The Viewpoint March 2017

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Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 11 ISSUE 7 March

The topic of gun rights vs. gun control leaves people on many different sides, read more about it on the back page

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The Viewpoint MARCH 2017 VOLUME XI ISSUE VII

EDITORIAL As a nation, our main concern should always be maintaining personal and national safety. In order to ensure Americans’ well being, gun laws have been enacted around the country. In Virginia, a person must be at least 18 to purchase a shotgun or rifle, must be at least 21 to purchase a handgun, and must pass a firearms eligibility test. This eligibility test includes questions regarding their criminal record, United States citizenship, and mental health. Any concerning responses could result in prohibition of firearm ownership under state and federal law. On paper, the background check method seems foolproof, but the real concern arises from the ability to acquire guns illegally. In such cases, individuals with malicious intent or mental health issues are able to inconspicuously access firearms.

Stricter gun legislation is put in place to promote the general welfare, but, for some, personal defense is the ultimate concern. Additionally, guns can be used

Managing Editors

Hailey Bullis Morgan Ocetnik

for harmless recreational activities like hunting and sport. But according to Pew Research, only 32 percent of people cite the ownership of a gun for the purpose of hunting, whereas 48 percent state that they own a gun for protection.

Guns can be used as a tool for violence and some believe that those who wish to wreak havoc with a firearm will be able to do so despite legislation. Proponents of that belief support personal gun ownership as a means of protecting themselves and their loved ones against potential threats.

Regardless of whether you support or oppose stricter firearm legislation, we can all agree that the current process is a solid basis on which to build in the future. In order to move forward and optimize the process, conservatives and liberals will need to compromise and create a policy that is able to promote both the general welfare and the personal freedoms that Americans hold dear.

Social Media Editors

Lexi Strawder Abbey Whitehead Copy Editors

Leah Garza Reagan King

Photography Editor

Emilee Holmquist Extra Editor

Paige Doerfler Briefs Editor

Ruby Jackson Adviser

Trisha Strahl The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body of Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published by aPrintis. Letters to the editorial board are welcome and should be submitted to rooms 303 or 311.

Feature Figure

by Jenny Bullers

Jenny BUllers

Many high school students have big dreams, but how many of them have the initiative and passion to pursue them so early?

Sophomore Kimberly Sharp has been working hard to achieve her dream of being a singer/ songwriter.

“I just decided, why not start now? So I researched how to put up albums on iTunes and ways you could do that through distributing companies,” said Sharp.

Sharp spent nearly five months writing the music for her album, and, in December, she bought a studio-quality microphone and editing software. She wrote, played, recorded, edited, and uploaded the music on her own.

Then, Sharp went through a distributing company to get her music on iTunes.

Sharp uses the acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, and piano to bring her music to life.

“It depends, but my favorite instrument to use is either the acoustic guitar or the ukulele,” said Sharp.

“I have just always been interested in music and I want to do it for my life,” said Sharp. She kept her plans a secret from her family during the whole songwriting process, but had to tell them when she needed the house quiet for her recording.

“They were very surprised at first and had

Staff Writers

no idea. Now they just want me to get out there and start performing in front of people,” said Sharp. Sharp plans on starting to perform in front of people once the school year ends, so she can really devote her time to it.

Sharp finds her inspiration from books and different story lines; her creativity helps her make up stories in her head to use in her music. “Different musicians motivate me as a person as opposed to inspiring my music.

While I do think that they inspire how I do my music, I don’t want to compare my music to any one artist,” said Sharp.

Sharp is motivated by alternative bands such as Five Seconds of Summer, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, and All Time Low. “One person that really inspired me was a YouTube musician called Dodie Clark. She really inspired me with a couple of my songs,” said Sharp.

“Performing in public would be really good exposure for my music because I do want to grow up and tour and play my music in front of people,” said Sharp.

Sharp’s passion for music is clearly shown through her devoutness to songwriting and the time she put in to begin to pursue her dreams. Her album is titled “Crowned”, and you can find it on iTunes.

Jenny Bullers, Nicholas Chechak, Charlotte Hazard, Damien Veal, Austin Venable, Adam Skoloda, Sophie Perez Front Cover Sydney Morgan

2014-2016 Virginia High School League State Championship First Place Award Winner 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2011, 2010 and 2009 Virginia High School League First Place Award Winner

Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556

Loving The Viewpoint? There’s even more! Check us out on issuu.com to see more pages of content from The Viewpoint EXTRA. index q march 2017 q the viewpoint q 3

A day in the life of a principal A chronicle of Doctor Stemple’s day to day activities while serving the school and ensuring a positive and productive learning environment by Morgan Ocetnik

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seems more full in the spring. Hiring season begins in the spring, meaning he has interviews and meetings and travels on recruiting trips to job fairs to find and hire new teachers. Because most sports’ seasons are in the spring, he works three or four nights a week. His schedule consists of working all day, rushing home to change, and coming back to watch the spring sports matches. Stemple makes sure to attend all sporting events to fulfill his duty of ensuring that the school is a catalyst for health and happiness. This means that he must occasionally deal with unruly crowd members, which he believes is just another duty as principal.

“If students never saw me at sporting events,they would probably think I didn’t care,” said Stemple. On the off-chance that there is a day with no sporting event, Stemple can go home at about four.

When July rolls around, Stemple’s schedule eases up as the administration’s primary focus becomes creating a master schedule to best accommodate the students’ class selections. He explained that he tries to fit in a week of vacation time with his family, whether it’s traveling somewhere with his daughter’s soccer team or going to the beach.

Stemple works hard to create a prosperous school environment and his efforts are reflected in his positive relationships with students, making him a respected, genuine, and beloved principal.

He explained that no matter what mood he goes out in, his day is brightened by his morning parking lot interactions.

“

The best part of the day is interacting with the students and seeing them every morning

“

Being a principal means playing a critical role in the school’s and the students’ success. Many principals spend countless hours at school, either physically or mentally. Because they are held accountable for faculty, staff, and, of course, students, the workload is extremely demanding.

School principal, Dr. James Stemple’s, schedule is routine, with slight daily variations. The first part of Stemple’s morning is parking lot duty from around 7:15 to 7:30 a.m. “The best part of the day is interacting with the students and seeing them every morning,” said Stemple. He explained that no matter what mood he goes out in, his day is brightened by his morning parking lot interactions. If he isn’t there, he’s most likely not at school.

After that, Stemple performs the morning announcements. His schedule between announcements and lunch changes every day; no two days are identical. He spends that time reading and answering emails, attending meetings, or completing other duties. When he has free time, he tries to walk the building or pop in and out of classrooms to see what students are working on. The second part of the day is routine lunch duty. He attends every lunch, along with the other administrators, to observe or talk to other students.

Between lunch and afternoon announcements, his schedule, again, varies.

Sometimes he observes new teachers or oversees and supervises math and counselling. Stemple is also responsible for things like approving purchase orders in the building, school improvement planning, and the hiring process. He is currently working with the Marine Corps office at Quantico to jumpstart the JROTC program beginning at Mountain View next year, as well as hiring teachers to fill the new positions for the program. He is also trying to troubleshoot the construction’s eventual obstruction of Mountain View’s main entrance. Stemple always finishes the day with afternoon announcements and interacting with students in the cafeteria and main hallway as they leave school.

According to Stemple, his schedule

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Sophomore, Ashley Nghiem

Ashley Nghiem recently traveled to Italy and not only did she love seeing a new country, but she also learned a great deal in the process. While traveling throughout the different cities, she learned that although most of the people speak Italian, they can also speak English, making it much easier than she thought to communicate with the locals. When she first got to Italy, Nghiem expected “American Italian food,” but in reality, the food in Italy was much different than the Italian food in America. The thing she remembers most from visiting Italy is walking around and looking at the architecture. She says she noticed that the Italian buildings seemed to have more character and intricacy than the buildings in America.

The most memorable part of Nghiem’s trip was going up St. Peter’s Basilica. She had to climb up tiny steps to get to the top, but once she got to the top, the view was breathtaking.

Nghiem thought the style of St. Peter’s Basilica reflected a combination of every style she observed throughout Italy.

Traveling to different countries can be a great, and often surprising, learning experience. Recently, Ashley Nghiem traveled to Italy and Sofia Tortolero traveled to Venezuela. While in different countries, they were immersed in a new culture. Their knowledge and understanding grew as they observed differences and similarities between American culture and the local culture.

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by Abbey Whitehead

Sophomore, Sofia Totelero

Traveling is enjoyable and often full of valuable life experiences from visiting new countries and cultures

Sofia traveled to Venezuela and, although she is Venezuelan, she says she learned some new and interesting things about the culture. While there, Sofia had to communicate with the locals by speaking Spanish, as most Venezuelans don’t speak English. One of the things she noticed that was different was that in Venezuela the people go to church at night instead of in the morning. When she was there, she went to church at night and the experience was much different than going to church in America.

Relaxing on the beach and seeing the clear water and white sand was her favorite part of the trip. She loved that the beaches were a lot less crowded than they are in America. Sofia said that the view from the beaches was breathtaking, and that she can’t wait to go back sometime soon. feature q march 2017 q the viewpoint q 5

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MARCH MADNESS Many people associate the month of March with NCAA March Madness, in which college teams fight for the title of “tournament champion” by Jenny Bullers

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Basketball enthusiasts all over America look forward to the NCAA tournament every year. The tournament generally takes place in March and causes such a frenzy because of its unpredictability, earning its title “March madness.” The battle of 68 Division 1 teams is a sudden death situation, meaning if they lose a game, they are eliminated. The last team standing is named the National College Athletic Association Division One Champion.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, and Joe Lunardi of ESPN discussed their takes on the top seeds, bubble teams, and conference breakdowns. “In descending order, Villanova, Kansas, North Carolina, and Gonzaga are projected No. 1 seeds, but there are about a dozen teams that could still jump onto the top line depending on how things shake out in the major conference tournaments,” said Miller.

The Sunday in which all of the teams are given a seed number for the tournament is known as “Selection Sunday.” This year, Villanova, Kansas, North Carolina, and Gonzaga were confirmed as the top four, decided by the NCAA selection committee.

The past four championship games have been real nail biters, especially last year’s final with Villanova and North Carolina with a game-winning buzzer-beater three-point shot by Kris Jenkins.

The thing about March madness that drives everyone crazy is the fact that anything can happen. Both adults and kids can create tournament brackets, illustrating who they believe will win each game and who ultimately will win the tournament. There have been insane upsets every year and no matter how hard someone works on their bracket, trying to predict the outcome of every game, there are absolutely no guarantees.

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“Everyone makes innocent bets on the games. No one knows what could happen which makes it really exciting, but everyone is just trying to see how close they can get their bracket to match up with reality. There are always a ton of upsets and really close games,” said senior Jacob Clark.

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TOP 30 SEED LIST 1. Villanova 2. Kansas 3. North Carolina 4. Gonzaga 5. Kentucky 6. Arizona 7. Duke 8. Louisville 9. Oregon 10. Florida St. 11. UCLA 12. Baylor 13. Butler 14. Florida 15. West Virginia

16. Purdue 17. Virginia 18. Minnesota 19. Notre Dame 20. Iowa St. 21. SMU 22. Cincinnati 23. Maryland 24. Creighton 25. St. Mary’s (CA) 26. South Carolina 27. MIchigan 28. Dayton 29. Wisconsi 30. MIami

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Individual Awards 1st Team All Conference Chris Vasquez (Wrestling) Maggie Sharp (Girls Basketball) Honorable Mentions Cheyenne Suamataoa-tao (Girls Abigayle Anderson (Girls Swim) Basketball) Ethan Cail (Boys Swim) 2nd Team All Conference Jacob Clark (Boys Basketball) Maiko Carter (Boys Basketball) Most Valuable Player Jeane Robinson (Girls Basketball) Henrik Anderson (Boys Indoor T&F) All Area Rachel Ransom (Girls Indoor T&F) Matt Mitchler (Wrestling) Sierra Villarreal (Girls Indoor T&F) Rodrigo Silva (Wrestling) Brandon White (Boys Indoor T&F)

Records Broken Girls Swim 50 Meter Freestyle: 24.79 - Shay Walker Girls Swim100 Meter Freestyle: 53.31 - Ashley Pearson Girls Swim 200 Meter Individual Medley: 2:06.43 - Georgia Johnson Girls Swim 200 Meter Freestyle Relay: 1:38.77 - Georgia Johnson, Ashley Pearson, Maddi Walker, and Shay Walker Girls Swim 400 Meter Freestyle Relay: 3:38.36 - Georgia Johnson, Ashley Pearson, Maddi Walker, and Shay Walker Gymnastics All Around: 37.7 - Emily Brutski Gymnastics Bars Score: 9.45 - Emily Brutski Gymnastics Floor Score: 9.675 - Emily Brutski

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Winter Sports

RECAP

Take a look at some of the major achievements made by some of our strongest varsity athletes. by Paige Doerfler and Emilee Holmquist

Individual Achievements

Places 6th in Conference Boys Basketball 1st in Conference Girls Basketball 2nd in Conference Gymnastics 2nd in Conference Boys Indoor Track and Field 1st in Conference Girls Indoor Track and Field 5th in Conference Boys Swim 1st in Conference Girls Swim 2nd in State Wrestling

Joseph Altorfer (Wrestling) - 4th Place State Finals Finalist Henrik Anderson (Boys Indoor Track and Field) - 2nd Place State Finalist in 4x800 Meter Relay, 2nd Place State Finalist in 1000 Meter race, 4th Place State Finalist in 1600 Meter race Emily Brutski (Gymnastics) - 6th Place State Finalist in Bars Jordan Burzynski (Girls Indoor Track and Field) - 3rd Place State Finalist in 4x400 Meter Relay Michael Chang (Wrestling) - 4th Place State Finals Finalist Georgia Johnson (Girls Swim) - 4th Place State Finalist in 100 Meter Breaststroke, 4th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Free Relay, 6th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Individual Medley Becca Lazerson (Girls Swim) - 16th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Medley Relay Justine Meyer (Girls Swim) - 16th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Medley Relay Gina O’Reiley (Girls Swim) - 16th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Medley Relay Ashley Pearson (Girls Swim) - 4th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Free Relay, 7th Place State Finalist in 100 Meter Freestyle, 14th Place State Finalist in 100 Meter Backstroke Tyler Phares (Wrestling) - 5A Norther Regional Champion, 3rd Place State Finals Finalist Rachel Ransom (Girls Indoor Track and Field) - 3rd Place State Finalist in 4x400 Meter Relay Paul Sepulveda (Boys Indoor Track and Field) - 2nd Place State Finalist in 4x800 Meter Relay Rodrigo Silva (Wrestling) - Conference Champion, 5A North Regional Champion, 2nd Place State Finals Finalist Lena Steckler (Girls Swim) - 16th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Medley Relay Chris Vasquez (Wrestling) - Conference Champion, 5A Northern Regional Champion, State Champion Sierra Villarreal (Girls Indoor Track and Field) - 3rd Place State Finalist in 4x400 Meter Relay Maddi Walker (Girls Swim) - 4th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Free Relay Shay Walker (Girls Swim) - 4th Place State Finalist in 200 Meter Free Relay, 7th Place State Finalist in 100 Meter Breaststroke, 14th Place State Finalist in 50 Meter Freestyle Connor Weed (Boys Indoor Track and Field) - 2nd Place State Finalist in 4x800 Meter Relay Tyler West (Boys Indoor Track and Field) - 2nd Place State Finalist in 4x800 Meter Relay Brandon White (Boys Indoor Track and Field) - 2nd Place State Finalist in Triple Jump, 2nd Place State Finalist in Long Jump Searra White (Girls Indoor Track and Field) - 3rd Place State Finalist in 4x400 Meter Relay R.J. Williams (Wrestling) - Conference Champion, 2nd Place State Finals Finalist

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David Horcasitas

“Affirmative action is important to maintain, however, merit standards should be maintained at the same level for all students.”

Diversity Works Mag

Juno Zhu

Kevin Lamarque

Victor Davis Hanson

Apoorva

Tennery Carrter

“I agree with giving advantages to those from troubled backgrounds, but I disagree with basing this solely on race.

Financial background would be a better basis.”

“Affirmative action should be abandoned and everyone should have an equal chance of getting into college regardless of race or gender.”

Affirmative Action: Positive Discrimination Does affirmative action promote equality in the college admissions process? by Leah Garza Affirmative action was first introduced in the United States in 1961 when President Kennedy issued an executive order mandating that federally funded organizations must utilize equal-employment practices. Affirmative action in the college admissions process was brought before the Supreme Court in 1978 in the case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.

The Supreme Court upheld affirmative action and a college’s ability to use race as a factor in admission, but outlawed specific minority admission quotas. Despite an established legal basis for affirmative action, the debate over the practice’s morality rages on.

Students have mixed feelings regarding affirmative action. According to a survey given to Mountain View students, 52 percent of students support affirmative action, 38 percent of students oppose affirmative action, and 10 percent of students neither support nor oppose the measure. Although some students expressed unqualified support or opposition for the policy, most named criteria for accepting affirmative action. Students raised concerns such as upholding academic standards and viewing affirmative action as a form of discrimination. Those who support it believe that the policy helps those at a disadvantage due to extraneous circumstances and helps increase a college’s diversity.

While colleges who utilize affirmative action claim to maintain the institution’s given academic standards for all admitted students, regardless of race or ethnicity, many students still hold the belief that a student belonging to a minority ethnicity possesses a greater chance of being admitted, even if

he/she has a less accomplished academic record. Additionally, a prominent belief among students holds that affirmative action is itself a discriminatory policy because it allows colleges to use race and ethnicity as a selective factor in the admission process. Proponents of this belief counter the measure by pointing out that if college admissions are to be truly free from discrimination, they should not take race and ethnicity into account at all.

Some students support affirmative action as a way for minority students in detrimental circumstances to turn over a new leaf and begin a career and life for themselves. While many students benefit from the policy in this way and are able to rise above impairments of various kinds, some believe that a policy based on race and ethnicity is not the most effective way to help these students. Instead, they propose a policy favoring students from low income backgrounds, arguing that if the goal of affirmative action is to help provide for students that are unable to provide for themselves, a finance-based policy would be more beneficial. The argument for increased diversity holds that a mixture of races and ethnicities on college campuses promotes open mindedness and cultural education and introduces a mixture of new ideas.

Although it’s not a perfect policy, it is important that students are aware of its existence. But 58 percent of the students surveyed were not. Affirmative action remains highly contested, but the principle has withstood the test of time and appears to possess staying power for generations to come. feature q march 2017 q the viewpoint q 11

Meet the New Boss Exploring the uncertain future of an automated workforce makes some uneasy

Wikimedia Commons

by Nick Chechak Any well-read science fiction fan should be aware of author Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, designed to govern the actions of robots in an increasingly mechanized future. First mentioned in his 1942 short story “Runaround,” they state that robots must not harm humans, must obey orders given by humans, and must preserve themselves unless doing so conflicts with the first two laws. Pretty straightforward stuff. But even the most knowledgeable of nerds may not be aware of an additional fourth “Law Zero” tacked on by Asimov in later stories, stating that robots must not harm humanity as a whole.

It seems like a pretty important rule. But many believe robots are already beginning to violate it--not in a “T2: Judgment Day” robot uprising sort of way, but in a more subtle, economic way.

Unlike Asimov’s laws, it doesn’t take a science fiction aficionado to realize that we’re already entering the computer-controlled world described by the science fiction novels of the mid-20th century. Automation is everywhere. Amazon is developing drones to deliver packages, Google is developing self-driving cars, and it seems hidden algorithms affect your financial statements than you do. Sure, robots have been manning assembly lines for decades without ill effect, but we’ve now reached critical mass, and automation is accelerating at a pace more rapid than ever before. We’re entering the unknown, and some experts are predicting turmoil.

An increasing number of Americans (and people in general) are currently coming to grips with the fact that their job will most likely be eliminated due to automation within the next decade or so. An infamous 2013 study by Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne concluded that 47 percent of total US employment, encompassing primarily low-income and low-education jobs, is at high risk of computerization--in essence, elimination due to automation, which is cheaper and lower-maintenance than human workers. They claimed that while computerization has historically affected only routine tasks, technological advancements in algorithmic analysis of large data sets (“big data”) have broadened the scope of computerization to cover even irregular, non-routine tasks. In layman’s terms, computers and robots are now able to do complex tasks previously reserved for people, and that ability is constantly improving. In other words, they’re coming for your job.

According to Frey and Osborne, among the professions with the highest risk of computerization are telemarketer and insurance underwriter, each computed to have a 99% probability of being eliminated within several years. But in reality, nearly everyone’s on the chopping block.

One of the fields most commonly cited as being at “high risk” of automation is the transportation industry, which makes sense, given the number of massive corporations seeking to gain a stake in the burgeoning Self-Driving Car market. Of course, pretty much any job centered around an assembly line is at extremely high risk of elimination as well, not to mention proofreaders, typists, and security guards. Frey and Osborne also estimated the computerization risks of both motorcycle mechanics and welders to be well above 75 percent. So, whether blue or white collar, if your job is routine, it’s at stake.

But don’t go thinking that you’ll be spared just because you had to pay top dollar for your degree. The ever-increasing problem-solving capability of “weak AI” algorithms--and the fact

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that computers are always better at math than humans--means that even low-level engineering jobs may be at risk in the near future. And the Associated Press already publishes numerous articles written by computer program Wordsmith, which converts data into a readable format without any human assistance. So writers, and, by extension, much of “the humanities” as a whole are in danger too.

Point being, no one’s job is safe. And this raises some serious problems. In a world in which income is based largely on input of human labor, what will happen when the world’s major industries no longer need human labor? What will happen when the unemployment rate reaches 50 percent? Recall the mass strikes held by taxi drivers in protest of services such as Uber and Lyft; now imagine what will result when there’s no need for a driver at all. There’s a very real possibility that automation could throw the Western world into an economic backspin. Ultimately, robots could end up violating Law Zero simply by virtue of being more efficient labor than humans.

Of course, this all sounds like a bunch of Luddite nonsense; just as weavers of the 19th century worried that mechanized looms would destroy their living, the truck drivers and tech writers of today are worried that computers will do the same. Historically, many argue, technology has always created more jobs than it has eliminated. In the early 1970s, the first automated assembly lines eliminated some blue collar jobs, but created many more white collar jobs in the engineering and maintenance fields. Why should this time be any different?

Nils J. Nilsson, professor of engineering at Stanford University’s Department of Computer Science, argues that “more jobs will be created, but…many of them will be the kinds of jobs that can also be automated — thus no net gain.”

Essentially, while advancements have rapidly eliminated some jobs and instantaneously created others, this new wave of automation will gradually envelop all.

Is any of this completely guaranteed? Obviously not. There are many counter arguments asserting that computerization will have a neutral, or even positive, effect on employment. However, many of these arguments admit that the most prevalent jobs will be high-skill or will depend upon significant human interaction. So unless your job depends on specific skills, you may still be out of luck.

The big question is what to do if the pessimistic mass unemployment outcome pans out. Again, we’re looking at a future in which economic structure contradicts every known system of distribution. Every existing system, including those on the far left, depend on some level of human labor as a means of determining financial distribution. Will we have to develop an entirely new system to meet the needs of an automated economy? Nilsson suggests several prospective solutions, including a negative income tax and collective ownership of factory machines to spread dividends among the population. Others have advocated a minimum standard income--a libertarian’s nightmare, but potentially the only sure-fire way of tackling wealth distribution in a “WALL-E”world where no one works.

Humanity is no stranger to these types of situations, in which a decision that is clearly beneficial in the short-term turns into a major issue in the long-term.

Just look at Easter Island, where indigenous peoples multiplied so fervently that their growing populations resulted in overpopulation, eventually producing a die-off reaction. Now we’re facing a similar dilemma, but this time it’s with computers.

So what can you do to circumvent the economic apocalypse? The best advice would be to aim for more complex, high-skill jobs. Instead of getting a degree in journalism, you might want to consider vocational school. Become an electrician or a plumber--these sorts of jobs aren’t likely to be replaced in the near future. If you’re looking for a higher education, aim for chemical engineering or microbiology, intellectually challenging fields presenting irregular tasks. In the end, though, we’ll just have to see what happens. It’ll be a long and unpredictable ride.

1996 •My Boo (Hitman’s Club Remix)

by Ghost Town DJ’s •No Diggity by Blackstreet ft.

Dr. Dre, Queen Pen

Jams

Top 20 best

THROW BACK

1995

1998 •Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)

by Backstreet Boys •I’ll Be by Edwin McCain •Changes by Tupac Edward Ware, freshman, said, “Changes by Tupac is my favorite throwback song because it showed me that life is full of ups and downs but to be successful you have to deal with adversity.”

2000 •The Real Slim Shady by Eminem •Oops!...I Did It Again by Britney Spears •Ms. Jackson by OutKast Jimmy Breland, senior, said, “My favorite throwback song is Ms. Jackson by Outkast because it cranks.”

•All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow • Fantasy by Mariah Carey

1997 •Wannabe by Spice Girls •MMMbop by Hanson Sarah Stahl Sophomore, “My favorite throwback song is Wannabe by the Spice Girls because it's such a fun song to just dance around with your friends to.”

1999 •No Scrubs by TLC •Jumpin’ Jumpin’ by Destiny’s Child • Say My Name by Destiny's

Child • Genie In A Bottle by Christina Aguilera

2001 •The Middle by Jimmy Eat World

2002 •A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton •Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake

The era of Silly Bands, Furbies, Tamagotchi, and Beanie Babies gave us amazing childhood memories and possibly the best music ever created. by Lexi Strawder

2004 •Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani •Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield •Mr. Brightside by The Killers Tyler Haskins, sophomore, said, “Gold Digger by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx because it was the one of the first hip hop songs I heard when I was young.”

2003 •Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly •Where Is The Love by The Black Eyed Peas

2005 •Gold Digger by Kanye West •Hips Don't Lie by Shakira •Suga Suga by Baby Bash ft.

Frankie J

2006 • Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado •Fergalicious by Fergie •Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie

2008 •Kiss Me Thru The Phone by Soulja Boy •American Boy by Estelle ft. Kanye West •Live Your Life by T.I. ft. Rihanna

2007 •Umbrella by Rihanna •Stronger by Kanye West •Shut Up And Drive by Rihanna

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Stop by the Athletics Department for Pricing Today!

Stealth offers volleyball programs for all players from beginners to advanced adults of all ages, male and female. Stealth offers open gyms, adult leagues, skill camps, and competitive travel teams. If you are interested in registering for any programs for any programs we have to offer please visit our website at stealthvball.com lOCATION: 1127 International parkway, Fredericksburg va 22406

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phone number: 540-947-4117

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SPRING

cleaning Many teens and adults struggle with organization and don’t recognize its numerous benefits. by Ruby Jackson A 2011 Workplace Organization Survey by OfficeMax said, “90 percent of Americans say disorganization

[presentations] or maps, go into a certain place helps with [studying for] the SOL. ” In order to become more organized and in turn reduce stress, Charley Mendoza, a writer for KeepInspiring.Me, recommends cleaning up regularly, using a money management app, recycling, donating old and

at home or work has a negative impact on their lives.”

unused items, and creating schedules. Following steps

Whether it be in school, at work, or at home, most Amer-

like these helps to set a good example for kids, friends,

icans strive to be organized, but often fail. Many people

and relatives and improves productivity. According to

don’t realize that disorganization causes stress, increases

Shape, after decluttering and organizing, one should feel

risk of a heart attack, and hinders sleeping and eating

happier and more relaxed.

habits.

“I think it’s important to stay organized so you don’t

In a school setting, being disorganized can lead to an incredible amount of stress and anxiety. Things like

lose your papers and you can keep track of everything you have to study. [I would advise people] to use dif-

having a messy backpack, untidy binders, or sloppy

ferent folders for different classes and to keep your

notes contribute to this and eventually add up,

notes organized,” said sophomore Anneliese Hinz.

leading to lousy grades.

Being organized improves your daily life.

Teacher Amy Jannereth said, “Students

Even though it might seem like a daunting

who are more organized definitely do

task, especially if you don’t know where to

better [in my class]. Using a binder, having dividers, and making sure that specific things, like PowerPoint

start, following certain steps in order to be organized results in a healthier and less overwhelmed lifestyle.

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43% 57%

*Out of247 guns used in mass shootings as recorded by the washington post, 57 percentwere obtained legally

Inside the debate on gun control Over the last decade, the political debate over gun control has been ignited several times over, with conservatives advocating for gun rights and liberals advocating for gun control. The election of Republican nominee Donald Trump has sparked new interest as his policies start to take shape. Trump supports gun rights, even going as far as to say he would abolish “gun-free zones” while campaigning; this would include school grounds.

With the increasing weight placed on gun violence and incidences such as the deadliest mass shooting in American history at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, resulting in 49 deaths, it’s no surprise that the subject of gun control so frequently resurfaces.

The debate is far from simple, leaving people on both sides searching for a solution. Some people believe the solution lies in toughening the process of obtaining a gun license, others believe guns shouldn’t be publicly available at all. Stillothers believe the problem lies not with guns, but with people.

In the heated debate over the 2nd Amendment, there are many thoughts about how much gun ownership should be regulated by Hailey Bullis Gun control policies/ legislature in Virginia: Within 129 mass shootings, 247 guns were used. 141 of those guns were obtained legally; that’s 57 percent of the guns used. House Bill 1387 would allow for “enhanced background checks and licensure for assault weapons and large capacity magazines.” As of now, Virginia allows for concealed carry, but some states prohibit concealed carry.

Gun Rights:

“I think it’s okay to have guns...A lot of people are scared for their family and they want to protect themselves and their family.”

-Vivian Tueros, freshman

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Gun ownership:

As of 2015 there was believed to be more than 357 million guns in the US alone, which was more than the population of 317 million of people living in the US as projected by the Washington Post. In addition, the US even ranks number one in guns per capita. However, it also ranks number one in gun homicides. Conservatives argue that taking away guns would only result in other homicides rising, while liberals believe less guns equals less crime. However, a study done by Harvard in 2007 showed that the nations with the highest gun ownership rates do not necessarily have the highest homicide rates overall.

According to the study, Holland has one of the highest murder rates despite having low gun ownership, while Norway, a nation with one of the highest gun ownership rates, has on of the lowest murder rates.

Gun Control:

“I don’t think guns are really necessary. To me, giving someone a weapon is just giving them the right to kill. I don’t think people should kill as a sport.”

-Isabella Colon, junior

Guns in Schools: Virginia law currently prohibits any gun, stun weapon, or other weapon from entering school grounds unless it is unlocked and locked away or in a vehicle. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting is one example of why these policies have been established. However, with the recent discovery of a teen at Colonial Forge High School carrying a gun in his backpack, it’s undeniably and shockingly clear how easy it is for a person to obtain a gun and bring it onto a school campus.

Gun Rights:

“Guns are not a bad thing.

It’s just that some people cannot control themselves with said guns so I’m for guns, as long as you can control yourself with them.”

-Ethan Sinclair, senior