UNCAGED.
freedom high school newsmagazine | volume 2 | issue 2
the
STAFF Adviser Kathryn Steele
Editor-in-Chief Micah Natarajan Design Editor Emily Malacane Photo Editor Justin Sheehan Managing Editors Serena Thapa Mahlet Wondwosen Copy Editor Simar Kohli Joe Skinner Staff Manager Kieran O’Brien Business Editor Ashley Jain News Editor Mallory Stokker Features Editor Amanda Peña Culture Editor Jessica Scott Opinions Editors Lauryn Forbes Hunter McCluer Sports Editor Campbell Niehaus Staff Writers Meghan Adams Maryam Azeem Marissa Bell Cara Curtin Erin Janiga Arnav Kumar Sammy Omar Shravani Reddy Natalie Ring Helina Wondwossen Photographers Holly Chun Cayley Kilduff Joytsana Sangroula Uncaged is the newsmagazine of Freedom High School. The attitudes, opinions, views, and ideas expressed in Uncaged do not necessarily reflect those of this staff, the faculty adviser, Freedom High School, or the Loudoun County Public School system. Uncaged follows the county and state guidelines established for student high school publications, and disclaims any liability with respect thereto the use or reliance on any such information contained in this publication. The Uncaged staff welcomes contributions and encourages the expression of students, faculty, staff, and members of the Freedom High School community. Cover photo by Justin Sheehan
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table of contents
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The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. //excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou
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[news] [culture] [features] [sports] [opinions] [back cover]
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CONTENTS
from the editors How are ya, free birds? We’re back! And, following months of tireless effort, we hope to dazzle and amaze you with our hot-off-the-press first issue of 2017. We sure hope you’re as excited to see us as we are to see you! With the beginning of a new year, we took some time to reflect upon and appreciate all we have to be thankful for as a staff. Over the course of the last year, our publication underwent a drastic change, and through tons of dedication, became a magazine worthy of being honored with the greatest accolade a scholastic magazine could receive, the NSPA Pacemaker Award. If not for the unwavering support of you, that certainly wouldn’t have been possible. For that, we give you our sincerest gratitude. We promise to return the favor by continuing to give you the absolute best magazine we can. As you flip through the pages of this magazine and admire the spectacular talents and interests of your classmates, take a moment to appreciate some of the things you have to be grateful for as well. It can be anything, big or small, as long as it is something that has brought some joy into your life. Along with a new year comes a whirlwind of changes. However, in the midst of the storm, we will remain ever committed to our craft, bringing you content worth reading. So please, enjoy! n
[Photo by Sarah Ramboyong, 9]
letter from the editors
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NEWS
GOT MILK? I
n a time of political volatility and the general social stresses of high school, it is common for students to crave a welcoming environment where they can express themselves without fear of judgment. For many FHS students, Milk Club has become that place. This welcoming atmosphere is part of what has made Milk Club so successful. The club has seen rapid growth in its first year under the leadership of senior Blair Smith. Smith first got the idea to revolutionize the LGBT community at FHS when he attended the Loudoun County Pride Prom last spring. “When I was at the dance, I realized how important it is for students to have a safe space where they can feel comfortable expressing themselves because it’s not really a common thing in most high schools,” Smith said. Over the summer, Smith advertised the club as a safe space, received help with graphic designs and renamed the organization in honor of political activist Harvey Milk. Rather than alienating students who may not identify with or be comfortable with labeling themselves as LGBT, the name Milk Club is neutral and welcomes all students interested in supporting the community. “The reason that I wanted to call our club the Milk Club was to obviously honor him, and partially because milk is a great name and I didn’t want to call it the gay straight alliance because I feel like that can sometimes scare away people.” During the club meetings, members discuss a variety of topics to make everyone feel welcome and included in the conversations. Smith works hard in order to keep the meetings interesting and fun so they can bring in more students to the club. Even if you’re not a part of the LGBT community, he brings in students to help support those who are. 4
“I think it’s a really great place to go when you feel like you have no one else to talk to. You have people that - you know, they’re so accepting,” junior Sydney Calvelli, a member of the Milk Club council, said. “Everyone there is just so accepting of anything.” In order to make this year’s Pride Prom even more successful than last year’s, the Milk Club is working hard to find volunteer opportunities, get donations and bring in organizations to raise money and get decorations. Although the Pride Prom isn’t until May, they are planning far in advance to make sure it is a big success. “All of the proceeds are going directly to Casa Ruby,” Smith said. Pride Prom has been donating to Casa Ruby for the past two years, which is an LGBTQ+ bilingual youth shelter in Washington, D.C. Pride Prom will be held at Briar Woods High School this year. The theme is going to be “Celebrate our Past,” which will cover LGBT historical events from as far back as the Greek and the Romans to modern day history. Important LGBT organizations such as the Trevor Project, Listen Nova (a local chapter of a bigger LGBT group) and a gender reassignment panel from the Inova Hospital will all be in attendance. “We’ve been collaborating with different gay straight alliances within the county and having meetings and talking about different organizations so it’s good. It’s a really big collaborative effort this year,” Smith said.
[Story by Cara Curtin and Mallory Stokker] [Photos by Cayley Kilduff]
CASA RUBY
Casa Ruby is an LGBTQ+ bilingual youth shelter in Washington, D.C. All of the proceeds from this years Pride Prom are going to Casa Ruby. It is the only multicultural and bilingual LGBT+ shelter in the area. Its mission is to help LGBTQ+ individuals gain opportunites and achieve success, and to create a world where LGBTQ+ people will not have to fear being harassed, having violence comitted against them, or being discriminated because of how they identify,
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CULTURE CULTURE
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WOMEN’S
W
hen senior Serena Thapa initially founded the Women’s Empowerment Club (WEC), she wanted to provide a space for both male and female students with a passion for women’s activism to discuss the prevalence of women’s issues in our society. Little did she know that this decision would be making such great strives in such a minimal amount of time. With what began as a few students meeting in room 603 every other Friday to share and discuss, the WEC members have not only grown closer through their shared goals of a better society, but also have taken action in fighting for their cause by providing women in the third world countries with clothes for menstrual cycles. “The WEC is a group of young students who are all about equality and empowering each other to evoke and provoke change in our society because there are many restraints on our age group that says we can’t do these things,” senior Laryssa Banks said. “It is place for us to empower each other and push each other and cause change.” Thapa and Banks, along with seniors Courtney Galpin, Kena Anderson and Ashley Abernathy came up with the idea while writing an essay for their Dual Enrollment English class, and a club was
born. “Most people in this area are so blind to it [the issues], they do not know it is happening,” Banks said. “The sooner we talk about it, the sooner things are going to start changing.” The club is also drawing a significant male audience. Senior Tyler Pugh has played a role in encouraging others to come with him to WEC. “With unequal pay, discrimination and overall biases towards women, it is important that not only women, but men strive to change that,” Pugh said. “I felt like it was my role, my duty as someone who cares about that topic to join the club and speak out about it.” Thapa and Banks have big plans for WEC in the future to start a grassroots movement among members of the community for their cause. They attended the Women’s March on Washington on January 21. “We are supposed, to have good debate because compromise is important too,” Banks said. “If we compromise and get to an equal ground then it is better than saying, ‘You can only talk about certain things in this place’. You can say whatever you want, and not get judged for it.” n [Story by Joe Skinner] [Photo by Justin Sheehan]
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FEATURES
NOT A DRILL W
hen a school shooting occurs, people are quick to start debating gun control, but they often fail to discuss the safety of the school itself. With a rise in school shootings across the nation beginning in 2011, districts must begin to devise a plan for unforeseen circumstances and scenarios. Nobody thought that such a horrible mass murder could take place in the pleasant town of Newtown, Connecticut; however, it is now clear that mass shootings can happen anywhere. It is time to wake up and see that expecting the unexpected is important to our future. n [Story by Arnav Kumar]
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A
single, loud pop resonates through the halls of Bethel Regional High School (BRHS) in Alaska. Was it a balloon? Was it a crash in the cafeteria? Students return to their homework for two seconds before they hear another explosion, and another. A classmate shouts, “He has a gun! Run!” With no safety protocol, panicked students and teachers scrambled to find an escape route. A faculty member fumbled with the keys to the gym in an effort to get out of the school. Finally, they escaped. Most of them. Two individuals were killed that fateful day, and BRHS instituted new safety precautions. They had made one fatal mistake. The same mistake that was made at Columbine and Sandy Hook. They believed it would not happen to them. FHS Biology teacher Kristina Infante experienced the shooting at Bethel Regional High School first hand in 1997and relayed the story of fear. While she was fortunate enough to escape the scenario unharmed, two members of the school and of the community were lost. “We didn’t know where to go, how to get out, what to do,” Infante said. “That had never been practiced, never been thought about. There was never a consideration of what to do if someone came to school with a gun.” Following the incident, BRHS hired a security officer to patrol their campus. Before the shooting, not only did the school not have an officer, they did not even have the beginning of an escape plan for desperate situations like this. Fortunately, the shooting occurred 45 minutes before school began, meaning few students were in the building, but chaos still ensued when danger approached, and there was no plan to cope with it. “It is really important to understand that this was not a moment that happened instantly, but there was lead up to [it],” Infante said. “There were rumors that [the shooter] had talked about this to some people, not everybody, but there were individuals that go back and say, ‘Oh I thought he wasn’t serious.’” After the incident, Infante realized the true importance of reaching out to individuals who seem disconnected. Just acknowledging someone’s work, or giving someone a compliment might make all the difference. “It is [vital] to tell somebody else about the conversation, that way at least someone knows, and [they] can reach out,” Infante said. “It doesn’t mean it’ll stop the event from occurring, but it decreases the chances.” n [Story by Campbell Niehaus and Shravani Reddy]
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FEATURES
LOCKDOWN DRILL
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n LCPS policy, lockdown drills are practiced to prepare for the situation of an intrusion. During a lockdown, all classrooms must be locked with the lights turned off. Students must stay inside the classroom in a safe area preferably away from the door and stay quiet. In a real lockdown, students are released by a member of the administration or law enforcement going to each classroom individually not by an announcement over the intercom like during a drill. In LCPS, lockdown drills are required to be held twice a year. n
T
he first bell rings as you head into your first period class. Just as you sit down, an announcement is made over the intercom. The sound of doors urgently shutting is nearly inaudible; your teacher rushes to cover the window on the classroom door. Only one thing runs through your mind: the necessity of survival. The school is officially in lockdown. In these situations, safety is absolutely imperative. Over the course of 14 years, there have been significant changes in the safety protocol of schools across the country. In the Loudoun County Public School (LCPS) system, the intruder policy in particular has become increasingly strict every year. Policy has changed so that if an intruder enters the building, the entire school will be locked down as soon as possible. In the event of a lockdown, students in each classroom are instructed to hide in a corner that is not visible by any window. Students outside of classrooms are advised by the Loudoun Department of Emergency Management to “Run, Hide, Fight.�
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FIRE DRILL
n the case of a fire, an alarm goes off throughout the school, indicating to everyone to stop what they are doing and wait for instructions from the teacher. Each class exits the building following their given evacuation route. Students walk in single file lines to the nearest exit and stand in their designated safe area outside with their class. Teachers then verify the location of every student in their class. Students must stay outside until the fire department arrives, evaluates the situation and gives the all clear. LCPS policy requires one fire drill per week for the first four weeks of the school year and then once a month for the rest of the year, so students are comfortable with the drill and will know what to do if ever faced with a real fire. n
Now, there are checkpoints for visitors, parents, and employees at school entrances that require them to show a photo identification card due to increased security. Yet, from the 2013-2014 school year to the 2014-2015 school year, there were 20 more threats addressed in LCPS. So with the most advanced security procedures, why is there an increasing rate of threats? In these situations, we can all be more alert as a community. In the case of Sandy Hook, the shooter had deep rooted mental issues that had never been addressed. In Columbine, both the shooters also had deep rooted mental issues and made home-videos shooting bowling pins. In both of these situations, the shootings could have been prevented if the people around them were more alert towards their mental health. Our schools can have the best security in the entire nation, however, if we are not caring and alert towards each other, then we could miss many indicators regarding potential threats. n [Into by Micah Natarajan and Ashley Jain]
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PROCEDURES
In addition to this, LCPS has increased precautions in each school’s daily routine. For over a decade, it has been a requirement for a security specialist to be in each school at all times during the school day. Counties such as Fairfax and Prince William have even hired assistant safety specialists into their public schools; a prospect that Loudoun County is working to implement.
he Emergency Response Plan (ERP) was created to prepare for school emergencies including threats of explosions or bombs, fires, acts of violence, structure or utility failures, severe weather and several others. At FHS, we conduct an ERP where everyone evacuates the building, each class follow their evacuation route to the nearest exit and walks to the stadium. Every student and staff member goes to their assigned row of the bleachers and wait until all students and faculty members are accounted for. Like a fire drill, everyone’s location must be verified. n
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
[Stories by Erin Janiga]
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FEATURES
T
he possibility of a disaster occurring may not always be at the forefront of your mind, which makes sense, given that there are numerous other things to worry about. The remote possibility of an intruder entering the school, however improbable, is always possible. Taking small precautions can increase your chances of surviving in the event of a dangerous or life threatening situation. n
THINK
S
imilarly, people tend to check their phone in the hallway; they continue to walk to class having memorized the route, eliminating the need to look up. The best thing to do is to put away your phone, but if you find yourself with your phone in your hand, at least glance around often in order to have some situational awareness of your surroundings. n
LOOK UP
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w
REMEMBER
hether you are acting in accord with our school lockdown policy, or by the Department of Homeland Security’s PSA mantra “Run. Hide. Fight.” knowing where you are is vitally important. To maintain situational awareness, regardless of where you are, just watch and listen. Always pay attention to where you are and what is going on. Although you may not be in control of the situation, being mindful and aware of what is going on around you could potentially save you in the event of a disaster or dangerous situation. n
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PAY ATTENTION
hen you enter a room, your priority should be to know where you are and how to escape if need be. Check to see how many exits there are, who is in the room, where in the building you are and any other spatial questions that come to mind. Simply being aware of your surroundings can enable you to act more quickly if you were placed in a dangerous situation. n
M
TURN DOWN THE MUSIC
any students listen to music when walking between classes in order to drown out the sound of hundreds of feet pounding through the halls. The blasting music also temporarily impairs the listener’s hearing. In the situation of a school intruder, hearing a classmate express surprise, or hearing the intruder yourself, could give you a small, yet crucial advantage. Even lowering the volume slightly can improve your chances of being aware in the event that this situation were to occur. n
[Stories by Meghan Adams] [Photo by Justin Sheehan]
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SPORTS
Trevor Lemaster 16
Wrestling requires tremendous dedication and effort, and although many people attribute negative terms to the eating habits of wrestlers, the effects can be non-existent in many cases. n
Jackson Garber
S
enior wrestler Trevor Lemaster consumes just over 1000 calories of food everyday. This number is exceedingly low compared to the national average which is 2600 calories per day according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “I eat yogurt and a granola bar for breakfast. For lunch, I have the school lunch, which is usually a chicken sandwich and fruit, but I don’t get anything extra. For dinner, I usually have pasta or a sandwich,” Lemaster said. Although Lemaster forces himself to consume far less than the average high schooler, he feels completely healthy.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Average Diet
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unior wrestler Jackson Garber consumes approximately 1690 calories of food everyday. “[I eat] three eggs in the morning, [a] protein bar, chicken and broccoli, and two clementines for lunch, [and] a little bit of nuts,” Garber said. “For dinner, [I eat] chicken and broccoli and potatoes.” Although he too must maintain his
weight class, Garber is able to eat freely and not experience any problems in doing so. Garber’s diet only differs from the norm in the sense that he consciously focuses on eating healthy, protein-packed foods instead of junk food which lowers his calorie count. n
A
PUTTING THE CLASS IN WEIGHT CLASS
lthough the eating habits of Lemaster and Garber differ drastically, the two are very similar in their day-to-day activities, and neither are negatively affected by their diets. In fact, they both have witnessed a significant improvement in their eating habits when they are in the off-season as well. “It’s all about portion control rather than starving yourself,” Lemaster said. Critics frequently
Average Diet
highlight the negative effects of wrestlers’ eating habits nationwide. Unfortunately, three tragedies took place in 2003 before the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) loosened their weight class requirements according to Eating Disorders Review. However, the NCAA did increase the weight class caps and change the timing of weigh-ins in order to start improving competitors’ habits. Despite the negative habits demonstrated by numerous wrestlers around the country, FHS has done a terrific job of training their athletes to maintain their health while attempting to make a weight class. “We want to be healthy as we can be, so we usually go off that 2,000 calorie diet, where you get all the nutrients you need,” Garber said. “We [ just try to] make our weight class. We’re not losing copious amounts of weight.” In wrestling, weight classes are absolutely essential to maintaining a fair playing field for all athletes. Typically, wrestlers will only fight those in their own weight class. Lemaster wrestles in the 106-pound division while Jackson wrestles in the 145-pound division. With three and two full years of experience respectively, Lemaster and Garber both understand the benefits of reaching their target weight as early as possible. “During the fall, when I was actually losing weight, I was monitoring my calorie intake, and I was eating a lot less than what I am eating now,” Lemaster said.
“Now that I did it earlier, I can maintain, which is a lot easier than losing. [A lot of wrestlers] wait until the season starts because they don’t really feel like [losing early].” Lemaster’s motivation and willingness to take the initiative has allowed him to consume a standard diet in-season, and the coaches at FHS place a large emphasis on these healthy habits. Despite the grueling, two-and-a-half hour practices, neither athlete has felt any negative side effects on their bodies because of their eating habits. “I feel good,” Lemaster said. “I don’t feel sucked down; I don’t feel tired all the time; I feel good.” Garber explains that even if wrestlers develop negative habits in their efforts to lose weight, the FHS coaches will assist them and guarantee that they remain healthy. “[The coaches] are always making sure [the wrestlers are] healthy,” Garber said. “When you are certifying a weight, you have to weigh in and be hydrated to make sure that you are doing everything correctly and being healthy about it. If you’re really struggling with [the diet], they will come up to you and tell you a good diet to have.” Ultimately, when properly executed, wrestling diets are perfectly normal. Both Lemaster and Garber achieved solid balances with their diets that help them maintain strong, fit bodies in addition to hitting their target weight class. They serve as proof that wrestling and healthy eating habits can go hand-in-hand. While FHS ensures the health of their athletes, many wrestling programs around the nation do not, and these other programs need to start looking to schools like FHS as their role models for the safety of all wrestlers. n
[Photos by Arnav Kumar and Justin Sheehan] [Story by Arnav Kumar and Campbell Niehaus]
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SPORTS
W
interguard members must complete the task of blending military tradition with rhythm and dance. Continuing a legacy that began during the civil war, this challenge is overcome by wielding flags, sabers and rifles in a way that will captivate the audience through elaborate spins and tosses. Cooperation is a vital characteristic in a winterguard team. The ability to perform flawlessly as a unit and move fluidly across the floor is an absolute necessity. Teams that strive for excellence are not limited to competing in only local competitions. In 1977, Winterguard International was founded. Although some will say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the way winterguard is judged is very structured. While judging a performance, judges must evaluate a team’s musicality, originality, stage design and ability to use their equipment effectively. With such a wide range of details to keep in mind, creating a successful performance is a great challenge. n [Story by Marissa Bell and Samaleh Omar] [Photos by Justin Sheehan]
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Delanie “I
t was my birthday, and we had to run 90 suicides” senior Delanie Amend said. Contrary to popular belief, winterguard requires a great deal of physical fitness. The winterguard conditioning regimen is just as rigorous as other high school sports. “We had to do 150 burpees and then [our coach] made us do this terrible ab workout,” Amend said. Members of the winterguard team have to be fit in every way in order to pull off a successful performance. Endurance is a necessity on the winterguard floor. Along with the arm strength needed to
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n winterguard, each member is either a rookie, meaning that the current season is his/her first season, or a vet, an individual that has competed in previous seasons. “It is really up to the vets to make sure everybody learns everything,” junior Emmy Wood said. Since winterguard is so unique, Coach Jennifer McPherson can only prepare new members to a certain extent This puts the responsibility on the more experienced members. Vets must be leaders on the
spin and toss flags, rifles and sabers. The price of being on the guard is not only intense physical training, but also a huge time commitment. “We [have] rehearsals three times a week for three hours. And then, 10 hours on Saturday.” Amend said. Every movement is carefully mapped out in the mind of Jennifer McPherson, the winterguard coach. “I love the elegance of it,” Amend said. Delanie’s drive is derived from her passion for executing a visually stunning performance that can be enjoyed by everyone. n
Emmy team, as well as teachers for the rookies. “[Being] able to see the rookies grow that much because they really have an exponential growth rate once it clicks for them, is really rewarding,” Wood said. Vets take a great deal of pride in the success of rookies and their progression throughout the season. “[We] really love what we do and although people might not understand it, it’s still a really great community,” Wood said. n
Jasmine J
unior Jasmine Lander described her experience in FHS winterguard in seven words. “Started from the bottom now we’re here,” Lander said. Lander joined the team freshman year after tryouts at the request of a friend who said they needed another member. By joining late she was the least experienced member of the team and had to play catch-up, but she did much more than that. This year she’s assistant captain. “You are the music…and you’re trying to make [the audience] feel something”
Lander said For Lander, winterguard is about being the visual. In color guard they portray the music, while during winterguard they focus their performances on emotions. “The most rewarding part is when you’re [on] the field and you can you hear the music, and you feel the equipment in your hands or you feel your body moving, and you’re looking at the audience, you’re just hearing the audience react to what you’re doing and just that feeling of...this is what I’m meant to do... and there’s no other feeling like it,” Lander said. n
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ED-OP
CIVIL UNREST UNREST OR OR CIVIL PEACEFUL PROTEST? PROTEST? PEACEFUL
[Story by Maryam Azeem]
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SHE SAID
H
ispanics, Muslims, African Americans, the LGBT community, and even their white allies are all storming the streets, chanting: “Love Trumps Hate”. Whether Trump won the election fairly or not is an ongoing debate. Some believe the electoral college is corrupt because it doesn’t truly represent the opinion of the majority of Americans. This election wasn’t like going into a football game and expecting the team with the most fans to win. It was like going into a football game, and seeing the team that trained harder and had more experience, lose to the incompetent team because the refs kept letting them slide. Others argue that it’s a traditional concept, and since the electoral college always has the final say, he won justly. However, a large part of the public is still outraged, and instead of just complaining and tweeting about it, they’re taking their concerns to influential cities like L.A. and D.C. Trump supporters see these protests as a threat to democracy. They insist that if the majority supports him, everyone should accept that. Let us not forget that in the 1950s, a majority of Americans also supported segregation. Let us not forget that since the early 2000s, a majority of Americans supported the funding of Israel, which according to the British Broadcasting Company, have killed more than 2,100 Palestinians. Does the majority supporting a notion suddenly justify it? Our country was built on the right to protest for civil change.The Women Suffrage Parade of 1913, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, and the March on Washington were all peaceful protests with one similar goal: resisting a change that goes against true American values. People thought their protests would be ineffective, but all the progress that has been made since then says otherwise. As outlined in our First Amendment rights, citizens have every right to protest against a transition they disagree with. Therefore, anti-Trump protests are completely justified and contribute to social progression. People are upset that a man who went to court for discriminating against minorities, mocked the disabled, and brought an increase in islamophobia is now going to represent our country and serve as a figure we’re supposed to be proud of. Biased news channels are only covering the negative aspects of these protests, like the small percentage of violent riots. However, a majority of protests that aren’t being covered by the media are focusing on educating others and raising awareness. Sure, these protests don’t take Trump out of office, but they promote social change to signal the beginning of a new era that will no longer tolerate discrimination and inadequate policies. n
O
n the evening of November 8, 2016, an estimated 71 million civilians tuned in to see who would be the next president of the United States. All fifty states bounced from red to blue, emphasising how close of an election it was. However, around 1 A.M the winner was announced - Donald J. Trump. Some celebrated, and others were heartbroken. This election was different from those in the past because of how some Americans despised Hillary Clinton due to her emails, but others disagreed with Trump because of his radical policies. Protests instantly broke out all across the nation, and an ongoing debate about whether they are effective or not is still occurring.
HE SAID L
et me clear one thing up before I get started. I respect the first amendment and the freedom to protest, and protest has shaped our country to be how it is today. But unfortunately, there are some things and concepts in this country that protest will not change. The election of 2016 has divided America like no other, and no matter who won back in November there was sure to be a lot of outrage. The #NotMyPresident protests and rallies are a product of not only Donald Trump winning the electoral college, but more a result of Clinton winning the popular vote and Democrats feeling that Donald Trump has an illegitimate mandate for the presidency. These people proceed to hit the streets and protest the election. There are many things in this country that are worth protesting. The results of an election, however, is not one of these things. The process that was put into place to elect our president over 200 years ago elected Donald Trump. Our election protest has worked for over 200 years, but now there seems to be a problem? Now, just out of nowhere the electoral college is corrupt and the system is broken? There is absolutely no evidence saying that the electoral college is corrupt, and electors are thoroughly vetted by the party before even being considered for the job. Only seven ‘faithless electors’ voted against their state for other candidates such as John Kasich and Bernie Sanders, three of which were invalidated and cast for one of the two presidential nominees. Even then, the seven electors that voted against their state would have never made a difference in the outcome of the election anyway. Everyone knew the rules going into the election, so why are people failing to understand why Trump won with less votes than Clinton? First of all, let’s understand that this result is rare. The winner of the electoral college has only lost the popular vote five times in over 58 presidential elections. Secondly, the popular vote shouldn’t even matter in this scenario because it’s irrelevant to the election of our president. It’s like going into a football game and deciding who wins based on who has the most fans, everyone knows that’s not how you win. You win by how the rules of the game is laid out in the beginning, which is the electoral college and not the popular vote. So to the people out there protesting: Save your voices and let’s start getting behind a peaceful transition of power, because if there is one thing that isn’t going to help heal this nation’s wounds, it’s unnecessary protest. n [Story by Joe Skinner]
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“Crabtree Tower” | Justin Sheehan