Get to know a Democratic candidate, p. 5
Hispanic Heritage Month, p. 8-9
The latest craze: Hydro Flasks, page 16
Red and Black
Montgomery County Public Schools
‘The fight for our future’
Northwood High School
919 University Boulevard W.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Fall 2019
On September 20, Northwood students joined thousands of others in Washington, DC, for the Global Climate Strike .
Northwood students strike for climate justice by Lizzy Alspach
Environmentalists are heating up in this world, both figuratively and literally. Last year, credited scientists from the American Association for the Advancement, along with many other credible science organizations. released an alert saying that humans have 11 years to change their practices before climate change becomes irreversible. Scary, right? Some experts believe our planet is heating up to the point where humans could, in theory, go extinct. Even with this threat to our survival, many believe the United States government has not done anything meaningful to reduce our pollution levels. They point to the Trump administration’s decision to roll back almost 100 Environmental Regulations, including the Paris Agreement which established global regulations for carbon emissions. On September 20, Northwood environmentalists and members of the Northwood Environmentalist Group (NEG) walked out of school with (SEE WALK OUT, 4)
“L-Cubed”: Northwood dance department royalty by Giselle Matamoros
In Northwood’s dance studio, Mrs. Lazzaro leads a class in a warmup routine.
Northwood High School is known for our phenomenal dance concerts. Behind the magic, the leaders of the dance program are Ms. Luetje, Mrs. Lazzaro and Mr. Lemus. Each must teach multiple different styles of dance to hundreds of students. They must also put on an illustrious winter and spring dance concert together. The concert consists of choreographed pieces from what the classes works on throughout the year. There are many different types of dance classes here at Northwood. We have intermediate classes to jazz to modern to the three different companies that are known as Junior Dance Company, Senior Dance Company, and Latin Dance company. (SEE DANCE, 3)
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News
Fall 2019
Northwood and Blair square off in the ‘Battle of the Boulevard’ by Liya Tadesse At last, the long-awaited varsity football ‘Battle of the Boulevard’ arrived. And what a night it was, both for the infamous Blazers and our very own Gladiators. Here’s a look at what some of our Glads had to say before the matchup. JV sophomore quarterback Keshaun Esper explained that a strong performance would help the program because “it’ll boost the popularity of the team and influence some 8th graders that came out tonight.” Senior running back Natenael Abebe felt good about the team’s energy. “I feel confident. I feel like we’re gonna hit on every cylinder,
hit them on offense, defense, and special teams” They put up a tenacious fight, but in the end our home Gladiators
unfortunately were not successful. But our fighting spirit remained till the end.
Editor-in-Chief Liya Tadesse
New to Northwood? These clubs help you feel like you belong
Supervising Editor Kate Valentine Business Manager Heyling Amador
by Semira Tekle Being new to Northwood or any high school can be hard, especially if you’re coming from middle school. But it’s always great to meet people in a new school doing things that you enjoy doing. Fortunately there are many clubs to join that meet after school or at lunch. Each of these clubs offers many opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. If you’re interested in fighting for the environment and organizing events for the cause, you should join the Northwood Environmental Club. This club meets every Monday at lunch in E203, and they participate in activism, environmental advocacy, and other events focused on helping Mother Earth. If you have a green thumb and you want something fun to do on Thursdays, you could join the Gardening club with Mr. Miller. The club meets every Thursday at lunch in G121 and after school as
Ok, boomer by Thania Hernandez
Red and Black Staff
News Editors Lizzy Alspach William Vorosmarti
Last year’s Science Olympiad with Ms. McLaughlin (above), and a sample club agenda from the Gardening Club (below).
News Staff Kevin Amaya Henock Ashebo Mikayah Levy Giselle Matamoros Features Editor Zoe Kilgore Features Staff Michelle Bazie Daphne Fuentes Bryan Lopez Marcelo Lovo
scheduled. Here, you can learn lots of new tips about gardening. If you have a thing for science, you can join the Science Olympiad
with Ms. McLaughlin. The club meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at lunch in G124.
Sports Editor Christopher Peterson Design Editors Semira Tekle Brayan Saravia Photograph Staff Ruben Herrera Romeo Medrano Special Contributors Asha Burtin Ethan Chaupiz Thania Hernandez Faculty Advisor Ryan Acosta-Fox
News
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Fall 2019
Red and Black
After lengthy construction, Wheaton Library reopens
Red and Black Patrons
by Heyling Amador The new and improved Wheaton Library, Community Center and Wheaton Local Park recently celelbrated its reopening. The state-of-the-art, 92,000 sq. ft., $70 million project opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place on September 8. The new Wheaton Library is located at 11701 Georgia Ave. The building offers numerous new features to the public for free. These include a gym, a basketball court, and an elevated track. There are several community rooms, a vendor cafe, and a used bookstore located at the entrance of the library. For anyone who wants to get creative, there are rooms for arts and crafts, a pottery, dance and a learning kitchen facility. The building also comes with an
Inside Northwood’s Dance Department (cont’d.) Without a doubt, the trio is dedicated to motivating students to take dance classes within the dance program. Ms. Luetje has been dancing for almost 25 years now, having been enrolled in dance classes by her mom at a young age. This is her fifth year teaching dance at Northwood. She teaches a variety of classes including Senior Dance Company, modern contemporary dance, and more. “Seeing kids achieve goals they want to achieve at the end of the year is very great to see. I’m passionate about passing down the love of dance to students.” For Mr. Lemus, it’s the same. “I love to see the light bulb go on when a student realizes the power of dance.” Mr. Lemus has been teaching at Northwood for 3 years and has been dancing for 10 years. He began his dancing career by joining the Latin Dance Team at his high school. This is his second year leading Northwood’s own Latin Dance Company. He has excelled at getting the dance company into competition mode for the fall season. Last year, they earned First Place in the cha cha and bachata category and second place overall
The newly built Wheaton Library. (Source: mymcmedia.) underground parking garage and a vegetative roof. This involves a layer of living vegetation that is installed on top of the building’s roof. Beth Aleligne is a senior at Northwood and has visited the brand new library. “It’s really nice,” she said. “It’s very spacious and very modern. It’s a great place to just hang out and do your school assignments.”
at the MCPS Latin Dance Competition. They’re aiming for First Place again at this year’s competition on November 25th. Mrs. Lazzaro’s motivation to start dancing came from that same competitive place. She took ballet at the age of 4 to fix her pigeon-toe for her former gymnastics team. Little did she know that dance would take over and completely transform her life. She’s been dancing ever since. She has taught dance at Northwood for about 7 years. “Nothing makes me happier than to share my passion for dance through teaching and I hope to infect others with the ‘dance bug.’” Mrs. Lazzaro believes dance can be a mechanism for anyone to connect to their own artistic expression. Together, the three of these amazing teachers form the backbone of the Northwood Dance Department--and their students could not be more appreciative of their efforts.
Beth has worked for two years at the Silver Spring Library and is a big reader. Her favorite genres range from fantasy to contemporary fiction. She enjoys the works of popular writers like Sarah J. Mass and Yale graduate Ngozi Ukazu. “It’s at a great location. It’s accessible to students in downcounty, and it’s only 8 minutes away from Northwood. It’s definitely a place worth checking out.”
Emperor Level The Acosta-Fox Family Laura Albert Anonymous Sara Baudry Monica Bridgewater Carolyn Dixon Drew Linenberger The Valentine Family Gladiator Level The Breslaw Family Courtney Conklin Meredith Lazzaro Spectator Level Nadine Hecht Holly Jones Brandy Reazer
Mr. Lemus (above) and Ms. Luetje (below) guide their students.
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Northwood students walk out (cont’d.) Students marched to the Silver Spring Metro, where a few environmentalists spoke out about climate action, such as one of our very own Gladiators, Luke Caron. After arriving at Judiciary Square, protesters gathered together in James Madison Square. About 11,000 protestors gathered in Washington, DC, in all. At James Madison Square, protestors gathered with posters, banners, and parachutes ornate with statistics about climate change before marching to Capitol Hill. Once at the Capitol, speakers protested against big businesses and pollution. Sophia Geiger, a fervent environmentalist, spoke at the event. Sophia is a junior at Northwood and very involved in climate activism. “Business as usual is a death sentence to those already on the front lines and those that are already on the front lines of the climate crisis, which is everyone.” Sophia said. Around the world, young envi-ronmentalists such as Sophia have stressed time and time again that the climate crisis is detrimental to the survival of the human race. Greta Thunberg, a sixteen-year old activist and key organizer in the global climate strike movement, spoke at the United Nations Climate Summit in September. “I shouldn’t be up here,” Thunberg told delegates at the United Nations. “I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. . . You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.” Students across the country agree with Thunberg’s message. For Geiger, the time to act is now. “Climate change is going to be irreversible in eleven years, but also, lives are being lost right now. And if you don’t fight it with everything you have to stop it as soon as possible, you’re basically saying those lives don’t matter. “I think that as a country, that’s not what we claim to stand for, and we gotta really walk the walk.”
Northwood Gladiators protest at the Silver Spring Metro Station (top) and throughout Washington, DC (below).
Politics Fall 2019
The science behind the Earth’s changing climates by Mikayah Levy “Climate change is certainly on the top ten list of our planet’s biggest problems. Also on that list is the insufficient actions humans have taken to address climate change.” These words come from Richard Revesz, an environmental policymaker and expert on the environmental law. Since the middle of the 20th Centurty, scientists have studied the greenhouse gas effect on our planet. How it works is light rays from the sun hit the surface of the earth and then get reflected back out into the atmosphere. However, due to global problems like deforestation, more and more greenhouse gasses are forming in the planet’s atmosphere, creating a barrier where 90% of the heat produced by the Earth stays in our atmosphere. Trees are the reason we can maintain a CO2 balance in the Earth. But this process has been harmed by deforestation. Carbon dioxide has been the most detrimental greenhouse gas in the process of global warming for a while now, due to the fact that it’s being emitted from the gasses produced by factories and vehicles, something most people believe we cannot live without. Global warming has led to many harsh effects on different types of ecosystems. According to NASA, “Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.” Temperatures will also continue to rise, growing season will last longer, and the Earth’s sea levels have the possibility of rising by as much as 2-4 feet by 2100. The Arctic Ocean will likely become ice-free, and many other environmental catastrophes will occur if our current course remains unchanged. In the face of this science, young climate change activists from all over the world argue that we only have 11 years left until climate change is irreversible and our extinction becomes something we cannot avoid.
Politics
Fall 2019
Decision 2020: Get to know a candidate by William Vorosmarti “And on January 20, 2021, we’ll say ‘adiós’ to Donald Trump.” With that line, most pundits agreed: Julián Castro had won the first Democratic presidential debate. But who is Julián Castro? Where does he come from? What does he stand for? And most importantly, does he actually have a shot at winning the White House? Julián Castro was born a twin on September 16, 1974 in San Antonio, Texas. His parents, both political activists of Mexican heritage, were never married and separated when Julián and his twin brother Joaquin were only eight years old. Brought up mostly by his mother Rosie Castro and grandmother Victoria Castro, Julián credits them with imbuing him and his brother with a strong sense of the values of community service. After graduating high school a year early, Castro worked as a White House intern during the Clinton Administration. Once graduating from Stanford in 1996, Castro earned a law degree at Harvard. In 2001, he was elected to the San Antonio City Council and elected mayor in 2009. Gaining national attention after delivering the keynote address at the 2012 Dem-
ocratic Convention, Castro was nominated by Obama to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2014. After Obama left office, Castro was left without a clear path forward in his career and decided to make a long shot bid for the presidency. As a progressive Democrat, Julián Castro holds many of the policy positions one might expect. He is pro-choice, supports samesex marriage, pledged to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and backs Medicare for all. As a latino from a border state, however, it’s no surprise that the issue Castro is most associated with is immigration. He has generated both acclaim and criticism for his proposal to decriminalize the border and his plans to use ankle bracelets on undocumented people instead of detaining them. At the debate in June, Castro criticised the Obama administration for the deportations that occurred during their time in power. However, none of these positions will ever come into play if Castro doesn’t win the nomination. So how is Julián Castro doing in the Democratic primary? The quick answer is not so great. Castro’s campaign has devolved into a struggle to stay relevant. At the debate in September, Castro called out Joe Biden for forgetting what he had said just moments before. While some praised Castro for being
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Red and Black
Julián Castro at the 2019 National Forum on Wages and Working People. (Source: Gage Skidmore) aggressive, the majority opinion was that Castro was out of line in criticising the elderly Biden. Then in late September, Castro’s campaign got the unwelcome news that due to low poll numbers, Castro would likely be excluded from the fifth Democratic debate in November. In this campaign, exclusion from debates is often followed by a
withdrawal from the race. Maybe Julián Castro will never win the White House. At least not in this election cycle. Yet as a young progressive Democrat from the increasingly blue state of Texas, it seems likely that Castro will have a long successful career in the years to come.
Other lesser-known Democratic candidates
John Delaney Former Maryland congressman John Delaney is running as a moderate. Jumping into the race over two years ago, Delaney has spent millions of his own money with not much to show for it.
Michael Bennet Colorado Senator Michael Bennet is also running in the Democratic primary. In an effort to gain notoriety, Bennet has recently announced an affordable housing plan that has been described as ambitious.
Tom Steyer Billionaire businessman Tom Steyer appeared on the debate stage for the first time on October 15. Known for buying TV ads calling for Trump’s impeachment, now that an impeachment inquiry has begun it is unclear what will now be the central message of Steyer’s campaign.
Joe Sestak Perhaps the least known Democrat in the race is former Navy admiral and Pennsylvania congressman Joe Sestak. His campaign is focused on rebuilding America’s prestige internationally as well as fighting global warming.
Wayne Messam Another candidate, Wayne Messam, is the mayor of Miramar, Florida. A former football player for Florida State, Messam is running on being the son of immigrants who broke the racial barrier to become his city’s first black mayor.
6 Features Red and Black
Fall 2019
For the LGBTQ+ community, companies selling pride is a mixed blessing by Kate Valentine “Rainbow capitalism” is a term used when a company releases LGBTQ+ themed products during Pride Month for profit. Every June, it’s common to see brands switch their profile pictures from their normal logos to rainbow versions, unveil their new LGBTQ+ themed products, or change the homepage of their website from displaying regular merchandise to showing off new items adorned in rainbows. Some argue that brands celebrating Pride Month is beneficial to the community, regardless of where the profits are going or whether the sentiment is genuine; the visibility and awareness the community gains is enough. Additionally, closeted LGBTQ+ people, especially those living in areas where homophobia is commonplace, may feel validated by pride-themed displays in stores. However, there have been growing protests against this phenomenon in recent years. A common argument against companies selling pride-related products is that while some companies choose to partner with LGBTQ+ organizations or donate a portion of the profits to one, many don’t, which some feel is indicative of that brand’s true interests. Because these companies
Sustainable fashion: what it is, and why we need it by Daphne Fuentes Sustainable and ethical fashion can be defined as clothing, shoes and accessories that are manufactured, marketed and used in the most sustainable way possible, taking into consideration both environmental and socio-economic aspects. It is a step in the right direction when it comes to moving towards an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Most people live their lives unaware of their environmental impact. In today’s world, people buy a lot of fast fashion from large companies whose main goal is to create as many products as they can, as fast as they can, to sell without evaluating the environmental consequences. Stores like H&M, Zara, Forever
A 2018 storefront in London celebrating and selling pride. (Source: Getty.) never show support outside of Pride Month, many suspect they don’t care about the community as much as the money they can make from it. Selling rainbow products in June is, from an economic standpoint, a smart move. Allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community are often looking for ways to show pride, and buying merchandise from their favorite companies is a go-to method. According to the Washington Post, an LGBTQ+ community survey found that 76% of those who responded were more likely to shop at businesses that showed support for the LGBTQ+ community. But is buying rainbow themed products really the best way to support them? Beyond providing awareness and support to some extent, many point out that pride
campaigns are only really beneficial to the community if some of the profits go towards LGBTQ+ organizations. And even then, many companies don’t contribute much; H&M, for example, only donated 10% of their pride merchandise profits to an LGBTQ+ organization. Many believe there is more that can be done to support the LGBTQ+ community than buying colorful products. In a video op-ed for the Washington Post, activist Evan Greer says, “I don’t think that this should be about queer people [being] like, ‘let’s spend our money at the corporations that are nicest to us.’ Let’s address the issues that are impacting the most vulnerable members of our community.” One example of these issues is LGBTQ+ homelessness; according to a survey conducted by the Center for American Progress,
21 and many more are all fast fashion brands. Their main goal is to sell low quality clothes at low prices at a rapid pace. Due to this, their employees are overworked and consumerism increases, leading to more waste pollution. Luckily, sustainable and ethical fashion is beneficial not only to the environment but to those in the clothes-making industry. Often these people work long hours in sweatshop conditions and underpaid for their labor. With ethical fashion, employees are treated better and paid fairly. The main component of sustainable fashion is the environmental friendliness that it brings. For example, some clothing companies make their clothes entirely out of fabric scraps in order for them not to go to waste. Other companies are now exploring more options for organic cotton, linen, and other fibers available, all of which use less water than conventional growing methods. Clothing companies that don’t make such drastic changes to
help decrease their negative impact on the environment choose smaller initiatives like accepting used clothing items to give customers a discount when shopping. Today large companies are taking into account their sustainability but not enough are making a big enough change to actually better the situation. But it is not only up to these companies to make a change, but also us, the consumers. Many people already contribute to sustainable fashion and don’t even know it. How? Donating used clothes and thrifting. “I love thrifting my clothes. You always find cool and unique pieces,” says Northwood junior Emma Holmquist. It’s easy to contribute to sustainable fashion and recently thrifting has become a trend. Places like Value Village and Goodwill have a lot of unique clothes that any teen these days would want to buy and can be found at an affordable price point.
LGBTQ+ people make up 20 to 40% of the homeless population, despite forming only five to seven percent of the overall population. Another issue is mental health; Stonewall, a British LGBTQ+ organization, reported that 52% of LGBTQ+ people have experienced depression in the last year, and 14% of LGBTQ+ people have avoided seeking teatment for their mental health issues due to fear of discrimination. Then there are the brands whose actions actively hurt the community, then turn around and encourage LGBTQ+ people to buy their pride products. The clearest example would be campaign contributions, but there are other often overlooked issues. Adidas, for instance, has a collection of pride-themed merchandise available on their website, but was one of the major sponsors of the World Cup, which took place in Russia, a country known for state-sanctioned homophobia. Just earlier this year, an LGBTQ+ activist named Elena Grigoryeva was murdered; her name “was listed on a website that encourages people to ‘hunt’ LGBTQ activists,” according to an NBC report. Many believe these instances cannot be overlooked. While acceptance from businesses and organizations is a good sign, it doesn’t fix the issues members of the LGBTQ+ community face daily. Overall, it is clear that the LGBTQ+ people, as well as allies, must be vigilant when seeking ways to support the community.
Junior Emma Holmquist sports sustainable fashion.
Features Fall 2019
Northwood’s thriving underground art scene: an analysis by Marcelo Lovo A lot of people believe that they don’t have the creative mind or talent to be an artist. I disagree wholeheartedly. I believe anyone has the ability to create and question the norms of our society through artistic expression. Anyone can become an artist. And the artists that will push us into the next century are here at Northwood. So, I’ve decided to go on my own endeavour and search for the greatest specimens I could find.
Tom Brady. Our last piece comes from an anonymous source. The artist has decided to not give any context for this image. Simply the image itself is presented. Now, on the surface it may look like just a simple doodle face. But is it really? Who is to say that mouth is actually a mouth. What I see is a trail. A trail with many bends and curves with two objects watching over, perhaps our divine creators. The trail represents the passage of time and our divine creators looking over us, perhaps discussing our history and analyzing how we have progressed. This is, in the end, an absolutely riveting piece that illustrates the journey of our species, as even though the line
Why and how: the importance of voting when you reach 18
official who shares the same values and interests as you. You are also participating in country’s democratic process. When you cast your vote, you are voting for a candidate who has the same political leanings as you, and who will represent you. The upcoming 2020 election is just around the corner and if you want to take part in an upcoming election, there are some require-
As a U.S citizen, voting is one of the many rights you have. The law doesn’t require you to vote if you don’t want to, but it is important because you are voting for an
Red and Black
deed. Our second selection comes from junior Bryan Lopez. According to Lopez, a dream he had brought this piece into the world. He refused to elaborate further on any meaning. Analyzing this piece, we can see many different patterns coming from all directions leading to the key figure in the middle that immediately catches the eye of most viewers: Tom Brady. These patterns represent the journey we all go on when attempting to find ourselves. There are many twists and turns and it gets confusing. But at the end of the path is the one thing we know is true and will never leave us. The one thing that remains pure and shines light in the dark and twisted world we live in.
is piece comes from LucTh ie Meaker Moore, a sophomore. Lucie has not provided much context for the work, only stating, “It represents the chasm in today’s society.” This leaves the viewer to come to their own conclusions of the piece. Analyzing the piece, we can clearly see something that represents an animal. A fox? A badger? No one can know for sure. But as we analyze this piece, we can see something much more in the creature’s demeanor, especially its bright, piercing pupils. We can deduce this creature represents the common man, intoxicated with the lies of society as it walks in a mindless trance. A very controversial piece in-
by Henock Ashebo
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does go up and down, there’s a clear pattern that repeats itself. Forever. The end has no end. Art can be anything. Anything can be made out to have some sort of meaning or value when you really decide to try. Making art is easy and anyone can do it. A common misconception is that if you can’t
draw well, you can’t be an artist. However, that goes against everything that makes art, well, art. Art is supposed to be something that carries meaning. The presentation doesn’t have to be beautiful, pristine, or even nice to look at. Art simply needs to be what the artist needs it to be.
ments. You have to be 18, but you can pre-register a year before you turn 18, so when the time comes you can cast your vote. If you want to register but don’t know where, your school will often have registration set in place through the counseling department so you can come in and register. You can also register at the DMV. If you don’t register before the
day of the election, you need important documentation like your photo ID, Social Security card, and will need to prove you’re a citizen to fill out the required paperwork needed to be eligible. Therefore, even if didn’t register before the deadline, you still have time register during election day.
NORTHWOOD
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrates Freedom
Photos from the main hallway, taken by Romeo Medrano
2019 Indoor Soccer Tournament
The Northwood High School Indoor Soccer Tournament featured several teams of dedicated soccer players. It was held in the gym during lunch on block days. Played in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, there will also be a girls’ tournament in the spring. Photos: Semira Tekle and Lizzy Alspach Design: Brayan Saravia Words: Romeo Medrano
10 Advertisements Red and Black
Northwood High School’s award-winning student newspaper is almost exclusively funded by community donations, fundraisers, and ad sales from local businesses. By becoming a member of Red and Black Patrons, you will play an integral role in giving Northwood student journalists an opportunity to flourish. Spectator Level ($5 – $20) If you join this level of membership, you will get your name printed in all the editions of the 2019-2020 newspaper! Gladiator Level ($21 – $49) If you join this level of membership, you will get your name printed in all the editions of the 2019-2020 newspaper, and a copy of each edition mailed to your home address! Emperor Level ($50 and above) If you join this level of membership, you will get your name printed in all the editions of the 2019-2020 newspaper, and a copy of each edition mailed to your home address, and a special edition Red and Black pencil and bumper sticker! How To Join Join today by writing a check to Northood High School and writing “newspaper” on the memo line.
Fall 2019
Advice
Fall 2019
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Red and Black
How do you survive and thrive in your AP classes? Class of 2023: Emma Willey ¨I take a lot of notes, I make sure to study before the chapter quizzes, unit exams, do the homework, and pay attention while the teacher is talking.”
Class of 2022: Nathalie Gnahoua
Class of 2021: Christian Estrada
Class of 2020: Gabriel Keesing
“Study, I guess. Sleeping, eating, taking care of your physical hygiene, you know. Not forgetting to do that. Being able to juggle all of your work, your non AP classes and your AP classes. Knowing when to stop, knowing when to study, self control, stuff like that.”
“I always tell myself that there’s never not work to do. So a lot of the times there will be nights where I don’t have immediate assignments to, but I know in the back of my head that I could read something or I could be going through notecards or something.”
“I try not to stress out about stuff, cause when you do that it really adds to the difficulty of the class.”
Teacher: Ms. Mayer-Whittington (Graduated class of 2007; 5 on AP Govt. exam) “I did all my reading, and I formed study groups with people in classes and so we sort of divided up work. I never turned work in late, so I had to learn to balance my time, and figure out my plan for the week, and prioritize things.”
GLADIATOR ADVICE Here, our team of writers answers the questions that are pestering you. Answer: If your friends stop talking to you and they don’t bother to tell you why, they
? ? ? ?
How do you figure out what just don’t care about you. This might sound harsh, but if they did care, they would at you did if your friends stop least try to patch things up with you. The best thing to do is drop those friends and make new ones who do care about you, because if they don’t even bother to tell you talking to you? why, they think you’re not worth it.
Are there any helpful classes Answer: Yes! There are many options when it comes to looking for after school help. library is open until 3:30 pm, and you can find many tutors there, so it’s a great or programs available after- The place to study. Also, try asking teachers when they’re available after school. High School Plus is also an option if you have failed a previous course. school? My boyfriend is starting to act weird, and his attitude is changing. What should I do?
Answer: Communicating your concerns to him would probably be best so that he can tell you why he has been acting unlike himself. When you both recognize the problem then you can work towards a solution together. But if you ask him and he doesn’t want to tell you what’s wrong or solve the problem, then just drop him. You don’t need that negativity in your life. If you are willing to put in the effort and he isn’t, that’s saying something.
How can I stay organized?
Answer: Being organized can seem simple in retrospect, but once homework and projects start piling up, it gets hard to keep track of everything. Northwood doesn’t provide students with planners anymore, so buying your own and keeping it up-todate can make it way easier to stay organized. A bullet journal can boost creativity and encourage you to get things done. However, if you don’t feel like doing everything by hand, putting your plans on paper with a simple pocket notebook is enough. Set aside time to write down what needs to be done and make it fit your schedule.
12 Entertainment Red and Black
DC redeems itself with “Joker” by Ethan Chaupiz Comic book films have changed the landscape of cinema, becoming a powerhouse for big franchises and overarching stories that span across several films. Marvel has been a consistent juggernaut with the recent “Infinity” saga ending. Meanwhile DC has had their head in the gutter. Ever since “The Dark Knight,” the quality of every film after hasn’t met the standards or even shown a level of competence of well-written movies in general. Let’s not even get into their failure of a cinematic universe which not only was poorly set up, but tried to copy Marvel’s own brand of humor to horrendous results. But thankfully they’ve managed to finally pull a win. After an 11 year run of putting out stinkers, they have pulled themselves out of the gutter with “Joker,” a comic book film that sets a new benchmark for the rest to follow, drawing itself away from the crowd in order to make something truly special. It’s not a traditional comic book film, but rather a character study, focusing on one individual and how the environment he lives in, as well as other individuals, change him over the course of the runtime. The story is quite simple, really. Set in the year of 1981, we follow Arthur Fleck’s journey down into madness from a street clown doing performances for whatever he make on the side, to becoming the “Joker”. It’s straight-forward with some fantastic craftsmanship in its execution, with well done twists that completely flip the film on its head. It’s the kind of film that lies
Moonchild’s dreamlike album “Little Ghost” by Asha Burtin The California based group Moonchild has a unique sound that places an alternative spin on the classic R&B and Neo-Soul sound, with a hint of jazz. The trio Moonchild is made up of lead singer and instrumentalist Amber Navran, along with two other instrumentalists, Andris Mattson and Max Bryk. The trio met in college and since then have been able to work their into the music industry.While doing so, they have paved the way for a new and unique sound for future R&B and Neo-Soul artists. Moonchild’s music gives one a sense of peace and serenity while
Fall 2019
largely on its protagonist and the actor who plays him. Speaking of, Joaquin Phoenix delivers an amazing performance as Arthur. So much of this movie works because of him. He captures a deteriorating, mentally ill man who’s on the brink of collapse. Phoenix plays so many facets of this character with conviction and pain that it’s hard not to feel for the guy. The sadness, frustration, loneliness and rage that oozes out of him through the entire film is nailed beautifully. Yet for how sympathetic he starts out to be, the changes and actions committed by Arthur put him over the edge. The film never once paints Arthur as a guy who’s doing the right thing, but more of someone who’s become broken and disillusioned, lashing out at an unforgiving world. A character who constantly undergoes many revelations as he learns more about his personal life and changes through his discovery. This is a genius move on the writer’s part, as rather than condemning the actions he’s done, or praising them, the film shows why Arthur is making the choices that develop his character into a more complex individual. Director Todd Phillips and cinematographer Lawrence Sher capture the streets of Gotham in all their putrid glory set within the 80s. Bags of trash piled up against grungy apartment complexes, dimly lit buildings, and specific color choices along with the amazing set design beautifully depict a decaying and decrepit city. It’s the place that’s lived in, not too dissimilar to our own. There’s a clear inspiration taken from Scorsese, particularly “Taxi Driver” and “King of Comedy.” But that’s not a bad thing. More power listening to it. The group’s music has the ability to bring their listeners peace of mind and transport them to an ethereal place. Their most recent album “Little Ghost,” made up of fourteen songs, is a great representation of the trio’s ability to create music that flows so easily making the listener want more. Each song within this album seems to pick up where the last one left off, making it a very cohesive album that still shows the group’s versatility and range. “Little Ghost” is Moonchild’s fourth studio album, released in September of this year. The group’s style of music does not seem to completely change from album to album;instead, their sound seems to have evolved over time. Various tracks in this album might remind listeners of different artists with
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/“Joker” in Todd Phillips’ adaptation. to Philips for making the movie as if it was ripped straight out of the 70s. The camerawork, shot choices, and visual motif representative of Arthur’s own decay is all masterfully done, with various long takes highlighting Arthur’s mental state during the moment. “Joker” goes to great lengths to show how society affected him and the importance of mental health. It has many ideas and commentary on the class system, the rich and poor and media affecting individuals. But in no way is it poorly conveyed. It doesn’t give some definite answers to what it addresses, and it seems content in keeping it that way, reflecting the character of Arthur. It’s not afraid to go into dark areas, nor does it go into that traditional black or white. Instead it opts for something far more gray, never allowing for one side to truly show good. Finally, the score by Hildur Guðnadóttir, which perfectly captures Gotham and the titular character’s psych. Dark, foreboding, fractured with a heavy use of strings that develop into a theme for “Joker”. Each time he’s at ease, the same kind of music is played, matching his mannerisms and thought processes.
A few other aspects to bring up are the dark comedy sprinkled throughout the picture, the inclusion of a character that unfortunately does pose a problem in the overall film and other performances that, while not as show stealing Phoenix, are still great on their own. Now if you are curious about my thoughts on the controversy surrounding the film, it is completely bollocks and the media outlets should be ashamed of their actions. Not only have they spread a false narrative about how this film is dangerous, when in reality it’s like any gripping character drama you’ve seen in the past, but it shows how incredibly out of touch they are, calling into question as to why they even have this job in the first place. “Joker” is a remarkable piece of cinema. Aiming to be something more than the average comic book film, it sores high thanks to an amazing performance from its lead, unflinching dark subject matter, and taking a deep dive into the mind of a broken man who proved it takes more than one bad day.
songs that share the style of music. For example, the overall production and sound of this album is reminiscent of Noname’s album “Telefone” which was released in July of 2016. The track “Sweet Love” off of “Little Ghost” draws comparison to the tracks “Reality Check” and “Casket Pretty”. The track “Everything” by Moonchild has an intro that sounds quite similar to the opening of the song “Forever” by Noname feat. Ravyn Lanae and Joseph Chilliams. Whether or not Moonchild was influenced by this album while making their own, the similarities definitely shine through. Additionally, Noname is not the only artist with a similar sound to Moonchild. Other influences include Hiatus Kaiyote or Erykah Badu.
Moonchild has found a way to cultivate their influences and turn it into their own sound that is unique but not unlike anything else. The one thing that Moonchild may want to stray away from however, is the possibility of making every song sound similar. Since their music is so serene and cohesive within an album, it presents the possibility of each song sounding like the last with little differentiation. That being said, Moonchild’s sound is definitely one that has taken some cultivating over time. If one were to look at their first studio album released in 2012, many would argue that a lot of improvement has been made. The trio’s dream enhancing melodies and smooth R&B/jazz/lo-fi beats are easy on the ears of any listener.
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Video Games
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Red and Black
E3 2019: What to Look Forward To
Dogs: Legion takes the series in a new direction, allowing you to play as any character you see on the streets and put together a team by Zoe Kilgore of hackers to restore order to the corrupted city. From MI6 agents to After dozens of games were parkouring grandmas, “each charrevealed at this year’s E3 conferacter has their own backstory, perence, Cyberpunk 2077 got the most sonality, and skill set—all of which attention and some are calling it the comes into play as you personalize biggest release of 2020. The game, your team,” says Ubisoft. whose trailer features Keanu Reeves In other news, Microsoft anas a key character, will be an open nounced a new pro console coming world RPG game set in a futuristic, this holiday season. Xbox Scarlett tech-driven city called Night City. will be released alongside Halo InCD Projekt recently revealed that finite, and will feature tons of nextCyberpunk will be an entirely first gen jargon: “...a custom-designed person experience, with character AMD processor, high bandwidth customization where the company’s GDDR6 memory, and a next generThe Witcher series fell short. ation solid state drive (SSD),” says Ghostwire: Tokyo also grabbed Microsoft. Basically, the games will some attention with its mysterilook unbelievably crisp, they’ll run ous teaser. Creative director Ikusmooth, and you’ll never run out mi Nakamura described it as an of storage. Details about the next “action-adventure game in which PlayStation console, PS5, and a Lite you’ll fight paranormal enemies model of the Nintendo Switch have and rid the world of supernatural yet to be disclosed. evil.” Unfortunately, Nakamura With these being only a fraction departed from Bethesda Games of the reveals at E3, it seems that shortly after the trailer reveal at 2020 will be a great year for new E3, abandoning Ghostwire and her games and new consoles. other projects such as Okami and Bayonetta. Whether or not GhostRight, above: Keanu Reeves gets wire will be seen through to its pixelated in Cyberpunk 2077 launch date is still up in the air. The third installment of Ubisoft’s Right, below: A still from the GhostWatch Dogs series was announced wire: Tokyo teaser. in the midst of E3, taking fans by surprise. Set in London, Watch
What Nintendo is bringing to the table by Michelle Bazie Sure, Overwatch is going to be on the Switch, but did you see the new Animal Crossing game!? With Nintendo Direct being dropped on September 4, 2019, news of upcoming games, anticipated remakes, and overall new content has taken the internet by storm. From a remaster of the classic, Xenoblade Chronicles, to people freaking out about a Mii Gunner costume, many games are certainly grabbing peoples’ attention. First, taking a look at the Nintendo lineup, new gameplay for Animal Crossing: New Horizons is what I’m most excited about. Featuring the island getaway aesthetic. The graphics and art are a huge improvement from the last games, The online connection feature, allowing you to play on one island with up to 8 friends,, and a vaulting pole for crossing rivers!? I’m sold. New Haunted Hotel floors revealed in Luigi’s Mansion 3, and releases on October 31! A Perfect
game for a Halloween night. Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, the new features shown include Pokemon Camp, cooking up curry as gameplay, loads of new customization items to dress up your trainer. For the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fans, Terry Bogard from the Fatal Fury series to soon join Smash as the newest DLC character, as Banjo and Kazooie were also released for playing. Sans in Smash is no longer a meme. The skeleton from the charming game, Undertale by Toby Fox, has finally debuted in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as a Mii Gunner Costume. Along with a new remix of Megalovania to jam to. Also look forward to new games being brought to the Switch, like, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore ported to the Switch for 2020, and originally on the Wii. A Japanese-RPG crossover between Atlus’s Shin Megami Tensei and Intelligent Systems Fire Emblem series, so you’ll know if this is your cup of tea from the trailers. Overwatch is also going to be ported for Switch, as fans speculated.
Above: Sans appears in Smash as Mii Gunner costume. This fast-paced first-person shooter looks pretty good on the Switch from recent gameplay videos, and the gyro-aim support the Switch offers may actually be an advantage. As for a remaster everyone is anticipating, Xenoblade Chronicles fans rejoice about seeing the beloved first game, originally made for the Wii system in 2012,
being fully remastered in HD and released on the Switch in 2020! A Japanese action role-playing game set in the future, that I’m looking forward to play after hearing good things about it. After all the new announcements and reveals, I can say the wait for upcoming games for the rest of the year and 2020 will be worthwhile! .
14 December 2018 Red and Black
Sports
Red and FallBlack 2019
Sound Off: The Nats win the World Series Mr. Dickens
Mr. Ducre
Mr. Sauter
Calib James (c/o 2022)
Ms. Bryson
“It’s wonderful to see all types of ethnicities come together to win a championship, and I think with the political climate we have right now it’s wonderful. . . Teams that don’t fight each other, that hang together and sing together and dance together, they win. And teams that don’t, it doesn’t work.”
“I’m really happy that the Nats won, but I’ll always be a ‘Stros fan forever. And on to the football season. Oh, y’all got the Redskins, sorry about that.”
“It’s such a series of things that have never happened in sports before. We’re not even just talking about baseball. In a seven game series for a team to win all four games away, for a team to be losing after the sixth and seventh inning and just come back and win it, it’s just shocking.”
“It’s dope. They haven’t won a game in like 86 years. I mean, been to the finals in 86 years. They won. Hopefully they can win again next year.”
“Letting these guys go out and heal after being so overused. . . then come back and win the World Series. They let Hudson go and have his child and then come back in the middle of the playoffs. They treated their people like people, they treated them like professionals, and they helped them when they needed it.”
NHL: Eastern Conference preview by Christopher Peterson The NHL season is coming up and this season is going to be an interesting one, especially for the Eastern conference. After the unlikely sweeping of the President’s Trophy winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Columbus Blue Jackets fell apart, losing some of the key players to their 2019 Stanley Cup run. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed in Florida this past season, LW Artemi Panarin signed with the Rangers, Matt Duchene signed in Nashville, and Ryan Dzingel signed in Carolina. Bobrovsky, who has won 2 Vezina trophies with the Blue Jackets, was one of the best, if not the best player on the team, and losing him is rough for the Jackets--especially with someone like Korpisalo as the backup. Korpisalo played in 27 games last season and had a final Save % of .897. The average Save % is roughly .905/.910 and to be that far under the average isn’t a good thing, especially for someone who is going to be taking on a big load this season. Artemi Panarin has been the centerpiece for the forward core since being traded from Chicago in 2017. In his 2 seasons with Columbus, Panarin put up 169 points in 160
games. The Florida Panthers are expected to make a deep run for the playoffs after signing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a lengthy contract. Their core from last year remained intact and with a healthy Vincent Trocheck and a new, Zezina-caliber goalie, the team is in the best shape it’s ever been. Headed by Centerman Aleksander Barkov who notched both of the Panthers’ hat tricks last season, is looking to have another spectacular year. Their season last year would’ve gotten them into the playoffs, had they had a good goalie, but in Luongo’s last year he had a Save % of .899 and his backup, James Reimer had a .900. (Last season was a trainwreck for Panthers’ goaltending.) However, even though the goaltenders were awful, the Panthers found their way to 86 points, only 13 points out of a playoff spot. With solid goaltending, they could be 3rd/4th in the Atlantic and a definite playoff contender. The Rangers are shaking things up with the huge acquisitions of Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko, and Jacob Trouba. Panarin had 89 points in 79 games last season and
solidified his spot as one of the top forwards in the NHL. Kaapo Kakko had 38 points in 45 Liiga games last year with TPS, one of the elite prospect teams
out there. Drafted 2nd overall, Kakko is expected to make an immediate impact in the NHL, already being placed on the top line with Panarin and Zibanejad. Jacob Trouba had a huge breakout year last year, notching 50 points in 82 games as a defenseman. Slotting him on the top pair with Brady Skjei could be what Skjei needs to make the jump from good to great, as projected. The current team may be what is needed to get Henrik Lundqvist a cup before he retires. New Jersey made huge moves this offseason in drafting Jack Hughes and trading for P.K. Subban, Nikita Gusev and signing Wayne Simmonds. Jack Hughes scored a total of 150 points in 74 games with the USDP/USHL. Projected to be one of the next top talents, Hughes went 1st overall. P.K. Subban is arguably one of the best powerplay quarterbacks in the league. Subban is an elite puck-moving defenseman who had
an atrocious season last year, only notching 9 goals and 22 assists for 31 points, compared to his usual 50 points. Nikita Gusev came over from the KHL this offseason where he was putting up elite numbers with SKA St. Petersburg, 82 points in 62 games. New Jersey is hopeful that he puts up the same numbers in the NHL. Wayne Simmonds hasn’t been playing well in Nashville and Philadelphia last season notching 30 total points in 79 games. But with the right people, all of these acquisitions can flourish in New Jersey. There were also minor shakeups to teams like Toronto, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Washington and the New York Islanders. Toronto shipped off Kadri, Marleau and Sparks and brought in Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot and Jordan Schmaltz as well as locking up Marner long term. Pittsburgh took a step back in shipping off Kessel for Galchenyuk and Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Washington shipped off Niskanen and Burakovsky for an AHL Player and Gudas as well as letting Connolly walk. The Islanders let Robin Lehner go and brought in Semyon Varlamov. Lehner was 3rd in Vezina voting behind Andrei Vasilevskiy and Ben Bishop. Varlamov is a bonafide starter coming off a decent season at best, notching a .909 save percentage.
Games and Style Red and Black Fall 2019
Style Scout
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December 2018 Red and Black
Name: Joshua Lima Graduation Year: 2023 Birthday: May 4 (Taurus) Biggest Style Inspiration: Japanese/American street fashion Favorite Artist: Willow Smith Favorite Store: Any thrift store Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese from Panera Bread Fashion Pet Peeve: Masculinity Dream Job: Something in the fashion industry
Name: Caitlin Stout Graduation Year: 2020 Birthday: February 27 (Pisces) Biggest Style Inspiration: 90s grunge Favorite Artist: Palace Favorite Food: Spicy Yakisoba Biggest Style Pet Peeve: People with muffin tops wearing crop tops Dream Job: Tattoo artist
Games
The first THREE to complete this crossword puzzle AND maze win a prize! See Mr. Fox in A204.
IN THE HALLWAY Liya Tadesse and Semira Tekle Around the halls of Northwood, Hydro Flasks have become the new stainless steel overpriced trend that teens can’t get enough of. Decorated with stickers and reusable (of course) straws, you just can’t go wrong making a bold statement with these vacuum insulated water bottles.