The Highlander — Issue 6 — April 2018

Volume LXII • Issue 6 • May 2018 • McLean High School

thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

CONTENTS NEWS 3

McDancethon raises $42K

4

New lockdown procedures

5

Students march for their lives

6

DECA goes to Atlanta

7

Errors in AP Gov. textbooks

8

World news overview

9

Senior assassin game

FEATURES 11

Trivia night with Dylan Wedan

12-13

Dean Howarth retires after 30+ years

14

Highlander of the Issue: Riley Smith

15

10 Qs with Cara Mosley

17

Senior Mateen Karimian plans gap year in Israel

IN-DEPTH ON THE COVER 22-27 Holding On: Students fight biases to retain cultural identities Cover photo by Imani McCormick

OPINIONS 32

Editorial: Deadlines set beyond school hours increase stress

33

Trump’s cabinet poses threats to the nation Crossfire: Are walkouts an

36

Violent video games pose problems for society

37

Humor: college acceptances

SPORTS Kimberly & Elizabeth Zhou excel in soccer

39

Varsity baseball’s nine seniors lead team

41

Alex & Ava Bellomo shred snowboarding competition

42

Football offseason prep

LGBTQ+ films

43

Athlete of the Issue: Julia Longo

28

Teas’n You review

44

The Finish Line

29

Far Cry 5 review

18

Upcoming concerts

19

Truth or Dare review

20-21

30-31

TheatreMcLean presents musical 9 to 5

30-31

34-35 effective form of protest?

38

A&E

3

43

22-27

Letter from the Editors Dear McLean, Spring has finally arrived, and we’re confident that this edition of The Highlander will serve as your trusty companion throughout the season.

Read our News section to find out about factual errors in social studies textbooks and to get up-to-date information on world news.

In our Features section, read about physics teacher Dean Howarth, who is retiring after 27 years at McLean. Our Highlander of the Issue is senior Riley Smith, the president of Best Buddies, who has devoted much of her time to helping students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Flip to our Arts & Entertainment section for movie and video game reviews and to find out more about TheatreMcLean’s innovative production, 9 to 5, whose cast is pictured below!

Our Opinions section features a humorous piece about college admissions, while our editorial takes a stand against due dates outside of instructional time.

The Sports section offers profiles of the Zhou twins, who have been an integral part of the girls’ varsity soccer team, and the nine seniors on varsity baseball this year.

Finally, our In-Depth examines the negative impact of stereotypes and a lack of cultural appreciation at McLean.

Make sure to follow @MHSHighlander on Twitter and check out thehighlandernews.com for updates until our next issue. Come by room R133 or email us at thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com with any questions, concerns or letters to the editors, which we will do our best to print.

Yours truly, Siddarth Shankar, Bryan Chung & Colin Edson

Volume LXII • Issue 6 • May 2018 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief

Bryan Chung, Colin Edson & Siddarth Shankar

Managing Editors

Rustin Abedi, Imani McCormick & Jackson Payne

Photography Editor

Sabrina Vazquez

Website Editor-in-Chief

Jessie Friedman

Advertising Manager

Rebeka Rafi

Design Editors

Maren Kranking, Josh Leong & Dasha Makarishcheva

Copy Editor

Maren Kranking Section Editors

News Editors

Maria McHugo & Jeremy Siegel

Features Editors

Maren Kranking & Nick Monroy

A&E Editors

Justin Kim & Conor Zeya

Opinions Editors

Jessie Friedman & Alex Mandanas

Sports Editors

Jack Stenzel & Ed Walters Reporters

Carla Ballard Ben Brooks Anna Brykczynski Anya Chen Nick Corvari Ryan Dahlseid Ben Davis Pragya Dhungana Sam Gollob

Emma Higbee Anna Grace Hopkins Emma Johnson Miranda Johnson Haru Kato Jake Keating Jane Lee Rohan Mani Julia McElligott

Adviser

Alexandria Meuret Ross Oliver Jessica Opsahl-Ong Michael Redding Haley Rose Jude Sadeq Tommy Schilder Sean Senft

Lindsay B. Benedict

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.

Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and InDepth 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 email 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.

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NEWS

Dancing for a cause Over $42K raised for Children’s National Hospital through McDance-A-Thon MAREN KRANKING DESIGN/FEATURES EDITOR

Record Breakers — McDance-A-Thon executives Sina Naeemi, Jake

Keating and Nadien Gad display the total amount of money raised by the event on April 7. This year, the club raised the greatest amount of money in its history. (Photo courtesy of Sina Naeemi)

G

athered in the back of the upper gym at midnight on April 7, students cheered as members of the McDance-A-Thon club held up signs to display the grand fundraising total of the event: $42,546.16.

The club exceeded their original goal of $40,000, making their total over a 30 percent increase from last year’s efforts as well as the highest amount raised in the event’s history. “[It] was the best feeling ever,” said senior Sina Naeemi, an executive of the club.“It was a lot of hard work. We had to do a lot of bake sales, a lot of car washes, but we did it.”

All proceeds from the event are donated to Children’s National Hospital.

“At Children’s National Hospital, parents aren’t expected to pay. That way, the whole family can still focus on making the child feel better,” Naeemi said. “I think that’s really important because it’s hard to focus on [both] bills and feeling better.”

Current and former patients of the hospital, called “miracle kids,” attended McDance-A-Thon. Their presence was important to the dancers, acting as a reminder of the true reason for holding the event.

“We’re standing for seven hours, [so] it’s really important to see we’re not doing this for no reason,” Naeemi said. “We’re doing it for the kids, and seeing them there really Page design by Maren Kranking

helps boost people’s morale throughout the night.”

The event is important to the “miracle kids” as well. Thirteen-year-old Tara Sankner has been a patient of Children’s National Hospital since the age of 8 when she was diagnosed with astrocytoma, a type of brain cancer. For her, being at McDance-A-Thon was uplifting.

“It just feels like people actually care about it,” Tara said. “You’re giving time of your own to try to raise cancer awareness.”

$42,546.16

raised through McDance-A-Thon Tara’s mother, Tammy Sankner, described the impact of both the dedication and sheer numbers of dancers at the event on her and her family.

“From a parent’s perspective, it is amazing to see high schoolers [at McDance-AThon] instead of going out with friends on a Saturday night,” Tammy said. “It’s very heartwarming, and [it] has actually helped save Tara’s life.”

The event consisted of dancing in the upper

gym, with food and games in the cafeteria.

Various speakers, including the Sankner family, told their personal experiences with Children’s National Hospital, and activities were scheduled throughout the night. Tara’s favorite part of the event was the dance-off performed by a few members of the club.

McDance-A-Thon was originally set to take place in the lower gym and cafeteria, but scheduling conflicts forced the club to move to the upper gym. Despite the setback, the event still ran successfully.

“It was very nerve-racking at first, because it has always been in the lower gym and we were scared that it would deter people from coming,” Naeemi said. “But the upper gym is not that much smaller than the lower gym, and it actually ended up working in our favor because having people closer together kind of made us feel more like a family in a sense, and people weren’t as spread out.”

Executives of the club are pleased with the success of the event. Tammy Sankner said she hopes the attention given to childhood cancer from dance marathon events such as McDance-A-Thon will extend to other types of diseases that affect children.

With the impressive results of this year’s McDance-A-Thon, Naeemi is optimistic about the club’s future endeavors.

“We’re starting the process of interviewing people for next year, so hopefully we’ll pick people that will keep that upward trend going,” Naeemi said. “I’d love to see them make more money than we did this year.”

MAY | NEWS | 3

New lockdown procedures implemented | JOSH LEONG DESIGN EDITOR & SAM GOLLOB REPORTER |

F

ollowing the mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida on Feb. 14, schools around the country have been revamping their lockdown procedures. This is no different at McLean, where faculty met with administrators to discuss McLean’s own procedures in the event of a similar emergency. The outcome of this meeting was for each teacher to then individually discuss and reintroduce students to the proper safety steps.

“It’s something that we talk about every year, but we don’t ever get into detail. I remember when I was a teacher, we had [procedures] all written down. And I always assumed everyone did that. But they didn’t.

Because a lot of teachers don’t know what to do,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “What really hit me was when a couple of students came down and told me, ‘We don’t know what to do [if something happens].’”

No matter how it is framed, today’s world harbors threats and dangers only the youngest generations have encountered. McLean’s staff has undertaken the responsibility to remind students of the circumstances of their situation.

“The reality is that these things do happen. As sad as it is, we do have to prepare ourselves. But as long as we follow our protocol, we will be very prepared,” school resource officer Scott Davis said. “I do have safety concerns about the amount of people we have in the halls during the day, with roaming lunches, or academy transportation.

If we practice enough, it becomes routine.”

4 | NEWS | MAY

Like Davis, Reilly believes that following a routine is the best way to ensure student safety and preparation for unforeseen circumstances.

“When I was growing up, we had air raid drills. We all knew to get under a desk and put our heads down,” Reilly said. “But we practiced them because it was needed.”

Davis was trained in specific techniques in order to ensure the optimal safety of students and teachers during scenarios such as a school shooting.

“If you look at the door, you want to be in the opposite corner,” Davis said. “If the bullet is going through the door, you don’t want to be on the opposite side. Police term this ‘pieing’ the corner.”

“What really hit me was when a couple of students came down and told me, ‘We don’t know what to do [if something happens].’”

-Principal Ellen Reilly Nonetheless, Davis maintains there are some vulnerabilities of the school’s environment. He constantly instructs students about these potential issues.

“Regardless of whether you know a student or not, or even if they just look like a student, people open doors for each other,” Davis said. “I’ve seen students open up doors

for delivery guys or parents. And they can walk right into the school. Let the office open the doors. Don’t open or hold the door for anybody.”

Despite these measures, the student body has responded to the updates in varying degrees. Senior Nick Basham said he sees the complications associated with rigid protocol.

“Obviously when you are in a situation like that, you are told to follow the rules... but in a panic instinct, you follow your own gut,” Basham said. “My goal would be to get out and ensure my own safety above all else.”

The line has been blurred between instinct and protocol, but since safety is the primary goal of the McLean administration, Reilly believes that the first step is having the willingness to think about it.

“During lockdown drills, when I catch that one kid who didn’t make it in a door, I ask them, ‘Well, what are you going to do?’

And they say, ‘I... I don’t know.’ What would you do? Have you ever thought about it?”

While the student body would not be faced with these issues in an ideal world, it is the reality of high school students today. The measures introduced at the faculty meeting are viewed as vital for student awareness and safety.

“I don’t think our response is to fear,” Reilly said. “I think our response is awareness. We need to keep reminding each other of keeping each other safe. We need students as our eyes and our ears. It needs to be open communication; no one should have to harbor fear.”

Photo illustration & page design by Josh Leong

Students march for their lives McLean gets involved in the fight to end gun violence | JESSICA OPSAHL-ONG REPORTER |

H

undreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of D.C. on March 24, demanding for lawmakers to pass comprehensive gun control measures. Fueled by the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a somber yet passionate tone reverberated through speeches of firsthand witnesses of gun violence who emphatically declared that ‘enough is enough.’

“The unifying attitude among everyone was a desire for change. A demand for change,” junior Leah Horan said. “People came from all over the country to participate and show their support.”

The march drove a variety of people to action. In a random sampling of marchers, The Washington Post reported that 27 percent of the March 24 protesters had never participated in a march before and only one-third had contacted an elected official in the past year, suggesting a less politically experienced crowd. Furthermore, 16 percent of protesters identified as moderates, a number larger than any march since the polarizing 2016 election.

“I felt that this march was so monumental because it represented people coming together for an issue so relevant with common sense solutions. It wasn’t about Democrats or Republicans, but about the lives of children,” Horan said.

Another unique aspect of the march was

its focus on students. Centering on the issue of school shootings, it focused on the lives and safety of students.

“For a long time, student voices have gone relatively unheard in the U.S., and I think that by having it be organized by the students experiencing gun violence, it proved that students have the ability and the knowledge to organize such a large and impactful movement,” senior Camille Richter said.

“The unifying attitude among everyone was a desire for change. A demand for change.

People came from all over the country to participate and show their support.”

-junior Leah Horan One of those speakers, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez, who has been very active after having experienced the Parkland shooting, delivered an emotional speech. With tears streaming down her face, she described what happened to the 17 people who died at her school and the effects of the shooting on her community.

“Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds,” Gonzalez

said, after pausing her speech and standing in silence for part of that time. “The shooter has ceased shooting and will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape and walk free for an hour before arrest. Fight for your life before it’s somebody else’s job.”

The march also branched out to encompass other aspects of gun use, including urban violence. “[The speeches] covered all different gun violence issues. It felt like it was pretty much split half and half between urban violence and school shootings,” Richter said.

Eleven-year-old Naomi Wadler from Alexandria also delivered a stirring speech pertaining to the lack of media coverage on deaths of women of color. Wadler’s speech helped spark a dialogue on gun violence.

“My favorite part of going was to teach my son that you need to stand up for what you believe in,” French teacher Michael Click said.

The momentum from the March for Our Lives still continues in communities nationwide. Many students marched out of their schools on April 20 to protest gun violence.

“Marching tells us that we are moving forward, regardless of the people who try to hold us back,” senior Riya Master said. “It must be quite an incredible thing to see from an observer’s standpoint.”

Page design by Jessica Opsahl-Ong

McLean Marches — March for Our Lives attendees crowd downtown Washington, D.C., to show support and speak their minds about gun violence and school shootings. An estimated 200,000 people attended the march, including McLean students and teachers. (Photo by Maren Kranking)

MAY | NEWS | 5

McDECA heads to international competition Marketing team attends International Career Development Conference in Atlanta |REBEKA RAFI AD MANAGER|

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ECA’s long-term preparations have come to a close, culminating in the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta April 2124. More than half of the students who participated in the state competition advanced to the international stage this year.

DECA is a co-curricular marketing club that prepares its members for competitions under the leadership of their officers.

“I fell in love with the club immediately because DECA gave me the chance to immerse myself in real-world business scenarios,” senior club president Philena Sun said.

The club gives its members a chance to experience business applications and build various skills.

“DECA has taught me how to present myself as a businesswoman and has given me a glance of what the business world is like,” sophomore Maha Baig said.

Nineteen members of DECA attended ICDC, where they faced strong competition, including teams from foreign chapters from nations such as China and Canada.

Unforunately, no one from McLean High School made it to the final round.

“I fell in love with the club immediately because DECA gave me the chance to immerse myself in realworld business scenarios.”

-DECA president Philena Sun “Attending ICDC was a great honor for all of [McLean’s] students,” said junior Lily Cooper, McLean DECA’s vice president of fundraising. “We all worked so hard to get here and made very valuable connections that will help us to further develop our skills as business professionals.”

Prior to ICDC, the officers helped their DECA peers prepare for the state competition, which was held in Virginia Beach March 1-4. These training sessions incorporated mock role-plays with constructive feedback provided to participating groups.

“In a role-play event, you are presented 6 | NEWS | MAY

Soaring With Falcons — McDECA tours the Mercedes-Benz Stadium

in Atlanta, where competition finalists were announced. Nineteen students attended this year’s conference. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Hays) with a business-related problem that you’ve never seen before,” Sun said. “You have 10 minutes to review the scenario, take some notes and formulate a comprehensive solution. After the prep time is up, you have 10 minutes to present your ideas in front of a judge,” Sun said.

This format requires the members to be well-versed in all areas of business and presentation. Preparation for these events is imperative to success; DECA members employ various methods to be ready for competitions.

“I read business news articles every now and then to accumulate and expand my knowledge in different business areas,” Sun said.

This year, the club’s preparation has paid off, with the officer team being the first in McDECA history to have completed two DECA campaign challenges. By doing this, they have reserved three spots in the Thrive Leadership Academy at ICDC. In order to complete the challenges, they interviewed DECA alumni and submitted their interviews to DECA Inc. In addition, they reported success stories of local entrepreneurs in McLean and participated in the annual international DECA Idea Challenge.

The DECA Idea Challenge is an annual international competition for students

who want to exercise their entrepreneurial skills. Students must design a new product or service. Each year, DECA assigns one particular item that must be incorporated into the main part of the product design.

This year, the required item was rubber bands, so Sun and her teammates created a cup insulator sleeve out of multi-colored rubber bands.

In addition to these competitions, DECA members participate in many fundraising activities to raise money for their club. This year, DECA held car washes and fundraised through Yankee Candle at the annual Holiday Bazaar in order to raise money. They have also been active in supporting local charities such as Teens for Jeans, Ellie’s Hats and Patrick Henry House in the past.

“Our members are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to serve their community, attend leadership conferences and participate in school-based marketing activities,” club sponsor Debbie Fargo said.

Club members appreciate the experiences DECA has provided for them.

“DECA has certainly been a rewarding experience,” Sun said. “I’ve able to develop my presentation, communication and thinking-on-my-feet skills; I think these skills are universally applicable. Honestly, I wish I had started DECA in my freshman year.”

Page design by Rebeka Rafi

Government textbooks feature errors Students, teachers voice concerns about accuracy | JEREMY SIEGEL NEWS EDITOR |

A

ll across the country, Advanced Placement students are gearing up for a stressful month of testing, on top of their long year of rigorous classes, extracurriculars, sports and the other stresses of adolescent life. Yet AP Government students at McLean, who make up about 40 percent of the senior class, have also faced a new issue: glaringly obvious factual errors in their new textbooks.

“There are just plain errors,” AP Government teacher Rachel Baxter said. “The textbook misidentified the 21st Amendment in two different places, which is a really easy amendment to remember, [because] you can drink at 21.”

Factual errors in a textbook central to the course have proven to be a massive impediment and challenge to learning in the class. AP Government at McLean is typically taught through a variety of projects and activities, which can’t occur without a reliable textbook.

“The AP Gov teachers really like to approach the class through project-based learning. But for us to be able to do that, we need to rely on the fact that the textbook is giving them enough information and right

information,” Baxter said. “When we can’t count on the textbook to do that, it makes it harder for us to do the fun things that we want to do in class.”

The occasional error, however astonishing it may be, is not completely out of the norm.

But the volume of errors in this textbook, titled American Government: Roots and Reform, is exponentially larger than the others.

“The textbook doesn’t seem very trustworthy and occasionally contradicts test questions which is frustrating for students.”

-senior Addie Dietrich “The errors are pretty much every chapter,” senior Cayla Davis said.

Tests, activities and homework assignments are based on textbooks, which is made more difficult when they have factual errors.

“The vocabulary for our study guides

doesn’t align with the [new textbook],” Davis said.

Students, who face such a large volume of errors in the textbook, need to accommodate by seeking information from different sources.

“Some people have asked other people for textbooks from past years,” Davis said.

“We also use AP Government websites because they’re just more beneficial than the textbook.”

Errors, unfortunately, are not the only issue with the textbooks. At less than half the thickness of the older AP Government books, the new textbooks lack the length and density of a true textbook. FCPS spent $7.8 million last year to upgrade social studies textbooks for all grade levels across the county.

“You can see the book is really thin,” Baxter said. “There are a lot of important things that just aren’t included in here.”

Students are beginning to realize the disadvantages they have faced with their new textbook.

“The textbook doesn’t seem very trustworthy and occasionally contradicts test questions which is frustrating for students,” senior Addie Dietrich said.

Alternative Facts — The

brand new AP Government textbook holds a number of blatant factual errors. Students and teachers are trying to find ways to cope with the errors and stick to learning the course. (Photo illustration by Jeremy Siegel)

Page design by Jeremy Siegel

MAY | NEWS | 7

News from around the world Refugee crises, civil wars and military conflicts are occuring across the globe | RUSTIN ABEDI MANAGING EDITOR |

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yria’s seven-year civil war has continued with carnage surrounding the region of Eastern Ghouta, as government forces have defeated the rebels with the help of Russia and Iran. After another alleged chemical weapons attack, President Donald Trump, along with the U.K. and France, launched at least 100 missiles at Syria on April 13 after blame fell on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Trump had said previously that he wanted to withdraw forces from the country.

“It’s kind of ridiculous that [the president] is going back and forth,” senior Riya Master said. “Literally last week, Trump was saying that we should pull out of Syria.”

Questions have surrounded Trump’s authority to conduct a strike, as he might have violated the War Powers Resolution.

“I don’t think the cruise missile strike was constitutional,” history teacher Rachel Baxter said.

Israel and Lebanon

ensions between the two countries center around Hezbollah, a Lebanese paramilitary organization that fought Israel in a 2006 war where hundreds of Israelis and thousands of Lebanese died in just one month of fighting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized military operations against the group in Syria to prevent arms flows, while Hezbollah has been strengthened in Lebanon following the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri last November at the demands of Saudi Arabia.

“There’s still some lack of clarity surrounding what happened with Saad Hariri,” said Zach Cafritrz, the legislative director for U.S. Representative Don Beyer, representative for Virginia’s eighth district. “We are very concerned about stability in Lebanon and to the extent Saudi actions contribute to destabilization.”

Syria and Bashar Al-Assad

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SYRIA

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IRAN

ISRAEL

Protests in Gaza and Palestine

n recent weeks, Palestinians residing in Gaza have protested their living conditions and demand their “right of return” so that they may return to their homes and villages from which they were evicted decades ago when the state of Israel was formed.

Dozens of unarmed Arabs have been killed and thousands have been wounded, many with live fire. Protests have also been ongoing since President Trump’s decision on Dec. 6 to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

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YEMEN

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Pressure on Iran

ocus on Iran has intensified as President Trump has appointed Mike Pompeo to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and selected John Bolton as his National Security Advisor.

Both individuals have advocated for a harder line on Iran, specifically with more sanctions on the country. Trump has also indicated that he would pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, making confrontation with the Islamic Republic much more likely, as Iran’s leaders wish to abide by the terms of the agreement.

Carnage in Yemen

he civil war raging in the country has no end in sight and neither does the Saudi Arabian air campaign in the country. Thousands of civilians have died, while millions are impoverished and rely on humanitarian aid in order to meet their basic needs.

Iran has been accused of assisting the Houthis, who seized the capital of Yemen back in 2014 and sparked the conflict, with missiles that have recently reached Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The United Nations has declared Yemen the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

8 | NEWS | MAY

Senior assassin makes a splash Killer senior tradition to return this spring

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| EMMA HIGBEE REPORTER|

enior assassin has been a tradition among students at McLean for three years and is being continued this spring by the Class of 2018. The game involves paying a small participation fee to receive a target to eliminate using a water gun.

Traditionally, the basic rules and regulations have included a ban on playing the game during school hours and on school property. Additionally, participants are “safe” from their “attacker” when they are in their home, unless their “attacker” has been invited inside.

As the game evolved, a rule was established that if members are wearing floaties on their arms, they are safe. The game continues as participants are eliminated, until there is only one person left standing. The winner gets all of the money that players contributed to sign up for the game.

Some current and former students feel that it would be safer for a different game to be chosen to end the senior year experience, or that the rules and regulations should be altered.

“I do believe the students should be able to play a game to end their senior year, whether it’s senior assassin or a game with similar rules, but if the water gun was eliminated from the game, I believe parents

and other students would feel better about high school students running around McLean with ‘weapons,’” Class of 2016 graduate Lydia Erickson said.

Erickson points out that it would be heartbreaking if someone were to get injured because they mistook a toy gun for a real weapon, as this is a surprisingly common occurrence.

“If the game was changed in any way, I believe students and parents would feel safer in the long run while they are playing a high school game,” Erickson said.

The game has traditionally not been affiliated with the school and administration has had no involvement in planning it.

“They trust us to not do anything stupid, and we’ve kept the game safe. Students are told not to play the game at school so there’s no need for administration to get involved,” senior assassin coordinator Anna Sargent said.

Although there was skepticism among the senior class about whether or not senior assassin would return this year due to recent gun violence events, the game will continue as it has in past years.

“We are not changing anything since last year with respect to the recent shootings, as water guns aren’t really dangerous. However,

“Assassinated” — Class of 2017 graduate Anna Evans poses with her

senior assassin target, Rahul Mani. Evans tracked down her target by talking with his family members to find out his schedule.

(Photo courtesy of Anna Evans) Page design by Bryan Chung

we are changing the rules a bit regarding driving to keep it as safe as possible,” Sargent said.

These new changes include a rule that there may not be any eliminations while either party is in a vehicle that is not parked. This rule is being introduced to ensure that students are not tempted to use cars during the game as anything other than a method of transportation.

“Senior assassin was one of my favorite senior traditions and was a great way to end my high school experience,” 2017 senior assassin finalist Anna Evans said. “I would hope that the school community continues to accept the game because it’s a lot of fun for the students.”

Rules

1. The target of the person you eliminate becomes your new target 2. You can’t participate in the game on school grounds, at a workplace or at anyone’s house (unless you have been invited inside) 3. If your target is wearing floaties, they can’t be eliminated 4. You can’t participate in the game while in a moving vehicle 5. Buckets, hoses and water balloons can be used MAY | NEWS | 9

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FEATURES

Guys’ Night Out — History teacher Dylan Wedan’s Trivia team, Riverboat Ron Triviera, poses for a photo during a District Trivia game on March 29 in Glover Park in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of Dylan Wedan)

Trivia nights with Wedan

History teacher shows expertise at weekly competition |JANE LEE REPORTER|

H

istory teacher Dylan Wedan began participating in District Trivia between late fall and early winter last year. On Thursday nights, he and his team, Riverboat Ron Triviera, visit various bars and restaurants all over the city to compete. Recently, some of his AP U.S. History students have joined in and followed Wedan to D.C. to compete against their teacher. “[My team and I] participated in a game.

We did pretty well most weeks and really did our best to win,” junior Caroline Howley said.

As the students who competed against him on trivia nights can attest to, Wedan and his teammates seem to answer trivia questions with ease. In fact, Riverboat Ron Triviera has won numerous weekly games, about two-fifths of the games they’ve played.

“We have never been present for a first place win, but we did see his team win second place a couple of times, which was pretty impressive considering that there are a lot of teams that play,” junior Kathryn Burry said.

Wedan says the key to victory is his knowledge as a teacher.

Page design by Jane Lee

“I just know way too much about history—like, stupid facts that don’t even matter. And it helps when you’re playing something like trivia, which literally means ‘stupid facts that don’t matter.’ Knowledge as a teacher is helpful,” Wedan said.

After winning the most cumulative points for the month of February, Riverboat Ron Triviera moved onto the semi-finals, where they lost by one question and were

“I just know way too much about history—like stupid facts that don’t even matter.”

-history teacher Dylan Wedan eliminated from the tournament. However, trivia nights remain a source of exciting moments and fond memories for Wedan. On one particular night, Wedan caught another participant cheating during the game. “[There was] a girl just by herself. And she had her laptop open, which is a dead giveaway,” Wedan said.

Wedan raised his concerns to the trivia

caller, who dismissed the problem by simply saying, ‘That girl is my friend; she would never cheat.’” But his suspicion only grew when the girl kept answering obscure questions correctly. “[Once a trivia question was asked], I got up and I really quickly ran behind [the girl], and there she was Googling the questions,” Wedan said.

The girl ended up winning, and as a result, Riverboat Ron Triviera got second place. As the winner, she received a bottle of wine and a $25 gift certificate for the bar.

Later, the trivia caller who had initially dismissed the cheating approached Wedan’s team with the girl’s bottle of wine in hand. She offered it to Riverboat Ron Triviera, saying the alleged cheater “thought [Riverboat Ron Triviera] did really well.”

Wedan knew the girl was only offering her prize to his team in order to appease her own guilt, but his team accepted it anyway.

“I really wanted to turn it down and say no. Like, you keep your ill-gotten gains; we’re not taking anything from you. But one of my other friends who is more conflict averse graciously accepted it,” Wedan said.

Wedan plans to continue competing in District Trivia, and is hoping for another win during the month of May. MAY | FEATURES | 11

HOW TIME FLIES

Dean Howarth says goodbye to McLean after 30 years of teaching | NICK MONROY FEATURES EDITOR |

Nailed It — Dean Howarth poses on his bed

of nails, which he uses in class for a physics demonstration. Howarth has spent his entire professional career at McLean High School.

(Photo by Maren Kranking)

F

rom the moment you walk into physics teacher Dean Howarth’s classroom, you come to the quick realization that it is no ordinary class. From the awkward shape of the classrom itself, to the dozens of random items that line the walls like swords and science trophies, to the mural dedicated to Galileo Galilei, Howarth’s room is a perfect synopsis of his teaching method and the philosophy that has allowed him to succeed for 30 years: anything but normal.

For the past three decades, Howarth has used unconventional teaching methods to bring his classroom to life. Yet even after thousands of days, he still remembers his first at 1633 Davidson Road as if it was yesterday.

“I had a reporter following me around because [The Washington Post] wanted to do a story on a teacher’s first day,” Howarth said. “The funny thing was I was trying to pretend to be mean so I wrote ‘have a seat and shut up’ on the board. After that, it was a joke and I was nice to everyone, but The Washington Post put that picture as the cover for the paper, and all week I saw the letters to the editor that said I should be fired...and look where I am now.”

Howarth’s dream of being a science teacher took shape early, thanks to famous scientists like Carl Sagan whom he credits with inspiring him to pursue a teaching career.

“In 1979, I was watching Sagan’s TV show called Cosmos, and I thought that it was so cool that he would share science in a way to make it interesting to everyone so that they could also experience that same wonder about the mystery of the universe,” Howarth said.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1987, Howarth quickly found a teaching job in Fairfax County and began working at 12 | FEATURES | MAY

McLean High School as a fresh-faced and ambitious 22-year-old.

Even back then, Elizabeth Lodal, McLean’s principal at the time, told The Washington Post, “He’s going to be a superstar.”

Howarth has, in many ways, lived up to the praise he was given as a young teacher. He has always been well-liked and respected by many students for his easy-going and genuine personality, and while it is easy to demand structure and strict guidelines, he believes the best way of getting to students is by being more than an authority figure.

“I’ve always thought you could get more out of students by giving them a little respect and have them steer the boat themselves.

Sometimes people don’t rise to the occasion, but for the most part young adults can handle being in charge of their own education,” Howarth said.

Howarth has seen his efforts pay off, being invited to eight of his former students’ weddings and even seeing some of his students become teachers at McLean themselves.

“He was always extremely engaging and very funny in a quirky way,” said English teacher and McLean Class of 2002 graduate Anna Caponetti, who had Howarth as her physics teacher during her junior year. “I always thought that he cared a great deal. He had a dry sense of humor...and he always seemed to care when someone was going through something.”

Caponetti notes that while she may not see him as often as she did in high school, she still remembers the time fondly.

“I run into him every once in a while around the copier. It’s nice to talk to him. I always remember having him as a teacher,” Caponetti said.

But not every day at McLean has been perfect. Howarth can recount many difficult times throughout his teaching career.

“With everyday life, you have up days and some down days,” Howarth said. “I’ve had tragic days where I have had former students pass away, which is always upsetting. There were dark days where I Page design by Nick Monroy

thought Fairfax County was on its way down...and while I think we have stopped that, it seems as if in the past 10 years, everyone has gotten way too uptight and gradeconscious. Everyone is so worked up and worried about making their resumes and transcripts look good that they’re forgetting how to be fun anymore.”

Even with the struggles and growing pains of teaching at a high school of over 2,000 students, Howarth stresses that he would not be the man he is without their insight and knowledge.

“It’s a two-way street,” Howarth said. “Part of me is still a teenager. I firmly believe when a teacher forgets what it’s like to be a teenager, they aren’t as good of a teacher anymore.”

Howarth’s students appreciate the youthful energy he brings to the classroom day in and day out.

“I always loved going to physics because we always had fun in Mr. Howarth’s class. He made the work enjoyable for everyone,” senior Natalie Cole said. “It wasn’t just all notes or lectures. We got to know him as a funny man who loves what he does.”

As a career-long member of the McLean staff, Howarth sees new teachers starting at McLean every year. He can relate to their first-year jitters and has seen that it’s not for everyone.

“Teaching is a very easy idea. It is not easy to do. It’s an art as much as it is a science,” Howarth said.

With the final months of his FCPS career on the horizon, Howarth may be unsure of what the future holds, but he does know that it will not be very different from where he is now.

“I will teach in some regard somehow, somewhere...

There’s a very exciting, wonderful world out there that has lessons to teach me, and whatever lessons I learn, I think I would be compelled by my very nature to teach it to someone else,” Howarth said.

Howarth’s current students know that McLean will not be the same when he leaves next year.

“It’ll be weird for sure,” junior Leeban Egeh said. “Ever since I was a freshman, and even before me, Mr. Howarth has been here, he’s been what you think [of ] when someone brings up physics. When you saw Howarth on your schedule, you knew you were in for a fun year. I feel bad for the sophomores who are missing out.”

For those of his students who are unsure about what to do in their careers and futures after high school, Howarth gives reassuring advice, as he always has, to guide them in the right direction.

“We have people who want to go out, make a lot of money and be a computer programmer or a financier. But society doesn’t run on that,” Howarth said. “We need poets.

We need scientists. We need engineers and musicians... If you have a passion for something, you should go where your brain and heart take you.”

Way Back When —

Howarth poses for The Washington Post during his first lesson as a McLean High School teacher. (Photo courtesy of Dean Howarth)

A Man of Many Memes —

Howarth’s desk has become well-known for being littered with different funny photos and interesting keepsakes amassed over his 30year teaching career.

(Photo by Maren Kranking)

MAY | FEATURES | 13

Highlander of the Issue

Senior bonds with Best Buddies

Riley Smith works with program to raise awareness | EMMA JOHNSON & MIRANDA JOHNSON REPORTERS |

S

enior Riley Smith has been a part of the Best Buddies program at McLean since her sophomore year, and she has made a huge impact. This year, Smith was named president of the club, which works to create friendships with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“As president, I am in charge of overseeing the whole club,” Smith said. “[This includes] matching people in their one-to-one friendships, organizing the club events and keeping up with the friendships to make sure each person is doing their part.”

As the Category B Special Education Department Chair, Mark Thompson has worked with Smith throughout the three years she has been involved with the program.

“She has just a natural, sincere caring for the kids, as well as for interacting with the parents. [She’s] running [a] very efficient program this year. She’s done a really amazing job of keeping everybody informed of when activities are and expectations are really high for what everybody should be doing,” Thompson said.

“Anybody can find it in their heart to be a friend to these kids.”

-senior Riley Smith The main goal of Best Buddies is inclusion. Smith encourages anyone who wants to make a new friend to join. Students fill out surveys at the beginning of each school year in order to match people with similar or complementary personalities. She also stresses that no matter who you are, anyone can find a friend.

“It’s not just like a service project; [we’re] looking for people that aren’t just there to put it on their resume. Some people think you need to have some kind of specific personality or experience to interact or work with kids with disabilities, and [that’s] totally not true. Anybody can find it in their heart to be a friend to these kids,” Smith said.

Smith joined the club as a way to raise 14 | FEATURES | MAY

awareness of the fact that although these kids have disabilities, they deserve to be treated with respect.

“I’ve always been friends with kids with disabilities. In elementary school. I would sit with them at lunch and play with them on the playground,” Smith said. “I definitely look for [club members who] really care about what they’re saying—they’re not just trying to impress us— because we’re matching them with human beings.”

In previous years, Smith was involved in many clubs and activities, but she has since cut back to concentrate mainly on Best Buddies.

Though Best Buddies is not affiliated with Special Olympics, Smith and many other members of Best Buddies came together to Besties — Seniors Riley Smith and Devin plan the school’s annual Special English ‘twin’ with their buddy Willow Olympics basketball game, Stevens. Twin day was a part of Fanfest Fanfest. spirit week. (Photo courtesy of Riley Smith) “They’re both dealing with the same thing: inclusion of kids “I’d say [she’s had] a big impact,” with disabilities,” said senior Mary-Kate Mahoney said. “Compared with just the Mahoney, the secretary of Best Buddies. club in the past, this year is much more “That’s something that we thought was kind organized... [In previous years] it was kind of our place to help.” of hectic sometimes with people who signed Smith’s contributions have helped up just to put it on their college resume and raise awareness about the special needs not to actually help out or form any new community. With Smith’s leadership, more relationship with the buddies.” people have gotten involved over the last few Smith has not only a gift for running a years. There were so many applications for program, but she also has a compassion and Best Buddies that the program has had to sincerity that brings light to those around match two peers to one buddy. her. As a testament to just how invested “[She’s] just really created a community she is in her friendship with her buddy awareness... It’s more than inclusion, Willow Stevens, Smith decided to take her it’s integration,” Thompson said. ‘‘We’re to Homecoming last year. just McLean—we are a special education “When she invited Willow Stevens to program but we are completely a part of [Homecoming], it was awesome. Watching McLean, just like everybody else, and I think her best buddy, Riley had just a smile— Riley did a lot to help foster and maintain it’s just a natural sincerity for others,” that.”

Thompson said. “She doesn’t like Willow As Smith’s good friend, Mahoney has because she’s special. [Riley] likes Willow observed her effects on the program as a because she’s Willow. I remember that day whole and credits the recent success of the was very special. I think Riley got as much program to Smith’s leadership role. out of it as Willow did.”

Page design by Emma Johnson

10 Qs with

Cara Mosley (STEM Teacher)

Photos & reporting by Jake Keating & Conor Zeya Page design by Bryan Chung

Can you describe your life using film or song titles?

What is your favorite part of coaching soccer?

Well, for film title, Fight Club, because of the soap business, but I don’t do much fighting. For song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” [by John Denver], but I’m not from West Virginia, so there are problems with both, but that’s OK.

Just being with the team. I really have a lot of fun with those girls. It is a breath of fresh air—not that I don’t love my classes, but it allows you to see them in a different light.

If you could be any animal, which animal would you be?

Real or imaginary? If I’m going with what I would actually be, I would say a UNICORN! But if you are making me be a real one I would be a dog, because everybody loves you!

What business do you run outside of school?

I work for Ted [Miller]’s mom’s soap business. My mom and my stepdad own a candy store, and my dad is the town mayor. I enjoy it though. I worked at a grocery store for 10 years.

What’s your favorite rock band?

Which song?

I love music too much, so you can’t make me only do one. So The Doors, The Grateful Dead, and Umphrey’s McGee. My favorite song for The Doors is “Orange County Sweet.” Jim Morrison wrote it before he died and the band found it after cleaning out storage and finished it for him. It’s a really beautiful song.

When did you last play organized soccer?

When did you start woodworking and fixing things?

I grew up fixing things. My dad used to make me work on his cars, because he said, “No man is going to run your life.” So, I learned at a very young age how to do body and engine work.

If you could get rid of one state, which one would you get rid of?

[Without a pause] New Jersey.

Or New York City—not New York—but you said state.

When I was 27 years old. I played in adult rec leagues. I played in rec leagues in college too, I didn’t Do you have any good What other occupations have trivia you for want to dedicate that much time our readers? had in the past? in college.

Flowers make me happy.

My major in college was education and Phys Ed majors, they typically What is your favorite tattoo that you run pools, they work at camps, and I have? Why? gravitated towards swimming pools forThey a long time. all have really special meaning to

me, but the two that are tied would be the one on my lower back, which is an infinity symbol with a diamond in it, and my mom’s, little brother’s and dad’s names in their handwriting. My dad’s first tattoo was the Harley Davidson Eagle holding [the infinity symbol]. The names, which are a part of my half sleeve, also have the sunset from my hometown, which is supposed to be one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Sunsets in the World.

MAY | FEATURES | 15

Serving his faith

Senior Mateen Karimian embarks on religious journey | COLIN EDSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF |

W

hile most seniors are planning to head to college soon after they graduate from high school, senior Mateen Karimian will be preparing to volunteer in Haifa, Israel, for the Baha’i World Center (BWC), the administrative center of the Baha’i faith.

Karimian will be serving his religion at the BWC for a full year.

“My sister did it and she went for a year and when she came back she told me that she grew so much and was able to learn so much that you wouldn’t be able to get in a college experience,” Karimian said. “Something that was completely different, and she said that those experiences there allowed her to grow as a person, so I just thought that it was a good opportunity for me to do the same thing.”

The Baha’i faith is a religion that originated in Iran and other parts of the Middle East.

It was derived from the Shiite branch of the Muslim faith. The religion has a relatively small following of about eight million people worldwide, with the majority of adherents in the area of its inception.

“The religion is mainly set on unity among all people. It is not a very old religion

at all, just around 200 years old and its center is in Haifa, Israel,” Karimian said. “That is where the shrines are of the prophets of the faith; it is also where people [of the Baha’i faith] go to pilgrimage.”

Junior Ben Karimian said he knows that his brother is committed to his religion and that he has been set on doing the service trip since he was young.

“He has always wanted to do it; it has always been his motivation,” Ben Karimian said. “He has always had the mindset that he was going to go there and serve.”

To be selected for the program, Karimian had to complete a comprehensive application that included multiple essay portions, recommendations, a resume and more. The application was nothing to take lightly, as the selection process is very competitive; relatively few people are selected each year.

“Roughly, in a year 100 people will get accepted for this in the whole world. It was pretty crazy how myself and my friend from Marshall also got accepted, so that was pretty cool,” Karimian said. “I don’t think that it had happened before, two people who live so close to each other getting to go at the same time.”

He was beyond happy when he found

A Future Home — Senior Mateen Karimian (above) will volunteer at the Baha’i World Center (left) in Haifa, Israel, next year.

out he was chosen. When he found out in the middle of his third period class, the first thing he did was text his friend from Marshall High School, Tarlan Torabi. Her excitement for him exceeded her nervousness as she was also waiting to hear back to see if she had been selected.

“For as long as I can remember, Mateen has talked about serving in Haifa and committing a period of his life to it,” Torabi said. “When he told me, I was so happy for him. At that point I hadn’t heard back from them about whether or not I was accepted, but I was so excited for Mateen.”

At the BWC, volunteers can serve in various departments. The departments include security, text translation, research and human resources, among many others.

“I will be working in the accommodations department. Accommodations facilities have everything to do with the hundreds of properties that the Baha’i own in Haifa and Acre, Israel, from setting up new appliances and anything inside the home to fixing everything within a property as well,” Karimian said.

After 12 months of serving at the BWC in Israel, Karimian plans on attending college.

“When I come back I will go to college, get my undergraduate degree, and just move forward,” Karimian said.

One of the only other followers of the Baha’i faith at McLean is Brian Aka. He also happens to be one of Karimian’s closest friends.

“Mateen would be a great fit for the program because he is such a good person,” Aka said. “He is very friendly and shows those good human qualities that everyone should have.”

Page design by Colin Edson Photos courtesy of Mateen Karimian

MAY | FEATURES | 17

A&E

Entertainment update

Movies, TV shows and concerts to get you excited for summer

CONCERTS

MOVIES

TV SHOWS

Where: Jiffy Lube Live Price: $110-$850 Opening Acts: SZA & Jay Rock

The fan-favorite anti-hero teams up with Colossus and some new mutants to take down a new enemy, Cable.

Becca Kufrin, runner-up of The Bachelor season 22, will star as the next bachelorette.

Watch as 30 men compete for Becca’s heart.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY MAY 25

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT MAY 29

KENDRICK LAMAR JUNE 1

HARRY STYLES JUNE 24

Where: Capital One Arena Price: $24-$500 Opening Act: Kacey Musgraves IMAGINE DRAGONS JULY 2

Where: Jiffy Lube Live Price: $35-$500 Opening Act: Grace VanderWaal TAYLOR SWIFT JULY 10-11

Where: FedEx Field Price: $110-$1500 Opening Acts: Camila Cabello & Charli XCX BEYONCE & JAY-Z JULY 27-28

Where: FedEx Field Price: $100-$1250 Opening Act: TBD LUKE BRYAN AUG. 18

Where: Jiffy Lube Live Price: $55-$300 Opening Acts: Kip Moore & Cadillac Three 18 | A&E | MAY

DEADPOOL 2 MAY 18

THE BACHELORETTE MAY 28

Follow the beloved smuggler Han Solo as we learn more about his origins with the help of familiar faces Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca.

America’s talent competition returns for a 13th season with judges Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel.

OCEAN’S 8 JUNE 8

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT MAY 30

A spin-off of the original Ocean’s trilogy, this allfemale cast led by Sandra Bullock attempts to pull off a heist at the Met Gala.

INCREDIBLES 2 JUNE 15

This long-awaited sequel follows Elastigirl’s crime fighting adventures, while Bob Parr faces the challenges of being a stay-at-home dad.

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM JUNE 22

Owen Grady and Claire Dearing travel back to the destroyed Jurassic World to save the dinosaurs from impending doom.

Kimmy Schmidt, played by Ellie Kemper, returns for more goofy adventures with her friends and roommates.

YOUNG & HUNGRY JUNE 20 Gabi, Josh and their close friends embark on their final adventures together as this season marks the last 10 episodes of this series.

MARVEL’S LUKE CAGE JUNE 22

After an accident gives him super strength, Luke Cage defends the streets of Harlem from new villains.

Page design by Imani McCormick Reporting & graphics by Anna Grace Hopkins & Sabrina Vazquez

Blumhouse Productions

Truth or Dare is the ugly truth of modern horror Horror awaits those who dare to watch this movie |JUSTIN KIM A&E EDITOR|

C

oming next summer: Blumhouse’s Never Have I Ever.

Truth: I could have seen Isle of Dogs, Beirut, or, heck, even A Quiet Place again.

Dare: Go see this movie. I can’t suffer alone.

Truth: I actually thought this concept was brilliant at first. The game forces you to reveal your deepest secrets or get revenge on someone you have a grudge against. This could have been a dark exploration of just how broken some teens’ lives could be when they are forced to expose their secrets.

Dare: Try and figure out if the movie successfully explored that.

Truth: Then again, I also should have realized that this was a teenage horror film. They usually end up with nothing but characters you actively hate either gushing blood or having sex.

Dare: Guess what these teens are doing for at least half the movie.

Truth: This doesn’t work as a character film. Characters? What characters? The only “characters” were puppets driven solely by the situation and not by their own personalities.

Page design by Justin Kim

Dare: Go watch any teenage horror film.

Take the characters, put them next to this film’s characters and try to tell them apart.

Dare: Do your best impression of the “scary” grin. Then walk into a crowded place and try to make even one person scream.

Truth: One of the characters is a gay person who is forced to come out to his homophobic father. That is admittedly kind of interesting, and a glimpse of the sort of personal exploration this film could have done.

Truth: I am actually angry at this film. Not for its quality alone, but for just how lazy it feels. Everything’s just dry, lifeless, lacking in any style or identity. The fact that we’re still getting horror films that are so by the books and uninspired might actually be the most terrifying aspect of this movie.

Dare: Measure how many times that one interesting plot point is addressed in this film. Then measure how long it takes for you to make a PB&J sandwich. See which one takes longer.

Dare: Become a filmmaker and grace us with something that has more effort behind it than a last minute science fair project.

Truth: The story itself isn’t interesting enough to make the film scary and neither are the intentionally scary moments. I could predict every eardrum-mutilating jump scare.

Truth: I actually could hear some audience members around me laughing as they watched this “horror” flick, and I was one of them. No one minded.

Dare: Count how many times you see a horror film cliche—randomly splitting up, gratuitous sex, looking into a mirror and seeing something “scary,” some forced supernatural event, love triangles—and try not to run out of fingers.

Dare: Turn off the lights in your bedroom.

Wave a Halloween mask in front of your face. You have just seen something way scarier than this film with far less effort.

You’re welcome.

Truth: For a movie called Truth or Dare, the truth or dare game has almost no weight on the story. It’s just an excuse to make the characters hate each other, have sex or make a “scary” grin that looks like the editors turned on a Snapchat filter.

! ! ! ! !

0/5

Truth: This film sucks.

Dare: Try to argue otherwise.

MAY | A&E | 19

Out at the movies LGBTQ+ community strives for further representation in media

E

| ANYA CHEN REPORTER & HALEY ROSE REPORTER | characters, and only 17 percent of those 23 movies featured gay women.

“Without gay characters in our books, TV shows, movies, video games [and] even cell phone commercials, it’s easy to ignore the humanity of LGBTQ+ people,” senior Shelby Rose said. “We are forced a narrative where we are silenced and swept under the rug.”

Having someone to relate to in mainstream media can be taken for granted when you are used to it, but those in the LGBTQ+ community say they savor the moments when they find a little bit of themselves in books and on screen.

“I’ve always been a sentimental, romcom, Jane Austen-loving kind of girl. The only issue is that I have never been able to have my Ms. Darcy,” Rose said.

With the recent wave of movies depicting queer storylines, it may be easy to think that the tides are starting to turn. And to some extent, they are. Moonlight, which tells the story of a black homosexual man growing up through abuse and homophobia in Miami, was the first LGBTQ+ film ever to take the Best Picture prize at the 89th annual Academy Awards last year. Love,

Simon, which was released on March 16, was the first gay romantic comedy produced by a major studio.

Those who grew up before our generation, like Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club sponsor Seth LeBlanc, recognize the progress that has been made in representing queer people on screen.

“We live in a very different world, even from the time I was in elementary school to now,” LeBlanc said.

The fact that films featuring LGBTQ+ people have received critical acclaim is a major step in itself.

“To see movies like Moonlight and Call Me by Your Name receive acknowledgment at the Oscars and Love, Simon have so much hype shows a world vastly different than the one our parents or even siblings grew up in,” Rose said. “Moonlight, specifically, brought complex representation and depth that no other recent LGBTQ+ media has been awarded. To watch a character persist despite these immense difficulties ensured the audience of the extreme resilience of our community.”

What is perhaps most exciting for the LGBTQ+ community about Moonlight

Black Bear

Working Title

nvision a world where you never see yourself represented in the mainstream. You can’t relate to any of the characters you see on screen and it seems that every book, magazine or movie just wasn’t meant for you. While this may sound like a dystopia, feeling like a stranger to society is too often a reality for minority groups, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“How we perceive the world, what we think of as ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal,’ how we see ourselves and others and how we treat ourselves and others is all influenced almost entirely by the media we consume, especially growing up,” senior Eli Wassertzug said. “It is awful—and here I speak from personal experience—to go through life under the ingrained impression that you are not important, that somehow what you are and want to be is wrong.”

Many members of the LGBTQ+ community at McLean High School share Wassertzug’s woes, since representation of people they can identify with in media is so often minimal. According to GLAAD’s Studio Responsibility Index, only 23 of 125 major studio films in 2016 included gay

The Imitation Game

Rooney Mara wins Cannes Best Actress Award for Carol

The Danish Girl

AUG. 29, 2014

MAY 17, 2015

DEC. 31, 2015

MAY 17, 2015

Netflix

20 | A&E | MAY

Number 9

Page design by Anya Chen & Haley Rose

SEPT. 2, 2016

Sense8

Moonlight

A24

Timeline: LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media since 2014

JUNE 5, 2015

Carol

are turning doesn’t mean the progress stops there. Members of the LGBTQ+ community believe there should be a certain bar set for the types of representation they receive on screen. LGBTQ+ Highlanders list dependence on shock value, conformity to stereotypes and inadequate levels of diversity as flaws in the current depiction of queer people on screen.

“[Seeing gay characters on screen] always gets me emotional... but it’s because after years and years of desperately searching for a shred of representation, I’m finally seeing people like me.”

— Senior Carmen Beadie

“Riverdale’s ‘representation’ irritates me to no end,” Beadie said. “They have two girls kiss in the first episode for shock value, and the gay character, Kevin, is the stereotype of what straight girls want a gay man to be.”

These common flaws can promote misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community.

“When I watched Love, Simon, and the protagonist continually insisted how much ‘like you’ he was, I almost wanted to scream,” Wassertzug said. “It frustrates me

that it seems the only way to gain respect is to emphasize that [our] deviations from the norm are small and insignificant, [when it should be] because we are people and no matter how abnormal we may seem to you, we deserve respect. Movies mainly depict cisgender gay men, and while that’s a start, it’s certainly nowhere near representational of the incredibly wide spectrum of people who exist in the world.”

LeBlanc agrees that movies must incorporate better representation to stick with the times.

“We need more trans representation in movies, and we need trans actors playing those roles,” LeBlanc said. “I feel that gay men have been embraced by Hollywood, but I’m not sure if that is so for the other members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Overall, LGBTQ+ Highlanders agree that despite immense efforts to increase inclusivity on screen, Hollywood has a long way to go in making sure depictions of marginalized groups are adequate. It is not enough to simply put gay characters on the screen; their storylines need to be treated with care and sensitivity.

“To see media becoming more accepting and diverse feels like a weight off my chest,” Rose said.

While the decades of no representation for LGBTQ+ people is over, the sentiments evoked by having such characters on-screen still remains.

“It always gets me emotional,” Beadie said. “After years and years of desperately searching for a shred of representation, I’m finally seeing people like me.”

Fox 2000

is that it gives much needed visibility to queer people of color. The GLAAD study reported that the percentage of racial minorities represented in movies with gay characters dropped dramatically from 32.1 percent in 2014 to 20 percent in 2016, showing that LGBTQ+ people of color suffer even more from a lack of representation. So it is all the more encouraging that a movie like Moonlight has received such widespread recognition. “[Moonlight] did a wonderful job of encapsulating the particular gay experience it was trying to bring to light,” LeBlanc said.

“African American LGBTQ+ voices, stories and art need to be shared and heard.”

Television shows have also started to incorporate more inclusive storylines.

Netflix’s Sense8 showcases a diverse cast composed of Kenyan, Indian and Korean characters, and is directed by transgender sisters Lana and Lilly Wachowski. “[Sense8] explores the cultures and attitudes surrounding sexuality while avoiding the lazy characterization of basing someone solely off of their sexual orientation and having them face nothing but criticism for the way they are,” senior Carmen Beadie said.

Moreover, the show features various identities within the LGBTQ+ community, from trans women to closeted gay men.

“Sense8 is important to me because my dad watches it,” said junior KC Taylor, the GSA vice president. “Through the show, he’s being exposed to the discussion about LGBTQ+ representation.”

However, just because the tides

Moonlight wins Oscar for Best Picture

Timothée Chalamet nominated for Oscar for Best Actor for CMBYN

Love, Simon

FEB. 26, 2017

JAN. 23, 2018

FEB. 27, 2018

JAN. 22, 2017

FEB. 16, 2018

Everything Sucks!

Netflix

Frenesy

Call Me By Your Name (CMBYN)

Images obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license

MAY | A&E | 21

IN-DEPTH

HOLDING ON

STUDENTS FIGHT BIASES TO RETAIN CULTURAL IDENTITIES

by Jessie Friedman, Imani McCormick, Siddarth Shankar & Jack Stenzel Opinions Editor Managing Editor Editor-in-Chief Sports Editor

T

he bell had rung, the test had been handed out and students were furiously scribbling and bubbling in their answers. Then the crackly loudspeaker roared to life, commanding attention for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Stuck in the middle of her thoughts, junior Neha Rana circled an answer and stood up halfway through the pledge, when she did a double take.

“I stood up in the middle of the pledge, just because I was answering this question and didn’t want to lose my train of thought, and I heard someone call me a terrorist,” Rana said. “That’s not the first time.”

For minority students like Rana, facing such comments is just another part of the classroom environment. Her Indian background has made her a target for racial comments by her peers.

“There are racial slurs that go around...calling Indians a monkey or a gorilla. It sounds bizarre, but it happens, and people treat it as a joke, when it really is not,” Rana said.

These seemingly small encounters can become long-lasting issues. One student, who requested anonymity to share their story, recalls the creation of an offensive Twitter account that still persists online to this day.

“Some person took a photo [of me]...they

Photoshopped it and put it on Twitter [under my name] to mimic a terrorist,” the student said.

Despite numerous efforts to delete it, the account still shows up as the first result on Google Images when the student’s name is searched. For employers, colleges and even strangers, this account is their first impression of the student online.

“To see the first thing that defines you as a person anywhere to the entire world is just that one Twitter account is demeaning. It shows that you can’t rise above that sort of racism. You become defined solely by it and because of that you’re reduced as a person,” the student said. “Emptiness. That’s what I felt.”

Their experience is not uncommon in schools throughout the country. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Education saw a 25 percent increase in the number of racial harassment complaints in schools. A 2016 report by the Southern Poverty Law Center found that more than four in 10 teachers had heard derogatory comments made by students toward minority groups.

“One of the biggest, glaring issues at McLean is the lack of appreciation but also respect for other cultures and ethnicities,” Rana said. “When somebody is trying to express it or trying to be a more avid promoter of their own culture, it’s shot down or made fun of.”

Cultural Attire —

Senior Havi CarrilloKlein adorns a tallis to express her Jewish identity. The tallis is a fringed shawl traditionally worn by the Jewish people during prayer. (Photo

by Jessie Friedman)

MAY | IN-DEPTH | 23

“I’VE HAD A PERSON THROW A PENNY AT ME AND MADE FUN OF ME FOR BEING A CHEAP JEW.” -SENIOR HAVI CARRILLO-KLEIN

Striking a Pose —

Junior Neha Rana adorns a South Asian salwar kameez.

Rana participates in youth mentoring and Indian dance in order to express her culture. (Photo by Imani McCormick)

JUNIOR NEHA RANA

CULTURE CLASH From the beginning of U.S. history, people of color have been denied opportunities based on their race. Even though laws protecting civil rights were passed in the 1950s and 60s, discrimination continues to this day. Senior Shriansh Singh’s parents were immigrants in the 1980s when they first encountered racism in graduate school.

“There were four Indians on campus and my father was one of them. One of his best friends was actually pelted by stones,” Singh said. “At one point, it got so bad that [my dad] actually had to buy a gun.”

While stone-pelting may seem a relic of ancient times, senior Havi Carrillo-Klein has had a similar experience as a Jewish student at McLean.

“I’ve had a person throw a penny at me and make fun of me for being a cheap Jew,” Carrillo-Klein said.

Whether it be stones or pennies, the impact of the incident far exceeds the pain of the moment.

These forms of harassment have served as reminders of the prejudice minorities face. Singh feels that his parents have been victims of other forms of discrimination even in present-day McLean, such as housing discrimination.

“When my parents tried to buy a house in McLean, it was unusually difficult for them,” Singh said. “That was very eye-opening for them.”

These forms of discrimination can take a toll on a person in the long run. When junior Jisolu Awe first moved to McLean at age 5, she confronted racism at a time when the hardest obstacle is usually fighting over the playground swings at recess.

“I had this one best friend and I remember how I wanted to go over to her house for dinner, like, ‘Oh, go tell your dad so we can hang out,’” Awe said.

“The next day, she comes back to school and said,

‘My dad doesn’t want me being friends with black people.’ That really stuck with me for a long time.”

Awe also faced taunts about the very thing that defined her to the world—her name. A name that her parents spent countless months crafting to be special had suddenly transformed into an epithet.

“People used to make fun of my name. My full name is 26 letters long, and I used to get roasted for that quite frequently. It made me feel bad,” Awe said. “But one day I was talking to my mom, and she told me what my name means. It means waking up to God. Even though my name’s not stereotypical American, I’m still special.”

By maintaining pride in her name and her culture, Awe is able to dismiss many racial comments and stereotypes directed her way.

“There’s a lot of stereotypes about Africans, but I don’t really let those get to me. I just brush them off,” Awe said.

While Awe navigates the terrain of racial comments with relative ease, many students find it difficult to do so. Throughout his four years of high school, senior Alejandro Galdo has struggled with the stereotypes that accompany being a Hispanic student.

“Always in the back of my mind, there is that thought of what I’m expected to act as or expected to perform as a Hispanic student. I get reactions a lot from my friends, whether it is jokingly or not, like, ‘Oh, you are smart for a Hispanic student,’” Galdo said.

Galdo’s parents were illegal immigrants when they first came to the U.S. They crossed the border a total of three times before finally becoming legal U.S. citizens.

“My mom lived in a small village in Mexico with nine siblings in total, and she grew up without her

“EVERY HERITAGE NEEDS TO BE EXPRESSED REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE.”

father,” Galdo said. “At a certain point, her mom couldn’t provide for all her siblings, so when she was 11, she was sent to live with another family friend in Mexico City without her family there. She didn’t finish high school.”

Because of this background, Galdo finds it difficult to navigate high school as easily as his peers.

Every experience is a completely new challenge for families that have never confronted them before.

“My parents didn’t finish their high school education and never got their college education,” Galdo said. “It’s always hard to—as a child of those parents—to really move forward. You face a lot more obstacles because your parents don’t know the process of going through high school.”

However, when compared to conditions back in Mexico, life in the U.S. is relatively idyllic, and Galdo is thankful for the opportunities he has had in this country. But his parents’ immigration story continues to affect his daily life in many ways.

“Growing up in this community, I’m not used to being around too many Hispanic people and I think I have always felt out of touch with that part of my culture,” Galdo said. “My mom cleans houses while my dad works in construction, so that obviously posed some financial troubles for our family. I have always been in the free lunch program. That’s all I have grown up knowing, so it’s not like I know what I am missing out on. It has just made me more aware, and just in general more grateful for what I have.”

Junior Mireya Bowser, a biracial student, has experienced this problem of cultural conflict as a person of black and Mexican heritage. “[There are] a lot of Mexican stereotypes. I have even heard a few things about how I don’t belong here because I am Mexican and I should go back to Mexico,” Bowser said. “Some people even joke about how I won’t be as successful as anyone that’s white because I am a minority. I do have a bit of selfdoubt every once in awhile because of [stereotyping].

I sometimes think I won’t be as successful as some other people.”

Carrillo-Klein, who is also Hispanic, views it as one of her goals to discredit the stereotype that Hispanic individuals are not as well-equipped as their peers and will not be successful in their future.

“I’m really trying to break that stereotype that Latino immigrants are lower class,” Carrillo-Klein said. “It makes me really proud to be Mexican, because I can see the great things that immigrants can do for this country.”

Those who engage in racial stereotyping and comments often misunderstand the difficult experiences that minority students and their families have faced, but Galdo suggests a solution to this issue.

“The more that people try to expose themselves

or reach out to these students, the more they’ll see how much they can relate to these students and their stories,” Galdo said.

Antonio Olivo is a reporter for The Washington Post who has written articles that explore the changing conditions in the U.S. for immigrants and minorities. He considers the cultural changes happening in schools as a reflection of larger changes throughout the country.

“My goal with immigration is to show what is happening and to give the people I include in an article their dignity as human beings,” Olivo said in an interview with The Highlander. “I always hope my articles prompt further discussion. This country is experiencing monumental shifts, both politically and with respect to changing demographics. I’ve always looked at immigration through that lens.”

Place of Worship —

Senior Havi CarrilloKlein stands in front of the sanctuary at Temple Rodef Shalom, where many Jewish members of the McLean comunity attend services and pray. (Photo by Jessie Friedman)

SCHOOL EFFORTS Fifty-eight percent of McLean students and 82 percent of FCPS teachers are non-Hispanic white.

As a result, fostering diversity at the school has been difficult. One of the principal efforts to create a sense of cultural appreciation was the school’s annual international night, which was discontinued three years ago.

“I established the [International Cultures United] club in 1988 or 1989. We had the multicultural MAY | IN-DEPTH | 25

“[RACISM] IS NO LONGER THAT OPAQUE, CONSPICUOUS THING YOU SEE IN SOCIETY. IT’S MUCH MORE DISCREET AND PERVASIVE OVER OUR KIDS.” -SENIOR SHRIANSH SINGH

night right from the beginning,” ESOL teacher Alba Ben-Barka said. “For 27 years, we had an international night. We would have food from all kinds of nationalities, all kinds of countries and we would have entertainment from the different countries. We had 400 to 500 people coming. I feel really sad about it [being discontinued] because it was part of who I am. It’s almost like I have abandoned a little bit of me.”

When Ben-Barka decided to step down as the club sponsor after almost three decades, no students or teachers were willing to take on the responsibility of organizing the event. However, neighboring schools with similar levels of diversity, such as Langley and Thomas Jefferson, do host international nights.

“We tried so many things but we had a difficult time attracting American students...that was always one of the goals that did not have full success,” BenBarka said. “What does that tell you? Think about it.”

While some students are currently attempting to bring back international night, in general, students are hesitant to discuss or ask questions about each others’ cultural backgrounds. Because of this, they feel that more could be done on the schoolwide level to promote cultural appreciation and exhange.

“People don’t really take the time to learn about

McLean High School Demographics

2016-17

WHITE (58.02%) BLACK (2.54%) HISPANIC (11.88%) ASIAN (22.83%) OTHER (4.74%)

Information obtained via fcps.edu

26 | IN-DEPTH | MAY

multiculturalism and I think it’s really important to incorporate that into not only curriculum, but schoolwide programs,” Carrillo-Klein said. “I don’t think that exists as much as it should.”

Efforts have been made on the schoolwide level to promote a more inclusive environment.

Literature and movies from other world regions are often included in class discussions and agendas, but even this does not always have the intended effect of broadening students’ world views.

“Last year, during AP World, we watched an Indian movie, and it got so much hate. Everybody was laughing during it. I got really mad at my class.

Seeing those people laugh at my culture was just so disrespectful,” Rana said.

In addition, faculty have been trained on cultural sensitivity and appreciation at staff meetings.

The new FCPS Superintendent, Scott Brabrand, has made cultural proficiency one of his primary initiatives.

“The crux of the presentation was talking about six guiding principles of cultural proficiency for educators...to not just discuss the concepts but how it could apply to teachers in their daily lives,” said school counselor Brook Dalrymple, who helped lead the training at McLean.

Part of the cultural proficiency training required teachers to confront their implicit biases by associating stereotypical traits with certain races and cultural groups.

“One of the activities that we had teachers do is that we first showed them ‘I am’ and ‘I am not’ statements,” Dalrymple said. “We had an example on the board of ‘I am a tall black man,’ and then you had to fill in the blank for, ‘and I’m not a basketball player,’ is what the implicit bias was.”

Although the intention of this activity was to raise awareness surrounding racial injustice in schools, some members of the faculty believed this method was not the best way to confront the issue.

“It was one of those moments where you don’t really know what to say or do, because somebody’s giving you an image and then you’re being asked to say something that you know is offensive,” English teacher Anna Caponetti said. “It seems that the goal of it as a lesson is that you get it right if you correctly identify the stereotype, which is in fact the wrong answer.”

Caponetti believes the administration should have spurred a discussion based on past student experiences with cultural insensitivity.

“I think it would have been good to get testimony from students, particularly students in our schools or graduates who would narrate an instance where they felt that a member of the faculty was culturally insensitive,” Caponetti said.

While the training only addressed issues pertaining to the staff, Dalrymple would like to expand this cultural proficiency training to students.

Junior Jisolu Awe “We want to be student-centered. Getting student feedback would be great to figure out and to hear from them how they feel like it’s like being here as a student,” Dalrymple said.

As role models and leaders, FCPS administrators are trying to convey a supportive message to encourage a safe and comfortable learning environment.

“I believe my role is to provide the conditions under which all of our students can learn in a safe, healthy environment and go on to succeed in life,” school board member at-large Ryan McElveen said. “We must continue to convey the message that our schools are safe spaces, and our school administrators, teachers and even fellow students must do what they can to protect and support these individuals at the ground level.”

AN UNFULFILLED DREAM Students like Bowser still feel that more can be done to facilitate a conversation about everyday instances in which students may feel alienated due to their race.

“A lot of these issues aren’t really seen because they aren’t talked about,” Bowser said.

Despite the obstacles they face to comfortably expressing their culture in McLean’s environment, students continue to maintain pride in their identities.

“My culture is basically who I am. Everything I do surrounds that. It is who you are, it’s how you grow up. Everything around you is all your culture,” said junior Wafa Khan, the president of the Muslim Student Association. “Without it, you don’t really have a background.”

Rana agrees with Khan, emphasizing the importance of her culture in her everyday life and activities and how it forms an integral part of her personality.

Junior Wafa Khan

Junior Mireya Bowser

“I feel like every heritage needs to be expressed regardless of where you are [but] a lot of kids are almost afraid to express it,” Rana said. “I express my Indian culture in a multitude of ways. I do Bollywood dance, I volunteer at my local Sikh temple on Sundays and I’m also part of an organization called Sikh Kid to Kid which helps reach out to kids who are being bullied because of their religious beliefs.”

Even a well-respected teacher like Ben-Barka has faced discrimination in the U.S. due to her Italian accent and wishes to challenge the preconceived notions that many people have in regard to minorities.

“When people have an accent, what happens is they get labeled. And people have preconceptions, they have stereotypes,” Ben-Barka said. “When people see me and I open my mouth, that’s all they see—the Italian.

They don’t see the American in me. Some people, they don’t even think about these things, but this is my life mission, both in terms of my work and with who I am.”

For Khan, her Muslim-American identity is constantly questioned by others who label her as one or the other.

“I can be a Muslim and be American. I was born here. It is the religion I want to choose, not something that was forced upon me,” Khan said.

While stereotypes permeate all levels of the school community, they are taking on a new figure that is unmistakable to some students.

“Racism takes a much different tone in McLean.

It’s no longer that opaque, conspicuous thing you see in society. It’s much more discreet and pervasive over our kids,” Singh said. “We unconsciously are racist to each other. Although that seems extreme nowadays, it’s a fact.”

“MY CULTURE IS BASICALLY WHO I AM. EVERYTHING I DO SURROUNDS THAT.” -JUNIOR WAFA KHAN MAY | IN-DEPTH | 27

Sipping on quali-tea boba I’m not teasing you about Teas’n You

|IMANI MCCORMICK MANAGING EDITOR|

snacks

boba tea

macarons

B

ubble tea is the new craze, and Teas’n You is doing everything right. This modern Asian teahouse gives tea-lovers the full experience by allowing them to customize and sample drinks.

Teas’n You’s ordering style may seem overwhelming given the variety of base flavors and chewy add-ons to choose from, but their menu makes ordering simple.

Choose one of their many special teas, milk teas, slush teas or coffee and make any adjustments to suit your tastebuds.

My go-to is the green Thai tea with black boba (below). It is always sweetened to perfection, but the sweetness does not overpower the bitter tang of the green tea.

The thick layer of cream on top creates a delicious, velvety consistency.

T

eas’n You offers two “salty snacks”: basil popcorn chicken (right) and garlic truffle fries (left). Sounds like the perfect combo, right? Not so much.

The basil popcorn chicken tastes like typical Asian chicken nuggets, just as tender except not as seasoned. They do offer “extra spice,” but it just tastes like a dry mix of cayenne pepper and paprika.

Luckily, the garlic truffle fries are to die for. As a French fry enthusiast, I give these fries alone a 12 out of 10. They are neither too crunchy nor too soggy, and unlike the chicken, the fries are seasoned appropriately; it is the ideal balance of garlic, truffle oil and Parmesan.

I

f you are mad about macarons, then definitely invest in Teas’n You’s array of delightful macarons.

Their range of flavors includes cerealinspired macarons such as Fruity Pebbles and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, unique creations like the unicorn, and warm, sweet blends such as vanilla chai and Ferrero Rocher.

The vanilla chai macarons (top) taste like a warm cup of spiced vanilla chai tea with hints of clove and cinnamon.

The spot-on Fruity Pebbles flavor (bottom) met my standards for delicious rainbow treats. It reminded me of Saturday mornings watching The Flintstones and enjoying a huge bowl of Fruity Pebbles.

8032 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182 28 | A&E | MAY

Photos & page design by Imani McCormick

Cult of Personality — Far Cry 5’s antagonist Joseph Seed sits at the center of the table with his family. Far Cry 5 is available for $60 on PC, Xbox One and PS4. (Ubisoft)

Far Cry 5: A far cry from other games New game looks to differentiate itself with new, controversial setting |ROSS OLIVER REPORTER|

W

ith EA recently shutting down a planned single-player Star Wars game, single-player driven games are a dying breed. However, Far Cry is a 14-year-old single-player series that has the name value, evidenced by the fact that Far Cry 4 sold seven million copies despite mixed reviews Far Cry 5 is the newest installment of the series, developed by Ubisoft and released on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 for $60.

Far Cry 5 is set in the fictional Hope County, Montana. The player takes control of one deputy of the town, which is slowly being taken over by preacher Joseph Seed and his congregation Eden’s Gate. Seed looks to take over control of the town completely, taking land from the residents of the town.

The residents are helpless on their own, but they band together to fight this cult.

Before it was even released, the game sparked controversy over its religious and political background. Some see the game as offensive and stereotypical towards American Christians. Another contentious issue is how the game uses religious fanaticism and the far-right views of Seed within the U.S. At E3 2017, Ubisoft mentioned that the player would be “shocked and even scared sometimes at Far Cry 5.” However, the actual Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Ross Oliver

game tries to please everyone by not delving deeply into sensitive subjects. It misses the chance to explore issues like gun control, sexism, racism and religion. For a company that hyped up how controversial the game would be, they ultimately shy away from deeper points.

In other Far Cry games, the player would take control of the same protagonist, but Far Cry 5 allows the player to make their own.

This silent protagonist poses a major issue for the gameplay experience. The silence takes away from the immersive experience, and makes the player feel like they are watching a movie instead of playing a video game.

The other characters don’t fare much better. Even with the difficulty set on high, the enemy AI still acts like it has an IQ of 50.

This has always been typical of Far Cry games and it does not seem to be changing.

Besides these issues however, the game is fun, fresh and fast-paced. The freedom in this game is unparalleled, allowing the player to do whatever they want within the game world. It also allows the player to complete any mission in any way they want. The only requirement is that eventually players have to complete the main story quest.

The characters and setting are interesting throughout the entire campaign. The setting does a great job of immersing the player in

the country lands of Montana. Most of the main characters have intriguing backstories and are unique. Joseph Seed’s villainy makes him one of the best video game villains of all time.

The overall campaign takes around 20 hours to complete, which isn’t that long.

Although it can’t be completed in one sitting, the story felt like it was over a little too quickly.

Far Cry 5 is a mixed experience with missed chances but successful gameplay.

The silent protagonist is awkward, and not going in-depth on hot button issues is a huge missed opportunity. However, the gameplay is exhilarating and immerses the player in the world. I would recommend this game for more casual gamers who would drop $60 on the game for a fun experience.

RATING

This game is rated Mature 17+

MAY | A&E | 29

9 to 5 works around the clock |ALEX MANDANAS OPINIONS EDITOR|

Press Play — Abby Covington, Benji Harris, Haley Rose and Erica Bass embrace their 9 to 5 characters on Press Day. The musical ran from April 26-29. (Photos by Anna Kate Womack)

Musical’s 1980s message of female empowerment still relevant today |ALEX MANDANAS OPINIONS EDITOR|

T

heatreMcLean’s spring musical 9 to 5 has been hailed as a feminist triumph.

Based on the 1980 movie, 9 to 5 follows three women in their quest to oust their sexist, despotic boss. Through its story, music and dance numbers, the musical strongly condemns the effects and consequences of gender inequality. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the show’s message is as relevant a topic as ever.

“When I picked it, I knew we had so many strong females that could do this, and it was before all of the craziness [of the Me Too movement] happened,” theater teacher and 9 to 5 director Phillip Reid said. “Obviously it’s always been there, but it just happened that the Me Too and Time’s Up movement happened after I picked it. Doing the show now, I’ve realized just how much more of an impact it will have, because it’s right there on the forefront.”

Each of the three female leads fights a different battle against their boss, Franklin 30 | A&E | MAY

Hart (sophomore Benji Harris), and his chauvinistic behavior. Violet (senior Haley Rose) is a professional, well-qualified working woman who is passed up for a promotion because of her gender. Doralee (sophomore Erica Bass), Hart’s secretary, is sexually harassed by her boss. The charge against Hart is led by recently hired Judy (junior Abby Covington), who is appalled by the cruel, patriarchal dynamic of the office.

“Hart is the 1979 equivalent of Matt Lauer; [it’s] horrible to think that, but you’ve got this guy who uses his position of power to get what he wants in business and with the females of the office,” Reid said. “His relationship to Doralee is primarily a part of the Me Too movement, using his station to get what he wants and getting her to work late, long hours and all that horribleness— it’s just done in a musical theater way.”

Through their tenacity, determination and cleverness, Violet, Doralee and Judy successfully oust their tyrannical boss and

make the office a better place.

“They make the whole office better by being the bosses,” Reid said. “That’s something that’s really important for us to see because that whole feminist outlook is what 9 to 5 really is, just done in a big, Broadway musical style, but the themes are still there.”

From a production perspective, 9 to 5 is perhaps TheatreMcLean’s biggest undertaking since Reid took control of the program in 2014. The musical includes ambitious technical components that are new to most TheatreMcLean students.

“This is one of the biggest musicals we’ve ever done,” Reid said. “We’re getting someone to fly—we’re getting someone rigged up to fly in the show at a very pinnacle moment.

Everyone has a wig, [there are] lot of costume changes [and] huge ensemble numbers.”

The music of the show was all written by Dolly Parton, who starred in the 1980 film.

It includes pop anthem “9 to 5” and power ballad “Backwoods Barbie.”

“The show is written by Dolly Parton and she’s most famous for being a country singer, so there are a lot of songs that have a country vibe,” musical director and junior Helen Ganley said. “The music itself takes inspiration from a lot of different places; there’s a few notes in the music that takes inspiration from Journey and ‘Thunder Road.’”

The diversity and complexity of the music has required lots of student practice.

“The attention to the music has been really amazing,” Reid said. “These are probably the strongest harmonies that we’ve ever had. All the attention to the different vocal parts have been really cool.”

The dancing is also a spectacle to behold. Juniors Kristen Waagner and Ashley Winegarden have spent the entire school year working on choreography for 9 to 5. There are 10 total dances that take inspiration from many different styles of dance such as square dancing, ballet, tango and classical musical theater.

“The note that I gave Kristen and Ashley is that I want the dance to not just be dancing because we’re dancing—it needs to be incorporated into the style of the show, which is the workplace. So a lot of the movements have a lot to do with the workplace, but we also have fantastical elements too,” Reid said. “We go to a hoedown at one point, we go to a film noir tango, we have a full-on tap number. There are different styles, there are crazy amounts.”

Dancing is incorporated into almost every event of the show.

“There’s a really cool sequence where [the three main characters] smoke weed and there’s a great dance sequence of their fantasies of overcoming their boss,” Waagner said. “I think the audience will really enjoy that, among other parts of the show.”

The dancing in 9 to 5 is more difficult than that of previous shows. Members of the dance team and dance novices alike have been rehearsing since Febuary.

“I think the dancing element is the most exciting part of the show for me and a lot of people,” said dance ensemble and ensemble member junior Carenna Slotkoff, who also plays Maria, a minor character. “The choreography this year is really fun and exciting and honestly challenging… It’s a new element for a lot of people which is really exciting because it adds a ton to the show.”

Tying complex social issues into a comedic musical is a big challenge, but TheatreMcLean did so seamlessly. Its empowering message and the hard work its cast and crew put into it is evident every step of the way.

“The show shows that women are capable and even far more capable of [being in positions of power],” Reid said. “You see that they are at a point in their lives [when] they’re in a weaker position, but they find their strength and find their ability to tell themselves that ‘We can do this. We don’t need a man keeping us down.’”

Page design by Alex Mandanas

MAY | A&E | 31

OPINIONS

The walking deadline

Deadlines set beyond school hours foster stress The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

M

cLean students already bombarded by innumerable extracurriculars and AP courses are often forced to complete their assignments ahead of school hours or face the penalties of late submission. In an effort to increase practicality and adapt to changing technology, teachers have recently turned to using online assignments during in-class activities. While in theory this tactic is more efficient, due to adverse effects on the students, online deadlines should remain within school hours for the well-being of the student population.

“Online deadlines [often]... defeat the entire purpose of our free time.”

-junior Noor Al-Saloum

Whether set at 6 p.m. after sports practices or at midnight the day before the class convenes, the allocation of deadlines beyond school hours has been perceived as an attempt to discourage procrastination.

However, this detracts from other areas of student life.

“Students at McLean are faced with an astronomical amount of stress throughout the week,” junior Noor Al-Saloum said.

“Online deadlines [often]...defeat the entire purpose of our free time.”

Some deadlines even mandate that students complete assignments during weekend hours.

“I think [that] having due dates online that are outside of school hours is unfair, especially on the weekends,” freshman Kyra Bolden said. “I’m sure teachers don’t want to grade on weekends, or any adult doesn’t want to do work when they aren’t supposed to be working. Online due dates [allow] teachers to take advantage of our free time.”

32 | OPINIONS | MAY

Weekend deadlines are especially detrimental to the student body in that some online platforms such as Pearson, a question-based learning source used by the science department, assign automatic grades to submissions when completed late. That being said, although most syllabuses confirm that late homework receives penalties of up to 50 percent before the unit’s conclusion, these platforms can mark late submissions to as low as zero percent after a set date.

“One time there was a [Pearson] assignment due on a Saturday night and no one was informed of it. When I noticed it the next day, I did it but I received a zero for it,” Sangree said. “Online homework that’s graded based on how well you do should never be given an automatic zero if turned in late. If one doesn’t know how to do a problem, it forces the student to give up on the assignment rather than going to the teacher for help. None of it is fair.”

At the same time, some students do believe that deadlines set beyond or ahead of school hours can be beneficial for students, provided that these deadlines promote productivity and organization.

“I like online assignments better than paper assignments. [They] make you more organized and you can study based off of those materials,” sophomore Sarah Gu said. “[Regarding deadlines set at midnight], students know that they have to complete the work by midnight so they are more effective while working and productive.”

Regardless of these advantages, the accumulation of online deadlines in addition to other work can actually hinder academic success. Despite supporting the use of deadlines set beyond school hours, English teacher Kendra Stolee has strayed from midnight deadlines due to their correlation with poor work.

“I’ve made the shift this year to no midnight deadlines. I felt like it wasn’t quality work that was coming in,” Stolee said. “But [considering] the 5 and 6 p.m. deadlines, while awkward for those people who are involved in sports, at some point in life you’re going to have to learn to set your own deadlines. If for some reason that doesn’t

work for you, then maybe your deadline has to be the night before.”

Nonetheless, most students’ schedules do not permit such flexibility. Online deadlines set beyond or ahead of school hours greatly complicate a fixed school routine.

“Teachers need to understand that some kids have their own schedule and have learned to get their work done on top of sports or activities for the next day,” Bolden said. “A lot of students will procrastinate no matter what, so making strict due dates online just decreases their chances of getting it done.”

In recognition of the additional pressure these deadlines place on overburdened students, alongside the departure from typical curriculum policy, teachers should keep online deadlines within the ordinary school day.

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Reporting & page design by Maria McHugo

A chaotic cabinet

Trump’s treatment of his cabinet is detrimental to America JEREMY SIEGEL NEWS EDITOR ollowing a bombastic campaign, in which no organization was anywhere near apparent, it seemed implausible that any degree of moderation would exist within the White House. After months of leaks, inappropriate tweets and incoherent policy, a fragile period of relative peace emerged, led by various cabinet members who formed and proposed consistent policy. Yet in the past few weeks, President Donald Trump has renewed his erratic behavior, dismissing some of the most crucial members of his cabinet and creating an unstable government.

“The president has the right to do that,” government teacher Ian Howell said. “But his policies have been inconsistent, and being inconsistent will scare off quality people.”

Inconsistency isn’t a political issue—any work environment only works if there is a plan and continuity.

“That applies to any job,” Howell said.

“That applies to trash collection. That applies to art galleries. That applies to schools. It applies to anything.”

Establishing a record of inconsistency, untruthfulness and incoherency is more dangerous to government than anything; it leads to shifting policies, variable decisions and radicalism. The moderates in Trump’s Cabinet, including former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, are being replaced by radicals, like Mike Pompeo and John Bolton.

Bolton is renowned for his hard-lined and polarizing stances, but unfortunately, he is not the only radical who seems to be creeping into the administration. Gina Haspel, set to replace Mike Pompeo as director of the CIA, is known as a vehement supporter of the CIA torture and waterboarding program.

What was once a cabinet run by illequipped officials is now a cabinet of extremists and yes-men.

“Trump’s initial appointments were ill-equipped to lead major departments,” senior Carolyn Brown-Kaiser said.

“Trump, however, continues to appoint underqualified nominees.”

F

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Page design by Jeremy Siegel

Following a round of dismissals that doesn’t appear to be over, Trump’s cabinet suddenly went from being inadequate to being incompetent and extreme.

“He just puts in people who believe in what he believes in, who might not challenge him and who will say whatever he wants them to,” senior Linus Stroik said.

These dismissals and constant changes are a threat to stable policy. The inconsistent policies emerging after the removal of moderates from the administration, like the sudden rejection of a renewal of DACA only forms a weak government.

“Every choice he’s ever made has backfired on him,” junior Erida Dervishi said.

“There’s nothing good about his [cabinet appointments]. There’s nothing more to it.”

Yet while one can constantly point to the issues within the cabinet and administration, it is clear that these shake-ups epitomize the larger issue of an unstable president and administration, prone to pathological lying and corruption.

Look no further than administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott

Pruitt, who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on first class flights, privacy booths and various other extravagant purchases.

Pruitt has yet to be fired.

What may be more impressive, however, is the multiple investigations and scandals Trump is embroiled in, which range from payments to a porn star to colluding with a foreign power to reach the White House.

“Citizens are supposed to trust their government, and when constant scandals and improprieties are a regular part of the government, it gnaws at the legitimacy and credibility of the president,” junior Noor AlSaloum said.

It is clear that this administration is far beyond the norm, yet that shouldn’t exclude it from facing the scrutiny that other administrations have in the past.

Trump’s chances have long run out, especially as he continues to uphold his incompetent and terrifying cabinet. America can no long turn a blind eye to the threat of the Trump administration and its incompetent cabinet, because left unchecked, the consequences will be dire.

MAY | OPINIONS | 33

CROSSFIRE:

Walkouts give students a voice for change ALEX MANDANAS OPINIONS EDITOR

I

n the U.S. this year, there has been an average of more than one school shooting each week, according to CNN. Due to the frequency of such shootings, and after the Parkland shooting on Feb. 14, students have led walkouts nationwide, supporting the gun control movement. Walkouts are an effective and invigorating way for student activists to convey their message.

At the March for Our Lives, Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivor and gun control activist Cameron Kasky called the post-Parkland gun control movement a “revolution, a powerful and peaceful one, because it is, of, by and for the young people of this country.”

This revolution has been led by students.

Students organized the March for Our Lives, one of the largest one-day protests ever recorded. Students set up town halls in their high schools and meetings on Capitol Hill to have candid discussions with their representatives. Students have created vast networks of young activists, like Students Demand Action, to work as a united front to register voters and orchestrate numerous regional events. More controversially, students have coordinated school walkouts to draw attention to the issue and demand change.

These walkouts are more than just effective. They are necessary to maintaining the movement for gun control.

“It’s one thing to hold an opinion. It’s another thing to literally stand up and walk,” German teacher Karen Wolpert said. “It’s a physical show of strength.”

McLean held a memorial to the victims of the Parkland shooting and was the site of two walkouts organized by United Never Again Rally McLean, or UNARM. The first walkout occurred on the football field during the school day, where students gave speeches and read letters from a Columbine survivor 34 | OPINIONS | MAY

Walking Out for Change — McLean students walked out of school to Lewinsville Park for a walkout on March 14. This walkout was the third of four walkouts that occurred at McLean. (Photo by Maren Kranking) and the mother of a Sandy Hook victim. The second one was held at Lewinsville Park and had high-profile speakers, including Delegate Kathleen Murphy and State Senator Adam Ebbin.

In the presence of their classmates and elected officials, many McLean students stood up and spoke at the Lewinsville walkout. They discussed their ideas, concerns and personal stories about gun control and gun violence. Politicians also spoke to the audience, explaining their positions on the heated issue and illuminating policy proposals to their constituents.

“I think that having students be able to voice their opinions in front of people who can actually change things was really important,” said junior Nathaniel Wyerman, a member of the UNARM leadership board.

Walkouts also encourage teenage political activity and literacy. Students heard from experts and leaders in multiple fields about the adverse effects of gun violence, the legislative obstacles the NRA presents and the importance of activism. Many students also used the walkouts to advance political change. At McLean, 200 students signed a petition seeking political action on gun control during the walkouts.

However, perhaps the factor that makes walkouts the most effective is their ability to unite students across the country.

Students from different races, socioeconomic backgrounds and regions have been able to gather together in the wake of the Parkland shooting, proving that gun control is not just a Florida issue. It’s an American issue.

“Walkouts caused political discourse in almost every corner of the country,” said junior Asia Kurtalic, who is on the UNARM leadership board. “A huge national movement was led by students which is a major accomplishment for our generation.”

Discounting walkouts as excuses for students to skip class is simply ignorant.

High school students have often been at the front of political change throughout American history. At the March for Our Lives, protesters were reminded that the civil rights movement’s success is, in large part, due to the efforts of mobilized students.

Student activists are legitimate agents of change, and school walkouts are one of the various ways that they can effectively express their message, confront their politicians and prove their unity and determination.

Students should continue in these efforts to make their voices heard.

Page design by Alex Mandanas

Are walkouts an effective form of protest?

Walkouts stumble to make a difference JACKSON PAYNE MANAGING EDITOR

O

n Feb. 21, just a week after the devastating tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, McLean students organized a walkout to protest gun laws and “honor” the victims. Many students did leave the school—but then what happened?

Some students actually did go out and get political, going down to the White House to protest for gun control legislation. If those students hadn’t been skipping government class, they would have known that the White House is never the place to get new legislation written.

However, most students who cut class for the walkout just ended up enjoying a free afternoon. Herds of underclassmen trekked to Santini’s or Starbucks in much more similar fashion to Ferris Bueller than politically charged Boston Tea Partiers or Montgomery bus boycotters.

That’s the problem with walkouts—they can’t really be taken seriously.

“Students have the right to protest, so that doesn’t bother me,” senior Anno Kong said, “I think [walkouts] are pointless because there are so many better ways to push for changes than just walking out of a school.”

Teenagers becoming interested in politics can be a great thing—in their own free time.

School hours are when students should be in the classroom learning and looking out for each other. When the protests take place at school, there is pressure for students who are less informed to join their peers in protesting so they don’t feel “left out,” which inflates crowds at these events and only offers one point of view for neutral students.

A walkout offers no solutions or legislation to fix the problem of gun violence. All it does is create a temporary sense of unity and heal everyone’s broken “feelings.” But students must remember no successful government has ever been ruled by emotions.

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva

Peaceful protests have been successful in the past, but mainly because the act of protest was directly related to the cause.

By sitting in a “white seat” on the bus and refusing to move, Rosa Parks was an effective protester by using civil disobedience to clearly illustrate her point.

In contrast, if anyone wants to explain how just walking out of a school has anything to do with opposing gun violence, the NRA or Trump, I’m all ears.

School walkouts are similar to NFL players kneeling for the national anthem.

They possess the constitutional right to do so, but the logic doesn’t make much sense and the act does nothing besides create a media frenzy.

Parkland survivor-turned-activist David Hogg tweeted in April that he was going to “announce another boycott,” accompanying the message with a tasteful Kermit the Frog GIF. The figures at the helm of the movement are treating their boycotts and walkouts like toys they can play with to get on CNN rather than actual causes they can support to

advocate for change. Talk about an attention Hogg.

Students could walk out every day for a year and nothing would change. Why? Because most students can’t vote. Sure, a walkout does get substantial media attention and exposure, but not enough to swing an entire election. And when was the last time actual legislation was proposed at any of these events?

A demographic like high school students can’t fully understand gun control, one of the most complex issues in all of politics— especially not without a college degree or high school diploma. As we all know, obtaining either of these certificates is impossible without attending class.

If you really want to make a difference, try writing letters to your representatives or joining interest groups, and if you want to honor the Marjory Stoneman Douglas victims, try smiling at 17 different students in the hallway, doing a good turn daily or just treating everyone you meet with kindness, value and respect.

MAY | OPINIONS | 35

Violent video games spike aggression

Aggressive behavior, other psychological effects linked to violent games ROHAN MANI REPORTER

C

hildren who play violent video games are more likely to show aggressive behavior while growing up.

The topic of violent video games and their effects on students has long been debated and discussed. Multiple studies, including one done by the American Psychological Association (APA), have confirmed a relationship between playing such games and increased aggression in players.

The APA task force team assigned to investigate possible correlations concluded that there is a consistent relation between violent video game use and increased aggression in players, a result of decreased social interaction, empathy and sensitivity to aggression.

Growing up surrounded by games with violence and limited parental control affects both academic and social aspects of a student’s life. To begin with, the possible threat of addiction to games such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, which are actually banned in some countries, can distract someone from concentrating on their academic life, both in school and out of it.

Gaming can both decrease productivity and increase procrastination. The possibility of becoming engrossed in a game where the primary goal is to inflict harm on people can be dangerous for a student both physically and socially.

“Physically, the games are really passive 36 | OPINIONS | MAY

which reduces physical activity, and they also cause a lack of social interaction in the 3D world, an unhealthy habit,” school psychologist Beth Werfel said.

Werfel said she believes that video games can result in a person being blind to the real life impacts of violence in family, community and society.

“My greatest concern is about desensitization to violence and that it can reduce empathy and reduce general reactions to issues of distress.”

-AP Psychology teacher Meghan Percival “There is research which shows that being exposed to this violence can cause students to become desensitized to violence in general,” Werfel said. “Everything should be done in moderation; it’s important to have fun, but a student should make sure they are still exercising, doing school work and maintaining connections in the 3D world.”

Becoming numb and desensitized to the type of violence exhibited in these video games is one of the numerous glaring concerns surrounding the topic which many feel needs to be addressed.

“My greatest concern is about

desensitization to violence and that it can reduce empathy and reduce general reactions to issues of distress,” AP Psychology teacher Meghan Percival said. “Our exposure to violence in any regard, whether it’s the news we consume...or the movies we choose to watch...we have to be aware of the impact it has on us mentally and socially.”

However, many students who play these games believe they are fine if there is a balance to their mindset.

“If your mentality is right, violence in video games would not have an impact on a person. If you maintain a certain balance in your life along with these video games, they won’t have a long-term impact,” sophomore Rick Chatterjee said.

When asked about the possible reasons students are drawn to these types of games, Chatterjee said he believes that it’s all about the types of influences around you, both at home and outside.

“If a game is popular, and you see everyone around you playing it, you feel pressured to feed into the hype,” Chatterjee said.

Although aggressive behavior in video games is not directly correlated to violent events such as school shootings, they can play a part in contributing to a culture where atrocious tragedies like the Parkland shooting are normalized.

Violence in video games provides unhealthy exposure to various types of aggression, which not all minds will be able to handle. This is not something that we as a society can afford.

Page design by Rohan Mani Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva

HUMOR

Admission ammunition

Your guide on getting into college from a self-proclaimed expert

D

o you ever sit in class and just wonder, “Why am I here?”

The answer is really quite simple—you’re there to mindlessly slave away for four sleepdeprived, wildly hormonal years so you can be granted acceptance into the great temples of knowledge in Charlottesville, Blacksburg and beyond, rack up half a million dollars of student debt, change your major eight times, hate your roommate, go through a beretwearing phase and completely respect the legal drinking age and your state’s marijuana laws. Right?

Oh, and if you can’t achieve all of that, then you’re a disgrace to your family and a waste of potential from an elite school system and privileged area. No pressure!

It may shock some of you (especially my teachers), but I actually did get accepted into my dream school. No, that’s not a typo. This fall, I’ll be chilling in the rocky mountains of Utah, where bad haircuts and knee-length shorts flourish and cracking open a cold one almost always means a Mountain Dew. Righteous!

You may be wondering how you can follow in my intellectual footsteps and someday boast a 100 percent acceptance success rate yourself. The key for me was getting into the only school I applied to.

With UVA and Tech sporting acceptance rates lower than freezing temperatures—but not as low as my second semester grades—you may think it’s impossible to gain admission to these fine academic institutions. Luckily for you, as an acceptance expert, I have plenty of helpful tips on how to stand out from the rest of the applicants in your class.

1. Take every single AP class that the school offers. You want to be an English major? Good luck with that if you can’t even get a 5 on your chemistry exam. You know what they say—the more you know about valence electrons, the better writer you’ll be.

2. Take the SAT or ACT 12 times each. You’ll thank me when you see that incremental improvement over time.

3. Pretend to care about random causes to bolster your resume. Colleges flip for anything involving the underprivileged.

4. Create a bunch of meaningless clubs so you can slap “club founder/president” on your resume. The more “unique” the club, the better it looks. Yahtzee club, drone club, socialism club, it doesn’t matter.

5. Try out for a sport you’ve never played before (or even better—never heard of ) just so you can get cut, allowing you to write an inspirational essay about “dealing with the emotional pain that came from failing a lifelong goal.” Better grab some tissues.

6. Be diverse. Colleges dream of painting their campuses with every different color of the rainbow, which will require the average white knight such as myself to get creative.

You’re three percent Cherokee? Check that box. Have an uncle named Rodrigo? That makes you Filipino too.

To conclude, for all you underclassmen already thinking about college, just keep this in mind—if you’re going to college to join a fraternity and relive Animal House, you’re on the right path. If you’re going just to study and get a degree, shame on you. Nerd alert!

Page design by Jackson Payne

MAY | OPINIONS | 37

SPORTS

DOUBLE TROUBLE TROUBLE

Senior twins control defense in final year | COLIN EDSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF |

A

n era on the girls varsity soccer team is coming to a close, the era reigned

by Kimberly and Elizabeth Zhou. The twin sisters have been on the team since their freshman year and have left an indelible mark on the program, as their dominance of the back line has led the team through many successful seasons.

Since the moment they tried out for the team, head coach Robert Bouchard knew the twins would be incredible assets.

“They were fierce competitors from the beginning. They were not afraid of anything: they were talented, they were fast, they were strong,” Bouchard said. “They did not care about the size or who their opponent was; they were going to play their hardest. There was no question from the beginning that they were amazing.”

Kimberly and Elizabeth began playing soccer at a young age at the house league level. It became serious for the two when they joined the McLean Elite Clubs National Team (ECNL). Despite playing on different teams their freshman and sophomore years, the Zhous retained a strong dynamic.

“On the field, we always push each other to be better players. We hold each other to a higher standard when we play together,” Elizabeth said.

Strangely enough, the twin sisters do not like play next to each other on the field. They both play defense: Kimberly on the left side and Elizabeth in the middle. To keep them from being next to each other, Bouchard put junior Lindsay Blum between them.

“The are the most hardworking people I have ever met and even in really intense games they will never be negative,” Blum said. “They talk a lot so it is really easy to play with them. As a freshman, I always looked up to them.”

Both twins have played at some of the highest levels of soccer in the U.S., including the national 38 | SPORTS | MAY

tournament for ECNL. “The past three years, and this year, our team has made it to ECNL Nationals, where the top 32 teams in the nation compete,” Kimberly said. “When you’re surrounded by so many amazing players, you strive to get

better.”

For Elizabeth, what makes the high level of play worthwhile is the intense competitive nature.

“The competition is by far the best part of playing at a high level,” Elizabeth said. “You can leave everything out on the field and see all your hard work come to fruition against the best of the country.”

Although club soccer helped the twins garner their competitive edge, high school soccer has served as a way for them to showcase their talent in ways they might not always be able to when playing for their club team.

“I like playing high school soccer because I get to try new things on the field that I probably wouldn’t do in club soccer,” Kimberly said. “I get to take people on a lot more and occasionally I’ll get to play forward which is always fun.”

Last year, both Kimberly and Elizabeth achieved acclaim at the conference level for their high school performance. Kimberly made the all-conference team, while Elizabeth made the conference second team.

“Every play, they are giving 110 percent for the team. They will never question their role. Whatever it is for the team, they are all about it,” Bouchard said.

The time, effort and motivation the Zhou twins have put into the sport over the past decade have truly made them a dynamic duo with a lasting impact.

“I’ve gotten more comfortable taking people on in games because I know that if I make a mistake or lose the ball, she’s got my back,” Elizabeth said.

After years of playing together, the sisters will part ways next year. Elizabeth will be playing for Wellesley College and Kimberly will be playing at Amherst College.

“I want them to love playing in college,” Bouchard said. “I am really going to miss them and I can’t wait to see what they will do in life...I wish them the best.”

Photo by Julia McElligott Page design by Maren Kranking

Nine varsity baseball seniors bring experience and camaraderie

| TOMMY SCHILDER REPORTER |

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ine seniors hold spots on this year’s varsity baseball roster, making up nearly half the team. Their camaraderie and experience, which has shaped the ideal team culture, will be essential in the team’s efforts to make a postseason push.

“Culture is a pattern of living you’re expected to follow. These seniors are the ones, most other than any group we’ve had, that are living that culture every minute of every day,” varsity baseball head coach John Dowling said. “They are doing the right things—we never have to coach their effort. They’re doing exactly what we hope players would be doing after four years in the program.”

Since the team is senior-heavy this season, Dowling took a new approach and decided not to name any team captains.

“We can, on our own, provide a good amount of leadership and enforce that we’re all working toward a common goal of winning baseball games,” senior second baseman Owen Ricketts said.

By eliminating a hierarchy within the team, Dowling is putting more trust in his athletes to be leaders.

“With this group of seniors, I feel like [Dowling] trusts us a lot more this year than previous years’ seniors to be leaders on the team,” senior catcher Grant Williams said.

It can be easy for players not planning to play baseball in college to not bring their full effort and intensity to the season.

However, Dowling has not seen any shortage of dedication from his seniors; they have shown a willingness to step up and apply Page design by Tommy Schilder

their leadership, experience and knowledge to help the team.

“It looks like only two of those nine are going to be playing in college, so for many of them, it can be easy to write things off and take a halfway attitude, but they’ve been the total opposite. It’s like having nine extra coaches on the field at all times,” Dowling said. “With the seniors, it can be a benefit and it can be a curse, and this year, so far, it’s been an absolute benefit for us.”

In addition to the experience they bring to the table, the relationship the seniors have cemented with each other boosts the team’s morale.

“The best part of having half the roster as seniors is that a lot of us have played together for three to four years here, so we all know each other and we know how to play well together,” senior pitcher James Beahn said.

“We know how to make sure we’re leading for all the underclassmen and juniors, and to make sure we set a good example. Having nine seniors on the team is really good towards helping the team continue to stay focused.”

Each season, Dowling maintains the expectation that the varsity team can make it to the second round of the regional tournament. With this year’s solid pitching staff and good defense, there is no shortage of optimism that the team can win the district and beat anybody in the postseason.

“We hope to make a deep run into the playoffs this year. We want to get deep into regionals, maybe into states,” Beahn said.

The seniors are confident their team’s strengths will help them finish their careers on a high note.

“Our team coherency is going to be better than other teams we face, so no matter what, this will be an advantage,” senior pitcher John Putziger said. “We plan to win the district.”

At

the Mound — Senior Grant Williams takes an at-bat (top).

Coach John Dowling meets with Max Groppe and Grant Williams during a preseason scrimmage (above). (Photos by Julia McElligott)

MAY | SPORTS | 39

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Shredding the competition Snowboarding siblings glide their way to victory

S

| ED WALTERS SPORTS EDITOR & HARU KATO REPORTER |

nowboarding is one of America’s most watched Winter Olympic sports and is beginning to surpass skiing in popularity.

McLean has its very own pro snowboarders, siblings senior Alex Bellomo and sophomore Ava Bellomo.

“They got started in snowboarding when they were each 8 years old,” said Stephanie Bellomo, Alex and Ava’s mother. “I could tell they really liked it so we made sure they stuck with it.”

The Bellomos participate in three main events: bordercross, slopestyle and rail jam, as well as halfpipe whenever available.

Bordercross is an event where multiple snowboarders race down the course. The courses are full of ramps and curves that makes this a challenging event that favor those who have lots of momentum.

“If you’re heavier, you have an advantage, so it’s not exactly my forte,” Alex said. “It’s my second least favorite event.”

Slopestyle is one of the more widely known snowboarding events. Competitors show off their techniques and tricks on a course built with numerous obstacles and large slopes. The flashiness and speed of this event is making it increasingly popular.

“It’s the event I have the most fun in,”

Jumping For Joy — Alex Bellomo completes a jump in the slopestyle

event at Wintergreen Resort earlier this year. Slopestyle is one of the most popular snowboarding events. (Photo courtesy of the Bellomo family) Ava said. “It uses the terrain of the whole park.”

Rail jam is a lesser-known event, especially since it’s not featured in the Winter Olympics. In rail jam, athletes show off their skills and abilities by sliding on a

Going For Gold — Ava Bellomo competes in the rail jam event at

USASA nationals. The event took place April 7-8 in Copper, Colorado.

set rail at high speeds.

“To be honest, it is my least favorite event in snowboarding,” Alex said. “You can only do one rail in one run, and then you have to walk up the slope to do it again.”

Made popular by snowboarders like Shaun White and Chloe Kim, the halfpipe competition is the most well-known event.

Competitors showcase their best tricks on a semi-cylindrical slope.

“There aren’t very many half pipes on the East Coast, but it’s always a treat to be able to ride on one,” Alex said.

Both Alex and Ava have qualified for the national tournament held in Copper, Colorado, formally known as the USASA national competition.

“We’ve both qualified for the tournament for a few years, and Ava got the opportunity to go this year, which is really awesome,” Alex said.

At the USASA national competition, Ava competed in slopestyle and rail jam.

“Last year I was top 15, but I moved down to 17th, so I’m a little disappointed, but it was a fun way to end the season,” Ava said.

(Photo courtesy of the Bellomo family)

Page design by Ed Walters & Haru Kato

MAY | SPORTS | 41

Football team grinds through offseason Rebuilding process highlighted by weight room effort, new offense |JACKSON PAYNE MANAGING EDITOR|

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wing, an early offensive system dating back to the early 20th century, features a heavy set backfield with a major emphasis on running the football. In the age of the high school spread and read option dominated offenses, the McLean single wing will be much different from the competition.

“It will be a very heavy run game, which is something that we can use to play to our strengths,” Scholla said. “We don’t have the biggest or fastest kids here but it’s all about knowing your personnel and finding a scheme that works for your guys, much like Navy. With single wing we’re not going to drop back and throw downfield often.”

Returning athletes have high hopes for the new system.

“This new offense is going to be very interesting, but we definitely have the speed for it,” junior receiver Luka Karony said.

“Coach Scholla knows what he is doing and is going to turn the program around with this offense.”

Karony was McLean’s most valuable weapon on offense last season, scoring kick return touchdowns in three straight contests and leading the team in receiving yards before a phantom knee injury shut him down for the year after six games. The talented rising senior is scheduled to recover in time for training camp.

"There have been setbacks along the way with knee pains and healing difficulties, but I'm recovering well and will return for the coming season," Karony said.

Currently, players are fundraising in order to pay to attend team camp over the summer, an experience that Scholla believes will strengthen their competitive fire and the brotherhood within the program.

“We want to get away from home for camp for three or four days over the summer which is going to help our team chemistry," Scholla said. "I believe chemistry can take an average team to a good team and a good team to a great team."

ohn Scholla’s hiring as McLean’s head football coach just over a year ago was largely based on the hope that his enthusiasm could help rebuild the struggling program from the ground up.

Despite a winless debut campaign, Scholla’s enthusiasm has only grown through the trials, and he has his Highlanders working harder than ever during the offseason.

“It’s not going to be a one-year turnaround, and it might not even be a two-year turnaround,” Scholla said. “It’s a process where you collectively have to get better each and every day in order to see the results. We’ve got a lot of kids buying in and believing what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Strength and conditioning have played a key role in the offseason efforts with players and coaches crowded in the weight room four times a week.

“We’ve been in the weight room since last season ended,” Scholla said.

“We’re trying to incorporate some weight room competition to help kids get excited about showing up and working hard, which has been pretty productive so far.”

The weight room has also given younger players in the program an opportunity to develop into varsity contributors before August.

“I’m really excited about our rising sophomores that just finished their freshman year,” Scholla said. “I really admire the efforts from that class; they’re the first freshman class I’ve had in the program since coming here, and being able to see them grow from year one to year two has been really special. It’s a really close-knit group, much like a family atmosphere, which is how we’re trying to build our whole program.”

From a strategic standpoint, the Highlanders plan to Light Work — Sophomore Cotter Smart benches with teammate Joe incorporate a brand new single Lokke spotting and team strength and conditioning coach William West wing offense in the fall. The single supervising. Lifting has been a key aspect of McLean's offseason rebuilding activities. (Photo by Jackson Payne) 42 | SPORTS | MAY

o g n o L Julia the Issue of

Athlete

enior Grade: S ftball Sport: So Pitcher Position:

Why are you a pitcher?

My dad put me in pitching clinics—it was my favorite position because you’re always involved in every single play and you feel more a part of the game when you’re in the circle.

How do you feel when you play softball?

I guess it just always is sort of like a stress relief for me. Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I’ll just go hit a bucket of balls or ask my dad to hit me grounders and just take them. I guess it’s a way to get my anger out.

Why did you decide to continue into college?

One, it helped me get the best education possible. Two, I can’t really imagine not playing because I’ve played it so long and it’s part of my everyday routine.

Why did you choose the University of Pennsylvania?

I chose UPenn because it is one of the best educations you can get, and the alumni association after you graduate there will help you get the best job possible. I think it will really set me up to be successful in life.

Accolades:

How has playing softball shaped your life?

Playing softball has definitely given me invaluable skills such as team bonding [and] being able to talk to adults and communicate with my coaches. [It] also [gives] me a sense of responsibility because the amount of travel and time I put into it really restricts other things. It limits my time a lot, so I’ve had to learn to get all my schoolwork done before I go to tournaments and make sure that I schedule things around softball and still find time to get everything done.

What is your pregame ritual?

I don’t really have one—I guess I just listen to music before every game. And during [the] high school season, it’s a ritual or a superstition that I have to eat sushi before every game.

What is your favorite part of the sport?

Probably the game time itself. I’ve really enjoyed playing close games when the tie run is on third base. I like being put in those pressure situations because I feel like it makes me play at a whole new level.

Conference First Team Allntion All-Met Honorable Me Team Captain

All-Region Second Team te Award Scholar Athle ion rence Champ e Liberty Conf

Page design by Bryan Chung Photo courtesy of Beth Longo Reporting by Alexandria Meuret

MAY | SPORTS | 43

THE

FINISH LINE Highlander athletes answer tough questions

JENNY HA FRESHMAN TENNIS

DREW COLE SOPHOMORE SOCCER

What trend from the past do you want to come back?

LINDSEY STIRLING JUNIOR TRACK

Who’s your biggest fan?

I Halter tops

Dana Edson

Perms

My mother

Silly bands

My dog

Cheap and classy suits

My dad

What is your most embarrassing sports moment?

JOHN PUTZIGER SENIOR BASEBALL

What is your favorite form of potato?

I completely swung and missed an overhead and I fell

Peeled, sliced and pan-fried

Hitting the crossbar on a penalty kick in the 89th minute

Fried and French

I was doing a blind handoff in a relay and I missed

Mashed

Baseball pants ripped in the middle of a game

Fries

44 | SPORTS | MAY

Page design by Bryan Chung Photos & reporting by Maren Kranking