Are we pushing the Baron into retirement?
By Tattler Staff
In early October, B-CC unveiled an attractive new array of gear in an online store set up especially for staff. The selection was fresh. So fresh in fact, that one teacher noted that not a single item offered featured the Baron name or logo. When asked about the selection/omission, Administration was quick to reply,
“...there has been no official change of our mascot. Both the Pine Tree and the Baron have historical significance to B-CC.” The statement is unambiguous. Still who could blame the Baron for feeling a little ghosted of late? Questions remain. Is the Baron being nudged into retirement? And, if so, does the
Baron, after all his years of service, deserve a proper debate and vote? After all, as senior Matan Mergi recently reminded us on B-CCTV, it was a Tattler-initiated vote back in 1940 that brought us the Baron in the first place. The discussion continues on page 5
After a hard Fall, B-CC pushes for social justice By Carmen Lopez- Fernandez, Karenna Barmada, and Bennet Galper
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n October 18, 2021 during B-CC’s advisory period, students in Youth For Equity led discussions on the culture surrounding inclusion and race at B-CC. In one senior class the conversation became heated, and in response another senior posted a thread on instagram detailing their feelings about the conflict, and their experiences with racism at B-CC. The post soon led to others sharing their negative experiences. Clashes on social media brought into question the lack of inclusion for students of color in B-CCs community, administration’s failure to support minorities, and students racist behavior. On November 5th, 2 weeks after the original discussion and social media debacle, YFE, working with staff and the SGA, planned an assembly solely for the senior class. As the 2022 graduating class filled in, they were greeted by administration reviewing the community guidelines: “Lean in, and lean out”, and “impact over intent”.
The discussion originally set out by giving students scenarios highlighting microaggressions, and then allowing
them to discuss with a neighbor. Passing around a mic, some students volunteered to share their thoughts on each scenario. The guided slideshow ran smoothly, until one student decided to mention the hypocrisy they felt regarding the assembly as a whole. André Carpyé stood up and said, “I’m sure all of you remember the recent situation from all over Instagram about how people are being invalidated. The SGA was tagged multiple times but nothing has been said about it”. He followed up stating, “I just find it a bit hypocritical… a bit insulting honestly”. His address was immediately followed by an uproar of applause from the senior crowd. The positive response motivated other students to speak up about their concerns outside of the planned conversation. Administration was quick to respond to the claims. Ms. Adamson(who had worked with the Minority Scholars Program and YFE to plan the assembly
and make the conversation as helpful as possible) returned to the stage attempting to fix the situation, and was met with a few claps. Before the bell rang Ms. Adamson offered an apology, admitting that she regretted the impact of her earlier words and asking the senior class to take the conversation as an example of how to be accountable. Since the assembly there have been several meetings addressing the tensions between students, administration, and staff. The Tattler has received over a dozen viewpoints on the assembly and the issues leading up to assembly. While we can’t print all of them, in this newsletter are excerpts from some of the articles we have received. The full articles are available on TattlerExtra.com, and will be published in our upcoming feature magazine
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Dear Administration, I would like to start off by saying thank you for the support and kindness that I have been given by each individual administrator throughout my time at Bethesda Chevy Chase high school (BCC). Thank you for attending countless Youth For Equity town halls and facilitating anti-racism efforts. Thank you for the restorative justice training conducted with educators and for the countless hours you have put into listening to our voices. I would like to provide some insight into my experience as a student of color at B-CC. I searched for acceptance at team practices, IB classrooms, and predominantly white friend groups, with no luck. I never felt whole, as I was always hiding a piece of my identity. I used the name ‘Nikki’ and dyed my dark curls a brassy blonde. I thought that this was the price of ‘fitting in’. However, this all changed during the pandemic. Through Youth For Equity and Minority Scholars Program virtual meetings, our perceived identities were hidden as we sat in zoom boxes. All that mattered were our voices, our opinions, and our ideas. I found an inclusive community that embraced all, regardless of our differences. B-CC is a diverse school that pushes its students to follow their ambitions. However, we must keep a close eye on our school’s progress towards equity. The biases, racism, and discrimination at B-CC denies students of color the idealistic high school experience that they watch their white peers enjoy. While the administration has made strides towards a more fair school environment, there is always more work to be done. As I am sure you are well aware, and as we all saw at the November assembly, there is a dire need for immediate culture change. However, I know that immediate change is simply an impossibility. Instead, we must adopt a plan to ensure accountability while also simultaneously progressing towards a more accepting learning environment. Please reference the future solutions created. Throughout this process, we must move forward together. You have consistently offered students of color a seat at the table, please continue to do so, we will take it. Warm Regards, Neha Kohli
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Nine Proposals By Youth For Equity
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Publicization of a Restorative Justice ladder: Students who make insensitive remarks or actions should be held accountable. We believe that a general outline of the process of consequences should be publicized so students understand that action is being taken and there is accountability.
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Accountability for educators. When students of color have a negative experience with a teacher, we would like a direct path for reporting and dealing with this situation. Students should be aware of the system and process used to deal with the situation.
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Continued use of advisory or other time to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are centered in the school community. This work is not optional, it is an integral part of one’s education and must equip students for the real world.
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Anti-racism training for educators, preferably co-led by students as it was last year. This would provide staff with a student perspective on the importance of professional development and the impact that it could potentially have on the learning environment.
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Prioritizing the mental health and wellbeing of students of color in our school community. When incidents take place, there should be staff who checks in with students and is understanding of the impact that is had on students. An element of this could be the creation of workshops to help support youth activists of color in healing and self-care.
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Consistent support from administrative staff and educators. Anti-racism work should be a priority and should be supported by educators.
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Ensuring that leaders in our school community (ex. Club leads, Athletic team captains, etc.) are actively displaying anti-racism, and if they are not, training takes place to ensure problematic ideology does not enter and take hold in our communities.
Empower the SGA By Curran Holden The Youth for Equity proposal (above) is certainly ambitious. However, it does not go far enough. We need to expand the power of the SGA at B-CC. If the SGA was given the power to make reforms on its own, and keep those reforms on track, we’d have a better chance at achieving tangible results. This step would be unprecedented but not impossible. A fine line can be walked between county regulations
Diversifying higher level classes. Administrators and teachers should create and publish concrete goals to achieve levels of diversity in AP, IB, and honors classes that are closer to representative of the overall student population, along with a multistep and publicly-available plan for accomplishing these goals over a specified time frame. This plan could include training counselors, creating equity-focused guidelines for AP and IB coordinators, bringing more diverse arrays of students to present information on the IB program to sophomores, and offering additional support systems for students of color seeking to take higher level classes.
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Continue and expand upon open communication and transparency between administration and students. It is important that students feel supported and heard by the school’s administrative team.
and reform. The SGA has the authority to change its constitution. The amendment I’m proposing would create a Diversity Commission within the SGA 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 also be a student-friendly organ for suggesting new reforms. If we’re going to make change, we, as a student body, have to have this conversation. And we have to have it now.
Maria BORDON
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rowing up, my sister and I bathed together until a questionable age. Everytime, she would make sure both of us scrubbed with soap until our skin turned red, thinking it would make our complexion paler. We started shaving at the ages of six and seven because we felt ashamed of the thick and dark latino hair growing all over our bodies. We would come out of the bath with the flakiest skin. Recently, I made a promise to myself that I will never conform and shrink myself for other people’s comfort. That promise has set me free. At a school like B-CC, we need to be aware and acknowledge the forces and pressures on People of Color (POC) to assimilate and shrink themselves in order to get validated and belong. Each and everyone of us has to be better. • Being better requires wanting to combat hate. •Being better comes natural-
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ly and yet requires constant work. • Being better requires believing and acting. • Being better means owning accountability. • Being better means participating in hard discussions, listening, and amplifying the voices of others. • Being better means being consistent and loyal to the convictions above. • Being better is expressing gratitude for differences and recognizing that diversity is true privilege. • Being better is not easy or comfortable. • Being better is often painful. • Being better is never quick or linear. • Being better involves plenty of highs and lows. • Being better requires more than the minimum. • Being better requires not shutting down when someone tells you “you need to be better.”
Andre CARPY
Photo by Johanna Krejza
oing into my first year at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, I was expecting an inclusive and accepting environment. I had never heard of discrimination or oppression at our school. That is until I met the victims. It’s enraging to hear the stories they so painfully try to share, especially when they did everything recommended by the administration to no avail. Issues with racism, homophobia, transphobia, and sexual assault and harassment plague this school, yet we don’t hear about these things –– everything is business as usual, as always.
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Nahomen BERHE
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acism at B-CC is subtle. However, just because it’s subtle does not make it any less harmful. Some call these subtler acts “Microaggressions.” I call them outright racism.
During the assembly last month, we had students who were frustrated with administration, something BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) students have been feeling for a while now. However, I also witnessed smirks and laughter. I witnessed many who blended right into the crowd, performing activism. We can call out administration and demand change. Yes, administration can deal with the repercussions and implement restorative justice But, administration cannot enact policies that will magically make everyone act inclusively. That is our responsibility. Being anti-racist is entirely on us. Individuals must be held accountable, discussions must be held, and change must be demanded. So far, the weight of making this change has fallen on BIPOC students. And, I’m sick of it. We should not have to resolve an issue that we did not cause. Change has to come from our white
peers and staff or else the cycle will just continue. To my peers, I ask you, what have you done to be anti-racist? What change have you implemented within your community? Do your demands even match your own actions? Those are the questions you need to ask yourself, and answer them, honestly. --I want my peers to own up to their actions. I want so-called allies to hold their friends accountable. I want administrators and teachers to go beyond simply saying, “We support BLM,” and to continue enforcing restorative justice. Ultimately, however, what I want is not enough. The outcome of change is not possible without the support of a diverse range of individuals who are willing to do the work.
I’m talking about you.
Trust is a must Staff Editorial There is not enough trust between students and administration at B-CC to actively participate in conversations on racism, homophobia, and sexism. We barely know each other. This lack of connection has evolved into a lack of communication. Because of this, students turn to platforms like Instagram to open a dialogue where they know their voice will be heard. However, when discussions blow up on social media, it often leads to people becoming defensive and harms the chances of dialogue beyond the Internet. To move beyond this, we must develop a real relationship between students and administration. It’s hard to have a trust-
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ing relationship with someone you don’t know. This year’s seniors have been at B-CC longer than any member of the Administration Team. This constant changing of administration has left students feeling disconnected from those whose jobs are meant to make sure students are supported. Administrative efforts are made to foster community, yet they often feel disconnected, unsatisfactory, and reactionary. While there may be avenues in place for students to approach administration with problems, they are often not advertised. B-CC admin must work together with students to have more intimate spaces for students, admin, and teachers
alike to be held accountable and grow. Conversing with peers, and with others who might hold different opinions, in a safe and respecting environment makes one more likely to understand and change. It is necessary to have places where students and staff can be held accountable for mistakes and learn from them with genuine intentions. Creating accountability and resolving divisions in our community is a longterm project. Students and staff alike must continue to push for these necessary conversations, and real action.
Opinion
The Barons got to go!
It’s time to start thinking about change
By Sammy Schuchman A conversation overtaking the B-CC hallways is the possibility of eliminating the Baron mascot. Those who advocate for this argue that the Baron, a title for British nobility during the feudal era, is out of touch with what a true representation of a diverse B-CC looks like today. As those who were Barons in the past were rich, white men, many students have strongly conveyed that they are unable to identify with the Baron. The Baron has been the mascot of the school since 1940, when students voted to change the mascot from the “Highwaymen” to the Baron. Today, it appears a significant percentage of the school is appalled by any movement to move on from the tradition of the Battlin’ Baron. For those who don’t know, this year the selection of merchandise available for teachers was devoid of all references to the Baron, instead replaced by a pinetree, one of the prior logos of B-CC. Similarly, when SGA proposals for this year’s homecoming shirts contained ref-
erences to the Baron, they were immediately instructed to create new Baron-less designs. The administration’s effort to transform the school mascot is being undertaken without comprehensive student discussion and input. Such a process should be opposed by all students, regardless of how they feel about the Baron. The action to alter the mascot should be dictated by the school community as a collective, emphasizing the opinions of the students themselves. However, a move to this form of community-oriented democracy is not devoid of its own problems. The crux of the conflict is a parallel to the challenge that the country as a whole faces: How do you uphold democratic ideals when a minority group expresses a sentiment that is not shared by the majority? In B-CC’s case, many of the students who have called to change the mascot have been students of minority groups. As a result, it is likely that an outright vote intended to gauge whether or not to keep the Baron solely on the basis of majoritarian decision
making would not result in a new, more representative mascot. This does not mean that the administration should be making the decision for us. Just like in any democracy, change is most effectively accomplished as a result of the open deliberation of ideas and opinions. If the administration wants to help with this process, they can organize polling opportunities to survey the opinions of the students, coordinate small group discussions, and establish open forums to promote students sharing their thoughts and ideas. As we continue the mascot conversation, we must not ignore the drawbacks of raw majoritarianism. If we fail to recognize the dangers of unchecked popular rule, how can we protect the rights of those who belong to minority groups? If tradition is the only argument for keeping the Baron, why not start a new one with all students on board. Let’s use this conversation as an opportunity to unite the school behind a new name that we the students can agree on and get excited about together.
It’s past time to retire the Baron By Cora Hafer
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B-CC is a diverse school. In fact, our school’s population almost exactly matches the population distribution by race for the US census. So why are we represented by a wealthy white man? How does it make sense to have thousands of students, coming from a multitude of unique backgrounds and cultures, symbolized by a Baron? We should embrace our diversity, not cover it up. As a side note, a Baron is a member of the lowest order of the British nobility. Why is our mascot the lowest member of anything? Some people have argued that the Baron is part of B-CC’s culture and history, and we shouldn’t just erase it. This argument no longer stands; in the past few years numerous athletic teams have changed their offensive names. Just because something has been done a certain way forever doesn’t mean that it’s right. Part of the issue with the Baron is that human mascots are fundamentally problematic. The struggle is depicted in
an episode of Community, in which the characters attempt to design a human being mascot for their school, and eventually end up creating a ghostly-looking monster (which still most closely resembles a white man). So clearly any human mascot is out. However, I believe we can do better than “the pinetrees”.
Should we be the B-CC... 1. Highwaymen 2. Buccaneers 3. Buffalos 4. Bears 5. Badgers 6. Boars 7. Barracudas 8. Bruins 9. Chargers 10. Pinetrees
B-CC should have a mascot that symbolizes strength and unity, that all students can be proud of. Your turn to chime in. Not satisfied with the Baron? Use the QR code below to vote from these choices and make your voice heard. Comment on these articles and check out more content at bcctattler.org
Opinion
Our country on trial
Students react to the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse Over the course of the Rittenhouse proceedings, Judge Bruce Schroeder’s actions have exposed core issues within our judicial system. As the trial played out, a clear bias toward the defendant emerged. Countless times Judge Schroeder played into the hands of the defense. He refused to refer to the people murdered as “victims”, used a faulty loophole to remove a gun possession charge, and much more. For a homicide trial with as much at stake as this one, the lack of impartiality shown from our judicial system is appalling and just goes to reveal the lengths America will go to protect white men.
Gabe Gebrekristose on Fox News’ coverage of the trial
It seems as though ever since the 2016 election, Fox news has used mass media to manipulate the public. In the case of Kyle Rittenhouse, they de-
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scribe him not as a defendant, but as a sweet kid, and a hero. Earlier this year Fox News said “Anti-cop rhetoric has reached a fever pitch in the wake of the death of George Floyd” in an article titled “Believing ‘police brutality’ is systemic is ‘propaganda’”. The agenda of Fox News is not to serve as a sustainable media, but instead to uphold the conservative ideology.
Josh Garber on Biden’s reaction to the trial President Biden stated that while he was disappointed in the Rittenhouse verdict, “the jury has spoken.” This is a cop-out from meaningful action. As a person who holds incredible power, him claiming to be powerless has dangerous implications for America’s political system in the long run. The Democratic party’s inability to create change has allowed Republicans( a party that spends its days planning insurrections and attacking cartoon characters
on Twitter) to garner more credibility than them. It has been a downward spiral for Democrats, and Americans will continue to suffer if their incompetency continues.
Elyas Laubach on the rise of “vigilante justice” The fact that a 17 year old kid is able to go to a protest carrying a semi automatic rifle is astonishing. That he is able to murder two people and be celebrated by half the country is a telling condemnation of the current American culture. Citizens should not feel they can ignore the law in the name of justice. As we saw in the January 6th insurrection and continue to see in the actions of white supremacists, vigilante justice is destroying America both socially and politically. If our courts continue to leave these crimes unpunished, this dangerous trend will continue.
By Jack Clauss
Hannah Troubh on Judge Bruce Schroeder
Feature
1, we are the Barons, 2, a little bit louder...
By Jada Givens and Adelaide DeCosse As B-CC cheerleaders, we have dedicated our seasons to supporting other sports. We have worked as a unit to ensure that school spirit is maintained, and we have strived to be there for every team that has requested our presence at their games. Despite our dedication to cheering on other sports teams, our level of support has not always been returned. At times, we have felt diminished at B-CC. One particularly painful experience came recently when football players called us out for missing a game on a Saturday when we had to prepare for our biggest competition of the year. Later, when a B-CC sports Instagram account celebrated our competition,
someone left a comment, asking, “What about B-CC football playoffs?” The teams we continuously support seemingly forget we are a sport as well. The amount of practice, fine-tuning, and strength-training that goes into cheerleading is tremendous. Cheer is so much more than cheering on other teams. When we competed in the county-wide cheer competition, our coach, girls from Poms, and our family members were there in support. Yet, there were no representatives of Yearbook, The Tattler, or B-CCTV. Not one football player showed up. Not one member of staff member came. During our competition other teams cheered us on throughout our routine. But, the lack of B-CC representation in the audience still stung. Recognition is not what we cheer for, but knowing that the school will not see photos or videos of our efforts is discouraging. It is not clear whether our school’s unwillingness to return our support is due to a lack of appreciation for the
sport itself, a gender issue, or blind stereotypes that a cheerleader is just a “pretty face.” Regardless, this needs to be addressed. The happiness we feel from being able to perform again after the pandemic is sometimes overshadowed by the bittersweet envy of watching other teams get the full support of the school. We’ve seen the support other cheer teams get from their schools. We know it’s possible for B-CC to match their enthusiasm. As captains, we feel immense gratitude for the members of the Poms team who attended our competition and for the opposing teams who cheered for us for the duration of our routine. We also want to express our appreciation for our hard working teammates and our coach. The passion this team has shown for the sport is inspiring. This season will be one that we’ll remember for years to come. Good luck next year’s cheer team!! Image by Nina Pollak
An ode to the Bethesda restaurants we have lost As students walk out the second floor entrance at 11:13 to make the trek to their favorite Bethesda restaurants, the options don’t look the same as they did last year. Because of the pandemic, many restaurants and stores in Bethesda have closed down or gone out of business, much to the dismay of B-CC students. Beloved spots like Booeymonger, Starbucks (the Hyatt Regency location is simply not the same), and Pete’s Coffee are just a few of the restaurants that will not be welcoming students this fall. B-CC senior Safi Khanna used to have a routine of going to Booeymonger at least twice a week during her sophomore year. According to Khanna, the closure of her favorite lunch spot made her “really sad because it was one of the iconic restaurants at B-CC for my first years and I had a lot of great mem-
ories surrounding it.” When asked what she missed most about the specialty sandwich shop, she explained that she especially misses her times “eating there with friends and the general energy of the restaurant. I used to get grilled cheese and potato wedges and put the potatoes in the sandwich. It honestly wasn’t even good but it represents those past years at B-CC so it has a big impact on me.” The closing of the Starbucks on EastWest must also be noted. One could argue that it was one of the most (if not THE most) popular spots that students would walk to during the school day. Now, students must make the trip on East-West Highway to the Hyatt Regency Starbucks for their caffeine fix instead of a quick and convenient coffee run. With Booeymonger and Starbucks no longer occupying storefronts on
East-West Highway, they leave an opportunity for new restaurants or stores to take their place. Referencing the space no longer taken up by Booeymonger, Khanna notes “it would feel wrong for there to be anything there except Booey,” but said she would be open to pushing her grievances aside “if the food was good.” It’s clear the student body deeply misses these restaurants and they will forever hold a special place in their hearts. By Carmen Torrecilla
By Ruby Buczkowski
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Opinion
How to ensure our shared, continued survival By Hannah Pomeranzeva
“We hardly contributed to the problem,” said Longid – a member of the indigenous Igorot community. “But it is us developing nations who bear the brunt of the impacts.” The gut-wrenching decision to leave everything you own but the clothes on your back, or die, is something too many families in developing countries face daily. Whether its homes being swept out to sea in Liberia, thick forests now lying in burnt- crisp sticks where habitats once thrived, or immense droughts in fields, destroying crops, we can all agree that climate change is one of the greatest threats to humanity, but especially to the world’s underdeveloped nations. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to humanity, but especially to the world’s underdeveloped nations. More than a decade ago, at the COP 15 climate conference in Copenhagen, the world’s wealthy coun-
tries pledged to deliver $100 billion a year to developing economies to fight the impact of climate change. 12 years later, it still hasn’t been met in full. Many African nations are already spending much more money than they receive from the international community to mitigate a crisis they did little to cause. Some progress has been made – but a lot more needs to be done. Although there have been efforts to urge rich countries to at least double the amount of money they give by 2025, the language used was watered down to merely “an increase” in the last hours of the COP 26 summit(which took place from October 31-November 13 of this year). “$100 billion isn’t going to do it,” said Dr. Averchenkova, from the Grantham climate change research institute “we need to move trillions in both public and private money”. The world’s wealthier nations should also help under- developed
countries create sustainable energy grids. In Africa, 600 million people don’t have access to electricity, they need help creating that power from renewables rather than fossil fuels. Densely populated low-lying regions need help preparing for inevitable loss of habitats, and the flow of human migration that will occur because of it. We must directly focus on giving innovative biotechnology that will help farmers experiencing droughts, combat harsher, dryer climates. Countries on the front lines of climate change – where the global issue has the potential to reverse significant development gains – need the investment by wealthy nations to be in progressive projects. At stake, is our shared continued survival, it must be undertaken collectively and quickly, otherwise the impacts would be colossal, in both dollars and human suffering.
Sustainable fashion is our future By Cecelia Burk
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s the seasons change, much of our wardrobes will change with it. During this season, it is important to be resourceful and
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mindful of how we can help our planet in limiting waste. The sustainable fashion movement has gained a lot of traction during the last couple years, as global awareness about fast fashion and consumer consciousness has increased. It was estimated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) that the fashion industry contributes to 10 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, as well as to 85 percent of the textiles that end up in landfills each year. In order to prevent filling up the world landfills we must prioritize the use of second hand clothing. It can however be difficult to determine how to find what you’re looking for when shopping sec-
ond. If the uncertain nature of thrifting isn’t for you, second hand shopping can be at the click of a button on your devices. There are many platforms and websites that now offer ways to shop for lightly used items at affordable prices, such as Poshmark, Depop, and Thred- up. These apps allow people to expand their fashion horizons and take part in current trends with much lower costs and drastically smaller negative impacts on the environment. Promoting sustainability is crucial in limiting the fashion cycles’ detrimental effect on the environment. As you clean out your closet this season, consider the apps mentioned above to help support this movement. If we encourage responsible recycling and extend the life of clothing, we are a step closer to becoming a more environmentally conscious world.
Feature
Mahoney nominated for Outstanding Educators By Nathaniel Schrader
Sarah Mahoney, a beloved English teacher who has been part of the B-CC community for fourteen years, is the first teacher in B-CC history to be nominated for the Outstanding Educators Award from the University of Chicago.
The prestigious prize has been a tradition for 30 years at the University of Chicago, and is meant to congratulate teachers who “go beyond everyday teaching and leave an impression that is carried over a lifetime,” according to a description of the award published by the university. The awards committee asks newly admitted students to nominate an outstanding educator who has influenced their lives. Mahoney was nominated for the award by B-CC alumna Tate Flicker who graduated in the class of 2021, and is now attending the University of Chicago. On October 25th 2021, Mahoney received a commemorative award, certificate and letter from the student who nominated her. “I’m incredibly excited and honored to be nominated for this award,” Mahoney said. Ms. Mahoney is an exemplary teacher at B-CC, who has an infectious love of learning and cares about all of her students. Mahoney’s teaching style and demeanor have had a positive impact on her students. Sam Moffit, a junior who has her for AP Language and Composition, says “She certainly
is a role model of mine, she goes about every action with a smile on her face and never ridicules or gets upset with anyone”, he continued. Mahoney hasn’t always known she wanted to be a teacher. Before she got into education, Mahoney was on track to become a microbiology major in college. Unfortunately, that did not go as planned, ”I hated the job I had in a lab, I was pipetting stuff and I was really bad at pipetting,” she confesses. Luckily for us, she decided to take a creative writing class in college, “I loved it. It was a workshop based class and that really reignited my love for writing,” Mahoney said. Now, she has cemented herself as one of the most respected and beloved teachers in the school, teaching AP Lang, Journalism 1 and English 10. “Working with her for 3 years, I’ve always felt she is a really strong teacher and very student centered. She always puts students first and is very passionate about helping students when she can,” fellow English teacher, Mr. Derek O’Halloran said.
Bethesda Row Cinema is back in blockbuster fashion By Aiden Franze
Despite the recent reopening, COVID-19 still prevails, and therefore keeping business up can be a struggle. In response, the small theater chain had to make a change to their showings, expanding beyond their typical independent films. Dominic Griffin, Manager at the Bethesda Landmark Theater location, claimed the change ultimately was necessary.“We just reopened about a month ago, and although we will continue to play a number of independent films, we do need to now appeal to a broader audience to bring the customers back in,” said Griffin. When it comes to safety protocols, they are as strict as possible without tarnishing the movie theater experience. “Masks are mandated for the entire time customers enter the theater,
our concession stand is constantly disinfected, and we push social distancing. It is not perfect, we can’t control everything, but it seems to be working for now,” Griffin added. Landmark Theaters is here to stay and moviegoers everywhere can remain happy knowing the cinematic experience lives on.
By Nina Pollak
Countless things were lost in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic -- restaurants, businesses, schools, etc. However, with safety protocols being enforced and the vaccine being widely distributed and promoted, a light has appeared at the end of the tunnel. Schools have reopened, people have gone back to work, and life has resumed after quarantine(with exceptions). One thing that has made its great return as well is movie theaters. On August 12th, 2021, Bethesda’s very own Landmark Theaters reopened after a long 17 month hiatus. With the return, a number of questions arose. Would the theater be able to sustain its business? Is the theater safe in these uncertain times? And is it the same as it once was in its former glory?
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Committed Barons
Sports
By Lola Nordinger, Paul Fine, Michael Shapiro
Three B-CC goalies commit Dean Kelliher Nate Van Zoeren Dean Kelliher of B-CC has committed to Columbia University to continue both his academic and athletic career. Columbia competes in NCAA Division I athletics, as part of the Ivy League conference. Kelliher starting playing goalie at the age of 11 and has played for Bethesda Soccer Club for nine years. Currently, he plays at a high level as the Bethesda’s U19 academy teams goalie. While visiting, Kelliher said he “immediately fell in love.” The welcoming atmosphere paired with the intense and competitive soccer program appealed to Kelliher, and he is looking forward to joining the Lions next fall.
B-CC goalkeeper Nate Van Zoeren has committed to the U.S. Naval Academy. Navy competes in Division 1 sports, as part of the American Athletic Conference. Van Zoeren started playing soccer in elementary school, and has played for Washington Diplomats,Potomac Soccer Club, and Bethesda Soccer Club. Enticed by Navy’s high level soccer, academics, and opportunity to serve his country, Nate says he is “super excited by what the future holds.”
Will Brooks In mid-October,Will Brooks received an offer from and ultimately commited to Pitzer College in Claremont, California. Brooks has held the poition of goalie since a young age, and has stood out ever since. He has played at the Bethesda Soccer Club for the past seven years; as part of both the academy team and the blue team. His dedication paid off, as he received interest from many high-caliber schools, ultimately landing on Pitzer College, due to its incredible coaching staff, campus and academic rigor.
Kieran Fitzgerald: Cross Country and Track By Jonah Pachman
By Nina Pollak
Standout Cross Country and Track runner Kieran Fitzgerald recently announced his commitment to Denison University. Throughout his senior season, he has taken the county by storm, winning multiple divisional meets along the way. With personal bests of
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4:46 in the mile, and 16:58 in the 5K, there is no doubt that Fitzgerald will shine next year in Granville. He hopes to bring his talents to a very promising Denison squad, as they have their eyes on a national championship. Next year, he is set to join the talented team, with several other commits. Fitzgerald ended his Freshman year cross country season with a personal best of 20:00:00 in the 5k. He would go on to drop more than three minutes off of that time, which is a testament to how far he has come as a runner. As the indoor and outdoor track season approaches, Fitzgerald is certainly looking to dominate the competition, and continue his success from last year. During the pandemic and a limited junior year, college coaches were not able to get a sufficient glimpse at his
talent. However, Fitzgerald came back stronger than ever in his senior season, quickly impressing many division three coaches and recruiters, and ultimately landing his commitment to Denison University.
Barons To Watch
Sports
Amanda Ridore By Jude Wilkenfeld Though the Varsity Girls Soccer team finished off their season on October 27th with a disappointing 3-1 playoff loss to Richard Montgomery, it was undeniably a great season. One player in particular, freshman Amanda Ridore, stood out by scoring five goals and starting most games this season as a right midfielder. She exemplified great prowess and maturity throughout the season despite her young age. Ridore started playing soccer when she was two years old and joined her first team when she was seven. She immediately fell in love with the sport and finds joy in soccer “through [the sport’s] competitiveness.” Naturally, Amanda got involved with the B-CC girl’s soccer team and has already formed a special bond with the coaches, saying, “[Coach Kurtz] is just an amazing coach overall because he can make you physically work at where you need to be and pushes you so you can reach the best point.” Throughout the season the team had high and low points, with triumphant wins and challenging losses. Ridore reflected upon the takeaways from the season, emphasizing the importance of camaraderie and chemistry. The team’s chemistry was strong this year, and she plans to carry these values into the next
season. She expressed how, “chemistry is what builds us up and gets us to the winning goal.” In a team sport, knowing and trusting your teammates is the most important thing you can do. At home games when Amanda’s number is called and she runs out onto the field, some of the loudest cheers of the night can be heard from the student section. “Hearing your name in the stands is really exciting because it gives you an extra boost and you play a little harder than you normally do. You feel like you have more power on the ball.” Clearly, the B-CC community spirit plays a big role in athlete performance. The Varsity Girls Soccer team’s 2021-2022 season has come to an end, but there is still unfinished business. Off-season workouts will start and the players will grow faster, stronger, and smarter as they prepare for the upcoming season. As for Amanda, she looks forward to
starting her club season and training for a promising sophomore season. She, as well as all returning players, looks forward to tryouts next August to get another shot at playoffs. “We would love to put another year up [on the banner]!” Ridore said, referring to another State Championship title. As for the B-CC soccer community, we have much to look forward to in the coming years. Per usual keep the Girl’s Varsity team on your radar.
Varri Higgins
By Gus Dupin Sophomore Varri Higgins is racing her way to B-CC’s hall of fame. In all but one race, she has smoked the competition. She won the county championship by over thirty seconds, the regional championships by over a minute, and the state championship by twenty seconds. In each of those races she was predicted to lose, but she defied the odds to get the three-peat. Both of Varri’s parents were distance runners, but it’s not just her genetics that make her such a great athlete. Her success can be greatly attributed to her work ethic and passion for the sport. She gets up at 5AM to
train before school. Right after school, she starts running before practice has even started; once it does start she will often run with the boys team, and is usually one of the last people to leave. She takes warming-up, practicing, cooling-down, dieting, strengthening,
stretching, and resting all very seriously. Varri’s success is no accident or stroke of good luck; she puts in the work and gets the results. Varri possesses a true passion for running, and her hard work is just a symptom of that passion. For her, running is therapeutic. She says it’s a way for her to “let go of all the life stressors that hold [her] back from being the very best version of [herself].” Varri really cares about running, not just winning.
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Sports
Top 5 sports moments of the fall season By Paul Fine, Lola Nordlinger, Jonah Pachman, Andrew Lebowitz and Liza Cichy
Varri Higgins Wins XC State Championship
Last Saturday morning, sophomore running phenom Varri Higgins took home the Maryland 4A Cross Country state championship with a commanding victory of nineteen seconds. Higgins had previously won the county and region championships, and she has clearly established herself as one of the top tier runners in the state. By Johanna Krejza
First home football game- so much spirit!
It had felt like YEARS for fans since the last football game after online schooling. The audiences eagerness to cheer on the Barons produced a reaction audible from East-West highway to Lynbrook park as fans crowded the Guck and cheered till they went hoarse. Every big play for B-CC was accompanied by a roar from the student section, and getting the win was the icing on the cake.
B-CC’s playoff game at WJ was nothing short of miraculous. Tensions flared throughout the game, and the regular time ended with a tied score of a 2-2. WJ scored during overtime, but their goal was ruled illegal and the bummed B-CC fans, already preparing to leave the stadium, rose from the dead. B-CC then proceeded to score and win the game.
B-CC Field Hockey wins over Whitman
By Johanna Krejza
In the last 10 minutes of the Whitman v B-CC varsity field hockey game in the regular season, the score was tied 0-0. Whitman got a breakaway, and it looked as though they had scored. Their sideline cheered, but the ball never actually went in. Then, B-CC took it up the sidelines, and in the last 30 seconds of the game, got a penalty corner. The clock went out, but the referees motioned for the players to keep playing despite the time running out. The team decided to take their simplest corner, a straight shot to goal, and were successful in scoring.
Incredible hat-trick by Sydney Allen
Girl’s soccer senior night was a great end their 4 years as a part of the program for the 13 seniors on the team. The 2022 class had a great time on the field all together for one of the last times. What made it even sweeter was Sydney Allen, a junior, carrying on the strong legacy of the team with a hat trick. Allen is one of the many underclassmen that rose to the occasion this year, and helped carry the team to an impressive record of 8-2-2.
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Mr. Melendez
Boys soccer wins regional finals over Walter Johnson
Style
Non-stop Holiday Music? Not so fast. Cozy up to some comfort food for the ears By Gabe Gebrekristose Along with the usual traditions, there are many pieces of music that are best enjoyed during this time of the year. Here are some of the albums that will be the soundtracks to the rest of my autumn/early winter.
“Either/Or” Elliott Smith
I tend to gravitate towards indie-folk, for most of my “seasonal music”, and in the top-tier of indie-folk resides Elliott Smith. From start to finish, Either/Or is full of minimalist acoustic tunes and simple songwriting sung with a whisper, almost emulating the breeze that comes with autumn.
“Helplessness Blues” Fleet Foxes
You’d think the album cover of Helplessness Blues on its own shouts “autumn”, but there is much more gold beneath the surface than its beautifully collaged cover art. Fleet Foxes are a band from Washington state, a place famous for their scenery including but not limited to: three national parks, a coast touching the pacific ocean, and lush evergreen forests. Even beyond the season of fall, I think that Helplessness Blues is an album of interest for any nature lover.
Punisher Phoebe Bridgers
Maybe it’s the iconic skeleton onesie that Punisher has gained recognition for, or maybe it’s the cozy atmosphere, or even just the track titles “Halloween” and “Moon Song”, but there’s something about this album that pulls me back for another listen.
A Love Supreme John Coltrane
John Coltrane was one of the forefathers of spiritual jazz, a vibrant and earthly genre that maintains mellowness. His magnum opus A Love Supreme is no exception. A Love Supreme is incredibly powerful, with crashing cymbals, a passionate saxophone solo, and an ethereal atmosphere.
Wisdom Through Music Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders was a disciple of John Coltrane, he played in his quartet and incorporated much of his compositional style into his own work. Wisdom Through Music is a spiritual jazz masterpiece, and is passionate in a way that gives warmth, the type of warmth that compliments crisp and earthly colors.
Gender neutral fashion: credit where credit is due By Eileen Cobb and Sofia Appolonio Earlier this month, Emmy award winning actor and singer Billy Porter bashed Vogue magazine for selecting Harry Styles to be their first male coverstar. Styles has been praised for his genderbending fashion for years, while his queer bipoc peers in fashion have gone unnoticed. Porter was interviewed by the Sunday Times where he stated,“I changed the whole game... Personally. Changed. The. Whole. Game. And that is not ego, that is just fact. I was the first one doing it and now everybody is doing it. ... I created the conversation [about non-binary fashion] and yet Vogue still put Harry Styles, a straight white man, in a dress on their cover for the first time.” Porter states that he’s had to, “Fight [his] entire life,” for a moment like being on the cover of Vogue, just for Styles to take away the opportunity. While Porter’s critique of the magazine is extremely important, what allows Porter to define
himself as a game changer for non-binary fashion? In anger towards Harry and the publication, he falsely claims that he was the first to start the conversation about androgyenous dressing. Artists like Prince, Freddie Mercury, Grace Jones, RuPaul, Lil Richard, and many others were defying gender norms in fashion by the 60’s and
70’s, with much of their influence still felt in modern pop culture. Even if some were to argue that Porter revived gender neutral fashion on the red carpet, newer artists like Jaden Smith, Janelle Monet, and Jonathan Van Ness were wearing genderbending
looks before Porter was mainstream. Popular non-binary music critic PabloThe Don cites that neither Styles or Porter is a pioneer in non-binary fashion. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have been experimenting with their fashion for decades. Pablo instead believes that the media representaion of non-binary people is what has changed the publics perspective on gendered fashion. The need for diverse representation in media is crucial, particularly when so much of the fashion industry depends on the culture of black LGBTQ+ people. However, many people believe that it’s not correct for Porter to claim he started a conversation about non-binary fashion, as it disregards the legacy of those who paved the way decades ago. Both men have inspired millions to be expressive in fashion and defy gender norms, but neither has the merits to be considered a pioneer.
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Good Morning, B-CC!
By Olivia Romano & Lily Capizzi Every morning, during second period, two announcers announce everything we need to know about upcoming events, club meeting destinations, attendance notifications, and more. The B-CC morning announcements are hosted by a rotation of many different students from the senior class. One person whose voice brings a smile to everyone’s morning is Mark Vicente, a.k.a, “the senior who does random accents every Friday during Advisory.” Vicente started off talking about the inspiration for his many voices. He explained, “I noticed that, in past years, a lot of people (including myself) were falling asleep to the morning announcements.” Because of this, Vicente decided to do something about it. His mission was to make morning announcements more engaging and fun by adding different impersonations and accents. His accents to date include, among others, Dracula, a robot, and Harry from Home Alone. “I got inspired to do the Boston accent by a teacher I really liked,” said Vicente. “She had a great New England accent.” After Vicente and a few other announcers used different regional accents (the other announcers tried out
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a few Australian accents inspired by H2O, a kid show about mermaids) the entire team received an email from administration, informing them they had to stop. “Teachers felt some students felt ‘othered’ by the accents, ” Vicente explained. Today, announcers can now only do accents from the place where they are from or a group they are associated with. “I have some Italian blood, so I came up with the idea of doing Godfather accents,” Vicente said. Vicente also commented that he used to be an introvert during his freshman and sophomore years, but always wanted to push himself out of his comfort zone. “Signing up for this role and performing to the entire school really made me feel more comfortable and happier with who I am,” Vicente added. “It also helps to be with another announcer to overcome the fear; you’re with someone else so it’s less scary.” Vicente finally noted. Natalie Weng and Johanna Lane, also two participants in the morning announcements, stood out when they excluded the “Under God’’ line from the Pledge of Allegiance. There have been a number of controversies relating to the Pledge and whether the
words “Under God” should be included in the language if students are uncomfortable with it. “I’m an Atheist,” Weng mentioned. “I’m Jewish,” noted Lane, and ‘neither of us feel like it makes much sense to have “God” in the Pledge of Allegiance in the first place.’ Although some students realized the exclusion immediately, most students did not seem to notice. “I haven’t gotten any opposition to it because most people don’t even hear it,” Lane shared. When inquiring further about their reason for excluding God in the Pledge, the girls added, “it says in the Constitution that the United States is free from any sort of religion, and there are plenty of non-God affiliated religions.” Weng also commented, “the Pledge, it’s kinda creepy, you’re having everybody in the entire school, like thousands of kids, stand up, put their hand on their heart, and chant to a flag in the corner of every classroom; the entire thing is a little creepy. Including God in the Pledge is maybe the tip of the iceberg.” Weng offered one concluding note, “I think that the announcements should be a fun thing-- especially because we’re seniors. We’d love to just make our mark on the school, have a good time, and make people listen to us.”
Violent attacks on students....disturbing threats... incidents of hate... Check out the B-CC-Blake-Einstein joint magazine for a deep dive into what is ailing MCPS. Coming soon. 14
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Super Senior: Katriana Meiman By Carmen Torrecilla Katriana Meiman comes to school everyday resembling an eye-catching piece of art. As students flood the hallways in between periods she starkly stands out amidst the bustling crowds. Even a fleeting moment of passing her by is memorable. She can be seen with brightly colored ties, a crown of flowers, mesh gloves, knee-high neon socks, bright pink heels, a ribbon belt, a bright orange tie, and a mask covered in rhinestones. Her exuberant exterior emanates the positivity of her character within. Her style is her way of expressing herself and every day she chooses to wear a spontaneously new outfit to school that includes any fathomable combination of style and any array of colors. Katriana is a student at B-CC, and she coined the term “super senior” to describe herself because this is her fifth year at B-CC due to past medical problems preventing her from completing all the graduation requirements in four years. Many aspects of her life have influenced her style and perspectives. Katriana reflected, “I feel like my style really blossomed during quarantine but the main reason I started dressing like this was because I was really sick for about three and a half years and I couldn’t go anywhere, I couldn't do anything, I was just stuck in my bed 24/7. When I got treatment I was finally able to go back into the world and go back to school and I was like I’ve missed out on so much of life I can't waste a single second on trying to fit in or be like anyone else.” Katriana doesn’t confine herself to any particular style and she
Photo provided by Katriana Meiman describes it as “whatever [she] feels like putting on every day when [she] wakes up.” Anything from warm colors, flowers, black wigs and white face paint, to goth styles, etc is a possibility. Katriana has an ever-growing collection of accessories and clothing items that she modifies to enhance and add her flairs to. One particular item that always accompanies her outfit is a tie. “ I always wear a tie too, every single day. I started wearing ties in 6th grade and over time it has grown into this collection,” she said. In addition, she added that surrounding herself with pretty things has a positive impact on her health because she is very affected by visual stimuli so seeing her outfits in a mirror helps her in a way. When asked about inspiration, Katriana derives outfit inspiration from drag queens, anime, and the world around her. Her favorite outfit is a somewhat cosplay of her favorite anime character Gundham Tanaka, from the video game Danganronpa. She said, “ I dress up like him when I feel like it rather than because it's Halloween or anything. It's like cosplay except I don't just wear it to conventions so it's a little different.” Her boldness in dressing the way she
does embodies what it means to truly be comfortable in one's own self. Katriana dismisses any negativity recalling how her experiences in a wheelchair have taught her to disregard the “judging stares” and “mean comments” and to continue being herself. “I kind of realized I don’t have the energy to care about this. Those people don't understand that they can have fun and be themselves, and so I just don’t really care that much and if someone says something I just brush it off,” she said. She embraces each day as a new day of self-expression through her clothing, and she dresses the way she does with no other specific reason other than for the happiness it brings her. She takes on each day being her true self.
“I don’t plan to stop. Ever. This is who I am. I’m unapologetically me. Other people will judge me and will have a problem with it because it's “okay” when you are like five but when you grow up you are expected to dress normal. But I don't care. I want to be me for as long as I can be.”
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SHOUT-OUTS
Taylor Swift for re-recording all her past al-
bums, adding 9 vault tracks, creating a short film, and landing a 10-minute song at the top of the Billboard charts. National Women’s Soccer League’s Ashley Sanchez (winning goal in the Playoff Semifinal), Kelley O’Hara (winning goal in the Championship Final), Aubrey Bledsoe (Goalkeeper of the Year and MVP of the Championship Final) and the entire Washington Spirit team for bringing the trophy home to D.C. Britney Spears for successfully terminating her conservatorship. Harry Styles for finding time during his “Love On Tour” for the important things in life, like releasing $60 nail polish.
&
SHADE
A 29-year old Jake Gyllenhaal for gaslighting a 20 year-old Taylor Swift and a 32year old John Mayer for doing the same to a 19-year old Swift. Travis Scott for continuing to perform at the AstroWorld concert knowing that fans may be injured or killed. Go-bert or Bo-sar: The wanna-be-celebrity Congressional couple of Lauren Bob-
ert and Paul Gosar for serving up hate and flirting with censure.
By Olivia Romano
Holiday Horoscopes By: Sydney Theis
Hey Aries, maybe avoid that carving knife? Just a thought. Feel free to get into a fight with your racist uncle Taurus. He definitely deserves it. Being a two-faced Gemini will come in handy when you inevitably end up pretending to like a bad gift. Oh you’re crying while watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special? Again, Cancer? Have fun fueling that Leo superiority complex by showing up completely overdressed to every gathering. Finally, you can listen to Mistletoe by Justin Bieber without shame! This is your time Virgo!
Tattler Staff Newsletter Editors in Chief Carmen Lopez-Fernandez Karenna Barmada
Scorpio, joke gifts are NOT funny. Your 80 year-old grandma doesn’t want one of those gum sticks that shocks people. No one else does either. Sagittarius, just because someone viewed your “Gifts haul” story on Snapchat DOES NOT mean they actually cared. Capricorn, maybe try helping your family instead of sitting on the couch. It would be a nice change. Aquarius, it’s been weeks since Thanksgiving. Put the fork down and step away from the musty leftovers. Are you really that mad about the different foods on your plate touching? Pisces, please grow up. Great, it’s football season! Remember Libra, that you don’t have to post every win and loss on your social media. It’s not like they’re going to
Newsletter Editors Jonah Pachman Micah Schuchman Laura Julia Fleischmann Paul Fine
Art Editors Nina Pollak Sydney Theis Jack Clauss