May 2025 - Silver Chips Print

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A public forum for student expression since 1937 Montgomery Blair High School

May 7, 2025

By RAE FOSTER On April 23, Blair junior Anuva Maloo was elected as the 48th Student Member of the Board (SMOB) for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maloo ran against Northwest junior Peter Boyko. According to MCPS, a total of 61,647 middle and high school students voted, using an electronic ballot sent to students’ emails. Results showed that Maloo and Boyko received 62 percent and 38 percent of the votes, respectively.

SMOB-elect Maloo shared her response to the decision. “I’m ecstatic. I’m so beyond grateful to be in this position in the first place. I was even grateful to be a finalist so the fact that I get to become SMOB now is just the coolest and most amazing thing,” Maloo said. “I know how much hard work [Peter and I] put into it so it was a weird sense of mixed feelings, but now that it’s settled in for a week I’m just truly beyond excited and I’m ready to get to work on day one.”

As a SMOB candidate, Maloo had to appeal to 80,000 eligible voters across 66 middle and high schools. “It’s about showing your experience, showing why you’re qualified, showing why you’re running in the first place,” Maloo said.

Her main strategies during her campaign included visiting schools, upkeeping a social media presence, and targeting each school’s SGA. Maloo’s SMOB campaign platform focused on three policies for MCPS next year. She plans to stock

Blair’s Anuva Maloo elected as 48th SMOB

48TH STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD Anuva Maloo (center) is set to become the first SMOBPHOTO COURTESY OF MEHER PARSINNI elect from Blair in twenty years.

MCPS visits China for pickleball

By NEHA NARAYAN and RUTH WAJDA-GOTWALS For the first time in district history, 31 MCPS students traveled to China as part of a sports and culture exchange centered around pickleball. Pickleball is a game often associated with retirement communities and gym class, but it served as a bridge between the two powerful nations. The trip, which took place from April 9 to April 21, included stops in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing. During these stops, students visited schools to play friendly matches, explored cultural landmarks, and engaged in hands-on workshops designed to create multicultural connections.

What began as a conversation between the BOE and members of the community quickly evolved into something much bigger. After meeting with leaders from local Chinese immersion programs, BOE President Julie Yang shared the opportunity with the MCPS superintendent and athletic director.

Being fluent in Mandarin and passionate about experiential learning, Yang saw potential in the idea of a

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pickleball exchange trip. “This is a great way for our young people to go out and build bridges between people, communities, and cultures,” Yang expressed. “We want our students to be curious about the world and see what’s possible.”

Yang connected the Chinese immersion community group with Superintendent Thomas Taylor.

Within weeks, the idea transformed into a full-scale initiative backed by Chinese educational institutions and funded by China’s Ministry of Education. Students selected for the program were representatives from 11 different MCPS high schools, including pickleball athletes, MCPS TV media interns documenting the journey, and students involved in local Chinese immersion programs.

For many of the students who participated, including Sherwood junior Haley Corkery, this was their first time leaving the country.

For some, it was their first time ever on a plane. “I’ve never even had a passport before this,” Corkery said. “I’ve done some traveling in the U.S., but this is completely

school bathrooms with menstrual supplies, unlock school bathrooms and ensure their functionality, and increase Narcan accessibility in schools. Some of her other goals include hiring more security guards, advocating for placing psychologists in every MCPS school, and increasing the counselor-to-student ratio. During her campaign, Maloo stated that with the $10 million in funding allocated to the SMOB by MCPS, she would assign $5 million to stocking the school bathrooms with menstrual products, and $5 million to placing emergency Narcan kits in schools. These goals will take dedication to get completed, but Maloo is prioritizing actions that she believes she can truly accomplish. “If I’m publishing something online, if I’m saying I wanna do this … I think it has to be something that I think I can genuinely make happen or at least set a very strong basis for future SMOBs to expand upon,” Maloo said.

Maloo is the first ever female SMOB to come from Blair, and the first Blair SMOB since Sebastian Johnson in 2005. Blair physics teacher James Schafer described the weight of her accomplishment.

“I think it’s a really great thing for Blair and for Anuva. I think it’s a wonderful reflection on her engagement in the entire community, her love for her school, her care for the students around her,” Schafer said.

Maloo will replace sitting SMOB Praneel Suvarna and be appointed by the Board as the 48th SMOB on July 1.

IT’S A MUSICAL!

SOMETHING ROTTEN Serena Laney (Nostradamus, Red Cast), Navek Leonard (Nick, Red Cast) and the ensemble of Something Rotten perform “It’s A Musical” during Blair’s 2025 pring musical.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THEA WOMACK

see PICKLEBALL page F1 NEWS

FEATURES

CULTURE

SPORTS

Silver Spring businesses affected by construction receive state grants. A2

Maryland Legislature considers new bills to push back school start times. D3

A look into academic cheating at Blair. E1

How the Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin broke the all-time hockey goalscoring record. F2

Purple Line Grants

School Start Times

Cheating

Ovechkin

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A2 News May 7, 2025 NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by EVELYN GOLDIN

Sandy Spring Friends School rescinds closure announcement after overwhelming donations The Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS)—a coed, college preparatory Quaker school in Sandy Spring, Maryland—announced on April 14 that they would not reopen for the 2025-2026 school year, but after an outpouring of financial support, they have reversed their decision to close. An email sent by the Board of Trustees to SSFS families on April 23 said that the institution will remain open at least through the 2027-2028 school year due to contributions from the Friends of SSFS Coalition and other community members. The coalition raised $15 million to help the school continue operations.

SSFS, which opened in 1961, serves students from preschool through 12th grade.

MCPS opt-out case appears before Supreme Court On April 22, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the MCPS policy that prohibits parents from opting their kids out of lessons with LGBTQ characters and themes, which parents say conflict with their religion. Rather than fighting against the lessons themselves, the parents are criticizing the lack of an option to remove their children from them. Liberal justices expressed concern about where the line would be drawn on what constitutes a violation of religious freedom, raising questions about cases like the teaching of evolution in science classes. But the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority and history of supporting religious liberties, is expected to side with the parents.

Graduation set for June 4

round one recipients was original- recipient—at 963 Bonifant Street, ly set to be released on April 14, said. “They’re destroying us to the but due to the overwhelming num- point that if we survive it, it will be ber of nearly 450 submitted appli- a miracle.”

On May 2, the Maryland The grants must be used for cations, the date was postponed.

Department of Transportation The second round opens June 2, business-related expenses, but will (MDOT) released the names and the recipients are set to be an- not be regulated. “The grants are to of the first recipients of its Purnounced on July 28. The third and support the businesses in whatever ple Line Small Business Grants, final round will open in September way they find helpful. That can be meant to support businesses afand be announced in November. making payroll, paying overhead, fected by ongoing Purple Line Kathryn Lamb, director of their mortgage payments, benefits construction. communications and outreach for for their employees, [or] marketAdministered by MDOT, the the Purple Line, explained some ing expenditures,” Lamb said.

Purple Line Small Business Grants of the more specific criteria beHowever, many business ownprogram provides grants of up to ing examined by the grant review ers along the corridor still did not $50,000 per business. In order to board at MDOT as they decide feel heard by Purple Line leadbe considered for the grant, appliwho will receive the grants. In par- ers. “If they care about that, they cants must operate a customer-facticular, the board examines where would actually work faster around ing business within one-quarter of the businesses are located on the the areas where businesses are fula mile of the Purple Line route in route and how heavy the construc- ly affected like us,” Kebede said.

Montgomery and Prince George’s tion was during a six-month period Kebede claimed businesses counties. The business must also centered on the date of the appli- were not properly informed about have been located along the aligncation. ment since Jan. 1, 2022 and be a the disruptions. “They fenced the For many businesses situated entire front of the salon for over small business with fewer than 50 on Bonifant Street—located direct- two years, and they told me it employees or less than $2 million ly along the Purple Line route and [would be] 10 months,” she said. in sales. behind the Silver Spring Library— “They took us from storefront to The first list included 104 busithe impact of the construction has an alley for over two years.” nesses each receiving between been particularly challenging, as $1,000 and $40,000 to cover opWith the line’s construction the shops in the area are mainly projected to continue into 2028, erations costs and expand services. small and family owned. Kebede explained the vulnerability of small the future of the neighboring busibusinesses like hers. “We’re a nesses has continued to cause worsmall business. We can’t fight them ry. Tsegaye explained that even much, so they [couldn’t] care less,” once construction ends, stores like hers will struggle to get busishe said.

Other business owners along ness. “It’s going to be just one-way Bonifant Street reported a signif- driving. There will be no parking, icant drop in business. Pedestrian maybe five parking spaces on the and car traffic is infrequent as the whole street. [Also], the [Purple roads are entirely blocked off with Line] stop is not here. The stop the majority of storefronts being is at the library, and there are othobstructed by construction fenc- er shops there. So people are not ing and equipment. “Right now, going to come back to do busithe customers can’t even come ness here. They’ll go [to what] is PHOTO BY DANEEL KUTSENKO in because they blocked every- in front of them,” Tsegaye said.

BLOCKED OFF Businesses along Bonifant Street face obstruction thing,” Abeda Tsegaye, owner of “This is just a disaster even after [the construction finishes].” the Kefa Cafe—another grant from the Purple Line construction.

This round of grants totaled $1 million and was just the first of 3 rounds in 2025. MDOT has allocated $4 million over the next 4 years for the program.

Purple Line construction in Silver Spring began over eight years ago and has since significantly disrupted access to a large number of businesses along the tram’s projected route, causing financial hardship. “We have lost clients because of [the Purple Line construction], because the sidewalks are not accessible,” Fasika Kebede, owner of Salon Zoma—a grant recipient—at 919 Bonifant Street, said. “They blocked off the entire front entrance with a black fence, [it’s] directly in front of our door.”

The program was aimed at providing monetary relief to businesses along the alignment who have been negatively impacted by the ongoing construction. It is set to have three rounds of applications staggered throughout 2025, with applications for the first round having opened on Feb. 10 and closed on March 14. A list of chosen

By LILA GROSKO and YONGLE XIN

MCPS considers new AI policies for upcoming school year

By JESSICA ZHANG As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance and more students become accustomed to using it, MCPS planned to develop its guidelines on AI usage in four phases. The first phase in February was to collect community feedback and collaborate with members to discuss ideas. The second phase, in March, was for draft regulation and review. Revisions were then made to the AI regulations and guidelines in April before Board approval in May or June. MCPS has already released a survey to gather public input on developing AI regulations.

How do we look at making sure that we have very clear guidelines on where [AI] should be used, and how it should be used?

PRANEEL SUVARNA

Blair’s 2025 graduation ceremony will take place at 9:00 a.m. on June 4 at the University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center. The keynote speaker will be Evan Glass, the first openly LGBTQ member of the Montgomery County Council and a former CNN journalist. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and all seating is general admission. Each senior will receive six tickets for family and friends, and their cap and gown will be distributed on June 2, before a mandatory graduation rehearsal on June 3. On graduation day, the school building will be closed and all non-graduating students will have the day off.

MDOT awards $1 million to 104 small businesses affected by Purple Line construction

Though MCPS blocked ChatGPT and other AI tools from all school networks and devices on Jan. 3, 2023, there is currently no official policy in place regarding AI use in schools other than academic dishonesty guidelines

and student data privacy requirements. As MCPS Central Office continues to develop AI policy, its official stance is that all students should have access to conceptual knowledge and skills regarding its use. In the upcoming school year, MCPS will be launching an Eye on AI Learning Series for staff and students.

Praneel Suvarna, the sitting Student Member of the Board, discussed multiple aspects that the policy was trying to achieve.

“How do we look at making sure that we have very clear guidelines on where [AI] should be used, and how it should be used to make sure that we’re protecting our students?” Suvarna said.

Suvarna also mentioned that his recent advisory council meeting explored promoting better media literacy for staff and students. “We talked about AI and media literacy and how those go hand in hand,” he said. “[Like] not to trust everything you see from AI, and maybe how we [can] start to incorporate that into lessons in school.” In fact, according to a survey in 2024 by the Digital Education Council, 58 percent of students reported feeling that they do not have sufficient AI knowledge and skills.

Sheri Massey, the Blair library media specialist, said that AI can be used in both a positive and negative manner. “It’s a tool that

you’ll use to accomplish your move on while incorporating AI work, so it [could] be creating im- into our lives,” Altbach said. Blair ages, creating music, creating text freshman Abigail Bateman agreed. documents,” Massey said. “If you “I think it’s good to double-check choose to use it nefariously, [like] if you choose to use it for plagia- plagiarism and teach kids about rizing [or] cheating, then yes, it’s a the dangers of AI,” Bateman said. negative thing.”

Although the discussion will However, Blair English teacher continue, Suvarna believes it is imKeith Anderson was concerned about students using AI for aca- portant for MCPS to start taking demically dishonest reasons. “As steps toward creating a policy for an English teacher, there’s very few AI usage. “Whether we like it or ways I could see a student justifying not, AI is here … trying to ignore using AI in a way that I wouldn’t it is not setting up students for succonsider cheating,” he said. cess,” Suvarna said. “There Blair junior Catherine Altbach has to be a balanced emphaapproach, but sized the importance where of MCPS that baleducating ance is both students is yet to and staff on be deterhow to use AI responmined.” sibly. “[AI] is something that people will make assumptions about or not understand fully without being educated on, so for people to become good at or for society to become well-versed in it, we have to start with the school ALLISON LIN systems and figure out good ways to

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May 7, 2025 News A3

Superintendent aims for MCPS to “Return to Rigor”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by CASEY PENDERGAST

2025-26 policy proposal to revamp grade calculations

By ZACHARY KARP and SAHANA PARIKH On April 10, MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor presented to the Board of Education proposed changes to grading regulations for the upcoming 20252026 school year. These changes included revising the 50 percent rule, creating consistency between teachers for due dates and deadlines, creating requirements for end-of-semester summative assessments, and changing how semester grades are calculated.

The regulation changes will clarify the minimum amount of effort that students need to put into an assignment in order for the 50 percent rule to apply. Currently, MCPS grading regulations allow teachers to give students grades lower than 50 percent only if they did no work on the assignment, did not attempt to meet the assignment’s basic requirements, or engaged in academic dishonesty.

Board member Brenda Wolff said the way these regulations were implemented was too lax. “It sends the wrong message to our students: that you can do little or nothing and get 50 percent,” she said.

MCPS is also expected to change the way semester grades are calculated, beginning with incoming ninth grade students. Current regulations for the 2024-2025 school year require high school courses that provide credits to calculate semester grades based on students’ letter grades from quarter to quarter; for example, a student that receives an A in Quarter 1 and a B in Quarter 2 will receive

an A in their transcript for the first semester, regardless of how high or low their letter grades were. According to the presentation, MCPS will instead move toward a system in which quarter percentage grades are averaged to determine the semester grade.

The grading policy changes will also include determining requirements for summative assessments in the second and fourth quarters and establishing clear windows for reassessments and deadlines. The presentation suggested that the county could enforce deadlines to be no longer than 10 days after the assignment’s original due date.

“We believe that will incentivize students to pay attention to what they’re supposed to be doing [in] the second and the fourth quarter, as well as improve attendance,” Wolff said.

The superintendent’s proposed changes will be the newest in a long history of revising grading regulations. The 50 percent rule was originally implemented in 2008 to incentivize students to learn even when they were failing classes. MCPS later eliminated high school final exams in 2017 in a shift toward marking period assessments, and during the pandemic, it allowed more flexibility for late work submissions. Wolff said these regulations failed to prepare students for post-secondary education. “I don’t think we’re really preparing our students for real life. It doesn’t teach them what colleges are going to do [in grading],” she said.

Recent changes in the 20232024 school year marked the beginning of what the presentation

called a “Return to Rigor.” MCPS added end-of-course assessments in response to new Maryland-wide requirements and reintroduced quarterly exams that counted for 10 percent of a student’s grade.

DATA COURTESY OF MCPS

The announced grading policy adjustments were in response to criticism of grade inflation and absenteeism from staff and parents.

“The new policy is designed so the kids don’t slack off [in] the 2nd and 4th quarter,” Wolff said. Taylor reported in a memo to the Board that feedback and attendance data indicated there were more unexcused absences in the second half of a semester than in the first half.

Additionally, according to Board member Karla Silvestre, teachers often reported that students put minimal effort into classes because of the 50 percent rule. Taylor’s presentation included the takeaway, “Unintended consequences of grading regulation have resulted

in concerns about rigor and expectations.”

Colleges’ reactions to grade inflation in MCPS also played a role in inciting the change. Blair College and Career Information Coordinator Jazmine Delos Reyes said that acceptance rates among Blair students at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) have decreased in recent years as a result of grade inflation. “We can see that UMD’s acceptance rate for students has been lower these recent years,” Delos Reyes said.

“That could be because of this [grade inflation] … making grades not as credible anymore to define a student.

The proposed changes were predicated partially on results from study groups conducted with high school students across MCPS. Blair junior Grace Rawlins expressed her support for making the grading policy more strict. “I agree that we should have a more extensive grading policy … MCPS has been passing people for years just so they can look better,” she said.

However, Blair junior Sky Stankevich is against the reduction of grade inflation. “I chose all the hard classes for next year because I know grade inflation [exists],” he said. “I love grade inflation.”

Though the Board may recommend changes to Taylor’s proposed revisions, grading regulations are strictly under the purview of the superintendent. The county has yet to decide on the specific details of the changes. “They haven’t figured out yet exactly what it’s going to look like,” Wolff said.

New group aims to help laid-off federal workers

Mobilize Montgomery connects job seekers to employers

By SENAYA ASFAW and SAHANA PARIKH

When the Trump administration took office in January, it quickly began to shrink the federal workforce and instituted a hiring freeze, in an attempt to make the government more efficient and reduce the national debt. As a result, Montgomery County organizations and local city governments founded Mobilize Montgomery, a coalition meant to aid the millions of federal workers in Montgomery County affected by the Trump administration’s federal workplace reductions. “It’s a really unprecedented time for Montgomery County … we’re bringing everybody together to try to come up with solutions and hopefully offer the best support that we can,” Manu Lizzio-Hashime, the head of marketing for Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), said.

Before the official formation of the coalition, involved organizations worked closely with one another to provide job opportunities more generally to citizens in Montgomery County. “It was really just about connecting the dots more so than needing to activate partners,” Lizzio-Hashime explained. There

are numerous organizations and departments involved in the effort, including the Maryland Women’s Business Center, Maryland Department of Labor, Worksource Montgomery, MCEDC, and Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Mobilize Montgomery is fully funded by the Montgomery County government and is leveraging current staff of each individual organization to run the coalition.

Mobilize Montgomery has created a brief form on their website where job seekers can provide information about themselves and what they are looking for. From this, the coalition can provide these people with information about job fairs and upcoming opportunities to connect them with employers.

“It’s very much day-to-day interactions with industry leaders, … with CEOs, [and] with founders,” Lizzio-Hashime said.

While the internet has become a primary way that organizations connect with the community and contact employees and employers, the Mobilize Montgomery website provides additional insight on how to take advantage of existing programs and upcoming events.

Similarly, MCEDC has provided online forums for employers and employees to seek personalized support, including state opportunities and advice. Outreach

and awareness have become vital during this rapidly evolving period.

Montgomery County’s federal workers have recognized the impact made by Mobilize Montgomery during their adjustment to abrupt changes. “It’s heartening to see the organizers come together to provide a wide-ranging list of resources to support affected federal employees,” Mary Coleman, an ex-federal worker of the U.S. Department of Education living in Takoma Park, said.

Coleman is one of Maryland’s 325,000+ federal government employees facing uncertainty during this period. Montgomery County alone has 48,433 federal jobs based in the area, including offices for the Department of Energy in Germantown and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Headquarters in Silver Spring. Mobilize Montgomery was created to help those affected by cuts.

Although Mobilize Montgomery was only recently formed this past February, it has had an immediate impact on federal workers and businesses. Erin Roth, the assistant secretary for the Maryland Department of Labor Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, recognized the impact that has been made through community events. “On Wednesdays, we run a work-

LU C

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AN shop specifically to G support impacted or concerned federal workers and contractors.

It’s a three-hour virtual free offering, and we’ve had over 800 Marylanders already participate in just the past few months of having that tool,” Roth said.

Local businesses have also begun to provide aid for current and former federal employees by means of discounts. The AFI Silver Theater and Culture Center has announced a discount program called “Films for Feds” which reduces show prices to $8 by showing a federal identification card. Similarly, The Thirteen, a choir and orchestra in Washington, D.C., is providing two free tickets for one show, when a federal employee shows proof they have been laid off since January 20.

As workforce cuts continue, Mobilize Montgomery and local businesses alike will continue to support federal workers who are facing hardship. “Everybody needs to work together at this time just to help these workers who have so many skills, who are going through a really tough and unexpected time,” Roth said. “We’re here for people and we’re going to continue to be here for people.”

Pope Francis dies at 88

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on April 21 in his Vatican City home at age 88. Francis served as Pope for 12 years, and was the first Jesuit pope as well as the first pope to hail from the Western Hemisphere.

During his tenure, Francis struck a balance between the desires of traditionalists and progressive voices who sought to reform the church; he took a liberal stance on issues like social justice while retaining conservative views on sexuality.

The cardinals will start conclave on May 7 to choose Francis’ successor. Of the 252 cardinals that serve worldwide, only 135 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote for the next pope. Two-thirds of the cardinal electors present must vote for a single candidate for them to be elected pope.

Liberals win Canada federal elections

The Liberal Party, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, held onto power in the Canadian parliament after the elections held on April 28. The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, came second in the elections, winning 144 districts against the Liberals’ 169. A strong anti-Trump sentiment in Canada, incited by the American president’s comments on tariffs and making Canada the 51st state, carried the Liberals to victory. Despite polls favoring the Conservatives by up to 26 percentage points in early 2025, the Liberals gained significant popularity over the course of Trump’s second term, and held a slight lead of over three percent on the day of the elections. Despite winning the most parliamentary seats, the Liberals came short of reaching a majority in the elections, and will form a minority government by securing the cooperation of another party.

Blackouts in Spain and Portugal affect tens of millions of people

Power outages across Spain and Portugal stopped trains, grounded flights, cut phone service, and shut down traffic lights from noon on April 28 until early on April 29. Emergency services and rail workers evacuated around 35,000 passengers from over 100 stopped trains over the course of the blackout, which turned local infrastructure like stadiums and airports into shelters for stranded travelers. The outage was one of the worst ever to take place in Europe, and called into question the stability of the electrical grid around Spain and Portugal, a region not normally known for blackouts. Its cause is currently unknown.

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OPINIONS

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May 7, 2025

The price of success College Board fees promote inequity

By ELORA DERBYSHIRE AN OPINION In American high schools, the SAT has been a part of the college admissions process for almost 100 years. But unlike final exams or state standardized assessments, the SAT—and AP exams—are not administered by schools or any department of education. Instead, these tests are owned by a corporation that has become the gatekeeper of students’ acceptance into institutions of higher education: the College Board.

Designated as a 501(c)(3) notfor-profit organization, the College Board has been tax-exempt since

Most AP exams cost $99 each this year, with AP Capstone exams topping up to $147. The 20242025 SAT registration fee is $68.

Even with the $37 AP fee reduction and free SAT waivers that the College Board offers to eligible students, these costs pose a significant financial strain. “Across the board statistically, we find that students of color and students of lower socioeconomic status already tend to have less access to even taking AP classes,” Christine Neumerski, senior research fellow at the University of Maryland’s College of Education, said. “When you have to add on the fact that you have to actually pay to take the test, it can

students are taking rigorous courses compared to the [other] classes that their school offers,” Blair sophomore Esme Neuman said. “[Taking APs] does give you a competitive application compared to someone who is taking all on-level or even honors [classes].”

Starting during the 2023-2024 school year, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future required that all AP and IB exam fees be covered for students taking the corresponding courses. “I think we all share the value of wanting our students to have access [to the exams] because the exam is what allows you to get that final acknowledgement and credit,” Board Member At-large

GRAPHIC BY ELORA DERBYSHIRE DATA COURTESY OF MCPS

RITA MONTOYA

I think we all share the value of wanting our students to have access [to the exams] because the exam is what allows you to get that final acknowledgement and credit.

compound that challenge.”

In addition, students must pay extra fees for registering late or cancelling tests—cases which do not require additional substantial human labor from the College Board. “There are a lot of folks [for whom] $50 here, $100 there, even $20 there is a pressing amount of money, and could possibly be a real burden for families,” Blair AP Language and Composition teacher Peter Lynch said.

For students looking to gain acceptance to four-year colleges and earn course credits, there is little choice but to buy into the commercialization of public education.

With many colleges moving away from the test-optional policies that they adopted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, SAT scores are becoming a major factor in admissions once again. The alternative admissions test, the ACT, is run by a fully for-profit company.

For parents looking to give their child an edge over their peers, College Board testing has led to the creation of a multi-billion dollar test preparation industry, leaving students who cannot afford the tests even further behind.

Students also increasingly feel the pressure to pile on APs—even if the price is too high. Last year, MCPS students took 40,448 AP exams. “Colleges like to see that

Rita Montoya said. This decision was crucial in increasing the accessibility of exams for low-income students. While the number of MCPS students receiving Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) services who took AP or IB courses increased by 6 percent (from 6,595 in 2023 to 6,994 in 2024), the number of these students who took at least one AP exam increased by 32 percent (from 3,622 to 4,786). Before the change, the exorbitant cost forced hundreds of MCPS students taking AP classes to forgo their exams.

There’s no reason why I should have to pay for a test that is supposed to support me and help me get into college.

discussion on the Board about ending coverage for students who can afford the exams.

As schools brace for the loss of federal funding under the Trump administration, including a potential $232.1 million cut in Maryland, AP cost coverage will only become more and more difficult for education systems to bear. Something has to give, and it shouldn’t be the quality of students’ public education. The College Board—which owned over $2 billion in assets in 2023 and makes around $1 billion in revenue each year—must lower its costs and abolish unnecessary fees. If not, it is time for the nation to begin searching for alternatives.

KIDIST TILAHUN

June 1942. Due to its “not-for-profit” status—legally distinct from a nonprofit—it faces less governance and public disclosure requirements. The College Board claims to serve the schools, educators, and over seven million students that its tests and AP curriculums reach each year. But when the study guides are handed out and May rolls around, students across the country are left with a question: why are we expected to pay—sometimes hundreds of dollars—for the right to take tests associated with our public education? American education systems have accepted the College Board’s unreasonable demands for far too long. In the midst of a national education funding crisis, the corporation must cease its financial toll on students and schools.

The coverage of exam costs at the state or county level is essential at the moment, but it is not a viable long-term solution. The College Board still receives payment in full—just not from the students, leaving the organization unaware that its financial expectations for students are unreasonable and burdening.

When education systems like MCPS find themselves spending $3,821,190—just to give their students the opportunity to receive credit for eight months of learning and hard work—resources are drained from already-strained public education funds. “It starts to add up to a lot of money,” Montoya said, adding that there has been

Blair senior Kidist Tilahun took two AP exams in 2022, the year before the policy change, with a College Board fee waiver. “There’s no reason why I should have to pay for a test that is supposed to support me and help me get into college,” Tilahun said. “$40 was obviously less expensive, but at the end of the day, they should just be free.”

ALL ART BY JOSEPHINE BRUNN LAKE

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May 7, 2025 Opinions B2

Letters to the Editor A broken prom-ise

Letters to the Editor have been edited for length and clarity .

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Neha Narayan’s article “Measuring hours, not impact.” While the article shares some important points about the shortcomings of the SSL hours program, I think it misses a key argument. Even though the system isn’t perfect, it is still getting students involved in community service, and there aren’t many alternatives for MCPS. Yes, the program encourages students to focus on logging hours instead of making a true impact on the community. However, for many students, those SSL hours are their first real step into volunteering. Even if they don’t pursue community work in the future, at least they have some kind of experience. Without this structure, many might never consider helping out in the first place.

Narayan mentions the need to “reframe” the system toward measuring impact, which is a good idea

in theory. However, the article doesn’t talk about what that new system looks like. If we simply get rid of SSL hours without a solid plan in place, we risk students not participating at all. What would replace them?

It is also important to remember that not every school has the resources to introduce new ways to promote community engagement.

Right now, the SSL system is accessible and gives students a clear goal to work toward.

The SSL program is definitely not perfect, but I think that it is important to frame the want for change in a way that can be implemented. Rather than just critiquing the existing system, let’s work together to find practicable ways to enhance it so that students can take away more than paper forms from their experiences.

Sincerely, Zoe Gorbachev

Dear Editor, In the March 24 issue of Silver Chips, Doris Wang wrote about Blair’s new attendance policy.

While several students quoted in the article voiced displeasure with the “In Class On Time” initiative, I believe it is a worthwhile endeavor.

Though it’s a little early to say for sure if it’s working, I have definitely observed more kids being in class on time. More kids being in class on time benefits everyone because the class can start sooner, which means the teacher can do more. I know some people find lunchtime detention to be an extreme punishment, but I don’t agree with that. A harsh and consistent punishment where students

lose something they want is key.

Students love their lunchtime; losing that will factor into the motivations determining their decision to abide by the policy.

I know this is a big step in leveling up the school’s tardy punishment, but what Blair was doing before—giving warnings, calling home—wasn’t working, so now it’s time to try something different. I think this policy is doing its job and serves as a great step forward in reducing tardiness. So let’s encourage the school to continue trying new things to prevent tardiness and improve the student experience.

Sincerely, Ada Schwartz

Dear Editor, Concerning the article, “Search for new principal resumes,” why have we not started this search sooner? We’ve known for 14 months since Principal Johnson announced her retirement that we would need a new principal, but the county has done nothing in the interim. Only now, with the deadline edging ever closer, is there any impetus to begin searching. The county has had over a year to begin searching, and like a student procrastinating their assignments, has left it up to the last minute.

As a junior at Blair, I will only experience this newly selected principal for one year, but that one year is still incredibly impactful.

A principal’s leadership matters to the students they are responsible for, and every action they take deeply affects the school. Therefore, the selection of a proper principal is extremely important.

MCPS should have begun this process last year, and even though multiple candidates dropped out, they should have continued the selection process. MCPS needs to explain what took so long and how they will improve the search process in the future. The process needs to be improved so other schools don’t have to go through the same.

Sincerely, Ezra Zibel

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Seniors should be given priority for prom but also it’s not my senior year. It’s

By AINSLIE CURRAN-N’GASI their senior prom, they should 100 and LYDIA PASS percent be able to go,” he said. Being a junior at the time made him AN OPINION more willing to give his ticket away, Music blasts and dresses spar- though the issue could have easily kle. Months of decisions and ded- been solved through senior priorication have led to now. Finally, a ity sales. night to celebrate seniors on their Prom is already an event atlast high school endeavor, with tended and favored by seniors, a spotlight on … everyone?! For and therefore the spotlight should many American high schoolers, highlight them as well. As an event prom acts as a rite of passage, that many consider an end-ofopening the doors to graduation high-school experience, many unand life beyond high school. It’s a derclassmen who attend are out of long-standing tradition and a night place. Blair senior Alegria Martins to remember—particularly for se- has been attending prom since her niors. However, allowing all high sophomore year, and has experischoolers to attend prom takes enced it through the eyes of both away from the once-in-a-lifetime experience for seniors. Gradu- under and upperclassmen. “My ation should not be the only cul- sophomore year, I definitely got minative event representative of looked at and people were kind senior year and four years of hard of like, ‘Why is she here?’ It made work and growth. Prom should be me feel like I shouldn’t have been too. Limiting prom to seniors only there,” she said. Though she was invited by her upperclassman partwould promote this.

Non-seniors should not be al- ner at the time, she still feels that lowed to attend Blair’s prom, un- prom should be geared toward less they are specifically invited by seniors. a senior to attend. Limiting prom to just seniors and students who they intentionally ask to attend would create a special, more personal experience, allowing for seniors to have an event that marks their transition out of high school and onto their next branch of life.

This exclusivity would also foster a sense of unity within the senior class, making the end of high school feel more significant.

Having prom open to both juniors and seniors—and those they invite—makes it hard to manage the size of the event, taking away opportunities for seniors to get a ticket. Out of the 620 students who attended Blair’s prom last year, over 150 were non-Blair-seniors. With Blair’s 2025 senior population reaching almost 750 students, seniors need priority in order to ensure everyone gets an opportunity to attend prom for their final year of high school. In an attempt to reconcile this issue, Blair has established a senior priority for prom tickets for the first time. However, the priority only lasts for one day.

In the past, seniors have struggled with being able to get prom tickets. Barriers like AP tests, the limited time in the school day when you can get the ticket, and long lines have made it hard to secure tickets. Current senior Jonah Choprah-Khan gave up his ticket to ensure a senior friend could attend, “I was a little upset at first,

Erika Demske, a senior at Washington Waldorf school, wanted her prom to feel like an honorable and magical event for seniors, rather than a party anyone could come to. “Basically only the seniors were actually participating,” Demske remembers when looking back on her senior prom.

“People [of all grades] came, but they just stood around in corners, the seniors were the only ones dancing and having fun.” A senior majority night creates an awkward space for underclassmen to be in.

Overall, seniors should come first when it comes to prom.

Prom should be a way to honor graduating students and mark the end of their high school career, something that can only be done if seniors are prioritized. Demske agrees, emphasizing the importance of having a senior-driven celebration. “When [prom] is an all senior event, [people will] really appreciate it for what it is: a class experience,” she said.

LUCIA WANG

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B3 Opinions May 7, 2025 silverchips

Montgomery Blair High School 51 University Boulevard East Silver Spring, MD 20901 silver.chips.print@gmail.com 2024 NSPA Pacemaker Finalist, 2024 American Scholastic Press Association Most Outstanding High School Newspaper, the 2024 American Scholastic Press Association First Place with Special Merit, the 2024 National Scholastic Press Association First Class with Three Marks of Distinction, the 2024 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medal winner, and the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker 100.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Carina Nicodemus Auden Seigel DESIGN EDITORS Naomi Andelman Eloise Carter Keelin Pegg NEWS EDITORS Rabira Dosho Max Erlebacher OPINIONS EDITORS Emily Kretschmer Doris Wang FEATURES EDITORS Laila Andelman Chloe Pegg CULTURE EDITORS Greta Andelman Tharaa Izuagie SPORTS EDITORS Abigail Greenberg Norah Wilson OMBUDSMAN Ethan de Brauw COLUMNIST Emily Kretschmer SENIOR WRITERS Jay Clouse Zachary Karp Diego Santoro-Velez STAFF WRITERS Adanna Akamigbo Senaya Asfaw Carmella Beach Ainslie Curran-Ng’asi Elora Derbyshire Rae Foster Lila Grosko Lucy Holland Satchel Jelen Mackenzie Lyons Tomas Monticelli Neha Narayan Sahana Parikh Lydia Pass Casey Pendergast Priya Tapia-Pereira Justin Rosentover Kiya Tiruneh Ruth Wajda-Gotwals Yongle Xin Eric Yang Jessica Zhang BUSINESS DIRECTORS Rowan Boyce Edith Yang BUSINESS STAFF Ava Falcone Sophia Li Eva Schwartz ART EDITORS Allison Lin Lucia Wang ARTISTS Eva Dammann Luca Esser Rosalyn Fang Jessica Hsieh Josephine Brunn Lake Charlotte Li Allison Lin Kate McDonough Victoria Angeli M. Regachuelo Lucia Wang Jason Yu PHOTO EDITOR Ian Gleason PHOTOGRAPHERS Jonathan Peter Belling Kenean Bizuwork Raffi Diamond-Berman Micahyas Yosefe Gessesse Kaylee Hopkins Daneel Kutsenko Maz Olson SCPSPORTS EDITOR Diego Santoro-Velez MEDIA EDITORS Eloise Carter Keelin Pegg PUZZLE EDITORS Ethan De Brauw Jonah Chopra Khan OUTREACH COORDINATORS Evelyn Goldin Chloe Pegg Doris Wang COPY EDITORS Jonah Chopra-Khan Zachary Karp Emily Kretschmer ADVISER Jeremy Stelzner HEADER ART Lucia Wang Jason Yu

Silver Chips is a public forum for student expression. Student editors make all content decisions.

Unsigned editorials represent the views of the editorial board and are not necessarily those of the school or of all Silver Chips members. Signed letters to the editor are encouraged; submit them to silver.chips.print@gmail.com. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

The silence is deafening

Gen Z must take civic action before it’s too late

so you think the Trump admin- half a million federal workers live

By THE EDITORIAL istration’s attacks on higher edu- in the DMV and contribute to BOARD cation don’t affect you. But in an our local economy, keeping our AN OPINION effort to push universities to follow favorite stores and family businessEight years ago in November of his excessive demands including es open and keeping our public 2016 after Trump was first elected, halting diversity, equity, and in- schools well-funded. We should be hundreds of Blair, Northwood, and clusion initiatives and reforming alarmed.

Environmental policies too, Einstein students staged a walkout student discipline policies, Trump to demonstrate their shared disap- froze billions of dollars of research which affect not only the U.S.’s pointment and anger at their na- grants. Not only has this action put land but the entire Earth, tion’s decision. Chants of “Not my these universities on ice, but it also are under siege. Since Janupresident” and “We reject the pres- terminated groundbreaking sci- ary, Trump pulled out of the Parident-elect” rang through the air as ence research like providing safer is climate agreement, eliminated a swarms of students marched from water to homes and finding cures national push for environmental the schools to the roof of the Whea- to deadly diseases. We should be justice, and gutted thousands of ton mall parking lot and concerned. employees at the Silver SpringDowntown Silver Spring.

Maybe you don’t have family based National Oceanic and AtWe too should protest because our or friends working for the federal mospheric Administration. We future education, careers, and lives government, so the Department should be outraged. are on the line. We too should pro- of Government Efficiency’s cuts After Trump’s first 100 days, test because we care about human don’t matter to you. But almost the prices of everything—from that rights, the environment, and rule of law.

Editorial Cartoon But we haven’t. Since Election Day, we have trudged through life perhaps too fed up to fight back and too tired to care.

After the 2016 election, Silver Chips published an editorial urging LIN readership to not back away from SON ALLI politics, even in the face of disappointment and anger. That message was vital as Blair’s community reeled from the election results, but it is more important now than ever before. As scattered protests against immigration policies, federal cuts, and attacks on civil rights unfold across the country, there is a startling lack of young voices in the dissent of an increasingly autocratic government.

Maybe you’re a Blazer who doesn’t see college in your future,

new phone you want to the sneakers on your feet—are set to rise.

K-12 funding is being threatened as schools like Blair showcase diversity through Sankofa, and the standard of innocent until proven guilty is eroding. We should be moved to act.

These policies are not just temporary headlines of the day. In a few weeks, when seniors leave Blair to start their next chapter, these policies will have a profound effect on their ability to afford our basic needs, find security and stability, and be healthy. All of us have a stake in the future that is being shaped right now.

The truth is we may be fed up.

We may be tired. It may seem easier to retreat into the background and let the adults duke it out, but we cannot afford to stay silent.

Our future cannot afford it. The well-being of the very Earth we live on cannot afford it. Now is the time to step up.

It’s not hard to get started; start small. Read the news from reliable sources, educate yourself, and know your rights. Find issues you care about, engage with other viewpoints, and stand up for your community. To quote our predecessors’ 2016 editorial: “As teenagers, we have the passion, the potential, and the youth to take a stand for what we believe in.” We still have the potential, we still have the youth. Now, we need to revive the passion that took us to the streets, to the parking lot rooftops, and to the lawmakers’ doorsteps years ago.

The death of due process

Donald Trump’s deportation agenda shreds Constitutional protections

stitutional order as we know it. If Trump is to be stopped, it is quite literally now or never.

Since Trump has taken office, he has followed through on his Donald Trump made a lot of promise of mass deportations, promises on the campaign trail. sending 238 immigrants to the inSome were typical Trump hy- famous Terrorism Confinement perbole. Unfortunately others, as Center, or CECOT, in El SalvaAmericans have learned in his first dor. The mega-prison—opened in hundred days, were not. He has 2023—is a cruel new policy of El Salattempted to force an unjust peace vadoran president Nayib Bukele. on Ukraine. He has dismantled Prisoners’ heads are shaved and the federal bureaucracy. He has they are held in communal cells pushed tariffs so calamitous that holding up to 100 men for 23 and they risk undermining the United a half hours a day. Prisoners do not States’ place in the global econo- receive visits and are never allowed my. But by far the most destruc- outside. The only way out of the tive policy that Trump has enacted prison is “in a coffin,” according to is his deportation policy, which El Salvador’s justice minister. The has already undercut due process Trump Administration is paying and risks undermining the Con- Bukele’s government $6 million to hold deportees at CECOT, many of whom have no criminal records.

One prisoner, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was deported due to an “administrative error,” according to the Trump Administration. Garcia grew up in El Salvador, and was forced to flee to America when a local gang threatened to kill him if he did not join their gang. Garcia spent 14 years in America as an undocumented immigrant, building a life for himself in Maryland as a construction day laborer and a father of three. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him protection from deportation due to the threats PHOTO BY KENEAN BIZUWORK on his life by Barrio 18 back in El Salvador. And yet, on March 15, To contact Ethan 2025, the Trump Administration email him at deported Garcia to the CECOT scombud@gmail.com prison.

By ETHAN DE BRAUW Ombudsman AN OPINION

Several courts, including the Supreme Court, have ordered the Trump Administration to “facilitate” the return of Garcia to the U.S. Even if Garcia entered the country illegally, even if he committed a crime, he is still entitled to a court date. Especially considering a judge has given him explicit protections from deportation. Despite the fact that Garcia was wrongly deported and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement admitted the mistake, Trump has refused to return Garcia. His actions mark a total breakdown of due process, and they represent a fundamental threat to the balance of power in America.

Normally, when immigrants are being deported, they are given a chance to have their case heard by the judiciary. The only problem: the judiciary often acts slower than immigration officers and cannot enforce its rulings, entrusting the executive branch to follow their orders. It must rely on respect for its authority as its source of power. The Trump Administration is no longer following those rulings, making the judiciary functionally powerless.

This is a disastrous shift of the balance of power in the United States. The right to due process is a fundamental American right.

Losing it means losing our national identity. Without due process, Americans have no right to a jury, Americans are no longer innocent until proven guilty, Americans are at the whims of Donald Trump.

Trump has begun to wield his

newfound power; in a conversation with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump said that he would consider deporting American citizens. “Homegrowns are next. The homegrowns … You gotta build about five more [CECOT style prisons]. It’s not big enough,” Trump said.

What Trump has done in his first hundred days of his presidency is only the start. If he can send people explicitly protected by the courts like Garcia to barbaric prisons like CECOT and face no functional legal repercussions, he can do anything.

So what can be done to stop him? While the Trump Administration is moving quickly—already, they have deported three American citizens—Trump is still obsessed with his popularity, like a high schooler running for prom queen. When it became clear Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts were unpopular through mass protests and boycotts, he was pushed out of the administration. When stock markets tanked after Trump’s tariffs further dropping Trump’s popularity, he rolled them back significantly. Americans still have the power to influence his actions through demonstration of public opinion.

So now is the time to act, to speak out against the administration, to protest in the streets, before it is too late.

silverchips

May 7, 2025 Opinions B4

Does MCPS overly emphasize technology use?

YES NO MCPS overemphasizes the use of technology in the classroom to the detriment of student learning.

MCPS facilitates an appropriate amount of computer use for its students to prepare students for the future.

By TOMAS MONTICELLI AN OPINION

By JAY CLOUSE AN OPINION

PHOTOS BY RAFFI DIAMOND-BERMAN

Technology has transformed modern education. Computers have introduced word processing, made research more accessible, and opened the door to new learning methods. In many ways, the early adoption of digital tools in schools was a necessary and forward-thinking move. But today, the embrace of technology in classrooms has gone from essential to overkill.

MCPS now provides every student with a school-issued Chromebook, district assessments are held almost entirely online, and every classroom is equipped with a smart board to replace whiteboards. MCPS has even invited students to help develop guidelines for the usage of AI in schools.

While innovation has its place, it must also have its limits. Studies increasingly show that excessive screen use may be undermining the very goals education is meant to achieve.

Keith Anderson, a Blair AP Language and Composition teacher, describes how his own classroom practices have changed.

After years of relying on computers, he’s returned to distributing paper handouts— not for nostalgia, but for necessity. “I found myself going back to making sets of [paper] now, solely for the reason of trying to reduce the amount of screen time,” he explained. “I think just having screens open, it sounds metaphysical, but I think it saps people’s souls. The screen … just takes away their energy.”

KEITH ANDERSON

I found myself going back to making sets of [paper] now, solely for the reason of trying to reduce the amount of screen time.

Scientific research supports the idea that students who use computers miss out on the benefits of learning from paper. A 2021 article from Scientific American explained that writing by hand activates regions of the brain involved in learning, memory, and processing—engagement that typing on a keyboard simply does not match. In other words, writing by hand helps students retain information and better understand what they read and write.

The drawbacks of excessive technology use are even more apparent in early education. A 2024 report from Maryland Reads, a state initiative aimed at improving literacy,

suggested that prolonged exposure to digital screens may be hurting reading comprehension among children. For these students, physical books and printed materials offer a more effective way of learning to read.

The unlimited possibilities offered by computers in class not only make it far more difficult to learn, but also raise concerns over academic integrity. With the rise of AI tools, the ability to distinguish original student work from generated content has grown more difficult. Anderson noted that assigning handwritten essays helps establish a baseline of student writing. “Too many kids cheat,” he said. “So it’s good to know what their actual writing looks like.”

Despite these concerns, MCPS has continued to push more and more technology into the classroom. In response, in 2023, the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Student Associations passed a resolution on digital balance in schools, urging MCPS to reduce mandatory screen time and reintroduce more traditional, proven methods of learning.

However, to be clear, rejecting technology outright is not the solution. Digital tools have a valuable role in modern education— whether for research, accessibility, or communication. But when nearly every part of a school day revolves around a screen, the balance tips too far from thoughtful innovation and too close to dependency.

Ultimately, MCPS has become too focused on pushing technology, not because they should, but because they can.

Educational technology is meant to be an accompaniment to traditional learning, not a replacement for it. No device or platform can replicate the proven cognitive benefits of pen on paper. Students should not be forced to rely on screens—they should be given a balance of both virtual and physical work to help them think clearer, remember more, and learn better.

tively get your point across, and most importantly, how to organize yourself online.

Google drives and emails have a tendency to become messy quickly. Students are expected to keep track of their assignments online, complete them, and turn them in.

This in turn encourages students to learn online organizational skills. For people who are not tech-savvy, this can be difficult, but this skill is important and the age of working online is not going away. It is important for MCPS to provide us with the resources and opportunities to learn how to conduct our work on our computers.

The nation realized during the COVID-19 pandemic that you can work and learn anywhere with a computer, as long as you have WiFi. So why would MCPS return If students are going to be to paper assignments when you can hold all of your assignments, multiple-page essays, prepared for the world that and entire online school lives in the palm of lies outside of the classroom, one hand. Why give up the versatility of online assignments? Tino Pham, an AP Statisthey need to learn how to use tics teacher at Blair, favors technology for its technology effectively. unlimited accessibility. “I can give student’s feedback really quickly if it’s [online].

It’s a convenience wherever I am; I have This was arguably MCPS’ largest step access to my laptop or computer, whereas into the digital era, and another step with paper I leave it at school, I don’t have toward satisfying their mission statement: access to it,” he said.

“Every student will have the academic, While in some classes, paper should still creative problem-solving, and social-emotional skills to be successful in college and be used for certain cases, it is best to include technology when possible. Blair senior Ancareer.” Today, the world is becoming increasingly dependent on technology. Em- thony Salvado recognized that more often than not, technology is the way to go. “[In an ployees have company-issued computers, English class, for example,] if it’s annotating send emails, and work online. If students are going to be prepared for the world that something, it would be better [to do it] on lies outside of the classroom, they need to paper, but if it’s writing an essay, [it would] definitely [be better] online,” he said. learn how to use technology effectively.

It is unequivocal that computers and Paper is not a difficult concept to learn.

It is nearly 2D, it folds, you can write on it, technology will be part of students’ lives as future working adults. Learning less you can print it, you can even stuff it into with computers would strip students of the a straw to spit it at someone. Computers preparation they need for the rest of their however, are a bit more complicated. It lives. MCPS does not overemphasize its use takes time to learn how to share and save of technology since its innovation is the key files, how to create slideshows that effecto our future.

MCPS rightfully encourages the use of technology in school to better prepare us for the future. As 21st century students, we must learn how to operate in the 21st century.

In 2014, MCPS spent $15 million on 40,000 new chromebooks. This was the first time that the county bought chromebooks for students in an effort to bring classrooms up to date. The superintendent at the time, Joshua Starr announced MCPS’s initiative to bring chromebooks to schools. “Our community has been asking MCPS to make more technology available in the classroom, and I am excited to begin ramping up our efforts to provide students with 21st-century learning spaces,” he said.

CHARLOTTE LI

MAKING A STATEMENT Students participating in the strikes wear gags to protest inaction while continuing their education

MAKING A STATEMENT Students participating in the strikes wear gags to protest inaction while continuing their education

MAKING A STATEMENT Students participating in the strikes wear gags to protest inaction while continuing their education

MAKING A STATEMENT Students participating in the strikes wear gags to protest inaction while continuing their education

“I think it’s a good thing because my handwriting sucks so using the Chromebook is better.”

“I prefer doing work on paper, actually. It’s easy to do it when it’s physically right in front of you.”

“Most of our assignments are on Canvas, so we don’t have a choice. [But] I think I would prefer paper.”

“I prefer paper for quick and easy assignments, [but] for essays or longer projects, it’s easier on Chromebooks.”

ZEV UNGER sophomore

EJI CONGER junior

KADIJAH SESAY junior

SAMMY SMITH-ACKERLY senior

voicebox All photos by MICHAYAS YOSEFE GESSESSE

la

Volumen 22 Número 6

Países picantes

La fusión de gastronomía coreana y mexicana

A CHI

Por CAMILA CHI y JASON YOUM

según Kashif Browne, chef ejecutivo de Ridgewells Catering y ex asistente de chef de la Casa Blanca.

“Las [especias] comunes incluyen garam masala, que es originario de la India, y comino, que se usa en todo el mundo... para obtener ciertos perfiles de sabor”. Por lo tanto, las comidas picantes mexicanas enfatizan un picor brillante y fresco.

Las comidas de fusión entre las gastronomías asiáticas y latinoamericanas combinan lo mejor de ambos mundos. Los cinco sabores que pueden ser detectados por los receptores son salado, dulce, ácido, amargo y umami. La comida coreana trae el umami y la suculencia, mientras que la comida mexicana normalmente provee salado, dulce, y ácido. Además, la cocina coreana es “muy fluida… Aún si has cocinado algo incorrectamente, puedes hacerlo bien”, dijo Yang.

Esta unión de sabores asegura un plato apetitoso para todos los públicos. Dentro de ambas cocinas hay muchas maneras de adaptarse fácilmente para asegurarse de que se puedan hacer estas fusiones que quizás son un poco más difíciles con otras comidas del alrededor del mundo.

Se puede ver esta combinación en el sabor de Buldak, un plato de pollo coreano a la parrilla picante.

La marca de Buldak Ramen ha popularizado este alimento con los diferentes sabores de ramen.

Los probadores de comida, voluntarios de La Esquina Latina y Silver Chips, probaron el ramen de limón con habanero y carbonara.

Según uno de los voluntarios, el ramen de lima habanera tuvo “un sabor explosivo”, especialmente la sopa que viene del ramen. Por el contrario, el ramen de carbonara fue más cremoso, con un picante que “se instaló más gradualmente”.

La diferencia en el tipo de especie

refleja el picante fuerte de muchos de los platos mexicanos con pimientas y el picante más gradual que surge de la fermentación en los platos coreanos.

Otra fuente de las comidas de fusión son los bocadillos. El churro dulce, un postre originario de raíces españolas durante una época de reconquista, es una botana que ha tenido una influencia enorme en los postres más reconocidos mexicanos. Esta misma expansión gastronómica es un ejemplo de la conexión que existe entre las comidas coreanas y mexicanas. Aunque el origen de la idea de los Turtle Chips Choco Churro proviene de Corea, el postre dulce que ha sido asociado con celebraciones mexicanas tiene raíces españolas.

Las [especias] comunes incluyen garam masala, que es originario de la India, y comino, que se usa en todo el mundo... para obtener ciertos perfiles de sabor.

KASHIF BROWNE

¿Kimchi tacos y bulgogi burritos? Estos alimentos pueden sonar extraños, pero son comidas comunes en los restaurantes de fusión coreano-mexicana. Las cocinas de fusión se han vuelto más populares en los últimos años, especialmente las que combinan sabores asiáticos con platos latinoamericanos. En la región DMV en particular, se puede disfrutar comidas de fusión nuevas en lugares como Bebop Korean Mexican Grill en el noroeste de Washington y TaKorean en Union Market.

Este aumento en restaurantes de fusión coreano-mexicana viene con el crecimiento global de la cocina coreana. Entre otras razones, la cocina coreana ha logrado éxito debido a los tipos únicos de especias. Según Nicole Yang, la gerente general de Aery Restaurante e Ichiban Mikoshi Sushi, un restaurante coreano-japonés ubicado en Gaithersburg, la especie principal en la cocina coreana es “el pimiento rojo picante, llamado gochujang... A los coreanos les encanta la pasta de pimiento rojo picante y las hojuelas de pimiento rojo picante”. Para un sabor más picante, los cocineros usan “el tipo verde fino del pimiento rojo picante… y la pimienta cheongyang gochu es la más picante que usamos”. Estas especies contribuyen a un sabor complejo, especialmente cuando el picante es combinado con comidas fermentadas y sopas calientes.

Por otro lado, la gastronomía mexicana pone más énfasis en las salsas y los platos salados. Hay una variedad de especias principales, incluyendo jalapeños, serranos, y habaneros. Estas pimientas se utilizan para parrilladas o hasta para freír, creando una variedad de niveles de picante. Otras especias populares de la región caribeña vienen de diversas partes del mundo,

Representando la comunidad latinx desde el 2003

CAMIL

El 7 de mayo de 2025

esquinalatina

Para un sabor más picante, el O!Tube jalapeño y queso es un bocadillo coreano que consiste en palitos de patata, en forma de tubo, con condimento de jalapeño y queso. El crujido y la forma son similares a muchos bocadillos de Latinoamérica, creando un sentimiento familiar entre los probadores. Otro bocadillo que combina sabores asiáticos y latinoamericanos es el Banana Kick, fabricado por Nongshim. Estos puffs de sabor de pláta-

no son un postre ligero que combina una fruta que tiene sus orígenes en el sureste de Asia pero ahora crece muchísimo en Latinoamérica con una marca coreana.

Por supuesto, las culturas coreanas y mexicanas no son las únicas que producen alimentos de fusión.

De hecho, algunas comidas que se sabe que son monoculturales en realidad se originan en una mezcla de culturas. Un ejemplo posiblemente sorprendente es el lomo saltado. Aunque es conocido como un manjar colombiano, sus orígenes provienen de la cocina china. La mezcla de carne, cebollas, tomates, y salsa de soya es conocida como un plato de chifa, una tradición culinaria peruana de origen chino.

Además, la cocina de otros países en el Caribe y Latinoamérica son influidas por una variedad de raíces y culturas históricas.

Browne, que es originario de Guyana, dijo que “mi [país] es una tierra de seis personas... Tenemos especias desde indios hasta africanos, indígenas, portugueses, europeos y chinos, así que podemos crear cocinas de todos los tipos de cultura usando todas estas especias y creando una mezcla maravillosa”. Este fenómeno es más que una simple fusión de cocinas, representa también una profunda mezcla de culturas debido a cientos de años de colonización e inmigración a través del mundo.

Un acompañamiento común y bien conocido internacionalmente es el arroz blanco que ha sido cambiado para ajustarse a cambios geográficos y culturales. El arroz se originó en China, y es llamado “arroz champa” por su método de cultivación y agricultura. Aunque el arroz viene del continente de Asia,

ha tenido un impacto en los platillos consumidos frecuentemente.

Desde el arroz con gandules en la República Dominicana y Puerto Rico, hasta el mole mexicano con arroz, y el arroz con leche, todos estos platillos deliciosos tienen la influencia de ingredientes internacionales.

La belleza de la cocina radica en cómo trasciende en el tiempo. El mundo siempre está cambiando, pero las tradiciones y los sabores que conectan a la gente a través de las generaciones siguen siendo lo mismo. No importa si es un chef galardonado o una persona promedio—las comidas de fusión mezclan culturas y traen felicidad a la mesa.

Según Browne, “trabajaba y entrenaba con un cocinero que pasaba mucho tiempo en Corea del Sur… el restaurante que abrió fue uno de fusión francés y asiático, con un énfasis en Corea. Y fue la mejor en mi opinión, una de las fusiones que he probado y preparado en toda mi vida”.

Una nota: aunque estas conexiones pueden parecer extraordinarias y foráneas, estas fusiones culturales pueden ser creadas dentro de la comunidad de Montgomery Blair. Uno de los escritores de este artículo, Jason Youm, es coreano americano, y la otra escritora del artículo, Camila Chi, es mexicana americana. Esta fusión de culturas y comidas se están volviendo cada vez más populares en nuestro mundo actual.

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el 7 de mayo de 2025 La Esquina Latina C2

En clase a tiempo

Beneficio o estrés para los estudiantes Por MARIA ESPINAL y MANOOYEE FEDHAA

Según el Centro Nacional de Estadísticas de Educación, del 3.3% hasta 9.5% de los estudiantes llegan tarde a clase cada día. Los estudiantes que llegan tarde frecuentemente tienen mayor probabilidad de sacar malas notas y tener tasas de graduación bajas. En Blair, un alto porcentaje de estudiantes llegan a clases tarde también. Para enfrentar este problema, el director en funciones de Montgomery Blair, junto con los administradores y el personal escolar, empezaron la política de En clase a tiempo (ICOT por sus siglas en inglés).

Ahora, si un estudiante llega tarde a clase, tiene que recoger un pase verde para poder entrar. Los maestros han sido informados que deben cerrar las puertas cuando toca el timbre. Obtener dos pases verdes tiene como consecuencia una detención durante el almuerzo.

Cuantas más veces se llega tarde, más graves son las consecuencias, llegando hasta una intervención (suspensión) en la escuela que permanece en su récord académico.

La meta de esta política es que menos estudiantes lleguen tarde a sus clases para que puedan aprender y entender la importancia de llegar a las clases temprano.

El Señor Yates dijo, “Los datos demuestran que los estudiantes que tienen dificultad con [la política de] En clase a tiempo son, en su gran mayoría, estudiantes que no

están al nivel académico que corresponde a su grado. Se trata de estudiantes que, por ejemplo, deberían estar en el 12.º grado, pero están en 11.º o 10.º”.

Chris Hill, de Athlos Academy, explica, “La investigación ha descubierto que los estudiantes que llegan tarde de manera crónica rinden peor en exámenes, pero que también afecta el rendimiento de sus compañeros”. Llegar a clase tarde resulta en que el estudiante reciba menos instrucción, también interrumpe a otros estudiantes que están aprendiendo.

La nueva política ICOT ha suscitado opiniones positivas de parte de maestros, miembros del equipo, de seguridad, y opiniones negativas

de gran parte de los estudiantes.

Brian Leatherwood, un guardia de seguridad de Blair, administra los pases verdes con los otros guardias de seguridad. Aunque algunos estudiantes tienen opiniones negativas, el Sr. Leatherwood mencionó que, “No importa que notas sacas, si es un buen estudiante o un mal estudiante, tarde es tarde, y eso es lo que estamos tratando de enseñar a todos”.

Los estudiantes argumentan que hay dificultades para llegar a la escuela que esta política no toma en cuenta. Por ejemplo, Kimberly Ramos es una estudiante de Blair que la mayoría llega temprano a clase, pero el transporte siempre no es perfecto.

MARIA ESPINAL

Ramos explicó que, “hay algunos puntos donde mi autobús no llega y yo necesitaba usar el metro pero está lleno de estudiantes entonces el autobús salta [la parada]”.

Una falla en esta política es que no tiene una manera para diferenciar a las personas que llegan tarde por razones inevitables. Todos los que llegan tarde reciben la misma consecuencia, a pesar de que muchos estudiantes no pueden controlar las circunstancias.

Por otro lado, “[la] expectativa es para que las personas [lleguen] a tiempo, el primer periodo y el segundo periodo son los peores periodos de tardanza”, expresó Leatherwood.

El propósito de En clase a tiempo es ayudar a los estudiantes a estar en la escuela ya que es imprescindible para su formación académica. Pero en los ojos de los estudiantes, es injusto ser castigado por llegar solamente un poco tarde. De acuerdo a Jaylen Portillo, estudiante de Blair, “debería haber cierto margen para llegar, dependiendo de dónde están ubicadas tus clases”.

Kimberly Ramos comenta que, “Si toda la cosa es que nosotros tenemos que estar en la escuela más, el tiempo sacado para agarrar estos pases y hacer estas cosas no está dándonos más tiempo escolar.

Sólo está tomando el tiempo”, resaltando que la política creada para mantener a los estudiantes en clase por más tiempo, en ocasiones reduce el tiempo de aprendizaje.

Sin embargo, maestras como la

Señora Melissa Guevara, una maestra de español de Blair, cree que la nueva política es justa y necesaria.

“Me gustó la idea desde el inicio porque es muy difícil, como maestra, empezar la clase”, dijo la señora Guevara. Ella opina que es muy difícil inculcar la urgencia de llegar temprano en el ambiente estudiantil porque ciertos estudiantes están acostumbrados a llegar tarde.

La Sra. Guevara continúa: “No les da como mucho interés llegar a tiempo y sentarse, van conversando y es para mí es una falta de respeto, y no sé por qué hemos tolerado este este comportamiento tanto tiempo”. Una gran mayoría de los maestros de Blair están de acuerdo con los administradores sobre esta política, ya que ausentarse de la clase tiene consecuencias negativas en la educación y que se necesitan soluciones.

“En última instancia, nunca se puede hacer feliz a todo el mundo. Pero sí, la meta es aumentar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes y aumentar el tiempo escolar en clases”, dijo el Sr. Yates.

Mientras esta política esté en efecto, se recomienda a los estudiantes que intenten salir de sus casas más temprano para evitar contratiempos. Es importante que si tienen una excusa válida para llegar tarde, le pidan a sus padres o tutores que les escriban una nota para justificar la tardanza.

Blair, crisol de heroes bilingues Labor estudiantil que pasa desaparecida fomentar la continuidad cultural y para tener conexiones fuertes con sus familiares.

Juliet Mamann, una estudiante de Montgomery Blair de doceavo grado, explica su experiencia hablando francés e inglés y cuenta que su familia depende de ella para traducir una carta u otra cosa porque su familia no domina el inglés perfectamente. En ocasiones, le ha tocado traducir hasta diez páginas para su familia. “Mi familia no habla inglés muy bien, así que tuve que aprender muy rápido para ayudar”, explica Mamann.

Hay ocasiones en la que familias que hablan diferentes idiomas. Por ejemplo, la madre habla un idioma y el padre habla otro idioma diferente. A base de eso, los niños aprenden los dos idiomas además del inglés.

Montgomery Blair es una de las escuelas donde se hablan diversas idiomas en lo que cada estudiantes traen dentro de ellos un nuevo mundo con una nueva idioma depende de donde vengan traen sus idiomas natales ya estando aquí aprenden el inglés en lo que los convierten en bilingües hablando más de una idioma.

Para los niños que crecen en un ambiente multilingüe, cambiar entre los idiomas no solo es una habilidad sino que una manera de vivir. Algunas veces, estos jóvenes

pueden tener una confusión entre los idiomas, sabiendo una palabra en un idioma pero no en otro, lo cual complica la traducción para sus padres. “Algunas veces cuando traduzco es difícil para mi porque se me olvidan ciertas palabras en un idioma y no puedo traducirlas para mi familia”, cuenta Christopher Uscanga, estudiante del grado décimo de Montgomery Blair.

Además, existen ciertas palabras cargadas

LE NEE

La habilidad de hablar múltiples idiomas es una herramienta increíblemente útil, especialmente para los estudiantes que crecen en un ambiente multicultural, que puede conectar todo tipo de personas. Al poder comunicarse en varios idiomas, muchos estudiantes equilibran la responsabilidad de traducir para aquellos que no dominan el inglés y a su vez mantener la línea de comunicación abierta con sus familiares y amigos monolingües.

Aproximadamente el 43% de personas en todo el mundo son bilingües, según el sitio web de Ideal School y solo 13% son trilingües, es decir, que hablan tres o más idiomas con fluidez. De acuerdo a Share.America.gov, “En Estados Unidos el número de personas que hablan en sus hogares una lengua distinta del inglés casi se triplicó en las tres últimas décadas, pasando de 23,1 millones (aproximadamente 1 de cada 10) a 67,8 millones (aproximadamente 1 de cada 5), según la Oficina del Censo”.

Hay muchos estudios que muestran las múltiples ventajas del bilingüismo, desde ventajas sociales como académicas. Al aprender otro idioma, no solo estás aprendiendo algo nuevo, sino que también estás aumentando tu nivel de comprensión, comunicación, conocimiento de diversas culturas y tus capacidades cognitivas.

Se ha hecho normal que los pa-

dres confíen en sus hijos para traducir en los Estados Unidos para poder entender varios documentos y información importante en donde solo es producida en inglés.

Sin embargo, ser el intérprete constante puede causar estrés entre los jóvenes. “A veces se siente un poco frustrante porque es mucho y mi miente no sabe traducir al uno para el otro, pero todavía me siento muy orgullosa de poder traducir para mi mama” Dijo señora Sánchez, consejera de Montgomery Blair high school.

Montgomery Blair High School se encuentra en un área geográfica muy diversa y muchos de sus estudiantes hablan 2 o más idiomas.

Es común entre los alumnos traducir para sus padres o tutores en lugares diversos, como el banco, la escuela, hospitales, dentistas, y más.

Herber López, de décimo grado, ha ayudado a sus familiares traduciendo de inglés a Mam y español. “Una vez cuando recibí una carta de la escuela tuve que traducir la carta a Mam para ellos porque ellos no entienden el inglés”. Explicó López.

Sin embargo, los niños que crecen en ambientes donde sus idiomas nativos no se hablan tanto, suelen perder fluidez en su lengua materna. “Traducir se ha vuelto difícil para mí con los años, porque se me han olvidado varias palabras en amárico” dijo la estudiante Amel Mohammed, del grado doce.

Por eso, mantener la lengua materna de los niños es crucial, no sólo para preservar competencias lingüísticas, sino también para

MICHEL

Por EMMY HENRIQUEZ y SELVIN VAIL

de significado que no tienen una traducción directa a otro idioma.

Tal es el caso de la palabra “Saudade” en portugués, que describe el sentimiento profundo de echar de menos algo o alguien que fue importante, sin la certeza de que volverá. Similarmente, hay otras palabras que reflejan el idioma de la cultura a la que pertenecen. De acuerdo con un artículo de Medium, palabras como “wabi-sabi” (japonés), “sobremesa” (español), Hygge (danés) y más palabras tampoco tienen una definición en inglés.

Hablar múltiples idiomas puede traer grandes beneficios para los estudiantes, tales como poder ayudar a sus familias con traducciones, o conectar con familiares que no dominan el inglés. Las palabras no son sólo una herramienta de comunicación, sino también una manera de expresar los sentimientos y conectarnos.

En las palabras de Diego Flores, bombero del condado de Fairfax, “para mi, hablar español es poder hablar con mi familia en su idioma nativo”.

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C3 La Esquina Latina el 7 de mayo de 2025

De la inseguridad a la esperanza, una lucha legal Por CINDIS HERNÁNDEZ

La deportación de Juan ha sido muy dura para mí y diría que para su familia también.

JUAN BONILLA

“La deportación de Juan ha sido muy dura para mí y diría que para su familia también”, comenta Carlos Hernández, amigo cercano de un inmigrante detenido injustamente. Cada año, millones de personas dejan sus países de origen en busca de mejores oportunidades, seguridad y una vida digna. Las razones para emigrar son diversas.

Sin embargo, al llegar a su destino, estos inmigrantes a menudo se encuentran con un sistema que no solo es complicado, sino que también puede ser hostil e injusto.

La historia de Juan Bonilla ilustra esta realidad desgarradora.

Carlos Hernández, amigo cercano de Juan comenta “Desde que se fue, he sentido preocupación por la situación que está pasando ahorita”. Juan, quien trabajaba en construcción y viajaba entre estados como Maryland, California y Florida, fue detenido durante una revisión laboral a pesar de tener todos sus documentos en regla, lo detuvieron. Ese tipo de situaciones pone de manifiesto las injusticias del sistema migratorio, donde incluso aquellos que cumplen con las normas pueden ser víctimas de circunstancias adversas e inesperadas.

Carlos relata cómo recibió la noticia de la deportación de Juan, “Fue un golpe porque nunca pensé que le podría pasar esto”. Esto refleja la angustia que sienten muchas familias separadas por la deportación y el impacto emocional devastador que estas situaciones tienen en sus vidas.

“Es algo injusto con lo que es-

tán haciendo con los inmigrantes, porque la mayoría de inmigrantes a los cuales han deportado los han encontrado trabajando, ganándose el dinero con su propio sudor”, expresa Darlin Reina, estudiante de onceavo grado de Blair. Esta opinión resuena profundamente en un contexto donde los inmigrantes enfrentan, no solo desafíos económicos, sino también un sistema que parece estar en su contra. Las historias de aquellos que han vivido estas experiencias son un testimonio poderoso de la necesidad de apoyo y recursos adecuados.

Muchos inmigrantes viven bajo la constante amenaza de la deportación, creando un ambiente de miedo y ansiedad. Este temor afecta todos los aspectos de su vida diaria, desde ir a trabajar hasta llevar a sus hijos a la escuela, cada actividad cotidiana puede convertirse en un riesgo potencial. “Viven con el miedo de ir a alguna tienda o hacer una actividad pues pueda llegar migración por el motivo que los agarran en cualquier lugar estén donde estén”, señala Darlin, reflejando la angustia generalizada que sienten muchas familias.

Las condiciones laborales de muchos inmigrantes son igual-

mente preocupantes. A menudo, se ven obligados a aceptar trabajos que no son muy convenientes, sin embargo deciden estar allí sin acceso a beneficios básicos como atención médica o días de descanso. En muchas ocasiones, son explotados por empleadores que saben que tienen poco para defenderse debido a su estatus migratorio. Esto muchas veces crea un sentimiento de vulnerabilidad difícil de romper.

Afortunadamente, hay organizaciones y recursos diseñados para ayudar a los inmigrantes a navegar por este complicado sistema. Muchas comunidades han comenzado a ofrecer asistencia legal, orientación y apoyo emocional a quienes enfrentan situaciones difíciles.

Alexander Diaz, quien también ha enfrentado problemas legales relacionados con su estatus migratorio, comparte su experiencia personal. Después de haber llegado hace 12 años a Estados Unidos buscando una vida mejor, se encontró atrapado en un proceso legal complejo tras ser detenido durante una corte sin ninguna relación con inmigración. “Me asusté mucho y no sabía qué hacer, ya que no me habían informado sobre esta situación ya que nunca pensé que eso me podría llegar a pasar”, expresa Alexander. Sin embargo, gracias a la ayuda de su abogada, pudo asegurar su libertad y por supuesto aprender sobre sus derechos. “He decidido informarme más sobre mis derechos como inmigrante y aprendí que no estoy solo y que hay recursos disponibles que pueden ayudar en dado caso no hubiera

tenido abogada”, enfatiza Alexander, destacando la importancia de informarse en momentos de crisis.

Incluso Carlos menciona que Juan ha podido recibir apoyo de Caridades Católicas, quien les ha proporcionado orientación legal “Nos han dado orientación y ayuda legal, pero también hemos visto que el proceso puede ser complicado y lento”, dice Carlos, mostrando que la ayuda está disponible y puede marcar una diferencia significativa en la vida de quienes enfrentan estos retos pero aun así muchas veces la incertidumbre sobre su estatus legal puede hacer que muchos eviten buscar ayuda.

La situación que enfrentan los inmigrantes requiere que cada persona con un estatus migratorio se informe sobre los recursos actualmente disponibles, para así poderse enfrentar a cualquier situación

inesperada.

Como expresó María Silva, estudiante de onceavo grado en Blair, “Creo que mi mensaje sería que hay que ser más compasivos con los demás, porque hay tantas personas que vienen aquí buscando un lugar mejor para tener una vida digna. No debemos olvidar eso. Sé que estar en una posición de poder en el gobierno no se trata solo de una cosa y que hay otros problemas a considerar, pero creo que vivir con miedo constante solo por ser de una raza o pertenecer a ciertas comunidades es horrible. Creo que es necesario cambiar esto”. La voz de cada inmigrante cuenta, y es fundamental escuchar y apoyar sus luchas en busca de una vida digna.

La comunidad debe unirse para garantizar que nadie tenga que enfrentar estas dificultades sólo.

CINDIS HERNÁNDEZ

Garras al rescate

Cafés actuando para salvar gatos en peligro Por TOM SPARSHOTT y NATE VIECHNICKI Se estima que en el Distrito de Columbia viven cerca de 200,000 gatos ferales en 2021. Aunque los centros de adopción de gatos fueron creados como solución para este problema, actualmente la mayoría de centros carecen de espacio suficiente para cuidar adecuadamente a los gatos. Una opción alternativa para los gatos que se está haciendo más popular en los Estados Unidos son los cafés de gato. Estos negocios rescatan a gatos ferales de las calles y proveen oportunidades para que el público conecte con ellos y los adopten.

El primer café de gatos, llamado Cat Flower Garden, abrió en Taiwán en 1998, antes de que los cafés llegarán a otras partes de Asia. Estos cafés ganaron popularidad con turistas, quienes lo trajeron a Japón, con la primera cafetería llegando a Osaka en 2004. Hoy en día, según un artículo de Blue Zones, hay cerca de 40 cafés en el área metropolitana de Tokio.

Los cafés de gatos ganaron popularidad en Asia por una variedad de razones. La mayoría de los cafés están ubicados en áreas urbanas, donde puede ser difícil encontrar un apartamento que permita tener animales. También son una buena opción para gente que quiere socializar con animales sin la necesidad de cuidarlos todo el tiempo.

Además, dan una oportunidad para personas que no pueden adoptar gatos por sus alergias o una falta de fondos para cuidar un animal.

Sobre todo, los cafés de gato

suelen ayudar con sentimientos de soledad y aislamiento, un fenómeno común en Asia oriental y creciente en los Estados Unidos. En Corea del Sur, los cafés de gato se han vuelto muy populares debido a varias razones, como el aumento de casos de depresión y el aislamiento social, según El Heraldo de Corea.

Son una manera para que la gente se conecte emocionalmente con un animal, aunque no viva en un lugar bueno para gatos.

Patriot Pawsabilities en Fairfax, Virginia, es un café de gatos local,

ubicado cerca de la Universidad de George Mason. Fue fundado por Mo Ryan, una veterana del ejército, quien fue introducida a los cafés de gatos mientras trabajaba en Corea del Sur. Ella se ha dado cuenta del impacto que estos cafés tienen en la salud de su comunidad. “Nunca había anticipado la cantidad de estudiantes universitarios que recibimos”, dijo Ryan. “Entran y están tan estresados, y digo, ‘entra, siéntate con un gato, y vas a relajarte’”.

Patriot Pawsabilities fue creado con la intención de fomentar un

KIM SOLIS

entorno relajante y saludable para los gatos que cuida. El café trabaja con varias organizaciones locales e internacionales para traer gatos listos para la adopción al café. Ryan prioriza la salud de la población de gatos, asegurándose que se sienten tan cómodos como puedan antes de su adopción. “Creo que todos los refugios para animales deben tener alguna forma de café de gatos”, dijo Ryan, “es infinitamente mejor que conocer un gato en una jaula”.

De acuerdo con la Revista veterinaria canadiense, aproximadamente del 40% al 50% de animales que entran en los refugios de animales en los Estados Unidos son sacrificados, y la mayoría de ellos son gatos. Los refugios de animales carecen de fondos, recursos para cuidar a los animales, empleados, y voluntarios, transformando el trabajo difícil de cuidar animales en uno casi imposible.

Por la cantidad de gatos que entran a los refugios y la falta de fondos, los refugios de animales sufren de la sobrepoblación, y muchos animales se quedan la mayoría de su tiempo en jaulas. Según el Shelter Animals Count, la cantidad de animales en refugios aumentó por un cuarto de millón en 2023. Sin embargo, los cafés de gato no enfrentan estos mismos problemas: mantienen una población baja para asegurar la comodidad de sus gatos. Además, tienen acceso a más fondos de sus clientes, quienes usualmente pagan una entrada que ayuda con los gastos de mantener un café.

El café Crumbs & Whiskers, en Georgetown, D.C, mantiene una

población de 25 gatos en el café, los cuales estuvieron en riesgo de ser sacrificados en “refugios superpoblados”. El café actúa como un hogar de acogida para los gatos hasta su adopción. Debido a la población más reducida en un café en vez de las altas cifras en un refugio tradicional, los dueños potenciales y empleados pueden reconocer mejor a los gatos. “[Los clientes] vienen a nuestro café y podemos contarles mucho sobre los gatos”, explicó Casey Phelan, empleado de Crumbs & Whiskers en Georgetown, “Podemos tomar mucho tiempo conociendo a los gatos y aprendiendo qué tipo de casa sería mejor para ellos”.

Además, los cafés de gato proveen un refugio para gatos discapacitados que enfrentan dificultades con la adopción. Los cafés suelen solucionar este problema, cuidando a estos gatos discapacitados con un tratamiento más específico. Patriot Pawsabilities y Crumbs & Whiskers albergan varios gatos discapacitados. “Muchos de [ellos] vienen de Tailandia o Ucrania”, contó Phelan, “Siempre es interesante recibir un gato con una historia interesante”.

De acuerdo a Phelan, “[Los cafés] empezaron como una forma para que la gente pasara un buen tiempo y para proveer un espacio seguro para que los gatos se enamoren hasta que encuentren su casa para siempre”. Estos cafés no solamente proveen un hogar cómodo y seguro para gatos vulnerables, sino también benefician a toda la comunidad.

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el siete de mayo 2025 La Esquina Latina C4

Desinformación en medios de la comunicación Por EMANUEL MORALES y RICARDO VIGIL

Creo que la manera principal para combatir la desinformación es educar sobre la existencia de la desinformación.

fuentes dudosas son aplicaciones como Tik Tok, Instagram o Facebook las cuales las personas usan a menudo para informarse. Alena explica que, “Sé que no todo lo que veo en TikTok u otras redes sociales es cierto, pero creo que el algoritmo usualmente recomienda lo que sea más personalizado para mí y de fuentes que yo ya conozca y ya tenga yo confianza. Entonces, en TikTok no veo muchos videos de fuentes que yo no tenga referencia.”

Según un resumen de el periodico digital de El País, “El 72% de adolescentes prefiere informarse a

Compilado por EMMY HENRIQUEZ, TOM SPARSHOTT, Y NATE VIECHNICKI

través de un amigo o un familiar antes que acudir a los medios tradicionales. El 60% de encuestados, mayores de 14 años, se informa mediante redes sociales y en último lugar está la prensa en papel”.

Pero en palabras de Alena, “Creo que la manera principal para combatir la desinformación es educar sobre la existencia de la desinformación y creo que todavía hay muchas personas que no saben que la desinformación es tan común y no son como muy precavidos, no son muy críticos con respecto a la información que ven y confían inmediatamente en todo lo que ven.”

ALENA AHN

La desinformación ha sido un problema persistente hasta la actualidad. A pesar de la digitalización del Internet, esto continúa sucediendo. Si bien las redes sociales han conectado a millones de personas de diferentes nacionalidades, el contenido también llega a ser fuente de dispersión para los malentendidos y “chismes”.

Según un artículo de Redline, un 66% de los consumidores estadounidenses creen que el 76 % de las noticias en las redes sociales es sesgada o desviada de su propósito original. Esto viene con una de las épocas de mayor desconfianza de parte del consumidor hacia las plataformas informativas.

Un estudiante anónimo de Blair comenta,“Todo casi es falso, solo para agarrar vistas. Básicamente eso no lo creería. En mi opinión, digamos que si hay noticias hoy en otras diferentes páginas las veo, lo están hablando y si veo que hay, digamos, hay aún más personas que lo están hablando, puedo crearme una idea de la situación”.Según el estudiante, cada vez más, la desconfianza en las plataformas lleva a más estudiantes a recurrir a las opiniones de individuos cercanos para darse alguna idea aproximada acerca de los sucesos que los rodean ya que el objetivo principal del contenido no es informar, sino atraer la atención de las personas

para generar vistas y desconfianza acerca de lo que se ve.

Hoy en día es más común entre los estudiantes el uso de aplicaciones informáticas que comparten con seres queridos, ya que cuentan con su respaldo.Como comenta Alena Ahn, estudiante de noveno grado de Blair, “Leo noticias de una aplicación en mi celular, como de todos los de Apple lo tienen, se llama Apple News y leo estas noticias y he tenido una suscripción para ver como más noticias y para también personalizar las noticias que veo”

NOTICIAS BREVES

El pasado 30 de abril se cumplieron los primeros cien días de la segunda presidencia de Donald Trump. De acuerdo con una encuesta de CBS, el 60 por ciento de votantes latinos dijeron que no están satisfechos con las decisiones de la administración de Trump.

En sus primeros días, Trump ha cambiado varios aspectos de la política, con cambios a la inmigracion y cambios a la estructura de departamentos del gobierno.

Trump ha implementado reglas más fuertes en la inmigracion y ha aumentado las deportaciones.

Además, quitó fondos para varios departamentos e iniciativas federales con la intención de promover eficacia gubernamental. También eliminó posiciones para empleados federales, cambiando la cantidad de empleados y la estructura de varios departamentos del gobierno federal.

Con la creciente desconfianza del consumidor frente a la información proveniente de los canales de televisión viene el alza de un mayor uso de las aplicaciones de noticias en celular. Sin embargo, llegamos al mismo callejon, ¿qué diferencia hay entre las noticias de la television y las del móvil?

Algunas de las plataformas en las que las personas comúnmente pueden encontrar contenido de

Lingüística con Nate

ental, la familia lingüística que se habla en la costa este de los Estados Unidos y Canadá. Hoy en día, la mayor parte de esta familia está

MARIA ESPINAL

años desde la última conversación en Nanticoke”, dijo Rachel Jackson a través de Delaware Online.

Aunque no haya hablantes nativos

de su idioma tradicional, el lenguaje se puede ver en varias formas alrededor de los Estados Unidos.

De hecho, hay cuatro ciudades en Norteamérica que llevan nombres heredados de los Nanticoke, que significa “el pueblo de la marea”.

Este mayo se celebró el día de herencia indígena en el museo Nanticoke en Delaware, y el idioma nativo sigue siendo una parte importante de las celebraciones y actividades culturales. En Millsboro, Delaware, por ejemplo, los descendientes de los Nanticoke realizan clases para aprender las palabras de su idioma tradicional que se han preservado. Aunque pequeños, estos esfuerzos buscan mantener viva la memoria cultural y lingüística de los pueblos originarios.

El Piscataway era hablado por los pueblos originarios del centro de lo que ahora se conoce como Maryland, principalmente en las orillas del río Potomac. El Piscataway, como otros idiomas Algonquinas, tenía relación estrecha con el territorio tradicional de su pueblo. En su idioma, el nombre Piscataway significa “el pueblo de donde se curva el río”, representante de la conexión profunda entre la población originaria de Maryland y la tierra. El Piscataway se extinguió en 1748 debido a la destrucción de sociedades indígenas causada por conflictos con los europeos y enfermedades como la viruela. Hoy en día, solo existe un registro del idioma, un manual religioso católico traducido por el misionero jesuita, que actualmente se ubica en la biblioteca de la Universidad de Georgetown. Sin embargo, la tribu ha comenzado proyectos de revitalización del idioma, para preservar su legado para las nuevas generaciones. El Piscataway no solo es una forma de co-

municación, sino también un pilar de la identidad cultural del pueblo.

Hablado históricamente por las tribus que formaban parte de la confederación Powhatan, no se sabe exactamente cuándo murió el último hablante de Powhatan, pero el idioma sufrió la misma marginación que los otros en la familia

Esos idiomas fueron los primeros en ser extinguidos por la colonización, porque se ubicaban en la costa.

BLAIR RUDES

Solamente un 0,1 por ciento de la población estadounidense habla un idioma indígena, según el censo.

Aunque este país alberga más de 200 lenguajes distintos, la mayoría están en peligro de desaparecer completamente, o ya están extintos por su marginación histórica y el cambio a lenguajes dominantes.

A lo largo de la historia, cientos de lenguajes indígenas se han hablado en los Estados Unidos, incluso tres en lo que ahora es Maryland antes de la conquista europea. Los idiomas Piscataway, Nanticoke y Powhatan ya no tienen hablantes nativos actualmente, pero la cultura lingüística sigue siendo un aspecto importante de la sociedad indígena en esta área.

Todos estos idiomas pertenecen al grupo Algonquina ori-

extinta, con la excepción de poblaciones pequeñas en los estados de Massachusetts y Maine. “Esos idiomas fueron los primeros en ser extinguidos por la colonización, porque se ubicaban en la costa”, dijo el lingüista Blair Rudes. La colonización de la costa este tuvo un gran impacto en la diversidad lingüística del área. Los europeos impusieron su idioma y cultura en las poblaciones indígenas y algunos idiomas se extinguieron completamente, mientras que otros fueron marginados a favor del inglés.

El Nanticoke es el idioma tradicional de la Nación Nanticoke, que está ubicada actualmente en Delaware, pero su tierra ancestral incluye la costa este de Maryland también. La última hablante de Nanticoke, Lydia Clark, murió en 1856. “Han sido más de 150

El 3 de mayo marcó el día de herencia Nanticoke, celebrado cada año por los descendientes de los habitantes originarios del sur de Delaware y la costa de Maryland.

Los visitantes disfrutaron de comida típica indígena, como el pan frito, el guiso de maíz y frijoles y la fruta pawpaw. Las actividades incluyeron presentaciones de danzas tradicionales de los Nanticoke e historias contadas por la cuentista indígena Ragghi Rain.

También, representantes de varias tribus de alrededor de los Estados Unidos, como Cherokee, vinieron para expresar su solidaridad con otros pueblos indígenas.

Los primeros 100 días de Trump

MARIA ESPINAL

Por NATE VIECKNICKI

Día de herencia Nanticoke

Algonquina oriental. Se estima que se extinguió completamente en los años 1780. A pesar del declive del uso, el pueblo Powhatan está realizando iniciativas de revitalización del idioma, aunque solo existen registros de 500 palabras. Hoy, el Powhatan mantiene su influencia en la lucha cultural y lingüística de este pueblo indigena.

La historia de las lenguas indígenas en los Estados Unidos es una de resistencia y sobrevivencia frente a la colonización y destrucción cultural. Aunque muchos de estos idiomas no se hablan fluidamente, los esfuerzos de revitalización continúan siendo una conexión integral de las generaciones más jóvenes a su herencia. La revitalización de estos idiomas representa un acto de resistencia contra las fuerzas que buscan borrar los pueblos indígenas, permitiéndoles reclamar su historia y su propio futuro.

La gala Met Cada primer lunes de mayo, se encuentran famosos, como Bad Bunny, Selena Gomez y muchos más en la gala anual Met en Nueva York. Desde el año 1948, la gala Met se ha hecho tradición para los famosos, que expresan sus estilos con un tema que la organización El Instituto del Traje del Museo Metropolitano de Arte proporciona cada año. Este año, la gala coincide con el cinco de mayo. Se esperan entre 400 a 750 personas en asistencia, con un tema de “Superfino: Sastrería de estilo negro”.

LA ESQUINA LATINA EDITORES-EN-JEFE Kyara Romero Lira Jason Youm ESCRITORES Camila Chi Manooyee Fedhaa Emmy Nicole Henriquez Cindis Hernandez Jonatan Loayes Emanuel Morales Ricardo Vigil Selvin Vail Juan Daniel Quiñones Sheily Raymundo Jassary Ruiz Tom Sparshott Priya Tapia-Pereira Nate Viechnicki EDITORES DE ARTE Maria Espinal Kim Solis ARTISTAS Sophia Benitez Manooyee Fedhaa Cindis Hernández Angela Martinez-Gonzalez Michelle Nee Jose Ramos ASESORA Maria Eugenia Tanos

silverchips

May 7, 2025 Features D1/D2

Center Spread

Pride

LGBTQ youth and advocates resilient amidst federal rollbacks

under pressure

Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identities of the sources.

“

T

hey’re trying to take my healthcare away,” Blair junior Ryan says.

For Ryan, Trump’s rollback on LGBTQ care has been difficult. As a transgender student on testosterone, Ryan experienced an abrupt disruption in care when a government-funded organization stopped prescribing hormone therapy to minors due to federal funding cuts tied to executive orders. “It was because of the executive order,” he explains.

Federal funding restrictions for gender-affirming care, such as Medicaid cuts, directly affect students relying on public healthcare. Ryan’s experience is reflected across the country, where recent executive rollbacks on LGBTQ protections have inflicted fear and worry upon many individuals and families. From stopping care to cultivating hostility throughout schools, new executive orders are removing many of the legal protections LGBTQ individuals once enjoyed.

Impact on students

We’re seeing advocacy at every level—from school boards to the Supreme Court.

BEN TAKAI

One of Trump’s first orders, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism,” removes federal recognition of gender identity. It defines gender objectively as a synonym of sex, mandating federal agencies and employees to use the term “sex” rather than “gender” in official capacities. Other orders direct agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to stop gender-affirming care, particularly through Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” an order issued on Jan. 28, directs agency and department heads to prohibit entities that provide gender affirming-care to children from receiving certain federal grants—including hospitals and medical schools. Although the order mainly limits care for individuals receiving government insurance, students worry about the wider impacts.

“I’m concerned that as a reaction to this order and to the general political climate that’s going around right now, insurance companies and individual clinics and doctors may refuse to treat patients because they’re afraid of legal action,”

Wheaton junior Asher Rathbun says.

Another executive order, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” restricts gender identity discussions and LGBTQ topics in classrooms, silencing in-school conversations and further exacerbating tensions.

Aside from the physical consequences on those receiving gender-affirming care, the recent administrative changes have taken a mental toll on students like Ryan. Ryan describes a more targeted and unsafe environment where bigoted and hateful rhetoric toward queer students feels increasingly tolerated. “I definitely feel the negativity within the government toward queer people is reflected in society,” he says. The effects have been so extreme that Ryan’s family is considering moving to another country.

Rathbun believes the precedent Trump’s orders are setting is more damaging than the orders themselves. “I think more than anything, there’s a growing tension against LGBTQ people that impacts them more than any of the writing in the executive orders,” Rathbun explains. “Personally, I felt more hostility at school because people feel more open and more free to express the fact that they do not care for LGBTQ students.”

When people see Trump’s policies, they may feel more comfortable displaying anti-LGBTQ sentiment openly.

“Sadly, when people see bigotry and bullying from the President of the United States, they feel more emboldened to display that same behavior,” Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass wrote in an email to Silver Chips. “I received a number of emails and phone calls attacking … the very existence of LGBTQ+ people.”

The climate shaped by these policies is also influencing students’ college decisions. “I might have better financial aid or [there might be] really good programs down south,” Blair junior and vice president of Blair’s Pride+ club Averyn Duffin says. “But if the tradeoff for that is you lose your reproductive rights or freedom of expression, then that’s not really a safe place to go.”

MC Pride and Allies

In the face of rising hostility starting with the federal government, grassroots organizations have taken charge to fight back. At Montgomery College (MC), MC Pride and Allies— an employee resource affinity group that acts as an umbrella for student queer clubs—is leading that charge, focusing on building inclusion across the college. Their Safe Zone training aims to encourage fostering a supportive environment for the LGBTQ community. “We are really trying to encourage faculty professors to participate in those trainings,” Anna Donohoe, MC Pride and Allies chair, says. “[We are] also transitioning Safe Zone to a self-paced model so more people can access it.” Additionally, MC Pride and Allies supports LGBTQ communities through working groups focused on creating inclusive restrooms and fixing technology systems that result in deadnaming—calling a transgender or nonbinary person their birth name after they have chosen a new name.

Donohoe states the federal rollbacks have not impacted MC significantly, as the college administration remains supportive of the LGBTQ community, maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and a “sense of belonging” as its core mission pillars. “We are lucky that we have the support of the college administration,” Donohoe says.

“There haven’t been too many changes as of yet.”

MC Pride and Allies’ reach leads beyond campus and includes organizing events to raise awareness and create visibility. In June, the organization will represent MC at Rockville Pride and Silver Spring Pride in the Plaza, two events meant to celebrate Pride Month. “It’s a really nice way to connect with the community and … show that MC is a welcoming place, even in this climate that we’re living in,” Donohoe explains.

Donohoe hopes to continue building visibility for MC Pride and Allies across Montgomery County and strengthen partnerships with students and schools. “I would love to have some students coming to the tabling events we have in June,” she says. “I would love to partner with MCPS-based student groups.”

PFLAG

Another activism group, Metro DC Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the regional chapter of the nation’s oldest LGBTQ advocacy organization. The organization offers resources for LGBTQ youth and families and advocates for systemic change. “Our first and foremost responsibility is to LGBTQIA youth and their families,” Metro DC PFLAG President Ben Takai states. “That includes making sure there are relevant mental health resources, and making sure families know there are people fighting for them at every level.”

Although PFLAG has seen rising concerns among students about their safety, Takai finds that federal administrative decisions have also sparked increased political action. “A lot more people are finding their voices now because

GRAPHIC BY MACKENZIE LYONS, DORIS WANG, AND ERIC YANG

of this administration. Parents are more active, [and] students are more outspoken,” Takai explains. “We’re seeing advocacy at every level—from school boards to the Supreme Court.”

PFLAG itself is litigating directly against harmful policies and supporting families with peer groups and crisis referrals, including partnerships with The Trevor Project and other local organizations. “I think [these policies] had the effect of putting a fire in a lot of people’s bellies to do advocacy work,” Takai says. “We saw this in terms of the MeToo movement [and] Black Lives Matter, where very specific, antagonistic actions spurred activity … so [hopefully] younger people do much more vocal advocacy work.”

Trans Maryland

While PFLAG focuses on advocacy and support for LGBTQ youth and families, other organizations work more specifically to address the unique needs of transgender individuals. Trans Maryland supports trans residents by helping them navigate name and gender marker changes and providing community events, mental health resources, and policy advocacy. “We run the largest name and gender marker change peer support program in the U.S.,” M Pease, the director of research at Trans Maryland, says. “Hundreds of people have received support in getting accurate identity documents.”

Since the passing of Trump’s executive orders, the group has mobilized quickly. “First and foremost, [we’ve been] listening to our community,” Pease says. The organization submits public comments to federal agencies, pushes for laws that support LGBTQ residents, and works closely with state legislators to shape responsive laws. The organization works closely with state leaders on initiatives such as advocating for financial investment into trans-led community programs, particularly during budget shortfalls and federal funding rollbacks.

Trans Maryland also runs peer support groups, helping trans residents access mental health support while building community. These support groups create safe and affirming spaces where individuals can process stress, share experiences, and find belonging.

SMYAL

Originating in 1984 in response to the institutional-

DATA COURTESY OF AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

ization of LGBTQ youth against their will, Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL) has worked to empower LGBTQ youth across the DMV, offering housing, mental health care, bilingual outreach, and youth development programs for the past four decades.

“We have [really grown] in response to [the needs] of youth,” Rebecca York, SMYAL’s director of Youth Development and Community Engagement, says.

York reports that SMYAL has seen a spike in mental health crises and school-based bullying—particularly targeting trans students—following the Trump administration’s rollback on LGBTQ protections. “Parents and kids were coming in saying that they are hearing more and more [of] both kinds of anti-gay language in school from classmates, but also specifically anti-trans language in school,” they say.

In response, SMYAL expanded crisis drop-in programs, bolstered clinical services, and continued providing affirming care. A bilingual street outreach program supports immigrant and undocumented LGBTQ youth. York emphasizes the importance of having a supportive adult in improving outcomes among kids. “We know and have known for a long time that it only takes one affirming adult in a young person’s life to drastically improve their outcomes. Oftentimes, those affirming adults are folks outside of the home when you're LGBTQ,” York says.

a larger organization to take action. Even though he isn’t affiliated with the club, Ryan visits the Maryland Senate and speaks with elected officials. “It’s something anyone can do,” Ryan notes as he emphasizes the importance of educating lawmakers about LGBTQ issues.

Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maryland, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and Freestate Justice are turning to state laws, litigation, and local action to resist federal rollbacks.

Additionally, The Maryland LGBTQ Bill of Rights provides a few layers of legal protection amidst federal orders. “If we were in a different state, it would definitely be a lot worse,” Ryan says. Anti-LGBTQ policies in red states include forced outings—disclosing an LGBTQ student’s identity against their will— in five states, including Indiana and South Carolina, and preferred pronoun restriction in schools in 10 states, including Florida and Arkansas.

Montgomery County leadership has remained a strong supporter of LGBTQ individuals, recently defending an inclusive curriculum in a lawsuit before the Supreme Court. This support extends outside of courtrooms. Representatives such as Glass actively push initiatives to protect LGBTQ rights. “In my first term on the Council, I led the unanimous passage of the LGBTQ+ Bill of Rights,” Glass writes. The bill expanded the county’s anti-discrimination code to include gender expression and HIV status, and banned LGBTQ discrimination in healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and personal care facilities. Glass also led the creation of the Anti-Hate Task Force and continues to host Pride events every June.

Even as trans youth and their families contemplate relocating for safety, Pease sees hope in the activism shown by the community. “There’s a heaviness to trying to do this work in the current moment,” they say. “But I think it’s special to get to witness how our community does care about one another.”

For those unsure of how to help, Takai recommends kindness. “Just be a good person to each other,” Takai says.

“That’s the best way that you can support … organizations like us.”

As federal rollbacks have shaken LGBTQ communities nationwide, Maryland has emerged as a relatively safe bubble—on paper. The Maryland LGBTQ+ Bill of Rights and other protections position the state as a protective one.

Yet for those seeing the work done firsthand, the situation is more nuanced. “We look like a safer state than most,” Pease says. “[But] there are still vulnerabilities and experiences of marginalization that persist.”

Pease, who also serves on Maryland’s Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs, explains that protections alone are not enough. “We can have the protections that we have, but if the federal government pulls funding or takes other actions that impact access to care … even if we have all the protective legislation in the world, it’s not going to stop some of these outcomes,” they explain.

While Montgomery County and Maryland are upholding LGBTQ rights at the moment, Rathbun believes that it is important to keep it that way. “I think MCPS is one of the best places to be LGBTQ … I feel much better here than I do in general, but I’m not sure that I would say [it is] safe,” he says. “We’re very fortunate to live in the county and the state [where] not much has happened yet.

Emphasis on yet.”

Action, inclusion, and protection

As local organizations work to meet immediate needs, students and educators across Maryland are also stepping up to create change at both the local and legislative levels. At Blair, the Pride+ club serves as a haven for LGBTQ students, where they can share experiences and relate to one another.

“Knowing that we all share some experiences and have some of the same worries, complaints, or successes … is really nice,” Duffin explains.

However, students do not need to be Pride+ club members or part of

Story by MACKENZIE LYONS, DORIS WANG, and ERIC YANG Art by VICTORIA REGACHUELO

Design by KIYA TIRUNEH

D3

FEATURES

silverchips

May 7, 2025

Business Blazers

By ADANNA AKAMIGBO and PRIYA TAPIA-PEREIRA When Blair senior Canaan Bogale gets home after a long day of school, she gets straight to work.

But it’s not homework she is completing; instead, it is her part-time job, running a baking business. Bogale has been baking for over five years, however, it was during her freshman year that she started turning her hobby into income, taking custom cake orders and selling her treats to Blair students.

A survey by Deloitte found that 45 percent of Gen Zers have a side hustle, ranging from selling products such as apparel and jewelry to providing services like babysitting.

At Blair, the Gen Z entrepreneurial spirit is well and alive, especially among students like junior Brenda Rivera.

With tens of thousands of views on Instagram, Rivera has gained multiple clients through social media for her nail services. Her entrepreneurial journey began when she noticed her peers were getting overwhelmed by their stressful part-time jobs. She noticed her peers weren’t happy with their jobs and were overworked by long hours. Wanting to break away from this pattern, Rivera turned her beloved hobby into a nail service business with the support of her mother. Known on Instagram as “nailjunkiebrenda,” Rivera specializes in acrylic nails.

Social media also plays a large role in Tihetena Daniel’s braiding and hair-twisting business. Daniel started her business in 2022, but after seeing little growth, she started an Instagram account—“braidsbyti-

napurr”—to promote her business.

But being a teenager has become a recent obstacle for Daniel’s entrepreneurial endeavors. “[Clients] think they could just leave without paying, that definitely has happened before,” Daniel says. “But that only happens when my clients are over 18; people my age usually respect me.” After high school, Daniel wants to continue her business as a side hustle. But the job is very physically tiring, so she hopes to not work as much after high school.

For both Daniel and Rivera, their non-traditional jobs do not feel like real work. “My favorite part would definitely be my interactions with all my clients,” Daniel says. “[The appointment] feels like more [of] a hangout than me doing their hair.”

Similarly, Rivera’s returning clients have turned into her friends, making her services feel less like a job. “My favorite part about the job is definitely the friendships I create with my clients because I have a lot of returning clients, and they just turn into friends,” she says. After high school, Rivera plans to continue her business journey by getting her nail technician license and expanding her business to offer fulltime services.

Since graduating, Blair alumna Bana Russton has been facing challenges with continuing her dessert business that she started in high school. Being a college student with no kitchen has taken a toll on her business, but she is still trying to continue. “I try to take as many orders as possible when I’m home and still do what I love and plan on

working harder on learning how to pivot and continue my craft in this new chapter of my life,” Russton explains.

Russton started baking out of boredom during quarantine in 2020. Her baking drew attention from her peers, so she began taking orders and selling desserts. Known on Instagram as “bakingwbana,” she bakes for people’s birthdays, graduations, and even weddings.

Russton started selling personal trays to students, which garnered a lot of attention, resulting in around 70 orders per week in the 20232024 school year. Blair junior Naod Samuel remembers when he used to order Russton’s cakes.

“When I had my first bite, it was pretty good. I really liked her Oreo cake and her tres leches. It was very good, it was very moist, and I liked it a lot,” Samuel recalls.

Daniel, Rivera, and Russton all utilize social media to promote and market their businesses. However, Blair juniors Stuart Mallon and Joaquin Contreras decided to start their business in a way most teenagers do not: creating an LLC and searching for manufacturers. Their company, Mile 10 Apparel, started when the pair noticed that other athletic apparel all looked the same and had limited creative design.

Mile 10’s design is all inspired by nature.

Contreras explains that given their age, advertising is easier.

“Everyone’s been supportive, but I think probably because we are younger … In social advertising aspects [it] arguably helps more to be under 18 because it looks like we’re doing something as kids,” he

PHOTOS BY RAFFI DIAMOND-BERMAN

MILE 10 Blair juniors Joaquin Contreras and Stuart Mallon started their business Mile 10, which produces nature-inspired athletic apparel. says. However, when it comes to es and services are] good because running their business, it is a little a lot of students might be more more complicated. “In the initial comfortable going to their friends phases, I was just giving call after for a haircut or getting their nails call to manufacturers [and] to gov- done,” Sutich explains, “They trust ernment people who run the LLC [students] more than going to a and all,” Contreras says. random place or a random shop Blair junior Andrew Sutich be- somewhere.” Student-run businesslieves that student-run businesses es provide their peers with affordbring convenience for other stu- able prices, comfort, and a positive dents. “I think [students’ business- impact on the community.

ZZZs lead to A’s

MoCo group lobbies to push back school start times

By ELORA DERBYSHIRE and DIEGO SANTORO-VELEZ

There is no sign of sunlight in the sky, but tens of thousands of Montgomery County students awake to the dreaded beep beep beep of another weekday morning.

Forcing their eyes open, many of them wonder how they will function through the seven hour school day, longer than they spent sleeping that night.

For the 92 percent of American high school students who do not get the recommended nine and a quarter hours of sleep each night, this story might sound familiar.

Because of the biological shift toward a later sleep schedule that comes with adolescence, the average teenager does not feel tired until 11 p.m. or even later. It is almost impossible for these students to make it to school for a 7:45 a.m. start without missing out on critical rest, according to Sandra Landis, the leader of Start School Later’s Montgomery County chapter. “[Students] are confronting something that they are not equipped to handle,”

Landis says. “They’re being victimized.”

Start School Later, a nationwide coalition of health professionals, sleep scientists, educators, parents, and students, has been advocating to push back school hours since 2011. Within the past three years, the nonprofit has had success in California and Florida, where bills have been passed implementing 8:30 a.m. start times. At the local level, the Montgomery County chapter raises awareness about the relationship between sleep, start times, and student wellness. “People in

school systems … want to provide the best content to students, but they don’t understand that it’s a two-way street and students have to be available to take it in,” Landis says. “I can give you the best courses in the world, but if you’re sleeping, you’re not going to learn.”

Not meeting the recommended amount of sleep due to a later circadian rhythm, or internal clock, can lead to memory impairment and poor decision-making. “The brain consists of a variety of cortical columns,” Mark Wu, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University, says. “When you’re very sleepy, some of those columns go offline essentially …

ALLISON LIN If you’re trying to make connections, you’re obviously going to be impaired because you can’t draw from different parts of the brain … so it’s very difficult to learn new things or think deeply.”

Blair senior Bennett Webb

believes that more sleep would be pivotal to student focus. “When you get to first period, everyone looks drowsy,” Webb says. “Everyone would be a lot more lively and ready to learn.” Blair sophomore Joel Amari agrees. “With more sleep, I would be more engaged in class and also be able to focus more consistently, which would overall improve my academic problems,” he says.

Blair English teacher Kyle Wannen sees a later start time as a potential solution to tardiness. “Students come in tired very often,” Wannen says. “Especially here at Blair, we seem to have a large amount of tardies because of parking, because of traffic, because of unavoidable situations.”

In Maryland’s state legislature, Start School Later has been testifying for the passage of Senate Bill 468 and House Bill 1015. The bills would require middle schools and high schools to not begin instruction before 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively, beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

Board of Education Member At-large Karla Silvestre believes that a policy change would have widespread benefits for high school students, but has some reservations.

“I think [my daughter] could use a little more time in the morning, aligned with her circadian rhythm to be able to function better during the school day,” Silvestre says. “I think the science supports it, but

it would take a big restructuring of our school day and our transportation and possibly even budgetary issues.” Others like Wannen note that the safety of younger students may be compromised if elementary and middle schools were let out before high schools—creating a need for more affordable after-school childcare programs.

In order to carry through with an 8:30 a.m. start time, like Anne Arundel County did in 2022, significant updates to bus routes would be required. For the past several years, Landis has been testifying at Board of Education meetings in favor of an MCPS transportation and bell time study. “In 2021, the Maryland General Assembly changed the law and is allowing a different mix of vehicles [other than school buses],” she says. “That’s how Anne Arundel was able, in part, to change the bell times at zero additional cost, because they changed the bus transportation and they switched to a contractor.”

To start students on the path toward a lifetime of better sleep health, Landis affirms that high schools must adopt more compatible hours to adolescent sleep schedules. “[High school] is the last time that we have these students in a nurturing institution where we can help them,” Landis says. “Our future is in your hands. So why are we not giving you everything humanly possible to get you ready?”

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May 7, 2025 Features D4

Taking center stage

Round House Theatre spotlights local stories

By NEHA NARAYAN and KIYA TIRUNEH In a cozy corner of Bethesda, Round House Theatre is doing more than just staging plays—it is shaping the future of local theater. With a decades-long legacy of using performance to connect to the community, the theater has become a cornerstone of local arts education, nurturing creativity from preschoolers to professionals.

RYAN RILETTE

We strive to be a theater for everyone. That is what our mission statement says.

Since 1978, Round House has served Montgomery County through its open performances and programs. Originally known as Street ’70, Round House was created by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation to increase enrichment opportunities for those who aspired to learn more about theater. Upon its success, the program grew so much that the city built the original round building where the group was held, inspiring its current name. Since its beginning, the theater continues to commit itself to upholding its core values of artistic ambition, community, empathy, and integrity by promoting theater for all people.

Round House Artistic Director Ryan Rilette describes the theater’s mission as a combination of these

values. “We strive to be a theater for everyone. That is what our mission statement says. We try to make sure that the shows that we do and the educational programs that we do are reflective, so that anyone can come in and see themselves on stage,” Rilette says.

Round House displays this commitment through their variety of educational programs, encouraging exploration in all aspects of theater: acting, movement, design, and play creation. These offerings include year-round classes, summer camps, school programs, performance companies, and internships. Their classes are offered to all age groups, camps are available for students from elementary through high school, internships are open to all high school and college students, and school programming allows for direct connection with students. Aside from this, Round House promotes accessibility through their Free Play program, which allows free admission to any shows for students aged 13 through college. “We really work hard to make sure that no one who wants to see theater is denied the opportunity,” Director of Development Michael Barret Jones says.

By partnering with local nonprofit organizations and prioritizing free access, Round House makes sure that the theater is available for all.

This people-first approach manifests in the stories shown on stage.

Round House selects productions that reflect the backgrounds and experiences of Montgomery County residents, including featured shows like Sojourners about Nigerian immigrants and A Hanukkah

Carol, which represents winter traditions often missing from mainstream theater. “A lot of the shows that we do on our main stage are a conversation in dialogue with the community,” Jones explains. “We like to represent the community we serve.”

Round House’s commitment to serving youth extends beyond audience seats into the spotlight itself.

Through the Teen Performance Company (TPC), high school students take full creative control of a mainstage production: acting, directing, designing, and even writing original plays. Blair sophomore Lark Jeffers, a former actor and current TPC director, explains the unique experiences that the company provides to local youth. “There is literally nothing like it anywhere else in the DMV. It’s up to us and our skills, and we’re treated like professionals,” Jeffers explains.

For students like Blair senior Giorgia Toti, a lifelong Round House student and current TPC actor, the impact is personal and lasting. “You really learn a lot, and it’s great for networking. We get to build and keep our own community and that’s what makes it feel so special,” she says.

However, the most powerful moments often come off-script.

Jeffers, who directed TPC’s original play Gallows Humor, explains the emotional opening night of the show which tackles the topic of gun violence and school lockdowns. “[After the final scene], everyone was crying and hugging, and that was really what solidified it for me.

It made me realize that while TPC is about making this next generation interested in theater, it’s also

about finding people who get you,” Jeffers says.

This focus on community, inclusion, and opportunity stems from the belief that early access to the arts changes lives. “If you don’t attend or participate in the arts before you’re 18, you’re unlikely to participate as an adult,” Rilette notes. Round House’s efforts en-

sure that future artists, audiences, and advocates have a place to begin their performance journey.

“The broadest possible group of young people must see themselves through a lens like theater [in order to promote change],” Jones says.

“We must strive to make our art more diverse, and we must never stop making art, period.”

PHOTO BY IAN GLEASON

4545 EAST-WEST HWY, BETHESDA Originally known as Street ‘70, Round House Theatre received its current name from the round building constructed to house it.

Classroom superheroes

Long term subs step up to fulfill teacher vacancies

By LUCY HOLLAND and SATCHEL JELEN

In a quiet classroom near the main gym, with a window overlooking the courtyard and a mess of social studies posters tacked to the walls, long term substitute Michael Carter sits with his hands clasped.

“Most substitute teachers don’t get to land long term positions easily,” he says. “I got lucky.” Carter began subbing for Blair economics and philosophy teacher Kevin Moose on Jan. 1. From now until the end of the year, he is the de-facto teacher, in charge of everything from

attendance to lesson planning. Carter’s time at Blair is limited, but he is determined to make the most of what he has left. “The academic is what breeds life into myself,” he says. “I love being a part of the process of helping the academic side of a child, as well as the just the life skills that they need.”

As a long term sub, Carter occupies a unique place in the school.

One of only eight at Blair, he has to balance the responsibilities of a full-time teacher with the limited tenure of a substitute. “Coming halfway through the year, it can be a little daunting,” Carter says. Ac-

the spring musical and STEM Arts Night. Treado, a Blair alum, began filling in when Patel went on maternity leave halfway through the year.

“I told myself I would never come back to Blair once I graduated, because I wanted to get out of the area,” Treado says. “It’s definitely weird being here, especially as a teacher instead of a student.”

For the most part, the year has gone well for Treado. “It was a little bit easier coming in halfway through the school year,” she says.

“Most of the students had been taking the class and already knew the routine.” With a degree in early childhood education from Towson University, Treado is less enthusiastic about subbing at the high school level. “I love the little ones because they just like to babble and talk to you … and they love school,” she laughs. “I feel like once you get to high school, that kind of enjoyment goes a little bit down.”

Suzanne Eckert-Burton, a long term sub for English teacher Sarah Fillman, enjoys teaching at the high school level. However, she generally prefers taking shorter-term positions, on account of the additional responsibilities long term subs are expected to fulfill. “I do primarily short term subbing,” she says. “Long term subbing is a lot more work and commitment and planning.” Eckert-Burton has been covering classes for 15 years, the majority of which she has done at Blair. During her time at the school, Eckert-Burton has managed to establish connections with a variety of students and staff. “[The students] are extensions of my fam-

ily, of my own kids,” she smiles. “I often tell my students that, ‘I treat you like I treat my own kids.’”

It is undeniable that being a sub is often difficult and exhausting work. “These are not the best paid positions,” Hughes says. “There is very little thanks in being a sub.”

With the added pressure of a nationwide sub shortage, it can be increasingly difficult to find candidates willing to take such jobs. “We are just really grateful for people who are willing to do it,” Hughes says.

I love being a part of the process of helping the academic side of a child, as well as just the life skills that they need.

MICHAEL CARTER

PHOTO BY IAN GLEASON

STEPPING UP Michael Carter, a long term sub at Blair, has spent five months filling in for Mr. Moose’s economics and philosophy classes.

cording to Blair social studies resource teacher Rebecca Hughes, a teacher must be absent at least 10 days before a long term sub can be chosen. “That can be for if a teacher is going out on long term leave planned [or] long term leave unplanned,” Hughes says. “If they’re out for more than 10 days, that [position necessitates] a long term sub.”

Carter has been covering for Moose for four months. In that time, he has committed himself to being as open and engaging as possible. “If I see a student have a conversation about anything that I’m slightly aware of, I try to engage with it in some way,” Carter says.

“If I see students on their computers, on their phones, playing a game or watching videos … I always choose to show genuine interest.”

For many of Carter’s students, this approach is refreshing. “He is very relatable to students. I have never met a teacher as relatable to us as him,” AP Microeconomics student Kevin Nguyen says.

Along with teaching, Carter finds other ways to connect with his students. He regularly attends performances and athletics events, and recently began sponsoring the chess club. “A couple of students had asked me if I could do that,” Carter says. “I worked it out with my department head and they were able to use the paperwork to get me, a long term sub, to be able to be a sponsor.”

Alice Treado, a long term sub for government and history teacher Morgan Patel, also tries to attend Blair events—most recently

Still, for Eckert-Burton, Treado, and Carter, these positions are more than a paycheck. They are a chance to do what they love—teach and connect with students. “I just love teaching. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” Treado says. Eckert-Burton agrees. “I enjoy substituting in general,” she says. “I think it is a unique opportunity to make bonds with kids.” Carter, taking a moment to reflect, agrees wholeheartedly. “I love teaching,” he says. “In my mind, there are really no downsides to it.”

silverchips

D5 Features May 7, 2025

Chips Chats with Evan Glass

MoCo executive candidate and Blair graduation keynote speaker

Should new developments focus on building more homes or building affordable homes?

It’s all of the above. There is no silver bullet to fixing our housing crisis. First, we are building large apartment buildings near our tran-

What are the plans to expand public transit in the county?

Right now, we are actually expanding the Flash network on Colesville Road all the way up to Howard County, to Columbia, because right now it stops in Burtonsville. We know that nearly half of the traffic in the morning and afternoon rush hours comes from Howard County, so we wanted to extend public transit all the way up to Howard County so that we re-

duce the number of cars that are on our roads in Montgomery County.

We have a big plan to create more bus rapid transit networks throughout the county, but they will require a lot of investment from the federal government, and I’m not sure that the Donald Trump administration thinks that BRT [bus rapid transit] is the way to go. I hope he rethinks public transportation. I don’t think Donald Trump has ever taken a bus in his life, compared to me, where my husband and I had one car for ten years. I had to get a second car just to run for the Council because I couldn’t travel to North Potomac and to Silver Spring and to Olney in one day by taking public transportation alone. So I love the bus; I love the Metro. We need more people to take those systems, and the best way to do that is by having frequent service.

Does MCPS need more funding or more budgetary oversight?

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EVAN GLASS

TAKING ACTION Glass spoke at a rally in March in support of the National Institute of Health.

I have been very outspoken in my support for MCPS funding, and the need for more oversight on how that money is spent. We need to ask tough questions about the programs that are in place, because the outcomes are not what they should be. We need to have an honest and frank conversation about this. I’ve written three opeds in the Washington Post and Bethesda Magazine about needing more budget transparency, because the $3.3 billion that goes to MCPS

needs to be understood by everybody. We need to know how that money is being used, which programs work, and which programs don’t. As we get that information, we can reinvest that money to make sure that it’s going to actually help.

MCPS does need more funding and we need more accountability.

What are your goals if you are elected as County Executive?

Right now, we need leaders who are willing to push back against the Trump-Musk administration and protect all of our residents. We have 70,000 federal employees who live in Montgomery County.

Thousands of them are being fired unfairly and unjustly. We not only need to protect them, but we also need to create new economic opportunity for people to have more jobs. So it’s a balancing act. We also need to make sure that Montgomery County public schools are the best they can be, and every student receives the highest quality education. That requires funding and more oversight to make sure that our money is being used properly so that everyone gets the support they need. And then thirdly, we live in a diverse community that needs to be supported, loved, and protected. As an openly LGBTQ man, I know that people feel threatened and marginalized, but here in Montgomery County our diversity is our strength, and we need to stand up and protect everybody.

Each rebus puzzle represents a common word or phrase

Each rebus puzzle represents a common word or phrase

LONG

S ST TO N E

DUE

ONE

LONG DUE

Cornerstone

I’ve been out and proud for decades, and I was never going to hide who I was to run for office.

The difficult part started after I got elected, and that’s when people started sharing their hate at me.

When we raised the pride flag for the first time in Rockville, that’s when the hate started; when I organized pride events all throughout the county, that’s when the hate started; and when I post photos of my husband and our dogs, we get hate there too. Ultimately, I am here because representation matters, and I will continue standing

It is too expensive to live here in Montgomery County. Too many families are being priced out, and too many students will be unable to move back to the place where they grew up. We want you to be able to start your life here. You might not want to come back home, but we want you to be able to have that option. The best way to have more housing that is more affordable is by having more housing, full stop.

We need to build more housing for more people. In Montgomery County, one third of our residents are foreign-born, meaning they have chosen to move to Montgomery County from around the world.

We want people to continue moving here, and the only way they can continue moving here is by having housing that’s available to them. So we have to do a lot more work to provide more housing and provide a better future for our young people.

Answers

You are the first openly LGBTQ member of the Montgomery County Council. How has being gay affected your political career?

How will you address the housing crisis in Montgomery County?

sit centers so people do not have to own a car. They can choose to walk and take public transportation, and these are typically areas where most of our jobs are. Then we also need to build deeply affordable housing, which is subsidized by the county government.

We spend about $100 million every year to build new housing and to subsidize housing for our lowest income residents. This is called the Housing Initiative Fund, HIF. What that does is provide subsidies for home builders to build units that are deeply affordable for individuals who do not make a lot of money. But we’re missing new housing for middle class people.

We are losing middle class families in Montgomery County. They are leaving because we’re not building enough housing for them. So we have to provide more housing for everybody, because we want recent college grads to be able to come back, and they might earn too much to get subsidized housing but not make enough in order to get a place of their own. So we need an all-of-the-above strategy.

ers

At-large Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass visited Blair on April 2 to speak with Blair’s Pride+ club following the announcement of his 2026 candidacy for County Executive. Glass was first elected to the Council in 2018 as the county’s first openly LGBTQ councilmember and has served on the Health and Human Services Committee and as lead for the Homelessness and Vulnerable Committees. On June 4, Glass will address Blair’s graduating Class of 2025 as the keynote speaker at graduation. Silver Chips sat down with Glass to ask him about his views on the housing crisis, transportation, MCPS, and his experience in politics as an openly gay man.

up for everybody in our community, and I will take the slings and arrows of hate because somebody has to, and I will return it with love and light because that’s the way to a better future.

Overdue erstone Long Overdue

By YONGLE XIN

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E1

CU L T U R E May 7, 2025

Prom for all

MoCo intiatives provide free attire

By CARMELLA BEACH and PRIYA TAPIA-PEREIRA

Glittering dresses, polished suits, and a final night of dancing under glowing lights, prom is often imagined as the high school fairytale. But for many students, the dream comes with a price tag that makes attending feel out of reach.

Between tickets, outfits, shoes, hair, makeup, and accessories, prom can cost hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars.

According to Sherri Hill, a designer brand specializing in formal wear, the average prom dress can cost anywhere from $100 to PHOTO BY DANEEL KUTSENKO $700. When everything is added together, the one night can be- BLAIR LIBRARY On Friday, May 2, Blair’s Kindness Corner held a come financially overwhelming. free prom clothing giveaway for seniors. Offerings included new and However, local efforts are being used dresses, suits, ties, and shoes. implemented to help students at- or find a suit and help them locate money or not … [It’s] a great way tend prom without financial pres- something that they’re interest- to reuse dresses for the environsure. “My parents wouldn’t pay for ed in,” Dang says. As the com- ment, [as] … so many dresses are my prom dress, and I don’t have a munication programs manager, available that are in great condilot of extra money lying around,” Dang works to spread the word tion to be reused,” she says.

Blair senior Natalie Bergfalk says. on community events like Prom At Blair, Parent Community “[Receiving a free prom dress] was Couture Closet. “I provide media Coordinator Farzaneh Nabavian definitely super helpful.” advisories and leases and spread supports prom access through the In 2022, the Montgomery the word out to our community County Department of Recreation members, through our website, Kindness Corner. She collects hosted the first Prom Couture social media, and local news out- donations from community memCloset event, where students re- lets,” he says. In addition to ad- bers and also buys items herself. ceived free gently-used prom attire vertising Prom Couture Closet, he The Kindness Corner provides such as dresses, shoes, suits, shirts, also works to advertise the special clothing, school supplies, toiletties, and other accessories. For collection dates at Montgomery ries, and even food gift cards to Montgomery County Recreation County recreation centers, where any Blair student who needs them.

Communication Programs Man- residents donate new or gen- “The Kindness Corner is for every ager Harry Dang, making prom tly-used dresses and suits for the single student at Blair, even if your more accessible for all students is giveaway event; the majority of the parents make a million dollars, I imperative for ensuring students attire given away at Prom Couture don’t care,” she says. As a parent, get the opportunity to live out a Closet comes from donations to Nabavian understands how prom costs strain families. “I always want classic high school event. “We tru- community centers. ly believe that prom is a very imBesides county initiatives, stu- to say yes [to buying prom attire] portant experience for high school dents also take part in making ... it’s a hardship on parents and students … It’s sort of like a rite of prom available for all. Fifteen on the students, and sometimes passage for many classes. We’re years ago, Bethesda-Chevy Chase they don’t go to prom because of just hoping to help provide a great seniors started Once Upon a that,” she says. Nabavian’s realinight for the student.”

Prom. It started with fewer than zation, along with the steady flow The Montgomery County De- 30 dresses and now holds over of community support, inspired partment of Recreation also hosts 5,000 dresses in its warehouse. her to expand prom attire offergiveaway events in Chevy Chase Rochambeau—a French interna- ings at Blair. “I have never done and Germantown each year. Rec- tional school in Bethesda—junior fundraising. The [donations] just reation staff and volunteers help Sara Guinand currently leads the keep coming. We go through [the students browse the racks and find non-profit and has over four years clothes], make sure they’re all clothes that work for them. “We of volunteer experience with the clean. A lot of people bring brand have a lot of volunteers, [and] a lot organization. This year, the local new gorgeous stuff they never use of our staff members are from our non-profit A Wider Circle part- … and it goes right to the kids and other recreation centers that come nered with them to collaborate on their families,” she says.

Nabavian partnered with and help each student find a dress a joint prom attire giveaway. “A Wider Circle actually reached out NBC4 Washington news anchor to us about [the event] … so they Shawn Yancy, who created Girls’ donated their service and they Night Out, an organization that brought the dresses over from the provides educational, economwarehouse to A Wider Circle,” ic, and physical resources to unGuinand says. derserved women and children.

Guinand notes “[Yancy] contacted [former Printhat the program cipal] Johnson and we connected helps people save and we did the very first [prom money regard- giveaway] together … Once we less of need and were done, she left everything for encourages sus- me, over 200 brand new dresses,” tainable practices. Nabavian says.

“A lot of people Nabavian encourages all stucan save money dents to at least take a look at free [through Once prom attire opportunities. “I mean Upon a Prom], it’s free and they’re beautiful. Evwhether they erything is either gently-used or need to save brand new … why wouldn’t you?” she says. Bergfalk agrees. “I don’t think it’s embarrassing. It was a very fun experience. I think it’s really special that MoCo does that,” she says. Bergfalk plans to donate the dress she received last year back to the program, in order to give another student a magical ANG F YN L prom night.

A S RO

LU CI A

WAN G

PSYCHICS both humanity and the spirits, so I persevered and continued with In a dark room filled with a my cold calls. This helped me find strange, smoky scent, a person Anthony Stevens, manager at Fells sits hunched over a glowing crystal Point Psychic in Baltimore. Stevens ball. An old cat hisses, slithering explains that Angela, the founder of between the legs of the table, as the store, has had psychic abilities candles burn dangerously close to since childhood, but the work goes the eclectic arrangement of books, beyond prediction. “For Angela cards, and jewelry. These are just and several of our psychics at Fells a few of the assumptions of what a Point Psychic, it isn’t just about prepsychic is. But are they really true? dicting the future, it’s about empowFor this cycle, I decided to ex- ering people to shape it,” he says. plore the lives of psychics. Origi- Stevens found mediumship during nally, I thought it wouldn’t be too a difficult time, and a retreat at the difficult—after all, they should be Psychic Guide Institute helped able to feel my positive energy him rebuild. “[Being a psychic] has coursing through their phones, made me more aware of my surtelling them to contact me, right? roundings, made me more patient, But after calling and emailing more and helped me understand that pathan 10 psychics, and either getting tience is a virtue. It has made me ghosted, sent to voicemail, or flat- understand more that things aren’t out rejected, I was ready to give always the way they seem to be, that up. But Jennie Marie Cancelmi faith is very important … and that saved the day. Cancelmi, an em- just because a relationship has gone pathic psychic medium and star a little bit wrong, that doesn’t mean of TLC’s “Mama Medium,” has it’s the end.”

Both Stevens and others I spoke been able to see the dead since the to emphasize that everybody ripe age of seven, but did not can tap into intuition, but start professionally giving that this ability must be readings until much exercised to find suclater. “I actually was cess with it. Linnea a hairstylist working Tober, owner of out of a bedroom Haven, a psychic in my house. So shop in Havre de I would do peoGrace, agrees. “We ple’s hair, and all have psychic abilthey would come ity, and I say that evand we would just ery event that I do, evtalk, and they would ery tour that I do, every ask me questions and mediumship reading, I would just say things, we’re all psychic. It’s just not knowing that I was ALLISON LIN a matter of tuning in; it’s a talking to dead people,” she says. Over time, her clients be- muscle. It’s just learning how to use gan coming back for both hair and that muscle,” she says.

Tober, like Cancelmi, worked psychic insight. Cancelmi finds the ability to help people find closure as a hairstylist before opening Haand healing truly rewarding. “It is ven at the start of the pandemic. the most amazing feeling outside “When COVID hit, I decided with of being a mom that I could ever a friend of mine … let’s just open a little space together. Let’s see if we explain,” she says.

Her journey to “Mama Me- can find something we can afford. dium” started with a feeling she People need energy healing right could not ignore. “I woke up one now, the world feels crazy,” Tober says. “So we found a little place to day and I was like, ‘Man, I can’t open together and then slowly built shake this feeling that we’re gonthat up, and then found a bigger na have a reality show.’ And my spot to move to, and it’s just kind husband was like, ‘No way, we’ll of grown and grown and grown.” be divorced, I’m not doing that. I Tober emphasized the imporwant no part of it, you’re already tance of supporting others by using a medium, this is a lot,’” Cancelher psychic abilities and how that mi recalls. Eventually, though, has had a positive impact on her as she found somebody who worked well. “The best part of being a meat a television network who was dium is just being able to help [cliinterested in helping her create ents],” she says. Again and again, her show. Together, they bought I heard the same sentiment: being a camera from Target and started psychic means listening, empowfilming with the help of a friend. ering, and helping people through From there, “Mama Medium” hard times. This is work that the was born. world needs more of, whether it After speaking with Cancelmi, comes from mediums or not.

I knew there was hope left for

By EMILY KRETSCHMER

E2 Culture May 7, 2025

The teenage disengagement crisis

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Does Gen Z even care?

By AINSLIE CURRAN-NG’ASI and JUSTIN ROSENTOVER

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Cutting corners

The same survey reports that Gen Z is less likely to attend religious services, hold a part-time job, and drink alcohol or smoke as teenagers. Despite the increases in overdose deaths prior to this year, a smaller percentage of teenagers today report using alcohol than in the 50-year history of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Monitoring the Future Survey.

Religious and school functions, once a centerpiece of teen life, have fallen by the wayside. “[School events] were not only places for students to support the school or participate in an activity or a club, but places to meet new friends,” Mark Levin, president of the Blair Alumni Association, says. “It was a chance for them to find people with similar interests, people they were comfortable around, and now a lot of young people go to social media for that.” Loneliness and non-participation are themselves linked with physical problems, including long-term consequences like increased chances of getting heart disease or dementia, or having a stroke.

Apathy affects education. Jenny Anderson, a former New York Times journalist and author of the book “The Disengaged Teen,” says that disengagement from school is not a new phenomenon, but it is more problematic now than ever.

“The consequences of disengagement are more profound now than they were before, both to how kids feel and to what the world demands of them,” Anderson says. “[Students who are engaged] perform better, feel better, and have lower levels of mental health problems.

They have higher rates of college enrollment, college graduation, higher performance, grades, and they’re just typically more pro-social.”

The consequences of disengagement are more profound now than they were before, both to how kids feel and to what the world demands of them.

JENNY ANDERSON

Everyone knows the stereotype of the grumpy old man on his lawn lamenting about “kids these days.”

He complains that each generation is worse than the last, and calls for corporal punishment as the solution. In his mind, the new generation just sits in their rooms, staring at their phones or the ceiling instead of going out into the world and interacting. They insist they barely know who is in their latest school musical or on their football team, much less care when the events take place or what the score was. At first glance, the numbers suggest he might be right.

Teenagers are going out less.

They aren’t interacting with their

peers as much romantically. The percentage of high school seniors who have been on a date has collapsed in the last couple of decades. Teenage dating has become increasingly online, and teenagers have become increasingly uninterested in relationships. According to a survey by the Survey Center on American Life, only 56 percent of Gen Z adults report having had a boyfriend or girlfriend, and 61 percent report often feeling isolated or lonely. In contrast, 76 percent of their parents’ generation, Gen X, report having had a boyfriend or girlfriend during their teen years, and only 44 percent report feeling lonely or isolated often.

Teenagers are also engaging with their community less and less.

It’s not just in high schools, either; the problem spans all sorts of engagement. Professors ranging from large public universities to the Ivy League report that students struggle to read full books—preferring cheats, summaries, or not reading at all. Teens are still consuming media, but the kind of slow, focused attention needed for deep engagement is becoming rarer.

For years, researchers, teachers, and public figures have pointed to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat as culprits of this decline. Author of “The Anxious Generation” Jonathan Haidt argues that the shift toward “phone-based childhoods” that began roughly 12 years ago is “making young people sick and blocking their progress to flourishing in adulthood,” he writes in The Atlantic.

But Anderson isn’t so sure. “We don’t think that technology is the main driver for why kids are disengaged from school. Kids have been disengaged from school much longer than smartphones have been

around, so it’s much more about the sort of structure of school,” Anderson says. However, this doesn’t mean smartphones have nothing to do with the decline in engagement. “[When] you’re disengaged from school, you’ve got a phone. You’ve literally got a universe at your fingertips, so it is an exacerbater [of the problem], but not the primary cause,” she says. In fact, teenage depression and anxiety, conditions that reduce social interaction, were ticking up before social media became popular.

Blaming social media alone oversimplifies a more complicated reality. The cost of engaging in activities outside of school has also risen. The percentage of teenagers with part-time jobs has decreased, but the cost of hobbies has gone up at the same time. Prices for board games, movie tickets, and even basic hobbies like knitting have climbed. In fact, 69 percent of parents of teens say it is harder to be a teen today compared to 20 years ago, according to the Pew Research Center.

For the moment, as Anderson puts it, things aren’t going so well.

“We are disengaged from each other more. We need to be with other humans. It is humans who help make life worth living,” she says.

There is a long way to go to solve this crisis. Anderson’s suggestion is to make school more engaging and give teenagers more choice in their lives. “[When a student is] somehow not engaging in math, [how is] doing more math going to help [that student] engage, right? Lean into the things that the kid loves,” she says.

Academic cheating increasingly normalized among students

By ADANNA AKAMIGO and JESSICA ZHANG

Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identities of the sources.

The soft glow of screens lights up the silent testing room. One student quietly opens a new tab on their Chromebook, surfing the internet for answers. Another discreetly searches their phone just out of sight on their lap. In the back of the room, students lean over to glimpse at the screen of the person in front of them. Every day, students find different ways to cheat, whether through technology, a quick glance, or dishonest collaboration with peers.

There has always been a cheating culture at schools, but AI tools like Google Gemini and ChatGPT make it easier for students to cheat on tests and assignments. Students can ask AI to do anything from instantly providing solutions and explanations to writing full essays.

According to a 2024 survey, 47 percent of students say cheating has become easier due to the increased use of generative AI. Some students use their classmates’ completed assignments, running them through AI to paraphrase the work and pass it off as their own. Blair student Charlie expresses that they cheat because it feels normalized in school. “We all kind of just help each other out … It’s a heavy workload. I try to do

Have you ever cheated on a test/assignment?

Do you know anybody that has cheated on a test/assignment?

GRAPHIC BY ADANNA AKAMIGBO DATA COURTESY OF 98-RESPONSE SILVER CHIPS STUDENT POLL

as much as I can by myself, but we already know everyone’s cheating,” they say.

Cheating not only occurs during school assignments or tests, but also during higher-stakes assessments like the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. During Blair’s most recent School SAT Day on March 19, two students were caught with phones during the exam, and one had taken photos of the exam.

Academic pressure, which can include overloading on AP exams, college admissions, and students having to face high expectations, is one reason that students may feel inclined to cheat. “[Students] do feel that pressure to get a good grade,” Charlie says. Among students who cheat, 71 percent stated that academic pressure is a major reason. But Blair sophomore Abby Leggese believes that some students cheat because they simply don’t care to study for classes not important to them. “If they study for another test, but then they realize they have another test in a class, they decide to cheat in that one, because maybe [the class is] not worth it to them.” Leggese says.

In response to students cheating online using search engines or AI, some teachers have moved to lowtech solutions: writing assignments by hand or placing themselves at the back of the room to better monitor screens. Teachers regularly use surveillance software such as Lightspeed to keep an eye on students’ screens for cheating. “[Lightspeed] helps me monitor whether students are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, especially for a class like AP World History,” Blair history teacher Phillip Bramble explains.

Although teachers can use tools like Lightspeed to survey most students’ activity, Bramble notes that

PHOTO BY KENEAN BIZUWORK

AI Generative AIs like ChatGPT are a leading factor for academic dishonesty among students. it does not work if a student has a non-school-owned computer.

“Right now, if [they] have [their] own laptop, I can’t watch [them],” Bramble says.

Students can face a wide range of consequences for being caught cheating on school assignments, ranging from detention to in-school suspension, depending on the severity of the cheating. In addition, Leslie Blaha, the co-testing coordinator at Blair, explains that students can face consequences outside of MCPS when they are caught cheating on a College Board exam. “College Board has its own consequences, so any student caught cheating will have their scores invalidated.

If they shared the information with anybody, the person they shared it with would also have their scores invalidated,” Blaha says. “Depending on how severe the cheating was or the disruption in general, the entire classroom where the test was happening might have their scores invalidated.” College Board can also ban students from taking any of their future tests, including the

SAT, AP exams, and other programs, if caught violating exam security policies.

Cheating can also hurt students’ futures in ways they might not expect, such as affecting college applications through a poor reputation in school. Blair counselor Ronald Schwartz discusses how cheating could negatively affect a student’s letters of recommendation. “If you have a student who [has] made it a habit of being dishonest, [teachers will] have less favorable things to say about that student,” Schwartz says. Additionally, students may face more severe consequences if they are caught being academically dishonest in college. “[Colleges] take [cheating] very seriously …

In college, it [becomes] actual academic removal from school or getting a suspension from school,” Schwartz explains.

Though cheating is widespread among students, Blaha hopes that they can realize the risks of cheating outweigh any short-term benefits.

“Honestly, it’s not worth it. Don’t cheat on these tests,” Blaha says.

silverchips

May 7, 2025 Culture E3

Spring spots

Six places to explore in May

By SATCHEL JELEN and CASEY PENDERGAST

Across the DMV, spring has finally arrived. From blossoming trees at every turn to forecasts in the mid-70s, Blair’s picturesque corner of suburbia has shaken off the last remnants of winter. However, with AP season hanging over students, it can be easy to miss some of the fun activities that come with springtime.

Silver Chips has put together a few ways to get out in nature and enjoy the beauty of spring in the area.

wide variety of local goods including fresh gelato, warm pretzels, and even organic produce grown by Blair history teacher Marc Grossman at The Farm at Our House.

The Takoma Park Farmers Market, open since 1983, is another excellent source for DMV-based goods. Takoma Park’s market, open on Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Laurel Avenue, provides shoppers with lists of recommended in-season products.

Brookside Gardens On a 50-acre plot of Wheaton Regional Park, Brookside Gardens is home to a breathtaking array of foliage and wildFarmers’ markets Farmers’ markets are a great life. Visitors can take way to get out in the community a scenic walk around and try some seasonal products. the gardens’ pond or The FRESHFARM Downtown through its flowering Silver Spring Market, with over hills for free—open 45 vendors from D.C., Maryland, daily from sunrise to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West sunset. Perhaps the Virginia, has been a community gardens’ most excitstaple for 20 years. The market is ing feature, however, open every Saturday from 9 a.m. is available only from April to to 1 p.m. in VeterSeptember. ans Plaza. ShopThe South pers can Conservatory try out a House hosts butterfly species from around the world through the spring and summer months, which guests can interact with as they stroll through the conservatory’s rows of tropical plants. Tickets are available for $14 for visitors HSIEH above the age of 13.

SSICA JE

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival Featuring 120 artists and craftspeople, the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival is set to take place on May 10 and 11 in Woodmont Triangle.

Attendees can expect a delightful variety of artistic exhibitions, ranging from printmaking to furniture.

In addition to the art, there will be live performances on both days, as well as numerous culinary offerings from local Bethesda restaurants.

The festival begins at 10 a.m. on both days, and ends at 6 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. There is no entry fee for the event, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early—there were more than 20,000 participants last year.

The Adventure Park Recently crowned as one of USA Today’s Best Aerial Adventure Parks, the Adventure Park in Sandy Spring is the perfect way to welcome the warm weather. With 14 unique courses and seven difficulty levels, the aerial forest course is perfect for families and individuals of all skill levels. Kids will delight in riding the ziplines at the end of each course, while adults may enjoy challenging themselves with higher level routes.

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Besides the aerial forest, the park also offers a labyrinth mini-course, night climbing, and axe throwing. It can get crowded on weekends, so it is best to reserve in advance. Reservations are available for $69 for adults and $59 for children under the age of 11.

Waterfest Held at the beautiful Maydale Nature Classroom in Cloverly, Maryland, Waterfest is a great choice for families with younger children. The event will be held on Saturday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is set to include a variety of fun, water-based activities and crafts. Participants will get to make rain sticks, play with bubbles, and learn about their local watershed. The best part—Waterfest is completely free for all ages!

Camping on the C&O Most DMV residents are well-aware of the natural beauty of the C&O canal, particularly Great Falls Park, the spectacular hiking destination

and occasional Olympic training ground located just off the canal towpath. However, many may not appreciate the full breadth of camping options along the 184.5 mile historic waterway. Boasting a total of 36 campsites, camping on the C&O canal is one of the most unique ways to experience spring in the area. Most sites do not require reservations, making them the perfect impromptu warm-weather getaway. All campsites are furnished with a chemical toilet, picnic table, fire pit, and well water. For those seeking a slight upgrade, the historic lockhouses situated along the canal are a great choice. Operated by the C&O Canal Trust, the lockhouses are stocked with firewood and can be reserved in advance from the Canal Trust website.

E4 Culture May 11, 2025

Chips Clips

Happy Mother’s day!

Samurai Sudoku

ETHAN DE BRAW

Make sure that each of the 5 9x9 grids has each row and column filled with numbers 1-9, and that every 3x3 box has all numbers 1-9. The trick is to use the overlapping puzzles to deduce clues for other parts of the puzzle

JAY CLOUSE

silverchips

Across: Down: 1. “La Vie en Rose” singer 1. Georges who wrote “Life: A 5. Poise User’s Manual” 11. IV units 2. “___ far, far better thing...”

14. Raison d’___ 3. Bellowing 15. Shoulda ____ woulda 4. Ladylike 16. Spanish gold 5. Sharpness 17. French town, scene of 1942 6. Loren’s husband 18. Vote out 7. Pandemic hit TV protagonist, 19. According to spelled wrong 20. Actor Morales 8. Liquid fat 21. ___ bitsy spider 9. Erstwhile telethon org.

22. Blackjack request 10. Aromatherapy purchase 24. Emblem of May 11th cele- 11. Admit bration 12. Oreo filling 26. Double-reed instruments 13. Sensitive spots 27. Climbing plant 23. Apple alternative 28. Poorly lit 25. Hail, to Caesar 29. Call up 28. Needing assembly, for short 32. Computer correspondence 29. Greek letter 35. Defaces, as a yard 30. Son of Noah 38. Out of danger 31. Not quite right 39. Torment 32. Omelet ingredient 40. Pretzel topping 33. May honoree 41. World finance org.

34. Whichever 42. Of very short stature 35. Catch some rays 43. Minute 36. Kin of “thx” 44. Scottish denial 37. Pigpen 45. Under the weather 39. Sailor’s “yes” 46. Actor Hawke 40. Generous, in a way 49. Giving oneself up for the 42. Like some dens sake of others 43. Quarterback Manning 55. Novelist Amado 44. Pester 56. Region 45. More incensed 57. Leopold’s co-defendant 46. VCR button 58. Go wrong 47. Doughnut shape 59. Maze runner 48. Defends corporate interests, 61. Wataru, Liverpool player abbr.

62. Pool stick 49. Native-born Israeli 63. “La Vie ___” 50. Pointer 64. Actress Phillips of “I, 51. Discontinue Claudius” 52. Column style 65. Recipe amt.

53. Fragrant wood 66. Chest part 54. Black wood 67. Clairvoyant action 60. One in a sure-to-sue scenario Contact Puzzle Editor Ethan de Brauw at silverchipsclips@gmail.com with the subject “Chips Clips May” with questions, comments, concerns, or any other feedback.

Each of these paintings is a famous painting, changed slightly. Try to figure out what is changed in each one!

May Solutions

LUCIA WANG

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May 7, 2025 Ads E5

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SPORTS

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May 7, 2025

MCPS, Chinese students meet to play pickleball and exchange cultures from PICKLEBALL page A1

This is a great way for our young people to go out and build bridges between people, communities, and cultures.

JULIE YANG

different. It still doesn’t feel real.”

Corkery had only played pickleball casually before being invited to attend the trip. “It wasn’t something I took super seriously,” she explained. “But when they offered us this opportunity, I was like, ‘Yes, absolutely.’”

During the two months before the trip, students prepared for more than just matches. Weekly culture sessions led by a Chinese language teacher from Hallie Wells Middle School introduced the group to the Mandarin language, cultural traditions, and history of the cities they were set to explore. “We’ve learned basic Mandarin, and also what’s expected in different situations,” Corkery said. “I feel like it’s about showing understanding and respect in addition to showing up and playing games.”

The spirit of intentional connection was at the heart of the trip.

MCPS Systemwide Athletics Director Jeffrey Sullivan emphasized that while the itinerary included iconic sights like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, the most valuable moments happened in classrooms and on the pickleball court, side-by-side with Chinese students. “We [saw] each other over Zoom, but meeting in person [was] different,” he said. “[The trip] really is about building relationships and learning from each other face to face.”

As the group returned later in April, they reflected on the trip’s successes. Churchill freshman and MCPS pickleball athlete Ella Geary saw substantial value in the connections that were made on

the trip. “Both the hosts and other teams are extremely welcoming and friendly. So many of my teammates and myself have created meaningful relationships with a lot of the players on the other teams,” she said.

Geary also noted that sports have the power to build bonds even between countries on opposite sides of the world. “Sports are something that bring a lot of people together,” Geary said. Along with playing pickleball, the team trip was able to build diplomacy.

“Diplomacy is all about forming relationships and building bonds with other countries. Sports build bonds, which is what diplomacy is all about.”

When it was launched as a varsity sport in the fall of 2024, the MCPS website defined pickleball as an allied sport: a sport inclusive of all students, including those with disabilities.

Pickleball unifies students with different abilities in MCPS schools in the same way it helped build powerful bridges in China. Yang asserted that students experiencing new places and people can benefit them in areas such as their academ-

ics. “For our academic success for our students, curiosity is important.

So seeing other places, seeing different things, and meeting different people is part of that curiosity,” Yang said.

Corkery found that the competition brought her teammates and opponents together and created a special community. “We were able to form fast friendships that were jump-started by encouragement and excitement. Even if a game was lost, there wasn’t a moment we weren’t having fun,” Corkery said.

FRIENDLY COMPETITION MCPS students met with Chinese students on April 15 for rounds of pickleball.

COURTESY OF MCPS ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

Varsity sports should count for P.E. credit

cial skills such as leadership, communication, responsibility, and teamwork. Varsity athletes also exercise resilience and discipline in a real-world, high-pressure, and high-intensity environment. “Getting to learn how to work with people on a varsity team is one of the most important life skills you can [have],” Hoelman said. Athletes do not need P.E. to teach them something they are already learning.

valuable class slot. “[Varsity sports and P.E.] promote the same thing.

It’s just working as a team, and getting better [at athletics] is the end goal for [both] P.E. and for athletic sports,” Trenton Royall, Blair senior and varsity football and lacrosse athlete, said.

Exercise is a vital facet of a healthy lifestyle, especially for developing teenagers. Already,

CHIPETTE SILVERSTEIN LUCA ESSER

varsity athletes train for hours, with intense practices and a heavy workload. “Varsity sports [are] two hours a day, six days a week in high school,” Hoelman, who is also the varsity golf and softball coach, said.

Royall described a typical practice for each sport, somewhat similar to a P.E. class. “It starts out as a workout or warm-up, and then

we’ll split up into offense and defense practice. Then we’ll come together, work as a team,” he says.

“We’ll break back out into little groups and then have just a full on six on six [scrimmage] for lacrosse or an 11 on 11 [scrimmage] for football.”

Varsity sports provide an opportunity for athletes to learn so-

It’s just working as a team, and getting better [at athletics] is the end goal for [both] P.E. and for athletic sports.

TRENTON ROYAL

By ERIC YANG AN OPINION A Physical Education (P.E.) class and varsity sports practices have much of the same routines, much of the same content, and much of the same exercises.

Therefore, a varsity sports season should count for a semester of P.E. credit. Although some P.E. teachers like Blair’s Louis Hoelman argue varsity sports do not teach health and fitness skills and knowledge of the body, athletes learn the practical side through immersion and their teammates: how to exercise, how to take care of their body, how to stay fit, and how to stay in good health. The more theoretical knowledge, such as types of endurance, maximum heart rate, how to take a pulse, and how the body works, are concepts that were emphasized throughout elementary and middle school P.E. classes.

The State of Maryland requires only one semester of P.E. to graduate. However, MCPS requires two semesters. This additional semester of P.E. provides no significant benefit for athletes already exercising on the field daily and takes up a

Varsity athletes have ample opportunities to learn about how to exercise from teammates and coaches through immersion, practice leadership, and play a sport.

With such a large time commitment and heavy workload outside of school, it is only fair that varsity athletes get a P.E. credit for their hard work.

silverchips

F2 Sports May 7, 2025

The GR8 Chase is over

Capitals’ Ovechkin breaks all-time goal record

JORDIE HANNUM

On April 4, the full crowd at Capital One Arena quieted as Alexander Ovechkin stepped on the ice. Characterized by his trademark yellow skate laces and the ‘C’ for captain on his chest, Ovechkin completed his warm-up routine as all eyes beat down on him.

At the beginning of the game, his name was announced on the loudspeakers and met with the roars of thousands cheering his nickname: “Ovi! Ovi! Ovi!” This was a special night, because he could finally do it. He could finally beat Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record. The arena was abuzz with excitement as Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals fans alike waited with bated breath for the culmination of what has been dubbed the “GR8 Chase”—Alexander Ovechkin’s 895th career goal.

Ovechkin has played for the Capitals the entirety of his 21-year National Hockey League career.

Now, at age 39, he is a beloved asset on the team. “He’s always been, since he was drafted, the best playIt was just obvious er on the Caps by far. He’s stayed on the Caps his whole career. He’s then, when he was never gone anywhere else. The a young player, that Caps is his home,” Blair freshman and hockey player Quinn Streaker he was great and he said. was going to lead This potentially historic night the team to great was decades in the making. Since the beginning of his career, Ovechthings. kin had been drawing attention as a star player. “I remember watchTwo days later, on the road ing him, and it was amazing. It was exciting. And then afterwards, against the New York Islanders,

he did it: he beat the unbeatable. He broke Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Thanks to Ovechkin’s success, hockey in and around the district has exploded in the

past couple of years. “I remember growing up and there were almost no rinks [in Washington, D.C.].

There [were] almost no hockey players. Now it’s a completely different story,” Hannum said.

“There’s a much, much greater interest in hockey in this area, and then many more kids playing [because of Ovechkin].”

However, Capitals fans and other sports viewers alike have criticized the so-called “GR8 Chase” and Ovechkin himself for his actions off the ice. A major criticism is that

U

there was a story written by a journalist, and they said, basically, ‘Buckle up. This is going to be a great ride,’” local Caps fan Jordie Hannum said, describing his experience at the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff matches. “It was just obvious then, when he was a young player, that he was great and he was going to lead the team to great things.”

Finally, in the third period of the April 4 game, off of a blazing pass from teammate John Carlson, Ovechkin scored his 894th career goal, tying the alltime record. The stadium erupted in deafening cheers as fans leapt to their feet, shouting their praise to the ice below. Ovechkin turned, the large number eight on his back seemingly glowing under the red lights, and bowed to Wayne Gretzky, the Canadian hockey player who had held the previously untouchable record.

JASON Y

By LUCY HOLLAND

Ovechkin is a known friend and supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. While he has not explicitly said anything in support of Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, he has also neglected to say anything against it which many critics say is equally condemnable.

There is an ongoing debate,

especially in the sports community, surrounding the role that athletes should play in advocating for social justice issues. “Do I wish [Ovechkin] would criticize Putin? Of course I do … [but] athletes [are] not perfect,” said Hannum. Others find it more difficult to separate the athlete from the politics, arguing that they should be using their vast platforms to spread awareness and advocate for important issues.

The main critique of the “GR8 Chase” is that, especially toward the end of the journey, it became all about getting goals.

Viewers argued that gameplay became designed to simply feed Ovechkin the puck and let him score. This is shown in the fact that Gretzky ended his career with 1,963 career assists, while Ovechkin is currently sitting at less than half of that, with 726 career assists.

Despite these controversies, one thing remains true: Alexander Ovechkin, throughout his monumental career, has been a pivotal member of the Capitals organization, and breaking the all-time goal record is the cherry on top of a glittering career.

Take a hike!

By JUSTIN ROSENTOVER and TOMAS MONTICELLI

ture and get some exercise, it is also a way to improve mental health.

“The evidence is pretty clear that there are overall positive effects,” Denise Mitten, an emeritus professor of sustainability at Prescott College, said. Time in nature has been shown to lead to immediate physical and mental health benefits, including decreased blood pressure and decreased stress levels.

ANDIE ALISON

Summiting a mountain peak is the literal manifestation of achievement. Up there, you can hear only the rush of the wind and feel only the glare of the sun as you look out on the vistas before you. The vastness of a city as seen from a skyscraper pales in comparison to the vast woods and fields that stretch out beneath you. Up there I really like the you are not a person, you are a conqueror. “I really like the feeling feeling of of accomplishment when I get to a accomplishment summit after a really difficult hike of a mountain. For me, a hike isn’t when I get to a really worth it if there isn’t a view at summit after a the top,” Blair junior and Trailblazreally difficult hike ers’—Blair’s hiking club—president Andie Alison said. of a mountain.

Whether someone enjoys the top of a mountain or the journey to it, the physical experience is just Old Rag Mountain is not the one of the benefits of hiking in the highest peak in Virginia or the outdoors. As it turns out, hiking is most difficult to reach, but it is not just a chance to engage with na-

one of the best. Outside Magazine lists it among the top 25 hikes in the world. The mountain’s 1,000-meter-tall peak is bare and rocky, which allows for a stunning panoramic view of the surroundings. On a clear day, you can see for miles at the top after braving the gale-force winds often present at that height. The journey there, however, is often a little tricky.

Hiking is also great as a social activity. “One of the wonderful benefits of being outside is that people tend to be more social and somehow that causes just even better exercising, better fitness, and better overall mental and emotional health,” Mitten said. This is part of the goal of the Trailblazers. “We have 23 people who are signed up for the hiking club. The last hike we did we had maybe like 10 people come,” Alison said. “It’s really chill.”

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, which are located in the Appalachian Mountains, are some of the oldest mountains in the world.

Old Rag—their crown jewel—requires a lengthy journey by highway to get to the mountain. The drive is just under three hours from Blair, but the hike is worth the wait. Reserving day passes in advance is required during the spring, summer, and fall, but these are not difficult to obtain from the National Park Service if planned ahead.

The first couple miles of the trail are quite standard for an uphill hike, passing through a dense forest littered with rocks and shrubbery. But after a mile in, the real fun begins. “You climb up a mountain and then you climb down a mountain. It’s got a lot of fun terrain,” Blair junior and former leader of Scout Troop 255 Nate Bingenheimer said.

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN PETER BELLING

OLD RAG Located in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, Old Rag is regarded as one of the best hikes in the world.

Interacting with the outdoors is also beneficial for students and academics. “A number of studies have shown that, if a college student is preparing for a test, if in fact they’ve done their work and they’re okay in terms of consistently studying, they’re far better off going for a walk in nature for an hour before the test, rather than studying that hour before the test,” Mitten said.

The harshness of a mountain can be challenging, but such difficulties are an essential part of hiking. Alison said that she felt that her experiences, and hiking in general, built character. “Having a goal of [however many] miles they’re gonna hike that day and actually having to complete it without the option of taking an Uber out of there [makes people mentally stronger],” she said.

The climb up Old Rag is not

quite bouldering—freehand rock climbing—but there are some portions during the climb that require hands and knees. This challenge is what sets Old Rag apart from the rest of the hikes around the DMV. “There are times when hiking is like a rock scramble … but I have no option [except] to just keep going up the trail cause I can’t turn around,” Alison said. After a false peak, a short descent and a final climb remain before the peak. At the peak, there is a completely different climate zone. It can be snowing and hailing even though there are calm-blue skies at the base. At the peak, sustained wind can exceed 40 miles per hour. But on a clear day when you can see for miles around, that peak is about as close to heaven as one can get.

F3 Sports May 7, 2025

One sport, two rulebooks

silverchips

How male and female sports are made to play differently

By RAE FOSTER and LILA GROSKO

The defender’s stick slams into the attacker’s chest, once, twice, three times. He is knocked off balance and loses the ball. The crowd cheers, unfazed by this hit that is common in men’s lacrosse. In a women’s lacrosse game, this same hit would result in a whistle and a possible yellow card, punishing the defender with a two-minute penalty.

KENNETH COHEN

There’s a range of sports that aren’t even based on physical contact [but] the [level] of exertion was artificially defined by men to be [past the] threshold that women could bear.

contrast, in women’s hockey, especially at the professional level, rules prohibiting physical altercations outside of gameplay are heavily enforced. As a result, physical fights are rare. Despite the rules against physical fighting in men’s hockey,

girls’ game more challenging when it comes to catching and throwing.

“I think skill-wise, girls have to pay more attention to their stick skills because our pockets aren’t as deep. Balls can just fly out [from our sticks]. While [for] boys, they

easier to play women’s lacrosse, it is different to play women’s lacrosse.”

Lack of physical contact, general rule differences, as well as overall biases regarding women’s physical abilities have driven audiences away from the women’s versions of

it has become integrated into the game, so much so that their uniforms accommodate it. “[In men’s hockey] you’re required to have a fight strap, which is a part that connects from the jersey to your equipment so your jersey doesn’t rip off during a fight, whereas that is not implemented in women’s because there is no fighting,” Holland said.

Major differences in rules in women’s and men’s versions of sports have a large impact on the way the game is played and the skills that are emphasized. “[Less physical contact] arguably makes women’s hockey more skill-based, just like how women’s lacrosse is more skill-based because there’s less contact,” Holland said. Blair varsity girls’ lacrosse captain Katherine Somoza explains how differences in stick depths make the

just put their stick up in the air and [the ball] just falls in real easily for them,” Somoza said. As a result of these rule differences, especially the restrictions on physical contact, many people associate women’s lacrosse with being the easier version of lacrosse.

Although a lot of the limitations put on women’s lacrosse were put in place to preserve femininity and gender roles, women’s lacrosse has evolved to be more than its origin.

“I think part of [the solution to this stereotype] is emphasizing that women’s sports are physical and are strategic. And that the fact that there are different rules doesn’t mean that the women’s rules are there to make the sport easier,” Blair varsity girls’ lacrosse coach Addie McDonough said. “It is not

sports for years. “A lot of people think girls’ lacrosse is boring. I think mostly that factors into the fact that we’re not considered [a] contact [sport]. I think people would much rather watch a boys’ game where they see people get toppled down on the field,” Somoza said. “You just kind of question why people don’t really want to support [both] the girls and the boys when we play the same sport.”

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN PETER BELLING

FACE OFFS Although they are both the sport of lacrosse, the rules for boys’ and girls’ games differ, especially at the face off spot

The fact that there are different rules doesn’t mean that the women’s rules are there to make the sport easier.

ADDIE MCDONOUGH

Across Montgomery County, there are approximately 23,000 high school athletes, many of whom participate in lacrosse and hockey.

Though MCPS offers men’s and women’s versions of these sports, the major differences in rules and regulations largely impact how the games are played and viewed.

While these gender specific rules are sometimes the result of differing physical attributes, they generally are rooted in outdated ideas of women’s abilities. Kenneth Cohen, curator of Early American History at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History, explains that historically, women have been limited in the sports they were allowed to play, or excluded entirely.

“There have long been perceptions of women, mostly held by men, that presume that vigorous physical contact is inappropriate for women—whether it’s been masked by concerns about their health and their physical ability to withstand that contact, or whether it’s just viewed as unseemly and inappropriate because it invades into a kind of activity that men use to define themselves,” Cohen said.

Sports like football and rugby, which are known for their aggressive and contact-heavy nature, were originally designed to highlight masculinity. By consequence, women’s participation in these sports has historically been seen as unaccept-

able. Though the Olympic Games date back to 776 BC, women were not allowed to compete until the year 1900. “If playing some version of an activity that requires a lot of physical contact is something that men use to define what men do, then by definition, they are going to try to prevent women from doing it because women doing it feels threatening to those men,” Cohen explained. This exclusion was not limited to contact sports. The first women’s Olympic marathon was not held until 1984. “There’s a range of sports that aren’t even based on physical contact [but] the [level] of exertion was artificially defined by men to be [past the] threshold that women could … bear,” Cohen said.

The historical exclusion of women from sports can largely be attributed to societal perceptions of women’s physical abilities. Later on, when women were allowed to participate in sports, the rules were modified to account for those perceptions. In sports like lacrosse and hockey, there are many differences in rules for women and men, making the games entirely different.

Some of the main differences in lacrosse surround stick sizes, contact rules, number of players, and field differences. Rules regarding checking are very specific in women’s lacrosse, whereas they are minimally regulated in men’s. University of Maryland Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Cathy Reese defined these rules. “We don’t have an [absolute] no-contact rule. However, the rules are different at every level of what is allowed and what isn’t.

We can’t hit each other but we can check, and play good body position on defense, which allows for contact,” Reese wrote in an email to Silver Chips.

Also, according to Reese, women’s players cannot directly block the goal, they must defend from an angle. In men’s lacrosse, however, attackers may take more powerful shots through defenders, and from further out on the field.

Due to the different levels of physical contact in lacrosse and hockey, women wear less protective gear than men. “In [women’s] lacrosse, stick checking [of the body] is largely illegal. And the kind of body equipment players wear to withstand that is therefore much less,” Cohen said. In men’s hockey, physical fist fights, although technically against the rules, often go unrestricted. They are seen as a part of the game and occur often over opposing player disagreements. By

Women’s sports have evolved over the years.

Previously male-dominated sports like football, hockey, and wrestling have had an increase in female participation, especially at the high school level. Cohen attributes progress in female sports participation to increased advocacy. “There’s an upward trend. And I think that the upward trend is not organic,” he said.

“It has developed because there was a push by women athletes and by the people who support them to advocate for greater publicity.”

Historical exclusion from sports, game limitations, and lack of audience support have all served as setbacks for women in athletics.

However, female athletes have persisted and found ways to play the sports they love. “There’s all kinds of things that have been labeled as immoral or not feminine or inappropriate for certain groups of people,” Cohen said. “And those groups of people have always more or less said, ‘I’m going to do it anyway.’ And they found ways to do it.”