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THE PAW PRINT An Independent Publication of Wilde Lake High School •5460 Trumpeter Rd. Columbia, MD 21044 • Volume 41, Issue 2 •

Glitchy Common App Bugs Students By Daniel Ingham News & Opinions Editor

After weeks of laboring over writing supplements, filling out personal information, and following up on teacher recommendation letters, senior Evan Bell sat down on October 15 to send an online college application to one of her top choices, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Filling out that online application on Common App was no small feat, but it was a labor of love. After checking her application one last time, Evan typed in her mother’s credit card information and hit “submit.” A wave of relief washed over her as she sat back in her seat. It was finally over! Evan went to the kitchen to celebrate with something chocolatey while the application loaded. Evan sat back down at the computer with a Hershey bar at hand and a puzzled look on her face. To her surprise, the application was still loading. Evan tried not to worry and let the website run its course, but ten minutes turned into fifteen minutes and then into twenty. This was the last day that she could submit! Panic started to creep up her spine and into the back of her throat. “The cursor just kept turning and

Students who apply to different schools across the country use the same Common Application, despite the shortcomings of the server (Photograph, Daniel Ingham).

turning,” said Bell. “I waited for almost an hour for Common App to finish loading. It eventually just logged me out. I was nervous because it was the last day for early action and I wouldn’t be eligible for certain scholarships if I applied regular decision.” Evan remembers what it was like to

sit at her computer while Common Application stalled. “I was scared,” said Bell. “I just sat there, sweating it out. I was so frustrated and I kind of wanted to cry. After going through all the hurdles of recommendation letters, SATs, subject tests, and counselor

By Daniel Ingham News & Opinions Editor

In News: Need help finishing that English essay? Check out the new writing lab. Page 2

By Xiomi Baleno Features Writer

Ellah Ipah sings Miracles by Mambo Sauce with the Wilde Lake guitar class, orchestra, and barbershop (Photograph, Ben Townsend).

the assembly. “Being able to dance during Black History Month is a way for me to show my respect for people who fought for civil rights,” said Kaiser. “It’s a way for me to give back.”

In News: Wilde Lake cares for people over 8,000 miles away in the Phillippines. Page 3

Continued on page 3

Oldest Middle School in Howard County To Be Torn Down and Rebuilt

Black History Month A Way to Give Back On February 20, 2014, Wilde Lake High School hosted its annual Black History Month assembly in the JRT. The assembly featured the Wilde Lake orchestra, chorus, guitar and dance company. Wilde Lake Principal Mr. LeMon believes that Black History Month holds significance for Howard County’s young people. “The assembly gives students a chance to perform and celebrate their culture together,” said Mr. LeMon. “I think it is important for us to reflect on where we come from.” Junior Tiara Brown moderated the assembly. Brown believes that Black History Month is a way for her to serve her community and heritage. “Being in this assembly means that I get to help my school learn about black history,” said Brown. “By getting involved, we are learning about Black History, and Black History is American history.” Brown recognizes how important the assembly is to her as an African American. “The assembly made me appreciate my heritage even more,” said Brown. Junior Juliana Kaiser danced to “The Circle of Life” from the Lion King with the Wilde Lake Dance Company. Kaiser was honored to be a part of

meetings, I just wanted it to be done.” Evan is one of many college-bound seniors who have struggled with a glitch-ridden Common Application website this year during the college application process. The Common Application, an online college admission application used by 517 member colleges and universities, encountered technical difficulties after releasing its fourth software update, CA4, on August 1, 2013. According to the Common App website, applicants have reported glitches that range from being charged multiple times for a single application to not even being able to log in to their accounts. Common App reports that the most widespread glitches involved teacher recommenders. Senior Zain Ul Abidin is one applicant who struggled with a buggy recommender system. “I assigned the recommender and the recommender received an email from Common App,” said Abidin. “When he pulled up his Common App, he couldn’t see my name. The counselor couldn’t resolve the issue, so she emailed Common App.

In response to a growing population and general structural and space related issues, construction to replace Wilde Lake Middle School will begin in 2015, according to WLMS Principal Mrs. Smithson. The new building, which will open in 2017, will be larger and “green,” according to The Baltimore Sun. “Enrollment has increased and we are outgrowing the school,” explained Principal Smithson. “We need more space.” WLMS students and alumni will tell you that the school is infamous for its small size, packed hallways, and lack of windows. “If you had two classes right next to each other, you could walk completely around the school and still get to class on time. That’s how small it [the school] was,” said Robert Thompson, high school senior and Wilde Lake Middle School graduate. Thompson said that the school always felt a bit cramped.

In Features: The Paw Print takes an in-depth look at safety at Wilde Lake. Page 4 & 5

In Sports: Concussions mess with students’ heads in the classroom. Page 7

“Every year, my band teacher would say ‘when we get a new room we’ll have more space, when we get a new room we won’t be so cramped, when we get a new room…’ but we [the students] were all like ‘okay…’ We didn’t really think it would actually happen,” said Thompson. The current building opened as a middle school for students, grades six through eight, in 1969. With the intent of “going green,” the school could qualify as “the county’s first ‘gold’ middle school”. The school would produce its own energy through the use of solar panels, according to The Baltimore Sun. Additionally, the new structure will be more handicap accessible with wider hallways and more wheelchair accessibility. The project will take two years to construct, starting in 2015, and students will continue to attend the current WLMS during that time. When the new school opens in 2017, the existing 1969 middle school building will be demolished to make room for new sports fields and parking lots, according to Principal Smithson.

In Opinions: The Paw Print takes a look at new standardized tests in Maryland. Page 8


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