volume 48, issue 5

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December 16, 2009 Walt whitman High school 7100 whittier boulevard Bethesda, maryland 20817 theblackandwhite.net

Inside Look Loss of

2 NEWS credit policy
UMD capping proposal
out-of-state students at
sparks much
30 % debate
7 OPINION
by JESSICA GELFARB and
JAMES DIONNE
Montgomery County union members,
teachers and administrators continue to

Pro/Con remain divided over proposed changes to

the current loss of credit policy, said Doug
Prouty, the president of the Montgomery
Decriminalization of County Education Association.
Marijuana The current policy is up for debate,
Prouty said, because it is implemented
inconsistently and unfairly punishes
minority students.
Creating a policy that will work

11 IN-DEPTH
throughout the county has been difficult,
said building MCEA representative Jenny
Students stroll among the outdoor lights at the Mormon Temple on a recent winter evening. Higgins, a guidance counselor. Students
have different issues with attendance.
Decade in review
Happy Holidays!
At some schools, students fail to turn in
notes excusing an absence, while at other
schools, students skip to gain an academic
advantage.
With holiday lights sparkling on trees and bushes across Bethesda, holiday “The problems that face some students
cheer abounds. Students are partaking in all kinds of seasonal activities from in our county regarding attendance may
performances to charitable events to family celebrations. Check out page 14 for a not be issues students at Whitman can
new take on a gift guide and then head over to page 15 for some holiday recipes relate to,” Higgins said. “We need an
LC policy comprehensive enough for the

20 FEATURE
that you probably haven’t tasted before.
entire county.”

“
Statistics show that a disproportionate

Administration cracks
number of Latino students, impoverished
students and special ed students lose
A lot of time credit as a result of the current policy.

down on sharing accounts

people don’t find “They end up losing credit a lot more
than other students and it’s not because
their niche in what they’re absent more often,” Prouty said.
they want to do in “That’s a huge problem.”
life, and it’s great By Jessica Gelfarb Thomas automatically suspends
Principal Alan Goodwin also noted
that the current policy is flawed because

”
knowing that I can the accounts of any students he catches it places the burden of monitoring
bring that out in Using a friend’s computer account to sharing accounts for a week and requires attendance on teachers, who must
them. type an e-mail or print a paper is no longer them to serve one detention. generate warning letters for students
a negligible offense. Within the first While Thomas always used to send with three unexcused absences and follow
-Steve Sutherland three months of school, IT specialist Greg teachers e-mails with the names and ID through with loss of credit after they have
LFI teacher Thomas suspended approximately 65 numbers of students with suspended

22 ARTS
five. Most union members agree that if
student network accounts as punishment accounts, he now includes the students’ the burden of disciplinary action isn’t
for sharing. school picture. placed on the teacher, they would support
New software like SynchronEyes “Because there were a large number of changing the LC policy, Prouty said.
Meet the Whitman Idols! allows staff members in computer labs to students sharing accounts, we realized it The Loss of Credit Project Team, an
see a small picture of a student’s computer would be impossible for teachers to glance MCPS work group, is addressing these
screen and the account each computer is at a list of names and realize if any of them concerns. Their proposed policy revision
logged into. This feature makes it easy were their students,” he said. includes consequences for skipping class,
to identify whether two computers are Students say that the repercussions ranging from a teacher conference to a
logged onto the same account. for account sharing are too severe. Some detention. Under the proposal, students
can be denied the opportunity to make up
see ACCOUNTS page 3 missed work at the teacher’s discretion.
Teachers must base their decisions on

SGA to raise funds for leukemia and lymphoma

a process approved by their individual
principal. No student will ever lose credit
only for missing classes.
Prouty thinks that such a policy
by ryan hauck change would discourage students from
dropping courses that they are struggling
with.
This February, when the school and SGA gear up for the “I would think students would be
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “High School Challenge,” more likely to continue working in a
no one will be more enthusiastic than freshman Tim King. course which is troubling and in which
King, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia they have a few absences’,” he said.
at the age of eight, has been selected as the first ever “High School “They would know there is a possibility
Hero” for the event. of getting credit for the course.”
“They’re using my story to give people a general idea of what Though the proposal addresses some
leukemia is like and build up sympathy,” says King, who is also concerns, it opens the door to new
among many students nationwide whose stories are profiled on problems. Goodwin points out that if
the society’s website. students are free to miss classes without
Along with Pennies for Patients, Battle of the Beards, and losing credit, they will likely be more
the new addition of a guy auction, the High School Challenge inclined to skip class, and adds that
will probably include King addressing the student body, SGA enforcement of the policy could become
president Aaron Schifrin says. inconsistent among teachers.
“We’re just going to go all out this year,” Schifrin says. “We “Some teachers may elect not to hurt
have several new fundraisers which I think are very unique.” a student,” Goodwin said. “Is that awful?
The High School Challenge consists of local schools In some ways, yes, because some teachers
competing to see who can raise the most awareness and money may decide that they want to be lenient
to combat leukemia. The winning school receives a party pack Freshman Tim King is currently battling leukemia and was selected by
the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for the “High School Challenge.” and some may not.”
at the end of the year that includes pizza, a visit from HOT 99.5 The school’s other union
DJ Sami and $200 worth of Best Buy gift cards. representative, social studies teacher
“Past students have said that not only do they feel like leadership skills,” says Erin Walker, the campaign manager for
LLS’s School & Youth program. Courtney Osborne, is concerned that the
they are doing something that makes a direct impact in their new policy will be inconsistent because
community, but they also are building a resume of tangible Walker says that King was selected because of his

see FUNDS page 17 see LC POLICY page 2

2 news december 16, 2009

UMD defying
trend, capping
out-of-state admits
Crazy lines on Bradley cause
In-state students to continue to
confusion, concern among drivers make up 70 percent of student body
By Stephanie Haven said they find the skihawkedy lines humorous, By Nikhil Gupta
while other residents protest that they could be
People driving down a repaved Bradley hazardous. University of Maryland Director of Undergraduate
Boulevard may be relieved by the absence of “It looks like a small child squiggling in a Admissions Shannon Gundy has vowed to keep out-of-
construction workers and traffic. But there’s still coloring book, learning how to use crayons for the state student enrollment capped at 30 percent, against
one remaining problem: squiggly traffic lines. first time,” sophomore Naomi Stoll said. “Especially the growing trend of state schools increasing out-of-state
Something that vaguely resembles the classic in an area with so many teenage drivers, the state enrollment in an effort to raise tuition revenue.
double yellow lines twist and turn along Bradley has a responsibility to fix the lines before we have State colleges have always charged higher tuition
Blvd right before Fernwood Road, confusing and any deadly accidents.” for out-of-state students than in-state students, but the
amusing drivers. Some more experienced drivers said they felt gap has recently grown larger. Penn State, for example,
But don’t worry; the twisting lines aren’t the lines were more humorous than dangerous. charges $13,604 for state residents but over $25,000 for
permanent. “We almost pay more attention to the lines now students who live outside of Pennsylvania, according to
Construction workers typically don’t apply than we did before just to see where the lines will the Princeton Review.
temporary tape with as much care as when they weave, but, it’s just a cosmetic thing,” parent Jeffery The percentage of out-of-state students on college
apply permanent paint, said Kellie Boulware, State Trauberman said. “It didn’t look significant enough campuses has increased steadily over the last two
Highway Administration spokesperson. It’s possible to affect safety.” years. Since 2007, out-of-state student enrollment
that the lines either didn’t stick to the road properly Construction workers will fix the caddywompus has increased three percent at the College of William
or that a malfunction with the machine created air lines by the end of 2009 when they finish resurfacing and Mary, six percent at the University of Washington
between the road and the tape which caused the Bradley Blvd. and University of Iowa and nine percent at Penn State,
lines to move from their original position. “The lines you see now are only there as a according to the Washington Post.
“It can be tricky sometimes,” media spokesperson marker so that people are more familiar with the While this new admissions trend may be unfair to
Kim Frum said. “[The tape] may have shifted.” paint,” she said. “It’s not something that will be in-state students, senior Noah Gavil can sympathize
The lines have turned into more of a joke than a there long term.”  with the colleges.
guide for where to drive on the road. Many travelers “They’ve got to do what they’ve got to do to uphold
a certain level of education,” he said. “Sometimes that
photo by JENNY BALDWIN means bringing in the students that will provide the
largest amount of revenue.”
While most state colleges have followed this general
trend, the University of Maryland is one of the few that
Neighbors campaign for stoplight at River has vowed to maintain consistent in-state acceptance
rates. Despite the recession, the University’s Board of

and Braeburn intersection, cite accidents Regents has upheld its mandate that at least 70 percent
of the student body each year be Maryland residents.
Gundy explained that the school is making both staff
By James Dionne improved,” Boltuck said. and program cuts in light of declining funds, but that it
Boltuck has been involved in attempts to install won’t compromise in-state enrollment.
Students have struggled to drive across River Road a traffic light for two years. One of his most pressing “I can understand where other universities are
and turn into the back entrance of the school during concerns is the high number of student drivers crossing coming from,” she said. “It’s a quick source of revenue.
rush hour for years. Residents of the Bannockburn the intersection on their way to school. But as a state institution, you have to remember where
neighborhood have campaigned to install a traffic light “There are numerous student drivers because it’s your priorities lie. Our priority is not to generate the most
at the intersection of Braeburn Pkwy and River Rd. for near Whitman’s back entrance,” he said. “It’s too much revenue; our main responsibility is to serve the residents
15 years. to expect perfect judgment from everyone.” of the state of Maryland.” 
The Maryland State Highway Administration has Junior Ned Daryoush fell victim to the dangers of
repeatedly denied requests for a light at the intersection. the intersection earlier this year, totaling his car crossing

IT personnel
After a petition and numerous complaints, the SHA the intersection.
conducted a traffic analysis in March, 2008 and found “I would be so happy if they installed a light there,”
that the installation of a light isn’t warranted. he said. “It would make my—as well as many other
However, former Whitman parent Richard Boltuck kids’—commute to school a whole lot easier. Right now
said the study was faulty. In an e-mail to Whitnet Nov.
15, he claimed that several accidents that occurred at the
intersection were left out of the final report.  
there’s a huge problem with that intersection because
there’s so much chaos.”
Parent Debbie Flack thinks that the light could be a
suspend accounts
A variety of factors—ranging from locations of nearby
traffic signals to intersection design— affect the SHA’s
decision to install a light , said Charlie Gischlar of the
traffic hazard.
“I’m worried about it,” she said. “It would make River
very stop and go, especially because it’s a main artery.”
after students share
SHA Office of Communications.
Because of the SHA traffic analysis, the intersection
will remain without a light. But proponents say they will
But Educational Facilities Officer Arnold Aubrey
thinks that a light would be beneficial, and wouldn’t
cause traffic problems.
passwords
continue to advocate for one. “A light could be timed so there wouldn’t be a large
“It has been a community consensus for over a build-up,” he said. “I don’t think it would be that much
decade that the safety of the intersection must be of a problem.” 

23 out of 25 principals support LC proposal

continued from page 1
continued from page 1
pictures of students with suspended accounts,
it allows each school to decide can miss 10 classes before losing Despite some uncertainty, arguing that it’s extreme.
how they want to deal with attendance credit. Whether or not the absence is the new policy is gaining support, Goodwin said the issue is “worth talking about.”
and enforce the policy. excused or unexcused is irrelevant. Goodwin said. At a recent MCPS Because individuals are responsible for all activities
“The whole reason they want to Prouty said a similar policy would be principals conference 23 out of 25 that occur on their accounts, students need to understand
revamp the program is because it’s unfair to students who miss class for principals supported most aspects that sharing accounts can potentially have serious
inconsistent,” Osborne said. “Now legitimate reasons. of the proposed policy, he said. consequences, Thomas said. Administrators initially
you’re going to have every single “If you have the number 10 and Goodwin attributes this support to accused two students of participating in computer
school applying it differently? It’s a someone is sick and has to miss the fact that the evolving policy now -related offenses that other people using their accounts
nightmare.” three weeks of school, I don’t think allows for an academic penalty if a actually committed. One student created a sub-folder
Other counties have successfully it’s appropriate for someone to lose student skips class. with an offensive label.
employed other, more uniform LC credit because of an illness,” Prouty “It’s a step in the right direction,” “You can say you didn’t do it, but it’s just like
policies. In Frederick, students said. he said.  anything else,” Thomas said. “The administration is
going to go on the evidence.”
Sophomore Casey Paul recently served detention for
account sharing. He said the consequences for the act
are often too severe, particularly if the student’s intent
is “academic and not malicious.”
Students are typically sharing accounts for academic
purposes, Social Studies teacher Marisa Del Savio said.
“There are so many kids sharing accounts, and
they’re nice kids,” Del Savio said. “The problem is that
people aren’t able to access their accounts when they
need to. That’s what should be fixed.”
Regardless of whether or not account sharing
warrants serious consequences, Goodwin said that
learning to keep personal accounts private is an
important life skill. 
December 16, 2009 news 3

Ginolfi poses to benefit breast cancer research

By Ryan Hauck pictures originally spurred him to join the event, but that has anything to do with a giving a girl money for
said he was impressed when he learned about Ginolfi’s her looks.”
When the average student ogles an image of a plan. Despite her disagreements with Campus Girls USA,
scantily-clad model, he’s probably not too concerned “It’s very noble of her and breaks the stereotype of Ginolfi doesn’t regret her work with the group, especially
about the model’s alma mater. what any other girl from any other state would do with after receiving positive feedback from breast cancer
That may change for students now that Caroline the money,” he said. survivors.
Ginolfi (‘08) came in second in Campus Girl’s Hottest Sophomore Xavier Zaim, however, says that while “People keep coming up to me telling me stories
Campus Girl Contest. donating one’s winnings to charity is an honorable of friends and family members and how they really
Campus Girls USA, founded in 2006, publishes endeavor, participating in a program like Campus appreciate what I’m doing,” she said. “It’s really
annual calendars featuring provocatively posed pictures Girls objectifies women, whether or not there’s a rewarding to hear all their stories and that I really am
of the most attractive girls in various collegiate competition. making a difference in people’s lives.”
conferences. Additional photos of the women “Regardless of whether Ginolfi’s mother, Susan, said she was proud of her
appear on the organization’s website. The or not she’s in it for money, daughter for fighting for breast cancer, but agrees that
organization claims to give 100 percent of doing something where you monetary rewards for good looks is inappropriate.
the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast expose yourself like that is just “I was glad that she participated in it,” she says. “At
Cancer Foundation. However, wrong,” Zaim said. this point I’m disappointed because of the $1,000 they’re
this year the company Toward the end of Ginolfi’s giving out to someone to win the hottest college girl. I
announced that it campaign, another Campus don’t think that’s right.”
would also award Girls participant, Madison Ginolfi’s brother, sophomore
$1,000 to the model Hart from West Virginia Dan, declared his support for his
voted the “hottest” by University, announced that she too would donate sister, despite the ridicule he
the site’s visitors. the winnings to breast cancer research. sometimes has to put up with
Ginolfi was selected “The other girls said she would have West from other students.
to take part in the Virginia University match the donation,” “Some guys come up to me
campaign last April Ginolfi said. “The only thing that matters is and joke around about how hot
after applying online the that if she wins or I win, the money goes to they think she is,” Dan said. “It
previous fall, but she said breast cancer.” gets kind of old after a while, but
that they never informed Campus Girls USA claims that the I can deal with it.”
her she that she would be addition of a contest was necessary in order Caroline said she hopes
entering a competition. to cut down on costs. that her participation will
“It was involuntary; “One facet of our business is change the way Whitman
they didn’t tell us,” Ginolfi finding models and to do so requires students look at swimsuit
said. “I never signed up to advertising which costs money – a lot models.
be in a beauty contest.” of it,” a company spokesperson said. “I know that there’s a
In response, Ginolfi stigma attached to girls who
created an event on Facebook “By integrating Facebook on our website would pose in a bikini for
denouncing the organizers of and putting on the current competition, we are using it a calendar,” she said.
Campus Girls and encouraging as a viral way to spread the word about Campus Girls “I know it sounds
people to vote for her, saying that should she win the USA and find new applicants. This in turn will save us kind of silly, but if I
$1,000 prize, she would donate all the prize money to far more than we would have spent if we solely relied can wear a bikini to
cancer research. on advertising and allow us in the end to donate more help breast cancer
“I want [the money] to go to breast cancer,” she money to breast cancer research.” and help these
said. “I don’t want it to just go to some girl who’s going Ginolfi rejects the company’s explanation, arguing women who have been
to spend it on shoes.” that if their intention was truly to save money, they struggling and fighting
Eventually the group grew to have more than wouldn’t be handing out a $1,000 prize. this awful disease,
3,000 members, including dozens of current Whitman “I told them that I didn’t think it was right, and they I will absolutely do
students. told me it was because they were trying to save money that.” 
photos courtesy CAMPUS GIRLS
Junior Mikey Stevens admitted that the enticing for advertising,” she said. “I still don’t understand how

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4 news december 16, 2009

T-Mobile lobbies to install cell tower on edge of

baseball field, would pay $2000 a month to MCPS
By Alex Zimmermann could cause serious health effects, citing
a variety of past studies and personal
Students with T-Mobile cell phones experiences. One parent described a
may soon receive a signal boost. The friend who got a brain tumor, claiming it Simulation of T-Mobile tower
company is lobbying to install a new was due to radio frequency exposure.
cellular antenna, which would sit atop a Approximately 45 to 50 parents
new light pole towering 120 feet over the attended the meeting, PTSA co-president
school baseball field. Vicky Strella said. One parent worried
T-Mobile proposed plans for the new that students would climb up the tower.
tower at a PTSA meeting Nov. 17, claiming Another stated that her children won’t
that it would improve the inconsistent attend Whitman if the tower is built,
coverage in and around the school. adding that they moved here because
“This area has been a spotty wireless there weren’t cell towers at the time.
area since wireless was built out here in T-Mobile representatives dismissed
the mid-90s,” T-Mobile consultant Sean most claims of the potential health risks.
Hughes said. “It’s not reliable. As we use The waves emitted by the radio tower
our phones more and more every day we would expose people on the ground to
have to be closer and closer to get service. less radio frequency than baby monitors,
This could be a great option.” wireless routers or cell phones themselves,
T-Mobile would pay a $2,000 rental said Matt Butcher of SiteSafe, a company
fee per month, which would be split specializing in radio frequency wave
evenly among Whitman, the elementary analysis. Current scientific estimates
school cluster and MCPS. Similar indicate the potential radio frequency
financial arrangements exist with cell exposure is less than one tenth of 1 percent
service companies at other area schools of the maximum exposure allowed by the
including Sherwood, Blake, Springbrook FDA, Butcher said.
and Blair. Company representatives also stressed
If the company builds the tower, they the difference between radio frequency
could offer other cell phone companies emission from cell phones and that from graphic by JACOB RASCH
the opportunity to “co-locate” antennas cell antennas.
inside the pole. Clients of other providers “I haven’t seen any [studies] that
could also then receive a signal boost in found any relationship between distance “The [radio frequency] powers are very Goodwin allowed T-Mobile
the middle of a well-known service dead from antennas and increased risk of low, so let’s look at all the resources.” representatives to visit the property and
spot. health effects,” Butcher said. Although Goodwin publicly supported hold a community forum at the PTSA
“Certainly there are dead spots in the Faced with parents shouting the tower proposal before the PTSA meeting. The final decision will be subject
area surrounding Wilson Lane, Whittier references to a variety of studies that meeting, he says he will remain neutral to the approval of the Montgomery
Boulevard and River Road,” principal linked radio frequency waves to health on the matter. County Tower Review Committee and
Alan Goodwin said. “These are things consequences, T-Mobile representatives “I am still confused by the situation,” superintendent Jerry Weast.
that I’ve heard ever since I’ve been in this questioned the validity and relevance of Goodwin said. “I removed [the message The PTSA’s powers are restricted
community.” the studies. of support for the tower on the school to drafting a resolution expressing the
However, community members “I would caution that if there are going website] to make the discussion more community’s general opinion, as the Pyle
have expressed their concerns about the to be assertions that it’s unsafe, both sides of a public discussion than a school PTSA did when a similar proposal was
tower, arguing that radio frequency waves provide reputable sources,” Hughes said. discussion.” debated in 2005. 

Bethesda ES Howard County

students may takes the lead
have to transfer banning tanning beds
to Bradley Hills for minors
by jamie norwood

New district divisions As second semester approaches and the days get
colder, students will do just about anything to hold onto
would redirect the a glimmer of summer.
But don’t rely on tanning salons to maintain that
few students who go summer glow this holiday season; multiple Maryland
counties have recently banned tanning beds for minors
to Pyle from Bethesda or are in the process of doing so.
Howard County’s Nov. 10 restriction on tanning beds
is the first ban of its kind in the nation.
By Sahil Ansari “Teenagers are much more likely to burn with indoor
tanning,” Howard County board of Health officer Dr.
Some Bethesda Elementary Peter Bielenson said in a Baltimore TV interview. “And
students may have to transfer to burns, particularly at a young age, are clearly correlated
Bradley Hills Elementary in the near with developing melanoma and other skin cancers later
future as a result of an upcoming in life.”
examination of MCPS boundary Because this type of ban has been relatively unheard
lines. New district divisions may of, pediatricians and other health officials are pleasantly
force some students who live in the surprised.
Bethesda Elementary district to graphic by SHIN DUK SEO
“[Tanning beds] are dangerous,” says Hillary
transfer to Bradley Hills Elementary Deutsch, a pediatrician at Bethesda Pediatrics. “They
as a result of overcrowding. perpetuate the idea that having darker skin is what’s
Currently, the majority of Some students may have to transfer from Bethesda Elementary to Bradley Hills, due cool, and a lot of teenagers don’t look down the road at
students who attend Bethesda to new district divisions. Shown above is the area subject to boundary review on the terrible effects tanning will have on their skin.”
Elementary go to Westland Middle Dec. 15 when parent representatives from the two schools will meet to discuss the Adrienne Mac, an employee at Hollywood Tans in
School and then Bethesda Chevy- matter. Bethesda disagrees with Deutsch and is appalled by
Chase High School. Only a small the ban.
number of students who live in the One benefit of the proposed among the PTA. “I t ’ s r e a l l y b l o w n o u t o f p r o p o r t i o n , ” h e
westernmost segment of the district change is an easier transition to Some parents are concerned that says. “Tanning doesn’t do anything wrong
attend Pyle and then Whitman. Pyle for some students. A few of the the change may only affect students for you. All that UV stuff really isn’t a big deal. I
On Dec. 15, parent representatives Bethesda Elementary graduates, who who have not yet begun elementary go tanning all the time and I don’t have cancer.”
from Bethesda Elementary and attended Pyle instead of Westland, school, which could split families In fact, tanning beds expose tanners to much stronger
Bradley Hills Elementary will meet about 20 out of 400, found that the up among different schools, Brown UV rays than the sun does. The American Cancer society
to discuss possible transfers, which transition was difficult when most said. says that no one under 18 should be exposed to those
will alleviate the problems posed by of their peers went to a different Chiyo Kobayashi, the mother of levels of UV rays.
large class sizes. They will then send a middle school. three children who attended Bethesda Junior Catherine Block occasionally spray tans
report to Superintendent Jerry Weast “It would have been nice to have Elementary then Pyle, will have her or goes to tanning beds for special events and thinks
in February and reconvene to further known the Bradley Hills kids earlier son starting elementary school next Howard County’s new ban is unnecessary.
discuss new boundaries in March, because it was harder to break into year. She says she wouldn’t mind if “If minors’ parents let them tan they should be
according to Bruce Crispell, MCPS groups of friends,” junior Leo Doran he attended Bradley Hills instead of allowed to,” she says. “And I don’t think teenagers even
director of long-range planning. said. “This way you would be going Bethesda Elementary, even though need parental consent. You don’t ask your parents if
“It’s a very long process with in with a familiar group of people the latter is in walking distance from you can go out in the sun, so why ask them if it’s okay
a lot of community involvement,” instead of going to a completely her house. to go tanning?”
Crispell said. new school where you don’t know “I’ve heard Bradley Hills is Although Block disagrees with the ban, she still
If the parent representatives and anybody.” excellent, and my three kids say BE acknowledges how dangerous tanning can be.
Weast agree on a change, students Bethesda Elementary PTA is fantastic,” Kobayashi said. “Both “Just from my experience with tanning beds my skin
affected would begin attending president Patricia Brown said that are great schools.”  is already slightly damaged,” she says. “My friends who
Bradley Hills Elementary in 2013. at this point there is no consensus go tanning have white spots all over their bodies.”
december 16, 2009 news 5

Fourteen area Catholic schools may close

due to financial and organizational issues
Tuition, demographic shift likely reasons for lower enrollment
SARAH KLOTZ
By Nikhil Gupta
Why the schools are closing:
photo by

Fourteen private Catholic schools

in the area may have to close by the
end of the year if they can’t come
l loss of government vouchers Algebra II class
up with a solution to financial and
organizational concerns.
l increasing cost of running
schools
splits mid-semester
All 14 schools are part of the By Rachel Lerner
Archdiocese of Washington, a
chapter of the Roman Catholic
l aging and expensive
Church that runs 96 Catholic school buildings To help alleviate classroom overcrowding,
administrators split students in Bonnie Duvall’s
schools in Washington and
Maryland in addition to l high tuition rates sixth period Algebra II class into two separate
sections Nov. 30.
churches and social
service programs.
l fewer benefactors Administrators implemented this rare mid-
Although the semester split to balance classes after a number
archdiocese schools these schools have agreed to hold of students dropped down from honors Algebra II
immigrant into regular Algebra II, assistant principal Jennifer
boast 23 Blue Ribbon population meetings to review their assets and
Awards and a 99 percent discuss their future plans. While Webster said.
doesn’t have “I had students who asked if they could switch
college acceptance rate, the culture the St. Hugh of Grenoble School
they have faced declining in Greenbelt already decided Dec. down, and I would have to say no because I didn’t
of Catholic have enough room for them,” Webster said.
enrollment and other s c h o o l s 4 that it would close at the end of
organizational issues over the the year, most likely merging with She said that administrators aim to keep on-level
and Catholic classes capped at 28 students, and the new class
past few years. education,” she St. Joseph’s School in Beltsville,
The chapter tried to combat Dempsey explained that most of the provides for a better teacher-to-student ratio.
said. Students with last names beginning with A
the recession by renewing its P r o b l e m s schools will not decide until later
large tuition assistance fund, this year. through P stayed in Duvall’s sixth period class while
surfaced in October, students with last names beginning with Q through Z
which provided students with $4 2007 when the Archbishop “It’s about examining finances
million in financial aid this year. and searching for solutions,” she switched into math teacher Anne Chiasson’s newly-
o f Washington organized a created fifth period class.
However, while the recent economic community meeting, recognizing said. “Not all of these schools are
recession has exacerbated the issue going to close. It’s to get ahead of “I liked the excitement of switching lunches and
the need for some sort of solution. having a new teacher, although I’m going to miss Ms.
of enrollment, the problem existed Participants concluded that the the game.”
long before then. Dempsey said that she hopes all Duvall,” junior Becky Schwartz said.
educational structure and policy of Duvall said that she is able to give more personal
Kathy Dempsey, assistant the archdiocese was inefficient and of the schools in the archdiocese will
director of communications for the eventually hold annual meetings in attention to each of her students in her new class.
needed to be reexamined. “Before, in such a large class, I wasn’t able to
archdiocese, attributes the growing That same year, the archdiocese order to assess funds and inform the
enrollment problem to an increasing school community. really check everyone’s homework and make sure
closed seven of their Catholic schools, they were doing it right,” she said. “Now I can.”
lack of interest in a traditional converting them to DC public charter “[These meetings] will strengthen
Catholic school education. Another and enhance Catholic schools in Sophomore Charlie Hedges, who is still in
schools. The troubles continued last Duvall’s sixth period said the split has helped him
large factor is a local demographic year when the archdiocese closed the future,” she said. “Catholic
shift. schools may look very different later learn more effectively.
down two more schools in southern “I like having a smaller class,” he said. “It is
“A large part of new residents in Maryland. down the line, but they’re not going
the area are immigrants, and the new This year, officials from 14 of anywhere. I can tell you that.”  easier to focus and ask questions.” 

YOU’LL GET KICKED

OUT OF CLASS.
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University … straight into one of Virginia’s best internship programs.
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6 opinion december 16, 2009

Gray Area: A, B, Zzzzzzzzz Letter to the

by Rachel Nussbaum

The other day, I spent a good five

diabetes and depression.
To use some street slang, no duh.
From all the late nights I’ve pulled,
Editor
to 10 minutes giggling over a pun I put which aren’t nearly as cool as they sound
into an English presentation. In class, right there, I’ve learned a thing or two. I would like to clarify some of the
no one laughed. One, sugar is definitely useful. statements made in Jessica Littman’s
Yes, times are tough in the life of Nothing gets that physics lab finished article in the B&W dated 11.17 regarding
this junior, and it turns out, eleventh like Cookie Crisps cereal and Swiss Miss “Retake Policies.” I want to assure the
grade isn’t conducive to sleep. I know, straight from the packet. Whitman community and our students
who would’ve guessed? Sure, some may say that this will that the Math Department here at
Well, it seems like a lot of people. lead to obesity and a diabetes-caused Whitman is in full compliance with the
Last year I didn’t realize that the most untimely demise. But see, this brings me
sleep I would get in a night is six hours. to my second piece of wisdom. county’s Grading and Reporting Policy
Despite this, I’m still expected to act Here’s a hint. It’s a-parta-me (I (G&R)—our individual course teams
like a fully functioning person, handling know that’s pretty lame, but please, see determine what their grading systems will
tests and quizzes and contact lenses the first paragraph. Puns are all that play. be, what their course expectations are,
with ease. get me by.) But anyways, aspartame looked like etc., as stipulated in the policy.
The entire situation is crazy, just like That’s right: aspartame! The little a great solution to the sleep deficiency While it might be possible for some
my eyes now make me look. I’m avoiding lifesaver that keeps my jean size from problem that seems to plague half the departments to develop a consistent
the child development classroom for the increasing with my hours spent awake. student body. Then, out of morbid department-wide set of policies regarding
children’s sake. Aspartame is basically a sugar curiosity, I Googled the side effects of reassessments, I have never pushed my
The recommended number of hours substitute, the difference between the the sugar-replacement. Hmm. As I was department in that direction because the
of sleep per night is eight and a half, regular and Diet Coke that I chug before browsing the extensive list, a few like G&R policy doesn’t mandate department-
according to the Center for Disease 9:00 AM. Without it, I’d probably turn nausea, hives and personality changes wide reassessment policies, it allows
Control’s website. Like I said before, to “5 Hour Energy” for my caffeine fix, popped out at me.
And then, irony of all ironies, trouble individual course teams to make their
I usually get five to six, depending on a pepper-upper that carries an insanely
how spiteful my teachers are feeling that low calorie count…and extreme jitters, with contact lenses. own decisions.
day. While researching, I learned that followed by a crash that makes Evil Now I see where the depression We notify our students on day 1 of
insufficient sleep could lead to obesity, Knievel’s Vegas stunt look like child’s comes from.  each semester what our grading systems
and reassessment policies are, so there’s
no truth in the statement that there’s
confusion and unfairness with that

Allow students to use iPods in library notification process—students know

the score from day 1, it’s in our written
classroom guidelines.
The article also gives the mistaken
by Jessica Littman in, they can’t hear impression that these policies can change
the teacher. Teachers within the school year depending on the
Students sit scattered around tables might also argue that course team’s whim, but that just isn’t
and in front of computers in the library, the music distracts true—course team decisions are in effect
nodding their heads to music as they them from their for the entire school year. It is true that
study silently. work even when the decisions within a course team might
What’s wrong with this picture? teacher isn’t talking change from one school year to another,
Nothing. Students should be allowed to to the class. But in the but that’s because we math people don’t
use their personal music players in the library it’s up to the always teach the same courses from
library, as long as they keep the volume students to determine one year to the next, and to expect that
low and don’t disturb others. how they want to new teachers on a course team should
Students aren’t allowed to listen to study. Whether be bound by the previous course team’s
personal music players in the library administrators think policies isn’t fair to the new teachers on
because the administration treats the that students should that team.
library like a classroom, applying the listen to music while If we feel that our reassessment
same rules and restrictions, says media they study or not policies aren’t as effective as we would
specialist Ginny Trulio. But the library shouldn’t matter. like them to be during one school year,
isn’t like other classrooms; it’s a place Walk into the we are not allowed to change/modify
for students to study independently. If library during lunch those reassessment policies for the
they don’t have to listen to an instructor or after school, and photo by JESSICA LITTMAN current school year, but we can change
or collaborate with other students, then you’ll see several them the following year to try a different
there’s nothing wrong with students students discreetly reassessment model. We are given that
silently listening to music while they listening to their personal music players. Listening to music can sharpen attention latitude in the G&R policy, and we are
study individually. Students often break the restrictions on and retention skills, according to a study constantly trying to come up with grading
When classes are working in the headphone use, and other students say by Stanford University researchers who systems and reassessment policies that
library, it should be up to the teacher’s that this doesn’t disrupt their studying. concluded that listening to music helps are fair to our students and are not a
discretion whether students can use No one plays music too loudly, says development of reading skills. burden to us teachers, even those of us
headphones or not. But when students junior Ryan Slayen, who often studies Restricting students from listening who have been teaching for 30+ years.
are studying on their own, they should in the library during lunch or after to music in the library doesn’t help Different course teams can come
be able to use their own studying school. anyone, and it hurts the students who up with different grading/reassessment
strategies, which often include listening Many students like to listen to music benefit from listening to music while systems, but that doesn’t make them
to music. while they study because the ambient they study. For those who feel that wrong, confusing or unfair, just different.
The rule against music players noise helps them to concentrate. they need music to work, the library 
in classrooms makes sense, because Sophomore Annie Russell says the isn’t a place where they can study most Russ Rushton, Math RT
if students have their headphones ambient noise helps her to focus. effectively.  Whitman HS

Volume 48, Issue 5

2009-2010
The Black & White is published 10 times a year by the students of Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817. The Black & White is an open forum for student views. Subscriptions for the
2009-2010 school year include the Black & White and The Spectator. Pick-up subscriptions cost $20 and mail subscriptions cost $25. The newspaper aims to both inform and entertain. The editorial board establishes
Black & White policy.
Unsigned editorials convey the opinion of the Black & White editorial board. Signed opinion pieces reflect the positions of the individual staff. Opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Walt Whit-
man High School (WWHS) or Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
The Black & White encourages readers to submit opinions on relevant topics in the form of letters to the editor. Letters must be signed to be printed, though names will be withheld upon request. The Black &
White reserves the right to edit letters for content and space. Letters to the editor may be placed in the Black & White mailbox in the main office or the editor’s mailbox in room B211, or may be emailed to 2010black-
andwhiteprint@gmail.com.
All content in the paper is reviewed to ensure that it meets the highest levels of legal and ethical standards with respect to material that is libelous, obscene or invasive of privacy. Accuracy is of utmost importance
to the Black & White staff. The address of the Black & White Online Edition is <www.theblackandwhite.net>. The online edition contact is 2010blackandwhiteonline@gmail.com.
Recent awards include the 2008, 2005, 2004 NSPA Pacemaker Online Award Finalist; 2002 NSPA Pacemaker Award; CSPA 2008 Silver Crown; CPSA 2005, 2008 Gold Medalist Award; Quill & Scroll George H. Gallup
Award 2000-2008; 2005, 2004 NSPA All-American Award, 2004 MSPA/Washington Post Advisor of the Year Award.
PRINT EDITION ONLINE EDITION
Editor-in-Chief Sarah Craig In-Depth Writers Rebecca Andrasko Online Editor-in-Chief Surbhi Agrawal
Managing Editor Victoria Scordato Carolina Millan-Ronchetti Online Managing Editors Jenny Baldwin
Writing Coach Chelsea Lo Julia Weingardt Eleanor Katz
Copy Chief Megan Dwyer Andrew Wyner Webmaster Ted Knox
Production & Design Directors Maria Valatkaite Feature Writers Sahil Ansari Online Copy Editor Megan Dwyer
Shinduk Seo Jamie Norwood Online Daily Editor Leah Harburg
News Editors Carolyn Heiman Zach Schloss Online News Writers Alex Zimmerman
Dale Zhou Hailey Siller Stephanie Haven
Opinion Editor Mike Bernhard Nalini Tatata Online Feature Writer Rachel Nussbaum
In-Depth Editors Danielle Bloch Arts Writers Kristin Baglien Online Opinion Writer Alana Neuman
Susan Russell Ryan Hauck Online Arts Writers Julia Dane
Feature Editors Caroline Kahlenberg Adam Glazer Parissa Jaseb
Ellie Golightly Production Assistants Marina Booth Fashion Lindsey Galego
Q&A Editor Richard Scordato Neill Robertson Health Shayna Barbash
Arts Editors Yasmeen Abutaleb Photo Director Sarah Klotz Film Shahana Lal
Nina Slesinger Assistant Photo Director Sara Allen Music Tim Klepp
Ombudsman Sarah Houston Graphics Director Elena Toumayan Tech/Media John Son
News Writers James Dionne Graphic Artists Keegan Barber Politics Beatriz Forster
Jessica Gelfarb Business Manager Hidemi Omori Arts and Entertainment Ollie Tell
Nikhil Gupta Business Assistants Emily Aronson Online News Link Leah Jennings
Rachel Lerner Caitlin DePorter
Opinion Writers Kevin Hoogstraten Kevin Rudd Advisor Louise Reynolds
Molly Kaplowitz Ad Manager Caroline Bartholomew Assistant Advisor Prudence Crewdson
Jessica Littman Public Relations Nikkita Sarna
Stewart Longsworth
december 16, 2009 opinion 7

PRO CON by Kevin Hoogstraten

by jessica littman
Marijuana has been in the news
The subject of decriminalizing a lot lately. America’s first marijuana
marijuana prompts people to roll their café, where individuals with Oregon
eyes and dismiss the idea as an unrealistic medical marijuana cards can smoke
pipe dream of potheads. But during a weed for $25 a month, recently opened
time when the government should be in Portland, and an October Gallup poll
jumping at the chance to save money found that 44 percent of Americans
by reducing law enforcement costs, favor legalization of marijuana for
marijuana decriminalization is becoming general use. A larger percentage of
a legitimate possibility. Americans support decriminalizing
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder marijuana. Decriminalization would
recently announced that federal make possession of up to one ounce of the
prosecutors will back away from pursuing drug an offense equivalent to a parking
cases against medical marijuana users ticket but would keep distribution and
in states that have legalized medical production of marijuana as felonies.
marijuana, and this is a step in the Despite these recent developments,
right direction. States should take this marijuana remains a dangerous
opportunity to pass more aggressive gateway drug that simply shouldn’t be
legislation decriminalizing non-medical decriminalized.
marijuana. A National Institute on Drug Abuse
Decriminalization doesn’t mean study found that marijuana smoke had
legalization; it just means reducing 50 percent more cancer-causing agents
the penalties for using or possessing than tobacco smoke, and another study
marijuana. Considering the amount of by the Medical Research Institute of
money the government spends trying to enforce New Zealand found that smoking one joint was
anti-marijuana laws, as well as evidence from the the equivalent of smoking 20 cigarettes in terms
National Institutes of Health and law enforcement of lung cancer risk. Marijuana can also affect
officials showing that it can be less harmful intelligence. Frequent users experience a decrease
to a person’s health than alcohol, the federal in IQ over time, according to the Canadian Medical
government should decriminalize marijuana. This Association Journal.
will reduce law enforcement costs because fewer Marijuana is also a gateway drug. One 1998
people will have to be prosecuted for marijuana- Columbia University study found that marijuana
related crimes. users are 85 times more likely to try cocaine than
In a report written by a Harvard economist and non-users. Decriminalizing marijuana sends young
published in 2005, 500 economists from around adults the message that smoking is acceptable, and
the country supported decriminalization on the decriminalization will likely lead to an increase in
grounds that it would save law enforcement money. users. Many of these users will go on to experiment
The report, signed by three Nobel Laureates, with harder drugs like cocaine and heroin whose
including a former advisor to Ronald Reagan, harmful effects are beyond debate.
maintains that decriminalization would save state Marijuana proponents argue that people should
and federal governments $7.7 billion a year. be allowed to risk their own health by smoking
Law enforcement officials have even formed a marijuana, but marijuana use affects society as a
group called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.
whole. Marijuana affects a user’s ability to drive:
While users of marijuana become more aware of States that have passed a decade-long Australian study found that 13.5
their condition and are likely to drive very slowly, medical marijuana laws
those under the influence of alcohol are more percent of 3,400 drivers killed in car accidents had
likely to deny their condition and drive quickly and since 1996 cannabis in their bloodstream. Driving while high
recklessly, according to the organization. As with any not only endangers the driver’s life, it endangers
drug, it’s crucial for authorities to be able to keep track of its distribution, something other citizens’ lives. Considering the 12 percent
that will only be possible with decriminalization. By decriminalizing marijuana, the of U.S. high school seniors who admitted to driving high in the past two weeks on a
government can gain a strong foothold in controlling its dissemination, a much nationwide 2008 survey, it would be irresponsible to make the drug more accessible
better option given the alternative: hundreds of street corner pot dealers clogging and inevitably increase the number of dangerous drivers on the road.
our prisons and wasting taxpayers’ money. The U.S. government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, along with cocaine
If scientists and policemen believe that marijuana is safer than alcohol, and and LSD for a reason. Proponents of marijuana decriminalization would do well to
economists believe it could help the faltering economy, then maybe it’s time for think about why that is before lighting up their next joint or encouraging others to do
the issue of decriminalization to be seriously discussed. the same. 

Journalism isn’t dying, just changing —for the better

by sarah houston of people. These small publications don’t have to deal with much
“The story isn’t that newspapers are dying,” he competition from local TV stations or other newspapers,
In the midst of a new wave of journalism, the media says. “The story is that, even though people can get the and have suffered less in the economic downturn.
has highlighted only the problems that newspapers same content online for free, they’re ponying up to buy But for the larger papers like the Washington Post
are facing. We hear hundreds of stories about revenue newspapers that are more expensive than ever.” and USA Today, changes are necessary to keep the public
cuts, shrinking readership numbers and bankrupt Jones attributes this to a type of “citizenship inspired. Publications are joining together to create
publications, but something is missing. Between the decision.” If newsrooms and reporters were cast aside, collaborative organizations that save money and produce
mess of editorials and features that leave readers who would become the source for reliable and consistent more engaging stories Downie and Schedson report. For
worried, there is a silver lining. While publications are example, Ohio’s eight largest newspapers have come

“
facing new struggles, the media has emphasized only together to create the Ohio News Organization. They
the complications, while pushing aside the positives of share most types of news but independently work on
the situation.
The bottom line is that a large group of readers
American society must take investigative and enterprise reporting.
By sharing the straightforward news stories, these
still embrace newspapers. According to the Columbia some collective responsibility for newspapers have more staff to work on the in-depth
Journalism Review, 48.6 million people in the U.S.
bought newspapers every day last year. Although the
supporting independent news pieces that distinguish each individual publication.
Investigative pieces are part of the reason people still
number was higher three years ago, the losses aren’t as reporting in this new environment. buy papers when online offers so much info for free.
monumental as some might think. The peak population
that reads newspapers every day was 62 million in
-Leonard Downie While newspapers try new tactics to maintain a high
standard of reporting with less revenue and a smaller
1990, but that was at a time when the Internet wasn’t The Reconstruction of American staff, Downie and Schedson suggest, “American society

”
an integral part of our daily life. It has been dropping Journalism must take some collective responsibility for supporting
since then, but the numbers are still large enough to independent news reporting in this new environment.”
keep many papers alive. Americans have already come together to save public
For some reason, whether it be the high quality of information? Most readers still think that we shouldn’t programs such as health care, scientific research, and
reporting found in newspapers or the nostalgic feeling have to find that answer out on our own. education, and newspapers should be given the same
of a paper in your hands, newspapers are not going Large newspapers are vital to the preservation attention.
away any time soon. Although ad revenues may be of accurate and truthful reporting because of their Instead of seeing the future of journalism as a
down, the Audit Bureau of Circulations found that the standards. You don’t see websites and bloggers held to dying business, see it as a challenge. Many publications
Wall Street Journal, one of the largest papers in the a set of strict rules that dictate the way they go about are now stepping up to the plate, thinking of unique
country, is gaining readers and has already increased their jobs; readers have no guarantee that the content answers to these problems. And although 48.6 million
circulation by 0.6 percent. The New York Times Co. also they produce is accurate. In a 2009 survey by the Pew Americans still actively read newspapers, there is still
reported that in the third quarter, “circulation revenues Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, work to do. The real question is, are you willing to roll
rose 6.7 percent, mainly because of higher subscription 45 percent of respondents thought that the Internet was with the changes to preserve our publications? Students
and newsstand prices at The New York Times and The changing the fundamental values of journalism and should keep subscribing not only to the B&W, but talk
Boston Globe.” loosening standards. to their parents about keeping subscriptions to national
In an editorial in the Nov. 1 issue of the Washington Leonard Downie, former executive editor of the newspapers at home. If anyone is going to help papers
Post, columnist Kathleen Parker introduces Alex Jones, Washington Post, and Michael Schedson, professor of stay afloat, it is the younger readers.
a Pulitzer Prize-winning media critic and author of communication at Columbia, wrote a study titled “The Don’t look at the problems facing newspapers as a
“Losing the News.” Jones believes that although the Reconstruction of American Journalism.” They write reason to complain, but a reason to come together and
journalism business is most certainly changing, the that the backbone of American journalism seems to be ensure the survival of one of the most important outlets
shift is bringing out the best in a considerable number the local newspapers situated in smaller cities and towns. of freedom of speech in our country. 
8 opinion december 16, 2009

Letter from Israel Read all over...

A Green Christmas

Organic

photo courtesy BEN WOLCOTT

Ben Wolcott (‘09), left, is spending a gap year in Israel with Workshop, the socialist and
progressive labor Zionist youth movement Habonim Dror runs.
Last year’s managing editor, Ben of us played in a Quidditch tournament
Wolcott (‘09), opted to do a gap year a few weeks back. We basically just ran
in Israel instead of going directly to around and yelled at each other as a few
Swarthmore College. people, the “bludgers,” tackled whoever

Instead of hobbling off to class every

had the ball.
The supportive and open environment Paper Free
morning, the twenty people I live with that we’ve created helps us push our
gather around our kitchen table to eat boundaries, so we can learn more about
breakfast. After we eat the scrambled ourselves and how we want to live our
eggs, cereal or French toast that one of lives. Personally, as I’ve shared more
us puts together, all 79 people on the and more, I’ve gained a new appreciation
program circle up in a field to sing, share of my own space. And on an ideological
world news and start the day together. note, I’ve spent a good deal of time
Some mornings, the twenty of us thinking about the importance of caring
learn and talk about Jewish history for for everyone, regardless of whether or
three hours while on other mornings, I not I naturally gravitate towards them.
work at the community’s museum with Almost everything that we do allows
a friend of mine. And if that’s not on the us to share our thoughts and feelings so
schedule, we might travel around Israel
to experience the country and its society
that we fully invest ourselves in forming
strong and meaningful relationships. Recycling
in light of what we’ve learned. And while I’m not learning as much
At some point last year, I decided factual information as I would if I were
to take a break after high school, so I in college, I think that the relationships
could live communally in Israel. I’m on I’m developing and the discussions I’m
a program called Workshop, which the having teach me more about myself than
socialist and progressive labor Zionist joining a cooperative or playing club
youth movement Habonim Dror has run Frisbee would.
for the past 59 years.
I’ve been a part of Habonim since I
Still, I’m surprised at how much I’ve
missed spending my mornings, days
Carbon Free
was nine, so I’m spending this year with and nights jammed with homework,
some of my closest friends as well as debate practice and flat nights. I miss
people from all over the country. We live the sense of accomplishment I got
communally, sharing everything from when I handed in a project or when the
household chores to our bank account. Black & White came out. Yet I’ve begun
The program intentionally builds a to find a similar gratification in less
good amount of free time into the day, so quantifiable experiences, whether it’s
the twenty of us can meet and have long learning about Israel’s diverse cultures
discussions about our lifestyle and plan or having insightful conversations with
sweet activities for ourselves. To give my four roommates.
a serious and rewarding example, we
spent the last couple of nights in a room
Gap years aren’t for everyone, but I
couldn’t be happier that I found the time
Solar Powered Carpooling
giving each other constructive criticism to take stock of my life and to figure out
until we couldn’t sit up straight and had where I’m going.  graphic by ELENA TOUMAYAN
to go to sleep. On the lighter side, the 79 -Ben Wolcott

Students should create own computer passwords Happy

Shutting down school accounts doesn’t address real problem
by Stewart Longsworth Holidays from
The school monitors now broadcast
an ominous warning to students as they
log in: “60 Whitman students had their
the Black &
account suspended in the last month
for sharing accounts!”
The administration is clearly
cracking down on account sharing this
White staff!
year. Computer administrators can
easily detect students who are sharing
accounts from their central monitoring
system and slap them with a detention
and a one-week account suspension. graphic by ELENA TOUMAYAN
While sharing accounts is
unnecessary and dangerous, this because friends or classmates lost exceed the reward of getting on another
campaign against account sharing their passwords. These students could person’s account. Non-random
doesn’t address the true root of the always go to IT Systems Technician passwords would do the trick just
problem: random passwords that Sharon Vaughn to retrieve a password, fine.
boggle the memory of most students. but it is easier to ask another student The Board of Education should
If passwords were easier to memorize, for their login and password. Students change its password assignment policy
then incidences of account sharing often have to wait several days to get so students can choose their own
would be few and far between. their passwords back, and urgent password at the beginning of high
Administrators are right to point schoolwork may force them to share school. This was the system before
out the problems sharing accounts can an account in the meantime. the password policy was updated.
cause. By sharing accounts, students If passwords were more memorable To keep passwords from being too
are handing out their login information, variations on words or phrases, then simple, students would have to comply
exposing important files to possible they would be a lot easier to remember, with certain standards; for example,
tampering or destruction. Students alleviating the need to share accounts a password would need at least one
who violate computer use guidelines or most of the time. Yet right now, MCPS number or symbol and at least seven
try to hack into the computer network generates the random passwords via digits. Students would then keep this
can hide their identities by working the Microsoft operating system all password for all four years of high
from a shared account. And sharing school networks use. school, making passwords even easier
accounts is unnecessary for group For the relatively low security to remember.
work; students can always save their concerns of a school network, random, Students share accounts when
work to the student shared network, computer-generated passwords are they lose passwords that are almost
allowing group members to access it overkill. Students are probably not impossible to memorize. Allowing
from their own accounts. going to try to guess another student’s them to make their own passwords
Why would anybody share accounts? password because the effort it would alleviates both sharing concerns and
Most students share their accounts take to find the password would far student frustration. 
december 16, 2009 9

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10 photo December 16, 2009

1. 3.

2. 4.

Graffiti and mural art tell 5.

the stories of students, a city
by chelsea lo

Whether it’s a crude drawing etched on a classroom desk or spray paint

streaked across walls, graffiti has always been a problem in D.C. and area
schools. But now, former vandals can call themselves artists thanks to the D.C.
Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Murals D.C., a project designed to
revitalize areas with rampant vandalism, sticks aerosol cans in the hands of
D.C. youth to paint murals reflecting the city’s history and culture. So next

6.
time you’re tempted to scrawl a not-so-delicate word in a bathroom stall or
write a cute reminder for your peers to wipe their nether regions, take a cue
from these street artists who have made the city their canvas—legally.

1. Canvas in art room 6. 400 Florida Ave. NW

2. Canvas in art room 7. 1344 U Street NW
3. Bathroom stall mural 8. Shiloh Baptist Church
4.Canvas in art room 9. Howard University
5. Canvas in art room 10. 1344 U Street NW

10.

9.
7.

8.
December 16, 2009 in-depth 11

A DECADE ON THE EDGE

O

nce upon a time, before “2000” was a trendy suffix recent economic crisis has resulted in a spike in MCPS class sizes
for high-tech products, the year 2000 was only a as private schools report lower student enrollment.
distant reality filled, we thought, with flying cars, But aside from outside events, we have had a big decade. The
robot servants and video phones. 2000s forced us to take the good publicity with the bad, to celebrate
But as the 1990s came to an end and the new millennium Project Backpack and deal with the Smoothie King robberies all
approached, these Jetson-inspired fantasies were replaced by fears in less than a year. The school was visited by the Chief Justice of
of the Y2K bug causing worldwide electronic malfunction. As New the Supreme Court one year, and by religious extremists the next.
Year’s Day passed without catastrophe, most were able to toast to Student volunteers helped put the nation’s first African American
new beginnings. But relief wouldn’t last long. president in office and attended the inauguration of a lifetime. In
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks followed closely on Y2K’s heels, the athletic sphere, the decade opened and closed with boys soccer
prompting Americans to reevaluate their most central values and claiming states, and included championship victories for girls soccer
beliefs. As fretful citizens hoarded jugs of water, batteries and duct in 2004 and boys basketball in 2006.
tape to prepare for an anticipated terrorist takeover, it appeared that So what can we look forward to in the next decade? We can
the world was headed towards a decade of fear instead of a decade of keep dreaming of a day when students will apply for permits to
hope. The ominous note that Y2K sent at the start of the millennium park their flying cars in the Whitman parking lot, and hoping that
set the tone for the coming decade; the 21st century citizen would the technological renaissance begun in the 2000s will continue into
be no stranger to anxiety and unease. Al-Qaeda, anthrax, sniper the next decade. From bulky cell phones and the 2001 introduction
attacks, SARS, war, college campus shootings, staph infections, bird of the iPod to colored flip phones with QWERTY keyboards and
flu, swine flu (and for a few students, cicadas) kept kids indoors, iPhones, we’ve come a long way since the start of the decade.
washing their hands and lying awake at night. Though we haven’t made robot servants a household staple,
Despite the perception of a “Bethesda bubble,” Whitman students reading blogs, surfing YouTube and checking Facebook have
were hardly insulated from these tumultuous events. Students’ become second nature, and this past decade has been nothing
parents were evacuated after a third plane hit the Pentagon, the short of technologically revolutionary. Our cars probably won’t
sniper attacks came too close for comfort, and Hurricane Katrina fly, but future Driver’s Ed students will breathe a collective sigh of
brought a handful of refugees to the halls of Whitman and Pyle. relief when the Mercedes CL’s ability to self-parallel park becomes
Some students enlisted to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan, a swine flu a standard feature on all four-wheeled vehicles. And landline
outbreak led to the quarantine of a dozen students in China and the telephones might not come with standard video monitors, but
between Skype and iChat, we likely aren’t missing much.
As with any decade, we will be confronted with hardship and
heartbreak. But as the first babies of the 1990s enter their 20s, we
can hope that the highs will be higher, the lows will be fewer, and
we can pay tribute to another memorable decade ten years from
now. 

photo illustration by NEILL ROBERTSON

12 december 16, 2009 in-de

2000
Jan. 1, 2000:
2002 2004
Start of the new Feb. 1, 2004:
millennium. People
speculate that the new Oct. 7, 2001: Space Shuttle Columbia
millennium will cause disintegrates upon reentry
computers to malfunction, due U.S. goes to war in into the atmosphere, killing
to numbers rolling over from Afghanistan. The United all seven crew members in the
the two-digit symbol for 1999, States launches Operation Jan. 8, 2002: worst accident of its kind since
“…99,” to “00,” for 2000, but Enduring Freedom in response the 1986 Challenger accident.
no widespread errors seem to to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist The No Child Left Behind
Act is signed into law by Aug. 2003:
occur. attacks and in an effort to find
Al-Qaeda. George W. Bush. The act
requires states to develop After a computer
standardized assessments malfunction results in the May 2004:
evaluating basic skills in order “Northeast Blackout.” 
to receive federal funding. The blackout affects 45 The Lance Armstrong Foundation
million people in cities from sells Livestrong bracelets to
Baltimore to Ottawa. raise money for cancer research. 
Nov. 2000:
These bracelets become a huge
Boys Soccer wins State trend among teenagers and adults.
Sept. 18, 2001: June 2003:
championships for the
seventh time since 1979. Letters containing Martha Stewart May 2004:
anthrax are mailed from is indicted for insider
Princeton, NJ to several Oct. 2002: trading and lying to Cicada invasion begins and
senators, ABC News, CBS News, investigators.  She lasts the entire summer. Some
NBC News, the New York Post, The sniper attacks kill 10 serves five months students get their protein by
and the National Enquirer. people and critically injure in jail. daring each other to eat the
three over a three-week period. insects. At the end of the
Area schools go into code blue summer, the cicadas
alert, keeping students inside at depart for 17
recess. years.

Nov. 2000:

George W. Bush defeats

Al Gore in the presidential
election, the closest race in
nation’s history. The decision
comes down to the Supreme
Court after ‘hanging chads’ skew
election results in Florida.

Nov. 2002:

First SARS case is Nov. 2004:

reported. Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Girls Soccer
infect 8,096 people causing 774 wins states,
deaths between Nov. 2002 and their first state
July 2003. Within a matter title since 1994. 
of weeks in early 2003, SARS
spread from Guangdong, China
and rapidly infects individuals
in 37 countries around the
world. People wear surgical
masks to protect themselves
from the airborne illness.
April 2003:
Sept. 11, 2001:
Apple creates iTunes. 
Al-Qaeda affiliated Customers around the world
terrorists fly hijacked download over 6 billion songs,
planes into the World and counting.
Trade Center buildings and
the Pentagon. In a fourth
hijacked plane, passengers Oct. 2004:
overpower hijackers, steering
planes into a Pennsylvania field. The Red Sox win the World
Approximately 3,000 people Series for the first time in 86
died in the attacks, and schools years, giving all Red Sox fans
in the area go into lockdown. hope for a bright future. 

March
20, 2003:

War in
Iraq begins
after Bush
Jan. 28, 2001: administration
The Baltimore suspects
Ravens defeat the New weapons of mass
York Giants 34–7 in Super destruction. 
Bowl XXXV to win their
first ever championship
title.

2001 2003
epth december 16, 2009 13

2006 2008
Aug. 2005:

Three Bethesda kids start

Project Backpack. The March 30, 2006:
organization collects over March 4, 2008:
50,000 backpacks filled with Five Whitman
toys, books, and school supplies students rob the Chief Court Justice John
to send to kids in New Orleans.  Smoothie King Roberts speaks to NSL
in downtown students and fields questions
Bethesda. from government teacher
All but one of Robert Mathis.
the students
is criminally
charged.
June 26, 2008:

Stock market plummets

Aug. 2005: Fall 2007: to the lowest point since the
Hurricane Katrina strikes Spring 2006: Hand sanitizer Depression. Tumbling U.S.
Louisiana, killing thousands and sales jump as stocks and a slowing economy
displacing even more.  The boy’s Basketball team, students try to contribute to the lowest DOW
led by Michael Gruner (’06) ward off the Staph industrial average since 1929.
and Alex Baron (’06), wins the infection, caused
state championships. by a skin-to-skin bacteria
that spread through several
Montgomery County schools.
Aug. 8,
2008:

Summer
July 21, 2007: Olympics
begin in
J.K Rowling releases Beijing. Michael
the seventh and final Phelps becomes
installment of the Harry an American hero
Potter Series, “Harry when he wins a total of
Potter and the eight gold medals, the
Deathly Hallows.” most of any Olympian
Fans everywhere line in history. His image
up at bookstores for the as a role model is later
midnight release. tarnished after tabloids
print photos of Phelps
smoking marijuana.

Nov. 20, 2009:

Varsity boy’s soccer

Aug. 8, 2006 Nov. 4, 2008: comes full circle by defeating the
Urbana Eagles 1-0 in overtime
Alexandra Robbins follows U.S. voters elect President of the Maryland 4A State
eight Whitman students Barack Obama. A championship game, earning
and one former student to May 2007: record 1.8 million the team its second state title
document their hectic lives.  people travelled since 2000.
With this material, she writes Montgomery County to D.C. for his
  inauguration
her best-selling book, bans trans-fats in
Spring 2005: Jan. 20.
“The Overachievers.” restaurants, supermarket
Washington Nationals bakeries and delis in an effort
bring baseball back to D.C.  to minimize health problems
Despite fans’ initial caused by clogged arteries and Oct. 8, 2009:
enthusiasm, the turnout at high cholesterol.
games has been weak for the A shooting near
past several years. Whitman prompts
Dec. 23, 2008: lockdown. Police
investigate the shooting on
A massive water the 6800 block of Millwood
April 16, 2007: main bursts, Road the evening of Oct. 8,
flooding River the victim, a former Whitman
The Virginia Tech Rd. Administrators parent, is taken to Suburban
shootings shock the send students home Hospital in critical condition
nation and cause schools early. but survives.
Sept. 5, 2006: and universities to rethink
their security.
Steve Irwin, Australian
wildlife specialist and April 23, 2009:
television star known for
his famous “crikey mate!” is Westboro Baptist
fatally stung by a stingray Church protests
while filming at Whitman . Seven
a segment for congregants from the
Animal Planet. Topeka, Kansas-based
group protest the school’s
namesake because of
Jan. 9, 2007: his sexual orientation.
Nearly 500 students
Apple releases the stage a peaceful counter
iPhone, changing the protest.
future of technology and
communication.

2005 2007 2009

14 feature december 16, 2009

By Julia Weingardt

Holiday gift shopping can be tough. Whether it’s for the friend who has everything or for the parent who “wants nothing but your love,” there’s always someone
for whom you just don’t know what to buy. There’s no reason to bring out the gift cards and baked goods—we’ve compiled the best gifts that are sure to be attention
grabbers.

Flip-Flop Socks MoMa Mini Sky Pro Thumb Wrestling

These piggie toasters are the Umbrella Enjoy some competitive
family bonding with this
practical gift for your friends Brighten anyone’s rainy miniature thumb war
who think wearing flip-flops day with this sophisticated arena. It’s portable,
in the snow is okay. Available sky umbrella. The bright so you can take it
with both blue cat and red clouds create a picturesque on the go for those
bunny patterns, these crazy cloud scene, no matter the ten hour family car
socks complete any outfit. weather. Just one upward rides!
glance, and you might
just forget that it’s raining Price: $7.00
Price: $13.00 altogether! www.perpetualkid.com
www.uncommongoods.com Price: $28.79
www.amazon.com, www.target.com
Beating Heart Talking Japanese Bubble Calendar
Pillow Watches
Originally created to
calm and relax, this fuzzy What better way to check off
pillow pulses out a realistic All the rage in
Japan (no seriously!), each day than to pop a circle of
heartbeat. Every time you bubble wrap? This poster-size
turn it on, an entirely new these watches will
tell you the time in calendar has a bubble to burst
lub-dub rhythm forms. for every day of the year and
Caution: do not use while both Japanese and
your native tongue. A is the perfect way to spice up a
operating heavy machinery, boring wall.
as this healing heart will thoughtful gift for the
bilingual speaker!
likely drive you into the Price: $20
best sleep of your life! www.bubblecalendar.com
Price: $14.99
Price: $35-50 www.fredflare.com
www.mybeatingheart.com

Mix Stix Drumstick Happy/Sad Reversible Tickle Me

Kitchen Spoon Sweatshirt Freud
This gift is perfect for moms Perfect for the
who would rather shake than Wear your emotions on budding student (or your
bake! Let her express her musical the outside with this mood psychology teacher), this
talent while cooking with these matching sweatshirt! Chic plush doll is the classier
wooden spoons shaped like and stylish, this sweatshirt version of the childhood
drumsticks (Disclaimer: will save you from favorite, “tickle me
they do not actually answering the mundane elmo.” It’s sure to
play music.) “How are you today?” be a crowd pleaser.
Available at Target.
Price: 9.99 Price: $44
www.perpetualkid.com www.fredflare.com Price: $18.99
www.target.com

Do you have any

unusual holiday
traditions?
i n, e r, o t, r i n,
e i k
s n r o e g
P e r l, s
as ore c
f
hi an
R ma K vi nior M S
o b h o l e r G a u j an hom n iel eshm
Jac Fres NicSenio Ju L Sop D a Fr

“L ast year I went to Hawaii “O n Christmas Eve “M y brothers “O n Christmas Eve we eat “M y family is Jewish,
over winter break. On Christmas everybody gets rice pudding, and I built Lego chocolate fondue with all my family so on Christmas day we go to
I spent my time at the beach and and in one of the bowls creatures and hid them and we open the presents at midnight. the movies and then we get
going scuba diving.” of pudding there’ll be an in the middle of the We also eat vitelle tone, which is a Chinese food.”
almond. Whoever gets the Christmas tree.” typical Argentina food. We all wear
almond gets a marzipan pig; Santa Claus hats and play with sparkle
it’s a Scandinavian thing.” firework sticks.”
December 16, 2009 Feature 15

Holiday Baked apples with cranberry-pecan stuffing

Recipes Ingredients:

7 large granny sm
. . . for even the it
6 tablespoons unsa h apples
lt
¼ cup packed bro ed butter, softened
Scrooge-iest baker w
1/3 cup chopped n sugar
dri
1/3 cup pecans, to ed cranberries
a
3 tablespoons old sted and coarsely chopped
-fa
1 teaspoon grated shioned rolled oats
by sarah craig and megan dwyer
ora
½ teaspoon groun nge zest
d cinnamon
pinch of salt
1/3 good quality
m
1/3 plus 2 tablespoo aple syrup
n
of applesauce and s apple cider (or combination
orange juice)

Directions:

Peel, core, and cut 1 apple into 1/4-inch dice.

Combine 5 tablespoons of butter, brown sugar, cranberries, pecans, oats, orange zest,
cinnamon, diced apple, and salt in large bowl; set aside.
Shave thin slice off bottom (blossom end) of remaining 6 apples to allow them to sit
flat. Cut top 1/2 inch off stem end of apples and reserve. Peel apples and use melon
Vidalia onion and baller or small measuring spoon to remove 1½-inch diameter core, being careful not
to cut through bottom of apple.

goat cheese tarts Melt remaining tablespoon butter in 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once
foaming subsides, add apples, stem-side down, and cook until cut surface is golden
brown, about 3 minutes.
Ingredients:
Flip apples, reduce heat to low, and spoon filling inside, mounding excess filling over
1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed cavities; top with reserved apple caps. Add maple syrup and 1/3 cup cider to skillet.
1 tablespoon flour Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until skewer inserted into apples meets little re-
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil sistance, 35 to 40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes with maple syrup mixture in
2 large purple Vidalia onions skillet.
1 red bell pepper Adapted from a recipe in “Cooks Illustrated”

Moravian sugar cake

1-2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
6 oz. chèvre (goat cheese)
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
salt to taste Topping: Dough:
1 tablespoon cream or whole milk 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
Directions: 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar 
Unfold sheet of puff pastry and roll out on 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup warm water (105 to 110˚ F)
floured surface into large rectangle, cut pastry 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled 3 cups flour 
with knife or pizza wheel into 16 smaller 2 tablespoons dry skim milk powder
rectangles. Set aside. 3 tablespoons dehydrated potatoes
Heat olive in large frying pan over medium 1/3 cup granulated sugar
heat. 3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs 
Slice onions and peppers into thin strips and 1/2 cup butter, softened
add to pan. Directions:
Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes, then
continue to cook over medium low heat until Sprinkle yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar into water in a
onions are caramelized and peppers are soft, large mixing bowl. Dissolve and let sit for 5 minutes until
about 10 minutes. yeast begins to foam.
Add balsamic vinegar and salt to taste. Remove Add all other dough ingredients, but leave out 1 cup of
from heat and cool until warm.
flour.
While onion mixture is cooling, spread about
1 tablespoon of goat cheese on each piece of Beat on medium speed in a mixer for 5 minutes. Turn
pastry dough, leaving a small edge of each down to low and add remaining cup of flour. Continue
rectangle exposed. mixing until soft dough forms.
Spoon generous heap of onion mixture on top
of goat cheese. Sprinkle each with parmesan Place dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until
cheese. doubled in bulk (about 1 1/2 hours).
Bake at 375˚ F oven for about 30 minutes until Punch dough down and let it rise again for 45 minutes.
pastry is puffed up and brown.
Grease and line a 17x11x1 inch jelly roll pan with
parchment paper, then grease parchment paper. 

Spread dough out evenly in the pan using hands. If dough

resists spreading, let it rest for a few minutes.

Cover and let rise again until puffy (about 1 hour).

Gently press tips of fingers into the dough all over to

create depressions and wells. Brush the dough with the
MEGAN DWYER
photos by
cream.
Adapted from a recipe in “North Carolina and Old Salem Cookery”
16 feature December 16, 2009

Teacher Gift Guide

by Rachel Nussbaum  English teacher: As much as students dread receiving papers covered in red
Barnes and Noble’s decorations are up, and “Jingle Bells” is on ink, teachers probably hate relying on the one stereotypical color. Help your teacher
the radio. It’s official: the holidays are just around the corner, along channel his or her inner Picasso with a set of a dozen Staples® Gel Stick Pens,
with loads of free time and an overall spirit of jolliness. But finding heaps and you’ll be rolling as easy as their pen tips. If you’re feeling a bit more creative, go
of homework under the Christmas tree, Hanukkah bush or Kwanza for the Metal Black Quill and Ink Italian Writing Set from Barnes and Noble.
cherry tree (who knew?) can be even worse than a lump of coal. So, There’s nothing like correcting misplaced modifiers in style.
it’s in everyone’s best interest to butter up teachers a little by giving
them a gift so mind-blowing that they forget all about that video History teacher: Though history is traditionally seen as one of the drier
project due the day after break. subjects, it doesn’t have to be. Take, for instance, “Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort
            of History of the United States.” APUSH teachers in particular will be sure to
What to get your… appreciate the, um, thoughtfulness of the piece. Or, “Dave Barry’s History of
Science teacher: Eye protection requirements have the Millennium (So Far),” a chronicle of the most important
a large presence on every precautionary safety assessment, developments of the era, like Pokémon and the Big Mac. Perfect
but there’s no rule saying that they can’t be a pair of super- for modern world history teachers. Who knows, maybe it’ll even
sweet goggles. And without a doubt, a pair of moderately replace the much less imaginative textbooks
priced Smith Transit Graphic Ski Goggles would currently used. We can only hope.
up a teacher’s cool factor more than any dorky plastic
pair from the ’70s. Once your teacher stops thinking Foreign language teacher:
about water’s hydrologic cycle and starts boarding down Whether you take Spanish, French,
its solid form, they’ll be able to see what an excellent student Italian or Japanese, conjugating
you really are. verbs for the thousandth time gets
a little boring. Imagine what it’s like
Math teacher: It’s hard for anyone not to be for your teacher. But with MUZZY:
jealous of those math wiz kids who know how to create Family Edition, the BBC language
artistic masterpieces on their TI-83. If you really value instruction course that includes
your math teacher’s hard work/tendency to round up story DVDs, interactive software
grades, track down one of those whizzes and pay them and 11 “memorable” MUZZY
for their services. Once you know how to make the songs, both you and your
graphs yourself, offer your teacher a private tutoring teacher will experience
session, free of charge, to show him just how much verb exercises and
your grade really means to you. Then again, if that’s improbable grammar
not up your alley, you can always just wrap up structures like
an empty box and fasten it with a Master Lock never before. The
1530DCM X-treme Combination Lock. Set captivating tales and
the code as Fibonacci’s sequence, and they’ll bright colors will
have so much fun opening the present that make it practically
they won’t even mind the lack of contents.     impossible to not
bond with Señora or
Madame! 

better scores.
better choices.
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& educational counseling

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Now that students and parents have embraced Daniel Gilbert revealed that Dec 17: Understanding the PSAT score is higher but also
the ACT, they are delighted to have options; keeping your options open Score Report which test seems better
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december 16, 2009 feature 17

King named
‘High School
Hero’ for
Leukemia
Awareness month
continued from page 1
“Tim is one of the most determined individuals I
have ever met,” she says. “He just doesn’t know the
meaning of giving up.”
Mathis to take students on trip to Uganda
King’s family first realized there was an issue
the summer before he turned nine, when he started By Emily Aronson
experiencing intense bouts of fatigue. King’s parents Soviet Union and England.
took him to a local clinic, where he tested positive In order to teach the adults and children in the
for the disease. Trekking through the desert, taking bucket showers village about technology, Whitman students will bring
“Looking back now, all I remember is waking and living without electricity in a Ugandan village for 20 15 laptops donated by Discovery Communications in
up and having a Broviac catheter in my chest and days may not seem like the ideal way to spend summer Silver Spring to the village. The students will participate
knowing it’s been there a while,” King writes on the break for most students. But from July 25 to Aug.12 this in workshops at the beginning of the trip to learn how to
LLS website. “I’ve heard people’s memory can shut summer, a dozen students and history resource teacher teach computer skills to the people in the village.
down to prevent additional trauma, and I suppose Bob Mathis will volunteer in eastern Uganda through the “I’m looking forward to seeing how our students
that’s what happened.” Women’s Microfinance Initiative. Montana Stevenson relate and act while providing the service that they’re
After treatment, King found himself in and out
of the hospital for complications from medication, (’06) and Laura Van Oudenaren (’06), seniors at UVA going to do,” Mathis says.
including a blood clot and a temporary case of and Davidson respectively, will also accompany them. Nietert says that a special bond forms when teenagers,
diabetes, but he was in remission. WMI is a non-profit organization founded by Robyn rather than adults, counsel their younger peers.
When King turned 13, the bouts of fatigue came Nietert and Betsy Gordon, both former “The children just respond so
back, and testing revealed that the cancer came Whitman mothers, that provides positively to young adults,” she
back. When chemotherapy failed, the Kings opted micro-loans to impoverished women says. “I think that that teenage
for a bone marrow transplant. Blood test showed in Uganda so they can start their own connection to teaching children
that King’s older brother, junior J.T., was a perfect businesses. The student volunteers how to use computers is going to be
match. He would be the donor. will set up an Internet café in the magnificent.”
J.T. says it was worth it when he woke up in newly-constructed village meeting Some of the other community
the hospital and heard that the surgery had been a
success. hall of Buyobo, a rural village service activities that Whitman
“I was relieved that it worked and very hopeful 150 miles from Uganda’s capital, students will participate in include
that my brother could lead a normal life, that he Kampala. volunteering at a local elementary
might finally be cancer-free after all he’s been Nietert and Gordon have traveled school, planting fruit trees in Kabale
through,” J.T. says. to Buyobo with WMI, but this is the and helping at a Kabale sports clinic.
Since then, Tim says his classmates have been first time that the Initiative will bring Students will also get the chance to
supportive and compassionate about his condition. a group of high school students on experience African culture through
“I’ve had a lot of people say ‘I’m sorry you’re the trip. activities like bead-making, dancing
feeling bad,’ or ‘Get well soon,’ and that’s always “It was amazing to me the and drumming.
nice,” he says. way the children in the villages The itinerary also includes visits
Tim has not always taken part in the fundraiser
in the past. reacted to young adults being in to the Bwindi Impenetrable National
“Last year I wasn’t very involved in Pennies for the community,” Nietert says about Park, one of the few existing homes of
Patients,” he says, “but seeing a lot of people getting taking her own daughters, one of photos courtesy WMI
endangered gorillas, the Chimpanzee
excited and donating money, not just to me but to them Stevenson, to the village in Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation
leukemia patients in general – that gave me a good January of 2008. Trust on Ngamba Island and a
feeling.” Mathis says he looks forward to the unique experience rafting trip on the Nile. To experience the more modern
As he became more involved, Tim worked hard and the chance to give back to the community. part of the country, students will meet with a government
to raise awareness not only at Whitman but at other “The main goal is to expose students to another official and visit a local NGO in Kampala.
area schools. way of life, another culture, and also to have a service Mathis expects that Stevenson and Van Oudenaren
“So far 15 [schools] have joined us to host the exchange,” he says. will take a leadership role on the trip. They both traveled
High School Challenge this February in Tim’s honor,”
Walker says. “They are rallying around a teen just Because over 30 students have expressed interest with Mathis to the Three Affiliated Tribes Reservation in
like them, but who has experienced more than most in the trip, Mathis hasn’t yet determined who will North Dakota while in high school, which they say first
of them ever will.” go. Seniority will most likely be the determining interested them in helping underprivileged areas.
Walker commends the High School Challenge factor, Mathis says, and though there aren’t specific Nietert hopes that students see how much of a
for the role it plays in raising awareness about the prerequisites, he prefers students who have taken difference a small amount of effort can make in peoples’
prevalence of blood cancers. World History. To prepare for the trip, Mathis will lives, and that the trip will spark students’ interests in
“The more students that know about Tim’s story most likely assign readings about Uganda’s history and global events and advocating change. She’s excited that
and get involved in helping him and others like him, government. the Whitman community has expressed so much interest
the better,” she says.  “I’ve never taken students to a third world village,” in helping people all over the planet.
he says, though he notes that he has personally travelled “Whitman’s just kicking butt in global engagement,”
in developing areas and has taken students to the former she says. 

Colonial Opticians sends packages, letters to troops overseas

Company spreads holiday cheer, passes on community support to deployed soldiers
By Jessica Gelfarb their buns secure. She also said that there isn’t enough
shampoo for everyone in the unit.
Items like shampoo, hairspray and Chap Stick Sullivan urges people to donate basic items like
probably wouldn’t be on a typical Christmas list. But for toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo, but she also asks
the U.S troops fighting overseas, these seemingly simple them to donate video games, snacks, and movies, adding
supplies are scarce and desperately needed. that young people need time to unwind and have fun.
Ever since the U.S first sent troops to Iraq and “These are young adults who are away from home
Afghanistan, Bethesda resident Claudia Sullivan made it and in a hard situation,” she says. “What we take for
a priority to send them care packages. This year, Sullivan granted they might enjoy a lot.”
partnered with her workplace, Colonial Opticians, to Procopio recently spoke to her daughter, who told her
expand her efforts. that the unit is already enjoying many of the items. They
Sullivan especially wanted to involve Colonial plan to send a card thanking everyone who donated.
this year because co -worker Deborah Procopio has a “Everything is just so appreciated,” Procopio said.
daughter serving in a marine unit recently deployed “But more than anything, what they’re enjoying the
oversees. Donors can drop items off at one of Colonial’s most is all the support from everybody back home.
photo courtesy CLAUDIA SULLIVAN
five Montgomery County stores. Sullivan then collects Sullivan also collects letters to send overseas. She
the items and creates care packages to send to Procopio’s says that communicating with people back home is
daughter’s unit. Claudia Sullivan, right, and Deborah Procopio, left, put especially important to soldiers who don’t receive mail
Former Whitman parent Ellen Kominers, whose together a package to send to troops overseas. or gifts from family or friends. In every package she has
sons graduated in ’08 and ’05, donated Chap Stick, hand sent over the years, Sullivan has included a pad of paper
warmers and snack packs. shipping the packages overseas. and her home address.
“No matter what one’s politics might be, I think it is Procopio noted that men and women in her “I will have men write to me and tell me that I am
important to support our troops,” Kominers says. daughter’s unit are in great need of certain basic items. the only person who has ever sent them anything,” she
Helene Weingarten, another former Whitman Women in the unit are required to wear their hair in buns says. “They love to get letters.” 
parent, wrote Sullivan a check to help cover the cost of but constantly run out of the hairspray needed to keep
18 feature december 16, 2009

Showtime showdown: local theater review Six music students

By Rachel Nussbaum
make All-State Jazz
Between ninjas, vampires, the end of the world and a
While they may not be extensive, Bethesda’s theater
choices span the spectrum of availability, convenience Band this year By Tim Freeman
maternal Sandra Bullock, it’s hard enough to decide on a and coolness, both figuratively and literally. So before
night’s entertainment. Factor in the choice of theater, and you click “buy” on Fandango, take these factors into
having to deal with the overwhelming number of possible consideration.  Of the thousands of high school band students
permutations can make you feel like a less brilliant in Maryland, only a select few make the All-State
version of Russell Crowe in “A Beautiful Mind.” Jazz band each year. Musicians who audition for this
Regal Bethesda 10. ensemble spend countless hours learning difficult
Bethesda Row. music and perfecting solos before putting together
Such blatant disregard demo tapes. Acceptance into this band is intense and
Yes, it’s awfully pretentious. The for policy would never occur highly competitive due to the fact that only 19 spots are
escalator set-up is odd. And yes, it at Regal Bethesda 10, where, available.
has employees with generic emo- thanks to swarms of teens, This year, an astonishingly high number of Whitman
underground haircuts. Yet it also has heightened security regularly musicians will play in this prestigious ensemble. The six
indie movies that aren’t available scans theaters playing R-rated students —junior Siddhu Anandalingam on the baritone
anywhere else, and an incredibly movies for moviegoers. Despite saxophone, senior bassist Dan Pappalardo, junior Emily
relaxed attitude towards cheeky IDs for only borderline delicious popcorn Park on the vibraphone, senior trumpeter Kate Amrine,
R-rated movies. The European inspired
concession stand is worth the trip by
AMC Mazza Gallerie. and an unenthusiastic staff, the sophomore Gabe Slesinger on the trumpet and junior
drummer Sahil Ansari— make up the largest contingent
theater’s outside design is a major
itself, boasting a plethora of hard to find attraction to the middle school of musicians from a single high school.
At the heart of Friendship
and totally international snacks, from set. The stone rotunda is great Anandalingam is the only returning member from
Heights, Mazza’s top floor offers
Toblerone’s to JuJubes. Just don’t head for giggling cliques and catching Whitman. His previous experience in the band was one
visitors a luxurious setting and
to Bethesda Row intending to watch up with anyone you haven’t seen of the main reasons he decided to reaudition this year.
a wide variety of film selections.
“Ninja Assassin” with since elementary The experience in Whitman’s excellent Jazz band
Although the chairs are comfy and
like-minded fans. With school, but if you’re program was a major factor that contributed to the
the stadium seating is a thickly
all the beret-adorned more interested in high number of musicians chosen to play in
cushioned piece of heaven, these
Ph.D. students seeing a movie than the band, Anandalingam said.
offerings are clearly meant for a
mocking the cultural making awkward “Ms. Alvey prepared us well,” he
more mature audience than the
inaccuracies, it’ll be chit-chat with said. “We rehearsed the songs in class
average high school student.
hard to even hear the your SAT tutor, together and even performed them. That
The matinée bar, slightly
dialogue. But, if you’ve this probably isn’t really helped a lot of the recordings
higher ticket prices and attached
just seen “New Moon” the theater for you. we sent in.”
restaurant are a bit much for those
and want to bring your Not to the almost Ms. Alvey attributed the high
who really just want to see the latest
IQ back up a dozen horizontal slope of number of participants to Whitman’s
installment of “Transformers” for
or so points, head for the theater’s seating student body.
the seventh time. On the other
Bethesda Row. Just system, which may “We have a lot of talent here, and we
hand, the older audience doesn’t
be sure to get there pose difficulties always have a lot of kids,” she adds. “They
require strict security, which makes
on time. Those early- to anyone who are all great kids and great musicians.”
“wandering” into the wrong theater
bird specials have the actually wants to Instead of attending a formal
easy.
elderly trained. see the screen.  audition, all prospective players must
put together a tape that fulfills the
specific requirements for each
instrument. For the most part,
students were required to play
the songs “You Lika Da Juice?”
by Victor Lopez and “Softly,
as in a Morning Sunrise” by
Dave Wolpe as well as solo,
although requirements varied
for different instruments.
The All-State Jazz band will
rehearse intensely over a period
of three days, from January 22
and 23 at Towson University Center
graphic by NEILL ROBERTSON for the Arts, and will perform on the final
night. 
december 16, 2009 feature 19

Video chatting Del Savio revives

on the rise Mock Trial team
By Hailey Siller
Parents, students want to stay in Fifteen students are getting a head start on their
touch, communicate more preparation for the BAR exam, learning the same
techniques employed by trial lawyers while still in
By Jamie Norwood high school.
Whitman’s new Mock Trial team provides
A college freshman waves hi to her family as her students with the opportunity to practice courtroom
strategies every Wednesday night, helping them to
mother asks her about classes and campus life. They gain experience for a possible career in law.
discuss everything from her mid-term exams to plans “The goal of Mock Trial is to teach students
for winter break. When it’s time to say goodbye, the graphic by ELENA TOUMAYAN about the law, courts and trial procedure, as well as
freshman shuts her laptop and heads back to class. to help students hone skills such as critical thinking,
With over 500 million Skype downloads worldwide, Maman says. “It’ll be nice to actually see my parents and public speaking and team work,” says Shelly Brown
video chatting is on the rise and has recently become friends when I’m away.” Wojciechowski, Maryland high school Mock Trial
a key way for students who go away to school to stay coordinator.
Maman, already an avid video chatter, says video
connected to friends and family from home. The Mock Trial team was modeled after the
chat is a good way to get updates on life in Bethesda. team that existed two years ago, which stopped
“Camcorders used to be much more popular,” Ashley “I would normally just Facebook my friends,” he
Johnson, a sales operator at Best Buy in Gaithersburg, after the captains missed the deadline to enter the
says, “but if I really want to talk about things, I’ll get on national competition. Earlier this year, Principal
says. “The video aspect to computers has been so popular video chat.” Alan Goodwin suggested creating a new team to
recently that it’s rare someone will buy a laptop without Video chat has become popular as a means of casual history resource teacher Bob Mathis, who then asked
a built in camera.” communication between students. Psychology teacher Marie Del Savio to sponsor the
A freshman at Boston College, Michal Malachowski “Instead of calling my friends after school, I’ll video team.
(’09) uses video chat to stay in touch with his younger chat with them,” sophomore Erin Holden says. “It’s “I agreed to sponsor it because it seemed like a
brother, junior KJ Malachowski. better than talking on the phone, and I don’t have to lot of fun and it would give me a chance to work with
“I had never spent more than a couple weeks away parents in the community,” Del Savio says.
worry about wasting minutes or anything.”
from Michal,” KJ says. “Video chatting makes me think Co-captain junior Danny Parris says the team has
Holden believes that the convenience of video chat exceeded his expectations.
of all the times we used to hang out and gossip.” has taken away from time friends and family members
Video chatting also gives students going abroad the “Students seem to be interested in the content and
spend together. what we do for the team, all the legal stuff,” he says.
opportunity to feel closer to home. “I’ve video chatted with my sister when she’s right Del Savio recruited five lawyers, all Whitman
Junior David Maman is spending two months abroad across the hall from me,” she says. “I’m not sure why, parents, to coach the Mock Trial team. The coaches
in Israel and plans on frequent Skype sessions to make especially because I could’ve easily just walked into her attend the weekly Wednesday meeting and teach
up for being so far away from his friends and family. room. It’s convenient, that’s it.”  students how to break down cases.
“I’ll be video chatting at least three times a week,” “Mock trial changed my life forever,” co-captain
junior Nate Simon says. “Mock trial helps with public
Want to video chat? speaking which will benefit me forever.”
Many believe the team dynamic of Mock
Let’s look at a few of the Trial differentiates it from other extracurricular
different types: activities.
“In debate a team is much smaller – or it is an
individual pursuit,” national high school Mock Trial
iChat Oovoo chairperson John Wheeler says. “In Mock Trial
to really succeed, all members of a team must be
iChat’s easy and Oovoo doesn’t committed to practice.”
fast, but users tend require any downloads, Despite extra work, the national high school Mock
to get familiar with but it isn’t too reliable. Trial manager Emily Reilly say students will benefit
the “communication While you can conduct in many ways from participating.
error” message that six-person video chats, “It is a great place for students who are interested
pops up and ends a the website (oovoo. in the law to get hands-on exposure, but the advocacy,
conversation. It’s com) has poor picture teamwork and critical thinking skills are really the
possible to have a four- quality. Still, you can focus of the program,” Reilly says.
way video chat, but this leave video messages on Wojciechowski agrees with Reilly, citing many of
rarely works unless
everyone involved has
other Oovoo accounts.
Just open up Internet
Skype her former students that are now successful attorneys
and who attribute their success to the 27 year-old
a Mac. But iChat does Expl o rer, Sa fa ri or Maryland Mock Trial program.
Skype isn’t compatible with slow computers “It always amazes me the things that students
come automatically Firefox and turn on but works most of the time. Skype must be
with any Mac and your webcam to use come up with, angles of the case that we never thought
downloaded to your computer, but it’s free. Only of or twists that were totally unintentional but that
doesn’t require extra this program. two people can have a conversation at once.
downloads. work in the court room,” Reilly says. 

Facebook users give back, donate with a click of a button

By Zach Schloss I wouldn’t be able to reach out to as many people. It’s
much easier for people to see when it’s on Facebook.” The top 5 causes by total
In today’s increasingly technological world, one click As Facebook has expanded to over 300 million active dollars donated:
can feed a starving child, raise money for cancer research users, it has become an increasingly effective means for
or help bring your favorite Mexican restaurant chain to people to promote causes of all kinds.
your hometown. Carr started a group to achieve his goal, but there is
“I’m a Chipotle addict. I’m addicted to their burritos,” now a “Causes” application available for download. A
says Maryland delegate Alfred Carr, who started a variety of non-profit organizations use the application
Facebook group to bring a Chipotle to Kensington, MD. to help raise money for causes ranging from combating
“The group started to grow and kind of snowballed from cancer to ending genocide in Darfur.
there. We quickly got a bunch of members talking about Over 230,000 non-profit organizations use the
the whole idea.” application, according to the Washington Post. The top
The group, now 276 strong, seems to have achieved five organizations have raised over two million dollars
its goal; Chipotle is now negotiating a lease to set up shop and boast over 1.3 million members combined.
in a vacant space in Kensington, Carr says. The application encourages users to donate money
Even students have begun using Facebook to raise and recruit others to join a cause by ranking the
awareness about their cause. Whitman students have top donors and holding competitions to see what
created groups advocating for a lower drinking age and organizations can raise the most money.
urging people to vote for Caroline Ginolfi (’08), as part of “Facebook is a phenomenal tool for any kind of
a campaign to raise money for breast cancer awareness cause: something that is more political or something
ending on Dec. 5. A Facebook group also appeared more light-hearted like this one,” Carr says. “It’s such
encouraging people to vote for defensive tackle Danny a quick way of spreading the idea around and getting
Lee to be Maryland’s Army Iron Man of the Year. The other people to support it.”
group helped Lee come in second place in the contest, On Sept. 29, the Montgomery County Council voted
which ended on Nov. 29. in favor of a proposal by County Executive Isiah Legget
In her senior year, Aidan Chambers (’09), created to provide the golf course with $150,000 to continue its
a Facebook group called “We Need YOUR Help to Save operations for another nine months, making the groups’
Whitman and Go Green,” which advocated for the efforts at least a temporary success.
elimination of Styrofoam cafeteria trays in Montgomery Carr notes that that the primary advantage of creating
County. Although MCPS refused to make the change due Facebook groups is the ability to reach the diverse pool
to budgetary restraints, Chambers says that she thinks of users the site attracts.
the group raised a significant amount of awareness. “It’s great for bringing in young people who might
“I wanted to get as many people as possible to go not necessarily be voters but care about their issues and
along with the cause,” Chambers says. “I figured the causes,” he says. “It’s a way for them to get involved and
photo courtesy FACEBOOK
best way to do it would be to send it out on a Facebook voice their opinions.” 
group, because I knew that if I just had a written petition
20 feature december 16, 2009

Best Buddies participants inspired to pursue careers in teaching

By Zach Schloss school and was later adapted by Watkins Mill, where
Sutherland attended high school.
As a junior, Tyler Wood (’09) was made a teacher’s Sutherland himself was a Designated Hitter
aide in a special education class after he dropped his and knew ever since that he wanted to be a special
language class. Now a freshman at the University education teacher. He says his job allows him to
of Alabama, Wood is studying special education in build stronger bonds with his students in a way other
grades six through 12 and hopes to become a special teachers don’t have a chance to.
ed teacher. “Everyone in the classroom just has a different
Wood had no idea what to expect when he was amazing personality,” he says. “I have David the
enrolled in the Designated Hitter program, a student cartoonist and Kathryn the dancer. You don’t typically
internship program lead by Steve Sutherland, a teacher see that in the general classes.”
in the Learning for Independence Program. Now, Whitman’s special education program has evolved
two years later,Wood plans to pursue a career like significantly since its inception. When Veronica Garner
Sutherland’s, teaching students with autism. began teaching the School Community-Based program,
Wood never expected to fall in love with the another special education program, at Whitman in
program. 1989, she says there were not nearly as many student
photo by ZACH SCHLOSS
“You get a pretty good connection with the kids from aides as today.
working with them,” he says. “Before, I didn’t really Sutherland was hired to teach the LFI program
understand what the whole class was about, like who when it was added three years ago. Garner says Designated Hitters sponsor Steve Sutherland encourages his
the kids were. Then I bonded with them from working the class is generally for slightly higher-functioning student aides to pursue careers in special education.
with them every day.” students than those who are in enrolled in the SCB career in special education.
Wood’s story is hardly unique. Two or three former program. Initially, the class only had two students. Garner believes participation in the DH program
participants in Designated Hitters and Best Buddies Senior Alex Pellegrino, one of the first two students, increases the likelihood of a student choosing to pursue
are currently studying special education in college, and says he prefers the current class size, now at 21. special education as a career.
seven more seniors plan to pursue careers in special “Things now are better, because I like it when “I think they see a new side of teaching—some of
education as well, says Sutherland. other people go to my class,” he says. “I like to talk it’s academics; some of its functional academics,” she
This influx of students interested in teaching special to them.” says. “When they see those functional things, it seems
education comes at a good time. The U.S. Department Since Sutherland began the DH program, it has more personal and they see a side of teaching they don’t
of Education says that the number of special needs successfully helped students in both the LFI and SCB normally see in their classrooms.”
students is increasing at a faster rate than the general classes, Garner says. Many of the students involved in Designated Hitters
population. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also The DH program had a profound impact on Adele and Best Buddies attribute their success to Sutherland,
predicts that the need for special education teachers Carnemark (‘09), who is now majoring in special who was named Middle & High School Advisor of
will increase more quickly than the need for students education at James Madison University and plans to the Year in 2008, and to senior David Garrison,
entering other professions over the next decade. work with autistic elementary school students after she the Best Buddies chapter president, who has twice
Sutherland is glad that he’s been able to inspire graduates. Carnemark discovered her love of special been nominated for Chapter President of the Year in
students to pursue special education professionally and education sophomore year, she says, even before she Maryland.
says that many students would never have considered joined Best Buddies or Designated Hitters. “Sutherland doesn’t come across as teaching special
the special ed career option without the DH program. “People that know me really well call me a special ed students,” says senior Mikayla Turkewitz, who has a
“A lot of time people don’t find their niche in what ed geek,” she says. “I find it fascinating as much as I sibling in the special ed program. “His whole thing is
they want to do in life, and it’s great knowing that I can want to help.” to not baby the students, which is what some people’s
bring that out in them,” he says. “Hopefully, when they Passion seems to be a common trait among natural thought is.”
go into a teaching career they can do the same thing participants in the various special ed programs. When Best Buddies, meanwhile, has won numerous
for their class.” senior Aaron Williams first joined Best Buddies as a awards, including the 2007 award for best chapter in
Although student internships in the special ed freshman, he did so primarily as a way to get to know Maryland.
classes were available prior to Sutherland’s arrival, Sutherland, who coached him on the JV baseball “Since freshman year, I’ve seen and witnessed a
he suggested using the name Designated Hitters, a team. change,” Carnemark says. “Seeing [Sutherland] work
reference to the baseball player who hits in place of the “Since then, it’s just evolved into me loving the and takes away all those negative stereotypes for a lot
pitcher. The name originated at Walter Johnson high club,” he says, adding that he has been considering a of people, especially in this community.” 

Listservs: the new picket fence MCPS officials now

twittin’ like birds
By Rachel Nussbaum “Definitely, people are using it.”
Likewise, the Mohican’s network
The annoyingly cheerful neighbor gives neighbors an opportunity to
sticking her head over the fence to compare experiences with service
“chat” is an antiquated stereotype that’s providers, according to Kim Schifrin, By Rachel Lerner orchestra! All 10,000 second graders
usually found more on television than in a Whitman parent and moderator of visit Strathmore to hear the National
backyards.   But in some neighborhoods the site. It’s midnight. You’re filled with Philharmonic.”
the fence has been replaced by a list serv, “I think that most residents use it exciting promise of snow the next day. Sophomore Sarah Backenstoe,
as neighborhood news goes digital. to find recommendations for services,” You continue to refresh and refresh who follows the MCPS Twitter, thinks
Bethesda neighborhoods like River Schifrin says. “Most people will want the MCPS web page, hoping for the that even more students would follow
Falls, Fort Sumner and Mohican have people that they know their neighbors bold red letters to appear, declaring the page if the updates were less
created networks to facilitate easy have had.” “SCHOOL CANCELLED.” But the formal.
communication between neighbors. The River Falls chat network allows webpage stays unchanged. You fall “I think that if MCPS were to
They serve as digital town halls, a residents the chance to talk about asleep with your hand still grasping make their twitter more personable
place for residents to air comments everything from the best exterminator the mouse. Click. Click. Click. and less standardized, it would be
and concerns without the podium and t o s u s p i c i o u s i n c i d e n t s i n t h e This winter, MCPS hopes to more student friendly,” she said.
gavel. neighborhood. notify students and parents of snow Tofig credits MCPS online
“It brought us into the 21st century, “It’s a time-saver,” says Natalie days through a more immediate and expansion to the prior success of
finally,” Mary Sue Johnson, president of Mahdesian.  “It’s like an instantaneous convenient medium: Twitter. The both the MCPS website, which gets
the Sumner Citizens Association, says.  Y e l l o w P a g e s , b u t w i t h g o o d district officers already “tweets” about more than half a million hits a week,
“And we have all kinds of neighborhood references.” early release days and changes to and MCPS Quicknotes, an email
community news on it, as well as county However, some students say that school schedules. newsletter with more than 40,000
news and state and local news. And the network has become just another MCPS is just one school system subscribers.
information from the County Council, way for nosy parents to spy on their across the country that has added MCPS will assemble a group in
so we can let people know about those children. Facebook and Twitter to their arsenal the next few weeks of staff to look
kinds of events coming up.” “I think it’s a way for River Falls of communication tools. at other social media sites such as
Johnson says that in addition to moms to gossip about their kids,” senior “Students, parents, and staff are Facebook, and show how they can be
news, residents post recommendations Jonathan Daniels says. “It’s pretty busy and mobile during the day,” said used most efficiently for the county,
for certain service providers and much pointless.” Dana Tofig, director of the MCPS Tofig said.
requests for odd jobs. Parents have sent emails concerning Public Information Office. “They “[Online expansion] is not the
“Literally, within about twelve hours teenagers’ activities and whereabouts, often rely on their mobile devices future, it’s the present,” Tofig said.
she had thirty different emails,” says something Daniels considers more for information and updates, and we “We are doing more and more online
Johnson, talking about the responses gossipy chat than significant. want to make MCPS information as each year. It’s an exciting challenge to
to her daughter’s request after posting “It’s good for some things,” Daniels accessible as possible to them on the keep up with all the new technologies
her job qualifications on the network. says. “But not the part that’s like a devices they use most.” and tools that are available for
detective.” MCPS set up a Twitter account communications.”
Mahdesian says that although this past June and currently boasts Since the beginning of the year,
the network has been used for gossip over 1,500 followers, many of whom the media center has also had its own
occasionally, like one instance when are students. Twitter page. The media center has
neighborhood kids logged onto a family’s MCPS officers “tweet” about yet to post more than one tweet but
account and posted false rumors about everything from board meetings specialist Ginny Trulio said that they
people in the neighborhood, such posts and county-wide events to specific hope to expand their page by next
are uncommon. information about individual semester and attract new followers.
“I’m constantly checking my

“
“Some people tend to use it in schools.
a way to embarrass somebody, but One Nov. 18 “tweet” read, “Board phone throughout the day for updates
very rarely does that happen,” of Education to decide on facilities, on celebrities and friends that I
It’s like instantaneous Mahdesian says.  “I don’t read boundaries and capital improvements follow,” Backenstoe said. “It’s great
those emails.” tomorrow night at 7 p.m.” The next that I can check for school news at
yellow pages. Unlike those neighborhood day’s post read, “The thrill of the the same time.” 
-Natalie Mahdesian gossips who cornered residents

”
in the past, list servs let residents
Whitman parent decide if they want to be
included.
“You have the option of
just deleting them,” Mahdesian
says. 
december 16, 2009 Arts 21

Meet the Whitman Idols!

The Whitman Idols sound-off before their Jan. 27 performance. “I mainly want to have a good
“I hope that it will be a lot of “It’s a great way to get time. I don’t expect to win or
fun for those in it and those involved with music aside anything; I just want to see
watching” from the plays” other people’s talents”
- Senior Ellen Hoffman - Freshman Emma Keltetas - Sophomore Samantha Thurber

Keene plays drums for

School of Rock All-Stars
Band to embark on cross-country tour
by Sahil Ansari

Over winter break, while some

kids are visiting grandma’s or
photo courtesy SARAH TYSON hitting the ski slopes, sophomore
Hunter Keene will be in a slightly

Junior band performs at different locale – a tour bus.

As a drummer in the School of
Rock All-Stars program, Keene will
embark on a mini-tour at the end

Verizon Center, records album of December. The tour consists of

six shows at venues all across the
country, including ones in Illinois,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
By Julia Dane and Parissa and produced at Blue House Studios in New York and Baltimore, though
Jaseb Silver Spring. Park says that their music, Keene says these locations are
which she describes as soft rock with a subject to change.
Junior Sarah Tyson shifts her weight hint of jazz, is inspired by artists like KT The band he will play in rotates
as she steps up to the microphone, her Tunstall and Red Hot Chili Peppers. members depending on the song,
hair catching the light. As she and juniors Currently, the band is in the process with each musician getting to play
Emily Park, Adam Horin and Brett Horin of putting together a full-length album at least a couple of songs. Keene
begin singing the opening stanzas of the of original songs. Adam says that the will play mostly classic rock like
national anthem, hundreds of spectators band is drifting toward a new sound by Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Pink
rise to attention and everyone is still, incorporating piano, saxophone and Floyd.
save for the chestnut mare whisking its strings on their new album. Keene, who has been playing
tail at the side of the arena. It’s a late “We want to have edgier songs, so drums for five years, first joined
Paul Green’s School of Rock three photo courtesy HUNTER KEENE
October evening at the Verizon Center, you get to see a darker side of our music,” years ago when he wanted drum
and Whitman band, Edge of the Border, he adds. lessons. He currently goes to School show about every three months, Keene
is opening the 50th Annual Washington Edge of the Border says they’ve of Rock’s Silver Spring location, one of wanted to take his drumming to the next
International Horse Show. finished writing the album, but the 67 across the country. Every Thursday level.
“We were doing a gig in Bethesda and recording process has stalled due to lack he spends half of a three hour session “[The All-Stars] aren’t just local,” he
a woman came up to us and asked if we of funds. Money earned from gigs and the in a private lesson and the other half says. “You get to learn stuff about going
wanted to sing the national anthem at the album on iTunes will go towards studio rehearsing with the band, an experience on the road.”
event,” Park says, “It was really cool.” time, but due to the band members’ hectic he says builds teamwork. Keene has been going to Philadelphia
Park plays drums, Tyson sings, and schedules, gigs are few and far between. “It helps me learn how to work with every single weekend since September to
the Horin brothers, Adam and Brett, “We want to play more shows, like in other musicians and figure things out,” rehearse for the upcoming tour. Since
play guitar and bass respectively. Band front of Haagen-Daz,” Park says. “But it’s he says. several of the 20 All-Stars live in the DC
director Terry Alvey says each member hard right now because it’s junior year.” School of Rock, which was founded in area, Keene carpools every Saturday,
in the band is very skilled at his or her The band’s name was inspired by Philadelphia in 1998, gives kids of all ages making the commute slightly easier but
instruments. an encounter with a confused onlooker an opportunity to practice and play shows still time-consuming.
“They are extremely talented, during a gig, who thought they were with a real rock and roll band. According At first, the trips to Philadelphia were
classically trained musicians,” she says. playing in front of Borders instead of to its website, School of Rock aims “to put also the biggest deterrent for his mother,
them on stage in front of as many people Kathy Keene, who wasn’t looking forward
“They are always prepared, always Barnes and Nobles. The band thought to the long drives.
making contributions to the group. They the implication that they were playing on as possible and to help foster a new
generation of incredible musicians.” The “Once he got in [to the All-Stars]
are leaders.” “the edge” of Borders was funny enough I couldn’t say no,” she says. “I knew
students in the program play hundreds
While Adam writes the lyrics for most to incorporate into their namesake. of concerts a year in venues across the it would be an amazing experience to
of the bands songs, all of the members She adds that high school graduation country. tour.”
contribute to the band’s overall sound. won’t stop the band from jamming At the recommendation of the music Keene plans to continue with School
“It’s a collaborative effort,” Adam says. together. director, Keene auditioned this summer of Rock throughout high school and as of
“We all add our ideas to the songs.” “Everyone in the band is really for the prestigious School of Rock All- now, his drumming aspirations extend
Since their Verizon Center show- supportive of each other,” Park says. Stars, an elite sect of the School of Rock far beyond graduation.
opener in 2008, the band has released an “Even if we all go to different schools, program. “I wanna be a professional musician,”
EP on iTunes called “The Window.” The we will still get together when we come Though his involvement in the local he says instinctively. “For now that’s what
album has three original songs, recorded back.”  School of Rock branch meant playing a I’m gonna try to do.” 
22 arts december 16, 2009
Students use energy drinks
to replace sleep with sugar Hip-hop
By Sahil Ansari “Mother nature did
a great job with food,”
scene develops
in D.C.
Everyone in your house is asleep, but you’re stuck on Anding says. “Energy
page two of your six-page research paper that’s due the drinks are a manufactured
next day. As your eyelids begin to droop, you consider product geared towards
calling it a night. But then you reach for salvation in a business.”
shiny green can – Monster energy drink. One of the main
Despite the harmful side effects associated with
drinks like Red Bull, Rock Star and Doubleshot, they
ingredients in energy
drinks, in addition to Wale, XO weigh in on
have become a sugary alternative to getting a good night’s
sleep for high school students across the world.
Since energy drink production skyrocketed in 2006
caffeine, is taurine. The
Henry Ford Hospital study
showed that taurine was
hip-hop, D.C. culture
with the launch of over 500 different brands, the industry largely responsible for the
has grown almost 75 percent per year. By 2010 the energy increased heart rate in By Adam Glazer
drink business is expected to top $10 billion, according consumers.
to the Christian Science Monitor. For sophomore David For D.C., a city that has never had a distinct hip-
Junior Jiko Mendoza may be responsible for a solid Newman, a daily can of Red hop sound or prominent emcee before, 2009 has been
percentage of those sales. Mendoza, who became a fan Bull goes a long way in helping an exceptionally busy year.
of energy drinks in sixth grade, drinks two Red Bulls a him finish his homework on a “Attention Deficit,” released Nov. 3, is the debut
day – one “dose” in the morning for a pre-dawn kick and late night. album of D.C. - based emcee Wale, who performed
one in the evening to help him plow through homework “I get so much more done, at the 2009 BET Hip-Hop Awards and has a hit
and crash just in time for bed. and I can really stay focused,” single, “D.C. Chillin,” number 32 on the Billboard
“It gives you a ton of energy,” he says. “It’s basically he says. “If I drink one at nine, charts. In October, D.C. lyrical powerhouses XO, yU
like you’re on drugs but not really.” I can’t fall asleep until one or and Oddisee, who go by the name Diamond District,
Mendoza says that he has yet to experience any side two.” released their debut album, “In the Ruff,” which held
effects or health issues as a result of his twice-daily habit. He drinks Red Bull almost a top 10 spot for a week on iTunes. XO released his
Nevertheless, potential effects, like an increase in heart exclusively – not only because solo debut, “Monumental,” in June, which received
rate, are creating substantial controversy in the medical he likes the taste and claims over 40,000 downloads.
community. other drinks don’t work as well, Hip-hop originated in the south Bronx during
Roberta Anding, the dietician for the Houston Texans but because Red Bull’s extreme photo by SARAH KLOTZ the late 70s, when break-dancing, graffiti, DJ’ing,
football team, has found that teens use energy drinks sports endorsements make it more emceeing and street knowledge all came together to
like Red Bull, Vault and Jolt to try and get by without appealing. form the first hip-hop culture. Back in the day, hip-
the proper amount of sleep during the most stressful “Red Bull is at all the action sports events,” Newman hop was an integral part of the culture of the inner-
years of high schools. says. “They sponsor Motocross and all those crazy city working class youth and took root in African and
“High school students today are trying to do things.” Latino American neighborhoods.
everything and do it well to have a lovely resume,” The companies target adolescent males almost If you asked a hip-hop fan where to find a strong
Anding says. “Sleep is the only place where time can exclusively and give the drinks names like Monster and hip-hop scene, they’d probably direct you to New
be cut.” Jolt to market the “tough guy mentality,” Anding says. York, hip-hop’s birthplace; Atlanta, home of the
Although studies of the long-term effects of the “You rarely see an energy drink in a pink can,” she Braves, Falcons and “dirty south hip-hop”; or Los
drinks are inconclusive, Anding says that from her says. Angeles, the city of g-funk and gangsta rap But until
observations energy drink consumption can, in some Drinks like Red Bull contain 120 grams of caffeine recently, D.C. wouldn’t have made the list.
cases, make it almost impossible for users to sleep or per 12-ounce can – nearly four times the amount than in D.C. is better known as the founder of go-go, a
concentrate. Coca-Cola and two to three times as much as coffee. subgenre of funk that is often referred to as the “soul
Chugging energy drinks is no substitute for a good While some teens like Mendoza and Newman are of the city.” Other notable musicians who have hailed
night’s sleep and doesn’t do much to keep people alert unfazed by the drinks, others have noticed some negative from the capital include Chuck Brown, known as the
in the long run. While it does provide a temporary effects. “godfather of go-go,” Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye,
alertness, drinkers continuously down cans throughout Sophomore Collier Camp, who used to drink Red punk bands Bad Brains and Minor Threat and electro-
the day in an attempt to ward off fatigue and weariness, Bull once a day “just for fun,” decided to stop when the rockers Thievery Corporation.
Anding says. drink began to make him feel lazy. Large record companies initially dismissed hip-
And unlike coffee and tea, which have natural “I didn’t even get that much energy,” he says. “I’d hop as a fad, but finally caught on after songs like
antioxidants, energy drinks don’t come from a bean or a just feel awful afterwards.” “Rappers Delight” by Sugar Hill Gang, the first hip-
leaf. They are made from chemicals produced in a lab. And one mixture that supposedly makes teens feel hop single to become a top 40 hit, started to sell.
even more awful is the potent combination of energy Wale, a Quince Orchard (‘01) alum who recalls
drinks and alcohol. In November, these drinks caught playing football against Whitman, remembers
the attention of the FDA, who began an investigation growing up with hip-hop.
into the safety of these drinks. “It’s everywhere you look,” Wale says. “I just
“It’s really dangerous because the energy drink remember it being all around me.”While at Quince
makes you feel alert and makes you think you are less Orchard, Wale says he developed a talent and passion
drunk than you actually are,” Anding says. for emceeing.
Miller Brewing makes Sparks, and Anheuser-Busch “It’s like public speaking,” he says. “I was always
makes Tilt, both caffeinated drinks with higher amounts good at that – standing in front of a class, getting
of alcohol than beer. An alternative party drink is a their attention.”
“heart-attack” – vodka mixed with Red Bull. While “Attention Deficit” is Wale’s first studio
Anding’s advice for energy drink consumers is album, he has garnered much attention through
simple: “There’s no substitute for sleep. Do yourself a other songs and projects such as “The Mix-tape About
graphic by NEILL ROBERTSON favor – stop studying and get some sleep.”  Nothing” and collaborations with Kid Cudi, Gucci
Mane and Lady Gaga.

‘Leggo my Eggo!’
His 2007 hit, “Nike Boots,” which includes a
shout-out to Montgomery County, not only helped
boost Wale’s fame, but made Nike boots, officially
named Nike Air Max Goadomes, a trademark of D.C.
hip-hop.
By Hailey Siller XO acknowledges Wale’s success, but takes note
to differentiate himself, saying that he’s going to
Imagine a world without waffles. Many would say continue what he’s been doing.
that that’s no world at all. “I hope his album does well, but I’m in my own
Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn’t understand lane,” he says.
the concept of “Leggo My Eggo.” Kellogg’s Eggo waffle graphic by ELENA TOUMAYAN
XO started his rapping career in his teens by
bakery in Atlanta has flooded due to extreme weather participating in open mics and earning respect in
conditions this past fall, in addition to existing equipment experienced such very poor weather conditions affecting freestyle circles, known as ciphers, in the U-street
failures at their largest bakery in Tennessee. our harvest,” says Roz Ohearn, the Marketing and area around 1997.
Widespread response to this news has been nothing Communications Director of Nestle Prepared Foods XO plans to release his sophomore LP, “1-1-
short of outrage. Company. 10,” on the same date as the album title, which will
“There’s an Eggo Waffle shortage?!” freshmen He says tractors and other harvesting equipment be available for download on his label’s website,
Moriah Heaney exclaims. “I might not be able to make were unable to move through the fields and prepare studio43.com.
it through this week!” them for harvest, meaning that this year, some had to go Wale and XO have very different sounds, but both
What many students rely on to start their day right without the sole reason for celebrating Thanksgiving– are reflective of D.C. and offer different styles to the
has gone so, so wrong. But, rest assured, the product pumpkin pie. same genre.
will be available sometime before we’re dead. As a result of the shortage, Libby’s managers have “My sound is all over the place-soul influences,
“The Eggo team is working around the clock to decided to not ship anymore pumpkin pie mix and go-go influences, as well as more organic hip-hop,”
bring everyone’s favorite waffles back to store shelves as canned pumpkin products until 2010, when hopefully Wale says.
quickly as possible,” according to the Kellogg website. Mother Nature will take pity on the pumpkin-lovers of XO heavily emphasizes meaningful lyrics,
The team better get on it or they may have more than the world. something that is becoming more of an underground,
a few upset teens on their hands. “We hope she’s better to us next season, giving us a art as opposed to rapping about clothes and going
“Every day when I get home I find myself craving little less rain and a lot more sunshine, because we are to clubs.
some sort of delicious treat,” sophomore Ari Kapner already planning to plant even more acres of pumpkins,” “Thought-provoking lyrics come with thought-
says. “Usually what I’m searching for are frozen Eggo Libby’s staff says in an apology posted on their website. provoking topics,” XO says. “So it’s the message the
waffles!” “This way everyone can enjoy as many delicious pumpkin machine wants to push, not the music.”
According to National Public Radio, waffles are still dishes as they want!” When asked what comes to mind when they think
being produced at bakeries in San Jose, CA and Blue Without the trusty golden goodness of Kellogg’s about hip-hop, XO and Wale seem to agree on what
Anchor, NJ. Eggo waffles or Libby’s perfect pumpkin pies to snack hip-hop should be.
Angry Eggo fans will not be alone during this on, some students are not sure how they will make do “I think about expression, the capabilities of a
holiday season. Due to heavy rains in the Morton, IL with significantly less delectable alternatives. message through hip-hop,” XO says.
area, Nestle’s Libby’s pumpkins were not able to be “I am absolutely heartbroken,” junior Hannah “I think of heads nodding to the beat and poetry
harvested. Nowack says. “I will not be able to function without my – expressing yourself,” Wale says. 
“This is the first time in decades that we have daily Eggo chocolate chip waffle before school!” 
december 16, 2009 arts 23

The Decade in Entertainment

Top 10 movies of the decade
2005: Wedding Crashers
by Parissa Jaseb This lighthearted comedy tells the story of two friends (Owen
Wilson and Vince Vaughn) who show up to weddings uninvited in
2000: Gladiator order to score girls. Wilson and Vaughn make a great team; their
When Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridias (Russell charisma and chemistry are undeniable, and their comedic timing is
Crowe) is chosen over the emperor’s son to assume power as impeccable. Though overlooked by the Academy, “Wedding Crashers”
leader, the prince betrays the general and murders his family. is a crowd-pleaser that helped cement Wilson and Vaughn as comedy
The film incorporated great action scenes, with fighting, blood heavyweights.
and conflict, this movie kept viewers hooked on the screen. It’s  
no wonder this film won five Oscars.
  2006: Little Miss Sunshine
  Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of a 10 year old girl who dreams
of competing in a beauty pageant, and a not-so-average family, from
2001: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring a druggie grandfather to a suicidal uncle, who road trips to California
The first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy tells the story of a for a beauty competition. This film is full of dry humor, and audiences
hobbit named Frodo who must destroy a powerful but dangerous are guaranteed plenty of laughs, but this family is more than just
ring. Based off the popular book by J.R.R. Tolkien, this is one of dysfunctional. In the end, they come together to show what it truly
the best film adaptations ever. The trilogy racked up 17 Oscars means to be related.
 
in total and made over $1 million worldwide. 2007: No Country for Old Men
 
2002: Chicago When a typical man named Llewelyn Moss finds $2 million left
Through show tunes, elaborate sets and revealing costumes, behind after a drug deal goes wrong, he decides to take the money and
“Chicago,” tells the story of two showgirls, one already a star and the run. With a drug dealer/killer Anton Chigurh on his trail, he plays a
other who dreams of becoming one, who find themselves in jail for game of cat and mouse while police sheriff Ed Tom Bell always stays
murder. Jazzy songs like “Cell Block Tango” create an edgy but up- just one step behind.  This thriller won four Oscars, including one
beat tempo. “Chicago” won six Oscars including one for Catherine for best picture and does Cormac McCarthy’s critically acclaimed
Zeta-Jones’s fiery performance as murderess Velma Kelly. novel  justice.   
  2008: Slumdog Millionaire
2003: Pirates of the Caribbean:The Curse of the Black Pearl “Slumdog Millionaire,” a film that was shot in India and stars
The film, about a young blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) who falls no big-name actors, tells the story of an Indian boy, Jamal, as
in love with the governor’s daughter (Keira Knightly), has become an he competes for a million dollars on the Indian version of “Who
instant classic, popular among kids and adults alike. When the governor’s Wants to be a Millionaire?” Filled with snap shots of Jamal’s life,
daughter gets kidnapped by pirates, the blacksmith teams up with swash- the film depicts a harrowing and shockingly realistic account of life
buckling pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to save her. The film in impoverished India. The movie ultimately made $160 million
became a vast and popular franchise, churning out posters and Halloween worldwide and won eight Oscars, not bad for a film made for only
costumes, and making over $655 million worldwide. $1 million.
   
2004: Hotel Rwanda 2009: Where the Wild Things Are
Hotel Rwanda follows a Hutu hotel manager who rescues Tutsi The film, based on a children’s book by Maurice Sendak, tells
natives during the time of bloody and brutal genocide in Rwanda. the story of a young boy, Max, who feels misunderstood at home
This film is based on a true story, and the superb acting coupled and transports himself to a world of monsters and imagination.
with the powerful story reaches across time and age divisions. Director Spike Jonze (87’) turns this short story into a two hour
Accordingly, “Hotel Rwanda” was nominated for three Oscars. long film, giving each character emotions and personality, allowing
both adults and children to fall in love with the characters and the
  film in general.

Collectors’ items: albums of the year since 2000

by Julia Dane

2000: All That You Can’t Leave Behind by U2 2005: Late Registration by Kanye West
It really was a beautiful day when U2 released All That After a slew of unimaginative lyrics and dry albums, the
You Can’t Leave Behind. After years of experimentation with rap scene seemed to be falling into a slump. But Kanye’s Late
different genres like electronic, U2 found its niche on the Registration redeemed rap with instant hits like “Gold Digger”
airwaves with pop. Led by strong singles “Beautiful Day” and and “Hey Mama.” The album was a triumph in versatility,
“Elevation,” the album was able to accomplish one of the most showing off Kanye’s wit and political savvy while also revealing
difficult tasks in the music business: pleasing the critics, the his sensitive side.
old fans and the new fans simultaneously.

2001: Love and Theft by Bob Dylan 2006: Continuum by John Mayer
Never before had the music scene seen so many genres It’s no secret that John Mayer had (okay, still has) a bit of an
packed into one album than on Bob Dylan’s Love and Theft. ego problem, but with the release of Continuum, he at least had
After a decade passed without him producing a new song, something to back it up. By intelligently fusing blues, R&B and
Dylan released Love and Theft as his comeback album. Not pop, Mayer produced an album that validated his reputation
only did he exceed expectations, but he did it while using for being a thoughtful, gifted musician, and proved him to be
less popular styles like folk and blue-grass (impressive) more than just a pretty face for girls to swoon over.
and singing about Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (super
impressive). 2007: Kala by M.I.A.
For M.I.A.’s Kala, the term “sophomore slump” didn’t
2002: Sea Change by Beck apply. The Sri Lankan rapper brought back the infectious,
Considering that Beck wrote Sea Change after breaking chaotic beats from her successful debut album that have
up with his longtime girlfriend, it could have easily turned become her signature, and the results are surprisingly fresh,
into a mopey, self-absorbed mess. But though Beck crooned giving fans even more to satisfy their appetites for the neon-
mostly in monotone, the acoustic guitar and soft vocals created wearing rapper’s electronic beats and cheeky lyrics.
a bleakly beautiful album.

2008: Viva la Vida by Coldplay

2003: Elephant by White Stripes With Viva la Vida, Coldplay set themselves apart from
White Stripes did everything right in Elephant. The rock the overflowing pool of rock bands by creating a completely
duo, while staying true to its Led Zeppelin-inspired retro style, unexpected album. Considered the band’s “experimental”
flawlessly fused different genres, from the smashing guitar riffs album, Viva la Vida incorporated exotic instruments like the
of rock to blues piano chords. The album didn’t have much Persian santur, a trapezoid-shaped instrument with 96 strings.
competition in this reporter’s book, up only against Justin The album was greeted with critical and commercial success,
Timberlake’s Justified, a popular but unjustified debut into with hits like the title track and “Violet Hill” dominating the
the world of solo artists. airwaves.

2004: American Idiot by Green Day 2009: Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal
On American Idiot, Green Day produced something that Collective
isn’t ordinarily seen on an album but nevertheless proved This year, Animal Collective created an album some
effective: a story line that smoothly connects all the songs. might interpret as weird and difficult to understand. But in
Plus, the album covered the country’s political failures during contrast to the sea of pop and dance albums released this
the George W. Bush era, and who doesn’t like to bash (or listen year, Merriweather Post Pavilion was innovative. By fusing
to people bash) the president who brought us No Child Left psychedelic sounds, bursts of noise, whining vocals and a
Behind and the Iraq War. variety of instruments and textures, the band invented a
distinctive style that couldn’t be placed in any specific genre.
24 Arts december 16, 2009

The first flakes of this school year fell

earlier in the week, an official indication
that winter has arrived. As we move
farther into the month of December and the
winter solstice approaches, days become
shorter and the darkness of night becomes
nearly omnipresent. Many students arrive
before the crack of dawn and leave after
the sun has set. And while this might
seem depressing to some, think of it as just
another reminder that winter break is right
around the corner and yet another year
is coming to an end. Endings lead to new
beginnings, and the end of 2009 means the
beginning of a whole new decade. It also
means the end of the era in which many of
us grew up and the beginning of a whole
new chapter of our lives.

photos by KEEGAN BARBER

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