Senior Magazine/May Edition

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THE END OF THE TEENS 1

Tattler Staff

The End of the Teens By the Tattler Editorial Staff

Editors in Chief Andrew Cha Sophia Saidi Emily Schrader Managing Editors Paloma Delgado Lee Schwartz Aidan Smyth Art Editors Daniel Navratil Julia Mencher News Editors Josh Garber Sasha Frank-Stempel Callie Wilks Feature Editors Isabel Danzis Grace Harrington Opinion Editors Malaika Bhayana Emma Volkers Sports Editors Kevin McAuliffe Tom Merritt Julia Taylor Style Editors Lauren Gips Tina Siyoum Backpage Editor Maggie Hodge Business Manager Tommy Turi Supervisor David Lopilato Cover Daniel Navratil 2

Here we are yet again. As exam schedule wraps up and seniors close out their final week of high school, we celebrate the completion of another year and everything that came with it. But this year isn’t the same as the last, nor it will be the same as next. With the graduation of the 2019 class comes the End of the Teens.

Navigating between the now-ancient 2000s and what feels likes the outlandishly far 2020s, we didn’t expect the 2010s to have such a distinct identity, but as we reflect, we realize all that we’ve been a part of both locally and culturally.

We realize that 2019 marks the first graduating class to start and end high school with Dr. Jones, and the first class to graduate with use of the F-Wing. Despite our lack of a field or a gym for many of our years, we recall the many sports highlights of our Barons: the Girls’ and Coed Volleyball Teams’ undefeated seasons, Adam Nakasaka’s Cross Country state championship, and the Boys’ Soccer State Championship in 2017, among many more.

We remember the days of Edline and the beginning of myMCPS Classroom; the destruction of Barnes and Noble and the beginning of seemingly endless Bethesda construction. We laugh at the endless hours wasted on slither.io, NitroType, and Shell Shockers and the many chromebook tricks/fake sites used to circumvent MCPS wifi restrictions.

We remember social movements and activism amidst the final year of Obama’s presidency and the rise of the Trump era. We remember the thousands of students who fell victim to gun violence and the thousands more who walked out in protest of their deaths. We mourn the students from across Montgomery County who lost their lives to suicide and mental illness, and we work to build a community where we accept and nurture rather than isolate and ignore.

We recognize the creativity and initiative of our years as we reflect on the ingenuity of the Museum of Contemporary American Teenager, the subsequent Museum of Cultural Toxicities, and the revitalization of B-CC TV under Ms. Pagan, Baron on the Street, and of course, Jay Zim. With inspiration, sadness, and nostalgia we recall the Age of the Teens and how it has defined both our lifestyles and experiences. We realize that although we leave behind the 2010s and the teen years to create a better 2020s, we must reflect on and cherish what we had, what we created—because there will never be anything else like it.

What Class Kicked My Butt

By Josh Garber

The Responsibility of Bethesdans

By Aidan Smyth

Class 0f 2019 in Pop Culture

By Nia Fraser, Olivia Andreassi, and Vanessa Pontachak

Senior Memories and Confessions

By Anonymous

Class of 2019’s Plans for Next Year

By the Tattler staff

Ever wondered what the hardest class at BCC is?

The Tattler collected data from students about their most challenging — and most fun — classes.

Tattler editor Aidan Smyth offers an analysis of the “Bethesda Liberal”, and how we employ our own privilege in politics.

From Kinderarten to 12th grade, see how our formative years have been defined by pop culture.

Our students from the class of 2019 have a lot to say. Read their fondest memories, and deepest confessions from the past four years

Check out where our seniors are headed off to next year!

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4 6 7 9 14

A Farewell from the Editors

By the Tattler Editorial Staff

You’ve been reading the Tattler all year, but who really makes it happen? Get to know the senior editors as they move on to bigger and better things.

Neutral Ground: The MCPS Boundary Study

By Ethan Tiao

MCPS makes an effort to diversify their more affluent schools, but parents voice their disapproval. See what the future may hold for MCPS boundary lines and how the study is being received.

Breaking The Silence

By Andrew Cha

After five years, the MSP Diversity Showcase has become a staple at B-CC. Read into the Minority Scholars Program and take a look at some of the spoken words performed at the show.

Arguably the Best Ever

By Malaika Bhayana and Emma Volkers

Take a look into the arguers that led the Debate Team to a groundbreaking victory over Richard Montgomery to win the entire league.

Venezuela and Nicaragua: Why We Should Still Care

By Paloma Delgado

Read how a B-CC student addresses the US actions, or lack thereof, in Venezuela, and why it is important change is made.

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We’ve Lost our Passion to Protest Climate Change

By Gabriela Jeliazkov

DMV students are losing their push to protest climate change. Read why we might be victims of our own apathy, and how we address this.

Can Black Artists be Experimental?

By Monique Boateng and Semhal Negussie

After the viral song “Old Town Road” was removed from the Billboard Country Music list, The Tattler investigates how black artists are being standardized into one genre of music.

King Wilkins Finishes His Four-Year Re19n

By Lee Schwartz

If one thing defines this years’ seniors, it’s our homecoming king John Wilkins. Get close and personal with the king we’ve elected four years in a row.

Double Vision

By Callie Wilks, Lee Schwarts, and Bennett Schwartz

Just how many twins are there in the Class of 2019? Find out who has been related this whole time, and what it’s like to be a twin at B-CC.

The Rattler: May Edition

By Will Tenpas

The final installment of The Rattler column. See what Will Tenpas has to say about the MCPS Portal, construction, and Hydroflasks.

In Sports

Spring Sports Season Recaps Recruitment Column

By our sports writers

By Kevin McAuliffe

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A Farewell from the Editors

Emily Schrader

Sophia Saidi

Andrew Cha

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

I almost quit after my first week on the Tattler, a sophomore lost amidst a 60-person staff.

Lopilato expects a lot from this class. At first, I was not confident in my ability to contribute to our community dialogue.

But, three years, dozens of bylines and countless edits later, I regret not one single moment. And I have a lot of people to thank for that.

Sophia Saidi was my original journalism partner. We wound up together the first day of class. Months later we laughed that we made the best damn features team the Tattler had ever seen.

Matt Cohen, who joked about “slamming the door on his way out” as he published an article that sparked real change within this school.

Camille Devincenti, my first editor, who taught us to brainstorm and write engaging stories. Always with style.

Lopilato, of course. Our managing staff jokes that Lop is magical. He has an uncanny knack for predicting the news cycle, and an ability to draw engagement from practically anyone. His passion comes across throughout his work — constructing a pop-up museum dedicated to the modern teenager, making rigorous line-edits on each edition, fearlessly advocating for students and challenging authority.

That passion for journalism is essential.

Both here and nationwide, the call for information, for storytelling, for truth, has never been more urgent. And student journalists have a vital role to play.

It has been an honor and thrill to serve as an editor in chief of this newspaper. Thank you for your readership.

It’s hard to capture how much the Tattler means to me in a few short sentences. But I think the best way to begin is by talking about PE class. And no, not sweaty, freshman year PE. I mean literal physical education, complete with textbooks, labwork, and tests.

It’s been a running joke that I won’t graduate high school. Throughout high school, my class schedule has been a running battle between the Tattler and my PE requirement.

And, every year, the Tattler always wins. My refusal to sacrifice student journalism brought me to a laughably complicated solution. Every Wednesday night I would make the drive out to Montgomery College, Rockville campus, where I would spend the next two and a half hours learning about body composition, muscle identification, and flexibility.

And despite how much I’ve been laughed at or made fun of for my PE class, I can say completely and wholeheartedly that I have no regrets, and would quite literally do anything for the Tattler. The aggressively late nights, the hours spent transcribing interviews, and the countless arguments over layout. Even the most stressful moments were worth the excitement of distribution day, the satisfaction of seeing shiny new magazines on desks, in backpacks, and in the hands of students.

The B-CC Tattler is, without a doubt, the best thing I have done with my time in high school, and I owe the utmost gratitude to everything the program, and of course Mr. Lopilato, has done for me.

Originally, I didn’t want to be a part of the Tattler. When I was a freshman in the fall of 2015, the year my older brother, a former editor-in-chief of the Tattler, graduated, I wanted only to separate myself from him. When friends and teachers would ask me when I was going to join or why I wasn’t taking the journalism class, I would smile nervously and shrug my shoulders as I felt my brother’s shadow cast over me.

But when curiosity led me to meet with Mr. Lopilato and Ms. Logan, I remember Mr. Lopilato say: “If legacy means anything, this kid’s gonna do big things. But I think...he can do it himself.” From that day, I’ve carried this sentiment with me. From my time on the Tattler, I have grown to find my own voice and learned to empower the voices of others. When I saw students crying after Trump’s election, or when I saw Asian Americans poorly represented at the forefront of a college admissions scandal, the Tattler gave me a platform to speak, knowing that I would be heard.

For three years, I have seen myself grow with the paper: learning the nuances of student journalism, navigating a page count, and developing a passion to search for the story. But above all, the Tattler taught me to move out of that shadow I was afraid it would put me in. I’m forever grateful for this and I hope the Tattler will inspire future students in the way that it has for me.

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Lee Schwartz Managing Editor

Paloma Delgado Managing Editor

Aidan Smyth Managing Editor

Daniel Navratil Art Editor

It was the best of times, and the worst of times. Worst being our many late nights at school to get this paper out. It’s been a long four years of high school, but at least I can say three of those years were doing something I loved. When I joined Tattler sophomore year, I considered quitting because I was so scared of Andrew Cha (opinion editor at the time).

Now, we’re best friends and work side by side. It’s hard to not be close to the six other people you have to spend hours in the editor’s room with.

The Tattler (and Mr. Lopilato) has pushed me to do truly amazing things, and I am who I am because of that. So, I say farewell and thank you to The Tattler for giving me my friends, my memories, and my confidence that I can make change in the world and do what I love at the same time.

I remember my freshman year, receiving my first copy of the Tattler and knowing from that moment on that I wanted to be a part of the making of something that amazing.

Working with such creative, intellectual and hardworking people transformed completely how I envisioned student organized initiatives like the Tattler. The Tattler has allowed me to meet some of my closest friends and to feel supported by others, in particular, Mr. Lopilato. Without Mr. Lopilato, all of the events, the fundraisers, the museums and the Tattler, would not even be remotely possible. He is constantly encouraging us, in his own Lopilato way, and he makes the impossible seem tangible. The sheer amount of dedication that goes into every edition is something to be appreciated and I know that the future Tattler team will continue to put that same quality into the magazine.

My time on the Tattler has led to some of the most memorable moments of my high school career. Mr. Lopilato and the Tattler have given me unique opportunities to pursue my interests through journalism. I loved writing stories and organizing conferences because of the discussions they sparked. The dialogue at B-CC about important topics is incredible and I am proud to have been a contributor to the conversation. I hope in the coming years that B-CC students will continue to engage in pertinent discussions about the issues we as a society face and reach conclusions to better our world. I would like to thank the B-CC community for being supportive of the Tattler and to thank the Tattler, Mr. Lopilato, and my fellow editors for pushing me to dive deeper into my ideas.

Being on the Tattler has been the most stressful and the most rewarding part of my high school experience. When I joined the class this year, I thought I would be making a few cartoons once a month and that would be it. But when I began to experiment doing layout for the Back to School Edition, I fell in love, and working on the Tattler quickly became a deep passion of mine. Prior to my senior year, I worked towards ill-defined goals for the far-off future. With the Tattler, my work became tangible, the reward immediate. Grinding out the edition, sending it to the printer, and opening the boxes of glossy mags every month was exhilarating every time. I’m so proud of the Tattler team and I hope you all enjoyed this year’s editions. Shout out Mr. Lopilato for running this whole thing and shout out you guys for reading it.

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FEATURE

COLLAGE BY DANIEL NAVRATIL

BY ETHAN TIAO THE MCPS BOUNDARY STUDY has been a povalues decreasing because of the inevitable decline in test scores due to an increase in larizing topic of discussion in schools and communities minority population is inherently racist.” across the county. The redistricting effort, spearheaded by Regarding the concerns surrounding bussing, students have argued that it former Student Member of the Board Ananya Tadikonda, prowouldn’t be an issue due to the fact that the only schools being taken into conposes to take a comprehensive dive into the school district lines sideration are the ones that are already in close proximity to one another (ex. that make up our county in order to develop a better understandEinstein & WJ). Hari Iyer, a junior at Einstein, wrote on Instagram that even ing of how to improve diversity in our schools and limit the chalif bussing was a real problem, “low-income people of color not being given lenges stemming from socioeconomic disparities. equitable educational opportunities and white students having longer bus Her message has been echoed and re-affirmed by a vast number rides are not problems equally destructive in their impact.” It is true that of students from different regions of Montgomery County who have the boundary study could result in inconveniences for certain families, but voiced their opinions at public forums regarding the boundary study. these students argue that the long term benefits for inclusivity and diversiThe foremost goal of the students advocating for the boundary study ty outweigh any of the possible detriments. is to increase the diversity of some of the more affluent schools across One of the common misconceptions in this debate is that schools in the county and ensure that all MCPS students have equal access to opwealthier areas receive more funding from the county compared to “poorportunities and education. These students want to start combatting the er” schools. While they often have more private funding as a result of de facto segregation and lack of opportunity that minority and lower sowealthier PTA networks, according to Mr. Baczkowski, B-CC’s media cioeconomic class students often experience in Montgomery County as a specialist, the schools in lower socioeconomic class areas in truth reresult of the boundary lines that exclude poorer areas of the county from ceive more funding for faculty; these schools have a lower student to predominantly wealthy schools like Walt Whitman, Winston Churchill, teacher ratio compared to schools in higher socioeconomic class areas Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and others. like Bethesda and Chevy Chase. The discrepancies in private funding This student-led move towards reformation has been met with sigbecome apparent when looking at the other aspects of the schools. The nificant backlash from certain parents around the county -- primarily, conditions of the classrooms, the exterior of the school, the amount parents whose children attend the more affluent and wealthy schools. of funding for sports teams, and the ability to expand or renovate the During a public forum held at Walter Johnson HS, parents from North Poschool are all significantly lower in schools like Einstein, Kennedy, and tomac, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase claimed that “white families are being Springbrook when compared to the wealthier schools like Whitman, punished” and that “[they] worked hard so [their] kids could go to a good WJ, and B-CC. school. It’s not [our] fault that yours did not.” Some of the other concerns Considering the progressive, inclusive, and diverse nature of Montexpressed by those who oppose what the boundary study may lead to include gomery County, the issue of a socioeconomic opportunity gap due to potential drops in property value for certain areas, inconvenient bussing sitboundary lines was bound to emerge. The lines, drawn back in the uations for students, and possible overcrowding of schools. They claim that it Jim Crow era, have not been touched since that oppressive era and isn’t their burden to account for the apparent achievement gap as well as the reflect some of the inequalities that have plagued our country’s worse conditions that lower socioeconomic class schools experience. history. The decision now lies in the hands of the MoCo Board of In response to these testimonials from parents, a number of B-CC students Education who have the final say over the status of our current — along with other students across the county — have argued that drops in boundary lines and to what extent they adhere to the study. Who property value shouldn’t deter parents from supporting the boundary study. knows what our lines will look like in the future? How will they Anusha Chinthalapale from Churchill HS claimed that the idea of “property affect families at B-CC and across the county?

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FEATURE

Break the Silence Break the Silence. It’s the motto and mission of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Minority Scholars Program, a diverse organization dedicated to empowering students of color both academically and artistically. For over five years, the Minority Scholars Program at B-CC has helped students of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds learn to advocate for themselves and find opportunities through internships, scholarships, and tutoring services. Led by Seniors Jeremiah Samuel, Josh Townes, Jakaylah Jones and many others, the B-CC MSP holds general meetings roughly twice a month throughout the school year to provide students with a community to develop “leadership skills and discuss things that are happening with minorities in the news,” according to MSP organizer and Diversity Parent Council member Corinne Goldsmith.

While MSP general meetings are regularly packed with up to 100 kids in attendance, the Minority Scholars’ Program receives most of its school-wide exposure at the annual Diversity Showcase.

Organized entirely by the MSP, the Diversity Showcase is a yearly arts and talents show where students display art exhibits and perform music, spoken word, and choreographed dance routines.

Senior and MSP leader Jeremiah Samuel spoke of the heavy preparation that went into planning the showcase, which took place on May 3rd. “We had meetings almost every single day for almost two weeks before spring break, just to meet and plan diversity night, which included putting together the program, putting together the schedule, and making sure everything was in order,” Jeremiah commented.

Following in the last five years, the MSP Diversity Showcase was a major success, with students, parents, and teachers overwhelmed with the talent and messages of the performances. Camilo Montoya, a junior who performed a spoken word about Latin American identity, noted the impact his performance on both himself and others. “It was almost an out of body experience,” Camilo recalled. “When I went backstage people were crying and tt made me appreciate everything that I was doing.”

Toby Ayodeji, a senior who performed an original song at the showcase, specifically appreciated the advice and help he received from not just other performers but the MSP organizers as a whole. While Toby “was really nervous at first,” he remembered Jakaylah Jones and Joel Beltran, who also performed, both “came up to me and sounded supportive.”

But Toby’s experiences aren’t anything uncommon in the B-CC Minority Scholars Program. As seen by the showcase and the MSP annual retreat where B-CC students meet with over 800 students from across the county, the MSP is more than just a student organization.

While Jeremiah realized that “it’s about all the minorities coming together to make sure that we have the same opportunity platform,” he maintained that his goal this year has been “building a community for every single individual who comes into MSP.” But with the end of the year comes the end of so many seniors’ tenure with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Minority Scholars Program. And while the community at MSP will be different next year, Ms. Goldsmith recognized the nature and spirit of MSP: “they’re like brothers and sisters and they have each others’ backs.”

BY CAMILO MONTOYA Me cuesta respirar en un mundo tan injusto, con gente tan indiferente.

Un mundo donde muchos tienen que morir por un derecho que otros reciben al nacer. Un mundo where muchos have to die for others to live. A world donde the rich get richer and the poor get death. A world where looking for a better life is considered a crime ONLY if you are brown. A world split apart by borders made by our oppressors to keep us, NOSOTROS, from helping each other.

And it breaks my corazón to see this because why should someone have to risk dying in the quest to find a better life?

And that is why I get up everyday, That is why I work so hard, Because it ain’t about me, it’s about you, It’s about them, it’s about all of us.

It’s about helping the ones coming after us and honoring those who came before us.

Because that is what it means to be Latino.

To be Latino, means to love, to fight, to suffer and to keep moving forward.

Porque pase lo que pase, seguimos pa’ lante.”

An excerpt from “Silver Spring”

BY KWAME AMANKWAH-AYEH There are people in Silver Spring of many colors…

But some students and parents look at us as “other” It may not be directly your fault that we have gaps but it’s up to all of us to make sure ALL kids have what they need.

We’re comfortable being uncomfortable.

We can’t just be scared or shy away from a place that we may not have ever been to because so and so said this and that or it doesn’t fit the expectations we have.

We have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk because when you give a kid a sense of belonging, they will soar.

PHOTO BY JAN JASINSKI

BY ANDREW CHA

An excerpt from “Seguimos pa’ lante”

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All Other Classes Honors and on-level AP and IB (non-diploma)

IB Environmental Science

NEWS

IB English

What Class Kicked My Butt Mostly AP Classes

AP Environmental Science

Full IB Diploma

BY CHARLIE KANNAPELL, JOSH GARBER, AND CALLIE WILKS

B-CC. Whether you’re an IB or AP student, the considerable reading requirements and abundant class assignments are certain to demand IB Physics For many years, B-CC students have specusignificant time and effort, and might even follated what is the most challenging class at B-CC. AP Physics low you home until your 12:00 AM due date that Students will enter heated debates, making the night.

Honors Physics case for what they believe is the most challeng48.5% All Other Classes ing class. No one has ever determined the actual All Other Classes IB History 20.1% AP World History answer to this question UNTIL the Tattler news AP U.S. History All Other Classes staff took it upon themselves to develop a survey that would collect responses from the class AP Chemistry IB Physics of 2019 on the classes they’ve taken throughout their time at B-CC. This survey is comprisedAPofPhysics IB History questions inquiring what single class students History Honors Physics 18.7%APIBWorld History thought qualified for five different categories: the most challenging class, the most time-consuming IB History class, the most enjoyable class, the class that has 7.5% AP Chemistry best-prepared students for college, and the class 5.2% AP U.S. History that has best-prepared students for careers they may pursue later in life.

The Tattler news staff recognized that a surSeveral classes were selected as the “most vey requesting information about classes at B-CC enjoyable”, but AP Psychology notably received would be tricky because of the path disparities the most votes. One student that voted AP Psyamong all students; some students are in the IB chology as their most enjoyable also named it program and some people take only AP classes. one of their most challenging courses, saying that Consequently, a preliminary question requesting All it Other granted Classes them “a taste of what college classes the path the student responding to the survey would be like.”

History was taking was created. The paths were divided AP U.S.While the sciences were also very popular into full IB Diploma, mostly AP classes, AP and among the seniors, many named IB English 1 as AP Chemistry IB classes (non-IB diploma), and only Honors their most enjoyable class. Interestingly enough, and On-level classes. this specific class was the only English course IB History that made an appearance in the top ranks for the AP World History category. This may be due to the engaging cur29.1% Full IB Diploma riculum of the course’s first semester, which exAll Other Classes 11.2% Honors and on-level plores the literature of pop culture and mass meAP U.S. History dia, and essentially permits students to imitate their favorite “influencers”, but some students AP Chemistry think the class’ popularity may be due to another reason, as one student commented: “Smithson is IB History Honors and on-level my queen.”

oH PA M luF

All Other Classes

andIBIB(non(non-diploma) 26.1% APAP and diploma) MostlyAP AP Classes Classes 33.6% Mostly Honors and on-level

Full IB Diploma

AP and IB (non-diploma)

Though not voted number one in the cateMostly AP Classes gory, Physics classes were strongly represented as the most challenging classes of B-CC. These Full IB Diploma responses suggest that the workload of a course may not determine the difficulty of the class; rather, the challenge of Physics exists in the complexities of the subjects. This might create a potential issue for the class of 2021, all of whom are now required to take a full year of the subject.

llA P BI PA noH

13.4%AllIBOther History Classes

H BI IB Physics

8.2% Honors Physics GRAPHICS BY DANIEL NAVRATIL

AP Physics

All Other Classes IB Physics AP Physics Honors Physics

7.5% Honors AP Physics Physics IB History

6.0% IB Physics 64.9% All Other Classes

IB History

Unsurprisingly, history courses dominated the charts for most time-consuming class at

AP World History

11.2% AP Psychology All Other Classes

IB Environmental Science

9.0% AP Environmental Science IB English 6.0% IB English

AP Environmental Science

5.2% AP IB Psychology Environmental Science 68.6% All Other Classes

One main take away from this question is that three very distinct subjects received the most votes. Yet, it does seem natural that the three main subjects - History, English, and Math which children are taught at a young age would be the courses that prepare students most for college. Each college, no matter which you attend or what courses you take, demands a lot of writing.

IB History and the two AP English classes objectively contain the most essay-writing in all classAll Other Classes es. And Calculus is a class that many students will be compelled to take in college. Notwithstanding, AP BC Calculus one student mentioned that not a single class will AP Language truly prepare someone for what they want to do in college “because your interests are constantAP Literature ly shifted,” the student wrote. “But B-CC’s very IB History

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AP Psychology

competitive environment compelled me to work harder and pressured me to perform well in my classes.”

52.3% All Other Classes All Other Classes

20.1% IB History

AP BC Calculus AP Language Literature 18.7%APAP Literature IB History All Other Classes

10.4% AP Language AP BC Calculus

6.0% AP BC Calculus AP Language

This category also received a diverse array of AP Literature responses, given that the question had a signifiIB History of each cant reliance on the personal preference student. Nevertheless, the top choice among senior students was AP Lang. The reason behind this choice may be due to the versatility of the education received from this class. Whether a student chooses to become a biologist or a state senator, communication will always play a large role in the success of their work. The All absence Other Classes of a standout class in this category can also be as a reNone sult of the ambiguity of the question.

In the comments section of the survey, there were a handful AP Computer Science of students who asked questions similar to “How would I know what most prepared me for my fuAP Physics ture career when I haven't seen what I do yet?”

AP Biology AllLanguage Other Classes 48.5% AP IB Biology None 20.1% IBAP Biology Language All Other Classes

AP Computer Science

18.7% AP Biology

IB Environmental Science AP Physics

7.5% AP Physics

IB English

Biology Science 5.2% APAP Computer

AP Environmental Science IB Biology 5.2% None AP Psychology 5.2%

All Other Classes AP Language

A few seniors supplied advice and shared insight into their responses. These responses varied significantly with some students negatively describing their experience at B-CC. “All these classes and I still don't know how to pay my taxes, how insurance works, or how to maintain a car. I'm an adult that largely doesn't know how to function in society.” On the other hand, a plurality of the senior students wrote positive comments reflecting on the valuable skills they learned through their experience with the rigor of AP and IB courses, one senior wrote “Ask any IB student if they like IB orAllwish they hadn’t taken Other Classes it; whether the answer is yes or no, they hesitate.”

AP BC Calculus feel forced to Another senior added, “Don’t chose IB or AP; mix them.

Find what works for AP Language you and do it. Love what you learn.”

Many seniors fondly APremember classes outLiterature side the IB/AP universe as well.

IB History One student wrote, “Most fun class of all time was Honors English 10. No f**king cap.”

OPINION

Arguably the Greatest Ever

For the first time in B-CC history, the Debate team pulled off a stunning defeat of RM with Sophie Bresnicky and Nicole Vanderzon winning the entire league and five other B-CC teams making it to the Octofinals. In honor of the team’s successes this year, we wanted to test each of the individual team’s skills on a range of issues.

BY MALAIKA BHAYANA AND EMMA VOLKERS

ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS NECESSARY?

RACHEL and GABBY: Self Diagnosing isn’t at all effective, and WebMD isn’t a doctor. It only leads to stress, misdiagnosis and hypochondria. Self diagnosing is a personal choice, but it isn’t the right one.

SOPHIE and NICOLE: Charter schools are a futile solution to the problems plaguing American education because they divert desperately needed funds from public schools and produce negligible results.

GRAHAM and JONAH: Charter schools are a strong alternative to public education because, instead of receiving funds regardless of their performance like a public school, they must perform well to stay afloat. This ensures they provide quality education to their students.

ARJUN and ROY: Mental illness is a challenge that vexes even the most practiced experts.

Due to its personal nature, the patient themselves is far more in touch with what they need than anyone else.

RACHEL and GABBY REBUTTAL: Yes, mental illness is an immense challenge.

Because of this, we should leave diagnosing up to the experts. With self diagnosing, it is highly probable that you will not receive the treatment you need.

Even more so, self diagnosing can cause an over diagnose, so in the case of a mental health emergency, it’s safer to seek a crisis line than self diagnose ARJUN and ROY REBUTTAL: With personal problems like mental health, no one understands what a person goes through as well as the person.

While the value of a doctor can’t be for-

gotten, the value of self analysis and diagnosis should not be underestimated either.

SOPHIE and NICOLE REBUTTAL: According to a 2013 Stanford study, charter school students actually lagged behind their public school counterparts in regards to state assessments. This disparity can be attributed to the lack of transparency and accountability present among charter schools.

GRAHAM and JONAH REBUTTAL: While charter schools do divert money

from public schools, it’s clear that many public school systems, despite receiving healthy doses of taxpayer money, consistently perform poorly. It’s time for a shakeup in how those funds are distributed: this is a benefit, not a drawback.

ARMS OR LEGS? JULIANA and LILINAZ: Of all limbs to consider superior, arms are obviously the winners. Without arms, humans could not function and take care of themselves. Daily tasks become impossible without arms. How can you eat without arms? C’mon.

MIRIAM and KARINA: 1. in the case of self defense, kicks are stronger than punches 2. in the case of fashion pants are much more needed and sleeveless tops look cute too 3. my gorgeous calves must survive JULIANA and LILINAZ REBUTTAL: 1. Although kicks might be of more force it is a simple fact that without arms one cannot maintain the balance required to lift their legs and kick out.

A mere low kick is not in anyway stronger. Therefore arms once more prove to be more vital.

2. Fashion? I do not think any individual would choose to have fashionable pants and lose the ability to function on their own, which they cannot without arms.

Those without legs still wear pants seeing as they still have a lower body. Therefore this argument is not relevant.

MIRIAM and KARINA REBUTTAL: You can eat with feet, which are mobilized by legs. We can do it just like our ancestors/homosapiens did in the past. It is arrogant to believe that we only can use hands and arms, while blatantly ignoring that we fully functional legs and feet. We have them for a reason.

TWO HOUR DELAY OR EARLY RELEASE? ETHAN and JOSH: The rush of energy that fills you from head to toe after realizing that your school day is being cut short is one that is unmatched. Your entire day moves quicker and it’s only a matter of time before the final bell rings at 11:30 am, releasing you for lunch— Freedom. You now have an extra three hours to go eat, hang out with friends, and partake in activities that bring you joy. Can we really say the same for a two hour delay?

CHANNING and OWEN: More sleep, shorter classes, a two hour delay is clearly the best. I’ve heard arguments for an early release, but they just need to cease.

ETHAN and JOSH REBUTTAL: The only benefit of a two hour delay is more sleep. In an early release, you have more time to hang out with friends, spend leisurely time relaxing and catching up on sleep, and going out to eat at your favorite restaurants. On balance, the benefits of an early release clearly outweigh those of a two hour delay.

CHANNING and OWEN REBUTTAL: Teens lack sleep. Two hour delays allow teens to catch up on those hours.

Sleep is important for brain function and growth.

Two hour delays are also much more reliable than early release since we rarely have early release.

Early release sounds nice in theory but sleep and reliability is crucial.

WHO IS MORE EVIL: ZUCKERBERG OR BEZOS? ELLA and JULIA: Thanks to Zuckerberg, Facebook has become THE example of what happens when Silicon Valley is unchecked. More than any other CEO, Zuckerberg has consistently prioritized advertiser needs over consumer privacy, and has been complicit in cyber-terrorism.

MALAIKA and SARAH: Amazon is tearing down our beloved community institutions like Barnes and Nobles and they have awful working conditions- a woman was in danger of losing her job because she was receiving breast cancer treatment. He also cheated on his wife.

ELLA and SARAH REBUTTAL: While Jeff Bezos is also bad, Zuckerberg’s shortcomings are more significant because Facebook has had a much more profound effect on the way the last two generations understand the world than Amazon has.

MALAIKA and SARAH REBUTTAL: Facebook is moving into unprecedented spaces and regulation for monopolies of data doesn’t exist yet. Zuckerberg is not evil himself but rather works in a space that has little oversight. Bezos hurts his employees and family.

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY DANIEL NAVRATIL

SHOULD WE SELF DIAGNOSE?

OPINION

“Privilege yields opportunity, and opportunity confers responsibilities. An individu

The Responsibility of Bethesdans

By Aidan Smyth 10

I was driven to write this article partly as a precursor to the 2020 presidential election, but mainly as a response to many of the conversations about politics that I hear around B-CC, among my friends, and in the greater Bethesda community. I will be making some generalizations about Bethesda liberals, but I believe my assessment to be an honest one based on my observations and own experiences.

The Bethesda liberal I will refer to is a wealthy resident of Bethesda belonging to the Democratic Party. Students and adults alike are included within the description.

D.C. and its surrounding suburbs comprise one of the most educated populations in the country. The inhabitants are wealthy, and many enjoy positions within the inner circles of the Washington elite. A sizeable number of residents, for instance, work either directly for or closely with the federal government. As the gateway to the nation’s capital, Bethesda also offers easy access to D.C. for commuters working for law firms, think tanks, non-profits, financial conglomerates, and other institutions.

Bethesdans benefit from the privileges that come from their education, wealth, and connections. As the children of parents who more often than not fit these descriptions, we are poised for successes in higher education and employment.

We attend prestigious public and private schools and have access to vast resources to prepare us for our futures. The worries of those less fortunate than us are unfamiliar; we can only try to relate. Unfortunately, few of us do.

The history of the Democratic Party, the party that most residents of Bethesda and most students at B-CC support, includes a long period in which the party was dedicated to the defense of working class people. Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal coalition represented the peak of the Democratic Party as a party of the people. Since the political realignments of the 1970s, though, the Democratic Party has distanced itself further and further from its traditional base, instead favoring wealthy elites in about the top 10% of the country and their neoliberal preferenc-

OPINION

es—neoliberalism meaning a brand of liberalism, expertly carried out by both the Clinton and Obama administrations, that tends to support more free-market capitalism.

The form of liberalism that Bethesdans tend to subscribe to, and the mainstream form of liberalism in this country, is one characterized by a hyper-focus on social issues, for which they hold supremely liberal values. Economically, however, Bethesda liberals may support some marginal reforms to the current system, but they are fundamentally committed to the status quo. Indeed, while they support higher taxes on the rich and other common sense measures, they often vote for candidates—like Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton—who do little to shake up the dominance of wealthy elites in the United States. It is rare for any Bethesdan to criticize capitalism itself and propose alternatives to the system; Bethesdans instead focus on piecemeal reforms to a broken economy, afraid to stray too far from the established bounds

of debate.

A more accurate description of Bethesda and B-CC political culture would be to define our bubble not as liberal—as there are wide and varying accounts of what “liberalism” actually means—but as a centrist, pro-establishment bubble. The ideology of Bethesdans, and of Montgomery County residents as a whole, was demonstrated most potently by their support of Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary by a ratio of about two-to-one; they favored the establishment candidate who ran a campaign centered around her identity and the preservation of the status quo over the candidate committed unapologetically to the working class and systemic changes.

As stated above, Bethesdans tend to be highly educated. Students at schools like B-CC will attend elite institutions, following in the footsteps of many of their parents before them. These liberal institutions favor a certain brand of education, though, that is important to take note of

“Bethesdans have a responsibility, as people of enormous privilege, to hold our instiutions accountable for their actions and to those who don’t have a voice.”

when analysing the politics of a region.

Mark Lilla, Professor of Humanities at Columbia University, laments the identity-based education in U.S. colleges and universities, explaining that “our educational institutions…[have] trained students to be spelunkers of their personal identities and left them incurious about the world outside their heads.”

In addition to the rise of identity-based politics in universities, elite educational institutions fail to “train students to think critically, to examine and critique systems of power and cultural and political assumptions,” according to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges.

Indeed, even in high school students are rarely asked to question basic assumptions about our government and its institutions. Instead, we are taught to simply absorb the information without any critical analysis.

Colleges rely heavily upon corporate and government funds for their endowments, and the presidents of universities are often valued based on their ability to 11

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL NAVRATIL

ual then has choices.” -Noam Chomsky

OPINION

raise money for the school. Universities consequently have a vested interest in stopping short of teaching their students to hold powerful entities, such as corporations and the government, accountable for their actions. Political Science and Economics departments reiterate the disproved religion of laissez faire capitalism in place of proposing alternatives to the system or encouraging students to challenge orthodoxy. Critiques of the system are relegated to History and Social Sciences, dying majors in universities that increasingly resemble vocational schools.

The media acts similarly, hiding behind a veil of objectivity in either not discussing the relevant issues of the time or covering them in a way that holds the traditional power structure in place.

A media that served its purpose would act as a watchdog against abuses of power, but rarely do mainstream outlets provide this oversight, largely because the newspapers and cable news networks are massive for-profit conglomerates owned by elites uninterested in systemic change.

There are biases to any sources; that much is obvious. However, the oft-cited liberal or leftwing bias of The Washington Post and The New York Times is more precisely a centrist, pro-establishment bias. These newspapers are liberal on social issues but marginalize perspectives that drift too far from the status quo and elite talking points. Thomas Frank, for instance, found that of about 200 Washington Post editorials and opeds about Bernie Sanders during the 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary, “the negative outnumbered the positive roughly five to one”—the split was closer to fifty-fifty for Clinton. And so it is unsurprising that Bethesda liberals, products of prestigious institutions of higher education and consumers of corporate media, hold certain viewpoints about the way things in the U.S. should be.

With an understanding of the political composition of Bethesda, I would like to turn now to issues I see inherent within the dominant ideology at B-CC. Too often, I hear students and adults discuss the need for “incremental reform” as opposed to sweeping changes in the system; the system, after all, wasn’t set up to handle large changes. And even if it was, our country is not ready for “radical left” policies like those put forth by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Bethesdans believe that they understand the political realities of our time and that these realities call for a moderate president and a Congress that will compromise with the other side. In their minds, the real issue with our country is that people won’t work across the aisle, so what we need is someone who will “bring people together” with bits of reform here and there.

But these ideas are fundamentally and dangerously misguided. It appears that, despite our education, or perhaps because of our education, Bethesda liberals are entrenched in the type of thinking emblematic of the Democratic establishment. Of course, this is unsurprising considering that the Bibles of this population are The New York Times and Washington Post, and that the anchors on CNN and MSNBC are its televangelists.

To address the first point frequently made by Bethesda liberals and B-CC students—that the system is designed to inhibit change and that incremental reform is the best we can do—it is important to understand what the system is in the first place: an oligarchy posing as a democracy. A 2014 study conducted by political scientists 12

from Northwestern University and Princeton University demonstrates that the only time that the opinion of the general public results in actual change is when this opinion is in line with what economic elites and business interests want.

Though the study has been criticized for reaching too far in its conclusion, critics nevertheless admit that the rich hold disproportionate influence over public policy. Citizens frequently bemoan the lack of bipartisanship in our government, but the truth is that our government does not reflect or act on the preferences of the public in the first place, which generally agrees on many important issues.

With reference to incremental reform, one must be able to define what that brand of reform actually means, especially in the context of the past two Democratic presidencies—those of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Each of these Presidents was propped up as a Democrat who could reach across the aisle, a progressive who could get things done. I have heard Democrats at B-CC explain that incremental reform is positive and necessary because it can help the country move in a leftward direction, slowly but surely. If this is true, then Clinton and Obama surely must have shifted our country to the left with their policies.

Though the country certainly has moved to the left—and by country I mean the general public and not necessarily the government—this shift has been in spite of Clinton and Obama administration policies, not because of them. In fact, Clinton and Obama represented impediments to leftism and progressivism in the country. A brief look at some of the policies of these administrations reveals as much.

For Clinton, his crowning achievements in office include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a devastating treaty that helped decimate the working classes in all three countries involved—Canada, the United States, and Mexico. An estimated 700,000 jobs were lost in the United States as a result of NAFTA, and employers are now able to threaten their workers with the prospect of shifting their operations to Mexico if the workers organize. In other words, NAFTA was a victory for Clinton’s main constituency—the business elite—but a savage loss for his largest—ordinary people.

Clinton’s crackdown on crime called for the passing in 1994 of what author Thomas Frank calls “the most sweeping police-state bill that modern-day America has seen.” The bill drastically increased the number of federal death penalties from three to sixty, created new mandatory minimum sentences, and cemented the 100-to-1 sentencing difference between crack and powder cocaine, an undeniably racist move.

During his crusade against welfare, Clinton repealed the unpopular Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) from 1935 with essentially no replacement. What “replaced” the act was a Republican bill called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) which left welfare up to the states and gave much incentive for the states to push people off of welfare. By signing a conservative bill, Clinton triangulated between the Democratic and Republican positions and was, according to his aid Sidney Blumenthal, able to “undercut the Republicans” and take credit for achieving their goals. Clinton’s policy succeeded in doubling the cases of extreme poverty in the United States by 2011.

Other notable “liberal” achievements of the Clinton presidency include state banking dereg-

ulation, capital-gains tax cuts, and telecommunications deregulations. Perhaps worst of all, Clinton succeeded in 1999 at repealing the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act, which had previously separated commercial banking from private banking and helped provide stability in the financial sector for 60 years. Not long after the repeal came the total collapse of the financial system in 2008.

The next Democratic president after Clinton was Barack Obama, heralded in 2008 as the liberal class’s hero. For many who either do not care or do not know that under his watch none of the Wall Street executives who crashed the economy in 2008 were prosecuted, he remains so. Maybe these Obama partisans don’t know that he significantly increased the number of military interventions the U.S. is engaged in, or that he increased NSA spying on Americans—a gross violation of our Fourth Amendment right to privacy. Whatever the reason may be for the liberal class’s apparently unwavering devotion to Obama, we cannot let him off the hook for what he did—and didn’t do—while in office.

Obama continued the massive government bailouts of the big banks without enforcing any real punishment on the perpetrators of the crimes: the powerful banking executives, many of whom had been financial contributors to his campaign. At the same time, Obama punished more whistleblowers—those who hold the powerful accountable and expose their corruption and wrongdoings—while in office than all other presidents combined.

The $800 billion stimulus package the administration doled out had as its single biggest component a series of tax cuts; other aspects included money to persuade states to embrace charter schools. While it incorporated many positive things, the stimulus package lacked direct federal job-creation in the style of FDR’s New Deal. In the White House, Obama failed to provide support for legislation and other measures that would have helped the working class come out of the financial crisis on solid ground.

Obama’s version of NAFTA is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a treaty that aims to extend trade relations in the NAFTA style to countries along the Pacific Rim. Many of the same effects of NAFTA would occur under the TPP; employers would be encouraged to shift operations to other countries while the working class in America suffers, and large corporations would have their foreign investments protected in the meantime.

President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement last year, but a number of other countries have joined it.

Under the Obama administration we witnessed an increase in the number of air strikes on foreign countries—ten times more than Bush’s administration carried out—with civilian death tolls ranging from 300 to 800 people. An American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, was murdered by an Obama-ordered drone strike for his ties to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP); despite the fact that he was a member of AQAP, he was a propagandist, not a militant. Guantanamo Bay, the unconstitutional prison for alleged terrorists—many of whom turn out to be innocent— that candidate-Obama had promised to close, remains open to this day.

Two of Obama’s main achievements, the Dodd-Frank financial reform act and the Affordable Care Act, demonstrated his desire to satisfy both the finance and insurance industries by keeping them safe from the angry masses while

OPINION

providing bits of reform to those affected by the partly or fully criminal activities of his main constituency—the privileged elite. The big banks, rewarded with taxpayer money in their enormous bailout because they were “too big to fail,” are all larger today than they were in 2008. Giant health insurance companies continue to extort the American people, who pay higher and higher premiums and experience health outcomes that are among the worst in the developed world.

It should be clear, then, that neither Clinton nor Obama pushed the country further left through the successes of left-wing policies, nor were they progressives based on any meaningful definition of the word. But the liberal class and its Bethesda members adore these presidents, particularly Obama, and at the same time cling to the dogma that moderates will pave the way for leftists. Clearly, that has not been the case. In fact, a strong case can and should be made that the policies pushed for and enacted by the Clinton- and Obama-era Democrats helped pave the way not for a leftist to rise to power, but for the rise of a pathological liar who appealed to a furious working class with populist messaging.

Chalking Hillary Clinton’s embarrassing 2016 loss to Donald Trump up to sexism or the simple fact that she, not her policies, was hated by a large portion of the country is an explanation that should be shot down immediately. She won the popular vote after all, meaning, quite simply, that more people liked her than disliked her—to the tune of about 3 million people. Where she lost the election, though, was in the Rust Belt and in communities that had been devastated by the free trade deals pushed through by past Democratic presidents, including her husband. Hillary didn’t promise to bring jobs back to the U.S.; instead, she ran a campaign focused largely on her identity as a woman. It is thus unsurprising that the working class in this country, abandoned by Democrats for many decades, went for the candidate who promised to “Make America Great Again” instead of the one who said “America is already great.”

The reality is that our crusaders for incremental reform were mostly incremental reformers for the right-wing, slowly but surely shifting the politics of the U.S. in that direction. The idea of a Joe Biden presidency, or a Pete Buttigieg one, is thus laughable to leftists and progressives. These candidates are similarly labeled as moderates or progressives “who can get things done.” Buttigieg is revered because of his incredible education, which gained him admittance into the hearts of the liberal class, but not for the successes, or lack thereof, of his policies while mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Biden is patently racist; in 2007 he called Barack Obama “the first sort of mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean” and once boasted about being “good friends” with segregationists. He was also a key supporter of Bill Clinton’s racist 1994 crime bill.

Outside of establishment elite circles like Bethesda, the country is ready for true leftism. All one has to do is read an opinion poll to find direct evidence of this. Many of the policies pushed by Senator Sanders, often smeared as being “too far left” for the country, are really only “too far left” for establishment elites and comfortable liberals.

For most Americans, these policies are favorable.

For instance, Medicare for All enjoys the support of around 70% of the country, and nearly 60% of the country wants to raise the federal minimum

wage to $15 an hour. ⅔ of Americans want to legalize marijuana, and 60% agree that college should be tuition-free for those below certain income levels. Over 80% of the U.S. is in favor of the Green New Deal. The list goes on. There is no reason to settle for incremental reforms when the country already knows and is in agreement about what it wants.

So why do so few Bethesda liberals support Sanders? Why do they opt instead for candidates like Hillary Clinton, Beto O’Rourke, and others?

Why are so few willing to challenge the status quo and reject conventional wisdom? Identity could play a part. There is certainly an obsession with identity in Bethesda, and much of the discussion surrounding identity is positive. We are becoming an increasingly more inclusive and welcoming community towards people of varying identities, and lead the way in raising awareness for identity-based issues. But a focus on identity does nothing to challenge economic and political power structures that are destroying our democracy and working class. As Chris Hedges states, “Making sure people of diverse races or sexual orientation appear on television shows or in advertisement merely widens the circle of new consumers. Multiculturalism is an appeal that pleads for corporate power for inclusion.” Being committed to diversity does not address many of the truly oppressive institutions if one limits his or herself to gender, race, and sexual orientation while ignoring class.

It also seems to be the case that identity sometimes overshadows actual policy. Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign ran with the slogan “I’m with Her.” She focused much of her campaign on identity-specific issues, such as women’s rights and rights for the LGBTQ+ community, which should obviously receive more support than they do in this country. But contrast that message with Sanders’s 2016 slogan of “Not me. Us” in conjunction with policies that would benefit the entire country, not fractions or segments of it, and bring together working people of all backgrounds. It should be of no surprise that Sanders’s insurgent campaign created palpable panic within the establishment media and Democratic Party, leading Clinton and her allies to veritably rig the primary against Sanders, thus ensuring a victory in the primary but a loss in the general election to the Republican candidate who wooed the forgotten working class, an importantly large portion of which was white.

Clinton appealed to Bethesda liberals for a few reasons. Her identity was a plus, but her appeal was really about her connection to the establishment. Hillary was never going to fundamentally change the way the system worked.

After all, she benefited significantly from it. She would enact identity-based reforms—desperately needed in the U.S., no doubt—but would do little to alter the status quo for the vast majority of people struggling paycheck-to-paycheck.

Bethesda is steeped in establishment conventional wisdom because it is home to much of the establishment. With so many links to D.C. and with so many wealthy and highly-educated members of society, Bethesdans benefit from the current system. They want to protect their own status of success in society and suffer from an underlying fear of the working class and of a restructuring of society on more equal terms that could see their power and influence diminish.

As much as they may argue otherwise, they want the system to stay the same. Bethesdans believe

that capitalism and our current form of government are basically good. Sure, some things need to change. Republicans need to stop promoting policies that hurt our minority communities.

Women need to earn the same as men. LGBTQ+ people deserve to be treated as the human beings they are. But Bethesdans believe that tweaks to our fundamentally unjust economic system that could be described as anything more than marginal are unnecessary.

Bethesdans cannot continue to make such mistakes. They have a responsibility, as people of enormous privilege, to hold our institutions accountable for their actions and to those who don’t have a voice. They have the means to do so, but they do not. The wool has been effectively pulled over their eyes by those more powerful than even they are. They have become complicit in the decimation of working class America and in the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor in the U.S. They are complicit in allowing our democracy to transform into an oligarchy, in allowing corporations to have more of a say in who holds public office than the public does. They are complicit because they vote for politicians who represent a corrupt and broken system, politicians who use their power for the benefit of a select few. They are complicit because they do not call out the government for only working for that select few, and if they do call it out, they turn around and vote into office either someone who is a member of that group or who will do nothing to solve the problem.

Bethesdans can do better. They can reverse the abandonment of the working class by the Democratic Party; they just have to open their eyes to the realities around them. To call themselves liberals they must fight for individual freedom against oppressive institutions. Right now, they fail to do that in any meaningful way because they ignore the realities around us. Blinded by a submissive faith in the institutions of government and the media, they allow Democratic presidents to enact right-wing reforms and desert the base of our society.

They must question authority and the status quo. Progressive change can never occur with a liberal class that is weak and unwilling or unable to break free of the propaganda spewed by the government and major news outlets. As history has taught us in Weimar Germany, in 20th century Italy, and elsewhere around the world, the death or corruption of the liberal class leads to the rise of fascist and right-wing authoritarian states.

Chris Hedges aptly writes that “The loss of the liberal class creates a power vacuum filled by speculators, war profiteers, gangsters, and killers, often led by charismatic demagogues...that rise to power by ridiculing and taunting the liberal class and the values it claims to champion.”

An individual of privilege has choices. He/ she can choose to accept conventional wisdom and live life believing that our politicians and institutions represent the will of the people, at least generally. Or the individual can question conventional wisdom, question those in power and hold them accountable for their actions. The individual can be a voice for the voiceless, stand up for those less fortunate among us, and be a critical and thoughtful skeptic about the word of the state. In short, he/she can do what a responsible person should do, and what any Bethesdan should do.

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OPINION

Privilege and Perception: Our Response to Tragedies Like Notre Dame

BY AARON KNISHKOWY ‘If you were on Instagram, watched the news, or simply came to school within the past few weeks, you probably heard about the devastating fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral. In addition, you most likely heard about the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka that claimed the lives of over 250 people and injured over 500 more. And if you were really paying attention, you might have heard something about three historically black churches in Louisiana being burned down in what has been classified as a racially motivated hate crime.

All these events were tragic, and each received some news coverage; however, when it came to social media and public reaction, significant disparities existed.

A simple way to compare these three events is through Google Trends. The service tracks all Google searches and allows the user to compare the volume of searches for various “keywords” over a set period of time. Here’s the comparison of the keywords “Notre Dame,” “Sri Lanka,” and “Louisiana church”:

If you’ve been on social media over the last month, you probably don’t even need the labels to know which color is which (but just in case, blue is Notre Dame, red is Sri Lanka, and yellow is Louisiana church). How could this be?

The Notre Dame is, no doubt, one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Completed in 1345, the cathedral has been a symbol of Paris for nearly 700 years. Yet, 253 people were killed in Sri Lanka in one of the worst terrorist attacks in history. 253. And the Louisiana churches? They barely even got attention in the US. The issue lies with the media coverage, which directly stems from the interests of the American people. Take the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, one of a similar magnitude to the attack in Sri Lanka. I’m sure you can all remember how Instagram lit up with Eiffel Tower peace signs and #prayforparis. But where was anything more than a stray post for Sri Lanka? Maybe it’s because of how news is reported on. Barely a week after the Sri Lanka attacks, it had already fallen out of the top news stories.

Almost any month, you can read about a new suicide bombing in Somalia or an attack on a market in Pakistan or a terrorist attack in Indonesia. These attacks frequently go in and out of the mainstream media within a day or two and eventually are forgotten about. But as soon as Europe or the US become involved, whether it be the attacks in Paris or Belgium just a few years

ago, the media jumps all over it and it becomes the global focus for the next several days and weeks.

That being said, the huge amount of coverage that events such as the Notre Dame fire receive isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Because of the extensive coverage, as well as fundraising efforts by some of the most wealthy families in France, over $1 billion was raised within a few days. The fact that so much money was donated so quickly isn’t a bad thing. If there was a similar catastrophe in the US, if the Statue of Liberty was severely damaged and required expensive repairs, I would be all for donations in order to make that possible.

But at the same time, it’s hugely important to keep some perspective. The Notre Dame was beautiful and historic and is a French icon. But it’s also just a building. 253 people just died in Sri Lanka. While the US has not experienced a terrorist attack with a death toll in the triple digits since September 11th, 2001. But globally, there is the sad reality of such mass casualty events on an all too regular basis. Just last year, 258 people died in an attack in Syria that targeted the Druze minority group. Or 6 months before that, 305 people were killed in an Egyptian mosque.

So, next time - and there will be a next time - you hear about a bombing that happened in a marketplace in “somewhere that isn’t the US or Europe,” think about it. Think about why it’s covered the way it is - or isn’t.

Venezuela and Nicaragua: Why We Should Still Care

BY PALOMA DELGADO The way that much of this country continues to ignore the severity of the situation in Venezuela is shocking and deeply troubling. Countless politicians and individuals of power have failed to denounce Maduro and his socialist regime, supporting campaigns like “Hands Off Venezuela!” which not only opposes intervention in Venezuela but whose purpose is to promote chavista rule in Venezuela.

The situation in Venezuela is no white or black issue. In fact it is far from it. I don’t doubt that Donald Trump is utilizing intervention in Venezuela as another political tactic to further his campaign against socialism and portray the U.S. as the savior country. But to claim that there is no crisis in Venezuela and that Nicolas Maduro is a democratically elected leader who has not violated countless human rights is dangerous not to mention untrue. I’m as liberal as they come and I am no supporter of Donald Trump. I am aware of the history this country has had in countries like Guatemala, Chile and Honduras.

And I have seen the way lots of news networks have capitalized on the situation in Venezuela so as to reveal the dangers of socialism. To utilize Venezuela as a response against the ideas of Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders is farfetched. However, not calling out the situation in Venezuela for what it is and depicting interim President Juan Guaidó as a “puppet” of the U.S. government misses the point entirely.

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When we turn this into a political debate, we forget about the human beings involved in this crisis, the people fighting for their lives. And it’s not just important that some form of action be taken to solve-- or at least alleviate-- the situation for the sake of Venezuela but for the sake of countries like Nicaragua that are fighting the very same battle.

In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega won his third consecutive term in 2016, having served as President since 2007, as well as 1984 to 1990.

Ortega has completely abolished presidential term limits, enforced strict censorship of the press and concentrated almost all power within the executive branch. Protestors have been beaten, tortured and killed. According to a recent poll conducted by the CID-Gallup, 74% of the Salvadoran population believe that life has worsened in Nicaragua over the past year and 66% disapprove of the current government.

Much like Maduro, Ortega has cracked down on all forms of protest, with the use of the police and gangs, targeting often peaceful protestors and even the Catholic Church. And just like Venezuela, Ortega has turned to communist Cuba for aid in their fight for repression of human rights.

Like Colombia in the case of Venezuela, Costa Rica has become increasingly populated with Nicaraguans who have fled their home country, with thousands still waiting to receive entry to their neighboring country.

On April 30, Juan Guaidó announced his plan for “Operation Liberty,” calling for all Venezuelans to take to the streets in protest and for the

military to rise up against Maduro.

For context, Juan Guiadó isn’t just some random that was chosen out of the blue. Guiadó is the head of the opposition-held parliament and is a member of the Popular Will party, a progressive social-democratic political party. Although Maduro stripped the National Assembly of its legislative powers, the congress continues to convene. Under the Venezuelan constitution, the National Assembly leader has the ability to become president when there is a “vacuum of power.”

Thousands of Venezuelans answered Guaidó’s call, with protests continuing days after his announcement was made but it appeared that not nearly enough military personnel came in support of the opposition, although there were some, brandishing blue arm bands in support of Guaidó.

While it feels as if protests of this kind have been going on for months, even years now, this is truly only the beginning. Maduro is still in power and he won’t lose that power overnight.

There will be more violence, unfortunately, as the two sides clash with one another. There is no clear solution or path as to how things will be solved. What is clear is, however, is the importance that democracy prevails, that human rights and freedoms are restored, that the food shortage is addressed, that the public health system is repaired, and that the country’s hyperinflation is reduced dramatically. There is no perfect solution, but in a time of desperation, Guaidó is the hero that Venezuela needs.

OPINION

When Will the Crisis in Sri Lanka End?

BY SONALI HETTIPOLA Easter weekend 2019 will be remembered as the time 10 years of peace ended within just hours. On April 20, 2019, at 8:45 AM, a terrorist attack shocked the island nation of Sri Lanka, as eight coordinated bombings of churches and hotels left 320 dead and more than 600 others wounded. The bombings occurred in three different cities, killing not only Sri Lankan citizens, but also British, Dutch, and American citizens.

Three churches were destroyed in three cities, one in the capital of Colombo and two others in the cities of Negombo and Batticaloa. There were four major hotels attacked in Colombo: the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grande, the Tropical Inn and the Kingsbury; one more bomb went of at a housing complex in Dematagoda. Seven suspects have been apprehended with the attacks appeared to be carried out by suicide bombers.

As a Sri Lankan-American, I have to say that it is truly heartbreaking to see my own people suffer. The attacks happened in the morning in Sri Lanka, but it was midnight here. We had to stay home from church on Easter morning so we could call our family back home to see if everyone was safe. A bomb went off down the street from my aunt’s house. Luckily she wasn’t home, but I know not everyone was as fortunate as I. It was

when I realized this that I understood how traumatic this must have been. Sri Lanka is an underdeveloped, small country of about 21 million citizens, a little bit greater than the state of Florida.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an island paradise. With its gorgeous blue water beaches and high palm trees and amazing food, I would do anything to be able to go back. But knowing that I cannot for fear of my safety breaks my heart.

In wake of the bombings, I realized that there was almost no awareness within the B-CC community of the attack. Students and teens overall seemed to have nothing to say about this tragedy. Of the 320 people killed, many were children my age and some were even younger, yet across the globe, it seems as though only world leaders have spoken out about the issue: “I wish to express my heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri Lanka], wounded as it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence,” said Pope Francis. Even our own president had a few words to say: “138 people have been killed in Sri Lanka, with more than 600 badly injured in a terrorist attack on churches and hotels. The United States offers heartfelt condolences to the great people of Sri Lanka. We stand ready to help,” said President Trump.

In 1983, war struck the coasts of Sri Lanka. The Sinhala, part of the Buddhist majori-

ty, fought against the Tamil Tiger ethnic group for 26 years. In 2009 the island finally came to peace. But that only lasted for 10 years, and now the terror and distress for the people of Sri Lanka has risen again. While Sri Lanka, within the last 10 years, had not entirely recovered, it had been making gradual progress over time. But after these attacks, they must start from the beginning to slowly rebuild their country back again. The suspected perpetrators were apparently acting on accord of Islamic extremism, and carefully planned the bombings after arriving in Sri Lanka. After the attacks, it was even suspected that some bombs were left undetonated in cars across different areas of the country. While citizens of more developed countries such as the U.S. would use social media to warn others about specific cars to look out for, Sri Lanka prohibited use of all social media within the country, leaving citizens disconnected.

Everyday I wish and hope that Sri Lanka will one day come to complete peace, but until then, it is important to recognize the magnitude of their struggle. Aside from donating to help rebuild churches in small towns and provide aid for those recovering in hospitals, we must realize that terror attacks have implications not just for those who suffer from them, but for everyone around the world.

We’ve Lost Our Passion to Protest Climate Change

BY GABRIELA JELIAZKOV March 15, 2019: A worldwide walkout. Activists from 112 countries and six continents, mostly young, demanding immediate policy change to address climate change.

Just the day before in downtown Washington, young people had proven their ability to mobilize and come together in protest. The second annual March to End Gun Violence was a success - the streets of D.C. turned into rivers of students. A whopping 3,500 students flooded the route from the White House to the Capitol. So, where were these young activists the next day?

The climate change walkout was no such spectacle. One of the few B-CC students who attended the walkout in Washington D.C. described it as “insanely small, especially compared to the gun control march.” She even went so far as to say that “it looked sad, especially because [climate change] is such an important issue.”

The general consensus within Montgomery County schools is that climate change exists and is a prominent issue. But when it comes to addressing this issue, it seems our community is lacking in passion and agency. This may be a result of the overwhelming nature of the issue; where do we even begin? I have been told by many that the ultimate doom that we are headed towards in the face of climate change is not something that can or should be addressed by a walkout. I have been told that a walkout will not change anything in the larger sense. This argument is fundamentally flawed. The solutions to climate change run parallel to those for the problem of guns, an issue for which taking to the streets in protest seems to fit just fine. The solu-

tions lie in legislation. The gun control walkout specifically pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 42, which calls for stronger background check requirements for firearm purchases. Policy change is the driving factor for mitigation, for both gun violence and climate change. We have a little over a decade to drastically redefine our way of life to avert a crisis. The root of the problem lies less in the individual than in powerful global industries. Research by “Carbon Majors” found that over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to a mere 100 active fossil fuel producers. Governments have the power to regulate the behavior of profit-seeking corporations and change the system to minimize their impact. To rally for specific government actions in a walkout is a huge step towards change. And don’t forget Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden who leaves school to sit outside the Swedish Parliament every week, begging politicians to do something. Her actions spurred a global movement, and her voice is now being heard by world leaders everywhere. She is proof of the effectiveness of protest in the climate justice movement.

If it was not mistrust in the effectiveness of protests, then what else could have been holding back the young activists of the DMV? The lack of action may be due to blind spots. Bethesda, Maryland has not been visibly hit by climate change.

We continue living life just as we always have, with climate change in the backs of our minds. In other communities around the world, however, climate change is now. Its results are everywhere, affecting the everyday lives of people all around the world. A hurricane grown huge from the additional warming driven by greenhouse gases

has not destroyed our livelihood. Our property is not being eaten away at a rate of 2.3 meters a year by an ocean that refuses to freeze, as it is in Alaska. In Shishmaref, the sea wall is now where two houses and a road used to be. We do not go outside to forage for food only to find the Earth bare, as the Sakha and Even tribes of Siberia have for the last five years. Sheltered by the “Bethesda Bubble,” we do not feel the urgency to act upon what we do not see in our everyday lives. As Greta Thunberg once said, “We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis.”

As an intern at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, I was given the privilege of interviewing three climate researchers from around the United States. Each of the scientists have published numerous research papers, ranging in topic from sea surface temperature prediction to the effect on Arctic amplification on mid-latitude summer circulation. Each of these interviews offered new perspectives, but they all had in common one thing: a strong desire to further the world’s understanding of our planet’s climate. The story of one researcher in particular stood out. When asked about how he comes up with research ideas, he shared what he called a “hobby” of his. When he was a student, he took it upon himself to sit down for five to ten minutes every day, and simply think about climate problems. He would contemplate what the current most important question was, and also what it may become in five years. Every week he would, and still does, update himself on new publications which focus on climate science in order to keep a close watch on the trend of the field. We should all follow this example - it is an admirable representation of what it looks like to truly care.

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SPORTS

Spring Sports Recaps

Track and Field

BY AIDAN SMYTH The 2019 Outdoor Track season was highly successful for both the boys’ and girls’ teams, with the girls winning the division title for the second year in a row and the boys winning the title for the first time since 1996. At the 4A West Regional Championship, the Barons had a number of state qualifiers. The girls 4x800m relay (Samaya Ber-

Baseball

BY GRETA FARKAS The Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Varsity Baseball team started their season off extremely strong. Eight games into the season, the Barons were undefeated. Coming back from an impressive season last year, just losing in the State semifinals, the team hoped to perform well again this season and make it all the way to the State championship.

With the regular season completed, the Barons’ recorded a strong 15-5, with losses only to a few other strong rival baseball programs. The team’s highlight win was on April 17th, when the Barons faced known baseball powerhouse, Sher-

nardo, Jules Capizzi, Neva Jane Maldonado and Fiona Kelleher) and 4x400m relay (Abby Haas, Jules Capizzi, Neva Jane Maldonado and Fiona Kelleher) finished 4th and 3rd, respectively.

The boys 4x100m relay (Alpha Bah, Peter Lally, Zachary Walker-Liang and Winston Broadbell) finished 4th, and the boys 4x400m relay (Arjun Akwei, Nick Bailey, Zachary Walker-Liang and Aidan Smyth) and 4x800m relay (Nick Bailey, Drew Nealis, James Friebert and Aidan Smyth) both placed 2nd. Senior Sarah Cobau tied for 2nd in the pole vault, and senior Olivia Pineda

threw the shot put 30 feet and nine inches to place 2nd and head to States as well. Junior Fiona Kelleher was 3rd in the 300m hurdles and ran a personal best in the 800m run (2:20.52) for a 4th place finish. Senior Aidan Smyth ran a new personal best in the 800m run (1:57.81) to finish 2nd overall. Finally, senior Emerson Hemley ran a personal best in the 3200m run in 9:44.20 to place 2nd and earn himself a spot at the State Championship.

wood High School, looking to redeem themselves from losing to them last year. With senior Brendan Hughes pitching the entire seven innings and the team playing almost error-free, they were able to win the game 4-2. “One of our goals this season was to beat Sherwood and it feels good to know that our hard work and practicing has paid off,” said junior Jack Branthover, ecstatic about the win.

The baseball team’s conference record was 5-1, putting them in 2nd place in the division behind Whitman and setting them up for a promising playoff run. “Our playoffs run last year was amazing. We hope to do even better this year and make it States,” said junior Parker Silver in anticipation of the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Barons faced off against Kennedy in the first round, easily defeating them 10-0. Following this win,

the boys continued to gain momentum, beating Churchill 15-7, after coming back from a tough 6-run deficit. Then, facing them in the 4A Section Final was Whitman, the only team seated above B-CC in the bracket. Unfortunately, after a hard fought game in front a packed student section, the Barons came up short in extra innings 2-1.

Despite this loss, the Barons Baseball team has an extremely impressive season to be proud of. Their 15-5 regular season record was the best in Coach Schmidt’s tenure as coach, and throughout the season, the boys showed their perseverance and determination on the field, coming back from tough deficits in many of their wins. Though the team will be losing ten seniors, the juniors look to lead a strong team next year with a new supply of talented underclassmen.

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Softball

BY GRETA FARKAS The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Varsity Softball team closed out its year with yet another outstanding season, finishing 12-6 and 5-1 in the conference. While the team’s exceptional talent is nothing to brush over, it is clear that the closeknit relationship between the girls has drastically improved their movements and communication on the field. With their bond being stronger than ever, the girls were excited for a long and successful playoff run.

Throughout the season, the team had multi-

Co-Ed Volleyball

BY DAVID SHUSTERMAN #RoadToCounties. It’s the slogan the B-CC Coed Volleyball team has been living by this entire season. After a remarkable undefeated season by the Girls’ Volleyball team last fall, the Barons were excited to gear up for another season of volleyball, with the Coed team picking up right where the girls left off. The team, stacked with members of the Girls’ Volleyball team, including Elizabeth Sharkey and the Feinauer twins, as well as Cole Doherty of the Boys’ Basketball team, went undefeated this season, with a county-best 11-0 record. Since Coed Volleyball is only a county sport as opposed to a MPSSAA, or statewide sport, the highest achievement for the sport is county champion. Although Coed has

Boys Tennis

BY DAN SHAPIRO After starting the season with a mediocre 3-3 record due to absences and injuries of many of the starters, the Barons started to win and win some more. The team went on an exceptional six match win streak to finish off their season 9-3, which was highlighted by a nail biting 4-3 win against our rival, Whitman. Andrew Cha, a senior captain, believes that “overall, the team performed very well throughout the season due to the experience of seven seniors, five of whom have been on the team for all four years.”

With the team portion of the season com-

Girls Tennis

BY DAN SHAPIRO The Lady Barons ended their regular season with a solid record of 6-6. Following a down season last year, the team was able to improve under the lead of seniors Lauren Jablon and Callie Wilks, as well as the stellar play of standout junior Kylie Rowan.

Winning most of their division matches, the team will most likely maintain their spot in Division 2, hoping to improve to Division 1 next 18

ple exciting, nail-biting games including games against The Academy of Holy Cross, winning 1615, and against Rockville High School, winning 8-7. The one game that stands out, in particular, to many of the players, was against Montgomery Blair High School. “[Blair] has a really hard fast pitcher and she’s really hard to hit,” said junior Abby Leff. Luckily for the Barons, the intimidating pitcher did not enter the game until the last inning. The score was 12-12 when she came in to pitch. Leff, up at bat, earned herself an easy ride to first base only to steal second base moments later. Senior Siobhan Brindle, next up at bat, then hit Leff home, winning the game for the Barons. “We’ve never beat Blair before and it felt so good to finally win,” said Leff.

Heading into playoffs, B-CC softball was seated 2nd in their section, only behind Whitman. In the first round, the girls made quick work of Kennedy, crushing them 18-0. Then the team went on to face Churchill, where they won 12-6 thanks to big hits by all three seniors: Kalin Condon, Siobhan Brindle, and Corin Scheig. Unfortunately after this big win, the girls fell short to the top seated Whitman, ending their 2019 season.

While the team may have hoped for a longer playoff run, the girls still have an impressive season to be proud of. Though the team will be losing three senior veterans, the returning players are already counting down the days until they can gear up for next year.

been around for 37 years, the Barons have never captured the county championship, only once winning their division in 1996. With a nearly perfect set record, this team showed their dominance against every team they faced this season, reaching the county finals with ease. Facing them was the only other undefeated team in the county: Sherwood. On May 15th, the Barons took on Sherwood at Magruder in front of a packed crowd.With the crowd on the edge of their seats, the Barons took the first set against Sherwood, making it Sherwood’s first set loss of the season.

Unfortunately after this, Sherwood responded, winning the next three sets and taking the county championship. These three sets were the Barons’ only losses of the entire season. Though the Barons have yet to capture a Coed Volleyball county championship, the strength of this team cannot go unrecognized. Hopefully in the coming years, the Barons can continue on the path set by this

phenomenal team.

As opposed to the Girls’ and Coed teams, which have both dominated due to the experience of their many senior players, the Boys’ Volleyball team is almost entirely made up of freshmen, with their starting lineup holding only first-year players. Though the boys have fought hard throughout the season, their lack of experience has caused some struggles against many other schools often led by upperclassmen. While the team’s record isn’t exactly something to look back on, it’s clear that there is a lot of raw talent on the team, and this year has been more of a learning experience than anything else. If the team sticks together for these next three years, they could be an extremely interesting team to watch. It will only get better and better for these Barons.

plete, the team’s starters are competing individually at the county, region, and potentially state tournaments. With such a strong starting lineup, the team performed exceptionally well at counties last week, with four of the seven starting spots reaching the semi-finals in their respective draws. The second doubles team, composed of seniors Garrick Adams and Calum Fraser, reached county finals but fell short to number one seeded Wootton. In the coming weeks, the top three starters will play in regional and possibly state tournaments.

As the season is mostly over, the team is already looking forward to the program’s future.

Although the team is losing seven contributing seniors, the team has nine underclassmen who will be stepping up next year into a big pair of

shoes to fill. Two new players on the team, Jax Khademi and Nathaniel Winick, who both played singles this year, hope to pick up where the seniors left off and lead the team into a strong future. Winick, a sophomore who was injured last year, played the number one singles spot this year, where he held his own against some of the most experienced upperclassmen throughout the county. With these two promising underclassmen and junior standout Zach Martel returning next year, the future of Barons tennis looks promising.

year. With the loss of multiple seniors, the girls will have to play hard and make effective use of their strong underclassmen core to achieve this, but hopefully with the return of many juniors and sophomores, as well as a new supply of incoming talent, this task will not be too difficult. Of the graduating seniors, Christine Folivi, a four year veteran of the team, will be furthering her athletic and academic career at Saint Mary’s College of Maryland.

Just like the boys, the girls have completed their regular season and are heading into playoffs strong after a 7-0 win at senior night against Blake. At counties last week, the girls saw two of

their doubles teams make it to the semifinals, but unfortunately, both came up short. In a similar fashion to the boys, the girls look forward to upcoming regional and state tournaments with both singles, doubles, and an exciting Coed doubles tournament, in which members of the boys and girls teams play together. Though the Barons may not have achieved as much as they would have hoped in counties, this team only looks to get better and better in the coming years.

SPORTS

Gymnastics

BY DAVID SHUSTERMAN The B-CC Gymnastics team soared through an incredible season. With three incredible seniors - Maja Wright, Emily Haight, and Tina Siyoum - leading the team, the Barons had both experience and talent on their side. But it wasn’t just the seniors who carried this squad on their journey to counties, as the strong cast of juniors and underclassmen also played an instrumental role in the team’s success. “I love the mix of upper and underclassmen we have on the team… We all get along so well and it makes us super spirited knowing that we all support each other,” Junior Maria Villegas Guevara said. In the regular season, the team won two of their meets, and placed second at their three others. “The regular season

Boys Lacrosse

BY DAN SHAPIRO Last year, Boys’ Lacrosse had a remarkable regular season, finishing with a record of 9-3.

Heading into playoffs, the team had one goal on their mind: a state title. They started off playoffs beating Wheaton by a large margin. Next up was Whitman, and the team could not have been more excited to play our rival in such a high stakes game. Unfortunately, the Barons came up just short and lost by a single point. Although the loss was devastating for the team, it was further motivation “to continue to work hard and get better in the offseason,” remarked junior attackman Charlie Kannapell.

Girls Lacrosse

BY TOM MERRITT AND WILL BIRKS The girls finished their season with a 7-5 record, sitting at fourth in their division. With a strong squad made up heavily of younger players and four-year veteran Lindsey Archer leading the team, the army was ready for the playoffs. In addition to Archer, the team was led by seniors Ardyn Kesterman and Jessie Zehner, as well as the junior trio of Maggie Lucas, Sydney Skalka,

Crew

BY JAMIE MURRAY The Barons oarsmen took their boats to the Stotesbury Cup regatta this past weekend, and took bronze medals home in the women’s varsity eight and the men’s second varsity eight, and had a fourth place finish in the women’s second varsity eight and a 6th place finish in the men’s ju-

meets really prepared us for Counties because we got to compete against every team and saw what their strengths were,” Senior Maja Wright commented. As the team got ready for the County Championships, the rightful spotlight was on Freshman Stella Szostak. Stella, a level eight club gymnast, won individual all around multiple times in the regular season. On May 7, at Sherwood High School, in front of the County Championships crowd, the Freshman phenom Szostak and the Barons shined. Astonishing performances on the vault, bars, beam, and floor from all six competing Baron gymnasts put B-CC in great position to place. Individually, Szostak showed no hesitation to dominate in her first high school County Championships. Szostak’s performances got her 3rd on Bars, 2nd on Floor, 2nd on Beam, and 1st on Vault. With those results in each event, it was sure that she would be towards the top of the all around results. Towards the top she

was, besting Sherwood’s Eleni Guynn (37.3), to win first place in the All-Around individual competition with a score of 37.725. Szostak’s efforts, along with the rest of the team - including Senior Maja Wright who placed 6th on the beam in her final high school meet - led the Barons to finishing with a 163.775 team score, enough to barely beat Whitman (163.125) and get third place. “We weren’t expecting to place, so it was an amazing feeling when we got third; it was the perfect ending to the season.” said Wright. It truly was an tremendous season for the Barons, and despite losing three very important seniors in Wright, Haight, and Siyoum, they’ll surely be back strong next year led by a new class of seniors, and the Sophomore phenom Stella Szostak.

Fast forward almost a year and Boys’ Lacrosse has finished off their season strong with a record of 8-4. In the playoffs, the Barons picked up an easy win against Kennedy in the first round and then beat rival Whitman 13-12, thanks to the exhilarating overtime goal of senior Justin Gaffney.

Unfortunately, the boys lost to Churchill in the Regional semifinal, but nevertheless, the team picked up right where they left last year and improved upon an already strong season with an impressive playoff run.

In addition to their team success, a few of the players have also been recognized for their individual statistics thus far. Senior attackmen Leo Cowie and Logan Paterson are both top five in the country in points scored. Likewise, senior defenseman Kyle Ramos is leading the county in ground balls.

The team also prides itself on having numerous seniors committed to playing lacrosse in college. Leo Cowie is committed to Kenyon College, Kyle Ramos is committed to Goucher College, and Logan Paterson is committed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all of which are well-regarded D3 programs.

Though the Barons are losing these three seniors who have all been prominent leaders of the team for years, the future of Barons’ Lacrosse looks bright. With many juniors and underclassmen supported by a strong program and coach, the boys are looking forward to stepping up and reaching a potential state title next year.

and Catherine Gaffney. Aside from these strong upperclassmen, the team has also been relying on the netminding abilities of seniors Mae DuFour and Tatiana Laguerre-Ford in goal. Though the army has had many wins this season, their signature win was a nail-biting one point victory over Richard Montgomery. While Pagan’s Army suffered close defeats to the likes of other rivals such as Walter Johnson and Quince Orchard, the girls have had multiple dominant wins against teams such as Einstein, Kennedy, and Wheaton, showing their ability to rack up the score with powerful offensive showings. In the playoffs this

past week, the girls were seated fourth and made quick work of Kennedy 22-3 in the first round.

After this, the girls went on to face powerhouse Churchill, where they came up short 21-6. While Pagan’s Army may have ended their playoff run earlier than expected, the girls have many promising underclassmen and rising seniors looking to lead the team to a successful season next year.

nior eight. The women’s varsity eight made B-CC crew history, as their bronze medal was the most competitive finish the program has ever seen in that category. While the Barons had a successful weekend across all squads, the rowers are no strangers to victory.

Earlier this season, the men’s varsity eight and the women’s varsity eight took home gold at the Maryland State Championships Regatta. The men and the women’s varsity eight also dominated the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic

Rowing Association Regatta, taking home gold and silver. The Barons’ incredibly successful season can be attributed to their three seasons of intense training during the fall, winter and spring.

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SPORTS

SPORTS RECRUITMENT

BY KEVIN MCAULIFFE To all of the readers of this column over the last year, thank you for staying with me as I have featured all the amazing athletes at our school. For my final edition, I will be featuring six Barons, three of whom are members of The Tattler, who will all be participating in a collegiate sport next year.

Aidan Smyth

Kevin McAuliffe

Jamie Murray

Our very own Tattler editor will be running at The University of Washington in St. Louis next year. Following in Adam Nakasaka’s footsteps as the next great soccer-playerturned-track-star, Aidan has had an outstanding career at B-CC. This year, he took huge footsteps in his running and placed 4th at Counties, 2nd at Regionals and 7th at States during the Cross Country season. A senior captain, Aidan has been a model of excellence that many will hope to live up to in the future. Aidan chose WashU because of “its excellent academics and athletics. The team is a very strong, tightknit community that [he] can’t wait to be a part of. He is excited to be able to compete against some of the best runners in the country.

I am happy to announce that I will be playing basketball at Vassar for the next four years.

After a long recruiting process in which I received a few D3 offers, I chose Vassar because of Coach Ryan Mee and his vision for the program. Vassar is a small liberal arts school about an hour outside of New York and I will be excited to continue my career so close to my favorite city.

I hope to continue t h e success that I have h a d with the Barons over the last few years, and I thank all my coaches, family, friends, teachers, and teammates for helping me to achieve my dream.

Tattler columnist Jamie Murray has decided to take her stroke to Lewis and Clark College after four years on the B-CC crew team. This past season has been the strongest yet for varsity girls. Jamie helped the girl’s varsity eight take gold at the Maryland State Championships, silver at Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association Regatta (WMIRA), and bronze at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, making B-CC Crew history. Jamie, herself, holds four gold medals from Maryland State Championships, three gold medals from WMIRA, and a sixth place finish at the Scholastic Rowing Association National Championships. Jamie chose Lewis and Clark because she was “looking to continue [her] academic and rowing career in a healthy and competitive environment.”

Sarah Haas

Henry McCullers

Logan Patterson

Henry McCullers is the second boys’ soccer player to decide to take his soccer skills to the next level. Henry will be continuing his career at Bard College in New York. Henry has played two years of soccer for the Barons and was a senior on varsity this year. He will be playing for the Bard Raptors, and as a skilled defenseman, he is sure to help his new school improve their squad.

Henry chose Bard because of “the small liberal arts community feel and the opportunity to play soccer at the collegiate level.” A strong student and soccer player, McCullers will be right at home with the R a p t o r s ne x t year.

In addition to being one of our most accomplished students, L-Pat is known as one of our best lacrosse players at B-CC. He has been a member of the Varsity Lacrosse team for four years and has additionally started as an attack for all four years. This year, he has taken on a new role as senior captain and hopes to lead our Barons far in the playoffs. He will be taking his talents up north next year to MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he will continue his lacrosse career. Logan chose MIT because of a combination of “academics with a focus on engineering,” as well as the opportunity to “continue to grow as a player.” He can’t wait to continue repping his school team throughout his college career.

Sarah Haas been a talented athlete throughout her time at B-CC, whether it was on the soccer field or on the track.

Sarah will continue her running career at Bucknell University, representing the Bison on the track. Sarah is a former state champion in the 4 by 800 and has been one of the top mid-distance runners in the state since her sophomore year. Sarah has had a long recruiting process and talked to a few schools before finally deciding on Bucknell. Sarah chose the Bison “because of its excellent academic and athletic reputation.

It was the perfect fit for [her]: everything she wanted in a school.”

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21

OPINION

Four Years of Social Activism

BY GABRIELA JELIAZKOV The class of 2019 can’t stop making history. Our grade has repeatedly stood up as student representatives and activists to voice their opinions on topics from gun control to climate change. Our class is a perfect example of how our generation of teenagers have become involved with the world outside of their school walls.

In 2017 the creation of the Museum of the Contemporary American Teenager marked a turning point in our class’s drive to make change. Months were put into the space on Wisconsin avenue, transforming it into a mosaic of our lives as teenagers. It was our chance to connect with each other, and with teenagers across America. MoCAT made national news, as did its follow-up event CoCAT where students presented talks, discussions, and panels about the topics covered in the museum. The movement had grown from an idea for a school project into an event graced with the presence of national leaders and crowded with television crews

eager to let us be heard. The same drive that created MoCAT created the 2019 Toxicity Month and Museum this past April. Revamping the passion that exceeded MoCAT and CoCAT, we displayed the toxic influences that we grow with as teenagers at B-CC. Beyond our museums, our discussions about Global Political Climate change and “Doomocracy”, we raised our voices through protests and walkouts. This movement has defined our life as high school students. Whether you participated or not, all students heard about the walkouts and the protests. As early as the Women’s March in 2016, B-CC students showed up and spoke out among the million other protesters there. Followed by the Climate Change walk, and our very own DMV March for our Lives in 2019.

The plethora of school shootings that had filled the weeks and months our senior year had brought out a voice that we did not know we possessed. We raised it by marching on the White House holding signs high above our heads, and by

sitting in complete, chilling silence for seventeen minutes, staring sullenly into the faces of spectators and news reporters.

We showed that high school students can be listened to, that they are not too young to take part. We helped pushed congressmen and senators towards new legislative action. We shared our own fears that we may one day have to stare down the barrel of a gun.

At the forefront of the movement was the B-CC for Gun Control group and the leaders form Moco4Change. They made the movement possible and were able to rally 2,000 kids from all over the DMV. From organizing the creation of a memorial of almost 600 white t-shirts, each representing a victim of gun violence, to setting up walkouts and lobbying events, this year’s seniors were able to touch so many people. Alongside that, seniors Malaika Bhayana, Dan Navratil, and Lee Schwartz worked tirelessly over the creation of a pamphlet called “A Citizen’s Field Guide to Gun Violence in America,” which detailed important information about gun

ownership, gun violence, and gun control. It was noticed by many U.S. leaders, including Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Jamie Raskin.

Most recently, our own school scandal made international news.

The craze following the “IB List” is well-known, as well as the actions that followed it. The senior class took charge to make our story not one of punishment, but education and change. More than 50 students volunteered to lead in-class discussions about Male and Female toxicity in the school place, and school environment. We wanted to teach our underclassmen about the power their words and actions have over each other. The story of the List was no longer who was on it or what happened, but rather how the incident points to a larger trend of toxicity in the workplace.

Our seniors were present at B-CC through a time of intense activism, and it shows. Many of us were not able to stay silent- we demanded change, and it did not go unnoticed.

Can Black Artists Be Experimental?

ILLUSTRATION BY YAEL CHIAPPORI

BY MONIQUE BOATENG AND SEMHAL NEGUSSIE I got the horses in the back, horse tack is attached, hat is matte black, got the boots that’s black to match.

These are lyrics from Old Town Road, a song by rising artist Lil Nas X. In the song, Lil Nas comedically describes the life of a cowboy.

The song captured public attention and eventually went viral, blowing up on Tik Tok and being shared by big name artists such as Justin Bieber and Will Smith. Despite its viral success, after a dispute with Billboard music, the song turned controversial. After debuting at number 19 on the Billboard country charts, Billboard decided to remove the song. Their reason: “not (embracing) enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version”.

Several artists and the general public began to condemn Billboard for removing Old Town Road, and claimed it had to do with the artist being black. Lil Nas X isn’t the first black artist to be rejected within the country music genre. At the 2016 Country Music Awards, Beyonce performed her song “Daddy Lessons” with country group The 22

Dixie Chicks. The Pop/R&B singer received backlash for her performance and ended up having it removed. The marginalization of artists such as Beyonce and Lil Nas X within the country music world has caused many to believe Billboard’s decision was driven out of anti-blackness.

Due to this pattern, it could be

race singer, considers herself to be a punk artist—not an R&B singer.

During an interview with the Fader, FKA Twigs mentioned that when she began releasing music and no one knew what she looked like, she would read comments like: “‘I’ve never heard anything like this before, it’s not in a genre,’” But then after having her picture come out

said that the general public is used to black artists staying in only one genre. Often, black musicians are confined in a box where they can’t experiment or explore. Whenever a new black artist emerges, it is assumed that they are an R&B singer or a Hip-Hop/Rap artist.

For example, FKA Twigs, a mixed

six months later, she was labeled as an R&B singer for being half black.

The constant labels and pressures make it difficult for black artists exploring different genres to succeed.

There’s also white artists such as Post Malone who considers himself to be pop, but is currently thriving and profiting under the label of a

Hip-Hop/Rap artist. From being nominated for awards in rap categories to dominating rap and pop charts, Post Malone is able to benefit from being accepted into both genres. Why can’t artists such as Lil Nas X do the same?

B-CC junior Ellie Strickland believes race plays a huge factor into what genre an artist is categorized into, considering “race plays a role in everything nowadays.”

“No genre is specifically exclusive to any race. There are stereotypes and norms and whenever someone defies that norm, it can be unsettling to people.”

Ellie believes black people can be experimental, but because of these societal norms, they’re hesitant to do so and find difficulty jump starting their careers.

To counter Billboard’s decision to remove Old Town Road, Lil Nas X released a remix of the song featuring country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. Cyrus’ stamp of approval on the song has many wondering if Billboard will consider putting the remix on the country charts and if black artists will ever have the chance of success in genres other than the ones they are socially confined to.

STYLE

King Wilkins Finishes his Four-Year Re19n

BY LEE SCHWARTZ One thing that has defined the B-CC class of 2019 is our homecoming king. I would says kings, but there has been one sole student crowned homecoming king all four years. Deemed worthy by the student masses, John Wilkins has remained our monarch for four whole years, even when homecoming court was opened up to become gender neutral in 2016.

After 2016, any combination of two students (regardless of gender or sexual orientation) could be elected homecoming court. This homecoming reform made national news, but what wasn’t covered was the ability of John Wilkins to hold his monarchy through this change and his entire high school career.

So how was he really able to maintain his reign throughout all four years of high school?

His grace confessed that there was no real secret to his success.

“I think it was after I won freshman year people were just like ‘Why not again?’ and it just lasted all four years,” he said.

As a freshman, Wilkins believed that the class of 2019 didn’t really know what was going on when homecoming court was being decided, so a few people voted for him, and it ended up being enough to get the nomination. Once he got the nomination, Wilkins said: “people just kept going with it.”

After the first two staggering wins as homecoming king, Wilkins admitted that “After [he] won twice,

[he] thought ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to go all four?’” From there, you guys know the rest. John Wilkins has remained our homecoming king for our entire four years at B-CC. After the reform to change homecoming royalty to a gender neutral court, John has seen a lot of different students serve as queens or kings throughout his reign. When asked how he feels about these different, more temporary queens and kings,

he simply says: “There have been all kinds of people with me… But I think the person every year has been completely worthy to share the crown with.” The words of a true king.

Many wonder, how was John elected so many times? Is it a huge joke everyone is in on? The answer is impossible to know. Maybe there was a silent communication in the class that John must be king all four years. Whatever it was, Wilkins delivers one last message to his loyal subjects: “I guess, thanks. For that. It was really cool to be the representative all four years.”

Though our school dances were taken away after freshman year, homecoming has persevered and helped define our B-CC experience.

Maybe not many of us showed up to homecoming this final year, but we will all hold with us the face of John Wilkins: our Homecoming King.

What’s next for Wilkins? College first. He will be starting at Bates college this fall. But after that, who knows what’s next? Maybe king of the world?

BY JASON GRAYER The class of 2019 can’t stop making history. Our grade has repeatedly stood up as student representatives and activists to voice their opinions on topics from gun control to climate change. Our class is a perfect example of how our generation of teenagers have become involved with the world outside of their school walls.

In 2017 the creation of the Museum of the Contemporary American Teenager marked a turning point in our class’s drive to make change. Months were put into the space on Wisconsin avenue, transforming it into a mosaic of our lives as teenagers. It was our chance to connect with each other, and with teenagers across America. MoCAT made national news, as did its follow-up event CoCAT where students presented talks, discussions, and panels about the topics covered in the museum. The movement had grown from an idea for a school project into an event graced with the presence of national leaders and crowded with television crews eager to let us be heard. The same drive that created MoCAT created the 2019 Toxicity Month and Muse-

um this past April. Revamping the passion that exceeded MoCAT and CoCAT, we displayed the toxic influences that we grow with as teenagers at B-CC. Beyond our museums, our discussions about Global Political Climate change and “Doomocracy”, we raised our voices through protests and walkouts. This movement has defined our life as high school students. Whether you participated or not, all students heard about the walkouts and the protests. As early as the Women’s March in 2016, B-CC students showed up and spoke out among the million other protesters there. Followed by the Climate Change walk, and our very own DMV March for our Lives in 2019.

The plethora of school shootings that had filled the weeks and months our senior year had brought out a voice that we did not know we possessed. We raised it by marching on the White House holding signs high above our heads, and by sitting in complete, chilling silence for seventeen minutes, staring sullenly into the faces of spectators and news reporters.

We showed that high school students can be listened to, that they

are not too young to take part. We helped pushed congressmen and senators towards new legislative action. We shared our own fears that we may one day have to stare down the barrel of a gun.

At the forefront of the movement was the B-CC for Gun Control group and the leaders form Moco4Change. They made the movement possible and were able to rally 2,000 kids from all over the DMV. From organizing the creation of a memorial of almost 600 white t-shirts, each representing a victim of gun violence, to setting up walkouts and lobbying events, this year’s seniors were able to touch so many people. Alongside that, seniors Malaika Bhayana, Dan Navratil, and Lee Schwartz worked tirelessly over the creation of a pamphlet called “A Citizen’s Field Guide to Gun Violence in America,” which detailed important information about gun ownership, gun violence, and gun control. It was noticed by many U.S. leaders, including Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Jamie Raskin.

Most recently, our own school scandal made international news. The craze fol-

lowing the “IB List” is well-known, as well as the actions that followed it. The senior class took charge to make our story not one of punishment, but education and change.

More than 50 students volunteered to lead in-class discussions about Male and Female toxicity in the school place, and school environment. We wanted to teach our underclassmen about the power their words and actions have over each other. The story of the List was no longer who was on it or what happened, but rather how the incident points to a larger trend of toxicity in the workplace.

Our seniors were present at B-CC through a time of intense activism, and it shows. Many of us were not able to stay silent- we demanded change, and it did not go unnoticed.

23

ILLUSTRATION BY LEE SCHWARTZ, PHOTO BY SOPHIA SAIDI

B-CC Senior Plans to hold “Boys Will Be Boys” Rally, Stirs Controversy

Double Vision

BY CALLIE WILKS, LEE SCHWARTZ, AND BENNETT SCHWARTZ

With siblings, there’s the good, the bad, and the ugly. With twins, there’s a lot more of everything. In the B-CC Class of 2019, we have a record-breaking fourteen pairs of twins graduating.

From fraternal to identical, there are twins who are joined at the hip, and some who have found their own paths. The Tattler sits down with the siblings to discuss what it’s like to be a twin, and their plans for next year. Take a look at all of the senior twins at B-CC, and maybe you’ll discover students you never knew were related.

Twins were asked: What’s it like having a twin? What’s good or bad about it?

DYLAN AND KYLE KOLLAR Next year, Dylan and Kyle are living in an apartment together and attending a community college in North Carolina “It’s like having a constant friend around who is always in your house.” (Kyle) “We’re gonna live in an apartment next year, so it’ll be fun.” (Kyle) “We speak gibberish to each other.” (Kyle) ROSE AND JANE CORCORAN Next year, Rose is going to Hamilton College, and Jane is going to Colgate University.

“I have someone to hang out with all the time, and someone I fully trust right away.” (Rose) “We are always on the same page with any joke.” (Rose) 24

“You’re always associated with your twin, and you don’t have much personal space.” (Rose) “I really don’t like being mixed up, because I hate feeling like I’m not my own person.” (Jane) “When we’re across the room I can signal her an inside joke or just a face, and she knows exactly what I’m saying.” (Jane) SARAH AND ABBY HAAS Next year, Sarah will be attending Bucknell University, and Abby is going to Marist College.

“We spend almost too much time together.”

(Abby) “At a new camp, we would always feel secure knowing we had each other, but at college we won’t have that anymore.” (Abby) “We just look at each other and know what we’re thinking. We can read each other very well.” (Sarah) DAVIES AND DAGMAWI ADMASSU Next year, the twins are both going to Salisbury University.

“With a twin, you don’t have to look for new friends cause you always have one.” (Dagmawi) “We can’t be apart, we are gonna room together at Salisbury.” (Dagmawi) “We have to share clothes, and he eats my food. Too much sharing.” (Davies) “When Davies gets sick I feel something.”

(Dagmawi)

LEE AND BENNETT SCHWARTZ Next year, Lee will be going to the University of Pennsylvania, and Bennett will attend Bucknell University.

“Being a twin means sharing everything, even your birthday.” (Lee) “We’ll be at different colleges 3 hours away from each other. I think our relationship will get better once we’re a longer distance from each other. I mean, it’s only up from here.” (Lee) “Only one twin can have a certain label, and people will hold you to them. Like only one twin is the smart twin, the athletic one, the popular one, etc.” (Lee) “I was first to walk, first to be potty trained, and first to talk.” (Lee) “Our mom used to dress us in matching outfits.” (Bennett) JENNA AND TESSA ADLER Next year, Tessa will be going to New York University, and Tessa to University of Florida.

“There’s always someone to talk to on family vacations.” (Tessa) “We are being constantly compared, it’s hard to be your own individual.” (Tessa) “Everyone is comparing you subconsciously, and you’re always seen side by side with them.”

(Jenna) “We’re not the same person at all.” (Jenna) “We always accidentally say the same thing at the same time.” (Jenna)

MILES AND DEXTER KRAUS Next year, Miles is going to the University of Kansas, and Dexter to the University of Iowa.

“We have to share money.” (Miles and Dexter) KYRA AND JENNA FEINAUER Next year, Kyra is attending St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Jenna is going to Salisbury University.

“We like being able to trick people.” (Jenna and Kyra on being identical) “Being called ‘The Twins’ and not our names.”

(Jenna and Kyra) “It’s annoying when people ask if we get ourselves confused…” (Jenna) “One time my hand was hurting all day, and I had no idea my sister had actually hurt her same hand.” (Kyra) “We finish each other’s sentences all the time.” (Jenna) SYDNEY AND COULSON HAMBLETT Next year, Sydney is going to Towson University, and Coulson to Dickinson College.

“I feel like even if we don’t talk he’s the closest person to me, and even when we go days without seeing each other we know we always have each other.” (Sydney) “Especially moving from Arizona to DC, I always knew I had a friend.” (Coulson)

“If I see him crying, I’ll start crying.” (Sydney) “We’ve never been apart for more than two weeks.” (Sydney and Coulson) “She can snitch on me whenever. Especially because we’re in the same grade, we know each other’s drama even if we don’t want each other to know.” (Coulson) “My mom would get stopped on street, and people would ask if we were identical. We are boy and girl twins--that’s not possible.” (Coulson) HONOR AND DANIEL WHITE Next year, Honor will be attending Kenyon College, and Daniel to the University of Denver.

“I enjoy having a built-in best friend, and one that covers all my shortcomings like my homework. My grades will definitely suffer next year at college.” (Daniel) “I walked first, I drove first. I’ve done a lot of firsts. I’ve beaten her in pretty much everything but school. Everything else I win.” (Daniel) “I’m gonna miss him, but at the same time I’m ready for a break.” (Honor) “Honor always wants Cava when I’m going to lacrosse practice. I hate sharing one car.” (Daniel) “The fact that my twin always relies on me for homework and classwork is annoying.” (Honor) “We did have a secret language when we were younger.” (Daniel)

ELAN AND YARDENA ESKIN Next year, Elan is going to the University of North Carolina Asheville, and Yardena to Montgomery College.

“We’re never viewed as individuals.” (Elan) “She’ll know what I’m trying to explain when I can’t find the words, and she’ll finish my sentences for me.” (Elan) JORDAN AND JAMAL YOUNG Next year, Jordan is attending Montgomery College, and Jamal is working.

“It’s cool, but at the same time annoying. You just get used to the same thing.” (Jordan) “We’re always going at it and competing.”

(Jordan) “We lose stuff and try and take each other’s.”

(Jordan) JAY AND TRINITY BURTON Next year, both twins will be attending Montgomery College.

“I’m the lazy one so Trinity can plan everything for me.” (Jay) “I gotta be the gentleman.” (Jay) AYA AND MAROUA REHAMNIA Next year, both twins will be traveling to Algeria.

25

culture

class of 2019 in LEFT PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOPHIA SAIDI

POP

BY OLIVIA ANDREASSI, VANESSA PONTACHAK, AND NIA LEVERNE The Class of 2019 has come a long way in the 13 years since we first set foot in school.

Now we are finally ready to face the world.

Here we choose the pop culture moments that shaped Gen-Z history — and in the process changed our lives — from kindergarten to 12th grade, from 2006 to now.

2006

Hannah Montana debuted on Disney Channel, introducing Miley Cyrus to the world; High School Musical series begins; Steve Irwin, also known as “The Crocodile Hunter,” dies; Google buys YouTube; Cheetah Girls 2 comes out, Facebook switches to open registration.

2007

Wizards of Waverly Place, iCarly and Keeping Up With The Kardashians series debut; Britney Spears begins her year-long breakdown; Transformers premiers; Lindsay Lohan serves 84 minutes in jail; Rihanna releases“Umbrella.”

2008

High School Musical 3 concludes the series; Heath Ledger passes away; “Apple Bottom Jeans” by Flo Rida and T-Pain; Camp Rock comes out; Iron Man 1 marks the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.

2009

Obama becomes the 44th president; Glee and Modern Family air first episodes; Avatar comes out; Kanye interrupts Taylor Swift’s award speech at the VMAs; Michael Jackson passes away; Black Eyed Peas release “Boom Boom Boom” and “I Got A Feeling.”

2011

“Friday” by Rebecca Black goes viral; Harry Potter finale; LMFAO release “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It;” Instagram app launch; Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” becomes a big hit; Avril Lavigne conspiracy; Royal wedding.

2010 26

1D forms through the X-Factor; “Baby” by Justin Bieber and “Dynamite” Taio Cruz; First Grown Ups movie debuts; Katy Perry releases the “Teenage Dream” album; Pretty Little Liars and Victorious come out; Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress; Angry Birds became the biggest time-suck of the year.

2013

“Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis; Frozen and The Hunger Games premier in theaters; Cory Monteith and Paul Walker pass away; Magcon Boys and O2L take over Vine and YouTube.

2014

Ellen DeGeneres breaks the retweets record with iconic Oscars selfie; Justin Bieber goes to jail; Flappy Bird is removed from Apple Store; Robin Williams passes away; Kim Kardashian Game launches; “Alex from Target” goes viral; #KimYe gets married.

2015

Zayn Malik leaves One Direction; Drake releases “Hotline Bling” video; Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover; “Cash me Outside” goes viral; Hamilton breaks musical barriers; “Jon Snow” cliffhanger on Game of Thrones.

2016

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt break up; Donald Trump wins the presidential election; Kylie Cosmetics launch; “Damn, Daniel” goes viral; Drake confesses his love to Rihanna at VMAs; Beyonce’s Lemonade is released; Stranger Things premiers.

2017

Beyonce’s twin pregnancy announcement; Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi Ad Debacle; Rise of the fidget spinner; 6-second video app Vine dies off; Despacito the Remix pop records; and, most importantly, Josh Peck didn’t invite Drake Bell to his wedding.

2018

Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians released; Megan Markle becomes Duchess of Sussex; Nick Jonas, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber get married; Mac Miller passes away; “Thank U, Next” debuts; Beyonce becomes first black woman to headline Coachella.

2019

Jonas Brothers return (to much fanfare); Olivia Jade and Lori Loughlin entangled in college admissions scandal; Tristan Thompson allegedly cheats with Jordyn Woods; Endgame comes out; #JamesCharlesIsOverParty trends — and then reverses.

27

RIGHT PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMILY SCHRADER

2012

Apocolypse was a no-show; “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen; Miley’s haircut; iPhone 5 comes out; “Gangnam Style” becomes a global phenomenon; 21 Jump Street; Final Twilight movie; “Starships” becomes the ultimate bop.

B-CC Prom 2019

28

29

Senior Memories and Confessions “I remember...”

Thinking the school was so big freshman year.

When I peed on the roof of the school.

Getting a nosebleed on stage during the band concert.

What the old field and bleachers looked like… and what it was like to have that space.

Playing basketball against Whitman in front of our home crowd.

The minute soccer won states last year. I swear I’ve never cheered so hard in my life.

Marching on Washington with almost the whole school.

Football games on our home field my freshman year.

The one single time we had a pep rally outside.

The school dances from freshman year — the only time we had high school dances that weren’t homecoming or prom.

The walkouts and how united students were.

Leaving school early to work on MoCAT with other kids.

Winning the homecoming football game in triple overtime my sophomore year.

Eric Guerci getting rid of finals because they were too stressful.

When Jacob Rains made homecoming royalty gender neutral.

When Mr. Orlando threw a chair at the wall.

Mrs. Dean and the endless snacks, support, and hot chocolate.

Being in the Legally Blonde production junior year.

When one time a girl [slept] in the fourth floor bathroom during class.

When I didn’t know that you can retake a quiz, since we don’t have retakes in Ethiopia. I was so confused.

What it was like coming to school the day after Trump got elected.

Dr. Jones dancing at the pep rallies.

Socratic seminars and fishbowl discussions.

When I changed every use of the word “Germany” in my history presentation to “Poop” right before my group presented.

The time a teacher had me go find her phone she left in one of the staff bathrooms. It’s amazing in there.

That I walked into the boys bathroom on my first day freshman year [because the one] by the cafeteria is switched.

That I used to take naps in the nurse’s room a lot last year.

The outrage of the switching of the student parking lots.

Students protesting removing the trees in the front lawn before the portables came.

Kids jumping the fence by East-West Highway trying to get out of school during academic support time.

Sneaking in the elevators when someone gets in or out because I hate going to the fourth floor from the second floor down.

The apple juice in the cafeteria was sometimes expired.

The trail used to define my walk to school every day, before it got removed.

Skipping my senior assembly to watch the Kavanaugh hearing in an empty classroom.

At the bus stop a kid fell off his razor scooter and called an ambulance.

Junior year when homecoming tickets actually sold out and I couldn’t go to my own homecoming.

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BACKPAGE

The Rattler: May Edition

BY WILL TENPAS

Students Still Have to Go to Cabin John MS Website to Get to Portal

Construction Site Pond Taking On Weird Flat Shape

Whitman Administrator Overthrown, Receives B-CC SGA’s Backing

Dropped HydroFlask Causes Sonic Boom in F-Wing

Two years in, and students are still having to go through the Cabin John MS website to get access to their grades, absence reports, and past transcripts.

According to one Cabin John official, the school is “pulling in over 50 grand a month from the ad rev. It’s wild bro!”

The same official stated how he “wasn’t sure why MCPS didn’t just put the link up,” but that he didn’t really care as the school “has been able to buy like five X-Boxes and a popcorn maker off the ad rev.” Google, along with the IRS and CIA Tips website, are currently in talks with Cabin John to route their websites through the middle school too.

The construction crew has been moving steadily along in their work, and have embarked on an odd new mission. As of the beginning of April, the construction team began to pour dirt into the B-CC pond, while driving a flattener around the surrounding wetlands. The whole watershed is beginning to take on an oddly flat shape that is much less exciting than what it used to be. Many fear that the dirt will kill the Great White Shark that has made the pond it’s home.

An attempted coup is quickly solidifying into true power after a Whitman 10th grade administrator, Richard Brooks, claimed the role of principal.

The principal, one Jack Frazier, has refused to cede power, despite the turmoil that has led to copier breakdowns and power outages at Whitman. An announcement made last night appears to have finally shut the door on the principal Frazier, however. The B-CC SGA announced public support of Mr. Brooks as the legitimate principal of Whitman, and would be sending Expo markers, Chromebooks, and pennies for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser in support of the new leadership. It is unclear whether this power struggle will spread to B-CC.

In a terrifying accident today, a B-CC sophomore’s dropped HydroFlask sent a sonic boom throughout the F-wing that flew into the main building too.

The sophomore, who was keeping her HydroFlask in the side netting of her NorthFace backpack, was putting on the backpack when it slipped out.

According to Eric Lin, who saw the incident, “It was as if time stopped- I could see it tumbling out of the netting, and I knew. I just knew. It was gonna be loud.” Sure enough, when the HydroFlask made contact with the floor, all hell broke loose. Damage began in the F-wing, where doors were ripped off, including the exterior doors (which allowed several late students to get in), students were slammed to the ground, and Promethean boards were torn from the walls. According to one science teacher, the damage makes sense- “the waves created from that boom have only ever been recreated with atomic bombs.” Every person in the F-wing lost their hearing, and it is unclear if it will come back. This sound is officially the loudest in B-CC history, passing over the people who bang on the second floor doors.

Senior Year, Let Me Mullet Over

BY TOM MERRITT

The sacred growth begins in the fall Lettiting it rage, I want my hair to mimic an urban sprawl The days get shorter, the flow gets longer My desire for a haircut gets stronger and stronger Through the dark ages, I persevere Until hockey season is near...

Lettuce Believe The hair starts pouring out But I still long for the days where it flows like a spout Whitman hockey benders attempt to chirp, they won’t cease Ah! The sacred hair dryer, the missing piece Yoffs are starting soon, I’m in need of a tune up “Mother!” I exclaim, “I need a clean up” Lettuce Prosper The hair is shaped up, business in front party in back I scurry off to my most trusted barber, “O Jack!”

He buzzes in the stripes, not a crooked line to be seen

“It’s done” he says, and it looks mighty clean Hockey season ends, yet the mullet isn’t nearly good enough It’s time for lacrosse season to showcase the coveted fluff Lettuce Rage The growth is the back starts to become absurd It looks like a member of a Flock of Seagulls, winter is for the birds!

Time for ‘yoffs, and time for Prom!

I head to DryBar to get it styled before the big night, everyone stay calm.

The ladies give me strange looks, “why is he here?”

Because I need my lettuce to resemble that of Shakespeare!

ILLUSTRATIONS BY BELA OMOEVA

Lettuce(let us) wait

Lettuce Bid Farewell In the back of our minds, we all knew this day would come As I head to Spiro’s barbershop in Wheaton, i’m glum As graduation nears, I have to look sharp A year filled with flowing memories, I can’t be one to harp As I prepare for my beaver pelt to be minced I say a thoughtful goodbye to my sweet prince 31

WHERE ARE OUR SENIORS OFF TO NEXT YEAR?

“Gap Year” shortened to GY

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Abdallah Ababneh Montgomery College Soren Abnet-Holden Binghamton University Ryan Acworth American University Garrick Adams Dickinson College Jenna Adler New York University Tessa Adler University of Florida Dagmawi Admassu Salisbury University Davies Admassu Salisbury University Salamatu Aduseh Montgomery College Jaime Aguilar Beacon College Sabireen Alim University of Maryland Jeremiah Alterman Lafayette College Jose Alvarado Ponce Working Victor Alvarez Ruiz Montgomery College Kwame Amankwah-Ayeh Indiana University Bloomington Nizar Amari University of Maryland Carlos Amaya Diaz Montgomery College Lucky Martha Amoding St. Lawrence University Olivia Andreassi Salisbury University Samuel Appiah Salisbury University Lindsey Archer University of Georgia Anna Armoza GY→George Washington University Hagan Ausmann Southern Methodist University Andrew Avelar Montgomery College Jose Avila University of Maryland Oluwatobiloba Ayodeji Morgan State University David Baek University of Maryland Alpha Bah University of Maryland Nicholas Bailey University of Maryland Emma Ball University of Maryland Peter Banzon University of Wyoming Amanda Baratz University of Denver John Leonard Barrios Montgomery College Julia Barton-Biegelsen Wellesley College Yasmin Behbehani University of Maryland Ryan Behr Towson University Enass O Belkhair Shepard Univerity Robert Bellinger University of Maryland Joel Beltran Montgomery College Rachel Bernal Returning to B-CC Malaika Bhayana Duke University William Birks Syracuse University Penelope Black Australia Adira Blumenthal University of Rochester Catherine Boehmer Georgetown University Douglas Bolanos University of Tampa Owen Bonk Tufts University Stella Bordon University of Miami Gabriel Botero Carnegie Mellon University Nicholas Bowers Univeristy of Florida Logan Brenan George Washington University Siobhan Brindle University of Maryland Brayden Brinson Towson University Winston Broadbell University of Maryland Maya Broadwater University of Miami Caroline Brown College of Wooster Virginia Brown Emory University Aidan Bryar Worchester Polytechnic Institute Elizabeth Budin University of Texas Austin Christopher Burns University of Maryland Henry Buron College of William & Mary Kevin Burton Jr. Working Noel “Jay” Burton Jr. Montgomery College Trinity Burton Montgomery College Ronaldo Caceres Montgomery College Angelina Camilo GY→Montgomery College Travis Cann Oberlin College Gabriella Capizzi Undecided Camila Carbajal Unknown Danae Carney University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Melissa Carr Working Alisa Forsberg University of Maryland Timothy Caryl University of Dayton Evan Fox Elon University Dora Castellon Montgomery College Rose Frank University of Rochester Gricelda Castellon Orellana Undecided Sasha Frank-Stempel George Washington University Bridget Cermeno University of Maryland Hannah Frankel Carleton College Francesco Cerrai IB Diploma Emma Franze University of Colorado Boulder Andrew Cha Stanford University Calum Fraser University of Maryland Ajuan Chappell Dean College Nia Frazier Virginia Commonwealth University Evan Charles University of Colorado Boulder Kai Freeman Temple University Miguel Chavez I Montgomery College Ellie French University of South Carolina Romeo Cherubet Montgomery College Justin Gaffney Gonzaga University Sydne’ Chesson American University Alessandro Gagarin University of Maryland Peter Choe University of California Berkeley Vinomie Galagama University of Maryland Charlotte Chorzempa University of Wisconsin Madison Malaina Galic University of Georgia Ella Chotiner James Madison University Brittney Gamez Salisbury University Anne Christie Northeastern University Leonardo Garcia Montgomery College Annais Christofides Georgetown University Rebecca Gaylin College of William and Mary Alexa Clauss Vanderbilt University Natnael Gebremariam University of Maryland Sarah Cobau University of Maryland Tenudi Genana Miami University of Ohio Benjamin Colasito Montgomery College Kalkidan Getahun Hood College Garrett Cole University of California San Diego Yanet Getaneh Montgomery College Kalin Condon University of Georgia Diba Ghaed Yale University Nyomi Cooper Towson University Daniel Gibson Montgomery College Robert Cooper Colorado School of Mines Lauren Gips Tulane University Jane Corcoran Colgate University Wince Glory Montgomery College Rose Corcoran Hamilton College Ella Goldblum Yale University Paul Coreas Towson University Nina Goldenberg United States Air Force Liam Cornwell Loyola Marymount University Samantha Goldman Brandeis University Leo Cowie Kenyon College Alexander Gonzalez Villanova University Merete Cowles University of Vermont Vanesa Gonzalez Guerrero Montgomery College Tori Creecy Oberlin College Fredy Gonzalez Martinez Working Kyra Cromwell Reed Univeristy of Maryland Julia Goodwin Pennsylvania State University Alejandro Cubillan Montgomery College Alexander Gouin Mt. St. Mary’s University Pria Dahiya Carnegie Mellon University Liam Griffin Indiana University Bloomington Tinsaye Daniel Montgomery College Tyler Groom Lebanon Valley College Cedrick Kyle De Guzman Montgomery College Samuel Grossman Towson University Jeanne Raven Dela Cruz University of Maryland Baltimore County Edwin Guevara Montgomery College Paloma Delgado Tufts University Brianna Gutierrez Montgomery College Paul Demosthene Montgomery College Melvin Gutierrez Garcia Montgomery College Luke Denbo University of Maryland Carlos Gutierrez-Coley Unknown Catalina DeSouza George Washington University Eli Guttentag University of Michigan Arnold Diaz Gomez Montgomery College Abby Haas Marist College Connor Dickinson Vanderbilt University Sarah Haas Bucknell University Chyna Dixon Montgomery College Emily Haight University of Maryland Angelo Jason Dizon Towson University Janvier Hakizimana Salisbury University Coleman Doherty St. Mary’s College of Maryland Camille Hall Stevenson University Margaret Doran University of Rochester Coulson Hamblett Dickinson College Grigoris Dore Montgomery College Sydney Hamblett Towson University Jaylah Dorsey Georgia State University Gabriella Harlow University of Tampa Angelica Dougherty Montgomery College Malak Hashem Goucher College Mary DuFour Marquette University Isabella Hauter Arizona State University Grace Duggan Drew University Emerson Hemley University of California Santa Cruz Isabel Echavarria Wesleyan University John Hemmer University of Southern California Natalie Edmonds Goucher College Liam Hennessey Montgomery College Farid El Defrawy Montgomery College Patrick Henry University of Miami Molly Elkjaer University of Toronto Thomas Herrick-Reynolds University of Maryland Maya Elwood-Dieu University of Maryland Renee Hester Northeastern University Lola Epstein University of Michigan Dushaw Hockett II Towson University Elan Eskin University of North Carolina Asheville Margaret Hodge University of San Diego Yardena Eskin Montgomery College Bethany “Sky” Holland Ithaca College Cameron Etris McDaniel College Hannah Holzer Tulane University Destiny Evans Returning to B-CC Zoe Howard Princeton University Gabriella Faccone Catholic University Stephanie Howell St. Mary’s College of Maryland Kate Farmer University of Maryland Brendan Hughes College of Charleston Jenna Feinauer Salisbury University Claire Hughto Syracuse University Kyra Feinauer St. Mary’s College of Maryland Edward Humes University of Maryland Baltimore County Rodrigo Ferreira University of Maryland Hannah Humphreys Dartmouth College Isabella Fleeger United States Coast Guard Academy Nyhiem Hylton Montgomery College Talia Fleischer Virginia Commonwealth University Lauren Jablon Elon University Christine Folivi St. Mary’s College of Maryland Owen Jacobs Rochester Insitute of Technology

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Brook Jaffe Cornell University Jason Martini Indiana University Bloomington Jeri Jaller Loyola Marymount University Jennie Mathewson Smith College Tsotne Javakhishvili University of Maryland Julia Matney University of Pittsburgh Gabriela Jeliazkov University of California Berkeley Madeline May University of Miami Oliver Jochems University of Arizona Kevin McAuliffe Vassar College Jakaylah Jones Rust College Victoria McCoy Montgomery College Zachary Jones University of Flordia Henry McCullers Bard College Roland Kahn University of Maryland Sarah McCullough Elon University Gloria Karekezi Santa Clara University Abigail McEwen University of Maryland Betheal Kassa Montgomery College Connor McGonigal Drexel Univeristy Maranata Kassahun Stevenson University Eleanor McGrath Colby College John Keeling Pennsylvania State University James McGreivy University of California at Berkeley Anna Kelleher University of Maryland Emma McMillian Washington University St. Louis Sarah Kerestesy University of Maryland Gabrielle Meisel Bates College Jacqueline Kernizan Montgomery College Graham Meisel Clemson University Ardyn Kesterman Emory University Andrea Membreno Gap Year (Working) Magdalene Khan Lynn University Julia Mencher Northwestern University Ali Kian Returning to B-CC Angie Merida Montgomery College Joshua Kiel Coastal Carolina University Ekaterina Merkulova Montgomery College Readet Kifle Montgomery College Thomas Merritt University of Wisconsin Annabelle Kim Georgetown University Nathan Messer College of William & Mary Gabriel Kirk Drexel University Kevin Millard West Virginia Univerity Julie Kloner University of California, Santa Cruz Kimia Mirala Marymount University Cassidy Knab University of Delaware Anne-Marie Mitchell Towson University Marshall Knight Temple University Ahmed Mohmad Unknown Quinn Knopp University of Colorado Boulder Lucia Montoya-Cardenas University of Colorado Boulder Dylan Kollar Working Calypso Moschochoritis University of Maryland Kyle Kollar Working Matthew Mullin University of Oklahoma Theoni Kontos Maastricht University Jameson Murray-Hiteshew Lewis and Clark College Kevin Korita Montgomery College Sudhir Murugesan University of Maryland Baltimore County Lucas Kosnik University of Florida Jacqueline Nadeau University of Maryland Michael Kovacevic U.S. Military Academy Sami Najed Montgomery College Fiona Koye University of Texas Austin Rose Napoleon Salisbury University David Kratochvil Erasmus University Rotterdam Maribel Narvaiz Lynn University Dexter Krause University of Iowa Evelyn Navarro Paredes Montgomery College Miles Krause University of Kansas Daniel Navratil Williams College Bianca Kriznik University of Delaware Nahom Negesse University of Maryland Baltimore County Sesili Kurtskhalia Republic of Georgia Caroline Neiswender University of South Carolina Kaleb Lagarde Working Cyrus Nemazee Stevenson University Ansel Laguerre Ford Montgomery College Simon Nesbitt Hobart and William Smith Colleges Phuc Lam Montgomery College Gabriela Newburgh Maryland Institute of Contemporary Art Inaya Laubach Macalester College Maizie Newman Colorado College Santiago Lazo University of Maryland Juliet Niebylski University of Michigan William Leclerc American Univerity Elsbeth Norman University of Maryland Lansing Lee, IV The Ohio State University Vesper Novak University of Vermont Alexander Leichter University of Michigan Marcello Nucci Working Lillian Lester Drexel University Charles Oakes Lewis and Clark College Rebecca Letsinger Tulane University Hanna Oestros Sweden Emily Lewis Towson University Anna O’Keefe Villanova University Ziad Lien University of Colorado Boulder Julie Olsen Carnegie Mellon University Elizabeth Liston University of California Berkeley Axel Opwis Soares Georgetown University Johana Lizama Perez Unknown Marxe Orbach Bard College Adrian Llop Iglesias Emerson College Joel Orellana Amaya Montgomery College Micaylah Loebig Savannah College of Art and Design Judith Oshman St. Mary’s College of Maryland Monique Lopez Montgomery College Youssef Othman University of Maryland Baltimore County Willy Lopez Returning to B-CC Justin Packs Tufts University Pablo Lopez Fernandez Northeastern University Anton Pagano LUISS Guido Carli Miriam Lorber Northeastern University Jenica Palo University of Maryland Matthew Lorenzetti Gap Year Elsi Parada Urquilla Montgomery College Joseph Lostumbo Berklee College of Music Lorenzo Parkins Purdue University Grayson Loudermilk University of Georgia Duncan Patchin Champlain College Jack Loughlin Southern Methodist University Logan Paterson Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mary Lucas Towson University Samantha Paul Towson University Marcelo Luna Summer Graduate Leah Pegg Whittier College Abigail Macher Brown University Julia Pekala University of California Santa Barbara Alexander Macuch Miami University of Ohio Lucas Perrier IB Diploma Michael Madrigal Gap Year Ayana Perry Towson University Nadiyah Madyun Pennsylvania State University Ella Persson University of Washington Connor Maginnis Syracuse University John Nicholas Petro Returning to B-CC Douglas Malcolm University of Maryland Baltimore County James Pfaff University of Michigan Kate Manyin Bryn Mawr College William Philpott University of Pittsburgh Felix Marchler University of Maryland Baltimore County Rachelle Pinchinat Montgomery College John Marder Tufts University Olivia Pineda University of Wisconsin Artemis Margaronis Boston University Anna Pinkerton Princeton University Irving Marroquin Servellon Working Victor Platzer University of British Columbia Ryan Martinage Worcester Polytechnic Institute Maxim Pokrovsky Montgomery College

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Daniel Poliquin United States Navy Specialist James Springer Fordham University Vanessa Pontachack University of Maryland Nicholas Spurney Ohio State University Andrei Popov University in Romania Nicholas Steele Clarkson University Keiry Portillo Montgomery College Jason Stein Salisbury University Corinne Powell Duquesne University Ryan Story Montgomery College Madison Powers University of Maryland Mahina Stuart Waseda University Aradhana Prabhala New York University Abel Suarez Touzon George Washington University Isis Quintano Villanueva Unknown Mariana Sucre Puga University of Colorado Boulder Summer Raheem Pennsylvania State University Conrad Sunter Pennsylvania State University Eric Ramos Montgomery College Julia Suomela University of Wisconsin Madison Kyle Ramos Goucher College Jessica Svagdis University of Vermont Marvin Ramos Castro Montgomery College Max Szostak Harvey Mudd College Nea Ranganathan Gap Year Behrad Talayeminaei George Mason University Annissa Raymond Malcolm University of Miami, Florida Biruk Tamiru University of Maryland Aya Rehamnia Algeria Merak Tandon Digipen Institute of Technology Maroua Rehamnia Algeria Charles Taylor IV University of Maryland Sofia Rehrig Kenyon College Earl Taylor III University of Maryland Baltimore County Colleen Riley James Madison University Julia Taylor University of Miami Michael Riley Marist College Kaitlin Taylor Montgomery College Jack Robinson University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Benian Tecle Montgomery College Amanda Roche University of Vermont William Tenpas Duke University Danielle Rockman University of Maryland Erik Ter-Gabrielyan University of Maryland Khana Rodrigo Montgomery College Hermon Tesfatsion University of Maryland Camilla Rojas Arizona State University Salem Tesfay Morgan State University Dario Rojas IB Diploma Hozoua “Favor” Tety Towson University Camille Rood American University Elizeah Tharani Institute of Culinary Education Hasin Rosales Salisbury University Garmani Thein University of Maryland Bonaccorso Rosselli Del Turco Syracuse University Eva Thomas Barnard College Sydney Rowan University of California Santa Barbara Abigail Toro University of Maryland Denis Sabillon Zelaya Summer Graduate Joshua Townes Morgan State University Nadia Sadqi University of Maryland Nils Townsend University of Maryland Philip Saguil University of Southern California Christina Trnkus Saint Mary’s College of Maryland Sophia Saidi Brown University Liam Tsang New York University Mariana Salas American University Thomas Turi Southern Methodist University Jolie Saltzman University of Maryland Adrianna Van Houten Spain Jeremiah Samuel University of Maryland Piero Vasquez University of Miami Amalia Sanches American University Alexander Veiga Malta Australia Brian Sanchez Unknown Jordan Ventura Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg Elizabet Santana Soto Unknown Caroline Villacis University of Central Florida Asaiah Sasser Towson University Daniel Villalobos-Campos Dusquesne University Leo Savain Howard University Fernando Villarroel Stevenson University Evan Scarupa GY→University of Rochester Leslie Villatoro Montgomery College Corin Scheig University of Maryland Laura Wade United States Air Force Academy Phoebe Schindler Hood College Gabriela Walker University of Alabama Rachel Schlager University of Michigan Donovan Wallace Montgomery College Nicola Schmidt University of Toronto Owen Walsh Sewanee University Of The South Caitlyn Schneider George Mason University Dallas Washington Montgomery College Emily Schrader Stanford University Elijah Webb University of Maryland Sannah Schrijver Gap Year Dalevon Wells Montgomery College Bennett Schwartz Bucknell University Samuel Welsh Beacon College Lee Schwartz University of Pennsylvania Giandra West Jackson State University Fatima Sebti Montgomery College Daniel White University of Denver Elizabeth Sharkey Clemson University Honor White Kenyon College Somya Sharma-Holt Salisbury University John Wilkins Bates College Liam Sherer Florida Institute of Technology Caroline Wilks College of Charleston Marissa Sherman University of Wisconsin Madison Raiden Williams Towson University Gregory Sheyn McGill University Samantha Willis University of Maryland Hanna-Sophia Shine University of Maryland Daniel Woodward Macalaster College David Shusterman University of Maryland Hannah Workneh University of Maryland Amen Siyoum Towson University Isaac Wright IV Montgomery College Siany Small Pennsylvania State University Majalene Wright University of Georgia Derek Smegal Colorado Boulder Christian Yancey Montgomery College Channing Smith Montana State University Angela Yepez University of Maryland Ethan Smith Returning to B-CC Hermella Yohannis University of Maryland Baltimore County Justin Smith Tulane University Cameron Young University of Maryland Rachel Smith University of Arizona Jamal Young Working Aidan Smyth Washington University St. Louis Jordan Young Montgomery College Hunter Soderlund Montgomery College Raul Zambrano Parsons School of Design Mariamawit Solomon Salisbury University Carlos Zarin Pennsylvania State University Luis Solorzano, Jr. Montgomery College Jessica Zehner Colgate University Gwyneth Sonneveldt Clark University Leult Zinah Stevenson University Anna Soopper Elon University Sage Spalter Tufts University Clayton Spendley University of Edinburgh Andrew Spiro Undecided Martha Spletzer Carnegie Mellon University

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l l A F olks! s ’ t a h T

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