STAFF the
Adviser Dana Baker
Editor-in-Chief Samaleh Omar Managing Editor Shravani Reddy Design Editor Ava Proehl Copy Editor Helina Wondwossen Business Editor Arnav Kumar Photo Editor Cayley Kilduff
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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
News Editor Kaise Dualeh Features Editor Aayusha Khanal Culture Editor Emily Peacher Opinions Editor Claire Wodack Sports Editor Lydia Carpenter Staff Writers Eliza Agi Anika Akkapeddi Lauren Balser Lindsay Brisson Kayla Cooper James Czarnaski Camille Desjardins Bailey Elliott Morgan Maiden Madison Roney Kawther Said
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 illustration by Ava Proehl
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table of contents
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[news] [features] [sports] [culture] [opinion] [back cover]
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CONTENTS
from the editors Hey there free birds, Happy spring! As we transition into the fourth and final quarter, we’re excited to present our third issue to you. We’ve worked hard all winter and we’re happy to say our work has bloomed over the past few weeks. So we hope that you take a moment: find the time to breathe in the fresh air, put your feet up, and of course, cruise through our magazine. As you take on testing season, from SOLs to AP exams, we wish you the very best of luck. From weeks of preparation to last minute study sessions, remember to believe in yourself. You’ve got this! And although these months can be stressful, there are so many things to look forward to with the warm weather approaching. From spring break to prom to senior capstone, there are so many opportunities for fun! Freshmen, as you finish the first year of high school, know that while the responsibilities start to become heavier and the work may get harder, more rewarding pursuits will come along with them. Sophomores, as you approach junior year and SATs, keep track of your time management and don’t let the third-quarter monotony drag you down. And juniors, we were in your place not too long ago. We know that the pressure of planning for college is right around the corner. As an editorial board, we wholeheartedly assure you: it will all be okay and you will get through it. Lastly, seniors, this time of year is so bittersweet. We’re looking back on the great times, the good times, the not so good times… and we’re also looking forward, to the end of the year, to the future. However you choose to spend your time, don’t forget to make this quarter one to remember. It is your last one at Freedom and with [Uncaged.] after all. And regardless of what grade you’re in, we know you can’t wait to flip the page, so we won’t hold you back any longer. With our sincere advice at heart, a relaxed mindset, and nothing but springtime joy, enjoy this third issue. We’ll see you in a few!
[Photo by Sarah Ramboyong]
letter from the editors
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SINGIN’ IN T
he musical “Singing In The Rain” is conceptually designed to lend itself to creativity and surprises, in regards to both technical elements and the plot of play. The show is about the creation of the talking picture, taking place in the 1920s. Likewise, Freedom High School Theatre, in collaboration with student technicians and actors, have taken the themes of the show to heart in order to put together the production. This musical in particular is different from past productions as far as what it demands from the actors. Learning how to tap dance was one of the tasks the actors had to complete in preparation for the production. “We’re doing so much tap dancing! It’s very tap. It’s very Broadway” said Rachel Novi, the director of the show. On the technical side, FHS Theatre is doing something no other high school has attempted before; making it physically rain on stage during a production. This year’s winter musical “Singing In The Rain” has many other components, along with the special
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effect of rain, that are interesting. Something that comes along with any production is challenges, but since this is a high school production attempting to include elements of technical design that are new to the world of high school. Novi, expressed that one of the difficulties at the start of the production’s initial creative process was proposing the idea of making it rain onstage to risk management. “Convincing the risk management people at the administration building to let us make it rain onstage, and then actually implementing that system, has been the biggest challenge” Novi said. Despite this challenge, FHS Theatre persevered and worked together in many different ways to bring the world of “Singing In The Rain” to life. One of the key members of the technical team is senior TJ Hartless, who is the head sound engineer, student technical director and head of the set design team as well as the special effects team. Hartless has been a major factor in the preparation for the show. He designed the rain system for the
THE RAIN He designed the rain system for the show, which had to be thoroughly planned months in advance. “I was inspired to build a set, so I constructed our set in mind of building it. It took me three hours to build it over sketchup, a 3D software, and then immediately sent it to Ms. Novi our director and asked her what she thought of it. She said it was awesome and that we could get started on it,” Hartless said. Even though the rain system is an exciting aspect of the show, there are many other crucial contributions in regards to the production as a whole. Senior Ryan Burke is the stage manager for the show, and he has also joined forces with the special effects team by bringing his passion for filmmaking to the show. “I think it’s a lot of fun to merge a hobby like theatre with my passion for film together. I’m really excited to see how all of the films turn out, because I haven’t really played with a silent film before” Burke said. The short films that Burke is creating will be incorporated onstage.
The films will be played onstage through a movie projector, which will be shown on a screen built by technicians. Just like the rain special effect, this short film incorporation is reflective of how unique the show will be. Although there are many aspects of the show that are individually important in their own ways, the show cannot run smoothly without the collaboration of every actor and technician. Because the special effects for this show are so interactive, it is crucial that every person involved in the show communicates and does their part of the show as efficiently as possible. By having just one element of the show missing, it could drastically change the way the play is performed. “Everyone is affected by everybody, so we all have meetings that we go to, we all meet up and make sure everything goes together as best we can,” Hartless said. [Story by Kayla Cooper] [Photos by Jason McGraw]
[Story by Kayla Cooper]
[Story by Kayla Cooper]
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ach spring, Freedom High School music ensembles prepare to tackle their biggest challenge of the year: District Assessment. While the ensembles do not compete in the traditional sense of winning or losing, they still play, sing and strum their way to a superior rating. A superior rating— the highest rating possible for a high school ensemble— is the goal for each group. When all the top ensembles at a school earn a superior rating, the school is awarded the VMEA Blue Ribbon Award, the highest award given to music programs in Virginia. FHS has won this award two years in a row and strives towards winning it again in 2019. According to Joel Galway, FHS band director, unless a student is in an ensemble, they likely have little to no idea what the Blue Ribbon Award is, let alone District Assessment. “If you win a state championship, that’s clear cut,” Galway said. “But, for us, we try to earn a superior rating; it’s not like we’ve won an award right away.” District Assessment season is the time of year when you can find orchestra students huddled together attempting to figure out the rhythms of seven-minute-long pieces or choir students scrutinizing over how to pronounce lyrics in a language they do not speak but must pronounce with incredible accuracy. “This is definitely the time of the year that I start to push the ensembles a little bit more,” said Laura Lazarevich, FHS
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choral director. For District Assessment, Lazarevich said she is “looking for two contrasting pieces.” Her top ensembles may be performing pieces from the composers of the Renaissance or the contemporary composers of today. Galway has a similar practice. He tries to “figure out where the strengths and weaknesses are in the ensemble and then choose music of contrasting styles that hide the weakness and enhance the strengths.” For Jeanne Nelson, the orchestra director at FHS and Briar Woods High School, the process involves having her ensemble sight-read— the practice of reading and performing music without having seen the piece before— a variety of pieces to determine which they sound best on from the beginning. “I never pick the same music for both [FHS and Briar Woods], because then I feel it’s more of a competition,” Nelson said. Instead, she focuses on “trying to find pieces that make everybody happy” and that her students will enjoy performing, a key part of a successful performance. For orchestra, band and choir, there are strict regulations set in place that each ensemble must follow. Pieces must contrast and must come from a pre-approved list for each level of music, with level six being the highest and most rigorous level. This year, FHS orchestra is performing at level five, FHS band is
performing at level six and FHS choir is performing at levels five and six. Guitar has no predetermined list of repertoire and they do not utilize levels in the same sense that orchestra, band and choir do. Guitar director Sam Wong has few regulations that must be followed. “One of the things I try to do is try to find repertoire that is not commonly played at [District] Assessment since we don’t have a list,” Wong said. He tries to “pick something out of the ordinary” that his students will succeed in but also enjoy performing. The ensembles of FHS consistently do well at District Assessment, and it is a direct result of their high levels of musicianship. “We get a good dark, rich sound, which is the first thing that judges always notice,” Galway said. “If you play with poor tone or poor sound, it’s going to be hard to get a good rating.” “I have a high number of strong musicians in my ensembles that have been able to help us get to the next level,” Lazarevich said. She hopes that her ensembles will “captivate the audience in a way that not all the other ensembles are able to.” This level of musicianship certainly contributes to FHS’ Blue Ribbon status, but the students’ drive and passion for music is what truly allows for success. “I have high quality players,” Wong said. “And they love the music.”
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raduation symbolizes the end of a student’s high school career and the beginning of the next chapter of his/her life. Most Freedom seniors choose to continue their education in college, but there are some who have chosen to take a different route. After graduation, senior Ivanna Jenkins will be enlisting in the Air Force, Peter Komara will be joining the Marine Corps and Matthew Kim hopes to join the U.S. Army by attending the United States Military Academy to continue his education. The process of joining the military requires individuals to undergo a series of steps. After communicating with recruiters and deciding which branch to enlist in, individuals must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The ASVAB is a three- hour multiple choice exam that determines if someone qualifies to enlist in the military. Each branch of the military requires a different score in order to join. After taking the ASVAB, the next step is to go to a local Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPs), where recruits are screened and processed through physical examinations and an initial swear- in. Once all of this is completed, recruits must go through basic training before they become active members of the military. The experience of going
to the United States Military Academy, which is one of the five United States military academies, is very similar to that of attending another four- year college. Here, students receive a bachelor’s degree in science while also gaining military experience. Most students are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army and can begin their service after graduation. For Jenkins and Komara, basic training does not start until the end of the summer, and Kim will need to complete training at West Point. In order to prepare for the rigorous physical aspects of enlisting, all three seniors have found ways to keep in shape. Kim decided to take advanced physical education through the school, while Komara and Jenkins have their own workouts. “I’ve been developing a lifting regime since junior year because that’s when I started to take advanced P.E,” Komara said. “I also go to physical training (PT) at the Sterling and Leesburg recruitment stations.” Along with Komara, Jenkins has also attended PT, as well completing her own regime. “I’ve been doing 100 reps of abs exercises every day and running a lot to build up endurance and stamina,” Jenkins said. “There are many workouts online for people to prepare for basic training and to start doing PT.” The decision to enlist is one that recruits think about over a long period of time. It is also important that they choose a branch that will best fit them.
“I chose the Army because my dad served there for 12 years,” Kim said. “In addition, swimming is not my strongest suit and I believe I can serve better by playing to my strengths – on land.” For Jenkins and Komara, they had two branches that they were deciding between. Jenkins was considering the Air Force or Marines, while Komara was deciding between the Marines and Army. In the end, they both felt like they made the choice that best fits them. “I found the views of the Marines including honor, commitment and courage [fit me best],” Komara said. All three are looking forward to becoming active members of the military and receiving their first assignments. Jenkins plans on becoming a linguist for the Air Force, while Komara wants to be a combat engineer. Kim is still deciding between joining the logistics or artillery branch of the Army. While it is too early to know for sure what their first assignments will be, all of them are eagerly waiting. “I am most looking forward to the camaraderie that many veterans often miss when they retire or separate from the service,” Kim said. “Such teamwork and spirit are rarely found elsewhere and I wish to experience it!” [Story by Cayley Kilduff] [Photos by Kaise Dualeh]
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any spend their Thanksgiving break cooking, relaxing with friends, traveling to their grandparents’ house or just sitting on their bed watching Netflix… but not senior Gina Nored. Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving break in a traditional way, Nored and her family traveled to Nairobi, Kenya for a life changing mission trip. Nored has been on many mission trips before and has traveled to Europe, Israel and the Dominican Republic, but this was her first time traveling to Africa. While there, she worked with an organization called Made In The Streets (MITS). MITS is an outreach program that works to bring kids and teens from the streets into a campus like area where they are given food, clothing and an education. They also offer the kids free counseling, Bible study and first aid. “My dad is a minister and a missionary, and he’s always looking for ways for our family to go with him on trips overseas to serve others and share the gospel of Jesus,” Nored said. “He’s always wanted
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to go to Africa, and when God opened the doors for us to go to Kenya, we couldn’t say ‘no’! My parents know one of the leaders of MITS from college, so we were invited to come and check out MITS’s work and ministry.” For Nored, one of the best parts of working with MITS was seeing how willing the children were to accept God into their lives. “My parents and I studied the Bible with some of the students, and many of them were willing to open up to us very quickly,” Nored said. “I’m still in contact with some of the girls through social media, and it’s great to hear from them even now, months later. Seeing how God is working throughout the world to bring justice to those hurting was very reassuring.” The hardest part of the trip for Nored wasn’t the fact that they didn’t stay in a five-star hotel or have luxury accommodations, it was seeing the many kids and teens who were struggling on the streets. “It was most difficult to see so many kids
hungry and homeless, and then having to return to school and not being able to help them in a direct, personal way,” Nored said. This trip, in particular, left a major impact on Nored’s life. She had always known she wanted to serve others, but after the trip, she realized that she might want to pursue a teaching career somewhere overseas, helping children who don’t necessarily have access to a quality education. For now, Nored will continue to serve through mission trips with her family and church and encourages others to do the same. “You don’t have to be religious to go on a mission trip,” Nored said. “Going somewhere just to serve others is really eye-opening. It teaches you to be thankful for what you have, and to realize that you can always give back to others.” To donate to MITS, visit their website at www.madeinthestreets.org. [Story by Ava Proehl] [Photos provided by Gina Nored]
ERLEBEN EINES UN IDIOMA EXTRANJERO
experiencing a foreign language
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n an increasingly interconnected world, knowing multiple languages is becoming a critical skill in the workplace. This is especially true in the United States, one of if not the most culturally diverse nation in the world. This past summer, a select few Freedom students were accepted to attend the Virginia Governor’s Language Immersion Academies.During this three-week program, they were only permitted to speak the target-language, a choice among Spanish, German and French. Seniors Madison Boyer and Melissa Abel were among these students, attending to learn German and Spanish respectively. “[Governor’s school] was the best time ever,” Boyer said. “It is so strange because you start off on the first day struggling to talk and only talking in ‘baby German’ but over time it switches your brain and so you are only thinking in German.” These students went through a rigorous application process including a lengthy exam in reading, writing, and speaking in order to gain acceptance. This was to ensure that they were among the most skilled and passionate language-learners in the state. Both Boyer and Abel attribute this passion to truly having the drive to learn the culture in addition to the language that they study. “I think that by learning another language you also gain an apprecia-
[Story by Kaise Dualeh] [Photo provided by Melissa Abel] tion for other cultures,” Abel said. “With more people being able to speak other languages that will not only let them in communicating with one another but also in understanding the viewpoints of the other person who speaks another language.” The United States is a nation with various immigrant communities, and many residents do not speak English fluently. Therefore, especially in sectors that work directly with a variety of people from multiple backgrounds, bilingualism can be very helpful. In the future, both Abel and Boyer see their respective languages aiding them in being successful in their careers. “I want to go into the medical field and I think being bilingual is really helpful when you are trying to get jobs and work better with patients who can’t speak English,” Abel said. “I feel like it will be helpful in my career to cut out the interpreter and be able to talk to my patients myself. Even as the most apparent and widely-discussed advantages of learning a foreign language involve career opportunities, research has shown that bilingualism could have cognitive advantages as well. According to Illinois State University’s Department of Psychology, there is a correlation between bilingualism and higher scores on standardized tests.
Furthermore, there have been various studies that have linked bilingualism to a better memory. Despite these many benefits, however, learning a language can come with many challenges, and it takes a lot of dedication to constantly improve one’s writing and speaking ability. “Don’t give up, stick with the classes because it really will be worth it eventually,” Abel said. “Even if you feel like learning vocab is not exciting, always try to participate in class because the more speaking that you do the better your speaking will eventually be and that is the most important part when you are communicating with people.” It is well recognized that the United States has fallen behind other nations when it comes to educating students in other languages. According to Pew Research, 92 percent of European students on average in primary and secondary education are enrolled in a foreign language class that number falls to 20 percent for the United States. It has become increasingly useful for people in various fields to have the ability to speak more than one language. So it seems as though in addition to studying hard in foreign language classes, students should also devote time outside of school to improving language comprehension and speaking ability.
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FREEDOM OF SPEECH F
ive high school students suspended for wearing black armbands to mourn the casualties of the Vietnam War. This is the premise for the famous Supreme Court case of Tinker vs. Des Moines. The court ruled that schools are not allowed to restrict students’ freedoms. After all, freedom is the basis of American values. Free speech, specifically, is one of the better known freedoms in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, but what exactly does it entail? The term “freedom of speech” itself is very broad. In theory, it is when people are able to say whatever they want whenever they desire without facing repercussions. But in reality, there are limits determined by both laws and social standards. “To start, you cannot yell fire in a public area when there is no fire,” senior Ian Worst said. “The freedom of speech is the right for people to speak their minds so long as it does not come at the expense of others.” Free speech allows people to influence change within an institution instead of
being oppressed by their government. taken part in this and spoken out about It helps people connect with each other certain topics. The cast of “Brooklyn and find out what they consider importNine-Nine” and the razor brand Gillette ant. have recently spoken out on topics like “I think the way in which you express sexual harassment and toxic behavior. opinions says a lot about who a person Over the years, many countries have is and what a cause really means to granted free speech to their people, but someone,” sophomore Alayda Flick said. United States is set apart because it pro“And that can determine whether others tects these freedoms in the Constitution. find them worth supporting or not.” “You can’t be privileged to have a With the development of the internet, basic human right,” Kakani said. “Howevpeople can share their opinions at the er, this is only because we live in the U.S., click of a button. As the internet grows, whereas other countries don’t believe the use of free speech evolves with it. that freedom of speech is necessary.” Naturally, this comes with advantages For example, the Libyan government and drawbacks. has blocked many websites and have “The internet has definitely helped only a few dozen radio stations and people express their opinions,” sophotelevision channels. There are no promore Meena Kakani said. “Before, topics tections set in place by the government were reserved for marches and events, to protect people that speak out about but now our political opinions are up for certain topics. discussion at any time.” “If freedom of speech is used by Many political and social movements, people who are going to listen and are such as MeToo & Black Lives Matter, have willing to come to some sort of underrisen in popularity on the internet, allow- standing, it’s an invaluable thing to have,” ing people with all different backgrounds Flick said. to be brought together by similar experi[Story by Anika Akkapeddi] ences. Many brands and celebrities have
Visit uncagedfhs.org to hear what free speech means to FHS students.
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lizabeth Scott was diagnosed with leukemia on May 6, 2015, when she was 14 years old. After exhausting treatments that spanned over two years, she was finally declared to be in remission, signifying the disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer. During those two years, Scott’s life completely changed. She was taken out of school and spent her days dealing with chemotherapy and its effects. “The whole process was really overwhelming, most people didn’t know exactly what I was going through,” Scott said. “The process of cancer that is often portrayed in the media and online is not at all what I went through.” Her friends could not imagine dealing with gloomy hospital rooms everyday and the reality of experiencing cancer and chemotherapy. Once diagnosed, the lives of individuals like Scott will never be the same, and that is never shown in movies. Jessica Hamilton was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) on Oct. 24, 2000, when she was only 14 days old. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system, causing the buildup of mucus that plugs up passageways in the body. As cystic fibrosis is a chronic illness, Hamilton will struggle with it for the rest of her life.
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Although this illness is debilitating, the general public remains widely uneducated about it. Affecting less than 200,000 Americans annually, it is considered a rare disease. When Hamilton tells people that she suffers from CF, she finds that most people have “never heard of it.” “We may have talked about it once in health [class], but other than that, people just don’t know [about it]” Hamilton said. This lack of education leads to a lack of support. Cystic fibrosis is incredibly expensive to treat, and these treatments are rarely covered by insurance. Additionally, there is a lack of medical research, leading to the short life expectancy of those with struggle with the disorder. Over the past couple of years, the media has worked to increase diversity and representation of different races, sexualities, genders and backgrounds in hopes of educating the public. If these same production companies take steps to highlight lesser known medical problems, they have the power and potential to raise awareness for those who are suffering from them. Unfortunately, Scott and Hamilton have found that the few characters intended to represent them are portrayed entirely inaccurately. While people know that cancer is devastating, their knowledge is usually very superficial. “Most people have seen movies like ‘The Fault in Our Stars, ’or ‘The Red Band
Society,’” Scott said. “It shows kids with poorly applied bald caps and perfect eyebrows. It wasn’t like that. We weren’t having fun.” On the other hand, Jessica finds herself explaining cystic fibrosis nearly every day, yet many people are still unable to comprehend the severity of her illness. “There are some boring documentaries about CF,” Hamilton said. “But nothing in the popular media that people actually want to watch.” Or at least, until recently. In November, a new trailer was released for ‘Five Feet Apart:’ a love story featuring two teenagers with cystic fibrosis. Due to their weak immune systems, the two are more susceptible to infection, and must stay five feet away from each other at all times. “I wish it wasn’t a love story. It’s just so unrealistic” Hamilton said. The main problem with these movies is the romanticisation of illness. The people working on the writer’s board lack personal experience with these illnesses, resulting in inaccurate depictions that make those who have actually faced the health problem feel ostracized. Accurately representing people like Hamilton and Scott in the media has the potential to positively impact their lives and educate the general public on these rare illnesses. [Story by Lydia Carpenter] [Photos Madison Roney
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s winter sports has come to an end, many teams have played their final games of the season. Freedom hockey, a club sports team, was one of many teams in which seniors were hoping to finish their final season on a high note. Senior Steven Broussard has been on the hockey team for the entirety of his high school career, and was first introduced to the sport at a young age. “I started off following the Washington Capitals,” Broussard said. “I really enjoyed watching and attending the games so I decided I wanted to try playing hockey.” Almost every player can agree that joining the hockey team was a great addition to their high school experience, and introduced them to new friends. Sophomore Brady Andrea was influenced to join the team by his family, and their connection to hockey. “My whole family is from Boston, and they are all hockey players,” Andrea said. “Naturally, hockey was the first sport I tried and loved.” Throughout this season, Freedom hockey has gained more attention from the local community. Due to the energetic plays and games, student turnout has increased dramatically. Senior Ben Goldberger has been playing hockey for Freedom since his freshman year, and is one of the many players to have benefitted from the larger audience. “When all the fans come to the game to cheer us on, it becomes such an exhilarating environment,” Goldberger said. “I’m definitely going to miss that feeling.” One of the many fans to regularly attend games is senior Alexis DelVecchio, the dynamic climate being what influenced her to become a sports manager. DelVecchio began managing Freedom hockey during her junior year, after she went to her first hockey game.
“There’s something about the fast paced playing and the overall atmosphere at games that the crowds and players feed off that makes it so fun to be a part of,” DelVecchio said. The amount of support has a great impact on the hockey team, and can influence how well the team plays. The added encouragement from fans is always appreciated, and can be the difference between a won or lost game. “It definitely helps because it gets us more excited to play and motivates us to win,” Broussard said. “It’s not as fun when we’re playing in an empty rink, and it also can intimidate the other team a bit [when there is a crowd].” Due to hockey being so fast-paced, players have found it hard to adapt to how physically demanding the sport is. Plays can be only seconds long, making it extremely hard to be included in one. “Coming into high school, the games were much more faster and physical than any other games I’ve played in, so I struggled to keep up with the other players and make a real impact in the games,” Goldberger said. Similar to sponsored sports teams, the Freedom hockey team competes in tournaments and championships, plays against other high schools and cherishes a strong team morale. With practices every week and games every weekend, the team has become extremely close. One of Broussard’s favorite parts about playing hockey for Freedom is spending time with the other players. “I like how everyone on the team has fun and isn’t super competitive,” Broussard said. “Everyone is really supportive of each other and that makes the games and practices a lot more enjoyable.” Just like Broussard, DelVecchio’s favorite part about managing Freedom hockey has been spending time with everyone involved. She’s found it to be a great opportunity to broaden her circle of friends. “I love being able to create relationships with people, like the other managers and the players on the team, who I normally would not have talked to or known outside of hockey,” DelVecchio said. Many players have been able to experience memorable moments that have shaped their seasons. Goldberger’s first goal was one of the highlights of his high school sports career.
“After the goal, I was awarded the player of the game award,” Goldberger said. “Even though [the prize] was only a cheap pair of worn down, bedazzled jean shorts, it represented so much more.” DelVecchio has become a sort of photographer for the team, and her photos are all over Freedom hockey’s social media pages. She often shares the photos she takes with players and parents. “Seeing people appreciate and enjoy my photos as much as I enjoy taking them has made everything worth it,” DelVecchio said. Managers and players alike can agree that joining the Freedom hockey team introduced them to new experiences. They all encourage students to try playing hockey as well, as the sport itself caters to a wide range of talents and is easy to improve in. “If you like or want to try hockey, the Freedom hockey team is a great environment for all different skill levels of players,” Goldberger said.
[Story by Helina Wondwossen] [Photos by Claire Wodack]
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GETCHA’ HEAD IN THE GAME! T
he athlete slip off his/her headphones as the song, “We are the Champions”, comes to a close. After imagining performing well in the game and having a good night sleep, you are ready to crush the competition. You shake off the nerves and join your teammates, high fiving them and exclaiming words of encouragement. Then, the game begins. One of the many aspects that affects the performance of sports teams, is how well bonded their teammates are. As sport teams in Freedom High School have evolved, more teams developed their own rituals to bond their teammates and perform well in competitions. The girls lacrosse coach, Richard Dessoma, started his own ritual for the lacrosse playoffs and semi finals last year. The varsity team went to public parks close to the stadium to bond and destress before the big games. “There was no lacrosse talk, so we just were relaxing and socializing with each other,” said Dessoma. “Quite honestly, I thought that was a big thing to do, instead of going on the bus straight to the stadium, because it added so much
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more to being prepared for the game.” The lacrosse team went on to win the semi finals and states. According to Dessoma, who was recognized as the national lacrosse coach of the 2017-2018 school year, stretching and de-stressing for a couple hours helped secure their win. The cross country and track teams also get their teammates together the night before the meets three times a season for pasta dinners. “We go to a teammates house for an hour and a half to eat as a team, bond, play games, and get our mind off the fact that we have a meet the next day,” said junior Mikail Wasi. Pasta is the primary food provided at the dinners because consuming carbohydrates the night before a track meet can help to store large amounts of energy. In addition to the physical aid, the ritual also provides an atmosphere for the teammates to bond and socialize. Aside from the pasta dinner, the throwers on the track team also have their own ritual that bonds their division together. “We always have chicken wing night,
where we review videos during practice,” said throws coach Charles Alcorn. “That is one of my key things that we do at least once or twice a season.” The team watches videos of Olympic throwers’ form during their best throws. Examining and bonding with their teammates, helps the throws team perform their best. Outside of team organized functions, individuals in the sport also find their own ways to shake off their nerves. “Before I sleep, I clear my mind, imagine what I am about to accomplish the next day, and I make sure I don’t feel nervous,” said Wasi. “The key thing about track, is to feel relaxed.” According to the National Institutes of Health, nerves prior to games increases adrenaline, however, it can also be harmful on athletes’ performance. These pregame rituals prepare athletes for games and meets by providing them opportunities to destress and socialize, as well as review what they need to accomplish. [Story by Madison Roney]
How To OutRUN Your Problems 101
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ental health affects how individuals interact with their peers, handle stress and make choices about their daily lives. Mental health is important factor throughout life, and high school places a lot of stress on students. The pressure to always succeed as well as balance school, friends and extracurricular activities puts strain on a lot of students. One extracurricular activity that can help boost both physical and mental health is sports. Scientist have studied that running produces endorphins that make you happy. Sports outside of the field can teach time management and the importance to use time more effectively. “Students involved with sports learn to manage their time more wisely by always being on the go, leading them to become more positive overall due to gaining friends and confidence,” physical education teacher Sarah Verdis said. These endorphins produced by exercise helps to promote a more positive self image in students, and can help them relieve stress brought on by school. “After I run, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and an immediate relief. Even if the day hadn’t been necessarily bad, I feel proud of myself from the 10 minutes or the 10 miles that I got myself up to run,” said sophomore Katie Ramboyong.
Sports also provide students with a sense of community that might not be available elsewhere. FHS even has clubs that promote both physical and mental wellness, such as yoga club. According to Psychology Today, taking ten minutes a day to practice activities that pique a personal interest helps to improve mental health. “Before I practiced yoga, I only had cardio workouts because I played soccer all throughout my childhood,” Verdis said. “Yoga has helped me to become more flexible and well rounded in strength. Yoga is one of my favorite ways to enjoy physical activity.” “Running is a choice and it’s by far the best choice I have ever made. It’s made me more confident, proud, healthier, happier, and stronger” said Katie Ramboyong. Yoga not only provides a physical workout, but also trains the mind to become more observant and aware. Practicing yoga on a daily basis can produce inner peace, and also contributes to being able to focus on the present. “There is so much more to learn that just holding the poses, it is a good exercise to work on by connecting the mind and body into one,” Verdis said. [Story by Morgan Maiden]
How do sports impact your mental health?
“It keeps my mind focused on better things. Not having to focus on social media or other problems while competing is what makes it so fun. It’s like an escape from everything” -Grace Pounder, 10 ““I think my sport has positively influenced my mental health by surrounding me with people that I can rely on. There always are throwing positivity my way and making cheer so much easier to push through.” -Anna Stewart, 10 “When I get to run, it’s like meditation. It is a time when I don’t have to think about work and it is a break from school and family.” -Ryan Borden, 10 “It helps me take my mind off of life and it’s a way to relax from the stress of school.” -Niklas Becker, 11
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cne spots the faces of teens everywhere, but it is rarely talked about and many are still embarrassed about it. Some teens who suffer from acne deal with it for the rest of their adult lives. Medications like Proactiv, Clearasil and Differin all work to combat acne, but they do not have a magical cure and must be used consistently to work. Many teens who struggle with stubborn cystic acne have turned to the retinoid isotretinoin, more commonly known as Accutane. Accutane is taken orally and can cure cystic acne. The medication has many side effects, including dry skin, chapped lips, nosebleeds, joint pain and back pain. Sophomore Emily Kuni struggled with acne for many years. She often felt insecure and wished to get rid of her acne. “You feel like people are always
looking [at you],” Kuni said. “It really affected what clothes I wore, and I really kind of closed myself off when [the acne] got really bad.” Accutane has a reputation of causing depression and suicidal thoughts, even though many cases witnessed by dermatologist Asmaa Chaudhry have disproved that. For dermatologists, one of the most important parts of recommending Accutane is ensuring their patients’ safety. Dr. Chaudhry is a certified dermatologist at Dulles Dermatology Associates who works hard to fight much of the misinformation about Accutane. Chaudhry believes Accutane is the most viable option to combat acne. “The safety profile of the medication is such that I would definitely feel comfortable treating my own children with it,” Chaudhry said. Accutane side effects often prevent many from considering the medication. Those who go on Accutane work tirelessly to ensure they are frequently caring for their skin. “I keep moisturizer and chapstick with me at all times,” Kuni said. “I also
try really hard to drink as much water as I can.” Teens who have gone on Accutane want to bash the notion that having acne makes you dirty or unhygienic. They feel that others should be able to find ways to cure their acne without stress. “Acne doesn’t define you as a person,” Kuni said. “Just because one medicine works for someone it doesn’t mean it’ll work for you too. It takes some people longer to find something that works. Keep looking until you find what works for you.”
[Story by Camille Desjardins]
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he college application process can be a time filled with stress and angst. The closing of a high school career signifies the beginning of adult life, complete with bills, work and other responsibilities. Suddenly, students have to consider their passions, costs of attendance, prospected employment rates and salary expectations in order to determine a pathway that is right for them. Selecting a college major can be the most daunting of the college application process. It is not uncommon for students to believe that obtaining a degree in a specific area of study means that one is confined to that field of work. “The biggest obstacle is the anxiety about the whole thing because you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve got to make a decision right now that will influence the rest of my life,’” head of the college and career center Khristie Greiner said. While selecting a college major may seem significant, it is easy to falsely attribute more significance to the process than it deserves. Numerous opportunities will arise in which a student can switch pathways without penalty. Going into college without a definite area of study to major in is quite common. In fact, an estimated 20 to 50 percent of students enter college as undecided, and an estimated 75 percent of students change their major at least once before graduation, ac-
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cording to a study published by Johns Hopkins University. “There are so many students who end up declaring a major only to decide on another one later on,” said Freedom graduate and University of Virginia student Blair Smith. The first two years of college are commonly spent fulfilling general education requirements. That’s why it’s a good idea to take some time to explore interests during the first year or two of college. Many students struggle to address where their passions lie when considering a major. “It is a hard thing to do, especially as a 17 or 18-year-old, figuring out what truly makes you happy,” Greiner said. “You have to spend a lot of time being quiet in a space with yourself, and ask yourself the hard questions [such as] ‘What are my values?’ and ‘What actually will make me happy in life?’” Students should think of which classes they enjoyed during high school, but they should also think of the classes that were not offered in their high school. If there is a particular class that is not offered, one can find out if he or she is really interested by taking electives in college. Colleges offer a broad range of classes, many of which are not offered in high school. For example, George Mason University offers classes such as dance appreciation, stress and well-being and EcoArt. “I also wasn’t aware of what I could
major in until I got to UVA,” Smith said. “I’ve dabbled with the idea of studying economics, politics, global development, philosophy, public policy, English, and computer science.” It is not necessary to choose a major before leaving high school, but it is beneficial to develop an idea of the future before entering college to avoid having to take extra classes and paying more money. “If you can identify the qualities that you have, and you align yourself with the careers and majors that belong in those character strengths, you’re going to find the most happiness in your career and what you major in,” Greiner said. “There’s real value in figuring out where you are strong with your character strengths and your values.” Selecting a major can be an overwhelming task, but at the end of the day, it should not consume all of a person’s time. “It is okay to not work so hard your last semester [of senior year] because it’s one of the last times that you don’t have to work so hard,” Smith said. “Enjoy the experiences you can only have while you’re in high school--spend lots of time with your friends and family; go get ice cream at McDonald’s late on a school night just because.” [Story by Kawther Said]
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rom the initial Cognitive Abilities test in the second grade, IQ levels of students have been tested which leads to a type of educational structure called tracking. Tracking places students on a path of classes that matches their ideal levels of compatibility. This system has potential negative and positive effects across all aspects of a school district. The intensity of students’ schedule may be determined by their work ethic or their performance in a class. If students were to be placed in regular classes, higher level courses or Advanced Placement courses would not be on their predetermined track. “I think the biggest limit is one’s self or what they think they are capable of,” said Jennifer Schrader, FHS counselor. Likewise, by placing students on a path of honors or Advanced Placement classes, they may feel pressured to continue the predetermined set of standards. “When they are set on a track, their assumption is that they only have certain opportunities available to them,” Schrader said. “When we go into classes and talk about exploration, we don’t limit what our conversations are.” Grouping by ability also limits students to a certain group of people, as
they are deprived of interacting with the surrounding community of their school. “If you are putting someone in the [academic] classes or AP classes, do they have any chance to… learn about other people’s opinions and experiences?” said Monica Belton, FHS social worker. Sophomore Celine Sayegh finds a lack of exposure to a variety of students throughout the school day. Sayegh found that she was not involved with the majority of her grade. “Tracking really limits students to conversing repeatedly with the same group of people every day,” Sayegh said. “It really restricts the students’ social lives during school.” This system may be beneficial in certain aspects since cohesion in the classroom creates a more productive environment. Sophomore Anna Stewart enjoys being in a classroom that allows a pace of instruction best suited for her. “I think when I’m around people with similar levels, I learn better because we are at the same level rather than someone going faster than me,” Stewart said. Spanish teacher Roxana Gosman sees the structure of tracking as an
efficient method, one in which the benefits would directly affect the students in positive ways. “[Students] can do things at their own pace and teachers can help them [individually],” Gosman said. “[Students] self-esteem would improve [without] feeling like they are left behind from the others.” Different levels of classes are offered at FHS; students are not limited to any one certain class. The integration of inclusive classes has also allowed special education students to be offered the same courses as general education students. “I don’t think anyone should be prohibited or limited on the classes they want to take if they are up for the challenge,” Schrader said. The different educational systems can support or hinder the productivity of students. The educational structure of a school will be determined by the integration of varied ability levels. “There is not a perfect way to group the students,” Gosman said. “I think everything has advantages and disadvantages so we just have to pick which one is better for the kids depending on their needs.” [Story by Eliza Agi]
[The “advanced” math path.]
[The “academic” math path.]
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I
f your name is fairly easily to spell and pronounce, like ‘Amy’ or ‘Ben,’ it may be difficult to fully grasp the struggles of having an uncommon name. Think of it this way: imagine you give your name to a Starbucks barista for your order and they manage to misspell or mispronounce it. You want to correct them but there is a line forming behind you and after all, you will never see them again. What’s the point if they think your name is ‘Ainee’ or ‘Bean’? This one interaction you may have had is what many students who bear unique names go through on a daily basis. While some may grow weary of the constant corrections and would rather just go by a nickname in order to save time, others admire the uniqueness of their name and choose to carry their original birth name. Many students have unique birth names that origin from their culture or ethnic background. However, since the majority of the country speaks English in American schools and society, some kids feel pressured to assimilate into American culture through adopting easily pronounced nicknames. Some students, however, use nicknames for efficiency, and to keep up with fast-paced lives in which they constantly meet new people and interact with others. For these students, changing their name is less about cultural ties but rather making life simpler. The pressure to assimilate into American culture by concealing one’s identity or name is still prevalent for
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many. Junior Sidhardh Burre simply goes by ‘Sid’ because he believes that going by an English name saves time and energy that he would have wasted if he were to correct mispronunciations. He began using the nickname during middle school, where the switch from having only one teacher memorize your name in elementary school, to having at least seven in middle school would require having to constantly correct teachers and students. At this point, Burre preferred efficiency of going by ‘Sid’ over keeping his legal name. “I go by nickname ‘Sid’ instead of my birth name ‘Sidhardh’ because it’s easier and quicker to teach people an English name than a multisyllabic name from another language,” Burre said. Senior Abseala Baattai believes that using a nickname does not give the uniqueness of one’s name the full effect. At one point in her life, however, Baattai went by ‘Abby’ but grew to love her birth name because she appreciates how it connects to her culture and heritage. For Baattai, the time that it takes for her to correct someone for mispronouncing her name is worth the few extra seconds; her name connects her to her African culture and holds a personal significance to her. “Having this unique name makes me feel close to home,” Battai said. Other students, however, do not believe that changing their preferred name strains their cultural ties. Ju-
nior Emily Jang changed her name from ‘Hajin’ to ‘Emily’ when she was younger because ‘Emily’ was easier to pronounce and more familiar to other Americans. Jang’s South Korean culture is still very prominent in many aspects of her life but chooses to separate it from the name she goes by. Despite the fact that she publicly goes by her Americanized name, relatives and her church community call her by her real name. “My legal name is Hajin but every school year I would have to correct the teacher or the subs,” Jang said. “My parents and my family members still call me by my actual name, though.” [Story by Aayusha Khanal]
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nline shopping has been growing in popularity. With new advancements in technology and worldwide access to the internet, online shopping has become a more practical and efficient way of shopping. It allows shoppers to purchase anything from food to clothes in the click of a button. “There are more options available that you couldn’t find in-store,” sophomore Tyler Potock said. In today’s world, it is almost essential for businesses to have a website. While online shopping is helping businesses rise, others are not so lucky. Recently,
Toys R Us declared bankruptcy and eventually closed all of their stores nationwide. One of the main reasons as to why this bankruptcy occurred was due to Amazon selling similar products. While online shopping is a more convenient way of purchasing goods, companies like Amazon who sell a wide variety of products are causing many companies to decline. These major retail companies include Barnes and Noble, Macy’s and Foot Locker. With such a wide selection at such easy access, it is no wonder that people turn to Amazon instead of driving to stores. According to Practical
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Ecommerce, 70 percent of teens prefer to shop at their favorite stores online. Many businesses have developed apps to make it easier to buy their products. Even food chains such as Chick- fil- A, Starbucks, Panera and McDonalds have apps to order food on a device and then pick it up later. These apps also offer rewards for everytime a certain amount of food is ordered while using the app. Teenagers are the most affected by online marketing tactics such as these, since saving money is essential. “[Online shopping] has risen in popularity at this age in our lives,” sophomore Carly Burns said. “I personally enjoy in store shopping more, but sometimes it’s easy for my parents to order gifts, school supplies, and more off of popular websites like Amazon since they’re so busy running my sister and I to activities.” Social media has also played a big role in the rise of online shopping. Instagram and Facebook are the two most common used social media apps. These apps have integrated advertisements, paid for by companies, that encourage users to visit various sponsored websites. While scrolling through Instagram and Facebook, users become accustomed to seeing various advertisements for food, clothing, and other products. By simply clicking on an image, one might find themselves on a commercial site. With quick and easy shortcuts to shopping such as these, it is no wonder that online shopping has escalated in popularity. [Story by Bailey Elliott]
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ames Harden, the National Basketball Association’s 2018 MVP, is revolutionizing basketball...by exploiting the rule book. While Harden has always been a strong, crafty scorer with great body control while driving to the basket, his newfound tactics have propelled him to status as the league’s premier scorer. In his 2017-2018 campaign, Harden was the league’s leading scorer at 30.4 PPG, shooting at a clip of 45% from the field; however, a little less than a third of those points came at the free throw line. At over 10 free throws attempted per game, Harden led the league in that category by far. Although it is reasonable to think that Harden must be getting viciously fouled by his opponents every game, don’t be fooled: Harden thrives off of contact and actively seeks foul calls. The cunning Houston shooting guard has a wide variety of moves he uses to initiate contact and fool referees, but none are more prominent than his hooking techniques. Hooking is when an offensive player purposefully interlocks his arm around the defender’s arm to make it seem as if the opposing player has committed a foul. Harden has employed this technique at every spot on the court, whether it be behind the three-point line or in the paint, much to the demise of those defending him. Defenders are consistently called for fouls on contact that they are not initiating, giving Harden two or three free throws
as a reward for deceiving referees. Some may say that Harden is just taking advantage of loopholes to the rule book, but this is simply not the case: NBA rules distinctly advise referees to scrutinize players that make overly aggressive offensive moves, especially on drives toward the basket. While Harden is still indubitably one of the league’s most skilled players regardless of his antics on the offensive end, he presents a much bigger issue revolving around the deterioration of defense in the NBA. Allowing players like Harden to manipulate defenses has rendered defenders afraid to play physical on-ball defense, making way for easy offense without any inhibitions. As a result, the average points per game has gone up over 10 points in just five years and the pace of play has also risen dramatically over the same time period. Most fans would agree that it is enjoyable watching teams score a lot of points but frustrating to see lazy and uninspired defense without any real effort. In fact, television ratings have adjusted accordingly; even as the league continues generating more revenue each year, viewership has remained fairly stagnant. If the NBA wants to return to the competitive basketball that fans loved, it must first address whether it wants its product to be degraded by poor refereeing and soft defense.
FOUL? [Editorial by Arnav Kumar}
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A Look at the Good ol' Days
“I
miss the old Disney” is a phrase most high schoolers can relate to. After all, what was better than kicking back and watching the absolute art that was “Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” “Hannah Montana” or “Lizzy McGuire?” Oh, and don’t even get me started on the Disney Channel Original Movies. We swooned over Nick Jonas in “Camp Rock.” We made our parents sign us up for karate classes after watching “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior,” and we all convinced ourselves that we had some sort of mystical powers that would reveal themselves once we became teenagers like Marnie from “Halloweentown.” This obsession did not stop with Disney. With shows like “Drake and Josh,” “Zoey 101” and “Victorious,” Nickelodeon became our cathedral, Miranda Cosgrove our preacher and Big Time Rush our choir. There came a time when we grew up and stopped turning on the kid’s channels when we watched TV. However, this obsession never dwindled. We never stopped loving these shows
[Editorial by Claire Wodack] and movies, despite the fact that we had not tuned in to the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon for years. It is hard to look at these shows now and see how bad they actually were because when we watch them, we feel like kids again. When we were younger, we did not pay attention to the plot or the acting, we just enjoyed the fact that there was something going on in front of us. In reality, these shows were not good, and the acting is hard to watch. But we do not seem to care about the because our culture loves nostalgia There are pages of articles on Google written not only about missing children’s TV from the early 2000s, but also how awful the current shows are. Our culture is spending too much time sharing a disdain for the current programs on Disney and Nickelodeon than we should, as it does not affect us anymore since the age demographic for these channels doesn’t reach above 13. Social media has amplified this obsession, making it difficult to forget the actors and their subpar performances. Let’s take a look at Josh Peck, from Nickelodeon’s “Drake and Josh.” He’s arguably one of the more successful child stars, but not because of his stellar acting launching him out of the Nickelodeon-sphere and into mainstream Hollywood. He did this by switching from old media to new media by the creation of his Vine and YouTube channel, and by befriending the king of YouTube, David Dobrik. However, this new media fame is not due to his creativity or video editing ability. Instead of reinventing himself and doing something new,
he rides off his own coattails, and his audience loves it. He was recently reunited with his co-star, Miranda Cosgrove, for a YouTube video. When he posted about this on his Instagram, the photo of them reached almost 2 million likes, when his normal Instagram pictures only get around 400,000 likes. We glorify these child stars, despite the fact that they have not done anything new or original for years. “High School Musical” is also a franchise we love to hype up. Most people fondly remember the film and think about how Troy and Gabriella are relationship goals, how iconic the choreography is and how catchy the songs are. However, looking back at the film, the Romeo and Juliet storyline gets lost in the bad acting and loose plot. But, for some reason, we can not seem to get enough of these actors. There are Instagram accounts dedicated to posting clips from TV shows and movies from our childhood. The most notable ones include “childhoodshow” with 754 thousand followers and “childhoodmemorie.s” with 1.4 million followers. It is hard to separate the movies and TV shows from the memories we have attached to them. However, when we look at these programs through a different lens, we can see how awful these show, movies and even actors truly were. Kid’s content is not something that is supposed to be enjoyed as teenagers and adults. So before we get too critical about Disney and Nickelodeon shows on TV now, let us take a step back and realize that the entertainment we watched as children was not as good as we believed it to be. 27
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ETHICS OF SURROGACY
n Dec. 20, 2018, the lower house of India’s bicameral parliament passed the 2016 Surrogacy Regulation Bill. After a two-year approval process, India now joins 11 other nations in strengthening ethical opposition to certain facets of surrogacy. When I first heard this news, I saw it as cultural conservativeness, some type of reactionary policy to changing times. Like 71 percent of Americans (YouGov research poll), I believed that surrogacy was an acceptable practice, one that offered couples the blessing of biological children. Then, I stopped spouting my uninformed opinions and actually researched the context of the bill. Some estimates placed the Indian surrogacy market to be worth nearly $2 billion, a “rent-a-womb” monopoly on the global scale. The subcontinent has attracted intended parents from all over the Western world, those eager to start families but unable to afford surrogacy in their own countries. However, this cost efficiency for foreigners hid the many problems related to the practice in the formerly unregulated developing world. Many surrogate mothers were impoverished, uneducated and oppressed. They hailed from the lowest socioeconomic classes, with devastatingly low household incomes. They could
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likely be illiterate due to few years of schooling, unable to read or sign vital consent documentation. This granted doctors free reign to choose drug regimens and perform abortions as need be. They could be threatened by their pimps, pressured by their husbands and coerced by the clinics to be surrogate mothers. Consequently, when offered a year’s income for the short term of nine months, with no other opportunities for gainful education or employment, the practice of surrogacy thrived. This new bill attempts to minimize these awful effects. Not only did exploitative surrogacy set back women’s empowerment efforts, but it facilitated a type of residual colonialism.Each year, nearly 12,000 couples from the United Kingdom came to India in search of a surrogate.
When they took their infants home, these surrogate mothers were often left in a more dire condition than before. They were left with the emotional and psychological impacts of having their child taken away, in addition to the physical degradation of their bodies. Although many couples didn’t fully perceive the effects, their lack of research and awareness was moral absenteeism, or worse, mere apathy. Although I believe in the sovereignty women possess over their bodies, many of these cases are not the result of consensual free choice. The pro-surrogacy argument—that it provides financial comfort and prevents these women from turning to less respectable professions—is deeply flawed. This utilitarian outlook perpetuates the problem, openly insinuating that there is a price at which the instrumentalization of these women’s bodies is acceptable. Lastly, even if surrogacy were more altruistic practice, there is no progress to be made by comparing the situation of these women to worse realities. Now that India has virtually banned all exploitative surrogacy, it is time for other developing nations to follow. As the hotspot moves from unregulated nation to even more unregulated nation, public and political awareness is the only thing that will end exploitative surrogacy once in for all. [Editorial by Shravani Reddy]
Why Pyongyang Doesn’t Have a Stand-up Comedy Scene
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reetings. I like jokes, but for most of my life I didn’t understand why. I don’t mean that I’ve never understood a joke and just been smiling and playing along this whole time. What I mean is I didn’t understand what universally makes something funny. Sure, you can say “Oh my god, it’s funny because it’s true,” but in the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “If that were the case people would be cackling when reading the newspaper.” The search for the fundamental components of comedy has led to the development of three different theories. The first is the Superiority Theory, or what I like to call the “It’s funny because I’m better than you” Theory. The Superiority Theory claims that laughter is caused by feeling superior to another, whether that be in physicality, intelligence, class or any other defining characteristic. In today’s society, this would encompass fat jokes, racist jokes, dumb blonde jokes, basically all the favorites of that one uncle who shows up to Thanksgiving dinner and is only tolerated because he’s family. This is also the reason why my dad thinks it’s hilarious to say that when I play basketball, I look like “Bambi on ice.” And by that he doesn’t mean that I’m graceful, he literally means that I look like a newborn deer scrambling on ice. Next, is the Incongruity Theory. The Incongruity Theory states that laughter is caused by events that contradict expectations. This expectation can be built on a shared understanding of an experience or a pattern that is established in the joke. The third and most recent theory is the Relief Theory. The Relief Theory has had the benefit of developing in an age with a more sophisticated understanding of the nervous system, which it reflects in its explanation of comedy. Arguing that laughter is caused by the release of tension or relief from anticipation. While these theories in conjunction could explain why most jokes are amusing, they don’t speak to the importance of humor in any way. If all cultures develop humor in some form,
it must have some intrinsic value that’s deeper than feeling superior or simply recognizing when something doesn’t fit a pattern. Unfortunately, on this search for this intrinsic value, I turned to philosophy, because we all know how wonderfully lighthearted and whimsical philosophers can be. What I found was… less than satisfying. Comedy has a pretty bad reputation among many praised philosophers. Plato was one of the harsher critics of comedy, claiming that it was a vice that damages self-awareness by making the individual feel better than they actually are. Keep in mind that this is coming from the guy that said: “Love is a serious mental disease.” Still, it’s fair to say that Plato’s view of humor may have been a little incomplete. Does humor have the capacity to distract oneself from their own flaws? Sure, but that surely isn’t the only purpose of humor. Humor can build trust in relationships between seemingly unlike individuals by displaying similar modes of thinking, but it extends beyond the boundaries of personal relationships. Humor has been found to be especially useful on the political stage, specifically in the form of “Laughtivism.” Laughtivism is a form of nonviolent resistance that employs the ridiculous rather than the heaviness typically associated with revolutionaries. It can also be defined as the use of humor for the goal of undermining the power of an oppressive state. As weird as this might sound, jokes can be a useful political tool for those with the least access to power. This is true for multiple reasons. One, humor is a means of minimizing fear. If you are able to laugh at something it releases some of the tension surrounding the subject. Two, humor is contagious, which makes it the perfect political tool when trying to mobilize populations.
And three, humor can create a significant dilemma for the institution that is being mocked in that if they choose to engage, they appear foolish, and if they do not engage, they run the risk of encouraging more mockery. When used, Laughtivism is not only effective but also pretty hilarious. For example, in 2012, Russian citizens in Siberia wanted to organize a demonstration advocating for more transparent elections, but due to a local Mayor’s ban on demonstrations, this group of citizens took a different approach. Instead of proceeding with their demonstration, a toy protest was held where 200 toys were propped up in their place. What was the Siberian authorities response to this? A statement that said it was an “unsanctioned public event” and that toys cannot hold demonstrations, not because they are plastic figurines, because they are not Russian citizens. Although this demonstration didn’t lead to widespread electoral reforms, it spread like wildfire across blogs and media outlets, simply because of how ridiculous the demonstration was, but more importantly how ridiculous it made the Siberian authorities appear to bel. With the rise of the Internet, and specifically the tendency for the most ridiculous stories to gain the most traction, Laughtivism could very well become the preferred mode of resistance in our digital age. The scowls we’re used to seeing on the faces of revolutionaries in textbooks, whether that be Lenin or Che, could very well be replaced with grinning faces armed with politically-active toys. Opting to make memes, not war. [Editorial by Sammy Omar]
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The Quick Fix
h, the advancements of the 21st century: self-driving cars, 3D printing, facial recognition software. All of these are astonishing technological advancements, yet are they all purposeful improvements contributing to society’s growth? With advancements in technology and science comes instant gratification, resulting in the dependence and desire for these devices. Technology today has undoubtedly affected the way our generation thinks and functions, even going as far as to completely change our way of life. Although it has incased productivity and communication, technology has caused society to become reliant on devices. This dependence causes our brains to crave technological stimulation at all times, as the neurotransmitter dopa-
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mine is released and produces feelings of euphoria and bliss. As the brain recognizes that the use of technology will bring an increase in dopamine, it craves more and more, contributing to technological addiction. Stimulation from digital media has caused this generation to be constantly disinterested and disengaged without technology. Reading the paper or doing simple tasks have become too boring for our media-obsessed minds to prioritize over technology. Many people of this generation need to have their brain stimulated as they are going to sleep, consciously or subconsciously, by listening to podcasts, YouTube videos or music. As a result, one cannot even sleep without their brain being activated. The increased use in technology
has caused this generation to become accustomed to instant gratification, as every desire is at the touch of a finger through one’s electronic device. The dependence on technology has generated inefficiency and inattentiveness, as one would rather be playing Candy Crush or mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. Technology may be advancing our society’s science and communication outlets, but it is also doing severe damage to our generation’s brains and lifestyles. The continued excessive use of these tablets will increase the dependency on technology to get so intense that some may not be able to function without it. So, watch how you use your digital media, as it may have an impact that will hit you without warning. [Editorial by Emily Peacher]
[Photo by Cayley Kilduff]