The Tide - February 2018

20

News 2-3

Opinions 4-6

La Marea 9

Center Spread 10-11

Features 12-14

Arts 16-18

Sports 19-20

End of TPS affects RM Hispanic community

by Robyn Fohouo

The Trump Administration’s decision to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program effectively terminated the work permits of roughly 200,000 Salvadorans who are currently living in the U.S. These Salvadorans came to the U.S. after earthquakes ravaged their country in 2001, and they are now facing the threat of deportation.

The TPS program was created

by Congress in 1990, and it is designed to help foreigners who are unable to remain in or

return to their home country due to an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster and extraordinary and temporary conditions.

Around 18,000 Salvadoran immigrants reside in Maryland as a result of the TPS program.

TPS holders have about 17,100 children living in the state.

Montgomery County is home to thousands of these immigrants, which is why the County Council passed the December 2017 resolution calling for the protection of TPS for Salvadoran and other immigrants.

“For the most part, immigrants benefit society. These immigrants are hard working people,” junior

Rohil Bajaj said. “My dad’s an immigrant, and he’s super hard working.”

“No matter where you’re born, you deserve an opportunity to prove that you can be part of society, that you can work hard, and that you can provide for your family,” Bajaj continued. “I just think that it’s unfair to target [people from] certain countries.

Salvadoran diplomat Ena Ursula Pena recently moved to Silver Spring from Washington D.C. because Montgomery County has become the home base for Salvadoran TPS holders in America.

TPS, cont. page 3

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETHESDA BEAT

Salvadorans and their supporters speak with the County Council.

One Acts, four casts Winter weather has no chill

by Kyra Wisneski

PHOTO BY EMILY PAN

During the last few weeks, the U.S. has experienced a painful blast of arctic air.

According to The World Weather Attribution, the coldest two weeks this winter have been 7ºF to 11ºF colder than the coldest two weeks over most of the affected area from 1981-2010.

The members of RM’s indoor track team are among the brave few to withstand the nearly unbearable temperatures.

Contrary to what its name

suggests, the indoor track team practices outside.

“We have to run outside in the cold for about an hour everyday, even when it’s less than 20 degrees out,” sophomore Garrett Suhr said.

Running in extremely cold temperatures has repercussions that extend beyond the general discomfort.

“In extreme cold weather, our body doesn’t get the opportunity to actually warm-up, [which] is terrible on the body and [can] cause numerous types of injuries,” senior Ananda Neyro said.

An improper warm-up heavily impacts training.

“During

practice, often when it’s cold, it’s a lot harder to finish the workout,” Suhr added. “It’s a lot harder to breathe and move my legs the way I want [them] to.”

For all athletes, it is important to pay attention to the air quality of the training environment. The cold weather can negatively affect this factor.

“It’s harder on your lungs when running in cold weather,” Neyro said.

The body’s natural response to prevent frigid air from entering the lungs is constricting the airways, which is known as coldinduced-asthma.

WEATHER, cont. page 19

Daniela Brigatti, Becca Howlett, Alexis Cheng, Jordyn Gershoni, Kayla Shomar-Corbett, and Albert Zhang (from left to right) sing the closing song of “Fun and Games” at One Acts on January 29.

by C. Lai Nine years ago, the Black Maskers performed their first One Acts show. It has since become an annual tradition that students look forward to. With the help of Mr. Rodney, talented students direct, produce, and act in four one-act shows, some of which are written by students themselves.

The One Acts Festival started in 2009 as a student-organized show to raise money to replace the drama program’s microphones.

Jonathan Frankle, a student at the

Inside The Tide...

time, had the idea to raise money from low-budget, student-run shows. This year, the four shows, “Fun and Games,” “To Hate is To Love,” “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “All that Glitters” joined together to make a production full of funny, tragic and all-around entertaining scenes.

“Fun and Games,” a musical directed by seniors Sara Reilly and Melvin Lewis and written

by Lewis, portrayed a woman held back in her life due to past emotional trauma.

ONE ACTS, cont. page 17

GRAPHIC BY VALERIE WANG

Opinions, 6

La Marea, 9

Features, 13

Sports, 20

Marijuana Legalization

Día de San Valentín

Lunar New Year

College recruitment

2

The Tide

February 2018

NEWS

Donlon’s lawsuit goes to court Hogan endorses bill

by Rose Kelly On December 18, 2017, the Maryland Court of Appeals accepted a writ of certiorari for social studies teacher Mr. Brian Donlon’s complaint case against MCPS. Mr. Donlon filed a formal citizen’s complaint in the spring of 2012. When this complaint was not addressed, he filed a civil suit in the Maryland court system in December 2014. The case has climbed the judicial ladder as each party has made appeals.

Mr. Donlon’s case will be heard by the Maryland Court of Appeals in its upcoming session.

The conflict began in 2011 over alleged academic fraud at RM.

PHOTO BY KYLE ZHU

Donlon awaits his upcoming trial.

During the 2011-2012 academic year, Mr. Donlon had been reassigned from teaching AP US History to teach Honors classes.

He claims the reassignment occured because the administration expected his noncompliance.

He noticed discrepancies in course scheduling, naming and content. According to Mr. Donlon, students and staff were aware of the issue before the school year began. Though the problem had been made known, it could not be rectified.

Thus, in the autumn of 2011, 60-70 tenth grade students were enrolled in AP US History, according to their transcripts.

He said that formal mediation through the school would be ineffective in instances like his own.

In his citizen’s complaint, Mr.

Donlon wrote, “These classes being described as AP U.S. History do not follow the AP curriculum (they start in 1865 as opposed to 1492), do not use an AP approved textbook, do not write AP style essays and do not have a teacher who has submitted an AP course audit that has been approved.”

Mr. Donlon believes the inaccuracies in course titling were meant to better RM’s image and stature.

He wrote in his complaint, “This deceptive practice will most likely result in the school improving its score on the Washington Post/Newsweek annual Challenge Index.”

Upon filing his complaint, Mr. Donlon claims to have experienced workplace retaliation.

Due to the sensitive nature of the controversy, Mr. Donlon declined to comment on the alleged mistreatment.

Typically, employees are protected from punitive measures when making complaints against their workplaces due to the State Contractor Employees’ Whistleblower Protection provision in the 2010 Maryland Code.

According to the People’s Law Library of Maryland, the State Contractor Employees’ Whistleblower Protection provision allows many state employees, such as police officers and firefighters, to “receive compensation if punished from reporting evidence of mismanagement”.

Mr. Donlon argues that he is an employee of the state and is guaranteed under these protections under Maryland law. Mr. Donlon believes RM and MCPS violated his protections.

The issue being argued in Maryland courts hinges upon whether or not Mr. Donlon qualifies as a state employee and is therefore protected by the whistleblower protections.

The alleged academic fraud and actions against Mr. Donlon during the 2011-2012 school year is not the focus of the litigation.

After controversy arose from Mr. Donlon’s case, potential loopholes in the law were revealed. In the spring of 2017, Maryland enacted the Public School Employee Whistleblower Protection Act. Because Mr. Donlon’s suit was filed before the bill was made law, he is unaffected by it.

In January 2018, the Maryland Association Board of Education—a coalition that represents each county board of education—lobbied for a

“It’s important that educators be covered as wholly as they can and as fully as possible.”

- Brian Donlon provision to the law that would require public school employees to first address their complaints with supervisors before seeking civil action.

Mr. Donlon believes this stipulation will fail to advance the protections of teachers.

“The current law is flawed because it asks educators to file and go through a grievous and administrative complaint process with their bosses who are probably the people they’re reporting on,” he said.

As Mr. Donlon awaits oral arguments and a decision, he is optimistic.

“MCPS needs to really take a strong look at themselves in regards to academic integrity, academic recovery and recent child abuse scandals,” he said.

“It’s important that educators be covered as wholly as they can and as fully as possible because whether it’s cheating, unethical behavior or even child abuse, you want people to speak up and be protected when they do.”

MCPS has declined to comment on the case. “MCPS doesn’t comment on pending litigation,” Derek Turner of the MCPS Public Information Office wrote in an email.

February/March

February 14

Valentine’s Day A rose for you... And none for Gretchen Weiners.

February 19

President’s Day Also marking the last day off before spring break...

March 2

Career Day You’re telling me I can’t stay in high school forever?

March 2

Mr. RM Who’s the fairest of them all?

by Helen Qian On January 5, nearing the culmination of a long-awaited bipartisan effort, Governor Larry Hogan announced his support for the Rape Survivor Family Protection Act. The bill would allow women who conceived a child through rape to terminate the parental rights of their attackers.

According to The Washington Post, victims would need to provide a civil court with clear and convincing evidence that the pregnancy resulted from rape and that terminating the father’s parental rights would be in their child’s best interest.

The Carroll County Times states that under current Maryland law, victims have few protections from interacting with their rapists.

If a woman chooses to raise the child as a single mother, she may still need the attacker’s input on custody or visitation rights. On the other hand, a woman who wants to put the child up for adoption may also need the biological father’s signature.

At a State House news conference, Governor Hogan addressed the issue and said, “No rapist should be allowed to retain their rights as a parent, and no victim should ever be forced to interact with their attacker.”

His words garnered support from people and groups of all sides of the political spectrum across the Maryland community.

PHOTO COURTESTY OF WTOP

Hogan announced support for bill.

Sophomore Isabelle Young said, “Previously I’ve had a very negative opinion on Governor Hogan based on some of his economic policies, but I really do think that this is one step of many that needs to be taken for women.

I do sincerely hope it passes and especially with Governor Hogan’s approval.”

By giving rape victims legal say in the custody of their children, the bill fits into the larger work in progress of women’s rights in Maryland.

Junior Connor Din said, “It definitely gives women more power and gives them more say.

Usually, men have a bit more

superiority in these situations over most decisions, so this gives women more rights and allows their voice to be more heard.”

After failing nine times in the past decade, the bill finally looks likely to pass in 2018. As stated in The Washington Post, the bill is one of the top priorities of the 2018 session of the Maryland General Assembly and has no major opponents.

Sophomore Corinne Foley said, “I think that this is not a super political bill, it’s mostly just a logical thing that should be done, so I would expect both parties to be supporting it.”

For students at RM, the anticipation of the Maryland legislature coming together to take a step forward in women’s rights and the rights of rape victims is encouraging.

“I think what it shows is that at the state level, we have a better ability to actually cooperate than at the national level. And hopefully that shows something about what we can do, possibly at the national level sometime soon,” freshman Pierre Zeineddin said.

Similarly, Young said, “If Maryland becomes a leader and says, ‘Look, we’re going to provide women with legal protections, and we’re going to recognize that rape victims should be believed, then women will have legal protection to protect themselves and protect any children that may have come from the assault.’ I think that’s really important and valuable for Maryland to be a leader among the states.”

According to The Baltimore Sun, Governor Hogan also revealed four other proposals that would continue to set Maryland on a path of targeting sexual assault and abuse.

The Felony Human Trafficking Act would classify human trafficking as a violent crime, and the Repeat Sexual Predator Prevention Act would allow courts to admit evidence of past sexual crimes in a repeat offender’s trial.

Additionally, Governor Hogan supported creating a new victims’ services unit within the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Doing so has helped to keep home purchase deeds by victims of domestic violence off of the public record.

Not only do these initiatives create a safer world for victims of sexual assault, the progress they signify offers hope for the thousands of students growing up in our community.

Young said, “I think it’s just telling people that the law cares about you. And that’s not something we see a lot. It’s recognizing that just because you see a national threat to rape victims, there are still people within our government that care about you and your wellbeing.”

AWARDS

Congrats to history teacher Mr.Hines for being recognized by the state of Maryland as a 2017 winner of the Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education (EGATE) School Award.

Congrats to the Varsity Girls Basketball Team for their undefeated record in the regular season.

Congratulations to seniors Alex Hu, Adam Howlett, and Naveen Raman for their stellar performance in NBC’s It’s Academic competition.

Congratulations to the RM chorus, which won Mix 107.3’s High School Choir Competition and $5000 for the choral program!

NEWS

The Tide

Immigration program concludes TPS, cont. from page 1 According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), these TPS holders will have until September 9, 2019 to either obtain legal residency or leave the U. S. This decision came several weeks after 60,000 Haitians and 2,500 Nicaraguan migrants lost their TPS privileges.

“The temporary inability of El Salvador to adequately return their nationals after the

GRAPHIC BY VA L E R I E WA N G

earthquake has been addressed,” a statement by the DHS read.

The Trump Administration has repeatedly expressed the notion that the TPS program is an example of American immigration policy gone awry, noting that when Congress created the designation in 1990, its purpose was only to provide “temporary” protection from deportation.

On January 8, DHS officials

fended off rumors that Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s decision was made as part of a larger antiimmigrant agenda.

“Based on careful consideration of available information, including recommendations received as part of an interagency consultation process, the Secretary determined that the original conditions caused by the 2001 earthquakes no longer exist,” the DHS statement said.

Immigrant advocates do not think that conditions in El Salvador have improved enough since 2001 to send Salvadorans back.

El Salvador’s 2015 homicide rate of 108 per 100,000 people was the world’s highest for a country not at war, and according to The Washington Post, sending so many people back home has a “potentially destabilizing effect.”

Delegate Ana Sol Gutiérrez (D-Chevy Chase), who was also born in El Salvador, views Salvadoran TPS holders as a “model community of immigrants.”

According to Gutiérrez, many bus and garbage truck drivers

in Montgomery County are Salvadoran TPS holders who have commercial driver’s licenses.

These TPS holders will return to the immigration status they had before they became recipients, unless that status has expired or they successfully acquire a new immigration status.

At present, there are many mixed-status Salvadoran families that consist of a TPS recipient parent and a U.S. citizen child or multiple children.

Some of these adult children may be able to find a way to sponsor their parents for eventual legal status.

“It makes me really sad to know who this country is governed by,” Salvadoran sophomore Kimberly Gonzalez-Ramirez said.

“My sister is a DACA recipient, so right now she’s just sort of in limbo and it’s taken a toll on our family because we don’t really know what’s going to happen next,” she continued.

The DHS argues that the 18-month delayed termination will grant Congress the time needed to create a potential legislative solution. In the meantime, many Salvadorans plan on obtaining legal residency while lobbying Congress to pass a law that will let them stay.

Marijuana programs unroll

by Akshaya Balaji Despite remaining a highly debated topic, medical marijuana is becoming a more appealing choice for a number of patients.

Medical marijuana refers to the use of the marijuana plant or its extracts in order to treat symptoms of illnesses.

Several states have made the decision to legalize medical marijuana, including Maryland.

Marijuana is becoming more and more accepted in treatment, with two FDA approved medications containing cannabinoid chemicals released before April 2017.

Over 100 of these cannabinoids are present in marijuana and if misused, they can have extremely adverse effects on the human body.

Whether or not they should be used for their medicinal purposes is a controversial topic.

“Yes, people who truly are in need of medical marijuana should be given the opportunity to use it,” said freshman Namya Nanda.

She continued, “However, it does open up more opportunities for recreational users to use it illegally in some states.”

Sophomore Vickie Tan said, “I think it’s a viable solution, especially since it’s not as harmful as other drugs out there.”

Many clinical trials and studies are currently being conducted in order to judge the effects of medical marijuana, but some states, like Virginia, are expressing more reluctance.

Rockville itself opened its own dispensary on December 1 with over 200 potential customers waiting in line.

The dispensary garnered a positive response and a high demand from consumers.

In fact, Potomac Holistic, owned by Bill Askinazi, had to temporarily be shut down after opening due to a supply shortage.

Customers range from ages 22 to 93 and are from many different backgrounds.

Many companies are forming after the initial industry success.

“I see this growing industry growing stronger,” Askinazi told WTOP. He continued, “I think a lot of people who didn’t want to take these prescription opioids are now getting relief from other sources and we’re happy to be in the business to provide that relief.”

However, although many patients have been waiting to purchase legal marijuana for years, tight regulations mean very low supply. Although medical marijuana is legal in more than half the states, there are not many stores in Maryland.

If it changed to a Schedule 2 drug, marijuana would be noted to provide medical benefits, but still would be tightly regulated.

Nanda said, “In my opinion, medical marijuana should be classified as a Schedule 2 drug because although it does have a high potential for abuse, it also has a fairly well accepted medical use.”

Banks play an important role in the progress of the marijuana industry. Most banks are reluctant to conduct business relationships with marijuana growers and dispensaries.

In California, Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind the lax guidelines of federal regulation of marijuana companies has made it more difficult for these companies to find places to keep

COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

Employees grow cannabis plants in Maryland’s Green Leaf Medical LLC. Prices are high, ranging from $440 to $680 per ounce for some dispensaries.

Additionally, medical marijuana is facing many other obstacles that may restrict its growth in the future.

Little is known about the long term effects of its use for medicinal purposes, and with states such as Virginia refusing studies, these projections are still undetermined.

As of January 2017, marijuana is still federally classified as a Schedule 1 drug with no medical benefits.

their earnings, and banks have less incentive to help.

Currently under council review, the Medical Marijuana Improvement Act of 2017 would establish ‘Safe-use Treatment Facilities,’ establish guidelines for a patient’s possession of marijuana and same-day registration as well as removing the requirement for a patient to have a doctor referral.

Despite the demands of the public and potential congressional action, medical marijuana continues to face many obstacles that could limit its progress in the future.

February 2018

NEWS IN BRIEF

3

SMOB campaign underway in Montgomery County The SMOB filing period closed on January 25, officially kickstarting campaigns for the 41st Student Member of the Board (SMOB).

The current SMOB is Matt Post, a senior at Sherwood High School. His term will conclude on June 30, 2018.

Currently, a large pool of candidates have confirmed that they will be running in PHOTO BY ITA TETA the SMOB election.

At RM, juniors Adrian Four RM students run for SMOB. Adriessens, Nimah Nayel and Ananya Tadikonda as well as sophomore Zhao Zheng are candidates.

Andriessens’ policies include working to close the achievement gap. Nayel hopes to emphasize project-based learning and integrate the LGBT community into the learning environment.

Through school visits, Tadikonda is listening to students in every middle and high school in the county to implement realistic change.

Zheng also wants to focus on improving on student experiences in and out of school.

Some students at RM have envisioned their ideal SMOB candidate.

Freshman Grace Tang said, “The SMOB should be able to articulate their ideas, and have good ethics and morals.”

The diverse group of candidates hailing from schools around the county will be narrowed down to two individuals in a nominating convention set to be held in February or March.

The SMOB general election, in which every MCPS middle and high school student is eligible to vote, will take place on April 25, 2018.

by Abby Adigun

Hogan proposes adding four toll lanes along the Beltway Maryland residents suffer the second-longest commuting times in the nation. To ease traffic congestion, Governor Larry Hogan has proposed to add four toll lanes to the Beltway and Interstate 270.

Proposed highway expansions will not cost Maryland taxpayers any money Hogan says. Instead, the state plans to partner with a private company that would pay for an estimated $9 billion project and receive compensation with toll money. Bethesda Magazine reported that 27 companies have expressed interest in such a partnership so far.

Many students are in favor of this proposal to shorten commuting times.

Senior Nick Vafa said, “I think expanding the highways would be a great idea to alleviate a lot of the rush hour traffic, especially during the winter because of the accidents that take place.”

However, there is some controversy over Hogan’s new proposal.

“There’s always the concern anytime you’re going to expand a highway: how much of an inconvenience it is going to be short term,” English teacher Mr. Oakes said.

According to a recent article published in the Bethesda Beat, the state is expecting responses to Hogan’s proposal within the next two years, with construction to begin in the next five years.

by Cathy Yung

Superintendent announces plan to extend school year With the number of poor students in the Washington D.C. suburbs on the rise, MCPS officials have been seeking new ways to narrow achievement gaps and improve students’ academic performances.

Often unable to afford academic summer programs or tutors, economically disadvantaged students experience more dramatic backslides over long summer breaks.

To address this issue, in early December, Superintendent Jack Smith announced his plan to lengthen the school year at Arcola Elementary School and Roscoe R. Nix Elementary, which are both located in Silver Spring.

The schools will start the 2018-2019 year after Labor Day along with all other MCPS students, but will end mid- to late July.

“We think it’s an excellent idea and much, much needed,” Diego Uriburu, executive director of Identity Inc., a nonprofit organization that advocates for Latino youth in Montgomery County, said.

Though the plan will not directly impact RM students, officials may choose to expand the program in the future.

However, RM students have voiced their opinions on the policy.

“I think in general it would be much better to have a shorter summer break and longer breaks throughout the year,” sophomore Sadhana Dasari said.

She continued, “I know that some schools have two weeks of school and then two weeks of no school, which allows each week to PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC4 be a fresh start. But there’s Extended year is planned for Nix. no concept of summer break.”

Freshman Jade Leschack added, “I think the new plan would improve learning at the cost of social freedoms. But the officials are just experimenting, and in the long run we’ll be able to see what works best.”

by Angela Mu

4 The Tide

OPINIONS

Galentine’s Day: celebrating friendship

by Faith Cheung February 14. Maybe the date is blackened out on your calendar, or perhaps you have it embellished with little red hearts and decorative doodles. After all, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is equally music to the ears of some as it is cacophony to others.

The tradition of exchanging thoughtful notes, gestures and gifts on Valentine’s Day is thought to have originated during the Middle Ages. However, over the years, it has become a holiday that certain people loathe simply because they feel obligated to celebrate it with a significant other.

This aversion to Valentine’s Day triggered the creation of a parody holiday of sorts, dubbed “Galentine’s Day.” It began as an in-show reference amongst viewers of the TV show, Parks and Recreation, but Galentine’s has since spread to popular culture.

The holiday was essentially created for people who wanted to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the company of their closest friends or family rather than a significant other. It commemorates a different kind of love—one that is unique to friendships and kinships.

Although Galentine’s Day was mainly meant to be celebrated by females—hence the word “gal” in its name—everyone is welcome to take part in the festivities. The essence of the holiday, according to Bustle Magazine, is that, “instead of celebrating the love you have for your significant other, you spend it with your best girlfriends, who are, after all, your soul mates, and therefore deserve a holiday all to themselves, too.”

On this special day, groups of ladies will often visit their favorite restaurants to indulge in their favorite food while exchanging gifts and reflecting on their favorite memories of each other. There is not supposed to be any mention of significant others, as the day is purely reserved for

the celebration of friendship.

This may seem beautiful to some, but for others it raises the question of whether or not Galentine’s Day mutes the original purpose of Valentine’s Day. Maybe, but before the birth of Galentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day was unfortunately a day for single people to spend in their baggiest clothing, perhaps eating heart-shaped chocolates that they bought for themselves.

Even for many couples, the holiday has become a monotonous routine of heart-themed stuffed animals, cheap chocolates and Hallmark Valentine’s cards. The meaning behind gifts and the robotic exchanges of “I love yous”

day being only for a significant other. Now we can cherish other people in your life, from family to friends. That’s what we should be doing, being inclusive of everyone because there are folks who are single that don’t get Valentine’s day love and don’t get flowers.”

Galentine’s Day has given us the opportunity to celebrate the holiday with all of our loved ones, not just our significant others. It reflects our changing world: friendships are becoming increasingly important in contemporary society. They are no longer mere amenities but neccesities in our lives. Friends lend a shoulder to cry on, are our closest confidantes and shower us with endless love and support.

February 2018

Cartoon Corner

GRAPHIC BY ALISA GAO

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 EMILY CHEN

A student writes a heartfelt message to her friend for Valentine’s Day. is fading.

It is very possible that with the introduction of this holiday, Valentine’s Day may begin to die out. It seems that fewer and fewer people are truly celebrating the date with a date.

However, this has not been the case. Galentine’s Day has enhanced the old tradition of Valentine’s Day, broadening the scope of who and what can be celebrated.

Junior Jennifer Carver said, “We’re expanding the idea of Valentine’s

Galentine’s Day is not just a gag holiday where single people can comfort themselves by bashing Valentine’s Day. Galentine’s has become an empowering holiday, a time to give and receive loads of love from your closest friends and family. It is a day dedicated to commemorating friendship, no matter where you are in life. Next February 14th, remember that love is not a word limited to a romantic partner, but for every person in your life who you hold dear.

Questions, concerns, and suggestions on articles, advertisements, and photos can be submitted to thetideeditors@gmail.com.

Editors-in-Chief...............................Vlady Guttenberg, Alex Hu, Rachel Li, Isabelle Zhou News...........................................................Emily Tian, Christina You, Alice Zhu, Kyle Zhu Opinions................................Charlotte Hirsch, Rebecca Huang, Cindy Song, Angela Sun Center Spread....................................................Shiri Kalai, Grace Wang, Maureen Zeufack La Marea.................................................................................Daniela Moreira, Maria Vicente Features...........................................Anna Chen, Isabella Levine, Michelle Ling, Irene Park Arts...................................................Natalie Chartove, Stella Ho, Derek Yao, Albert Zhang Photo.............................................................................................Emily Chen, Fatma Elsayed Graphics..................................................................................................Alisa Gao, Vivian Yeh Sports.......................................................................Kevin Hu, Julia Kochman, Justin Zhang Online Sports.................................................................Ryan Choi, Sierra Longest, Orrin Ni Business/Fundraising.........................................Sofia Chartove, Tesia Shi, Shevani Tewari Digital Art Specialists.........................................................................Eric Kim, Valerie Wang Social Media Managers...................................Ananya Krishnan, Angela Mu, Katie Zhang Videographers........................................Addele Hargenrader, Caleb Schauer, Emily Zhao Faculty Advisors.........................................................Ms. Laurie Brown, Mrs. Bonnie Peyer

Western education and traditional values are forced to coexist

by Raashi Dewan Western societies have a long history of imposing their culture on societies they deem uncivilized or “backwards.” Most of us can acknowledge the harmful effects of such an outlook in the past.

The Indian Schooling program of the 19th century was a prime example of forced assimilation in the United States. Nowadays, as we enter into an age of unprecedented globalization, the merits of Western-style education ought to be reevaluated.

The intention of expanding access to education is pure: to educate the underprivileged and to elevate their standard of living.

However, the road to hell is often paved with good intentions.

In the sphere of international development, expanding access often means subjecting native populations to Western values at odds with traditional beliefs.

Education is one of the main forms of cultural socialization.

What we learn as children has a lasting impact on our values and beliefs for the rest of our lives.

In every society, children are socialized into the values and beliefs of their respective cultures. Junior Ummara Khan said, “When you grow up in one culture and you try to assimilate with another, you end up being in between both. That leaves you with a hole in your identity.”

Many RM students who are first generation Americans can identify with this sentiment, including myself. We are taught different values at home and at school, which is often confusing, leaving us unable to discern which we believe in. In developing countries, where students are taught vastly different values in school and in their community, the effect is amplified.

However, there are many positive effects of bringing resources and new ways of

truly a blessing.

However, in regions where traditional lifestyles still thrive, introducing Western education and standards can destroy entire cultures. Many who are funneled through these institutions are left with the impression that their traditional ways of life are inferior to those of the industrialized west and ought to be abandoned.

Khan said, “Just because we idolize urban life and the few wealthy, successful people living it, it does not mean that life in COURTESY OF GENERAL SYNOD ARCHIVES rural areas isn’t just as awesome.”

The Old Sun Boarding School in Alberta was established in 1886 to The majority of the time, provide a Western education to native groups in the Blackfoot nation. Western educational models will learning to traditional education all the complicated stuff that we not pay off in underdeveloped systems. Math teacher Leslie do with factoring for sine and areas without serious additional McDonald taught in Ghana in cosine, they use tables.” investment. Years spent pursuing the 2008 to 2009 school year, and To us students, it is difficult a sub-par Western-centric has a unique perspective on how to imagine doing trigonometry education leaves indigenous American resources and ways of on paper; we often complain students only partially equipped teaching impacted her students. when we are not allowed to use for life in the cities while poorly According to Mrs. McDonald, a calculator on math problems. preparing them for in their “Ghanaian students do everything In countries where Western villages, leaving them unable to by hand. They had little four-step education is already established find their niche and functionin calculators for multiplying, but for and embraced, continued aid is either.

OPINIONS

The Tide

February 2018

5

Black & Gold

Should the FCC restore net neutrality?

G

Yes, we deserve equal internet access No, it fails to resolve pressing issues

by Shevani Tewari The principle of net neutrality had been legally protected since 2015. People are more familiar with the concept no following the decision of Ajit Pai, the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to eliminate the Obama-era legislation in a partisan 3-2 vote this past December.

In response, Congress attempted to restore net neutrality regulations through the passage of new legislation. Their actions represent the need to protect Internet accessibility for businesses, individuals, and society.

According to Fortune Magazine, “When net neutrality is enforced, all Internet service providers (ISPs) must allow equal access to apps and content regardless of the source. If it were not enforced, your Internet service provider could make it harder for you to access parts of the Internet at its own discretion.”

There are three crucial rules governing net neutrality that were repeated in the December vote. As long as the content was legal, they allowed accessibility of websites and apps, the slowing of data transmission, and the ability to charge consumers’ use of specific services on the Internet.

Without these rules, Verizon could block

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or slow down Google to force consumers to promote Yahoo, their own search engine.

While many of us have become accustomed to hearing the phrase “net neutrality” in daily conversation, many lack a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of the FCC vote.

“I think people take for granted our current situation and everything that net neutrality provides us,” sophomore Jonathan Mortman said.

Repealing net neutrality hinders small businesses from gaining popularity, exacerbating a global monopoly on the web. Larger companies can lobby ISPs to slow down the websites of smaller businesses in order to reduce competition.

While the FCC is technically allowed to sue if ISPs hurt competitors, prioritization is extremely challenging to prove in court.

Preserving net neutrality is also the most democratic option. According to a survey by the University of Maryland Public Policy Department, the majority of Americans (83% of respondents to be precise) support are in favor of net neutrality.

Furthermore, support for net neutrality extends across party lines. Among those

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surveyed, net neutrality garnered 75% of Republican support, 89% of Democratic support, and 86% of Independent support.

Ignoring these supermajorities exemplifies the problem of “party over people” in Washington.

Repealing net neutrality also has effects on individuals, as it creates a barrier to education and affordable Internet access.

“We have a lot of homework assignments online, and if we’re being charged for our Internet use and the websites we visit,

“You are excluding people who cannot afford [net neutrality]. You’re excluding people from information.”

- Joan Komatsoulis will schools cover for this deficit or do we have to pay out of our pocket?” senior Leia Cohen wondered.

If Congress is unable to restore net neutrality, search engines could be slowed down to frustrating speeds, and video streaming could become unaffordable for many. “You’re charging people for things that were previously not charged in the past, and you are excluding people who cannot afford it. You’re excluding people from information,” senior Joan Komatsoulis said.

According to the Pew Research Center, only 53% of households with incomes less than $30,000 have broadband access at home. Revoking net neutrality will only result in further diminished Internet access for low-income families, taking away opportunities for education, jobs, healthcare, and housing. This is because ISPs are allowed to charge more to use specific websites and block access to others.

These blocked websites could have been used to find jobs, do research as a student, or access housing opportunities.

Opponents of net neutrality state that ISPs will not use their new freedoms for harm because of their need to please their customers, but for 46 million households in the U.S., there is only one provider offering Internet of at least 25 mbps, the minimum threshold to be considered broadband by the FCC. Essentially, no matter how the single broadband Internet provider charges, blocks, and restricts websites, the millions of consumers do not have the option to switch providers and will either have to deal with these hindrances or live without Internet usage.

The second major counterargument states that net neutrality discourages investment in the long term. While the FCC claims there is a decline in capital expenditures—investments made by business—by 5.6% in 2015, there is no evidence of a causal relationship.

Furthermore, ISPs have released studies that refute these statistics and support an increase in capital expenditures, meaning that there is a lack of consistency among statistics.

Finally, investment has generally been increasing ever since the development of the Internet as a result of the Internet being an effective, open, and secure platform for buying and selling.

In order to provide equal opportunity to all, we must protect the Internet. This can only be done by restoring and preserving net neutrality.

by Bhavesh Kemburu

Gold

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided in early December 2017 to repeal net neutrality regulations that were passed in 2015, the nation sparked up many discussions. Ajit Pai, chairman of the FCC, spearheaded this movement for repeal. He, along with fellow commissioners Brendan Carr and Michael O’ Reilly, paved the way for a 3-2 majority ruling in favor of the repeal.

According to USA Today, the principle behind support for net neutrality is that “Internet service providers should treat all data on the Internet equally, without bias towards particular products, websites, or platforms.”

Proponents argue that the purpose of net neutrality is to create an open digital platform that embodies freedom and engenders a satisfying user experience.

However, as a piece of legislation, net neutrality represents a misguided and overly ambiguous approach to solving complex issues.

The “Open Internet Order,” enacted by the FCC in 2015, imposes certain restrictions on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T. The regulations categorized Internet services as a form of public utility, similar to water or electricity.

While water and electricity regulations have remained relatively unchanged over the past few years, the Internet is fundamentally different simply because of how rapidly it has and will continue to evolve.

Maintaining older regulations for an exponentially expanding modern technology is irrational. Regarding the 2015 legislation, Ajit Pai wrote in his statement before the rest of the FCC, “It now affects only a small and shrinking portion of the marketplace in this era.”

He concluded that none of the methods were actually suitable. True, they can detect traffic delays, but cannot not pinpoint their origin or identify their cause. Even if net neutrality were still in effect and enforced, regulations themselves are not the cure-all that defenders make it out to be.

About an estimated dozen disputes had been filed under the auspices of the old legislation, but the majority encompassed issues that were not even covered under the scope of the regulations.

For example, take the incident where Netflix accused Comcast of violating net neutrality rules when Netflix had to pay fees to broadband providers. The controversy arose from a business dispute. Netflix believed that connecting directly with broadband providers to provide services was ideal. However, streaming videos took an excessive amount of bandwidth, which affected the balance of traffic going into a network.

Comcast, like other larger broadband providers, believed that Netflix should pay the cost for affecting the traffic on the network. Netflix, however, did not want to pay because it wanted Comcast to pay the costs for its use of Comcast’s network.

Ultimately, Netflix agreed to pay Comcast the broadband fees, and the conflict was resolved without application of net neutrality laws.

Trying to incorporate business interconnection fees into net neutrality regulations, when they were never a part of them in the first place, would set

In addition, net neutrality revolves around the concept that competition is important, and monopolies should not exist. However, reestablishing net neutrality regulations would turn over management of these companies to the U.S. government, which is perceived by many with equal or even greater distrust than monopolies.

The most recent yearly Gallup poll reporting on the trust and confidence in the U.S. government revealed that only 11% of Americans trust the government “a great deal.” Three times as many trust the government “not that much.”

Our government, by nature, has always been slow and indecisive. Matters regarding the Internet, on the other hand, call for services of a superior quality in timelier fashion. As consumers, we want to have the fastest options available without interference from monopolies. What many do not realize is that handing over the internet to the U.S. government would result in the biggest monopolization of all.

Moreover, there is legitimate concern over how well net neutrality can be enforced. In 2015, Neil Davies, a British computer scientist, looked at six “highlytouted” methods designed to detect the management of traffic within the Internet.

a dangerous precedent for the extent in which the government could interfere in business disputes. This case made clear the limitations of net neutrality laws.

Net neutrality in no way guarantees that the Internet will be more “free” for its users. The idea of freedom of the Internet faces much greater threats from external violations, such as hackers or people outside the law, than from companies like Comcast and Verizon. The claims that the repeal of net neutrality means the “death of the Internet” are absurd, unfounded, and draw public focus away from the real issues.

Supporters of net neutrality legislation misunderstand just how the Internet works.

They fall into the trap of dramatizing the impact of potential risks that have never happened and are unlikely to happen in the future.

We should instead focus more on Internet security and privacy, which are rising concerns with the inevitable growth of the Internet.

Net neutrality does not actually improve security or privacy; falling back on such a policy to solve our issues regarding the Internet is analogous to using paper to cover up a sinkhole. No matter what is written, nothing is really solved.

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OPINIONS

February 2018

IOC should allow Russians to compete under their flag

by Emily Zhao On December 5, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned all Russian athletes and officials from participating in the upcoming Winter Olympic games in Pyeongchang, South Korea after uncovering a doping scandal involving over a thousand Russian athletes.

The scope of the state-sponsored operation can be traced back to even the 2010 London Summer Olympics, but peaked in severity during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. Forty-two Russian athletes have been banned for life from the Olympics, and those who won in the past two Olympics have been stripped of their medals.

The IOC is inviting Russian athletes who can prove they are “clean” under strict guidelines to compete under the neutral Olympic flag, bearing the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia.”

If an athlete should win any medals, they will not count towards the Russian Olympic medal count, and the Olympic anthem will be played during the medal ceremony instead of the Russian anthem.

Although the Russian state was directly implicate in the scandal, the total erasure of the Russian national team is unreasonable and internationally provocative. The Olympics ought to demonstrate integrity and fair play among competing countries, such that the punishments are just, and the exceptions for clean athletes are logical.

Clean athletes should be allowed to compete under their Russian flag despite their fellow athletes’ illicit behavior. Junior

Emmanuel Corporal said, “As long as it can be proven that they were not involved in the doping, they should not be punished for the actions of other people, especially because they were brave enough not to participate in the doping themselves.”

One of those who was brave enough is Evgenia Medvedeva, a gold medal favorite in women’s figure skating, who said in an interview with Ice Network, “I cannot accept the option that I would compete in the Olympic Games without the Russian flag as a neutral athlete. I am proud of my country. It is a great honor for me to represent it at the Games.” If they

“I am proud of my country. It is a great honor for me to represent it at the Games.”

- Evgenia Medvedeva are not allowed to compete under their flag, the glory and honor that comes with the medal is truncated and what is left is solely individual success.

The pride that comes with representing one’s country is irreplaceable, especially at an international event like the Olympics where, beyond personal achievement, a sense of national purpose is achieved.

Winners become a symbol for their country, bringing their country’s values and issues into an international limelight.

However, two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva, who was banned from the Rio Olympics, said in an interview with new channel Rossiya 24 that the Russian uniforms, flags, and colors do not matter: “Their rivals will know that they are from Russia. They should not even think the word ‘boycott.’” Yet the Russian flag, especially during the opening ceremony where the athletes walk behind their respective flag, would demonstrate a sense of patriotism that cannot be compromised.

The Russian athletes will present a less unified image compared to other athletes who will stroll out in their matching outfits, cheering behind their flag during the opening ceremony. Under the neutral flag, there is no longer the friendly competition between countries, but rather the rivalry of an individual against an entire team.

Freshman Nandita Gallacher said, “Russia is a really strong country, so if that country versus country competition is removed, the Games will be a lot more boring.”

Because the IOC will most likely maintain these decisions, the more pressing problem is the excessive level of uncertainty surrounding Russian participation. Despite the Olympics being just weeks away, a majority of Russian athletes have not confirmed whether they will compete under the neutral Olympic flag or boycott. The IOC has yet to release any statement of the number of Russians intending to compete at the Olympics and to complete the additional drug tests.

This limbo not only affects Russia but also the other athletes. Qualifications for the Olympics often stem from international rankings. So, if athletes are on the fence and do not know if a

Russian athlete is participating, they will not know if they will compete until the official announcement is made supposedly sometime before January 31.

GRAPHIC BY KATIE ZHANG

While there has been no information about whether the IOC has informed Russian athletes about whether they are allowed to compete, very few Russian athletes have revealed publicly that they are going to Pyeongchang, implying that perhaps the athletes themselves are unsure of their status.

While the Olympics should ban athletes who were involved in the doping scandal, Russian athletes deemed clean should be allowed to compete under the Russian flag, which will bolster both Russian patriotism and patronage of the games, and a worldwide interest in the competitions.

The names of those competing must be released imminently to avoid confusion so that when the torchbearer arrives at the opening ceremony, the games begin without a hitch.

Making the new year count Marijuana: highs and lows

by Ashley Ye Three, two, one! Once the clock strikes midnight, a new year starts, prompting the overused phrase “new year, new me.”

New Year’s resolutions are a common way of starting the new year. According to Patch, 68 percent of people create New Year’s resolutions, goals they would like to achieve in the upcoming year.

However, 92 percent of resolutionmakers fail to actually achieve their objectives. Unless you actively work to achieve your goals, New Year’s resolutions are little more than false promises.

One of the most common problems of New Year’s resolutions is that people often never follow up with their plan to achieve their goal. The most popular goals, including eating better and exercising more, take effort and self-discipline to achieve. As a result, people end up setting the same goals repeatedly in a futile attempt to achieve them.

These resolutions are difficult to achieve and there is a high likelihood of initial failures. “It’s going to be hard, and it’s going to be a process,” sophomore Thomas Ajala said. Achieving a long-term goal often comes with setbacks; successful people persevere through these setbacks and continue to strive toward their goal.

Oftentimes, the goals being set are too vague. A very popular New Year’s resolution is to “eat better,” but what

exactly is “better”? Without defining and evaluating the terms of success, resolutions are nearly impossible to fulfill.

With proper motivation and procedures, you can increase your chances of achieving your New Year’s resolutions.The first step is to break your resolution into smaller steps. By doing so, you will have a greater understanding of what exactly you want to achieve. Realize that change is gradual and set steps you can accomplish over time.

“You’re not going to be able to achieve a larger goal until you reach smaller goals first,” sophomore Wade Carins said.

Breaking your goal into chunks would also allow you to check whether your goal is realistic over a certain time period or not.

Expecting to be able to run a five-minute mile in two months when your current mile time is over ten minutes will likely result in failure. The plausibility of achieving the goal is important to consider when creating your New Year’s resolutions.

The second step is to choose a goal you know you will continue to pursue.

Motivation is crucial in achieving your goal; keeping the end goal in mind can act as an important motivator. “Remember why you initially decided to create your resolution,” freshman Namya Nanda said.

Even though the the New Year has passed, it is not too late to set long-term goals for yourself. “I think we should have personal goals that we have for the rest of our lives, not just one year,” sophomore Alisa Leung said. You can do anything if you put your mind to it!

PHOTO BY ADDELE HARGENRADER

Whether you achieve your New Year’s resolution largely depends on the goals you set.

by Rithik Patel 2016 was a landmark year in the United States in the battle to legalize recreational marijuana in the, with California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada passing laws to legalize the substance. This month, Vermont became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana.

The progress made over the last few years at the state level raises the question: should Maryland take the next step to legalize recreational marijuana?

It is quite realistic as the state already decriminalized possession under 10 grams and about two thirds of likely Maryland voters support legalizing pot based on a recent Washington Post poll. Recent data and studies about the positive impact of marijuana legalization show that Marylanders must pressure state legislators to legalize marijuana.

Numerous analyses have revealed that marijuana legalization can bring massive economic growth to the nation. According to New Frontier Data, an organization that researches the marijuana industry, legalized marijuana became a $6.6 billion industry in 2016, with $4.7 billion for medicinal marijuana and $ 1.9 billion in revenue generated from pot.

Industry profits are expected to almost quadruple by 2025. New Frontier also found that, if all 50 states were to legalize pot, at least $132 billion in total tax revenue and more than 1 million jobs would be created throughout the next decade.

Marijuana legalization would lower state and federal unemployment rates, provide tax revenue to improve our infrastructure, education, and other services, and take a small but meaningful step towards reducing the income inequality crisis that has plagued our economy for decades.

Politicians from all sides of the political spectrum have consistently claimed that legalizing marijuana would lead to devastating consequences, including increasing use, crime, and sales to minors.

However, based on a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration last month, the number of teenagers in Colorado who

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reported that they were illegally smoking cannabis has decreased since the state legalized it for recreational use.

Perhaps the most compelling argument in favor of legalization is that it would embody traditional values of liberty and freedom that the United States has always prided itself on. Unfortunately, anti-pot politicians hypocritically choose to ignore this. They say that the government should stay out of people’s personal affairs yet simultaneously direct police departments to arrest nonviolent users at their own discretion.

Their actions have played a large role in the failure of the war on drugs to prevent drug-related crime. Criminalizing pot allowed drug cartels to flourish due to black market profits and prevented drugs from being subjected to safety standards.

The anti-pot movement is in many ways analogous to Prohibition, which proved to be wildly ineffective in combating alcohol consumption and trafficking.

Legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes is not as extreme as many think it is. Legalization would reflect libertarian principles and strengthen the Maryland economy. The supposed downsides have not been present in states that have taken the initiative.

Although the movement has lost momentum over the past year as the new administration cemented a fierce anticannabis agenda, we the people can use our power at the polls and encourage our state representatives to embrace legalization so action at the federal level will be less necessary.

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Corazones Por Todas Partes: Estudiante del Mes: El Dia de San Valentin Hispano Santiago Zegarra

puede ser tu mamá, y la mayoría pasan tiempo con sus novias,” por Daniela Brigatti dice Zegarra. En Bolivia, el día de San Valentín es muy relajado.

El dia de San Valentín se celebra Se trata de dar tu tiempo a otra por todo el mundo, incluyendo persona para mostrar cuánto países latinoamericanos. Pero hay valoras a esa persona.

En contraste, en España, el día muchas cosas que distinguen las celebraciones latinoamericanas de San Valentín es algo que se a las estadounidenses. Distintos trata específicamente del amor países hispanohablantes tienen romántico. “En los Estados sus propios modos de honrar Unidos, lo celebran con todos, en a sus seres queridos en el día cambio en España, es algo que dedicado al amor. Una de las se celebra sólo entre parejas,” diferencias más notables es el mes cuenta la Sra. González-Pescador.

También, en España, no hay tanta en el que se celebra. ni expectativas Aunque se celebra el catorce de parafernalia febrero cada año en los Estados como en los Estados Unidos. “No Unidos, Santiago Zegarra, un hay cartas, ni hay chocolates, ni estudiante del doceavo explica hay ositos diciendo ‘te quiero’ ni que es distinto en Bolivia. “A nada por el estilo,” explica Sra. veces el día de San Valentín se González-Pescador.

Pero aun así, las cosas celebra en septiembre porque, cambiando.

Los como sabemos, Bolivia queda en están hispanohablantes se el hemisfero del sur y septiembre países es cuando empieza la primavera,” están adaptando al estilo estadounidense y las prácticas cuenta Zegarra.

Zegarra también habla sobre comerciales están llegando a como el día de San Valentín es países de habla hispana. En España, por ejemplo, algo que no todos celebran. Las el día de San clases más Valentín se celebra altas tienden el mismo a ser las que día, el hacen cosas catorce de especiales para febrero. el día de San También, Valentín. Los es un día más pobres cuando no son muy las conscientes floristerías de su existencia españolas entonces no lo venden muchas flores. celebran.

Las tradiciones de San Para los Valentín también se pueden bolivianos, enfocar en las ciudades no es tanto un día específicas.

La ciudad del amor romántico, española de Teruel tiene pero un día para dar gracias GRÁFICO POR RACHEL PARK una leyenda que se llama “Los amantes a todos los seres queridos. “Puede ser un amigo de Teruel”. Cada año, Teruel hace con quien pasas rico, o también una celebración para la gente de

la región de Aragón el día de San Valentín. En España, el día de San Valentín es una celebración católica entonces hacen una misa y van a bendecir los anillos otra vez.

Colombia es otro país donde la celebración de San Valentín es en septiembre. En Colombia, este día se viene llamando “El día del amor y de la amistad,”

“Nos reunimos para comer chocolates.”

por Maria Vicente ¿Cuanto años vivistes en Bolivia?

Vivi en Bolivia hasta que tenia catorce años y me mude aca para mi freshman year. ¿Como se sintio el ajuste de Bolivia a Rockville?

Mi colegio era un colegio privado muy pequeno, y venir aca a un colegio tan grande como Richard Montgomery. Hay muchos chicos de tu edad y es algo que me gusta mucho y tengo mas libertad.

lo aprendido y applicarlo a la vida real. ¿Cual es tu parte favorita de RM? Lo que me encanta este colegio es la diversidad que tiene. En todas mis clases hay personas de todas partes del mundo. ¿Crees que es bien representada la comunidad Latina en RM? No creo que es muy bien representada.

Mucha gente piensa que nos deberian meter en clases mas faciles a la mayoria y el ingles es una barrera muy grande. Pero yo creo que si nos darian mas oportunidades a los

-Katya Beltran demostrando el tipo de relaciones que se honran en este día. Katya Beltran, una estudiante del onceavo habla de cómo su familia colombiana-cubana celebra este día. “Nosotros decoramos la casa, ponemos muchas velas, y ponemos chocolates por toda la casa para que la familia pueda comer,” dijo .

Las celebraciones colombianas se enfocan mucho en las reuniones familiares. El día de San Valentín en Colombia demuestra el valor cultural de la familia y amor familiar. “Nos reunimos a charlar y a disfrutar momentos especiales en familia, el día de San Valentín. También, nos reunimos para comer los chocolates!” dijo Beltran sobre sus tradiciones cada dia de San Valentin.

No importa cuál sea el país, el día de San Valentín es una oportunidad para apreciar a los seres queridos. Por eso, cada país hispanohablante tiene tradiciones y costumbres muy bellas y únicas cuando se trata del día del amor y la amistad.

FOTO POR MARIA VICENTE

Santiago Zegarra, un estudiante y futbolista del doceavo en el programa de BI. ¿Cual es la manera en la que estas involucrado en la escuela?

Las actividades en las que estoy participando mas en el colegio son los extracurriculares, como el Club Bilingue y deportes.

Jugue para el equipo de futbol y tambien para el equipo de tenis, y voy a ver si lo puedo hacer de nuevo este año. ¿Como crees que el programa de BI cambio la manera en la que aprendes?

Bueno, al venir aca y entrar al programa de BI en mi junior year, aprendi mucho a analizar y tomar

hispanos podrian ver que todos llegariamos muy lejos y estaria mucho mejor representada. ¿Y como crees que es la diversidad en BI, como la representacion hispana?

Bueno, hay muy poca representacion hispana. Hay mas chicas que chicos hispanos, y debe haber unos tres o cuatro chichos hispanos. Creo que estos es porque no se encuentran las oportunidades. Muchos de ellos no saben de la oportunidad de BI y yo tuve mucha suerte a poder enterarme de este programa.

El Mes de la Historia Afroamericana con Afrolatinos por Daniel Lopez Cada mes de febrero, los Estados Unidos celebran el Mes de la Historia Afroamericana. En todas las escuelas, se escuchan los nombres y éxitos de líderes como Martin Luther King Jr. o Barack Obama. Se escuchan los logros de mujeres y hombres que lucharon en contra de las reglas opresivas que fueron creadas por la sociedad como Harriet Tubman y Fredrick Douglas.

Pero nunca resuena el nombre Roberto Clemente, un filántropo y jugador de béisbol que era afroamericano y puertorriqueño.

Este mes de febrero no solo es importante recordarse de los afroamericanos pero también reconocer los afrolatinos.

Aquellos que son cubanos, puertorriqueños y de otros países, que han traído grandes cambios en el pasado y presente en los Estados Unidos.

Aunque la población de personas afrolatinas en los Estados Unidos es solo una fracción, no es un grupo al que se deba pasar por alto. En este grupo multicultural se encuentran atletas como David Ortiz, artistas

como Celia Cruz, científicos profesores y otros contribuidores en la esfera pública. Aunque no son reconocidos como figuras en este mes de orgullo y celebración racial, no significa que su presencia no sea significante.

En el fondo, el enfoque de la Historia Afroamericana siempre será la reverencia por el activismo por los derechos civiles en los Estados Unidos. Aunque el reconocimiento del trabajo de estos activistas jamás debe de ser disminuido, hay muchos partes en la diáspora africana que son olvidadas sin los afrolatinos.

Alex Turner, una estudiante de doceavo grado que se identifica como afrolatina dijo, “La cultura afroamericana ha llegado a ella en forma de música y ... películas y ese tipo de cosas, y la cultura hispana [le] viene más por la comida y familia.” La cultura viene siendo una parte enorme de la perspectiva gente se identifica con.

Hay momentos cuando Richard Montgomery refleja la vida real, la vida en los Estados Unidos donde es más difícil no tener el inglés como un idioma principal. Blane Girma, una estudiante de onceavo grado que se identifica como afroamericana

cuenta sobre su amiga y dijo, “[Ella] vino de [América Latina], para quien es más difícil entender sus clases y aprender.” Para Girma, una estadounidense, le parece más difícil ser reconocida por su patrimonio hispano cuando no habla el idioma.

Sin embargo, las etiquetas pueden ser restrictivas, y para Brooke Carter, una estudiante de

fueron a Latinoamérica, [mi cultura] es algo completamente diferente porque en America tenemos la influencia de los europeos y menos de la población nativa.” Carter quiere que las personas afrolatinas hagan su propia decisión cuando se trata de ser incluidos en el Mes de la Historia Afroamericana.

Algunos oponentes preguntan

FOTO POR DANIELA MOREIRA

Alex Turner (izquierda) y Shaina Evans (derecha), dos estudiantes afro-latinas. onceavo grado que no se considera afrolatina aunque tiene familia es cubana, dijo “Que es muy importante poder identificarse como no totalmente americana porque es su decisión.” Carter también explicó que, “90% de los esclavos que vinieron de África

porque no se espera hasta el mes de la Herencia Hispana para celebrar la cultura afrolatina? Pues, eso sería un tiempo perfecto para celebrar a la gente cubana, puertorriqueña, y de otros países que son de raza negra. Pero eso no significa que la

cultura debe ser filtrada en el mes de la Historia Afroamericana.

Carter dice que para ella y su familia el mes de febrero es un tiempo, “Muy importante y [cree] que si [conocemos] personas que también .. se identifican como afroamericanos [pero] hablan español, ellos son importantes.”

También existe el problema de que los afrolatinos no se sienten tan incluidos en la celebración de Herencia Hispana. Turner explica que para los afrolatinos que viven en EEUU, “Enfrentarse al mismo tipo de [discriminación] sólo por como se lucen, y creo que en ese sentido deberían ser reconocidos como afroamericanos.”

Compartiendo este mes es fácil inclusivo demuestra los sentidos de la lucha por derechos iguales que tanto celebramos en este mes.

Este Mes de la Historia Afroamericana, debemos incluir a personas que vienen de todo tipo de lugares. No importa si vienen de Cuba o nacieron en Los Estados Unidos, lo que importa es apreciar los logros magníficos que nuestros ancestros hicieron. El Mes de la Historia Afroamericana, fue creado para celebrar nuestras diferencias y lo trae el orgullo de su patrimonio y sus raíces.

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CENTERSPREAD

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Friday, March 2nd 7pm-10pm Auditorium

February 2018

CENTERSPREAD

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February 2018

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Willem Brown

Jeremy Eppley Pancakes or Waffles: Neither!

Always go for crêpes In 20 Years: Hopefully making up all the sleep I missed in high school.

Fun Fact: I hate pasta. It makes me sick.

Fave Food: Clementines Ask a Pet: What do you do when nobody’s home? How many lives do you have left?

In 20 Years: Sitting by a campfire on a mountain somewhere.

Nelson Zeufack Fun Fact: I’m really into cars, catch me zooming down Fleet Street.

Pet Peeve: Being left on read Karaoke Song: A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton Ask a Pet: Why are you so annoying?

Alex Caprara Dream Pet: I want a really fat pug, they cute and I’m tryna post up with it.

Superpower: Flying, I’m not tryna Uber anymore.

Fave Food: My mother’s apple pie, that ish bomb.

Hunter Arbeeney Karaoke Song: OMG by Usher Fave Food: My dad’s chicken cutlets Fun Fact: I’m Wasian and double-jointed.

Casey Mittl Pancakes or Waffles: Pancakes, only if they’re chocolate chip and made by my mom.

Superpower: Time travel, so I can save Steve Irwin.

In 20 Years: Assuming I’m a millionaire, I’d set up a dog shelter and travel the world to save dogs.

Arno Babcock

Oheneba Boateng

Fun Fact: I worship yoga In 20 Years: Straight finessing the genetic and pharmaceutical industries Pet Peeve: When your teammate in “Fortnite” takes full shield if you have none Fave Food: Bosnian burek

Karaoke Song: Rap God by Eminem Pet Peeve: People who sit in the middle of the hallway Fave Food: 7-11 taquitos

Zion Tyler Fun Fact: I’m half black and half Asian.

Pet Peeve: People that don’t flush in school.

Celebrity Crush: SZA

Darian Irannejad

Albert Zhang Fun Fact: I grow cucumbers during the summer.

Karaoke Song: “I love Kanye” by Kanye In 20 Years: Designing Ikea furniture in Stockholm Pet Peeve: When people litter.

Why do you gotta litter, just hold onto your trash.

Jack Liang Fun Fact: I’m pretty good at shoulder massages.

In 20 Years: Acquiring copious amounts of currency.

Dream Pet: I would have a little red hedgehog from Uganda because I will show him “da wae”.

Chicken or the Egg: Popeyes

Fun Fact: I can roll my belly.

Ask a Pet: Who do you like most in our house?

In 20 Years: I see myself living in California with my lovely wife, taking care of our kids.

Pet Peeve: Chewing gum very loud with your mouth open.

Chhiring Sherpa Fave Food: My dad’s homemade egg fried rice.

Celebrity Crush: Zac Efron, that man is gorgeous.

In 20 Years: I see myself living in Woodstock, New York, chopping wood with my kids while teaching them pop culture references.

Sam Norman Superpower: Being able to nap for less than 2 hours.

Celebrity Crush: Bernie Sanders In 20 Years: Hopefully making a difference in the world. Just exactly how I do that is what I have to figure out.

Ethan Do Fun Fact: I love being emotional; crying is my passion.

Chicken or the Egg: The chicken because it’s all about what matters on the inside.

Superpower: None because having a superpower means life wouldn’t be the same or would be with less struggle.

PHOTOS BY BRITNEY ERICKSON AND FATMA ELSAYED FRONT PAGE PHOTO BY FATMA ELSAYED, GRAPHIC BY ALISA GAO SPECIAL THANKS TO MS. KELLINGER AND MS. FUR!

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FEATURES

February 2018

RM couples: following the transition from like to love

by Nicole Yanakiev Valentine’s Day is a time for couples to celebrate their relationship and reflect on their memories together. Every couple has a story about how they met.

Michelle Drabovsky & Kaden Hoffman Sophomore Michelle Drabovsky and junior Kaden Hoffman met through mutual friends sophomore Valerie Wagner, junior Jordan Archer and sophomore Veronica Tsaturov.

They talked for the first time at Drabovsky’s birthday party. “I always thought that that she was really straightforward. which I wasn’t really used to with girls,” Hoffman said.

“He’s literally perfect. He’s athletic, very smart, nice most of the time, super cute, and seemed like he actually liked me,” Drabovsky said. Drabovsky thought she did not have a chance with Hoffman until Archer revealed that he was talking about her all day.

“The first time we went out together, it

PHOTO COURTESY OF KADEN HOFFMAN

Hoffman (left) and Drabovsky (right) attended RM homecoming 2017 together.

was awkward and we didn’t talk much,” Hoffman said. But the presence of Wagner and Archer made the encounter more comfortable. “With Valerie and Jordan there, they could fill in the awkward silences,” Drabovsky explained. This awkwardness faded as they got to know each other.

The couple thinks that their relationship has bettered them as individuals. “Overall, I have just been happier,” Hoffman said. “I

“I used to get really stressed about school, but Michelle always makes me feel more relaxed.”

- Kaden Hoffman used to get really stressed about school, but Michelle always makes me feel so much more relaxed.” “He pushes me to get better grades,” Drabovsky said.

Marianne Fessel & Cameron Cole Sophomore Marianne Fessel and sophomore Cameron Cole met at an RM football game two years ago. At the game, Fessel ripped up a dollar bill that belonged to Cole, who used this event as an excuse to text her. He sent her a picture of the dollar bill, they continued talking and then started dating after a year of being good friends.

The shift from friends to couple happened quickly. Throughout their friendship, Fessel would talk about other boys and noticed that Cole was reluctant to give his approval. “In the span of a week, it went from her not looking at me as a male at all, more so as a cousin, to wanting to date,” Cole said.

During their freshman year, Cole asked another girl to the homecoming dance. This pushed Fessel to reveal her true feelings towards him. “I was like, ‘I don’t want you to date anyone else. Everything is better when I’m with you,’” Fessel said.

After confessing her feelings, they

went to the park and talked about their relationship for what seemed like hours.

Cole decided to change his homecoming date, but it was too late to buy tickets.

They went to the dinner their friends planned before the dance, then spent the rest of the night together. “It was probably the 20th time I was alone at Cole’s house, but it was different,” Fessel said. In the past, when they were alone, they would be far apart, but now they were cuddling on the same couch.

“Our relationship, at the core is a really genuine friendship,” Cole said. His favorite part of their relationship is being able to do the romantic couple activities while having a best friend at the same time. Cole encourages Fessel to view herself in a more positive way. “He genuinely sees the best in me,” Fessel said. “He sees the things that I can’t see in myself.”

Tiffany Martinez & Jaime Castro Sophomore Tiffany Martinez and sophomore Jaime Castro met at freshman orientation. Castro added Martinez on social media and began talking to her. They started their relationship by spending time together at lunch. “I thought he was trying to play with me, but I wasn’t going to let that happen,” Martinez said.

Their relationship began awkwardly because they did not know each other well.

“Our relationship was more about learning about each other as we were dating,” Martinez said. “We didn’t really have good communication, but once I got comfortable and he got comfortable, everything fit into place.”

Prior to the relationship, Castro was more laid-back. “Everything to me was like I do whatever I want,” Castro said.

Martinez helped him improve his grades and become more mature.

“Another thing that changed so much about him: his jealousy,” Martinez said.

“When we first started dating, he would not let even another man look at me because he was insecure in the relationship,” Martinez continued. Now they trust each other and tell each other everything.

Fatmata Barrie and Albert Zhang Senior Fatmata Barrie and senior Albert Zhang met during their freshman year

at RM. “I would see her passing in the hallway and I would say a stupid joke and she would be the only one that would laugh at it,” Zhang recalled.

Their junior year history class brought their friendship closer.“He fell asleep every period and I would laugh at him and wait for him to open his eyes again so I could point at him,” Barrie said. “We’re always laughing.” They continued to laugh and joke around together during school, and Zhang soon developed a crush on Barrie.

“After I had a crush on her, I built up the courage to ask her out and then she said,

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALBERT ZHANG

Zhang (left) threw a surprise birthday party for Barrie (right) in early January.

‘yes,’” Zhang explained. However, Barrie still thought of Zhang as a best friend until after their first date.

For their first date, they decided to watch the sing-along version of Beauty and the Beast at the theater. “The circumstances led to that and it was really cringey, in retrospect,” Zhang said. After the movie, Zhang, who was extremely nervous, expressed his feelings to Barrie. “I made him stop talking because it was just cringey,” Barrie said.

After the date, the couple took their relationship more seriously. “We all got on the same page and then it’s history from there,” Zhang said. “It’s just childish. It’s like kindergarten.”

Single, but not ready to mingle? Some alternatives...

by Magali Ngouabou “It’s nothing special.”

Freshman Alyssa Utochkin is referring to none other than the momentous occasion itself: Valentine’s Day, the day specially designated for the pain and suffering of single people.

Or maybe for others, as Utochkin described, “It’s just another day.”

Though it is common for high school students not to be in romantic relationships, there is an almost unavoidable exposure to love and romance. Naturally, this exposure is amplified on Valentine’s Day. During this time of year, there is often increased advertising and more romantic displays in everyday life. As much as the day can be a reminder of not having a significant other, it can also expose single people to the positive, authentic parts of a relationship.

Many believe that love and appreciation should be shown every day, but having a special day to celebrate our relationships is helpful. Some single people also exploit the deals on candy and chocolate, while others make their own spinoff celebrations.

Senior Taylor Thomas engages in the long-held tradition of Galentine’s Day. It involves going out to dinner with her

friends, followed by watching movies to- school as an opportunity for students to eat gether at her house. “My friends are the a large amount of candy. Growing up, Valsignificant people in my life,” Thomas said. entine’s Day served as a second Halloween Similarly, junior Sam McQuaid celebrated for her.

Palentine’s Day last year, in order to include These single people still hope to one day more of their friends who participate in Valentine’s Day traditions are not girls. with a significant other. Sophomore McQuaid RJ Panehal finds surveyed all himself slightly of their friends dejected due to about their candy and chocothe social melate preferences, then cusdia posts about tomized each gift by writing couples, but he a special has hope for the note to the future.

Panehal, receiver. along with many Even single people, look though it at relationships as required a lot of money and encouragement effort, McQuaid believes rather than somethat Valentine’s Day is thing unattainable. an opportunity to give “Even though I know it’s more than usual to the going to be fine relationships that we apand I’m going to preciate. “Whether you’re be in a relationship in a relationship or not, it’s in the future, it’s important to be appreciastill discouraging to exist as tive of the relationships you a gay person,” McQuaid form,” McQuaid said.

GRAPHIC BY ALANA LU explained, expressing their concern There are even ways for about finding romantic love in a preyounger children to celebrate the holiday. dominantly heterosexual society.

Freshman Amanda Rodriguez-Michel Many single people look toward their describes Valentine’s Day in elementary parents as encouraging examples. Of

course, with a generally higher income and more independence, couples in this age group have a wider range of ways to express their love.

Rodriguez-Michel’s parents usually go with the more conventional route, with her dad buying her mom flowers or other gifts generally associated with Valentine’s Day. McQuaid’s parents have a creative spin

“Whether you’re in a relationship or not, it’s important to be appreciative of the relationships you form.”

- Sam McQuaid on the usual traditions. They give each other flowers and write special little cards signed using creative pet names, like “your piping plover”. They later display the cards on the family refrigerator.

Whether you decide to have your own Palentine’s Day or indulge in chocolate and engage in some self-care, being single on Valentine’s Day does not have to be lonesome or sad.

FEATURES

The Tide

February 2018

2018 brings in the Year of the Dog

by Rose Lee For many Asian countries around the world, Lunar New Year is a time when families gather for a big feast and prepare for a fresh start.

Lunar New Year originated from the lunar calendar, beginning in the middle of the 12th month. This year, Lunar New Year begins on February 16.

In China, the Lunar New Year is associated with the Chinese Zodiac, a 12 year cycle where each year is symbolized by one animal. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, which represents loyalty and honesty.

People who are born in the Year of the Dog are said to possess the best traits of human nature.

In order to properly celebrate the New Year, families undergo a lengthy preparation process. “Before Chinese New Year, families tend to clean the house in order to get rid of evil spirits,” junior Daisy Liao explained. “You are essentially getting rid of all the bad luck from last year, and welcoming a new future and clean slate.”

Traditionally, for the Chinese, cleaning was meant to appease the gods who would be coming down from heaven to make inspections. Ritual sacrifices of food and paper icons were offered to gods and ancestors, and people set off firecrackers to frighten evil spirits.

On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a large meal. During the last five days of the New Year’s celebration, people eat noodles, which represent longevity. On the final day, families share round dumplings shaped like the full moon to signify family unity and perfection.

Vietnam shares several of these traditions when celebrating the New Year.

“Vietnamese families clean their houses and buy a variety of fruits and sweets to put on altars at home,” junior Lanchi Nguyen said. “When I used to live in Vietnam, we visited a big pagoda that had a small tree covered in red envelopes. People randomly picked one off of the tree, and inside the envelope was a fortune or an applicable piece of advice for the new year.”

Vietnam’s Lunar New Year is known as Tết. Many eat traditional Vietnamese

food known as Bánh tét, a sweetened cake made primarily from glutinous rice, or Bánh chưn, mung beans and pork. “My favorite part of the holiday is when we eat Mut, a candied fruit, and dress up in the traditional áo dài clothing,” sophomore Jasmine Pham explained. “I have always dreamed of going to Vietnam to watch dragon dances and carry lanterns after the sun goes down.”

In both Vietnam and China, people are given a two to three week break for the holiday, as celebrations last 15 days in China and up to seven days in Vietnam.

South Korea, however, celebrates this

elders then bless the younger ones and give New Year’s money as a gift.”

Many RM students feel restrained during Lunar New Year due to the MCPS schedule. “It is unfair that we do not get a break from school during Lunar New Year,” sophomore Derek Chu said. “This cuts our celebration short even though there is a huge Asian community in MCPS. I think that this holiday is just as significant as other celebrations in the U.S.” Due to this lack of recognition, some feel that the importance of Lunar New Year has diminished. “Because I live in the U.S., my family definitely celebrates Lunar New

RM’s Computer Team has a hunger for knowledge and a competitive edge that drives them to perform their best at competitions despite their relatively recent formation. Their dedication and perserverance has earned them one first place thus far and foreshadows many more awards to come.

The club, sponsored by AP and IB Computer Science teacher Dr. Heather Hennis, meets every Monday after school in room 163. The team is led by seniors Thomas Del Vecchio, Judah Levy, Elvin Liu, William Liu, Andrew Mao and Naveen

- question of the month -

What is your perfect date?

Interviews by Laura Yao

Jasmine Pham, sophomore A day in the city and exploring with someone you genuinely care about and leaving all your worries behind because you’re focused on enjoying the moment. I don’t think this has to be with a significant other. Valentines should apply to everyone you care about. I love platonic shows of affection. I don’t need to have be dating you to say that I love you.

Mr. Pearce, social studies teacher That’s a good question. I’m going to say dinner and a movie because I like movies a lot. Wait, can I change my answer?

Minigolf, so that you can talk to the person more.

Mrs. McDonald, math teacher Having lunch after an It’s Academic Competition. Only one other person in this school would get this.

GRAPHIC BY ALISA GAO

holiday for only three days. Many Koreans observe New Year’s Day, or Sinjeong, on January 1, but most still celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year holiday, or Seollal. Koreans wear traditional hanbok clothing, perform ancestral ties, eat traditional food and listen to stories.

The main South Korean dish is called tteokguk, a soup with rice cakes, vegetables and beef. Many Koreans believe that in order to grow a year older, tteokguk has to be consumed.

“Eating tteokguk when I wake up is one of the best parts of the New Year,” sophomore Ian Song said. “Afterwards, we usually practice a tradition known as sebae, when the younger generation pays respect to their elders by taking a deep bow. The

Year with less fervor,” sophomore Angela Mu said. “We usually don’t do that much for the holiday, typically gathering in front of the television to watch the Chinese Lunar New Year show.” According to ThoughtCo., over 700 million Americans tune in to watch CCTV’s New Year’s Gala, giving people around the world a chance to experience the holiday.

Lunar New Year is a time for families to bond and make unforgettable memories.

“Although most of my family is on the other side of the globe, I still feel connected to them through Lunar New Year,” Chu explained. “I am really able to experience an important part of my culture and strengthen my identity as an Asian American.”

Club Corner: Computer Team excels

by Michelle Ma

13

Raman.

Computer Team aims to cover a variety of subjects to give their members the tools to succeed at competitions. “We do weekly lessons on different topics and try to teach people about Python, Java, different languages, different concepts,” senior Naveen Raman said.

Aside from preparing for competitions, the Computer Team also seeks to educate students about algorithms and cyber security. “Our goal is to do well in competitions and also for people to learn,” Raman explained.

One of their more advanced lessons was about dynamic programming. The lesson taught the members how to break down a problem into smaller sub-problems and

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Seniors Naveen Raman, Elvin Liu, William Liu, and Thomas Del Vecchio (left to right) pose with UMD Computer Science Professor Samir Khuller (far right) and their certificate after winning first place in the 2017 University of Maryland Programming Contest.

then store the values of the calculations.

The leaders also share documents that contain the content of the weekly lesson with members to help with extra review or reference.

During their weekly meetings, club members work on problem sets about algorithms and different languages.

Because RM does not focus heavily on computer science, the Computer Team is an opportunity for students to express their interests and learn more about the topic outside of class. “You can have good, in depth discussions about computer science and you can just talk about the things that you love,” Raman explained.

One of the club’s main goals is to win more programming competitions.

Earlier this year, the team successfully hosted their first coding competition.

Now they are focusing their efforts on the upcoming University of Maryland (UMD) Programming Contest on February 18, where high school students throughout the D.C. metropolitan area showcase their programming skills and problem solving abilities. The teams consist of four people, and the competition lasts three hours.

The RM team won first place at last year’s competition, beating out teams from Montgomery Blair, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Wootton High School. With their first place finish, they earned $1,800 in prize money. This year, they are looking to keep up their streak.

Despite its small size of 15 to 20 members, RM’s Computer Team strives to be a cohesive and enjoyable club for all. Junior Kevin Lu said, “[Computer team] allows me to express my interests in computer science while being in a community of likeminded individuals.”

Pierre Zeineddin, freshman Going to a nice restaurant, probably a French place with escargot and all that, and then definitely a movie just because small talk is sort of hard to start and you need a place to relax. After the movies, go to a dance club, stay up until one and then repeat—just kidding.

Eloise Dufka, senior Personally I like food, so just going out for food depending on what I’m craving, I guess. Or going on an adventure. Taking the metro to D.C. Chloe Noh, junior I wouldn’t want anything really fancy like a dinner. Honestly, going on a shopping haul at Target seems like a really good bonding experience because you get to know their preferences and it just seems really fun. Playing hide and seek would be fun, too. But, if none of those work out, I’d be completely happy just hanging out with the person.

GRAPHIC BY LANCHI NGUYEN

Thalia Peters, sophomore Attempting the 36 questions to fall in love social experiment over pasta from Noodles and Company and then stargazing.

Ms. Goetz, math teacher I would say, in general, a perfect date is somewhere that would be fun and relaxing, some kind of activity that makes you laugh, like a game somewhere or a puzzle room.

Those weren’t around when Mr. Goetz and I were dating, but that would have been a great first date. A game night where there is an opportunity to talk and laugh but at the same time get to know each other. You’re playing Trivial Pursuit or Pictionary with a group or family—something that’s fun.

I don’t need a first date to be something big. Flowers and chocolate don’t hurt, but sometimes that can be strained and awkward, whereas in a group you’re enjoying and laughing and it’s more fun.

Gabby Lara, freshman I would like to be in a Big Bird suit, covered in mayonnaise. I would also like to be at a Chuck E. Cheese’s on the clock ride as my boyfriend or girlfriend holds on to my legs.

14

The Tide

To Sydnee Walker: I wish you many years of luck my love Alexis Lowe, Grade 12 To Alexis Lowe: I love you my duck baby Happy Valentines Day Beautiful!!

Sydnee Walker, Grade 11 Dear Clara, You’re an amazing person and I love that you’re always there for me. You’re light, flaky, and buttery, just like club crackers.

Can’t live without you.

Rest of my life with you in my thoughts.

Cruisin’ through the tough times kangaroo Eternal gratefulness Real best friendzzz Sarah Mirekua, Grade 11 To Derek Yao, the love of my life: Derek Derek Derek Yao, Where the heck art thou?

I wait at the door, I sleep on the floor, My love is as fat as a cow.

Josh Wen, Grade 11

FEATURES To my Danish sister, thanks for all the love and support you give me through the best and the worst of time. I love you Natalia.

Nicole Yanakiev, Grade 10

Have a wonderful day my favorite Dad! (Anthony) You have always been there for me, even when I was born. (Who is the mom?) Love, your son Kenneth, Grade 11

Tudor, you’re a good friend/person.

Eli Protos, Grade 10

To: Eric Kim THIQQQQQQQQQQQQQ Nathaniel Huang, Grade 11

To Emily Chen: Thank you for undertanding my vine references when no one else did. <3 Kaylen Pak, Grade 10 To Kyle Eoyang I love you nohomo Tyler Norman, Grade 9 To Angela Sun: <# <# <# Jeff Tran, Grade 11 Jason please stop playing Fortnite five hours a day Kevin Hu, Grade 12

To: Nappy head Boi u still nappy Nathaniel Huang, Grade 11 Lexie, Kayla, Becca & Jordyn (and all my other lilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ones) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I love you thanks for making my Senior Year so special <3 Sara Reilly, Grade 12 To: Anthony Naritson Ur such a DAD Nathaniel Huang, Grade 11 I love you Alexander Lee Holtz.

Anthony, Grade 11

To Nathan Amen: Thx for bringing me food :) I love you!

Anonymous To: Rorie Campbell Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ugly, I was picking this day â&#x20AC;&#x153;valentinesâ&#x20AC;? to break up with you cause youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not worth it. Because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worse than Olivia Sun. Just kidding, I love you. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re actually worth it. I love every minute I spent with you. I give you something good that I forgot to give you đ&#x;&#x2DC;?đ&#x;&#x2DC;&#x2030; For Rorie Campbell Mateo Vocal, Grade 10

To Julie Dibonge: I usually just stalk and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t m********e and I finally got the courage to ask you on a date, if you would just say yes.

Anonymous To Sabrena: I love you Sabrena. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the best person ever. You have so many fans.

Keep on smiling Anonymous My Dearest Moobschelle, I will find you a purebreed GG Asian lookalike. In the meantime, we can continue to lust over food and DOB and Fantasy cleanshaven Noah.

Rebecca Huang, Grade 11 Dear Evelyn: I love the way your beanie stretches on your head. I love the way your eyes sparkle when you see my bootyful face. I love you and want your beanie! <3 <3 <3 David Bloom, Grade 9 To Rebecca, Hopefully this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is better than last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Michelle Ling, Grade 11 Cindy Song, I think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bomb, you make me ecstatic, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re simply fantastic Jonathan Zhang, Grade 12 Dear Bobbie, Thanks for being my girlf and going on dates with me. I hope you can get cuffed. Love, Bobbette, Grade 12 I love Lydia Wei [with all my heart] <3 Ashley Guevara, Grade 10

I love when teachers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fail me.

Bless to the teachers that pulled through.

Anonymous, Grade 9 Love you Shley!

Hannah, Grade 12 Radiant glimmers tugged forth by apple swells followed by dulcet chuckles chiming through my head for hours to come. The scrunches and arcs that grace your nose, truly ephemeral, yet to me immortal, unending like the silk threads that flutter upon the honeycrisp.

Anonymous, Grade 12 To Lauren- <3 Jonathan Lin, Grade 12 Thank you Mr. Davis for never yelling at me when I get the answer wrong :) Kyle Zhu, Grade 12 Thank you, gangoffive, for always being there for me, when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sad, stressed, or angry. Congalong, I have grown to tolerate your snuggles.

Katoe, you never fail to make me laugh. And the little demon who shall never see this is absolutely amazing.

Lots of love to Chemily, Deeksha, Cathy, Jennifer, Jasy, and Rose for helping me get through my classes.

Much love to Michelle for listening to me rant about figure skating and forgiving my stupid mistakes during matches.

Emily Zhao, Grade 10

To Kevin Hrozencik: I love you Joshua Carbonell, Grade 10

To Donna Colbert: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been watching you since the first day of school, you look way too good. Wanna be my valentine? #lemmeshootmyshot Anonymous

February 2018

To Daniela Maria Moreira: I love you!

Makori, Grade 11 PRIUS. You know who, Grade 12 Lukas you are so cool I Love You. Grant Clifford, Grade 9 Dear Bosombooties, Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! I love you all!

Lyth, Grade 12 Shoutout to anyone that has helped me over freshman year and this year. Love all of you! Especially band and drama members.

Edward Lee, Grade 10 M. Giblin: Vous ĂŞtes lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;amour de ma vie et la pomme de mon oeil. <3 <3 Anonymous Hi yungwals we love you. Thanks for your soundcloud rapping it keeps all the baddies in MY crib very pumped.

All your fans, Grade 10 Shoutout to Mr. Rodney (Sir Eric Star Rodney) for his excellent puns. *Dab* Daniela Moreira, Grade 11 Dear Chris, I know that you love memes, but this cannot stop my love. Meet me in Mr. McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room. <3 P.S. After hours ;) Joseph Jasperse, Grade 9 To: Claire Gelilo Wow! You are amazing in so many ways I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even fathom. With elegance, you grace me with your presence and I thank you for being the cooliest person ever on the face of this earth. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get lost in the awesome sauce. :) Makori, Grade 11 Dear Clarissa: stop cheating on me :), also ur the worst Sydney Sun, Grade 11 I love chocolate milk and my mom.

Kyle Dexter, Grade 9 Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re kinda cool and I hold you in a very deep regard. I guess I love you (?) Love, Lai, Grade 11

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daniel I know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re upset. I know it hurts, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been there. You think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been in a situation where I was sad or upset? It happens to the best of us. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let it get to you. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sit there and be upset all day okay? Back in 2000 my horse Larry died. You think I sat there and moaned all day and complained about it? NO. I got back out there and got a new horse. Life is all about rainbows and horses and butterflies and ranches and howling with the wolves. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we do as men, as cowboys. So yes, when I say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine, I mean itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine Daniel.â&#x20AC;? Gary Winthorpe Patrick Hemmig, Grade 9 To: Ashley, Isabelle, Lambia & Lydia To the people who keep me going everyday, I love you guys and hope you have an amazing Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Emnet Kahsay, Grade 10 I dedicate this valentine to all my wonderful friends that have supported during my times of sadness, pain, and anger. The love you guys have showered me with is something that I will never forget, and I am truly happy to be spending my high school career with all of you. I love you guys!!! <3 I would like to mention a couple people like Chris Deriquito, Rukudzo Munyaradz, Josh Chirkomero, Liz Sharp, Kevin Yuson, Edward, Emmanuel Corporal, Alex Shawn, Ailx Leary, and Chloe Whiss.

Reggie Shardow, Grade 11 Daniel Fornell, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all I think about at night. I love you so much that I might die.

XOXO TKA, Grade 10 Dear Jake Hedetwml, You ugly, but you aight.

Rey Valentine, Grade 12 Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Alex! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a great guy and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so glad I met you. You mean so much to me <3 Adam Howlett, Grade 12

To Olivia Chen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; dearest friend and confidant, Shall I compare thee to a summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough negs did break our dominance in May And TJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lease hath all too long a date Alex Hu, Grade 12 to the sons of the original G, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been 4 years of blood (like Xxtotorolove1204xXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand signs), sweat (like us at the zoo), and tears (like Bill Clintonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction to disorganized powerpoints). i love our tag yourself memes and spicy difficulties. i hope you all get what you want out of life!! water booty, Grade 12 #LASH5EVER Lilah Katz, Grade 10 To the sons: Thanks for making me smile every day <3 I hope we will BEE friends for many years! solar booty, Grade 12 Zacharyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; I love you like Bill loves Heather.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s die and spend eternity exploring the universe together.

Cathy, Grade 12 Thanks for being a great cocruciverbalist, Ami! You have Nancy shook to the core. Please stop blocking me or else Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll step on your head. dook dook dook <3 Katie Cobb, Grade 12 Michael, your Spanish skills and Clash Royale prowess blow me away! Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! Neal Machado, Grade 10 To Pond and Buzz: love you both more than She loves innovating <3 Keira DiGaetano, Grade 11 GRAPHICS BY ALISA GAO

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The Tide

February 2018

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16

The Tide

The best love songs

by Kayden Fu These five iconic love songs from the past six decades may be older than you, but despite their age, they will surely make your heart flutter.

The oldest of the five is “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.

Originally featured in the movie “Blue Hawaii,” according to SongFacts, Presley actually sang the song for his grandmother on her birthday. But its heartfelt lyrics, accompanied by Presley’s deep voice, still accurately sum up the feelings of lovers.

Next, the ballad of the 1970s that melted many hearts—“(They Long to Be) Close to You” by the Carpenters. The Carpenters’ version was actually a cover of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David original, which had not received much love in the previous decade. Yet in the Carpenters’ hands, the song become the duo’s first certified gold single. Its innocent and graceful vocals, composition and lyrics ought to leave a mark on your heart.

One cannot discuss love songs without thinking of “My Heart Will Go On.” Maybe it is not one of your favorite songs, but “My Heart Will Go On” and the movie “Titanic” are undeniably a perfect pair. “The way Céline Dion sings it, her voice is so powerful.

All the feelings put together make it feel passionate and moving,” social studies teacher Noah Grosfeld-Katz explained. The “Titanic” theme song debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997 and claimed an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Dion revived its heart-wrenching feelings for us at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.

GRAPHIC BY VIVAN YEH

In 2008, pop artist Jason Mraz’s single “I’m Yours” remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-setting 76 weeks. It received two Grammy nominations and was a #1 song in European countries. In a 2009 interview with Billboard, Mraz explained that the song itself is about “finally giving into love and life’s possibilities.” The cheerful lyrics and upbeat rhythm make for a spirited, hopeful song about the selflessness of love. “If someone were to sing me a song, I would want them to sing ‘I’m Yours,’” senior Alythia Vo said.

The final number of this list can only be John Legend’s legendary R&B single “All of Me.” Released in 2013, the piano ballad is an ode to crazy love and unfaltering dedication. “It describes all these curves and edges, and if I was a man, I would love to have some curves and edges from a woman,” freshman Gabby Lara said.

After Legend performed it at the Grammys in January 2014, the song exploded in popularity, becoming the first R&B ballad to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 18 years.

Even today, “All of Me” is a beloved love song for people all over the world—its music video has over 1.2 billion views on YouTube.

These five songs have marked their places in romantic history, each offering a different interpretation of love. Whether they are familiar tunes or something new, we hope that when you hear them, a smile finds its way across your face as they add a little more love to your day.

ARTS

February 2018

Expect boldness to spring into fashion

by Kayden Fu From aggressively technicolor pieces to 80s-inspired evening wear, 2018’s fashion trends are all about making a statement.

After a tumultuous year, designers are working to make the spring 2018 runway a s bold and uplifting as possible.

Escapism is a principle taking center stage this year, with designers flocking to bright and spontaneous designs juxtaposed with societal challenges.

’80s shoulders

Exaggerated and oversized sleeves will be everywhere this year, a trend already foreshadowed last year in bell-shaped sleeves. An ode to the powerful padded shoulders of the 80s, puffs, frills and volume will be the focus of the PHOTO COURTESY OF VOGUE.COM

runway. Street style will reflect what is seen on the runway through touches of detail in the sleeves of casual tops and dresses for a flair of individuality. “I personally would wear the sleeves trend by having a basic top, such as a white tee, with ruffles on the sleeves for a little bit of interest,” freshman Michelle Zhao said. A trend that does not translate as easily into daily life is huge shoulder pads. In the past, shoulder pads

were overlooked for being too masculine and unflattering on the female body, but a theme seen so far in 2018 is redefining gender roles.

Pastel party

Candy colored fabrics will be everywhere, with silhouettes anything but subdued. The biggest color set to come back in spring 2018 is soft purple. “I’ll be wearing a lot more of lavender this spring,” freshman Kathleen Li said. “I think it’s great that designers are trying to convey political messages through fashion. After all, fashion is a form of art, and art is a great outlet for emotions and opinions.”

With strong shapes juxtaposing soft colors, designers are excelling at combining traditionally feminine and masculine styles. Moreover, the purple symbolically represents a hope for future cooperation

the complexity of womanhood.

Feathers and fun

Fluffy, naturalistic pieces are ruling the runway, with models fluttering on and off the catwalk. Feathers of all kinds will be attached to flowy, bohemianesque silhouettes for a carefree infusement into runway style.

To avoid looking too similar to the kitschy style of the early 2000s, designers have chosen instead to use feathers with natural tones, such as deep browns and beiges.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VOGUE.

Bold colors

“After all, fashion is a form of art, and art is a great outlet for emotions” - Kathleen Li between democrats and conservatives, combining the red of conservatives and the blue of liberals. Inspired by the increased attention towards the women’s rights movement, designers are trying to convey

Designers took ideas from the ‘90s for a slew of brightly colored pieces, from puffer jackets to chiffon dresses. Hues like canary yellow, nuclear green and tomato red are popping up everywhere.

For those who want to incorporate vibrant colors into their wardrobe, there is a subtle way to do so: “I would wear this trend by wearing a mostly basic outfit with a pop of color in my accessories or shoes,” sophomore Ligia Vazpal said.

2018’s style is all about taking risks and breaking boundaries. Designers are taking political and social messages to the runway, making fashion more relevant than ever.

Ele Eschenburg’s brush with inspiration

by Saanika Mahashetty “A transition of a person’s mental state changing from happy to very upset and crying, with a breakthrough of hands ripping back canvas to unveil beautiful rural land towards the bottom, showing the beauty in life and a world without expectations.” senior Ele Eschenburg said about her recent painting, “Human Nature”.

Surprisingly, it was not too long ago when Eschenburg began to truly pursue her interest in art. “I’ve always liked to draw and doodle as a kid, but it wasn’t until 10th grade when my interest really began to take off,” she said. “That year I had switched to Drawing and Design and with the instruction from Mrs. Posey, I had begun to improve my work little by little.”

That hard work paid off. “Later in the year, [Mrs. Posey] had recommended AP Studio Art—for junior year—to me and others at my table,” Eschenburg said.

Currently, in her senior year, Eschenburg is taking AP Studio Art, which requires that each student create a portfolio of works with a common theme. “ In our sketchbook, we’ll have four to six pages of planning and/or full finished drawings,” Eschenburg said. “Being surrounded by other great artists and getting feedback from them and giving feedback to others, it’s an overall great time with lots of opportunities. But there is a lot of work that goes along with it.”

Much of Eschenburg’s work follows similar themes, like portraits of women and figures in perspective. “You can convey so much emotion, and the interaction between people intrigues me greatly,” she said. “Any person, no matter gender, race, or culture, could have different hardships and stressors surrounding them which can affect their motivation and personality. But somehow I’ll try to show the good side to things.”

One such piece was Eschenburg’s painting “Human Nature.” Eschenburg

submitted this painting on January 12, 2018, to the Johns Hopkins art competition and expressed her excitement to hear back from them. “It took me about two months to finish but is one of my best painting pieces yet,” she said.

This is not the only art competition Eschenburg has participated in. “I have a bit of a competitive side, but mainly I feel that it’s good for me, and anyone aspiring to be an artist, to put work out for others to view, since I plan to do this for the future,” she said.

Though most of Eschenburg’s work is done in paint, pencil, and ink, she is actually familiar with a wide range of artistic mediems. In addition to her AP art class at Richard Montgomery, Eschenburg currently attends two art classes at

either on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. “Going to MC has been a wonderful experience and I’m so glad I went with an abbreviated schedule to keep my main focus on my artwork,” Eschenburg said.

In terms of the future, Eschenburg has some very clear and impressive personal goals. “After I graduate, I would love to first just get some of my own paintings done, leading to becoming enrolled in an art institute in the fall of 2018,” she said.

“Since I love making mixed media and learning about different mediums, gaining as many techniques as possible in my next years of college is definitely my ultimate goal.”

Perhaps more impressive, though, is that these goals seem to be within reach for

Ele Eschenburg continues to impress judges in countless art competitions this year.

Montgomery College (MC): Intaglio Eschenburg, considering that her art skills Printmaking and Jewelry Metalsmithing. blossomed just two years ago. Yet to her, “I’m really excited to begin learning about the explanation is very simple. metals and the process of ring making, plus “Art isn’t something suitable for only I have a ton of earrings and would love to certain people; it is a universal language craft some up!” she said. that everyone knows,” she said. “Through Eschenburg attends the classes at practice, repetition and patience, you can Montgomery College from 1 to 3:40 P.M. produce artwork like no other.”

ARTS

The Tide

February 2018

17

Frankle’s legacy lives on Cardi B raps her way to the top

ONE ACTS, cont. from page 1 “The idea is that everyone has negative aspects of their lives...but it’s no excuse for treating people poorly and not moving forward,” Reilly explained.

Lewis said, “You can’t just blame your actions on the bad things that happen to you.”

The musical component made it stand out. “I have met some new people through working on this show and it has been very special!” Brigatti said. “Melvin wrote the script and all of the music himself.” Lewis and pianist Theo Chen played the music live on stage, displaying not only their talent, but the singers’ as well.

“To Hate is To Love,” directed by sophomores Lilah Katz and Maylis Quesnel, incorporated emotion with a piano piece and displays of love. “Our show is a story

PHOTO BY EMILY PAN

Valerie Wang (L) and Alex Shawn (R) act in the production of “To Hate is to Love.” of a family coming back together after an absentee father finally agrees to slow down and spend more time with them, it’s a show of forgiveness,” Katz said.

The theme of the show focused on how love coincides with hate. “I think the main takeaway will be the idea that relationships take a lot of work but are worth it in the end, as well as that there are many different kinds of love that present in many different ways,” senior Alex Shawn explained.

Quesnel wrote “To Hate is To Love”: “Much of it [is] inspired by my own experiences. I hope that the audience can find something to connect to, even if it’s just laughing at one of the jokes,” she said.

“The Importance of Being Earnest,” a comedy by Oscar Wilde, was directed by junior Keira Digaetano. With both modern and Victorian-era costumes and actual food on stage, the play was intended to fully engage its audience. “I want the audience to come away feeling happy and entertained,” Digaetano said. “Everyone just needs a chance to laugh.”

The show offered actors the opportunity to show off their comedic skills. With plays

PHOTO BY EMILY PAN

Elena Yeatts-Lonske and Spencer Woerhle embrace in the student play “All That Glitters.” on tropes from British snobbiness to height differences, the comedic timing was crucial to the production’s success. “It has been very funny and at times very irritating,” senior and actor Callista Warren said.

“It’s hard to get through a scene without laughing our butts off!”

The final show, “All That Glitters,” directed by junior Maureen Zeufack, displays a mother and daughter’s simultaneous journeys through self-doubt.

The show had its moments of comedy, but also addressed serious topics. ‘“All That Glitters” is a story of family, self-love and acceptance. Oftentimes, we don’t realize that we are our own greatest obstacles.’

Zeufack said.

The show displayed complexity in its characters: “The primary takeaway is to not accept parts of your life that hinder progress toward who you want to be,” senior and actor Ayanna Hill said.

With each show, the thought of the One

PHOTO BY EMILY PAN

Hayley Goddard (L) and Emily Zhou (R) perform in “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Act’s history did not escape the speeches made by directors and producers. Two hundred students worked for weeks to put this production together and continue the tradition Jonathan Frankle began.

by Sofia Chartove Belcalis Almanzar, better known as Cardi B, is the newest hip-hop sensation.

The 25-year-old was born in the Bronx to a Trinidadian mother and Dominican father and gained fame after going viral on Vine and Instagram.

In 2015, Cardi B joined the cast of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop: New York” for two seasons. During her time on the show, she wrote and performed her own music, but her career truly took off in 2017.

On June 16, Cardi B released her debut commercial single, “Bodak Yellow,” which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified triple platinum.

She was featured on the remix of Bruno Mars’s “Finesse” and released “Bartier Cardi” as a single from her debut album.

According to Billboard, these two songs allowed her to become the first woman with five simultaneous top 10 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Many of her fans are attracted to her carefree yet determined mindset. “I really like how she doesn’t hold back, not just in terms of profanity, but in terms of emotion and realizing all the negativity that’s surrounding her. She is totally rejecting it,” senior Kumal Harmalkar said.

“That is inspiring.”

Her rise to fame has also drawn praise. “It’s the classic rags to riches story.”

Harmalkar said. In her youth, Cardi B worked at a supermarket, but eventually turned to stripping at the age of 19 to escape poverty. “[Stripping] saved me from a lot of things. I went back to school,” she said on an interview on VladTV. She also struggled with abuse in one of her relationships.

But today, Cardi B is

engaged to Offset, a rapper in the group Migos. He was integral in starting her career. “Looking at the effort her boyfriend put in for fame pushed her to show her talents. I think that what she has done is perhaps the most influential story of 2017,” Harmalkar said.

Fans like Harmalkar appreciate Cardi B’s confidence and uniqueness. “She stands by what she says and does not care what other people think, which I think is very admirable,” junior Erica Baranick said. Her unique personality has made her almost every move go viral, such as the video of her interview with Giuliana Rancic on the 2018 Grammy Awards red carpet that received over 2,000 retweets.

Another factor in Cardi B’s grand success is her difference from any other artist in the limelight today. “She’s fresh. She’s a female rapper, which is not common. Cardi B keeps it upbeat and that is what people want to see,” Harmalkar explained.

Cardi B’s confidence is infectious and inspires fans to follow in her footsteps. The upbeat rap artist knows her roots and appreciates her fame, another characteristic that makes her so charismatic.

Cardi B’s future looks bright. She was nominated for two Grammy awards and has an album coming out in the near future. “I know it’s

PHOTO COURTESY OF COMPLEX

going t o be a really fun year watching her grow and collaborate with other artists,” Harmalkar said.

For now, Cardi B continues to impress her fans with new singles and frequent social media posts. She is on a rapid rise and continues to wow the public with her determination.

Teacher advice column: Valentine’s Day edition compiled by Sofia Chartove, Stella Ho and Derek Yao

Valentine’s Day, blah blah.” It’s like New Year’s Eve, if you don’t have somebody to

It’s February, which means love—or at least Valentine’s Day—is in the air. Here with their thoughts and advice on love and friendship are social studies teacher Peter Beach, art teacher Kelly Posey and social studies teacher Jonathan Taylor.

PHOTO BY EMILY CHEN

Ms. Posey teaches both art and life lessons.

MS. POSEY: It was always embarrassing when I was a kid because my parents would buy these fake valentines and write down and give them to me as aliases of boys that I liked in my class, and they would laugh about it, so it was embarrassing.

MR. TAYLOR: Well, fortunately, I never had that type of experience. But I’ve seen it with my children and I think you just need to give people a chance in life and the benefit of the doubt and get yourself out there and allow people to get to know you.

I mean, I was just having this discussion [with] my stepkids, Tim and Abby, who are in tenth grade at Quince Orchard, and me and my wife were asking about their new change of classes for second semester.

Tim was lamenting that in a couple of classes that he didn’t have any friends and I said that this was an opportunity to meet new people that you really have stuff in common with.

MR. TAYLOR: Well, I never had an embarrassing Valentines Day. I guess I did not have enough opportunities to mess up and do something goofy. Fortunately, I have not goofed with my wife yet so hopefully that will not change.

What do you do if someone is sending mixed signals?

MR. BEACH: You don’t social media, and you go face-to-face and you talk to them, like human beings are supposed to do, alright? Because you can send lots of mixed

kiss, then it’s all “ooohhhhhhhh.” When I become king, Valentine’s Day won’t be a thing. But Super Bowl Monday will.

Everybody should be off from school on Super Bowl Monday. A lot of people go to Super Bowl parties! You’re out late, and you’re eating, and you’re watching the game, and you don’t get home and nobody’s productive on Monday.

PHOTO BY SARA REILLY

Mr. Beach: “Valentine’s Day is over-siced.”

What was your most embarrassing Valentine’s Day, and what would you do now to fix it?

MR. BEACH: I hate Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is an overrated, “oversiced”— as the kids would say — holiday that puts pressure on people to try and find companionship. I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s Day. I think it’s stupid. I think everybody gets all freaked out, “Oh it’s

What do you do if your friends abandon you and you find yourself lonely in the midst of already formed friend groups?

MR. BEACH: That happened to my daughter. It’s tough being a fourteen-yearold. Uh, you cry. Uh, what do you do? If your friends abandon you then they were never your friends to begin with. So you need to reevaluate who your friends are.

We have a saying in the Beach family: “Four quarters, better than a hundred pennies.”

Find a couple good friends that’re gonna be real, and those are the people that will take care of you the rest of your life. BAM!

signals on the Twitter and on all the social media. So, that’s my advice for everything.

Get off your phones, look somebody in the eye, and talk to them. If that doesn’t work, then it wasn’t ever meant to be in the first place. That’s pretty good advice right there!

PHOTO BY EMILY CHEN

Mr. Taylor: “Allow people to get to know you.”

MS. POSEY: I would confront them.

If somebody’s sending mixed signals, do they like you, do they not like you, are they interested, I would confront them. I would not give them a Valentine until I knew where they stood. I had a student who asked me, “Should I make a Valentine?” and his friends were suggesting that he do a Valentine that said, “Will you be my Valentine? Check box: yes or no.” And then he put a gift card in it, and the kid kept the gift card and checked “no” and gave it back to him. Isn’t that mean? That’s so mean!

That’s why I’m saying before you make the Valentine, find out first.

Submit your questions to our Google Form!

18

The Tide

ARTS

February 2018

Celebrities stand up to sexual assault on red carpet

by Grace Burwell and Ananya Krishnan On January 7, a sea of black gowns and tuxedos descended upon the Golden Globe Awards red carpet. Hollywood came together not only to celebrate its accomplishments, but to spread an important message of unity against sexual harassment. After seeing allegations of sexual misconduct against some of Hollywood’s most well-known male figures, 390 female A-listers including Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman created the Time’s Up initiative, a movement calling for changes in response to sexual harassment in all industries.

Since the New York Times published an investigation into producer Harvey Weinstein’s transgressions on October 5, 2017, there has been a nationwide revelation about sexual assault in the workplace: the hashtag “#MeToo” gained momentum after usage by women who have experienced sexual harassment, countless celebrities shared their own experiences in op-eds and interviews, and Time’s Up launched on January 1.

Since then, the initiative has raised over $19 million for its Legal Defense Fund, which will, according to the Times Up website, “subsidize legal support for individuals who have experienced sexual assault or related retaliation in the workplace.” Thousands of people have also signed their Letter of Solidarity. And at the Globes, a small “Time’s Up” pin appeared on almost every tuxedo.

Of course, there was also the blackout.

Witherspoon and other Time’s Up cofounders had decided to wear black to the Globes typically colorful red carpet to bring attention to the movement’s aims. The idea quickly gained momentum until almost every Globe attendee wore a black suit or gown. Questions about Weinstein, sexual

harassment and why attendees wore black replaced the usual “Who are you wearing?” conversations. “I thought seeing all of the celebrities wearing black was unifying and a creative idea for standing up for such a cause,” freshman Megan Avery said.

Eight attendees also brought activists to the Golden Globes as their dates. (Michelle Williams’ date, Tamara Burke, created #MeToo.) Red carpet reporters asked these

fashion to lack its usual flair. Yet each outfit was still unique. “I always like the more simple dresses and suits compared to the unique ones,” Avery said.

Combined with the Time’s Up pins, the night’s message was clear. As Oprah Winfrey said in her Cecil B. DeMille Award acceptance speech, “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of [certain]

activists about their initiatives, too. These powerful images at a glitzy awards show sparked nationwide discussion about changes that need to be made both in Hollywood and less-publicized industries.

The striking clothing also helped fuel conversation. On a red carpet with just one color, some might have expected the

men. But their time is up.”

Still, many questioned whether a red carpet would have a lasting effect. Junior Isha Yardi said, “Using such a public display that reaches such a large audience is a very smart way to spread this political message. But I think this is only one step and just wearing black does not mean

GRAPHIC BY ALISA GAO

change will happen. It requires continuous effort and actual action by these people.

The movement was a great way to raise awareness, but is not really effective in fixing the real issue.”

This year’s Globes was not the first time the entertainment industry used fashion to send political messages, but it was the most visible example of red carpet activism to date. Previous red carpet political/human rights statements have been more subtle or contained to just several people at an event.

At the 2017 Academy Awards, many celebrities sported blue ribbons in support of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU.) At the 2017 Grammy Awards, singer Joy Villa wore a dress emblazoned with “TRUMP” and “Make America Great Again” in support of the President. “Many people look up to these celebrities as role models, so when they speak up and send messages on the red carpet, people can become aware of new issues and find more important things to focus their efforts on,” Yardi said.

Smaller protests like those in the past have developed into much larger movements like Time’s Up, which has already had real-world effects. Four days after James Franco won a Globe, the Los Angeles Times published the accounts of five women who accused him of assaulting them. In addition, many gowns and tuxedos worn at the Globes were auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting Time’s Up. Though the red carpet blackout was only for the Golden Globes––the Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 21 saw the usual variety of clothing colors, although all presenters were women––the night will be remembered for statements that will outlast the shine of the statues handed out. A photo of any woman present communicated strength, intolerance for intolerant behavior and newfound power for sexual harassment victims of all genders, races and professions.

The Tide Crossword: Valentine’s Day Special Edition ACROSS 1. Former rival of Trans World Airlines 6. Television network which produces many of Shakira’s songs 9. Calrissian of Star Wars 14. Lump in one’s throat 15. Exclamation after solving a difficult math problem, perhaps 16. Anoint, old-style 17. Conversation heart message 20. Sorry sorts?

21. “The Story __” (1954 French novel) 24. Suit go-with 25. Cut, as a lawn 28. Book of the Bible after Ezekiel and before Joel 30. With 49-Across, letters you might find on a conversation heart 31. Dramatic vocal solo 33. Something which you may leave in stitches?

34. With 36-Across, Gossip Girl sign off letters 36. See 34-Across 38. Common cheers at a World Cup match 39. Arabian ruler 40. Television series with Oliver Queen... or love phrase #1 42. Neck topper...or with 46-Across, love phrase #2 43. Fancy version of 24-Across 45. Winning row in tic-tac-toe 46. Stilettos, e.g., or see 42-Across 47. Jump in the pool?...or with 50-Across, love phrase #3 49. See 30-Across 50. Dutch painter __ Borch...or see 47-Across 51. Illegally seizes 55. Fast cat 59. Awesome, in short 60. More recent 62. Sugar suffix 63. Class that may be taken with Dr. Peter Perry: Abbr.

65. Adjective for a feeble old woman 66. Ms., in Solernou’s class 67. -pod prefix 68. Los Estados Unidos, in relation to

México 69. Jamie who played Corporal Klinger on M*A*S*H 70. This puzzle’s theme...or see 51-Down 71. One of many for Rapunzel 72. Something taken at the court or at the bar...or with 58-Down, love phrase #4

DOWN 1. Where draft picks are made?

2. __ Maria (popular hymn) 3. Book of the Bible between Lev. and Deut.

4. He floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee 5. Senior Spanish student’s response to when they plan on doing the homework, perhaps 6. Mayhem 7. Grammy-nominated 1998 hit for Alanis Morissette 8. Job for Mr. Parker?

9. One may view their lover through rose-colored ones 10. Unwelcome picnic guest, perhaps 11. “There’s __ in team” 12. It can be made with a frying pan and spoon 13. The good __ days 18. Anticipated season for Monsieur Letourneau 19. Indian silk worm 21. “Is that so?”: Var. 22. Froths 23. Courtier in Hamlet 25. Super Smash Bros game which introduced Fire Emblem characters 26. Heat center, formerly?

27. Up, Left, Down, Right, Down, to a PC gamer 29. Dress for court 32. Stick firmly together 34. Water-based paint 35. Precious metal de las aztecas 36. Losing row in tic-tac-toe 37. Possible response for one getting their head stepped on 41. Like Louis XIV 44. Mex’s partner in cuisine 46. Giggly laugh syllable

48. Renter 50. What waltz beats are broken up into 51. “Like __” (song from the movie Begin Again)...or with 70-Across, love phrase #5 52. One of Pablo Escobar’s enemigos 53. Television network that made The This puzzle is a bit unorthodox for the Office, Parks and Rec, and 30 Rock standard 15x15 grid. Typically, puzzles 54. Possible label for Aaron Trovillion do not have answers less than three letters 55. Ancient Europeans in length, but we wanted to play around 56. Text read at a Bar Mitzvah with the lovely image in the middle. For 57. Houston baseball player this crossword in particular, pay attention 58. Organ which pumps iron?...or see to the “love phrases,” especially their 72-Across placement within the grid.

61. A spy may wear one 64. It’s usually dirty Katie Cobb and Ami Wong 66. Annoying request for attention on Instagram: Abbr.

Solutions to the crossword puzzle will be posted on thermtide.com

A NOTE FROM THE CREATORS:

SPORTS

The Tide

February 2018

19

Wins made possible by prep Cold impacts sports

last for an hour. Sometimes, they are focused on distance and other times

by Michael Pan on sprints.”

During practice, the team will Practice makes perfect. This often spend their first 20 minutes in well known saying applies to our warm up which is usually a 500m everyday lives in reminding us freestyle and then ten repetitions of that hard work and persistence 50 meter swims. “It helps get your are the key to improving in body loose and heart rate up a bit,” anything. In sports, the same explained Ghosh. After warm ups, saying is no different, with both swimmers will spend the rest of their an individual and team aspect. time doing a main set which consists Richard Montgomery athletes of multiple different swimming practice as a team to improve exercises and drills.

Similar to swim, wrestling is their skills.

Senior Shoham Ghosh, also an individual sport that also who is on the swim team said, requires teamwork. “Being a part “When you swim on a team, you of a team is extremely important,” bond with your teammates and said sophomore Eli Protas. “You compete with them. In a way could never grow or overcome your this makes you a better swimmer failures without team support.”

In order to prepare for because you are always their matches, the pushing yourself wrestlers practice to your limits.” everyday after A l t h o u g h school.

“We swimming is usually run generally an stairs and individual then do lots sport, team of running bonding is and stretching emphasized to get warmed greatly on up,” explained the swim Protas.

“Then team.

“We we’ll do drills have a lot of and learn new swim socials,” techniques which explained we will then practice Ghosh.

“The GRAPHIC BY KATIE ZHANG by wrestling with entire team will meet up at somebody’s house teammates.”

Unlike swimming and where we’ll bond for a couple of hours. Sometimes it’s even before wrestling which value individual accomplishments, the RM volleyball school.”

When preparing for their team has a unique way of preparing meets, swimmers need to practice for games: special pregame rituals. multiple times every week in Everyone on varsity volleyball will order to stay in shape to compete. have a JV buddy for every game.

“Not swimming for a week makes “Basically we exchange gifts with me feel like I’ve never swam each other before a game which before in my life,” explained usually includes a good luck card with gatorade or snacks,” explained sophomore Antonio Sellemi.

“Usually we have practices sophomore Kisha Yan, a member of Tuesday after school and the girls varsity volleyball team.

Being an extremely team Thursday before school” said Ghosh. “These practices usually oriented sport, it is crucial that the

volleyball team have a lot of team bonding. “Before a game, we’ll usually go out and eat together and do stretches,” said Yan. Team practices for the volleyball team place focus on perfecting technique and form.

The girls will usually practice drills, talk about their upcoming games or review their past games.

Another sport that places a huge emphasis on team spirit and hard work is basketball. The varsity girls basketball team is having a spectacular season so far and is currently undefeated, however, their success is not without hard work.

The girls team work extremely hard every week at practice, finetuning their technique to maximize their efficiency on the court. “At every practice, we focus on developing our dribbling, passing, and shooting skills. We also incorporate team defense and rebounding drills,” explained head coach Michael Oakes. “The day before games we watch game films and review the scouting report to highlight what we want to execute against our next opponent.”

When it comes to team bonding, the girls are almost like a family; the bonds that they hold with each other transcend just being teammates. “This summer we went to King’s Dominion on the way back for a tournament at Virginia Commonwealth University,” said Oakes. “We also attend college games as a team, which helps build the team’s trust and bonding.”

Being on a sports team is a commitment that not only requires dedication but also the willingness to be a part of a team. Every team in RM has their unique way of preparing for a game. Ultimately, being part of a team and practicing together gives athletes support during times of doubt and uncertainty.

WEATHER, cont. from page 1 However, due to a strong sense of determination and resilience, athletes have developed techniques to cope with freezing temperatures, poor air quality and numb extremities.

Junior Marlee San Sebastian said, “My best strategy [to overcome the recent cold temperatures] would be to know what your body needs to stay warm, so that you can perform your best and stay healthy.” San Sebastian added, “Also, make sure to warm up in extra layers so your muscles stay warm.”

The athletes unanimously agreed the best way to tackle cold weather is to keep the body warm. Neyro said, “Bundling up with tons and tons of layers, warming up until you perspire, maybe until you’re out of breath, and going inside for a brief period of time during rest recovery and hoping you’ll get warm eventually is really all you can do.”

There rarely comes a time in which the team does not hold outdoor practice; the experience of grinding heels against the rough outdoor terrain cannot be replicated anywhere else.

Precipitation or an icy track, however, may cause the team to consider alternatives that don’t pose dangers to athletes’ safety.

With regards to perilous weather conditions that freeze over the track, Neyro said, “What we would usually do is go inside and probably run laps around the third floor.” In the case of cancellation of school and afterschool activities altogether, the runners still find time to get their heart rate up on their own.

Their dedication leads them to the gym to complete their workout on the treadmills.

Although indoor practice provides the great comfort of warmth and heat, most of the athletes prefer outside practice. “[Running indoors is] a lot more boring than running outside,” Suhr said.

“Running on a treadmill isn’t ideal because it can get boring.

You don’t have to work as hard to hit the same times,” San Sebastian agreed.

In fact, some of the runners actually prefer chillier temperatures.

Sebastian commented, “Personally, I love running in the cold. I actually think I run faster in the cold because I don’t sweat as much.”

With relentless devotion, motivation and a few extra layers, the indoor track team does not let the extreme cold weather deter their grind both in and outdoors.

Members of the RM indoor track team practice outside in the winter.

PHOTO BY JULIA KOCHMAN

Girls basketball thriving during a record season

by Elieen Zhang Following their intensive training in the summer league, the RM varsity girls’ basketball has bright prospects for the winter season. With a newly energized emphasis on team bonding and individual skill sets, the team was excited for what the new season brings.

This season, instead of looking at the season as a whole, a stronger emphasis has also been placed on individual games.

Coach Michael Oakes stated, “The players decided that we would only talk about our next opponent

rather than looking ahead.” This strategy has influenced players to be particularly perceptive of their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as their opponents, allowing them to minimize personal mistakes and take advantage of their opponents. Rather than competing for individual glory, the Rockets have agreed to focus on their own position and play their role. “The special thing about this team is that everyone is unselfish and embraces their role,” Oakes stated.

The team boasts three star players (known as the “Big 3”), composed of seniors Karon Williams, Melanie Osborne, and Nusaibah Rashad. These three

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKHAILA ESTWICK

Richard Montgomery girl’s basketball poses for a photo at practice.

have left a distinct mark on the legacy of RM girls’ basketball.

During the Winter Holiday Tournament Game, both Williams and Osbourne made the AllTournament team, while Rashad earned the title of Most Valuable Player.

The team has also begun to foster two freshman, Ellie Tounkara and Calie Dunn. With the seniors helping the novice players out, the freshman have made a huge impact on the team, stepping up to help in crucial situations and showcasing their abilities and talents. Tounkara has become a consistent starter and Dunn is one of the team’s best shooters.

In addition to freshman, the team has welcomed new assistant Coach Hannan. Hannan has added more insight and knowledge to the team’s game.

Senior Deedee Yan commented, “Our new assistant coach has really been amazing. She’s taught us so much about everything.”

From senior captain Melanie Osbourne scoring her 1000th career point to holding an undefeated 17-0 season thus far, this season has been all about breaking records. The Rockets have also received their first ranking in the Washington Post’s Girls’ Basketball Top 20 since 1996.

Though a bit cliche, winning

isn’t everything; It’s about sharing a passion with one another and having a season worth remembering. Osbourne commented, “We’ve learned to work really well together and have a special bond. We all love each other.” Their love for the sport and each other have been shown clearly in their team practices and bonding sessions.

On January 10, 2018, the Rockets travelled to Clarksburg to play the most anticipated match of the season against Clarksburg HS. Both teams had been undefeated up until the game, and the Rockets had never managed to clinch the win during their long-standing rivalry.

However, the team went in with confidence, knowing they had one of the best Girls’ Basketball teams RM had seen in a while. After a constant back and forth game, the Rockets came out on top, winning 60-54, knocking Clarksburg off their undefeated streak.

“It was a battle against two great undefeated teams, but we played hard until the end and won. That game wasn’t pretty, but it was hard fought,” Yan stated.

Following Clarksburg, Osbourne explained, “We played our hardest and every single second played on our team contributed to that win.” The Rockets were focused and dominant coming

into the game, being motivated from start to finish. Everyone had played their best and it paid off with a win 70-52 against Clarksburg.

Heading into the second half of their season, the team hopes to brush up on their defensive skills.

Defense plays a huge role in the outcome of games and both the coaches and players agree that they need better rebounds and plays to keep opposing teams from scoring high points.

The Rockets hope to keep their winning streak up, but more importantly, they want to keep improving throughout each game. Yan outlined, “We have to execute everyday, practice, and game. [To] keep playing strong and remain humble.”

The girls still have many games ahead of them, against challenging schools such as BCC and Whitman. However, they know that if they continue what they’ve been doing for the past weeks and fix their weaknesses, this will undeniably be one of the best seasons the RM girls’ basketball team has ever had.

The Rockets will no doubt only continue to accomplish great things in the near future, as their season is only just starting to heat up. With playoffs and states so close and obtainable, the girls’ have the whole school waiting to see what they’ll do next.

20 The Tide

SPORTS

Athlete of the Issue

February 2018

Rose displays extraordinary skills in the pool

by Katie Spencer Jack Rose is an indispensable member of the Richard Montgomery boys swim team.

A talented backstroker and freestyler, he has certainly played a fundamental role in the successes of his team, including its two recent back-to-back state championship titles. As a current senior captain and Bucknell commit, Rose has become a role model for his teammates both in and out of the water.

Rose was only two years old when he first learned how to swim. He took his first dip into competition by becoming a member of the Woodley Gardens Swim Club, the Waves, when he was six. Rose still spends his summers competing for the Waves alongside his close friends. He also swims for the Rockville Montgomery Swim Club and has made numerous appearances at Divisionals, AllStars, Coaches Long-Course and Junior Nationals.

As for his best events, Rose specializes in the backstroke, and also performs well in middistance freestyle events like the 500m. Rose is also an essential participant in the 200m medley relay and 400m freestyle relay in

addition to his individual events.

Rose enjoys swimming because of its calming and stress-relieving simplicity. “It’s really cathartic for me,” said Rose. “If I’m stressed out I’ll go to practice and I’ll feel a lot better because I’ve had time to think about it.” Laps across a pool, no matter how tedious, provide Rose with a relaxing escape from the outside world.

The focus on self-improvement also appeals to Rose’s desire to challenge himself. “There’s a lot of time where you’re just looking at the bottom of the pool and you’re focusing on your stroke and you have to push yourself to your absolute limit in order to perform well,” Rose said.

The sport also serves as Rose’s primary social outlet. “I get to meet people who go to RM who I wouldn’t have otherwise known,” Rose explained.

After many years of practices before dawn, long bus rides and sharing hotel rooms, Rose has crafted close friendships with his teammates, including junior Connor Din. “Jack has always been like my big brother.

We spend basically every day together, all year, whether it’s in the pool or during school,” said Din. Looking back on his four years of swimming for the Rockets, Rose recalls that his fondest memories

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK ROSE

Rose represents Richard Montgomery boys swim team in the backstroke.

are of his times spent with older swimmers that have come and gone. He remembers dearly his experiences at Metros alongside RM alumni Matt Ngyuen and the Afolabi-Brown twins, Kenny and Greg. “It’s a really exciting meet, and the crowds go crazy,” Rose said.

After idolizing upperclassmen in his younger years, Rose’s talent and captain status have helped him earn the respect and admiration of his own following.

“Jack is like the main leader, especially through the cheers,”

said Din. “He shows great leadership as a captain because he always keeps a positive demeanor,” added junior teammate Zack Moore.

Between winning his races and playing head cheerleader on the sidelines, Rose can be seen lending a helping hand to Coach Wheeler on the sidelines.

Not only does Rose excel in the water, but in the classroom as well.

He is just a semester away from earning his IB Diploma. Although his free time is scarce, Rose makes the most of it. He enjoys playing

the guitar, drawing, taking photos and creating film.

Just this fall, Rose has verbally committed to continuing his swimming career at Bucknell University. The Bisons, native to Lewisburg, PA, compete in the NCAA Division I Patriot’s League.

For Rose, it was love at first sight.

“They have a really beautiful campus and a great academic program,” he explained.

Rose attracted the attention of college scouts by sending his best times through email. At the Junior Nationals meet in Indianapolis, he had an opportunity to speak with a former Bucknell coach, who took interest in Rose’s potential.

“As soon as I visited the school, I talked to the coach and he told me I had a spot on the team,” he explained. “That was really exciting to hear.”

With four more years of swimming ahead of him, Rose is looking forward to getting faster and making new friends. “One of the great things about playing a sport in college is that you just have automatically a group of people that you can connect with,” Rose said.

Jack Rose is not only an extraordinary swimmer but also a great teammate on the boy’s swim team. He is always the loudest voice on the sidelines, cheering on his fellow teammates.

Coaches give advice on college recruitment process

by Robyn Fohouo For student athletes, starting high school is not only a rite of passage, but also the beginning of the rigorous college recruitment process.

The NCAA (National College Athletics Association) is affiliated with over 1,000 colleges and universities. The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) is a smaller association with around 300 smaller colleges and universities. Regardless, both have the same standards and require lots of dedication in both athletics and academics. Both the NCAA and NAIA are associations that are commonly connected to the recruitment process.

When it comes to sports at the collegiate level, there are three divisions. NCAA Division I is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics, which means it is highly competitive. The schools in this division are usually well-funded in the athletics department, with huge arenas and more money allocated for scholarships. As a result, Division I colleges are the only schools that offer full scholarships. The NCAA has more than 15,000 athletes.

Division II schools consist of both public and private schools.

NCAA reports that these schools tend to have around 4,500 students. This division is the middle ground, with both Division I and Division III athletes. Athletes usually have at least a partial scholarship.

Division III is possibly the most underrated division. Not only does this division have amazing athletics departments, but they

also have a strong focus on is identifying potential athletes. will incorporate academics. NCAA’s Division III Recruiters offers students both competitive many factors when deciding on athletics but also top-notch qualifying candidates. According to an article by USA Today, “These academics.

There is a common factors include sport, height, misconception that if an athlete weight, position, graduation year, only cares and does well on his academics, and location.” During or her sports, then the professor this part of the process, the large for recruiting, will go easy on them and let them organizations slide through on their academics. such as NCSA (National College Time after time, this myth has Student Athlete) come in handy. proven to be untrue with several RM Basketball’s Coach Turner recommends recruiting officers emphasizing athletes join that without strong academics, programs such as the athlete will not the AAU (Amateur be recruited.

Athletic Union).

C o l l e g e T h e s e recruitment programs requires a lot play a of dedication. huge role Before an in getting athlete gets athletes started on recognized college f o r recruitment, recruitment.

R M ’ s For each sport Volleyball or just different C o a c h sports in the Barber-Strunk same college, the recommends that number of athletes players figure intially considered out whether they actually want to GRAPHIC BY VALERIE WANG for recruitment d i f f e r play in college. If not, then there is no reason for an enormously. For example, a athlete to go through the grueling list of possible candidates for a Division I football program could and time consuming process.

Although the recruiting have somewhere around 8,000 procedure seems very prospective athletes, whereas complicated, recruitment coaches a smaller college football could adhere to a certain process which have only a couple hundred.

After the coaches compiled they use to recruit athletes. The system that these recruitment a list of potential recruits, they coaches use is described by a have to find out which of those funnel model. The recruitment candidates are actually interested coaches start with a large number in playing during their college of possible candidates, then years. In order to do so, coaches encourage atheletes to contact slowly cut down the number.

The initial step of the procedure them. These methods of contacting

them range from simple letters to campus visits, allowing athletes to gain more information about the programs and recruiters to gain more information about the player.

This stage consists of several athletes with similar abilities and credentials. According to RM varsity Football’s Coach Klotz, there is an important aspect of an athlete—character. The character of an athlete is so important that it is a major deciding factor whether an athlete gets recruited or not.

“Figuring out character is the toughest part. Most of it comes from interactions with the recruit — at school and on campus, phone calls, and texts,” Klotz mentioned.

In doing so, the coach is able to find out the overall personality of an athlete. College coaches often look to high school coaches for additional information.

“College coaches always ask me about the character of recruits, along with their background and family life,” Klotz declared. Most coaches recommend that during this time, athletes should keep their social media profile clean.

The next step in the recruitment process is different for each sport.

After identifying possible recruits with the four favorable factors, college coaches need to determine the potential of an athlete on the field.

Barber-Strunk recommends athletes create a recruitment video, which is essentially a compilation of an athlete’s best performances in their respective sport. According to the NCSA, recruitment videos vary for each sport, but there are mainly two types of videos: highlight and time videos.

Highlight videos are mainly

used for group sports, such as football, basketball, and volleyball. The key components of highlight videos consist of keeping it short, showing off a wide set of skills, and putting the best highlights first. On the other hand, for sports such as swimming or track, that focus on the individual, videos should show off the athlete’s times. The video should include the athlete’s fastest swim time or fastest run around the track. The point of each video is to show off the best skills of the athlete in order to capture the attention of college coaches.

At the late stage in the process, the athletes go through a thorough evaluation, and coaches are prepared for the verbal commitments. The NCAA defines a verbal commitment as: “College-bound student-athlete verbally agrees to play sports for a college before he or she signs or is eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent.”

A verbal commitment can be given in the form of scholarships, other forms of financial aid, or even recruited walk-on positions. This verbal commitment is not binding and the athlete or school can terminate the commitment at any time.

The college recruitment process can start at any time, so an athlete should always be prepared. In order to prepare an athlete should have athletic abilities and talent, amazing academics, and most importantly, be of good character.

College recruitment is a long but exciting journey every college athlete undergoes in thier high school years. Whether or not an athlete has been selected, they will have grown as an athlete and an individual.