stopgap spending bill, forcing the District to continue spending at its fiscal year 2024 spending levels. However, the District’s 2025 budget is based on its own revenue and has already been approved by Congress. By continuing with last year's federal funding, DC’s 2025 budget has effectively been reduced by $1.1 billion. Bowser and DC House of Representatives delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton had requested to simply follow past practice and allow DC to operate under its own accepted budget, but have been denied by Republicans.

This cut—backed by President Donald Trump—would treat DC like a federal agency, materializing his belief that DC would be better off under total federal control. DC was granted “home rule” in the 1970s, providing residents the power to elect a mayor, city council, and neighborhood commissioners to run day-to-day operations while Congress approaches laws and controls the city’s budget.

Stopgap spending bills usually allow DC to continue operating under the budget the city has approved, despite the federal government’s own budget being held to amounts from years prior.

DC was not allowed to do so in the latest stopgap. Christina Henderson, a member of the DC City Council, noted that “the pace with which [the Federal Government is] moving is different. You could call it reckless.

This is very uncharted territory for us.”

The people of DC, the Metropolitan Police Department, and emergency medical services may face funding reductions, which could affect response times, public safety, and increase crime rates.

Both DCPS and public charter schools could experience budget constraints, leading to larger class

sizes and reduced resources.

Funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority might be cut, impacting operations in public transit services. DC is home to about 7% of the federal workforce, and many could lose their jobs due to these cuts.

Historically, federal jobs have helped lift generations of workers, many of them Black residents, into the middle class by giving them opportunities they wouldn’t have had in the private sector because of racial discrimination.

Bowser and local leaders are prompting Congress to act quickly to stop the major budget cuts. In an effort to appease Trump and his allies, Bowser announced Black Lives Matter Plaza’s removal, telling CNN that “we have bigger fish to fry.” •

she “appreciate[s] that the administration took the time to get the proper information before sending out any correspondence.

That being said, it did occur on my floor, and it would have been nice as someone on the floor to be hyper aware of what was going on.”

Feiler did not express concern for the delay. “In the moment, I’m sure that there’s a lot of immediate actions that had to be taken that came before even sending the broad email.”

Brown notified parents of the incident the day after. Students, however, did not receive any direct notification. “I feel like we should get direct notification rather than just an email [to our parents],” said sophomore Clare Bates.

Freshman Olivia MacClellan agreed: “We were all in the school as it was happening and we didn’t find out until someone else told us.”

In his email to parents, Brown said school security ensured that all doors were closed through a perimeter check of the school after the incident. He also said that JR was placed on “special attention” status by DCPS police, who canvassed the school regularly over the following week.

In an interview with The Beacon, Brown said that school

security guards under went “additional training and some reassignments to ensure everybody’s safe.” Brown also noted, “And we would ask the entire school community if you see a door open, pull the door behind you.”

Pierce and Collins also emphasized this, reiterating that all students and faculty should work together to keep the building secure. Pierce added that “the mild inconvenience of walking to the front entrance outweighs the cost of students and teachers getting in potential harm's way.”

When asked if she wished to see a new security policy implemented in response to the breach, Bates said, “I think just more security at different entrances so events like this don’t happen again.” However, Gilbert said that she feels confident in the current security policies: “I feel like it got stronger this year, actually.”

Feiler said he would like to see more technical solutions in order to improve safety, such as “if a door remains open for more than 30 seconds, some sort of sound notification goes off.”

Regarding possible consequences for the two nonJR students, Brown said that administration is “working with the

students’ school administration to ensure disciplinary action in accordance with Chapter 25 of the DC Municipal Regulations as applicable.” Chapter 25 outlines the disciplinary response of offsite long-term suspension or expulsion.

The security breach has also affected the JR crew teams. The student athletes often practice at school on their own time and use the erg machines that are in part paid for by athlete dues. Starting about a week after the breach, the athletes were told not to practice in school on their own anymore without a coach present. Senior girls’ varsity crew member Lia Pollock said that “the main safety concern is any kids being in the school without supervision.”

Many members do not own ergs due to the expensive price and the fact that the team's boathouse also provides ergs. However, the boathouse is currently closed, leaving no option to erg outside of practice.

“There’s no one telling the baseball team not to use the batting cages without a coach there,” Pollock said. “It’s really frustrating and it puts our team at a disadvantage.” •

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKEPEDIA COMMONS

DEVASTATING FOR DC - Mayor Muriel Bower trying to prevent a billion dollar budget cut in order to keep the city's autonomy.

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NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 • THE BEACON

After low turnout, SGA hopes to grow spring fling dance Rohini Kieffer Clara Doyle Editor-in-Chief Web Technical Editor

On April 4, Jackson-Reed’s SGA hosted a spring fling dance in an attempt to establish a new school tradition and increase school spirit.

“We know the year is long and difficult a lot of the time so SGA’s biggest goal is to try and create fun events that bring the community together as well as give us the opportunity to fund other important SGA events and traditions,” said senior SGA secretary Sydney Mabry.

SGA attempted to host a spring fling a couple years ago but the event was deemed unsuccessful.

“We aimed to use the things that we learned the first time as building blocks for this year's dance,” Mabry said.

191 students attended the dance. This predominantly consisted of underclassmen, with 46 percent of attendees being freshmen and 30 percent being sophomores.

Contrarily, only 33 juniors (17 percent of total attendees) and

BUDGET from page 1

$7,180 to the total budget. JR student enrollment is projected to decline from 1,932 to 1,732 in 2026, which would be the lowest enrollment in about a decade.

The school’s capacity stands at 1,704.

The projected enrollment follows the decreasing trend of projected estimations since 2023, following the opening of MacArthur High School. Now, JR is hoping to “meet our projected enrollment,” said Brown.

Teachers were informed about the budget and staff cuts in a faculty meeting earlier this month, said Social Studies Department Chair Allegra Penny, who attende d the meeting.

13 seniors (seven percent of total attendees) attended.

“One of the biggest reasons we wanted to have a spring fling was to give the underclassmen another thing to be excited about,” said Mabry.

Sophomore Isabella Mara Ornstein said that she wanted to go because, “they don’t have dances like this in Spain, where I’m from, and I knew a lot of my friends were going.”

She said that even though “the dance was not what we expected and we ended up leaving early, I enjoyed taking pictures and hanging out with my friends.”

However, SGA struggled to reach their target number of purchased tickets. While initially tickets cost $10, in order to reach their goal they eventually made tickets $5 for people who participated in spirit week and distributed numerous $1 coupons to underclassmen.

“While it did take a little bit of finesse, we did end up selling our target number of tickets,” Mabry said.

Junior Sage Deora, who attended the dance with her exchange student, said that “it’s like a

self-fulfilling prophecy, if people say they aren’t going to show up, their friends won’t show up, and so on.”

SGA also hosted a flower fundraiser and planned spirit week in conjunction with spring fling.

“Something fun about dances is that we get to also have a spirit week and fun events leading up to it,” said SGA vice president Francesca Krevat. “In this specific case we were able to have the flowers that people bought and make the school feel festive,” she added.

The goal is to make spring fling an annual event. “We'll take input from students on how we can do it differently and more successfully,” said Krevat.

Mara said that “the idea for the dance was great despite the problems and I hope next year it will be better.”

“We’ve spent the whole year trying to create traditions and things that people can look forward to year after year. We want to change the narrative around dances and really encourage people to get involved in our school community,” said Mabry. •

“[The budget] is being reduced but, in my opinion, it's not a massive cut given our situation,” said Gomaa. In previous years, Jackson-Reed has petitioned DCPS’ projected enrollment, arguing that the student population will be larger than predicted. “This past year, we petitioned [to DCPS] for a number [of students] that ended up being about 100 more than what our actual enrollment was this current year,” he explained.

“Given that we have overshot our projected enrollment for a couple years, there is a thought that we should not petition for a larger number this year. So part of it is that our budget number was larger last year than what we ended up having here at school,” Gomaa said.

The social studies department will not lose any teachers next year. Penny noted

that social studies and art are the only two departments where all teachers had full schedules this year. The math department will shrink from 15 to 13 teachers.

“I thought we were going to lose one teacher and go from 15 to 14 teachers, so I was surprised,” said Math D e p a r t m e n t C h a i r G ra n t Franke.

G o m a a sa i d t h a t t h e science department will lose one physics teacher. English Teacher Department Chair Sheeba Parker took on the role as the head of the English department at the beginning of this school year. She noted that she does not know how many cuts the English department will experience compared to previous years.

There will also be cuts in staff for the special education and English language learning

departments, as fewer special education and English language learning students are expected to enroll. Both departments are staffed proportionally to their respective student population.

While in previous years the budget would be finalized by now, the current budget is still preliminary. This means it is still awaiting both DCPS and city feedback and approval. “The budget is behind, and I don’t know how this will affect things like hiring,” said Gomaa.

The delay in a finalized budget could also impact scheduling at JR. “The budget cuts will potentially limit the number of elective courses we can offer as the priority is to always ensure we are able to offer all of the graduation required courses,” 10th grade Assistant Principal Kendric Hawkins said. “Budget cuts

could also impact class sizes; however, we do not anticipate this being a major concern as of yet.”

Hawkins, the designated d e p a r t m e n t ’s A s s i s t a n t Principal, and department head work together to figure out teacher’s schedules each year.

In March, the District of Columbia Local Funds Act was approved by the Senate but stalled in the House. If passed, the act would restore over $1 billion into DC’s budget to be distributed to provisions of local government’s choosing, like DCPS. Congress needs to approve the District’s budget annually. The House was to reconvene last week, with no time scheduled to vote on the DC funding act.

The finalized DCPS budget will be available before the start of the next school year. •

ICE

families are still too scared to do activities outside of school like go shopping or go to amusement parks.”

She added that as the months grow warmer, the question has become, “Should we go do these different things where you’re more visible?”

Senior Yovanna Oritz-Cotto said that she’s “noticed a lot of people who are either worried about their family members or themselves and what they're gonna do in the future.”

Camila Navarrete, multilingual school counselor, said, “I think there has been general unrest, and I think that some of our students have been more scared of coming to school than others.”

Principal Sah Brown said that if federal agents were to show up at JR, the school would act in alignment with the guidance issued by the Office of the Attorney General in January.

“[We] are required to see a subpoena and make sure that they have the proper identification,” Brown said. “If they do, our next step is to contact the Office of General Counsel with DCPS and await next steps.”

That is the same guidance that H.D. Cooke followed in March. A statement from a DCPS spokesperson said that administration requested to see the HSI agent’s identification and warrant and the agents departed thereafter.

Cooke alum and current JR junior Ollie Hoy said he appreciated the community's response and how it reflects on JR. “[Cooke] shows that if something were to happen here hopefully teachers would defend and support each other,” he said.

“I am really hoping that we continue to work together,” Garcia said. •

from page 1

officer comes to your house” (“Si un Oficial de Inmigración llega a tu casa,”); and “Create a safety plan” (“Planificación y seguridad.”)

The Forward Committee, which Garcia founded in 2023 to support multilingual learners and families, has also recently played a role in providing support in the face of Trump’s new immigration policy.

“I noticed that a lot of our Hispanic, but mostly our multilingual students, were getting pulled in different directions for support groups, so I wanted to get everyone together in the same room,” she said.

Garcia said that in the first few weeks of the Trump administration, she noticed widespread fear in the community.

“Some students say that their

PHOTO BY ELI SCHWARTZ

SGA WELCOMES SPRING - Decorations in the atrium were put up by the SGA to inspire student engagement going into spring.

GRAPHIC BY SAMUEL LEE

The Beacon

FEATURES

4

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

Knock out your service hours with these organizations Edie Young Contributor

Are you feeling stressed about completing your 100 community service hours and unsure of where to do it?

Well, you're in luck! Here's a list of various unique community service opportunities you might want to check out.

Luv Michael Luv Michael is a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of autistic adults! Their mission is to train, educate, and advocate.

They have a virtual community service program where teens can get hours by learning about autism, teaching about autism, fundraising, and more. In total, students can earn 40 hours upon completion of the program, earn a chance to get a letter of recommendation, and receive a graduation cord.

We Are Artistic We Are Artistic is a local 501(c)(3) organization that is fiscally sponsored by Hack Club. The organization supports the artistic community in DC! Students can get hours by volunteering in one of the many virtual departments, such as the social media department

or the creativity department, or by volunteering at in-person events. We Are Artistic also provides certificates and letters of recommendation for college or scholarships.

The Cleverly Creatives The Cleverly Creatives is a youth-led 501(c)(3) also fiscally sponsored by Hack Club. The organization is dedicated to helping and inspiring youth to share their creativity. You can get hours and certificates by participating in events, competitions, volunteering for a team, and submitting your creativity. It is completely virtual.

Friend In Me Friend In Me is a youth-led 501(c)(3) dedicated to connecting kids with neurodiverse disabilities to those without through online games and conversations. You can earn one hour each week by doing a Zoom without your assigned buddy where you talk and play games.

Cancer Kids First Cancer Kids First is a youthled 501(c)(3) that works towards providing kids with cancer a chance at a normal childhood.

You earn hours by volunteering on one of the team's events, fundraising, and arts! All you have to do is choose a team, sign up,

receive an assignment from the team leader, and submit hours for approval.

Project Pink Tax Project Pink Tax is a local DC youth-led 501(c)(3) that works to provide people in need with free, accessible, and highquality menstrual products. You can earn hours by hanging up posters in public spaces, hosting a fundraiser, writing letters, managing a PPT box in your area, creating videos for their socials, or writing an article. All you have to do is fill out the volunteer form and wait for someone to get back!

Kids In Action Kids In Action is a local adaptive sports and social activity program through Children’s National a 501(c)(3). If you're 16 or older, you can earn hours by helping make sure kids with disabilities focus on the fun as they participate in sports and game nights.

If you're looking for hours or interested in donating your time, consider checking out these unique opportunities! Find an organization of your passion to make volunteering feel more fun and less like a chore. Knock those hours out! •

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDIE YOUNG

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS - JR students support local DC artists by organizing fundraisers and supply drives. In order to graduate from any DC public school, you need to earn 100 community service hours, which can be completed through these efforts.

Are you smarter than an Easter Bunny?

Welcome back to “Are You Smarter than a Freshman?”

Today, our contestants are the Easter Bunny and Social Studies teacher Ariel Alford.

Each contestant answers 10 questions about Easter, bunnies, and other spring holiday-related topics. They are also provided with one lifeline of their choice.

To test your own knowledge, try answering the questions yourself; answers are written at the end.

Without further ado, let's find out who’s smarter!

What is a baby bunny called?

Easter Bunny: A bunny…?

Ms. Alford: A child…children… kitten (used lifeline and was in disbelief that this was correct) What is the traditional meat eaten on Easter?

Easter Bunny: Lamb, baaaaahh Ms. Alford: Ham maybe?

What game is most commonly played on Easter?

Easter Bunny: Easter egg hunt Ms. Alford: I’d say the finding of the eggs What is the name of the famous dinner that Jesus attended?

Easter Bunny: The Last Supper Ms. Alford: The Last Supper these are very culturally specific How long does it take for a bunny egg to hatch? (trick question) Easter Bunny: I thought they

were mammals Ms. Alford: They typically hatch in spring? Wait, bunnies don’t come in eggs, they’re live births What bunny is famous for saying, “What's up, doc”?

Easter Bunny: Bugs Bunnyyyyy, hop hop hop Ms. Alford: Bugs Bunny What year was Jesus born?

Easter Bunny: 0 BC Ms. Alford: That’s not in my wheelhouse, not in my cultural framework How is Holi traditionally celebrated?

Easter Bunny: Don’t they spray like colorful powder Ms. Alford: With the colorful powders and stuff What’s the most common food eaten during Passover?

Easter Bunny: Red wine and the bread…naan? Wait, I'm scared, it's like the bread…challah?

Ms. Alford: I’m thinking it's the bread that looks kind of braided Finish this phrase: April showers bring May flowers, and what do May flowers bring?

Easter Bunny: Pilgrims Ms. Alford: Pilgrims The winner of “Are You Smarter than an Easter Bunny?” is…the Easter Bunny! With a score of eight, they came out on top with one more correct answer than Ms. Alford.

Holiday mascots and teachers, keep up with your facts.

Who knows, you may be our next contestant! •

(1) Kitten/Kit (2) Lamb (3) Egg hunt (4) The Last Supper (5) They’re mammals!

(6) Buggs Bunny (7) No known correct answer… (8) Throwing of colorful powders (9) Matzah (10) Pilgrims

Javier Thompson Sarah Wiesenfelder Opinions Editor Section Copy Editor

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAVIER THOMPSON

FEATURES

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 • THE BEACON

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Editors-in-Chief say farewell Isadora Groves Rohini Kieffer Editors-in-Chief

Hello to everyone who has made it this far in the paper (@ our parents), and shame on everyone who has simply skipped to games (sigh). The time has come for us to say our farewells and hand off the paper to the next Beaconers.

We are incredibly grateful to the Jackson-Reed community that has consistently supported us in covering some of the most complex and difficult issues that we are facing today. Throughout the recent election cycle and in its wake, so many of you have shown bravery and dedication by speaking to us, and we are honored that you trusted us with your words and experiences.

To the staff we cornered during lunch, the students we interrogated in the atrium, and the deans we chased through the halls for interviews, we appreciate your tolerance, cooperation, and willingness to answer our never-

ending questions and help student journalism thrive at JR. To the rest of our incredible senior staff, without whom every paper this year would have been a ginormous flop, we could not have gotten more lucky. There is no one we would rather be at school until 10:45 pm with (heart emoji here).

Thank you to Mr. Kelly for pushing us to produce a high-quality paper, and dedicating immense time and thought to The Beacon. We appreciate your commitment and vision (and the never-ending supply of Girl Scout cookies).

Lastly, thank you, our dear reader. You hold us accountable, and your feedback is what drives us to be better.

We know that The Beacon is far from perfect; our written content and staff still do not reflect the diversity of our school, and addressing this must continue to be a core goal of The Beacon. Creating an inclusive Beacon community that all students would feel comfortable contributing to and joining is something we also strive for, and are confident that next

PHOTO BY ELI SCHWARTZ

year’s staff will continue to work toward making this a true reality.

As the 89th editors of The Beacon, we are proud to say that we contributed to a publication that has documented the progression of our school, our city, and our country through the lens of high school

students for nearly a century. We know that next year’s staff will continue to further The Beacon’s legacy and cannot wait to see what they achieve.

And with that, we say our goodbyes. See you all at the 10-year reunion! #RoarTigersRoar!

Love,

Arrivederci! This year's Italian exchange to be the last Peyton Shum Junior Editor

On March 28, Italian exchange students from the Liceo Cambi school left JacksonReed, marking the last year of the Italian exchange program that was started 19 years ago.

The Italian exchange students arrived in DC on March 22 to spend a week with host families at Jackson-Reed. During their time here, they went to the Calleva ropes course, a U Street

walking tour, a Wizards game, and a biking tour of the National Mall. The students attended many different classes during the school day and ate breakfast with the first period Italian classes.

The exchange trip started in 2006 when Valeria Gallerani, a teacher at Liceo Cambi, sought out JR as the school for one of her students who was on an American exchange. Social studies teacher and trip sponsor Robert Geremia said, “for years, we’ve really done this partnership as a favor to her.” However, this

was the last year o f the exchange trip, as Gallerani is retiring.

In past years, students have travelled to Italy to stay with host families in Falconara, where Liceo Cambi is located. During their trips they have toured parts of Italy and gotten to experience the culture of Italian school.

They often visit the beach in Falconara and get to eat

Italian food.

Along with Gallerani’s retirement, recent changes in DCPS field trip guidelines have affected exchange trips and were a secondary reason for the program’s end. The guideline changes made staying in the homes of the students more challenging, forcing the program to go through approved companies that charge students more in order to protect DCPS from liabilities.

“Putting together an

international trip takes a year of behind the scenes planning,” G eremia said. He starte d planning this trip last July and said that DCPS changing policies in the middle of the approval process made it very complicated.

Geremia was unsure if the exchange trip would start up again in the future or if another trip would replace it. “I think a lot of us need about a year to figure out what that looks like,” Geremia said. •

President Trump takes over the Kennedy Center Avani Patel Esme Nooruddin Junior Editors

In an unprecedented presidential action, Donald Trump abruptly ousted Kennedy Center president of a decade, Deborah Rutter, along with all 18 Democratic members of the board in February. After appointing 14 of his supporters to the board, including Second Lady Usha Vance, Trump (who has yet to attend a Kennedy Center production) was unanimously elected as Chair of the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Under Trump’s leadership, the Kennedy Center’s shows have been severely disrupted, with shows being canceled and many performers boycotting.

Notably, T r u m p’s chairmanship of the Kennedy Center has led to the cancelation of multiple LGBTQIA+ shows.

One of the shows canceled was A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride.

Performed by The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW) alongside the National Symphony Orchestra, the show was scheduled for May but was

canceled by the Kennedy Center almost immediately after Trump became chair. The Chorus released a public statement expressing their disappointment in the cancellation and promising not to give up on their mission of equality within the arts. Since then, the GMCW has performed at The Town Hall in Manhattan before the production of Finn, another re cently cancele d Kennedy Center show. Finn’s Ke n n e dy Ce n te r-p ro d u c e d national tour was canceled as a “financial decision,” despite the musical being sold-out since its premiere last year. The children’s musical is a heartwarming coming-of-age story, following a young shark who feels he’s never fit in with his grey and stoic shiver. The musical follows queer themes and was most likely cut as a result; afterall, the Kennedy Center faced criticism from Trump for being “too woke.”

In addition to the cancellation of LGBTQIA+ shows by the board of the Kennedy Center, other performances, such as Hamilton, which was set to perform in March 2026, have chosen to cancel their performances.

Hamilton lead producer Jeffrey Seller took to Instagram, writing,

“we are not acting against his administration, but against the partisan policies of the Kennedy Center as a result of his recent takeover… these actions bring a new spirit of partisanship to the national treasure that is the Kennedy Center.” In addition, the rock band Low Cut Connie has canceled their scheduled performance, posting on Instagram, “upon learning that this institution, which has been nonpartisan for 54 years, is now chaired by President Trump and his regime, I decided I will not perform there.”

Not only have Broadway hits and bands decided to cancel, but

so have other authors and actors.

For example, Canadian author Louise Penny, best known for her book The Grey Wolf, has also decided to cancel her upcoming visit to the Kennedy Center.

Similarly, actress Issa Rae, canceled the sold-out show An Evening with Issa Rae because she believed Trump’s takeover to be “an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums.”

The controversial changes at the Kennedy Center under President Trump’s leadership have sparked backlash from

all over the art community, as he ousted long-standing board members and replaced them with his supporters. Due to this, high-profile shows like Hamilton, Finn, and A Peacock Among Pigeons have been canceled, and many authors, producers, actors, and comedians have begun to publicly ostracize the Kennedy Center. While some artists will continue with their performances, the overall nonpartisanship of what the Kennedy Center used to represent has forever been shaken, and many performers have chosen to take their talents elsewhere. • GRAPHIC BY CLARE BATES

FEATURES

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THE BEACON • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

Teacher feature: Sonya Gelfand Peyton Shum Junior Editor

T h e r e ’s a l w a y s a n abundance of new teachers roaming the halls, most of whom you’ll never meet. Here’s one of the new faces in the JR community, AP Psychology and Honors Chemistry teacher Sonya Gelfand.

Gelfand says this is her first year as a teacher at JR, but she was a student teacher at JR last year through GW Teach. She took over chemistry teacher Hallie Baskin’s B day classes when she went on maternity leave. “This cemented my desire to teach high school because it was so rewarding to build relationships with the students,” she added.

Gelfand has thought of being a teacher since she was in elementary school. As a child, she made worksheets to teach her three year old sister how to do math using number lines.

She feels like teachers were really important figures in her life when she was young. “They made me feel comfortable and made learning accessible,” she shared.

Originating from Boston, Gelfand was on her cross country and track team in high school, as

PHOTO BY DESMOND PARSONS

GLORIOUS GELFAND - Rookie teacher Sonia Gelfand is settling in at JR, teaching in the science department. Outside of teaching, she loves sports, reading, and exploring the world around her.

well as joining the Nordic skiing team and doing mock trial, in which her team placed 8th in the nation. She grew up in a mix of cultures, with her home being Russian and her school being American. She says over time her life became more American, but Russian culture still feels like

home. Gelfand graduated from George Washington University, majoring in neuroscience and minoring in biology and STEM teaching.

Outside of teaching, Gelfand loves to run. Her only bucket list goal is to run a marathon. She also enjoys reading, exploring

restaurants, and going on outdoor walks. She’s currently reading House of Leaves, which is “one of the most confusing books [she’s] ever read.” She has been playing piano since she was four, and recently bought herself a keyboard.

Gelfand’s last comment was

that the Beacon’s bagel article should have included the GW Deli, where “you can literally ask for anything and they will make it for you.” She encourages everyone to go try it out. •

Trump threatens fifty years of DC Home Rule Francisco Blancato Contributor

As DC residents, Home Rule affects all of us, especially since President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to take it away. But to understand the implications of Trump’s recent statements, we must understand what Home Rule is, what its effects are in DC, and why Trump is so adamantly against it.

Home Rule is the right for people in a city/town to govern themselves or make decisions without outside influence.

Before DC existed, the only English settlements in the area were Georgetown and Alexandria, VA. (For context, chick-fil-a didn’t exist yet) Georgetown soon became a thriving port, facilitating trade and shipments of tobacco from the Maryland colony.

After the American Revolution, Congress went on a practical road trip around the thirteen colonies, meeting in eight different cities, which essentially made them each temporary capitals of the US. Eventually, the road trip ended, and in 1790 the Residence Act was passed for the establishment of a “permanent capital of the government of the United States.” Now the only problem left was choosing the location for the capital. The states of Maryland and Virginia both ceded land along the Potomac, which was accepted and agreed upon by President George Washington, whom the city was eventually named after. He also appointed three commissioners

to essentially “supervise the construction and expansion of the city. The capital finally moved to Washington in 1800 after years of work and construction on land that had previously been farms and woods (sad to think that my favorite Chinese restaurant didn’t exist yet).

In 1801, Congress passed emergency legislation to divide the District of Columbia into two counties: Washington County, where Maryland’s laws would apply, and Alexandria County, where Virginia’s laws applied (Although the Virginia section of the district was returned to Virginia in 1846). In 1802, Congress gave district voters the right to elect a local council, along with a presidentially appointed mayor. Around 73 years later, DC returned back to being governed by three commissioners appointed by the president.

Regardless, DC kept pressing for Home Rule in Congress. The Senate passed bills providing some form of Home Rule six times between 1948 and 1966, but each time, the bill died in the House District of Columbia committee. Starting from 1963, gains had begun to be made for autonomy for the city, even amid the House Committee continuing to tighten its control on the city’s affairs. The commissioner form of government was replaced in 1967 by a mayor-commissioner and a nine-member city council appointed by the President.

Starting from 1963, gains had

begun to be made for autonomy for the city, even amid the House Committee continuing to tighten its control on the city’s affairs.

In 1973, the Home Rule Act finally passed (yay!), and District citizens elected a

mayor and a council in l a t e 1974. Additionally, voters approved the election of Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs) who represent every 2,000 residents and advise the Council on neighborhood concerns.

In 1978, an amendment was passed giving the district representation in Congress, but seven years later, it died after failing to be ratified by 38 states. In 1982, voters approved the Constitution for the District. In 1990 the first delegate for Washington was elected, Eleanor Holmes Norton,

but with limited voting privileges.

The introduction of these laws and acts has changed DC’s dynamic and role as a city. Only a little more than 50 years ago, we were governed by three random commissioners (who weren’t even from DC)appointed by a president, deciding our laws, our rights, and the budget for everything from schools to transit. Today, we can influence real decision making in our neighborhoods and Congress. Funding for the parks and schools that we want can be decided by us - by electing OUR own

officials.

We, a s residents of our city, can say that we have democracy; we have the power as a people to create real and lasting change that affects how we live our lives and our freedom. “We the people” as it says in the Declaration of Independence, have the right to our own democracy - and don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise.

However, the District to this day still has to fight for its rights.

The President still gets to appoint the judges in DC’s courts, and we still don’t have full representation in Congress. Eleanor Holmes Norton (representative for DC in Congress) has yet to take a firm

stance on Trump’s cuts on federal workers, and Elon Musk’s growing role in the U.S government - both sensitive issues to DC residents.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, mayor of DC since 2015, is also under threat, but not just by Trump but by other radical Republican politicians, including Senators Andy Ogles (R-TN) and Mike Lee (R-UT). These two senators both introduced, on February 6th the “BOWSER” act, which aims to remove Mayor Muriel Bowser, and repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule act one year after passage.

Unfortunately, challenges continue to mount for our city thanks to Trump’s rhetoric and continued dismissive attitude and language towards DC and its government. In the eyes of him, and many of his supporters, DC is a city of “bureaucrats” and the embodiment of their opponent, the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, in large parts of this country, people continue to believe the unhealthy and destructive lies that Trump spreads about the city we live in. Why is our city denied democracy because of the dislike of a political party? Unfortunately, for those reasons and more, the process for our city to gain its democratic representation in one of the world’s largest and most influential democracies took much longer than it should have.

DC is more than just the “capital city” as it used to say on DC’s old license plates, but a place of diversity, culture, freedom, and much more, and as its residents, we know that. •

The Beacon

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

OPINIONS

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Totally legal ways to ask your crush to prom Francisco Blancato Contributor

Prom is coming up, and we all know what that means: trying to get a date to bring with you. So, out of the goodness of my heart, I’ve decided to help you out by compiling a list of ways to ask out your dream date! From best to worst, I've got you covered.

Whether you’re socially awkward or outgoing and charming, I’m sure one of these options will work for you!

GRAPHIC BY CARYS GRAY

For our very first one, if you’re rich but you think your dream date won’t go out with you, then no problem. I present bribery, a US tradition since 1776! Just give them $200-$1000 (it could depend on how much they’re asking) to go out with you. (But don’t make it $100, because then you’re just getting nowhere).

Option two is a hopelessly romantic serenade to your dream date. If both you and your dream date crave attention, then this is the option for you!

Though it may sound corny, showering someone with rose petals when they come to class is not only sweet, but makes your dream date feel loved and shows them how much you care about them. (Although buying all those roses and then cutting off the petals could get a little tedious and expensive).

Number three will DEFINITELY not just catch the

When is it acceptable to wear shorts?

Tessa Frantz Junior Editor

It is the point in the year where we begin the transition from winter to spring as the weather starts to get warmer and the ice encasing our summer wardrobes starts to melt. With this, the question everyone is asking themselves arises: When is it acceptable to start wearing shorts?

It may be easy to get excited, wear shorts when it’s 60 degrees, then be freezing all day. It’s important to wait for an ideal time so you don’t end up shivering in the airconditioned school, covered in goosebumps all day.

Shorts are often favorable to long pants, especially after a long, snowy winter with no breaks from the cold and the heaps of layers required to survive it. This winter was one of those, filled with never-ending cold days and few interruptions in the tiresome cycle of long pants. This leads to wardrobe mistakes that greatly increase the likelihood of shivering, so it’s especially important to be cautious.

Wearing shorts before April is questionable. If your legs are out in March, you may want to reconsider your life choices. It may seem tempting, but if it’s March and below 65 degrees, long pants should be kept on. The best time to start wearing shorts is April, otherwise, you’ll be cold and unhappy. If you want to spice up

your tired wardrobe and change out of clothes meant for the cold, try wearing a tank top or shortsleeved shirt with long pants.

Sometimes, we will have an especially warm March, and it is okay to wear shorts, even though April hasn’t yet arrived. This can only be done if it is actually warm. That does not mean 55 or 60 degrees. Generally, the right temperature is 70 degrees.

If it’s early spring or late winter and you make the risky decision to wear shorts, you should always, no matter what, bring a sweatshirt.

Even if it’s supposed to be warm.

Whether you end up ditching it in the morning and not wearing it at all, putting it on midday, or wearing it all day, it’s important to have it with you. Sudden changes in the weather are very likely, and if it becomes cold and you’re wearing shorts and a tank top, you’ll be left feeling freezing, possibly ruining a good day with chills.

Overall, the time when it’s too early to wear shorts is March, but legs can be exposed in April. That is, unless the weather is actually warm. If you decide to wear shorts, keep a sweatshirt by your side, but if you choose to play it safe, stay hopeful because shorts will be coming soon! •

attention of your crush, but of the entire school. It is risky, especially if your crush is shy and hates attention. It is a little old school, so make sure to execute it right.

This suggestion also appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, and if you have not guessed it already, it is a flash mob! Even though flash mobs are timeless, in my personal opinion, I WOULD NEVER want a flash mob (I think I’d be too embarrassed).

Number four is a centuriesold tradition that was considered to be a very romantic gesture back in the day (whenever that was): poetry. In fact, even the famous playwright Shakespeare would write love poems to his crushes— and you can too, as long as you don’t screw it up. Though your crush may find a bad love poem asking them out to prom funny, it could also turn out to be a huge turn-off. Poems rarely get to the point, and they’re difficult to write, especially if you’re not patient or eloquent.

If you get to this fifth option, you may just prefer to write a poem instead. If you're a guy who really wants to go the extra mile for his dream prom date, then serenading them with one of Taylor Swift’s many romantic songs might just do the trick (as long as they like Taylor Swift, if not, then they’ll just

be weirded out). Again it might just repulse them —especially if you're a bad singer.

For these next few options, I had to consult current biology teacher, Pierre Heard, who has surprisingly chaperoned several proms in his life. One of his first suggestions was, strangely enough, organizing a barber quartet. So, if you can’t sing Taylor Swift’s high notes, then you may just have to look to some of your friends. Even though it’s a little odd, your dream date might just have a secret love for barbershop quartets!

This next suggestion from Mr. Heard is actually a pretty fun option, and adds an air of excitement to asking out your dream date. A deal or no deal suitcase is an awesome way to ask out your dream date, unless they pick the wrong suitcase—then it might just be awkward for both of you. Anyway, if you’ve never watched the show ‘Deal or no Deal’ I highly recommend it!

Now, this is definitely one of the worst ways to ask out your crush for the prom, especially if you want to be embarrassed for the rest of your life, as we are going to a third party. It’s one thing to ask your grandmother for advice on how to ask out someone (not that you SHOULD EVER do that) but

it’s a whole ‘nother to have your grandmother ask out your crush for you (I don’t even think I have to explain why).

This one is the last one Mr. Heard suggested, and in my opinion, I find it a mix of weird and downright stalker-y. But, who knows, your crush may enjoy having flyers all over the school begging them to go out with you.

Additionally, printing out all those flyers to put all over the school takes time, it could get expensive, and it’s not very eco-friendly (I’m sure Greta Thunberg would agree).

Phew, this has been a LONG list—and for our very last one, you’ll be breaking a few legal boundaries, but who cares? Hiding out in your dream date’s closet the night before prom and then kidnapping them, to bring them to the prom isn’t only desperate but a felony, as it breaks DC law codes 22-2001 and 22-801.

After some research, I’m pretty sure that breaking those law codes will amount to 31 years of jail time.

So, this option is probably NOT a good one. While some of these options haven't been exactly legal, or normal, some of these might just be what gets you your dream date!

Anyway, thanks for your time, and hopefully you have a good prom! I wish you all the best! •

Required credits limit students' pursuit of other interests

GRAPHIC BY SAMUEL LEE

Maura Cohen Contributor

When I left middle school and started my journey at JacksonReed, I was looking forward to several things but one of the most exciting prospects were electives.

For the first time, I would have control over the classes I took, and as a firm believer in student agency, I was excited. However, I was met with a system that limited me much more than I expected, with much of this limitation stemming from required classes.

Apart from the four core classes, Jackson-Reed students have four periods each year for other required classes and electives. When I was first selecting my courses freshman year, this felt like more choices than I could have ever imagined, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way anymore. As freshmen, we are

highly encouraged to sign up for an academy, take a language (despite any middle school credits we may have), and most emphatically, to get our required PE, art, and music credits out of the way. However, getting all of these credits done quickly while still pursuing other interests was a struggle for me.

Now, as our schedules for next year are being made, I still feel this pressure to finish the required courses. If I wanted to finish my required credits by next year, I would have had to drop one of my other elective courses that I’m actually interested in and plan to use in my future. Arriving here, I was hopeful that I could use electives to help explore my interests, but instead, we are told to prioritize required credits.

While the current system of required courses does work in many ways, it is still flawed. I’m not saying that these required classes

should be removed altogether, as they do have value, but I do believe that they are currently taking more away from our educational experience than is necessary.

One way we could start to fix this is to provide alternative pathways to earn the required credits. For example, giving student-athletes credit for sports participation is a great example. This would allow students to earn the required credits without sacrificing time in their schedule.

In the end, although required credits are important, I believe that more freedom in the classes we take would only benefit our students. High school is the time when we are supposed to figure out who we are and how we want to spend our lives. But if I have to miss out on discovering my passion to take a required PE class, then what’s the point? •

OPINIONS

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THE BEACON • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

Current events teach critical thinking in schools Patrick Hutchins Junior Editor

These past few months, I and many others within my age group have been enamored, confused, concerned, and shocked by many current events. Such times with significant political and social changes are very important to understand, and for many teenagers, finding the facts can be difficult. It should be the responsibility of the school to nurture productive dialogue and information sessions that will benefit the knowledge and critical thinking skills of students.

On November 6th, the day after election day, in all four of my classes, the election was discussed. This ranged from do nows, where students were asked to express their opinions, to short class-wide discussions on the event. The current event was acknowledged, and it was the only day at school when I felt like relevant information was being discussed in every

part of the day. This was one of the first days I remember when a teacher inquired about our opinions about an event, rather than just simply repeating the facts or assigning an article to read. While some participated in the discussions more than others, almost every student in my classes had some comment or remark on the situation.

Current events are very important, as they can enhance critical thinking skills, and can make students eager to learn as it makes the lesson seem more relevant. Sometimes history or writing essays can seem useless and uninteresting. I mean, no student wants to learn about information from years ago and memorize random names of people who are not alive.

I personally would be more accustomed to showing up to class on time if the information could be applied to policies that control the lives of many in today's world. If current events were incorporated into the

curriculum, students would be able to express their intelligence more clearly, as they are more likely to have strong opinions on events that they feel affect them directly.

Incorporating current events doesn’t have to deviate from the course of the curriculum or disrupt the learning of students.

For instance, in English classes, instead of having students analyze speeches from political leaders from years or even centuries ago, teachers could have students analyze texts from relevant political leaders today.

While some classes have students write summaries and analyses of current events, I believe that students would benefit more from a short discussion on the current event rather than just writing a few paragraphs on it without peer feedback.

Current events are a very useful tool to boost student productivity and engagement, and teachers may find students more interested in class rather

than playing games on their computers or scrolling on their phones. If you are a student and interested in current events, I would sign up for the class Debate 1, taught by Mr. Smith, where students get to debate interesting

and relevant topics. For teachers, in appropriate subje cts, I recommend leading discussions for at least five minutes every week on what's going on in the world.•

GRAPHIC BY SAMUEL LEE

Trump Administration makes significant cuts to environmental management Eloise Smekal Contributor

The World Meteorological Organization released a report indicating that humankind has reached a new high in key climate change indicators. The Trump Administration has set a goal to roll back dozens of the country’s climate change regulations, including slashing climate programs, freezing federal funds,

and eliminating more than 1,000 scientists in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development.

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order to pause wind generation capacity on federal land and waters. He also declared an energy emergency, urging oil and gas expansion–not that it comes as a surprise.

During his first term and the

GRAPHIC BY CLARE BATES

2024 campaign, Trump voiced his contempt for climate change. He has withdrawn the country from the Paris Agreement twice, and expressed his desire to please the fossil fuel industry. And now, it’s a work in progress.

Lee Zeldin, the current administrator of the EPA , posted a video on X where he presented his plan on “Unleashing American Greatness,” promoting energy dominance and gutting environmental regulations, parts of what he calls “the green new scam.” Don’t even try to find the words “climate change” on the EPA website, they’re gone.

On the front of environmental protection, the stakes are high.

With every year becoming the new record-hot year and the continuous rise of greenhouse gases levels, we are in uncharted territor y. The increased temperatures and acidification of the ocean have disastrous effects for marine life and ecosystems, and the rising in sea level affects coastal communities.

The multiplication of extreme

weather events intensified by climate change comes with a high economic and social price.

The financial consequences on infrastructure, industries, and agriculture are huge. Further, the displacement and migration of people create disturbance in communities.

Today, Americans experience first-hand disagreements, with people leaving their state to escape future disaster. No doubt that those around us who’ve lost their house in the recent months are eager to see their lower utility bills promised by the new administration for their home.

Climate change and public health, which go hand in hand, our choices are crucial. After achieving progress through the efforts of environmental advocates and bipartisan agreements, a reversal would be detrimental to all of us.

As a society, do we prioritize saving money, but how much and for whose benefit, or saving lives, here and elsewhere? For those who think the latter is more important, there are some reasons

to stay optimistic.

Every change of regulation requires a specific process, and many legal actions are ongoing or will follow to challenge some of the moves made by the new administration. Moreover, many businesses and companies are determined to be “greener” and to be earth-friendly.

Recent images provided by satellites show that the number of renewable energy sites all around the world is increasing, especially in the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. The United States has almost tripled its solar and wind installations in eight years, while China has drastically expanded them on its territory.

These advances are possible because these technologies have become more reliable and cheaper, making backtracking difficult.

This proves that we can do both at the same time. Saving money and saving lives.

More than speeches, we need common sense and action to unleash “American Greatness.” •

The bright and dark sides of daylight saving time Alex Oh Contributor

The concept of daylight saving time (DST) is simple. Starting the second Sunday of March and ending the first Sunday of November, everyone in America (except Alaska, Hawaii, and Arizona for reasons unknown to me) set their clocks one hour earlier to capitalize on all of that precious summer sunlight. If daylight saving time were to end, then we would keep our clocks in “Standard time” yearround, or the time our clocks are set in winter. There are many arguments for or against DST, so I condensed them into a simple pro-con list.

Pro: More afternoon daylight. This is the most obvious pro of DST because there’s nothing to dislike about it. I mean, you get more sunlight after school and into the evenings, which motivates you to do more. And especially for everyone out there who has parents who want them home before dark (you know who you are), that gives you a whole extra hour to hang out with friends! Buy one milkshake at Five Guys and use that as an excuse to stay there for hours! Go to Reno to watch the baseball guys practice! Rant to your friends about that guy who won’t text you back! The possibilities are endless.

Pro: Something to look forward to. Realistically, winter can be hard

to get through. Between your Spotify Wrapped being unfit for the public eye or your favorite artist getting robbed at the Grammys, the cold months can be a struggle. Daylight saving, though, is something to mark on your calendars.

Something that truly makes it feel like spring is coming. And when DST finally arrives, it feels like concrete evidence that spring is here.

Pro: Safety. Everyone has to get home. Whether you’re metroing, bussing, or using another one of the many ways people get to and from school, feeling safe is a priority. And let’s face it, that’s much easier when the sun’s out.

Con: I can’t argue with the fact that

people just don’t. Change. Their. Clocks.

Some people simply just don’t know how to, and don’t feel like taking two minutes to look it up on Google. I know we all have that grandma who would rather tough it out through six months of having her clocks behind rather than changing them. I mean, it’s impossible to trust any clocks at her house. “Oh no, is it already five???” “Don’t worry, that clock is just an hour behind.”

Con: Less sunlight in the morning.

Waking up at 7:00 am is already a struggle, and compared to some of my friends, that much sleep is a privilege.

When it’s pitch black outside, that just adds to the fact that I never want to leave my bed. And because there’s less light

in the morning, (at least I use it being darker as an excuse), I hit the snooze button 10 times and I’m late to school.

And that’s just me, who doesn’t have to get to school early for any reason. I can’t imagine having to be at JR before the sun rises.

Reviewing the list, I would say that DST isn’t that bad. Sure, it can be pretty inconvenient and it causes permanent distrust for clocks, but the pros simply outweigh the cons. I would much rather struggle to wake up then have less time to hang out with friends. Of course, whether you love it or hate it, the clocks will change again in the fall and the process will repeat, so you’d better go out and enjoy the light while you can. •

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 • THE BEACON

OPINIONS

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The Beacon Top 10 classes that JR should Jackson-Reed High School 3950 Chesapeake St. NW, Washington DC, 20016

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add to the course selection list 1. AP brain rot composition

6. Gardening

2. Advanced rizz

7. Hot yogalates

3. Intro to delusion

8. Basics of Fortnite

4. Parking 101

9. Principles of sarcasm

5. AP ChatGPT

10. History of TikTok trends

Written Content Contributors: Joao Braga, Afformia Debebe

AVA SERAFINO and JAVIER THOMPSON Opinions Editors

Written Content Contributors: Alex Oh, Eloise Smekal, Maura Cohen, Francisco Blancato

HENLEY KAMINSKAS and ALICE PATTERSON Features Editors Written Content Contributors: Francisco Blancato, Edie Young

JOSEPHINE CAPLAN and MAYA ROSKES Spread Editors Written Content Contributors: Shayna Sann

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GRAPHIC BY FRANCES LEIBOVICH

100 word rants

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assasSin

Summer

grad date

Edith Corigan Conaty Adler Amolsch

Eva Solomon

Ava Serafino

Guys, I’m ready for summer.

Sunshine, sand, and swimming are all I can think about, and it’s truly time-consuming. I’ve been spacing out in class just to dream about my summer plans that I wish were tomorrow. I am imagining being able to drive (finally) to the pool with friends and being able to sleep late most days! The warm days almost seem like tests (since they only last a day or two) to see if I’m ready for summer to start, and I definitely am. Sadly, it’s not as soon as I would like, but it’s on the way!! •

I have a friend who just posted “ T-5 days until graduation” and my jaw dropped to the floor. Why does every other school in the history of schools get out before JacksonReed?! As a senior, we get out June 8th, which is still late in the grand scheme of things, but my heart really goes out to the rest of you. It is so ridiculous that not only do we get out in June, but at this point LATE June. I am tired, you are tired, our staff is tired. Can DCPS stop dragging us along already? •

We love Senior Assassin.

Instead of lounging in our rooms on a Thursday night, we are running around the city, creeping into cemeteries, lurking outside of houses, and getting hit by cars.

The class has become united by two objects: goggles and water guns. Despite the adrenaline rush the game elicits, the $2.76 price for premium makes everything completely rigged. If any one player has premium, and the other doesn't, all bets are off. By being able to see every player's location and who could be sneaking up on you, premium destroys the mystery that is Senior Assassin. •

Self Expres Tattoos +

Ava Se Opinion

.1

sdsdfsdfds

Anjali Dave - nos

The biggest inspiration behind Anjali’s nose ring was the many their nose pierced. When she was little, she thought it was just the s she got older and thought about it more, she decided that getting a connect with her culture and identity as an Indian woman. Additio her family such as her grandmother, who she holds close to her he nose pierced, Anjali loves it! To her, it’s fun and a way to stand out, w easy. She leaves us with one last bit of wisdom: “If you’re going to g claires or the school bathroom!”

Wilson Hol

Throughout Wilson’s life, he w always knew that he wanted to do a tattoo in her honor. After her pas tattooed until he was reminded by that this was a perfect way to conti

. . . . Jewelry do’s . . . . and don’ts Adler Amolsch Director of New Staff

Tarnished, gold, silver, and steel, Jackson-Reed students are decorated in every kind of metal. With warmer days and bolder looks ahead, the Beacon’s got your guide to jewelry do’s and don’ts so you stay stacked the right way this season.

Do: Mix your metal As a victim of staying true to only one metal, trust me when I say the grass is so much greener on the other side. Don’t limit your stacks to just a single tone. Play around with white gold and a bright silver, or pair yellow gold and leather. Find shades that harmonize to effortlessly elevate your daily look.

Don’t: Buy mindlessly It’s tempting to quickly grab a pair of cheap silver hoops at your local Target, but nothing sucks more when those same pieces slowly leave a faded green tint on your fingers or ears.

Stainless steel or plated gold are always reliable and don’t leave you with those unflattering mold stains. Quality charms can be found second-hand or even at a nearby Claire’s, but always do your homework before making the impulsive buy.

Do: Stack up!

It’s hard to go wrong with jewelry; the more the merrier!

While a minimalist look has its charm, layering jewelry is the easiest way to brighten any dull fit. Take, for example, a simple combo like loose jeans, a white tank, and sneakers. Dependable, but kinda basic. Now, throw on chunky necklaces, a couple of bangles, a bold hoop, statement rings, and boom: instant upgrade. So don’t be shy to find those accessories, build up your collection, and expand your plain looks with a fat stack.

Don’t: Forget about rings As stated previously, building up a look with jewelry is critical in transforming any fit. But jewelry users tend to overlook a very integral element of that bedazzled mix: rings!

Necklaces and earrings might take the spotlight, but rings are just as essential. Like getting a fresh set of acrylics, rings can completely shift the tone of your style. A gold signet or delicate silver ring softens and feminizes a look, while chunky silver or gem-studded rings add a bold, edgy flair. Don’t underestimate the power of hand glam.

Do: Stay true to you Lastly, and most importantly, express yourself authentically!

When layering your metal, find pieces that resonate with you.

Adorn your ears with pearls, clutter your wrists with friendship bracelets, or wear just a simple charm necklace. Find what speaks to you and embrace it fully! • GRAPHIC BY FRANCES LEIBOVICH

Benji Roskes - m

Benji has a collection of six piercings, two in his right ear, three in his lef he has always felt that piercings have looked very cool and could work well fo out to him the most: a chain and a snake earring. His older sister, Nava, reco was a “10/10 recommendation”. His snake earring matches with his twin sis him to his family even more.

Jax Dow

Jax’s tatto means a lot fo transgender ta not only in his family as an av Jax enjoys is pr the style of the

JR’s fashion

Shayna Contri

Every day walking down the halls at JR, y vintage thrifted vests to layered tops. Each ou story, so let’s take a look at some of the best!

1. Linda Prick, sophomore Linda’s outfits are always spot on, with her stunning felt green Adidas and pink Owala tying the whole outfit together.

With her cute but casual style, school is her personal fashion show.

3. Leah freshman L e a h ’s minimalistic s projects her personality, b effortless ele modern sim timeless style confidence p she’s stunning Her pink shoe jewelry tie her flawlessly.

2. Charley Jones, junior You can catch Charley studying in style with her Pretty Little Thing pants, her gorgeous light blue Airpod Maxes, and her cheetah print UGG slippers that totally bring her outfit together. Her unique but trendy outfits make her stand out amongst hundreds of students.

ssion At JR

S CLARE BATE GRAPHICS BY

piercings

erafino ns Editor

se ring

y women in her family who also have same as getting your ears pierced. As a nose ring would be an easy way to onally, it connects Anjali to people in eart. As for other people getting their with the healing time being quick and get it pierced go to a tattoo shop! No

lman - dove tattoo

was always very close with his grandmother, Darlene Holman. He o something in her legacy and told her that one day he would get ssing, Wilson debated between getting her name or her birthday y his father that Darlene always had a love for doves. Wilson felt inue her memory, and it’s also the start of more tattoos.

multiple piercings

ft ear, and one in his nose. For Benji, or him. Two of Benji’s piercings stick ommended the chain, and to him, it ster Maya’s own earring, connecting

wney- moth tattoo

oo was a present for his eighteenth birthday. The moth sitting atop ferns or Jax and his life story. While in Baltimore for his top surgery, he found a attoo artist nearby “It felt like fate.” The moth symbolizes his transformation, s gender but in life at large. His late grandmother is remembered in his vid gardener, represented by the ferns that the moth perches on. A hobby rintmaking, which he learned in Mr. Walters’ printmaking class, inspiring e tattoo. •

Classic fashion:, take it or leave it Eva Solomon Nati Pinilla Junior Editors

When looking back on the iconic trends of past decades, there’s so much to review. Since the onset of fashion, trends have changed immensely, for better or for worse. From flapper dresses in the 20s to poodle skirts in the 50s and the unique hairstyles of the 80s, the 20th century had many staples, and we believe that some should come back and some should never return. First, let’s discuss the decades with the best looks!

History has shown a diverse and evolving set of styles that have shaped how we dress today. The 1990s were far superior in fashion than ever seen before. As new styles have been breaking out, the 90s have resurfaced through trends seen today.

n is on point!

a Sann ibutor

you’ll spot a wide variety of fits, ranging from utfit on display at school tells its own unique 5. Cecelia Grant, sophomore With Cecelia, you can always catch her rocking a classy indie style that demonstrates her charm perfectly. Her blue Urban Outfitters top goes perfectly with her brown jeans that bring the perfect pop of color.

You can catch her walking through Jackson-Reed with a confident strut showing off her adorable outfits no matter the day. •

h F l e t c h e r,

chic and style perfectly outstanding blending her egance with mplicity. Her e reflects her perfectly, and g in any outfit. es and simple outfit together

4. Maddie Woods, junior Maddie’s casual yet cool style showcases her perfectly.

With her cool and nonchalant personality, she effortlessly embraces a minimalist yet trendy aesthetic. Catch her in jeans and a stunning top, owning the school.

Although decades like the 70s and 80s had their iconic looks, we have learned that simplicity is the way to go when it comes to reemerging trends. The 90s had flannel shirts, denim, vibrant colors, and even the baggy appeal that is seen today as well!

Some trends have made a short comeback, such as flannel, bucket hats, and cargo pants, but have quickly left. Overall, looking back on the 1990s as a whole, their style has inspired many of the trends we see today.

In terms of glamorous items from the past, we have seen the potential for numerous trends to reappear. So here we’ve compiled a few to encourage their comeback.

Chunky accessories: A simple look can be dramatically elevated with the type of accessories you pair it with. The 2000s have great examples of this like oversized belts and long necklaces. We have seen them styled with such ease, so let’s bring them BACK. Hair blowouts: The secret to pulling an outfit together is to have a blowout. Even a basic outfit is magically better with the addition of a blowout.

The vibes are brought up so much with the touch of your hair being fixed, so we say: bring them BACK. Leather jackets: This item has been an immediate staple when thinking of the 90s or even 80s; we swear every photo of an outfit had this stylish jacket to pair. It’s warm, cute, and matches ANY outfit. So we say bring them BACK.

When we bring back elements of the past we should also look to see what to leave behind. Many different styles are emerging in the 2020s that we can confidently leave behind in the 2030s.

Some items are; Crop tops: I mean, why would you pay full price for half a shirt? Crop tops have actually been around for a while and have been very popular since the 80s, but I think we can agree they’ve had a good run, and it’s time to leave them BEHIND. Skinny jeans: There is potential for greatness when styling skinny jeans, but as we reflect on previous outfits containing skinny jeans, it has been a continuous flop. They are never styled right, so we all can agree that it’s best to leave them BEHIND. High-waisted jeans: The topic of jeans has been a big discussion for a while now. I mean, skinny jeans are out, baggy is in, bootcut is ugly but flared is stylish. The one thing we agree with

completely is that high-waisted jeans ruin an otherwise perfect outfit as it doesn’t help elevate the look. We say: leave it BEHIND. In conclusion, there are endless opportunities for changes in the current style. When we choose the right trends to leave behind or bring back, the outfit choices we have are instantly better. In the future, let’s make sure to continue reviving unique trends that have sadly vanished from mainstream style. As we look forward, don’t forget the past attire that has led to greatness. We hope that this article may have inspired you to wear a new look that could have been a staple in the past! •

The Beacon

SPORTS

12

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

Track and field team turns to the outdoors after Nationals Sam Bigge Junior Editor The indoor track and field team saw immense success at the end of the season. After a strong postseason and a stint at New Balance Nationals in Boston, the team is looking to carry that momentum into the outdoor season.

Eight athletes were sent to Boston, where they competed amongst the country's best talents in a competition considered the pinnacle of high school track and field.

The JR athletes at the event included the girls’ 4x200m relay team, run by seniors Amalya Westray and Indie WallacePersaud, junior Olivia Purce, and sophomore Ariele Westray, who won the event in the DCSAA state championship.

The other four were boys competing in the distance medley relay, with junior Mark Suardi starting in the 1200m, junior Derek Riddick in the 400m, senior Harry Bertsch in the 800m, and sophomore Arjun Bhat finishing off the race in the 1600m.

The indoor tour officially concluded at the Adidas Nationals in Virginia Beach, where more than 20 members of the program participated. At both national events, though

some athletes fell short, the team saw individual success with PR’s. Wallace was one of the Tigers who truly showed out at the events, setting a major PR at New Balance Nationals, which contributed to her eventual status as an All-American.

Looking back, as JR took wins and losses at events, exp e ctations were larg ely met this winter. At the DCIAA championship, the girls won the championship and the boys finished as runners-up.

Wallace won MVP for the meet, with head coach Tia Clemmons winning Most Valuable Coach.

Additionally, there were many individual victories, such as the wins for Bertsch in the 800m and one mile, and a dub for Bhat in the two mile.

“There wasn’t too much strength in distance, so I actually ended up doing it as a tempo run, but I did it with my teammate and I pushed him to a PR, and it was a cool experience,” said Bhat. “I love the DCIAA meets, it really hypes you up seeing all the different awards.”

Shortly after the city championship, another Tiger achie vement was marke d, this one at the colle giate le vel. Wallace announce d her commitment to compete

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACKSON REED TRACK TEAM

WINTER SUCCESS - Indoor track athletes compete at DCIAA championship. At the championship, the girls team came in first and the boys came in second. at Syracuse University over two other schools: Columbia University and North Carolina A&T. “My main reason was the atmosphere, I feel like this visit was the most comforting to me,” explained Wallace. “I just felt like it was somewhere meant for me, I loved the team, I loved the campus and the people that I talked to.”

Later in the winter, the team returned to Landover,

Ma r yla n d f o r t h e D C SA A Championship. The Tigers were able to keep up with the regional top dogs; the girls finished fourth overall behind Archbishop Caroll, St. John’s, and Georgetown Visitation.

For most of these athletes, of course, the season is just halfway over. However, the spring outdoor track season is in the horizon. One objective for the spring season is for the boys to win a D CIAA

championship, a goal that has been out of reach for several years.

The outdoor season continues at the Emerging Elite Invitational in Fulton, Mar yland on April 25. “We are a strong team, so we’re always about business when we get back out on the track,” said Clemmons. “I have a lot of disciplined athletes, and they are very self-motivated, and that is very inspiring.” •

Tough schedule preps baseball for another state run Justin Glenn Sports Editor

After reclaiming the DCSAA title at the end of last year’s season and dominating their conference for 31 years in a row, the baseball team returned this spring ready for more. With no hesitation, they

looked toward the next challenge head-on: a schedule jam packed with regional powerhouse opponents.

“We’re thankful that we are able to face the competition that we have and our team’s performance has reflected it,” said junior pitcher Nelson Hayes. “Our hitting has

picked up where we left off from last year and our pitching staff has done a great job. We definitely are looking to repeat from 2024 and show that we are one of the best teams in the DMV.” The program built a schedule around 16 private school games, three doubleheader weekends,

PHOTO BY ELI SCHWARTZ

MOUND VISIT - In addition to efforts to extend their DCIAA dynasty to 32 years, the baseball program is eyeing school history with consecutive state titles for the first time ever.

and 17 road games. Through April 21, the Tigers sit 19-4 overall with only losses to St. John’s, St. Mary’s Ryken, DeMatha and James Madison. However, testing wins were secured over St. Albans, Georgetown Prep, The Gilman School, Landon, three times against Southern Maryland Christian Academy, and The Heights School.

“The team handled themselves very well. March was a very hard month for us, but the boys went at the challenge everyday and gave it their all each game,” said head coach Robinson Mateo. “We played well in most of the games. We had a few that I think that we could have won but overall it’s definitely been a good season for us.”

Although it’s cliché, this spring has been a full team effort. While there is a competition gap between JR and DCIAA teams, against private school competition the team has hit for an average of .289 and batted in 80 total runs.

In those games, the pitching staff has kept opposing teams to two runs per game and have gotten base hits only 20 percent of the time. For season totals, the Tigers have four home runs and executed 145 strikeouts metrics better than both numbers at this point last year.

The team held themselves and their opponents to this standard while having two senior leaders, Jackson Loomis and Etan Rosario, who were key contributors toward

the state title run, limited the first month due to injury clearance.

Loomis had surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in the state title game, and Rosario returned from surgery to repair a torn labrum.

Now, the program feels the puzzle is complete to shift their focus toward making school history and winning back-to-back state titles, something the baseball program has never done.

“The approach as a team has been to trust in the person behind you and try to get on base for them.

We practice a lot on hitting the ball to the opposite field which allows us to use all of the field rather than only using the pull side,” said senior second baseman Evan Rosario. “It’s tough having two great players limited to start the year, but I think Coach Robbie has done a great job in constructing a lineup and game plan that allows us to win.”

To conclude the regular season are two conference games headlined by rival School Without Walls, then from there the postseason hunt of 32 straight DCIAA championships and making school history of back-toback state titles begins in May. “Even though it’s a really tough schedule, there’s no better way to get us prepared to defend our titles,” said senior infielder Freeman Hunt. “It’s a reminder of the work we need to put into staying on the right path, if we want to have another chance at another title.” •

13

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 • THE BEACON

SPORTS

Meet softball coach David Thompson

Lacrosse programs embrace season ups and downs

JACK OF ALL TRADES - David Thompson is best known for working at the Help Desk and coaching the Varsity softball team.

Outside of school, he is also a singer, Eagle Scout, and JR alum.

Natalia Weinstein Junior Editor

You may know him as the tech guy in the atrium, but David Thompson is also the head coach of the varsity softball team and JR’s very own Instructional Coach of Technology.

Thompson, a DC native, grew up in Adams Morgan and attended Oyster Elementary School, Alice Deal Middle School, and Wilson High School (now Jackson-Reed). During his time at JR, Thompson played baseball, participated on the Speech and Debate Team, and performed in the school band.

He then attended Georgia Institute of Technology, where he majored in Business. Since his undergraduate education, Thompson has received a master’s degree in teaching from Trinity University in DC, in addition to a master’s degree in Administration from George Mason University.

Following his own education, Thompson taught English as a Second Language (ESL) for two years at Marie Reed Bilingual Elementar y School in Adams Morgan, before teaching math at John Francis Education Campus for one year. Thompson ventured back to JR in 1996, where he worked for 10 consecutive years. He taught Geometry and Algebra 1, before becoming the Department Chair of Computer Science, developing and building the computer science program. In 2006, Thompson left to work in the DCPS Central

FRISBEE from page 1

tournament featured teams from across the East Coast, including North Carolina, Massachusetts, and New York, and earned them a place at the HSNI this June.

While their regular season began in February, the team has been training since the start of the school year. Their fall season focuses on helping new players build foundational skills. In February, the team split into JV and varsity, along with ramping up their level of competitiveness in practice.

Office for seven years, serving as a specialist in career and technological education. He worked on a program called ‘DCPS Bridges,’ providing eighth graders with a four-year high school plan.

He returned to JR in 2012 as a math instructional coach, but is also commonly referred to as the ‘tech guy.’ Thompson has also enjoyed coaching the softball team since 2017. “I love making a positive influence on people’s lives. [On the field] I like to think I’m a teacher. I’ll have a lesson plan, a strategy. I get to know the players so I can have an individual strategy for each one.”

This spring Thompson’s softball team sits 5-5-1 as they eye a 12th straight DCIAA championship.

In his free time, Thompson is a singer in the ‘NPC Band,’ and spends his summer working on his family farm in West Virginia, where they grow blueberries. He enjoys traveling and is the travel ambassador for Jackson-Reed.

Thompson has gone to Senegal with the Travel Abroad Program, Dubai and Abu Dhabi with the Electric Vehicle Team, Puerto Rico with the softball team, and Mexico with the robotics team, all experiences which he has enjoyed. Thompson is a proud Eagle Scout, sharing how, “doing a good turn and helping other people at times is part of who I am.”

Nowadays, you can find Coach Thompson at the Help Desk in Jackson-Reed’s atrium, as well as on the softball field. •

Despite the team losing several of its key graduates, they have still been able to perform at their highest level. Ohls said that he “thought this would be a stepdown, we graduated a bunch of really good players last year, but we’ve been playing at a high level over the past few years and developing really good players.”

HSNI will take place June 13 and 14 in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania and overlap with JR’s class of 2025 graduation.

Currently, there are eight seniors on the team. All of them will be skipping graduation for the chance to take home the national title.

Senior captain Roger Beckel

Eva Solomon Junior Editor

Since the boys' and girls' lacrosse seasons kicked off, there have been numerous ups and downs for both teams. As the season has developed, however, progress has been made.

As of April 22, the scores started with the girls' varsity season playing tournament where they went 2-1-1. The following games had fluctuating scores, including a 16-1 loss against Maret and an 11-6 win against Wakefield. After this, they played with a win against the Field School, 10-8, with a close 9-10 loss against Bishop McNamara. The next game was also a defeat against Trinity Christian, 10-16. Afterwards, they won against School Without Walls 7-2 and the Field School 104. They still have a few upcoming games in May including their senior night game against School Without Walls, Georgetown Day School, Brookewood, the Field tournament, and the DCSA tournament.

To begin the spring, the team learned to play with each other and incorporate new athletes into the team. One new player

was sophomore midfielder Lucy Carroll. Caroll reflected that “girls’ varsity lacrosse is a unique team of competition and compassion. It’s an environment of positivity and support for each student athlete even with the results.” Many others share this sentiment about the team, including captain junior goalie Maddie Landis who expressed enjoyment of the season that has “increased team bonding.”

The boys' team has also experienced both victories and defeats. Playing with a freelance schedule, the Tigers have played teams that come from many different places and levels of talent. As of April 22, their season began with a loss to Sidwell, but they turned this around by the next game against DC International with a massive win of 18-4. After a narrow win against Bishop McNamara, 8-7, and narrow loss to Wakefield, 15-13, the Tigers went on a tear, with three dominant wins in a row over Sandy Springs, Bowie High School, and the JV team of Archbishop Carroll.

“We started off the season in a tough spot with a loss to our much anticipated game against

Sidwell. The losses we endured after were tough because it kept coming down to the very final minute of the game and we felt we were pouring all we could into these games but coming up short,” said senior Lucas Dimou.

“We realized we just had to fix our mistakes and realize that we could keep up with these bigger teams. Now that we figured that out we secured a triple overtime comeback against Bishop McNamara,” Dimou explained. “I feel really happy with the spot our team is in and we have our sights set on the state tournament, but it’s one game at a time.”

Th e t e a m h a s h a d a significant increase in personnel with the program this year in the number of coaches and players.

The atmosphere is great, and it is a fun team to be on. Freshman Jackie Searby said that the program’s environment has been “good. I really like it and we are 6-5 right now.”

The boys will have senior night against Flint Hill, a match against Georgetown Day School, and an annual alumni game to close out May. •

PHOTOS BY DANIEL KREPPS

STICKS UP - Lacrosse kicked off the spring season with highs and lows. Junior Celia Joldersma has led the girls’ team to wins against Wakefield and School Without Walls while junior Nathan Liebman has led the boys' team to victories against DC International and Bishop McNamara.

said that “while [the team] is still focused on the rest of the regular season, as the season progresses, [they] are going to shift their goals to HSNI.” “We’re looking forward, our goals are to play to our potential, be a positive, spirited, and joyful team, and have competitive success,” Ohls added. While winning nationals is a stretch goal, Ohls pointed out that the team’s deep roster gives them an edge over competitors.

To do this, Ohls says that in order to be the quality of team they are capable of being, they are putting in the work off the field, doing film sessions, conditioning, and building

cohesiveness among the team.

With a few more tournaments ahead, the team is focused on staying sharp and continuing to improve. Beckel said he hopes the team “plays at a high level at HSNI a n d to the best of their ability.” •

GRAPHIC BY CLARE BATES

The Beacon

STYLE

14

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

Ms. Green’s yummytastic vegan recipes

Cecelia Grant Junior Editor

Welcome back to another teacher recipe review! If you’re in search of a new recipe (or two), geometry teacher Caylah Green has got you.

For anyone who struggles with complex cooking recipes but still aims to expand their skills, Ms. Green has two delicious vegan recipes for you: crispy cornbread biscuits and sticky pecan squares.

While I myself am not a vegan, I feel that there is always room for me to grow my food palate and decided that this was the way to go.

Starting off with the cornbread biscuits, I was informed that they could be served in a variety of seasonal fashions. They can be enjoyed

alongside a warm bowl of soup or simply as a breakfast treat with butter or raspberry preserves.

Jumping right in, I was lucky to find this recipe relatively simple. With a cooking time totaling to about thirty-five minutes and a pretty standard ingredient list, I was set. I first combined flour, cornmeal, and a few other base ingredients with relative ease. This was followed by mixing margarine i n to t h e b o wl , which I found to be the only semidifficult element of the recipe as I lacked a pastry dough blender.

The rest was a breeze; I added some almond milk and apple

cider, wrapping up by cooking this doughy texture on the stove.

In summary, I would describe the process as similar to cooking pancakes, except the result is much hardier and more versatile as it can be as a side dish or simple snack.

W h e n it comes to t h e r e su l t s, Ms. Green’s cornbread biscuit recipe tasted fantastic and absolutely lived up to her enthusiastic claims about it! With its c r i sp y , g o l d e n brown exterior and warm, filling taste, I would rate these biscuits a solid 9/10 and urge you to

give them a shot! I had them with some chicken tortilla soup (shoutout Surfside) and they complimented each other nicely.

The second recipe mentioned was the sticky pecan squares. Ms. Green mentioned that this recipe is a family one, often used during holidays!

First, I mixed flour, sugar, and margarine into a crumb-like mixture, similar to the first recipe.

Next, I spread it across a pan and placed it in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, I worked on the topping for this recipe, melting margarine, brown sugar and maple syrup before adding pecans (of course), and a

couple of other ingredients and mixing until an even consistency.

After spreading the mixture over the crust and letting it cool, the squares were complete.

The simplicity of this recipe, sheer amount produced in such a short amount of time, and deliciousness earned this one a 10/10!

While I accidentally left the oven on for too long and may have f o rg o tte n a couple steps at various points, I’m very proud to say the dish survived and came out on the other side in two, tasty pieces! •

GRAPHIC BY CLARE BATES

Tenleytown: An analysis Lonesome Drifter: Modern country Jordana Sloane Junior Editor

Tenleytown: there are no words to describe my love for you. You’ve been there for me since my first day of middle school, through all the highs and lows, and even gave me my first ever post-Hoco meal.

However, I have many thoughts on how you could be better.

Firstly, Tenleytown needs a coffee shop! As students, we (sadly) have lots of homework and all we want after school is a snack and a quiet(ish) table to do our work. I’m not throwing shade at the library, but having a smoothie or much needed caffeine while locking in would be great (and do wonders for my grades). And with that spot between Guapo’s and ChickFil-A vacant, there’s a perfect opportunity for a coffee shop.

Starbucks come back!

Now to a topic of much contention, the Tenley Target.

Don’t come for me, but the Tenley Target is just a suburban CVS with “Target” slapped on it. Between the line, locked up shelves, and the tiny selection, you’re b etter off ordering whatever you need from Amazon. The space is kind

James Davis Contributor

of constraining so expansion isn’t really a solution for their problems, but a few well placed bribes to the Container Store could go a long way (hint hint). Take that as you will, but beware that I’m watching you, Target.

In regards to the food scene, Tenleytown is definitely showing up and showing out.

With nearly every East Coast fast food chain within a ten minute walk, Tenley is heaven for broke teenagers. The sprinkling of original restaurants is *chefs kiss* and truly pulls together the well-known Tenleytown aesthetic. But one more thing: Dunkin’, how hard could it be to make enough donuts to last until 4pm? (You legit have one job.)

While Tenleytown needs improvement, we as students do too. Don’t forget that Target has a line because of the student pickpocketing. And before you go saying “but we bring so much money to Tenley,” r e m e m b e r t h a t St a r b u c k s left because of our behavior.

Tenleytown is far from perfect, but as students we stand in the way of its improvement.•

Hailing from South Texas, Charley Crockett’s new album, Lonesome Drifter, is a staunch love letter to country and western music.

Don’t let the label of “country” scare you away from diving into this album as Crockett strips the genre all the way down to its core.

Lonesome Drifter calls back to the start of Crockett’s career, where he hopped trains in search of an audience, a stark contrast to now as he has played the Grand Ole Opry Stage in Nashville, Tennessee. He tells it as it is. His musical influence reflects his life’s story. His singing and lyrical style is reminiscent of Kris Kristofferson’s soothing vocals, while the instrumentals pull from all across the map. From playing western bars in Dallas, to jazz and blues in New Orleans, to even R&B in the New York City subway, this album is a musical passport recounting his life.

His songs also speak to the human experience that has been told for decades through country music legends. In the song “One Trick Pony,” Crockett sings that “life is but a rodeo.” He knows more than most about being bucked off by life just to get up for the next ride.

Like a lot of classic country music, this album speaks to the political landscape of the nation.

Crockett highlights what life is like for the underdogs in America right now. Notably singing, “everybody’s workin’ in them cotton fields / just a little bit different than it used to feel,” in the title track, Crockett points out the working conditions many Americans are forced to work under.

Those familiar with traditional country music will recognize the work of musicians like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson who used their platforms to advocate for many underrepresented groups. In the modern era of country music, Charley Crockett is carrying on this mantle, using his voice to advocate for change like his predecessors. He’s seen the seedy underbelly of America while traveling and is shining his spotlight on it.

He ends the album by covering “Amarillo by Morning” by George Strait, which is a staple in country music. This perfectly encapsulates the ideas Crockett forms throughout the twelve tracks. Stay true to your roots, grow them strong, and soon enough you can support those who haven’t found their strength yet. •

GRAPHIC BY JAMES DAVIS

The past and present of Arab American Heritage Month Henley Kaminskas Alice Patterson Features Editors

April is Arab American Heritage Month, where culture, contributions, achievements and more are celebrated and acknowledged. Efforts for the establishment of Arab American Heritage Month originally started in the late 1980s, when Congress established October 25 as National Arab American Day. However, the full month was more recently solidified in 2017 by the Arab American

Foundation and Arab America, t wo nonprofit me dia and education organizations that focus on sharing the culture and identity of American Arabs while being involved with politics.

At first, the national designation was recognized in a handful of cities and states.

Two years later, Representatives Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib introduced a resolution in Congress that would establish April as Arab American Heritage Month. In April 2021, President Joe Biden was the first president to release an official proclamation

of the month.

To celebrate Arab American Heritage Month in DC, you can visit the Dew Drop Inn on Saturday, May 17 for the Arab American Culture Festival. From 4-9 pm, you can explore and experience the rich traditions of Arabs through music, food, and performances. The MLK Library hosted a Muath Edriss concert on April 12, and will be throwing a cultural celebration of fashion, food, musical, art, and workshops on Saturday, April, 27 at 2 pm. Additionally, check out the Smithsonian’s Arab American

History collection at the National Museum of American History, which will include oral histories, archived materials, and artifacts.

JR’s very own Arab Student Union (ASU) is also hosting an Arab Culture Night today from 5-9 pm. There will be live music performances, traditional cuisine, cultural showcases, and local vendors. “We want people to walk away with more knowledge and a deeper appreciation for our culture,” junior ASU president Yasmine Foty said.

The ASU meets every Monday at lunch in room W325. Their

mission is to “establish a sense of community for Arab students, uplift Arab and Arab American voices, [and] have discussions on the Arab experience,” along with celebrating and learning about Arab culture, according to Foty.

Foty also noted that despite the fact that “Arab culture is so often misunderstood, stereotyped, or completely left out of the conversation.” The celebration of heritage month “gives us a chance to tell our own stories and show the beauty, depth, and diversity of our culture.” •

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FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 • THE BEACON

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. . . . . . . . . . Artist’s Corner: Frances Leibovich . . . . . . . . . .

Adler Amolsch Frances Leibovich Director of New Staff Director of Art and Design

With the help of some construction paper, paint, and skill, senior Frances Leibovich creates vibrant artworks that explore the emotions of teenage life.

Inspired by color, nostalgia, and youthful experiences, this Artist's Corner highlights

The Marionette Through mixed media, Leibovich illustrates the elements that construct a ‘false’ reality. The piece uncovers the idea that even in the most magical moments, curation and control are at play. While not all moments are coincidental, that doesn’t make them any less magical.

Get Ready With Me Hoping to explore the unseen efforts that go into selfpresentation, Leibovich filmed herself getting ready, painting different parts of the process. When collaging, Leibovich captured both the discomfort and beauty that can exist in such a meticulous ritual.

Leg Shaving Exploring the pain that goes into cultivating an image of beauty, Leibovich highlights the unseen struggles behind the pursuit of perfection. While beauty is often seen as effortless, it can involve discomfort and self-consciousness. • Prom Expectations This piece explores the youthful expectations of a high school prom.

Created to embrace the childlike wonder of teenage years, Leibovich conveys the nostalgia and excitement of envisioning a movie-like future.

Unnoticed wonders: Art throughout the building Emma Godavitarne Sophie Rothschild Josie Ritter Contributors

Every day, Jackson-Reed students rush through the hallways with their eyes locked on their phones. However, if you take a moment to look up and you will see a vibrant world of art decorating the walls.

There’s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered, tucked away near the art classrooms, where breathtaking student-made art comes to life.

The student-made artwork on display in this gallery is a part of the Drawing and Painting A, Pen and Watercolor Contrast Paintings, taught by instructor Zalika Perkins. In this installation, the walls come alive with uniquely crafted paintings that open a window into the world of animals, sea creatures,

and even mythical beings. The talented use of watercolor and ink enlivens these paintings by creating vibrant ethereal backgrounds, each having unique designs that transport the viewer into another world.

These paintings are more than just an installation, but a bold expression of creativity from our Jackson-Reed student body. The unique blend of animals, the ocean, and fantasy elements illustrates the diverse imaginations and talents that thrive in this corner of the school. For those who walk past the art rooms in the basement, we strongly encourage you to pause and truly look at this display made by our fellow students.

Beyond this tucked-away gallery, Jackson-Reed halls are homes to murals that add purpose and meaning to our

school. The Black Lives Matter mural featured in the first-floor hallway stands out particularly.

The mural reflects our school's dedication to diversity and inclusion and is not just a piece of art that enhances the hallway, but a call for reflection and change. It invites every student who walks past to think about the issue it represents. “I think the art in the hallway shows that the school systematically cares about issues and strives to make a change in our school environment,” said sophomore Mateo Jacobson.

Next time you are walking through the halls, take time to look up and admire the artwork around you. The art is not just a decoration, but an expression of creativity from our JacksonReed student body. •

GRAPHIC BY SAMUEL LEE

The iconic DC cherry blossom experience Jessica McCallum Style Editor

DC’s metro was said to have reached its fifth highest ridership in history on Saturday, March 29th with 558,000 tourists and Washingtonians. I am proud to say I was one of the 558,000 disgruntled commuters simply trying to get home after a humbling afternoon playing tourist at the cherry blossoms.

It was all born of the naive notion that we could take a venture downtown to see the cherry blossoms on a prime cherry-blossom-viewing weekend, without getting trapped with hordes of tourists. So, full of energy and hope, we arrived on the National Mall around 12:45 pm with the Kite and Cherry Blossom festivals in full swing.

Starting in 1967, the thencalled Smithsonian Kite Festival attracts thousands of DC residents, DMV intruders, and tourists each year. This year was no different and we arrived to see hundreds of kites littering the sky around the Washington Monument. After taking a (slow) lap around the Monument lawns, we decided to abandon the face-painting line to relax under a tree away from the threat of kite strings.

Despite the warmth of the day, the beauty of the cherry blossoms, and the entertainment of old people running around trying to get their kites off the ground, we soon left the safety of the picnic blanket to see the tidal basin. This was where we went wrong.

The crowds were unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and

I’ve spent plenty of time fighting for my life in the off-campus lunch line. Nonetheless, we made our way to the edge o f the basin for the necessary, gorgeous, blossom selfies. (We even fought our pride and did what every good gen-x tourist would: we asked someone to take our picture!).

Alas, everything good must come to an end. And that it did, for as soon as we began making our way home things went downhill. The number of furries we saw on the walk to the metro was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed before, and that was before we got into the station where a woman had a literal live rabbit in a stroller. It was here we should’ve abandoned, but trapped in the station we metroed to Foggy Bottom and proceeded to sit in bus traffic for the next 45 minutes.

In hindsight, we should’ve traveled home almost any other way - walking honestly might’ve been faster - but after a grueling hour and 45 minutes I arrived home hot, exhausted, and ready to never again leave my house.

In my recounting of the events I’ve had to decide whether the nice time I had downtown was ruined with the horrors of my journey home.

Whilst I’d say it’s pretty close, I don’t hesitate to recommend you visit the blossoms next year - they were absolutely beautiful. Just, maybe, go home a different way? • GRAPHIC BY SAMUEL LEE

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AP Español Literatura y Cultura te expondrá una escritura excepcional Elena Sofia Arbelaez Colaboradora

Cuando tenía que aplicar a la universidad, en uno de mis “supplementals” se me preguntó qué obra de literatura yo consideraba como excelente. Me sentí perdida. Había demasiados libros excelentes que ya había leído, sin embargo, no podía escoger uno para salvarme la vida. La obra tenía que resumir todas las razones por las cuales yo debería ser considerada como una buena opción en esta universidad y mi futuro dependía de esta decisión.

Releí quizás unos tres libros antes de decidirme por un cuento sencillo. Para mi sorpresa, yo escogí un cuento que había leído en una clase que había tomado el curso anterior.

No me había dado cuenta en ese momento, pero al releerlo, ¡me vi a mímisma tan claramente en el texto! La clase en la que se me presentó el relato fue la de AP Literatura en Español.

Tengo queadmitir que fue una clase difícil y me tomó mucho más tiempo que todas mis clases ese año (estaba tomando cinco APs), pero la colección de textos del curso fue impecable. Además de lo que tenía que aprender para el examen, las obras se justificaban por sí solas. Había una razón por la que esos textos tenían el privilegio de vivir en mi gran libro de texto verde.

El relato que yo escogí fue Mi Caballo Mago de Ulibarrí, un escritor mexicano-americano

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del suroeste. Se trata de un joven que captura un caballo mítico, pero se le escapa. Uno hubiera asumido que la pérdida del gran caballo debería haber quebrado al joven, pero no lo hace. Le da más a través de la naturaleza animalística y realista del escape del caballo. El texto me recordó a la relación con mi hermano. El cuento encapsulaba perfectamente algo en lo que me había dado cuenta hace unos años en la escuela secundaria: al ver los defectos de mi hermano, o de cualquier otra persona, te da un sentido mejor de quiénes son. Eso fortificó nuestra amistad más que si yo tratara de mantenerla en una idealización perfecta. La reflexión personal que el relato tuvo en mí fue una de las razones por las cuales la universidad me aceptó.

Eso es lo genial de esta clase, los textos escogidos están enfocados en la exploración de la condición humana. No hay ninguna otra clase que se ofrezca en Jackson-Reed que tenga una colección tan excelente de textos clásicos. Son clásicos por una razón, y es porque van a seguir siendo esclarecedores y relevantes por años sin fin.

Recomendaría a cualquiera que tenga un dominio bueno del español, nativo o no, que tome esta clase. No solamente vas a encontrarte material excepcional para tu ensayo cuando te apliques a la universidad, sino que también te encontrarás con textos que son por excelencia genuinos y humanos. •

VIERNES, 25 DE ABRIL, DE 2025

Icono Arabe Americana: Amal Clooney

Avani Patel Editora Junior Traducido por Dani Ortiz

Amal Clo oney es una abogada británica-libanesa muy distinguida, especializada en derecho internacional y derechos humanos.

Clooney (nacida Alamuddin) nació el 3 de febrero de 1978 en Beirut, L í ba n o, h i ja d e R a m z i y Baria Alamuddin. Tiene una hermana, Tala, y dos medio hermanos, Samer y Ziad, de un matrimonio anterior de su padre. A los dos años, su familia emigró del Líbano al Reino Unido para escapar de la guerra civil libanesa. En agosto del 2014, se casó con George Clooney, con quien tiene un par de mellizos.

En el año 2000, Clooney se graduó de St. Hugh’s College, uno de los colegios que forman parte de la Universidad de Oxford, con una licenciatura en jurisprudencia. Al año siguiente, se matriculó en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Nueva York, donde obtuvo un máster en derecho, lo cual le permitió practicar como abogada tanto en Estados Unidos como en Inglaterra y Gales.

Al finalizar sus estudios, Clooney trabajó en Sullivan & Cromwell, uno de los bufetes de abogados más p r e s t i g i o s o s d e l m u n d o.

Allí actuó como abogada d e f e n s o ra e n la e m p re sa Enron y por varios de sus ejecutivos. Clooney también ha colaborado con la Corte Internacional de Justicia y con la Corte Penal Internacional en La Haya, Países Bajos.

FOTO CORTESIA DE WIKEPIDA COMMONS

ACTIVISTA Y ABOGADA - Amal Clooney ha dedicado su vida a protegiende derechos humanos

La Haya es considerada la ciudad internacional de la paz y la justicia. Clooney, junto a la abogada irlandesa C a o i l f h i o n n G a l l a g h e r, representó a la periodista filipino-estadounidense Maria Ressa; que enfrentaba varios cargos legales que le podría haber encarcelado décadas de prisión. En 2021, Ressa fue galardonada con el Premio Nobel de la Paz por su “lucha valiente por la libertad de expresión en las Filipinas”.

Más recientemente, el 27 de abril de 2022, Clooney fue parte de una reunión del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU en formato Arria, sobre la rendición de cuentas por las atrocidades cometidas por Rusia en Ucrania.

Amal Clooney ha

d e sa r ro l la d o u n a ca r re ra brillante, centrada en la defensa de los derechos humanos.

Representa a víctimas de atrocidades, como casos de genocidio o violencia sexual.

Ha participado en muchisimos casos históricos de derechos humanos, incluidos los primeros juicios del mundo en los que miembros del ISIS fueron condenados por genocidio y crímenes contra la humanidad.

C l o o n e y si g u e si e n d o a b o g a d a y t ra b a j a c o m o p ro f e s o ra v i si t a n te e n la Universidad de Columbia en Nueva York, y en la Universidad de Oxford en Inglaterra. •

Rancho Izaguirre: El macabro hallazgo que expone la crisis de desapariciones en México

Isabella Mara Ornstein Colaboradora

T ra s r e c i b i r d i v e r s a s llamadas anónimas incitándolos, 40 miembros del grupo ”Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco” se reunieron frente al portón negro de hierro del Rancho Izaguirre el pasado 5 de marzo.

El colectivo fue formado el año pasado para encontrar a familiares desaparecidos en el estado de Jalisco, México.

Al ingresar al rancho situado en el municipio de Teuchitlán, los Guerreros Buscadores descubrieron múltiples casquillos de bala, aros aprehensores y cargadores de armas. También hallaron artículos personales como r o p a , z a p a t o s, m o c h i l a s, algunas identificaciones y listas con nombres y apodos.

Al excavar, encontraron restos humanos calcinados junto con fosas en las que se quemaban a las víctimas antes de cubrirlas

con tierra. Poco después, las autoridades identificaron seis grupos de restos óseos.

Por la evidencia encontrada—espacios d e e n t re n a m i e n to f í si c o, remanentes de armamento y listas de sobrenombres—se cree que el rancho pudo haber sido un sitio de reclutamiento para la delincuencia. Estos son campos de adiestramiento y exterminio que utiliza el crimen organizado para sumar jóvenes a su causa, sometiéndolos a las prácticas más crueles para que pierdan el miedo a usar cuchillos y pistolas.

Un padre buscador, Raúl Servín Galván, compartió: “La llamada anónima nos dijo que por ahí habían pasado unas 280 personas, pero en realidad no sabemos a cuántas les quitaron la vida. Los huesos están reducidos casi a nada, pero pueden haber sido sepultados en el rancho o en el perímetro de afuera”.

La finca fue descubierta originalmente en septiembre de 2024 durante una operación realizada por la Guardia Nacional, en la cual se detuvo a 10 personas, se liberó a dos secuestradas y se encontró a una muerta. Luego quedó bajo resguardo de la Fiscalía de Jalisco, que realizó una investigación de varias semanas para encontrar más evidencias de delitos en el lugar.

Desde entonces, el sitio había quedado abandonado. El fiscal estatal, Salvador González, aseguró que no hubo indicios de actividad criminal hasta el hallazgo de los buscadores.

El miércoles 19 de marzo, la Fiscalía G eneral de la República asumió el caso, y el fiscal general de México, Alejandro Gertz Manero, criticó con dureza los procedimientos de la fiscalía jalisciense: “No realizaron el rastreo de indicios o huellas de los hechos”, aseguró en una rueda de

prensa. “No se cumplió con el debido registro e identificación de todo lo hallado, sobre todo las prendas de vestir y calzado que quedaron abandonadas en ese sitio. No se procesaron debidamente los vehículos encontrados, de los cuales tres ya han sido robados. No se dio intervención inmediata a la Fiscalía General de la República por los delitos de posesión y utilización de armas de fuego de alto calibre y por d e l i n cu e n c ia o rg a n i z a da .

No se realizó la inspección total y exhaustiva del lugar.

No se ordenó la inmediata identificación de las huellas dactilares que allí se encontraban”.

A día de hoy, se han sacado todas las ropas, zapatos y objetos y se han mostrado al público por si algún familiar re cono ce las prendas de sus desaparecidos. La finca está ahora completamente

horadada, con calas en el suelo en busca de evidencias.

El 20 de marzo, algunos colectivos de búsqueda, tanto de Jalisco como de otros estados, llegaron al lugar. Ese día cundió la desesperanza, ya que no quedaban pruebas dentro del rancho. “¿Para qué nos han traído aquí?”, se pregunta una madre. “Esto es una burla. La única verdad es que no les importan los desaparecidos”.

Todavía no se ha podido determinar cuántas personas fueron asesinadas allí, ni cuántas más pudieron haber sido trasladadas a otros lugares. Sin embarg o, lo que sí queda claro es que el hallazgo es apenas una pieza más de un problema mucho mayor. Para los familiares de los desapare cidos, la incertidumbre sigue siendo insoportable, y la lucha por la verdad y la justicia está lejos de terminar. •

VIERNES, 25 DE ABRIL, DE 2025 • EL BEACON

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Los niños de ultimate frisbee ocupan el primer lugar en el país Clara Doyle Simone Meisnere Joao Braga Editor técnico web Editor de juegos Contribuidor Traducido por Arden Luckett

El equipo de los niños de ultimate frisbee de Jackson-Reed ocupa el primer lugar a nivel nacional y se ha clasificado para el High School National Invite (HSNI).

Este torneo anual reúne a los 16 mejores equipos del país y corona a un equipo como el mejor del país.

Esta es la primera vez en la historia del programa que han alcanzado el primer puesto a nivel nacional. El entrenador principal, Dave Ohls, comentó: "Es increíble ver al equipo pasar de ser un programa pequeño hace diez años con apenas suficientes jugadores a un programa con equipos de chicos y chicas fuertes." Atribuyó este crecimiento al increíble trabajo que jugadores, padres y entrenadores han realizado en el equipo.

Al 10 de abril, el equipo ya había ganado dos torneos: Queen City Tune Up en Carolina del Norte y la Youth Ultimate League de Arlington (YULA). Además, se encuentran invictos.

"Con el entrenador Dave, hemos crecido constantemente

como equipo, con muchos jugadores que se unen cada año", dijo Mitchell Lillie, jugador del equipo junior varsity. A pesar del éxito del equipo, los jugadores comprenden que el trabajo está lejos de terminar. "Ya veremos cómo resulta", añadió Mitchell.

"Necesitamos seguir practicando y mantener nuestra ética de trabajo para poder mejorar aún más como equipo".

En marzo, los Tigers ganaron el torneo por invitación de YULA por primera vez en la historia del programa, en una final de 13-4. El torneo contó con equipos de toda la Costa Este, incluyendo Carolina del Norte, Massachusetts y Nueva York, y les valió un lugar en el HSNI este junio.

Si bien su temporada regular comenzó en febrero, el equipo ha estado entrenando desde el inicio del año escolar. Su temporada de otoño se centra en ayudar a los nuevos jugadores a desarrollar habilidades fundamentales. En febrero, el equipo se dividió en JV y varsity, además de aumentar su nivel de competitividad en los entrenamientos.

A pesar de perder a varios de sus graduados clave, el equipo ha logrado rendir al máximo nivel.

Ohls dijo que "pensé que esto sería un paso atrás; el año pasado se graduaron muchos jugadores

FOTO CORTESIA DE EL EQUIPO DE JACKSON-REED FRISBEE

GANARON! - El entrenador asistente Marcelo Ruggiero posa para una foto con el equipo despues de ganar la invitacion de YULA.

muy buenos, pero hemos estado jugando a un alto nivel en los últimos años y desarrollando jugadores realmente buenos."

El HSNI se llevará a cabo el 13 y 14 de junio en Lehigh Valley, Pensilvania, y coincidirá con la graduación de la generación 2025 de JR. Actualmente, hay ocho estudiantes de último año en el equipo. Todos ellos se saltarán la graduación para tener la oportunidad de llevarse a casa el título nacional.

El capitán del equipo, Roger

Beckel, dijo que "si bien el equipo sigue centrado en el resto de la temporada regular, a medida que avance, cambiarán sus objetivos al HSNI".

"Estamos deseando que llegue el momento; nuestros objetivos son jugar a nuestro máximo potencial, ser un equipo positivo, enérgico y alegre, y tener éxito competitivo", añadió Ohls.

Si bien ganar los nacionales es un objetivo ambicioso, Ohls señaló que la amplia plantilla del equipo les da una ventaja sobre

sus competidores. Para lograrlo, Ohls afirma que, para ser el equipo de la calidad que pueden ser, se están esforzando fuera de la cancha, realizando sesiones de video, acondicionamiento y fomentando la cohesión del equipo.

Con algunos torneos más por delante, el equipo se centra en mantenerse en forma y seguir mejorando. Beckel dijo que espera que el equipo "juegue a un alto nivel en HSNI y al máximo de sus capacidades". •

Trump amenaza la autonomía de Washington DC Francisco Blancato Contribuidor Traducido por Isadora Groves

Como residentes d e Wa s h i n g t o n D C , l a autonomía nos afecta a todos, especialmente desde que el presidente Donald Trump ha amena zado repetidamente con abolirla. Pero para comprender las implicaciones de las recientes declaraciones de Trump, debemos entender qué es la autonomía, cuáles son sus efectos en Washington DC y por qué Trump se opone rotundamente a ella.

La autonomía es el derecho de los habitantes de una ciudad o pueblo a gobernarse a sí mismos o a tomar decisiones sin influencia externa.

Antes de la existencia de Washington D. C., los únicos asentamientos ingleses en la zona eran Georgetown y Alexandria, Virginia. (Para contextualizar, Chick-Fil-A aún no existía). Georgetown pronto se convirtió en un puerto próspero, facilitando el comercio y los envíos de tabaco desde la colonia de Maryland.

Tras la Guerra de Independencia de Estados Unidos, el Congreso emprendió un viaje práctico por las trece colonias, reuniéndose en ocho ciudades diferentes, lo que esencialmente las convirtió en capitales temporales de Estados Unidos.

Finalmente, el viaje por carretera terminó, y en 1790 se aprobó la Ley de Residencia para el establecimiento de una "capital permanente del gobierno de los Estados Unidos".

Ahora, el único problema pendiente era elegir la ubicación de la capital. Los estados de Maryland y Virginia cedieron terrenos a lo largo del Potomac, lo cual fue aceptado y acordado p o r e l p re si d e n te G e o rg e Washington, en cuyo honor se bautizó la ciudad. También nombró a tres comisionados para, en esencia, supervisar la construcción y expansión de la ciudad. La capital finalmente se trasladó a Washington en 1800, tras años de trabajo y construcción en terrenos que anteriormente habían sido granjas y bosques (qué pena pensar que mi restaurante chino favorito aún no existía).

En 1801, el Congreso aprobó una ley de emergencia para dividir el Distrito de Columbia en dos condados: el condado de Washington, donde se aplicarían las leyes de Maryland, y el condado de Alexandria, donde se aplicarían las leyes de Virginia (la sección de Virginia del distrito fue devuelta a Virginia en 1846).

En 1802, el Congreso otorgó a los votantes del distrito el derecho a elegir un consejo local, junto con un alcalde designado por el presidente.

Unos 73 años después, DC volvió a ser gobernado por tres comisionados nombrados por el presidente.

A pesar de ello, DC siguió presionando por la autonomía en el Congreso. El Senado aprobó proyectos de ley que estable cían algún tip o de autonomía en seis ocasiones entre 1948 y 1966, pero en cada ocasión, el proyecto de ley fue

rechazado por el comité de la Cámara de Representantes para el Distrito de Columbia. A partir de 1963, se comenzó a avanzar hacia la autonomía de la ciudad, incluso mientras el Comité d e la Cá m a ra c o n t i n u aba reforzando su control sobre los asuntos municipales. El sistema de comisionados fue reemplazado en 1967 por un alcalde-comisionado y un consejo municipal de nueve miembros nombrados por el presidente. A partir de 1963, se comenzaron a lograr avances en la autonomía de la ciudad, incluso mientras el Comité de la Cámara continuaba reforzando su control sobre los asuntos municipales.

En 1973, finalmente se aprobó la Ley de Autonomía (¡genial!), y los ciudadanos del Distrito eligieron un alcalde y un consejo a finales de 1974.

Además, los votantes aprobaron la elección de los Comisionados Vecinales Asesores (ANC), quienes representan a cada 2000 residentes y asesoran al Consejo sobre las preocupaciones del vecindario. En 1978, se aprobó una enmienda que otorgaba al distrito representación en el Congreso, pero siete años después, esta fue desestimada al no ser ratificada por 38 estados.

En 1982, los votantes aprobaron la Constitución del Distrito.

En 1990, se eligió a la primera dele gada p or Washington, Eleanor Holmes Norton, aunque con derecho a voto limitado.

La introducción de estas leyes y leyes ha cambiado la dinámica y el papel de Washington DC como ciudad.

Hace poco más de 50 años, éramos gobernados por tres comisionados al azar (que ni siquiera eran de Washington D. C.), nombrados por un presidente, quienes decidían nuestras leyes, nuestros derechos y el presupuesto para todo, desde las escuelas hasta el transporte público. Hoy, podemos influir en la toma de decisiones reales en nuestros vecindarios y en el Congreso.

La financiación de los parques y las escuelas que queremos la podemos decidir nosotros mismos, eligiendo a nuestros propios funcionarios. Nosotros, como residentes de nuestra ciudad, podemos afirmar que tenemos democracia; tenemos el poder, como pueblo, de crear un cambio real y duradero que afecte nuestra forma de vida y nuestra libertad. "Nosotros, el pueblo", como dice la Constitución, tenemos derecho a nuestra propia democracia, y no dejen que nadie les diga lo contrario.

Sin embargo, el Distrito aún tiene que luchar por sus derechos. El presidente aún puede nombrar a los jueces en los tribunales de Washington DC, y aún no tenemos representación plena en el Congreso. Eleanor Holmes Norton (representante d e Wa s h i n g to n D C e n e l Congreso) aún no se ha pronunciado con firmeza sobre los recortes de Trump a los empleados federales ni sobre el creciente papel de Elon Musk en el gobierno estadounidense, ambos temas sensibles para los residentes de Washington DC La alcaldesa Muriel Bowser,

a l c a l d e s a d e Wa s h i n g t o n DC desde 2015, también se encuentra amenazada, no solo por Trump, sino también por otros políticos republicanos radicales, como los senadores Andy Ogles (republicano por Tennessee) y Mike Lee (republicano por Utah). Ambos senadores presentaron el 6 de febrero la ley "BOWSER", que busca destituir a la alcaldesa Muriel Bowser y derogar la Ley de Autonomía del Distrito de Columbia un año después de su aprobación.

Desafortunadamente, los desafíos siguen acumulándose para nuestra ciudad debido a la retórica de Trump y su continua actitud y lenguaje despectivos hacia Washington DC y su gobierno. Para él y para muchos de sus partidarios, Washington DC es una ciudad de "burócratas" y la personificación de su oponente, el Partido Demócrata.

Desafortunadamente, en gran parte del país, la gente sigue creyendo las mentiras malsanas y destructivas que Trump difunde sobre la ciudad en la que vivimos. ¿Por qué se le niega a nuestra ciudad la democracia por la aversión a un partido político?

Lamentablemente, por estas y otras razones, el proceso para que nuestra ciudad obtuviera su representación democrática en una de las democracias más grandes e influyentes del mundo tardó mucho más de lo debido.

Washington DC es más que la "capital", como solía decirse en las antiguas matrículas, sino un lugar de diversidad, cultura, libertad y mucho más, y como residentes, lo sabemos. •

GAMES

18

THE BEACON • FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025

*DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT @THEJACKSONREEDBEACON ON INSTAGRAM FOR SOLUTIONS!*

Make sure you have

READ FURST before you do the

BREAD FURST sponsored games

fFATeacher’s PETAFf Match the pet with the JR staff member!

Deebo

Pancho

Elli

Little Jill (LJ) & Sebastian

Thebes & Rain

Dean Boone

Ms. Chang

Mrs. Winkelman

Ms. Ortega

Mr. Flack

CROSSWORD By Simone Meisnere ACROSS 1 Letter-shaped opening 6 Lift 11 Strike callers 15 Soap ___ 16 Sign up, in Sussex

17 Supportive garments 18 *Hunt illegally 19 How to start a collect call 20 Watergate units: Abbr.

21 Some NFL linemen 22 Mama bear, in Madrid

24 *Savory pie 26 *Brunch entree 29 Enormous wave 32 “While You ___ Sleeping” 33 Answered 35 Silent assent

36 Conductance unit 38 UN labor agency 39 Congas and bongos 41 N.F.L. QB Tagovailoa 42 Map out 43 Allow 44 “Cancel the mission!”

46 Chicago’s ___Center 47 Mermaid’s home 48 Basketball Hall of Famer Gasol 49 Does without 52 Shakespearean king 56 Easter activity or a hint to the starred clues 58 *Make a hasty exit 60 Montana’s capital 62 Suffix for Quebec 63 Portuguese greeting 64 Destroy 66 *Evil creature 68 “I bid you ___ farewell” 70 *Finished 71 Letter from a teacher?

72 *Word that can precede Alaska or potato 73 *”Piece of cake!”

74 14-Down has 3 of them?

75 Groups of actors DOWN 1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., on a standard keyboard 2 Weightlifter’s request 3 One who rents out property 4 Mythical monster 5 Sierra Nevada lake 6 Adjust on the timeline 7 Darth Vader’s childhood nickname 8 Neighbor of Turkey

9 Answer 10 Plaza Hotel girl 11 German train system 12 Snack food mascot with a monocle 13 Butter square 14 Sound of turkey bacon frying 23 Houston ballplayer, for short 25 Get snuggly 27 Madagascar mammal 28 Literary conclusion 30 Parent celebrated in May 31 Passports, e.g.

34 South American plains 37 An amount a cap can hold 40 King’s domain 41 Like some of these clues?

42 Law firm leaders 44 Gibbon or gorilla 45 Groceries holder 47 Common type of antidepressant: Abbr.

50 Feeling jumpy 51 Places where élèves study 53 Kindle downloads 54 Like a swished basketball shot 55 Sums again 57 Prince Harry’s real first name 59 Common phrase used to describe something simple 61 Gardner and others 64 ___ v. Wade 65 Charlottesville sch.

67 Chemical suffix 69 Air safety org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 • THE BEACON

GAMES

BEACON MAZE

19

Horoscopes

can you find your way in?

Jackson-Reebus Flower Types

Aries- You’ll show up five minutes early to class just to judge everyone who strolls in late like they own the place.

Taurus- You’ll say “I should totally go outside more!” but then spend the whole week binging a show in your room. The spirit was there.

Gemini- You’ll start a conversation with “I have so much work to do” and then proceed to do absolutely none of it. Consistency is key.

Cancer- Avoid sharp objects and sad movies. Just trust us on this one.

Leo- You’re radiating main character energy this month. Just remember: Not every situation calls for a slow-motion entrance Virgo- Your planner is full, your to-do list is longer than a CVS receipt, and yet somehow, you’re still watching Netflix. Stars say: Embrace the chaos.

Libra- Embrace your uniqueness—your originality is your greatest asset.

Scorpio- Your energy is magnetic, your vibes are mysterious, and your ability to hold a grudge remains undefeated. Will you use your powers for good or evil? The stars say: why not both?

Sagittarius- Avoid anything that isn’t perfectly symmetrical. Your inner editor is on the loose.

Capricorn- You’ll take one look at all the couples being cute outside and roll your eyes so hard it counts as cardio.

Aquarius- Your brain is buzzing with weird ideas.

Some of them are genius, some of them involve buying a 10-pound bag of jellybeans. The universe won’t stop you, but maybe… reconsider?

Pisces- Your ideas are brilliant, but not everyone will appreciate your theory on why socks always disappear.

SPELLING BEECON

Find as many words as you can! Words must be at least 4 letters long and use the center letter at least once.

Letters can repeat.

GRAPHIC BY CARYS GRAY

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2025 • THE BEACON

KIDS IN THE HALL

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Mad Riches by Sonder Sophie Miller, 9

Stolen Dance by Milky Chance Jack Corrigan Conaty, 12

Hurt My Heart by YoungBoy Never Broke Again Nabi Yemane, 11

Preoccupied by Mac DeMarco Eddie Pangelinan, 11

10 by Migo Lee Landon Williams, 11

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