Feb 28 Issue

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tjTODAY

THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 6560 Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312

FEBRUARY 28, 2013

Finding romance P 8-9

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 6

Book challenges cover broad range of objections by Tahmina Achekzai News Editor Browsing through the religion section in the library, junior Anwar Omeish was disapIslam, her faith. Finally, she checked out “Legacy of Jihad.” But only a few chapters into the book, she found multiple inaccuracies. After extensive research on both the author and book and a discussion with librarian Margaret Carpenter, Omeish decided to challenge the book. In order for the challenge to go through, however, Omeish would have to

“The author of ‘Legacy of Jihad’ has absolutely no credentials to write on the subject,” she said. “He associates himself with known ‘Islamophobes’ and hate-mongers and is named as one of the top 25 pseudo-experts on Earlier this month, parent Laura Murphy’s ning novel by Toni Morrison, made it to the FCPS School Board. She sought to ban the book from classrooms because her child had experienced distress reading the book.

English teacher Judy Bello taught “Beloved” in her English 11 classes until two years ago. While teaching, she recognized that the violence and sexual material covered in the novel needed to be approached carefully. “I would not have dared teach it at the beginning of the year,” Bello said. “I waited until we had a close sense of community and tolerance in the class.” “Beloved” tells the story of an Africanthree children to save them from a life of slavery. Her daughter, called “Beloved,” does die.

Guns in the crosshairs

Bello explained that she never asked students directly to speak up about the sensitive topics. For Class of 2011 graduate Omar Abed, “Beloved” was the only book in high school he didn’t fully read. “It was weird discussing it in class at times. The topics in the book were a big jump from Bello decided to stop teaching it after one student opted out of reading the book. “Perhaps it was a bit of a challenge even for our sophisticated, earnest students,” she said. continued on p. 2

Cool science projects go to Regionals

another, the boy mesmerized by the process.

Earlier proposals to limit the access to military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines were all rejected in

check has been conducted. No permits or licensing is required, except for purchases of concealed-carry weapons. continued on p. 12

by Tahmina Achekzai and Jenny Chen News Editors Equipped with a microscope and ProScope, junior Sarah Quettawala peered at a zebrafish embryo and carefully counted its heartbeats through its transparent outer layer. Quettawala was studying the effects of cortisol, a stress hormone, on the genome by testing zebrafish embryos and determining how their heart rates responded. “Dealing with such small specimens, concentrations and amounts of chemicals made it difficult to be accurate and precise the majority of the time,” she said. “It was challenging to minimize human error, but my data was consistent.” Though it was her first year participating in the Jefferson science fair, Quettawala achieved a first place finish, one of only 40 students to do so. Many of the winners, including Quettawala, are now preparing for the regional fair, which will take place from March 15 to 17 at Robinson Secondary School. Like Quettawala, this was the first year seniors Arusha Reghu and Yihemba Yikona competed in the science fair. Reghu and Yikona, who used their senior research project, introduced a new specimen into the Oceanography lab with their project: blue mussels. “There was a lot we had to learn about what environment would be best for the mussels. Luckily, mussels do pretty well in the lab, so they handle slight changes in salinity and temperature without much stress,” Reghu said. The seniors tested the effect of iron and manganese on the mussels’ production of byssal threads, a type of fiber that help them attach to various materials, including plastic, glass and metals. “I’m really interested in the bioengineering field and how there are so many applications from the natural world that can enhance our lives,” Reghu said. “The fact that byssal threads can attach themselves to practically any surface underwater and in moist environments could make closing wounds during surgery easier and less invasive.”

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graphic by Tahmina Achekzai

by Mallika Patkar Editor-in-Chief

I

walked into the sporting goods section of the Wal-Mart in Warrenton a week ago, intent on comparing gun purchase

procedures to those I’d seen at the Chantilly Expo gun show I’d visited on Feb. 8. -

check is conducted in the store. If you don’t have a criminal record, you’re good to go. Such a transaction is even quicker at gun shows, where no background checks are required. At the Nation’s Gun Show in Chantilly, I saw someone hand over a voter registration card and driver’s license to a vendor, and leave with a newly purchased handgun. concerned. However, as the 2013 regular session of the Virginia General Assembly came to a close on Feb. 23, many of the proposed gun

sales. I noted a father instructing his young

Winter sports come to a mixed conclusion

Performers display culture at I-Nite

the Va. Senate. A bill providing private sellers at gun shows the option to conduct background checks also failed to pass earlier this month. “Republicans and Democrats are not willing to vote on the issue,” Del. Bob Marshall, of Virginia’s 13th district in Manassas Park, said. Compared to states such as New York, which recently banned assault weapons and placed restrictions on weapon sales to the mentally ill, Virginia has remained unchanged. Current laws allow persons over the

Robot challenge brings labs together

Student adjusts to her gluten-free life


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