By Stacey Wells ’15 In wake of the recent Baltimore police scandal in which a 25 year old black male suffered a spinal cord injury while in police custody and died, many citizens have bypassed peaceful protests in exchange for violent riots. They shattered store-front windows, threw rocks and bottles, pummeled police cars, and attempted to sabotage firefighters putting out … Read More
By Zach Stubblefield ’15 We have been raised to see police as the pillars and protectors of our community. So it is pretty jarring when we see them killing unarmed people. How can one feel safe when the people who have been tasked with protecting them have been killing unarmed men? More so what should they do when their voices … Read More
By Betselot Wondimu ’15 In 2008, when Barack Obama told the country that his “whole campaign has been premised from the start on the idea that we have to fundamentally change how Washington works,” people believed him, especially because his campaign reflected that sentiment. He convinced millions of skeptical citizens that the American system could be transformed internally, and his … Read More
By Julia Gajewski-Nemes ’15 In recent years, skepticism over standardized testing has grown tremendously. While its original intent was to determine student achievement and progress in the core content areas of mathematics, reading and writing then hone in on students struggling in these areas, standardized testing has become unreasonably emphasized in American school systems and, in turn, schools have become … Read More
Fraternities have long been a staple of college life, but have recently come under fire due to multiple scandals. University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon was videotaped singing a racist song, members of Penn State’s Kappa Delta Rho posted nude pictures of unconscious women in a Facebook group and a University of Maryland’s Kappa Sigma member wrote an email that … Read More
By Maya Koeppen ’17 As the music festival season kicks off this spring, an increasingly popular trend emerges again in festival fashion and this time its opponents have decided to speak out. The trend of bindi, henna, and other bohemian fashion statements was recently spotted at the annual Coachella music festival and immediately sparked backlash from South Asian women across … Read More
By Samantha Schwartz ’16 Most high school students’ schedules are jam-packed, and it is always difficult to fit in required courses such as an art or STEM credit. Luckily students have the opportunity to take one required credit online, Comprehensive Health Education, like I did. For six weeks in February and March I took MCPS’ online version of the health … Read More
By Madison Dymond ‘16 We’ve all seen those movies about high school life that highlight social cliques. There are usually jocks, popular girls, nerds and all the other stereotypical groups. It goes without saying that Hollywood definitely exaggerates high school, but there’s one overall fact that films got right. Many people may deny it, but there are definitely cliques at … Read More
By Gianna Bartolini ‘15 When you’re a high school freshman, it is very easy to imagine the future and think that you know the way your life will turn out. If grades are what you base this on, it may be possible, but on a social and emotional level, it will not be the case. As a senior, looking back … Read More
What issues should be highlighted next year? How can the new superintendent incorporate student voices more effectively? What can the new superintendent learn from Starr? MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr announced his resignation after having served three-and-a-half years. While Starr may have had his detractors, there is no doubt that he had to deal with a lot of issues. If the … Read More