tjTODAY
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 6560 Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312
MAY 17, 2013
Interactive pages turn invasive and ugly as students create forums for expression TJ Talks Have you ever seen anything hurtful or inappropriate on Facebook?
Freshman Jake Gonzalez “No. There’s always some sort of paper trail with Facebook. I feel like I see more hurtful things on ask.fm because it’s anonymous.”
“W
hat’s on your mind?” The question tugs
at Facebook’s one billion users when they visit the familiar blue color palette. But, at Jefferson, where this social networking site is akin to an obsession, the last few months have revealed a dark side to its popularity. A recent viral trend began at Queen’s University in Ontario and reached the Facebook accounts of Jefferson students as compliments pages. Those positive sites quickly spiraled into evil twins of the original pages. These pages based on anonymous submissions were created in a frenzy in March and included ones such as TJ Confessions, TJ Confessionals, TJ Blatant Lies, TJ Crushes and even TJ Doppelgangers. These second generation pages stopped being as positive and became inflammatory. “I hate pretentious little pricks with a passion…” one TJ Confessionals submitter said. Other posts went as far as to mention names of specific students. Most submissions received little to no likes or comments. “When I first saw them, they did seem
pretty funny since everyone loves to gossip and hear silly stories. But really I don’t think it was a good thing to do,” senior Garrett Shapiro said. “Whenever you have people posting stuff anonymously, they can say whatever they want with no consequences.” In particular, TJ Confessions and TJ Confessionals met resistance from school administrators because they were posting controversial messages and criticisms of the school and students while using the Jefferson logo as the pages’ profile pictures. “The TJ community should know the use of TJ’s name and its logo is misrepresentation,” Principal Evan Glazer said. “It’s a violation of the SR&R because it’s presuming that when you use the TJ name or logo, it’s permissible by the school.” Administrators contacted Facebook to request the removal of the pages for their inappropriate, offensive and harassing content. “The valuable aspect actually was when some Facebook users went on to those existing sites and sent some positive messages to them to say that this isn’t really what the TJ culture is all about,” Glazer said. “Ultimately, I think a lot of people took down the sites themselves before Facebook authorized removal of them.” continued on p. 2
Sophomore Nur Simsek “I see comments on physical appearance, intelligence and race and stereotypical jokes.”
Junior Ben Andre “I heard someone put up a website rating girls at TJ, and people got really upset. It got taken down very quickly.”
Senior Amrutha Malladi “On TJ Confessions, people were trying to get their opinion out, and when their opinion wasn’t really the norm, it resulted in more people commenting hurtful things against them.” photos and reporting by Tahmina Achekzai
graphic by Mallika Patkar
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VOLUME 28, ISSUE 8
Student reporters talk with Garza
facebook fracas
by Jenny Chen News Editor
Stress less, laugh more week P16
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by Tahmina Achekzai and Mallika Patkar News Editor and Editor-in-chief Student journalists from 18 schools participated in a conference call with incoming superintendent Karen Garza on May 7. Student reporters from Mclean High School asked how the education KAREN GARZA model she employs in Lubbock Independent School District as current superintendent would compare to what she plans for FCPS. “What worked in Houston and Lubbock may not be what is best for students and precincts in Fairfax County. We’re going to do things that are smart and based on research and input from stakeholders,” she said. West Potomac High School’s editors asked how her policy would differ from current superintendent Jack Dale’s. “I know he has done a lot of good work. I will do a lot to build on that foundation. It will be a different way that I’ll interact with the community,” she said. “The first thing I’ll have to do is learn about the school system. I intend to focus a lot of time and energy on that in the first 60 days.” “Dr. Garza impressed me with her collaborative approach and her ability to bring people together to find solutions to difficult challenges,” said FCPS school board member from the Mason District, Sandy Evans. continued on p. 2
Cao named U.Va. Jefferson Scholar by Ellen Kan Staff Reporter The more time senior Kevin Cao spent at the University of Virginia, the more he felt the pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place. As Cao relaxed in a rocking chair, chatting with a group of fourthyear Jefferson Scholars on the Lawn, KEVIN CAO something clicked. He felt as if he belonged. Nearly a month later, Cao accepted the Jefferson Scholarship on April 19. A prestigious organization that cultivates undergraduate leaders, scholars and citizens, U.Va.’s Jefferson Scholars Foundation provides its students with financial support and enrichment opportunities. Cao went through a strenuous and competitive selection process to become one of the 33 Jefferson Scholars in the Class of 2017. On March 25, Cao received his offer. However, he faced a difficult decision because he had also been admitted to several other coveted schools. “I felt somewhat obligated to accept the scholarship because TJ nominated me from such a large pool of applicants,” Cao said. “But that stress was minimal compared to the immense amount of pressure I felt from my parents, family and friends to go to Harvard because of the name and prestige.” Cao is the first senior from Jefferson to both obtain and accept the Jefferson Scholarship since Class of 2004 graduate Megan Dunning. Although money did not factor into his final decision, Cao was put off by the other schools due to their grade deflation and lack of focus on undergraduate studies. He reconsidered U.Va. after he visited the campus during the finalist weekend. “I met some of the most remarkable people, finalists and scholars alike. In the process, I fell in love with a school I had previously discounted and really felt like I was truly wanted and welcomed,” Cao said. “Above all, I knew I would be happy at U.Va.”
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