Lights in the Landing
Seniors and Stress
By: Meghan kolcum As another year begins, seniors’ stress rises due to the pressure of AP classes, college applications, and maintaining good grades. Senior year is supposed to be one of the best years of your life. It’s supposed to be fun and easy, right? Unfortunately for many, the first semester of senior year is stressful, and underclassmen should have some sort of understanding of what the crazy, hectic year has to offer. This guide and senior opinions should make students’ senior year as stressfree as possible. Long hours of sitting down in a desk and taking a three hour test is not something anyone looks forward to. The SATs and ACTs do not have to be a nightmare Photo Courtesy of Brandon Bullis for anyone, though. Some Two months ago, the Edwards Landing Light Show became nationally recognized as a can’t miss oppor- people just don’t have that tunity. This December, the show is back yet again for a Christmas special. See Page 6 for the full story. great of an experience with the test. Senior Sana AmaThe do says, “I did not have the best experience when I first Unexpected took the SAT. My calculaConsequences tor ran out of batteries.” If you’re a good test taker, of Cheating then chances are you’re not By: Meilan Solly worried about this section. “There’s other people get“The SATs and [subject] ting better grades than me, tests are scoring how hard and they’re cheating. Why you’ve studied for the test; am I not going to cheat? It’s [they’re] not there to meakind of almost stupid if you sure intelligence, but how don’t.” So reads the mentalwell you’ve studied,” says ity of most high school stusenior Caely McHale. On dents, including the anonythe other hand, for those mous “Joe” who supplied who are worried about test Photo Credit: Breanna Shiflett this quote for ABC. Over taking, you may want to the past few years, you D isclaimer: DON’T WORRY. THERE ARE NO REQUIRED keep a few things in mind. By: Danielle Matta have probably noticed an LAPS OR PUSH UPS PAST THIS POINT. The SAT sections include There are two types of can do neither and if they and playing video games as increase in the amount of Critical Reading, Mathecheating happening around people in this world: those try, they hurt themselves. the star high school football matics, and Writing. Each of you. Perhaps you see your who are innate athletes and It’s not a bad thing—some player is at playing football. the sections are scored on a But sports are a large peers cheat; perhaps you able to actually flex their people are sporty and othscale of 0-800. non-inflatable muscles and ers are not; there are kids part of American culture. are the one cheating. Please see Stress page 6 compare calf sizes with one who are just as talented Please see Guide page 10 Please see Cheating page 8 another, and those who in theatre, art, academics,
Page 2: Opinions and Commentary Page 3: Entertainment Page 5: Entertainment
Page 6: Features Page 7: Sports Page 8: Features
Page 10: Sports Page 11: Features Page 12: The Pulse
Political Analysis: Falling off the Fiscal Cliff
By: Jack Minchew For most political observers, and indeed politicians themselves, late November and December are a time for licking wounds (Mitt Romney and the Republican Party) or celebrating your victories (Barack Obama and the Democratic Party). While it is appropriate for Gov. Romney to disappear from the political scene (at least for now), newly re-elected President Obama is likely coming to the realization that, at least in Congress, the balance of power has not really shifted. And before the 113th Congress even takes office in January, the President and the “lame-duck” 112th Congress will have to deal with their self-imposed budget sequestration, commonly known as “the Fiscal Cliff.” In August last year, Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011, which established the (relatively) well-known “SuperCommittee,” a bipartisan group whose goal was to compromise on a solution to our national debt. Needless to say, the committee failed
Ms. Sara Symons 1953-2012
Ms. Symons received her BA from Mary Baldwin College. She later received her MBA from the College of William and Mary and her M.Ed. from the University of Virginia. Ms. Symons was an inaugural staff member of Tuscarora High School, where she taught 9th grade English.
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Opinion: Building Blocks...or a Weak Foundation?
you lose the opportunity to gain more understanding in knowledge-based classes if you spend the majority of your time in classes that are non-academic. Mr. Burnett, the Social Studies Department Chair, created a well-worded summary of these thoughts. In his opinion, “it’s a poor model for teaching.” He feels that block scheduling “is an inefficient use of [the teacher’s] time.” He believes that for successful teaching of the subject, the student needs to be taught the material every day. Otherwise, he says, “We have to spend more time reteaching the material.” As a teacher, Burnett’s main priority in life is teaching students to the best of his ability. If he spends all his time re-teaching material, then kids are not going to absorb knowledge. Some students sit on the other side of the opinions scale. Sophomore Noah Anderson says that block scheduling allows him to focus on just four subjects a day. He argues that in traditional scheduling he would “feel swamped by fourth block.” Junior Austin Cromwell had similar ideas. He argues, “I would not be able to focus all day, and I’d be more talkative because of the constant movement.” Though these opinions seem to glorify block scheduling, the negatives are too important to outweigh the positives. If these personal opinions aren’t enough, studies have also been completed about the subject. A Comparative Study of Block Scheduling and Traditional Scheduling on Academic Achievement by William W. Lawrence and Danny D. Mcpherson concluded that traditionally-scheduled students had higher mean test scores in every subject than those who participated in block scheduling. These results are enough to dethrone block scheduling from the public school system.
By: Sean Cassar “Good morning, Tuscarora…” Every student in Loudoun County hears some slightly modified version of these words every morning. They are not only a greeting from the principal, but mark the beginning of a new school day. Those individuals that attend a Loudoun County high school or middle school understand that their schedule for the rest of the day varies. The school is not only made up of cinder blocks and cement. Within the social structure that defines the school, block scheduling is Photo credit: Jack Minchew miserably, leading to the would mean cuts in the gov- at the center. The thought present condition. Included ernment workforce, cuts to of having four classes a day in the bill was a provision government contractors, instead of eight seems to that if Congress couldn’t and cuts to the military and create a cloud of positive thoughts that blind people compromise by the end of veteran’s benefits. from the ever important December 2012, automatic So is there any hope of negative results this schedbudget cuts and tax in- averting the “fiscal cliff”? uling can engender. creases would be triggered Yes and no. Some RepubFour classes a day doesn’t that would hurt the main licans have indicated that sound that bad at first, but demographics of both ma- they would be willing to when you realize that every jor parties. increase revenue (raise class is an hour and a half Fast forward to December taxes) if Democrats will al- long, your grand illusion 2012, when “the Seques- low cuts to social programs. seems to fade away. Most ter” that looked far off in House Speaker John Boeh- students see these longer 2011 now seems inevitable. ner, House Minority leader class periods as a hindrance Democrats seem unable to Nancy Pelosi, Senate Ma- to their learning. Junior cut social programs, and jority Leader Harry Reid, Ben Fuhrman says, “A lot of Republicans have sworn to and Senate Minority Leader time is wasted in classes beprevent new taxes or cuts Mitch McConnell all gath- cause teachers can’t fill up to the military. In other ered to discuss compromis- the whole block.” He also words, both parties are es recently, and they are set states, “You really lose your willing to compromise, as to release one that should attention span after the long as they don’t have to appeal to both parties. The first 20 minutes go by.” How give anything up. If the se- question is whether Boeh- can a student learn if they quester does hit in January, ner and McConnell will be tune out after 20 minutes? the consequences could be able to deliver Republican Another student has a simidire. Deep cuts could po- votes, or whether they will lar opinion on block scheduling. Junior Alex McKenna tentially hurt our area. In face mass defections from noted that the constant inaddition to the expiration Tea Party supporters, and terruptions of all classes exof the Bush Era Tax Cuts, whether Democratic leadcept for 3rd and 7th block which would raise taxes on ers can control their far left creates an unequal amount all tax brackets, budget cuts wing members. of knowledge. In his words, “[the scheduling] is very Staff Megan Ford...............................Editor-in-Chief unfair in that you are not Meilan Solly...................Assistant Editor-in-Chief getting an equal amount Jack Minchew.................Assistant Editor-in-Chief of time for your academic Sean Cassar................................Layout Editor classes.” He uses P.E. as an Forest Langhorne..........................Sports Editor example: he concludes that Shalom Montero.................Entertainment Editor The Husky Headline is written, edited, and designed by Danny Sedlazek..................Entertainment Editor students from Tuscarora High School. All opinions expressed in this publication are those of Dominic Gavan....................Advertising Manager the individual writer. The views published in this newspaErica Walker.................................Art Director per are not necessarily those of the Tuscarora High School Staff Writers administration, faculty, staff, or student body. We are committed to delivering relevant, accurate Megan Cohen Abdullah Elqadri news - which means we want to hear from you! We welKatie Forcade Claire Frank come your opinion. Opinions may be expressed in letters Daniel Friend Tyler Garling to the editor and can be sent to the staff at TheHuskyMeghan Kolcum Danielle Matta Headline@gmail.com. Please include your name and class standing in all letters to the editor. Breanna Shiflett
Time to Begin the Imagine Dragons Revolution How Mark Zuckerberg is Killing Mario
By: Danny Sedlazek appeal to the gamers that Nintendo is, in many they effectively alienated ways, the George Lucas of everyone else. The Wii crethe video game industry. ated an equal playing field, The company was extreme- and “casual” gamers bought ly innovative, creative, and it up like hotcakes. beloved for their initial Yet this last quarter, Ninblockbusters. Then as time tendo reported its first loss went on, they stayed deci- in 50 years as a company. sively behind the curb. Yet What happened? their early opuses had built A trifecta of shortsightedup such a large following of ness, that’s what. devoted fans who will buy The first, and probably anything with the Nintendo most important factor in name slapped on it that Nintendo’s fall from grace, they were able to remain is the explosion of Facesuccessful enough to sol- book and apps. When the dier on. Photo Credit: Danny Sedlazek The history of video games is divided into eras defined by the companies that battled for dominance. Nintendo was undefeated until Sony, a company not exclusively devoted to producing games, jumped into Wii debuted in stores, no the market. That marked one could have foreseen the beginning of a 12 year the multi-billion dollar sucslouch for Nintendo; they cess that Facebook would were no longer the alpha. become at launch time, or 2006 was the beginning even comprehend what of a new console genera- apps would mean to Amerition, and while both Sony cans, but Nintendo never and Microsoft produced adjusted to what was conupgraded versions of their stantly becoming abunprevious machines, Nin- dantly clear: Mark Zuckertendo burst out of left field berg and Steve Jobs were with the Wii. Throwing joy- stealing their audience. sticks and buttons out the That casual gaming audiwindow, and opting for an ence enjoyed the novelty of unheard of emphasis on the Wii, but had little desire motion sensitive controls, to drop $60 on a new game Nintendo caused the entire because they weren’t gamindustry to look inquisitive- ers. So when smartphones ly in their direction. and Facebook offered exNo one could’ve pre- tremely cheap and convedicted the Wii’s success. It nient ways to play games destroyed the competition that also appealed to them, because it drew the inter- they locked their Wiis away est of people who weren’t in the closet and haven’t a part of the traditional seen them since. “hardcore” audience, and The iPhone represents it came prepackaged with another antithesis of Ninone of the best party games tendo’s poor judgment: in existence. Moms, senior their choice to not focus on citizens, and children were developing technology. The the primary buyers because Wii doesn’t support HD. everyone who didn’t work When YouTube streams and at Nintendo was equally flash games are more techmystified by it. Previous nologically advanced than consoles tried so hard to your expensive console,
you have a problem. At the same time, TVs are slowly becoming obsolete in the face of the Internet. The only thing that really keeps people parked in front of their TVs is video game consoles. So Nintendo must be in the clear, right? While constantly trying to appeal to a casual audience, Nintendo stopped making games that hardcore gamers wanted to play. Normally, this wouldn’t be such a big problem, as third party game developers, which are not owned by the same company that makes the console, would fill this void. However, the Wii’s technology was so different that third party developers had a very hard time making games for the platform, and they weren’t getting enough money from what efforts they did release to justify continued experimentation. When the only games you release for your console are party games, traditional gamers aren’t going to want to pay for them. So while the video game industry was constantly expanding, Nintendo completely ignored the audience that allowed Microsoft and Sony to prosper, placed their emphasis on gimmicky technology rather than innovations with practicality, and lost whatever audience they had to more convenient and cheap alternatives. To make matters worse, Microsoft and Sony have come out with devices that can replicate the gimmicky appeal of the Wii, so Nintendo has even less of a market to work with. So how does this failing giant try to save themselves? They create the Wii-U, the only device more gimmicky than the Wii itself. Some people never learn.
By: Breanna Shiflett It’s time to begin, isn’t it? The beginning of the chorus from “It’s Time,” the hit single from Imagine Dragon’s new album, is an appropriate start to the article, but it also expresses more about the bands and its members than one may think. The song itself focuses on change and growth, and the Las Vegas-based band knows more about these concepts than most. Frontman Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman have undergone a lot of change in the past, going from playing late night shows in casinos, releasing a few EPs, extensively touring, and growing a grass roots following along the way to releasing their debut full-length album earlier this year. The band broke into the industry with a bang, with their album entering the Billboard Top 200 chart at #2 and having the best first week sales for a new rock band in over six years. Right from the start, it was clear that Imagine Dragons was bringing something new to the industry and revolutionizing it. In the spirit of their hit single, it’s time to begin… it’s time to begin the Imagine Dragons revolution. From the first beat of “It’s Time,” you can tell that the band is something different. Right from the get-go, the song incorporates many elements that are unique for the industry but perfectly routine for the band. The song is upbeat and catchy, but at the same time is powerful with its great message—this last part being another thing that is constant in Imagine Dragons’ music. On top of having songs with actual significant meanings, the electronic sounds mixed with acoustic layers make the band’s music stand out from all the rest. I knew this was something different, and I had to get more. I definitely was not disappointed. Imagine Dragon’s debut album Night Visions has 11 tracks of greatness,
with 2 bonus tracks from Best Buy that are just as good. While the songs are not all the same and vary in tempo and mood, they do certainly all have an Imagine Dragons “feel” to them. From the strong and powerful “Radioactive” to the feel-good sounds of “On Top Of The World,” almost each track on the album has the same unique feel that I fell in love with when listening to “It’s Time.” The balance of songs on Night Visions is great. The songs can be pretty easily separated into two categories: the first including rock songs that are hardcore and empowering, and the second showcasing the more alternative and slightly poplike songs that are more upbeat and catchy. Some of them do fit into both categories, but it’s fairly easy to hear the difference in most. The album bursts out of the gate running with a song that fits into the first category. “Radioactive” is an extremely powerful song, one with great emotion and imagery where you can really envision the band playing in a rundown city that has been destroyed by the apocalypse. Similarly, the fourth track in the album, “Demons,” is intense and even slightly chilling with its tale of a man and his past demons haunting him when it comes to finding love. The theme of power continues with songs such as “Bleeding Out,” “Amsterdam,” and “Tiptoe” that all make you want to headbang and do a little air guitar solo. The other side of Imagine Dragons can be seen on Night Visions just as clearly. The feel-good song “On Top Of The World” accentuates the band’s ability to balance the genres of their songs, while still keeping the signature ID “feel” to them. Likewise, “Underdog” showcases great electronics, a beat that easily gets stuck in your head (but won’t prove as an intrusion), and Please see Imagine page 5
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Movies You Need to See: The Big Lebowski By: Tyler Garling Bowling has, and always will be, regarded as an “easy” sport. What can be so difficult about rolling a ball down a lane and hitting 10 pins? Though some see it as a simple little game, there are plenty of people out there who take it very, very, seriously. One of them is The Dude. In 1998, Joel and Ethan Coen wrote one of the funniest movies ever: The Big Lebowski. Jeff Bridges plays the main character of the film, a slacker who goes by the name “The Dude.” The Dude and his best friends, Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) and Donny Kerabatsos (Steve Buscemi) are all part of a bowling team. The three amigos are usually found lazing around the bowling alley, but things start to get very interesting when The Dude gets involved in an identity mix up. Next to his love for bowling, The Dude’s only passion is his rug that “really tied the room together.” When The Dude arrives at his house and is beaten by two thugs, the only thing he truly cares about is when one of them disgraces his lovely rug. However, the two thugs realize that they got the wrong guy who has the same name as that of their actual target. After telling his friends about the incident, Walter tells The Dude that he should talk to Jeffery Lebowski (David Huddleston), the “Big Lebowski,” about getting compensation for his rug. After he meets with Lebowski, The Dude comes across Jeffery’s wife, Bunny (Tara Reid), soaking it up in the sun. A few days later, The Dude gets a call from Jeff Lebowski saying that Bunny has been kidnapped and The Dude needs to be the courier for the million dollar ransom tied to her name. The conflict in the film is pretty serious, but it is executed in a very creative, comical way.
The Coen brothers have one of the most impressive track records in Hollywood. Along with The Big Lebowski, the two brothers have made movies such as Miller’s Crossing; Fargo; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; No Country for Old Men; and True Grit. While their filmography is mostly serious dramas, The Big Lebowski is a shining moment for the two because it’s a terrific comedy. Scene after scene provides laugh after laugh. No matter how many times I watch it, my laughing still brings me to tears when Walter decides to teach Larry a “lesson.” The soundtrack to the film is also very enjoyable. Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Creedence Clearwater Revival are a few of the artists who are featured in the film, not to mention the Gipsy Kings cover of the Eagles’ classic “Hotel California”…in Spanish. The Big Lebowski features some great actors, and all of them give a terrific and hilarious performance. Jeff Bridges is The Dude, and no one else could have captured what makes The Dude “The Dude.” Goodman is also hilarious as his Vietnam vet character that will, literally, pull a gun on someone who isn’t following the rules of bowling during a league game. Bridges and Goodman work perfectly together in the film and are a major source of laughs. The Big Lebowski is a cult film, which means it has a specific set of fans. Upon its release, many critics had mixed views of the movie. However, critics now say that The Big Lebowski is one of their favorite Coen brothers’ films and one of their favorite movies of all time. The acting is great and hilarious, the writing is quick and witty, the dream sequences are fantastic, and the movie is just incredibly enjoyable. The Big Lebowski is easily one of the funniest movies of all time, and it will make anyone laugh. The Coen brothers created a masterpiece with this film, and it cannot be missed.
The Fault in Our Stars Review By: Claire Frank
After reading this novel, the following conclusion can be reached: this book is not recommended for people who do not wish to experience emotions. Published on January 10, 2012, The Fault in Our Stars has not only been a #1 New York Times Bestseller, but has also remained on the list for the past 46 weeks as of November 25, 2012. It is the fourth solo novel of John Green, the 2006 winner of the Michael L. Printz Award. There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Green’s novel this year, and for good reason. Green has readers laughing and crying throughout the novel as they follow the developing relationship between terminally-ill Hazel Lancaster and one-legged Augustus Waters. The novel is fastpaced and well-balanced, with both serious and humorous parts intertwined throughout the story. The dialogue is witty and leaves the reader with a wide selection of both funny and contemplative quotes to share with friends or incorporate into tweets or blog posts. Despite involving cancer, Imagine from page 3
sarcastic lyrics that are extremely relatable. “Selene,” one of the exclusive bonus tracks from Best Buy, is a different kind of love song, and has great rhythm and good lyrics to match. While there are many great hits on this album, that’s not to say that it’s pure musical genius. Almost every good record has a few songs that simply don’t meet the expectations that the rest of the record has, and Night Visions is no exception. There’s always a song that, when you’re jamming out to the album, makes you automatically hit the “next” button as soon as the first identifiable beat plays. “Every Night” is the song that gets the infamous “skipper” track title of the album. The song is very
the tone of the novel is light and, even though it occasionally uses big words like “self-aggrandizing” and “hamartia,” it speaks to reader in an easy-tounderstand manner. This is extremely impressive considering that Green discusses some of the big questions in life, yet he doesn’t overwhelm the reader with the heaviness of the actual topics. Hazel, the narrator and main character, is extremely relatable, and the innermost thoughts she shares with the reader voices many of the thoughts and feelings running through the minds of the average teenager. Hazel is a dynamic, mature character who contemplates a variety of serious topics throughout the book. She isn’t obsessed with what adults think typical teenage girls are into: shopping, boys, etc. One of the best features of this novel is that although the main character has cancer, the story isn’t solely clearly the outlier of the record, being a lot slower and much more ballad-like than the rest. Although it has decent lyrics, it just doesn’t have the key elements and the signature feel that have become so prominent and important to the rest of the album, and makes it fall just short of being a rare creation where you can listen to an entire record without skipping a single song. Despite their musical differences, all of the songs on Night Visions come together to create an album that is truly spectacular. The rocking forces and the upbeat rhythms combine to blend into an awesome sound that is new to the industry but completely commonplace for the band. Night Visions has brought with it a lot of change, from the type
about cancer. Hazel’s illness doesn’t define who she is or really limit her actions. While it does physically limit her (she has to wear a cannula and lug around an oxygen tank wherever she goes), she doesn’t let it keep her from doing whatever she wants. One final note: as mentioned above, the book does make people cry, and it is about a young girl with cancer. Please don’t make either one of these facts stop you from reading The Fault in Our Stars. It is an incredibly well-written and enjoyable novel. While it can be sad, it can also be entertaining and very uplifting. You will not regret reading this book, and I highly advise that you do. of music to the lives of the band members that created it. And, the creators hope, it will make a change for you too. “We feel that we have finally created something we are all truly proud of,” says Reynolds, “and that can hopefully inspire others and help them feel a little less alone. That’s what music is about. It’s the greatest communicator I know.” He also hopes that it will inspire other people to create and get through their own struggles. With the release of their new album, the members of Imagine Dragons are starting a revolution, not just in the music industry, but throughout the world, causing change in people’s entertainment and lives alike.
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Stress from page 1
The best possible score you could obtain on the test is a 2400. Meanwhile, the ACT tests students on English, Math, Reading, and Science. Scores range from 1-36. “For those who struggle with tests and are nervous: Take them early, study for the sections you don’t feel comfortable with, and then retake [them],” says senior Kylie Ritz. Many seniors have their eye on numerous colleges and universities, ranging from Virginia Tech, NYU, and even colleges outside of the country. Senior Lori Kostka is looking at a school in Ohio, Franciscan University of Steubenville, due to its amazing religious programs and well-known professors from around the world. So, shat makes college applications so difficult? “The most difficult part about working on college [applications] would have to be deadlines,” says senior Kristen Lewkovich. The vast amount of essays that students have to write can also be challenging. “The essays are difficult [because you’re] writing about [yourself] and trying not to sound pompous,” says McHale. The stress can be limited depending on when you start the application process. “I would recommend starting college applications over the summer so that you have lots of time and a relief [from] stress,” says Ritz. Senior classes can be difficult, but it depends on how stressful you want your senior year to be. Many end up taking a ton of AP classes, but that’s not for everyone. The amount of APs should vary by who you are as a person. Amado says, “AP classes aren’t nearly as hard, so I would recommend taking as many as possible, since an A in an AP class is better than an A in an academic class.” “Senior year can be a very fun time. Just be mindful of your time and you’ll have a great year,” says Jenny Klug.
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Lights in the Landing By: Sean Cassar and Megan Ford
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Bullis
The house will be up and running early next week for anyone and everyone who wants to take a peek. It will be live from 7:15pm to 10pm every night throughout the month of December. Just tune your FM radio to 98.1 and enjoy the show.
The holiday season entails many different traditions. Some wear scratchy sweaters, and others take pictures with Santa. Brandon Bullis creates intricate light shows that garner attention across the country. Using approximately 8,500 lights, Bullis turns a normal house into an animated Christmas special.
Using the program Light-ORama, he gives his house a life of its own. It tells classic Christmas stories, plus sings and dances to Christmas carols. Obviously, this is not a normal hobby, and it takes up most of Bullis’ time. However time consuming this pastime may be, the electric bill at the end of the month makes up for it. The LED lights use much less energy than their
incandescent counterparts, without any loss of function. “It would be horribly expensive [to use incandescent lights]. The LEDs run, I would guess, less than $40,” comments Bullis. When he lived in Texas, Bullis saw someone else doing a similar light show, and it sparked his interest. “Part of it I made up in my
head, and part of it I saw somebody do about ten or twelve years ago. I wanted to do it ever since. I just finally sat down a couple [of] years ago and decided I was going to do it,” says Bullis. Most people know about the house because of the Halloween show Bullis put together in October. The show drew attention from all over the country, even making the Yahoo! News
front page. Many elements in the Christmas show are re-used from Halloween, making setup easier, faster, and cheaper than one might expect. Each strand of lights is divided into sections called elements. “Every element that you see out here is wired back to a controller,” Bullis explains. These controllers act like giant on and off switches that tell each element when and what color to flash. Each element is individually programmed to each song by fragments of a second. This is evidently time consuming, but Bullis says, “I love it. I absolutely love it.” Bullis is an electrical engineer who found himself in need of a hobby a few years ago. He states, “My wife wanted me to get a bit more into the decorating spirit, so I combined the two and came up with this.” His three children, ages 12, 10, and six, love to watch the show, as does his wife. “She likes it when it’s all done. She likes to watch it,” Bullis jokes. Bullis’ wife and kids aren’t the only ones who enjoy the show. One little boy came right up to the house and asked Bullis, “Are
you going to test the train?” while practically falling out of the car trying to get a look at the display. Besides the fanfare of lights, the show also incorporates songs and stories about Christmas. From the “Ukrainian Bell Song”
Using approximately 8,500 lights, Bullis turns a normal house into an animated Christmas special. Using the program LightO-Rama, he gives his house a life of its own. It tells classic Christmas stories, plus sings and dances to Christmas carols. to The Polar Express, this show will keep you entertained. The light show will be up and running the week of December 9th. For those in the mood for an extraordinary holiday treat, head over to 1826 Woods Edge Drive, Leesburg, VA, 20176 between 7:15 and 10:00pm and tune your FM radio to 98.1. The house doesn’t actually project music, but it is synced with a radio station. So tune in, then sit back and enjoy the show.
A Retrospective Look at the Beyond Meghan Kolcum and Football Season By: The Bench: Forest Langhorne A Look at Injuries’ Effects Outside of Sports According to a recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations, participation in high school sports is at an all time high. That means more teens participating, which entails less individual attention. At the same time, according to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, student athletes get injured just as often as the professionals. This create a perfect storm of injuries. Getting hurt will affect your performance in the game, but can just as easily impact your everyday life. Junior Greg White broke his fibula playing football against Briar Woods this year, and his five week stint on the bench was felt far from the field. “I missed three days of school to have a splint put on. I had to do a lot of makeup work.” Makeup work is never easy, but Greg said that “everything takes so much longer…I was on painkillers, I was constantly distracted [by my injury]. It dominated my life.” Sophomore Courtney Cambell, who got a bone contusion on her right ankle playing volleyball last year, presents a similar consensus to White. “I was on crutches for four weeks. The crutches hurt really bad. They were very embarrassing and very stressful,” she said. Cambell’s injury,
also like White’s, affected her education. “I missed a lot of school. I fell behind. [My injury] hurt my grades and [caused me] to fall behind in difficult classes.” But White and Cambell both instantly knew they were injured and were therefore able to get help quickly. Junior Jeffery Mangold wasn’t as lucky. “I got two fractures in my lower fourth vertebrae two years ago after I landed funny while long jumping,” said Mangold. “I thought it was just something minor–it took me a couple of days to notice a problem.” Mangold said it “took over a year” to fully diagnose his injury. “I was always hurting,” recounts Mangold. “It was hard to get up from sitting, sleeping. [My injury] restricted walking, stretching–everything. It was really hard to focus.” While troublesome in the short term, these injuries can have long term consequences. “Whenever my back hurts, I have to get steroid shots. If I ever become overweight, I’ll have to get a risky surgery. While I’m not too worried about that, anything is possible,” Mangold grimly said. Cambell said her “ankle never healed right. It still hurts and impairs [my] movement” in an equally solemn tone. It’s easy for someone to blame their injuries on their coaches, but boys’ basketball coach Justin Brown says that most coaches “err on the side of precaution. When someone hits the ground, you just don’t know….that’s somebody’s child. It’s all about [his or her] well being.” Mangold admits that “I
didn’t tell the coaches for about a week. When I did tell them, they told me to try and run, but if it was painful I need to go see the trainer.” According to Tuscrora’s athletic director Derek Farrey, “If an athlete has any injury they are supposed to go see the trainer, regardless of how severe it seems to be on the field.” While Jeffery’s coaches didn’t follow strict protocol, Brown reminds us that “the kids never want to sit out.” All coaches want to help their
meaning for many of Tuscaroras students. However, Tuscarora will play Loudoun County in our other standout sport, soccer, and will probably turn in more satisfying results. Hopefully this will take some sting off what a painful loss this was to Tuscarora. With the 2012 season over, students are now looking forward to next season. In the beginning of the season, junior Austin Cromwell was injured by a helmet to
the knee at the first game against Millbrook, sending him out for the rest of the season. “My goal for next year is to start and make it through the whole season,” says Cromwell. Trainer Jackie Kuzma, a senior, says, “The intensity out on the field is so powerful; you can see everyone and feel what the players are feeling. It is one of the best feelings in the whole world.” For the rising freshmen who are interested in foot-
ball, they should know that it’s not going to be easy. “The workouts were not that difficult, but for any of the upcoming freshmen or underclassmen interested in joining, I would recommend that they start lifting as soon as possible. You don’t want to come into the season out of shape,” advises Cromwell. “The qualities that make up a football player include toughness, discipline, dedication, and confidence.”
By: Danny Sedlazek
Junior Spencer Hayes reaches to catch the ball at the Crush County game on September 21, 2012. The Huskies beat the Loudoun County Photo Credit: Meghan Kolcum Raiders 21-7 in regulation play.
As autumn dwindles down, the football season comes to a close. Participating in one of the most brutal and intense sports known to high school students, football players must show intense determination out on the field in order to be the strongest team. The intensity of football games brings all of the Tusky Terror fans closer together. The long training hours over the summer have helped create an incredible season full of passionate fans and an intense team. Tuscarora started off the season playing against Millbrook High School for the second time in our history, soundly beating them 4121 for a solid start to the season. Throughout the rest of the season, the competition was vigorous and the teams were courageous. Everyone wanted to win. One of the season’s highlights was the Loudoun County game. The football team went out to County and brought down the Raiders with a score of 21-7. Crushing the Raiders on their own home turf was a night to remember. The Tusky Terror was decked out in their Crush County t-shirts and black. They looked like warriors and proved themselves as such. Tuscarora’s undefeated record took a hit when
we played Briar Woods the next week at home, losing 35-7, but the Tusky Terror brought the heat, definitively beating the Briar Woods student section in a spirit battle second only to the game against County. During homecoming week when the Huskies defeated Dominion with a high score of 40-26, this allowed for the drastic take-off to a fantastic homecoming dance and the great final end of a sensational homecoming week. The homecoming game signaled another golden winning streak by Tuscarora, which included a game against Heritage at Heritage and went all the way through our first playoff game against Millbrook. For the second time in the season, we defeated Millbrook (42-28) to advance to the regional semifinals against Loudoun County at home. In a huge blow to the team and the school, County defeated us 30-21. This surprise loss by Tuscarora against Loudoun County ended the playoff season for Tuscarora football. Going into the game, Tuscarora was one of the top ranked teams in the state, and losing the game represented a major upset in the state playoffs. Due to the rivalry between Tuscarora and Loudoun County, this game also had special
Photo Credit: Meghan Kolcum
Senior Drew Davidson walks off the field after being injured.
athletes, but due to the large number of athletes, these sort of things often slip through the cracks. When asked to give advice to athletes who believe they are injured, White, Cambell, and Mangold are all on the same page. “Be prepared to sit out,” White warns. Mangold says that “you need to take time off. Don’t push through.” Cambell stressed the importance of “seeing a doctor” if you’re suspicious. While no one wants to sit on the sidelines, it’s often in one’s best interest to. If you had to choose between steroid shots, casts, constant embarrassment, and a little time on the bench, wouldn’t you pick the latter?
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are overly Either way, high school is s c h e d u l e d , where cheating really be- so they recomes common, and this is sort to cheata major problem. ing. [They Cheating is defined in think] it’s many ways: letting friends the only way copy homework; “a cheap to fit a large way out,” according to number of Jack Williams, a fresh- assignments man; asking people for into a finite the test answers ahead of time.” A third time; or “using other peo- reason is exple’s knowledge,” as junior plained by Grace Pretre phrases it. The Kyle Haberdifference between how man, a sophstudents and teachers view omore. He says that some cheating varies. “It depends students cheat because on if [students] see it as a they “didn’t understand the form of borrowing or what homework and the teacher it really is: lying,” says Mrs. didn’t explain [well].” Also, Cadang-Kristan, an English many people’s main goal in teacher. high school is to get good If the definition and con- grades so they can make sequences of cheating are it into the college of their so widely known, why do dreams, which is why, acpeople still participate in it? cording to a poll called Williams thinks it’s because “Who’s Who Among Ameri“things catch them off can High School Students,” guard. They forget about 80% of top students in the [assignments] and they’re country used cheating as a not prepared or they have way to get to the top. no energy.” Mrs. CadangThe reason why people Kristan adds, “Students cheat is fairly concrete: evCheating from Page 1
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eryone wants to succeed. The morality behind cheating is not, however, so clear. Do students who cheat think what they’re doing is morally right? Not according to Williams, who says, “[Students] don’t think it’s okay, but they have to do it anyway” because they’re more scared of their parents finding out about their bad grades than getting caught. Results on the opposite side of the argument are found in the “Who’s Who” poll. Over 50% of students questioned didn’t
“think cheating was a big deal.” Haberman agrees, saying, “It’s not that bad if you do it [because] you needed help.” ABC News reinforces the point, explaining that many students believe “cheating in school is a dress rehearsal for life.” In the end, however, Pretre summarizes the view most people hold: “[Cheating] really is not right. [You] should know the information.” While cheating may result in good grades today, it has negative effects later in life. “[Cheating] leads
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to bad habits,” Haberman says. Williams adds it “is getting you nowhere. You haven’t learned.” Also, the Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics found in a 2010 study that “people who cheated on exams in high school two or more times are considerably more likely to be dishonest later in life.” Mrs. CadangKristan says, “Cheating is insidious. [You] don’t think it harms you until you’re assumed to have mastery and you don’t.” She also explains that once students graduate college and start looking for jobs, they don’t actually possess several of the skills necessary to enter the workforce. Many employers want writing samples from possible employees, and “if you’ve been cheating your whole life, you don’t know how [to write well].” Mrs. Cadang-Kristan emphasizes that there are “no second chances. The bottom line is that your life will be exactly what your efforts put forth.”
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when you show up in a reThey are the Ameri- ally cute pair of shorts or can pastime, a part of the awesome new t-shirt and American dream, or some- it ends up dropping to 38 thing like that. So what do degrees that night, you you do if you spent all night will wish you had at least watching reruns of Friends brought a pair of gloves. or working on Algebra Going along with that, alhomework when the rest of most every sporting event the student body was busy buzzing about last night’s Photo Credit: Danielle Matta revolutionary game, and you have no clue what went on? Worse yet, what do you actually DO at a game, and how can you appear to be a Captain of All Things Sporty and not embarrass yourself in front of hardcore fans? Never fear, dear fellow challenged athlete, because you have just stumbled (something you are all too familiar with) upon a guide that will improve your social standing amongst buff has some sort of dress jocks and allow you to em- code…meaning that there brace your inner sports- really isn’t one, other than man without even trying. the fact that you should Follow these simple rules, probably wear spirit wear tested and performed by or at least the color of that thousands of undercover certain game. The point is non-athletes, and no one not fashion, but truly how will be able to tell the dif- ridiculous one can look in a ference between you and single, solitary color while the aggressive guy who’s also being able to fight off screaming out strategy and the elements. It’s a strange world, the sports one, but a covered in face paint. PREPARE YOUR BODY, practical one. WHILE ON THE FIELD… MIND, AND PRE-FLAILING ER, BLEACHERS ARMS This is the big leagues. Your preparation for a game is just as important Being able to give off the as actually participating impression to all your felduring a game. This is your low classmates that you are chance for any last-minute in fact a devoted and wise research, including know- fan is truly a masterful skill. ing what you are going to At the same time, you don’t wear and mentally ready- want your friends to start ing yourself for a potential thinking you really ARE the two hours of sport expo- sports guy with all the ansure. Sporting events can swers, so you be taxing—they require have to find long hours standing on the perfect your feet and being bored balance beand hopelessly clueless, as tween blendwell as having to constantly ing in with the and wipe other people’s angry crowd spit from all the screaming not making a off your face. You are go- fool of youring to want to make sure self amongst that when you leave the 70 students. Although house before that game, you are not only ready to everyone has own return half-deaf and with- their out a voice, but that you p e r s o n a l will make the whole experi- techniques, are ence easier on yourself by there DRESSING PROPERLY. Seri- some comously, that weather app on mon factors your phone that you never that really are use? LOOK at that. Because necessary to pull off the whole façade:
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Guide from page 1
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Hop on the Bandwagon- You are just another Generation Y teen feeling the pressure of, well, peer pressure. Don’t let sporting games stop your urge to do whatever the person next to you does. If one person hoots or hollers, you should
probably hoot or holler. If a whole bunch of people hoot, you should be an owl. Even when in 9 cases out of 10 you will have no idea in this whole sweet world what part of the game brought on such a reaction, it is safe to say that as long as you are quick to spot chanting or whooping trends (and aren’t shouting “YEAH!” 8 seconds after everyone else, resulting in blank stares) and follow along, your secret is safe. Plus, look around. There is at least a guaranteed half of the crowd there frantically scanning the field or getting whip lash from trying to see what everyone else is doing too. It goes back to the greatest philosophy: If the fans at a sporting event told you to
jump off a bridge, would you? Of course you would! Be a Copycat- Even if you are cheering at all the appropriate times, there is no way you will fool anyone if you don’t pick up some sporting lingo and shout it randomly. Since you are probably not really watching the game, eavesdrop on the conversations near you. Only tune in on the aggressive-sports-mutter, and ignore the gossip, otherwise you’ll be accidently shouting “JESSIE IS CHEATING ON BOBBY BOY,” which not only will result in many odd and possibly shocked looks, but also a beating from Bobby Boy. Listen out for other kids explaining game rules or mumbling insults at the other team. Once you’ve heard a phrase you feel comfortable enough to repeat, turn to the person next to you and let it loose. They will be so impressed they will crown you Best Fan Ever right then and there, or at least mentally categorize you as someone who is Not Completely an Idiot. Be careful what you copy, though. Saying something too complex or specific will make others ask questions, and then you may be tempted to actually try and explain your comment…a recipe for disaster, no doubt. Always Blame the RefThis may or may not work in your favor, but it seems that enough hardcore sports fans do it already, so what harm could it do? Shouting things like “That dang-um
ref!” and “He’s been paid off!” will only really get you in trouble if you are standing next to the referee’s son or spouse. Or, of course, if the ref called an action that helped your team. Use this one wisely, and you may get some appreciative grunts or head-nods, which is all we can ever ask for in this life. Don’t just take this guide’s word for it though. Three sophomore girls– Becca McHale, Shannon Romutis, and Jenny Samios– have sound advice for anyone still struggling to be accepted within the sporting event fanclub. McHale says, “Go with friends and dress up really spirited like you know what’s happening. Then ask around and find out who’s playing so that you can just shout out obscenities about the other team until you win.” “I’m a pro at this,” says Romutis. “You always make sure you’re not right in the middle of the crowd, because then it will be obvious when you have no idea what you’re doing.” And finally, Samios says, “Eat lots of food” to help ease the pain, and to go through the mental checklist: “That person has the ball. He’s on our team. Good.” Indeed, that is good. Never forget: worst comes to worst, you can always not go to the game and say you did, and then look up the scores online once it’s finished. Who wants to be spat on that much anyway?
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“I’d give my first born child for some Pinkberry right now.” – Senior Jannen Hermann There’s no doubt about it. Kids love frozen yogurt more than disobeying their parents, and in a county with almost 100,000 minors, it should come as no surprise that there might be one or two rival locations battling to control kids’ taste buds. You’d think something as delicate as frozen yogurt would be magically immune to the American tradition of gutbusting extravagance. You’d be wrong. Recently, the fro-yo emporium Sweet Frog opened a new location in Leesburg, right off of route 7. Now there are three eateries that serve exclusively frozen yogurt within the town, which barely covers 12 square miles, and three others who sells it alongside ice cream. That means the average person, who jogs roughly a 10 minute mile, could cancel out an entire workout as it happens by eating frozen yogurt every 20 minutes. Local hero John Dooney could sample a new breed of sub-zero fermented milk every 10 minutes! If you were to estimate the number of fro-yo dispensaries across Loudoun County, you’d guess six, maybe seven, right? Wrong. But don’t feel bad, you and 100 other surveyed students made the same error. In fact, the average Tuscarora student believes there are 57% fewer lactose delicatessens than there ac-
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tually are. From the tip top of Virginia to the foothills of Reston, there are 21 different locations in Loudoun County, 12 of which are so new that they haven’t been listed on Google Maps. This ridiculous quantity of yogurt raises quite a few questions: Why is this icy form of dairy so popular? Is this trend a threat to the local economy? Will anyone resist this onslaught of intolerance...lactose intolerance? Whenever one notices a fad growing at an alarming rate, whether it be “Call Me Maybe,” frozen yogurt, or fascism, it’s only natural to glance at it over one’s shoulder in curious fear. When, according to a recent polling, the students of Tuscarora prefer frozen yogurt to ice cream, which is as important to American culture as baseball, apple pie, and Fox News, true patriots can’t help but be more than a little uneasy. America is a land of excess; we’re proud of our Double Gulps, Hummers, and large population below the poverty line. But more importantly, America is a land of fatties. More than one third of the adult population is obese, and almost half of the US will be obese within two decades. But of the leading cause of this fro-yo epidemic stems from a deadlier virus, one which has gripped this nation by its love handles and male maternity pants: health consciousness. According to our crack team of researchers, 90%
of all frosted yogurt bazaars are located within a five block radius of either a gym, health center, or a hospital. But why are young and intelligent Americans becoming so disillusioned as to worship this “health conscious” substitute as god’s gift to the blood-clot? One serving of generic brand of vanilla ice cream averages 130 calories per serving, so logically, frozen yogurt must have roughly -20 calories, right? In reality, the equivalent generic brand of frozen yogurt has only nine fewer calories and two more grams of sugar per serving. America began its love affair with health crazes in the 1950s, presumably after Prohibition was lifted and alcoholism took center stage. Old fashioned clips had liberal smatterings of mustached men curling free weights in short shorts. The health euphoria lasted until people…got tired? (You have to remember, there were wars, the space race, disco, the ‘80s, and, worst of all, boy bands.) People gave up on trying to grow wheatgrass in their living rooms, and opted for a simultaneously more realistic and naïve approach: gorging on Antarctic lactose, not realizing that it builds love handles like Frank Lloyd Wright. But this scourge of a dessert not only aims to bloat our figures, but to do the opposite to our wallets as well. Local economics expert Michael Burnett says
that the frozen yogurt industry in Loudoun County “could be [an economic] bubble.” An economic bubble is when an industry experiences rapid growth and artificially inflated prices, ending with an inevitable and “dramatic” crash. A bubble in the real estate market was one of the primary causes of the current recession, the worst since the Great Depression. According to The Husky Headline’s top researchers, the frozen yogurt industry represents roughly two percent of employment within Tuscarora High School. According to Burnett, a healthy economy has an unemployment rate of between three and four percent. On top of that, the collapse of this industry could cause Tuscarora’s economy to shrink by eight percent. Empty your savings accounts, stock up on canned foods, build a well; it’s about to be 1929 all over again. Senior Onslo Parker remembers the great Silly Bandz recession of 2009, the last great blow to the local teen economy. “Life was an everyday struggle. Hours of slaving away were spent just trying to put measly scraps on the table. I can’t imagine anything worse.” Don’t worry, Onslo, you won’t have to imagine it. Frozen yogurt will soon make it a reality. This devastating crisis is already visibly taking root, with iconic Leesburg landmark Razzel Dairy Bar being its first victim. But this cultured lactose won’t just explode your figure and drain your wallets, now it’s hitting where it hurts: our stomachs. There is only one gastroenterologist in the Loudoun County area, yet the same county has an immeasurable number of saintly citizens afflicted by “Loving Americans who Cautiously Tip-toe Over Sweetened Elephants In the Noticeably Tiny, Open, well-Lit and Empty Room And Never
Caved to Eating Syndrome,” which is more commonly known as L.A.C.T.O.S.E. I.N.T.O.L.E.R.A.N.C.E.. We employed every journalistic tool at our disposal, but we could not find one Tuscarora student whose life is plagued by this epidemic willing to share their side of the story. Most experts theorize that there is collusion in the fro-yo industry, where major conglomerates pay off any whistle-blowers under the table, or blackball them in the media. Hitting dead end after dead end, we ultimately had to take off our Sherlock Holmes deerstalkers of investigation and slide on our trucker caps of shame and return home. Our efforts, though, were far from fruitless. Oscar Wilde once said, “By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.” If that’s true, then we might as well be Scooby Doo, because we just unmasked frozen yogurt.