The Highlander Cub Edition

The

Highlander Cub Edition Volume LX • Issue 7 • June 2016 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com• @MHSHighlander

How young voters are changing the political climate

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CONTENTS NEWS

OPINIONS

3 4

18

Final projects are better than final exams

19

Stress Less Week: Is it enough?

20

Girls should ask guys out

21

FCPS should sponsor middle school sports

FCPS 2017 budget adopted LGBT+ rights in public schools

FEATURES 5

Ben Miller builds an MLG foundry

6

Dylan Wedan writes novel Who knows Naima Chambliss the best?

Lies my parents told me

7 8 9

10 Qs with Zach Kjeldsen

IN-DEPTH 10-11

Political discourse evolves at McLean

16

SPORTS 22 23 24 25

Phip Waugh excels on the ice Dance battle hero Geoffrey Goldenhorn Athlete of the Issue: Riley Simon

21

The Finish Line

A&E 12

McLean junior nominated for Cappie

13 14 15

Ali Ghosn performs for YouTube star

16

Captian America: Civil War review

17

Up-and-coming McLean musicians create an album

Jule Vera Q&A Music festivals on the rise

4

9

12

23

Dear Highlanders, As the 2015-2016 school year wraps up and summer draws near, the Journalism 1 students of McLean hope you have enjoyed the school year, and we are honored to present this edition of The Highlander to you.

Be sure to check out our Features section to catch up with Mr. Wedan and the progress he is making on his book.

This issue’s In-Depth focuses election, as well as politics at candidates target young voters, social media on politics and the millenial voters.

on the 2016 McLean, how the impact of importance of

The A&E section in this edition details what Highlanders need to know if they plan on attending music festivals this summer, as well as new music coming straight from McLean’s students.

We welcome any feedback you wish to provide for us, and we hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed the opportunity to work on it.

Many of us look forward to writing for you in the coming years!

Highlander

The

Letter from the Editors

Volume LX • Issue 7 • June 2016 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com• @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101

Editors-in-Chief

Alexandra Mandanas & Robbie Denton

Managing Editors

Alex Dutt & Tyler Grobman

Design Editor

Samantha Morgan

Copy Editor

Imani McCormick

Advertising Manager

Caleb Roderiques

Section Editors News Editors

Konstantinos Matheoudakis & Imani McCormick

Opinions Editors

Olivia Powell & Caitlin Renstrom

Features Editors

Anahita Atashi & Sabine Awad

A&E Editors

Graham Schmidt & Alyssa Cuco

Sports Editors

Miranda Johnson & Imani McCormick

Reporters Nilufer Ates Anahita Atashi Sabine Awad Alyssa Cuco Robbie Denton Alex Dutt Tyler Grobman Miranda Johnson Amanda LaPorte Adviser

Catherine Lawrence Alexandra Mandanas Kon Matheoudakis Imani McCormick Samantha Morgan Olivia Powell Caitlin Renstrom Caleb Roderiques Graham Schmidt Lindsay B. Benedict

Sincerely,

Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions.

Alexandra Mandanas, Robbie Denton & the students of Journalism 1

Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate.

To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133.

The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 First Class; Hall of Fame

Cover by Amanda LaPorte, Ingrid Morse, Alexandra Mandanas & Imani McCormick

‘15 Gold Crown Winner; ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15 CSPA Gold Medalist ‘15 International First Place; ‘14 George H. Gallup Award

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NEWS

School board adopts 2017 budget

Budget includes $40 million for teacher salaries, parking fees will not increase Melanie Pincus Editor-in-Chief n May 26, the Fairfax County School Board adopted the fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget. The new budget’s top priorities are increasing employee compensation and reducing elementary school class sizes.

School board chair Pat Hynes said the new budget will make teacher salaries more competitive.

“What is still intact in our proposed budget is...a $40 million investment in teacher salaries [that will] bring our teacher salaries halfway to market average,” Hynes said.

Because of FCPS’s failure to follow through on projected salary increases for nearly a decade, teachers like former McLean English teacher Lori Wagoner have left Fairfax County, and recruiting new teachers has become more difficult.

Hynes said Fairfax County started the school year with an unprecedented number of vacancies.

“At the beginning of this school year we had...200 classroom positions that were not filled,” Hynes said. “That’s historic.”

Physics teacher Dean Howarth said teachers have grown more vocal about their concerns since Dr. Karen Garza became FCPS’s superintendent in 2013.

“The superintendent started hearing from the teachers that this is just unsustainable. The good teachers are going to leave because they’re not getting paid, the people who are going to come in are going to be lesser quality because all the districts around us pay better,” Howarth said.

Hynes said the school board will likely stay away from increasing parking fees and instating AP/IB exam fees next year.

Programs like freshman sports are safe, but the board has no immediate plan to address large high school class sizes.

“I think we need to take a look at our class sizes in high school more, because we focus on elementary...but it’s also not okay to have a core class in high school over 30, I think. But we’re not going to be able to do anything about that this year,” Hynes said.

Community advocacy, according to

O

NEWS

Despite these increases,

$15 million

gap between the school board’s proposed budget and its actual funding remains

FY 2017 BUDGET

$16.8 million

$33.6 million

increase in funding from the Fairfax County BOS

increase in funding from the Virginia General Assembly

Hynes, is important in encouraging the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) and the Virginia state government to increase funding to the school system.

“Most of these grassroots advocates were busy parents, and they took the time to learn all the ins and outs of a $2.7 billion budget,” Hynes said. “They went ahead and got involved in the sometimes ugly politics of school funding in Virginia, and they did incredible organizing, [sent] thousands and thousands of emails, [planned] rallies [and got] good news coverage.”

In her statement on the BOS’s passage of the new budget, FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza thanked these community advocates.

“I am grateful for the widespread community support we have received and thank all parents, friends, and families of FCPS who raised their voices in support of full funding for FCPS,” Garza said in the statement. “The tireless commitment of these supporters was critical to #savefcps and to secure the future excellence of FCPS.” Hynes said community advocates should now shift their focus to promoting the creation of a meals tax in Fairfax County.

“The reality is we’re not there; with this new investment we are going to be able to get our teacher salaries halfway to market, but that means we still have further to go,” Hynes said. “The county needs a more diverse and more stable revenue base, and a meals tax will do that for us.”

A meals tax would apply to food purchased at restaurants, and it will be

proposed as a referendum on election day in November for the first time since 1992.

“The business community is already rallying against it; they’re hiring sort of like lobbyists to come in and put posters up and say, ‘Vote no for the meals tax’ to try to convince people in this area that somehow it’s going to ruin jobs,” Howarth said.

Hynes said Arlington, Alexandria, Vienna, Herndon and the City of Fairfax all already have a meals tax.

“There’s an estimate that as much as 30 percent of the meals that are bought in Fairfax County are bought by people who don’t live here, so it’s a way to bring in [revenue], and Arlington definitely takes advantage of that,” Hynes said.

Howarth said the meals tax would create a reliable source of revenue for the county to support the schools.

“So far, even though there’ve been successes that have gotten the school system out of the ICU, it’s definitely still sick, so there’s a lot riding on that referendum,” Howarth said.

Failing to vote for a meals tax would mean supporting the continuation of FCPS’s budget struggles, according to Howarth.

“If you just keep sitting back and going, ‘Oh, I can go to Tysons Corner and have no tax on my steak dinner,’ it’s like fiddling while Rome is burning,” Howarth said.

“If the community says, ‘Nope we don’t want to pay any more taxes,’...[they] have nobody to blame but [themselves]. And that’s what I worry about.”

Page design by Bryan Chung

3

Schools discuss LGBT+ rights

National conversations about LGBT+ rights affect McLean Caitlin Renstrom Cub Opinions Editor

I

n March of this year, North Carolina passed House Bill Two (HB2), also known as the “Bathroom Bill,” to overrule a Charlotte Ordinance extending certain rights to LGBT+ individuals.

The implications of such legislation extend to public schools. At McLean, not all students feel included and informed in the conversation about LGBT+ rights.

“I feel like there really is no discussion on trans issues in school. It’s a very subtle thing everyone thinks about because it’s in the news a lot, especially because of the bathroom law in North Carolina,” sophomore Katherine Lan said. “[In] my experience, I’ve never really heard of any issues or bullying that’s occurred due to it.”

Others, like sophomore Carmen Beadie, who identifies as agender, are directly affected by conversations about gender identity.

“It is scary to use the right bathrooms and it’s even worse to be misgendered by peers and educators,” Beadie said.

In part because of the rallies and protests that have occurred in response to HB2, awareness for LGBT+ rights has increased recently. Beadie said schools can take action to increase awareness about different gender identities.

“I believe a good way to raise awareness is simply to inform teachers and students

about what it means to be genderqueer.

The topic is brushed over in health class.

I believe it should be more thorough and include other sexualities than gay or straight,” Beadie said. “With the right awareness, things can change for LGBTQIA kids at McLean.”

In Fairfax County, individual schools handle accommodations for gender nonconforming students. Tara Dwyer, sponsor of McLean’s Gay Straight Alliance, worked with Principal Ellen Reilly last year to establish a gender neutral bathroom in response to concerns voiced by GSA members. The designated bathroom is located near Dwyer’s room, B167.

“There are a good number of students here that have voiced wanting a genderneutral bathroom, and it benefits students for other reasons as well,” Dwyer said.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states that no student in the U.S. can be denied the right to participate in school activities or receive benefits because of their gender. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX applies to transgender and gender nonconforming students.

In May, President Obama issued a directive instructing schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.

In response, 11 states announced on May 25 that they are suing the Obama

49%

of transgender students report physical abuse

58.7%

have suffered verbal harrassment because of their gender identity

41%

have attempted suicide Statistics obtained via Trans Students Educational Services

administration.

“Defendants have conspired to turn workplaces and educational settings across the country into laboratories for a massive social experiment,” the complaint said.

Guidelines like those issued by the Department of Education and the current legal battle over Obama’s directive ensure the conversation about LGBT+ rights in schools and beyond will continue.

Rally for Rights—In 2013, a rally supporting transgender rights and safety laws took place in New York City. The rally was in support of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. (Photo obtained via honda.house.gov)

Page design by Caitlin Renstrom

4

JUNE

FEATURES

Senior burns it up Ben Miller brings heat to STEM with metal foundry

Anahita Atashi Cub Features Editor

W

hen walking down the end of the blue hallway, the sounds of hammers banging and the grinding of power tools can only mean one thing: McSTEM is hard at work. Senior Ben Miller uses this class to his advantage by building objects that are used by construction workers or in factories. Miller has taken STEM for only two years but has managed to build numerous complex things.

“Ben goes above and beyond in his regular assignments and his outside projects,” STEM teacher Cara Mosley said.

Miller recently managed to build a foundry, a workshop for casting metal, which took him approximately one year to make in addition to constructing an arc furnace. This foundry can melt nearly all metals, except steel. Foundries and arc furnaces are typically used in steel mills to melt metals. Miller’s arc furnace can

reach up to 6,000 degrees, and it is able to melt more metals. Miller took apart microwaves and used their transformers to build the arc furnace.

“Ben is really creative and loves what he does,” sophomore Jack Reed said.

Dealing with the materials to build these things can be tricky, especially with a younger brother around.

“While I was using the foundry, I had lighter fluid and some charcoal during the snowstorm at 12:30 a.m. I put it out in my backyard and lit it, waiting for it to warm up, and my brother and his friends were in the backyard too and grabbed a board and used all my lighter fluid to try to light it on fire in the middle of the snow,” Miller said. Fortunately for him, the fire went out because of the snow.

As a sophomore, Miller took computer science and put his building skills to the test by building computer software.

Although he was good at computer

science, he felt that he needed to have a more hands-on experience.

“I was good at it but I didn’t really like it,” Miller said. That’s when he made his transition to STEM for his junior year.

Miller’s journey does not stop here. He has applied to the University of Vermont and Drexel University, which are known for their engineering programs. During his college years, he would like to pursue studies in electrical engineering and minor in mechanical engineering.

“If Ben chooses to do engineering in college, I think he’d be a phenomenal engineer one day,” Mosley said.

Although Miller is not sure of what he wants to do as a job after college, inventing is his passion and he hopes to become an inventor one day.

“I wanna do something no one else has done, and I want to do my own things in life, and I feel like inventing is free and you don’t have to listen to anyone,” Miller said.

It’s lit—Ben Miller shows how his foundry works in a four-step process by melting a metal can.

FEATURES

Photos by Sam Gollob Page design by Anahita Atashi & Ingrid Morse

5

History teacher creates a ‘knight’ to remember

Dylan Wedan writes a book about the Dark Ages chapters I’ve written,” Wedan said.

Time management is not an easy task while trying to keep a stable job and n the era of taking selfies, loving pursue a passion.

Starbucks and following the careers “If I have a lot of time on my hands, I of celebrities like Justin Bieber, a young will sit down and write and slowly make man has emerged from the shadows to my way through,” Wedan said. “If I have bring originality back to this generation. less time on my hands, I can’t really write His name is Dylan Wedan, World History because I am really slow at writing, so I I and AP U.S. History teacher. Wedan is will mostly work on things like notes— incorporating his authentic thoughts and story notes or character notes or plotting. emotions into an epic medieval fantasy I do some writing during the school year, novel. but most of it I do in the summer.”

When Wedan was in seventh grade, His currently untitled book takes place he began writing what would eventually during medieval times within a fantasy become his first novel about the medieval realm in an empire with military and times. He worked on it for five years, until political corruption. The main character his mother accidentally deleted his draft. is a young knight who is going through Wedan toiled with some new ideas for an internal spiritual journey while a couple years that led him to his current experiencing a harsh reality. novel. Wedan has been working on it for “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to two and a half years, and he hopes to charge horseback into battle against evil finish in the next year and a half.

Viking sorcerers,” said Hudson Evans, “[I don’t have] a good [writing] process. a friend of Wedan’s. “I think the plot I have this document on the internet, on will be great. The thing about [Wedan’s] Google Docs, of hundreds of pages of typed writing is that he is primarily interested notes. Then, I have various documents in the emotional and moral adventures saved online in my Dropbox of different of his characters.” Wedan and Evans have been friends since their freshman year in college in 2003.

Wedan’s characters channel his thoughts about issues he finds important. Wedan said he is an emotional person, and he feels that writing a book enables him to explore the meaning behind the various joyous and challenging parts of life.

“Part of why I wanted to write it is to explore things I think about and things I feel. There are a couple different characters, or main characters, who have points of view in the book, Hard at Work—Dylan Wedan works on and I definitely try to his novel in Google Docs. Wedan has been bring in the things I think working on his book for two and a half years. about regarding politics or Imani McCormick Cub Sports/News Editor

I

(Photo by Imani McCormick)

philosophy or morality, all these things, into my characters’ lives,” Wedan said.

Freshman Kelly Zhang, who has Wedan for World History I, said Wedan’s distinctive personality will allow him to paint a vivid picture of each character. “[Wedan’s] personality is so different.

At times he’ll be super, super serious, and at times he’ll be really funny. I think he might do that with his characters, too,” Zhang said. “Every person will be really different in his book, and you can kind of see different sides of him inside those characters.”

Much of Wedan’s inspiration comes from the novels he read as a teenager along with his experiences as a teacher. He grew up reading book series such as The Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Prydian.

As a teacher, doing research for lessons provided him with the idea to write about medieval times.

“When I am researching either for my book or for class they kind of reinforce each other. So, I will get ideas or a better understanding of the ancient world through my research for my book, or I will get ideas for my book while researching for class,” Wedan said.

Although being a teacher has helped Wedan maintain a constant flow of ideas, he does not have as much time as he would like to finish this novel in a reasonable amount of time. The public does not have much to look forward to in the future unless they are one of Wedan’s close friends or a family member.

Evans said he sees a bright future for Wedan and much success to come from writing this novel. Eventually, Evans said he believes Wedan could even create a series with the off-chance of reaching a worldwide success level comparable to that enjoyed by the popular series Game of Thrones.

“On one hand Mr. Wedan loves teaching.

He loves history and his students,” Evans said. “On the other hand, Mr. Wedan loves writing, fantasy and going to coffee shops.

If he believed he could provide for himself through writing, I think he would become a full-time writer.”

Page design by Imani McCormick

6

FEATURES

Only one can win

Who knows Naima Chambliss the best?

Anahita Atashi & Samantha Morgan Cub A&E Editor & Cub Design Editor

E

nglish teachers Naima Chambliss and Jennifer Beasley are close friends. “I know her like the back of my palm,” Beasley said. Chambliss thinks that sophomore Paulina DeAnda is the student who knows her the best.

So who knows Chambliss better, her student or her friend?

Naima Chambliss

Jennifer Beasley

Paulina DeAnda

Pink

Pink

Purple

Does Ms. Chambliss have any pets?

HECK NO!!!

NO, OH GOD NO!

NO. NO!

How many Uggs does Ms. Chambliss own?

22

20

More than 13

How often does Ms. Chambliss get her nails done?

Every two weeks

Every two weeks

Every week and a half

A manatee

Oh my god, I don’t know... a dolphin?

Tiger or a lion?

What is Ms. Chambliss’ favorite color?

If Ms. Chambliss had a spirit animal, what would it be?

Chambliss was not shocked by the results of the interviews. “I am not surprised; as much as I love [Paulina], she pays no attention to me,” Chambliss said.

FEATURES

7

Highlanders share lies their parents told them Five students reveal the truth

Olivia Powell Cub Opinions Editor

“My parents assured me that the tooth fairy and Santa were real, even after I told them I knew. They led me on until the 7th grade.”

-Junior Miles Collins

“My dad convinced me I was allergic to kiwis for 10 years because he didn’t like the taste of them.”

-Junior Geoffrey Goldenhorn

“That my brother was adopted—it was a prank on all of us one year.”

-Senior Jade Smith

“I went on a trip to Germany as a kid, and my brother was being really loud, so my parents told us that yelling was illegal in Germany. My brother hardly spoke that trip.”

-Junior Heidi Deger “That they loved me.”

-Sophomore Zita Venetianer

T

he truth comes out with these five McLean students who share the funniest lies their parents told them while they were growing up.

8

Page design by Olivia Powell & Carlyn Kranking

JUNE

10 Qs with

Zach Kjeldsen

(Special Education Teacher & Assistant Lacrosse Coach)

By Alex Dutt & Caleb Roderiques Page design by Bryan Chung Photos by Caleb Roderiques & courtesy of Kent Arnold & Ellen Reilly

If you had to be a mix between two animals, which two would you choose?

Pick two celebrities to be your parents.

Kanye West & Kim Kardashian.

If you could get away with one crime, what would it be?

I would fill a Chipotle water cup with soda.

I would have to go with a mix between a falcon and a polar bear.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Tell us about your professional paintball career.

Coaching lacrosse while running for president.

It was the best thing I’d never do again.

You are stranded on a deserted island with three things. What do you have?

My dog, my lacrosse stick and an Iron Man suit.

If you could take any celebrity out for one night, who would it be?

Scarlett Johansson.

How would you spend one million dollars?

What song best describes you?

I’d put it all on black.

“All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled.

If you had to lose one of your five senses, which would you lose?

I have a dog who likes to eat everything, so I could do without my sense of smell.

FEATURES

9

Political discourse evolves at McLean

IN-DEPTH

How young voters are changing the political climate Nilūfer Ates, Tyler Grobman, Amanda LaPorte & Alexandra Mandanas

A

key voter demographic has made its presence known in this election: millennials. The younger members of the electorate, those born between the mid-1980s and early 2000s, are engaging with this election on a range of media platforms. This voting population includes high school students who have recently reached voting age.

Presidential candidates have embraced the use of new media platforms, especially social media, to target students. The movement toward connecting with young voters has helped spark increased political activism among adolescents.

The combination of the intimacy social media forges and the passionate idealism of youth amplifies millennial voices, making them a prominent force in American politics.

From the creation of politically charged clubs to the participation in political discourse inside and outside of classrooms, McLean students are immersed in political activism. Additionally, external variables, such as proximity to the nation’s capital and parents with government jobs, foster an ideal environment for political involvement at McLean.

Politics at McLean As student interest in politics has increased, numerous clubs have emerged at McLean to establish a healthy atmosphere for political discourse and provide a platform for students to divulge their opinions.

McLean’s Young Democrats club is rooted in support for political advocacy.

The group contributes to the political climate of McLean by promoting student voices and encouraging civil political discussions.

The IDEAL Club offers students an outlet to express their opinions and converse the importance of the democratic 10

system. The club serves as a platform for students of all political affiliations and they meet regularly to discuss current events.

Club president senior Michelle Ma said members of the club leave their opinions at the door and work to hear political views opposed to their own.

“The [IDEAL Club] is all about no judgment. Students come to talk about political issues with each other, no matter their political preference,” Ma said.

Clubs aren’t the only place for political discourse at McLean. Classrooms are able to foster a healthy and safe environment for discussion and exploration of current events.

Many teachers at McLean, especially government teachers, connect current events to their lessons. These connections serve as an academic catalyst, while also promoting an environment in which political activism can prosper. According to government teacher Ian Howell, political activity occurs when individuals feel their voice can make a difference.

“It is a matter of ‘do people connect with the relevance of the activity?’ If they don’t find that doing anything is relevant, then they will typically not do it,” Howell said.

Senior Adam O’Connell, president of the Young Republicans club, said students should acknowledge the impact of politics on their lives.

“Students need to realize that [politics] will affect everyone, including them,” O’Connell said.

Social Movements and Social Media In a poll of 200 McLean students, more than half said they consider social justice issues to be important for America’s future. In recent years, social justice movements have affected American society. Movements such as Black Lives

Matter and third-wave feminism have united minority groups in the hopes of creating long-term change in society.

“It is very important that minorities have a chance to express their beliefs. This allows them to watch and be encouraged by the change they’re responsible for,” freshman Emily O’Keefe said.

When minorities are inspired to take a stand against perceived injustice, they expand their platform, allowing young voices to make more of an impact.

The legalization of gay marriage in all 50 states in 2015 would have not been possible if it weren’t for the gay rights movement behind it. Activists and lobbyists garnered the attention of politicians and pushed pro-LGBT+ legislation, and eventually significant legislative changes took place.

In recent years, politicians have jumped onto the social justice bandwagon to appeal to young voters.

Political reforms have increasingly become influenced by millennials over the past eight years. Many aspects of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ platform appeal to millennial voters. His policy on free public colleges and universities and his plan to decrease student loan interest, for example, are attractive to a number of young people.

Candidates have also embraced social media to engage with young voters. Twitter provides an easy way for candidates to express their opinions, engage with their opposition and connect with voters.

“I use my Twitter to stay informed on current political issues going on, especially like the upcoming election,” Ma said.

The immediate gratification of up-tothe-minute news and humorous quips about candidates’ mishaps are powerful, and they have a large influence.

According to a poll conducted by Refuel Agency, a marketing firm, more JUNE

than one-third of 18-24 year olds say that comments read on social media would have the most influence on their choice to vote. Twitter represents a smorgasbord of strong opinions. Political activism can flourish in this extreme environment.

Politics’ infiltration of social media by

anything that happens to you and you have no right to complain,” Howell said.

“Virtually everything that directs your well-being is from some sort of democratic source. Whether it is clean water [or] birth control [or] retirement—it is all connected to democratic choice. If you are not

and practice the duties, rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society.”

Engaging in advocacy by campaigning, attending rallies, tweeting, participating in political conversation and voting is beneficial to our society.

“What is the point of democracy if you are not politically active? If you are not politically active, you have no control over anything that happens to you and you have no right to complain. … Virtually everything that directs your well-being is from some sort of democratic source. Whether it is clean water [or] birth control [or] retirement—it is all connected to democratic choice. If you are not involved, then you are just being used.”

-Government teacher Ian Howell

both politicians and young people broaden the horizon of political advocacy.

Being a Democratic Citizen “Our country is shaped by the people.

We are a democracy, meaning that, when it comes down to it, all of us have a say in politics,” O’Keefe said.

Political activism by all citizens is imperative to maintaining the foundation of the democratic process.

“What is the point of democracy if you are not politically active? If you are not politically active, you have no control over

involved, then you are just being used.”

The influence of millennials in this election cycle cannot be ignored. No matter which candidate they stand behind, young voters are staking their claim in the American political system. There are many ways for students to get more involved in politics.

“Students should do volunteering, internships and, most importantly, vote,” O’Connell said.

One of FCPS’s Student Achievement Goals is to teach students to “know

Who Highlanders Support

42% 42%

Who do Highlanders support?

27%

15%

“[Political activism] gives [us] the opportunity to think about our future in America,” O’Connell said.

Focus on the future is a major motivation for young people to become politically involved. The American youth shouldn’t be afraid to speak up and demand change.

Regardless of the final results of the 2016 election, this period in time serves as a mark of the increasing socio-political influence of the millennial generation.

Which issue is most important to McLean students?

16% ?

Sanders Clinton Trump None Poll of 200 students Poll taken before entrance of Gary Johnson

IN-DEPTH

Page design by Bryan Chung, Imani McCormick & Sabrein Gharad

11

A&E

Tori Garcia takes center stage

Junior nominated for Cappie for role in TheatreMcLean’s Cinderella Alexandra Mandanas Cub Editor-in-Chief

J

unior Tori Garcia has been nominated for a Cappie in the Featured Actress category for her role in TheatreMcLean’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and as any theater kid knows, this is a big deal.

Cappies is a program focused on recognizing and awarding high school theater talent. High school critics see shows within their chapter and review them. Toward the end of the year, they nominate entrants to win awards within specific categories. One student from each category is announced as the winner at the Cappies Gala for the Cappies’ National Capital Area branch, which will take place on June 12.

“To be considered for Featured Actress is a huge honor, just because it covers plays and musicals. [Also,] Featured Actress is the cameo [role, so] you have to make an impact [from] your very limited amount of time,” said Phil Reid, theater teacher and director of TheatreMcLean’s production of Cinderella.

Garcia received rave reviews for her performance as Lady Pinkleton, Prince Topher’s prim and proper herald. However, Garcia’s road to playing Pinkleton was arduous. Stepping in for the original Pinkleton, who was initially a male character, Garcia underwent a gender and octave change as a result.

Fortunately, her optimistic attitude paid off, and Garcia will be headed to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to be recognized at the gala. Garcia said she has been interested in performing for most of her life.

“I think I discovered my passion [for performing] when I was very young. My mom has tons of pictures of me putting on costumes and performing in my living room when I was around five years old,” Garcia said.

Garcia said she first realized she wanted to professionally pursue theater on a family vacation to New York in 2009.

“The first time I went to New York and I saw Wicked on Broadway, I turned to my 12

mom and I said, ‘I want to do that! I want to do that for the rest of my life,’” Garcia said.

According to Garcia, Cinderella was a good challenge for the whole cast and crew. However, Garcia said she had an easy adjustment to the new director, Reid, and producer, Chip Rome, as well as to the freshmen.

“My directors always say it’s more about the process than the product,” Garcia said.

Garcia said she will continue pursuing theater in college. “[Performing] gives me a path that I

can take to go to college. I want to major in musical theater, so in that aspect, it’s changing my whole life, and it’s something I want to pursue for the rest of my life,” Garcia said.

Garcia aims to perform on Broadway one day. In college, she said she will also pursue a degree in theater education. Her ultimate goal is to be happy and satisfied in whatever she does.

“To do theater you have to be a very passionate person,” said junior Emily Swett, a friend of Garcia’s, “and I think Tori is that.”

Having a Ball—Tori Garcia sings the ensemble number “The Prince is Giving a Ball” as Lady Pinkleton, Prince Topher’s herald. Garcia was nominated for a Cappie for this performance. (Photo courtesy of Jay Buckner)

Page design by Jake Barnett & Melanie Pincus

JUNE

ROCKING OUT— Members of Jule Vera perform “You Can’t Mess It Up” during their performance at Fillmore Silver Spring on Feb. 19. (Photo by Alyssa Cuco)

Q&A with Jule Vera Catching up with the Alabama-based band Alyssa Cuco Cub A&E Editor

A

nsley Newman, 19, Jake Roland, 20, Will Stacey, 22, and Kyle “Hogarth” Horvath, 23, make up the female-fronted alternative band Jule Vera. In the past year they’ve been on Warped Tour, the Gravity Tour with Against the Current and most recently in 2016, the Black Cat Tour with Never Shout Never. They are currently touring with As It Is in the UK. They have done this all without having a full-length album out yet. I caught up with them at the Fillmore Silver Spring when they came with Never Shout Never.

Who are your influences?

Ansley: Michael Jackson, Queen, Muse and Lana Del Rey. Where did you guys meet and how did this turn into a band?

Ansley: Me and Jake and Will met during high school and played together in another band. We eventually started writing songs together and made Jule Vera. We really needed a permanent drummer and met Hogarth in 2014.

What’s the first album you remember buying?

Kyle: Backstreet Boys Ansley: A Radio Disney CD Jake: Hot Fuss by The Killers Will: Anberlin A&E

How does the writing process begin?

Ansley: Writing can start lots of different ways; many times we start ideas alone and finish them together. We’ve started several ideas just writing in the car.

What is your favorite part about touring?

Ansley: We love meeting everyone that we’ve talked to on social media. Talking and taking pictures with everyone at the show is cool too.

What is your favorite tour you’ve been on so far?

Ansley: They’ve all been pretty different.

Some things were better than others on each of them, but the NSN tour has been really awesome.

Any fun tour stories?

Ansley: On our tour last fall with Against the Current we got pulled over by the cops in Dallas. We had to get out of the vehicle one by one, held at gunpoint and handcuffed. There were seven or eight police cars total. They eventually found out that they had just typed in our license plate number wrong and it came up as a stolen truck. It was a long night.

Are you in the process of recording anything new?

Ansley: We have some stuff demoed right now, and we’re about to start writing for our full-length after the tour.

How has life been after the whirlwind year you had last year—signing with Pure Noise Records, going on Warped Tour, opening for Against The Current and now, Never Shout Never?

Ansley: It’s been crazy. We have met so many people and made so many more friends on these tours. We’re really excited to make new music this year.

What is your favorite song you’ve released so far?

Ansley: We all like “Die Trying.” The writing process for it was really interesting since we based it off of the Hunger Games books. It’s also a fun song to play live.

Do you feel that your online presence is important for fans to find you and connect with you?

Ansley: Yes! We always try to make sure we talk to people on Twitter and Snapchat and connect with them.

What are your future plans?

Ansley: Looking forward to writing new music and making our first full-length!

Jule Vera’s Friendly Enemies EP is out now, and is available on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, etc.

Page design by Alyssa Cuco

13

Music festivals on the rise Technological developments have made festivals more common Graham Schmidt Cub A&E Editor

I

n the past, music festivals were a rare and special event. They only came around a few times a year. Large events were harder to organize and advertise without the internet.

Music festivals have come a long way since the days of Woodstock and the Summer of Love. Events like the Altamont Free Concert, held in 1969, were poorly run. Four people died and numerous others were injured because of a shootout.

With the advancement of computers in the 90s, average people gained the ability to arrange large events. For instance, on New Year’s Eve 1999, the rock band Phish played a concert at the Big Cypress Indian Reservation for over 100,000 people.

In 2016, music festivals are plentiful

and easy to access. They advertise cushy VIP packages for exorbitant prices that allow people to stay in hotel suites and party with their favorite musicians.

Many attribute the rise in large festivals like Coachella and Tomorrowland to the improvements in smartphone technology and the introduction of more advanced internet marketing campaigns funded by entertainment conglomerates like Live Nation.

In 2013, Tomorrowland sold out in 36 seconds and 180,000 people attended. The Dutch EDM festival is consistently one of the largest in the world.

An alternative to many of the larger and more expensive festivals like Tomorrowland and Firefly, held each June in Dover, Delaware, is Sweetlife. It is held at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland every May.

2016

Music Festivals

This year, general admission tickets were $125 and the event featured artists such as The 1975, Halsey, Mac Demarco and Flume. Because of its comparatively low price, Sweetlife is a good option for McLean students.

Senior Chris Cardwell attended Sweetlife in 2015.

“I went with a bunch of friends,” Cardwell said. “You pretty much hang out with your friends, listen to music and roll on good vibes.”

Senior Kestrel Coffee could be considered a music festival veteran. She attended her first music festival, Firefly, at age 16.

“There was a lot of walking to do between stages, but it also helped you sleep at night,” Coffee said.

Coffee is going to three more festivals this year.

Taste of Chaos Merryland Music Festival NORTH AMERICA TOUR COLUMBIA, MD JUNE 3 - JULY 16 JULY 9 - 10 Lockin’ Festival ARLINGTON, VA AUGUST 25 - 28 Warped Tour Floyd Fest U.S TOUR FLOYD, VA JUNE 22 - AUGUST 13 JULY 27 - 31

Festival Tips Dress appropriately and comfortably Never leave Stay hydrated open containers unattended Bring snacks Wear sunscreen

Page design by Young In Seo & Aisha Singh

14

A&E

Senior performs for YouTuber

From McLean’s talent show to playing for a YouTube star, Ali Ghosn is on the rise Caitlin Renstrom Cub Opinions Editor

I

t’s Jan. 22, 2015, and senior Ali Ghosn has just arrived at the Howard Theater in Washington, DC, to meet popular YouTube prankster Yousef Saleh Erakat, also known as Fouseytube. Erakat invited Ghosn to be on Fouseytube’s birthday bash set list.

“Fouseytube really liked [my cover of his song], so he decided to put me on the set list at his DC show, which was his birthday show, and he wanted it to be special,” Ghosn said.

Ghosn first started playing guitar midway through his freshman year, and he picked up other instruments along the way. “[I played] the trumpet, drums, then picked up guitar, and from there I started playing bass and ukulele,” Ghosn said.

What first started out as a hobby grew to a longing to play professionally. As he started improving his skills and practicing every day, Ghosn branched out to singing.

“The hardest part is the dedication, I guess. [It’s] the time you put into it,” Ghosn said.

Ghosn moved to McLean last school year and created a YouNow account.

YouNow is a broadcasting website where people can record themselves live and answer questions through a comment section. On YouNow, Ghosn would take requests and play new music he learned.

In late November 2014, Ali tried out

“[Playing live] was very nerve-wracking, actually. I learned a lot from that experience and I grew as an individual.

I bettered myself in vocal techniques, techniques in general, singing and guitar.”

-Senior Ali Ghosn

Jamming Out—Ali Ghosn plays at McLean’s 2014 talent show. His performances of “Hallelujah” and “The A Team” took him to the finals. (Photo courtesy of Ali Ghosn) for the McLean High School talent show.

Performing at the show was his first time playing live in front of an audience.

“It was very nerve-wracking, actually,” Ghosn said. “I learned a lot from that experience and I grew as an individual.

I bettered myself in vocal techniques, techniques in general, singing and guitar.”

Fouseytube asked Ghosn to play for him about two months later.

“Fouseytube found me because one of his fans had messaged him on Twitter, telling him that [I] had done an acoustic version of his song,” Ghosn said.

Fouseytube has over eight million followers. Since it was his birthday, the venue was packed with fans and other professional musicians. It was the perfect place to get the exposure Ghosn wanted, and the experience itself was gave him a chance to see the world of fame and music.

“The experience was surreal; I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was a normal guy one day, and the next day, lots of people were messaging me congratulating me, and even asking me for a picture with them at the show,” Ghosn said.

Since then Ghosn has been playing and practicing, hoping to make a career out of his music. “[I want to play] as a side career, at least, but my mom wants me to be a doctor,” Ghosn said.

His family and friends are impressed with his talent.

“Music isn’t really big in our family, but ever since [Ali] started music I’ve picked up on it as well,” Ali’s younger brother, Badr, said.

Ghosn said he is inspired by his friends as well as professional musicians.

“Ed Sheeran is definitely an inspiration—I have friends as well who play that are really good, and I look up to them—but definitely Ed Sheeran,” Ghosn said.

Ghosn is planning on continuing to pursue music while attending college.

Recently, Ghosn played in Florida with a group of kids from YouNow. His advice to aspiring artists is to put a lot of effort into their music.

“Just practice, practice, practice and get yourself out there,” Ghosn said.

Page design by Caitlin Renstrom

A&E

15

A clash of titans

Russo brothers deliver another marvelous smash hit with Captain America: Civil War

Tyler Grobman Cub Managing Editor

T

he smoke has cleared, the trumpets have sounded, and Captain America: Civil War has entered the theaters. When I arrived at the theater on Friday night to review the film, I had a feeling it was going to be exciting. I didn’t realize just how incredible this film was going to be.

Within a two hour and 27 minute span, this film has not only annihilated the rival Zack Snyder slugfest known as Space Jesus vs. Crazy Steve, but also managed to secure its position as one of the best Marvel films ever, on par with The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy.

The film follows Steve Rogers as he deals with a two-fold threat of a piece of restrictive legislature for the Avengers known as “The Sokovia Accords” and the reappearance of his brainwashed friend, James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes.

When Bucky appears to attack the U.N., Cap decides to break the law and comes into conflict with Tony Stark in order to clear Bucky’s name and bring the true perpetrator to justice. In contrast, Tony feels an immense amount of guilt about the Avenger’s role in major conflicts and is not only in favor of the accords, but is also galvanized into pursuing Bucky and attempting to apprehend him in order to

regain public trust. And in the midst of this, a mysterious man known as Zemo, vengeful about the Avenger’s accidental destruction of Sokovia, orchestrates a plot against the Avengers as conflicts rise between Stark and Cap. Despite worries that Cap would get blocked out in his own film because of the large amount of characters, the pacing emphasizes Cap’s personal journey, but also manages to flawlessly integrate the other characters in the film.

Both Chris Evans and Robert Downey, Jr., do a magnificent job representing the key opposing viewpoints and characters of the film. The cinematography and special effects are also second-to-none, as evidenced by the massive airport conflict between Tony and Cap’s opposing teams of Avengers. This conflict is absolutely awe-inspiring and is the single best fight scene in Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) history, and it feels pulled directly from the comics.

A blockbuster of this magnitude will live or die by the performances of the supporting characters in the film.

Chadwick Boseman delivers a magnificent performance as a vengeance-driven Black Panther and will mysteriously become the favorite character of many viewers.

Likewise, the newest to don the SpiderMan mantle, Tom Holland, is a perfect fit for the MCU, is an incredible actor and truly feels like the comic-book Spidey that

Captain America

A Truly Marvelous Film—Captain America: Civil War has quickly secured a position as one of the best films of the year. (Photo obtained via Marvel Entertainment)

fans have been waiting for since 2002’s Spider-Man. Finally, Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) steals the show in a big way.

Some people have been saying that superhero movies are getting stale and that the genre is going downhill. With a resounding fusion of action and drama and an all-star cast, Civil War hits you like a Vibranium-laced shield and is letting the world know that the superhero genre not only isn’t dead, but also that Captain America: Civil War is one of the best films of the year.

40%

vs.

Iron Man

60%

Survey of 20 students

Page design by Bryan Chung

16

JUNE

Juniors create new album Kaleb Stander and Jack Furth explore musical styles

Studio time—Juniors Kaleb Stander and Jack Furth jam in their studio. They are releasing a full-length studio album that is expected to release on SoundCloud before the end of the school year. (Photo by Robbie Denton)

Conor Zeya & Robbie Denton Reporter & Cub Editor-in-Chief uniors Kaleb Stander and Jack Furth, both avid musicians, are in the process of recording a full-length, self-produced studio album. Their main goal for the album is to observe both the mundanities and complexities of their everyday life, which consists of school, sports, church, home life and more.

The album, entitled Mathemagic in the Multiverse, will incorporate a variety of genres.

“It all comes from [funk musician] Thundercat, where we get the funk, and stem into jazz, soul, folk and hip-hop.

It’s probably going to be 70 percent live instrumentation, and the rest sampling,” Stander said.

Furth’s musical inspirations take root in artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Kendrick Lamar.

“This album is just as much rap as it is basically anything else,” Furth said. “If we had to assign it one specific genre, it would be about 12 words long and probably couldn’t be uttered by the human tongue.”

Both started their musical journeys with the guitar; Stander started playing at age 10 and Furth at age 13. It wasn’t until the beginning of this school year when the pair started working together.

“It was probably September or October when we made our first song together, and we realized that we had to make it into an A&E

J

album,” Stander said.

“We realized there was something unmistakable,” Furth added.

When he is not in the studio making music, Stander can be found on the basketball court. He has played on McLean’s varsity team since his sophomore year, and that experience has heavily influenced his music.

“I think the raw passion and competitive nature of the game kind of translates into my music making,” Stander said. “I always want to be a cut above the rest.”

Stander’s teammates attest to this particular personality trait.

“The Kaleb on the court and the Kaleb in the studio are actually very similar,” said sophomore Alex Franco, a longtime

Hanging around—Jack Furth and Kaleb Stander pose by a tree in the McLean courtyard, where they do most of their writing.

(Photo courtesy of Matthew Livingston)

teammate of Stander. “He’s smooth and tenacious in just about everything he does.”

The duo wants their music to inspire McLean students to make music of their own.

“Everyone should make music because it’s good for the soul,” Stander said. “The best way to express something is to put it in song form.”

Stander and Furth do not let their lack of high-quality music equipment hinder their desire to record their songs.

“All of the expensive equipment is great, but equipment really doesn’t matter in the end,” Stander said. “It all comes down to if you have the desire to make the music.”

Mathemagic in the Multiverse is currently over halfway done, but the duo wants to wait until the project is fully complete to release any of their songs.

“We want to keep our music as a cohesive unit rather than releasing it in bits and pieces,” Stander said.

Furth and Stander both guarantee that the full album will be available for free streaming on SoundCloud by the end of the school year.

Despite Furth and Stander’s enthusiasm for their album, they continue to have detractors.

When asked about the project, Stander’s mother said, “I think it’s ridiculous.”

Page design by Conor Zeya

17

OPINIONS

The finale: projects vs. exams

Final projects are more beneficial than final exams Kon Matheoudakis Cub News Editor

J

une is always a time to look forward to, considering it marks the beginning of summer vacation. However, before the summer starts, many students must deal with the stress of finals and prove that they have mastered the curricular material. This can either be accomplished through a boring and monotonous exam or an enjoyable and exciting project.

Final projects are better alternatives to final exams because they are more interesting than exams. Projects can range from oral presentations to photo contests, while exams usually consist of a piece of paper with 40 or so questions on it. This is redundant and is basically the same, tedious process students have completed all year.

Furthermore, depending on the time management of the student, final projects usually do not require a lot of cramming.

This is because most projects are assigned weeks or even months in advance, so rushing to finish a project should not be an issue.

Final projects are also a better indicator as to whether or not students have learned the material. Students must actively apply the knowledge they accumulated throughout the year, instead of simply memorizing something from a book.

Physics teacher Dean Howarth feels that while both final projects and final exams have their place, final projects are less of an imposition and he prefers them because they are not overwhelming.

Howarth also believes that his students prefer final projects.

“It depends on the project,” Howarth said.

Proponents of final exams have brought up that projects are not applicable in factbased classrooms, such as Algebra 2.

Math teacher Robin Gary believes that final exams and final projects are dependent on the subject being taught.

As a math teacher, Gary thinks that final exams are a better indicator of students’ knowledge.

18

“Math needs more concrete evidence,” Gary said.

This is only the case in a relatively small amount of classes, however. Most subjects, such as English, science, history and many electives do not have these limitations and can create final projects that can serve as good and accurate endof-year assessments.

Many students agree that final projects are better than exams due to their better time management.

“It’s a lot less cramming,” junior Kunkie Barshee said.

On the other hand, some students regard exams, rather than projects, as easier to fit into their schedules.

“You just have to go in for one day,” senior Mads Jensen said.

A poll of 50 students revealed that only 11 of them agreed with this view, proving that students prefer final projects over exams.

Besides, achieving a high mark on an exam often requires hours of cramming and anxiety leading up to the exam, while final projects can be more effectively managed over a longer period of time.

Final projects are clearly superior to final exams. They are enjoyable, interesting and less stressful. Now, the McLean student body must act to convince teachers of this, and begin the change towards final projects.

A Stressful Study Session—Sophomore Sasha Meyman stresses out over an upcoming exam. She has been cramming for this exam for the past two days. (Photo illustration by Kon Matheoudakis)

Page design by Kon Matheoudakis

JUNE

Laugh Less, Stress More

Students want Stress Less week to have a greater impact about the system, the administration is urging students to remain positive, Cub Features & Managing Editors and has some new ideas for next year. ediocre early 2000s music blasts “The snow cones were the biggest hit, from the decrepit speakers. Bubble so if we want to reach out to the most wrap is scattered haphazardly around students, food seems to be the best the school. This is Laugh More, Stress option,” school psychologist Beth Werfel Less week, a program championed by the said.

McLean High School administration as In spite of these efforts, a recent poll of an example of their dedication to positive McLean students found that 85 percent student mental health. Despite some felt that Stress Less week was a good idea, positivity generated by this week-long but it wasn’t helping them relieve their program, many students feel that the stress to the desired level, and they were program is flawed in its design. still feeling overwhelmed from school and “Stress Less week is obnoxious, stupid, their extracurriculars. Stress Less week and they treat us like 2-year-olds,” junior took place the week before two weeks of Con Shine said.

AP testing began.

Other students feel that the program The State of Learning Disabilities found does nothing in the long- or short-term to that more than one in five high school relieve stress or improve mental health. students are in the process of struggling “It was very bad placement and with mental illness, which is especially management on the part of the school in prevalent in a high-stress environment regards to Stress Less Week. Plus, people like McLean. Therefore, it is essential that would [scratch like a] cat on the bubble the administration address these concerns wrap, so that was annoying,” junior Logan immediately by expanding its efforts to Horan said. Despite these complaints reduce student stress.

Sabine Awad & Tyler Grobman

M

“There is a direct correlation between the number of APs a student takes, and the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed from school,” Werfel said.

The overwhelming work load given for AP classes can take up to three hours to complete each night, depending on the student and the class.

“APs seem to be stressful and contribute to stress because the learning level is so high. I would try and get the teachers to coordinate homework better,” sophomore Michael Deitch said.

It remains imperative that the school redesign and refocus the conecpt and implementation of Stress Less week in order to address the concerns and needs of the student body. If the message and result of the event is to ideally decrease the stress of the overworked student body, the administration has to be prepared to move beyond a series of blanket actions and address the high stress levels of McLean students head-on.

79%

of students stress more at the end of the year

All work and no play makes dereck a dull boy—Dereck Charles spends his day indoors stressing over basketball and finals, while his best friend, Mateus O’Bryan, enjoys his stressless day admiring the beautiful nature of McLean. (Photos by Sabine Awad)

21%

of students

stress less at the end of the year

stress during Stress Less week

Are Students Really Stressing Less? more 15 stays the same 60 less 25 survey of 100 students

number of students “I don’t believe that Stress Less week helps at all. I feel like it just reminds you of all the stress you have. I stress no matter what song they play in the hallways in between classs... and no, I do not want eggs with candy in them, thanks.” —Senior Isa Tapia

“I think Stress Less week helps students realize what’s really important—stopping and enjoying the company of friends. I think we have really hard-working students at McLean. However, they do stress less when they snap a quick image of a therapy dog, or snap their fingers to ‘Happy,’ as it plays through the loud speakers.” —English teacher Naima Chambliss Page design by Young In Seo & Aisha Singh

OPINIONS

19

Girls making their move

Girls should not face stigma over asking boys on dates Samantha Morgan Cub Design Editor

Y

ou’re a girl walking in an empty school hallway. Then, from a distance, you see the guy you have been crushing on for a while. As you get closer and closer, you convince yourself to ask him out. But instead of opening your mouth and saying anything, you nod, smile and walk away.

Why? Because it is traditionally abnormal for a girl to ask out a guy.

“I think it is just a stereotype from years ago—a boy asks and a girl waits. I think it is just culturally the way we work here,” Spanish teacher Meaghan DeRusso said.

Because of this unspoken rule, girls are more cautious and less inclined to ask guys out. Most girls are scared to initiate and ask the boy out due to an ingrained fear of rejection. “[Girls] are afraid the guy is maybe going to say ‘no’ because they are used to more traditional things,” freshman Anaaam Syed said. “The guy is supposed to ask [the girl] out in general. That is what most people think.”

Some guys think that a girl asking a guy out is only acceptable when the girl wants to hang out—not date—because they would prefer to do the asking out themselves.

“It depends; if [a girl] is asking to go out and hang out that’s okay, she can do that and she should be encouraged to do that, but if it is anything more, no,” sophomore Fawaz Alhumoudi said.

It would benefit guys to forget the tradition because it would lift the social pressure off of them and empower girls to speak their mind.

“It would show that we are not so reserved and afraid to do stuff that is not socially accepted,” freshman Alyssa Montes said.

If girls today were to abandon this tradition, the benefits they’d reap wouldn’t be limited to a gain in confidence. A movement away from the assigned gender roles wherein men must be dominant and women must be subserviant would

20

help reduce stigma surrounding assertive women and other negative socially-instilled stereotypes affecting both genders.

“Whenever you ask someone out you’re always afraid of being rejected. And so there [are] a lot of social norms where they say that the boy has to ask the girl out. But I don’t think it has to be that way,” sophomore Emma Zahniser said.

This old-fashioned dating tradition should end because it’s not benefiting

anyone. Both genders are put under too much pressure and it promotes inflexible stereotypes that don’t have a place in modern society. All people should ask the people they care about out, because not doing so could lead to future regret.

“No regrets. I think in the end, no matter what the person says—whether they say yes or no—ultimately you’ll be glad you asked, because you know the answer to the question,” math teacher Jake Farmer said.

.

Infographic & page design by Imani McCormick

JUNE

Coaching the Young Bloods—Junior Jiwon Kim and senior Tristan Liu coach McLean’s up-and-coming athletes at the varsity basketball team’s youth camp over the summer. Offering middle school sports would expand efforts like these to prepare athletes for high school competition. (Photo courtesy of Anna Murphy)

Fairfax County should sponsor middle school sports Middle school sports pave the way for future student athletes Robbie Denton Cub Editor-in-Chief

A

rlington County Public Schools, Loudon County and almost every school district in the area besides Fairfax County offers school-sponsored middle school sports. FCPS athletes are at a disadvantage because of it.

Offering school-sponsored sports in middle school allows certain athletes to shine and help lead their high schools to success.

Jason Jolly, a member of the class of 2015 at Stone Bridge High School, was involved with the high school basketball team starting in middle school. During his senior year, he led Stone Bridge to a 23-game win streak and the Virginia Conference 14 title.

His exposure to high-level competition at a younger age helped him to average 20.6 points per game. He also earned AllState honors his senior year as well as First Team All-Conference honors three times, and he was named the 2015 Virginia Conference 14 Player of the Year. Jolly now plays at Fairmont State University.

“Jason is one of the most talented players that we’ve been able to land,” Fairmont’s basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun said in an interview with the OPINIONS

Fairmont State Fighting Falcons’ athletic website.

Offering school-sponsored middle school sports can assist in teaching the importance of certain things that lead to success in high school such

“That early experience taught me how to be a baller on and off the court at a young age. When I got to high school it was easy to manage my time.”

-Senior Sebastian Renda

as time management, teamwork and understanding the benefits of hard work.

Before senior Sebastian Renda moved to the McLean area in eighth grade, he played basketball in seventh grade for Coleman Middle School in Tampa, Florida.

“Playing sports in middle school taught me how to overcome adversity, and there’s a lot of adversity in high school,” Renda said. “It’s tough to balance relationships, schoolwork, family, a job and a social life.”

Providing school-sponsored sports at the middle school level also allows varsity coaches to acclimate players to the system

they will play in during high school.

“Having middle school sports could definitely be beneficial for varsity teams,” head varsity basketball coach Mike O’Brien said. “Being able to get kids to buy into the system and implement schemes at a younger age makes it easier to develop them and prepare them for the next level.”

Senior Mike Robbins, who played varsity basketball and football at McLean, was not able to play middle school sports, but he said he believes they would have helped him develop as an athlete.

“Being able to play sports in middle school would absolutely help kids develop as athletes,” Robbins said. “Being able to play in a serious environment always leads to improvement.”

Robbins is one of many athletes who feels they are at a disadvantage without the opportunity to play middle school sports.

“It’s not necessarily fair that other school districts offer middle school sports,” senior Tristan Liu said. “They can get a year or two of competitive experience before they even begin high school.”

While change may be far off, offering school-sponsored sports in middle schools would certainly be beneficial for Fairfax County high school programs and student athletes alike.

Page design by Robbie Denton

21

SPORTS

Highlander excels on the ice

Sophomore Phip Waugh signs with hockey team and prep school players are always a work in progress.”

Miranda Johnson Waugh has played for many teams, and Cub Sports Editor he will add the Eastern Hockey League he puck slides up the boards into the (EHL) to his list this summer. The EHL opposing team’s zone. Quick to make consists of 15 east coast teams made up sure it doesn’t go offsides, the pass goes of players under the age of 20 with a main to center ice, and sophomore Phip Waugh focus of gaining recognition from scouts. loads up and takes a shot. Bang. Goal. Top “It’s basically to improve skills and shelf. The goalie didn’t even see it coming. make a name with the scouts,” Waugh said.

Waugh has been playing hockey for Waugh has signed a summer contract 13 years now, and has become one of to play for the Boston Junior Rangers with McLean’s most valuable players on the ice. a pay of about $75 a week.

“When I was about three I started Waugh will also be furthering his hockey skating, and [my older brother] was career by attending Trinity-Pawling School skating before me, so I just followed him,” where he will repeat his sophomore year in Waugh said. order to have an extra year of hockey.

By playing hockey, Waugh has learned “It’s a prep school, so I’d be living many valuable lessons that translate to life there on campus and playing off the ice. hockey six days a week,” Waugh “[I have learned] leadership skills, and said.

I’m able to live a more healthy, active lifestyle,” Waugh said.

In his freshman year, Waugh finished the season seventh overall in scoring in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League, recording 16 goals, three assists and 19 points. “[He’s] not much of a passer,” teammate and close friend sophomore Ben Mitzelfeld said. According to Mitzelfeld, Waugh’s best asset is his shot. “[His shot’s] pretty powerful. It’s almost like a frozen rope, but it doesn’t drop. It just goes straight and never down—top shelf,” Mitzelfeld said. “It’s probably the fastest shot you’ll ever Stridin’ Forward—Phip Waugh skates up see from an amateur hockey the ice in a game against South Lakes player.”

Talented players like Waugh are on Nov. 20. (Photo courtesy of Matthew Grose) sometimes tempted to play a solo game. Though Waugh is a skilled player, Mitzelfeld said he is sad to see Waugh he is still learning the ins and outs of leaving the team. becoming a great hockey player and being “[I’m] very sad,” Mitzelfeld said. “He’s part of a team. a good friend and it’s [going to] hurt our “Phip is learning what he can and can’t team a lot.” do, and making progress at it,” McLean Waugh said he is excited for the new hockey head coach John Sherlock said. possibility to play for the same school as “Just because you can do something many NHL players have in the past. doesn’t mean you should. He is getting “[I am looking forward] to the boarding better at playing within the team concept school the most, because it’s my age group, and resisting the urge of a talented player and I’ll have more time and more hockey,” to try to do it all. Ours is a team game Waugh said. and the best players understand that. All

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Just like anyone else his age, Waugh still likes to have fun.

“He’s a goober on and off the ice,” said junior Colton Heuple, forward and Waugh’s occasional linemate.

Waugh is known to goof off once in a while, even during games. In a game against Herndon, Waugh fooled around by throwing ice at fellow teammates while hanging over the boards on the bench as he waited for his shift.

Like any strong player, Waugh also knows when to flip the switch and become the aggressive hockey player that he needs to be.

“Phip is a gamer. He competes. As he continues to develop as a player he needs to strive for consistency, but he always competes,” Sherlock said.

With the loss of Waugh to the boarding school next year, the McLean team will look very different next season. Other players will have to step up and improve their game in order to succeed. In the meantime, the team will continue to focus on the positive, considering the upcoming season an opportunity to develop more players.

“We play with who we have, and we have a very promising group of freshmen coming in, especially on [defense]—Benji Harris, Evan Tierney and Matthew Regan,” Sherlock said.

During the winter season, McLean finished the season with a winning record of 10-0, the best season in McLean hockey history. McLean also had a JV team for the first time this year. “[JV allows us to] develop our young and less experienced players,” Sherlock said.

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Arron Asham, Waugh will continue to make the climb to the big leagues.

Just like Asham, Waugh plays dirty.

Disrupting play, blocking shots and getting in the minds of his opponents, Waugh creates chances. Not only does he create net-front presence by jumping into the play, he towers over everyone at 6’7” on skates. With this presence, there is not one person in the league who doesn’t know who Phip Waugh is.

Page design by Anjalie Chauhan

JUNE

Junior dancer goes to battle

Geoffrey Goldenhorn competes in dance battle against entire Langley squad Caleb Roderiques & Alex Dutt Cub Reporter & Managing Editor

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t’s a Tuesday night in February, and Langley is at McLean for another basketball game to determine who will take home the Rotary Cup. Time expires in the second quarter and the McLean dance team is nowhere to be found. An outraged junior, Geoffrey Goldenhorn, challenges Langley senior Patrick Dunne to a dance-off.

The announcer agrees to play music and they meet on the logo at mid-court.

Goldenhorn and Dunne dance there until each team returns from their locker rooms.

“We might not have gotten the outcome we wanted, but we won where it counts: the halftime show.”

-Junior Geoffrey Goldenhorn

This dance-off motivated the McLean basketball team for a strong second half, which ended in a nail biting two-point loss.

“We might not have gotten the outcome we wanted, but we won where it counts: the half-time show,” Goldenhorn said.

The McLean basketball team might have lost but they came out determined and energized in the second half.

“It was very apparent that Geoffrey provided a spark to the basketball team,” junior PJ Campion said.

Approximately two weeks later, the Highlanders were once again set to square off against Langley, but this time on enemy territory. In the front row of McLean’s student section is none other than Geoffrey Goldenhorn.

Goldenhorn wears a Flappy Birds hat and a robe which conceals the remainder of his costume.

Half-time has come, and Goldenhorn is ready to take the stage. The Langley fans jeer and insult Goldenhorn as he rips his robe off, exposing his short shorts and knee high socks.

As Goldenhorn is warming up on the court, the Langley dance team lines up in preparation for their dance routine.

The Langley security guards remove Goldenhorn from the court, so the Langley dance team can perform.

After being escorted off court,

Dab on ‘em—Junior Geoffrey Goldenhorn performs the popular dance move known as a “dab” with senior Fred Rostami. Goldenhorn has a strong passion for spontaneous dancing. (Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Goldenhorn)

SPORTS

Bust a Move—Junior Geoffrey Goldenhorn gets forced to step off the court as the Langley dance team prepares for their dance on Feb. 18. Goldenhorn was later permitted on the court to dance. (Photo courtesy of Sophia Abi-Najm)

Goldenhorn takes his case up with a security officer. After a short conversation with some Langley security officers, Goldenhorn is granted access to center stage just after the dance team finishes their routine.

As the team’s routine comes to an end, Goldenhorn begins to point to his imaginary watch. After signaling that the dance team’s time was up, Goldenhorn walks onto the court for the second time.

No music is played so Goldenhorn will have to improvise. Quickly the McLean student section begins to stomp their feet to the beat of “We Will Rock You” to give him something to get going. Goldenhorn lets loose at mid-court with the entire McLean student section cheering, all eyes on him.

Goldenhorn finishes his routine and walks off the court, while the entire McLean student section erupts in cheers.

“This battle isn’t over yet,” Goldenhorn said. “I’ll see them again next year in our house.”

Page design by Alex Dutt

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Riley Simon

Athlete of the Issue Imani McCormick Cub Sports/News Editor Why did you start playing softball?

I have been playing softball since I was seven. I got into the sport because my sister started [playing] it first and my parents wanted me to play as well.

How often do you practice and compete?

For high school, I practice every day but Sundays and have games twice a week.

[For] travel, I have practice twice a week and have tournaments on the weekends.

I’ve been playing [travel] since I was nine.

How important is teamwork in softball?

Teamwork is huge in softball in order to win games and championships. When someone strikes out, the next person has to pick them up by getting a base hit. If someone makes an error, the next teammate has to pick them up by making the next play.

How do you stay in shape during your off-season?

I stay in shape by doing winter conditioning. For winter conditioning, it’s all about endurance, so we sprint and do agility training.

What was your best moment this season?

My best moment this season would probably be going to Myrtle Beach and playing for a week. We were there for a week, and we played a game every day.

After the games, we went to the beach, went to the outlet stores and attended Broadway at the Beach.

Who is your favorite athlete?

My favorite athlete is Derek Jeter. The way he plays the game is just amazing— it... can’t really be described. His competitiveness and pride make him a huge role model. He’s always striving for the best and not giving up during his slump periods.

What motivates you to play?

I just enjoy playing softball and the challenge of competition is what really motivates me to play.

Do you have any advice for anyone interested in playing softball?

My advice would be to do your best and have fun.

What was your experience like playing travel softball?

My experience with travel is very fun. We have tournaments almost every weekend and do showcase tournaments. We go to local tournaments and travel out of state as well.

Which sport do you wish you were better at?

Lacrosse. It’s such a cool sport and it uses so many techniques that you can use in many other sports.

Photo courtesy of Holley Remer Page design by John Corvari

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JUNE

Finish Line Reported by Imani McCormick

Diego Guerra Freshman Soccer

Ashley Zerrusen Sophomore Track & Field

What’s your dream vacation?

PJ Campion Junior Lacrosse

Sabrina Sanchez Senior Softball

How will you stay in shape this summer?

Taking a tour through Egypt

Going to a soccer academy in Colombia

Florida

Going on occasional runs

Amsterdam and France

Zumba

Anywhere with a zip line — preferably Costa Rica

I’m playing travel softball

Which celebrity would you want to spend your summer with?

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Bob Marley

Cookies and cream

Chris Hemsworth

Strawberry

What are your favorite DJ Khaled

Mango sorbet

Will Ferrell

Coffee or Oreo

Page design by Bryan Chung

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