Downplaying the Impact
Athletes put their health on the line
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CONTENTS NEWS 3
Fairfax County rejects meals tax
4
DEA visits McLean students
5
News around the world
7
Sources of Strength
FEATURES 8-9
Civic responsibility postvoting
10-11
Illusions: Science teacher does magic
12
In-state/out-of-state colleges
13
Standardized tests become the standard
15
10 Qs with James Smith
16-17
Highlander of the Issue: Lauren Ott
A&E 18-19 Entertainment update 21 Song sampling 26-27
How local donuts stack up
28
Don’t Drink the Water behind the scenes
29
Doctor Strange review
IN-DEPTH 22-25
Downplaying the impact: Athletes put their health on the line
32-33
OPINIONS 30 31
Editorial: County growth necessitates expanding facilities Job market hurts students with pressures to succeed
32-33
The next four years
34-35
Crossfire: Should seniors be given more privileges?
10-11
SPORTS 36-37
Inside McLean’s emotional homecoming victory
38-39
Staying in the game
40-41
Flashing back to fall sports
42
Athletes juggle club and school sports
43
Athlete of the Issue: Grace Davis
44
The Finish Line
36-37
26-27
16-17
Dear McLean, We hope you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving Break! With winter on the rise, we hope this copy of The Highlander will make good company for a steaming cup of tea or cocoa. This issue, make sure to check out our News section for coverage of the failed meals tax referendum and information about a new program at McLean to promote positive mental health. In our Arts & Entertainment section, look for reviews about promising new sources of entertainment to carry you through the annual winter hibernation, and discover the best donuts in the McLean area. Our In-Depth this issue assesses the dangers of concussions and the consequences of playing through them. Don’t forget to look for our recurring pieces every issue: Highlander of the Issue, 10 Questions, Crossfire, Editorial, Athlete of the Issue and The Finish Line. Until next issue, make sure to keep up with all things McLean on our website, thehighlandernews.com, and our Twitter, @MHSHighlander. As always please feel free to share any comments, questions, or suggestions with us by stopping by the journalism room, R133, or contacting us at thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com. Yours truly, Melanie Pincus, Bryan Chung, Ingrid Morse & Carlyn Kranking
highlander
the
Letter from the Editors
Volume LXI • Issue 2 • November 2016 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief
Carlyn Kranking, Ingrid Morse & Melanie Pincus
Design Editor-in-Chief
Bryan Chung
Managing Editors
Sri Medicherla, Sanskriti Neupane, Young In Seo & Aisha Singh
Photography Editor
Shanzeh Umerani
Website Editor-in-Chief
Sophie Mariam
Copy Editor
Imani McCormick
Advertising Manager
Seth Eshraghi
Section Editors News Editors
Christine Cheon & Siddarth Shankar
Opinions Editors
Rustin Abedi & Helen Bloom
Features Editors
Anjalie Chauhan & Olivia Mooney
A&E Editors
Alex Mandanas & Shanzeh Umerani
Sports Editors
Colin Edson & Ed Walters
Reporters Jessie Friedman Tyler Grobman Miranda Johnson Kyuree Kim Jiwon Kim Justin Kim Maren Kranking Adviser
Anjali Kumar Amanda LaPorte Kon Matheoudakis Julia McElligott Anna Murphy Laura Opsahl-Ong Jackson Payne
Michael Redding John Roth Jack Stenzel Eva Zarpas Conor Zeya Catherine Zysk
Lindsay B. Benedict
Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions. Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate. To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 First Class; Hall of Fame
Cover photo illustration by Shanzeh Umerani
‘14, ‘16 George H. Gallup Award; ‘15 International First Place ‘16 Crown Finalist; ‘15 Gold Crown Winner ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15 CSPA Gold Medalist
‘14, ‘15, ‘16 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award
Printed by aPrintis
NEWS
Voters reject meals tax
54 percent of voters vote no on Fairfax County meals tax
Christine Cheon & Carlyn Kranking News Editor & Editor-in-Chief airfax County voters cast their ballots in a meals tax referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and 54 percent of voters voted against the tax. The referendum proposed a four percent tax on prepared food and meals served in restaurants. Fairfax County had projected that this tax would generate as much as $99 million per year. The county said 70 percent of the meals tax revenue would have gone to funding FCPS, while the remaining 30 percent would have been used to fund county services and provide property tax relief. Those in favor of the meals tax said they are disappointed in the lost opportunity for additional school funding. “I think it’s unfortunate that the citizens of Fairfax County did not see it necessary to invest in our schools, in the resources that are available to our students and the human resources our teachers are,” social studies
F
teacher Cynthia Hawkins said. “As a teacher, I find it demoralizing.” One of the principal arguments against the meals tax was that there was no guarantee the money would be used efficiently or in the way the county claimed it was going to be used. “Even though funding schools is great, the thing is that a lot of previous meals taxes [have] shifted some of that [originally pledged] 70 percent to schools [to] 30 percent,” said senior Bradley Lamkin, who voted against the tax. Lamkin said he also feared that local tourism and restaurants would suffer because of the tax. “I think it’s going to [hurt] tourism in Fairfax County, especially [in] Tysons,” Lamkin said. “A lot of people are going to be less likely to go to restaurants, which hurts local businesses.” Without the meals tax revenue, the Fairfax County government may have to consider budget cuts to schools and adjustments
to staffing, according to physics teacher Dean Howarth. Howarth serves on the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council. “What will probably happen is that class size will go up and teacher salaries will go down... Benefits for county employees will get chopped down which is probably going to accelerate the fact that most teachers, especially the young ones, [will be motivated to teach elsewhere],” Howarth said. “I think you’re going to see an exodus of talent even more.” While future budget cuts will carry consequences, they likely will not have obvious effects for a few years. Howarth said he believes it will take cuts to major programs for public concern to increase. “Personally, I don’t think the community will react until some big cuts happen,” Howarth said. “If you got rid of elementary band, then everyone would freak out, saying, ‘Oh my god, how can these things happen?’ Well, where was your sense of urgency on Nov. 8?”
Meals Tax Referendum By the Numbers 54 percent voted NO
46 percent voted YES
n Reve ue fro m
The four percent meals tax was projected to earn
70%
would have gone to FCPS
Meals Tax the
30% would
have gone to county services, including parks and fire departments
$99 million annually
47
counties in Virginia have a meals tax
D.C. levies a 10 percent meals tax Facts obtained via fairfaxcounty.gov Infographic & page design by Christine Cheon & Carlyn Kranking
NOVEMBER
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DEA and Discovery Education visit McLean Operation Prevention launches at MHS
L
ast month, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Discovery Education came to McLean High School during Red Ribbon Week to launch an educational initiative titled Operation Prevention. Due to the increase in opioid abuse in recent years, the two organizations decided to launch Operation Prevention—a virtual field trip which hopes to educate students about opioids and eliminate substance abuse. Since its establishment in 1985, Red Ribbon Week aims to increase drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention awareness. The campaign is held annually from Oct. 21 to Oct. 31. “I think educating students on how powerful some of these painkillers [are], ...the impact it can have on your brain and behavior...can be another important tool to help awareness and education,” said Bill Goodwyn, president and CEO of Discovery Education, in an interview with The Highlander. According to drugabuse.gov, the number of opioid pain relievers in the U.S. has skyrocketed in the past 25 years—from 76 million prescriptions in 1991 to 207 million in 2013. A 2014 study found that 168,000 adolescents had an addiction to prescription
painkillers. The dramatic increase in opioid prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin and Percocet, has led to opioid dependency and addiction among patients who have previously taken painkillers. These patients turn to recreational opioids such as heroin and morphine in order to sustain their dependency. However, there are many methods of drug prevention and safety protocols which students can follow. “Be mindful of what you have in your own house,” said Chuck Rosenberg, Acting Administrator of the DEA. Rosenberg shared his insights on the American opioid crisis in an interview with The Highlander. “Lots of times we end up with very dangerous drugs in our own homes with no intent to use them in a bad way,” Rosenberg said. Students who watched Operation Prevention in the library were also given the chance to ask a panel of administrators and educators about the increasing prevalence of drugs in today’s society. “I think if people take the time to watch [the broadcast]...it’ll change some things about how people perceive drugs. They [will] learn some of the consequences that
come with taking heroin, marijuana, cocaine or any of those kind of drugs,” said freshman Alexander Pearce, who was a member of the Operation Prevention student panel. “Maybe they’ll think twice.” The panel explained the DEA’s 360 Strategy to combat opioid abuse. The plan concentrates on three areas: law enforcement, diversion control and community outreach. Operation Prevention also encourages students to communicate with one another. “I think the most important conversations you can have, whether it’s during Red Ribbon Week or any other week of the year, is with your friends, with your family, with the people you love,” Rosenberg said. Rosenberg urges students to build strong relationships with those close to them. “What we know is that if you don’t have that relationship with your teachers...and you don’t have that relationship with your parents...you inevitably have that relationship with one another. That’s the key,” Rosenberg said. With Operation Prevention, both Goodwyn and Rosenberg hope to help students and families stuggling with drug abuse. “Look, at the end of the day, the whole goal of this is to save lives,” Goodwyn said.
In 2014, 467,000 adolescents were current nonmedical users of pain relievers, with 168,000 having an addiction to prescription pain relievers Prescription opioids among Prescription In Virginia: Virginia adolescents and In In VA, therepainkiller are opioids among prescriptions painkiller prescriptions painkiller prescripyoung adults per 100 100 people per tion perpeople 100 people. adolescents and nearly DOUBLED young adults from 1994 to 2007 nearly DOUBLED nearly from 1994 to 2007.. of individuals who use heroin of young people who inject heroin have previously abused prescription opioids become dependent on it
82.1
23%
Obtained via DrugAbuse.gov Obtained via DrugAbuse.gov, CDC
1/2
Infographic by Bryan Chung Reporting by Carlyn Kranking, Sanskriti Neupane, Young In Seo & Aisha Singh
4
NEWS
South Korean Presidential Scandal
I
n October, South Korean president Park Geun-hye was plunged into one of South Korea’s largest political scandals. Her informal adviser, Choi Soon-sil, was accused of heavily influencing the president’s actions and political decisions, and was arrested on charges of abuse of power and attempted fraud. Geun-hye is a member of the Church of Eternal Life, a cult-like religious group founded by Choi’s father. Geun-hye’s friendship with Soon-sil became an issue when Soon-sil allegedly became involved in many of Geun-hye’s political decisions. Despite Geun-hye’s apologies, her approval ratings have plummeted to an all-time low of five percent. Thousands of protesters are calling for her to resign, with one year and three months left in her term. Much of the Korean public has dubbed Soon-sil as South Korea’s “Rasputin.” Currently, investigators are determining the level of influence Soon-sil had on government affairs, as well as whether she had access to classified documents and information.
9/11 Bill
T
he 9/11 bill, which allows families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, was passed by Congress this September. Initially passed unanimously by the House and Senate in May, President Barack Obama vetoed the bill in September. However, Congress overrode this veto in an overwhelming bipartisan vote, with the Senate voting 97-1 for the bill. This was the first veto override of Obama’s presidency. Although the bill gives legal options to 9/11 families, the ability to sue countries would make the U.S. vulnerable in foreign courts, according to opponents of the bill. “This is a dangerous precedent and it’s an example of why sometimes you have to do what’s hard,” Obama said in a town hall meeting later that week. “I think [the override] was a mistake, and I understand why it happened. Obviously all of us still carry the scars and trauma of 9/11.”
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD Young In Seo & Aisha Singh Managing Editors
T
Syria Update
he problems surrounding the Syrian civil war continue to worsen, despite the increase in humanitarian efforts this year. In July, the European Union proposed a common scheme to offer 10,000 euros per resettled Syrian refugee to member states. In August, an investigation by The Guardian reported that the U.N. had awarded contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to people close to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as part of the U.N.’s humanitarian aid program. The U.N. stated that the cooperation with Assad was necessary to ensure that aid would reach civilians in need. Although the U.S. and Russia agreed upon a tentative ceasefire in Syria to facilitate political transition on Sept. 12, the tensions between the U.S. and Russia have escalated since then. Meanwhile, the number of first-time asylum seekers in Europe has increased in the second half of 2016, with Syrian refugees constituting 30 percent of this number.
N
Dakota Access Pipeline
ative American activists have been protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, leading to various arrests and heated debates. The pipeline, which is 70 percent complete, is a crude oil project that would transport oil extending from the Bakken oil field in North Dakota to a refinery in Pakota, Illinois. However, the pipeline will run within a half-mile of the local Standing Rock tribe’s territory and their major river. Activists are also worried about potential oil spills and environmental damage. The cause spread to the rest of the country when the tribe took legal action in July. As of November, thousands of people have been protesting, with hundreds of arrests for various charges. Demonstators have been pepper-sprayed and shot with rubber bullets. Activists say the fight over the pipeline has become a fight for freedom and human rights, drawing together Native Americans, environmental activists, ordinary citizens and even celebrities. Page design by Young In Seo & Aisha Singh
NOVEMBER
5
GET THE HIGHLANDER EVERYWHERE YOU GO! Go to our website www.thehighlandernews.com Follow us on Twitter @MHSHighlandernews Like us on Facebook The Highlander Newsmagazine
Sources of Strength supports positive mental health Peer leaders of new program plan awareness week Melanie Pincus Editor-in-Chief
S
ources of Strength is an international organization dedicated to suicide prevention. McLean High School is piloting the program in Fairfax County this year “to spread messages of hope, help and strength,” according to sponsor and Systems of Support Advisor Nick Corsi. Peer leaders of this club are planning an awareness campaign to encourage conversations about mental health. They will implement parts of their campaign in a Sources of Strength week from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. “They’re going to spread the word out, and by other students recognizing their faces, we’re hoping that these [peer leaders] are going to be some of the students our student body can trust and can come to when they’re feeling stressed, when they’re feeling emotional,” Corsi said. “The peer leaders can connect the rest of the students to trusted adults in the building.” Peer leaders said they want to encourage dialogue about mental health. “I wanted to get involved in Sources of Strength because I really believe that mental
health is an important issue that needs to be talked about more...especially around here where people are suffering with it,” junior Eli Wassertzug said. Junior Marissa Fedora is helping Sources of Strength by planning an art campaign. “We’re trying to approve painting the rock to go with our club’s symbol [as part of ] a week supporting our club,” Fedora said. “We’d do different activities every day of the week during lunches, with posters [and] stuff like that.” Other parts of the campaign will help students introduce themselves to each other. Club members have all attended trainings where they learned about the importance of connecting with other students. “[At training, they] shared this really interesting [story] where they gave a list of all the kids in a school to each student and they told the kids to put a checkmark next to everyone who they consider a friend, and one out of every six students didn’t check anyone and no one checked them,” junior Amanda Coughlin said. To help students get to know one another, everyone will be encouraged to wear name tags on one of the days during Sources of
Strength week. Corsi said Sources of Strength offers an all-encompassing mental health program. “Healthy activities, mental, emotional health, spiritual health, all those things— and if we’re able to manage those things, then that’s been shown to decrease suicide,” Corsi said. The Sources of Strength wheel identifies each aspect of the program. “What Sources of Strength believes and what we believe is that these components on the wheel are what’s really going to help us promote breaking the stigma of silence and [encourage] people to talk about their mental health and what they’re feeling,” Corsi said. Members of the group said they hope it will grow and empower students to reach out about mental health issues. “I think that throughout the year...and hopefully for years on, we are going to try to become more present in the environment at McLean, and [students] shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to us,” junior Hannah Gold said. “This program is really about helping individuals who are struggling with these things, and...they shouldn’t be afraid to reach out individually or in a group.”
Photo by Shanzeh Umerani Page design by Melanie Pincus
NOVEMBER
7
FEATURES
What makes a good citizen? A description of civic responsibilities
Anjalie Chauhan, Features Editor
R
oughly a quarter of the student body will be legal adults within the next year, which means they will have the opportunity to participate in their government by voting. Voting represents one important civic responsibility. Civic responsibilities are voluntary and consequently less likely to be upheld than compulsory civic duties, like paying taxes and obeying the law. If citizens fulfill their civic responsibilities, they can provide their government with their opinion, and ultimately affect policy. Even though voting is the most publicized method citizens use to express their opinions on government, a large percentage of the U.S. population
does not vote. In this year’s presidential election, for example, 58 percent of all eligible voters cast a ballot, despite projected record turnouts. Voting is often seen as the most direct bridge between the people and elected representatives, but it is just one thing people can do to project their voice. Beyond voting, engaging in other civic responsibilities gives citizens the ability to have a comparable influence in government. “Voting is something most people do only once every four years for the presidency, but that’s not really all you can do as a citizen to engage yourself in the government,” senior Andy Broom said. “You can go to committees, you can
stay informed, send a piece of mail to your local congressman, legislature—just suggest things, get things moving within your own community.”
Respect the rights of others Abiding by the law and respecting others’ individual liberties ensures that everyone maintains their implied and enumerated rights. “We do have a lot of individual liberties in this country but not to the extent that my individual liberties trample on your individual liberties,” history teacher Tom Casey said.
8
In an increasingly diverse nation, differences in opinion are bound to create tension. This held true even for our founding fathers who worked through conflicting ideologies while writing the nation’s constitution. “The idea that people are different and that
respecting those [differences] is important has gone all the way back to the founding of our country,” Casey said.
RESP ECT T
S R E H E RIGHTS O F OTH
FEATURES
Be informed
BE
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The media is a major facilitator in providing access to information— simply turning on a TV or browsing the internet opens the door to multiple outlets for information. However, viewers must be wary of the bias presented by many news networks. Citizens can limit the effects of such bias by pursuing a diverse spread of news sources. “Someone [who] watches only Fox News and someone that
watches only NBC, they have two totally different ideas of what is going on,” math teacher Steve Walker said. Walker said it is important to obtain impartial information. “There’s the being informed part and then there’s being well-rounded and informed at the same time—don’t just get all your information from the same place,” Walker said. “You kind of have to go out there and really look for the information.”
Communicate with the government Becoming a part of government by serving in an elected or volunteer position is one of the most direct ways to affect government. “There is a direct correlation between participating in government and its effectiveness,” senior Alex Brunner said. Direct participation is a great ‘check’
one can enact on local government. Such direct interaction is beneficial because it increases officials’ exposure to public opinion. “You get out of government, or just our community in general, what you put into it,” Casey said, “so if you value certain things then you should get out and represent them in public.”
COMMUNICATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT
Participate for the common good
PARTICIPATE FOR THE COMMON GOOD
From simply sending an email to participating in a large-scale civil protest, citizens have a litany of opportunities to reach out to their representatives and bring their concerns to light. “I think civil disobedience is a great way to protest injustices and prejudices by effectively bringing attention to problems or revealing subtleties that may only affect a certain group of people,” junior Philena Sun said. However, such large-scale actions do
have drawbacks. “It is important to draw the line between what qualifies as civil disobedience or simply violent protests. Unfortunately, I think people sometimes ignore qualms of others if protests are peaceful,” Sun said. “We need to develop a more open-minded view towards the world around us, learn to listen to one another, and make a more concerted effort in seeing things from other people’s point of view.”
Graphics by Anjalie Chauhan Page design by Young In Seo & Aisha Singh
NOVEMBER
9
ILLUSIONS Science teacher has a couple tricks up his sleeve Carlyn Kranking Editor-in-Chief hysics and Astronomy teacher Jeff Brocketti has a strong passion for science, but few would guess that he also has a talent for illusions and card tricks. As a high schooler, Brocketti saw magic tricks on TV and decided that he wanted to learn how to do them himself. He practiced on his own: reading books, watching videos and talking with another local illusions enthusiast. “My favorite part is seeing something and being amazed by it and then taking the time to learn how to do it and being able to pass that amazement along to other people and see the look on their faces,” Brocketti said. It was challenging for Brocketti, as a high schooler and later as a college student, to pay for the materials he needed to become a selftaught magician. “The biggest obstacle was just the fact that
P
those things are expensive,” Brocketti said. “When you’re a high school kid and then eventually early on in college, spending...80 to 100 bucks on a video is a lot.” From the beginning, Brocketti knew that he would always keep magic tricks as a hobby rather than exploring it any further. “I’m not a performer. That comes with a certain type of mentality as well and even when I was fairly good at this stuff, and I could actually perform the illusion well, I still never was the type who could sell it like a performer,” Brocketti said. “Plus, it was something that I did for fun, and I had fun doing it—as soon as you start taking it more seriously, then it becomes, in my opinion, a little less fun and a little bit more of a job.” Two times per year, Brocketti performs tricks for his students—once at the beginning, and once at the end. His go-to trick for performance is called Three-card Monte, a trick that got its name from street
performers. “It’s easy to perform and it just kind of catches people off guard,” Brocketti said. For many years, Brocketti has toyed with the idea of sponsoring an illusions club at McLean. “If anyone is interested in actually forming a club where we just sit around once every couple weeks or once a month [to] do [magic tricks], I’m happy to be the faculty sponsor for that,” Brocketti said. Over time, it has become harder for Brocketti to put the time he wants to into his card tricks. In the future, however, he hopes to be able to spend more time practicing. “Life kind of gets in the way a little bit, but I keep up with the [skills] I have and, at the beginning of the year and the end of the year, I look forward to [performing for students],” Brocketti said. “It would be nice if I could do it a little more...but maybe in time.”
To see Brocketti perform a magic trick, visit thehighlandernews.com! 10
FEATURES
How to... make a card disappear Step 1: Hold the card with your thumb on the card’s face and your four fingers straight on the back. Try to keep the bottom of the card at approximately your first knuckle.
Step 2: Curl your ring finger and middle finger so that your nails are touching the back of the card. Lift your index finger and pinky.
Step 3: Hold the card by its edges with your index finger and pinky.
Step 4: Extend your fingers so that the card is hidden behind your hand. You will still be squeezing the edges of the card between your fingers. Don’t get discouraged! It will take multiple tries.
Photos by Shanzeh Umerani Page design by Bryan Chung
NOVEMBER
11
Should I stay or should I go?
Teachers offer advice on choosing between in-state and out-of-state colleges Jessie Friedman & Sophie Mariam Reporter & Web Editor-in-Chief
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ost seniors have probably heard the conversation during school—while milling about the hallways, in a class or at a club meeting. The question is simple, yet complicated: Are you going out of state for college? A major benefit to attending a public, instate school in Virginia is the more affordable tuitions they offer. “We’re really lucky. The cost of tuition is very affordable. It’s a smart thing to do,” English teacher and James Madison University alumna Elise Emmons said. The average public in-state tuition plus room and board fee for Virginia Tech is $21,416, while the average cost of tuition plus room and board at the University of Pennsylvania, a private university, is $69,340. These schools exemplify the common gap between in-state and outof-state tuition costs; however, these costs are not all-inclusive due to the variance of costs between colleges and financial aid circumstances. Another reason many students choose to go to schools in Virginia is the high quality education many of them offer. “There are so many good schools in Virginia,” Emmons said. “I don’t really see a reason why you would want to go out of state.” According to college rankings by U.S. News & World Report, the University of Virginia is the 24th best overall university
in the country, outranking many private and out-of-state universities. The College of William and Mary sits at number 32. Other Virginia schools, like James Madison University and Virginia Tech, consistently rank highly as well. However, for many teachers and students, the benefits of going to an out-of-state school are equally enticing. “I really wanted something different. I was ready for a big change. I was ready to be away from home and at a big state school, and I liked the location,” history teacher and Appalachian State University alumna Margaret Tran said. Additionally, many out-of-state schools offer scholarships that match the affordable price of in-state tuition.
“There are so many good universities in Virginia. We’re really lucky. The cost of tuition is very affordable. It’s a smart thing to do.” -Elise Emmons, English teacher “A lot of schools, particularly public schools in different states, are giving really great scholarships to students out-of-state to get them to come there,” college and career center specialist Laura Venos said. Many students attend out-of-state schools
because they want a more diverse student population. However, even in-state schools have diverse student bodies. “Virginia is a really big state and where we are is very different from other parts of Virginia. The diversity will be there,” Venos said. “All [Virginia] schools are trying to get students from all over the country and all over the world.” When choosing a college, it is important to carefully consider what specific programs each school has to offer. “If you figure out what you want to do, that narrows your choices down,” social studies teacher and University of Pennsylvania alumna Kieran Sweeney said. “If you have no idea, I would pick a school that has a variety of programs.” Teachers also urge students to think about their post-college plans. It is important to make connections with people in the area where one plans to live after graduation. “Connections you make [during college] help you when you get out in the real world,” Tran said. “If I had stayed in Virginia, it would have been easier and quicker to get a teaching job.” Students must keep in mind that their success is not dictated by the college, but by the choices they make while at college. “I think college is what you make of it,” Venos said. “Don’t feel like you’re going to have a lesser college experience by staying close to home. Everybody is going to have a different path. The most important thing is finding a school that fits.”
Where are you applying to college?
17% Out-Of-State 63% Both
Is price going to play a factor in college choice?
56% NO 20% In-State
44% YES
Survey of 46 seniors Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Jessie Friedman & Sophie Mariam
12
FEATURES
Standardized tests become the standard Academic environment increasingly values testing
Kon Matheoudakis Reporter n today’s academic environment, standardized tests can seem like a matter of life and death to students who wish to get accepted to their dream institution. This competitive mindset has made standardized testing a game of preparation and familiarity rather than that of knowledge. Standardized tests continue to play a large role in the college admissions process. According to the Peterson’s Company, in February 2016, close to 78 percent of universities weighed standardized tests at considerable importance when looking at candidates for admission. In addition, as the admission process becomes tougher than ever before, the influence of standardized tests rises. In order to score high and get accepted into these universities, many students will train themselves using test prep material such as books, specialized classes and tutors in order to gain a competitive edge. “Students are reacting to the stress that everyone has placed on them,” physics teacher Dean Howarth said. In McLean, many families have the financial ability to afford tutoring and test preparation classes, even with the average cost of tutoring exceeding $125 for a onehour session in some areas. “Students here can afford private tutors and classes,” assessment coach Sara Wheeler said. Many students are also taking standardized tests multiple times in order to achieve higher scores. Both the College Board and the ACT organization note that test scores improve after a retake. A poll of 87 students found that 67 of them had or have plans of taking the SAT or ACT more than once. “I plan on taking the SAT until I achieve a perfect score,” sophomore Paige Osguthorpe said. According to the poll, McLean students will take the ACT or SAT an average of two or three times. This is around the national average, according to an article published by College Confidential, which found that most students do not take the standardized tests
I
NOVEMBER
more than three times. Based on a poll of 100 students, 96 percent have taken or are planning on taking a standardized test. Two-thirds of these students plan on consulting test prep material. This mentality toward standardized testing differs from what was common decades ago. According to Howarth, this competitive approach to standardized tests did not exist until the 80s. Tests were previously seen as a minor inconvenience that nobody really trained for, reflecting the mentality of the time that not everything was dependent on a grade. “Nobody took classes, or took it five times or hired tutors—there was not that sort of mentality,” Howarth said. “Nowadays, it’s transcript above all else.” In addition, SAT subject tests were far less relevant. Prior to 1994, they were known as achievement tests and served essentially the same role as AP tests—tests of achievement in a certain area rather than tests of college readiness. Now, subject tests are a necessity for students wishing to get into highly selective universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania, which all list subject tests as a requirement on their admissions sites. Like subject tests, the ACT has also seen a recent increase in popularity. As a matter of fact, until recently it was nothing more than an afterthought for many students, who didn’t think it was necessary. “I have no memory of an ACT,” history teacher Ian Howell said. Regardless of the era, standardized tests are here to stay. However, the testing organizations are willing to adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of students as evidenced by the redesign of the SAT in March 2016. As such, they will remain a part of the high school experience and of the college admissions process for years to come. As long as they are around, students will continue to take the utmost precautions in order to succeed on these exams, especially in McLean where expectations are high. “It’s a game and you have to decide how you want to play it,” Howell said.
What test are you taking?
SAT (51%) ACT (18%) Both (27%) Neither (4%)
What do you use to prepare for the test?
Class (19%) Tutor (26%) Books (53%) None (2%) Poll of 70 students
Survey of 100 students
Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Kon Matheoudakis
13
Highlander Patrons As a student-run program, The Highlander would like to thank all of our generous supporters who make it possible to print our newsmagazine. Listed below are this year’s contributors. We would also like to thank all of our anonymous supporters.
Gold ($200+)
Come visit us at:
1433 Center St. McLean, VA 22101 Phone: (703) 709-1910
Open every day from 11a.m.-10 p.m.
Silver ($100+)
The Zeya/O’Grady The Abedi Family Family The Mizusawa Bronze ($50+) Family Susie & David Venkat & Sadhna French Shankar Brian Wilkerson Best Mexican food in McLean!
If you would like to become a patron, please send a check to: The Highlander McLean High School 1633 Davidson Rd. McLean, VA 22101
HEALTHY NEVER TASTED THIS GOOD
Fresh Smoothies & Juices
HAPPY HOUR THURSDAYS 4-6 PM HALF PRICE SMOOTHIES 6661 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Virginia 22101 703-288-0082 www.Robeks.com
10 Qs with
James Smith (Assistant Building Supervisor) By Colin Edson Photos by Shanzeh Umerani Page design by Bryan Chung
If you could be a celebrity, who would it be? Richard Pryor. I like him because he’s a funny man.
What animal represents you and why? A dog. I love dogs, because they don’t talk back. You talk to them and they don’t talk back.
I would want the power to lower taxes.
Fried chicken, and steak and cheese.
What are you most afraid of?
If you were president, what would be the first thing you would do?
Rejection.
I would probably give every worker that is employed a raise. What is your favorite band?
Fall, because it’s full of beautiful days.
NOVEMBER
I can make music. Anything you want to hear.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
What are your comfort foods?
What is your favorite season?
Do you have any special talents?
I like Frankie Beverly & Maze.
If you could travel to one place in the world, where would it be? Bahamas, because I’ve never been and I’d like it.
15
Highlander of the Issue
Lauren Ott taps to worldwide competition Irish dancer aims to qualify for top competition Sanskriti Neupane Managing Editor
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1: Lauren Ott shows off her hair clip, a stylistic component of being dressed up from head to toe. 2: Ott participates in the hard shoe dance category; the dance form is meant to be loud and emphasize rhythm. 3: The solo competition dress shown above can cost upwards of $2,600. 4: To prepare for competitions, Ott accessorizes her hair with a wig. 5: Throughout the years Ott has been dancing, she has won many awards—notably first place team awards from regionals. 6: In Irish dance, the soft shoe (left) is worn in a graceful dance, while the hard shoe (right) is used in a rhythmic dance. (Photos by Shanzeh Umerani & courtesy of Lauren Ott) 16
FEATURES
W
hen she was 7 years old, senior Lauren Ott fell in love with dancing. Watching a close family friend dance on stage at a regional Irish dancing competition, Ott realized that her aspirations went beyond the conventional. Her parents, excited at the interest Ott showed toward the sport, quickly signed her up for classes and encouraged her to practice. “They couldn’t get me to participate in any other sport so [by] just showing interest in anything they were just very excited,” Ott said. Her love of the sport quickly grew, and soon she was practicing not only in classes but also at home, after finishing homework, late at night—whenever she possibly could. “[My parents] never doubted that I would practice, and I do, to my own credit,” Ott said. Ott’s parents noticed her commitment and built her a studio at home so she could practice in her free time. “I kept thinking Lauren would get tired of competing but the more she competed, the more determined she was...so we took the
Goals
By rehearsing routines in her studio on her own and attending grueling after-school practices, Ott hopes to qualify for worlds as a soloist. “[At] regionals I want to qualify for the world championships. I want to keep going in college so I have that opportunity,” Ott said. Ott’s path to worlds began three years ago. After winning back-to-back local competitions, she entered the open competition category in Irish dance which immediately qualified her for nationals. “I qualified for nationals for the first time in 2013 when [my team] won our regionals... then next year I moved up a level and so now I’m automatically qualified for nationals every year,” Ott said. Ott has qualified for worlds before with her team, Maple Academy of Irish Dance, but never on her own. “I competed at worlds when it was held in Boston in 2012. My team qualified [and] we went because it was within the U.S. We were eighth that year,” Ott said.
competitive dance. It was never meant to become what it is today. [It’s] focused on the feet—your arms always stay at your sides and that creates a lot of room for injury,” Ott said. Ott has experience dealing with the pain of injury. “I’ve landed leaps and completely flipped on my ankle and been out for a while. You get fractures and…I’d say that the injuries, when they do happen, are really hard to come back from. They’re pretty brutal,” Ott said. Ott’s commitment shows in her efforts to attend practice in spite of an injury and by doing everything she can to keep up with her teammates. “When I was injured...I’d still come to class and I’d sit and watch my team practice. I’d critique my team, and so by the time I was okay, I was able to compete in regionals,” Ott said.
Community
It’s not only Ott’s dedication to the sport that motivates her to go to practice and practice her routines, but also the family
“We saw her drive and love of Irish dance... The confidence and poise which she displays when she is competing is amazing. I cry every time she finishes dancing, as I am so proud of her.” — Ruth Ott, Lauren Ott’s mother
guest room and made it into her permanent studio,” said Ruth Ott, Lauren Ott’s mother.
Family
At first, Ott’s family was skeptical of her decision to begin Irish dancing. “My husband and I didn’t understand the attraction of Irish dancing at first, with the wild hair, the elaborate costumes and the crazy Irish songs,” Ruth Ott said. Soon, her parents began to notice their daughter’s love and dedication to Irish dancing and did all they could to encourage her. “We saw her drive and love of Irish dance... The confidence and poise which she displays when she is competing is amazing. I cry every time she finishes dancing, as I am so proud of her,” Ruth Ott said.
Another important goal for Ott this year is to not just do well at regionals, but at nationals as well. Ott has competed at nationals in the past and has come close to medalling. “I’ve qualified for nationals...but when you get to it, [there are] a lot of girls from Ireland or England that’ll come over and compete at our North American nationals... so I’ve gotten close to medaling but I haven’t quite reached that yet,” Ott said.
Drawbacks
Ott’s dedication to Irish dance has allowed her to move past the drawbacks that come with it: the late nights, the long practices in place of hanging out with friends and especially the injuries. “Irish dance was never meant to be a
she has formed within the Irish dancing community. “The small community makes you create these bonds with people... You’re with them for hours on the weekend, going through the same hardships and trying to reach goals,” Ott said. The amount of time Ott spends at Irish dancing competitions has allowed her to become close with not only her competitors, but their parents as well. “It’s kinda great to have moms at the competition... Their daughters are competing against you but they’re wishing you good luck and they’re hugging you and they’re letting you know that they’re proud of you,” Ott said. “[They’re] your competition, but [they’re] also your family, and I think that’s really cool.” Page design by Sanskriti Neupane
NOVEMBER
17
A&E Entertainment
update
The latest music, movies, TV shows and video games Imani McCormick, Copy Editor
MUSIC
Remaining an influential figure in hip-hop, rapper Common released his 11th studio album entitled Black America Again. The accomplished lyricist expresses powerful emotions in his songs about social issues, including the demise of unarmed black men. This album gives listeners feelings of freedom and passion.
Island Records
This House is Not for Sale by Bon Jovi
RCA Records
HERE by Alicia Keys
ARTium
Black America Again by Common
R&B musician Alicia Keys recently released her first full album since her 2012 release of Girl on Fire. On HERE, Keys collaborated with other popular artists including A$AP Rocky. Her new album harmonizes strong gospellike vocals with old school hip-hop beats.
This House Is Not for Sale is Bon Jovi’s 13th studio album and first album without lead guitarist Richie Sambora. Bon Jovi’s album incorporates soulful blues with classic rock, creating a unique sound unlike any other cadence performed in this era.
CONCERTS
Diana Ross Dec. 3 The Kennedy Center
Tory Lanez Dec. 14 Fillmore Silver Spring
Kanye West Dec. 27 Verizon Center
Lukas Graham Jan. 31 Fillmore Silver Spring
Third Eye Blind, Mike Posner, Wrabel & Jojo Dec. 7 Fillmore Silver Spring
Lauryn Hill Dec. 18 Fillmore Silver Spring
Skrillex Dec. 30 Echostage
Bruno Mars Dec. 27 MGM National Harbor
Wale Jan. 1 Fillmore Silver Spring
Ariana Grande, Little Mix & Victoria Monet Feb. 27 Verizon Center
Mac Miller Dec. 13 Fillmore Silver Spring 18
A&E
MOVIES
TV SHOWS
VIDEO GAMES
In The Edge of Seventeen, the gawky life of teenager Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) only grows more awkward once her older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) starts dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). Nadine develops inner feelings of loneliness and insecurity until she meets a cute, introspective boy who reminds her that her not-soperfect life isn’t too bad in the end.
Good Behavior is about Letty Raines (Michelle Dockery), a thief and con artist whose life crumbles to pieces as a result of her endless bad decisions. After being locked up in the slammer, Letty finds her way and struggles to keep her life intact while checking in with her parole officer and reconnecting with her 10-yearold son. Trouble finds its way back into her life, leaving her in a difficult position.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is the 13th game available in the series. Players have access to three game modes: Campaign has an 80s outer space setting; Multi-player mode has newly transformed gameplay; Zombies mode has its own storyline and mechanics, differentiating it from Campaign mode. Special edition versions include a remastered version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
Sony Pictures
EA Dice
MTV
STX Entertainment
Based on the best-selling book, A Street Cat Named Bob is an inspirational true story about Luke Treadaway (James Bowen), a recovering drug addict whose life is turned around when he finds Bob, an injured ginger tomcat. Luke is already living off scraps and the idea of caring for a cat is absurd, yet he cannot resist taking it in. After he nurses Bob back to health, Luke sends him away hoping to never see him again. However, Bob finds his way back into Luke’s arms, and the two become an inseparable duo.
TNT
Infinity Ward
The producers of Teen Wolf will be releasing the sixth and final season of the teen drama. Similar to last season, the 20 episodes that make up the series will be broken up into two 10-episode parts. Season 6 is focused on the spine-tingling, supernatural Ghost Riders that have the power to wipe someone’s memory. The Ghost Riders find their way to Beacon Hills and erase the memory of one very important character. Protagonist Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) and his pack struggle to fight this superhuman force.
Despite the name, Battlefield 1 is the 15th game available in the Battlefield series. The game takes place in the World War I era. Various aspects of the game such as weaponry and warfare techniques are inspired by historic events. Players have access to two game modes: Campaign mode has been expanded into a larger battleground to allow for new combat tactics, and Multiplayer mode can support up to 64 players, stressing the importance of teamwork.
Page design by Bryan Chung & Imani McCormick Photos obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license
NOVEMBER
19
Something borrowed
Popular songs are enhanced with samples from other artists Olivia Mooney Features Editor
T
V has revivals, movies have remakes and the music industry has sampling. Artists often put their own spin on old tunes to create new hits, bringing back familiar melodies to listeners’ ears in a different context. Check out these popular songs that have sampled older tunes—and even a classic video game.
“Mama Said” by Lukas Graham, sampling Andrea McArdle’s “It’s the Hard Knock Life” The upbeat tune of Andrea McArdle’s “It’s the Hard Knock Life” from Annie hides a tale of a troubled childhood. The tune will seem familiar not only because of the musical, but because of Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life,” which samples the same song. Lukas Graham’s narrative in “Mama Said” focuses on being misunderstood by those around him, but he uses the comforting words from childhood to make sense of the world. Sony
Copenhagen Records
“Sorry Not Sorry” by Bryson Tiller, sampling Yoko Shimomura & Isao Abe’s Street Fighter II Sound Effects A much less emotional story than “Don’t” and “Exchange” by Bryson Tiller, “Sorry Not Sorry” has the playful vibe of the colorful video game it borrows from. Tiller loses some of the authenticity of his other songs with boastful lyrics. This is a quick song in which the protagonist plays the role of rejector rather than a forlorn lover. Fans tired of feeling sad will appreciate this song. RCA Records
Capcom
“Too Good” by Drake ft. Rihanna, sampling Popcaan’s “Love Yuh Bad” The moody song “Too Good” is classic Drake. The beat from Popcaan’s “Love Yuh Bad” makes the song more danceable and upbeat with its reggae roots while maintaining its reflective lyrics. The addition of Rihanna gives multiple perspectives and inspires more ways to yell at an ex. The song picks up at times before settling into a melody for the chorus with help from Rihanna’s smooth voice. Cash Money Records
Mixpak Records
“How Great” by Chance the Rapper ft. JayElectronica & My Cousin Nicole, sampling Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God”
Chance the Rapper
Sparrow/sixsteps
The church tune “How Great is Our God” at first seems like an odd choice for a sample, but the eclectic Chance the Rapper manages to make it work well in “How Great.” However, after almost three minutes of Tomlin’s song, it’s difficult to wait patiently for Chance’s verse. The original does work with Chance’s familial references, and the electronic tweaks to the traditional song help listeners make it through. Page design by Olivia Mooney
NOVEMBER
21
Downplaying the Impact: Athletes put their health on the line
M
cLean’s varsity football team was on the verge of its first victory of the season. It was the homecoming game, and with less than 30 seconds remaining, McLean was about to lose its narrow lead. The opponent, Fairfax High School, was in position to score a field goal and put their team up by two points. Anxiety filled the air as the Fairfax kicker lined up to take the deciding kick. Against all odds, Fairfax’s field goal attempt was blocked. McLean senior Amir McCormick picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, putting the Highlanders up 28 to 20. Seconds later, waves of McLean students swept onto the field in joy. Surprisingly, McCormick—the player of the game—had not played football competitively before this year. When he started playing, he was aware of the risks associated with football, especially the risk of getting a concussion. “[Amir] was aware of my personal views on football and the potential risks with such a contact sport...it was a challenge and informed risk he took [and] we had to support him with all of our eyes wide open,” said Marsha Ershaghi, McCormick’s mother. McCormick had sat out the two weeks leading up to Homecoming after being diagnosed with a concussion. “When I came back, I had to play safer. I was more aware and conscious of what I was doing,” McCormick said. “I was a little reckless [before my injury].” Injuries while playing sports are not uncommon. Athletes often sit out entire games or seasons to recover from serious injuries. Luckily, McCormick was cleared to play before the biggest night of his high school football career. However, some athletes underestimate the risks, downplaying their symptoms or even purposely performing poorly on baseline tests so they can stay in the game.
THE RISING COST
More and more children have sought treatment for traumatic
22
head injuries over the past several years, according to Dr. Gerard Gioia. Gioia is the Division Chief of Neuropsychology at Children’s National Medical Center and assists the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Capitals in their concussion management programs. “People are now becoming more aware of this injury, and so [the] real increase [in concussions] is...because we’re recognizing and identifying and evaluating it more,” Gioia said in an interview withThe Highlander. Numerous protocols and tests, such as the Immediate PostConcussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), have been put in place to allow athletes to return to their sports in a safe manner. ImPACT is used at McLean and at more than 7,400 other high schools across the nation. Gioia said there are concerns about the consistency and reliability of the ImPACT. “It has adequate reliability. If you want to classify, ‘excellent,’ ‘good,’ ‘adequate,’ ‘poor,’ I’d put it in the adequate category,” Gioia said. “In the psychometric and statistical refining of measures…it could be better.” McLean’s athletic programs do not rely solely on the ImPACT to evaluate students’ concussions. Instead, trainers utilize multiple methods of neurological evaluation and take other steps to ensure students are ready to recommence normal athletic activities. “The ImPACT is just one of several aspects of our evaluation process. The ImPACT test itself is not an end-all, be-all,” McLean’s certified athletic trainer Michael Tierney said. “It’s just one of many tests we do, which include vestibulo-ocular testing, a symptoms checklist [and] communication with parents, teachers and coaches.” The ImPACT system is especially prone to error if a student purposely underperforms on the required baseline evaluation, given at the beginning of each sports season.
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“A lot of kids want to keep playing. They don’t want to sit out because of the concussion,” said senior Jack Kelly, the varsity football starting quarterback. “What they’ll do is purposely do worse on the baseline test so when they are actually concussed it doesn’t show. The trainers will see that and say, ‘Okay, you’re fine, you can play.’” According to a survey of 76 athletes at McLean who have taken concussion baseline tests, 23 respondents had heard of student athletes deliberately underperforming on their baseline tests. Among the 20 surveyed McLean football players, 11 had heard of this phenomenon. Lying on a baseline test can affect an athlete’s treatment after a concussion, and could possibly damage their health if they are cleared to play while experiencing concussion symptoms. “Your brain is in a vulnerable state after that first injury, and if you continue to play, and take more blows to the head...it worsen[s] your symptoms significantly, and
“
Another worrying trend among professional football players is the rise in diagnoses of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). There is a correlation between concussions and CTE, especially after a player sustains repeated hits to the head. However, doctors still do not know how CTE affects younger people. “You can see what has happened to some football players who have gotten and played through concussions,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “I don’t think any one of our kids want to live that kind of lifestyle.”
PRESSURE TO PLAY
The fact that some students are choosing to deliberately underperform on baseline tests as well as downplay the extent of their injuries is a cause of concern. Administrators and trainers hope that displaying a greater emphasis on the longterm consequences of playing through an injury will dissuade students from these
The injury occurred during one of Wolff‘s best swimming seasons. “It was a week out [from states]. It was my first time qualifying individually,” Wolff said. “I definitely didn’t want to miss that. I didn’t want to do that to the team, nor to myself.” Immediately after sustaining her concussion, Wolff faced pressure to continue swimming through it. “My head coach thought I should get back in the water,” Wolff said. “[But] I didn’t feel like I was 100 percent.” Wolff went to the emergency room, where her doctor recommended that she take some time off of swimming. While she was eventually cleared to swim before states, Wolff suffered from worse times in one of her events as a result of her concussion. “Looking at the short term, I know I was looking at states, and that was something I wanted to do...but there also is the risk for some people I know—they’re all thinking about the game and not thinking about the
I’m not going to put myself in a situation where I could get permanent brain damage just to maybe have the chance at a few moments of glory.”
it [takes] you longer to recover,” Gioia said. “You’re not doing yourself any service by staying in.” The culture of players attempting to skew their results on concussion baseline tests is not just limited to students; it reaches the professional level. “The professional athlete, as you might imagine, is definitely in a little bit of a bind because they don’t want to lose playing time [or] their jobs,” Gioia said. “At the same time, they’re also hearing that if they ignore it...it could result in some serious problems downstream.” According to an NFL report on ESPN, almost three out of 10 players are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia as a result of repeated traumatic head injuries. 24
— Senior varsity football wide receiver Amir McCormick
actions. Others try to ensure that athletes aren’t being pressured to come back too soon, especially McLean’s football coaches. “We have not gone out of our way to push, bother or make a student uncomfortable about [being] out because of a concussion,” said Rick Barron, the team’s offensive line coach. Still, high school athletes continue participating in their sports in the aftermath of serious injuries such as concussions. Senior Claire Wolff has been swimming for 12 years for FISH, which was named one of the top 100 swim clubs in the nation. Wolff was diagnosed with a concussion last spring. While doing sprints, another swimmer who was pushing off the wall hit Wolff in the temple, popping her head back.
long-term risk of having a concussion,” Wolff said. “A concussion isn’t something that takes you out for a certain period of time. It’s something that can have an impact on your life as a whole.” Recovery time from concussions has been an issue for doctors, students and parents who want athletes to return quickly to normal activities. Although all concussions are different, researchers have found general trends in people’s recovery time. “Adolescents are one of the [age groups] that take the longest [to recover],” Gioia said. “We generally say that concussions recover within a matter of weeks, but that can vary depending on your age...30 percent of kids [do] not recover within four weeks.” Junior Leela Abrishami was diagnosed IN-DEPTH
with a concussion in December 2015 after a horseback riding accident. Abrishami still experiences the effects of her concussion today, almost one year later. Abrishami missed two months of school and went to school for just a few hours per day for the remaining five months of the year after her concussion. “I was having headaches every day and a lot of eye pain every day. I don’t really remember it but I was miserable,” Abrishami said. Since her concussion caused her to miss months of school, Abrishami had to make up work to stay on track. “I was frantically making up work at an insane rate. I was pretty much doing multiple months of schoolwork in a few weeks at a time,” Abrishami said. Abrishami had to extend her classes through the summer because she was unable to keep up with all the work she had missed. This year, Abrishami only comes to school every other day due to the enduring effects of her concussion. “It’s had a pretty severe and lasting impact on my school life and also impacts my regular life, too. I can’t go to a movie theater. I can’t go to the mall,” Abrishami said. “There are a lot of things I need to be careful of because of my concussion.”
GAME & GLORY
Although the effects of concussions can be long-lasting, athletes do not let fear of injuries keep them from playing their respective sports. “I still horseback ride after my concussion, and I started jumping again,” Abrishami said. “It has to be an informed risk.” Despite the risks inherent to playing highcontact sports, the victories often bring glory to both individuals and teams. The stunning atmosphere of McLean’s stadium after the homecoming game would not have been possible without the efforts of McCormick and the varsity football team. “The best part was the feeling of knowing [McLean] won and me personally knowing I helped win the game,” McCormick said. Since many athletes wish to experience the emotions McCormick describes, they take actions that can jeopardize their health. But injured athletes, rather than lamenting their lost opportunities, should focus on what is ahead and not risk later chances for success. NOVEMBER
Attitudes Toward Player Safety 92%
30%
38%
of parents rely on coaches to keep their kids safe
of McLean students have heard of athletes underperforming on baseline tests
of parents know how much sports injury prevention training their child’s coach had
Almost half of coaches reported being pressured, most notably by parents (but sometimes the child), to play an injured child during a game
Information obtained via Safe Kids Worldwide & a survey of 76 McLean athletes who have taken the ImPACT
“In fact, the sooner we recognize [an injury]..., the sooner you get back to the sport,” Gioia said. “Especially [at] McLean, a challenging high school...you’re going to have a lot more trouble getting through your schoolwork.” Although McCormick enjoyed being a part of the football team’s homecoming
triumph, he maintains perspective on his high school athletic career. “High school sports isn’t the end-all, be-all, especially for me,” McCormick said. “I’m not going to put myself in a situation where I could get permanent brain damage just to maybe have a chance at a few moments of glory.”
Hard Tackle — Junior Omar Varela is tackled at McLean’s homecoming football game against Fairfax on Oct. 28. The high-contact nature of football makes student athletes more vulnerable to injuries like concussions. (Photo by Imani McCormick)
Contributing reporter: Ryan Dahlseid Infographics & page design by Bryan Chung
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How local donuts stack up by Anjali Kumar & Amanda LaPorte
DUCK DONUTS
2 51 1 N H A R R I S O N S T R E E T , A R L I N G T O N HOLE-IN-ONE
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t Duck Donuts, customers have the opportunity to customize their treats. We tried a variety of topping combinations, all of which come on the same plain cake donut. Despite the variation in flavor, all of the donuts possessed the same level of crunchiness on the outside and chewiness on the inside. We started with the vanilla glazed donut and used it as a baseline for the other donuts. It ended up being the best donut we tried by far. Next we tried our own creation: a cinnamon and brown sugar donut with peanuts and caramel drizzle. Neither of us felt this unique custom combination of flavors worked well. With this in mind, we concluded that perhaps so
much freedom and such a variety of options in toppings creates a great risk for patrons. However, we did agree that the flavors held a lot of promise individually. Third, we tried the chocolate glaze with Oreo crumbles. With this tasty yet simple creation, we were fortunate not to run into the same overpowering circumstance we encountered with the previous donut. We found that the toppings complemented rather than overwhelmed the flavor of the donut itself. Lastly, we found the maple bacon donut’s unique yet complementary flavors to be a perfect example of what we believe Duck Donuts is all about: providing customers the chance to play with flavors and shape their experience at the store.
ASTRO DOUGHNUTS & FRIED CHICKEN
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f you’re looking for cold and overpriced donuts, head on over to Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken. We tasted similar donuts from Astro to compare to the ones we tried at Duck. The vanilla glazed donut had a thicker and more cake-like consistency in contrast to the ideally light and airy donut at Duck Donuts. We also found the amount of glaze on the pastry to be severely lacking. Despite our best attempts to match flavors between Astro Doughnuts and Duck Donuts, we were limited by Astro’s minimal variety of donut types. Its status as an artisan bakery means that, rather than having a simple cinnamon and brown sugar donut, it has the more complex crème brûlée donut.
With that said, a failing presentation and inconsistent temperature undercuts the positive aspects of its interesting flavors. While we found the idea of a Nutella donut enticing and the taste of the icing itself to be decent, the overall pastry lacked warmth and had excessive amounts of oil within it. However, the rich and crunchy nature of its outer crust made this donut the least offensive of the four that we tried. Finally, we noted that their highly praised maple bacon donut was lukewarm in temperature and flavor compared to the one at Duck Donuts. P.S. Their fried chicken was also lacking in the taste department.
Photo by Eva Zarpas Page design by Carlyn Kranking Donut graphic obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license
A&E
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Preparing the Set — Freshman Mina Saba, sophomore Piper Phillips
and sophomore Russell Reed prepare for rehearsal on Nov. 14. The set of Don’t Drink the Water includes cubicle-like rooms and incorporates a 1960s vibe in its decoration to reflect the time period. (Photo by Shanzeh Umerani)
TheatreMcLean works hard behind the curtains
Thespians get ready for the fall production, Don’t Drink the Water Alex Mandanas A&E Editor he technical aspects of TheatreMcLean’s production of Woody Allen’s Don’t Drink the Water can be roughly summarized by a massive, dollhouse-like set, hairspray and mint green paint. While members of the crew complete technical feats, actors tackle Woody Allen’s classic wacky, dynamic political comedy. The play takes place in a 1960s American embassy in an unnamed country in the Eastern Bloc. The technical heads and their crew members had the task of capturing this very specific ambiance. “We just worked together to look for pieces that fit the 60s vibe but also were professional enough to make sense in an American embassy,” said sophomore Ariana Colder, head of set decoration. The massive set is a unit set, meaning it stays in place throughout the show. Students like sophomore Piper Phillips, the set design head, developed the structure. It’s a complex construction with cubicle-like rooms that theater teacher Phillip Reid said was
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challenging to design, build and set up on stage. “We’re in an embassy so we didn’t want to keep it one level—we wanted to stretch ourselves. It’s a two-level set with a staircase center [and] a lot of doors that open to other locations in the embassy,” Reid said. Reid said this set is different than the types of sets TheatreMcLean used in productions last year. “[In] both shows we did last year, there were a lot of scene changes and a lot of pieces that [came] in and out,” Reid said. “This is completely opposite of that, it’s a fully constructed set that’s basically if you took a house and split it down the center and you open it up, that’s what you would see.” Preparation for the production required dedication from the cast and crew. Students started working on the production in September for shows on Nov. 18, 19 and 20. “We have five days of rehearsal a week, then one day of tech. Within those five days we do character research, blocking and discuss the wants and needs of our characters,” Reid said. “I have meetings with the tech heads
and crew members and discuss what they’ve been working on and what they need to work on in the future.” In general, political comedy is an amusing genre of theater that challenges actors and garners responses from audiences. “I think [it’s] entertaining because people can relate to it, depending on the current situation they’re in. At this point in this generation, everything is a joke, so political comedies are a more sophisticated way of joking around with big issues,” said sophomore Ruby Larimer, who portrayed Susan, the daughter in the show’s central family. Larimer said the topics of the production are serious, but delivery keeps the show comedic. “The subject matter isn’t light-hearted, but the delivery is light-hearted,” Larimer said. “There are bombs, but there’s also love.” Check out The Highlander’s review of Don’t Drink the Water on thehighlandernews.com
Page design by Sanskriti Neupane
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A&E
Doctor Strange is a visual treat, and not much else Impressive action and visual creativity smartly mask underdeveloped plot
Justin Kim Reporter
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he impossibilities are endless. At least, that’s what the tag line for Marvel’s newest film, Doctor Strange, tells us. This film is the 14th installment in the critically acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Scott Derrickson, who has experience working on sci-fi movies, Doctor Strange received a positive reception. With so much press in the movie’s favor, I approached its North American release with high expectations. I pre-ordered the tickets a week and a half in advance, and on Nov. 5, I walked into the theater with great anticipation. Unfortunately, 112 minutes later, I walked out disappointed. Doctor Strange is by no means a failure, but compared to other MCU entries, the film delivers significantly less. What certainly lives up to the promise are the visuals. Doctor Strange is a film meant to be watched on the big screen simply to experience the cinematography. Less than an hour into the film, we get a testament to that when we see the Ancient One send Strange into the Astral Plane, then through countless dimensions. While the rest of the movie does not reach the same level of, well, strangeness, there are still several great scenes that unleash magic. Cities fold. Buildings twist. The air becomes a kaleidoscope. Doctor Strange turns out to be the best visual treat in not only the entire MCU, but in modern cinema in general. The film does offer more than just eye candy, as it is backed up by a solid cast. Benedict Cumberbatch excellently portrays the rude and justifiably cocky attitude of the doctor. Tilda Swinton, despite the whitewashing controversy surrounding her casting, pulls off the Ancient One fantastically, offering viewers the sensation that she’s not tied down by age, gender or race. She is wise and kind, yet she has an underlying dangerous side to her that suggests she’s not someone you want as your enemy. Chiwetel Ejiofor is another favorite, serving
as a sort of sidekick to Strange. He undergoes his own character arc, and, should this film get a sequel, it’s going to have a great villain. My gripes about this film start with the villain Kaecilius. Surely there were better ways to use Mads Mikkelsen, like Hannibal and Casino Royale did. To his credit, he does have a quiet charisma about him that makes him more than a cackling maniac bent on destroying the world, but the problem is that he’s quickly made out to be an antithesis to Strange. Strange and Kaecilius are both arrogant men who are staunch in their own ways. However, the film never takes the time to expand on their similarities, and since we never see how Kaecilius turned to the dark side in the first place, it makes him even less intriguing. The biggest problem with this movie, however, might be its most crucial component—the plot. While I can say I did enjoy this movie as a spectacle, I can also say that it won’t win over those who look for substance beyond mind-bending visuals. Simply put, Doctor Strange’s plot is generic, simple and rushed. I can excuse the opening act for being fast-paced, but the film never stops cutting what could have been interesting scenes, instead choosing to rush through the story so quickly I could barely keep up with what’s going on. For instance, it is unclear how much time Strange spent training under the Ancient One, but it is implied that it was at least a year or two, and the film doesn’t effectively convey that passage of time. The film also doesn’t do a good job of escalating suspense. Instead of slowly building up threats with repeated
Marvel Studios Page design by Bryan Chung
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encounters or scenes pertaining to the villain, the film decides to drop the entire climax at once after just over an hour and then moves along to the ending. When the film goes from a rushed but quiet training montage to an explosive battle montage, it feels clunky and the film suffers as a result. Under two hours was nowhere near enough screen time to properly flesh out the story. Captain America: Civil War got a whole 147 minutes to itself—couldn’t this film have been longer so viewers could have seen more of Strange’s training, the villain’s past and encounters between the two conflicting sides? Doctor Strange is certainly a blast to watch, and its visual creativity is second to none. But what good are effects and action when the story is unwieldy and rushed? This film is certainly a visual milestone, and I would rewatch it in a heartbeat if only to experience those marvels on-screen again, but the final product is a drab origin story that fails to establish its own identity outside of its visuals.
OPINIONS
County must expand facilities
FCPS should address growth by using vacant office space for schools The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board
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airfax County Public Schools is the 10th largest school system in the nation and enrollment is projected to grow through the 2020-2021 school year. High enrollment has created an overcrowding crisis, with Superintendent Karen Garza reporting “the school system struggles to provide sufficient capacity in our schools” in FCPS’s most recent Capital Improvement Program (CIP). On Nov. 1, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) “amended location and character criteria for public school facilities,” opening the door for adapting office and commercial properties into schools. If enrollment continues to rise, converting vacant spaces into schools would be beneficial to students and Fairfax County as a whole. In their report on the policy amendment, the BOS notes a “lack of available sites for new schools and education facilities.” Despite the lack of available space, a 2014 report on facility needs presented to the school board recommends constructing three new elementary schools and a new high school “to provide capacity relief.” Also, based on 2014-15 enrollment information, Fairfax County projects every high school in the county will reach at least 87 percent capacity by the 2019-20 school year. Many schools will be over capacity, including McLean at 129 percent. Renovations to alleviate overcrowding won’t come in the near future for most Fairfax County schools, which are currently renovated every 34 years, nine years longer than the industry standard of renovating every 25 years. Even if schools projected to become overcrowded are due for renovations, zoning restrictions can keep schools over capacity regardless. For example, Haycock Elementary School enrolled 921 students last year. Their renovation, completed last year, provided capacity for just 877 students. At FCPS’s current growth rate, the county needs to maximize space in current facilities
and take advantage of the opportunity to open schools in nontraditional locations. According to Bisnow, a real estate news agency, there are 20 million square feet of vacant office space in Fairfax County. Adapting some of these spaces into schools instead of acquiring new sites would decrease costs and shorten construction times. FCPS has already proved that it can successfully retrofit schools through its development of Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for Arts & Sciences. According to the BOS, FCPS purchased an office building in 2013, began adapting it in December of the same year and finished the space by September 2014. The school enrolls third, fourth and fifth graders, alleviating overcrowding at a 1,400-student school that had housed half of its students in trailers. Since there are not adequate new sites in the county to build schools, previous plans to help with overcrowding involved adapting current administrative and community buildings. Some advocate against opening schools in nontraditional spaces, pointing out that the amendment allows rooftops and parking lots to be used for outdoor recreation instead of traditional playgrounds. Cooper Carry, the architecture firm that developed Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, included “a series of exercise and movement rooms” in the school and is currently planning additional recreational spaces. The situation, while not ideal, is preferable to the large class sizes and fewer per-student resources that come with overcrowding. Enrollment increases in the county this year were lower than in years past. However,
county officials warn that this decrease is not indicative of a change in the overall trend of growth. Many schools are overcrowded in the status quo, meaning expanding facilities would be helpful even if enrollment does not increase in coming years. Using Fairfax County’s abundant empty space will not only decrease overcrowding, but it could also improve FCPS’s ability to offer specialized educational opportunities. In their report on the amendment, the BOS said they could use buildings for transitional high schools, which serve older ESOL students and distance learning programs. Although the school system as a whole grew by less than one percent last year, enrollment in alternative programs increased nine percent. Although expanding to new spaces could reduce some of FCPS’s crowding problems, another major limitation stems from the county’s bond-dependent CIP, which puts FCPS’s school renovation cycle well behind industry standard. The system must make compromises to ensure that it maintains current schools even as it disperses students into more facilities. Making better use of the space available in the county represents an important step in addressing FCPS’s broad facilities concerns.
Reporting & page design by Sri Medicherla & Melanie Pincus
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OPINIONS
Job market hurts students with pressure to succeed
Expectations of monetary success lead students away from lower paying dreams Catherine Zysk Reporter
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s colleges expect students to choose their major earlier and earlier in the application process, many are forced to pursue financially promising life plans— leaving their dreams and happiness behind. According to a 2016 study by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, there has been an 8.7 percent drop in humanities majors in the past four years. Many attribute this drop to mounting pressures to earn enough money to pay off future college debt. According to U.S. News & World Report, college tuition costs have increased 179 percent in the past 20 years for an average of $38,762 a year. With this knowledge of impending student loans and rising tuition costs, many students feel pressure to choose a major with clear promise of a future payoff. However, recent analysis suggests that humanities majors have become a hot commodity in the job market. A recent study cited in The Wall Street Journal stated that Class of 2015 college graduates in English and foreign languages have seen a prominent rise in starting salaries when compared to 2014 graduates. In fact, these graduates are being recruited across all fields, showing promise across the board. Employers and graduate schools want the strong communications skills and analytical thinking many language majors acquire. “I knew I didn’t want to end up being in a cubicle for the rest of my life,” senior Rachel Weatherby said. “I want to have a job that is rewarding and enjoyable to me.” Many of the incorrect assumptions regarding the value of humanities majors stem from the deteriorating support of the arts in society, especially with regards to governmental support. Several plans to reduce the deficit have proposed as much as a 25 percent cut in arts and humanities spending, restricting support of our nation’s museums, art education programs and promotion of the arts throughout the nation. This idea that humanities are an expendable part of our country’s wellbeing NOVEMBER
has led to these widespread misconceptions about the importance of education, language and humanities majors. One country that has seen tremendous improvements as a result of their support of humanities education is Finland. In a brief by Stanford’s Center for Opportunity Policy in Education, research found that Finland had gone from a 10 percent college matriculation rate to 90 percent, making Finland one of the most educated countries in the world. Why? Finland changed the way its people looked at teaching and humanities as a profession and how they chose their college majors. Unlike the U.S., where education is considered an undesirable major among incoming college students, teaching is consistently considered one of the most admired professions for Finnish high school graduates. Even in McLean, with its top-ranked education system, teachers feel the underappreciation of teaching among the general public. “People think that we get here in the morning, hang out with the kids all day and then we go home [but] that’s not how
teaching works,” AP Physics teacher Claire Anton said. Despite the many misconceptions about teaching in the U.S., many like Anton, who transitioned to teaching after her time in the engineering field, find joy in their work. “I enjoy working with students. I find it very rewarding,” Anton said. And yet, we remain years behind Finland in our appreciation of teachers and the value of a liberal arts degree. If we want a more educated and thriving populace like that of Finland, that shift needs to happen in our schools, our humanities majors and especially in our teacher salaries. With teachers and humanities majors struggling to make ends meet, more and more college graduates are choosing other, higher earning fields. By demonstrating to students at the high school level that the humanities show promise in their future with higher teacher salaries, we can cultivate the better educated, more enthusiastic work force that employers seek. This move towards change begins with students following their dreams when considering their college major. Comic by Courtlan Grinder Page design by Catherine Zysk
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The Next Four Years
A Trump Presidency will negatively alter American politics
Helen Bloom & Laura Opsahl-Ong Opinions Editor & Reporter
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his historic election, unprecedented in its candidates, issues and results, has greatly impacted political demographics, party platforms and political discourse. In Donald Trump’s successful movement, he has instilled radicalization and consequential animosity between establishment and extremist politicians as the basis for our new political environment. These shifts toward increasing radicalism will inevitably fuel long-term polarization in almost all of the aspects of our political environment. Trump is quite different from any other Republican presidential candidate in history. His campaign has been marred by controversies regarding his outlandish statements. Trump’s platform is left-wing in some areas, like his college tuition plan, and far right in others, like his immigration and tax plans. However, Trump’s appeal doesn’t come from his politics—it comes from what he represents. As a businessman who has never held public office before, Trump is a political outsider. His main support group comes from the white working class that was, prior to the start of his campaign, predominantly disenchanted with the American electoral process. Trump’s role as a polarizing agent for political discourse is coupled with a shift in the nature of the Republican Party itself. 32
He has laid the groundwork for a political atmosphere that prides radicalism over practicalism and thus, one that also rejects the notion of non-partisanship in the discussion and creation of legislation. This atmosphere will inevitably be furthered by the recently established Republican control over both parts of Congress. Republicans will no longer need to
“People will get more desperate and they’ll cling to dreams or ideas as opposed to practical realities or plans.” -Ian Howell, AP Government teacher compromise with Democrats, meaning that their resulting policies will be more rightwing than ever before. Built upon previously established tensions between the so-called “Common Man” and the establishment, Trump’s candidacy painted itself as a neo-populist movement that gave a voice to the struggles of the white working class. However, the so-called movement’s official characterization as an extension of
Republicanism means that changes must be made to the conservative party to account for the rise of new voters. As the election results rolled in, commentators began to say how this election would redraw the political map as we know it. The region known as the Rust Belt, located around the Great Lakes, has been a stronghold for Democrats for several decades. The Clinton campaign neglected the Rust Belt for the last weeks of the campaign. Then, Trump surprised experts by winning Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, states that had previously voted Democratic since 1992. “I don’t think that she necessarily took the Rust Belt as a given,” senior Jessica Boyer said. “But she definitely overlooked it as a conscious choice in favor of millennials, in favor of people that have social reform as their wedge issues.” So how did the states that just four years ago elected President Barack Obama by huge margins choose the founder of the birther movement? The answer can be found in the poor, uneducated blue collar workers who live in the small towns scattered around the Rust Belt. The new president-elect appealed to workers who felt they had been hurt by the outsourcing of factories and labor. They wished to return to the old days when people could graduate high school and move OPINIONS
directly to a manufacturing job that would offer a steady, middle class life. According to exit polls compiled by The New York Times, Trump received 67 percent of votes from whites without a college degree, in contrast to Hillary’s 28 percent. These people point toward income inequality as a major concern. “Over the past 30-plus years, distribution of wealth has gotten more and more skewed,” AP Government teacher Ian Howell said. “People will get more desperate and they’ll cling to dreams or ideas as opposed to practical realities or plans. The more desperate you are, the more you’re willing to retain illogical or desperate ideas, or scapegoating.” Despite the overall impracticality of Trump’s trade plan, his focus on bringing jobs back to the U.S. through the use of high tariffs and renegotiating trade deals appealed to members of the working class. The appeal of his trade plan was furthered in its links to Republicans’ current and future proposed economic plans. The Republican Party’s platform already saw a shift this year away from its standard free trade policy. Considering how successful this was, the trend will likely continue on into the future. Not only will the Trump presidency’s extreme stance on trade cause an overall shift in the Republican Party’s economic policies, but it will fundamentally shift the party further right. Now that Republicans have control of both the executive and legislative branches, they will have unchecked power and will no longer need to try to compromise with the Democrats, meaning the policies they pass will be more drastic. “I think that this country is taking a turn for the right for sure,” Boyer said. “Even if Trump doesn’t pass anything that’s revolutionary, we’ll just be seeing a lot more conservative legislation for the next four years. Obamacare, for example, is definitely on its way out. Social reform, anything that was happening, is going to become stagnant now, and possibly regress a bit.” Trump himself, a man elected by alt-right groups, will also have a hand in moving Republican policies even further to the right. One of the biggest questions for political analysts is whether the Republican Congress will cooperate with President-Elect Trump. During the election, many members of Congress refused to endorse him, called him out on his bigoted comments and even NOVEMBER
denounced him. Although Speaker Paul Ryan, who falls into the aforementioned group, has made peace with Trump to a certain degree, it is possible that some established Republican lawmakers will make a point to continue defending the Constitutional and moral values that Trump appears to oppose, possibly leading to a greater split in the already fractured Republican Party. However, without a large portion of the GOP turning against the president-elect, he will have the power to pass virtually any legislation, which places minorities at great risk. Trump’s backpedaling on certain extreme
This hesitation to enact such polarizing and detrimental policies is also inevitably rooted in a fundamental tie to establishment Republicans, whom Trump has already given great exposure to in his proposition to place traditional Republican politicians such as Newt Gingrich and Chris Christie in his Cabinet. “I think what we’re going to see that will be interesting is how Trump’s administration will continue to accommodate or fail to accommodate the radical voters that supported him during the campaign,” Boyer said. “[Establishment Republicans are]
Trash-Talking Trump — To the shock of adversaries of the Trump
campaign, he managed to weather scandals with smooth talking and insults at his opponent, Hillary Clinton. By continually highlighting Clinton’s email scandal, Trump managed to deflate the fallout of his “lewd comments,” which went viral in the last weeks of his campaign. policy proposals following his victory, such as his original plan to abolish Obamacare and his assertion that the Mexican government will pay for the construction of his border wall, indicates an ultimate failure to maintain the promises that allowed him to get so many votes from the white working class. This expressed hesitance to follow through with such extreme propositions illuminates the inconcrete nature of Trump’s concern with his low-income white supporters. The overtly bigoted nature of his proposed platform coupled with the overall unpredictability of his actual policies and their implementation makes the projected characterizations of our political environment in the next four years less definite.
certainly not going to be content to fall back under the radar, now that they’ve had this major victory, [and] Trump so far has not been making many efforts to show that he will keep his promises to them in terms of disestablishing the establishment.” As a whole, Trump’s polarizing rhetoric and policies, despite his current efforts to reduce their severity, will have a great impact on our political environment. Trump has already and will most likely continue to build a political atmosphere with a basis in radicalism that will be an inevitable detriment to both minority members and the white, working class to whom Trump gave faulty promises of economic progression.
This article was written on Nov. 15 Page design by Laura Opsahl-Ong Photos obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license
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CROSSFIRE: Seniors should not expect privileges
Privileges support school divisions and sense of entitlement Ingrid Morse Editor-in-Chief
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t the start of each school year, students speak of them in the halls, barter with teachers about them and beg administration for more of them: senior privileges. In recent years, demands for senior privileges have become increasingly devoid of both logic and consideration for the restrictions placed on McLean administration by county and state regulations. With these flaws in mind, seniors need to recognize the ultimate lack of necessity of senior privileges and their potential detriments to student safety and the student body as a whole. Senior privileges have become an expectation for McLean students, as seniors exercise their privileges and underclassmen eagerly await their turn to bask in the joy of a once-a-week five-minute early release. However, they are in no way guaranteed. These privileges are nothing to squabble over, and McLean administration is minimally concerned with them. “It’s more of a little bit of a show kind of thing for everybody, because [there are] so many things that people would like to have done [and]...with all the rules and regulations, that can’t be provided,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. Although senior privileges were intended
Should there be senior privileges?
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to help seniors become more independent and prepared for the real world, they have become a farce. They fluff the senior population’s sense of superiority while failing to grant any real rights to the legal adults confined to McLean’s halls. This disconnect between purpose and practice that makes senior privileges pointless comes not from lack of representation of the student body or the cruelty of the administrators. It is due to the strict regulations imposed on public schools by the state and county. According to Reilly, the state requires students to be in school for a specific number of minutes per year. Leaving campus during the school day interferes with a student’s ability to fulfill these requirements. Ultimately, the proposal for seniors to go off campus would cut into class time with possible disruptions and the exacerbation of student tardiness. There is also the issue of student security. Students in the building—legal adults or not—are the responsibility of the school and county. If students were to have the ability to leave class at will or leave campus for lunch, a significant security risk would arise. “There are reasons for [the limitations]. Because if [students left and] got hurt, it is the school’s responsibility,” Reilly said. Many factors must be taken into account when considering requested senior privileges. “Allowing such privileges...would become class disruptions in the halls if all seniors were released—it’s the instruction time that teachers [would lose],” Reilly said. Reilly’s concern for classroom disruption is not exclusive to her and other administrators. Students like senior Sarah Kolyani have acknowledged the potential consequences of
Open Discussion Senior privileges proposed by the Class of 2017:
20-minute release on Fridays 5-minute early release every day 5-minute early release on Fridays Senior internships Leaving for lunch Ordering food to the school Designated senior parking lot Two designated “Senior of the Week” parking spots privileges that are, at their core, inconsiderate to staff and underclassmen. “It’s unfair to teachers. When we leave, we take away from their time and our own education. We are at school to learn, not to leave to go to lunch and disrupt the school day or to cut out early,” senior Sarah Kolyani said. Sadly, most students do not share Kolyani’s understanding of the greater implications the change in rules would cause. They have not been exposed to the facts of the matter—to implement more extensive privileges would reinforce a greater divide between seniors and underclassmen, negatively impact the learning environment and pose potential risks to their safety. Students should be pleased with what has been allotted to them, yet view it as a thank you for good work for the past several years, not as some great blessing they have been cheated out of.
OPINIONS
Should seniors be given more privileges? Seniors deserve more benefits than they receive Students should be rewarded for their years of hard work Anna Murphy Reporter
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pon entering their fourth year of high school, seniors should be entitled to certain privileges. They have worked hard in and out of the classroom for the past four years and deserve to be rewarded for their efforts. However, seniors have been receiving fewer and fewer privileges each year. A few years ago, seniors had several benefits that included Harvest Fest, an event in the fall where seniors were able to enjoy moon bounces and cotton candy. This year, however, the senior privileges are severely limited. They include a fiveminute early dismissal on Fridays and two designated parking spaces for “Senior of the Week.” These few privileges are, in themselves, limited by a lack of implementation. Although the privilege may exist on paper, the administration has failed to provide transparency about the changes it has made to the policies. One such problem has arisen because students who are dismissed five minutes early on Fridays are not actually allowed to leave school grounds. “Teachers don’t even do anything in the
last five minutes of class. Basically, seniors just get a head start to their car,” senior Emily Kong said. “It isn’t really a privilege.” Seniors this year have not behaved any differently than past seniors. They have attended school, balanced the workload between classes and college applications
“If they added things such as a ‘seniors only’ parking lot, students would be more excited for the upcoming years.” -Senior Emily Kong
and taken on leadership roles in both clubs and sports teams. The senior class deserves compensation for everything they have contributed to the McLean community. Furthermore, most of the senior class will turn eighteen within the next year. That designates them as legal adults, which gives them a large amount of responsibility. They are given the opportunity to drive a car, enlist
Ideal Senior Privileges (survey of 150 seniors) Leaving for lunch 74% Five-minute early release on Fridays 10% Harvest Fest 6% Senior snack line 5% Designated parking lot 5%
in the army and vote for president; however, they are not entitled to their own parking lot or given the chance to eat lunch off campus. It is unfair that students have such a wide range of responsibilities outside of school and close to none within it. “It’s difficult when you are preparing seniors to go on to higher education or a job and the only benefit they receive is five minutes on a Friday. It seems like kind of a farce,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. Likewise, senior privileges don’t only benefit seniors. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors can spend their years looking forward to being a senior because it brings along certain advantages. Yet, if the only privilege they receive is a five-minute early release or the possibility that one could get a parking spot for a week in the coveted “senior spot,” then there is not much to look forward to. “As an underclassman, I looked forward to the benefits that came with being a senior,” Kong said. “If they added things such as a ‘seniors only’ parking lot, students would be more excited for the upcoming years.” However, some argue that senior privileges have been taken away because certain students have abused the opportunities. Instead of stripping privileges for the all the seniors, privileges should only have been taken away from students who engaged in such behavior. Although the school is responsible for anything that might happen if students were able to leave for lunch, this can be resolved by allowing seniors to leave just once a week instead of every day, which would generate support from parents and minimize the chance of anything dangerous happening. Ultimately, the creation and enforcement of substantive senior privileges will bring about a more unified, happier senior class and student body. Infographics by Bryan Chung Page design by Ingrid Morse & Anna Murphy
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SPORTS Inside McLean’s emotional homecoming victory against Fairfax Jackson Payne Reporter
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Snaps of the season
omecoming week at McLean always brings an exciting atmosphere to campus, and such excitement was evident during the Highlanders’ varsity football game against Fairfax on Oct. 28. “[The Fairfax game] was hands down the most extraordinary experience of my life,” senior defensive end Matt Shaheen said. “I loved every second of it. The sights and sounds were something out of a movie.” The cinematic masterpiece of a game was filled with drama and suspense all the way down to the final seconds, featuring an ending that Hollywood’s best screenwriters couldn’t have written better. With Fairfax leading 20-14 nearing the end of the third quarter, the Rebels found themselves back in the red zone with a chance to score, but McLean senior defensive back Amir McCormick quickly ended Fairfax’s plans to extend their lead with a leaping end zone interception to prevent a touchdown. “Going up for jump balls like that was a drill that we had done in practice, so now we see why we do it. All the hard work paid off,” said McCormick, a first year varsity player. Late in the fourth quarter with the score still 20-14, Fairfax lined up for a field goal to attempt to make it a two-score game, only for the Highlander defense to come
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through in the clutch once again and block the kick. Blocking the kick was the easy part, as now the Highlanders had to go 98 yards down the field in less than four minutes to try and take the lead, but this challenge did not faze junior quarterback Carter Govan. “I knew there wasn’t much time left and that we needed to score, but the coaches had confidence in me and I had confidence in the team,” Govan said. “We had practiced the two-minute drill every day in practice so we knew what to do.” With a confident Govan leading the offensive charge, the Highlanders stormed down the field thanks to key receptions by senior receivers McCormick, Robert Konnick and Gavin Legg, as well as a steady read-option running strategy that allowed Govan and junior running back Adam Taylor to gain yardage on the ground. The drive ended with Govan diving into the end zone on a gutsy six-yard run on fourth down that gave the Highlanders a 21-20 lead with less than a minute left to play. “We were very anxious and hopeful during that drive,” McCormick said. “After we took the lead, it was like a burst of energy.” The momentum took a massive shift following the kickoff as the Rebels executed a trick play to put themselves in position to kick a 28-yard go-ahead field goal with just seconds remaining.
Drop Dead Legg — Senior wide receiver Gavin
Legg makes a diving catch against Hayfield on Sept. 30. Legg, a wrestling and lacrosse standout, served as McLean’s top target with 678 receiving yards on the season. (Photo by Imani McCormick)
“Lining up for the snap [for the Fairfax field goal], all I was thinking was that this kick isn’t going to steal my win on my senior night, that wasn’t the way I was going to go out,” Shaheen said. “All I remember is flying off the line and something smacking me in the helmet, and at that point immediately knowing that we had won.” Following Shaheen’s improbable helmet block, the ball bounced toward the sideline only to find the hands of McCormick, who scooped it up and ran it back 65 yards for the touchdown as the Highlander faithful went absolutely berserk. “Just by the way the night was going, it felt almost like a movie, like I knew we were going to block it, but it was just a matter of where I was going to be when it happened,” McCormick said. “Luckily, Shaheen blocked it and I had the opportunity to get the ball and run it back for the score.” As time officially ran out, the hysterical Highlander fans flooded the field to join their heroes in celebration, an emotional epilogue to the insanity they had just witnessed, moving many players to tears. For the team, it was more than just a victory—it was a reminder of the road they had traveled to make it there. “When all the fans ran on the field, it felt great, like everything had panned out and all our hard work had paid off,” McCormick said.
Better Call Sol — Senior defensive tackle Solomon
Onyejekwe sacks the Marshall quarterback in a Sept. 9 contest. Onyejekwe, who started on both the offensive and defensive lines, led the Highlanders with eight sacks this season. (Photo by Jackson Payne) SPORTS
It had been a humbling season for the Highlanders, who hadn’t won a game prior to the miraculous homecoming victory, but amidst tremendous adversity the team never gave up on themselves and were ultimately rewarded for their efforts with one of the most memorable wins in school history. “The adversity we faced definitely pushed us to get better,” Govan said. “We could have just given up on that game or the whole season but we kept pushing forward and
Amir-acle — Senior Amir McCormick sheds tears of joy following McLean’s first win of the season on Oct. 28. (Photo by Imani McCormick) never gave up.” In enduring through a tough season, the players were able to learn valuable life lessons and see that football is about more than just wins and losses. “Despite how the season flowed this year I still managed to have a lot of fun with my brothers, and winning or losing won’t change
Taylor Made — Senior quarterback Jack Kelly (12)
fakes a hand off to junior running back Adam Taylor (6) in an end-around play against Marshall on Sept. 9. Taylor led the team in touchdowns (four), rushing yards (322) and tackles (138). (Photo by Jackson Payne)
that,” Shaheen said. “This sport and team have helped me build a lot of character. In life there is non-stop adversity and learning how to deal with it now has seriously helped me prepare for how to handle future situations. Football is the greatest choice I made going in high school... I’ve made lots of friends and memories to last a lifetime.”
Jack
of All Trades — Senior quarterback Jack Kelly rolls out and looks to pass in a game against Chantilly on Oct. 7. Kelly threw for 742 yards and ran for three touchdowns in an injury-shortened season. (Photo by Imani McCormick)
Page design by Jackson Payne
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Staying in the game Coaches prepare their players to stay healthy throughout the season Jiwon Kim Reporter
Photo by Eva Zarpas Page design by Bryan Chung
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SPORTS
I
n the past two years, the wrestling team has won backto-back Liberty Conference titles and sent five members to the state championship in Chesapeake, Virginia. A key reason for their success has been the excellent health of the team. Because the health of a team’s athletes can significantly impact their season, coaches of these teams are forced to make injury prevention a priority before, during and after their season. “[Preventing injuries] is huge because any coach knows that you’re one injury away from having a catastrophic season,” varsity wrestling head coach Kenneth Jackson said. “Somebody big goes down, and that really hurts the program, so it’s of huge importance to keep our guys safe and competing.” Combative sports, such as wrestling, are expected to attract more injuries. However, sports such as baseball are impacted in the same fashion by injuries, even though they’re non-contact sports. The baseball team reached the state
NOVEMBER
tournament three years ago despite losing three starting pitchers within the first month of the season. Although they eventually lost in the state semifinals, had the team been at full strength, the result may have been different. “I would venture to say 90 percent of our injuries are going to be throwing-related so we’re primarily dealing with the throwing arm,” varsity baseball head coach John Dowling said. “One of the simplest and most effective things we push is to not throw for two months a year.” In the off-season, coaches lack substantial time to meet with their players to prevent injuries due to VHSL rules, vacations and other sports commitments. Every coach hopes to be able to have the entire team hit the ground running at the start of the season. This would require players to stay in shape during the off-season, but high school athletes are less likely to do so. “We do actually see quite a bit of muscle strains and a lot of soreness in the first week or two of the season, especially the younger kids who
aren’t expecting what they’re coming into,” head athletic trainer Michael Tierney said. Not every injury is preventable, but coaches work in sync with the school’s certified trainers to minimize the risks involved with their sports. Having available resources like the training staff is essential to maintaining athletes’ health throughout the season. “We utilize Mr. Tierney when we can,” Jackson said. “If we’re trying to prevent [a particular injury] he’ll give us some exercises to strengthen that area.” To accomplish the goals set out by the team, coaches must decide how to balance out each practice between injury prevention and actual training. As seen in the past, the loss of a couple of key players has the potential to derail an entire season. While preventing injuries contributes to the success of the team, the health of each individual is of far greater importance. “We want our kids to be healthy, and be able to play and have that opportunity to compete,” Dowling said. 39
Flashing back to fall sports Number of athletes on each fall sports team:
se
juniors
360 students
e
15%
fr
% n 32shme
%ors 9 1 ni
22
participated in fall sports during the 2016 season
CHEERLEADING
109 CROSS COUNTRY FOOTBALL 100 35 VOLLEYBALL DANCE 21
Fall sports teams practice for an average of
Volleyball
1
= ties
0
6
9
698 kills
this season from the varsity volleyball team
by the varsity field hockey goalies
16 touchdowns
18
9
2
12.3 hours per week
71 goalie saves
9
3
40
= losses
13
1 Football
= wins
(including regular season games, tournaments and playoff games)
5
Field Hockey
60
FIELD HOCKEY
sop34% homores
Records
13
GOLF
12
# of Games
15
18
this season from the varsity football team
18:02:00
school record set by Caroline Howley for the 3-mile cross country course SPORTS
Which fall sports event is McLean students’ favorite? FOOTBALL: 47% VOLLEYBALL: 40% FIELD HOCKEY: 7% = 10%
OTHER: 6%
based on a survey of 140 students
DANCE
All-Conference Teams
placed 1st at Universal Dance Association camp with their home routine
First Team
GOLF
Second Team
Maddie McArthur
placed 1st at the Atomic Classic with a score of 297, a school record McLean
CHEER
placed 4th in both Dominion and Brentsville invitational competitions MARCHING BAND won the
2016
Abbi Hobbs Natalie Luu Carter Govan Robert Konnick Gavin Legg
Grace Davis Sammie Ferris Caroline Lewis Cassidy Slavik Solomon Onyejekwe Matt Shaheen Adam Taylor
Honorable Mention Jack Kelly Amir McCormick McCord Meyers Camille Duffy
Ryan Nader William Salt Thomas Vacarro Heather Geisler
State Champions title Reporting & page design by Maren Kranking & Julia McElligott
NOVEMBER
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Athletes juggle club and school sports Students balance busy training schedules Jack Stenzel & Conor Zeya Reporters
A
long with the high school sports offered at McLean, the area also offers a variety of club teams. Some students try to find balance participating in both high school and club sports, while others find themselves prioritizing one over the other. Club teams, especially at the high school level, are becoming extremely competitive and time-consuming. It is through club teams such as McLean Travel Soccer or an AAU basketball team that many students can earn athletic scholarships, and these teams can have up to three practices a week. This kind of commitment eats up a lot of time. “High school [practice] is every day after school, so during the season it’s more timeconsuming,” senior Johan Ketkar said. Ketkar has played for both club and high school soccer teams for the past three years. “[The time commitment of playing for both teams] has really tested my time management, and...I get really tired. It’s hard to wake up sometimes,” Ketkar said. For student-athletes who are trying to play their sport in college, club teams give them greater opportunities for athletic college scholarships. “To me, for high school, fun is the primary purpose while club is more focused on getting recruited,” Ketkar said. “My club team has players that practice together all year and their focus is on development rather
than on winning.” Junior Carolyn BrownKaiser is part of a competitive club gymnastics team, along with the McLean varsity gymnastics team. “I usually prioritize club gymnastics over high school,” Brown-Kaiser said. “Club is overall more competitive than high school, but when it comes to regionals and states, high school gymnastics can also be extremely competitive Finding Balance — Junior Carolyn Brown-Kaiser and challenging.” performs a bar routine for the school team (left) Since starting high and her club team (right). When the seasons school, Brown-Kaiser has overlap, Brown-Kaiser has to manage her time noted that there are major well in order to participate in both. (Photos courtesy differences between club of Carolyn Brown-Kaiser) and high school gymnastics when it comes to resources and equipment. season is so short, some students prioritize “Club gymnastics allows you to compete their high school team if both seasons on a floor with springs underneath it, overlap. whereas the high school floor is only a thin “High school games I give the highest mat,” Brown-Kaiser said. “Competing on a priority because there’s only around 13 of floor without springs really limits the skills them,” Ketkar said. that high school gymnasts can perform After three years of playing both high in comparison to what they do in club school and club soccer, Ketkar will just be gymnastics.” playing high school this year. For most high school sports, the seasons “Overall, I wish I could keep playing are brief and only come once a year. Club both, but I am just playing high school teams, in contrast, often have practices and this year because I am not trying to play in games year-round. Because the high school college so my club career is winding down.”
Carolyn Brown-Kaiser’s Average Week of Gymnastics
5 HRS 6 HRS 3 HRS 42
16 HRS
Club Practice HS Practice HS Meets Club Meets Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Jack Stenzel & Conor Zeya
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s i v a D e c Gra
e u s s I e te of th
Athle
unior Grade: J hockey rsity field Sport: Va efender Center d : n io it s o P
What is your pre-game routine? As a team we think of three goals we want to accomplish during the game. I think of a goal for myself to achieve during the game—it helps me get focused and ready to play.
When did you start playing field hockey? I was in 4th grade living in Virginia Beach.
What do you do to keep in shape for the season?
Why did you start playing field hockey? One of my teachers in elementary school was a big field hockey player, she convinced me to play in a clinic. I loved it and I’ve been playing ever since. How has playing on varsity since freshman year helped you grow as a player? Playing with girls who had lots of experience really pushed me to get better and improve my skills so I could compete on their level. What do you love most about field hockey? I really love the camaraderie of playing on a team and the excitement I feel every time I step onto the field.
Accolades: NOVEMBER
I play on a club team in the off-season. I also participate in winter track and play lacrosse for McLean. Who is your favorite athlete? Michelle Vittese, she played for the U.S. Olympic field hockey team and was also my coach at a UVA field hockey clinic. She’s an incredible player. It’s exciting to watch her play. What is your most memorable moment from playing field hockey at McLean? My freshman year when we played Langley. I had never played in a Langley game before and didn’t understand how exciting and intense the games are.
e (2016), c n re fe n o -C ll First Team A rence (2015) fe n o -C ll A m a Reporting by Ed Walters Second Te
Page design by Bryan Chung Photo courtesy of Grace Davis
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Finish Line Reporting by Michael Redding
Kayla Eksteen Freshman Cross Country
Eli Alder Sophomore Football
What’s your favorite slang word?
Shoot
Alex Franco Junior Basketball
Liddy McCulla Senior Swimming
What’s your ideal winter vacation?
South Africa
Bro
In an isolated, Alaskan cabin
Boolin’
A winter resort
Sice
The Smokey Mountains
Who’s your favorite musical artist?
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
Ariana Grande
St. John Beach
EDEN
Maine
What are your favorite Future
The Bahamas
Pink Floyd
Lake Holiday Page design by Bryan Chung Photos by Imani McCormick & Jackson Payne
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SPORTS
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