20News 2-4
Attitude of Gratitude 5 Opinions 6-8 Student Voices 9 International 10
Style 11 Center Spread 12-13 La Marea 14 Arts 16-17 Features 18-20 Sports 22-24
Trump takes all in historic 2016 election by Michelle Ling and Meghna Pandey
PHOTO BY FATMA ELSAYED
Junior Kit Flaherty plays Miss Adelaide, fiancée of gambler Nathan Detroit, played by senior Joey Moore.
Black Maskers wins big with “Guys and Dolls” by Ayesha Khawaja and Daisy Grant
As the lights dimmed in the auditorium, the orchestra began to play a tuneful blend of jazz and classical music. The curtains opened to a frantic 1950s New York City, with people rushing by, marveling tourists and shopkeepers and vendors advertising their products. “Guys and Dolls” opened the evening of Friday, Nov. 11, with hundreds of people in the audience. “Guys and Dolls” is an awardwinning musical. It has earned several nominations and wins for various awards, the most notable being its 1951 Tony Award for Best Musical. The plot revolves around a group of gamblers struggling to find a place to conduct an illegal craps game.
Their leader Nathan Detroit, played by senior Joey Moore, aims to pay for a location gambling with Sky Masterson, played by senior Noah Montemarano. Detroit proposes that Masterson either take the conservative Sergeant Sarah Brown, the leader of a local Mission played by senior Marjorie Long, to Cuba for a day, or pay him a thousand dollars. The musical unfolds from there, switching from Masterson and Brown’s adventures to Detroit’s situation with the craps game and his needy fiancée, Adelaide, played by junior Kit Flaherty. The performance was the culmination of two months of tireless work from the cast and crew. The last week before opening night, dubbed “Hell Week” by the students, involved rehearsals from three o’clock to ten o’clock everyday after school.
“I’ve been tired all week,” junior and member of the makeup crew Emily Navat said. “I’ve been falling asleep in classes, and my grades are slipping… But it’s really fun, and it’s only a week,” she added. “There’s no replacing the bonding or the cast and working together; it’s definitely worth it.” Their week of rehearsals was essential to the success of the musical. Technical Director senior Sally Simpson explained, “Coming into tech week, we were really unprepared across the board. Cast and crew were nowhere ready for opening night.” Senior Oscar Saywell, who played Benny Southstreet, explained, “There’s always trouble with focus in the beginning.” MUSICAL, cont. page 2
From email scandals to tax returns, the 2016 Presidential Election was a fierce battle between Democratic candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate businessman and billionaire, Donald J. Trump. While presidential elections always generate a lot of media coverage and attention from the public, this year exceeded expectations. Americans were more polarized in their opinions on the candidates, and voter turnout escalated. After the election concluded on Nov. 8, Donald Trump was the declared the 45th President of the United States, with 306 electoral votes, and receiving 47.2% of the popular vote. The students and staff at RM voiced their opinions regarding Trump’s victory. “I can’t say that I’m satisfied with the results because I’m not. We are going to take away 100 years of progress with this election alone. He is a close-
“We must reject educational stagnation in our high schools,” stated former Secretary of PHOTO BY FATMA ELSAYED Education Arne Duncan after The group discusses the role of media in producing a change in culture. the National Assessment of
Inside The Tide...
TRUMP, cont. page 3
PHOTO COURTESY OF RICH GIRARD
With a close popular vote, Trump defeated Clinton by 74 electoral votes.
Minority Scholars Program promotes student excellence by Isabella Levine
minded person who belittles minority groups. I’m not sure I trust him to be our president,” sophomore Sherry Liang said. Junior Nina Brener agreed with Liang. “I hate it, I feel very misrepresented, I was in total shock, it was a very emotional time. It’s very disheartening because you’d think America has made progress as a nation to make these adjustments and civil rights and working towards equality, and I feel like this is a major step back,” she commented. Senior Tatiana Davidson Bajandas, along with a few other RM seniors and a number of people around the country, protested Trump in the days after the election on Main Street during lunch, using the phrase “Love Trump’s Hate.” “This is not even about party lines anymore, this is not about Democratic vs. Republican anymore, this is about good vs. evil, and this is a man who is actively encouraging hate crimes. The number of hate crimes since the election has just skyrocketed.
Educational Progress was released. “And, as a nation, we must do better, especially for African-American and Latino students.” The NAEP report revealed that the average standardized test scores of Hispanic and African American students are 30 points lower
than their white and Asian counterparts. This systematic pattern of lower minority academic success, the achievement gap, is the main focus of Richard Montgomery’s chapter of the Minority Scholars Program. “There is a great disparity between the races, academically,” commented the program’s sponsor and special education teacher Teresa Boyd. “Therefore we are putting things in place to reduce that gap.” The program’s membership consists of highly-motivated Hispanic and African American SCHOLARS, cont. page 18
Opinions, 7
International, 10
La Marea, 14
Arts, 17
Sports, 24
MCPS Wi-Fi blocks social media
Student and staff polyglots
The role of the Latinx vote
SNL ‘s debates satirize politics
DMV: Swim powerhouse
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The Tide
NEWS
“Guys and Dolls” impresses MUSICAL, cont. from page 1 Tech week was full of obstacles, from a lead actor dropping out of the show to Long missing three days of rehearsal. However, the cast, pit and crew powered through these roadblocks, motivated by their passion for the show. “There are a lot of enthusiastic people, and I like the enthusiasm in the show,” Saywell said. One of the focuses during tech week was dancing; last year’s “Les Misérables” performance did not require any elaborate, choreographed dancing, so actors were concerned about this year’s
Many of the musicians were unaccustomed to the show’s jazzy musical style. Pit Chief senior Sarah Eng explained, “As a previously strictly classical player I was kind of nervous for the mostly jazz show, but I think after awhile I got into the swing of things. This is a really fun change for me.” By opening night, the cast and crew were feeling the effects of the exhausting week. Freshman Lilah Katz, who plays a Hotbox Girl, explained the fatigue of the cast and crew as a result of all the rehearsals. “I [was] a little nervous… because everyone [was] so tired... I just hop[ed]
PHOTO BY FATMA ELSAYED
Seniors Noah Montemarano, Marjorie Long and Isabel Leiva perform. assorted dancing scenes. Saywell explained, “The majority of the cast doesn’t have any dancing training. Mrs. Davis hired professional choreographers to train us and drill us.” By tech week, crews should have all the technical aspects of the musical down pat. Simpson said, “Sound [crew]... had to work on testing all the equipment and fixing any problems before tech week to save time.” The pit orchestra also worked hard to get their performance as close to perfection as possible.
the adrenaline was enough to keep everyone going,” she said. Simpson and Montemarano were more optimistic, as Montemarano added, “By Thursday, the show was going pretty well.” Freshman Christine Zhu, another member of the pit orchestra, said, “I didn’t feel nervous before opening night, since we played the songs many times and everyone in pit is incredibly talented. I was a bit tired from Hell Week, but I was also excited to finally perform what we had been working on for
the past month.” The musical used a combination of expressive music and effects, an impressive set and powerful acting to convey the struggles of the characters and the changes they undergo. The show addresses important themes as Masterson and Brown deal with radically new perspectives on their respective lifestyles. “I thought [the play] showed the importance of loyalty and honesty,” freshman Aidan Goldenberg-Hart said after watching opening night. “I liked those messages a lot and I thought the cast did a good job of conveying them.” The underlying themes of loyalty, as well as change and morality, resonated with the audience. At the end of opening night, many gave it a standing ovation. “I thought [the play] was really well done,” added GoldenbergHart. “The student actors were wonderful and performed the show really well. The set also looked incredible and I thought it really enhanced the entire show.” “It went really well. There were definitely mistakes and areas where we could’ve improved, but it was still great overall,” Zhu explained. Eng agreed, “We had a rocky start, but I think we got our act together by night two.” For the cast, crew and pit, the Black Maskers’ atmosphere and environment is one of the most important aspects of the experience. Katz said, “There was a real sense of community and camaraderie before and during the show, and it was just fun to perform and be with everyone.” Saywell finished, “This is a collaborative effort. Everyone is equal. You’re not better than anyone else. No one should be better than you… It’s meant to be fun, not meant to be about you. It’s about Black Maskers.”
November/December
November 24
Thanksgiving Gobble, gobble!
December 2
RM Idol Who will be the next Kelly Clarkson?
December 9
International Night Travel around the world in just one night.
December 16
Fine Lines Winter Coffeehouse Come see RM’s greatest singers perform live.
Dec. 19-23
Winter Spirit Week Feel the hype!
December 21
RM vs. Rockville Basketball Game Support the team as they take on The School By the Woods.
November 2016
NEWS IN BRIEF
Richard Montgomery installs eco-friendly water fountains Recently, RM installed water fountains with bottle filling stations, making it much easier for students to refill reusable water bottles. Despite their short time at the school, the new fountains are already on their way to doing much more than catching people’s eye in the hallway. For students who have already started using the fountains, their efficiency stands out. Reusable water bottles are not new to freshman athlete Ishaan Oberoi, and the new fountains have been helpful. “They’re really nice because they fill up water bottles much quicker than the regular water fountains, so we [will] not be late to class,” he said. The fountains also act as an incentive for students to bring reusable water bottles which greatly cut down on plastic bottle usage and waste. Each fountain counts the number of plastic bottles saved, and RM has already accumulated impressive numbers in the short time since the installation of the fountains. Media specialist and staff sponsor of the Recycling Club Michelle Alexander thinks the fountains will help keep both the school and the environment clean. “One of the things that water fountains do, because they provide us with a direct source of water, is that it really cuts down on the waste in landfills,” Dr. Alexander said, “So to me, anything that would reduce the number of water bottles is a really positive thing.” By Helen Qian
SGA president proposes a school STEM officer position With the increase of job opportunities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, RM is also encouraging students to be involved in these aspects. To better achieve this goal, SGA President Sofia Bhalwani recommended a STEM officer position. The SGA members are still working on the proposal of this position. The STEM officer will ensure that our school is providing more STEM activities that students can participate in. Countless jobs nowadays rely on or require STEM backgrounds. Whether the jobs are related to health care, business, or even education, having skills and knowledge in these fields will help students be more successful in finding desirable careers in the future. “We’re just opening the doorway for all of these students,” Bhalwani remarked. “We’re proposing this position because we don’t really believe that these fields of extracurricular activities are being enhanced in our school and in our community. We’re going to try to incorporate it into our school first, then spread it to other schools and MCR,” she continued. Not only do the SGA members support focusing more on STEM programs, many of the RM students do too. “As a high school, RM should support students and help them prepare for a career in their future. If RM were to expand the STEM programs, I would definitely be more involved,” freshman Jasmine Pham said. By Angela Mu
MCPS implements ban on traveling to anti-LGBT states In an effort to show support for LGBT rights, Montgomery County Public Schools recently enacted a travel ban to North Carolina and Mississippi. The ban calls to suspend “non-essential work-related travel” to those areas. The ban protests a North Carolina bill passed in March 2016, which required transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their biological sex and prevented local governments from adding more protections for the LGBT community. In early April, Mississippi signed into law a bill that allowed people to refuse service to lesbians, gays, or transgender people on the grounds of religious opposition. Besides employees who frequently travel for MCPS, the ban will not have an impact on most teachers and school staff. “It doesn’t affect me because I don’t travel for MCPS,” main office secretary Deanne Weiler said. She explained that she had possibly heard about the ban but knew very little about it. “It doesn’t affect me at all,” social studies teacher Jonathan Taylor agreed. Mr. Taylor’s only experience in travelling for MCPS was when he first came to Richard Montgomery and attended a conference in Charlotte, N.C. While Mr. Taylor does not travel anymore, conferences like that might have to be moved to another state as a result of the ban. As for whether or not the ban would be effective: “It’s probably too early to tell,” Mr. Taylor said. By Aral Markert
AWARDS
Congratulations to senior Rohann Asfaw for placing 1st at the Cross Country Regional Championship. Congratulations to senior Sally Simpson for taking part in the National Association for Music Education’s National Honors Chorus. Congratulations to seniors Joey Moore, Thomas Hughes, Brian Joe and Alex Lin for performing with the Maryland Music Educators Association Men’s Chorus.
The Tide
NEWS
November 2016
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New RQAs replace final exams across the county by Dina Ghamroudi Whether it be AP exams, IB exams, the SAT, the Accuplacer or the ACT, every student takes at least one standardized test over the course of their high school career. To lighten students’ workloads, the MCPS Board of Education has replaced the traditional two hour semester exams with Required Quarterly Assessments (RQAs).
“The RQAs are one component of our district-wide testing structure; they are supposed to help us provide better instruction.” - Eric Guerci, SMOB Previously, semester exams covered content from two quarters and were taken in the span of two hours. The new RQAs cover only the content of one quarter, but can last anywhere from one class period to an entire week. Beginning in Feb. 2016, more than 100 teachers were involved in creating these new tests for all courses that previously had two hour exams. These tests aim to accurately measure students’ understanding of quarterly material. The Board of Education (BOE) also hopes to condense course content in order to help students concentrate on specific topics. These marking period assessments
have both benefits and drawbacks. MCPS Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Eric Guerci said, “I think that benefits include reduced testing time, increased instructional time, a greater sense of instructional momentum... The RQAs are one component of our district-wide testing structure; they are supposed to help us provide better instruction.” Students no longer have to sit for a two hour exam covering topics learned in two full marking periods. Instead, they can focus on grasping the concepts learned in that specific quarter and utilizing them in a shorter test. Freshman Jolly Ropp said, “You don’t have to study as much for it because you are more aware of the material.” Although made to increase instructional time, these tests have proven to be tiresome because they can take up to five school days to complete. This decrease in instructional time can be stressful for students as well as teachers. Biology teacher Cynthia Stevens noted, “The RQA we took for this quarter took two full class periods and involved four writing tasks. From a teacher’s perspective, we used to have the afternoons to get the two writing tasks graded, and get our planning ready for what we were doing next.” “With [the RQAs], not only have we given up that class period, but we don’t have any release time for grading, so it’s been pretty challenging,” Mrs. Stevens continued. Math teacher John Chase believes the RQAs are a temporary plan to cover for the lack of final exams. “I think it’s pretty shortsighted, in my opinion, to get rid of final exams. And this is the solution... that they’ve come up with,” Mr. Chase said. The tests are meant to make up two weeks of instructional time that were
taken away when the semester exams were implemented. They constitute 10% of a student’s grade every quarter — a 15% drop from the semester exams, which made up 25% of a student’s grade. Some students, however, have voiced concerns about the value of the test and its
struggling students with specific support in the following quarters. The new tests also allow for widespread data collection. As set out by MCPS, one purpose of these tests is to improve the learning environment by gathering assessment data.
PHOTO BY JESSICA JI
Students take their required quarterly assessments as their final first quarter grade. overall relevance to the concepts they learn in class. Freshman Jessica Holloway said, “They are a poor representation of what we are learning in class...the RQA is putting us at a level that we are not at, and is testing us stuff that has nothing to do with what we have learned.” MCPS has mentioned that the tests are more concept-based, and help to find out how well the student can follow through with a specific skill rather than memorized vocabulary. Thus, the county hopes RQAs will improve student learning by guiding
Sophomore Grant Yang said, “[The RQAs] are beneficial in the way that they standardize our final exams against those in other parts of the county... you get to see how people compare to each other.” “[RQAs] will make life a bit less comfortable at the turn of the marking period… so more can be done to help facilitate a seamless transition to the next semester,” Guerci said. Having been implemented for the first time this year, RQAs are far from perfect, yet they have qualities that enhance student learning.
Trump named President-elect in general election ELECTIONS, cont. from page 1 It is terrifying and that’s what we’re fighting,” she said. Leading up to the election, many polls predicted that Clinton would win by a landslide. However, due to the flawed statistical sampling and the unaligned platforms of the candidates with their parties, among other factors, the Trump voters were underestimated, and the support for Clinton was exaggerated. In the early hours of Nov. 9, 2016, after Clinton had called and congratulated him on his victory, President-elect Donald Trump delivered his victory speech. He focused on unity within the two parties and the entire nation, and proceeded to thank his campaign and his supporters. Clinton also gave a speech later that day, acknowledging her defeat and thanking her supporters. “This is painful, and it will be for a long time,” she said. Nevertheless, she spoke of accepting Trump as the next president, and having a positive outlook on the next four years. President Barack Obama, although previously strongly opposed to Trump, expressed his hopes for Trump’s success during his time as president. Trump gained popularity through his controversial remarks and aversion to political correctness. “For the first time there was a candidate... who was willing to defy the establishment and stand up for a new point of view that I think hasn’t been represented in past elections,” sophomore Leopold Bertholet commented. However, his words on women, Muslims, and LGBTQ+ individuals have also drawn a lot of criticism. Meanwhile, Clinton’s campaign originally centered on improving the lives of the middle class, making college more affordable, strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and supporting minorities. However, she also faced many struggles and generated her own crowd of opposition. In March 2015, it was revealed
that Clinton used a personal email address while handling classified government material, which many believe violated the protocol of the State Department. This email controversy plagued her throughout her campaign, leading many people to build up a distrust of the old government.” “Hillary Clinton has made so many
The 2016 election was significant in many respects. “Before you would see the candidates and there would be a split, but this time it’s kind of intermixed, and you don’t know what side people are on. Not only were people so angry and sad, they were scared, and I have never seen that before in any election,” junior Joanna Spouge said.
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
crucial mistakes. We could not really consider her the better candidate after all her misdoings. This election was basically Americans choosing the lesser of two evils,” freshman Eli Protas claimed. Freshman Genevieve Grenier associated the immense hostility surrounding the candidates with the media. “It attracted so much attention because of the way the media works today, everything gets posted on the internet and teenagers laugh at it, so they were promoting stories that aren’t necessarily important and ignoring the important issues,” she said.
From a political standpoint, the election has given a Republican majority in both houses of Congress as well as the presidency. And while the replacement for Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court still has not been decided, it is almost certain that Donald Trump will choose a more conservative judge, restoring the conservative majority that the Supreme Court previously had. Trump’s lack of previous political experience and unique attitudes towards government make him different from previous presidents. His presidency marks
a divergence from previous political understandings that may change our country in the future. Within the first 100 days, Trump promises to “drain the swamp,” in other words, change the size of government and end political corruption. He also plans on reducing federal regulations on businesses, renegotiating international trade laws like NAFTA and strengthening immigration laws. As for Trump’s promises to block all Muslim immigrants and build a wall and make Mexico pay for it, it seems that they will most likely not come to fruition. Despite the Republican majority, not every Republican in Congress will fully support Trump’s policies, largely due to the divide in the party following the contentious election. Trump has recently taken steps towards more moderate policy. Trump has supported deep space research, but has remained adamant on his denial of climate change. In his interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes”, Trump respected the rulings on same sex marriage,but said that he still seeks to send the issue of abortion rights back to the states. Trump also said that he might not completely remove the ACA and instead amend parts of it. Still, many people across the nation remain doubtful of Trump’s ability to lead the “free world” because of all the negative views that he stands for. Despite all of Trump’s controversial comments, Bertholet hopes to give the president elect a chance. “I think good leadership is more important than good morals, because forty years from now, it doesn’t matter what your candidate said or did, it just matters what they did to change the country,” he said. In any case, Donald Trump is the democratically elected president of the United States. It is the hope of all Americans that he will handle the position with responsibility and respect and lead the United States well through the next four years.
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The Tide
NEWS
November 2016
Students outraged over school ban of social media by Ummara Khan When MCPS first introduced school WiFi in 2013, it was considered a huge win for both the county and the students. However, there have been several incidents regarding students’ access to Wi-Fi since then. In 2015,
The Board of Education (BOE) implemented this policy in order to increase classroom efficiency. According to Student Member of the Board Eric Guerci, the ban on social media sites helps slow traffic in the Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi domain “MCPSGuest” is a domain that is shared amongst all MCPS schools. Students that needed internet access in their class
M C P S changed the instruction GRAPHIC BY ANGELA MU password to experienced slow their secure network connection because because many students were many people were using the gaining unwarranted access to this network. same Wi-Fi domain to access social media They instead added a guest network for all during classroom instruction. students and guests of the school. The BOE thought that shutting down Now, MCPS has sparked controversy by access to these apps and sites was the banning all social media outlets, including best way to ensure faster internet access Instagram and Snapchat, on the guest for students working on the classroom network. Chromebooks.
The ban also discourages use of social media in class, which the county hopes will boost student engagement. Students have pointed out these advantages of the ban. “Plus points are that students can actually focus on school, and not be not be on their phones all the time,” senior Amna Safullah said. However, many students consider the social media ban unreasonable. “I think they should ban things that are inappropriate, but I don’t think that Snapchat or Instagram are really inappropriate” junior Catherine Silvers claimed. Other students, like freshman Annyah St. Louis, have voiced their concerns regarding the limited internet access, especially during lunch. “I want to use social media during lunch. I currently don’t have any data, so if I want to use social media to talk to my friends, I am unable to do so. I think social media is a good way to communicate with your friends,” St. Louis said. Safullah also pointed out that social media is an effective way to get help on an assignment. “Social media connects us during school,” she said. “Sometimes you want help from your friends, and instead of shooting them a text, you know, you Snap a picture, or use Facebook Messenger.” A recent report entitled “Making Progress: Rethinking State and School District Policies Concerning Mobile Technologies and Social Media,” was released by several organizations, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Education Association, and the University of California, Irvine. The report mentioned that blocking social media outlets in schools allows for more focused academic environments and reduced cyber bullying during school. The report also lists a variety of reasons
to allow access to social media. It states that social media is ingrained into modern culture and school environments can monitor students as they learn to navigate the different sites. Furthermore social media has “tremendous educational benefits, like bridging formal and informal learning, and providing access to diverse education resources.” Questions have been raised regarding the effectiveness of the new policy. “If students really want to go onto the
“Social media connects us during school. Sometimes you want to... Snap a picture, or use Facebook Messenger. ” - Amna Safullah social media sites then they will just go on to LTE or pay their way onto the site,” Schauer said. Silver pointed out that teachers are quick to confiscate phones when students misuse them in school, and that students should be responsible for paying attention in class. “I think a lot of the times the teacher will see the phone and take it away,” she said. “But I think it’s the students’ choice. If they want to screw up, they can screw up,” Silver added. The BOE is now reassessing their policies after seeing the outrage from students. They plan to meet to reconsider their the ban for the future.
Students donate cans to SGA’s Manna Food Drive by Alice Zhu SGA’s annual canned food drive with the Manna Food Center was held from October 24 -28 and challenged first period classes to raise the most cans for Montgomery County residents in need. With 540 cans, social studies teacher Robert Hines’ first period collected more cans than any other first period class.
“The main thing I emphasize, is not about us getting a breakfast, but the larger good. We’re doing something good for the people and people need to be generous.”
but we didn’t really start until Tuesday. It always takes time and it kind of caught me by surprise because homecoming had been earlier,” Mr. Hines said. Mr. Hines’ first period classes have consistently brought in over 500 cans and this year was no exception. He attributes his success to his encouragement and the leadership and organization of his students. “I just picked a team of volunteers and they came together and did most of the work. You never know- sometimes the kids are going to carry it forward and do a good job of organizing, and they did,” Mr. Hines said. Last year, Mr. Hines’ first period class lost to Mr. Thomas’ class by fourteen cans.
Mr. Beach’s classes have also had impressive participation in the drive in previous years. Much like Mr. Hines, Mr. Beach hopes to encourage charity in the canned food drive. “Every year, not just around the holidays, food banks provide services for people within this community,” Mr. Beach said.
The Manna Food Center has since picked up and weighed RM’s cans to give to local Montgomery County families. In addition to the canned food drive, SGA hopes to continue other annual events and they promise to be bigger and better than before. The Battle of the Classes will be in February. Originally planned to start after the Powderpuff game, the Battle of the Classes was pushed back to accommodate the numerous winter events such as NoShave November, Common Grounds, and Mr. RM. While SGA’s Canned Food Drive may not as exciting as other events like the Battle of the Classes, Mr. RM, or the Powderpuff game, it is important to remember the
- Mr. Hines Mr. Hines’ class of IB seniors earned a breakfast with The Omelette Man. Richard Montgomery brought in a total of 2106 cans, similar to last year’s count of 2500, but far from the previous record of 6000 cans. First period classes who brought in over 100 cans earned glazed Krispy Kreme donuts and orange juice on Nov. 4. Teachers whose classes received this treat were: science teacher Damian Kreske, social studies teacher Robert Thomas, social studies teacher Peter Beach, math teacher Carrie Gaffney, and English teacher Sara Liles. Mr. Hines was pleasantly surprised to win again. “We did better than what I expected because this class was a little smaller and we got a late start,” he said. “Usually I try to start the week before,
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
However, Mr. Hines wasn’t worried about the loss. Instead, he highlighted the impact of the drive on the community as more important than the prize. “The main thing I emphasize, is not about us getting a breakfast, but the larger good. We’re doing something good for the people and people need to be generous,” Mr. Hines said.
“It’s great that we do it but I think it would be great if we do it more, especially in the spring, a time with no holidays,” he added. Many members of RM’s SGA concede that although the drive went well, there was room for improvement. Social studies Toni Kellinger said, “While some classes always collect hundreds of cans, what’s disappointing is that many class don’t bring in a can at all.”
drive’s importance for its direct influence to our community. “Unlike other SGA fundraisers, this fundraiser is especially important because we know that 100 percent of what we collect is going to stay in local Montgomery County, feeding those in need,“ Mrs. Kellinger elaborated. “It’s important for kids to stop and think, especially those that have so much, about those that don’t,” she added.
The Tide
November 2016
5
Attitude of Gratitude
PHOTO BY KIERY GARCIA
Above: “I am grateful for my dog because he makes me very happy every day and he is my best friend.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA REILLY
Above: “I am grateful for all of my best friends and my family!”
PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNY FEI
Above: “I’m thankful for my friends and the time I spend with them.”
Above: “I am thankful for my own personal punching bag.” Right: “I’m thankful for Asian food!” Below: “I’m thankful for Richard Montgomery, my friends, my teachers and all the RM faculty for being awesome and always giving me a reason to wake up in the morning. ”
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOFIA BHALWANI
PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN FISHMAN
PHOTO BY KAITLYN WANG
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The Tide
OPINIONS
Students: Go green or go home by Emily Zhao We all bear witness to wasteful habits at school: students throwing unfinished lunch into the trash, administrators leaving lights on in empty classrooms, teachers accidentally mass printing bulky packets one-sided. When accumulated over a long time, these actions can have severely negative impacts on the environment. Thus, students and teachers alike should work together to create a healthier and greener school space. Unfortunately, the main reason behind such wasteful habits is that students simply do not bother with environmentally friendly practices. “Students sometimes see the recycling bin on the other side of the room and think ‘Oh, it’s too far away. I’ll just put it in the trash can.’ It’s really lazy,” senior Ingrid Winkler said. We, as students, spend the majority of our week here. All students have a responsibility to help keep the school clean. Even simple actions, like turning off classroom lights or putting waste in the correct bin, can make RM a greener and more energy-efficient school. Senior Summer Oh said, “It’s one motion to switch from putting some recyclable in the recycling bin rather than in the trash can.” There are alternatives for teachers as well to help make RM a greener place. They can reduce the amount of paper used by sharing documents with students electronically through Google
Classroom rather than printing hard copies. “I try to post as many things as I can online. When I do print big packets, I try to collect them so they can be reused year after year,” science teacher Michael Willard said. Although many environmental policies, such as bus fuel conservation or installing ecofriendly lights, are decided at the county level, RM can initiate many eco-friendly practices itself.
PHOTO BY TAYLOR BALFOUR
SERT’s new water bottle initiative.
Freshman Alyssa Cong stated, “Just because we can’t install newfangled eco-friendly motion sensor lights, it doesn’t mean that we as a student body can’t do something.” One way that students can help out is through RM’s SERT Club (School Energy and Recycling Team). Oh, president of SERT, explained, “SERT’s mission is to promote recycling, raise environmental awareness, and reduce waste through community
events and projects throughout the school year. We can help the environment in little ways every single day.” Some of SERT’s past and ongoing projects include raising awareness for solar energy and building a rain butterfly garden to conserve water. Their most recent project, the “banthe-bottle” initiative, resulted in high-tech water fountains that provide free filtered water to all students. These fountains have dramatically decreased the use of wasteful plastic water bottles. SERT does not plan to stop there. “If there were more people who were taught in school that the environment is important, then we wouldn’t have these huge issue where people don’t care about protecting the environment,” Oh explained. Although students learn about climate change, many do not comprehend the magnitude of the problem. Awareness is an important part of protecting the environment. Besides SERT, RM also has other green initiatives: solar panels on the roof, the Recycling Club, and the school greenhouse where students can complete environmental related projects. Creating eco-friendly habits through these initiatives allows students to become more aware of the environment and the harmful effects of careless actions. Helping the environment is no small task. However, if everyone does their part—even if it’s just dropping a bottle in the recycling bin instead of the trash bin— then RM will be a much more environmentally conscious and healthier place.
Costs and benefits of SAT tutoring by Bhavesh Kemburu This past May, the College Board introduced dramatic changes to the overall structure of the well-known SAT, short for Scholastic Assessment Test. With these new changes, many students are unsure how to best prepare for the new SAT. Whether it is from an official test prep organization or oneon-one tutoring, there is a wide variety of instructors claiming to hold the secrets to this important test. As the test day arrives, an important question for students is whether to pay for a tutor or prepare on their own. On one hand, hiring a tutor has many advantages. Junior Katie Cobb has had one-on-one sessions with a private tutor. “I feel like my current tutor is very effective at teaching me the tricks. I believe that the SAT is less of an intelligence based test and more of one where you have to know what to do when,” Cobb claimed. Another great benefit of going to a tutoring service is that preparation time is already laid out. Cobb said, “Tutoring automatically allots a specific amount of time for SAT prep.” Many students find difficulty in crafting a viable study schedule around schoolwork and extracurriculars. Tutors help by implementing study sessions within a busy schedule.
Critics of private tutoring complain about the exorbitant prices that some charge. They feel that these prices can be misleading and often not worth it. With tutoring costs ranging from $30 to over $150 an hour, it can be difficult to determine which services are worth their price. To avoid spending excess money, another option that many students take is self-preparation. Junior Lena Franklin has been
through almost like a tutor does.” The main drawbacks of online learning services are that they may not be able to instill the understanding that face-to-face tutoring does. Franklin noted, “It is much harder to stare at a screen for several hours and to grasp the material, than to learn from an actual person.” Furthermore, specific areas of difficulty may not be addressed. Franklin admitted, “The resources
November 2016
Question of the Month: What classes should be mandatory for high school students? Please send a brief response to tide.opinions@gmail.com including your name and grade. Your submission may be printed in the next issue (possibly edited for length and/or clarity).
October QOTM: Should schools give days off for religious holidays? There are many holidays that schools allow days off for, but none are for Chinese holidays. Lunar New Year, for example, is a holiday I look forward to every year because there are huge celebrations, good food and money gifting. If Lunar New Year occurs on a school day, I cannot celebrate it on the actual day, so it does not feel the same. Even if schools do not want to have a day off on Lunar New Year for academic purposes, MCPS should at least talk about it. This holiday needs to be acknowledged. -Alana Lu, 9th grade For one thing, all holidays need to be respected. It is plain hypocrisy to have Yom Kippur as a day off while Ramadan is not. And why do religious holidays get special treatment over secular celebrations of minorities, like Chinese New Year or ANZAC Day? One might argue that not all students are Chinese or Australian, but not all of us are Christian or Jewish. It is one thing to respect beliefs and traditions and allow religious students to take the day off while letting the more secular students continue instruction. However, it is another thing to give them the right to take the day off completely free from worries about missing instruction. Secularizing the names of the days off does not negate the fact that the state is clearly favoring certain religions over others. -Jason Zhao, 12th grade
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.
PHOTO BY KAITLYN WANG
Many students prepare for the SATs through one-on-one private tutoring.
using Khan Academy, an online learning service, which recently collaborated with College Board in order to provide free test materials to all students. Franklin claimed, “[Khan Academy] already has several online resources laid out for you, and can be accessed anytime. The amount of practice tests and resources available on Khan Academy is great for any student who wants a sense of what the SAT is like, and it also guides you
of Khan Academy may not be specifically geared to my issues.” RM also offers its own SAT preparation class. Students who cannot afford private tutoring or dislike the style of online learning can opt to take a class taught by RM staff to prepare for the test. Both methods of studying come with their own advantages and pitfalls. Ultimately, it may be best for each student to weigh their options and make a decision based on their individual needs.
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.....................................................................................................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
OPINIONS
The Tide
Black & Gold
November 2016
7
Should MCPS restrict social media access on school Wi-Fi?
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Yes, it is a distraction to education No, social media is a useful tool by Gianluca Umana We have all felt the temptation of using social media in class when the teacher is not looking. We constantly tweet about our day, post another picture to our Snapchat story, or check how many likes our Instagram posts received in the past hour. Yes, being on our phones may provide us with pleasure and peace amidst a hectic school day, but these distractions negatively impact our learning, which is the main purpose of school. MCPS’s decision to restrict Wi-Fi and social media access limits these distractions and ultimately enhances our learning experience. In theory, these networks of information sound like they could be tools for students to use in order to communicate and learn. The problem is that, as teenagers, high schoolers are irresponsible and can abuse the privileges they are given. Students misuse MCPS free Wi-Fi services when accessing social networking sites, thus slowing down the internet for others who may want to use them for their intended purpose: education. Another problem with free Wi-Fi usage during school hours is that students can use and abuse the information accessible on websites. For example, Google Translate, an online language translator, allows students to slack off in foreign language classes because they realize that it is much easier to simply translate a word on inclass assignments than it is to actually take the time to memorize the word beforehand and etch it into their vocabulary.
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
Unfortunately, these practices are slowly but surely lowering the attention span and memory capacity of students, as well as their test performance. Think about how often you use social media in school on a daily or weekly basis. In between classes? Maybe even during class? Studies show that there is an obvious connection between social media use in school and academic performance. In a study conducted by The Miriam Hospital’s Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, lead author Jennifer L. Walsh concluded that students who spend time on social media and other entertainment seem to be less academically successful. According to Walsh, students
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who spend more time on social media had “fewer academic behaviors, such as completing homework and attending class, lower academic confidence and more problems affecting their school work, like lack of sleep and substance use.” Restricting social media access in school facilities can be extremely beneficial to students’ academic experiences. Furthermore, a study at Michigan State University found that the more students used the Internet for nonacademic purposes such as Facebook or other social media during class, the lower their test scores in that course were. The evidence
Restricting social media access in school facilities can be extremely beneficial to students’ academic experiences. that correlates reduced use of smartphones and time spent on social media with higher test scores is overwhelming. Banning social media would ultimately lead to higher degrees of focus within class, and as a result, higher test scores. The recent ban in MCPS schools thus seems far more justified put under this light. After all, why would schools not make a decision that could improve the academic performance of its students? Arguably the more devastating and common form of social media abuse at school is bullying. By blocking access to social media in school, it may be possible to minimize cyberbullying. All of us have seen and heard how strongly bullying can affect students. We have all heard about people like Amanda Todd and Tyler Clementi, individuals who have suffered due to others’ thoughtless actions behind a screen. These stories are prime examples of social media being used as a weapon for ruthless bullying. There are many ways to harass and dehumanize people on the internet nowadays. Some of the hate spreading around online can happen in schools. Social media facilitates the spreading of negative comments, gossip, or rumors. This can result in the victim skipping school to avoid harassment and embarrassment, amongst other more harmful effects. By restricting Wi-Fi access, schools thus prevent these incidents from happening on school grounds. While this may not completely solve the larger problem of cyberbullying, it is a step in the right direction. There are a multitude of viewpoints on how and what social media should be used for. “I can understand why the county would want to do it. I understand their thinking, that they need one policy for the whole school system. I think there are advantages and disadvantages to social media and how it can be used,” Principal Damon Monteleone said. Ultimately, the county is justified in their decision. Social media is an important form of communication that we all appreciate. Nevertheless, some restriction on its use within schools is necessary for an effective learning environment. Restricting Wi-Fi and thus social media use in schools should be acceptable because it can go a long way to prevent bullying, cheating, and bad habits like procrastination. Social media is a tool that, while useful, must be regulated in an environment as important to us as school.
by Ashley Ye Through the past decade, accessing social media has become one of the most popular uses for smartphones, and especially so for teenagers: four out of five teens use some type of social networking service. However, MCPS has recently restricted access to most social media networks, such as Facebook and Instagram, from its already overburdened Wi-Fi service. This decision, though made with good intentions, hinders students’ ability to express themselves as well as their ability to communicate with peers. Firstly, students require social media as a vital and effective means of communication. Instant messaging services associated with social media sites, such as Facebook Messenger, allow students to ask others for information on homework and school projects. This allows them to keep up with missed assignments and minimize the amount of work they have to make up. “If I’m out of school or if I’m sick, and someone’s in class, I need to ask them ‘What are you doing right now?’” sophomore Erica Baranick explained. Sophomore Grant Yang agreed: “Blocking social media in its entirety is actually harming students because they can’t connect with each other.” Not only can instant messaging services be used for schoolwork-related communications, it is also students’ main source of communication overall. “Messenger is my most common method of communicating with my friends, whether it’s getting the homework I missed or their plans for lunch, after-school, or just socializing. It’s hard to have such easy communication when the school blocks such sites,” senior Heavenly Zheng said. Social media is also commonly used to collaborate on group projects. When working on group projects outside of school, people often need to contact each other, usually through a form of social
PHOTO BY FATMA ELSAYED
Students cannot access Instagram on wifi.
networking, to correspond and arrange their project. Unfortunately, this method will not work during the school day, obstructing vital communication between group members. Social media is also a source of news, and it allows students to keep up with current events and interact with people from different countries. “It can bring attention to certain issues,” freshman Laura Yao said. In an increasingly globalized world, there is a bigger role of current events in the school curriculum. Some classes require students to research these events, which can be more difficult without ready access to social media. Many clubs at RM also use social media to communicate with their members. The new restrictions on sites such as Facebook
Gold has negative impacts on club activities. For example, the RM Debate Team often posts information about their debate topic on Facebook, but students are unable to access this information because of the restrictions. “It’s redundant to spend time during meetings looking for evidence we already found on Facebook,” freshman Valerie Wang, a member of RM’s debate team, said. Furthermore, most Richard Montgomery classes have groups on Facebook where students discuss assignments and help each other prepare for tests. However, this information and access of help is unavailable at the place it is needed the most: school. If a student wants to do last minute studying or needs to check to make sure there are no assignments they overlooked, they will not be able to because of the restrictions. Even after going through the trouble to block social media, a multitude of students still access it via cellular data or a virtual private network, which renders the block mostly useless in reducing social media usage. “If people have data they can access it anyway, so it doesn’t do that much,” freshman Clare Zhang said. It also favors those who can afford a data plan, leaving those who cannot afford it to suffer. The main argument against the use of social media in schools is that students are on their phones during instruction time, distracting them from learning. However, there are countless other distractions in the classroom, so blocking these sites will not prevent teens from using their phones for other purposes. “Students will always find a way to distract themselves,” freshman Shevani Tewari noted. Furthermore, phones are already banned during class time. Since students are unable to access social media, they cannot be distracted by it. “Teachers don’t let students use their phones in class anyway,” Yao said. Only a few students have abused the privilege of open Wi-Fi, so it is unfair to punish all students for the transgressions of some. Plus, a majority of these students manage to access social media using cellular data regardless of the restrictions, rendering the administration’s efforts essentially useless. Those who respect the guidelines but do not have data are left to endure the consequences. Ultimately, students are responsible enough to have access to a functional internet and social media networks. A more modernized world also means a more modernized classroom, where students should have the freedom to internet usage. Communication, collaboration, and information-gathering are important skills in real life that cannot be developed in the classroom because of these restrictions. Students need to utilize networks to stay connected with the world around them. Contrary to popular belief, these restrictions will do little to harm the quality of their education. Though the county-wide block on social media has only been implemented for a few months, it has already caused endless inconveniences and negatively impacted students. Many are left without their primary method of communication and they are excluded from the benefits of social media. Therefore, MCPS should remove its restrictions on social media.
8 The Tide
OPINIONS
November 2016
Negative stereotypes in media skew perspectives by Shevani Tewari
Decades of research has proven that mass-media consumption greatly affects our thought processes and behavior. While media influence can be beneficial when it is educational, such as in the form of documentaries, a large part of modern media is brimming with violence and stereotypes, bringing more harm than good to the community. Violence in the media has a tremendous effect on its consumers, especially children and young adults. Freshman Ashley Ye stated, “I feel like violence in social media has desensitized us. Since we’re exposed to so much violence on a daily basis, it’s more normalized and it garners a less dramatic response than it should.” Furthermore, as a result of nearly two-thirds of all television networks broadcasting some form of violent behavior, public fear of violence has greatly increased. However, although the public may believe that crime rates in the United States have been increasing, violent crime rates have actually been halved since 1991. Therefore, many believe that too much violence on television has created a ridiculous crime hysteria. This has in turn led to the overcriminalization of the general population and a pervasive sense of danger. In addition, national agencies pay undue attention to the surveillance of innocent citizens. To the contrary, Ye pointed out: “It brings up important issues to our attention, especially ones concerning social justice.” One benefit is that paranoia causes more self-education among the people, leading to more awareness regarding issues of
public policy. As a result, people are able to form coherent ideologies on issues such as gun control. This contributes to the regulation and prevention of violence in the real world. On the other hand, the media has always adapted to suit whatever would most appeal to the common person. For example, video games often try to include graphic scenes in order to garner more popularity
we see and act towards other people. Stereotypes can induce judgment and implicit bias, which can lead to increased tensions between genders, races, and other social groups. Many RM students believe that these stereotypes in the media have an effect on themselves despite attempts to avoid bias. Freshman Emma Sprague admitted, “While I try my hardest to not let these
among the young adult audience. While it seems counterintuitive, violence tends to be appealing to consumers and is often effective at capturing their attention, something that has become very important as private media outlets compete in this market economy. Another major problem is stereotypes in the media. Stereotypes affect the way
stereotypes affect me, I do realize that my thought process has changed along with the changes in the media.” According to a study by New York University, two-thirds of the characters in popular media—such as video games and movies—are men. Women are displayed as skinnier than average and are portrayed as submissive to men. In addition, people over
GRAPHIC BY KATHERINE WANG
the age of 65 are largely unrepresented in these forms of entertainment despite being the fastest growing age group in the country. Unsurprisingly, the consequences of media stereotyping have been extremely severe. Gender stereotypes in movies, television shows, and books affects the way we perceive gender in reality and lead to increased sexism. These stereotypes promote the false idea that women will only be successful and heard if they appeal to men. Men are also targeted by stereotypes. They are held up to standards of masculinity which praise strength, bravery, and egocentric behavior, and scorn anything else. Furthermore, racial stereotypes in these same outlets can result in the overcriminalization of minorities. Studies by the Pew Research Center indicate that adults perceive Black and Hispanic people as more dangerous than Caucasian people. Additionally, the frequent portrayal of Caucasians as successful and wealthy and African Americans as poor with low socioeconomic status through media outlets creates a dangerous stereotype. Whether it be an increase in violent behavior, paranoia, divide amongst racial and gender groups, or the unfair treatment of various racial groups, the overall conclusion is that both violence and stereotypes in the media create harmful, oftentimes false perceptions. These perceptions can influence the way we treat others. While it is difficult to change entire market demands, we ought to consider what can be done to counteract these negative impacts. The power of the media in influencing consumers views is not something to be taken lightly.
Third parties should remain in margins of politics by Emily Tian The Democratic and Republican parties dominate America’s traditional twoparty system, a system that has prevailed since the founding of the country. Those unsatisfied with the platforms of the two major parties often seek representation through third parties. However, although vital to the health of the political system, these minor parties should ultimately remain in the margins of American politics. The two-party system should be preserved. While sophomore Emily Troutman understands the reasons of voting third party, she said, “There’s no feasible way for a third party candidate to break into the election, and gain success because of the electoral system.” However, third parties impact politics in a host of other ways and must be taken seriously during elections. Although third party candidates rarely win elections, their influence is often profound. In past campaigns and this year’s election, third parties have decisively
“Voting for third parties is essentially a vote against yourself.” -Hayley Goddard affected election results. For instance, many Americans accused Ralph Nader of the Green party of ‘spoiling’ the presidential election between Bush and Gore in 2000, tipping the scales in favor of Bush. These accusations are also being targeted at the recent election between Trump and Hillary. Many claim that the abundance of third party voters was what brought about Clinton’s loss, furthering the divide between the two candidates. The spoiler effect is observed when a minor candidate siphons votes away
from a similar major candidate so that the opposing candidate wins the election. Junior Hayley Goddard stated, “Voting for third parties is essentially a vote against yourself.” This sentiment is echoed by many other RM students, who criticize the undue influence third party candidates can hold in tipping the results of an election in one candidate’s favor. As a result, these third parties can be influential in shaping policy in the longterm. They may use their influence to draw major parties towards accommodating their platforms, which generally veer more towards the wings of the political continuum. This ideological spectrum can be described as a bell curve, where the majority of voters are moderate and can be found at the center. Thus, in an effort to attract more support, the platforms of the Democratic and Republican party remain essentially centrist. Scores of voters, particularly those with more radical views, are inevitably excluded from the two parties. Sophomore Ben Solomich said, “Third parties serve as an outlet for frustration for the two major party candidates.” Ballots towards a third party candidate may be less ideologically motivated and more so a symbolic action against the status quo. Third parties additionally serve as a forum of new ideas and beliefs. Senior Faaiq Zarger voiced, “Third parties serve to widen the spectrum of political discussion that is present in American politics.” It is impossible for two parties to represent the views of 320 million Americans. Thus third parties may well serve as a means of being heard for a minority of people. Still, a recurring criticism of third party candidates is their lack of experience. Presidential candidate Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party stumbled in an interview without knowing what Aleppo, the heart of Syria’s conflict, was. Furthermore, for virtually every office there are third party candidates, such as Jill Stein or Chuck Grassley, with oftentimes incoherent and typo-ridden platforms. But certainly many of these are joke candidates designed to absorb “protest” votes.
several candidates, the likelihood that a winning candidate does not have majority support increases. Such a situation undermines the credibility and democracy of elections. In this year’s election, Utah voters notably united in support of conservativeindependent presidential candidate Evan McMullin in a last-ditch effort against Donald Trump. The cohesiveness and strength of the community in rallying against a cause is admirable, especially in light of the generally low likelihood of third party success. The last time a third party presidential candidate won a state was in 1968. History teacher Peter Beach stated, “I think this is one of the most opportune times for the emergence of a viable third party that could perhaps unite the American people.” The fragmentation of the Republican party throughout the general GRAPHIC BY KATHERINE WANG election cycle may a political scientist, ran for the U.S. House prove crucial in spurring serious political of Representatives under the Green Party change for the future. in 2006. Explaining why he did so even Voters should carefully weigh the though his opponent Chris Van Hollen had consequences of supporting third party overwhelming support, he said: “I did it candidates. Senior Sofia Bhalwani out of necessity to show that the politicians asserted, “I believe that one of the biggest here can’t take us for granted. You had to mistakes our voters make is that they have an alternative.” The tenacity of third are uninformed.” Given the influence parties in standing up for their beliefs is that third parties could potentially have, essential to broadening voter choice. citizens perhaps ought to be even more Mr. Giblin also acknowledged, “Two informed than when choosing between the party systems has a tendency to work established major parties. well in the sense that you have a strong Goddard summarized, “I think there is majority.” In many multiparty electoral a place for third parties, but I don’t think systems, candidates need only to receive that place is at the polls. I think the place the most votes rather than the majority of for them is to get together and express the votes to get into office. ideas and get the bigger parties to listen This distinction is essential in to them and take them into account.” understanding the flaws of excessive third Ultimately, our democracy cannot survive party power. Once multiple parties emerge without third parties, nor can it survive and citizens distribute their votes between with excessive third party power. Perhaps, though, this openness of elections reinforces the firm American belief in democracy. Junior Sue Lee said, “I think they show that smaller candidates who don’t have a lot of money or big party support can still run for president.” To limit the presence of third parties is to eliminate a freedom of association that is essential to American democracy. French teacher Gerard Giblin, previously
The Tide
November 2016
Student Voices on the Election
9
In collaboration with the Halls of RM
“I just came here to this country two months ago. I think the process of the election that this country has is obsolete. It does not work anymore and it needs to be reformed. This matters to me because I live here and anything that happens to the government will affect me in some way. Their policies will affect me.”
“I support Donald Trump because of my church. I have to support him. They want us to support Donald Trump.”
“I don’t like politics a lot but in this country, I think it’s very important. I had to do a project for AP Government and we looked up information about both of them. I don’t trust Hillary because of the email scandal. She hid so many things. My high school friends voted for Hillary but my college friends voted for Trump. I don’t like Trump at all, but I think he’s less worse than her.”
“On social media, everyone was hating on Trump. But then you see that he won. So what happened? America seems like one community and union with everyone on the same page. But this election has showed us that many people have different ideas. I’m Hispanic so it really impacts my family. When we heard that Trump won, my mom got super upset and started crying. I think the saddest thing is seeing your mom cry.”
“This election is very important because we’re going to be adults soon. Around here especially, most people are very upset about the election. I was pretty disappointed because I thought Hillary was by far the more qualified candidate. She made a lot of sacrifices throughout her life and knew a lot about policy. I just thought she would have made a much better president.”
“When people see a Hispanic, they immediately think, ‘Oh, Mexican,’ or when they see a Black person, ‘Oh, Black.” They don’t really look to see what’s behind the person. I feel like that’s Trump. He only looks at the superficial appearances and doesn’t actually look at the struggles behind every person. I don’t really trust Hillary but Trump is doing it for his benefit and only his. ”
“I have concerns about Trump deporting people because many have families here. Some parents are here illegally but their children were born in this country, so you can’t really take the parents away. That would be cruel. But now that Trump’s won, I support him deporting drug lords and bad people. If they’re here illegally, then they obviously need to go back. But the law-abiding illegal immigrants are not creating any disruptions.”
“I thought it was really important how one of my classmates told me, ‘What’s the point of going to Canada? It’s like escaping and running away from the problem.’ He has a point, but at the same time, if something happened and you have a family and things start to kick off and everybody’s life is in danger, would you let your family get destroyed or would you go somewhere else to be safe?” PHOTOS BY ISABEL KNUDSON AND SAMARA LANGSAM
10 The Tide
INTERNATIONAL
November 2016
Polyglots’ impressive skills From K-pop to folk music by Robyn Fohouo The term polyglot comes from two Greek words meaning “many” and “tongue.” Many students find that language is a major part of their identity, as it allows them communicate with family and identify with their culture. Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world, but it is also difficult to learn. Chinese teacher Margaret Poo stresses the importance of listening, speaking, reading, and using the target vocabulary. “I strongly encourage young people to learn more languages, to learn as many as they can so they can communicate easier with people from different countries,” Mrs. Poo said. Sophomore Ummara Khan already follows that advice, speaking both Urdu and Punjabi. Born in Pakistan, Khan learned Urdu at school, Punjabi from her parents, and English when she moved to the U.S. Now taking Spanish, Khan hopes to work
Sophomore Salla Seiriö has experienced first-hand the benefits of being multilingual while traveling, as she is proficient in both Finnish and German. “If I’m in Europe, a lot of people speak German, and if I’m out of Europe a lot of people speak English,” Seiriö said. While German is a useful language to know, it is not commonly requested to be taught. As a result, RM offers no course on German because the languages that are the most frequently demanded are those that enable students to communicate with the largest amount of the population. Because of this principle, languages can open up jobs for those who can communicate easily with a wide range of people. Sophomore Simone Koning is fluent in Dutch, Persian, and American Sign Language, and she hopes to translate for the U.S government in the future. “Sign Language is breaking down another one of those barriers to the people who can’t hear,” Koning explained. Languages can aid in any profession. Fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, French teacher Gerard Giblin
PHOTO BY MONA LEE
A plethora of languages can be seen gracing the walls of the foreign language classrooms.
for Doctors Without Borders. “In chasing that career pathway I have exposure to a lot of languages, I can learn more languages and then use those languages to help people,” Khan explained. Encouraging self-conscious students to speak in class can also be a challenging task, one that French teacher Florence Falloux knows all too well. “Teaching a language is fun but challenging because you have to get your student to speak orally, and it’s harder when they’re older and they don’t want to get embarrassed,” Madame Falloux said. However, language acquisition is ultimately worth it since it allows students to open their minds to other cultures, and to travel with greater ease.
learned Portuguese when he went to Brazil as a political scientist investigating the country’s electoral laws. “Learning the language allowed me to do my research well, integrated [me] really quickly, and made me able to travel there without having too many problems,” Monsieur Giblin reflected. To cement students’ knowledge and help them practice vocabulary, Mr. Giblin regularly has conjugation and vocabulary quizzes. While languages are acquired in a variety of manners, practice is the key to any method. Many aspects of life can be brought to life with multilingualism, and the young polyglots here at RM benefit greatly from their noteworthy skill.
by Kaylen Pak Anything from a distinct beat to the tone of voice can set songs, and even music genres, apart from each other. As new technologies have developed, groundbreaking music styles such as electronic dance music (EDM) and air pop have emerged. But what about the world outside English language music? There is a whole new dimension to not just how we classify music, but how we define the word itself. World music is a category referring to the different types of music found around the globe. This includes, but is not limited to, folk music, indigenous music, and the more well-known pop music. International music is acknowledged all over the world, from radio stations to news channels, and its popularity has only been increasing in recent years. The Billboard Chart has a World Albums Chart scattered with Celtic soloists, Cambodian bands, and J-pop musicians, along with other artists. A well-known example of this globalization is the K-pop track “Gangnam Style”. The music video and its “horse” dance went viral on YouTube in 2012 and was the first video on YouTube to reach one billion views. It remains one of the most famous songs, both in the U.S. and around the world. Many students from RM have been introduced to international music from their foreign language classes, families, social media, or friends. “One of my friends showed me a music video from a French artist that got me interested in the genre, and my tastes branched out more from there,” freshman Sonya Dutton said. Some students have been exposed to different styles of music from a young age. “My mom is Chinese so I listen to Chinese music. She also watches a lot of dramas, and there is a lot of Chinese music in them too,” freshman Laura Yao said. The appeal of international music is difficult to put into words, especially considering that the lyrics often cannot be understood. However, some people find this appealing. “The rhythm and the beat are what matters most,” freshman Julie Dibonge said. “Sometimes, it gives you an advantage when you don’t know the meaning because they could be singing about the weirdest thing, but as long as the feel is good, then you could like it even more because you don’t understand it.” Furthermore, most translations of foreign lyrics can be found on the internet. Websites such as Lyric Translate and All
Curated Music Milord by Edith Piaf (French) Bailando by Enrique Inglesias (Spanish) BTS - 21st Century Girl (Korean) Stromae - Papaoutai (Belgian) Que Sera by Havana (Arabic) Only by Fuse ODG (Ghanian) The Voice by Celtic Woman (Celtic) Pana by Tekno (Nigerian)
The Lyrics offer English transcripts of songs in a wide variety of languages, including Greek, Swedish, Chinese, and Arabic. The stories behind the lyrics can also be interesting. Foreign music can teach people about different cultures and their unique identities, political problems, and daily lives. Common topics of global music, as well as Western music, are love, family, life, and freedom. Music can influence emotions, and what one feels can influence what kind of music to listen to. Spanish music, often known for its lively and catchy beats, is a favorite of many. “I think the different music styles make me feel different. Especially with the Spanish ones, I always feel a lot happier after I listen to them,” junior Taylor Thomas said. As world music spreads amongst students, it carries other benefits in addition to a catchy new tune. “It diversifies RM because different people listen to different music and it brings out their own unique sense to things,” Thomas said. “Music is a mode of creation and through different music styles, you get a different perspective on things as well.” If you ever get tired of listening to the same playlists on morning radio stations, experience something new and listen to some world music. It is definitely worth trying.
Countries of the issue: Two unique island nations GRENADA INDONESIA GRAPHICS BY KATHERINE WANG
Population: 105,897 (2013) National Bird: Dove National Flower: Bougainvillea National Sport: Cricket Traditional Foods: Oil-down, callaloo, dumpings Grenada is made up of six smaller islands, located in the Caribbean Sea. Known for exporting nutmeg and other spices, the small nation also experiences a severe hurricane season. But if you happen to go there on a break, be sure to visit the capital city of St. George’s, wander along the waterfront at Carenage, and relax in the sun at Morne Rouge Bay.
Population: 249.9 million (2013) National Bird: Javan hawk eagle National Flower: Moon orchid National Sport: Badminton Traditional Foods : Laksana jakarta, lontong sayur, lawar As the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia is home to an endless number of natural wonders, and cultures, featuring a mix of Javanese, Chinese, Arab, Indian, Malay and European influences. Lake Toba on the volcanic island of Sumatra is perfect for swimming in the volcanically warmed waters, and if you are in the mood for a more historically oriented trip, you can visit Borobudur, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world.
GRAPHIC BY KATHERINE WANG
The Tide
STYLE
Roasted Pumpkin Soup by Jeremy Jubilee
Ingredients, serves 3-4
-2 pounds of whole pumpkin or another winter squash — something firm and nutty -1 tablespoon unsalted butter -1 tablespoon olive oil -½ cup diced yellow onion (about half a medium onion) -2 cups homemade or low sodium chicken stock -1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (alternatively, 1 tablespoon brown sugar) -Coarse salt and pepper, to taste -Optional nutmeg and cinnamon
Instructions:
1. Preheat an oven to 350° F, making sure to move the rack to a lower middle position in the oven. 2. Wash the pumpkins or winter squashes, then split them in half. Use a spoon to scoop out and discard the seeds (or save them for vegetable stock). Then, rub the pumpkins or squash with the olive oil, and season liberally with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven until the flesh
can be easily pierced by a knife with no resistance, about 50 minutes. Then remove and let cool. 3. While cooling, melt butter in a dutch oven or small soup pot over medium heat. Sweat the diced onion, softening but not browning it, about 5 minutes. If using, add cinnamon, nutmeg, or alternative ingredients, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Then add chicken stock and bring to a simmer. 4. Scoop the cooled roasted pumpkin or squash flesh into the pot, then add enough water to cover. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes. 5. Move the mixture to a blender and blend, starting at low speed, gradually increasing until at maximum speed. Work in batches if necessary. At this point, add extra stock or water until desired consistency is reached. If using sugar instead of honey or maple syrup, add before blending. 6. After blending, run through a fine mesh strainer into a clean pot, and gently reheat. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then add honey or maple syrup. Serve with a hot cup of tea or as a side to a hearty thanksgiving meal.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HALLIE KAY
Turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing are trademark food items of Thanksgiving dinners.
November 2016
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Family during holidays by Hallie Kay
Families. We will always love them, however much they may get on our nerves. Whether or not you’re spending the holidays with your family— continue reading, because I have got some long awaited advice for you. After many family filled holidays, I know a thing or two about dealing with relatives during the holidays. My family is a vivacious combination of New Yorkers (Brooklyn to be exact) and native Washingtonians. It is pretty much one of the most volatile, but eternally wonderful, combinations ever. As everyone walks in the door, a deluge of accents follows. Each person is louder than the next. We are always happy, laughing with each other and at each other, with laughs ranging from strange to melodious. A delightful cacophony of laughter. As a senior who recently submitted all of her college applications, I know how unsettling the college and future small talk can be. “Where are you applying? What are your reach schools? Where do you see yourself in five years?” You know exactly what I mean, seniors. We have all been there. For everyone else, you know how pushy relatives can be. They will proceed full steam ahead and bulldoze you with questions about the next ten years of your life. Lovely. What more could an unsure and, quite frankly, frightened teenager want more? I myself have had mini-meltdowns, but my wise father has said it is only because your future is the only topic they can discuss comfortably. It’s all about comfort. So get comfortable. My advice to those who are trying to avoid these inquisitions is simple: just change the subject. Maybe stuff your face with food. Everyone knows it is impolite to talk with your mouth full. It works every time — and I should know--since I’ve shamelessly used this tactic many times. Steer the conversation in the direction you want it go. Bring up a funny video you saw or maybe something you learned in
school. In no time you will have the entire table in harmonious laughter, and there is truly no better sound. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about it now. My next piece of advice is to get into the kitchen. People eat a lot during the holidays, right? As an avid cook and selfproclaimed foodie, I find the kitchen to be heaven on earth. My mom taught me early on that the kitchen is the ultimate hideaway. Acting in charge of preparing the food allows you to be in control, and best of all, away from all that college talk or whatever talk it may be. And, just as a side note, cooks really do save the best parts of the food for themselves. On Thanksgiving in particular, this rings true. And if you do not celebrate Thanksgiving, I still encourage to go out — yes, right now - and buy a turkey. Take it home, give it some love. Get some lemon, thyme, rosemary, and loads of butter on and roast it. Wait until it turns golden brown and crispy, and watch that skin crackle. Let it sit for a short while, and then my friends, begin carving! I guarantee you will not be disappointed. And to make your dinner that much more delicious, I am going to tell you all about a little known secret of the “oyster.” Now, what exactly do oysters have to do with turkey, you ask? Well, nestled comfortably beneath the turkey thigh is the “oyster.” Every cook know that this is the best part of the whole bird. A rich chunk of meat teeming with juice and flavor hides there, practically begging to be plucked and eaten by the lucky one who discovers it. I suggest that you be the one who finds it. Viola, you’re the lucky winner. You too can experience this wild and crazy culinary experience first hand. I have discovered that no matter how loud and crazy my holiday dinners may become, I always find a way to make them enjoyable for me. Find that aunt or uncle or cousin that you have not spoken to in a while and catch up. Carve your turkey, find your oyster. And more than anything else, enjoy the togetherness that comes along with the holiday times.
Consumers fear explosive technology malfunctions by Kamryn Dillon From the scooters of the future to one of the most popular cell phone brands, the recent trend of technology failures is both figuratively and literally exploding as a hot button issue. Mass recalls for both the Samsung Note 7 and hoverboards are still being carried out because of engineering malfunctions that cause the devices to potentially catch fire or destructively explode. Of the two technologies, the highly anticipated Samsung Note 7 has proved to be the biggest disappointment, frustrating many. “I mean, it’s not like it’s unheard of with the products exploding,” sophomore Lily Pollack said. “But they should also do more research about their products before they put them out into the public.” Many people interpret these malfunctions as evidence that large companies are neglecting consumer concerns. “This is just a whole new level,” sophomore Cassandra Couryis said. “They’re selling exploding products, and I think it’s going to happen again because if it’s happened once then they obviously haven’t tested their products. It’s just the industry. They care more about money than people’s safety.” However, other students, in particular Samsung users, defended the company for
not only their multiple public recalls, but also for their halt on sales altogether, unlike the hoverboard company whose product remains on shelves. “Every company has had their bad runs,” senior Vivian Chao said. “I think this will just be one incident, and as soon as they get these bugs fixed, then they’ll most likely be back to being sold on the market
“[The companies] care more about money than people’s safety.” - Cassandra Couryis and in demand.” “These are big companies,” sophomore Chris Deriquito said. “This might be enough to leave a dent, but it won’t be enough to leave them bankrupt. This is probably just a one-time thing. I mean, with than big a company, they should have at least some regulations, but they already tried to recall, so I think they care more about their consumers.” On the other hand, hoverboard companies have borne the brunt of the criticism, as they have no other products. “Just don’t get a hoverboard,” cautioned Deriquito. Hoverboard owner and freshman
Edriss Ndiaye remained ambivalent. “Having a hoverboard myself and it breaking after three weeks, it’s not worth the investment, but I’d probably buy a new one if the current issues with it were fixed,” Ndiaye said. The varying responses among students reflect the controversy over the safety of the products. To invest or not to invest. It is obvious no one would want to see their home in flames because of a hoverboard catching fire or a Samsung Note 7 blowing to bits while on its charger. Many expressed displeasure towards the industry rather than for the phone or hover board. The malfunctions create the sense that consumers are used and unappreciated by multi-million dollar companies. Both the trust and safety of consumers are violated. As a dedicated Samsung user who feels that Samsung outperforms Apple in entertaining my needs for a phone, I had to really think about my loyalties to a company with devices that can potentially hurt people. “If a phone is exploding in your hand, then that will be detrimental.” Ndiaye reasoned. It all goes back to the products versus the consumers. People who want to buy a new phone or hoverboard should not have to worry about their safety when using the products. Ultimately, companies must be more cautious when it comes to product inspections. Customers should feel safe purchasing their products.
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
“I think what we need to do is teach producers that there is something they can do to keep people safer, as these are still good companies,” senior Kat Osborne said. We as consumers and students do not know what the board leaders of the companies discuss about their products and how they perceive technological problems. Let’s just hope that the “next big thing” does not turn out to be the next big bang.
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CENTERSPREAD
November 2016
GUYS AND DOLLS
Set in 1950s New York City, “Guys and Dolls” tells the story of gambler Nathan Detroit’s search for a place to host his crap game. Unfortunately, due to Lt. Brannigan’s strict control over the city, Nathan finds only one possible place to host his game: the Biltmore garage. To add to Nathan’s list of woes, Biltmore asks for a $1000 down payment before Nathan can host the game. The only problem? Nathan’s broke. He comes up with a plan to get the money by betting Sky Masterson— the man willing to bet on anything.
CENTERSPREAD
The Tide
The RM fall musical, “Guys and Dolls,” is a collective endeavor. Hours of hard work and dedication are poured into the production by all participating students and teachers. The set decoration crew, set construction crew, and technical supervisor Eric Rodney all work together to create the magnificent 1950s New York set. The tech production behind the show reaches new heights with the collaboration of the lighting crew, sound crew, technical directors— seniors Sally Simpson and Malory Hartman— and Mr. Rodney. Music director Ronald Frezzo and conductor Peter Perry are the masterminds behind the music, directing the musical numbers with the cast and pit orchestra. On show night, props, running, house, the cast and the stage managers— seniors Charlotte Beckford and Mallory Simcox— run the show, putting on a great performance for the audience. At the heart of it all lie the two student assistant directors— seniors Alex Haddad and Naomi Park— the RMHS Drama Board, and artistic director Emily Davis. Together the RM Black Maskers brought this production to life, creating a fall musical to remember. PHOTO BY SHERRY LI
PHOTO BY PROMA RAHMAN
Nathan dares Sky to take a girl of Nathan’s choice to Cuba. Nathan chooses Sarah Brown, a beautiful but uptight missionary sergeant, thinking that she will never agree. Sky goes to Sarah and promises that he will bring a “dozen genuine sinners” if she would accompany him to Havana. Sarah refuses, saying she wants to fall in love with a moral, upright man. However, desperate to save the mission, she implicitly agrees. Meanwhile, Adelaide, Nathan’s longtime fiancé of 14 years, longs to get married and sets their wedding as the same day as his crap game. The musical ends with both women deciding to marry and reform their men.
The set decoration crew invested their time and effort to construct a picturesque set, emulating 1950s New York City. The set consists of brick work, washed out colors, aged billboards, and metal trim. Senior Anna Langer, chief of set decoration, explained, “There’s a lot going on. There’s a lot of little pieces, but when it all comes together it looks really good.”
The lighting crew, headed by lighting chief senior Luniva Shrestha, is captures the essence of New York City’s Broadway with a string of yellow marquee lights framing the stage.
Miss Adelaide, played by junior Kit Flaherty is a dancer at the Hot Box but longs for a life away from bustling New York City. Engaged to crap broker Detroit, she patiently awaits for him to organize a wedding date.
PHOTO BY SHERRY LI
Sky Masterson, played by senior Noah Montemarano, is a typical charming and suave antihero. Assistant Director Alex Haddad further characterizes Masterson stating, “[He is] a sinner with a heart of gold— naughty on the surface, but nice underneath.”
For this production of “Guys and Dolls,” the costumes crew created flashy, bright and colorful outfits. junior Kate Mchale and senior Bethel Afful expressed their difficulty with the show’s costumes stating, “Miss Adelaide... has ELEVEN costumes. That’s more costumes than any one character has had in all six of the other shows I have done costumes for.”
PHOTO BY PROMA RAHMAN
Senior Marjorie Long portrays the very straight, narrow, and religious Salvation Army officer, Sarah Brown. As a complement to Masterson, her looser wild side appears with their developing interpersonal relationship.
Senior Joey Moore plays businessman Nathan Detroit, leader of a floating crap game. Compared to his thriving business, his personal life holds uncertainty. He has a promise to his fiancee Miss Adelaide for a wedding “some time” in the future.
PHOTO BY PROMA RAHMAN
PHOTO BY PROMA RAHMAN
Written by Alythia Vo, Vivian Yeh, Proma Rahman
PHOTO BY FATMA ELSAYED
November 2016
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The Tide
LA MAREA
Noviembre del 2016
El debate entre latinx y latino Colombia sin paz por Daniela Moreira ¿Sabes qué es ‘latinx’? Es un sustantivo usado para identificarse como latino, sin implicación de un género. Es el más reciente fenómeno de lo que parece ser una revolución lingüística del español. El cambio es minúsculo, una ‘x’ en vez de una ‘a’ o una ‘o’, pero este pequeño reemplazo es la adaptación que los jóvenes hacen para expresar un concepto de identificación más actualizado. Algunos jóvenes usan latinx (pronunciado latin-ex) para alejarse del binario creado por ‘latino/latina’ ya que no se identifican en ninguno de estos extremos. Para muchos la creación, y la rápida proliferación, de la palabra ‘latinx’ refleja la dirección progresiva de las culturas hispánicas. En el mundo de hoy hay una gran variedad de comunidades para acoger las diversas facetas del individuo moderno. Muchos de los que se refieren a sí mismos como ‘latinx’ sienten que el término les provee la libertad de identidad y una comunidad que latino/a simplemente no les ofrece. Este término empezó a emerger en Internet durante el año 2004 entre los miembros de la comunidad LGBT (lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transexuales). La popularidad del término ha crecido rápidamente gracias a los blogueros y la gente en al redes sociales. Sin embargo, este gran cambio no ha sido aceptado por toda la comunidad latina ya que hay
quienes se oponen al uso del término. Un editorial escrito en “The Phoenix” por Gilbert Guerra y Gilbert Orbea argumenta que la pronunciación de ‘latinx’ no es algo natural para la lengua española. “A mi me gusta el término ‘latinx,’” cuenta un estudiante de duodécimo grado y miembro de la comunidad LGBT, Xochi Cartland. “Pero si pienso que es más fácil usarlo en lo escrito que en
GRÁFICO POR KATHERINE WANG
conversación. No fluye naturalmente,” ella explicó. “Es difícil construir e introducir una nueva palabra a un lenguaje bien establecido, entiendo porque alguien se sentiría incómodo con la palabra,” añadió la estudiante de duodécimo grado, Tatiana Davidson. “Esto, sin embargo, no significa que una persona que necesita la palabra no la pueda usar.” Un argumento contra el uso de ‘latinx’ es simplemente que es un cambio muy radical. Los amantes de las raíces lingüísticas del español piensan que se necesita ser bilingüe para entender el término de género neutral. “Borrar el género es borrar el
español,” escriben Guerra y Orbea , y explican su opinión con una oración plagada de “x” neutrales: “Lxs niñxs fueron a lx escuelx a ver sus amigxs.” A pesar de todo esto, las opiniones varían mucho. Una de las profesoras de español de Richard Montgomery, la señora Solernou dijo, “una de las cosas que me gusta de esta lengua es el género porque no se refiere al género masculino o femenino de la persona… los substantivos como ‘la mesa’ no tiene nada que ver con ser hombre o mujer.” Aunque el término es relativamente nuevo, ha sido recibido con brazos abiertos por los millenials principalmente. Kayla Guevara, estudiante de noveno grado, no había escuchado el término hasta recientemente. “No me disgustó oírlo,” ella admitió, “yo sé que hay términos con géneros neutrales pero fue una sorpresa agradable que hubiera este tipo de identificador latino.” En lo que sí están de acuerdo aquellos que usan “latinx”, es que este desarrollo lingüístico refleja el estado actual de la sociedad. Por primera vez en la historia de la lengua hay una palabra que acomoda a los que no se identifican como mujer o hombre. Hay un futuro muy brillante para la palabra “latinx”. Las profesoras de español en Richard Montgomery todavía no han adoptado ‘latinx’ en sus clases porque prefieren enseñar palabras establecidas por la Academia Real de la Lengua. Sin embargo, gracias al uso frecuente de “latinx”, es posible que la palabra llegue pronto a la lista de vocablos admitidos por la Academia.
por Maria Vicente Por años ya, Colombia ha sido consumida por la violencia de una sangrienta guerra civil. El conflicto colombiano entre el gobierno y las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) ha durado más de cinco décadas, convirtiendo esta guerra en una de las guerras civiles más largas en toda la historia. FARC, formado durante la Guerra Fría en 1964, empezó como grupo socialista revolucionario y es también llamado el Ejército del Pueblo. Este grupo promueve ideas anti-imperialistas y es conocido por emplear tácticas militares y métodos terroristas. Los miembros de FARC son infames por usar secuestro y rescate al igual como la minería ilegal, la extorsión, y el narcotráfico para apoyar financieramente la organización. Este grupo recluta a niños para ser soldados y es muy común que las niñas sean abusadas físicamente. Pero no solo son los miembros de FARC que cometen estas atrocidades hoy en día. Los derechos humanos son violados por los grupos paramilitares y el ejército del gobierno colombiano. Los grupos más afectados son las mujeres, los campesinos, los sindicalistas y las comunidades afrocolombianas e indígenas. Ellos se ven atrapados en el medio de la violencia creada por el gobierno y las FARC. Kaylee Rodríguez-Torres, estudiante del grado 11, contó que miembros de su familia “tuvieron que huir del pueblo a la ciudad porque los militares estaban matando a la gente y los tiraban al río.” De manera
contrastante, la estudiante Paula Moreno describió su experiencia diferente al decir, “[mi] papá es militar del ejército de Colombia y la mayor parte de su vida ha estado en esta guerra luchando en contra de grupos guerrilleros como las FARC y el ELN.” Hace poco la población colombiana fue presentada con la opción de terminar el derramamiento de sangre a través de una vocación a favor de un acuerdo de paz. Los acuerdos decían que la guerra y la violencia se acabarían y los miembros de FARC serían perdonados por sus crímenes y tendrían representación política. Cuando estos acuerdos se pusieron a prueba con el voto de la población colombiana, un poco más de la mitad de los ciudadanos votaron en contra de ellos. Esta decisión respondía a la lo que ellos percibían como un acuerdo injusto que favorecía a FARC. Tras ser entrevistada, estudiante del grado 11, Ashly Lemos-Toro, dijo lo siguiente de los acuerdos, “[son] el inicio de un nuevo país, donde se requiere el compromiso de todos los ciudadanos para trabajar por la paz e incluir a los desmovilizados en la sociedad.” Ella explicó que cree que no fueron aprobados “por las ventajas que se les iban a dar a los guerrilleros desmovilizados y que estos no iban a pagar por sus actos.” Muchos colombianos creen que los acuerdos deberían haber sido modificados de manera que los guerrillero y los soldados del ejército pagarán por sus actos violentos. A pesar del estado turbulento en el que está el país, muchos colombianos no pierden la esperanza que en el futuro de su país será uno de paz y unidad.
Elección 2016: el poder del voto y el pueblo latino por Jean Espinosa La elección presidencial del 2016, con los candidatos Donald Trump y Hillary Clinton, ha sido una de las más intensas y controversiales de la historia de los Estados Unidos. La comunidad latina crece cada año a gran velocidad, el voto latino cuenta más y más en cada elección. De acuerdo con un informe hecho por “Latino Vote Matters,” la población de los Estados Unidos será 29% latina para el año 2050, lo cual tiene muy importantes implicaciones para el rol de los latinos en el proceso electoral. Por consiguiente, los dos candidatos han luchado por el favoritismo de los hispanos ya que están conscientes de su gran influencia. A través de todas las elecciones presidenciales de los Estados Unidos, la mayoría de los latinos han escogido al candidato demócrata. Aunque la mayoría de latinos favorece al partido Demócrata, el partido Republicano no se queda atrás. De acuerdo con el sitio Pew Research Center, el 44% de hispanos dicen que la economía estaría en mejor forma bajo control republicano. La economía siempre ha sido uno
de los temas más importantes de cada elección. En estas elecciones, el candidato Donald Trump, un empresario, podría tener el voto hispano gracias a su experiencia empresarial. No obstante, Trump ha propuesto y comentado contra los latinos leyes que han reducido su popularidad. Una de sus propuestas que se ha visto favorecida o rechazada por el electorado, es la construction de una muralla entre México y los Estados Unidos. Su propuesta va a cambiar la reforma migratoria, ya que la entrada y salida entre el borde seria muy complicada para muchos migrantes. Además, una gran deportación de migrantes ilegales también fue
La señora González, maestra de español en Richard Montgomery High School, explicó los tres aspectos más negativos de la candidatura de Trump: “Trump no tiene experiencia, está muy concentrado en el mismo, y es una persona que practica mucho el etnocentrismo.” Pero de la misma manera, la candidata demócrata Hillary Clinton no se salvó de la crítica. Su propuesta de cambiar Obamacare y el asunto de sus correos electrónicos privados, provocaron comentarios negativos por todos los partidos políticos. Sin embargo, Clinton tiene mucha experiencia en el gobierno que la ayudaría a ser la primera mujer presidente. De acuerdo a Pew Research
Center, 80% de propuesta. GRÁFICO POR KATHERINE WANG mujeres Trump ha latinas se sido criticado fuertemente ya que muchos dicen inclinan a la candidata demácrata. que sus propuestas y campaña En estas elecciones Hilary podría contar con la mayoría del voto de muestran racismo.
la mujer latina. Trump está contra los abortos y ha hecho comentarios derogatorios contra las mujeres. Hilary piensa lo opuesto y tiene la historia en su lado, ya que si gana, sería un evento importante en la lucha contra el sexismo. En estas elecciones lo más importante para los latinos es salir a votar. Este año 2016 hay 23.3 millones de personas latinas que pueden votar, pero fue estimado que sólo 11.2 millones votarían. Después de los resultados electorales del 8 de noviembre, muchos latinos ahora están muy preocupados sobre su futuro y el futuro de su familia. El presidente electo, Donald Trump, ha prometido que durante sus primeros 100 días como presidente, el va a pasar el “End Illegal Immigrant Act.” Esta ley no solo proveerá fondos para la construcción de su muralla, pero también se impondrán sentencias de 2 a 5 años para aquellos que traten de cruzar la frontera más de una vez o aquellos que tengan antecedentes criminales. Además, después de estas elecciones, la Cámara de Representantes, el Senado, y la Corte Suprema de Justicia serán controladas por los republicanos. Esto es también causa de preocupación para muchos latinos ya que Trump tendrá apoyo suficiente para pasar leyes
anti-inmigrantes y posiblemente revocar el Dream Act. Es estimado por el periódico The New York Times que el voto latino solamente contribuyó 11% del voto total en la elección presidencial del 2016. Además, Clinton ganó 65% del voto latino y Trump 29%. Durante estas elecciones el voto latino podría haber sido de casi 4 millones más que el de las elecciones anteriores. Muchos, incluyendo a la candidata Clinton, creyeron que este crecimiento en la población latina, más el “Impacto Trump” aseguraría el triunfo demócrata. Esto claramente no se hizo realidad y ningún otro estado demostró esto como la Florida. Se estima que en Florida el voto latino solo constituyó un 18% del total de los votos, solamente 1 por ciento más que en 2012. Clinton ganó 200,000 más votos que Obama en el 2012, pero Trump ganó 400,00 más que Mitt Romney. Es claro que el pueblo latino tiene un gran poder para cambiar el futuro de este gran país. Los resultados de esta elección presidencial no son favorables para todos los latinos pero si en el futuro la población latina se moviliza, el sistema electoral puede ser cambiado permanentemente.
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November 2016
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The Tide
ARTS
November 2016
Musical set does anything but fade into the background by Sara Reilly Set construction, one of RM’s backstage show crews, works around the clock to create the set for every Black Maskers production. From the first design meeting to opening night, they build the set and constantly add new details to make the show at hand come alive. The Black Maskers’ productions are notorious for being a huge time commitment, but set construction (“set con” for short) goes above and beyond most other crews. Their current project is creating a whimsical set for the fall musical, “Guys and Dolls.” Set in the 1950s, the show is based on several short stories written by Damon Runyon. For this production, the set is especially important. “New York City is like another character in the show. The show is very “New York;” it’s about Damon Runyon’s world, a fantasy-like New York,” artistic director Emily Davis explained. Consequently, the set con crew is integral to the Black Maskers. “[There is] no set without us. All of the scenery is because of us, the onstage lights are installed by us, and there simply is no setting without us. We build the world the play takes place in,” stated senior and crew chief Kevin Cobb. The crew is comprised of students from all grade levels and is led by Cobb and Eric Rodney, the technical supervisor for the production. “As set con chief I am responsible for the actual construction of the set. All the buildings and structures and signs you see? My crew builds them, and I lead that
crew.... This means I teach those new to set con how to practically operate power tools and how to build the set,” Cobb said. All set con members must be power
some are far more agonizing than others... Our current production has lots of small but time consuming details to be taken into account for, which is especially challenging
GRAPHIC BY VIVIAN YEH
“Guys and Dolls” is set in the 1950s, reflected by its elaborate set and dazzling costumes. tool-trained before they begin the long process of building the set from scratch. “I have been on many productions, and
given how few people we had on the crew this production,” Cobb remarked. Constructing the set for a show
encompasses much more than meets the eye, as the crew works alongside Ms. Davis and the student assistant directors, seniors Alex Haddad and Naomi Park. “I would say that it’s a very mutual process. As the artistic director I come up with the look of the show, with the overall vision. I work with the set con chiefs and Mr. Rodney on how to make my vision practical and change things along the way based on what they think would work best,” Ms. Davis expressed. Without set con, productions would not be possible because many of a musical’s nuances are reflected in its set. The perfect example is New York’s complex atmosphere in “Guys and Dolls.” Creating a set that complements a storyline just enough to set the tone is a tricky task. Set con raises the bar even higher, because they also want to leave room for the audience to imagine additional elements themselves. To the set construction crew, the challenges are worth it in the end. “While sometimes I want to pull my hair out, the end results are always, to quote Mr. Rodney, “glorious,”” Cobb said. “Even Mr. Monteleone put it after seeing the set for “Noises Off,” “It looks like something out of the Kennedy Center.”” Senior and assistant director Alex Haddad had similar praise for her final fall production. “This crew has really taken to heart the fact that New York in the ‘50s is a character of its own in this show, and it shows.... with all the flashing lights and changing set pieces...it really does deserve your attention. It’s more than beautiful or impressive... it’s just as spectacular as a showy show like “Guys and Dolls” deserves,” she said.
All that jazz: Ingrid Winkler The Nobel Prize is a-changin’ by Katie Zhang
PHOTO COURTESY OF INGRID WINKLER
Winkler displays her talent on “Jazz Encounters.” Though the odds were not in her favor, senior Ingrid Winkler overcame challenges and has risen to become a successful young jazz musician. Currently playing in festivals all over Washington, D.C. and recently featured on the TV show “Jazz Encounters,” Winkler has come a long way from learning songs by listening to the radio. Winkler first realized that she wanted to start playing music in fourth grade, when one of her mom’s friends made her a CD. After listening to the CD, she decided to start playing the piano. “Whenever I heard something on the radio I would just go...and play it by ear,” she said. Now Winkler can play almost any instrument, but still mainly learns by ear, when she plays the saxophone. “Improvisation is very big in jazz,” Winkler explained. Despite her natural talent, Winkler’s health can be a great obstacle as she continues her music career. She suffers from an incredibly rare connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which causes her joints to be loose, weak, and dislocate up to 20 times a day. “Sometimes it can be so painful [to continue playing] that I want to quit, but I try to
stay positive,” Winkler explained. She has persevered by giving herself constant mental encouragement. “[I tell myself] just don’t give up...Keep practicing,” she said. For the last seven years, Winkler’s biggest inspiration has been her teacher and director, Paul Carr: “He took me under his wing when I was just 10 years old and got me to where I am today,” she said. When she met him she was struggling to learn how to play, and she is thankful in part to him for her success. “He gave me the resources, skills, and confidence to make something of myself, and inspires me every single day to do better,” she said. “Doing better” is an understatement – last year, Winkler was the youngest musician to be featured in the Washington Women in Jazz Festival, which brings together female jazz musicians to collaborate and showcase their talent. Winkler also believes festivals like these are a good way to meet other musicians. “Everyone there has something in common,” she said. “I actually was fortunate enough to meet the head of the jazz department at Gettysburg College at a
“Sometimes it can be so painful that I want to quit, but I try to stay positive.” - Ingrid Winkler festival,” Winkler said, and he offered her a full scholarship to their program. Winkler loves everything about being a musician, but especially the sense of purpose it has given her. “Being a musician gave me something to be good at. I was never really a great student, and since I’ve become disabled it’s hard to find something I can actually do. I am never happier than when I am playing jazz.”
by Amalia Sulk Bob Dylan, a well-known singer-song writer who rose to fame in the 1960s, won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. Within the literary community, this was a decision that surprised and angered quite a few people. Others applauded the committee’s decision, feeling that Dylan deserves the prize for the song lyrics he has written and the impact his words have had on listeners. One of the questions raised by this choice is whether or not songwriters should be eligible for the Literature Prize. “You don’t have to read his lyrics; you can just listen to them. And there are some traditionalists who don’t see that as literature,” English teacher James Agnew explained. Junior Rosie Silvers expanded on this modernity: “I think it was controversial because it was new; most new ideas and choices are,” she said. New or not, there are few easy choices in literature. “Whenever you give a literary award, people are going to complain. And everybody thinks literature is established poets, or self-professed poets or writers of novels... I think what he’s contributed to American music is unparalleled,” English teacher Jeremy Koenig said. Everyone interprets literature differently, and everyone has their own personal favorites. In addition to the controversial choice to award the Nobel Prize to a songwriter rather than a traditional poet or author, Dylan did not act like a conventional laureate, either. “One thing that was controversial about it was that Bob Dylan did not formally accept the award immediately… some people think it’s unprofessional to not recognize awards,” Foundations of Technology teacher David Mizrahi said. According to the New York Times, a member of the academy that awards the
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROWLAND SCHERMAN
Dylan has been writing songs for over fifty years. prize called Dylan’s silence “impolite and arrogant.” While it is an unconventional choice, many applaud the Nobel Committee’s initiative in giving the award to a songwriter as influential as Bob Dylan. “I think he really tries to say something with his music and lyrics, send messages, create an impact. And that definitely applies to this award,” Silvers said. The goal of this award is to recognize exceptional writers, and Dylan has had a huge impact on the public with his songs. Even if song writing is accepted as literature, there is also an argument against giving such a public figure the Nobel Prize. “There are a lot of writers out there that go unrecognized,” Mr. Koenig said. Bob Dylan has already received a lot of recognition for his work, and some think he would not get as much out of this award as a lesser-known writer. While Dylan himself avoided talking about the prize for weeks, the rest of the world was certainly voicing their opinion. The Nobel Committee’s decision has sparked a conversation about the definition of literature, and who has the right to make the distinction between literature and popular culture.
ARTS
The Tide
November 2016
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Finding unity within art Looking beyond the musical by Christine Zhu People often say that sporting events such as the Olympics unite athletes and onlookers. The athletes live in the Olympic Village, usually with their teammates, coaches, and other representatives from their countries. They also have a chance to bond with their competitors from different countries and people in their countries bond at home through the mutual desire to see their country win event. Like the Olympics, sharing the experience of viewing a work of art can also form strong ties between groups of people. Senior Sam Pierce is currently helping to paint murals in RM, with the hope of promoting school unity. “One of the murals that I’m working on has a lot of hands and is meant to show the unity between
PHOTO BY EMILY CHEN
The hands in the mural symbolize unity. the different forms of art and different art classes,” Pierce said. “I didn’t start either of the murals, but continuing them is cool.” The mural is strategically located in the basement near the visual art classes, where students can take inspiration from it and think of themselves as a part of a whole and not just an individual artist or student.
Visual arts bring people closer together by igniting emotions in observers, allowing them to feel the excitement or sorrow in a certain sculpture or drawing. Performing arts also allows musicians, dancers, and actors to work together in order to put on a play or showcase. As a seasoned dancer and a pianist, freshman Lydia Levy has experienced the benefits of not only collaborating with
“You look at paintings and see these bright colors that evoke some feeling.”
by Natalie Chartove If you could choose the next show RM puts on, what would you pick? Twice a year the RM Black Maskers memorize lines, learn songs, create a set, and somehow manage to pull together spectacular shows in mere weeks. But for all the time, effort, and energy they put into these productions, they do not get to choose them. When given the opportunity to choose, performers and crew members alike had a lot to say about what shows they want to put on next.
- Lydia Levy other people in one artistic discipline, but also the beauty that comes from combining multiple areas of artistic expression. “Art’s very interdisciplinary, so you may have visual arts or performing arts, but the more connection you can draw between the two, the deeper you can get with your personal work.” Levy said. Painters, sculptors, composers, choreographers, and writers all have to find inspiration in order to create their pieces. “You look at paintings and see these bright colors that evokes some feeling in you. You might hear a song that makes you feel something and those connotations— they affect your performance,” Levy said. Freshman Corinne Foley is an oboist and has played with various ensembles. “Different forms of music, such as pit orchestra and drama, support each other and bring out the beauty in each other, making it more pleasant to listen to,” Foley said. Both artistic talent and unity can be expressed through the power of visual arts.
PHOTO BY EMILY PAN
Cast and crew are enthusiastic for the future. “I’d really like to do ‘Next to Normal,’” senior Anwesha Moitra said. “[But] we’d never do it because it’s a very small cast.” The great amount of interest in drama inhibits Black Maskers from putting on shows with small casts, because they want as many students as possible to have a role. Like Moitra, senior Malory Hartman’s top choice would not offer many roles: “I would love for us to do ‘Into the Woods,’which also has a really small cast.” For RM’s productions, it is important to incorporate everyone into the ensemble. “[We need] something easy but that has a big ensemble...that’s not coming to my mind now,” junior Caroline Coffey said. Music and dancing are also factors at play
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
Students are thinking past “Guys and Dolls.” when choosing a musical. “I’d like to do ‘Rent,’ just because the music is really cool,” junior Emily Zhou explained. Sophomore Allison Mintz chose two very different shows: “Something like ‘Hairspray’ or ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’... something with tap would be especially cool, and it’s just upbeat and fun to watch, and fun to participate in.” To many like Zhou and Mintz, RM’s productions are about enjoying what they are performing. For seniors, imagining the next RM production is bittersweet. Gabi Scott, a senior performing in her final RM musical, ‘Guys and Dolls,’ said, “I want to say ‘Hairspray,’ but I really wanted to be in ‘Hairspray,’ admitting that she would be disappointed if she missed the musical by a year. However, she did have an alternate suggestion for next year’s musical: “I think they would do a really good job with ‘Mary Poppins.’” While RM students and members of Black Maskers may not know how the shows are chosen, they certainly have a lot of suggestions for future performances. A variety of shows were suggested, from ‘Mamma Mia!,’ to ‘Into the Woods,’ to ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie.’ For the Black Maskers, shows are all about giving the best performance possible, showcasing everyone’s skills, and sharing what they love. While it may be difficult to pick a play or musical that fits all of these criteria, students are eager to participate no matter what.
“SNL” gives a breath of fresh air to the election cycle 2008, which was yet another election year, with episodes featuring Tina Fey’s muchloved portrayal of the bumbling Sarah Palin. The question then becomes, why do we tune in to these skits? When Alec Baldwin’s Trump creeps up behind Kate McKinnon’s Clinton to the famous tune from “Jaws,” it gives most of us a good laugh, but that is what SNL does (or is supposed to do) in every skit. Why do these particular skits garner such high viewership? IB Global Politics teacher Brian Donlon acknowledged that this high viewership may be attributed to the characteristics that the skits reveal about each candidate. “In a
way it’s because they’ve got the bombastic Trump and the super ambitious Hillary,” by Magali Ngouabou he asserted, “and I think at its core it’s true about both of these people.” For some, when SNL captures these Whether you have wanted to hear about fundamental characteristics, it steps away it or not, the 2016 Presidential Election has from the general media bias and presents probably shown up on your social media valid issues about the candidates. “They feeds, in your favorite news outlets, or have a caricature of [Clinton] and a even in the arts section of your school’s caricature of Trump, and when they stick newspaper. The polarized nature of to the caricatures they’re good, because this election cycle has compelled nearly they’re making legitimate points,” senior everyone to speak out, usually in a futile Nick Peang-Meth elaborated. attempt to sway the opposing side, with For others, SNL’s effect is more personal. the mainstream media being no exception. “A lot of people feared for the country, Both Democratic party candidate like really feared for it,” emphasized Hillary Clinton and Republican party junior Heather Konan, “a lot of candidate Donald Trump have the highest people were really scared and unfavorable rates in recorded American SNL just kind of lightened the history. From Donald Trump’s “locker mood.” room talk” to Hillary Clinton’s ongoing Though these skits go email scandal, media outlets such as a long way to ease the CNN, Huffington Post, and Breitbart tension behind the have exploited every scandal in election, they tend to order to not-so-secretly advocate focus on the aspects for one candidate over the other. that promote comedy, Even late night television drawing away attention shows have contributed their from the candidates’ commentaries to the polarized policies. “I think that the election. The controversies and media has been a part of mannerisms of both candidates the problem in the sense have offered comedic gold that they are much more for prominent late night interested in the back shows. In fact, many and forth between the would say Saturday candidates than they are Night Live’s (“SNL”) with the issues,” said Mr. recent resurgence in Stillman. viewership can be For reasons much like attributed to their the skewed focus of the newest political skits. media, many believe “I know I never that satiric sources like watch it if it’s not Saturday Night Live election season,” should be sensibly social studies teacher approached. “Obviously if Todd Stillman it’s a show that’s supposed admitted. According to be satire, they should to CNN, this year’s have more leeway - I think Saturday Night Live it’s a problem when people season opener brought the largest audience to GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE get all their news from those a season premiere since Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon star as Donald Trump and HIllary Clinton on SNL. sources”, Peang-Meth said.
And with this election lasting as long as it does, people sometimes forget the weight behind the vote they cast. As a father and a teacher, Mr. Donlon sees how these elections affect a wider array of people. “Every election I can see how it’s going to affect me, my family, how it’s going to
“A lot of people were really scared, and SNL just lightened the mood.” - Heather Konan affect my students and their families, so, you know, elections are personal,” he said. When certain media focuses on the scandals over the issues, as a voter, it is important not to forget your role. For Mr. Stillman, the focus on trivialities, instead of the issues, fails to address the dilemmas in America. “We have problems in this country that we have to deal with, and I don’t think negativity is going to get us where we need to be,” he affirmed. This does not mean you have to refrain from enjoying shows like Saturday Night Live, or completely ignore every scandal-as some are very telling--but this year has marked some of our RM students’ first time voting in a presidential election, an event that will not occur for another four years. This year our voters have had to make a very difficult choice, a choice that, for many, includes serious consideration of third party candidates, while simultaneously being bombarded with scandal after scandal from just about every side. In the wake of this difficult decision, the American people have chosen Donald J. Trump as the president of the United States. SNL’s use of humor to reconcile such a controversial event may help provide the unity that the nation needs after such a dividing election.
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FEATURES
November 2016
Minority Scholars seek to cultivate school success SCHOLARS, cont. from page 1 students dedicated to promoting a diverse academic environment and cultivating minority success. Twice a week, members tutor students at Julius West Middle School to prepare middle schoolers for the rigor of high school. “The tutoring gives these kids a leg up and a quiet space to work with plenty of resources,” junior Irene Guggenheim-Triana said. “When those kids come here, they’ll be ready and with people they know so they can continue that success,” Ms. Boyd added. In addition to preparing middle school students for the academic rigor of high school, a key component of the program emphasizes enrollment in honors and AP courses. “The goal is to see more minorities have more motivation in school and be proactive in their work,” sophomore Ibtsam Fedil said. The president of RM’s chapter of the program, senior Josiah Belfon-Valentine, hopes to build a culture of academic excellence. He manages People of ColorPeople of Power, or POC-POP, a group that works with the program to provide opportunities to minority students in the community. “[It’s] a group of us whose sole focus is helping students find connections with
scholarships, provide application support, and also any job search help,” BelfonValentine explained. Belfon-Valentine strives to not only organize activities, but also to become a role model in order to motivate younger students to set higher expectations for themselves. “I want everyone to be able to look up to someone that’s focused on excellence,” Belfon-Valentine explained. “And that is the new cool.” An equally significant focus is placed on awareness of racial issues in the academic world, specifically the achievement gap. “I would like to see all races mingling with each other, not isolating themselves,” Ms. Boyd commented. “We need to embrace those differences and encourage kids to excel at all levels, [to] help each other up as opposed to pushing away.” “Different schools have very different populations of groups,” GuggenheimTriana elaborated. “For example, [at RM, the school as a whole] is much more diverse than the IB program.” Minority Scholars want to end the divide in all categories; between IB and MYP, and between races. “The goal is to make people more aware of cultures in Montgomery County because we have people from all around the world.” Ms. Boyd feels that the first step in solving academic racial disparities is
RM’s Minority Scholars program focuses on narrowing the county’s achievement gap.
PHOTOS BY FATMA ELSAYED
RM’s Minority Scholars program focuses on narrowing the county’s achievement gap. simple: unhindered, honest discussion. “Our language needs to change in terms of encouraging kids to take risks and to better themselves, [and] not to get comfortable with just mediocre,” she stressed. She hopes that the program will be a catalyst for discussion among all members of the RM community, not just the African American community. Ms. Boyd believes that the systemic change needed to close the achievement gap and progress toward racial equality, is impossible without the involvement of students of all backgrounds. The political aspect of the Minority Scholars Program aims to raise awareness from members of the community and representatives at state and county levels. Several years ago, the program led a march from the Carver Community Center to the Montgomery County courthouse. “It brought the attention of many legislators and activists, the National Education Association (NEA) and school representatives,” Ms. Boyd added. “As far as [knowing] that kids are paying attention to this; teachers and parents are paying attention.” The “March to Close
the Gap” was a message to politicians that students are passionate about closing the achievement gap. The Minority Scholars Program has a presence in sixteen high schools across MCPS. “It’s not only affecting the students here at Richard Montgomery but it’s affecting the community at large and hopefully it will affect the entire county,” Ms. Boyd said. “We are trying to make Richard Montgomery even more unique.”
GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE
Student interns get started on future career paths by Shiri Kalai and Maureen Zeufack Internships offer invaluable experiences to students: they provide a way of exploring the fields you are interested in and exposure to real-life work experiences. At RM, dozens of students participate in internships that guide them towards their future career paths. The interns work with a variety of organizations, from human rights nonprofits to university labs. Junior Rosie Silvers spends quite a bit of her time filling out spreadsheets and contacting people. But as menial as these tasks may sound, Silvers loves the work she does.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY WU
Senior Jerry Wu’s summer lab space at UMC.
She is part of an LGBT rights campaign and works specifically in outreach coordination for an upcoming festival. “It’s my first time in a professional work environment, and I’m learning a lot,” Silvers said. “I’m getting a lot more experience with researching, creating documents, and working with people in a non-school environment.” Silvers was drawn to this internship as a result for her growing interest in history and social issues--an interest that she plans to pursue beyond high school. “That’s definitely something I’m factoring into things I want to do in the future, like doing groundwork in my twenties with the Peace Corps or another nonprofit, or working to help people,” she explained. Meanwhile, sophomore Cammy Losada interns for congressman John Delaney, assisting in his campaign while simultaneously learning more about the government, a field she hopes to continue in the future. “It’s definitely helping me figure the things that I’m good at and what I like. I know I like working with people, and I know I like being able to help people,” Losada said. However, balancing schoolwork and her duties as an intern has proven to be difficult. “I’m a pom, as well as in IB. I have a job on Saturdays and this internship, so it’s a little bit of time management. You just have to be able to make sure that when you’re working you’re really working, and you have to be present in all your work,” she said. Meanwhile, RM students like junior Jason Hong are equally as involved in science-related internships. Over the summer, Hong worked in a lab at Georgetown Uni-
versity, mainly changing liquids and filling out sheets to send to histopathology. At first, he found it disappointing that such a large portion of his internship consisted simply of observing scientists. “It’s hard for the other lab members to trust you. This is their life’s work, and it’s hard for them to put their life’s work in the hands of a high schooler,” he explained. However, that did not deter Hong from building relationships with his mentors and furthering his experiences. “I think after communicat-
“The lab in the real world is so much different than the labs at school.” - Jason Hong ing with them, you’ll build trust,” he said. Hong hopes to take advantage of this experience, as he plans to attend medical school and become a doctor in the future. “I gained a lot of experience. The lab in the real world is so much different than the labs at school,” he explained. “There are actually procedures you have to follow and strict rules that will stay with me forever.” Similarly, senior Jerry Wu interned at the United Medical Center (UMC) Gene Therapy Center and was even able to design and execute his own experiments by the end of the summer. Wu’s aspirations
include becoming a humanitarian doctor, which served as motivation for applying to intern. “A lot of medical schools like kids who do research, whether it be in college or during high school. This is the beginning of that career path,” he said. Throughout the summer, Wu was granted the opportunity to observe and conduct live scientific research, though he claimed it did not always go as planned. “Scientific research is sort of like a roller coaster; you can’t really expect what results you’ll get,” he explained. “Most days, your experiment won’t go as planned and your hypothesis may not be proven. In those cases, scientific research feels really hard and it doesn’t feel good.” Yet, Wu’s passion for biology has not in any way diminished. “When experiments do go well, it’s essentially the best job in the world,” he said. Not only do internships afford the opportunity to narrow down your interests and explore possible careers, but they can also provide valuable experience in the subject matter you are already passionate about. Silvers stressed the value of finding an internship you would enjoy. “Don’t fit your interests to your opportunities, fit your opportunities to your interests,” she advised. In fact, many students take the initiative to contact possible mentors and ask to work with them, even if an internship may not already exist. Regardless of what your own passions and aspirations may be, there is a world of opportunities and internships out there waiting to be discovered—or created.
The Tide
I am thankful for the health and love of my wife and two sons and for the opportunity to serve as your principal each and every day! Damon Monteleone (Principal) My good son Teddy and my less good son Theo Meaghan Davis (Grade 11) The 50% rule. Jose Genao (Grade 11) I’m thankful for Cindy Song dealing with me everyday. Including this thank you! P.S You’re a great Tide Editor :^)))) I’m also thankful for Phil Zhang for letting me resubmit. :) Jonathan Zhang (Grade 11) I am thankful for my friends because they support me and are always there for me. Ashley Ye (Grade 9) I am thankful for my parents for all the support they have given me and my brothers for always making me laugh. Ibtsam Fedil (Grade 10) I am thankful for OM and their 5 dollar lunch special. Kevin Hu (Grade 11) I am thankful for my family and friends. Ana Clara Scholk (Grade 10) I’m thankful for my Spotify Fam, room 458 shenanigans, my sisters & all my pets! love you guys mucho! Esika Savsani (Grade 11) I’m thankful for my parents’ advice because they’ve always taught me to be myself and to be a good person. I appreciate them for that because I’ve surrounded myself with people like that. Emily Vasquez (Grade 10) I am thankful for my mother’s patience and support with my chosen extracurricular activities. Ayanna Hill (Grade 11) I’m super thankful for all my friends, except for Addele. I love all of them so much, except for Addele. They’re always there for me, except for Addele. Eric Kim (Grade 10) I thank Becca for making me write this. Jasmine de la Vega (Grade 11)
FEATURES
I am thankful for my parents who have tried their best to make my life as lit as possible and my friends for knowing what lit means. Mikhaila Estwick (Grade 10) I am thankful for Jason Hong. Peter Jasperse (Grade 11) I’m thankful for my amazing co-editors, for my teachers for making every class entertaining and for the sons of the original G for always surrounding me with good vibes™ Cindy Song (Grade 11) I am thankful that chocolate ganache is so yummy and sort of simple to make. Lydia Wei (Grade 9) I’m ever thankful for all my wonderful students. Have a happy Thanksgiving! Sr. Trovillion I’m thankful for my mom today and every day. Rosie Silvers (Grade 11) Thank you to all my friends and family that have accepted me for everything I am and could be. Special shoutout to Black Masters who gave me the opportunity to pursue something new. Malsha Perera (Grade 10) So thankful for my sisters, Spotify fam, karaoke in room 458 & MIA! love y’all so much! Julia Wang (Grade 11) I’m extremely thankful for my friends and family, they’re a huge aspect of my life. Joyce Milandu (Grade 9) I’m thankful for my best friends and family, and being a month closer to graduation!!!!! Lisa Jadji (Grade 12) I am thankful for my family. Isaac Applebaum (Grade 10) I’m grateful for my family. :) Albert Zhang (Grade 11) I am grateful for having bread and shelter and for the care that my beloved relatives give me. Also I am grateful for loving humanity although sometimes we do not make right decisions. Angel Ramos (Grade 11)
I am thankful for my friend Anna but mostly my favorite friend Rebecca. Michelle Ling (Grade 10)
I am thankful for my family and my friends. I am also thankful for the IB program because even though it gives me stress, it’s making me smarter. Katya Beltran (Grade 10)
I’m thankful for Mrs. Wheeler for putting up with me for the last 3 years. Matt Nguyen (Grade 12)
I am thankful for my friends and family who have always supported me. Katie Kolodner (Grade 9)
I am thankful for Sparknotes for helping me pass EVERYTHING. Will Barror (Grade 12)
Thanks Sam, for letting me borrow your pants! Emily Zhao (Grade 9)
I am thankful for a loving, exciting and hilarious field hockey season. I’ll miss you seniors! Lily Merritt (Grade 10) I wanna say thanks to my A1DAY1’s: TKelly (Ms. Kellinger) & Furr (Ms. Furr) for being the best SGA advisors, best teachers, and my best friends! ILY!! :) Sofia Bhalwani (Grade 12) I am thankful for my friends. Dina Garmroudi (Grade 9) I’m thankful for living in such a great and diverse community. Andrew Green (Grade 11) Thank you madre for birthing me! Heather Konan (Grade 11)
I’m thankful for teachers and bringing up my grade. Kenneth Mullins (Grade 12) I’m thankful for my family and all my friends. Jasmine Pham (Grade 9) I’m thankful for all of my amazing friends who make every day great! Derek Yao (Grade 10) I’m thankful for my rat Jennifer who has always been there through stress and sad times. Jessica Parnell (Grade 11) I am so thankful for all the opportunities at RM. The music, sports and drama programs are amazing! Also, I’m thankful for my awesome squad. Love y’all! Genevieve Grenier (Grade 9)
So much love and thanks to all of my sisters, the Spotify Fam, Alisa and Irene Park! Grace Wang (Grade 11) I’m thankful for all the inclusiveness and opportunities RM has given me <3 Alexander Lin (Grade 12) Jason Hong for being the real OG when it comes to homework help. RMIB 18 Alexa Nicole Paat for being the greatest friend ever. She’s just as stubborn as me, which makes our arguments annoying, but at the end, I still love her :P Anonymous I’m thankful for all my parents and family have given me, from a roof over my head to food on the table. Addie Carr (Grade 10) I am so, so thankful for sakonma@dA, someone who has become such a cherished friend, mentor and inspiration to me. I love her so very much and I am so grateful that I met her. Sophie Wan (Grade 12)
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Thanks to Racheckmeout for being my favorite girks, my parents for supporting me and teaching me how to drive, the math fam for motivating me and Irene for being the best co-editor :) Rachel Li (Grade 11) My friend Jeremy Jones for being the best person ever!!!!! Emma Jensen (Grade 12) Mr.Thomas’ accents & my wonderful friends (so just marjorie) Sara Reilly (Grade 11) The senpais who carry my butt in league :^) Anonymous I am thankful for all my teachers taking the time outside of school to write my college recs! Tihitina Aytenfisu (Grade 12) My friends (shoutout to the Squadron of Sisters and my favorite bird :)) and my teachers past and present for dealing with me and making school a truly enjoyable experience. Stella Ho (Grade 11)
I’m thankful for food, sleep and my family. Justin Zhang (Grade 10)
Thanks to everyone in my 6th period for giving me food <3 Liz Sharp (Grade 10)
Thanks for education. Tudor Postolache (Grade 9)
I am grateful for food because I am not starving :) Alan Tong (Grade 10)
I’m thankful for the cross country team! It has enabled me to bond with so many upperclassmen! Deeksha Sesha (Grade 9) I am thankful for all my friends in this school that have made my day better every single day. Pranav Tadikonda (Grade 9) I’m thankful for my friends and family who always got my back. Jonathan Mortman (Grade 9) I am thankful to come from an extended family of individuals who don’t look like me, but love me and help me to share myself with others everywhere I go! #BeYourself Ms. Dontin I am thankful for all the doubters. They give me strength. Gideon Wilkina (Grade 10) I am thankful for my family, both biological and Spotify, my west coast sisters and my amazing news editors. Christina You (Grade 11) Thanks for all the great Tide News Editors who ALWAYS do their job impeccably. Go read the news articles on pages 2-4 (the Features Editors are pretty cool too, thanks). Isabelle Zhou (Grade 11) Not one, not two, but three IB History 1 periods love Mr. HeEGG! Anonymous Super duper thankful for summer, airplanes, popsicles, my beautiful friends & family (like Graciousness), and my co-editor Rachel! Irene Park (Grade 11) All the opportunities given to me by my parents and teachers. Melissa Thomas (Grade 9) Thanks Alyssa for always being there for me since we were little babies. You’ve been with me through our play-pretend toddler days and precious middle school memories. Hoping for many more incredible moments with you! Emily Zhao (Grade 9)
I am thankful for my family and my house and my dogs and basically everything because I’m a pretty lucky person. Elizabeth Fielding (Grade 10) Thankful for the amazing features editors-Irene and Rachel... and cinammon dolce lattes. Grace Wu (Grade 11) Thankful for the fact that there are no SATs after high school. Ami Wong (Grade 11) Slader, Mrs P(Diddy) and bagels! Also my many wonderful children, especially Treeo <3 Evelyn Sturrock (Grade 11) I am thankful for the people who make me laugh so hard that I cry and have trouble breathing. Alexandra (Grade 11) I would like to thank cats around the world, school holidays, spoon assassins, my deceased favorite author, Diana Wynne Jones and bad puns for giving me hope for my otherwise bleak future. Oh, and also my family and friends. Vivian Yeh (Grade 11) I am thankful for my brain, sleep, and family. Ayesha Khawaja (Grade 9) I am thankful for life and everyone who is in my life. Denisse (Grade 12) I’m thankful for Friends. The TV show, not you people. Isabel Knudson (Grade 12) We’re thankful for our wonderful staff and editors for the hard work they put in for every issue and for our amazing advisers Mrs. Peyer and Ms. Brown! The Tide Editors-in-Chief
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FEATURES
November 2016
Davises: a marriage that transcends departments by Valerie Wang
Some people say that no matter how much they love a person, seeing them practically 24/7 would be too much. Evidently, this is not the case for math teacher Matthew Davis and his wife Emily Davis, who have been working at RM together for 15 years now and could not be happier. Mr. Davis has been teaching advanced mathematics at RM since 1996. Mrs. Davis, an RM alumnus, began working here in 2001. She used to teach in the English department, but now focuses on taking care of her family and helping out with RM’s drama program, the Black Maskers. .Although the two had worked together for years, they only really met when they were randomly selected for the same IB conference in 2006. “[Our] departments don’t do too much together, so it wasn’t until we went to the conference that I got to know who she was,” Mr. Davis explained. While other teachers on the trip, including English teacher Nancy Shay and math teacher Leslie McDonald, try to take credit for starting it all, the Davises deny their claims. “We got to know each other on that trip because Mr. Davis was trying to teach me how to text on my phone. Texting was pretty new 10 years ago,” Mrs. Davis explained. When the Davises first got married, the entire RM community adored their relationship, especially the students. “Some of the students had me for English and then went to math with Mr. Davis,”
Mrs. Davis recalled. “They got the idea that they would deliver ‘love notes’ from me to him.” She admitted to giving in and playing along with the students as well: “I did have them do it once. I gave them a note that said, ‘Can you pick up some bread and peanut butter from Giant?’”
lunch together, or we [would] talk about something funny that happened during the day,” Mrs. Davis added. Working at the same school also gave the couple similar experiences to talk about. “Things that were happening at school we both saw, so we would talk about that at
PHOTO BY CALEB SCHAUER
Mrs. Davis hands their three children over to Mr. Davis before going to drama rehearsal. The support the couple receives from their students and fellow staff members is one of the many benefits they enjoy from working in the same school, but the two can agree that being with one another is the best part. “Once we were dating, it was neat that we were working in the same school because we got to see each other all the time,” Mr. Davis said. “We would sometimes eat
home,” Mrs. Davis continued. “I taught IB English 12 and he taught HL Math, so we had many of the same students. [It] was fun to share stories about our classes.” Even though Mrs. Davis left her position as an English teacher to take care of their three young children (a six-year-old daughter and two sons, aged four and one and a half), she could not bring herself to leave RM entirely. She still comes in after
school to host the Black Maskers, direct the musicals, and produce the plays. In fact, the Davises anticipate that Mrs. Davis will likely be returning to her job at RM in the English department once their children grow older. Until that happens, however, the couple will continue to follow a system that they worked out together so that the family could benefit as much as possible. Mrs. Davis takes care of the children during the day while Mr. Davis teaches, and they switch after school. “Sometimes [the kids] will come to some of the drama rehearsals and they’ll get to know some of the kids who are in drama,” Mrs. Davis explained. Although they are not always at school at the same time, this has in no way negatively impacted their relationship. As a matter of fact, sharing their daytime experiences after work has become somewhat of a beloved ritual. “When we are having dinner and asking ‘how was your day’, I would talk about what’s going on at school and she doesn’t know about that,” Mr. Davis explained. “And then she’ll talk about what happened at drama and I don’t know about that.” Despite the obvious schism dividing the couple—math and English, a Montague/ Capulet-like relationship at RM—the Davises have proven that love can be found outside of your own department (we all know about the Goetzes, McDonalds, and Wheelers). Each was allegedly teased by their respective department for “intermixing,” but as we can see, this is one Romeo and Juliet story that turned out pretty well.
Science Olympian Reyna Shaw inspires classmates Choi brings home gold to overcome obstacles by Ami Thaivalappil There are students here at RM who have earned medals in Olympic events, though not in the way you may think. Sophomore Reyna Choi is a gold medalist at the Montgomery County Science Fair, as well as the international GENIUS Olympiad. Choi and her partner, Churchill student Garyk Brixi, qualified for the prestigious competition in March after winning the county science fair for their biology project, “Investigating Cost-Effective Soy-Based Relief Foods.” Around October 2015, Choi heard about the Montgomery County Science Fair through math teacher John Chase. “Mr. Chase sent me an email about it, so my friend from Churchill and I decided to work on a project together,” Choi recalled. This was Choi’s first ever science fair. Choi’s project focused on combatting malnutrition in third-world countries through specialized relief food packages. Large companies, such as UNICEF and the World Food Foundation, that manufacture this relief food are unable to make accommodations for countries with widespread disease or extremely limited resources. “We wanted to make relief food that was very easy to change according to people’s needs,” Choi explained. Their project received various awards.
“We won first in biology, [and] we got a few awards from the affiliated places,” Choi explained. These awards included second place for the Achiever’s League USA Creative Idea Award, the ASU Walton Sustainability Solutions Award, and the Geological Society of Washington Award for Excellence in Earth Science. Choi also received an invitation to attend the GENIUS Olympiad in New York, an international high school project competition on environmental issues. The Olympiad includes many subjects beyond science, including business and art, that all connect back to environmental issues. Choi skipped June exam week to attend this week-long competition. She and her partner won a medal in the science category, using the same project they submitted to the Montgomery County Science Fair, but with a few modifications. “[The competition] was at the high school level, so I was really intimidated,” Choi admitted. “But the judges were really kind, and the people there were super nice. It was a really educational experience and helps you prepare public speaking as well.” To other students who hope to compete in similar events, Choi warns them to start early and stay focused. “We’re all in high school, so having to deal with extracurriculars and schoolwork at the same time is really time-consuming. You really need to be dedicated and set aside time to work on it.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ACHIEVERS LEAGUE USA
Choi (left) and her partner won a gold medal for their project at the GENIUS Olympiad.
by Emily Chen For all his life, RM senior Noah Shaw has been living with cerebral palsy. Although his case is relatively mild, it causes muscle tightness and spasticity in his hands and legs and has played a role in developing his stutter. Despite these obstacles, Shaw does not let his cerebral palsy or stutter derail him from pursuing his dreams and doing incredible things. However, Shaw’s journey has not been easy, particularly during middle school. “[My cerebral palsy] made me feel quite inferior to everyone else for a very long time,” Shaw said. “This year, [Shaw] told me how much middle school sucked for him because of his stutter,” senior Grace Song recalled. As time passed, he gradually came to terms with his condition. “I eventually realized that in reality I’m not much different from everyone else, [and] I shouldn’t let these disabilities drag me down and define who I was,” Shaw reflected. “I never chose to be born this way, but the best thing I can do now is make the most out of it, and to not let these ‘disabilities’ define me and what I’m capable of doing.” Shaw’s friends have noticed that he always seems to shine in terms of academics. “[He] is never satisfied with anything less than perfect,” senior Sally Simpson said. While public speaking can be unnerving even to those without speech impediments, Shaw has approached inclass presentations with immense courage. “It always impressed me [when Shaw] would continue speaking [in Chinese class presentations] and did not let his stutter hinder him in any way,” Song recalled. “Looking back [on] it, I’ve realized how much [it] took him to be able to stand up in front of a class setting to speak with a stutter, especially in middle school.” Senior Josiah Belfon-Valentine will never forget the time Shaw performed Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in front of their class in 10th grade. “[It was] an already daunting task for most, but he took it on with no fear, [which was] probably the bravest thing I’ve ever seen someone do.”
Shaw is too modest to call himself a role model, but he still feels honored. “It is kind of surprising and a bit heartwarming [and] flattering to know that I somehow am an inspiration to at least someone,” he said. Apart from excelling in academics, Shaw is also an encouraging classmate and friend, and never hesitates to get involved and have fun. “[He’s] someone who really cares about the people around him,” Song said. “I remember how at a summer camp he volunteered to do activities like dizzy batting and did not let his disabilities get into his way.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF NOAH SHAW
Shaw (right) and his father pose in Japan.
Shaw’s interests involve him in many aspects of the RM community. He participates in RM’s National Chinese Honor Society and Red Paws. He self identifies as a “nerd” and is interested in science, computers, and video games. He used to do Karate and was a second degree black belt. Shaw has overcome obstacles that many students cannot even imagine facing. He wants to send a message to anyone else who may be having the same kinds of experiences: “I know it’s hard. It’s not something that you wish you’d have. Just try your best to persevere, it should turn out fine in the end, believe me. Embrace it and advocate for yourself.”
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November 2016
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November 2016
Entertainment vs. athletics: Practice pays off wrestling team keeps it real on Friday nights by Kevin Hu “R-K-O! R-K-O! R-K-O!” The chant resonates across the stadium. Professional wrestler Randy Orton charges, and, dodging a last-ditch swipe, brutally slams his opponent’s head into the ground. While entertaining, professional wrestling is often staged and does not accurately portray competitive wrestling. Real wrestling is far more brief and intense and far less flashy than portrayed on television. In competitive wrestling, competitors are divided into
distinct weight classes, used to promote fair competition. “I weigh 150 pounds on a good day, so it would be pretty unfair for me to wrestle someone [who is] 250 pounds,” senior Ben Fishman explained. Competitive wrestling also emphasizes practical and effective moves intended to pin opponents quickly. “There’s a headlock and another [move] where you put your chest on their chest and pin him on their back,” junior Baquini Iman-Santoso said. Matches are also much shorter than the hour-long marathons seen on television. “Typically, a round will only last about 3 minutes,” Iman-Santoso said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RM WRESTLING
RM wrestlers begin training to prepare for matches in December.
The brief duration of each round increases the intensity with which wrestlers attacks their opponent. ”There’s no punching or kicking… it’s just grappling,” Iman-Santoso added. The nature of wrestling leads to heated close-quarter encounters with opponents. Wrestlers undergo strenuous practices and conditioning. “I was ready to quit after the first practice,” junior Adam Tounkara said. “To be able to maintain aggression and technique all while holding off your opponent is difficult.” In wrestling, each person’s success is based upon how well they perform against their opponents. “It comes down to you,” Fishman explained. “There can’t be an equipment failure, because you are the equipment. You can’t be let down by your team, because you are the team. Everything is in your hands. It is the definition of an individual sport.” However, team bonding and team chemistry still play a part in motivating each member to succeed. “We all try to encourage each other to do well,” Iman-Santoso explained. While competitive wrestling may not be as entertaining as the WWE, it instead possesses a spirit of intensity, hard-work and individual drive that is hard to find elsewhere.
COACH OF THE ISSUE Wheeler shares his expertise by Michael Pan A crucial trait that both athletes and coaches must possess is unbreakable willpower. While sometimes overlooked, coaches play as much of a part in an athlete’s success as the athletes themselves, whether it be through motivational advice or strategic training schedules. Without the help of these mentors, many wellknown athletic teams wouldn’t exist today. While most RM coaches focus on one sport, Coach Matthew Wheeler uses his areas of expertise to coach two sports: football and track. Mr. Wheeler’s experience runs deep; he was involved in numerous sports ever since he was a teenager. In high school he played football, baseball,
“There are no excuses.” - Coach Matthew Wheeler basketball, and ran track. “Where I lived, at the time, you could play multiple sports in the same season if you could work it out with the coaches,” Coach Wheeler explained. In addition to his work at RM,
Coach Wheeler has worked other schools. “I coached football at WJ my first year and at Einstein for a couple of years,” Wheeler explained. Despite his brief stints at other schools, Coach Wheeler has spent the majority of his
encourages hard work and dedication. “There are no excuses. You can’t blame your teammate when you lose a race or don’t perform well. You step up to the line and, usually, whoever has put in the most work and can
PHOTO BY CALEB SCHAUER
Coach Wheeler helps the football team practice kicking field goals. time at RM. “13 of my 16 years withstand the most pain is going coaching have been for RM,” Mr. to win. You can’t hide like you can in team sports or complain that Wheeler said. Coaching two sports can be you didn’t get the ball passed to very time-consuming, but Mr. you,” Coach Wheeler explained. Wheeler doesn’t let that stop him He also believes that anyone can from being a great coach for both succeed in track. “While football may not be for everyone, we can track and football. “Both sports have aspects find an event in track and field that keep [them] fun for me,” he that with some hard work you can explained. For Coach Wheeler, compete in and help our team.” Freshman Pranav Tadikonda football is a great sport because it said, “Mr. Wheeler is... a good promotes teamwork. “Football requires everyone football coach and I feel that he working together as one has contributed a lot to the team.” Coach Wheeler is an integral team, putting aside individual accomplishments for the team’s part of the RM athletic community and an inspiration to studentsuccess,” he continued. On the other hand, track athletes of all levels.
by Grace Zhou Cheerleading is a sport that involves hours of practice, exceptional coordination, a great deal of focus and a high level of spirit and dedication. If the pressure of performing in front of a huge crowd isn’t enough, practices themselves have also proved to be a challenge. At the beginning of the RM cheerleading season, the team has two to three hour practices three times a week, but from October on, the cheer squad increases that to four practices per week, with a game every Friday. Cheerleaders aim to put forth the best possible effort during practice, no matter the exercise. “Before every practice we run on the track and then come inside to condition,” senior captain Kiomi Hori explained. Junior captain Ryleigh Dublinske agreed. “[We] condition a lot, because part of being a cheerleader is being strong,and taking care of yourself,” she added. Conditioning also warms them up for jumps, stunting, and other parts of their routines. “Then mostly we work on stunts, motions and dances and prepare for competition at the end of the season,” junior Jennifer Asare continued. “Sometimes we have tumbling sessions where we could practice for mini competitions... but mostly we have practice everyday after school... even before games.” Every practice, the team runs through their entire competition routine several times, practicing each and every component, including stunting, dancing, jumps, and tumbling. Coaches Kori Saucier Anderson and Tatiana Lewis choreograph the dances themselves, ensuring that everybody has a unique, fitting part. However, not all of the girls have a background in tumbling, gymnastics, or even cheer. “Before I started I had no experience,” senior captain Kaila Wallace recalled. However, thanks to her dedicated coaches and supportive teammates, she has since come a long way and now leads the team. While Wallace was motivated to try out by her older sister, Dublinske was led to cheerleading
by her love for gymnastics. “The first time I ever started to cheer was two years ago,” she explained. “I was shocked because I never had any experience with it, but I decided to try out
“Confidence is key. Never give up, always keep a smile on your face. A positive mindset goes a long way.” - Kaila Wallace because it was the closest thing to gymnastics in high school, and I’ve been a gymnast all my life, so I thought, why not cheer?” Dublinske explained. However, in many ways, cheer is very different from gymnastics. While gymnastics is more of an individual sport, in cheer, teamwork is a big part of being successful. It is crucial for cheerleaders to have perfect timing, ensuring that they are all coordinated and in sync. The girls participate in teambonding activities to make sure that they work well together on and off the mat. “The team this year is good,” Wallace noted. “I feel we are all much more united this year and we all get along well.” While cheer has intense physical requirements, it also requires a certain motivation and determination. “I would say spirit is one of the most important qualities,” Asare reflected, when listing what they look for in tryouts. “Attitude and spirit can take you very far, inside and outside of cheer,” she continued. “Confidence is key,” Wallace agreed. “Never give up, always keep a smile on your face… a positive mindset goes a long way.” Overall, cheer is an intense sport that is both challenging and rewarding. Wallace explained, “Cheer is fun, yet tiring. It makes me keep pushing myself past my breaking point… I just want to show everyone what we can do.”
PHOTO BY ALANA MUÑOZ
The Rockets cheerleading squad competes against other MoCo teams.
SPORTS
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Coming back from an injury
if he can and is able,” Mr. Klotz explained. by Aneeta Ashton Additionally, there are both school and county-wide rules in When an athlete suffers an place that protect students and injury, they want nothing more their families, and help keep than to get back into action. But them safe after an injury. RM has deciding when an athlete can its own guidelines about how return can be difficult. Rushing an coaches should assist the student athlete back into competition too athletes in this situation. soon is a surefire way to increase Mr. Breslaw urged students the effect of injuries. and coaches to be aware of the Coaches and students agree common mistakes of rushing that the first and main factor to back. Failure to listen to medical consider is safety, with advice and pushing the athlete’s desires athletes too hard as a secondary too soon after an concern. Doctors injury can lead to play a crucial role additional injuries in offering sound which are often medical advice to more severe than the athletes and others original. when considering He added what the next that teams have move is. strict training RM boys programs for varsity basketball injured players coach David that they must Breslaw explained, stick with. In “The only real way most cases, this to see if an athlete means judging is ready to return the severity of GRAPHIC BY KERN LEE is through the the injury and judgment of the athlete. Only the creating individualized training person can know if he or she is plans that fit the needs of the ready to go back.” By asking the student. Coaches then monitor athlete, it eliminates potential the intensity of their practice and coach pressure to return to the warm-ups to ensure that students game. avoid further injury. Varsity football coach Josh Mr. Breslaw explained Klotz explained that the decision that concussions have to be to return to a sport must be made monitored closely and carefully, in conjunction with advice from since teenagers’ brains are still in the school’s athletic trainer as the developing stages. Returning well as any outside professionals from a concussion and returning and specialists involved. from a twisted ankle are very “Our certified athletic trainer, different situations and therefore Tori Simonetti, is awesome and require different precautions. works with all injured players to Athletes returning from a help them safely return to play concussion must ease back into as soon as possible,” Mr. Klotz their sport very gradually. continued. The football coaches spend Mr. Breslaw and Mr. Klotz a lot of time working on injury both carefully follow the advice prevention during the on and the of the doctors. off-season. Numerous drills are “I will let the student play if set up with the sole goal of injury he meets guidelines and he gets prevention. This can involve medical clearance. I don’t want properly learning the game to to deny a kid a chance to play avoid unnecessary contact and
learning how to tackle correctly. Mr. Klotz explained that the biggest mistakes student athletes make are forgetting to ice and failing to complete prescribed strengthening exercises and stretches. He encouraged athletes to ice regularly and to make sure they listen to whatever Simonetti advises. Football player senior George Bryan explained, “Getting back in the flow of things after getting injured, such as being able to practice 100%, [is hard].” After being hit on the shoulder by a fellow teammate during practice, Bryan strained his latissimi dorsi muscle. According to Bryan, the best thing he did to speed up recovery was icing and resting the injured areas of his body. “Rushing the recovery process and being impatient... doesn’t let you fully recover. And in the long run, you can end up hurting yourself more,” he continued. Senior football player Zavier Ledyard added, “Watching your teammates go on without you while you watch from aside [hurts]. You want to rejoin them so badly. But you can’t and it really hurts you deep inside.” Recently, Ledyard dislocated his shoulder and was forced out of the game for a month. Ledyard sped up his recovery by wearing a sling to stop potentially harmful arm movements. “I did my best to prevent myself from using it or hurting it,” he said. Ledyard agreed with his coaches and teammates that it is essential to not rush back. “Even after you are cleared you might have small lingering pain that stays with you for the rest of the season,” he continued. It is important to be in touch with your body, and know which pain is minor and which is serious. Athletic injuries are common, and without proper treatment can end an athlete’s career. Taking the proper steps to ensure safety is critical before rejoining a sport.
November 2016
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Date
Game
12/3
Swimming & Diving vs. Seneca Valley: 9:15 a.m.
12/6
Boys Varsity Basketball @ Gaithersburg: 7:15 p.m.
12/6
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Gaithersburg: 7:15 p.m.
12/7
Varsity Wrestling @ Kennedy: 6:15 p.m.
12/9
Boys Varsity Basketball @ St. Andrews: 7:00 p.m.
12/9
Girls Varsity Basketball @ St. Agnes St. Stephens: 6:00 p.m.
12/10
Swimming & Diving @ Wootton: 9:15 a.m.
12/12
Boys Varsity Basketball @ Blair: 7:15 p.m.
12/12
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Blair: 7:15 p.m.
12/13
Varsity Wrestling vs. Rockville: 6:15 p.m.
12/14
Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Clarksburg: 7:15 p.m.
12/14
Girls Varsity Basketball @ Clarksburg: 7:15 p.m.
12/17
Swimming & Diving vs. Whitman: 2:30 p.m.
12/19
Boys Varsity Basketball @ Northwest: 7:15 p.m.
12/19
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Northwest: 7:15 p.m.
Winter Sports Schedule
The sport never stops: off-season basketball by Katie Spencer and Sierra Longest Sneakers squeak and pound against the glossy floors of the hallways while weights are hoisted from their stacks in the room next door. As the final days of fall sports come to a close, a new excitement is kindling in the hearts of spirited students and sports fanatics. The spotlight has begun to shift its gaze to winter’s finest thrill— basketball season. However, for basketball players, the focus has been there all year. The girls team spent several sun-filled weeks in the summer attending skills camps at local universities, including Millersville University, Georgetown University and the University of Virginia. “It’s not the type of thing where we come in for three or four months and go our separate ways,” girls varsity coach Michael Oakes explained. “There [are] constantly things going on... fall, winter, summer, or spring.” Over the fall season, prospective basketball players were invited to attend workouts run by the coaches a few times a week to improve their strength
and agility in preparation for the coming season. Team members had access to the weight room, hallways and track several times a week to work on drills and conditioning. Both teams also participated in off-season leagues to sharpen their skills before the fall season began.
There are certain county limitations that prohibit players from hosting organized practices, so teams are restricted to playing in local weekend tournaments and leagues. In addition, teams cannot register to play under the school’s name, leading RM groups to adopt the simple title of “The Rockets.”
PHOTO BY LAURA GOETZ
The Rockets pose for a picture after one of their off-season games.
The Rockets were not alone during their summer and fall campaigns. Whitman HS, Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS and Sherwood HS provided ample competition and a glimpse of what to expect during the season. According to junior guard Deedee Yan, “[Leagues] are the only way good teams can prepare… we can’t just start the season off with no chemistry. ” The boys have been looking for new talent in all places, as well as taking advantage of their several returning varsity players to assemble a strong team for the upcoming season. “Jordan Stover, Evan Threet and Jayshawn Hawkins have all been doing well,” boys varsity head coach David Breslaw said. “We also have a couple of good football players that we’re hoping are going to be a big part of the team,” he added. On the other hand, the girls have been focusing on building the skills among their returning players. Coach Oakes cited juniors Karon Williams and Melanie Osborne as key players on the team. “The two of them have really been leading us to a lot of success,” he explained.
Williams has returned to RM after completing her sophomore year in St. Louis, Mo. Team chemistry is essential in uniting a team. Both the boys and girls have plenty, which they attribute to years of playing together. “We’ve bonded really closely—we’re all friends,” Osborne said. “We know the way everyone plays.” The boys team shares a similar experience. “We basically grew up together from eighth grade to now,” senior Zaire MitchellPaden explained. “Some of us, we’ve known each other for years.” The boys have been putting in hard work throughout the off-season to achieve their goals. “Our team goal is to make the second playoff game and hopefully go to States,” MitchellPaden explained. As they near the start of the fall season, neither team is short on optimism. They are looking forward to the coming season. “This is the most talented this team has been in the last 10 years,” Yan praised. Coach Oakes added, “I think that if we’re willing to put in the work, which I know that we are, then this is going to be our best year yet.”
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SPORTS
Athlete of the Issue
November 2016
Hebron leads football with talent and humility by Dagmawi Dereje Over the past few months, senior Tylen Hebron has been tearing up the high school football scene. RM football’s star athlete has made the most of his role as the feature back this season, consistently carrying the team’s offense. Hebron is one of the major reasons RM football made it to the second round of playoffs for the first time since 1981. Hebron has set the tone on the field this season, working hard to help his team every way he can, which even includes playing different positions when needed. In addition to his work at running back, Hebron has played both linebacker and punter. The humble Hebron attributes much of the team’s success to the fact that this year they have better chemistry, a better coaching staff and a better mindset. Hebron’s drive to win can be attributed to both his love for the game and his love for his school. “My favorite memory is definitely hosting the first ever home playoff football game last season,” Hebron reflected. Hebron has displayed his dedication to the team by working year-round to condition for football. He has run outdoor track for RM since his junior year, with the goal of maintaining and increasing his speed for football. Despite his focus on football, Hebron’s athleticism, strong
work ethic and competitive nature have helped him find success in running. In his first season of track, he qualified to compete at the Maryland State Championships in the 300 meter hurdles, 4x100 meter relay and
a JV cornerback, spoke highly of Hebron and of the advice he gives. “He meshes well with the younger players and often does give advice,” Ababu said. “Ty recently gave me advice... that no other coach had been telling me.”
Hebron is known as a guiding force to many of the upperclassmen as well, including safety and receiver junior Daryn Alexander. Alexander stressed, “Ty is an amazing teammate [because] he knows how to get
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAN
Tylen Hebron dominates the field with his explosive speed, gaining a total of 2,397 rushing yards this season.
4x400 meter relay. What makes Hebron stand out among other talented athletes is his ability to lead his teammates. “I realized I was a leader of the team when I found myself beginning to lead by example,” he explained. Hebron’s leadership skills do not go unnoticed by those who he leads. Sophomore Adam Ababu,
Hebron and Ababu have known each other since their elementary school days, and, over this time, Ababu has seen Hebron grow as a person. Ababu explained, “I don’t think there’s another person like Ty. There’s no other person that could be so dedicated and good at what they do, stay humble and strive to be better.”
on someone without necessarily calling them out.” Alexander also noted that one key to Hebron’s success as a player and person has been his openness to criticism. Senior Jeremy Lyons, one of Hebron’s hurdling teammates described the impact of Hebron’s track leadership, saying, “Ty was a great teammate. Not just because
he was fast, but also because he created a new dynamic for the team. He was an example of what we could achieve [as athletes].” The unique way in which Hebron trains has an impact on the team morale. Lyons explained, “He never turns away advice on how to do better, even from his teammates.” Hebron applies many of his same attitudes about football to his everyday life. Hebron advised that in order to be happy as student-athletes, players must make sure they’re successful both on and off the field. Hebron has met the challenge of being a student athlete head on, with a clear goal of what he wants to do after high school. Hebron elaborated, “I want to play in college while I pursue a career in sports statistics.” Hebron also displays his leadership skills by looking out for the people around him. Alexander confirmed this habit of Hebron’s, saying, “Since we were little we always took care of each other and he always got me out of tough situations.” Despite all of his match success, Hebron has contributed most to the RM football community through his endless work ethic and motivation. Athletes like Hebron have allowed the football team to develop and transition to their winning ways, and Hebron is one of the main reasons that RM football will be left with a bright future in the coming years.
DMV swimmers repeatedly triumph in competition by Orrin Ni and Jack Yang If you have ever been to a swim meet, you understand the competitiveness involved in swimming. Swimmers must put in an immense amount of hard work and dedication in order to shine. Intense training and a competitive spirit are key features of swimmers residing in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region, and they elevate them to the highest levels of competition. From Katie Ledecky to Michael Phelps, swimmers from the DMV have not only competed at the Olympics, but have dominated the competition. The consistent talent this region produces cannot be attributed to mere chance. “We have such good opportunities, when compared to [else]where,” sophomore Luke Xia explained. “We have some of the best teams in the nation.”
According to USA Swimming, the number of year-round swimmers reached 11,542 in the Potomac Valley region in 2015, placing it at fourth largest in the United States, despite its relatively small geographic size. “The coaches are really good, the facilities are really good,” Xia added. “We don’t have any pool conflict.” The high level instruction that these clubs offer, along with their quality facilities, help provide a strong foundation for young swimmers. However, the fierce competition between swimmers, especially in this region, is what really gives them the fuel to build upon this foundation. “Seeing another swimmer who’s really fast in the lane right next to you is just such a direct form of competition,” sophomore Lauren Zhao reflected. By being constantly pushed in this fashion, whether it be at practice or a meet, athletes are motivated to keep improving
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AGENCIA BRASIL FOTOGRAFIAS
Olympian Katie Ledecky lived in MoCo and attended Stone Ridge school.
their technique in order to compete with their peers. In fact, this peer pressure induces a intense circle of rivalry, in which each swimmer’s progress only motivates others to surpass them. “I think it’s a chicken and an egg type thing. The high level of competition in our area basically just keeps building upon itself,” freshman Ben Solomich explained. Regardless of which came first, this rivalry continues to push the boundaries of success in the DMV. To higher level swimmers, the sport is a craft to be pursued and mastered. “You’ve got to always be working, no matter what. Even when you are tired… but have fun, because that’s just the point of it,” freshman Antonio Sellemi emphasized. This love for swimming is what allows DMV swimmers to break down the barriers separating mediocrity from excellence. Swim practice is not limited to the pool, despite what many people think. “You’re swimming sets, you’re doing drylands [and] you’re lifting weights or something,” Wang explained. It’s a hard routine, but it’s what swimmers must go through in order to become the very best. In addition, behind every successful swimmer are the coaches and mentors that helped push them to bring their ambitions to fruition. Forcing them to power through their discomfort and pain, the coaches in many of the gold status clubs work their swimmers to their
limits. “They always make us train really hard,” Solomich explained. “But it helps us a lot in the long run in terms of fitness and speed.” Parents also play a large role in training their children outside of the pool. Not only do they sacrifice their time to drive young swimmers around, they often provide much needed encouragement and help maintain the motivation and determination required to compete at the top level. “Parents or relatives have a big impact too… I know a lot of my swimming friends have pretty strict parents who force them to get up early in order to go to practice,” Zhao added. However, despite external motivation, it is ultimately an unparalleled drive for excellence that raises swimmers in the DMV above the rest. “Some days I want to cry when I’m in the pool,” Sellemi confessed. “But the thing is, you’re not going to go places if you don’t work hard and that keeps me driving forward.” This drive for excellence is often shown through the sheer time they dedicate to their sport. Freshman Sophia Wang devotes most of her free time to swimming. “I swim in RMSC [Rockville Montgomery Swim Club]... we have three-hour practices on a daily basis, and you’re required to go six, seven times a week, at least at my grade level,” she said. In addition to long practices, swimmers are faced with harsh
Baltimore native Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian.
scheduling, since many of their practices are concentrated either after school or early in the morning. Wang has to wake up to her alarm before the crack of dawn to attend swim practice for a three hours, and then has to go to school right after. The one thing devoted swimmers cannot do is slack off. “If you take a week off, it feels like a month,” freshman Justin Roh commented. “You have to take maybe a month or more to just get back in shape.” Over the years, many of the swimmers at top levels of competition have come from the competitive atmosphere of our region. What truly sets them apart is the utter devotion and undying fervor they express for their sport. The perseverance and the passion of DMV swimmers, from Phelps to Ledecky to RM’s own swim team, is what has allowed them to succeed in every level of competition.