Amplifier Fall Semester 2021

The Amplifier The mission of this magazine is simple: to amplify Montgomery County high school student voices. This edition was made possible by: a) a dedicated team of editors from Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Blake and Einstein High Schools who worked all semester to brainstorm, inspire, and edit: Karenna Barmada Katherine Comer Hannah Gandal Gabe Gebrekristose Leo Kugel Elyas Laubach Carmen Lopez-Fernandez Sammy Schuchman Aaron Tiao b) a team of amazing artists and designers: Jack clauss Nina Pollak Sydney Theis c) scores of talented journalism students and writers from all three schools d) our teachers/sponsors: David Lopilato Jared Kavlock Jeffrey O'Toole e) MCPS Editorial, Graphics & Publishing Services Without the coordinated talents and efforts of all five of these groups, the voices in this magazine may have gone unheard.

Sincerest thanks, Editors-in-Chief Mimi Danzis Kate FitzGerald Nikki Mirala

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS "We’re bringing a news magazine to a knife fight...

We’ve read about the hate-filled graffiti scrawled on Montgomery County Public School property, the toxic social-media posts, the fights, the assaults, the disturbing threats, and the student stabbings. Yes, you read that right: stabbings—plural.

...because, someone has to...

During all this, the MCPS official response has been underwhelming. The December 13th forum on school safety was too little, way too late. You could say it was a lesson in how not to read the room, but the public was left entirely out of the room and Zoom.

Instead, MCPS officials answered pre-selected questions with old clichés like “It takes a community...” and “If you see something, say something, but more importantly, do something.”

So, we, a group of high school students from B-CC, Blake, and Einstein decided to say and do something.

We made a magazine.

...connect the dots...

We set out to answer questions, including: • What’s behind the recent violence and other disturbing incidents plaguing MCPS? • Do the calls for oldschool accountability (e.g., suspensions and expulsions) suggest that MCPS’s approach to restorative justice is not working?

• Was a pandemic the right time to remove uniformed police officers from schools?

This magazine also has many stories highlighting the amazing accomplishments of MCPS students, teachers and schools. Inspiring stories like these have been eclipsed this year by local news coverage of student violence, COVID-19 spikes and teacher sexual misconduct.

For a while, there was a lull in disturbing incidents - a lull brought to us by the spread of the Omicron variant and the cancellation of extracurriculars.

Yet, two recent incidents (the allegation of racist remarks at the January 8th girls basketball game between Sherwood and Einstein and the Wheaton student who brought a gun to school) remind us that the any such lull should be considered short-lived.

Eventually, school will

return to "normal," fans will be let back in and security will be stretched beyond capacity again.

We need to understand, discuss and address student violence and incidents of hate. If we do not seize this moment, the violence will come roaring back.

It might seem arrogant for us to ask MCPS to finance a magazine that calls out our district’s leadership in places.

However, we will make the case that we are as invested and proud of MCPS schools as anyone. We are also directly impacted by this school district’s policies (and lack thereof).

To their credit, MCPS Printing and Graphics found ways, despite challenges, to move this project forward.

We are not brandishing student journalism as a weapon. Rather, we are advocating for student journalism at a time when all us need and deserve to be heard.

… and hold MCPS to the standards we expect and need in our school district."

CSI: MCPS

AN INVESTIGATION INTO STUDENT VIOLENCE AND OTHER DISTURBING INCIDENTS

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EDITORIAL CARTOONS

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A TANGLED WEB

EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON TEEN GIRLS

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PROFILES

TOP GUNS // TOP CHEF // TOP FAN // MORE

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OPINION

NORMAL V. BLOCK SCHEDULE // COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE // MORE

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FEATURE

MENTAL HEATH // PANDEMIC PUZZLE // MORE

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STYLE

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OUR ARTISTS CAPTURE A SCHOOL YEAR LIKE NO OTHER

MUST-SEE MOVIES // RED (TAYLOR’S VERSION) // MORE

COVER DESIGN BY SYDNEY THEIS

Help amplify student voices across Montgomery County All can donate All can comment All can order print copies (while supplies last) All MCPS high school students can help create the Spring edition.

Edited By Aaron Tiao, Elyas Laubach, Gabe Gebrekristose

Art & Design By Sydney Theis

Ockham’s Razor Won’t Cut It This Time Ockham’s Razor: If you can rule out all other factors and you are still left with two or more possible theories, go with the simpler/simplest explanations.

Ockham’s Razor is one of life’s most appealing principles. After all, who doesn’t like simplicity?

Easy for William Ockham to posit.

He lived during the Bubonic Plague (a.k.a. the Plague, Black Death). The Plague was probably the simplest explanation for a lot of things back then. As in, “What caused this?” “The Plague” “What ended that?” “The Plague.” “How did Ockham die?”.

“The plague.”

Life today, though nowhere near as brutal, is a bit more complicated.

Surrounding us is a rash of serious and perplexing incidents that have plagued MCPS’s return to full, in-person school.

Frantically searching for answers, a number of expert and amateur sleuths want to latch onto one of the following easy explanations: a. It’s the pandemic.

What exactly does this explanation suggest? Out of practice with socializing, teens turn to acts like hate-filled graffiti to express themselves.

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b. It’s MCPS’s pivot from oldschool punishments towards Restorative Justice.

And, what’s the suggestion here?

The only thing keeping more teens from stabbing other teens is the fear of suspension. c. It’s the removal of uniformed police officers at schools (Security Resource Officers (SROs)).

And, here? The presence of a single officer anywhere on campus will be felt everywhere from hallways to football games.

If only it were that simple.

One or more of these explanations may seem appealing. Yet, they are each sorely inadequate. Each of these theories, however, deserves discussion. In this special section, we will do just that. We will look at other factors and possible explanations along the way.

But, first, some context is in order….

Editor’s Note: We were deeply disturbed by the news of the murder of Lawrence Richard Wilson Jr. on December 20th near the Bethesda Trader Joe’s.

We were also heartbroken to learn that it was three Whitman students who have been charged in connection with the murder.

In this special section, we discuss crimes and serious incidents committed

by MCPS students.

The brutal murder of Mr. Wilson is far more serious an incident than any discussion of SRO programs or Restorative Justice was designed to address. Some crimes fall outside anything we can expect a school system to anticipate....this is one.

Our hearts go out to the Whitman community that has had to bear more grief this year than any school should ever be asked to bear.

First Disturbing Incident Reported This Year Einstein Athletes Defy Bigotry

By Julianne Garnett and Nora Lesperance Sherwood High School is receiving significant backlash over reports of offensive remarks by students at multiple athletic events against Einstein. Complaints about racist and sexist comments first occurred after a football-related Instagram post was made by an anonymous Sherwood student.

During an Einstein varsity girls soccer game at Sherwood, players, parents, and spectators witnessed offensive heckling from the Sherwood student section. Four days later, Einstein’s Junior Varsity and Varsity girls volleyball teams experienced similar behavior from Sherwood students during and after their games.

On September 24th, after a Sherwood victory over Einstein varsity football, an Instagram account called @2k22shswarriors posted an edited meme displaying Sherwood’s logo over a freight train hitting Einstein’s logo on a school bus. This post was accompanied by a caption that said, “SHERWOOD TAKES THE DUB VS CRIME-STEIN.” The term Crime-stein has been used to describe the school for decades, based on a small number of incidents in previous years and lingering negative racial and socioeconomic stereotypes.

Einstein students found Sherwood students’ usage of the derogatory nickname unacceptable, with a comment left on the original post, cont. on right

cont. from left pointing out the difference in demographics between the two schools. According to MCPS’ “At A Glance” reports, the schools hover around 1,900 enrolled students each, but 45% of Einstein students qualify for Free and Reduced Meals (FARM), while FARM students at Sherwood make up 18.3% of their population. Einstein also has a larger racial minority population of 76% compared to Sherwood’s 50.9%.

Tensions further escalated at the September 30th Varsity girls soccer game. According to Einstein players, Sherwood students attending the game continuously yelled out girls’ jersey numbers followed by offensive comments about their performance, race, gender, and appearance. Players were subject to sexist and transphobic remarks as they reported being called men and were asked about their genitalia.

Einstein sophomore Natalie Ramirez, a Varsity girls’ soccer player, is one of the athletes who was heavily targeted by Sherwood students. “During the game, I did not pay too much attention to Sherwood’s student section,” said Ramirez. “However, during halftime, my teammates informed me of the things that Sherwood’s students were calling me; these names being ‘little asian man,’ ‘asian trash,’ and ‘asian piece of sh*t’…it was extremely degrading.”

According to Ramirez’ family and other spectators at the game, the Sherwood staff did not do anything substantial to address the situation. While the Sherwood athletic director was aware of the behavior and stood adjacent to the student section for the remainder of the game to monitor the harassment, Ramirez and other attendees did not notice a change in the students’ actions. In response, the athletic director allegedly told Ramirez’ family that they could

“send [him] an email.”

Stories of this incident were immediately shared around the Einstein community, including

by Ramirez herself whose Instagram story about her personal experience was widely reposted as Einstein students called on Sherwood to address the situation. In her story post, Ramirez called the comments “disgusting,” and “disrespectful." She wrote that “I am proud of who I am…no one can take my dignity away from me.”

There were additional accounts of offensive language and behavior at Sherwood’s “Dig Pink” volleyball game against Einstein on October 4th. “During JV warmups, [two Sherwood students] walked past me and called me a racial slur used against Asians,” said Sophomore Augustine Bongbonga, a team manager for girls volleyball.

According to Frassrand, the Sherwood athletic director encouraged the Einstein athletes to have a buddy system during the game because of the Sherwood students’ rowdy behavior.

One response to the incidents has been to hold restorative circles facilitated by Sherwood and Einstein administration which, according to Varsity girls soccer Senior Lindsey Broitman, “consist of seven students from each school, both principals, both athletic directors, as well as representatives from the MCPS equity initiatives and restorative justice units.”

Despite a frustrating first meeting, members felt optimistic and supported. Broitman shared that it was an “overwhelming and heartwarming feeling to witness the support of the Einstein community on social media.” She hopes that the work done within the circles will help students understand that “comments like the ones made at Sherwood make students feel unsafe and cause people to withdraw from things they enjoy” and “create an anti-hate and anti-racist environment.”

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HateIs It On the Rise?

10/3 Walter Johnson vandalized with white supremacy graffiti and LGBTQ hate speech.

10/13 A student from Walt Whitman assaults a female student from Winston Churchill.

Knife involved.

1/8/22 Allegedly, players exchanged racists remarks at a Sherwood v. Einstein girls basketball game.

Back where we started?

Opinion

Hate: A Long-Haul Symptom of the Pandemic

By Katherine Comer

Physical and verbal hate crimes have increased significantly across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically in Montgomery County, these outbursts have been tormenting the minority population.

Earlier this year, Asian-American owned businesses were being frequently vandalized and the lives of African-Americans were somehow a popular topic of debate.

Even now, in the perceived “safe space” of schools and months out of lockdown, students of different backgrounds are being faced with similar abuse in verbal forms. It seems like physical separation not only raised tensions, but increased the willingness to act on them. The question is: why?

It’s a frequent conclusion in the academic world that the ongoing pandemic is linearly correlating with an increase in violence, especially hate crimes. In 2020, according to the FBI, racially motivated hate crimes increased as much as 70%. The World Health Organization also reported that children

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have experienced significantly more violence in their communities. Aside from what data proves, it’s obvious the pandemic has been stressful.

From financial loss to social deprivation, it seemed that everything one could seek solace in disappeared when it was needed most.

It’s common to overstress when you have no outlet, but unfortunately, it’s also common to wrongly and erratically displace blame when the frustration can’t be contained. This behavior should not be tolerated.

Still, hate crimes obviously existed before the pandemic. Minority-targeted hostility is sadly nothing new to MCPS’ student population. So this time around, those conclusions can likely be summed up into a single argument: lack of accountability.

Being stuck inside personal bubbles of independent thought without confrontation can bring out a sense of entitlement. Seething in racist and homophobic views and coming back to in-person activity with hundreds of other students

can seem like a culture shock.

MCPS’ diverse student community ensures a significant amount of cultural and racial interaction that some may have been lacking over social distancing.

Additionally, in MCPS, there is an inherent segregation occurring between schools across the county. There are high schools like Einstein and Watkins Mill that have an over 60% minority population, and there are high schools like Sherwood and Walter Johnson having over 50% white students. Recently, the schools with smaller minority populations have been experiencing the most hate against them.

For those inciting the aggression, they usually have the advantage of strength in numbers.

Although it can’t be said for certain why the pandemic and an increase in hate crimes seem to have a strong connection, there are plenty of factors that make the relationship possible. Now, what’s left is to combat its negative effects.

Student Violence Is There a Pattern ?

10/15 A“series of fights” break out during a football game between Seneca Valley and Northwest High School creating “serious and significant interruptions to the safety and security of the event.”

11/17 NorthA student at imself in wood turned h after to authorities him in d the police foun gun. possession of a

10/ 16 eaks out A fight br tudents between s near hnsonWalter Jo ed.

Knife involv

11/19 A B-CC student assaulted another student resulting in non life-threatening injuries

11/1 bbed udent sta Female st me football ga after a JV ksburg and lar between C chard Quince Or

11/2 Assault in the Wootton football locker room.

Attorney alleges sexual violence. School denies the assault was sexual.

Police say no evidence of rape.

11/5 Fights break out between Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson students after a playoff football game.

B-CC students vandalized the Walter Johnson bus.

11/ 21 Online threa t made against B-C C students an d staff

11/30 The Genders and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club threatened at Damascus.

12/6 B-CC’s school community received a second online threat

12/7 An offensive flag paraded near a protest involving the previous anti-LGBTQ incident at Damascus.

Student Stabbed at Montgomery Blair High School

By Cora Hafer On Monday, November 8, at around 10am, an altercation between two Blair students in the school’s parking lot led to one of the boys being stabbed multiple times (five times in the head and upper back). The 17-year-old student was taken to Suburban Hospital by medics with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

According to Principal Renay Johnson’s letter to the Blair community, “one student brandished a knife and assaulted another student who sustained cutting wounds.” Blair High School was then put into a lockdown, which was modified to a shelter-in-place at 11am.

16-year-old Maycol Coycoy has been charged as an adult for attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.

Coycoy fled the scene after stabbing the other student, but was later taken back to the school by his parents and subsequently taken into custody by police.

On Tuesday, November 9, Coycoy’s cousin, who is also a student at Blair, was also taken into custody when it was discovered that he was carrying a knife on campus.

Council member Will Jawando said in a statement that calling the police was an example of “appropriate involvement'' and that this incident was just another reason for the need to address the “growing mental health crisis of students following the pandemic."

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SROs

Was Removing Them From Our Schools a Mistake, or the Right Decision?

A Brief History After the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, the Justice Department set aside $823 million to hire more than 7,242 School Resource Officers (SROs) nationwide.

MCPS started its SRO program in 2002.

Despite its original funding, the SRO program in MCPS suffered many budget cuts over the years.

However, after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, interest in funding the SRO program

peaked.

By 2014, every MCPS high school had a posted police officer.

The job of the SROs was to oversee student safety at an assigned school and help foster a welcoming environment.

The expected impact of SROs vs their observed impact has been a hotly debated topic in the discussion of school safety for years.

SROs were eventually removed from all MCPS schools starting in Fall 2021.

Our Interview with Councilmember Will Jawando tem Agenda I , 2021 4 y r Februa

Riemer ers Hans b m l e m il oduce Bil Counc ando intr w a J m l o il ontg and W ibit the M h o r p to artment 46-20 olice Dep P ty n u o l resource ery C ing schoo . y lo p e d from schools officers in

On November 29th, we spoke to Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando to discuss, among other topics, MCPS’ decision to remove SROs from schools.

Elyas Laubach (student reporter): Do you think there’s a connection between the removal of SROs from schools and the recent spike in violence in MCPS? Councilmember Jawando: No I don’t…We have under invested for years in the social-emotional and mental-health supports that students and all people need to deal with conflict in a productive way; that’s things like counselors, psychologists, therapists, social workers and restorative justice practitioners.

It’s an intellectually dishonest argument and a lazy argument to say that an officer in a building of 3,000 is going to stop every fight or get to the root cause of the issue. What we really want is to deal with the issues that lead to conflict and resolve them in a good way.

Now, that being said, if there is a violent incident or if police should be called as part of a public-safety response, they should be called and they will be called. But, I don’t think that the SRO is connected to that [rise in violence] in a direct way…

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More from our interview with Councilmember Jawando when we discuss Restorative Justice

What Do Students Think About Removing SROs? "It’s been proven that SROs rarely make a difference in preventing school shootings or increasing safety in schools, but instead pose risks to students of color. There is no evidence that police presence decreases violence in schools, and it only leads to the hyper criminalization of students who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).

BIPOC students are more likely to get disciplined, suspended, and arrested in school when SROs are present.

How can you claim an institution is “safe and inclusive” when the presence of SRO sends a message to students of color that they're not welcome? This often leads to anxiety for students and distrust in the school and its staff. Even more traumatizing, SRO presence can lead to distress for students who have had negative or frightening encounters with law enforcement outside of school. Schools exist not only to educate, but also to foster an environment where students feel safe and supported, and can grow." "[The removal of SROs] did not have to happen when it happened.

Everyone is quick to say the violence is because of the pandemic. OK. So we should have put a pause on removing SROs during the pandemic." *

Sophie Barro (B-CC Class of 2021) high y Act* should be expanded to cover all “We don’t need SROs. Instead, the Cler Active regarding crimes of sexual violence. schools. However, the police aren’t effec iction.” * -related crimes result in a felony conv cording to the DOJ, less than 1% of rape cent to, or ose crime statistics that happen on, adja *The Clery Act requires colleges to discl rt e log and the school’s Clery Repo within campus both in their public crim

* = Anonymous

SROs Had to Go

By Emily Rivera

The existence of Student Resource Officers (SROs) has always been controversial to students, staff, and parents. SROs have been active in schools since the 1950s, but were not common until the late 90s due to an increase in school shootings, like the Columbine massacre.

However, after the death of George Floyd in 2020, a question arose: “Should schools be police-free?” For many students, the answer is “yes”.

Across the nation, students are fighting to remove armed police officers from schools, despite facing widespread opposition from parents. In Montgomery County, student protests and advocacy proved to be effective.

At the start of the this school year, Montgomery County Public Schools welcomed back students and teachers, but for the first time in 19 years, not SROs. The fact of the matter is that SROs have had a long history of discrim-

inating against minorities and students with disabilities, specifically Black and Latinx students.

In fact, Black and Latinx students were the most likely to be disciplined, suspended, or arrested by an officer. According to Bethesda Magazine, in the past three years, a total of 382 students were arrested, 83% of which were Black and Hispanic students while only 11% were white students. The police have had a long history of discrimination and cruelty towards people of color, and have perpetuated the school to prison pipeline. This made many students feel uncomfortable that SROs were present in a place where they should be able to learn safely.

“A cop is a cop. A cop is not a mentor. A cop is not a counselor,” Lauren Payne, a student at Richard Montgomery High School, told Bethesda Magazine. “They’re not there to be mentors.

They’re not there to help students.

They’re there to police students and that’s not what students need.”

Students feel strongly about this statement and believe that instead of SROs, there should be more counselors to help the community address issues regarding racism, mental health, and the pandemic.

Other students and parents, however, believe that SROs protect them.

Some even argue SROs can be critical in a life or death situation where first responders do not get to schools in time and it would be detrimental to remove them.

Against all odds, the movement to remove Student Resource Officers from MCPS schools was successful.

Instead, Community Engagement Officers were put in their place, and many students have been content with that. Staff members and parents are likely to disagree with the change but for now, SROs are no longer in MCPS schools.

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What Does Accountability Look Like?

A Discussion with Administration

By Hannah Troubh

Montgomery County Public Schools have recently been struck by the spread of hate incidents targeting those in minority communities. Administration claims issues like these are a top priority, but parents and students alike wonder how students are being guaranteed equal treatment and protection against discrimination in school environments.

How is the staff at B-CC working to remove the systematic racism that hides within the cracks of our school, and more recently, has risen to the surface? Hate cannot be stopped without change, and change does not come without action.

However - it’s a difficult position to be in. Administration must balance angry parents and students wanting change, while simultaneously pushing forward restorative justice practices.

B-CC Principal Dr. Mooney describes restorative justice as an effort to “actively repair the harm we cause to others.” He says that until we do,

“we will be stuck in a cycle of hate and vengefulness”.

“It’s really about educating people and helping them see that sometimes people are harmed by the things they do or say. It’s about how to make reparations and move forward afterwards - that’s the critical step,” says Mooney.

“Each school…has taken a little bit of a different view on restorative justice. For us at B-CC, we’ve taken some very deliberate steps. In the very beginning of the school year, we looked at our common goals in classroom instruction. That’s how we’ve approached it to really build a sense of community - that we’re all here together, we have the same expectations, and we are all moving towards the same goal.”

On Friday, November 5th, B-CC’s administration held an assembly for senior students to discuss the recent conflicts over social media. The goal of this assembly was to provide students a space to discuss their views

of B-CC culture. However, it quickly led to angered students pointing out the weakness of the administration’s action.

Andre Carpy, a senior at B-CC, was among the first to speak up. “I have so many people here talking about how they’ve gone into administration, like you guys are recommending, and nothing is being done. There’s literal Neo-Nazis, homophobia, racism... I just find it a bit hypocritical - this discussion. It’s a bit insulting honestly.”

Students are tired of community circles, discussions that lead to nothing, and false promises the administration makes about dismantling the structural issues within B-CC. After Andre’s statement, the mass of seniors clapped for him in agreement. After an apology from the administration representative, Andre replied, “Apologize with your actions, not your words.”

Students are tired of talking. We want change.

A Discussion with Students

By Josh garber

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The past year and a half have provided a lifetime’s worth of traumatic events and experiences for MCPS students. From racial justice protests, to a failed insurrection, to skyrocketing rates of mental illness, this ever-lasting pandemic has been a draining time for students.

For many teens, the return to fulltime, in-person school in August was a welcome end to a pandemic that took a large portion of their high school experience. We came back from quarantine with new wardrobes, new attitudes, and an acute awareness of our biases and prejudices. We were ready to abandon hate in our schools, once and for all. Right?

Wrong. Hateful behavior and attitudes have been alive and well within our schools this year, with many doubling down on the belief that MCPS does not care about discriminatory views and actions within their school

system.

Roughly two months into the school year, almost a quarter of MCPS high schools have been involved in some form of hate crime.

These actions range from racial abuse at sports games, to stabbings, to hateful graffiti. Responses from school and county officials are seen as insufficient by many students. According to Sam Navarro, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School, “Schools have gotten lazy with disciplinary action towards discriminatory acts.

I feel that MCPS has not had a severe reaction to any antisemitic hate crimes in schools within the past few years. It seems like the county covers up events to save their reputation as one of the most achieving districts in the country.” However, the administration’s lack of action does not absolve students and teachers of their fair share of responsibility. We

make up 99% of MCPS schools; after all, Board of Education members are not spray-painting slurs on bathroom doors.

Well, what can MCPS do to prove that it does care? In the words of Elena Davidson, a junior at Magruder High School, MCPS “Should be prioritizing equal opportunity and a safer environment every single day. They should also work on hiring teachers with more diverse backgrounds to more accurately match student demographics.” These things are easier said than done. But, one thing is clear to MCPS students; those whose decisions hold significant weight throughout our school system must be committed to leaving hate behind in our schools. Unfortunately, as of now, MCPS administrators simply do not seem to care enough about creating a healthy school environment for students.

MCPS School Arrests by Race & Ethnicity Student enrollment 2018-19

Avg. School Arrest Differences (2015-19 – 4 years)

Race and Ethnicity Asian Black Lantinx

14% 22% 33%

3% 47% 31%

White Two+/Other

28% 7%

16% 5%

Note

-11% +25% -2% -12% -2%

Statistics provided by Montgomery County Council

ic declines in Note: dramat ic re the pandem arrests befo s.

O SR of al and the remov

MCPS School-Arrest Trends by Race, Ethnicity, and Gender 2015-16 304

2016-17 349

2017-18 226

2018-19 163

%Change -46%

Asian Black Lantinx

12 121 98

12 144 111

* 137 55

* 73 55

-40% -44%

White Two+/Other

61 12

* 19

16 12

32 n/a

-48% -

Gender Male Female

243 61

266 63

180 46

133 30

-45% -51%

Total Arrests Race and Ethnicity

SGAs Should Be Involved in Reforms

By Curran Holden

It’s no secret that racial disparities exist within Montgomery County. One of the starkest racial divides exists in the enforcement of school rules.

Black and Hispanic students made up about 84% of school-related arrests in the 2019-2020 school year, despite collectively being about 52% of the MCPS school population. Despite all of this, State and County Officials have done little in the way of substantive reform. The logical solution is to expand the power of Student Government Associations.

Currently, SGAs act as glorified advisory boards, despite the fact that they have a unique understanding of students’ struggles. If SGAs were

given the power to make reforms on their own, we would have a better chance at achieving tangible results instead of just hearing vague promises. SGAs have the power to make amendments to their constitutions in MCPS, though they’re subject to their administration’s review. It’s not an easy feat, but if an SGA can convince their principal to sign off, they can do a lot.

Sounds crazy and unprecedented? Yes, the idea definitely is, but it isn’t impossible. A fine line can be walked between county regulations and reform. The amendment I’m proposing would create a Diversity Commission within SGAs which would have the authority to hear

complaints from students and resolve disputes between students and the administration. The Commission would also be tasked with ensuring that reforms stay on track and act as a student-friendly organ for suggesting new reforms. Students with complaints should have the option to discuss them with student members of the Commission exclusively before talking to the whole commission to ensure the body remains student-friendly.

With conversations about racism on the rise again in the United States, it’s up to students to take a stand, especially when the people who currently have the power to make change don’t take responsibility.

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Is Restorative Justice Working?

Restorative Justice is a proposed alternative to punitive punishment (e.g., suspensions, expulsions, and incarceration). Its focus is building community, de-escalation, and mediation. Many experts suggest that Restorative Justice is best used in small-scale situations like a minor altercation between two students. Yet, Restorative Justice has been considered in serious, large-scale situations as well.

Highlights from Our Interview with MCPS Director of Restorative Justice, Shauna-Kay Jorandby • One of the greatest myths of restorative justice is that it takes away accountability or consequence from students. I would say it’s the deepest level of accountability a student can have. You can’t walk away, you have to face it head on and repair that harm.

• Restorative justice goes beyond community circles… it’s so much deeper than those circles, we are talking about classroom lessons on identity, we’re talking about counseling and therapy, we’re talking about mental health support, working beyond student structures to even family structures.

• As students, if you don’t see this change and this hasn’t been a process that has worked for you, continue to push, continue to work through those groups we have at our schools and county level to push for that change. I don’t want you to ever feel that harm has been done to you and has not been properly addressed.

• I would encourage [students losing faith in restorative justice] to look at it a little bit more analytically and to also, in places where it has worked, continue to encourage that in places where it hasn’t, provide that feedback to continue this change and continue this improvement.

• We are making efforts and trying to address some of the effects of the trauma that our students have experienced, but we’re in unprecedented waters much like you are.

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ando on Restorative Councilmember Jaw

Justice

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By Katherine Come

you’re - with the consequence, Montgomery County Coun probthe g o is not really solvin cilmember Will Jawand exber em lm the lem,” the counci an outspoken member of hav ple peo cally plained. “Why are MCPS community, specifi re’s the w kno ts ing conflict? We on issues relating to studen that systemic racism, so how is re we and violence. While there has how and past being manifested, it many changes over the de ma in ’re this this moment we t? year, he does not attribute tha l hea we the worse? How do spike in violence to one of se folks

by How do we get to tho more controversial moves ?”

Os before it escalates t MCPS, the removal of SR This is a progression tha from schools. ion nat rdi coo n- will take a lot of “No, I don’t,” the cou working ct- between the many cilmember said matter-of-fa system. ool of parts in the sch ly. “[It’s] a result of a lot urity sec and s ong From bus driver different things, chief am and s rse nu rs guards to school in them is the almost two yea lt adu any , not counselors, ideally of of dealing with COVID-19 ns sig ice not the the building can in being in school, and all beg and t flic u- a developing con trauma that’s happened. Tra . rts sta it ore ntal de-escalation bef h ma, anxiety, stress, and me The Council is working wit seess health challenges… you’re gre pro e sur MCPS to make ing that play out.” reis being made in these e Many MCPS students hav ing Hir . ons uti nt- source-based sol seen the newly impleme order to ng more professionals in ed social-emotional learni -focus— gle sin pful. have them be lessons as less than hel o focus wh s lor ex- such as counse Councilmember Jawando arand t por as on emotional sup e plains that these changes, leg col h wit ed n of en’t preoccupi well as the gradual additio us foc in ma a is uld help as well— emotional support staff, sho ce can be lier, to ensure that violen have been introduced ear ke prevented. y before the social injustice spi As complicated as it ma f. aover the past year and a hal Jaw ber em o sound, Councilm Councilmember Jawand nty’s ndo summarized the cou be ce hopes these outbursts can len vio e nag cet- approach to ma handled using a “multi-fa con is re the on simply: “When ed approach” with a focus ed pen hap it y nd- flict, get to wh methods of prevention. Fu to hapes and make it less likely ing restorative justice practic we nge cha a ge pen again… It’s within schools will be a lar ].” have to [make part of that. g lin “If you’re only just dea

What Do Students Think About R. J.? expelled from “Having a student ore effective school would be m circle, as than a community tually sets a the punishment ac students that precedent for other e. However, a can put them in lin ay help stucommunity circle m overwhelmdents deal with their them have lp ing emotions and he g.”* in a sense of belong

“R.J. does work. However, there have to be concrete consequences for actions as well. When someone makes racist remarks, they should face punishment (detention, suspension, etc.) but after they’ve served said punishment, R.J. should be used to repair the learning environment.”*

* = Anonymous

“Victims will not get closure if they don’t get justice. If victims don’t see perpetrators facing consequences for their actions, then it’ll seem like anyone can get away with these things.”* “We need to normalize talking about social and emotional health. It takes a unified community to keep everyone safe.”*

Restorative Justice is Not an Instant, One-Size-Fits-All Solution

By Aaron tiao and Elyas Laubach

According to Montgomery County Public Schools, “Restorative Justice is a mindset and philosophy toward school climate and relationship building.” It is supposed to allow students to actively participate in solving issues in their schools and communities, as well as “take responsibility for their actions” and help those “who were harmed as a result of [their] actions.” Over the past couple of months, restorative justice has been tested, and people have lost faith in its effectiveness. While restorative justice can work, it needs to be implemented in conjunction with disciplinary measures.

The biggest problem with restorative justice in Montgomery County is not the concept itself, but the way it is carried out. From a student’s perspective, restorative justice is being executed without the disciplinary measures that ought to back it up. Each week, MCPS students hear about more and more acts of violence in their county, but are never informed about how perpetrators are being handled or reprimanded. It creates the misconception that there are no consequences for violent actions, and if students want to make bad decisions, they can get away with a slap on the wrist. When the only action students see is community

circles and class discussions, it sets a dangerous precedent for schools and students across the county.

This isn’t to say that restorative justice doesn’t work, it just can’t be applied to every situation. For example, during the 2018-2019 school year, there was an incident at B-CC where a group of senior boys made a list rating female classmates on a scale of 1 to 10. Administration attempted to handle this situation by using restorative justice, and the boys did not face any significant disciplinary consequences despite making fellow classmates feel objectified and uncomfortable in their school leaving students feeling betrayed by their own administration, who should have done significantly more to hold the group accountable for their actions.

Unfortunately, even after three years, the balance between restorative justice and disciplinary action has yet to be found by MCPS, most clearly evidenced by the past few months. Hate crimes and violent actions in Montgomery County have risen dramatically, and from a student’s perspective, the only solution from Administration is restorative justice. This is because students never hear about what happened to the offenders, are never sent emails informing them that justice was served,

and are only ever told to build a community through restorative justice.

When we only hear about acts of violence and never about how they were addressed, the deterrent meant to keep students in check disappears, and disaster ensues.

Restorative justice is not something that will instantly fix our problems; it is a practice meant to tear down structural issues within a community over a long period of time.

Eventually, the community circles and town halls that students take part in will pay off, and the time students spend now will help students of the future. But because restorative justice isn’t a short term solution, MCPS’s dependence on it is detrimental for today’s students. MCPS has provided no other alternative for us, and it feels as though they are putting the needs of future students over the needs of students now. With more violence occurring in schools day in and day out, the lack of care for today’s students from MCPS is becoming apparent. There were clear signs that there would be an increase in violence and hate from students well before the school year started.

MCPS administration failed to prepare for this contingency and now we are paying the price.

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What a Long, Strange Semester It's Been Was Fall 2021 any stranger than any other semester? "Heck, yes."

Exhibit A (previous page) Of course we can go on and on about the weird national, international and interstellar news. Art by Jack Clauss However, for the sake of space (page not outer) our editorial cartoonists decided to focus closer to home- on school and teen life.

--Exhibit B (below). Some school districts (California and elsewhere) stopped assigning books they deemed "offensive" or “derogatory” (e.g., Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird) while some parents in Virgina demanded the removal of books they consider "dangerous" or "sleep-terror-inducing" (e.g., Beloved). During the same period, every week (or so it seems), there was a new challenge somewhere in the country to the popular graphic novel Gender Queer.

Along the way, an interesting thing happened. Students picked up books (e.g., The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Verity) by themselves, for themselves. That’s right, a pleasure-reading trend has swept through high school. It's kinda refreshing to see students sneaking peeks at books rather than phones in class. Art by Jack Clauss

Exhibit C (next page) At the beginning of the year, students across the country were drafted into the Culture Wars.

The simple act of wearing a mask or not wearing a mask to school felt like an act of rebellion depending on where in the galaxy you hail from. Art by Jack Clauss --Exhibit D (page 17 ) On October 4th, while things looked bleak for Facebook and Instagram thanks to whistle-blower Frances Haugen’s blistering affidavit, there was a mysterious 5.5 hour Instagram/Facebook/WhatsApp outage. Was it a hack, a glitch or was the social media giant giving teens and adults a glimpse of the world without Meta in it? A wonderful life? Art by Jack Clauss --Exhibit E (page 18) In the first full week of 2022, we were gifted with 3 ½ snow days. Still with climate change and dramatic changes in our cultural climate, we imagine MoCoSnow branching out, predicting other types of school closures. Art by Sydney Theis ---

Exhibit F (page 18) This semester, MCPS struggled to balance two epidemics simultaneously: a spike in Omicron cases and school-based violence.

One called for good ventilation. The other resulted in a feeling of "incarceration." Art by Jack Clauss --Exhibit G (page 19) As school board meetings across the country came to resemble UFC matches, we were reminded of all the wars American parents have waged against school subjects they deemed "inappropriate."

Compare a century of these fights side by side; and you may wonder, "Was there ever evolution in our schools?"

Art by Nina Pollak Exhibit H (back page) Last but not least, we had to address the student love-hate relationship with remote learning. In September, we heard the mantra, “No one wants another shut down.’ A few months in, we heard students wishing out loud for another shutdown. What a clear example of "Be careful what you wish for." This piece is dedicated to our friends at Seneca Valley who had a January closure. Art by Jack Clauss

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"I know people focus on how body issues affect teen girls, but honestly I think social media is so much more complex than that, I mean obviously body image is a huge issue but the problems created by social media go so much deeper than what a lot of adults are willing to investigate."

Luna (16 years old)

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A Tangled Web The Fraught Relationship between Teenage Girls & Instagram

“T

his picture is fun and I had a good night so I guess I would want to share that and post something that had meaning to me,” Lea* explained to her mother while the two skimmed through pictures Lea chose not to post to her Instagram account. “ But I have a bald spot in my hair...”

“Bald spot?" interrupted her mother. "Where? I don’t see it.” “...And you can see roots of my hair and wispies," continued Lea, "and it’s a weird angle and my leg looks so strange in this position. It looks kinda big.”

“That is so sad to me that you think that,” her mom said. “Because it looks like such a nice picture of you and your friends after soccer having fun and that makes me very sad” Special Section Edited by Mimi Danzis Kate FitzGerald Nikki Mirala Art & Design by Nina Pollak

cont. on next page

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As it turns out, Lea’s decision not to post the picture from a night filled with pleasant memories is more common and much more complicated than her mother knows.

From an outsider’s perspective, it may seem that teen girls over-share their lives on Instagram – from friends’ birthdays to family vacations. However, the pictures that make it to a teen girl’s Instagram often go through a multi-stage ritual of self censorship: 1. Reduce the selection of photos down to the five best 2. Apply filters and occasionally Facetune 3. Ask friends (if they are in the photo) if it is okay to put on Instagram (aka The “Don’t Post Without Permission” stage) 4. Decide if the post is “Instagram worthy” or if it should go to a less popular platform like VSCO 5. Make a caption for the post (if the post makes it this far) The result? The best, most polished pictures make it, leaving some major life events (e.g., Homecoming) out.

From an outsider’s perspective, this process may appear benign and as old as female beauty itself. Yet, we have recently learned through the whistle-blower affidavit by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen and the subsequent congressional hearing that Instagram may be driving this self censorship to toxic levels young girls have never experienced before.

Given the gravity of the claims in Haugen’s testimony, it is surprising that teen girls have been left out of the discussion. From Congress to CNN, the so-called experts have been reluctant to put the so-called victims on the stand.

We want to correct that. We want to explore the relationship between Instagram and teen girls from their perspective to see if the relationship is as toxic as Haugen describes.

How Instagram took over In 2012, Facebook bought Instagram for $1 Billion. The already popular Instagram then became the central photo-sharing platform for teens. The

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same trend still follows: about 22 million teens are active on Instagram in the U.S. every day, compared with only five million teens who are active on Facebook. 16-24 year olds spend a median of 3 hours a day on social media.

Why do teen girls spend so much time on Instagram? Psychologist Laura Gray does not hesitate to call it an “addiction.” When a teen curates a post, according to Dr. Gray, she seeks validation. This becomes like an addiction which stems from the serotonin that process releases. You can read more about our conversation with Dr. Gray on page 28.

On September 14th, 2021, The Wall Street Journal published, “Facebook knows Instagram is toxic for teen girls, company documents revealing Facebook's role in this “addiction”. Internal documents show that Facebook knew that Instagram makes “body image issues worse for one in three teen girls” You can read more about the Facebook revelations on page 27.

The relationship starts early.

Very early.

Many of the girls we interviewed started using Instagram before they even hit puberty.

Talia, a high senior, says she and her friends started on Instagram as early as elementary school. “Even in elementary school if you didn’t have it [Instagram] you felt left out of things,” she said. “So I was kinda pressured to join Instagram in the first place and it's all kinda been downhill from there.”

Cora, a Sophomore, had a more troubling introduction to Instagram.

“I do have a more unique experience.

I was actually groomed online when I was like ten so that definitely had a huge impact …The friends I made online wouldn’t have been able to help me and I wouldn’t have been able to reach out of my very small, not healthy friend group.”

Downhill from there “I would say, at a point in my life, middle school, it was pretty toxic.” said Ella, a high school senior. “In middle school, I would definitely spend way too much time on social media. I would compare myself to people a lot and I think that that was not very good for my self-image. I was obsessed with the way I presented myself.”

As Ella explains it, this obsession quickly spiraled out of control in middle school. “I think everyone looked a certain way and everyone, at least that I knew, at the time was FaceTuning and trying to change how they looked.

So for me to be that sole outlier was kind of weird and was kind of this peer pressure mentality. So, I felt the need to [FaceTune] to fit in.”

“I would say it [Instagram] definitely worsened my mental health,” said Ella.

How bad does it get?

We showed all the girls we interviewed a segment from the 60 Minutes interview with Frances Haugen. In the segment, Haugen claims Facebook knew that when teen girls begin to consume content on Instagram, it can make them more depressed and pull them into using the app more.

Talia has seen this phenomenon first hand. “ If you are already in a bad mood and end up scrolling on Instagram and see other people feeling happier or having better experiences, you’re only going to feel worse about yourself,” she said. “But there is the pressure we all should be on social media…we continuously go back to these apps…you keep doing the same thing.”

Ella echoed Talia’s experience.

“Anytime that I was in a bad place I looked at it [Instagram] and sometimes even seeing a post of someone who I thought looked better than me kind of spiraled me into this really really bad self doubt.”

After watching the 60 Minutes clip, Macie, another senior, said “I think it is completely true and it's really sad."

A stronger handle on things Many of the girls we spoke to think they now have a better handle on the impact of Instagram than their middle school selves had.

Many said that at the earlier ages of their adolescence, they were constantly comparing themselves to others, but as time went on they became more selfaware. They generally noted that they realized how Instagram was affecting them, and in some cases they made a change.

Remembering her middle school relationship with Instagram, Ella says, “I’m really glad that I'm not in that right now.”

Macie shared a similar feeling that she had gotten better at navigating her relationship with Instagram since middle school. “I used to be more affected by social media for self perception. I used to look at a lot of people's Instagram and want to be like them and post like them and look like them. Now I've kinda grown out of that which I'm really happy about, But yeah, in middle school, I used to have really bad self esteem issues because of Instagram.”

Is this what being in control looks like?

Although some of the Seniors we spoke to said they were more aware of and in control of their Instagram usage (compared to their younger selves), this control seems fleeting. The pressures of Instagram do not take time off.

As Dr. Gray explains, “the challenge with social media is that you’re not getting a break from it. Previously if you went on vacation or you came home from school, you got a break, you had space, you had peace. You weren’t constantly bombarded.”

“I think Instagram causes me a lot more stress than any other positive feelings…” said Talia. “I [still] find myself comparing myself to most people I follow on Instagram and celebrates and that has made me more self conscious and aware of the differences between me and other people.”

“It just pollutes everything and it really covers all areas of my life” ex-

plains Cora. “It impacts how people see me, how I see other people and whole friendships. I know people focus on how body issues affect teen girls, but honestly I think social media is so much more complex than that, I mean obviously body image is a huge issue but the problems created by social media go so much deeper than what a lot of adults are willing to investigate.”

Feedback loop

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Feedback loops in nature are about stability and equilibrium (homeostasis). ...Yet, Haugen's allegations suggest that on Instagram, the negative (not positive) feedback encourages girls to use the app more."

Despite Haugen's affidavit, many still doubt that teen girls using Instagram should be considered victims.

After all, a girl who does not like how Instagram makes her feel can simply delete the app or delete her account altogether and walk away.

Yet, it may not be that simple.

Instagram is about agency. Instagram allows girls to project their identity in ways unimaginable a decade ago.

Instagram is also about the “illusion of agency.” The influence of other people and other forces, including Facebook’s algorithm, may be driving all those filters and Facetune tweaks.

The relationship between Instagram and teen girls is also a feedback loop of sorts- a wholly unnatural feedback loop. Feedback loops in nature are about stability and equilibrium (homeostasis). Positive feedback encourages more of the desired behavior and negative feedback encourages less of the undesired behavior. Yet, Haugen's allegations suggest that on Instagram, the negative (not positive) feedback en-

courages girls to use the app more.

Where do we go from here?

When asked about the ongoing struggles teens have with their Instagram selves, Talia explains, “I'm just not sure what we are going to do about it.”

When Haugen’s allegations came to light, it seemed like the perfect time for teenage girls to boycott…no “girl-cott” Instagram. But, based on our interviews, it does not appear teen girls will take that step.

The testimony was “validating” one girl explained, “but it won’t change anything.”

Some of the girls we interviewed plan to approach Instagram with a new caution. But avoid using Instagram altogether? Move completely to a platform like VSCO? Those kinds of moves seem too big for the vast majority of teen girls to take.

The toxicity of social media is so ingrained in our society that people don’t even view it as a priority to fix. It’s just accepted.

--Let us return to the example of Lea as she explains to her mother the pictures she did not post to Instagram.

“My forehead looks big here and it’s a weird angle,” said Lea describing a picture taken at Homecoming: “You can only see one of my earrings and my nose doesn't really look like it exists and that’s annoying. And there's the crease of my arm...”

“Wow that’s so picky,” her mom explains. “To me it just looks like a nice photo but you’re really zooming in and picking it apart. You look so beautiful, I don’t see that at all.”

Ultimately, Lea did not post any pictures from Homecoming 2021.

*all names have been changed.

Written By Ailey Gold, Rebecca Lewis, Giovanna Lynn and Lola Nordlinger

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Girls of Color Have Struggled With This For Centuries

By Mariam Asmare, Halle Darko, Leianna Morgan You wake up and you have no energy, no motivation. You get up and get ready but you can’t even look in the mirror.

When you look in the mirror, all you see is shattered glass where your face is supposed to be and imperfections in your body, your legs, and your arms.

You open Instagram, start scrolling and see: thin waist, flat stomach, slender arms, slender body, long legs, and a perfect face. You see; a thousand-dollar Gucci bag and thousand-dollars shoes.

You see nothing but a perfect life.

As you scrolling you think: why can’t I look like that face...why can’t my life look like that.

For years, girls from across the globe have been sacrificing themselves at the altar of Instagram- second-guessing an outfit, Face Tuning a whisper of facial hair, deleting whole life events because the photos were just short of amazing.

Well, girl, welcome to the club.

Girls of color have struggled with this for centuries, battling self doubt and questioning self worth based on beauty standards they have no control over.

There is one big difference, however.

While anyone can get fed up and delete Instagram. Girls of Color cannot delete societal standards. No matter what we do we will never reach the beauty standard because we just aren’t white. For all of eternity we are being compared, put down, hurt.

We didn’t need Instagram to feel bad about ourselves. Others' eyes were our Instagram and it got to your head. It

became our lives.

Girls of Color get the message that they are ugly or basic from peers mainstream media and social media. Even a child who grows up in a house that preaches body positivity and teaches that everyone is beautiful in their own way is not immune. No girl can be raised sheltered from the cruel world of media, social media and “real life” and all the unreasonable standards those spheres create..

Social media allows many to portray an idealized version of themselves. Yet, Social media often places an additional form of pressure on Girls of Color.

It becomes another way for people to criticize them.

The standard for beauty has been around and consistent for centuries.

There is still only one baseline standard (white, blue eyes, blond hair, skinny).

We have seen a few tweaks to accept a bit more diversity. Light skinned Girls of Color, for example, are accepted.

Any shades darker and there will be points deducted from your self worth.

According to Psychologist Leon Festinger’s Theory of Social Comparison; there are three kinds of social comparison: 1. Downward Social Comparison: people compare themselves to others considered “inferior” 2. Lateral Social Comparison: people compare themselves to others considered “equal” 3. Upward Social Comparison: people

compare themselves to others considered “better” than they are.

Girls of Color have been caught in a trap of Upward Social Comparison for centuries. Instagram mimics that experience for all girls.

So, what do we do about any of this?

Of course, there is the usual, sound advice. All girls need to realize that they are comparing themselves to “carefully curated images.” Most of the things on social media are not real.

But, that advice alone will not meet the moment.

We need to share resources with all girls and teach them empowering skills like photography. and how to spot edited photos.

We need to blow up tired old beauty standards. How? The power of the Internet lies in numbers- not companies or algorithms. Need an example? In 2021, a group of Reddit users took on Wall Street, drove up GameStop stock 1000 fold, and brought hedge fund firms to their knees. If they can disrupt Wall Street we can disrupt beauty standards.

It will not be easy. Beauty is power and wealth for women in society. And, many do not want to give up that power. Yet, there has never been a moment like this. An entire generation of girls have discovered, all at once, that they have been played. That's a lot of potential allies. Let’s meet the moment.

Why it Takes Us So Long to Get Ready

By Kiera Spry

“Is that your real hair?” “You need to cover up there are men in the house” “You can’t walk around the house like that.” “Go put a bra on what the hell is wrong with you?!” “Keep wearing stuff like that you gonna end up getting raped.” Yes, it is my real hair.

What type of “men” do you have coming into our home? What is wrong with what I’m wearing? I thought I could be comfortable in my own home. I’m not comfortable when I’m being catcalled in the streets, cars of perverted strangers honk at me when I just got dressed

to go to the store. I’m not comfortable when I’m dressed coded at school for wearing something “too revealing;” but the white girls walk around in shorts so short that you can see their behinds. No one says anything to them. They sexualize our black curved bodies, wide hips, big breast, even small hips, and small breasts. Anything we wear that shows a little too much shoulder, a little too much stomach, it’s “too revealing,” “it’s inappropriate, “it’s too much.” It’s like they don’t want to see us comfortable in our own bodies. It’s our bodies,

we should be able to wear whatever we want without having someone else say, “You need to cover up.” “Put a bra on.”

We just want to feel comfortable. If we can’t feel comfortable in society, at school, or at home, then where or when can I ever feel comfortable? Can’t even feel comfortable in the clothes that I want to wear, I have to think twice before I put on a pair of pants or a damn shirt, that’s the reason why it takes us so long to get ready.

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We Asked Girls Across the United States...

by Karenna Barmada

“I felt like I needed social media to be liked and connected to people. I had social media and soon started to realize how much of a problem it was”

“So if on my friend's post I see a really good picture of her, I'll be like ‘dang I wish I looked like that’.

Or I wish I got that many likes or comments on my posts.”

“Sometimes, I judge myself on social media based on how I may look or something, but that was before I started to appreciate more that my body is my own and I should love it no matter what.”

“When I post something I get super insecure about whatever it is I am posting, afraid of what other people will think.

Sometimes I will stare at a post for too long and find some random flaw and delete it. I am constantly worried about what other people will think of what I am posting.”

Letter to My Middle School Self

By Rebecca Lewis and Lola Nordlinger Dear Middle School Self, As your middle school years begin, what you know as social media is already evolving into something all-consuming. It makes you pick yourself apart, the way you look, act, talk, and think. And unfortunately, you’re already learning to analyze every photo you take of yourself - to scrutinize your flaws, find fault in the way you smile and the way you pose.

You constantly ask yourself and your friends “is this weird to post” and hope that their answer eases your stress.

The stress of "posting a picture," a concept that 20 years ago was gibberish, now consumes your thoughts and has too much control over your self-esteem. Your mom doesn't understand why you’re in a bad mood because you didn’t think you look pretty enough, or why you were sad after the boy you like didn’t like the picture you posted. She can’t understand, and you can’t get out of the horrid head-space that the algorithm of social media had trapped you in. It’s not your fault.

“The algorithm” was crafted to make you spend more time on the apps by

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predicting what you want to see and giving you more of it. Even if it makes you feel left out or not good enough.

The algorithm doesn’t care about your mental health; it just cares about your usage. You and your friends are victims of this algorithm. It's a terrible cycle; a time sucking habit that causes a flood of insecurity and self-doubt. I think you might even know that social media is hurting you. But you don’t know how to stop using it.

Looking back, the way you feel isn’t crazy, so many other girls all over the world are feeling the exact same way. They experience the same defeat when they don’t like the way they look in a picture, feel the same disappointment when they don’t get “enough” likes, and they too feel the wrath of the algorithm telling them they are not good enough.

Now I’m a Senior in high school and although I’m not perfect, I know I’m more than just a picture. The most important things in my life no longer include the number of likes I get or the immense stress I felt when my smile was a little crooked in one post. I promise everyone is so focused

and worried about their own insecurities that they don’t even notice yours.

I’ve learned that it is unfair to judge myself based on one still picture. But that doesn’t make it any easier. This social media stuff is all-consuming and dangerous even to this day, but as you get older you will learn to separate real life from what’s online. You will learn that the posting and comparison never stops, but you can take control of the narrative. As my high school years have progressed I’ve become a journalist and learned to take a critical look at social media and how it affects me and the people I love.

I want to tell you it will all be okay.

Nobody else can be you and you can’t be anyone else! So fight to be yourself, don’t edit your life, embrace it.

With love, Future you A video version of this letter will air on Feb. 22, 2022 at 10:30pm ET on WETA Metro. Lola and Rebecca will also be interviewed on Fox 5 DC local news at 7:30am on Feb 22, 2022.

..."How Do You Feel When You See Yourself on Instagram?"

“Sometimes, when people post me on social media (like in Snapchat stories) I feel included and loved.

It's nice that I get to be shown and be a part of that person's life. It's just that surprise, ‘wow, that's me!’”

“Sometimes it's nerve racking seeing myself, anxiety can run through after posting something and seeing how my friends react to it. Like posting a photo that you may have felt confident about in the moment but looking back and not seeing the feedback or validation I sometimes seek.”

“I get embarrassed and I hate every picture and video because I feel like even if no one says anything they're silently judging me,”

"I feel like it isn’t me sometimes, it’s the image I want to portray to others.”

Blowing the Whistle on Instagram

By Kate FitzGerald In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal began publishing a series of articles known as The Facebook Files which revealed internal information that outlined how Facebook has amplified societal unrest. This information described how Facebook changed their algorithm to make the app more addictive and the effect the app has had on teenage girls’ mental health.

In October 2021, Frances Haugen came forward to reveal herself as the Facebook whistle-blower. Haugen was a data scientist at Facebook and left the company in May 2021. But before she left the company, she collected thousands of internal documents detailing Facebook’s private research, which was used in The Facebook Files.

She appeared on 60 Minutes to explain why she left Facebook and call out the malfeasance she witnessed in the inner workings of the company. In her words, “the thing I saw at Facebook, over and over again, was there were conflicts of interest between what was good for the public and what was good for Facebook. And Facebook, over and over again, chose to optimize for their own interests, like making more money.”

Haugen also revealed in her interview that in 2018, Facebook made a change to their algorithm that aimed to keep Facebook users drawn to the app. This algorithm picks content to show up on a person’s feed based on what a person engaged with most in the past. It’s goal is to keep supplying content that people will want to engage with to keep them coming back to the app. This algorithm change has made kids more vulnerable to becoming addicted to Instagram, which was bought by Facebook in 2012.

Just a few days after her 60 Minutes interview aired, Haugen testified in front of a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate’s Commerce Committee. She expanded on her complaints against Facebook. Referring to Instagram’s harm to children, Haugen said in her testimony that when kids use Instagram, they develop “feedback cycles where children are using Instagram to self-soothe, but are exposed to more and more content that makes them hate themselves.” She added that “teenagers don’t have good self-regulation. They say explicitly that ‘I feel bad when I use Instagram, yet I can’t stop.’”

When referring to how Instagram harms teenage girls, Haugen noted that “Instagram is about bodies, and about comparing lifestyles.” This often leads teens to be hyper-aware of their appearance, including physical attractiveness, weight, complexion, and social life. This damage is shown in Facebook’s own data, which Haugen revealed. Their research showed that after spending time on Instagram 13.5% of teen girls reported that the app made suicidal thoughts worse, 17% said it made eating disorders worse, and 32% said it made them feel worse about their bodies.

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerburg, responded to the information shared

by Frances Haugen regarding the harm Instagram causes teen girls by saying “I found it difficult to read the mischaracterization of the research into how Instagram affects young people... In fact, in 11 of 12 areas on the slide referenced by the Journal — including serious areas like loneliness, anxiety, sadness and eating issues — more teenage girls who said they struggled with that issue also said Instagram made those difficult times better rather than worse.”

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A Psychologist's View on the Social Media Debate

By Hannah Gandal and Nikki Mirala

There has been much discourse recently surrounding social media and its effects on teens, especially girls.

Most forms of social media have negative effects on brain chemistry and its development, and psychologists like Dr. Laura Gray have spent their lives studying these relationships.

Dr. Gray, who works with patients dealing with clinical diseases or various mental illnesses, believes that social media is one of the biggest challenges perpetuating the symptoms of mental illness amongst teens. “Some key things that contribute to anxiety and depression are all the ‘I shoulds’, comparisons, and all the ways that we can beat down on ourselves,” she explained. Social media feeds right into these mindsets and patterns, adding to the self-doubt and lack of confidence amongst teens. Dr. Gray mentioned that while there have always been channels to funnel comparisons through, such as magazines and commercials, “the difference with social media is how accessible it is and how constant the exposure can be.”

Due to its dire impacts, many

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people believe that all social media should be filtered or banned, but Dr. Gray says that this would cause more harm than good. She believes that if teens delete social media, they´ll feel “disconnected, and [feeling] disconnected contributes to loneliness.”

Even with that being said, voluntary media breaks can be extremely recharging and stress-relieving. “It has to come from the individual. If it were your parents or school that are directing it, that certainly isn’t going to be as helpful,” she adds.

It is possible for social media to be a more positive aspect of teenagers’ lives. On the topic of social media’s influence on physical appearance, Dr. Gray explained that there are campaigns advocating for body positivity and the end of Photoshop, due to its unrealistic expectations. She asked that, instead of only showing the best and most “perfect” aspects of one’s life on the Internet, “how can we show more balance, like the struggles and the messiness of our lives?” If this encouragement and realness was more normalized, then “social media could

actually become a positive tool.”

When asked about the future of the generation that has been negatively affected by social media, Dr. Gray said that while these effects will be long-lasting, most will be resilient.

She explained that this generation will be the driving force behind placing limits on social media because “they have grown up with it and are able to sit here and see the parts of it that are toxic, whereas older generations didn’t realize that.”

Overall, Dr. Gray believes that it depends on the individual as to whether or not the risks of social media outweigh the benefits. “There are some teenagers who have a really hard time socially connecting, which then having social media allows them to find ways to connect with people.”

This is one positive aspect of social media that can be very beneficial. “Social media is here, so we are going to have to figure out how we move forward with it and how to make it more beneficial.

#BanSocialMedia By anonymous they were making. So what are we seeing again? The prioritization of the self over their moral responsibility to many.

This idea continues when we look at other aspects of social media, such as endorsements. Let’s take Kim Kardashian for an example. She promoted appetite suppressants to an audience she knows is filled with impressionable teens. This sends a variety of toxic messages. But let’s stay focused. Again we see this idea of the prioritization of individual gain over what is morally right. This is a consistent thing with endorsements, celebrities continuously promote BS products to their audience to make money.

Social media creates conflict in our democracy for this same reason. The algorithm on these sites gives you more of what you like, feeding you content it already knows you prefer.

So what if you’re a fan of Trump?

What pops up on your feed will come from other people who like Trump, and you will never hear from the other side unless you specifically go out looking for it. This creates further polarization in a nation that is already

incredibly divided. It also continues along the theme of the prioritization of the self, as the algorithm feeds you what you want to see.

We are trusting a few leaders of these social media networks with an incredibly addictive, life changing platform. Already our population is becoming increasingly addicted to social media. According to the Addiction Center, “psychologists estimate that as many as 5 to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media addiction today.¨ We are trusting a few leaders, who have something to gain from our use of social media, with an addictive system. We are putting our faith in them to prioritize the well being of their nation, but, as proved by the Facebook whistle-blower, they are prioritizing their profits instead.

Social media is curated for one's self-interest and those that run it build off of it. Whether it’s the leaders that prioritize their profits, or the users that edit their photos, social media allows for individual gain at the expense of society as a whole.

By Nina Pollak

As human beings, we all have some degree of moral responsibility. Social media is blurring this line.

It’s well known that editing your photos is damaging to yourself and your peers, yet most do it. If not their bodies, then the lighting, the background, and many other minor details that teens become hyper focused on.

This furthers each individual’s image, but damages that of those who surround them. Each individual is prioritizing their own image over honesty and their moral responsibility to their peers.

It seems to me that this idea of self prosperity over moral responsibility is attached to every aspect of social media. Take the congressional hearing over Facebook and Instagram as an example. Frances Haugen, who previously worked high up in the company, exposed it. Those who led the organization knew how damaging their content was to young girls, but continued to push it on them. They knew they were inspiring eating disorders, division in our society, and even conflict in our democracy, yet did nothing to stop it due to the enormous profits

Social Media Can Be a Positive Space

By Rebecca Lewis A lot can be said for the negative impacts of social media, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t redeeming qualities.

In the past 20 years or so, social media platforms have become spaces where users can be a part of something bigger than themselves. It’s a place where historically marginalized voices are heard and change begins.

We’ve seen the spread of several social and political movements, such as the Black Lives Matter movement. Movements like this start and gain traction

across the Internet; a lot of the publicity for these movements can be attributed to social media.

People from all over the world have been able to connect in ways that would never have been possible without social media. This immense connection created by social media also creates ways for teens to find and create community. Whether on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Reddit, users can connect and interact with others who have similar interests. Many teens have been able to overcome feel-

ings of loneliness through the meaningful relationships they’ve found in these communities. Especially during the pandemic, when teens found themselves socially isolated, social media was important in maintaining connection to the “outside world.”

Social media should not be banned.

It is important to be conscious of the effect it can have on our lives, but we should also celebrate the positive influences it has on the world.

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The Baron LAMOREAUX

How Paul Became B-CC's Biggest Fan and Most Beloved Alum

Paul and his twin sister, Kate (above)

Young Paul (left)

Paul's senior portrait (Class of 2015)

By Josh Garber, Sammy Schuchman, Micah Schuchman

I

f you’ve been around B-CC in the past decade, you’ve probably met Paul Lamoreaux. He is the tall, black-haired, glasses-wearing, and ever-smiling figure who, before COVID-19, regularly volunteered in B-CC’s English Department. Although he graduated in 2015, Paul has be-

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come a fixture at B-CC. Besides volunteering, Paul enjoys visiting classes at B-CC, where he knows a plethora of students and the majority of the staff.

In his words, “my favorite thing to do at B-CC is coming to school events, because I love seeing and talking with the teachers and students.” A regular

at home football games, he can always be counted on to make the rounds in the stands, and passionately cheer on the Barons. Paul has a great understanding of how high school works, and what one needs to do in order to be successful.

cont. on next page

PROFILE As someone who’s been in their shoes before, he advises freshmen to both enjoy the high school experience, while also stepping outside of their comfort zones. He says, “make new friends, but also enjoy your classes.”

One of Paul's expertises is his meticulously drawn maps, color-coded and detailed to the individual classroom.

He ensures that they’re distributed to freshmen before the first day of school, eagerly willing to lend a helping hand to those who may need that extra boost.

As his neighbors, we’ve grown up alongside Paul, and are eternally grateful for the counsel, positivity, and friendship he’s provided to each of us. Since we entered B-CC as freshmen, Paul, with his photographic memory, has recalled every one of our respective schedules, complete with class, teacher, and even room number. During COVID-19, when we played basketball in one of our driveways during lunch, Paul was there, masked in the foot of the driveway.

He would ask us for updates on our teachers, fellow classmates, and how our classes were going, before reminding us when we had to go log back on to Zoom for our next class.

Derek O’Halloran, an English teacher at B-CC, had similar experiences with Paul. “The first time I met Paul was when he visited the school during our pre-service week to see all of his teachers. This was three years ago. He asked many questions about my classroom and the classes I taught. He never forgot a single word of our conversation,” Mr. O recalled.

“Paul has established himself as an unofficial ambassador for B-CC. I remember my first year here when I was sponsoring our International Night celebrations in February of 2019. Paul attended with his family, and I had a nice conversation with Paul and his parents. It was amazing that they came out and supported us this way. Then the pandemic hit and we couldn’t see Paul in person anymore. He was great about sending

emails, especially during holidays.

Paul would share what he was up to with the entire English department.

He would send updates about his family and his classes [and] we would update Paul with what was going on around B-CC. At the end of last year, as I was walking out to the football field during our on-campus graduation ceremony, I looked up and saw Paul in the stands waving enthusiastically. It was so great to see him back at the school in person. Paul has stopped by a couple of times already this school year and it’s been great to see him. It’s a reminder that things are slowly starting to get back to normal,” he noted.

What does it mean to have Baron pride? Is it never-failing school spirit? Rising to the occasion in the most difficult of challenges? Is it creating and fostering relationships with students and staff alike? If you asked us, we would answer yes to all of those and more. Then, we’d point you to Paul.

From the Desk of Paul Lamoreux Hi B-CC English Teachers,

Hi B-CC English Teachers,

Hi B-CC English Teachers,

I am emailing you to wish you a Happy Valentines Day...I wanted to say that the RV that was in my neighbor's driveway next to my house finally left on January 8th after being there for years since I was a baby...Every day when I looked out my front window, I was used to seeing the RV in the driveway but now it's finally gone

I am emailing you to wish you a good summer. I hope you have a nice one. I really missed my visits this year but I can't wait to do them next year. I kept up on the BCC news by FaceTiming with Ms. Port Hull. I will miss the teachers who are leaving. Ms. Khouri and Ms. Kontos, I will really miss you.

My summer went well. I went to Bethany Beach from July 31st to August 7th. I also went on a virtual trip to Ohio and Michigan from August 14th to August 22nd which was today. I am also looking forward to another year at Montgomery College. I am taking Exploring the Earth's Forest on Mondays starting 9/13, and my own Art class that focuses on Drawing on Tuesdays starting 9/14. They are both online. I also wanted to tell you that I am the editor for the Our Parish Times newspaper for my Church.

...I can finally see up my street...

Hi B-CC English Teachers, I was going to come into school today to show you my Christmas Tree but I decided to stay home instead.

I am emailing you to wish you a Happy Holidays. Here are my Christmas Decorations if you want to see them. What are you guys doing for winter break this year?

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PROFILE

Going Far With Food

By Olivia Romano

Milan Bhayana

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M

ilan Bhayana, a sophomore at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, started cooking about 10 years ago. At just six years old he discovered his love for cooking after watching the movie “The Hundred Foot Journey”.

“I’m sure there were many lessons, but the only thing I remembered was how tasty the omelettes looked in that movie,” said Milan. After that, Milan started learning to cook with little help from anyone.

On Thanksgiving of 2020, Milan created his first video about a beef wellington that he made. His sister, who narrates many of Milan’s videos, suggested that he put the video on Tiktok.

This video received over 2 million views. These 30 second to a minute long videos consist of short time lapses of him making a variety of different recipes. The videos range from making pasta from scratch to making his own ice cream. “People really enjoyed the video and our particular style, and the rest is history,” said Milan. His account now has about 733 thousand followers and over 17 million likes.

“I think the Pandemic was weirdly a very positive experience for me personally” said Milan. Last year, like many other students, Milan was doing online school.

While being at home, he was given the opportunity to put more time and energy into growing his Tik Tok account. Despite the pandemic putting many things on pause, “The silver lining in this case ended up being larger than the cloud," said

photo by Johanna Krejza

Milan.

Top Chef, a reality TV show, reached out to Milan a couple months after the start of his Tik Tok account.

The show invited him to take part in the newly released “Top Chef Family Style’’. This show brings together 13 of America’s best young chefs to compete for a $50,000 prize, with the help from an adult chosen by the contestants. “As a 15 year old with no television and no professional cooking experience, this seemed way too good to be true,” said Milan. Almost immediately after responding, Milan found himself being interviewed and put into a screening process. In early May, Milan flew out to L.A to start filming for the show.

“The entire process was truly surreal, especially seeing the inner workings of these reality shows,’’ said Milan.

The first episode of “Top Chef Family Style’’ was released in September 2021 on Peacock TV. Not only did Milan gain incredible experience from being on “Top Chef Family Style”, but he also gained lifelong friendships. “Many of my friends from the show are coming to visit for this Thanksgiving, which will hopefully be as memorable as the previous one.” Milan never could´ve dreamed that this would happen, and is so thankful for all of the support that he is getting.

“My biggest motivation to keep posting is the audience. I love sharing my love of cooking, and the cultures that surround cooking with people,¨ said Milan.

PROFILE

Uprooted by ISIS:

A Young Iraqi Rebuilds His Life

By Nikki Mirala

“I

“day by day, everything changed.”

He has had a strenuous journey to get to where he is today, but Rami now focuses on the future and rebuilding his life. At 22 years old, he is optimistic about his path in life, and is eager to make a name for himself in his country. With all that he has been through, he still has a positive outlook on life and is proud of his success up to this point. His perspective is representative of many refugees all across the globe, and reflects the true idea of seeing the glass half full.

The university student studying computer science is set to graduate this

year, and hopes to develop a company focused on web design or data security.

He also is open to the idea of having a possible position in the field of politics.

Whatever Rami decides to pursue, he wants to make sure that people remember his name. When asked about his motivations and his optimistic outlook on life, Rami states that “God saved [him] so [he] had to do something with that.” He looks forward to making an imprint on the world, and being the change in his country that everyone will remember.

Graphic By jack Clauss

t was like a Hollywood movie,” says Rami Mohammed on his journey of arriving at the Harsham IDP and refugee camp. Seven years ago, at the age of 16, Rami and his family left everything behind in their home of Mosul, Iraq to escape the perils of ISIS control and embark upon a new life in an unfamiliar camp on the fringes of the city of Erbil in northern Iraq.

In 2003, the terrorist organization ISIS emerged from the militant group, Al-Qaeda, in Iraq as a response to the invasion of the United States military.

The group faded somewhat into oblivion until 2011 when they began to carry out more attacks. In 2014, the group carried out a large military campaign attack on Rami´s home of Mosul which is the second largest city in Iraq. Now with the recent emergence of ISIS-K, an Afghan affiliate of the central ISIS group, many refugees are in the same position as Rami.

Rami´s life before the reign of ISIS was one of normality. He lived in a large house with his mother and father, 2 younger brothers, one older brother, and one older sister. However, once ISIS took control “everything changed,” recalled Rami. He explains how the changes implemented by ISIS were gradual. It began with the banning of cellphones.

Then, women were not allowed to leave their house unless it was for an emergency. Women were also forced to further increase the level of coverage offered by their clothing.

The group then began taking money from those who owned shops. Food, oil, and other items started to become extremely expensive.

Rami was most shocked by the public beheadings, destruction, and overall gruesomeness of the group.

“It was like a game,” he describes as he discussed how the chopped off heads of civilians would be used to play soccer, or put high up on buildings for all to see. Rami states that

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Walking Through Dual Enrollment with Zoe Strong

Pictured: Zoe Strong in Blake High School’s Library

By Mandy Sanidad

A

lesser known path of high school comes in the form of Montgomery College’s dual enrollment program. A small number of Juniors or Seniors register to be part-time college students while simultaneously attending their MCPS high school, with less than seven MCPS classes each day. Dual enrollment is a way for students to graduate high school with college credits and experience, without taking AP classes.

One of Blake’s dual enrollment students is Senior Zoe Strong, who is taking English and American Sign Language. This year, she’s taking all virtual classes, with a half-day schedule at Blake.

Most people are completely unaware of the dual enrollment program, but a few students get an email if their school thinks they are qualified to participate in dual enrollment. An excerpt from the email sent by the Supervisor for Career and Postsecondary Partnerships, Genevieve Floyd, says, “Congratulations!

Your student has met the college-ready grade point average requirement to take a college course and may earn college credit while still in high school

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through a partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery College (MC). High school students who enroll and take a college course at MC or any Maryland public college or university are able to do so at a reduced cost.” Email notifications and physical mail are the main ways students find out about dual enrollment.

Strong found out about dual enrollment from her sister, who had participated in the program a few years back. “She’s a couple years older than me, so she did it, and I heard about it,” she comments. “I was like ‘Oh, half day’s schedule you say. I’m intrigued.’

The school does announcements about it too, but I learned about it from my family.”

Although she enjoys her current schedule, the process to get there was difficult. Similarly to other dual enrollment students, registration took a lot of time and effort. “It sucked. There was no direction, I didn’t get any help,” Strong complains. “So I had to call a woman personally, and she had to walk me through it step-by-step. It was—it was not good.”

Managing both high school and college classes is not a task everyone can do, but Strong handles the work with

Photo by Mandy Sanidad grace. “It’s a lot easier than I thought it would be,” she expresses. “Obviously, there’s like, time management, because there’s no bells to get to class. You have to remember what time the classes start. College classes are a lot more independent than high school classes. It takes a lot more self—not awareness, but like, ‘This is on me.’ I like the balance between high school classes and college classes.”

“College classes are a lot more independent than high school classes. It takes a lot more self—not awareness, but like, ‘This is on me.’

I like the balance between high school classes and college classes.”

“I feel like college classes are a lot less like, you don’t get reminded about work. It’s like, ‘Here’s your homework, do it by this date.’ You never hear about it again,” Strong says. “One of my classes is actually an evening class, and it’s two hours and thirty minutes, so it’s very tiring and you have to stay fo-

PROFILE cused. The tests and the homework, it’s very independent, but it’s weekly: the same amount of homework every week and then you do the tests on your own.

And also, there’s windows—it opens on Tuesday and closes Wednesday, so do it whenever you get the time.” College classes and high school classes are very different, and it takes someone who is very self-sufficient and motivated to keep up with all of the homework and tests.

Although this is a more direct way of getting college credit, the better known option is participating in AP classes, and taking AP tests at the end of the year. In comparison to AP classes, Strong doesn’t see too much of a difference in difficulty, especially between AP English and college English classes.

But, she believes that it’s much easier to get college credits through dual enrollment.

“I’m taking an English class online for the first semester, and that counts for a whole school year, versus AP classes you have to take the whole year,” Strong states. “I have to write essays, but they’re all longer essays. For my English class, you have to write an essay a week. There’s less work, but it’s more detailed. But it’s also a shorter

class.”

Some may think AP credits are the better option, as it’s guaranteed that a college will accept the credit. But with community college credits, it’s really easy to check which colleges accept the credit, and you can get the credit by doing well in the class rather than doing well on an exam at the end of the year.

A majority of Blake students that are in the dual enrollment program take their classes on campus, but Strong prefers the online classes for a number of reasons.

“It’s very flexible, because I can do it in here [the library], or in my car, or I can be in my bed with a hoodie on. I like that part,” she says. “Even if I did have my actual license, I don’t have a car to drive me there. It just worked out, because now almost all the classes are online, but if we were in-person completely, there would probably be less access to online classes.”

Strong recommends rising Juniors and Seniors to look into dual enrollment, and try to participate in the program if you’re interested. She especially suggests for Seniors who only need a few high school credits to look into dual enrollment, and the possibility of getting a half-day schedule like herself.

“There are a surprising amount of people who didn’t know about it,” she comments. “But I think it would benefit a lot of kids here. And if more people

“There are a surprising amount of people who didn’t know about it,” she comments. “But I think it would benefit a lot of kids here. And if more people did it, there would be more transportation to get there.” did it, there would be more transportation to get there.”

Even if you aren’t specifically notified about the dual enrollment program by the school, if you’re interested in it, you can visit Montgomery College’s website, or talk to your counselors to learn more about how dual enrollment could work for you.

Subjects Offered at Montgomery College for Dual Enrollment Accounting

Social Studies

Science

World Language

Construction

Visual Art

Sign Language

Business

Criminal Justice

Computer Applications

Technology Credit

Computer Science

Speech

Integrated Arts

Dance

Economics

Education

Engineering

English

Media

Mathematics

Music

Graphic Design

Health

Physical Education

Hospitality Management

Landscape

Theater

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The Fall of My Dreams

A Journey From Kabul to Maryland

By Sayed Erfan Nabizada August 15, 2021 “Erfan, Hurry up!” My uncle woke me up early. “Come on, we have to rush to the bank as soon as possible to withdraw my deposits.”

We left the house at 7:00 am and tried to get to the nearest bank in the Kot-e-Sangi district of Kabul. When we arrived, the streets and bazaar, known for their bustling commerce, were blanketed by uneasiness. The bank was closed. We tried several other banks; but they had already terminated operations. At 11:00 AM, we reached a bank near the Presidential Palace. No success there either. We heard shots outside the Sedarat Palace where the Second Vice President lives. We saw a number of VIP cars fleeing the area. We sensed fear, anxiety, hopelessness, and disappointment in the faces of every person we saw on the street. We were in a state of war.

“I will never forget this cursed day,” my uncle said.

City traffic had come to a stand still.

We had to go home on foot. We walked by government ministries, markets, shops, and schools - all closed. This was not the same Kabul from a week before.

It was now a city of fear and trauma.

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“My English books,” I said. ”We have to get home.”If the Taliban searched our house, they would find my books. A friend of my uncle, an American journalist in Brussels, was always sending us books. We knew we had to hide them.

“They have arrived,” my uncle told my grandmother as we rushed through the front door. Without wasting a moment, I hid all of my books. My uncle also had to delete the pictures from his phone. He thought they were dangerous. My uncle has always been known in our family for his courage and patience, but today was breaking him.

My grandma was worried about my father because he worked with foreigners. He was still in Mazar-e-Sharif.

I made several phone calls to my dad and siblings; luckily they were all safe.

When I reached my dad, he had to hang up abruptly. It was the last time that I would speak to him until we arrived in the US. I have not seen him since. My dad, like so many Afghans, had shared two decades of partnership with the West and the United States. Now, he was in hiding.

A week before August 15th, my family was preparing to celebrate my 15th birthday. I was studying for my mid-

term exams. The events of early August however had stolen our morale and hope. I never got that birthday party.

--I was born in Ghazni province. We moved to Mazar-e-Sharif, the second biggest city in the country, where my father worked with NATO forces. In 2014, my brother and I moved to Kabul and stayed in our grandfather’s house.

My uncle was taking care of us; he supported and funded us each step of the way. People from all over the country came to Kabul for work and education.

At the age of 12, I started working for non-profit organizations, and helped organize youth engagement on behalf of the United. I wanted to encourage other people of my age to join me to work for youth empowerment, to bring peace and to find solutions. I was determined to fight for our basic rights, and to address the problems that our society was facing. Now, I was on the run.

August 15, 2021 (evening) We watched on TV and heard through local and international media that President Ghani had fled. It was a heartbreaking moment.

“Democracy’s dead,” my uncle declared.

PROFILE August 16- 22, 2021 I went outside and watched the Taliban forces, armed and menacing, celebrating their victory on the streets.

My uncle and I struggled to find a way out of the country. The evacuation mission had just started. We kept sending emails, making phone calls to different embassies, and reaching out to friends in the US and Europe. Finally, my uncle received a message on Instagram from his American friend in New York. He offered to help.

August 23, 2021 (morning) My uncle received a charter-flight boarding pass from his friend. The next day he said his goodbyes and left for the airport. The airport was surrounded by thousands of Afghans including men, women, and children desperate to leave Afghanistan. My Uncle’s first attempt to reach the airport had failed.

August 23rd, 2021 (afternoon) My brother and I accompanied my uncle to the airport. We stayed at the gate for many hours. A specific unit of the Afghan security forces, the 01 Unit, was guarding the gate. They were shooting in the air to disperse the crowds, but their efforts were to no avail. Everyone was determined to escape at any cost. Once again, my uncle could not reach the airport. My uncle’s American friends expanded their contacts and efforts, reaching out to people involved in the evacuation process.

My uncle asked his American friends to help me and my brother too.

August 24, 2021 We ended up receiving two more boarding passes, one for my brother and one for me. In the middle of the night, someone called us and instructed,“Go to Kabul Serena Hotel immediately and join the others on the list for evacuation.” Again, we would have to pass through Taliban checkpoints.

We joined a family at the Serena hotel.

My uncle’s friends made call after call.

They encouraged us not to lose hope.

We somehow managed to get through the checkpoints, get to the airport. We joined twenty other families and coordinators from the US at the security perimeter surrounding the airport. We were told to wait, and camp there until morning. Every time an airplane took off, I thought to myself, “Am I going to be in one of those airplanes?” We spent long hours in the cold outside the air-

port gate knowing that every moment could seal our destiny.

August 26th, 2021 (evening) We were thirsty, hungry, sweaty, and exhausted. We were still in front of the main gate when a suicide bomb struck. The bombing reportedly killed 300 civilians and 14 US marines; we were only 500 meters away. Frightened, we decided to go home. We would let fate decide what would happen to us. Back home, I saw on TV dead bodies lying in front of the Abbey gate. The location was familiar. The tragedy was unthinkable. Later that night, coordinators assured us that the next day we would be able to get into the airport.

August 27, 2021 As promised, we got past the gate, I prayed that it was all over. We watched as American soldiers paid respect to those who perished in the bombing.

We spent one more night in Kabul airport for documentation purposes.

American troops in the airport told us that only documents and medicines were allowed on the plane. We were forced to throw away our luggage, clothes, and all of our other possessions. We made our way to the terminal for take off. The soldiers asked us to line up. Hundreds of us complied.

Finally, we got on the military airplane and departed Kabul for Doha. As soon as the plane took off, tears streamed down my face. “I hope to see you again, Kabul,” I thought to myself. After five hours, we landed at a US military airbase in Doha, Qatar. There I helped to interpret for people needing medications, clothes, and other essentials. Although I felt safe in Doha, I missed my country. I found it extremely difficult to leave my home, especially under the conditions that we had left it in. I spent a night there waiting for the flight to our next destination, Germany.

August 27, 2021 We were off to Germany; specifically Ramstein Airbase. The memories from Ramstein still haunt me. The conditions there were much tougher than Doha.

They served food twice a day, sometimes just once. There were about 20,000 refugees, all without jackets and coats to keep warm. We were packed into small tents outside in the cold, with 20

or 30 people in each tent.

“You have to help people register their complaints,” my uncle told me. I volunteered to help pregnant women, patients, and children.

September 9, 2021 After 2 weeks, we left for our final destination: the United States. When we arrived at Washington Dulles Airport in Virginia, I felt on top of the world. I have always admired the United States for having great universities and a strong reputation in world politics. After spending one night at Dulles, we were transferred to New Mexico.

We stayed there for 45 days for legal and administrative processes. The conditions in New Mexico were the same as Germany, but this time, buoyed by hope, we were strong enough to cope.

October 25th, 2021 Our legal documentation was completed, and we were transferred to Washington D.C. Our American friend had already talked to a wonderful lady, Dr. Jo Ann Cruz, who teaches history at Georgetown University.

November 5, 2021- Present Our living situation feels like a home and school in one. In addition to all her hospitality, Dr. Jo Ann teaches us American manners, helps us with our English, and shows us how to navigate society. She has trained generations of college students. We feel proud to learn from her.

I am overjoyed to be in America.

Yet, this joy is mixed with pain. My country is in turmoil. My father is still in Afghanistan, hiding. My four sisters are scattered around Mazar-e-Sharif, living with different families for their own protection. Although I am excited for new opportunities in America, my heart and prayers remain with my home.

photos provided by Sayed Erfan Nabizada

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Top Gun Twins

PROFILE

away from reaching the appropriate age to obtain a full private pilot’s license, have fallen in love with flying. “Right now we mainly fly in gliders,” explained Max, “essentially, the plane gets hooked up to a wire and big external motor and is launched across the runway in the air. The plane itself doesn’t use an engine or anything, though.” This dangerous-sounding flight technique actually works extremely efficiently according to Max and Justin. Their personal record air time after launch is 90 minutes, but they claimed that their flight instructor holds the world record for time spent in the air in a non-engined glider at an unfathomable 24 hours. “If you find the hot air pockets, you can actually stay up there for quite a while.”

In an attempt to explain the phenomenon to a baffled interviewer, Justin likened it to the movie Sully. “He was able to do that because he used to fly gliders.

That’s how he got to the Hudson and saved everyone.”

Coincidentally, Justin plans to folPictured: Max, Justin, father and younger brother

By Leo Kugel low a similar path to Captain Sully and over 1,500 members and is respon- become a commercial pilot after gradut’s not unheard of for the day of sible for performing “search and res- ating from college. Max, who plans on a high schooler to start at 4 A.M. cue, disaster relief, emergency service, studying at the famed aerospace school Early-morning swim practice or a plea and homeland security missions.” The of Embry-Riddle, is intent on becomfrom the family dog can be enough to Maryland Wing alone boasts an aver- ing a doctor. No matter where they end get some dedicated teens out of bed age of 20 potentially life-saving assists up, though, they both are adamant on hours before first period. But it’s fair to the U.S. Coast Guard in the Chesa- sticking with the Civil Air Patrol as seto say that such an early wake-up call peake Bay each summer. Nationally, nior members, even if that means more rarely comes from a distress beacon in the Civil Air Patrol is responsible for a uncomfortable 4 A.M. wake-ups. an undisclosed location south of An- whopping “90% of inland search and napolis. According to Einstein High rescue missions in the United States.”

School twins Justin and Max March- Max and Justin have to be ready for and, though, that is just life in the Civil action at any moment, and have even been called out of school for a rescue Air Patrol.

The pair, who appear nearly identical mission already this school year.

Despite the seriousness of their job, save their clothing choices, have been cadets in the Maryland Civil Air Patrol the twins profess to enjoying nearly since they turned 12 – the youngest age every second of it. “We have this really allowed to join. Now in their fifth year cool white van with stickers all over it. of service alongside their dad, a senior It’s our squadron van that we use to go member of the patrol, the twins say it’s on our missions.” What makes this opbecome a huge part of their life. “We’ve portunity so special for Max and Justin, got at least a thousand SSL hours from though, is the flying. Usually, aviation all the work we do. It would probably is an incredibly expensive passtime. A be more if we bothered to turn in the private pilot’s license alone can cost paperwork more often,” said Justin (or upwards of $20,000, not to mention Max, they are identical after all). How- lessons, plane rentals, and other reever, the Civil Air Patrol is more than lated expenses. Through the Civil Air just a volunteer opportunity for Justin Patrol, Max and Justin are able to fly and Max. “You get out of it what you for a fraction of the regular cost. “We’re put into it,” said Max, “and we’ve put super lucky that we found the Civil Air Patrol. Without it we probably would a lot into it.

According to the cooperation, the not be able to fly at all.”

Max and Justin, who are still a year Civil Air Patrol’s Maryland Wing boasts

I

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PROFILE

Christmakuh: The Reality of Celebrating Both Holidays

By Reese Schenkel and Alayna Brandolini We have made it through this holiday season. Celebrating both Chanukah and Christmas brings family, good food, and constantly having to explain our religious beliefs to anyone and everyone.

Chanukah has a reputation for being somewhat of a “Jewish Christmas” because the two holidays occur around the same time.

That’s a misconception though, as Chanukah is not a very holy holiday for Jews. In case you didn’t know, Chanukah celebrates the story of the Maccabees’ (Jewish army) victory over their oppressors.

We light the menorah to commemorate the miracle of the lights: how during the war, the Jewish people only had enough oil to keep their menorah lit and provide light for one day. The story tells that, through God, the oil lasted eight nights, a metaphor for how the small Jewish army was able to defeat the powerful army of their oppressors. This is why each year on Chanukah, we light the menorah for eight nights and thank God for our freedom from our oppressors.

Our Background: Alayna: My mom is a practic-

ing Jew and raised my sister and I with the Jewish faith. My dad’s side of the family is Catholic, but my dad himself isn’t very religious. This causes lots of people to refer to me as “half-Jewish,” though I’m not sure how someone could be half religious. I was raised Jewish and fully identify as such, and it gets irritating having to justify my religion to people.

Reese: My dad has a complex relationship with religion, one that is NOT my place to get into. But whatever it is, it’s led me to never going to synagogue or having a BAT (not bar) Mitzvah. So aside from holidays and funerals, I was never really introduced to the religion outside of that. Hence, it wasn’t my place to

identify as Jewish religiously.

Christianity on the other hand has a different story. Growing up I went to church but I never really believed in what I could gather was being said to me. I never really got behind the entire “faith” thing. On top of that, when I became a teen and was still forced to go, it made me resent it even more. So I’ve also never identified with being Christian.

When you mix those things together, you get a non-religious person celebrating both Chanukah and Christmas. Crazy, I know.

Why Do We Celebrate?

Alayna: Most reform Jews, such

as myself, celebrate Chanukah to feel closer with our culture, celebrate God, and spend time with family and friends. My favorite Chanukah tradition is going to my grandparents house, helping my Grandma cook dinner, and then eating with my family as we watch the candles burn.

Though I don’t celebrate the religious reasons behind Christmas, I still view that holiday as a way to spend time with my family.

My Italian-Catholic family on my Dad’s side has a tradition of making homemade ravioli every year for Christmas dinner. They live in Massachusetts, so I always feel thankful for the time I get to spend with them on Christmas.

Reese: Christmas has recently

gained a reputation for not REALLY being a Christian holiday, but rather just a reason to give and receive gifts from your family and friends.

I think it’s debatable whether you can just change the reason behind a holiday, but I’m not here to get into that. And although the reason behind Jewish holidays are not up for debate, I still take them as a time to celebrate with family and eat really good food. Considering that there’s

not much to be proud of ethnically on my mom’s side (think… white as milk), I’m always thankful yearround that there’s some culture I can participate in.

The “UGH” Alayna:

Being Jewish in America comes with a bit of adversity. I am often made to justify or explain my religion to people because, despite not being a very religious person, I always seem to be the token Jew in all of my classes. This nuisance tends to become amplified during the Holiday season. Some people are genuinely curious about how I celebrate both holidays, but others can get a bit belligerent in their questioning. I always try my best to explain that: no, I am not, in fact, “half-Jewish,” no, I am not going to steal your Christmas, and no, Chanukah is not just Christmas for Jews.

Reese:

It’s always been tough explaining the holidays to people, although I’ve always been proud to do so.

“How can you be HALF Jewish?”, “But you celebrate Christmas… how can you celebrate Chanukah too?”, “I thought you said you celebrated Christmas?” are all questions I get yearly. To clear the air, I’m half ethnically Jewish on my dad’s side (don’t get me started on “you’re only Jewish if it comes from your mom”), I just am, and I celebrate both. There.

Many places I see lack understanding of this concept and it makes me cringe. Either decorate for all THREE holidays (we didn’t forget you Kwanzaa) or just throw up some snowflakes. And for GOD’S SAKES, CHANUKAH ISN’T JEWISH CHRISTMAS.

Graphic by Sydney Theis

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Opinion

Do Students Want a COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate?

By Maya Cynkin On September 9, 2021, the Montgomery County School Board of Education decided that all staff are required to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

It was also determined that students participating in winter and spring sports must be vaccinated.

Athletes are required to get the vaccine because their sports are volun-

tary. However, all other MCPS students are not obliged to get it.

Currently, COVID-19 cases are continuing to grow at a high rate as the most recent mutation of the virus, Omicron, is circulating around the world. The vaccine debate has become even more topical, due to the severity of Omicron presently.

I asked fellow students, “What is your opinion on having a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for high school students? Do you think it should be required in order to attend school?”

Here is what they said:

“It should be required because it will make school a lot safer and keep it open for longer.”

“Yes because it will keep students, families, and teachers safe and there has been plenty of time to get the vaccine. It is also widely available and safe to get.”

“It should be required, unless a student has justifiable reasons not to, like allergies. I think it’s just like other vaccines like measles, and it’s important.”

“It should be; other vaccines such as the chickenpox vaccine are mandatory for school, and the only reason this one isn’t is because it’s so highly politicized.”

“It should be mandatory with reasonable exceptions. So people who have no reasonable objection must get it, but people with medical concerns, religious objections, etc. could be exempted with some alternative plan (extra mask requirements etc.).”

“The vaccine should be required for high school students because the vaccine is FDA approved. Also, schools require other vaccines to ensure the health and safety of students and staff, and since COVID-19 spreads fast with potentially dire consequences, it should be required.”

“It should be required. Numerous vaccines in the past have been required to attend school and with a virus as rampant and severe as COVID-19 spreading, it’s necessary to reach herd immunity and stop the spread.”

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“I support [a vaccine mandate], but I fear that other people may not get a vaccine even if it’s mandated. Also some people can’t even wear masks properly so they’re not gonna want to get a mandated vaccine.”

“It should be. The vaccine is the only super known way to prevent the spread of the pandemic. To keep everyone safe we need to have everyone vaccinated.”

“Yes, because it’s usefulness to protect against COVID-19 is unmatched, with only a day's worth of side effects compared to a lifetime of COVID-19’s effects. I would feel much safer at school knowing everyone is vaccinated.”

Graphic By Sydney Theis

Opinion

To Mandate or Not to Mandate For You and Those Around You

By Bennett Galper

On October 1, 2021, California Governor, Gavin Newsom took a step in the right direction after releasing the first statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all schools. Newsom’s mandate has been approved for children ages five through 11. This is not only a step in the right direction in the fight against the Delta variant of COVID-19 for California, but also for the rest of the country as more states will most likely follow Newsom’s lead.

Why are so many people so outraged about this particular vaccine mandate? Most states already require students to be vaccinated against illnesses such as Chickenpox or HPV. Newsom said when he announced the mandate that “this is just another vaccine.” Some people need to realize that this vaccine is the same as the others. It is important to recognize that Newsom granted exemptions from the mandate for people not getting vaccinated for religious reasons because they represent a large sum of the unvaccinated citizens in the United States of America. According to a study conducted

by Public Religion Research Institute, 38% of unvaccinated Americans are hesitant to get vaccinated for religious reasons.

Newsom announced that students who refuse to get vaccinated, and don’t have religious exemption will be denied the right to go to school. This is a crucial part of the mandate as it protects vaccinated students from being exposed to unvaccinated students who may potentially have COVID-19. Not only does this protect the students, but it also prevents the students from bringing COVID-19 back to their homes.

Their parents - who most of the students see on a daily basis - may be immuno-compromised, or at risk because of their age. They may live with their elderly grandparents who just because of their age are at great risk of death if they become infected with COVID-19.

As of now, Montgomery County Public Schools have not expressed any interest in implementing a vaccine mandate. With the recent spike in COVID-19 among students in Montgomery County (many schools have surpassed 5% of students who’ve tested positive), a vaccine mandate seems like a very good idea. You're probably asking yourself right now: ‘why does the ninth most vaccinated county in the US (71%) need a vaccine mandate?’ It’s because there are still a substantial amount of people.

Not only is it important to get vaccinated to protect yourself, and your family, but it is also important for protecting those around you, and their families.

Simply Refuse to Comply

By Anonymous Student On October 1, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an order that mandated vaccination against COVID-19 for school children. This is unequivocally and incomparably one of the most concerning legal developments of our lifetimes. Newsom’s mandate will take effect once there is a vaccine approved for children ages 5 through 11.

According to the order, California students -- K-12, public, private, or charter -- will not be allowed to attend school unless they are vaccinated against COVID-19. There is opportunity for exemption based on religious or medical reasons.

The most dangerous part of this law is not the actual mandate, but the legal precedent it sets. California has now granted the authority to mandate that you take a shot to live your life. They’re telling you that you can’t educate yourself at any school unless you comply.

We have deluded ourselves into thinking, “surely, this is as bad as it gets.” Initially, people were saying, “there’s no way they can legally force us to socially distance,” “there’s no way they can legally force us to wear a mask,” “there’s no way they can make me share my vaccination status.” These are all violations, after all, and if it ever gets that bad, I will take a stand! Then what happened?

You were slowly groomed into compliance. They lift the restrictions temporarily, giving you a taste of freedom, then drop them again so you’ll be more compliant. Restrictions have worsened, and we have now reached a point where the National Attorney General, Merrick Garland has announced plans to punish parents protesting the school boards for issuing vaccine requirements. We have reached a point where people are being denied life-saving surgeries since they are not allowed to enter the hospital without vaccination.

Seriously, sit down and ponder what the government just allowed themselves to do. It now has full pretense to forcibly inject you with anything and there is nothing you can do about it. This isn’t about the COVID-19 vaccine specifically -- it’s about what these vaccine mandates mean for government control. If you do not comply, you will be denied education. You will be denied healthcare. Soon, you will be denied the right to appear in public. Speaking against this mandate gets you labeled as a terrorist. In our own ignorance, we have granted the government the means to punish you for not complying to an order. This is a characteristic we have rarely seen outside of fascist nation states.

Be very, VERY careful before giving the government the ability to force you to inject anything. Do not let this country turn into an authoritarian hellhole. The only way to save what little freedom we have left? Simply refuse to comply.

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Opinion

Pre-Pandemic Grading Is Back; It Shouldn't Be

By Jack Doyle In the midst of the pandemic, towards the end of the 2019-2020 school year and the entirety of the 2020-2021 year, grading policies were much more lenient. Relaxed assignment due dates, easier tests and quizzes, and generally easier grading were all a result from online school and the general stress in the world at the time. Although the grading policies greatly benefited student’s GPAs and helped reduce student stress levels, the policies were a disservice to them in the future.

After a long summer, the first semester has consisted of everyone being back in the building and struggling with the insane workload. This is because teachers and staff decided to return to the rigor of school before

the pandemic, cold turkey. This caused many students to be more stressed over schoolwork. Although some people may have felt like it was time to go back to the difficulty of pre-pandemic academics, we should have eased into it. Currently, low grades and missing assignments are more common with many students than they have ever been. Students have felt like they don’t remember how to handle the in-person workload and demanding in-person classes. This not only hurts the mental health and well being of students, but it also unfairly portrays their academic ability. Due to this, many students' GPAs will be negatively affected which could result in worse college applications.

Graphic By Sydney Theis Teachers need to make an effort to understand students’ current struggles and change their methods. They should not make things drastically easier, but they should try to make things like workload, grading, due dates, tests and quizzes more similar to the level they were during virtual school. Students are really struggling. We need to slow things down and we need to do it now.

Let's Not Return To Block Scheduling

By Naomi Kales

Last school year, MCPS had a block schedule of two A days and two B days in a normal week. While it was important to have block schedules last year, it was ultimately detrimental to students' learning. While in prior years, students attended seven classes every day for 45 minutes each, under a block schedule students attended two one-hour sessions every week. As a result, this year must be spent recovering from the damage last year’s schedule created.

Students enjoyed the ease of a block schedule during a pandemic that was stressful for many students. The laid back block scheduling provided was matched by a growing panic about what would happen when academic life returned to normal. How would students be expected to master prerequisite topics needed in future years when time constraints limited the content taught?

Would this schedule continue to lead to a further loss of learning?

This year students have had to struggle to learn topics they never gained a foundation for now that B-CC and other schools in MCPS are back to having seven classes a day, five days a week.

Students may long for last year’s schedule when waking up before the sun, but the full return to pre-pandemic scheduling is ultimately improving learning capabilities.

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Students at B-CC and MPCS schools without block scheduling have experienced both block scheduling and normal scheduling, providing them with a perspective on the benefits and drawbacks of each. With block schedules, students had limited class time and more space in between classes to forget what was taught in the first place. As a result of these extended breaks, retention of knowledge was at an all-time low a year ago.

Now, students have their classes often enough to remember what was taught and grasp topics more firmly.

Under the block schedule the amount of class time allotted to teach the curriculum was nowhere near enough, where students had to essentially teach themselves their classes asynchronously. This year however, homework is effectively used to strengthen the concepts learned in class, not requiring the learning of entire courses without the help of a teacher.

Throughout the past semester, students have worked to mend the education they lost last year. However, because of classes with set curriculums and exams, school has not been as accommodating as students would have hoped. In their classes, students have had to “review” topics they never learned in the first place, and so the

school year has been a difficult one. But if classes this year were virtual, students would be losing even more. Although the minimal work to make up for last year has been far from ideal, it is significant that learning is in person at all.

The later mornings and shorter school days were a blessing last year, but the block schedule was an academic burden. Block scheduling limits the amount of teaching and learning that is done, and productivity, learning, and general academics in MCPS are set on a much better path this school year. hoped. In their classes, students have had to “review” topics they never learned in the first place, and so the school year has been a difficult one.

But if classes this year were virtual, students would be losing even more.

Although the minimal work to make up for last year has been far from ideal, it is significant that learning is in person at all.

The later mornings and shorter school days were a blessing last year, but the block schedule was an academic burden. Block scheduling limits the amount of teaching and learning that is done, and productivity, learning, and general academics in MCPS are set on a much better path this school year.

Feature

College Counselors: An Exclusive Ticket to Success?

By Ruby Buczkowski aspects of their applications instead of one counselor for the entirety of it.

This may include SAT tutors, essay editors, or one-time meetings with college counselors/other advisors. However, these advisors are still expensive, so many students are not able to get professional help on their application at all.

In a school as wealthy as B-CC, many students do have the means to employ college counselors and get those extra one-on-one advantages that come with this service.

After surveying one English class from each level of the 12th grade class, it was determined that 30-35% of the seniors sampled at B-CC have a longterm college counselor outside those provided by MCPS. In a smaller sample of Blake High School students, only 4% of the seniors sampled had college counselors. Additionally, approximately 45% of the B-CC students received other professional help, and about 11% of the sampled Blake seniors did. Although it is not new information that there are disparities of wealth throughout MCPS, this is a clear indication of the disparities of opportunity and advantage distribution.

When asking B-CC seniors without college counselors about their opinions on fairness in the college process, they often have mixed feelings. “Obviously not everyone can have access to

a college counselor because of financial reasons and it can’t be denied that they can make the application process a lot easier. They basically walk you through it,” says a senior. This student mentions he got professional help with his SAT studying and explains how he utilized the resources at B-CC. “It’s definitely possible to get help through the counselors at B-CC and get an extra pair of eyes on your applications without having to pay a fortune, but the process would undeniably be easier to manage with a one-on-one counselor, that’s obvious.”

The support that B-CC provides through the College and Career Center cannot go unnoticed. Counselors like Ms. Heald and Ms. Bonner are always available to answer questions and guide students through the process and to other helpful resources. But as a student remarks, it is obvious that the paid services that long-term college counselors can provide is more specialized throughout the entirety of the process.

Unfortunately, the college admissions process will most likely never be an even-playing field.

Graphic By Sydney Theis

For parents and students alike, the college admissions process has always been a source of struggle. Pressure to have perfect SAT scores, inspiring essays, and endless honors societies displayed on applications weighs on students. It seems nearly impossible to have the perfect application, all while managing a normal teenage social-life and demands of regular school work.

But some students have an extra helping hand in the process. With college counselors and other paid professionals, students have an expert’s voice to guide them to the school of their dreams.

A college counselor is defined as an advisor that works closely with a student and family to help them through the college admission process. They help build lists of potential colleges, research academic needs to get into those colleges, recommend extracurriculars and classes, assist with paperwork and edit essays. Essentially, college counselors help students get into college.

At B-CC, many seniors have worked with college counselors since this past summer or even during sophomore year. One senior notes that some of the most helpful advice she received from her college counselor was the specialized tips regarding her supplemental essays. With a professional’s help, she got to understand “what each [supplemental] entailed in order to appeal to schools directly.”

When asked how her application process would have gone without a college counselor, she believes her “experience would have been significantly more stressful and would have taken much more time to complete.”

Even though it seems like this is a perfect resource, it is not available to all. College counselors are often very expensive. Because of this, some students seek professional help with specific

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Feature

Still Not Quite Right

Checking in on Teen Mental Health

By Nikki Mirala and Hannah Gandal

A

s the severity of COVID-19 worsened, and individuals were pushed into isolation, pre-existing mental health concerns were exacerbated tremendously. Stuck inside with nowhere to go and no one to see (not to mention the looming fear of contracting COVID-19), many felt hopeless and alone. Prior to the pandemic, mental health care was already severely inadequate. Then the pandemic hit, and it got even worse.

Taboo The taboo surrounding mental health support, and mental health in general, has always been there. Adults

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and teens alike continue to be reluctant to reveal that they struggle with their mental health because of the negative reaction that may follow it.

The stigma surrounding mental health can often derive from a lack of understanding as to what it encompasses.

Many also fail to understand the range in severity of mental health issues and blame individuals themselves for their mental health conditions when that’s not always the case.

Even before the pandemic, health insurance didn’t adequately cover the cost of mental health care services. Job loss due to the pandemic was met with a lack of assistance from insurance companies to help cover the costs. At

the beginning of the pandemic, mental health services were put on pause completely as specialists learned how to navigate their services online. Individuals dealing with mental illnesses were lost and were failed by the mental health care system.

According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the average share of adults who reported symptoms relating to anxiety increased by 30% during the pandemic. As communication through technology during the pandemic increased, more digital services were curated—such as free apps.

While this was great in theory, it recently came to light that many of these

apps were sharing user data with third parties such as Google and Facebook.

The information reported from these apps was extremely confidential, including diary entries and self-reports.

These apps gave individuals rare access to free mental health services yet completely violated their privacy—another clear indication of how mental health care failed individuals during the pandemic.

Unequal Impact The pandemic has had a monumental impact on many marginalized communities. From a lack of protective equipment to the inability to work from home, residents of these communities witnessed many challenges. But in relation to mental health, these communities faced hardships prior to the pandemic.

There are numerous mental health barriers within these communities as a result of the stigma surrounding the health of people of color. “It’s a double whammy,” said medical director Dr. Lanre Somorin, adding how there are “pre-existing medical, social conditions, and now you have the pandemic itself basically disrupting the way health is provided for them.”

The assumption that individuals of color are stronger in terms of perseverance further contributes to the taboo surrounding mental health and the reluctance to recognize the need for help.

In the medical world, many patients of color are denied stronger pain relievers even when they are in dire need of them due to the misconception that they are more resilient.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), “half of white medical trainees believe such myths as black people have thicker skin or less sensitive nerve endings than white people.” A 2016 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science found that medical trainees who endorsed this belief were less likely to treat the pain of black patients appropriately.

The standard for mental health care and medical services before the pandemic was already low, but once COVID-19 put the world on pause, those notable insufficiencies were exacerbated at a colossal rate.

The return to school Many may believe that coming back to school could fix this, but the sudden overload of work and class time may be too much for teens to jump back into.

In terms of physical health, adjusting to the long hours spent at school and studying has made maintaining healthy habits difficult for many.

One student at B-CC who would like to remain anonymous explained that “Everyday I am showing up to school exhausted because I can’t get enough sleep.

This makes it very difficult to get work done and honestly just get through the school day.” Spending most of the day at school and doing homework has not only affected the amount of sleep many students are able to get, but the amount of time they have to take part in activities that improve their well-being.

Lydia Ball, a senior at B-CC, said that “I have less time to go on runs or walks than I did in the summer because of schoolwork and college applications”.

Exercise is a big stress-reliever for many people, including Lydia, and it is evident that students need more time to do these activities.

Many were wondering whether or not teachers would accommodate the fact that many students have not been inside the building for one and a half years. Last year, most students did not have much homework and only had three or four classes each day.

When asked about the flexibility and amount of understanding that teachers have for their students during this time, Lydia mentioned that “A majority of my teachers haven’t been accommodating the workload or pace of the class, but they’ve been understanding of the difficult transition”. It would be incredibly helpful if teachers “talk more about allowing extensions to some students or giving them more baron time to get stuff done,” The anonymous student said.

The upside to in-person Returning back to school has not been all negative for students. Many have had much better mental health ever since in-person classes have start-

ed back up. Although the stress of tests and projects is still very prevalent, the much-needed social interaction for teens almost outweighs it.

Lydia stated that school has had a positive impact on her mental health, “Not being able to see friends everyday was really difficult for me. I find school to be much more enjoyable when I’m able to be social.” She added that it is great to be able to see friends in the hallway and in class and rekindle old friendships that she had pre-pandemic. An anonymous student mentioned that they are “loving the school spirit that B-CC has brought back into the building.”

Learning inside of a classroom in a more traditional setting has also had a positive impact on students and their health. “Being in person with teachers is extremely helpful”, said Lydia, “I can focus better in the classroom rather than online, which makes learning material much easier.”

Many students had issues connecting with teachers online last year, while teachers had trouble efficiently teaching classes over Zoom. This made it much more difficult for students to learn the course material and make good grades.

There is no doubt that this quick turnaround from doing completely online school for a year and a half to 35 hour school weeks starting at 7:45 a.m. each day has put a toll on many students and negatively affected their mental and physical health. But, teenagers crave social interactions.

Returning to school where they can chat and constantly be around other teenagers has been an incredibly positive aspect for many students. “I would say that I’m incredibly happier now than I was during lock down,’’ said Lydia.

“Everyday I am showing up to school exhausted because I can’t get enough sleep."

Graphic by Jack Clauss

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Feature

Pandemic Puzzle: Unmasking Our Perception

By Carmen Torrecilla and Liliana Capizzi

T

he usual sea of faces in the school hallways are now obscured by a foreign object; a mask. The evolution of the mask into an accessory has helped preserve individuality, however it has still caused widespread social repercussions.

“When lowering my mask for a moment I catch a quick glance at people I consider my friends, even though I have never seen them without their mask on. I hear new comments such as ‘wow you look different than I expected’ or ‘you look so different without your mask on’.”

Such comments are corroborated by many students. A new term coined “mask-fishing,” similar to the term “catfishing” has even become part of social media slang.

To embark on an exploration of the brain we interviewed Dr. Maureen Cruz, a neuroscientist, who obtained her Ph.D. from Georgetown University and received a Master’s Degree in Public Health at Columbia University.

Dr. Cruz explained that the “second largest lobe of the brain, the temporal lobe, is responsible for processing visual and emotional stimuli.” When you look at a face your eyes transmit signals of what you see to your brain, and then your brain has to turn that visual into a memory. “Facial recognition is built upon a foundation of visual stimuli and memory.”

However, that instantaneous process that we all do millions of times every day has become obstructed due to the mask. One of the few studies addressing this new phenomenon have shown that out of 500 healthy adults, 15%, an unusually high number, have shown “face-blindness.”

Mr. Soboslay, B-CC’s Psychology teacher, gave us insight pertaining to his real-life

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experiences with recognizing students wearing masks.

“Some of the things I’ve heard from a lot of teachers say, and I’ll say this too, it’s taken me longer this year to remember students’ names because I

can’t see their faces.”

Facial recognition, Mr Soboslay explained, is a holistic process in the sense that “we as humans take split seconds to look at the different facial features, eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Pre-pandemic, it takes humans a few days to get to know a person, and now all of a sudden we’re wearing masks, and our ability to do all that is cut in half, because we’re only seeing half of the face. That has led us to all sorts of problems as far as misidentification.”

Mr. Soboslay recalled a distinct expe-

rience to explain this. “A student last year during virtual learning was always present on camera. I was walking into school one day and he said hello to me but he had a mask on so I couldn’t figure out who he was. I felt bad. Here’s someone that I saw all year... he was very kind to me on camera, and I couldn’t figure it out.”

The mask, a now relevant part of our daily lives, has not only caused some embarrassing instances of misidentification, but has also interrupted the feeling of human connection that we as people feel when we recognize one another. “Facial recognition is really tied to human emotion,” says Dr. Cruz.

When you look at someone, there’s a lot of information on their face based not only on certain features but also their facial expressions.

You can learn a lot about each individual’s personality by perceiving all the nuances of their expressions.

Dr. Cruz added that seeing someone’s face not only enables you to recognize them in the future, but it also helps you feel a connection to another human being. Recently during the pandemic healthcare workers covered head-to-toe in protective gear have had to care for frightened patients. Looking like characters out of a dystopian world, healthcare workers have had to break through the imposed physical barrier of COVID-19 and express empathy to their patients without the innate ability to do so through facial expressions.

The mask suddenly becoming a normal part of our day-to-day life has taught us all many things these past 18 months, perhaps most importantly, how much we need to see another person’s bright smile.

Graphic By Nina Pollak

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A Year Later, Congressional Staff Struggles to Move Past Capitol Riots

By Cora Hafer es. This was when staff heard the sound of glass breaking and window frames popping open. Don Sisson, the Staff Director for the House Rules Committee, who surprised that despite being told the windows of the Capitol were bomb-proof, the rioters were able to break through them with ease.

Police pointed their guns at the window, most of the few people remaining in the chamber left and were taken to a safe room.

For people in other parts of the complex, it’s a very different narrative. “Adam”, a scheduling director that was in the Capitol tunnels that day stated, “Honestly, I thought we were all going to die. All of the buildings are connected by tunnels, and once the rioters breached the Capitol it felt like a matter of time until they came pouring through the doors. Thankfully that didn’t happen, but it could have easily been an even greater disaster than it was.”

Nate Matteson, a scheduler for a Freshman Democrat, was in his office in the Longworth Building during the riots. It was just the fourth day on the job. When he got an alert for an “internal security threat” in the building, he “double-locked all the doors, lied and told [his] boss this was all totally normal, grabbed a wooden staff from the bottom section of a flag pole and put it near [his] desk just in case”. All he could do after that was sit in his office, watch the news, and wait.

Since the riots, the FBI has successfully tracked down and arrested over 600 insurrectionists. However, due to the overwhelming number of cases, the process of getting them to trial has been a difficult and slow-moving task. This is not helped by the fact that the number of arrests tied to the riots is growing every week and there are

still trial limitations in place due to the pandemic. Because of this, several conservative lawmakers have mentioned that pursuing these cases would be a waste of time, as they are clogging up and not allowing new cases to be brought before DC’s federal court.

But what does the MCPS community think? Senior Greyson Fletcher argues, “I think that we need to pursue these arrests because if we don’t show that these [people] can’t get off easy, we are showing that there is no punishment for an insurrection”. Senior Libby Albus agrees with this, asserting, “These people have to be held accountable”.

January 6th was a traumatic day for many, so how are people who were directly affected moving on? “By continuing to show up to work everyday”, says Don Sisson. However, some people present are still dealing with impacts to their mental health.

Sisson mentions that he now always feels on edge and that though he is usually very level-headed, the insurrection makes his blood boil. Nate Mattson mentioned that he now always keeps the flag pole next to his desk just in case. Earlier this year, Representative Ocasio-Cortez revealed that she had been diagnosed with PTSD since the riots. Many others simply quit their jobs.

Though most of the staff interviewed were unsure of how to stop this from happening again, the scheduling director said, “I think the government should arrest and prosecute every person who participated in or supported the riots to the fullest extent of the law.” However, with court cases continuing to pile up and backlash from Republican lawmakers, it’s questionable when, if ever, the insurrectionists will face justice.

Graphic by Jack Clauss

*Names of sources quoted in this article have been changed as a request of the sources to protect their anonymity. These pseudonyms have been marked with quotation marks.

On January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in the hopes of changing the results of the 2020 presidential election. Capitol staff, including members of Congress, were trapped inside offices and the house chamber as conspirators chased security guards down the hallowed halls of the building that has housed our legislature since 1800.

For several terrifying hours, Capitol staff hid, barricaded themselves, and attempted to call their loved ones, not knowing if they would see them again.

Congressional workers had been notified about security risks of the election certification. They saw the crowd of Trump supporters approaching the Capitol. According to *John who was on the House floor during the riots, just under an hour into the certification process he noticed police activity in the Speaker’s Lobby and could tell that there was something wrong.

Staff in the chamber then checked their phones and realized that the building had been breached. They pulled out escape hoods from under their seats and put them on, due to the use of tear gas in the building.

As *John said, “We’ve drilled using escape hoods before, but I never thought that I would have to use one in real life”.

Shortly after, people began leaving the chamber in fear that the floor itself would be breached. The people that remained began hearing pounding noises from the door, and some members as well Capitol police started to barricade it using desks and bench-

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Downtown...Chevy Chase?

By Michael Shapiro

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Until a few years ago, when driving up Connecticut Avenue between East-West Highway and I-495, one would be greeted by empty skies. Driving the same route today, the once lone shapes of the clouds are now accompanied by the silhouette of a bridge for the Purple Line: a new multi-billion-dollar light rail line connecting Bethesda in Montgomery County and New Carrollton in Prince George’s County.

Upon passing through the overpass’ shadow, a look to the right would display a sky seasoned by the brick of its buildings, introducing new flavor to once bland scenery. In a place previously home to a local grocer, a men’s clothing store, and an often-vacant parking lot, today lies an unfamiliar site: the Chevy Chase Lake development. Once known to be just one of many exits along the beltway, this area is bound to become known for much more.

As two separate entities, the development of the Purple Line was facilitated by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), while the development of Chevy Chase Lake was spurred by a partnership between Bozzuto – a locally headquartered real estate company that operates throughout the East Coast – and the Chevy Chase Land Company – who owns the land. Chevy Chase Lake is slated to open its first phase in December and complete its second, and final phase of construction in 2023. By the latter date, the redevelopment of Chevy Chase Lake will be complete: two phases of development bound together, with a town square at the center.

The Town Square of Chevy Chase Lake will be the beating heart of the development. Elsa Escobar, a Development Associate for the Bozzuto Group, confirmed that the town square will include a full-service grocery store, a wine and beer store, a bank, and several restaurants. Committed to being pedestrian-friendly and providing for all in the community, Escobar notes, “We’re building the town square with a lawn area, a lot of outdoor seating, and offering a significant number of retailers we want everyone in the community to enjoy.” By offering all of these amenities, it seems as though the town square will be able to do just that.

Phase One, scheduled for completion in December, will include a high-rise apartment building, and the development’s central Town Square. Built-in partnership with The Ritz-Carlton Residences, the apartment building will contain 280 luxury apartments for lease, as well as 65 condominiums. Phase Two, slated for completion in 2023, will consist of another high-rise apartment building, containing 186 units across twelve floors. Although the Purple Line is a completely separate entity from Chevy Chase Lake, Phase Two will facilitate a direct connection from the vibrant town

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square to the new Purple Line station, looking to bring big city convenience to the suburbs.

However, this big city convenience brought by the Purple Line to Chevy Chase has its critics, prompting controversy within the community. Notably, many have been against the demolition of the 3-mile Bethesda-Silver Spring segment of the Capital Crescent Trail in order to make way for the Purple Line. It is this segment of the Purple Line that Chevy Chase Lake lays along. Many who are against transportation expansion projects like the Purple Line, such as the non-profit ‘Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail’, have cited reasons such as noise and environmental concerns, among other contentions. Notably, as a plaintiff, ‘Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail’ unsuccessfully attempted to appeal the construction of the Purple Line in court, claiming the draining of wetlands for construction was a violation of Maryland environmental regulations. The court deemed this invalid.

Despite various oppositions to further urbanization and its effects in Chevy Chase, many in the community tend to support such projects, citing the economic growth and excitement it brings. One such resident of Chevy Chase is Sam Moffitt, a junior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Although Moffitt recognizes that with all the additional development “It wouldn't be ideal for [rush hour traffic] to get any worse”,

he feels the pros outweigh the cons. Moffitt remarked he is “extremely excited” for the opening of Chevy Chase Lake, and the completion of the Purple Line. Whether it be looking forward to having easier access to “get place to place”, or craving the possibility of “not having to go very far to go and get a nice dinner”, it is no wonder why Chevy Chase residents such as Moffitt can’t wait for all the excitement coming to this once quiet community. Reflecting on this, Moffitt notes that there seems to be an influx of “a lot of new excitement to the area, a lot of new fun, a lot of new stuff to do, and it’s going to benefit a lot of people.”

As the first phase of Chevy Chase Lake looks to open late this year, with the completion of both its second phase, and the Purple Line following in the coming years, these urbanization efforts look to provide much-anticipated amenities to the community. The development is not just something to be revered by future residents, but for all in the community. Although many of us may not be moving directly into the residences, we are all a part of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase community at large and will be impacted by this in one way or another. As Escobar puts it, “We welcome everyone to stop by and spend time there, because that’s the goal for us… The project is for the community.”

Graphic By Nina Pollak

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The Genius of Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" (10 Minute Version)

By Cora Hafer

“These songs were mine years . ago, now they’re ours.”

On November 12, Taylor Swift released her long-awaited re-recorded album Red (Taylor’s Version). Initially released in 2012, Red is an album that holds one of Swift’s most critically acclaimed songs of all time- “All Too Well.” It’s a heartbreaking ballad that builds in intensity, culminating into a fantastic bridge and chorus that is assumed to be about Swift’s breakup with actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

The song contains some of Swift’s best songwriting, with lyrics such as “you call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest.” However, as Swift mentioned in interviews when the original Red album was released, the version of the song that fans had all grown to know and love was not the original version. The original version, as she said, was over 10 minutes long and written as somewhat of an ongoing musical rant.

After almost a decade of her fans begging her to release this mythic 10-minute version, it finally arrived when Swift released the song in her 2 hour and 10 minute-long album, Red (Taylor’s Version). The album included all of the original songs from Red, re-recorded with her matured vocals, along with an additional 10 songs that had not been initially included on the album, one of them being “All Too Well (Ten Minute Version).”

The song has completely different production than the original, losing some of its country feel and gaining the light synth-pop sound of Jack Antonoff’s production. Despite this difference, the song remains almost identical to the original until the sudden change in the second verse.

Swift goes into a separate melody, singing lyrics that no one’s heard before. This extended verse immediately takes fans by surprise with its new melody and even more intricate lyricism than before, comparing her heartbro-

ken self to a “lifeless frame”. Swift once again surprises fans later in the song with a full minute added to the already iconic bridge, in which she reveals that her and Gyllenhaal’s age gap was a reason for their breakup. Some notable lines in this extended bridge include; “They say all’s well that ends well, but I’m in a new Hell every time you double-cross my mind.”

The final change comes at the end of the last chorus, along with a heavier drum beat powerful lines such as “Just between us, did the love affair maim you too?” The song slowly and satisfyingly fades out as Swift sings repeated lines from the choruses (a very different ending than the original 5-minute version).

Though this extended version does reveal more about Swift and Gyllenhaal’s past relationship, Swift has made it clear that this version is dedicated purely to the fans. In an interview, she said, “These songs were mine years ago, now they’re ours.”

Despite some complaining about Swift “not being able to get over her ex”, the release of this song is clearly more about releasing the extended version of a song that fans have loved and asked for more of since 2012, as well as finally having ownership of all of her music as the struggle over the rights of her masters continues.

In addition to the release of this song, Swift also wrote and directed a short film for the song starring Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink and performed the full 10-minute version on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Very quickly after its release, “All Too Well (Ten-minute version)” topped the Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes charts. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest song ever to do so, beating Don McLean’s “American Pie” which has held the record since 1971.

So, if you have a spare 10 minutes out of your day, even if you don’t like Taylor Swift, try giving this a listen.

The lyricism, melodies, production, vocal performance, and emotion from this song are purely unmatched and no doubt make what is widely believed to be Swift’s magnum opus even better.

Graphics by Olivia Romano

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Style

5 Movies All High Schoolers Need to Watch

By Brian Balthazar

We can all gain something from movies. While there are too many great films in this world to count, here are five that every high school student must watch before they graduate.

1. Eighth Grade (2018) 3. Whiplash (2014) Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Google Play This movie appeals most to Freshmen students. Transitioning from middle school to high school isn’t easy; you feel like you have to become a more mature person when you still feel like a kid. Eighth Grade, directed by popular comedian Bo Burnham, is a film about a girl named Kayla Day (Elsie Fisher) who is going through her final week of middle school. This film explores anxiety and self-confidence during one of the most emotionally challenging periods teenagers can face. It also teaches an extremely important lesson to teenage girls when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex. This movie is perfect for those finding their self-image and those in need of encouragement to persevere through tough times.

2. Lady Bird (2017) Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV This film is targeted towards Senior students. In Lady Bird, we follow Christine McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), or Lady Bird, a Senior trying to make the best of her last year. One of the main plot lines in this movie is her relationship with her mother and their strained view of each other. This film explores dating, friendships, popularity, and family relations. Any teenager can relate to Christine. Lady Bird illustrates how high school can be both the best and worst time of someone’s life, but more notably, how important family is when growing up.

Graphic by Nina Pollak

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Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV Academic achievement is a very mentally tolling process for many, especially when parents and teachers expect a lot from you. In Whiplash, we follow Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), who spends his first year at a prestigious music school as a talented drummer. One day, he gets offered to be transferred into the advanced jazz band by the school’s strictest professor.

Andrew spends the film balancing the physical and mental toll of keeping up with the class and his dwindling relationship with others. This movie teaches students how to achieve greatness and follow their passion when doing these things start to not feel fun anymore. Before you succeed for the sake of others, you must succeed for yourself.

4. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Available on: Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV Would I recommend for students to skip school in a county-wide magazine? No, of course not. However, I do recommend making the most of high school before letting it slip away. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is about, you guessed it, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) taking the day off. Ferris, in his last year of high school, decides to fake an illness so he can get out of school for the day and decides to take two of his friends out on his adventure. The message he presses towards the audience is that “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while,

you could miss it.” This movie tells you that if all you do during your high school years is walk in, go to class, and go home, then you are wasting your precious time.

Go to a football game, go to homecoming, sneak out. Do something that you find fun and can experience with friends because before you know it, high school will be over, and so are your teenage years.

5.King of Staten Island (2020) Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, HBO Max This film is aimed more at Senior students. Life outside of high school seems very distant, but it is something that approaches very quickly, and many students don’t know how to face adulthood. King of Staten Island is a film starring and written by popular comedian Pete Davidson. Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) is a 24-year-old high school dropout whose father died fighting fires at a young age. Reality starts to hit when the people in his life are moving on with theirs, but Scott stays stagnant. Scott has to face the real world as he tries to battle his depression.

Watching this movie helps students figure out what their life will look like after high school. Whatever you choose should not only bring progression in your life but should be the best option for you. This movie is a great watch for those who feel lost when it comes to their future.

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,You Are.

Where to Begin?...Which Film is Best?

By Gus Dupin

W

ith the new Star Wars TV shows coming out, most recently The Book of Boba Fett, a lot more people are getting into Star Wars. Before starting people should know two things: it’s best to watch in chronological order starting from The Phantom Menace, and Revenge of the Sith is the best movie. he most important thing about Star Wars is the action. At the end of the day people just want to watch space wizards fight cool bad guys. Revenge of the Sith is undoubtedly the winner in this category. It’s full of awesome lightsaber fights, space battles, and more.The intense fight scene between Anakin and Obi-Wan alone is a masterpiece; it’s a scene that anybody in the world would thoroughly enjoy. The choreography, the setting, the music, and the heart wrenching end all add to it’s perfection. Also, there are so many great other fight scenes throughout the movie like the fight with Count Dooku, the fights with Palpatine, the fight with General Grievous, and the Order 66 montage.

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Revenge of the Sith has tons of other amazing qualities. It has lots of the best characters in the entire series like General Grievous, young Obi-Wan, and Mace Windu. The film has many stunning different settings like the lava planet that perfects the Obi-Wan and Anakin fight, or the giant forest home of the Wookies. On top of all that, it’s just a great story; Anakin’s rise and fall is engrossing.

All of these aspects make Revenge of the Sith the best.

However, it also has some obvious faults. The dialogue can be a bit strange at times, but it’s still much better than some of the cringey lines from the other prequels and the artificial ones from the sequels. Some people also complain about the performance of Hayden Christansen, Anakin’s actor. Others believe that he perfectly played what he was meant to play; an awkward and mentally unstable young adult. It’s not a perfect movie, but it’s pros heavily outweigh the cons.

Revenge of the Sith is Star Wars at its very best. It’s got the fights, the fun characters, the interesting planets, and most importantly that bold uniqueness that is essential to Star Wars movies. The first ones were groundbreaking and ambitious films that completely changed the game.

Many of the new Disney ones have fallen short of this. They feel like lazy Marvel movies with lightsabers. On the other hand, Revenge of the Sith does what the original trilogy does but better. The characters, the settings, the dialogue, the practical and special effects, the music, the themes, and the cinematography all come together to create a movie that is not only great; but uniquely Star Wars.

Graphics by Nina Pollak

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By Jack Clauss