News 2-4
Behind the Curtain 5
Opinions 6-8
International 10-11
Centerspread 12-13
La Marea 14
Arts 16-17
Features 18-20
Sports 22-24
Farewell, Class of 2016! Where they’re going...
What they’re leaving behind... Final goodbye...
College decisions on page 20
Senior wills on pages 12-13
Editor-in-Chief sign-off on page 6
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIFETOUCH
Spotlight on Goetz by Addele Hargenrader Senior Devon Goetz, an exemplary student-athlete in the Richard Montgomery community, shines in everything she does, be it field hockey, basketball, softball, drama, or the National Honor Society. “If I was going to use a word to describe Devon, it would be intense...and competitive,” girls varsity basketball coach Michael Oakes explained. Kelly Callan, head coach of the girls varsity softball team agreed, saying, “Devon is a multifaceted player; there really isn’t just one way to describe her.” When talking about Goetz, teammates, classmates, teachers, and coaches all have nothing but great things to say. A senior in the IB program this year, she continues to maintain her outstanding 4.0 GPA. “She is incredibly modest… she jumps at the opportunity to try new things and demonstrate various skills, while encouraging her teammates and supporting
“I’ve been so lucky to have four years of great teams... It’s an honor to play with them.” -Devon Goetz
them as they too strive to improve,” Callan added. Goetz lettered in field hockey, basketball, and softball all four years of her high school career. “Whatever season I’m in, that’s my favorite sport at the time,” Goetz explained. “I really like them all and it’s hard for me to have to pick a favorite.” She began playing field hockey her freshman year and made varsity from the get-go. “I didn’t really know I was going to play field hockey before high school,” Goetz recalled. “It’s a more recent love.” Goetz also excels in her winter season. She was on the JV basketball team for the first half of her freshman year before she was pulled up to the varsity squad in mid-December. She played as the starting point guard or shooting guard for the varsity team and pushed herself to the limit, often playing entire games. “She’s a great defensive player,” Oakes explained. “She’s always flying all over the court, [chasing] after loose balls and rebounds and all of that kind of stuff.” “I’m really excited for her and proud of her and everything she’s done,” he praised. “She’s had a phenomenal… career for us in basketball.” He looks forward to seeing what other amazing things she will achieve in the future. However, before she graduates and starts her bright future, Goetz still has one more sport to dominate in during her high school career: softball. “Softball,” Goetz started. “I’ve been playing for a long time.” GOETZ, cont. page 24
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAN
The “Doors” cast performs their version of the play, as the “Sardines” cast awaits their turn on the stage.
Noises Off: audience laughs on by Taylor Balfour and Isabella Levine “I can’t open sardines and answer the phone. I’ve only got one pair of feet,” senior Audra Jacobs began as she portrayed Mrs. Clackett on opening night. The moment the curtains rose on the two-tiered set, the actors launched into a complex choreography and dialogue that kept the audience laughing hysterically throughout. Michael Frayn’s Noises Off follows a troupe of actors as they struggle to perfect their performance of a British farce, Nothing On, while balancing their own dramatic relationships. “They’re having trouble getting all the lines and cues right,” senior Judah Canizares elaborated. Canizares played the role of Selsdon, an older, well-known, and often drunk actor. “They’re all trying to figure everything
out and the director is getting exasperated with all of them.” “It’s playception,” junior Isabel Leiva described, explaining the premise of the play. With an endless list of costumes, props, and characters, and a playwithin-a-play, the complexity of the show has proven to be a big challenge for the cast and crew. Act One featured rapid-fire dialogue as frustrated director Lloyd Dallas, played by junior Oscar Saywell, tried to corral a disorganized and confused cast into one last rehearsal before they ran out of time. In Act Two, the audience has a backstage perspective as the actors struggle to save their play from disaster, with chaotic entrances, exits, and blocking. “We really get to see our actors pushed to their full potential as they do ridiculous things like sitting on cacti, falling down stairs, and chasing each other with axes. The best comedic element
is the huge amount of physical comedy in the show,” remarked Leslie Schneider, a senior on the Drama Board of Directors. For this act, the intricate set was reversed so that the backstage became visible to the audience. The cast “performed” on two stages at once, perfectly recreating the previous act’s intricate entrances and exits and then running backstage to chase each other around the set with axes and cacti. The cast agreed that some the intricate details in this particular show made it harder than previous ones. “The hardest part is definitely remembering all of the lines and blocking,” junior Claire Wilson said. Wilson portrayed Brooke, a young, dimwitted actress caught in a love triangle with the director. “The lines change slightly every act so it can be really hard to remember SPRING PLAY, cont. page 16
News, 2
Opinions, 8
La Marea, 14
Arts, 17
Features, 19
Sports, 22
Prom preview
FBI vs. Apple
La campaña electoral
Rocket Music Collective
Ms. Azurée
Off-season training
2
NEWS
The Tide
Prom season starts with a bang by Rebecca Huang Prom is one of the most highly anticipated social events in high school. Every year, about 500 juniors and seniors attend the night filled with food, dancing, pictures, and friends. This year’s prom will include these elements, but also several unique, new decorations such as a dry ice machine and a sparkly white dance floor. Both of these go along with the theme for prom 2016: “A Night in the Stars”. These innovative features could not have been incorporated in this year’s prom without the dedication and creativity of countless people, including the Prom Planning Committee and the junior class officers. The Prom Planning Committee has been working hard to ensure that this night will
Committee, emphasized the grandeur and classiness of the night. “We’re going to make prom as elegant as possible by incorporating several royal blue centerpieces and lights that will hopefully reflect the starry aspects of the theme,” Knudson said. The theme is not the only unique aspect of this year’s prom. Kaila Wallace, the junior class treasurer, emphasized the integral role students outside the prom committee played in the planning process. “We were able to capitalize on our school’s incredible art skills by letting students design the prom tickets. Instead of directly asking a local company for designs to be printed, this year, I worked with Mr. McDermott to hold a design contest that will reflect the creativity of RM art students,” Wallace said. Prom 2016 will undoubtedly showcase the incredible designs,
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
Juniors in the prom committee planned for “A Night Under the Stars.” be unforgettable. The planning process for prom began around mid-February and continues to develop now. Junior Isabel Knudson, a member of the Prom Planning
outfits, and uniqueness of many here at RM. Several juniors and seniors voiced their thoughts about this awaited event, describing their expectations and anticipation.
Senior Lana Bizeau said, “I hope the DJ’s good! I’m expecting a really fun night and above all, a safe atmosphere, and I’m hoping that it’s all really beautiful and exciting.” Junior Henri Maindidze emphasized the excitement and unification of prom. “I’ve heard that people have a good time, and there’s a lot of excitement and togetherness with the people because everyone’s always planning what they’re going to wear, what they’re gonna eat and buy, and it really unifies the community,” Maindidze said. Many seniors acknowledge that this night is one of the last memorable events they will spend with their class members. “I’m so excited to just be at prom with my friends because we are almost gone and I need to make the most of my time with them,”senior Elizabeth Conway said. Excitement is in the air as the date inches closer and promposals are starting with a bang. Every year, students propose with flowers, body art, food, and heartfelt posters. However, prom-posers have a lot to live up to this year as expectations were surpassed in proposals the year before. Past promposals have included complex scavenger hunts, announcements during SGA speeches, and dressing up in colorful costumes. Although students get caught up with promposals, choosing outfits, and the excitement of prom, it is important to remember the foremost goal of the night is to make lasting memories, students say. “I mean, the theme and decorations are important but the most important thing for us is to have fun and enjoy the biggest night of our senior year,” senior Mitzy Carvahal said. Prom is an event that carries a certain air of regality and a level of expectations that this year’s prom will definitely surpass. With the unique theme, beautiful decorations, above all, the prom committee’s dedication, Prom 2016 will certainly be one unforgettable night.
May/June
April 26
Maryland Primary Election Hold on to your hats for the wildest election in a while!
May 2-20
AP/ IB Testing Eat, sleep, study.
May 8
Mother’s Day Tell your mother you love her.
May 13
Prom It’s gonna be a night to remember...
May 30
Memorial Day In honor of our soldiers.
June 10
Senior Graduation Con”grad”ulations! You did it!
May 2016
NEWS IN BRIEF MCPS
The Maryland Board of Education denied MCPS’ request to waive two days that were cancelled due to this winter’s severe weather. In a letter to MCPS Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers, Interim Deputy State Superintendent Karen Salmon said, “Your request does not demonstrate an effort to modify the school calendar to make up for lost instructional time.” Maryland schools are mandated to be open at least 180 days per school year and the making up two school days will cost MCPS $1.5 million. “We have had an expenditure freeze in place since the start of school due to the local fiscal outlook,” Bowers said in his letter. Snow clearing operations costs were a significant unplanned addition to expenditures and Bowers believes making up two more days would take away from this year’s already difficult budget. Sophomore SMOB candidate Alex Abrosimov recently created a petition to raise local awareness and expressed his view against the Board of Education’s decision. He claims that the state acknowledged other counties’ requests, but not MCPS’ request. Prince George’s County was granted a two day waiver, setting their school year to 178 days, and Abrosimov wants the same treatment for MCPS. “It isn’t the families faults that the snow was too hard this year. People have summer jobs or summer vacation plans that already have been made and cancelling them hurts the community, especially this close to the school end,” Abrosimov said. The Maryland State Department of Education has approved the plan that lets MCPS go one day below the required 180 days of instruction. MCPS has officially extended the school year to Monday, June 20, which will be an early release day. By Alice Zhu
Leggett proposes raising property tax to improve education On March 15, 2016, County Executive Isiah Leggett released his 2017 county agency budget recommendations in a memorandum to the Montgomery County Council. Among other changes, Leggett proposed an increase in the property tax of 3.94 cents per $100 of assessed value. The new rate would go into effect on July 1 and would cost an average homeowner around $27 more per month. While this tax rate exceeds the Montgomery County property tax limit in section 305 of the County Charter, Leggett contends that this rate is necessary. The money from the new tax will not only replace the income tax revenue lost last year, it will also go towards cutting class size and eliminating the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students. “The county executive’s budget is a great start and a true recognition of the needs our students have,” read a statement released by Board of Education President Michael Durso and Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers. “We understand Mr. Leggett’s budget recommendation is based on an increase in the property tax rate and we urge all of the County Council members to support this recommendation. Investing in education is an investment in the future of this county. Without this investment, we will not be able to make the progress that Mr. Leggett has advocated for and our parents and staff have demanded. Our community has always placed a high priority on education and we believe they will support this new investment.” By Matthew VanBronkhorst
Car crashes into a restaurant frequented by RM students On Monday, March 7th, at the beginning of lunch, a car crashed into the side of the OM Fine Indian Cuisine restaurant in Rockville, terrifying the customers inside. The OM restaurant, located in the Ritchie Shopping Center, is a popular place near Richard Montgomery High School for students to walk to during lunch to order food. The restaurant retains good relations with the school, offering a lunch specials specifically for RM students callled “the Rocket Special”. Sophomores William Liu and Peter Jasperse had just placed their orders when they heard an enormous crash to their right. “My first instinct [was] that there was an earthquake,“ Liu recalled. The car smashed through the restaurant’s outdoor seating area and side wall. “We all just stood there in shock for a few moments,” Liu said. The car continued accelerating into the restaurant after it hit the wall and all the customers evacuated quickly. Jasperse called 911 and fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars arrived to tape off the area. The event summoned a huge crowd of spectators, who watched firefighters pull the car out of the restaurant and allow the elderly male driver to exit the vehicle. Nobody was hurt, including the driver, and OM still remains a popular lunch location for students. However, this experience has given the witnesses a memory they will never forget. “Guess I can check that off my bucket list,” Liu said. By Catherine Dang
AWARDS
Congratulations to Ananya Tadikonda and Isabelle Zhou for being elected as 2016-2017 treasurer and secretary respectively at the May MCR General Assembly. Congratulations to Grace Wu for being elected as the 20162017 1st Vice President of MASC. Congratulations to RM Orchestra who earned straight 1s (top scores) at the recent orchestra festival held at RM.
NEWS
The Tide
May 2016
3
Students review for upcoming AP and IB testing by Haihai Yu As testing season quickly approaches, many of the students at Richard Montgomery are studying hard for their AP and IB exams. AP, or Advanced Placement classes, are college level courses offered to high school students. At the end of the year, students can choose to be tested on the material they learned in their AP classes. These exams are created by the College Board and are released to schools nationwide. Because the AP exams are optional, many students choose to take the course for content instead of credit.
32 million
AP exams taken in 2013
43
AP courses offered by College Board Those who do choose to take the AP exam in May must pay ninety-two dollars for each exam. If a student cannot afford the ninety-two dollar payment the College Board will provide a thirty dollar reduction. Despite the hefty fee, many RM students register for APs for various benefits.
Sophomore Shanna Tiayon says, “I decided to take the AP exam because it could get me college credit and also get me to classes I want to take in college.” Many colleges will take the AP exam as credit for a college class. Depending on the college, a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exam can count for this credit. After graduating from high school, many student graduates will use these AP exam credits to opt out of required core classes and free up their schedule. Ultimately, it can mean graduating from college on time or even earlier. Along with APs, students studying in the International Baccalaureate Program must take IB exams. Although most colleges accept both AP and IB credits, the philosphies of the two programs and structure of their exams are starkly different. AP was developed in the US to help high school students prepare for higher level education while IB was developed in Switzerland to be an internationally recognized diploma program. The number of students taking IB exams is smaller, and signing up is more costly; a student must pay $160 in registration and $110 for each IB exam. Questions on IB exams are open-ended and often require extensive writing whereas AP exams have an equal balance of multiple choice and free response sections. Although AP and IB courses are demanding, taking the classes and exams can increase a student’s chances of getting into the college of their choice. AP exams are scored on a one to five scale while IB exams are scored on a one to seven scale where 5 and 7 are the highest scores respectively. Most colleges consider a 3 on AP exam as a passing score, although many elite or private colleges will only accept a 4 or 5
for credit. For IB exams, most colleges give credit for scores of 5 or higher. There are many ways students are studying for the AP/IB exams. Sophomore Shanna Tiayon said, “I am using flashcards
started to study. Sophomore Mark Stevens said, “I have been very busy with other work. I do plan to study probably by just looking over material that I have learned throughout the government classes.”
PHOTO BY KAITLYN WANG
Students use practice tests and AP prep books to review for their upcoming exams. to go over vocabulary. I also annotate things that I don’t understand.” “I go to teachers during lunch to ask them about questions I don’t understand. Although I have been studying early for this exam, I think that I have a lot to do before exams start,” she added. “I usually study for over two, maybe three hours every night now that the exams are near,” junior Bailey Williams said. “It is important that colleges see my exam scores so I can get into a good college.” Meanwhile, many students haven’t
For exam day, it is recommended to bring No. 2 pencils, blue or black ink pens, and a calculator, if necessary. All students taking AP exams should also remember to bring their student ID. Students cannot bring any electronics that can access the internet, including cell phones, or food and drinks, including water bottles. AP/IB testing starts on May 2nd and ends on May 20th. So study well,. get a good night’s sleep, and good luck on exams.
Five candidates run for open seat on Board of Ed by Justin Zhang With April primaries coming up, and the general election in November, the MCPS Board of Education elections may not come to mind at first. However, the results of these elections will have a great impact on every MCPS student. The Board of Education is the policy maker of MCPS schools, creating policies ranging from organizing the school schedule to implementing certain school courses. In addition to being the policy maker, the Board of Education decides on the total budget for schools, and distributes the money accordingly. This year, five people are running for the at large seat in the Board of Education, including Phil Kauffman, the current at large seat holder. The four challengers for the seat include Jeanette Dixon, a former high school principal, Mike Ibañez, a former MCPS teacher, Sebastian Johnson, a former SMOB, and Gwendolyn Love-Former Kimbrough, a former DC education official. In the April 26 primary, voters will vote for the top two candidates that will eventually face off in the November general election. Before primaries, the candidates had a chance to express their views on certain topics in a debate. The debate was covered by Bethesda Magazine and included several heated discussion on topics such as closing the achievement gap and finding school funding. During the debate, Johnson criticized the Board of Education’s current decisonmaking process. Regarding the decision to fire former superintendent Joshua Starr, Johnson said, “As a student member [of the board] and seeing how the board makes decisions, we need to be more open, more transparent and more honest in our dealings with the public.”
“You hired someone with a half-million dollar salary and benefits. I think you’d be accountable for saying why you did not want to keep him in that position,” Dixon said, agreeing with Johnson. Kauffman responded to Johnson and Dixon, stating that firing the superintendent is a personal matter that should be done
“I’m making a pledge that within the next five years, the achievement gap should end and be eliminated,” Ibanez said. “And I call on any sitting board member and any candidate running for the board, they need to take that pledge,” Ibañez added. He plans to eliminate the achievement
PHOTO COURTESY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION
Board of Education discusses pressing issues in Montgomery County with students. behind closed doors. gap by offering higher salaries to attract the Some students disagree with the best available teachers. Ibañez’s ambitious board’s current closed-door decision- plan will require a lot of funding, and is not making process. the only proposed solution to closing the “I think that it’s good that they’re trying achievement gap. to move in a new direction, but they should Kauffman proposed to bring students take it a bit slower and really make sure from lower income families to higher they have the approval of students, parents, quality schools. and educators,” said freshman Luke Xia, In order to help students who come from who wants the decision-making process to lower income families, Johnson expresses be more open to the public. the need for students to learn about certain In addition to debating about the closed opportunities that are provided in schools. door firing of Joshua Starr, the candidates “One of the problems that we have also talked about the achievement gap in around the achievement gap is access to MCPS. these programs. We need to encourage
minority students, students of color, students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to the programs that we already have,” Johnson said, referring to the many academic programs available in schools. In order to combat the problem of closing the achievement gap, money is needed to support each candidate’s plan. The operating budget outlines the money given to each school for resources, salaries, and staff. However, MCPS and other school districts around the area are having a hard time finding adequate funds in the operating budgets to fund their school maintenance and daily resource needs.
“I think it’s good that they’re trying to move in a new direction, but they should take it a bit slower and really make sure they have the approval of students, parents, and educators.” -Luke Xia Over the past few years, the Board has been pressing local and state governments for more funding. Kimbrough wants to take a different route, and thinks advocating for more school funding from the federal government will result in more funding for MCPS. While the race for a seat on the Board of Education is heating up, it is certain no matter who becomes the Board member, students around MCPS will be affected, one way or another.
4
The Tide
NEWS
May 2016
Class elections for RM SGA are starting to heat up by Laura Chang Every year, students anticipate the election of Student Government Association (SGA) officers. This year’s elections took place on Thursday, April 28. The SGA is an integral part of student life at RM that greatly impacts a student’s high school experience. The SGA is responsible for several popular events and drives such as Homecoming, MR. RM, and Pennies for Patients. Incumbent freshman class president Nimah Nayel was the only student running to become next year’s sophomore class president. “People always say the SGA doesn’t do anything but we really do more than dances and fundraisers,” Nayel said. “We go out there, listen to what people have to say, decide who needs to hear that… tell them, and we advocate for what our school wants. Even if we don’t get it, we go back to the student, tell them what happened and why, and we work it out,” Nayel continued. Sofia Bhalwani is a junior who ran to become schoolwide president next year. Bhalwani agreed with Nayel’s statement but further recognized the value of RM SGA on a larger scale. “Students in the SGA plan fun events and fundraisers but also work hard to make sure every student at RM enjoys their academic environments as well. The RM SGA maintains a critical vote in any votes taken within MCR, [so] the students in the RM SGA are vital parts to Richard Montgomery,” Bhalwani said. Current school president Zack Khan asserted, “Your SGA is your voice. We are the students’ means of creating change within our school and advocating for certain causes.” As election day rolled around the corner, colorful banners, fliers, and posters decorated the halls of our school.
The candidates and their supporters sported apparel to back their respective officers. Some apparel included hair ribbons, rubber bracelets, and shirts with catchy campaign slogans. The most widespread way for candidates to convey their ideas to the student body was through their speeches, which will aired during social studies classes in late April.
election process including moving to an electronic system over the years.” This has made the process of counting votes more efficient and fair for candidates. “I actually believe the election process this year is much more impartial than last year. Last year, throughout the day, one of your teachers would take you down to the media center to vote on the computers,” Bhalwani stated.
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Sofia Bhalwani discusses her ideas and plans for the future of SGA with her classmate. Candidates had a maximum of two minutes to introduce themselves and present their visions to their peers. Many students believe this time period was insufficient for such an important task. “We need to use RMBC time [and] The Tide to make each candidate’s viewpoints apparent to all students,” Khan said. Elections were held by secret ballot, and the candidates who earned the most votes in their respective races secured their positions in office. SGA sponsor Ms. Kellinger noted, “We have worked very hard to improve the
“This year however, you vote in your English class. This prevents cheating from occurring and allows the student body to connect with the candidates in an easier manner,” Bhalwani continued. The speeches and campaigning strategies of candidates not only reflect their goals for the school, but also their respective qualities. “We look for officers who will be committed to work all year long but there is not a set of specific qualities that an officer should have,” Kellinger said. Students often pay close attention to
“This election, I think there will be higher voter turnout, especially with younger people.” Still, others are not convinced that this year’s primaries in Maryland will be as dramatic as some other states. “I think [the voter turnout] will probably be about the same because even though there seems to be stronger feelings this year, I think there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the politicians,” S e n i o r E m i l y Newcombe said.
republicans have filed to fill his position. Front-runner Jamie Raskin is a Harvard graduate who served in Congress for ten years representing District 20. He has fought for issues involving climate change, gun control, protecting Social Security and Women’s health choices, among other issues during his time in Congress, and promises to continue if elected. Raskin has been endorsed by the National Education Association PAC and the Progressive Action PAC. Closely following Raskin in the polls is Kathleen Matthews. Matthews is running for office for the first time in her career. Before her candidacy she was a TV journalist, as a reporter and anchor for WJLA for 25 years, and a corporate executive, as head of public affairs for Marriott International. Matthews has been endorsed by Senator Edward Marky and Senator Barbara Boxer. In a distant third, David Trone, a coowner of Total Wine & More, is passionate about issues including climate change, criminal justice reform a n d closing the achievement gap in our educational GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE system, along with enforcing stricter gun control laws. Just like the candidates running for president, these Congressional hopefuls have been doing a lot of campaigning, attention seeking and of course, money. “It’s all about the money,” Corbin said, “Elections are very, very expensive.”
candidates who advocate for issues that hit close to home. To name one, transportation is a concern for many students. “When I first ran, I asked what people wanted to change, and a common complaint was the two-mile trek to school,” Nayel said. This certainly resonated with other students, including freshman Brooke Carter. “For me, it’s a big deal to find close busing, so if [the candidates] can understand my commuting problems, then that would be very helpful,”Carter stated. Another issue that caught many students’ eyes was the workload at RM. “I want to make sure teachers adhere to the three assessments per day schedule and teachers need to spread out assessments within quarters instead of piling up homework into one week,” Bhalwani said. Most class officers only had to fill out a form endorsed with several student signatures to run. However, school president candidates needed prior SGA experience to qualify as a candidate. Khan, who will pass the baton to the winner of the election, built his campaign off the unity and diversity at RM. “I saw the lack of cohesion and unity amongst RM’s multiple academic program [so] I ran for SGA president in order to create and promote events that bring students together and celebrate their diversity,” Khan stated. He fulfilled that promise by creating Senior Unity Day, spearheading Battle of the Classes, and bringing back the Common Grounds assembly. RM’s president for the 2016-2017 school year will have to fill big shoes. Khan advised, “There’s no such thing as being too early. Stay on top of things and you’ll do just fine.” “Make sure you are really ready to commit yourself to representing your class. It is a big commitment and should not be taken lightly,” Kellinger advised to all new officers.
Primaries decide candidates for general election by Ummara Khan
Election year is finally here, and according to the Wall Street Journal, this election is very different. In fact, according to CBS, the presidential election topped “the Most Talked About Event” list on Facebook in 2015. One notable difference is the number of people showing up to vote during the primaries. According to the Pew Research Center, “through the first 12 primaries of 2016, combined Republican turnout has been 17.3% of eligible voters – the highest of any year since at least 1980. “ Although Democratic turnout is down compared to the 2008 election, the turnout is still 11.7% Primaries are an essential part of an election as they decide which two finalist candidates from each party will be endorsed by their party and will be running in the general election. Primaries are very similar to a general election, where registered voters can vote through a secret ballot to support the candidate they believe is best fit to be president. Maryland’s primaries will be held on April 26. Registered voters can vote at any of the voting sites including public schools. If voters wish to vote early, they may do so from April 14-April 21 at designated early voting sites. Because many states have had a drastic increase in the voter turnout (like Wisconsin, where 49% of eligible voters voted) many people believe that Maryland’s primary voter turnout will increase “I think voter turnout will increase just because there are so many people that feel strongly about a candidate, or so strongly about another candidate that they want the candidate not to get in to the general election,” sophomore Hayley Goddard pointed out.
“And some people don’t like any of the candidates,”Newcombe added. But it’s not just the presidential candidates that will be getting votes. Voters will also get a chance to vote on representatives for their district, who will be representing them in Congress. Maryland’s eighth district’s incumbent, Chris Van Hollen, decided not to run for re-election, and so nine democrats and five
Jamie Raskin has been fundraising by accepting donations from local constituents and companies. According to his official website, 76% of all donations he received were less than $100. Kathleen Matthews has accepted donations from big corporations and company products, like Hardball, a political TV show that is hosted by her husband Chris Matthews. According to the Washington Post, accepting donations from such big corporations may raise questions about who she will represent if elected.
“I think voter turnout will increase just because there are so many people that feel strongly about a candidate....especially with younger people.” -Hayley Goddard David Trone is self-funding his campaign. His spokeswoman stated “The revolving door of political insiders trading favors with each other is just one reason why so many have lost faith in our political system.” This election season, the candidates in both our state and federal governments have offered viable solutions to the problems our country is facing. During the primaries on April 26, those registered with either of the political parties are encouraged to vote in nomination nomination of the candidates in the general election.
The Tide
May 2016
Behind the Curtain
5
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Above: The excited cast and crews of Noises Off run through the show one more time to practice sound, lighting, and blocking to get ready for the opening night of the spring play.
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Above: Set construction works on the back of the set. Above: Junior Tanya Syarnubi saws a piece of wood.
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Above: Makeup crew works to get Jennifer Flores ready to go on stage.
PHOTO BY FATMA ELSAYED
Above: The set crew adds the finishing touches to the front of the main set to perfect it for opening night. Below: Sally Simpson and Shaina Evans run the sound booth during a tech week rehearsal of Noises Off.
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Above: Rachel Herman rehearses her lines one final time in the mirror.
6 The Tide
OPINIONS
Refreshing the page for The Tide by Editors-in-Chief The 2015-16 school year was one of many transitions for The Tide. Not only the annual new Editors-in-Chief taking over, but a new set of teacher sponsors and a whole new field of journalism opening up to the paper. Looking back on a whirlwind of a year, where it feels like our first-issue nerves have only just begun to fizzle out, we have to say goodbye. With the brand new The Tide Online, we integrated The Tide seamlessly into 21st century modern journalism with instant coverage of sports, drama events, and breaking news. What keeps us from wanting to stay here and continue our work with The Tide are the new Editorsin-Chief. Jenny Chen, Daisy Grant, Victoria Priester, and Phil Zhang are more than capable of carrying The Tide next year. We are excited to see their enthusiasm and how it will reflect on their work as they make each issue their own, just as we did over the course of this year. Our anticipation extends to the online edition, which we are confident will be taken a step
further with two new Editors-inChief exclusively for the digital sector of the paper. Maddie Franke and Michelle Dubovitsky will take over The Tide Online and take content to the next level, with articles expanding beyond only the world of sports. A new staff of editors will accompany Maddie and Michelle as they make strides even greater and more impactful than we did.
night, the magical ride leading to RM football’s first home playoff game was documented the whole way through. We are proud to have started the tradition of live journalism and hope the classes that come after will carry it forward. After The Gazette went out of business this summer, The Tide Online filled the niche for Rockville news. It was not only our goal to be relatable for Richard Montgomery
One of the most important decisions that a high school student can make is choosing which courses to take. At RM in particular, students have a tremendously wide range of classes to select from. From sociology to linear algebra, all courses offer students an opportunity to discover who they are and what they might be interested in doing in the future. Although it is true that certain classes are required for graduation, students are still given considerable flexibility within Montgomery County’s
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY KOSTKA
The Editors-in-Chief work for hours to make each issue the best it can be.
It’s with fondness (and a little left over stress), that we remember how, with the help of Kevin Pan, The Tide Online became the go-to source for Richard Montgomery football. Live tweeting every game, post game interviews, and an article online the same
so that individual teachers or departments can share information about their courses. “Some departments will actually even make a YouTube video where they can show you all of the classes you could be taking. I tried to market Montgomery College courses that would be offered here and I did it through posters and announcements.” Many students agree that these methods have been effective at providing useful information about the courses for the 20162017 school year. The electives fair is always incredibly popular and wellreceived. Held on Main Street late January or early February during
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Students visit their counselors’ offices to discuss their course selections.
credit-based system for elective courses. In order to inform students of their choices, the staff at RM has tried several strategies to market their courses, each met with varying degrees of success. Guidance counselor Mr. John Randall said, “All of the departments market in different ways, and we also have the electives fair on Main Street
Letters to the Editor
Homework club is a helpful experience The homework club that meets on Thursdays is super helpful. Speaking as an underclassmen, I think it is a great opportunity to get feedback on essays, or just any homework in general from peers, from upperclassmen, and even teachers. Mr. Stillman, who runs the club, is always very helpful and will print and copy any materials you need. It’s honestly just a very fun experience for something so centered around homework, and I would definitely recommend going if you’re ever struggling on schoolwork. However, I think it would be great if we could have clubs that met on various days of the week, for students who cannot necessarily come on Thursdays. -Emily Yuan, 9th grade
Make scholarship opportunities known
students, but for the parents and community surrounding the school as well. It’s been an honor overseeing such a dynamic, vibrant, and ever-growing publication over the last year. We can’t wait to see the direction it grows in next.
Course marketing is a big success by Emmanuel Corporal
May 2016
every school year, teachers have an opportunity to help students get a sense of what electives are available from each department. However, junior Anika Yardi said that “many of my friends had to decide between picking classes and getting lunch.” To avoid this sort of conflict, perhaps the fair could be held during a given class period like the MYP project fair. As for students thinking of
taking classes out of school, Mr. Randall further said “We had people we invited from Edison, representatives who we wanted to come over. “We also invited Montgomery College representatives to come over, and we gave both of these groups a table.” Students also report that the informative powerpoints put together by each department are effective because “they clearly listed out the grades you could take the classes in and what the classes covered,” according to sophomore Amani Harman. Teachers of a specific department often present the powerpoint to their students. Another aspect of marketing that was popular amongst students were the handouts provided at the elective fairs. Freshman Fatma Elsayed said that AP Economics “ended up being one of those [courses] I liked thanks to the handout.” Yardi too explained how because of the information given, she decided to take AP Economics since “you know know you need it at some point in your life.” Although one complaint is that students often run into scheduling conflicts and can’t take the classes they want to anyways, counselors are always there to evaluate their interests and help them choose the best possible class. In addition, they will often direct them to have a conversation with the actual teachers of the class who will provide real insight into the course. Course marketing at RM is employed in a broad and effective range of forms. Whether a student is informed by a personal dialogue or a handout from the electives fair, there are already more than enough ways for students to make up their mind about next year’s classes.
Scholarships are part of the key to success. However, I believe that RM does not do an adequate job of informing students about different scholarship opportunities. Either through mandatory counselor meetings or more RMBC announcements, the availability of scholarships should be spread to all students. I often receive emails from Ms. Hull about internship, job, or SSL opportunities but I rarely see news about scholarship opportunities. Even if she sends these emails, having Ms. Hull’s emails being the only source of this information provided by RM is subpar in my opinion. -Sue Lee, 10th grade
What is the purpose of student government? Student governments have pretty much two jobs: organizing social events and running fundraisers. The major decisions are still left in the hands of the school administration. When was the last time something the Student Memeber of the Board (SMOB) has done has impacted your school life? For most people, probably never. From my own experience, all SMOB candidates have done is make idealistic promises. If students actually want change to happen in schools, they should look elsewhere. The only real path to making an impact is by taking action through self-organized student bodies, not through student government. - Jason Zhao, 11th grade
Please send any comments as letters to the editor to tide.opinions@gmail.com. Submissions may be edited for length and/or clarity.
The Tide
250 Richard Montgomery Drive Rockville, Maryland 20852 www.thermtide.com 301-610-8000 The Tide is the student newspaper of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland. The Tide is dedicated to keeping the Richard Montgomery school community accurately informed and to providing a forum for student expression. 1,000 copies of the newspaper are printed and distributed among students. Any corrections are printed in the following issue on page 2. The opinions presented in The Tide do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff and administration at Richard Montgomery. The Tide is affliated with ASPA, CSPA, and NSPA. Questions, concerns, and suggestions on articles, advertisements, and photos can be submitted to thetideeditors@gmail.com. Editors-in-Chief............................Jenny Chen, Daisy Grant, Victoria Priester, Phil Zhang News................................................................Jisue Gonzales, Christina You, Isabelle Zhou Opinions........................................................................... Alex Hu, Cindy Song, Angela Sun International...........................................................................Vlady Guttenberg, Sindhu Iyer Center Spread............................................................................Proma Rahman, Grace Wang La Marea............................................................................................................Lisa Hernandez Features.........................................................................Hannah Greco, Rachel Li, Irene Park Arts.......................................................................................................Stella Ho, Albert Zhang Sports..............................................................Madeleine Cheng, Kevin Hu, Julia Kochman Photo....................................................Taylor Balfour, Fatma Elsayed, Jessica Ji, Mona Lee Graphics..........................................................................................Kern Lee, Katherine Wang Online...........................................................................Michelle Dubovitsky, Maddie Franke Sponsors......................................................................Ms. Laurie Brown, Mrs. Bonnie Peyer
The Tide
OPINIONS
Black & Gold
May 2016 7
Should we promote animal dissections in science classrooms?
G
Knowledge of anatomy is essential Dissections foster animal cruelty by Emily Tian Animal dissections have long been a rite of passage in high school anatomy and biology courses and should continue to exist in the high school curriculum. Equipped with scalpels and pins, students can engage interactively with various organisms in a classroom environment. Through such experiences, students gain more insight into the anatomy of animals. Nevertheless, significant controversy has arisen about the ethics of dissections. Dissections are beneficial to students primarily because they enhance the classroom learning experience. While the odor of preserved frogs may turn students’
stomachs, the tactile factor in dissecting the animal increases students’ retention rates of the learning material more than conventional teaching methods. Although critics argue that real dissections can be substituted with virtual ones, virtual dissections do not provide an authentic experience for students. Actual dissections provide a sensory factor so that students are more closely engaged with the learning material. Freshman Giulia Testa said of handson dissections, “It’s really interactive and it’s much easier to understand it if you’re actually doing it rather than just looking at pictures.” Senior Jack Ramos also asserted, “I think that you need to get the actual experience if you want to find out about organs or the anatomy of anything. You need to actually physically dissect an actual animal, which is better than dissecting it online or on a computer.” In dissection simulations, students are limited to a generic animal instead of a variety of distinct, complex organisms. Many students plan on entering the fields of medicine and biology. Animal dissections performed in school pave a path for future doctors and researchers. Junior Neil Duggal stated, “We need real life experience for biologists, especially since the human body or any body of any creature is so complex.” “We can help so many people by using animals to find out more about how the body works and make people less ignorant,” Sophomore Rachel Pollock added. Dissection is incredibly important to both understanding and appreciating the study of life. Freshman Gillian Smith raised a question: “What if you’re doing surgery and you’ve never dissected anything before?” Such a generation of doctors would have grave implications to our wellbeing. Medical school graduates
B
Black
will first practice surgical procedures on ill patients, not lifeless organisms. While the inhumane harvesting of animals is unethical and has to be more stringently restricted, suppliers for animal dissections are obliged to comply with the standards set forth by the Animal Welfare Act. The law regulates the purchasing, selling, and living conditions of animals. The treatment of such animals is thus a matter of suppliers abiding by law, not a reflection of the practice of animal dissection. Reputable suppliers of animals for dissections, such as Carolina Biological Supply, only obtain euthanized animals destined for landfills or the food industry. Freshman Grant Yang said, “In my middle school, we were informed beforehand
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that the animals were already dead before they were being preserved. And then we dissected animals that died of natural causes.” While critics may suggest that dissections are harmful to animals, dissections lay a foundation for animal research. Dissections are instructive in honing student discipline. Teachers at the helm of animal dissections can guide students towards reaching a more acute appreciation of natural elements and the frailty of life. Acquiring this discipline will prepare students interested in scientific professions. Through animal dissections, students are taught the significance of animal lives. Chemistry teacher Dr. Sparks stated, “In all my classes that I took with animal dissection, we always had a very profound respect, that this animal had given its life or been donated for this use.” She continued, “All of them were approached with a very serious discussion ahead of time.” Furthermore, classroom dissections create moments of self-discovery and academic growth. Junior Andy Li described his childhood fear of internal organs and anatomy, but conquered his fear after participating in middle school dissections. He shared, “I felt like they were really informative and they helped me get over my queasiness relating to biology.” Montgomery County Public Schools and the IB curriculum allow students to forgo dissection if they are uncomfortable with it. Dr. Sparks recalled that in her dissection experiences, “students were allowed to participate with the level they were comfortable.” If students are apprehensive about performing a dissection, schools can offer them alternatives without penalty. Substitutes for physical dissections include worksheets and virtual dissections. Students are always entitled to the freedom of choice. Their personal beliefs can always be accommodated by the school. Animal dissections in schools are memorable experiences for students to enhance their scientific knowledge and animal awareness. They also lead students to pave future careers in biological fields. If classroom animal dissections cease to exist, students will have lost an immensely valuable learning opportunity.
by Andrew Liu What takes place in science class and requires an animal specimen, scalpels, and a high tolerance for unworldly odors? The first thing that should come to mind is animal dissection. The practice of animal dissections in schools is a tradition that, while long-standing, should be eliminated from the curriculum. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), millions of animals are dissected every year in elementary, secondary, and college science classes. While dissections are an integral part of science curricula across the country, students should not be encouraged to participate in such an ethically questionable act. Furthermore, the experiences associated with dissections are only beneficial to students pursuing a career in the medical field, meaning many of these once-living organisms are going to waste. With regards to dissections, the downsides outweigh the benefits. The Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, a magazine that discusses the ethics of human behavior, stated that the association between animal dissections and science can make students become more callous towards animals and even dissuade certain people from working in related areas of science in the future. Just recently, the Washington Post reported an incident where a few students from a high school in Oklahoma City posted a video of themselves dancing with dead cats that were dissected in their biology class. The students and teacher were reprimanded, but it is clear that they did not have any respect for the animals they were working with. Dissecting animals to advance biological research can be justified, but using animal specimens in an exercise where they may not be fully appreciated is a reprehensible waste of innocent animal life. A popular substitute to real life dissections that may not have the same
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negative repercussions is the use of digital simulations. They are as detailed as the real thing, but do not involve taking a life of an animal. Many softwares exist that help demonstrate the complexity of the animal that you are going to dissect. Some examples of such digital simulations are “The Digital Frog”, “Dissectionworks”, and “DryLab Suite.” If students perform dissections digitally in the future, it would dramatically reduce the waste of life. Simulations nowadays have the technology to show clear, accurate images of the organism’s body, in addition to providing helpful insights at every step of the way.
Gold Many students at RM seem to believe that animals should be dissected for further study but only if they are obtained in an ethical manner. Senior Yashi Janamanchi said, “I think they do help give biology students a good idea of the field they’re going into and it does give them experience in dissecting. However, when it is done without obtaining the animals ethically, it shouldn’t be allowed.” Junior Jerry Wu said, “I think they are justified to teach us a lot about the anatomy of animals. However people who don’t want to go through the dissection don’t have to. They can do a simulation or some other activity.” As digital methods allow students to learn at their own pace, they
“It should be optional for students to dissect frogs. There’s enough online that they can do.” - Mr. Turner have proven to be as good as, and often superior to, communicating important anatomic concepts through live dissections. If we remove dissections altogether, we could devote the extra money to go towards some other type of research topic in science class. It is important that we do not overlook the enormous costs associated with procuring “ethically-preserved” specimens for a classroom setting. Our school budgets are stripped thin already. Now imagine having to pay thousands more for an experience that most students will not capitalize on. As an added bonus, PETA has been donating the virtual dissection labs and offering free training to schools that choose the different route. Virtual dissections will save a lot of money in the long run. The extra money can be spent on doing many other things, like upgrading our school computers or buying more supplies for other types of science experiments. Of course, dissections should not be completely banned. “If students are interested in the medical field, it is important to do dissections hands on. When they dissect that animal, they should experience the life of the frog, or other animal and understand how they were killed,” said chemistry teacher Jerry Turner. If students want to pursue a field in the medical studies, they should definitely be exposed to all these things. But if students want to pursue a career in medicine, there’s no reason to have them dissecting things so early. Let them wait until college, when students can hone in on their interests and career choices.. While dissections are definitely cool, it is certainly not as beneficial to the average student than other activities. Times are changing. Students should not have to dissect animals at the middle and high school level. They should be given time to develop more knowledge and a greater sense of what they are doing. Ultimately, an animal’s life is something
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The Tide
OPINIONS
May 2016
ASVAB aligns high schoolers with possible careers by Maureen Zeufack and Tesia Shi Calling all juniors and seniors: does the SAT or ACT sound familiar? If so, what about the ASVAB? If not with the lack of exposure on the test, students are missing out on a great opportunity to get a better grasp of what jobs could best suit their skill sets. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a test that allows military recruiters to screen and place recruits in the field where they will be most successful, but it also serves as an effective career exploration tool. Similar to how most colleges require minimum SAT or ACT scores, a minimum qualifying score on the ASVAB is required to enlist in the military. The actual test takes three hours and is comprised of 10 timed subtests in general science, arithmetic reasoning, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, numerical comparisons, coding speed, auto and shop information, mathematical knowledge, mechanical comprehension, and electronics information. Military qualification is determined by the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT), whose score is made up of only 4 of the 10 total subtests: arithmetic, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension and mathematical knowledge. The other 6 subtests help determine military placement or career choices. Feeling anxious? Fortunately, there is no “pass” or “fail” on the ASVAB, and it can be retaken after a month. If you want to take it more than twice, you are given a six month waiting period. While a varying
minimum score on the AFQT is required to enlist in the military, other scores only reflect the test taker’s ability in six of the respective subtests. Many students take the test just to figure out where their skill sets lie. Best of all, taking the test does not mean committing to the military and it is completely free to take. Students can choose to take the paperand-pencil test or the online CAT-ASVAB test. Unlike the online version, students can choose to skip questions on the paper-andpencil test and mark up their exam booklet. However, questions appear randomly in difficulty on the paper version while the CAT-ASVAB is adaptive, with questions appearing according to your skill level; think MAP-R and MAP-M, where questions appear depending on the accuracy of the previous answer. With pros and cons for each version, students should think about which version would best accommodate their strengths and weaknesses.
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With high validity and reliability ratings, the ASVAB is an accurate predictor of success in future military careers. Scores on the test correlate directly to military training grades and future performance assessments. Also, performance on the
individual subtests helps recruiters determine the best job and area for the recruit in the army. “I think it would be a good indicator of where in the military this individual would thrive,” freshman Gillian Smith said. The ASVAB also comes with an interpretations meeting after the test to help students understand their scores and help guide them not just in future military careers, but other career paths they may be interested in pursuing. “They send a special person who comes in--it’s online--and it’s really cool how they compare your scores to the work you do online. It’s almost like a personality assessment. They’ll tell you ‘oh, you’re social so you would probably do better in some of these occupations,’” Career Center coordinator Mary Hull said. Even with the test’s benefits, there are still many things to consider before taking it. The test does not account for the significant difference in mean scores for different races. In addition, because the test’s original purpose is to identify eligible high school students and graduates for possible recruitment, the accuracy rates for predicting success and other factors in ordinary civilian, non-military jobs are lower than that of military jobs. Students should take the results at face value because they can only guide, not anticipate the future for career paths outside of the military. “You can definitely see your skill set, You can definitely see what you’re good at, and if you didn’t know that you were good at that, then you know now. It’ll help you in the future with your career,” said junior Reet Goraya.
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Freshman Hudhayfah Alansari sees both sides of taking the test. He believes that taking the test is not really necessary, but a matter of the student’s parents: “It’s not necessary to take the test because unless their parents don’t want them to go, they don’t have to go.” However, on the other hand, he mentioned, “If their parents do want them [to take the test], then they should because it could be a new experience or a better opportunity for people to better their skills and get better at what they’re doing.” Ultimately though, the students should make decisions about managing their own futures. All in all, students are encouraged to take the ASVAB towards the end of their high school career in order to explore future career options and receive a greater understanding of their interests and aptitudes. As junior Sherry Li said, “It’s
Conflict between the FBI and Apple sparks debate by Laura Chang and Zachary Bernstein On December 2, 2015, two shooters opened fire on a group gathered for a holiday party at the San Bernardino Department of Public Health, killing 14 people and seriously injuring 22. The perpetrators were killed in a shootout several hours later, after which they were identified as married couple Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik. Upon further investigation, they were found to be homegrown extremists with ties to the terrorist group known as ISIS. During the search of the shooters’ residence, the FBI found, among other things, three cell phones. Two of them had been crushed and thrown in a dumpster, but the third phone, an iPhone 5C, was left intact. When attempting to unlock the phone, the FBI found themselves stymied by a simple four-digit passcode. The problem was that the phone would completely wipe its data after ten failed passcode attempts. The FBI turned to the phone manufacturer, Apple, to ask if the company would unlock the phone for them. The company refused to hack the phone itself and instead suggested some other undisclosed means of entry, none of which were successful. As a result, the FBI asked Apple to engineer all future models so that they would have less sophisticated security features, particularly by removing the automatic data wipe feature. This way the FBI would have a far easier time unlocking phones in the future, as they can try many passwords without any sort of consequence. Apple refused to comply, arguing that undermining phone security features would compromise consumer security and violate privacy rights. What ensued was an unprecedented battle between the right to privacy versus the interest of national security. In the end, the FBI succeeded in obtaining a federal court order mandating that Apple create a “backdoor” to the shooter’s iPhone. National security
triumphed this time. While Apple acknowledged that there may have be important information to be retrieved, the company fears that this case has set a dangerous precedent for the future. The justice system appears to be siding with the interests of the FBI. Several RM students and staff share Apple’s concerns. Freshman Sean Boyce said, “[Apple] should not be forced to breach the privacy of customers, especially without their permission.”
Social studies teacher Todd Stillman pitched in, “The idea that there’s a national or state interest in being able to access some phones makes sense to me, but the idea that companies need to build a backdoor that could be exploited by anyone also seems like a poor way to do internet security.” Furthermore, some students are afraid that if Apple consents to the FBI’s demands, the FBI will abuse its power. Boyce worried that if Apple did comply with the FBI, it would cause “a slippery slope where the government will be able to make companies do anything.” Sophomore Jasmine de la Vega Rodriguez argued, “Apple and [other]
private companies will just put more... security measures, and you’ll just have more...of the same exact problem, just with more advanced security measures. We’ll be going through this endless cycle. It’s just going to cost the government so much more money.” In constrast, students who support the FBI’s position argue that investigating possible links to terrorism is more important than the right to privacy. “If there’s actual evidence that can keep
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terrorism at a minimum and protect people,” said freshman Ummara Khan, “then that needs to be given up. I’d rather everyone be safe than sorry.” Some believe that the FBI is not abusing its authority at all in asking Apple to undermine its security features. Senior Andrew Beltran said, “I honestly don’t know where the line is, but I know that terrorism is beyond that.” Although the right to privacy has become a serious concern in light of the Edward Snowden leaks, other students argue that we should not be worried about the FBI invading the lives of everyday people. “I think the FBI has better things to do,”
said sophomore Emily Zhou. Even if the FBI has an easier time getting into people’s phones, they do not have the resources to undertake mass-surveilance operations. This new capability will only assist them in individual cases like the recent terror attack. Senior Helen Kent also noted, “I trust [the FBI]...because I don’t keep anything on my phone that I would ever worry about.” The legal dispute between the FBI and Apple was finally resolved when an unidentified entity unlocked the iPhone 5C for the FBI. Many are concerned about whether the FBI will overstep its powers and unnecessarily infringe the right to privacy with this new information. Regarding when exactly the FBI should be able to use the information gained from the third party, Khan replied, “To break into someone else’s phone and to be able to see everything that they store on there, which is like their whole life at this point, you have to have a lot of people’s safety and lives [at stake].” Most students agreed that the FBI should stay responsible and only use this new information when there is a legitimate safety concern. However, Rodriguez dissented, remarking that the FBI “should be prevented from doing something like this ever again...They should be working on other ways to find evidence.” Students and staff seem to hold very contrasting opinions on the FBI vs. Apple case. Although the legal suit has been dropped, people are still concerned about what might arise from the issue. Even more recently, the FBI has already requested that Apple unlock another iPhone, this time one belonging to a Boston gang member. At the end of the day, the constitutional question still remains controversial, and we can see how difficult it is to weigh the right to privacy against national security. At a time when technology is very quickly growing and spreading and terrorism is still very much a threat, this issue will certainly become increasingly important in the daily lives of every single one of us.
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May 2016
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10 The Tide
INTERNATIONAL
May 2016
Month of May ushers in distinct and lively holidays by Angela Sun
MAY DAY
May Day is celebrated on May 1 by nations in Europe and North America to commemorate the arrival of spring. Countries from Finland to Canada have their own unique traditions that encapsulate the meaning of spring. Roman Catholics believe May to be the month of Virgin Mary, and May Day is considered a national holiday in the Vatican. Meanwhile, in other European countries, such as Germany and France, May Day is a celebration of agriculture and fertility. The maypole dance, in which several people dance around a maypole weaving a braid of ribbons and flowers, is common throughout Europe. There are different maypole dances, such as barbers pole, spider’s web, and Jacob’s ladder. In France, people often celebrate May Day by giving family and friends lily-of-thevallies, a tradition started by King Charles IX of France. Countries such as Romania have May Day celebrations with Pagan roots. Romanians celebrate a holiday similar to May Day, called
Irminden, a holiday dedicated to snakes and lizards and the rites used to banish them. In the United States, May Day is also International Worker’s day, commemorating the fight for worker’s rights and fair labor practices during the time of the labor movement. At Historic St. Mary’s City in Maryland, a celebration is held to commemorate May Day, with maypole dances and games.
YOUTH DAY
On May 4, 1919, a large group of youths started holding mass demonstrations that ultimately led to the National Liberation movement in China. This day, now called Youth Day, commemorates the beginning of student protests against Chinese imperialism. After the Shandong Peninsula in eastern China was given up to Japan, students rose up to defend the sovereignty of China. These events were the result of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I and left China in a significantly weakened state. Under public pressure by the unified youth movement, Chinese officials in Germany refused to sign the treaty. This historical event was seen as an important stepping stone from Chinese monarchy to its current form of government under elected President Xi Jinping. To celebrate, youth from all over China receive an official day off every year and gather to take part in large parades and rallies to the commemorate the events of 1919.
CINCO DE MAYO
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Confederation was established in 1867, separating Canada into different provinces. Queen Victoria is known for unifying the country when it was intially formed. On this day, Canadians celebrate by holding parades during the day and watching elaborate firework displays at night to commemorate their former queen. In Toronto, many people celebrate by hopping on the Queen’s Jubilee Cruise at Toronto Harbour to watch the fireworks while eating a nice meal.
Cinco de Mayo, which translates to May 5, celebrates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The success at Puebla represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government. In the state of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is observed through military parades and reenactments of battles. Today, Cinco de Mayo has become a symbol of Mexican strength and spirit. Communities celebrate with parades, mariachi music, folk dances, and street festivals in cities all across Mexico and in the United States. Some of the largest festivals are held in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. Students can celebrate Cinco de Mayo here
TIME OF REMEMBRANCE AND RECONCILIATION
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in Rockville too at La Tasca - Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant for a small entrance fee.
YOM HAZIKARON & YOM HA’ATZMAUT
May 14 marks the anniversary of the day when members of the State of Israel’s government signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence of 1948 in Tel Aviv. Every year, Yom Ha’atzmaut, their national day, is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Iyar, the eighth month of the Hebrew calendar. The national day is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s official Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and troops. Traditionally, the president makes a speech celebrating the soldiers who have fought and continue to fight for their country. Throughout the nation, Israelis gather to watch public shows funded by the government, sing and dance to folk songs, and watch firework displays.
VICTORIA DAY
Victoria Day, Canada’s oldest federal holiday, was first celebrated in 1845. Every year on May 23, Canadians come together to celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria. The British monarchy governed until the Canadian
After passing a resolution in 2004, the United Nations (UN) declared May 8 and May 9 as days to remember and honor those who have died during World War II. Here in the United States, May 8 is also a day to remember the victims of the Holocaust. Some organizations, including embassies, hold special wreath-laying events at cemeteries or memorials. Ceremonies and educational programs are held over the course of the week, and people are moved by the stories of brave heroes like Raymond Zussman, Charles Paddock, and Harry O’Neil. Paddock and O’Neil were both popular figures for the media, one a Olympic gold medal athlete, and the other a Major League Baseball player. Paddock was a famous film star of the twenties while O’Neil was one of only two MLB players to die overseas during World War II. The valiant deaths of these celebrities signified how the war chose victims indiscriminately. Zussman was a Second Lieutenant during the war who received the medal of honor for singlehandedly causing the surrender of over 90 troops, sacrificing his life in the process. Zussman’s heroic and inspiring leadership while saving prisoners of war during a battle in France continues to be admired and honored to this day. Today he is remembered as one of the millions of people who sacrificed or lost their lives during the second World War. Aside from remembering the lives lost, this holiday is meant to unite countries’ efforts in dealing with new challenges and promote peaceful interactions.
Students travel to Israel to appreciate their culture by Kunal Harmalkar and Maureen Zeufack As summer draws near, students begin searching for enriching opportunities to travel abroad. Here at RM, many decide to travel to Israel for religious reasons and the amazing cultural experience. Israel is home to some of the most impressive stuctures in the world, and has much to offer to people visiting for both religious and nonreligious purposes. Sophomore Alex Abrosimov travelled to Israel over spring break and described his life changing experince. “I loved the trip and I loved the atmosphere [in Israel]. It’s basically just a beautiful country with an amazing history. I definitely think that it was good to go independent because there weren’t as many biases,” Abrosimov remarked. Abrosimov’s comment about travelling independently relates to his decision to take his first trip to Israel independent of the Birthright program. The program is an option for students hoping to get in touch with their cultural roots, and usually paid in full by a charity or the country itself. Although nations such as Greece, Armenia, and Ireland have proposed birthright trips for young adults, the most well known destination is the cultural hub of Israel. The Birthright program is offered by the organization Taglit-Birthright Israel, and is offered for people of Jewish descent aged 18 to 26. Youth are given a chance to journey to Israel, free-of-charge, and partake in cultural experiences to learn about their faith in their homeland. Most RM students are too young to qualify for the program, but freshman
Sofia Chartove’s sister went to Israel on a trip sponsored by Taglit-Birthright Israel. “They go to Jerusalem, to Tel Aviv, to Masa To and to the Dead Sea,” Chartove enthusiastically said, regarding her sister’s trip. Despite the fact that they do not qualify for Birthright trips, students continue to be drawn to Israel and find inspiration in its history.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX ABROSIMOV
Proper prayer requires the wearing of a tallit. “[Israel] is a country where people not just share your beliefs, but also your culture and traditions,” sophomore Irene Guggenheim-Triana said. Junior Amit Koppel voiced an opinion similar to Guggenheim-Triana. Though his most recent trip to Israel was not his first, his experiences allowed him to view the
country in a different light. “It was the first time I actually toured places in Israel. Previously I would just visit family, but this time I got to see all the cool sites there and learn the history,” Koppel explained. Aside from popular attractions like the Western Wall and the Tower of David, Israel also has many unconventional cultural experiences available. “One thing that made me want to go [to Israel] was to visit a kibbutz, a small community where kids are raised in common, and things are shared,” Guggenheim-Triana described. Students also rave about one of Israel’s greatest hidden gems: the food. “I loved the food. The schwarma, falafel, pitas, and everything,” Koppel commented. Former RM student Bailey Dinman was also curious about her heritage, so she decided to travel to Israel with a leadership program sponsored by her youth group. For Dinman, the experience also opened her eyes to to the reality of the political situation in the conflict torn nation. “We arrived in Israel in July of 2014, merely three days after the bodies of three Israeli teens were found. This began a conflict between Israel and Hamas, and we were essentially trapped in the country,” Dinman elaborated. “We were safe at all times, but it was extremely eye opening. I learned how fragile the state of Israel is, and how vital its existence is not only to the Jewish people, but to democracies worldwide,” she concluded. Dinman’s experience provides a perspective of the political situation and the complex cultural undercurrents in the small country.
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Like Dinman, junior Jenny Zuhl also felt a unique personal connection in Israel. “I really wanted to go because I missed my family,” Zuhl explained. “I’m Jewish and so I thought I knew most of what goes on in our tradition, but I was wrong,” Zuhl said. “I learned that everyone has a lot of hope in our culture. At the [Western] Wall and you could almost feel it in the air.” Students found themselves not only seeing, but also experiencing complex cultural values. The value of discovering one’s culture is universal. Whether it is the food, the people, the religion, or the political tension, students explored and connected with thier heritage during their time in Israel.
The Tide
INTERNATIONAL
May 2016
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Exploring cinema from Hollywood to Bollywood by Magali Ngouabou As politics and international relations constantly evolve, one thing maintains a bond between people of differing nations: film. From the vibrant saris of Bollywood, the intricate kabas of Nollywood, the dry humor of Great Britain, and the open culture of France--actors and directors of different backgrounds and cultures come together to create unique film industries. “Almost every foreign movie I’ve seen has an interesting plot,” said sophomore Max Tiefer. “You always get sucked in, you care about the characters.” One notable movie that has formed such a viewer-to-actor connection is the Hindi film Queen. Uniting characters from France, India, Japan and other varying nationalities, the movie focuses less on the disparities between different cultures and instead delves into the common vulnerabilities of the human condition. These are sentiments that unite people from all over the globe—no matter the nationality. Though these films can often unite audiences on an emotional level, they can also highlight the disparate political situations that affect every individual’s way of living. “[The film Viva Cuba] shows the conflict present between people who support communist Cuba, and the richer people who wish to leave,” said senior Nina Holtz. Holtz went on to elaborate on her sentiments about the lifestyle expressed in the film compared to her own. “I guess I feel really sheltered living in the US,” Holtz said. “We don’t have to worry about walking outside and being killed or captured by the government.” Foreign films also capture the variety of emotional dimensions that can be found in different cultures around the globe. “A lot of the foreign films I’ve seen focus more on the smaller people and
PHOTO BY JESSICA JI
Film students appreciate the variety of perspectives depicted in international cinema. smaller communities,” Tiefer said. Among these films, Tiefer highly recommends the renowned Brazilian movie, City of God. Filmed on the outskirts of the tourist city Rio de Janeiro, in one of the poorest favelas in Brazil, the tale illustrates the gang violence and crime that permeates this struggling section of Brazil. It brutally forces the audience to open their eyes to the effects of poverty and crime on youthful minds. Tiefer went on to explain that such significant production is not often seen from Brazil. He highlighed the struggle of the Brazilian film industry. “It’s not that they lack interest, but rather the economic growth to wholly commit to filmmaking,” Tiefer said. Many countries, especially those that fall under the category of “developing,” often lack the financial means to produce and advertise large blockbuster films.. City of God had a budget of about $3 million, as opposed to Transformers 4, which had a budget of about $165 million. Despite these economic struggles, the financial dearth in production can have
positive effects on the film industry. There are certain artistic benefits of having a lower budget. “If budget is more cut back, you can’t really afford to do oldenstyle film, so you get more diverse and interesting films about changes happening in the world,” Tiefer said. These nuances and distintive features that lower-budget films tend to possess, though not always recognized, have mainly been accredited through award shows and festivals. City of God, for one, was nominated for four Oscars. The proliferation of fresh, new ideas from foreign industries is often where American directors derive their own ideas. “I see a lot of foreign films that are really art-based and, fortunately, that’s starting to become the norm in American film,” sophomore Simon Gershunskiy said. Quentin Tarantino, one of the most acclaimed Americans directors, responsible for movies like The Hateful Eight and Pulp Fiction, has developed a significant part of his style from Sergio Leone, a renowned Italian director of “spaghetti westerns”. Tarantino has even collaborated
with Ennio Morricone, a famous Italian composer who composed music for one of Leone’s most famous films, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Gershunskiy, a student who enjoys making films himself, has also drawn influence from foreign films. “The more diversity there is, the more of a chance there is for growth in film and expression of ideas through films,” Gershunskiy said. Although intercontinental cinematic exchange is important, the power of foreign films is not just manifested through collaborative films. Many of cinema’s hidden gems focus on ideas drawn from within a nation’s borders. Holtz expressed how cinema has influenced her views of the human condition. “People can bond over similar problems and suddenly what seemed really important and relevant, like social status, becomes a non-issue,” Holtz said. This human ability to bond over similarities has been challenged through the increasingly heated racial debate, not just in the United States, but in many places around the world. Misinformation and misunderstanding often fuel the negative stereotypes people have toward others. Girlhood from France, Boy from New Zealand, Jafar Panahi’s Taxi from Iran, Leviathan from Russia and La Nana from Chile; films that call attention not only to the particularity of different people’s cultures, but also to the inherent similarity and depiction of what it is to be human. These kinds of films can often act as a uniting and informative force. The use of films to promote acceptance of different cultures has proven to close the gap between different nations, cultures, and ethinicities. The vast collection of foreign films offers a wide range of perspectives that are yet to be seen. Using film to open an audience’s eyes to the problems fo today should not be overlooked as a powerful tool that fosters understandings of different peoples. In a society that is powered by globalization, expanding one’s cultural arsenal may prove to be a valuable experience.
Political tension continues as Olympics approach by Ivy Han and Emily Yuan As an event that involves athletes from over 200 nations, the Summer Olympics are watched by viewers from all around the world. With over 300 events lined up for this year's games, students are eagerly anticipating the start of the Olympics. Freshman George Wang noted, “I feel rather excited to hear that Brazil is hosting the 2016 Olympics. Every day that passes by in this new year my excitement grows.” The last Olympic Games, hosted by the city of London in 2012, attracted 31.1 million viewers, which highlights the magnitude of this international event. And for the games this summer, NBCU projects to sell over 1 billion dollars worth of advertising. While the Olympic Games are best known as a variety of competitions used to demonstrate the skill and finesse of athletes around the world, this event also symbolizes international friendship through friendly competition. “This international event is an important bonding opportunity between nations,” freshman Alan Tong said. The symbol of the Olympics is five interlinked rings, representing the five inhabited continents of the world which come together at the Olympic Games. This union is further shown through the colors in the design: blue, yellow, black, green, and red rings stand out against a white backdrop. This year, Brazil becomes the first South American country to host the games, making this summer’s Olympics especially unique. However, the joining of nations in Brazil this coming August is not to be taken
for granted, as a series of obstacles have come in the way of Rio de Janeiro hosting the Olympics. One such issue is the Zika Virus, a disease that has been spreading rapidly across South America, especially in Brazil. The virus affects pregnant women, leading to severe birth defects. The rapid spread of the virus, along with the political tensions accompanying disease may constitute a problem for travellers. Whether or not the recent outbreak will affect attendance at the Olympics is quite a controversial topic. Will the fear of contracting the disease overcome the energy and excitement of the Olympics, or is it the other way around? Tong commented, “I think Zika will definitely impact the overall turnout at the games, because people always put thier
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safety first." Although this may make paranoid visitors hesitant to travel to the South American nation, it appears that this may not be strong enough of a deterrent for excited sports fans. However, some students believe otherwise. “I do not think Zika would stop fans and athletes from competing in the first ever Olympics held by a Southern country,” Wang said. But what sort of disaster would it take to keep fans from coming to see the Olympics? Historically, politics surrounding the Olympic Games have included multiple scandals, wars, protests, and boycotts. Many political issues affected the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, including China’s withdrawal after the International Olympic Commission
recognized Taiwan, as well as a physical conflict between the Soviet Union and Hungary which occurred during the water polo semi-finals. Over 60 nations boycotted the Moscow Games in 1980 to protest the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games provoked the protests of many human rights groups who disapproved of China’s government policies. Political issues affecting the Olympics have not disappeared, and with the recent attacks on France and Belgium, terrorism has become a major concern for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Although Brazil has no declared enemies, an event that attracts millions of onlookers worldwide makes the Olympics a potential target for terrorists, and this event has been plagued by terrorist attacks before. In the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, eleven Israelite athletes were killed when Palestinian terrorists broke into the esteemed Olympic Village and took them hostage. However, the Brazilian government has taken precautions for the upcoming games. According to a recent CNN article, Olympics organizers plan to have double the number of security agents used in the 2012 London Games. This heightened security will ensure a minimal chance of an attack. Despite the threat of terrorism and presence of other political issues, the Olympic Games and its associated symbol of international unity should continue. The Olympics unite people from all backgrounds and corners of the Earth, and hopefully the Summer 2016 Olympics will continue to represent this powerful tie between nations.
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The Tide
CENTERSPREAD
May 2016 Would like to thank Richard Montgomery for 4 years of a solitary existence. My mediocre life is now complete! #suburbanmarylandkids. Chantal Valladares If you’re going to be late for a class, you might as well be really late, because a tardy is a tardy. Itay Tamary To Alisa, Becca, and Helen: I leave the debate team. To Melvin: I leave the forensics team. To Becca and Jonathan: I leave the model congress team. To everyone: I leave the absurdity of existence. Raja Ramesh Squad I love you.
To Sierra and Amy, I leave our tradition of Penalty Box Parties, as well as filling water bottles, buying Adrian water when he forgets, and being abused by Julia. And don’t forget to tease Dmitry and Jacob for their many penalties. Paige Leckie
Ravi Kemburu
To Richard Montgomery High School: I might as well leave you what little shred of cohesiveness I have left, because you stole most of it a couple years back anyway. I also leave you with Jared’s smelly locker which I hijacked because someone was actually assigned the locker I illegally kept for the past three years. It’s been real. Vivien Zhu
The Tide
CENTERSPREAD
I leave you all happiness and joy! JK, for all you freshman: don’t get too excited cause you just started. Sophomores: let’s just say Junior year will be the hardest and most dreadful year of your high school career. And, well rising seniors, haha you think you’re done right? Well you’re dead wrong because your struggles have truly just begun...Anyways happy trails and good luck :) Ciara Robinson Thanks to all of the orchestra nerds who have dealt with me! I won’t forget you guys <3 To Helen and Vivian, I leave my everlasting presence in the flute section because what other section would put up with me? Thanks for understanding my love of German and Kdramas! I should probably leave you guys my tablet because there is a high probability no one will have music ever again. Kimberly Steininger As I go, I want the Richard Montgomery spirit to never end and for everyone to leave with great memories and at least one thing they loved in high school. Daniela Marin To all you underclassmen, I leave a few words of advice. Don’t worry about one bad grade or one poor performance on a standardized test, they don’t mean that much in the end. Find something that you love and devote yourself to it and set yourself apart. Try to enjoy your high school experience. David Zhang An important rule to live by: when one decides whether or not to eat a desert, one must ask will this desert sacrifice my ability to eat even more ice cream later. (The Ice Cream Standard) Zachary Berkow
Make sure that you leave the school with no regrets. Djibril Rouzaud
Kimberly Stamets
I will the glorious makeup counter to the amazing Gabi Scott. Beyond that, all I want to leave behind is a reminder that there are more important things in life than school and what other people think of you (i.e. your health, happiness, and sleep). While it may not feel that way now- just trust me. Mary Hopkin I leave to you my SGA, the class hallway decorations, the Senior Unity Day, the outdoor pep-rallies, the Battle of the Classes (if it ends up happening), and all the other things I was a part of creating. As for knowledge to get through school, just remember this: the more you stress out, the more you procrastinate. Darian Garcia
Payal, I’ll miss you next year. Love you.
Oliver Hu
To Salory, I leave Booth. Take care of it and don’t forget booth quotes. To Sally, I leave TD sass and surprise spotlights. To Malory, I leave the unlit pit cover and a heart full of communism. To my wonderful booth crew, I leave all my love and support. You continue to surpass my expectations, usually more positive than negative. And to drama, I leave 4 years, 12 shows, and innumerable memories. Avery Hunt
I leave my locker and all the valuables within it to the mighty god FAFSA and his holy financial aid. Nicholas Evans I leave you all with Mr. Rodney’s RMBC class. Good luck to anyone who takes his class. He likes to flip your hoodies and spin your chairs. Brittney Hedetniemi
PHOTO COURESTY OF LIFETOUCH
To everyone: don’t be afraid to cut people off in senior year. It really helps. To my Theater 2 friends Alex and Oreale: good luck continuing with theater, and if you ever have a performance, I’ll surely be there! I lovingly leave both of you Harpier. Alex Shawn, I leave you my title as True Enjolras. Raise a glass to freedom. Ella Lorete “You know we’re not put on this earth to live perfect lives where we never get hurt and we never make mistakes. We’re put here to hurl ourselves head first into this crazy world and the bruises and scrapes you get along the way, they just mean you’re living life. And if time teaches anything in from this crazy world, it’s that nothing worth having ever comes easy.” Angela Moon I didn’t put the time and effort in as an underclassman. You may not think that your grades matter as much, but when it came time to look at colleges I came to the sad realization that I limited myself on the schools I could get into, due to my average grades. I am capable of being a straight A student but I let my laziness get in the way. Don’t make the same mistake. Hayden Longest To Lily/Evelyn keep the yellowfleg legacy alive, flag toss into the next century. To Pit/future chiefs - good luck topping JKLMao it was an honor being your chief <3 To Camilo and Isie - ily don’t let enviro and IB get you down. To Hannah - you’re gonna play those solos and you’re gonna rock them i have faith in you <3 To JKM, Mia, Will, and anyone I missed thanks for sticking with me till now <3 Liyanga de Silva
Life changes quickly and often in high school. If things aren’t okay right now, they will be soon. Don’t worry too much because you deserve to be happy! Leigh Robertson
To Saam (Faaiq?), I send your way good luck with keeping RM’s fake generalist tradition alive. To real Faaiq, I leave you the instant classic Turbo Grafx 16. Always remember we on an Ultralight Beam!! Yu Lu
My time here at RM was an enjoyable experience...I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered a more diverse and close-knit school! I find myself constantly surrounded by fellow students and teachers who are so supportive and understanding! So fortunate to have spent my high school years as a Rocket! Grace Yadanar
Sara Garcia-Beech
Malory, Luniva, Anwesha, Tahitina - You guys LIGHT up my world! You guys are going to be seniors next year! You all are fantastic and I’m going to miss you. You guys work so hard and are really good at what you do (unlike me this year). Keep on LIGHTING the way! Mark
Never underestimate the power of braces.
How to say it ... Holly, I leave you my BC Calc tests (although they are few and far between), Simon, get better at badminton, incoming IB HL kids prepare to see your grades plummet, and finally try to get some sleep (4 hours is best). Quang Nguyen
1.You don’t need toxic people in your life. Get rid of them, you’ll be so much happier. 2.Skip class and get a slurpee every once in a while. 3.I promise losing your 4.0 won’t be the end of the world. 4.You won’t be the same person or have the same friends in 4 years and it’s okay. 5.Take a class that Mr. Heeg teaches. Maddie Stamos
I leave post hockey milkshakes to Julia and anyone she deems worthy, love you kid. Meagan I leave you annoying Julia and long snap-streaks. I leave lacrosse snark to Zaynah and Elaina, I’m praying for y’all. I will strength and patience to Emily, Lizzie, Emily and Sierra as they continue their sentence with RM women’s lax, and to the rest of the lax team, I leave consistent grammar corrections. Marie-Claire Salive
It seriously feels good to know that I will leave RM stronger and more open minded than I ever was since my freshman year.I wish to leave behind my willingness to learn and grow. Look around you and see who is willing to give up a piece better yet a whole of their time to see you succeed. Surround yourself with people with good character.It is this that drove me to be the best I am today. Ivy Tsuma
To the senior who threw me into the trashcan freshman year, to my incredible IB teachers who have taught me the value of never letting my curiosity die, to my caring and supportive friends, and to my amazing Emma, thank you for making me who I am today. High school can be funny, but looking back, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Jack Blitz
To my Mock Trial pals: You are all phenomenal human beings whom I value so much. Never forget that the attorney crossing you is literally in kindergarten. And although all of their questions are objectionable, try to be nice. Much love, buzzsaw out. Jack Gramlich
To Nick Hopwood and Harry Deutsch, I leave my position of left bench. To Drew Sturgess, Alex Caprara and Brooks Perks, I leave that ye. To Josh Lebedinsky, I leave my protein powder because we all know you need it. Andrew Bejean
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To T-Tones, I leave a directive to sing one song that you know isn’t appropriate enough to perform. To Kat’s harem, I leave you Kat. Guard her well, she both loves and is a dangerous weapon. The Black Maskers I leave just one year before the epic show I’ll kick myself for not being a part of. Gregory Osborne
To my good friend Kevin Ming Pan, I leave behind a lifetime’s worth of Chipotle burritos all on my tab. Andrew Bejean
To the girls volleyball team, I’ll miss you all so so much and you’re going to do amazing next year. To Stella and Albert, you guys are going to rock Tide Arts and I’m so excited for all of the awesome ideas you’ll come up with. To Jisue and Ashish, thank you both so much for being wonderful directors of Generation Z, Truc and I wish you and the new officers the best of luck! Cathleen Kong
May 2016
Don’t HL a science.
To the Swim Team I leave you some of the greatest days of your future school life, practices meets and all. To Will Barror I leave you a random junior to become your best friend. To Matt Nugyen, Jack Rose, Greta, Evan Lewis, Maheer all the others, I leave someone to talk life with, and a good friend.... They want me to keep this short but my friends, you know what I would leave you. Eli Samuelson
If you ever feel an urge for tea, digestive biscuits, adding letters to your words, blue police boxes, or making vague exam questions - well, you will have then realized what I leave to RM! Alan Li To Naomi, I leave a good night’s sleep. To Isabel, I leave lots and lots of hugs. And to Black Maskers, I leave my entire soul which I sold in the first semester of freshman year. Gayatri Girirajan Juniors in Student Leadership, future SGA officers, I leave you plenty of new SGA events to run and traditions to uphold. Roman, Ruben, Paloma,Jisue, Jenn, Neb, Drew, I hope you all have a senior year to remember. RM Debate team, keep kicking butt. Ms.Kellinger, Ms.Furr, Mr.Stillman, Mr.Goetz, Mr. Lum, Ms. Shay, thank you for all the responsibilities and lessons that you’ve entrusted me. Stay fresh RM. Zack Khan Madeleine Cheng, I leave you the conch. Mackenzie Harwood, I leave you the team room. It’s on you. Be all in. Samantha Griffin To Reet and Victoria~ Play your heart out. Hustle and heart set us apart! To Kenz (not Mac) and Mel~Welcome to the four timers club :/ And to the rest of the squad~ Remember we’re all in cuz were ballin. And that’s on you, and you, and you, and you. Tori Cruz-Falk To the sophomore bloc, I hope no poor soul ever shows up to room 458.
RM08
Putting in the hard work for the four years of high school will set 50+ years of your life in the future. You might not like studying now, but once you get that big paycheck at your dream job, you’ll know it was worth it. Eric Goldstein To Vanessa and Chloe, I leave back pedaling up hills and group chat screenshots. To Lizzie, I leave the Olney carpool. To Ella, I leave Jenna’s shenanigans. To Victoria, I leave hallway workouts. To Zaynah, I leave Fitbit challenges. And to fockey, I leave lots of love and crushing Churchill. Nicole Cunningham
Senior year is filled with college stress but it’s a bunch more than that. It’s the last time you’ll see all your friends in the same place, so make the most of it. Go to homecoming, go to Mr. RM, go to everything tbh and enjoy your last year of high school. Also, don’t E3, trust me, very bad idea. Ravi Kemburu To all the underclassmen, go to class, don’t get E3s like Ravi Kemburu did. Weiting Tung Juniors, make sure one of the reasons your top choice becomes your top choice is because you can afford it. Otherwise you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Anonymous To Josh Yu, my protégé, my son, I leave you three more seasons to win counties and to not look like such a midget. Also, 2 years is nothing bro stop making excuses. Jeffrey Chang Nicky, keep doing you.
Nicky
Sophomores, effort matters, but GPA and test scores, not so much. You WILL find a college that will accept you when you’re searching junior year and applying senior year. When you’re searching, visit a variety of sizes and settings (small vs. large, rural vs. urban, etc). Keep in mind that MC for two years is always an option and is sometimes smarter. You’re going to anyway, but don’t stress it! Mark D Help support my college fund: gofund.me/MITclassof2020. Kevin Pan
RM S IOR N SE 16 ‘
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The Tide
LA MAREA
Mayo del 2016
La línea entre apreciación y apropiación cultural por Daniela Moreira Compartir culturas es como un juego de tirar la cuerda: se tira y se afloja. Nadie debe ganar o perder si todo es igual o, en este caso, compartido igualmente. Pero la realidad es que hay una línea muy fina entre la apropiación cultural y la apreciación cultural. La apropiación cultural típicamente involucra a miembros de un grupo dominante que explota la cultura de los grupos menos privilegiados- a menudo con poca comprensión de la historia, la experiencia y las tradiciones de la cultura que explotan. Muchas personas de grupos menos privilegiados argumentan que esto es una falta de respeto hacia su cultura y ellos mismos. A pesar de que muchos han alzado su
GRÁFICO POR KERN LEE
voz y denunciando la apropiación cultural, muchos otros mantienen la creencia que este concepto no existe y que
las culturas existen para ser compartidas sin límites. En un mundo donde las personas se unen y aprenden de entre unos a otros gracias a altos niveles de globalización, este debate es más relevante ahora más que nunca. En los pasillos de Richard Montgomery hay representado un conjunto estudiantil muy diverso con un gran patrimonio cultural. “El leer artículos es bueno [para entender partes de mi cultura] pero yo sé lo que yo viví, y sé cuán importante es la cultura de mi familia. El leer artículos sobre una cultura no significa que lo sabes todo,” expresa un estudiante de noveno grado y descendencia asiática, que eligió mantenerse anónimo. La cultura es un conglomerado de definiciones acercándose de los valores o hábitos aprendido por socialización. La mejor manera de verdaderamente comprender una cultura es vivir en ella, es sentir y tocar todo lo que es parte de la cultura. Para apreciar la riqueza de una cultura, las personas deben empañarse a sus esfuerzos para entender mejor la historia detrás de las tradiciones y la belleza de la cultura. El estudiante anónimo habló sobre su frustración por compartir su cultura con otros que piensan que saben más de ella que él mismo. El explicó que el expresar
interés al preguntar sobre su cultura se siente más auténtico y respetado. Sin embargo, no todos enfrentan los mismos problemas. La estudiante de décimo grado, Alina Phillips creció en Pakistán y se mudó a los Estados Unidos a los 8 años. Phillips explicó nunca haber sentido que su cultura ha sido apropiada. Ella expresó que su identidad cultural es una mezcla de lo que tiene en casa, su ropa tradicional, su comida, y la cultura americana.“Es triste que algunas veces la gente te clasifica en un grupo determinado solo por tu raza sin considerar tu etnicidad o tu identidad única,” dijo Phillips. La imagen que muestran los medios de comunicación de Pakistán limitan la cultura pakistaní a la violencia y terrorismo únicamente. Algunas personas asocian la “alheña” con Pakistán. Este tinte natural rojizo que se aplica en la piel es algo que ella siente combate la percepción negativa de su país. Phillips dijo, “toda la gente que se pone esta decoración cutánea piensa que es hermosa, y eso me hace sentir orgullosa de mi cultura.” Los medios de comunicación tienen un papel muy importante. “Cuando yo digo que soy africana, las personas me preguntan ‘¿por que todo la gente en tu país está desnuda?’ porque así lo vieron en la Geographica National,” dijo Sarah
Mirekua, estudiante de Ghana en el noveno grado. “Ellos asumen que lo que miran en la tele es la realidad, y eso es molestoso,” ella añadió. Según esta estudiante, la cultura ghanesa tiene varios elementos que no tienen nada en común con la cultura estadounidense. Hay platos ricos en historia como la kasava, fufu, y waakye, pero no se pueden encontrar en los Estados Unidos. Por otro lado, las ciudades de Ghana se han asimilado a la cultura del medio oeste, explicó Mirekua. Hay menos festividades y tradiciones en la ciudad que en los pueblos, porque “tenemos a los Estados Unidos como modelo a seguir.” El crear estereotipos negativos basados en la cultura impide el aprecio y intercambio de cultura. Estudiante de duodécimo grado, Judah Cañizares es Filipino y dijo que su cultura es única porque hay una gran
mezcla de culturas diferentes dentro del mismo país. “Es importante saber que tu país tiene una cultura [que] es algo más que un estereotipo,” Canizares concluyó.
La campaña electoral Cuba redescubre una cargada de controversia vieja amistad con EEUU político. La política estadounidense se ha por Sara Garcia-Beech polarizado, con la derecha extrema ejemplificada por Trump. Sus opiniones Donald Trump empezó su campaña radicales han hecho que opiniones y política con polémica inmediatamente. actitudes más extremas y xenofóbicas Esto sucedió cuando utilizó el mismo contra hispanos y musulmanes se vean discurso para declarar su candidatura cada vez con más aceptación. para la presidencia y para comentar sobre Aunque desde 2012, EEUU sólo ha la inmigración en los Estados Unidos, aceptado 2.000 refugiados sirios, la llamando a la gran mayoría de inmigrantes situación actual ha cambiado mucho. mexicanos “violadores y narcotraficantes.” Refugiados sirios, en su mayoría mujeres La polémica sólo aumentó cuando, el y niños, han sido rechazados por muchos agosto pasado, echó a un reportero estados y localidades estadounidense hispano prominente, Jorge Ramos, de por la posibilidad que sean terroristas. una conferencia de prensa. “Regrésate a La retórica islamofóbica de Trump solo Univisión,” dijo Trump antes de que un agrava las relaciones entre los cristianos oficial acompañará a Ramos fuera de la y los musulmanes resultando más fácil sala. la radicalización musulmanes infelices Estas noticias no son novedad. Trump dentro de una sociedad mayoritariamente ha sido uno de los temas favoritos de la cristiana en los EEUU. prensa en estos últimos meses, quizás para Pero, ¿por qué es tan polémica la política ganar audiencia. Pero Trump no es un solo de Trump según los hispanos? La antipatía hombre polémico, sino que según las entre los hispanos hacia Trump cifras parece el favorito del partido yace en su comentario original republicano, una posición a la en el que equiparaba que no habría llegado sin apoyo los mexicanos a los popular. criminales. Su retórica Sus opiniones extremistas desde ese primer sobre la frontera discurso no ha cambiado mexicana-americana y mucho. la inmigración ilegal Un punto de gran son compartidas por crispación es la idea de un gran grupo de construir un muro entre estadounidenses la frontera con México. que sienten que Según los expertos, esta la configuración no sería una medida socioeconómica económica eficaz. de los EE UU Sería un proyecto de está cambiando billones de dólares por la afluencia de para la construcción inmigrantes hispanos inicial, y billones más en estas últimas décadas. para el mantenimiento Para este grupo de de cada año. Trump dijo estadounidenses Trump ofrece que haría a México pagar una voz franca y sin la por el muro, pero el gobierno retórica típica de políticos GRÁFICO POR KERN LEE mexicano se ha negado a establecidos. Muchos de sus partidarios lo financiar tal proyecto. alaban por decir lo que piensa, sin aflojar Sin lugar a dudas la retórica de sus palabras con “corrección política”. Para Donald Trump ha sido muy eficaz entre sus críticos, esto no es una virtud, sino determinados sectores de la población. una señal de que hay una gran minoría Las consecuencias de sus ideas radicales en este país con una visión extremista y podrían tener un daño irreversible en reaccionaria que está creciendo en poder nuestro país.
general. Además de esto, las aerolíneas y por Sam Pierce agentes de viajes ya no necesitan licencias especializadas para proveer viajes a Cuba. Después de años de rencor y sospecha El presidente Obama opinó, “los americanos entre Cuba y los Estados Unidos, el están viajando a Cuba más ahora que Presidente Barack Obama y el presidente en los últimos 50 años. Familias cubanoRaúl Castro anunciaron el 17 de diciembre americanas, estudiantes estadounidenses, del 2014 un nuevo curso en la relación entre maestros, voluntarios humanitarios, ambos países. comunidades de fe-- todos forjando Estas promesas se nuevos lazos y amistades entre hicieron realidad nuestros países.” en el año En marzo de 2016, el 2 0 1 5 presidente Obama fue el cuando primer presidente en los dos visitar Cuba desde presidentes Calvin Coolidge tomaron en 1928. El varias entusiasmo GRÁFICO POR KATHERINE WANG medidas que las para mejorar sus relaciones incluyendo la personas reapertura de la embajada de los Estados sienten Unidos en La Habana y la embajada de Cuba h a c i a en Washington, D.C. Más recientemente e s t o s en febrero del 2016, el Presidente Obama cambios ha sido compartido usando redes publicó un tweet en el cual dijo, “el próximo sociales vía hashtag #CubaVisit. Este mes yo viajaré a Cuba para avanzar nuestro mismo entusiasmo también está presente progreso y nuestros esfuerzos que podrían en Cuba donde se puede hallar pósteres mejorar las vidas de la gente cubana.” con las caras de los dos presidentes y el Antes de la visita de Obama, los dos mensaje “Bienvenido a Cuba” o retratos del gobiernos aprobaron nuevas leyes para presidente Obama colgados en las ventanas relajar sus restricciones para viajar. Gracias y afuera de los edificios. a estos cambios, el viajar a Cuba será más Gracias a todas esta ocurrencias el fácil y factible para los americanos que lo comercio entre Cuba y los Estados Unidos han sido por más de 50 años. Bajo estas está más abierto ahora que ha estado por nuevas leyes, los americanos que quieran muchos años. La Hacienda, el Comercio y viajar a Cuba necesitan satisfacer uno de los Departamentos de Estado anunciaron los 12 requisitos diferentes establecidos por nuevas leyes que incluyen relajaciones de esta legislación. los restricciones en el envío a Cuba, las Los 12 requisitos autorizan viajes que importaciones de software de Cuba, y el caen bajo las siguientes categorías: visitas consumo de productos cubanos por los familiares, negocio oficial del gobierno estadounidenses. estadounidense, viaje por parte de un En su discurso en el Gran Teatro de la gobierno extranjero y de organizaciones Habana, el presidente Obama dijo “de intergubernamentales, actividades de muchos aplausos cultivo una rosa blanca,” reporteros, investigaciones profesionales, en referencia al poema del famoso José actividades educacionales, actividades Martí, un periodista cubano quien dedicó religiosas, representaciones públicas, su vida a su país. clínicas, talleres, competiciones atléticas. El presidente Obama añadió, “hoy en día, Todos los viajeros interesados ya no como el Presidente de los Estados Unidos necesitan obtener una licencia especial por de América, ofrezco la pueblo cubano el parte del gobierno. Como un parte de las saludo de paz,” señalando que una nueva nuevas regulaciones, los que quieren ir a La era espera a Cuba con los Estados Unidos Habana solamente necesitan una licencia como su amigo.
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Noises Off cast impresses with complex blocking NOISES OFF, cont. from page 1 which is which.” “At this point, there are so many moving parts of the show and so many different people,” said senior Mattie Cardinale. “I have to know what everyone else is doing because I have to work with that and, in reaction to what they’re doing, I have to do my thing. There’s a huge chain of action and it’s very difficult to memorize.” As the play progresses, Nothing On deteriorates to an extreme degree, with practical jokes between cast members, countless mistakes, and disasters with props. “The hardest part is trying to memorize all of the moving parts, like blocking,” Canizares remarked. “The lines themselves aren’t hard, but the hardest part is knowing the sequential order for everything to go in.” Despite the hard work, their efforts are successful, garnering huge appreciation
from the audience. Junior Tyler Hoffman described, “[It’s] phenomenal choreography.” The play culminates in the final act, where the bedraggled play-within-aplay finally breaks down completely. The actors’ confusion was so convincing that it was difficult at times to figure out what was scripted and what was an accident. The chaos of the narrative affected every member of the cast and crew, who had to keep track of the copious amount of props and elaborate costumes. “The stage managers have to take note of every entrance and exit during the play,” stage manager and senior Leigh Robertson detailed. “As well as all of the props to make sure that everything is exactly in place, which is definitely harder because the play is so complicated.” “This show is unique because there was actually a list of the costumes we’re supposed to have,” junior Bethel Afful,
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAN
The “Doors” cast performed their version of the play for the first time on April 16.
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAN
Audi, Flores, Moss, and Benhassine bring their passion to the stage each time they perform. co-chief of costumes, remarked. “But we and being able to build a stable second didn’t want to make it exactly what the story was a bit of a challenge,” freshman script said, so we had the liberty of choice.” Eric Kim, a builder on the set construction Noises Off takes place in the 1980s, creating team, explained. “One problem that we ran many opportunities to introduce loud into was that when we built the first story colors and pop culture references of the and second story walls, the top touches the time in each costume. curtains when it’s pulled up.” “Another really interesting thing is “There are a lot of doors and there are that a lot of people are onstage in their a lot of actors so everybody’s going to be underwear,” Afful continued. “So we get coming in and out,” Leiva said. The set is to choose types of boxers that they’re going one piece with three staircases on three to have.” The costumes crew experimented separate platforms, with wheels under with gaudy patterns, styles, and different each. Kim added, “It is a challenge when colors that work well with the elaborate set construction has to move it. It’s always set. “You don’t want to distract too much been bulky and heavy, so it might be from the actual plot of the showwe just difficult for running.” want it to be a creative element added to Both the cast and crew agreed that the the experience,” Afful finished. complexity of every aspect of Noises Off The set itself, a towering two-story required a huge amount of teamwork, but structure on wheels, must be fully turned that that made their performances that in between acts one and two. “This is a lot much more rewarding. “Not only did we more complex than Les Mis’ set because put on this amazing show, but we did it we have to build a two story construction together,” Schneider said.
Ms. Posey: teacher, mom, and artist, juggling it all by Daniel Yeh
In Richard Montgomery’s basement, there is a large art room full of energy, noise, and art teacher Kelly Posey. Mrs. Posey has been teaching at RM for 10 years, but her experience in the arts and teaching started when she was five. “My parents gave me a box of crayons...I made paper dolls all the time. I was really interested in fashion. I still have them in fact,” she reminisced. That early love evolved into a combined passion for art and teaching, but the earlier part of her career was spent working solely as an artist in NYC. “I rubbed elbows with a lot of famous artists,” she remarked. However, a large portion of her job as an artist was doing odd, erratic jobs pertaining to art. “I decided to use my masters to do something better than just doing all these odd jobs. Something solid.” Mrs. Posey began teaching at summer camps such as Rockville Arts Place when she was 39 (now known as Visarts). Around that time, she also became pregnant. “For 15 years, I didn’t paint. I just taught. And was a mommy.” Her first teaching job was at an elementary school in Washington D.C. She worked there for seven years, receiving grants to fund her art program. However, Mrs. Posey realized that other schools in the area did not have strong art programs. “I was like ‘oh my God.’... So I got my certificate to teach in Maryland and I began hunting around for places to teach in Montgomery County,” she said. Mrs. Posey started off teaching AP Studio Art at RM, and now teaches Drawing & Design, Foundations of Art, and IB Art 1. Mrs. Posey’s life was ultimately molded by her three passions and roles. “I grew as
an art teacher, a mother, and as an artist with kids in mind,” she said. As her children grew older, she also began to have more time to put into her personal artwork -- she refers to herself as a “Sunday painter.”
Even with limited time to work on her own artwork, Mrs. Posey has produced several noteworthy pieces. She recently won honorable mention at an art competition and had a solo art show, where, she described,
“I sold a lot, I sold more than I expected to. It kinda blew my mind.” However, there is still more to her art career. Not only does Ms. Posey sell art, but she supports other artists. She frequently buys art in the Washington, D.C. community, belongs to a couple local arts organizations, and goes to shows and events to stay in touch with what’s happening on the contemporary scene. “I believe in supporting the arts,” she explained. Mrs. Posey expects to have even more time for producing art work and interacting with the art community in the future, since one of her children is graduating high school this year. “Now that my kids are older, I have a lot of time to myself and I got a studio years ago that [I work in now].” As for future plans, she remarked, “I have five or 10 more years before I retire, and then I want to go back to painting again or maybe teach at a college level, and keep following the trajectory I was talking about.” However, Mrs. Posey is not anxiously awaiting a change in career. “I have everything I need here,” she commented. Mrs. Posey appreciates learning from her students as well as the opportunities her job provides, such as a recent trip to Europe with students. But most importantly, she genuinely loves everything she does. “I feel like I have a lot of support... But I also enjoy it. I mean, I couldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it,” she declared. This statement seems to describe her beyond just art. There is a genuinely pleasant atmosphere in Mrs. Posey’s classroom, and she is always at its center. She runs in and out of her office, offering help, suggesting improvements, and telling funny anecdotes. Through it all, she is encouraging and enjoys bringing out the best in her students. Her positive values in art shine through and are present in her PHOTO BY JAMIE PERSHING Mrs. Posey smiles brightly as she proudly poses in front of her student’s artwork. both as a teacher and a human being.
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Improvisation Club will never cease to improve their skills by Daniela Moreira “Lights, Camera…Improv!” Improv is a theatrical storytelling art that requires no script -- only eager high schoolers and a willing sponsor to create a spontaneous and hilarious performance. RM’s Improv Club is a collective of creative students developing their acting through classic theater games. Many games are dependent on the actor’s flexibility to create characters and personas and learn how to interact with others like their character would. The entire performances are all improvised, meaning nothing the actors say or do was planned beforehand. This acting style is an opportunity to develop a story purely off of one’s imagination. Everything is concentrated in the moment, making performances uniquely entertaining. Not only that, but many members use the skills honed during improv to improve their scripted performances. “[Y]ou can be more spontaneous and creative with your planned acting if you have improv experience,” sophomore Alex Shawn said. One classic improv game at the club is “Park Bench,” where the actor must make another actor at a park bench uncomfortable through unconventional means. There is also “The Bachelor,” which mimics the atmosphere of typical dating shows, only now with personas the improvisors come up with themselves.
Besides these games, members are encouraged to come up with their own. “There’s one that I always think about and it’s that you can only speak in song lyrics... that’s something that I made up,” said sophomore Ayanna Hill. Even when they play the same games,
easy because theres always a go-to creep them out by saying that you are a creepy murderer or something. But once those run out, it really does ask the improver to think of new ideas.” Unlike the historic Black Maskers Drama Club, the Improv Club is fairly new. RM
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Juniors Noah Montemarano and Jennifer Flores lead an expanding group of actors. the way the actors intereact with each other alumna Christine Pash founded it in 2013, makes every club meeting interesting and Flores follows Pash’s precedent as and innovative. Performances vary by she leads the club through activities and the personalities of the students and their games. When Pash graduated, Flores willingness to be loose and draw up a story. barely had any experience in improv, but “One of my favorite improv games is her dedicated attendance and commitment probably bus stop because its one of the made Pash happy to pass down the classics. You go up to someone normal, leadership. seating at a bus stop and you find a way “No one is a natural improviser,” Flores to somehow get them to leave the bus explained. “Improv is something you need stop,” said junior and club president practice at. The more you try, the more you Jennifer Flores. “At first, it is seemingly can loosen up and get in the craft of improv,
the better you get at.” Improv is not just a performance; it is constant growth and development to train your imagination. Many club members overlap with the Black Maskers Drama Club, but others appreciate the club as a creative space to freely explore themselves as actors. Members can express themselves without a censor or criticism. For sophomore Alex Shawn, the Improv Club is like family. “It’s like Sunday dinner of drama people at lunch, and not dinner, and it’s improv, and we are all crazy,” she remarked. Being able to come up with spontaneous ideas that can be executed well is a skill the members find valuable outside of the club, and want to continue to harness. “[Improv] is something I’d really like to do in college,” Flores said. “Its just an art that every actor needs to have. I think life is improv.” The club is a great outlet for students who want to have fun, develop their acting skills, or just watch a close group of people ping pong through funny scenes. The club is always happy to welcome new members, regardless of their acting experience or ability. “I just recently decided to start going to the improv meetings because Alex told me about them,” said Hill. “It’s a really fun club. Since I joined in in the middle, I don’t know much outside it besides playing games, but I would like to learn more.” Flores expects the club to branch out into Fine Line’s Coffeehouses and lunchtime performances.
Amy Chen makes her mark RMC founders say goodbye by Shiri Kalai Senior Amy Chen dreams of pursuing animation as a career, and is working towards that with a clear focus by taking three periods of art. She currently takes double period AP Studio Art and Drawing and Design, and her artwork was on display during the AP/IB art show. Ever since elementary school, Chen has decided to pursue her love of art as a potential career, with her older sister as a strong inspiration. Her dream is to see her name rolling down the screen in the credits of a Pixar film. “One of my biggest inspirations is Hayao Miyazaki and his Ghibli films,” Chen said. She uses the accomplishments of artists already in the animation field to inspire her own work. “The way he incorporates art into animation and a really strong message all together into this beautiful work of art is pretty amazing”, she enthused. “I can definitely appreciate how his animation is largely traditional. I appreciate the classic feeling of that and the way the backgrounds are all traditionally hand drawn in watercolor.” However, Chen considers her personal style to be more abstract. Chen’s pieces have won multiple
astronaut. Other sources of inspiration for her are the real life experiences she thinks are worth including in her artwork. Art teacher Kara Stanton has helped Chen grow and improve her art the most at RM, and is the person who pushed Chen to first enter contests. “If I happen to have a piece that works out or have the time to do it, I try to enter contests.” she noted. To Chen, contests are a window into the art community. “It’s a really beautiful mix of a whole bunch of people who have different art styles and really different outlooks on life, but they can all work together to make one singular product.” She says that the only downside to being an artist is, in general, the low pay. With her ambitious goals, Chen is
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY CHEN
PHOTO BY ALBERT ZHANG
Chen is one of RM’s most prolific artists. awards, including one from the Space Foundation with a mandala depicting an
“In the rain” plays with myriad colors. thankful that her parents are supportive. However, they also want to make sure she succeeds no matter what, even if it is not in animation. “They definitely want me to be practical and have a back-up,” Chen said. Chen plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania for their Digital Media Design program, a mix of animation and computer science to have a back-up and pursue her passion. She also shared a piece of advice for others pursing their passions: “Keep at it. I’m very much pursuing a passion, which isn’t exactly money chasing, but in the end I think it’s going to be worth it. So I would say not just try to actively follow your dreams but make it happen.”
by Kevin Pan I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was riding the school bus and telling myself that my college app looked pretty empty. It was the start of my junior year and I had participated in absolutely zero school clubs. The honest fact was that none of them interested me. And then it hit me: why not start my own club? And now here we are, at the end of a two year journey already. One thing is for sure, it has been a long trip. The fact is, Rocket Music Collective has changed my life in more ways than I can count, but none of this would have ever happened if it weren’t for the students supporting us along the way by reading our content. Our club originally started with three key members: Ben Rosenberg, Andy Kostka, and myself. We were all united by one bond -- our passion for music. In our first year of operation, we published musically-related content in almost every issue of The Tide. For my first article I ever wrote for the club, I was given the opportunity to interview teenage hip hop artist All Flows Reach Out. In addition to articles, the club founders and I got to share some of our favorite songs with our readers through our monthly playlists, fulfilling my dream of bringing attention to so many undiscovered music artists. It was not until the very last issue of The Tide in my junior year that Rocket Music Collective hit its first road bump. After working together to produce a summer festival guide to run in The Tide, we ended up getting cut out due to spacing issues w i t h advertisements. Little did we k n o w at the time t h a t this setback would spur us into t h e organization w e have
become today. Desperate to find an alternative solution to publishing content for Rocket Music Collective our section was cut out, I decided to build a website. From there on out, our club would do nothing but continue to grow. And it was all because of the countless readers that we had following us every step of the way. Over the summer, club co-founder John Lynch was brought on board to help manage the website. We now receive over 2,000 hits per day. If you google “Who is Blurryface,” (a fictional character created by the band Twenty One Pilots), it is our article that comes up first, above MTV and Wikipedia. The website, which was originally created as another medium to reach out to our writers, has now become the heart of Rocket Music Collective. It is what has pushed us from a small school club to a recognized media organization in the DMV area. From interviewing Twenty One Pilots band members Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph after a concert, to receiving a media pass to cover Moonrise Music Festival this summer, I cannot thank our readers enough for the opportunities they have given me in helping me work towards my dream of becoming a music journalist. It is with great sadness that we have decided to officially end Rocket Music Collective, as we start the next chapter of our lives. We will always remember the readers of The Tide for helping us get to where we are today. Without your interest in the content we have published over the past two years, we would be nowhere. Thank you, once again, for sticking with us for two years. It’s been an amazing run.
PHOTO BY JAMIE PERSHING
RMC Founders Kevin Pan and Ben Rosenberg leave behind a legacy to be envied.
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May 2016
Continuing student stories from the Halls of RM by Anna Chen and Michelle Ling The Halls of Richard Montgomery (HORM) has shared almost 200 stories of RM students since the blog first began posting photos in 2014. Now, HORM boasts a large following on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The idea was inspired by the immensely popular photo blog, Humans of New York. We talked to some past interviewees to follow up on how their lives have changed since they were last interviewed. Jianah Belfon-Valentine and Molly Stamets, freshmen Freshmen Jianah Belfon-Valentine and Molly Stamets were recently featured on Halls of RM, where they talked about being teammates on Poms. “We first met at
a summer camp in elementary school, and then we met again in middle school and we were friends, somewhat, and then we faded. Then at tryouts, we were like, ‘Oh, I know you.’ And since then, we just got closer,” Stamets explained. “Spending all the time in practices and even after practices, before practice...it has definitely made us more close,” said Belfon-Valentine. “It’s important for us to be close because if we have the connection, then we will perform as a team; we’ll have the same goals and the same mindset.” “And especially in practice if we’re all on the same page, then we encourage each other and help each other finish things and inspire each other,” Stamets added. Lily Sahakian, senior In her interview with Halls of RM, senior Lily Sahakian described her Mediterranean Fever. “People don’t know when they look at me, so they just think I’m like a normal person. When I complain or have to stay home from school they think I’m being a wimp or faking it or they don’t believe me.” Sahakian explained how the disease has impacted her life: “I have to cope with it without telling many people, because I feel like if I tell a lot of people it’s like ‘Oh, look at me. I have a disease. Feel bad for me.’ That’s not what I want to look like so I just have to keep it to myself and just kind of roll with it as it goes.” Nadia Klymenko, senior
PHOTO COURTESY OF HALLS OF RM
Senior Nadia Klymenko takes MVC and plans to major in math in college next year.
Senior Nadia Klymenko spoke about her love for math in her interview with HORM. Since then, she has been accepted to Boston University and New York University. “If I get to go there, then I will most definitely major in math,” she said. “I think that those opportunities would be amazing for me [since they are] research universities, they’re the perfect place to learn math.” Klymenko was pleased to learn that others had similar feelings toward the
subject. “In my math class, people felt the same way as I did, so I found out that more people are also interested in math as much as I am. It’s not just a weird thing,” she said. As a mathematician, Klymenko hopes to work toward proving newer theorems that have not yet been as thoroughlyresearched. “One of the most amazing things would be if I actually founded a theorem myself,” she explained. “If I was able to do that, then it would be my name in the textbooks. I could really contribute to the math community, and I feel like that’s one of the greatest things that someone could do if they’re a mathematician.” Rachel Pollock, sophomore In her last HORM interview, sophomore Rachel Pollock spoke about her struggle with depression. “The thing with depression is it isn’t a feeling. It’s not happy and sad. It is a mental illness that is constant, so you can be happy and still have depression. If you see me in a good mood, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have negative thoughts going through my head and that’s what I have to struggle with,” explained Pollock. “If you’re struggling with mental illness, don’t be afraid of stigma, because there is a huge negative stigma against mental illness, which there shouldn’t be... it’s really important to talk to someone if you feel down,” she advised. After being interviewed by Halls of RM, Pollock found that others could relate with her struggle. “I got a couple messages that were like ‘Hey, I’ve struggled with this too. I really appreciated what you said.’ And so I wouldn’t necessarily say [my HORM interview] changed me, but it was nice to have people be able to relate to what I said.” Judah Canizares, senior Senior Judah Canizares [noted] being crowned MR. RM as one of his most
PHOTO COURTESY OF HALLS OF RM
Senior Judah Canizares played Jean Valjean in “Les Mis” and was crowned MR. RM. memorable moments since he was last interviewed by HORM. “Being part of Mr. RM and then winning [...], it’s just this overwhelming sense of ‘Oh, my god.’ It was very similar to the final night of Les Mis when we all just came together, which was overwhelmingly good,” said Canizares, who was interviewed by HORM around the same time as his Jean Valjean audition for “Les Miserables.” He had one piece of advice for his fellow students: “Don’t spend too much time trying to find who you are -- that happens naturally. Just be you, hang out with the people who you like, do the things you like, and have fun. And push yourself to get good grades and test scores, but don’t let those define you. Let what you like and what you want to do define your life. And basically, you’ll find yourself on the journey just by going along with whoever you are, so don’t try too hard.”
Former MYP students reflect on experiences in IB by Laura Chang and Aneeta Ashton “Although the workload is a lot and the work is challenging, I know that the decision will benefit me in the long run. I feel like I have made a positive forward step towards getting ready for college,” said junior Shreya Sudhir. Sudhir was a student in the MYP program at RM for her freshman and sophomore year, and was one of the many students who chose to enter into the IB Diploma Programme for their final two years of high school. Before beginning the Diploma Programme, students complete either the MYP program or Pre-IB magnet program. “I was in the MYP program all throughout middle school and ninth grade,” said Sudhir. The Middle Years Programme, or the MYP, came to RM in 2003. It is a five-year program that promotes intercultural and interdisciplinary study. After these final two years, MYP students can enter the IB Diploma Programme in their junior year. These students and the other students who started the IB Magnet Program in freshman year all begin the Diploma Programme together. “I like that I can relate better to the [other IB] students, said junior Layo Ajala. “The students that are in my classes [now] are a lot more serious about their work.” The IB is a rigorous program that encourages international awareness and understanding. Junior Min Oo chose to apply in
order to expand his horizons.“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after high school, so [I thought] maybe joining IB might help me think more about that,” he said. Oo also looked forward to a more rigorous level of coursework. “I felt like I wasn’t getting enough in MYP, and I thought that IB would further be more enriching,” he explained. Another new IB junior who wished to remain anonymous had her own expectations: “I felt like the classes would be harder and more beneficial for me in the future, like for going into college and studying.” Administrators want to encourage students to challenge themselves with IB courses, so the application process is not arduous. “Around late sophomore year,
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
they started recruiting MYP people to go into the IB program,” Oo explained. “They gave me a paper asking me to list my achievements and reasons why I wanted to join.” After being accepted, getting used to the increased workload and meeting new people were common concerns among new IB students. “I thought I would be one of the few students to be joining into the IB program that late, so I’d be going into new territory,” Oo reflected. “What I didn’t realize was that a bunch of other friends of mine were also going in, so I wasn’t leaving that many people.” The rigorous nature of the IB Diploma Programme ensured that the transition from MYP was not without a few bumps in the road. Both students found the workload difficult to adjust to. “I had to get used to not procrastinating and waiting until the last minute,” the anonymous student reflected. “Right now, I’m doing my best to keep a more level head and start [improving] my grades by working harder,” Oo concurred. Ultimately, though, both students have found their experiences in the IB Program to be worth the challenges. “What we’ve learned is more global and more impactful on what we will do outside of school. We can use those things for real life applications,” Oo explained. Junior Luniva Shrestha had similar positive reflections of her first year. “I am beyond happy with my decision,” Shrestha said. “I have found friends who I can relate better to and I have found an envi-
ronment where I can really be myself.” To those sophomores who may make that leap, Oo had a few words of advice: “Before you start junior year, you might
“What we’ve learned [in the IB program] is more impactful on what we will do outside of school. - Min Oo, junior want to look into [preparing] for classes over the summer or [making] a plan on how to handle your homework.” Similarly, the anonymous junior also urged students to adopt an IB mindset. “Be prepared for working harder and studying more, because when you get to IB, you have to raise yourself to a higher standard to make sure you [succeed].” However, the student also added that anyone hesitant to enter the IB program from MYP need not fear: the MYP does prepare students well for the IB Diploma Programme, and MYP students who make the transition peform well academically. For each student, the choice to join IB is an individual decision. However, whether a student chooses to join IB or not, RM provides a world-class education for all.
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Virginia Azurée teaches students using storytelling by Charlotte Hirsch “Exploring the complexity of the teenage mind cannot be matched by any other job in the world,” said Ms. Virginia Azurée, an openly-gay biology and chemistry teacher at RM. She is popular among students for her hilarious stories and snappy sense of humor. However, it is her passion for teaching and working with students that truly sets her apart as a valuable member of the RM community. Ms. Azurée grew up in a multilingual family. “My mother was Brazilian and my father was Portuguese,” Ms. Azurée explained. The presence of multiple languages in her home gave her an advantage as a teacher later in life, allowing her to communicate with a broader range of students. As a child, Ms. Azurée’s favorite teacher was named Sister Lydia. “She always had the time to listen, and she was very good at seeing [who you were] as a person,” Ms.
Azurée said. Throughout her career at RM, Ms. Azurée has worked hard to listen to her students just like Sister Lydia did. “It’s a commitment for me to carry that on,” she said. “If I have any particular strengths as a teacher at all, it’s that I make a very big effort to pay attention and to see each person as an individual.” The emphasis that Ms. Azurée places on listening to her students reflects a sincere dedication to her job. “I enjoy teaching, I enjoy seeing people’s eyes light up when they get something,” she remarked. “My students influence me greatly. They keep me thinking about possibilities, looking for new things, understanding things in a different way.” Rather than instructing through lectures, Ms. Azurée prefers storytelling. “I think storytelling is an excellent way to get a point across,” she said. “I mean Jesus did it, Buddha did it, why not me?” Although many of her stories relate back to a science lesson, others carry a broader moral value. “[I like to tell stories about] mistakes that I’ve made in my life,” she
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Ms. Azuree uses stories from her life, articles she has read, and metaphors in her teaching.
said. “You know, those kinds of things where you can learn something from it. So instead of Aesop’s Fables, it’s Ms. Azurée’s fables. “Ms. Azurée enjoys telling stories about anything from her grandchildren to her travels, but above all, anything humorous. In particular, one of Ms. Azurée’s favorite stories to tell is how she got her last name. “The more I learn about the history of feminism, the better I understand the opportunities that have been lost, because of the way history, especially Western history, has been so patriarchal,” she explained. “When my first spouse and I divorced, I didn’t want to keep his name,” Ms. Azurée stated. “And I didn’t particularly want my father’s name, even though there’s nothing wrong with that name.” One night, inspiration hit Ms. Azurée. “I had a dream that night of a beautiful azure lake,” she recalled. “When I woke up in the morning, I thought: ‘Azurée! That will be my name!’ And I really liked it.” Her independence and confidence woven throughout this story and many of her other tales is what makes Ms. Azurée such a popular teacher. Aside from her storytelling talent, she is also well-known for being the leader of the RM Queer Rights Club, previously known as the Gay Straight Alliance. Ms. Azurée makes no secret of her leadership of this club, or the fact that she herself is lesbian. “It’s irrelevant to my teaching,” she said. “I talk about my wife whenever I feel like it. We’ve been legally married since 2013, but we’ve been together for 24 years, and we raised four daughters together.” In fact, another one of Ms. Azurée’s stories stems from her identity as a lesbian teacher. She was playing a video in her biology class about phagocytosis. “My juniors were giggling like idiots,” Ms. Azurée said. “And I turned around and I said, ‘Seriously? You’re going to giggle at ‘phagocytosis’ in the classroom of a gay teacher?’ And they all went silent. And
“You only need three things in life to really be happy: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.” - Ms. Azurée one little boy in the back of the room was going ‘She’s gay?!’” After a brief moment of horror at the immaturity of her students, Ms. Azurée was able to laugh about the incident with the other LGBTQ teachers. Though many others in her position would have reacted otherwise, it did nothing to stop Ms. Azurée from loving her job. However, she does see room for improvement in RM’s teaching program. “I feel like I could be a much more effective teacher if I could reduce the class sizes to absolutely no more than 28,” she said. Aside from teaching at RM, Ms. Azurée also teaches classes outside of school. “A couple of years back when I was teaching summer classes, I would have a class size of ten,” Ms. Azurée recalled. “And these would all be kids that I was told were coming in ‘weak’ in their sciences, and by the time we were finished with our summer program, they were all geniuses in the sciences. Because when you’re working with ten kids, there’s a lot of opportunity for helping them figure out the best way that they can learn.” Ms. Azurée comes to school each day eager to make a difference in the lives of her students. Her infectious enthusiasm is reflected in this piece of advice to RM: “You only need three things in life to really be happy: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.”
Diverse Voices provides outlet for student discussion by Hallie Kay and Eisha RM’s very own Diverse Voices Club is a hidden treasure brimming with productive conversation and critical thinking about racial, ethnic, cultural, and social issues. Every Friday at lunch, students from all kinds of backgrounds produce some of the school’s most profound discussions. Founded by juniors Summer Oh and Camara Aaron, Diverse Voices provides our school with an open forum that can raise awareness and inspire the RM community. RM is a melting pot of diverse cultures and beliefs, with students from all walks of life learning together everyday. However, Aaron and Oh noticed that the large number of minorities still were not receiving sufficient tolerance or support in the community. “Summer and I saw that there were a lot of discussions about diversity that weren’t happening,” said Aaron. “There wasn’t really a place to have a conversation about [the diversity of] ethnic origin, economic background, and parental education.” Thus, Diverse Voices was born. Diverse Voices works to make a visible impact in both RM and the local community. To Oh and Aaron, discussion is a vital part of educating others about pressing issues in our ever-changing society. Not only did they see the lack of diversity discussions at school, but they also saw how passionate people could become if an outlet were provided to them. Oh’s mother, Ellen Oh, is the founder of We Need Diverse Books, a program that fights for more minority, LGBTQ, and disabled characters in children’s literature. “When [my mother’s] company first started up, I was a volunteer at most
of the major events. At these events, I saw hundreds of people all rallying behind the idea of diversity in children’s literature,” Oh revealed. “Seeing all these people fighting for minorities to be heard inspired me to get involved as well. I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps.” The club’s sponsors, history teacher Peter Beach and librarian Michelle Alexander also play vital roles in the success of the club. “[They] attend our events along with several other staff members, including our principal, Mr. Monteleone. Both RM students and staff have felt how Diverse Voices is changing the way the RM community treats minorities and views privilege,” Oh explained. Recently, Diverse Voices has also brought in guest speakers, allowing community members to engage in discussion wtih students. “Last year, we had someone come in and talk about police brutality. That meeting allowed our old members to ask questions and also people who were interested in that subject to come in as well,” Aaron recalled. However, discussion is not the only aspect of Diverse Voices looking to enlighten RM students. Members have recently taken it to a whole new level of creativity with charity work, as seen in events they have hosted in the past. Last year, the club held a drive to donate pads to homeless women and girls, and organized a movie night to raise money for Flint, Michigan. “Our main goal is to help make as big of a change in things that we can, both inside and outside of our community,” said Aaron. Some more goals that Diverse Voices hopes to accomplish within the next two years include increasing the diversity of participating students. “We want to get more non-IB students and underclassmen involved and interested in the club,” said Aaron. “We only have one more year at
RM, so we are looking for younger people who are interested in this to lead it.” By working together, Aaron and Oh have achieved great things through this club. They have helped to educate so many people, regardless of if they are a part of the club or not. “At every club event, we always have a strong number of members and non-members attend, ranging from fifteen to fifty students,” Oh said. “These students come to us and express their amazement in learning about discrimination and struggles they did not know existed before.” But what is often hidden behind the success of Diverse Voices as a whole is the close, supportive relationship between its two co-founders. “[Cam] takes responsibility and goes above and beyond to make our club the best it can be,” said Oh. “She’s also just an amazing person to be around. During our club meetings, her
easy-going personality makes everyone feel comfortable to speak out.” Aaron expressed a similar gratitude for Oh’s friendship. “[Summer] has my back in a way that is amazing. My partnership with her is one of the most meaningful relationships that I have in my life,” she said. “Summer’s presence has been instrumental to me finding my voice.” Looking back, the two can agree that they have helped not only one another find their voices, but other minority students as well. “When Summer and I first started the club, the impact that we both wanted was to educate,”Aaron said. “We have this really distant view of how people’s identities in their lives are different. [Learning about it] is all educational. Giving that black student, that gay student, that poor student the opportunity to even say ‘my life is different’ is really important as well.”
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
Aaron and Oh founded Diverse Voices to discuss issues affecting minority students.
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Off-season training helps prevent injuries by Isabella Levine During any athletic season, working hard at practice and conditioning are the most effective ways to stay on top of the game. However, many student athletes overlook the value of off-season training in order to maintain fitness and prevent injury. According to NIH, injuries are highest in the first month of any sports season, suggesting that athletes may benefit from a structured off-season training program. “The first two weeks of any season are usually the busiest in the Athletic Training Room,” RM’s athletic trainer Victoria Simonetti said. “Most injuries will be muscle strains and ligament sprains or something related. Another large portion of the athletes I see will be suffering from delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.” DOMS occurs when the body responds to unfamiliar physical exertion with muscle pain and soreness, and can be experienced by all athletes regardless of fitness level. If an athlete returns to a sport months after last playing, the specific muscles are not accustomed to the movements involved at such a high level of exertion and must gradually be re-trained. “Off-season training can drastically cut down on the strains and sprains and can completely eliminate DOMS,” Simonetti added. “The off-season is a great opportunity for athletes to allow their bodies to recover from the stresses of playing a sport everyday, [and] it’s also a great opportunity for them to strengthen.” Strength training is one of the most
efficient methods of improving fitness during the off-season. According to a study conducted by NIH, “[Young athletes] can improve strength by 30% to 50% after just 8 to 12 weeks of a well-designed strength training program.” When trying to maintain muscle, the suggested amount of exercise is twice a week with at least one day of recovery between. Senior Devon Goetz, who dominates in field hockey, basketball, and softball, spent most of last school year recovering from a torn ACL. She attended hours of physical therapy to strengthen her knee after surgery. “It definitely helped me to come back fast and to stay strong for when I was cleared to play,” she said. “All of that strengthening was getting my leg back to normal and then also strengthening the rest of my body to prevent injury again.” “If you play a sport that requires a lot of throwing or overhead shooting, the athlete should be working on upper extremity strengthening, the muscles of the arms, back and core,” Simonetti recommended. “An athlete that plays a sport that requires much more lower body activation should make sure they are strengthening the lower extremity muscle groups like the quadriceps, hamstring, lower leg, and glute muscles.” Players already coping with an injury can take advantage of the off-season to recover and strengthen their weaker muscles. Sophomore volleyball player Julia Finver has spondylolysis, a condition that weakens the spine and consequently renders the back easier to break. “The breaks have a slim chance of healing, so I needed to strengthen
everything around my back to compensate for the weak spots I have in my spine,” she said, explaining her off-season recovery process. Finver is in the fifth month of her sixmonth recovery period, strengthening her
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back with physical therapy and gradually returning to practices. “In recovery I feel it is important to know when to stop and to give your body a rest,” she added. “It’s really hard to stop playing the sport you love, but waiting the full time is more important than waiting half the time, reinjuring yourself and then having to wait an even longer amount of time until you can play again.” In addition to injury prevention, training in the off-season increases overall fitness, a
necessary aspect of any athletic activity. “If the kids are working out and running, then they’re staying in shape,” assistant football and track coach Jon Freda explained. “There’s definitely a huge difference between kids that stay active the whole year and kids that stop after their season [ends].” According to the International Youth Conditioning Association, off-season training for youth athletes should focus on improving foundational movement patterns and general strength and conditioning, not just the muscle groups and skills used for one particular sport. “During the season, athletes tend to consistently use the same muscle groups over and over and that’s because those tend to be the requirements for that sport,” Simonetti remarked. “Across the board, athletic trainers tend to see less overuse injuries in athletes that play multiple sports, because they are constantly strengthening and using different muscle groups.” Goetz is a big proponent of off-season training: “Being able to gain muscle through conditioning in the off-season allows you to return to your sport-specific skills with new strength, speed, and agility, so it improves every aspect of your game. It’s extremely important to train during the off-season.” Overall, continuing to train in the offseason is key to preventing new injuries, recovering from old ones, and improving general fitness. Off-season training is not just an extra step above and beyond, but a necessary measure to ensure peak performance and preparedness for any sports season.
Boys tennis works to Callan returns to MCPS keep Division 1 ranking by Quang Nguyen
by Andy Zabinski
Each spring, the exhilarating sound of metal bats connecting with the distinct yellow softball rings on the field signifies the start of the softball season. This year, the RM varsity girls softball team will take the stage in their bid to become champion in the county. This season is made even more special with the introduction of Coach Kelly Callan. Having grown up and played softball in high school in Montgomery County, Coach Callan possesses in-depth knowledge of the MCPS softball scene and a fervent passion for the sport that drives the team’s pursuit for success. Callan’s love for the softball began with her childhood outings to see the Baltimore Orioles play. “I fell in love with everything about the game, but mainly because it brought my family together,” she said. This passion transformed into an incredible commitment to the sport on a personal level. Coach Callan further honed her skills and appreciation of the intricacies of the sport through her time at Frostburg State University. “Once I started playing in college, I was exposed to an entirely different level of play. It allowed me to see different strategies and skills that I would not have seen at just the high school level,” she remarked. Equipped with understanding of both the perspective of a player and of a coach, Callan quickly implemented positive changes at RM that strengthened the morale and cohesion of the team. “We will be the most successful when we start building off of one another and capitalizing on each others strengths,” she said of the vision guiding her coaching tenure. In the long run, she hopes to bridge the level of play between the varsity and JV teams.
Last season, the boys tennis team dominated the competiton with an undefeated record. This year, as a result of their performance in Divison 2, they had the opportunity to move into the prestigous Divison 1, where they can test their skills as they play against the best teams in the county. Right off the bat, the team faced their first challenge: they needed to win at least one game against a current Division 1 team to maintain their position in the division. After a hard fought game, they managed to secure a victory against Walter Johnson HS on April 6. “We came into the game with a lot of confidence; we had just beat Sherwood, a really competitive Division 2 team. We knew we had the potential to beat Walter Johnson,” junior Ryan Choi said. “I guess it was the confidence that really gave our performance a boost and allowed us to pull through.” However, the team still has a tough road ahead of them. The team expects to do as well as last year, but they will be faced with the challenge of playing much tougher teams. “I think we will do as well as last year, but not necessarily win Division 1,” senior captain Chris Chen said. Despite the challenge set before them, the team remains positive about the path ahead of them. “We work really well together, so I don’t think we’ll have many problems,” freshman Matthew Kleiman stated. “I think we’re going to do really well. I don’t expect the team to do poorly at all this season. Personally, my goal is to go undefeated.” “I think we’re going to do really well, winning all our games against Division 2 and Division 3 teams,” freshman Matt Kolodner added.
PHOTO BY VICTORIA PRIESTER
Callan fosters a positive team environment. Callan’s blueprint for success has earned great support from the players. Senior Devon Goetz, a prominent leader of the team, appreciated Callan’s emphasis on strong team cooperation. “It has led to a great environment and a really close-knit team, and I think that the foundations she’s setting are going to help the team so much in the future,” Goetz said. Not only does she construct a strongly united team, Coach Callan also experiments with the ways she delivers her messages to her players. “You cannot expect that one method or style of instruction will work the same way every time, so I constantly challenge myself to find new ways to communicate with the team,” she explained. This innovative approach was met warmly by the team. “She knows how to communicate with us well, which means she can give us feedback easily and helps us to make the adjustments we need to be making,” Goetz recalled. With Coach Callan at the helm, the RM varsity girls softball team has the capability to defeat difficult opponents like Blair and Sherwood in their quest for softball success in the county for not only this season, but for many to come.
Not only are they unintimidated, but the team looks forward to playing some of the best teams in the county. Kolodner stated, “There’s a lot of challenging Division 1 teams like Wootton, [but] we have lots of new, good freshmen to help us win.” Chen added, “[I am] looking forward to playing Wootton, Churchill, and Whitman High School. Those are some of the better Division 1 schools. We want to play them just to challenge ourselves, even if we don’t beat them.” Last year, several seniors graduated from RM, leaving holes in the team, but Coach Fahrner expects to fill in these holes with current players and strong leadership. “Chris Chen and Mark Landea, our captain and co-captain, will take leadership roles for the season,” he explained. Although tennis is often considered to be more of an individual sport, the team still exhibits lots of teamwork. “There’s not as many team aspects, but we are really good at cheering on our teammates, especially when it comes down to the final match, and we have good chemistry,” Chen said. The boys tennis team has high expectations for this season, and strong team chemistry, positive leadership, and teamwork will ultimately help the boys succeed.
“I think we’re going to do really well. I don’t expect the team to do poorly at all this season. ” -Matt Kleiman
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2016 Rio Summer Olympics Boys vs. girls lax by Chris Ryu The Olympic Games, home to some of the biggest and most widely anticipated sporting events, are returning in less than three months. The games give athletes the opportunity to test their skills as they compete on the biggest scale they will ever experience. This year’s competition will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and could prove to be one of the most historic Olympic Games yet, especially with the readdition of sports like golf and rugby, Michael Phelps’ final olympic appearance, and the number one ranked U.S. womens national soccer team looking to win their fifth straight gold medal. Rugby players and golfers hope to capture the attention of spectators as they make their first appearance since 1924 and 1904 respectively. The return of golf ever since its last appearance over 100 years ago has sparked the interest of many Americans, particularly because the U.S. has become a golf powerhouse over the past few years. “I definitely think it is great for a sport that has been around for a while to finally be included in the Summer Olympics. As a golfer myself, I watched professional golf tournaments and noticed how entertaining and popular golf was,” sophomore golfer Jennifer Saratis said. The three main golfers to look out for are Jason Day (AUS), Jordan Spieth (USA), and Rory McIlroy (IRE): the highest ranked players in the world. “To be honest, I hope Spieth can come out
with a win since he’s such a new, young, and upcoming player with lots of talent, and he is a U.S. player,” Saratis continued. Another notable Olympian is Michael Phelps, who is currently heading to his fifth consecutive Olympics. Phelps, at the age of 30, is the most decorated Olympian in history, with 22 medals in three Olympiads. He currently holds the world record for the 100 fly, 200 fly, and the 400 I.M..
Kim said. The United States women’s national soccer team (USWNT) is another exciting team to look out for. Last year, the US ladies won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, ensuring their rank as number one in the world. Their morale is at its apex, and they are ready as ever for the Olympics. The womens team has participated in every Olympic final since 1996, and are looking to continue that streak.
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Despite his age, he has proved his doubters wrong by recently winning three stunning races at the U.S. national championships in San Antonio, and is aiming to dominate the Olympics once again. “I am looking forward to [seeing] if there will be other swimmers who can challenge Michael Phelps at the 2016 Rio Olympics to show the world what they have worked hard for,” sophomore swimmer Nathan
“I am definitely [going to watch] all these amazing women who I look up to,” freshman soccer player Elizabeth Blake explained. “I get to cheer on America while learning from the talented women who represent us.” With the addition of new sports, and the recent success of so many U.S. teams and athletes, this year’s competitions are bound to be some of the most captivating yet.
by Ryan Choi To an untrained observer, the clash of sticks throughout lacrosse games seems like a uniform constant, but that is certainly not the case. There are several striking differences between mens and womens lacrosse that are manifested on and off the field, but very few people know about them. Simply put, lacrosse is played similarly to soccer. As Kevin Haeger, sophomore JV player, said, “It’s like soccer, but with a stick and ball -- and you can hit people.” While this may be true in the realm of boys lacrosse, the female version of the game exists as almost a non-contact sport. Sophomore varsity player Lizzie Kinnard explained, “Women’s lacrosse body checking in general is very limited.” Body checking is striking a player with a stick or colliding with a player full on. “I play defense, which probably requires the most physical contact in the game, and the most contact I usually have on another player is having my arm or the bottom of my stick on their waist without pushing them,” Kinnard elaborated. Although boys lacrosse generally permits body checking, Haeger pointed out, “There’s some rules to it, though, like your hands have to be close together on your stick when you hit them. You can’t hit on the helmet, general stuff like that.” Breaking these rules can result in penalties that give huge advantages to the opposing team.
He continued, “The refs can give you 30 seconds to 3 minutes of penalty time where you sit out and you have one less person on the field than the other team.” Heeding these rules and taking advantage of the other team’s inability to follow the rules can result in wins for teams. Freshman varsity player Emily Tian commented, “If you learn to navigate the rules correctly, you are at a significant advantage over the other team.” As girls lacrosse involves less contact, the rules are more restrictive. Tian noted, “There are a lot of penalties to make the game safer, so if an attacker shoots when there is obviously a defender in front, she can potentially get called for dangerous propelling.” In addition, slashing at other players’ sticks or even shoving attackers can result in penalties. Similarly to the boys game, it is essential that the rules are followed so that victory can be attained. Much of the equipment used in the two games is also different. Since boys lacrosse involves more physical contact, the boys have to wear more protective gear than the girls do. Features like helmets, mouthguards, chestplates, and shoulder and elbow pads are what set the boys’ equipment apart from the girls’. All of this gear is used to protect them from the contact that the opposing team may impose. All in all, lacrosse is a complex sport that has minor differences in gameplay for boys and girls. Nuances in equipment and rules lead to a completely different playing style, but the heart of the game remains the same.
Runners form bonds throughout track season by Charlotte Beckford Outdoor track and field is a diverse and gruelling sport, but the friendships and relationships found amongst team members are quite remarkable. The team is one of the largest of any high school sport due to the wide range of events which can appeal to the preferences of any runner. However, this diversity also makes the dynamics of the team unique because there are separate practices for different events and while everyone runs individually, the team is scored together. It is nearly impossible to intimately know every member on the team, considering there are more than a hundred students running in over fifteen different events. Additionally, practices are divided based on what events runners specialize in, limiting the interaction between different events. Despite this, junior Philip Miljanic noted, “There’s a great interaction between different events.” His own experience running attests to this, as he runs both long distance events such as the 1600 meters, and sprinter events such as the 300 hurdles. Traditionally, the main division is between long distance runners and sprinters because there is a different strategy between the two. Long distance runners have to pace themselves, while
sprinters go all out. Despite the rivalry between the sprinters and distance runners, senior Mac Morgan attested, “at the end of the day, as long as everyone does the best they can, no matter what distance they run, everyone is going to get along.” The cohesiveness of the team can also be attributed to the commonality of devotion and good work ethic found amongst the runners. They practice together, encourage each other, and improve together, but also compete with one another. Track and field is both an individual and a team sport. Excepting relays, the events are individual, but the score of each team is derived from the performances of the entirety of the team. Newcomer sophomore Lisa Yang considers the sport to be more individual than team-based. “How well you do depends on how much you push yourself,” she explained. Individual performance is what encourages each runner to work harder and perform better, but the team mindset is also improved with each individual win. Morgan counters, “It’s far more of a team sport than most people give it credit for. Everyone wants the team to win no matter how well they themselves do. If they have a lousy race, but the team wins, they won’t be too disappointed.” In track and field, there is a smaller chance of animosity building amongst team members
because sacrifices do not have to be made by other members for the common good; everyone can succeed without worrying about getting in each other‘s way. The goal of track and field is that everyone is a star, because if everyone does well, then the entire team benefits. There is never the issue of one person performing well at the expense of another. The track provides a special environment where new people can meet and become acquainted without the separation created by different grade levels. At practices, students run together grouped based on ability and event rather than grade level or age. The stress and exertion associated with practices are alleviated by the presense of teammates. Freshman Marlee San Sebastian appreciates the guidance of upperclassman. “The seniors’ dedication to the sport shows how years of work and dedication will make you a great athlete,” she said. The seniors serve as mentors to newcomers who enter the sport, unsure if they will enjoy running. Their positive example helps attract runners annually. After all, if they have been able to survive several seasons of the sport and still want to continue running, one can be sure that the pain they endure and hard work they put in must be worth it for their final performance. No matter what, team members share one important thing: a persistent and driven
mindset that pushes them to practice for hours, and fight through the daily pain and frustration, along with defeats. This community makes it easy to get to know your teamates. However, there is always healthy competition between teammates. This competition encourages everyone to continue to improve and push themselves to run faster. Junior Omolayo Ajala enjoys friendly interteam competition. “The competitiveness of the sport helps everyone to push themselves, and although most of the time we run individually, we still run as a team,” she elaborated. At the end of the day, the team always celebrates the successes of its runners, congratulating each other and using each others’ remarkable performances to encourage themselves. Recently,
junior Rohann Asfaw had great success, coming in first place at the New Balance Emerging Elite Indoor Nationals two mile. His success bolstered and encouraged the rest of the team, who were all cheering him on from home and wishing him the best of luck. This positive attitude is fostered via the trust and admiration among team members, who certainly make the running experience and difficult hours of training fun and worthwhile. It seems that despite the competitiveness surrounding the sport, the team is designed to encourage each other, helping everyone improve and, have a good time. Despite the many distinctions made in the sport’s practice, overall, the team works as a family to help each other and bring out the hidden potential in everyone.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY LEE
Runners sprint towards the finish in the final 100m of the 800.
24
The Tide
SPORTS
Athlete of the Issue
May 2016
Goetz succeeds on the field, court, and diamond D. Goetz, cont. from page 1 Starting on a teeball team in kindergarten, she continued from then on passionately as her heart had been captured by the sport. Goetz made the varsity team freshman year, and she recently earned the position of softball captain for her last season. Callan explained, “While Devon truly could play anywhere on the field, she shines at shortstop. She has the speed, energy, and instinctual knowledge of the game that is required to cover bases on steals, go out for cuts in the outfield, and layout for balls that are hit in the the ‘gaps’ in the infield.” Not only is she an exceptional fielder, but she is also a clutch batter. Callan recalled, “I have seen very few high school athletes hit as well as Devon... She breaks down her swing into different components and studies each aspect, so she can improve even more.” “One day at practice, I overheard her say that she wished she could hit just like a former record holding hitter who graduated from the county last year,” Callan marvelled. “The funny thing is, I don’t think she realizes that she’s already well on her way to making a similar name for herself.” Goetz’s teammate, senior Alison Berman explained, “She may be easygoing, but she is very passionate in what she does and [it] really shows 100% of the time.” Their softball coach agreed,
“Her dedication and passion for the sport is inspiring.” Whenever she feels the need to, Goetz stays after practice to work on fine-tuning her fundamental skills, even when others believe she has played a perfect game. “It is this quality that makes Devon such a natural leader,” Callan admired. “She’s a great role model to
on every aspect of the game by acknowledging our weaknesses and, instead of beating people down, used the weaknesses as an opportunity to rally behind and pick one another up to further build ourselves as a team,” Callan remembered. Goetz never fails to support her teammates and lift their spirits. “She’s always there to pick you
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAN
Goetz dominates play while pushing against Springbrook. look up to as a captain,” Berman up if you make a mistake and said. Oakes agreed, adding, “She just always knows what to do,” has a lot of positive leadership Berman said. qualities.” These qualities make Berman, Coach Callan, and Goetz a natural leader, reflected Coach Oakes all agree that Goetz in her ability to easily give is one of the most positive and motivational speeches and to encouraging teammates they have always know just what to say. met, and that she is an inspiration When the girls varsity softball to the rest of the players. team suffered their heart“You want to do everything dampening loss to Rockville, you can for them, so it’s not that Goetz gave one of the most hard to step into a leadership uplifting speeches to pick the role when you have such great entire team’s heads up. “She hit people that you’re leading,” Goetz
explained. “I’ve been so lucky to have four years of great teams and four years of great coaching. It’s an honor to play with them.” Unfortunately, Goetz has experienced bumps on the road. During her junior year field hockey season, Goetz tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). She went through surgery and had to sit out all of basketball and softball seasons junior year. “That was a lot of time without playing,” Goetz recalled. “Sports are a big part of my life, and so not playing that long or going that long without playing was really difficult.” However, she did not let her injury get in her way; she still attended all of the practices and all of the games. She explained, “I just tried to support my team in a way not on the field.” Still a motivated athlete, Goetz kept stats for her basketball and softball teams, earning the title “Player Assistant Coach.” She supported her teammates by getting them water and by helping to maintain the field. “I did a lot of raking the field,” Goetz laughed. She explained on a more serious note, “It was a good experience. I learned a lot more about the game from a technical aspect, but it definitely made me patient and really appreciate sports.” She was taken aback when her ability to play was suddenly stripped from her, but unlike most, she embraced it. Although it was tough, she learned a lot about herself in her recovery.
Now that she has fully recovered, Goetz is looking forward to the future. She has not yet chosen where she will be attending college, but she has narrowed her options down to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or the Naval Academy. If she decides to attend MIT, Goetz will either study mechanical engineering or biomedical engineering while playing field hockey and softball. She explained, “I think the human body’s really cool... it’s basically a machine. It works really well, so I think that would be interesting to explore, and maybe even work on prosthetics.” Even if she goes to MIT, she will still sign up for the Navy’s Recruit Training Command, (RTC). No matter her field of study or school of choice, Goetz is certain of one thing: she wants to serve in the Navy. She explained, “Even if I went to the Navy, I would still strive to be a systems engineer.” While in the Navy, in addition to training to become an officer, she would still run track and row crew. Her passion for sports will definitely follow her to college, regardless of what path she chooses. Her coaches, friends, and teammates agree that, with her determination, passion, and her drive to be the best she can, Devon Goetz will be able to accomplish anything and everything she sets her mind to.
Graduating seniors leave behind a memorable legacy by Philip Miljanic The Richard Montgomery athletic community is not only highly ambitious and productive, but also incredibly unified. From freshmen to seniors, athletes all work to develop their skills and strength in order to improve their ability and help their teams. However, as the year is coming to an end, it is important to remember our seniors, all they have done for sports, and all sports have done for them. This last spring season is prized by seniors, who have given so much to their sport over the past four years. Many seek to reach new heights and goals in the little time they have left. Senior soccer and lacrosse captain Maeve Givens explained, “I hope to have a winning lacrosse season, but also to connect with my teammates and really come together as a team.” Senior Samad Iqbal echoed this sentiment: “I hope to qualify for states in track this season as an
“I look to help instill the values of humility, patience, and hard-work in the underclassmen.” -Julian Avenilla
individual, as well as have our 4×800 relay team qualify for and place very well at states.” This urge to succeed causes the seniors to reminisce and to recall where they succeeded and where they did not. Senior baseball player Andy Kostka explained, “As a freshman, I remember thinking how long the season was, and feeling the urge to miss a practice every once in awhile. As a senior, I am glad I did not miss those practices because time is winding down... competitive baseball is nearing an end, and it forces me to get as much out of every at bat and fielding chance I get so I do not waste my dwindling moments.” While only a select few seniors will compete collegiately, the effect that RM athletics has had on them is extraordinary. Many plan to continue to play either on a club team or intramurally, a tribute to the love that they have developed for their sport and the commitment they have to growth. “I plan to play for Lynchburg College, either the club team or try out for the actual team,” senior Chip Gardner said. Many attribute their growth at RM to the stellar coaching staff, who work to develop both the athletic and strategic ability of their athletes. Through their knowledge, the coaching staff promotes a sense of unity and competition on the team, allowing athletes to perform at a high level. Senior tennis player Cassie Ulvick recalled her favorite words from Coach Fahrner: “Play hard, play smart, and have fun...but it’s
more fun to win.” Despite the best attempts of the coaching staff, student athletes can still encounter injuries during their season and, as a result, their season can be put on hold. This can be extremely frustrating, but with the guidance of athletic trainer Tori Simonetti and their coaches and doctors, athletes are soon able to return to competition. Senior swim captain and
remain healthy. With increased experience and skill, seniors typically take on a greater role on their team. “For basketball my role went more from a follower to a leader. My freshman through junior years I tried to learn from upperclassmen, then my senior year I set the best example I could as much as I could,” senior girls basketball captain Kimberly
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAN
Seniors pose with their coaches before a game on senior night. runner Eli Samuelson continues to battle injuries today. “I have a shoulder problem currently, and have had a stress fracture and shin splints. These are all pretty minor problems in the big picture of sports injuries, but they have to be dealt with. I have had to make sure that I ice, take ibuprofen, just generally monitor the situation, and take time off if necessary,” he explained. The dedication that the seniors display applies on and off the field in their continued efforts to
Stamets said. As the seniors grow, they are able to help their teams by not just competing, but also in providing support for their teammates. Their support of the underclassmen comes not only in setting an example, but also in the knowledge that the seniors have gained in their athletic tenure. This cycle of support allows the underclassmen to benefit from their upperclassmen, and then to later help new underclassmen themselves. Senior football center
Julian Avenilla noted, “I look to help instill the values of humility, patience, and hard-work in the underclassman.” Seniors also seek to advise the younger athletes, helping them to perform better in their selected sport. A majority of the senior athletes noted that their focus has shifted from helping themselves to helping their teammates. Senior tennis captain Chris Chen noted, “Freshman year, I was more competitive and always trying to win. However, I feel now, in my senior year... I just enjoy being able to play tennis and being able to be a part of a team... I cherish the moments being able to cheer on teammates.” The maturity of the athletes at Richard Montgomery display is indicative of the strong role sports play in the lives of our student-athletes. While some of the seniors have already ended their careers as athletes at RM, others are still putting forth their full effort and attempting to improve their own game and their team in their final season. The work that the seniors have put in is evident in their performance and their continued dedication. Football and track star Devin Beaaj delivered final words of wisdom for any underclassmen competing in the coming years: “Work hard, work smart, don’t get distracted. Keep at things because it’s really not always about who comes in with the most talent or size or strength, it’s about who wants success more and who takes the most steps to get there.”