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October 26, 2009 Walt whitman High school 7100 whittier boulevard Bethesda, maryland 20817 theblackandwhite.net

Inside Look
DEBATE TEAM ROCKS THE BRONX
NEWS by jamie norwood
Rustling their papers
restlessly the 11 other delegates
in the final “round robin” flit
their eyes nervously toward
the judges panel. The tension
is so thick you could cut it
with a knife. Finally senior
Ben Lewis hears his name and
walks out of the room with
the top speaker prize, adding
to the numerous awards the
debate team scooped up at
the tournament.
Debaters traveled to New
York City Oct. 16 for one of the
most prestigious tournaments
in high school debate, The Big
Bronx Invitational. They stole
the show, snagging multiple
awards and beating out 99
other schools to win the Team
Sweepstakes Championship.
“We know how to get rid of
the nerves and go out there to
do our thing,” Lewis says.
Seniors Perry Green and
Emily Massey were declared
co-champions of Lincoln-
Douglas debate, a one on one
type of debate that focuses
on philosophical issues.
This is only the fourth tie in
the 40-year history of the
tournament.
Massey had high hopes for
the weekend and was pleased
with the outcome.
“I wouldn’t say that I expected
to win; there were 178 debaters,”
she says. “Mathematically it
was unlikely, but winning was
the goal. It was very surprising
to actually do it. Being a co-
champion made the victory even
better.”
see DEBATE page 2

E! host Giuliana Rancic (‘92) Universities

Cell phone companies expand
their coverage in Metro stations. Pg.3

OPINION
returns to film reality TV show crack down
$50 billion
by Ryan Hauck
on ‘obscene
The amount a tax on sugar could net over
10 years, according to the CBO.
PRO/CON Pg. 4
Giuliana Rancic (’92),
the host of E! News, excited
students and faculty alike
material’
when she paid a visit to her
alma mater on Oct. 12 to film Explicit Towson newspaper
IN-DEPTH a segment for her reality show
column and UMD porn
“Giuliana and Bill” and talk to
Black & White and yearbook
students.
screening raise concerns
Production and camera
crew began to pour into the by nikhil gupta
Pg. 10 building as seventh period
ended, prompting hushed Recent events at Maryland universities
FEATURE conversations and quizzical including sex advice columns and
glances from passing students. pornography screenings have brought
Others reacted less subtlety, the issue of student free speech into the
like a visiting parent who limelight.
exclaimed, “This is so freaking Carrie Wood, editor-in-chief
exciting! I’m never in the of Towson University’s independent
right place at the right time.” newspaper, the Towerlight, resigned
Rancic entered the lobby from her post Oct. 2 after a humorous sex
as the eighth period bell rang, advice column caused major controversy
greeted the excited parent, and among students and staff.
headed for the office, where “The Bed Post” was a regular column
Life as a twin: it’s like looking in a she was met by principal Alan
mirror all the time. Pg. 7 in the paper that gave students sexual tips
Goodwin, who escorted her and advice. Written by an anonymous
around the building. female journalist under the pen name
ARTS As the two made their “Lux,” the series has been running in the
way to room B-212, Rancic

“
paper on Mondays since the beginning of
I hope to show work in multiple
galleries in NYC, but we’ll see what
“ inquired about lockers, the
football team, the school’s
the fall semester. With titles like “How to
Make the Feeling Mutual” and “Tonight’s
happens. ranking in US News and Gonna Be a Good Night…,” the column
-Antonia Mazuranic (‘06) World Report and her former consistently contained explicit and
Pg. 14 teachers. Math teacher Susan graphic content.
Wildstrom, was among the “If her legs tense and her toes point
names Rancic mentioned.
SPECTATOR “I would love to see Mrs.
and she forgets to breathe, please keep
doing exactly what you’re doing,” Lux
Wildstrom,” Rancic said. wrote in one piece entitled “Tips and
“I want to know if she still Tricks to Make Her Smile.”
remembers me. We used to While many students considered
drive her crazy.” the column helpful and entertaining,
Football playoff some administrators felt that it was
system evaluated. see RANCIC page 9 inappropriate and so they initiated efforts
photo courtesy ARIESHA WIKRAMANAYAKE, YEARBOOK to cease its production.
Pg. 18
E! news anchor Guiliana Rancic (‘92) visited journalism University President Robert L. Caret
students on Oct. 12 to film a segment for her reality show. first expressed his concerns in a formal
letter to the editor, in which he stated that

Ramon De Paula embodies Viking spirit
by Will Brownlee
Few people know who he is or how he
came to lead the football team onto the
field every Friday, but everyone who has
seen a Whitman football game has seen
Ramon De Paula.
De Paula (’03), who has Down
Syndrome, first joined the team as
manager in the fall of 1999 while Dean
Swink was coach. He has been an integral
part of the team ever since, acting as a
manager, coach and motivator.
“I like coaching the team, making a
big difference,” he says.
By the time Jim Kuhn became head
coach in 2007, De Paula had long been
an important part of Viking football. De
Paula’s positive attitude and dedication
immediately struck Kuhn as something
special.
“He is an inspiration to all the kids,”
he says. “He always looks on the brighter
side of things, even if things aren’t going
the way we would hope them to. It’s a
the column was unnecessary and reduced
the merit of the paper as a whole.
“Sex as a topic is one thing, but tabloid
journalism is not what we should be
offering our readership,” he wrote. “You
great thing to have him out there for
must decide if you want to succeed and
us.”
distinguish yourselves or give in to such
De Paula has been passionate about
non-journalism.”
sports since a young age, notes his
Caret met with Wood soon after writing
mother, Haydee De Paula. In high school
the letter, and after a long discussion
he wanted to be involved as much as
about the column, Wood left with “good
possible, so he started by putting away
feelings.” Wood was then shocked to wake
equipment in his freshman P.E. class,
up on the morning of Sept. 30 to find that
where he met Swink. The two developed
Caret had emailed her personal address,
a bond, and Ramon approached Swink
pressuring her to remove the column
about managing the team.
from print. Caret included the university
“I was turning in a health form for
lawyer as a recipient of the email and
my older son, who was on cross country,
wrote in a “bullying” and “threatening”
and the gym was full of football players,”
tone, according to Woods.
Haydee says. “Ramon saw Mr. Swink in
“That’s really what bothered me,” she
the crowd; Ramon went over to him and
said. “It seemed like a personal attack.”
returned and said, ‘Mom I’m the football
The paper became fully independent
manager,’ and that’s how it started.”
in 2003, after disagreements over a
His mother initially worried about a
similar column called “Between the
lack of supervision, but was assured De
Sheets.” Even though the Towerlight
Paula would be in good hands.
remains the main paper for the university,
“After the first game I didn’t worry
the school’s only official connection is as
anymore; he was part of it,” she says. photo by SILVIA TURK
an advertiser.
Ramon De Paula and Ameed Nsouli
see DE PAULA page 19 see SEX COLUMN page 6
conference on the sidelines at a recent game .
2 News
Peoples
Road repairs disturb commuter traffic Dirt back
online after
by Stephanie Haven           
Despite the county’s promise to maintain only minor
shutting
traffic delays, drivers in the community have complained
about sitting in traffic along Bradley Boulevard during rush
hour without moving for several minutes.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation
down
began resurfacing Huntington Parkway, which runs from
Bradley Boulevard to Old Georgetown Road, in an ongoing
project that started Aug. 17.
To improve the conditions of Huntington Parkway,
construction staff continue to work on the road during
weekdays posing possible traffic and transportation problems,
although the DOT predicted only minor traffic delays. The
county also warned residents that construction is noisy and
disruptive.
“I know that I sat at one light for like 10 minutes without
moving,” senior Andrew Dahreddine said. “The construction
workers take forever to let cars through. They should be doing
the construction at night.”
The county created a Pavement Management System in
2008 to determine what kind of repair work are necessary for
different levels of damaged roads. The system was created as
part of this county’s pavement preservation efforts.
Roads in good condition receive pavement sealing; roads
in fair condition receive a new top layer of asphalt; and roads
in poor condition require reconstruction and resurfacing. The
county expects that the resurfaced roads will last about 20
years before another resurfacing is necessary.
Next spring, construction crews from Division of Highway
Whitman debate sweeps at Big Bronx
continued from page 1 controversy last year when a former
In Congress, a form of debate in which students advocate
for assigned bills, junior Ross Slaughter took second place while
senior Jessica Sheehan took fourth place.
Debate coach Anjan Choudhury says he couldn’t be happier
with the results.
“I was surprised that we won everything all together just
because I’ve never seen a team do that before,” he says.
Choudhury says his debaters should be getting all the credit
for their wins.
“I’ve been so busy working with the first-year students,” he
explains. “And they didn’t even go to this particular tournament!
I don’t deserve any credit for this; it’s 100 percent them.”
Despite her coach’s modesty, senior Sarah Houston says his
contributions have been invaluable to the team.
“Anjan literally spends his life doing this kind of stuff,” she
says. “Our awards are just a testament to his time. He cares
about us so much.”
Houston won the championship in Public Forum, a two-on-
two debate that focuses on persuasive argument, with senior
Rachel Umans. However, Houston says she had entered the
tournament with much lower expectations.
“This was my first time debating with Rachel,” she says. “We
had never debated together – not one round. It was awesome
to win because in the type of debate we did two girls had never
won.”
Houston says the debaters are still riding the high from
their win.
“It was totally a team effort,” she says. “Our entire team,
the entire time. This kind of stuff never happens. It was an
amazing feeling.” 
Go to theblackandwhiteonline.net for a full list of
winners. Seniors Emily Massey and Perry Green (above) were named
MLA citation rules change with the times
by Rachel Lerner
Since former Whitman teacher Amy M. Kleppner first
published her “Research Paper Procedure” manual in [] it
has become a necessity for every English student. Each year,
students consult their manuals for citation guidelines, ensuring
that they don’t accidently plagiarize.
But the copy of the manual most students purchased
freshman year is now outdated. The Modern Language
Association released updated work citing guidelines in the
seventh edition of the “MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers”, April 8 – the first major change in citation regulations
since 2003.
The most dramatic changes include the elimination of URLs
for web citations and underlining for published works. MLA has
also added the name of the publication medium to the end of
every citation. For example, “Print,” will be included at the end
of every book citation.
MLA no longer recognizes print as the default medium of
sources, marking a great milestone in the evolution of online
research, according to the MLA website.
Media center specialist Ginny Trulio expects new and
updated research manuals to arrive in November. In the
meantime, Trullio has been passing out the new guidelines to
every English class she meets with.
Students can find the new guidelines online at http://owl.
english.purdue.edu and http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/
citmanage/mla. The popular citing tool, Noodlebib (www.
noodlebib.com), has also updated its guidelines.
Huntington Parkway
Shaded section around Huntington Parkway marks construction zone
Services will resurface Seven Locks Road at night to minimize
interference with the comparatively higher level of traffic than
that on Huntington Parkway.
Later this fall, the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act, as part of the federal economic stimulus package, will
fund projects across the country to improve highways, roads
and provide jobs.
“It’s a good program for putting people back to work,” said
Randy Paugh, chief of the Pavement Management Section for
the DHS, in an interview. “It’s not just about fixing roads. You’re
taking people that would normally not have a job and putting
them back to work.”
The federal government will send an outline to the county
that designates what kinds of projects they are allowed to use
the funds for.  
photo by SARAH HOUSTON
photo courtesy
co-champions, while senior Ben Lewis (below) won the “Round Robbin.”
Old MLA works cited:
Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The
Angel Experiment. New York: Little,
Brown 2005.
New MLA works cited:
Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Angel
Experiment. New York: Little, Brown,
2005. Print.
graphic by NEILL ROBERTSON
Despite the availability of online resources, English resource
teacher Beth Rockwell suggests that every student purchase a
new research manual.
“I think the way the manual has been put together is very
beneficial for kids on how to cite information,” she said. “I would
totally encourage purchasing one.” 
October 26, 2009
Despite efforts last year
to shut down website’s
funding, creators
renewed efforts to host
web forum
by James Dionne
Peoplesdirt.com is back, asking
students the familiar question: “Got
Dirt?”
The controversial website re-launched
after Maryland Attorney General Doug
Gansler shut it down last spring.
“The guy who runs the site said that
he would re-open the site with a Russian
server,” Gansler said. “I’m not sure if
that’s how the site is up again, though.”
The forum created national
Whitman student made death threats
against assistant principal Jennifer
Webster and several students on the site.
There were also many negative and hostile
threads concerning specific students.
The site’s content spans all grade
levels and impacts a wide variety of
people. One sophomore said that she
couldn’t avoid references to posts on the
site about herself.
“People would always bring it up
and talk about it,” she said. “And no one
believes you when you say something
isn’t true.”
Despite some people’s negative
experiences, others think that students
are overreacting. One junior, who plans
to continue using the site, noted that
people take what’s posted on the site too
seriously.
“Obviously it’s going to be damaging
to some people’s psyche, but they really
shouldn’t take stock in it,” he said.
Last spring, Gansler worked to
close the site without violating the First
Amendment rights of the site’s owner.
He tried to cut off the site’s resources and
force it offline.
“We went to the companies who
advertised on the site and alerted them
to cyber-bullying and threats that were
BEN LEWIS being made on the site,” he said. “Most
advertisers were horrified to be on the site
and immediately withdrew their ads.”
Gansler then contacted the site’s
host, GoDaddy.com, and convinced the
company to terminate its relations with
Peoplesdirt.com because of contractual
violations. People’s Dirt claimed to be
an “educational bulletin board” in their
contract with GoDaddy, but Gansler
contended that the site was simply a
forum for gossip.
Gansler had to work around the First
Amendment issues involved with shutting
down a public forum. However, libel
laws can apply to the Internet as well,
according to Julie M. Carpenter, a partner
at Washington law firm Jenner and Block.
She writes a journal on Internet law and
practice.
“The Internet is subject to similar
restrictions applied to anyone,” Carpenter
said. “If you put content on the Internet,
you’re responsible for that content.”
Gansler said that he would once again
work to take down the site, but he doesn’t
think that will be necessary. The site no
longer has advertising revenue, so he
thinks it will eventually just run out of
money.
Despite his success in shutting down
the site once, Gansler notes that Internet
policing is repetitive and tedious.
“Controlling the Internet is like a
game of whack-a-mole,” he said. “You
hit it one place, and it pops back up in
another.” 
October 26, 2009 News 3

Dismal international rankings prompt

changes to math, English curricula
Common Core Standards Initiative tries to improve US student test
scores in math and English through national guidlines
by Rachel Lerner
Metro expands
Ever since the U.S. placed 14 th

internationally in math achievement, behind

countries such as Australia and Canada,
legislators have been looking for a program
to replace the No Child Left Behind Act of
2001. Educators and critics widely consider
it a failed attempt to raise the country’s
math achievement to an internationally
competitive level.
Cue the Common Core State Standards
Initiative, which state officials hope will put
the U.S. back in the running.
The CCSSI develops universal standards
in English and math instruction for
kindergarten through grade 12.
“As state school chiefs, we have been
discussing and building momentum for
state-led, voluntary common standards
that are both rigorous and internationally
benchmarked for the past two years,” said
the Council of Chief State School Officers
president Ken James in a press release.
The initiative started when international results
showed that, despite national acts such as NCLB,
American teenagers lagged behind teenagers in other
industrialized countries.
“States came to us and said they were ready [for
a change],” CCSSO communications directors Kara
Schlosser said.
Maryland was one of the first states to join CCSSI,
said Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for the Maryland
Department of Education.
“None of the national legislation has ever worked,”
he explained.
The first draft outlines the career and college
readiness standards and can be found at corestandards.
org.
“This is phase one of the project,” Schlosser said.
“We are using them as goalposts. When you graduate
NEILL ROBERTSON
graphic by
from high school, these are the standards that you have
to be able to have reached to be able to get a job or get
into college.”
English standards cover reading, writing, speaking
and listening skills. Math standards cover precision, logic,
solving complex problems, organization, consistency and
using technology. Standards will be grade-specific.
“Starting out in kindergarten, you’re ultimately
developing and moving towards the college and career
readiness goalposts,” Schlosser explained
Reinhard said it’s too early to say how Maryland will
implement the standards. “Everything is still up in the
air,” he said.
A validation committee of national and international
education experts is currently editing the standards,
which will be ready for adoption by 2010. 
cellphone coverage
photo by SARAH KLOTZ
by James Dionne
Dropped cell phone calls in the DC Metro
may soon be a thing of the past. The Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority began
expanding cellular network coverage to 20 of the
busiest Metro stations Oct. 16, and plans to extend
service to the entire metro system, including
tunnels, by 2012.
The change will allow Metro riders on all cell
phone carriers, including AT&T, Sprint Nextel and
T-Mobile, to get service in stations. Previously,
only Verizon customers could send or receive calls
in stations.
The transit agency agreed to expand coverage
last year as part of a funded mandate from Congress.
The agency had to extend the network in order to
secure $1.5 billion in federal funding.
“The expansion is partially because of the federal
requirement and partially because it’s something
the customers have asked for,” she said. “We see it
as both a convenience and safety issue.”
Many riders have already taken advantage
of the improved cell phone signals. Sam Olchyk,
parent of senior Ross Olchyk, takes the Metro to
work everyday and noticed the better reception on
his Verizon phone this week.
“Even in the short period since the new
policy went into effect, I have used my phone and
blackberry to communicate with clients and family
without having to wait until exiting the Metro
station,” he said.
Some local stations, including Bethesda,
Friendship Heights and Gallery Place will see an
immediate increase in service. The transit authority
plans to extend network coverage to all 47 stations
by Oct. 2012. 

The Suburban Hospital Human Motion Institute®

Announces
Free Sports Injury Screening Clinics
Screenings provided by sports medicine physicians for athletes (over age 6)
and other active adults

WHEN:
Saturdays, 9 am to 11 am in October and November (walk in only; no appointments).
Check www.suburbanhospital.org/HMI for updates to the schedule.

LOCATION:
Suburban Hospital
8600 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, Maryland
Physical Therapy Department (4th floor)

REQUIREMENTS:
Consent to screen must be filled out by all participants. Minors must be accompanied
by parent or guardian and have consent signed by parent or guardian.

For more information, go to

www.suburbanhospital.org or call 301-896-MOVE
SB-1686
4 Opinion October 26, 2009

SUGAR TAX?
PRO CON
By Jess Littman drinks—10 percent—would lead to an eight By Beatriz Forster Linking soft drinks to obesity
to 10 percent decrease in consumption of oversimplifies the problem. Reuters,

P resident Obama, with support

from other major politicians,
has suggested adding a tax on soda and
other sugary drinks to his healthcare
reform program. The tax is intended to
combat obesity by making drinks high
in sugar and calories more expensive.
It would also provide more healthcare
funds for those who already suffer from
obesity, diabetes and other diet-related
problems. Congress should include the
sugar tax in healthcare reform because
it will combat nutrition-related medical
problems without substantial negative
implications.
The minimum suggested tax, three
cents per 12 ounces of soda, could raise
up to $50 billion in 10 years, according to
Congressional Budget Office estimates.
This miniscule price increase would
hardly burden consumers, and it would
provide an important source of revenue
for new healthcare programs.
Dieticians and economists estimate
that an even larger increase in the
price of soda and other sugary
these unhealthy beverages. Sugary drinks
may be one of the top causes of obesity,
and obesity can lead to heart disease
and type two diabetes. With the new
tax, money spent on products that cause
health problems will go towards solving
those problems. While the small price
increase probably won’t cause a large
decrease in consumption, the money
collected will be an important addition to
funds for health care legislation.
Opponents maintain that the tax will
not raise enough money to fully fund
healthcare. However, the costs associated
with healthcare reform are skyrocketing,
and the sugar tax will raise billions that
will certainly contribute.
An article published in the New
England Journal of Medicine by several
doctors and dieticians on the benefits of
the sugar tax estimates that revenue from
the federal tax could approach $15 million
in the first year. Additional state taxes
could raise up to $1 billion in the states
where consumers spend the most on
these beverages.
Consumption
of high-sugar
drinks leads to
obesity, which
can lead to heart
disease and type
two diabetes.
Congress should
implement the
sugar tax, which
would be a
small price
to pay to
improve
nationwide
health. 
S ince R-rated movies are
inappropriate, the government
should tax movie tickets to deter people
from acting unlawfully. So the argument
goes for the newly-proposed soda tax. The
Obama administration says that by taxing
soda by one to three cents, people would
be deterred from purchasing it, which
would cause the obesity rate to go down.
Although proponents of “sin taxes”
like those on alcohol and cigarettes may
say that the taxes are justified because
bystanders suffer from the effects, this
doesn’t hold true for soda. Drinking soda
isn’t detrimental to others, and, frankly,
consumers should continue to be able to
make their own decisions about what they
choose to purchase. People who drink
soda already know that it’s unhealthy and
could hardly think otherwise after seeing
the nutrition facts required on every can
of sugary delight.
Perhaps the most alarming part of the
soda tax is that it would limit consumer
choice and go against the capitalist
equation the American economy is
based on. It would be more expensive
to purchase desired products like soda
simply because the government thinks
that it for “unhealthy.”
Apart from the fact that I would rather
choose my own beverages than follow
the recommendations of Washington
politicians, the argument that soda taxes
would improve American health by
lowering obesity rates just isn’t true. For
example, West Virginia has had excise
taxes on soda since 1950 and Arkansas
has had them since 1992, yet the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention rank
both states among the nation’s 10 most
obese states.
citing the Journal of the American
Dietetic Association and Beverage Digest,
says that U.S. sales of carbonated soft
drinks fell 3 percent last year, the lowest
rate since 1997, yet obesity rates continue
to rise. According to the New York Times
about 30 percent of adults are obese.
The proposed soda tax is also too
minimal to be effective. The Mercatus
Center for Public Policy at George Mason
University concluded that soda would
need to have a 1,200 percent tax on it,
making the beverage cost a whopping $9
per can. This price tag would certainly set
a precedent for most expensive edible,
artificial mixture.
Many of soda’s biggest fans are among
low and middle-income Americans
already struggling in the recession. The
Congressional Research Service issued a
report this summer that over 70 percent
of soda tax costs in the first year would
be paid by those earning less than
$91,297 annually. Americans are already
having trouble making ends meet and
burdening them further with a futile tax
is irrational.
The soda tax evidently isn’t about
promoting obesity awareness or about
solving real issues at hand; rather, it
seems that this is a hollow plan for
funding healthcare reform based on the
ridiculous notion that unhealthy items
should be taxed in order to “reduce”
obesity. Obesity wouldn’t cease to be a
problem, nor would a soda tax fill the
funding gap for healthcare. At the end
of the day, the government will probably
be contemplating imposing another
so-called “sin-tax” to pay for the rest of
healthcare, maybe this time on R-rated
movies. 

Guidance should advise students early on about SAT, ACT, SAT II

By Molly Kaplowitz
Guidance counselors need to be more proactive
about advising students, starting from their freshman
year, about the standardized tests they will take
throughout high school. Counselors should advise
students about which subject tests to take and when;
how subject tests pertain to the college application
process, and the difference between the SAT and the
ACT.
In February every year, guidance counselors talk to
juniors about the SATs. By this time it’s often too late.
Students could’ve taken courses freshman or sophomore
year that they didn’t know had corresponding SAT II
subject tests. Students have also already determined
their junior year schedules, not realizing the courses
they signed up for might not lend themselves to any of
the subject tests. This disadvantages students who now
have to take two or more subject tests months or even
years after they took the corresponding course.
If counselors were to meet with each year’s
freshman parents to discuss the subject tests, students
and parents alike would be better informed. At the end
of sophomore year and again at the beginning of junior
year, guidance counselors should explain differences in
the ACT, SAT, and SAT subject tests to students as well
as suggest methods to prepare for the various tests that
students may not be aware of.
The SAT involves alot of reading, math, and writing,
whereas the ACT focuses on grammar and reading,
higher-level math, and includes a science section.
Currently, guidance counselors use their students PSAT
scores to gauge which test — the ACT or the SAT- is
better fit. To further help students make this tough
choice, the guidance department should samples of each
test to help students decide which to take.
Waiting until the middle of junior year to talk to
students about their options is not very helpful. By this time
many students have had to choose between the ACT’s and
SAT’s because there are only so many days the tests
are given. Because many schools don’t require SAT
II’s with the ACT’s and vice versa, students have to
ensure they have time to take every test needed for
their applications. Furthermore, students can only take
so many tests on the same date – already the process
is overwhelming.
At the end of sophomore year and again at the
beginning of junior year, guidance counselors should
explain differences in the ACT, SAT, and SAT subject
tests, as well as suggest preparation methods students
may not have been aware of.
With the assistance of their guidance counselor,
students will gain better insight on which tests to take
and when to take them, without the stress. Counselors
suggestions will help steer students toward better
decisions regarding this tough process. 

Volume 48, Issue 3

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.
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PRINT EDITION ONLINE EDITION
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In-Depth Editors Danielle Bloch Arts Writers Kristin Baglien Online Opinion Writer Alana Neuman
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Stewart Longsworth
october 26, 2009 opinion 5

Limiting discussion of sex ultimately hurts students

By Kevin Hoogstraten
One-night stands, phone sex and
campus hookup hotspots. Not exactly
your typical school newspaper fare, but
“Lux,” an anonymous columnist for
the Towerlight, Towson University’s
independent student newspaper, covered
these issues and more in her column,
“The Bed Post,” until the column was
moved online two weeks ago. Carrie
Wood ended up resigning as editor-in-
chief of the paper after clashing with
Towson President Robert Caret, who
found Lux’s articles inappropriate for a
student newspaper. Unfortunately for
Caret, the Towerlight is published by
Baltimore Student Media, a non-profit
run by alumni, students and professors
that has no affiliation with Towson. Thus,
Caret and administrators had no right to
interfere with their publication.
After the Towerlight ran a Bed Post
piece on how to pleasure a man without
intercourse, Caret wrote a letter to the
editor expressing his disappointment with
the column. This was a perfectly acceptable
way for him to voice his views, and should
have been the end of his involvement.
Yet after the Towerlight decided to keep
publishing the column, Caret sent Wood
an aggressive and threatening e-mail
to her personal account. Due to her
response, Wood resigned Oct. 2.
Schools from across the state have
experienced much stricter regulations
with regards to obscene material. Recently
students and staff at the University of
Maryland screened a pornographic movie
on campus as part of a larger effort to
prompt discussion about free speech
on campus. Administrators hosted
speakers from Planned Parenthood
to discuss safe sex in tandem with the
screening. However, state legislator
Andrew Harris asserted that the movie
had no educational value and threatened
to cut state funding for the university if
they proceeded with the event. In fact,
the Maryland legislature has decided to
regulate the display of obscene material
on all state funded university campuses,
becoming the only state with such a
policy.
After Wood’s resignation, the
editorial board decided to run The Bed
Post exclusively online. While this was
ultimately their choice, the Towson
administration’s pressure prompted
the decision. New editor-in-chief
Rachel Fauber says that President Caret
threatened to pull Towson’s ads from the
paper, evict it from its on-campus office
and restrict the paper’s distribution rights,
among other threats. Caret saw a
column in an independent newspaper
that he, personally, disagreed with, so he
tried to silence the column’s voice through
intimidation. Even though Towson has as
much legal control over the Towerlight
as it does the Washington Post, Caret
was willing and able to make life hell for
the paper if it didn’t do as he said. Such graphics by ELENA TOUMAYAN
petty bullying undercuts the ideas of free
speech and open debate that colleges pornographic film had no educational This growing trend of limiting free
supposedly promote. value. Of course, appalled readers could speech on college campuses undercuts
Not only did Caret and Harris attempt simply choose to avoid the column. Or they the very virtues education was founded
to silence free speech, their arguments could stop picking up the Towerlight, a on: freedom of expression and active
for doing so were weak. Caret claimed response sure to get the paper’s attention. discussion. Students can give feedback
that the content was inappropriate for Maryland students offended by the film and force changes without the bullying
a student newspaper and could shock could avoid the screening or actively of Caret, Harris and others. 
and appall readers, while Harris felt the protest the showing themselves.

Keep suspended students on track

Funds needed for program that helps students break cycle
By Stewart Longsworth
The Montgomery County Council has cut spending
on an effective program for supporting suspended
students. Student Help and Academic Resource
Program, or SHARP, is a volunteer-run, county-funded
program that helps students keep up with school work
and address personal issues when they are suspended
from school. Suspended students, who would otherwise
sit at home with nothing to do, spend part of the school
day attending the SHARP program at local sites. Yet
SHARP has lost much of its Montgomery County funding
due to county budget cuts and decreasing referrals. The
result: Boyds, Silver Spring, Bethesda, and Montgomery
Village school communities have seen SHARP close its
doors.
Suspended students shouldn’t be left behind.
When students are assigned out-of-school suspensions,
SHARP keeps them out of a cycle of falling behind in
school, and then getting suspended again. The County
Council should fund new SHARP sites and give more
students access to this valuable program.
SHARP has been a reliable partner to suspended
students, aiding them with school work while keeping
them in a monitored setting during their suspension. Of
all students involved with SHARP, 98 percent completed
75 percent of the work assigned during their suspension,
according to a county study conducted earlier this year.
Students who attend SHARP are rarely suspended
a second time, says Dorothy Mitchell, a SHARP
chairperson. The dedication of SHARP volunteers and
employees has drawn praise from the likes of County
Executive Isiah Leggett, county councilmember Valerie
Ervin, and school board chairperson Nancy Navarro, as
well as the appreciation of local school administrators like
Sherwood principal William Gregory and Gaithersburg
assistant principal Michael Ridge.
Yet even as notable supporters honor the program,
the County Council has cut 75 percent of its SHARP
funding. New MCPS policies have resulted in fewer
out-of-school suspensions, and SHARP has accordingly
served fewer students—referrals to SHARP are down 35
percent from last year, according to an October 7 Gazette
article. With the county revenue shortfalls, SHARP was
a natural target for budget reduction.
If one looks at the program as a whole, it certainly
makes sense to cut funding when overall SHARP graphics by ELENA TOUMAYAN
referrals go down. But SHARP doesn’t work as a
whole; it is a series of local program sites connected in
name and mission. The drop in funding affected these closed SHARP sites as possible. Keeping up with school
sites unequally. Instead of scaling down all SHARP work is important to students and their education, and
operations to fit a lower number of referrals, the drastic organizations helping them to do so during suspensions
budget cuts have forced four of seven program sites deserve funding even when the county budget is tight.
to shut down. Now, many suspended students who SHARP funding is money well spent. The County
previously could have accessed these SHARP sites have Council can rest assured that any money they appropriate
nowhere to go. is going to a dedicated group that has reliably supported
The County Council should reprioritize its spending, suspended students, a role that makes a real difference
redirecting enough money to reopen as many of the in the students’ lives. 

Read all over... By: Elena Toumayan

6 Feature
Illegal fireworks light up
Homecoming football game
At least ten students planned the stunt for months
by Parissa Jaseb
        
In the last few seconds of the third
quarter of the homecoming football game,
something big, bright and colorful caught
the crowd’s eye: fireworks, exploding
right above the baseball field. The game
continued despite the ruckus, but the
crowd was abuzz for the remainder of
the game.
Assistant principal Kathlyn Carroll
saw the incident from the stands and
remembers thinking that the school
planned the display. But she soon realized
that the school administration couldn’t
have organized the show, because
fireworks are illegal in Maryland.
“It looked beautiful, but it’s considered
vandalism,” Carroll said. “We also can’t
tell who did it; all we saw were dark
figures jumping over the fence.”
Sophomore Melissa Kantor also
witnessed the scene at the game. She
thought that the fireworks added another
thrilling aspect, noting that everyone
around her jumped excitedly and cheered
even louder after the display.
“I first thought it was a part of
Leadership [SGA], but then I heard it
was not planned by the school,” she
said.  “Still, everyone loved it. It was a
photo by DANIELLE BLOCH
great cherry on top of our win.”
 It caused a frenzy throughout the
stands, which made it difficult for the
administration to calculate what had just
happened.   that, while she felt that the topic of sex
“It took administration a while to
process it,” Kantor said. “They didn’t go to
check it out until the fireworks had ended.
They were watching it all happen too.”
Carroll, along with the rest of
administration, didn’t find enough evidence
to proceed with an investigation.
“By the time Officer Aubrey and Mrs.
McHale got down to the site, no one was
there.” Carroll said. “There was no sign of
it being anyone from the school.”
A group of 10 students set off the
fireworks. One of the members of the
group said that they had prepared for the
stunt months beforehand.           
 “It was definitely a group effort, and
there were many of us who worked on
it,” he said.
After the students set off the fireworks,
they jumped the fence and ran from the
field.
The student said that the group
planned the fireworks with only good
intentions, thinking that everyone
would enjoy the display, including the
administration. 
Towson EIC : ‘Students need to
have healthy discussion about sex’
“The Bed Post,” a sex column in the Towson University newspaper, sparked controversy earlier
this year when the editor-in-chief was prompted to resign after running it in the paper.
continued from page 1
Because of the paper’s independence,
Caret couldn’t stop it from being
published. Instead, he threatened
to pull university advertisements,
which account for around half of
the Towerlight’s total advertising
revenue.
In an article announcing her
resignation to her readers, Wood wrote
that she wished she’d never run the
column to begin with. Wood explained
shouldn’t be ignored, she was against
the way “The Bed Post” explored it.
“I think there needs to be a way
for students to be able to have healthy
discussion about sex,” Wood said. “Was
this sex column the right place for that
discussion? I don’t really think so.”
In another recent event, students at
the University of Maryland worked with
the administration to screen the adult
film, “Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge.”
in early April, in an attempt to both
entertain students and prompt debate
about freedom of speech.
October 26, 2009
photo courtesy THE TOWERLIGHT
In fact, coordinators went so far
as to invite a representative from
Planned Parenthood to speak about
safe sex after the screening. While the
administration supported the event
and the discussion that was supposed
to follow, state legislators viewed the
movie as inappropriate with little
educational value.
Republican state senator Andrew
P. Harris had such strong feelings on
the subject that he threatened to cut
state funding for the university if the
screening continued.
In reaction to the disagreement
over the movie screening, the Maryland
legislature intends to govern the display
of obscene material in state universities.
It will be the first state to do so. The 11
state-funded colleges and universities in
Maryland are required to submit their
school’s official policy on the subject
to the Maryland General Assembly by
Dec. 1.
While the assembly will not
formalize university policy until the
end of the year, policymakers say they
intend to impose as few restrictions as
possible. 
October 26, 2009 Feature 7

Twin Life
by Zach Schloss
Senior Emily Savage doesn’t know
where her own twin sister is applying to
college.
“It’s kind of weird because my mom
won’t let us read each other’s essays. I
don’t know where she’s applying exactly,”
says Emily, referring to her sister,
Susannah. “We definitely don’t want to go
to the same college because of the whole
establishing your own identity thing.”
Establishing your own identity can be
identity crisis because you don’t want twins do better because they’re so closely few serious cases where twins have been
to be known for the beliefs and for the matched.” wrongfully accused of cheating.
actions of someone else.” But schoolwork is also one of the “When they take an exam, often
Lisa Hemmer, Susannah and Emily’s things that can lead to competition, often they answer questions the same way or
mother, says that they had a hard time a major aspect of twin life. make the same unusual mistakes, and
getting individual friends growing up. “They did everything pretty much the professors who are unfamiliar with twin
“It’s not that they didn’t try. It’s a same,” Hemmer says of her daughters. research will automatically come to the
hard dynamic,” she says. “The girls are extremely competitive, and conclusion that the twins have cheated
Identical twins may face this problem so if one did one thing, the other had to when in fact they haven’t,” she says.
even more often. The Holdrichs, identical try it and see how well she did.” Twins Eve and Elliot Rosenbaum
twins, began wearing different colored And now that the Savages are applying applied together to Harvard last year and
jackets when they were little so others to college, the competition could become both were admitted to the university. On
could tell them apart. To this day, Will tougher, although Emily claims most of the other hand, Hemmer says that her

“
hard enough in any high school. Imagine still wears a blue jacket while Gus wears the competition has diminished since whole family believes it would be best for
how hard it’d be having a twin. a green one. childhood. Emily and Susannah to separate.
Identical twins, such as juniors Math teacher “For a while, I “Not only do twins have to separate
Gus and Will Holdrich, are constantly Susan Wildstrom We’ve had a teacher for guess it was kind from parents and their other sibling, they
mistaken for one another in class and by has taught of bad because we have to do an additional separation as a
their peers. numerous sets of three years now, and only c o m p e t e d o v e r twin,” Hemmer says. “I think college is
But they’re not alone. 34 pairs of twins and says that a really good time, because it’s different.
this year did she relize who grades and stuff,”

twins and two sets of triplets roam
Whitman’s hallways.
It can get to be a pain for some twins
when teachers don’t acknowledge the
differences between them.
“We’ve had a teacher for three years
now and only this year did she realize who
was really who,” Emily says. “People see
us as ‘the Savages.’ They don’t take the
time to figure out which name is attached
to which girl. It’s like going through an
”
they tend to score she says. “My mom You go into a dorm, and you meet all these
similarly on tests. actually says that new people.”
She admits she has
was really who. she wishes she had And while most twins tend to look at
always had difficulty -Emily Savage sent us to different each other as siblings rather than friends,
telling twins apart. schools just so when they’re not fighting over the keys to
“With Gus and Senior twin that we could be the car, they can provide each other with
Will Holdrich, I completely separate companionship few others can provide.
finally got that Gus and not compared “As a little kid there are so many
had silver eyeglasses,” she says. “It was to each other.” people who are like, ‘I had this imaginary
crazy, but again they were like two peas Many colleges, including the University friend,’” Emily says. “I never needed an
in a pod. Susannah and Emily don’t even of Maryland, Texas and MIT, say they try imaginary friend because I always had
look alike, but my problem is, unless I to deliver the same admissions decisions Susannah.” 
have them in front of me together over to twins, according to the USA Today.
an extended period of time, it’s hard to The dean of admissions at the University
tell.” of Virginia even says they often alter the
There are some benefits. Twins decision on one twin to match the other.
use each other to study and discuss Other universities, however, have created
material. unique two-for-one scholarships with the
“They have one another to study intention of attracting twins.
with, and that’s good,” says Nancy Segal, Nearby George Washington University
a professor of psychology at California offers a 50 percent discount for the second
State University in Fullerton. She’s twin, and Lake Erie College in Ohio gives
also the director of twin studies at the each twin the scholarship in alternate
university and the author of two books years.
on the subject. But pedagogical problems may persist
“Friends study together, so twins when twins attend the same school. Segal
study together,” she says. “Actually says she has been a legal witness in a

photos courtesy EMILY SAVAGE AND WILL HOLDRICH

Juniors Gus and Will Holdrich (above), are seen here in Senior twins Emily and Susannah Savage (above),
on their first days of school. are seen here in their kitchen and on vacation.

Students study abroad through scholarship program

by Jessica Gelfarb
Exploring a new culture, meeting people from
around the world and living in a foreign country are
not typical ways to spend the second year of high
school. But sophomore Amandine Roche is spending
her semester studying in China through the National
Security Language Initiative for Youth.
Roche, who is one of three students participating in
NSLI-Y, said her experience has been truly rewarding.
She lives on campus at a Beijing school with other
international students from around the world who are
also participating in immersion programs. Most of the
students who attend the school are fluent in Chinese. On
the weekends, Roche stays with a family in Beijing.
“The best part of the program is having a host
family,” Roche said. “On the weekends I can practice
my speaking skills by talking to my host sibling and
her parents completely in Chinese. They also take me
to famous areas around Beijing like Tian An Men and
the Great Wall. Staying with them has taught me a lot
about Chinese home life and culture.”
English teacher Laurie Safran’s daughter Rachel
Gefen also participates in NSLI-Y. Though Safran was
initially reluctant to allow her daughter to miss part
of her senior year, she is extremely satisfied with the
program thus far.
“It provides a scholarship, looks great on a college
application and helps students who want to learn a new
language live in a new place,” she said.
By the end of this year, approximately 750 students
will have participated in NSLI-Y over the course of
its three year history. Over 1400 students applied for
the program this year alone, according to American
Council program officer Michelline Granjean. Because
Russia
Turkey
Morocco China Korea
Egypt
Tajikistan
Jordan Taiwan
graphic by SHINDUK SEO
Students have the opportunity to study in more than nine different
countries through NSLI-Y, including the ones indicated above .
of its overwhelming popularity, NSLI-Y will award
approximately 500 additional scholarships for students
who apply to participate next year.
When the State Department’s Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs launched NSLI-Y in 2006, it only
offered summer trips to China, Egypt or Jordan. Since
then, the ECA has expanded the program and now offers
opportunities for students to study abroad for one or
more semesters in China, Egypt, Taiwan, Tajikistan,
Jordan, Russia, Turkey, Korea or Morocco.
Shasta Conrad is a student from Kansas who
participates in NSLI-Y. Conrad said the program
enabled her to build strong friendships and connections
with many different people.
“We are making so many friends from all over the
world,” she said. “It’s kind of cool to think about.”
Chloe Choi of Seattle, Washington is also currently
living in China through NSLI-Y. She said that the
program is rewarding because it has allowed her to
become much more culturally aware.
“I am happy that I get to experience firsthand living
in a country instead of studying it from afar,” Choi said.
“Living in China transformed my view on the people here
and their values. You don’t really understand a group of
people until you live with them.”
Granjean attributes NSLI-Y’s success to the growing
desire that today’s youth have in learning about new
cultures.
“Due to recent years and events that have happened
it’s clear that Americans would benefit from more
exposure to other cultures,” she said. “Kids growing up
right now are more open to that. The idea of learning
these critical languages is exciting to them.”
ECA program officer Katherine Starr said that the
Department of State feels that the language aspect of
the program is what makes it so worthwhile. Starr
hopes that giving students opportunities to learn a new
language will help them to develop into future leaders
who understand other cultures.
“The promotion of mutual understanding is the
core mission of the NSLI-Y program,” she said. “We feel
passionately that learning a language of another culture
is one fundamental way to achieve this mission.”
Choi said that participating in NSLI- Y has already
made her a more open and understanding person.
“I have learned not to judge,” she said. “I have
learned to be empathetic instead of sympathetic. I enjoy
the personal growth. I would definitely recommend
this program to anyone who wants to expand their
world.” 
8 feature october 26, 2009

Teens upgrade to Students head

trendier smart phones beyond borders
by Sahil Ansari

Want to check Wikipedia on the go? Order Chipotle

Jha, who runs a
business building
and repairing
after graduation
from your phone? Facebook stalk? There’s an app for computers, was
that. ahead of the curve:
The latest generation of smart phones provides he bought his first
seemingly limitless opportunities for every occasion, BlackBerry when
and teenagers are at the forefront of this wave of he was only 11.
technological advancement. While he recently
In the United States, 20 percent of teens currently purchased an
own smart phones, according to a survey by CNET. iPhone for personal
Seventy-five percent of these teens currently own use, he uses his
iPhones in the U.S., a statistic that has almost doubled BlackBerry purely
since last year, according to AppleInsider.com. for business.
Sophomore Ketan Jha attributes this phenomenon to “The BlackBerry
the iPhone’s trendy appeal, rather than its superior is a little more
utility. advanced so I use it graphic by SHINDUK SEO

“People get an iPhone half because it’s Apple and
half because you can go on Facebook,” he says.
Junior Marisa Finelli, who purchased a BlackBerry
a few months ago, admits that her initial interest in
a smart phone wasn’t solely based on the phone’s
technological capabilities.
“I did get it because they are cool, and I wanted
a cooler phone,” she says. “A lot of my cousins have
them.”
Most smart phones provide e-mail and Internet
access, but more advanced models include high
resolution cameras, GPS devices, touch screens and
full-QWERTY keyboards. They carry many of the
functions of a computer combined into one portable
device.
BlackBerry, dubbed “CrackBerry” by some
users because of its addictive nature, caters to
professionals with specialized software, BlackBerry
Enterprise Server, which simplifies the use of e-mail,
calendars and contacts.
Additional monthly fees for new data plans often
accompany already hefty smart phone price tags.
BlackBerrys can cost up to $550 with a $10 to $50
service charge. The BlackBerry’s main competitor,
the iPhone, costs up to $299, and up to $70 a month
for the data plan.
Jha owns both an iPhone and a BlackBerry, but he
isn’t exactly your typical teenager.
for managing emails
or texting; it has a
more specific use,” he
says. “Before I was interested [in business], it was simply
fast texting; it was a phone I didn’t need at all.”
According to Pew Internet and American Life Project,
over 74 percent of teens have iPods and over 70 percent
use social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.
Combining these two factors make the iPhone the
obvious choice.
This holds especially true at Pyle, where several
students own iPhones more for the “cool” factor than for
function.
Eighth grader James Dobson got his first iPhone in
sixth grade from his parents, both iPhone users. He says he
liked the concept of consolidating his cell phone and iPod,
which when separate, took up too much pocket space.
“I’m super lazy and don’t like having two rectangular
devices in my pocket,” he says.
The downloadable apps on the iPhone also appealed
to Dobson. He says he hasn’t used the e-mail function
once, but frequently goes on Facebook and plays the
various games he has downloaded, like X-Plane and
Civilization.
When asked if he would consider a BlackBerry,
Dobson promptly answered, “Nope, I’ve always been
a Mac guy. Plus BlackBerrys are for businessmen, not
kids.” 
photo courtesy COLLIN MORRISON
Collin Morrison (‘07) at the British outpost of the Univeristy
of British Vancouver. He currently attends UBC in Canada.
 by Rachel Nussbaum
Every year, students go through their own
personal Goldilocks fairytale, college-style. After
debating the pros of some schools against the
merits of others, most eventually find their “just
right” fit.
Mostly, students limit their search to within
U.S. borders. But for a few students every year, the
perfect choice is in the next cottage over.  
More and more students are flocking to the
land of the free (healthcare), Canada. Some see
Canadian colleges as an escape from the U.S.
university hunt, from the cheaper tuition fees to
the less stressful atmosphere.
“The standards are about the same, but the
people are a little bit more relaxed about getting
into college,” junior Carolyn Connor says.

Bethesda Softworks creates virtual, Connor, who has dual citizenship as well as
family in Canada, says her  interest in Canadian
colleges stems from having spent a lot of time

post-nuclear D.C. metropolitan area

there.
“I’m there a lot in the summer,” Connor says.
“And we talk about it a lot.”
A background like Connor’s appears to be a
common thread among students interested in
foreign universities.
by Jamie Norwood and “I grew up in Canada,” junior Julia Cline says.
ZACH SCHLOSS “It might be difficult to adjust, but they do have
Bethesda is a nuclear a lot of students from the U.S., so they’re used to
wasteland. Its buildings dealing with that.”
have crumbled to the ground. Lower tuition rates for Canadian universities
The inhabitants have either also factor into students’ college choices.
perished or resorted to The majority of University of British Vancouver
anarchy. It’s a living hell. programs cost around $4,500 for Canadian
This is Bethesda in the year students, and around $22,000 for international
2277, according to Bethesda students. In comparison, University of Maryland
Softworks. This Rockville- charges $37,414 for out-of-state students.
based gaming company has “A lot of students will go to school in Canada
published a number of award- because it’s cheaper,” Janice Marmor, the Career
winning video games, many of Information Center coordinator, says. “It’s a good
which incorporate life in the education, and it’s not that different from here.”
metropolitan area. “Tuition rates weren’t my most important
The game is Fallout 3, concern,” Collin Morrison (’07) writes from the
and it’s just one of the many University of British Columbia in Vancouver. “But
games created by the company they certainly are an attractive quality that makes
that are popular with teens up for paying for flights home. Thanks to the
around the country. Bethesda Canadian government’s subsidies for secondary
Softworks also created the education, you can expect to pay two thirds or half
first physics-based sports photo courtesy BETHESDA SOFTWORKS of a U.S. private university.”
simulation, Gridiron!, in 1986, Bethesda Softworks depicts a post-apocolyptic Bethesda in its popular video game Fallout 3. While the price and good reviews make a
and more recently, the Elder Canadian application sound appealing, Canada’s
Scrolls and IHRA Drag Racing gaming series. looser college application requirements might take
playing game company known for taking a smart and some getting used to. Unlike the extracurricular-
In Fallout 3, Bethesda Softworks’ latest top-selling massive storyline and intertwining it with a giant,
video game, gamers can enter the virtual world of realistic world.” loading and SAT prep that most students expect
downtown Bethesda and surrounding D.C. areas—after colleges to look for, Canadian colleges only ask for
Bethesda Softworks pioneered the technology that a minimal SAT score.
nuclear devastation. Wandering through the streets of a allows visual graphics to become clearer in the area
virtual but scarily realistic world, players can do anything closest to the player-controlled character, a tactic that “The grading system would shock most
from eating mole rat meat to surgically removing a other gaming companies have since adopted, resulting Whitman students and parents,” Morrison says.  At
mutant’s arm with a shotgun. UBC, a 100-90 percent is graded as an A+, 85-89
in highly-detailed gaming universes. This trend should percent is an A, and 84-80 percent is an A-.
“The whole point of the game is really to allow you continue when Bethesda Softworks continues the Fallout
to tell your own story,” says Pete Hines, vice president series with Fallout: New Vegas, scheduled for release Morrison, however, notes that because the
of public relations and marketing. “You create whatever in 2010. range for A grades is so wide, getting above a 90
kind of character you want, and then go out to explore percent isn’t as easy as it sounds.
“This technology allows for a great expansion of “The difficulty of receiving an A+ increases
this big post-nuclear wasteland and decide who you want levels so that their games are massive—much bigger than
to be in this world.” with the broader percentage range, meaning you
previous games on Xbox 360,” junior Jeff Gruen says. may be bringing home a lower percentage overall,”
The company used first-hand knowledge of the “You can have complete customizability.”
surrounding area to draw inspiration for Fallout 3. Morrison says. “They mark harder because the
Bethesda Softworks landed the number seven spot on range of A’s and a B’s are so large. In essence it’s
“It’s an alternate version of the world…not the one Game Developer Magazine’s highly anticipated annual
we know,” Hines says. “We put a location in the world list of the top 20 game publishers, ahead of gaming giants really your GPA that won’t look as good.”
that represented where our offices are.” Scoring system aside, students may have to
like Microsoft, Sega and Atari. reevaluate their sports preferences, Morrison
Junior Tony Atkinson says that Bethesda Softworks “It’s nice to be recognized for the work you’re doing,”
is his favorite gaming company. says.
Hines says. “Certainly we’re proud of what we’ve “It’s painful to watch Canadian football, so you
“I’ve played a lot of really awesome games,” Atkinson accomplished. As to what the future holds…the sky is
explains. “But Bethesda Softworks is mainly a role- the limit.”  might end up as a hockey fan.” 
October 26, 2009
Rancic shares high school
memories, red carpet
moments during Q&A
continued from page 1
Wildstrom had gone home for the day,
but Rancic did encounter photography
teacher Marjorie Scott, whom Rancic
recognized from her Whitman days.
“She doesn’t look any different,”
Rancic noted.
Rancic then entered the Black & White
room, where she spoke with students for
the remainder of the school day about
her time at Whitman and her success in
Hollywood.
Rancic noted that her tendency
to misbehave, unusual home life (her
parents spoke no English), and physical
awkwardness didn’t make high school
easy. In spite of her self-proclaimed
“ugliness” in adolescence, Rancic was
ranked #94 on Maxim’s 2004 list of Hot
100 Women.
Rancic told students that she does
Rancic and her cameraman examine her picture in 1992 yearbook while filming the segment.
ARTS
not regret her high school experiences
because they forced her to develop a
strong personality, something she credits
with her success on E!
“I was the thirty-ninth person
auditioning for my job when I was going
in for E! I wasn’t the prettiest, I wasn’t
the tallest, I wasn’t the smartest,” Rancic
said. “But what I did have was a different
personality, a distinct personality that set
me apart from everyone else.”
Rancic, born Giuliani DePandi,
moved to Bethesda at the age of seven
from Naples, Italy. Her father, Eduardo
DePandi, opened Bruno Cipriani, a
men’s clothing store at White Flint Mall,
which he still owns. DePandi attended
Bannockburn Elementary School and Pyle
Middle School prior to Whitman.
In high school, Rancic was a misfit
photos courtesy ARIESHA WIKRAMANAYAKE
Principal Alan Goodwin escorts Rancic around the building before bringing her into B-212.
with a knack for getting into trouble,
she said. Her exploits included stealing
and selling interim reports; and rigging
the homecoming queen vote so that
she would be a nominee. According to
Rancic, the latter incident led to her most
embarrassing moment in high school.
“I remember after they announced
my name, walking down the halls with
everybody yelling ‘You fixed it!’” she
said.
Once she graduated from Whitman,
she majored in journalism at the
University of Maryland and American
University, where she received a master’s
degree in the subject. Her master’s degree
was an asset in a field where much of the
competition had little or no education
outside of high school.
After grad school Rancic struggled
for four years in Los Angeles, working
odd jobs.
“The worst part was trying to convince
my family and friends I would make it,”
Rancic said. “It only made me want to
make it more.”
During this period of her life, Rancic
worked in the mailroom of a talent
agency. The contacts Rancic made there
helped her land an audition with E!
“You might be doing a minimum wage
job,” Rancic said. “But that job could just
change your life.”
Rancic was hired and has been at E!
for eight years.
“The only downside is Ryan Seacrest,”
she jokes.
9
Her fearless demeanor and willingness
to make mistakes also helped her along
the way.
“I welcome mistakes because that’s
what makes the news,” Rancic said. “I
want the train wreck to happen.”
She went on to cite an instance in
which Seth McFarlane used a profane
word during a live red carpet interview
and another instance in which Russell
Crowe responded coldly to her questions.
Rancic said such “train wrecks” keep
audiences tuned in to E! News.
In one memorable interview with
George Clooney, Rancic “accidentally”
asked him to marry her. The star politely
declined, but the interview continued
without a hitch and Rancic now jokes
about the incident.
Instead of Clooney, Rancic married
Bill Rancic, the winner of the first season
of “The Apprentice,” after she volunteered
to interview the hunk for a segment.
When she realized he had a girlfriend
she tried to get out of the interview, but
it was too late.
“I said, ‘You know Trump settled
down; are you going to settle down?’”
Rancic said. “He kind of looked at me
funny so I added ‘With your girlfriend?’
“‘Oh,’ he said. ‘We broke up.’”
The two were engaged eight months
later, and wed in September 2007.
The pair stars in “Giuliana and Bill,” a
reality show based on their life together,
which airs at 8p.m. Wednesdays on the
Style Network. 

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10 october 26, 2009 in-de

Fun and spooky

holiday activities
by Becca Andrasko

I
f you’re not feeling the whole Hollow Hay Ride: This
trick-or-treating thing and
don’t really feel like spending
the night scaring small
dimly-lit ride through the
oldest part of the Valley
Mill Forest features ghouls
and ghosts that come at
Ghosts and gho
children off your porch, we’ve
got the list for you. you from all directions. ‘Expect anything from tp-in
Markoff’s Haunted Forest: This Embassy Row Trick-or- by ANDREW WYNER
haunted forest includes two haunted Treating: About 21 embassies

courses, small spaces, ghosts and
attractions like a zip-line and music Halloween tradition. All ages.
while you wait to enter the forest.
Days: Thurs, Fri, Sat
Open: through Nov. 1
Times: Opens at dusk (around 7
p.m.) and closes when all patrons Location:Along Massachusetts
are through.
Price: $20 on Thursdays, and $25
Fridays, Saturdays.
Location: Calleva Farm, 19120
Martinsburg Rd. Dickerson,
Maryland.
Information: www.
markoffshauntedforest.com/
Valley Mill: Three different
attractions to appeal to all guests, Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
from family friendly activities to a Times: 9 p.m. Get there early,
scary haunted trail.
Days: Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays through Nov. 1
Times: Fridays and Saturdays
from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sundays and S Streets NW
from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Price: Adults $15, children 8 and
under $10.
Location: 15101 Seneca Rd.
Germantown MD 20874.
Information: www.valleymill.com/
halloween
are participating in this informal
Date: Oct. 31
Times: starts at 3:30 and ends
between 4 and 5 p.m.
Price: Free
Ave. near Dupont Circle.
DC Drag Queen Race: Drag
queens in stilettos race to the
finish line as a crowd gathers
to cheer them on and see their
over-the-top outfits. The Drag
Queen Race is one of D.C.’s crazier
traditions, and it’s a fun way to
show Halloween spirit.
around 6 p.m. for a good viewing
spot.
Price: Free
Location: 17th Street, between P
Washington Walks: Tour is
offered Wednesday through
Saturday at 7:30 p.m., through
October 31, 2009. $10 per person.
Tickets: www.washingtonwalks.
com/
Natalie Zanin’s Historic Strolls:
October 30 & 31 at 8 p.m. Adults
$10, children under 16 are $5.
Tickets: www.historicstrolls.com/
tickets.htm
DC Ghost Tours: Tours are offered
nightly at 8-9:30 p.m. Adults
$15, children $8. Tickets: www.
dcghosttours.com/
Patriot Center: Mastodon,
Metalocalypse: Dethklok, Converge,
High On Fire. These bands tend to
be progressive rock and heavy metal.
High On Fire draws comparisons
to Metallica and Celtic Frost, and
Converge assaults the listener
with “throat-ripping screams and
aggressive smashing percussion,”
according to their bio on iTunes. use our fathers’ clothing,” she says.
Day: Oct. 31
Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Price: $35 entry fee
Location: 4500 Patriot Circle
Fairfax, VA 22030.
Information and Tickets: www.
patriotcenter.com/tickets/
9:30 Club: Cypress Hill — A noted
Latino hip-hop group that became
pioneers of ‘90s hip-hop.
But Cypress Hill is still just as cool
today as they were back then. Plus,
the 9:30 Club is hosting a costume
contest. Day: Oct. 31, Time: 8 p.m.
doors open.
Price: $35 entry fee,
Information and Tickets:
www.930.com/tickets/ 
A
s Halloween costumes pop up
in store windows and jack-o-
lanterns sprinkle the lawns of
Bethesda homes, it’s clear the
community is getting excited
for the spookiest holiday of them all.  While
some high school students have grown out
of trick-or-treating, many still find ways to
celebrate the holiday.
Many Whitman teachers say they see
kids celebrating Halloween differently
from when they were young.  During
instrumental music teacher Terry Alvey’s
childhood, people took the do-it-yourself
route to costumes rather than buying them
from commercial
“We were hobos a lot of the time
because it was easiest, and we could just
English teacher Susan Buckingham
recalls that her favorite Halloween costumes
were simpler and more generic.
“When I was in elementary school we
had a Halloween parade,” she says. “One
year I was a fairy princess. It was my
favorite costume.”
English teacher Ashley Houghton
also notices how Halloween
has become increasingly
commercialized.
“Now costumes are much
more involved with pop
culture. When I was a kid, the
most popular costumes were
cowgirls and princesses.
Now, a lot of costumes are
based on movies, like
Joker or Batman
costumes.”
Trick-or-
treating
wasn’t the
only way
teachers

photo courtesy MARKO

senior Dana Max senior Jessica Sheehan freshman Paola O

v e s
s p e cti
P e r
How old is too old There is no such age! Technically, I’m probably You’re never too
to go trick-or- It’s always fun to dress too old, so I find someone
up, and you’re never too with a younger sibiling
treating? young or old to have fun. and go with them.
epth october 26, 2009 11

gra
phic b

ouls, then books and schools

yE
LEN
A TOU
MAY
AN

ng to egging,’ teachers reflect on Halloween antics

celebrated on Halloween night. English
teacher Nechellar Franklin says that
Halloween activities during her childhood
often resulted in vandalism.
Science teacher Janice Bauroth says
older kids used to participate in “Mischief Costumes: DIY vs. store-bought
Night,” a night set aside for teenage
shenanigans. by Julia Weingardt usually situated in high-visibility, high-

“When I was old enough to leave the “You could expect anything from tp-
house, [teenagers] had this custom of ing to egging, but not anything harmful,”
egging,” she says. “Throwing them at she says.
each other—everything. The grocery stores But she notes the traditions involving
wouldn’t sell egg cartons the week before vandalism are disappearing.
Halloween.” “Parents are paying more attention and
Social studies teacher Marisa DelSavio are more sensitive about watching their
says her friends would raid their parents children on Halloween,” Bauroth says.
medical cabinets and then wreak havoc on Alvey agrees that parents are more
the neighborhood. wary about what their children
“Shaving cream was do on Halloween.
a big thing back then,” “I think nowadays,
she says. “People parents are more
would pop out and apprehensive about letting
spray other people their children out at night
with shaving cream. for Halloween,”
But it was all she says.
for fun.”
“There are
more things
to be worried
about.”
Despite the
safety concerns
or practical jokes,
trick-or-treating
still remains the most
popular activity for
children on Halloween.
DelSavio notes that the
holiday has become more
child-oriented.
“It seems like younger
kids are trick-or-treating
now more than they did
when I was a kid,” Del Savio
says. “You don’t see too many
older kids trick-or-treating
anymore.”
OFF HAUNTED FOREST
W
alking through the aisles
of Halloween Adventure in
downtown Bethesda, you
spot the Joker costume
that you’ve been dying to
own since the movie came out last fall.
You head towards the register, browsing
the wigs section on the way and decide to
splurge on a $13 wig to accompany your
costume. And hey, since you’re there,
you pick up the $18 Dark Knight Deluxe
makeup kit—just to create the full effect.
By the time you check out, you’ve spent
$65.
This year, Americans are expected
to spend an estimated $4.75 billion on
Halloween related products, according
to the National Retail Federation. That
sum covers candy, decorations, parties
and—most importantly—costumes.
To find their costumes each year,
many people turn to Halloween pop-
up stores, which typically open around
Labor Day and close in early November.
The day after Halloween, the stores mark
everything down 50 percent, package the
leftover products and ship them back to
the warehouse. In our area, there are
four seasonal Halloween stores, operated
by two dominant companies- Halloween
Adventure and Spirit Halloween.
Halloween Adventure, located on
Wisconsin Avenue, recently moved into
the vacant space formerly occupied by
the Maurice Villency furniture store. The
chain, owned by Masquerade LLC, has
over 80 locations in the Mid-Atlantic
region and California. It offers a large
variety of costumes, as well as makeup,
wigs, hats and jewelry.
Spirit Halloween, owned by the
popular chain, Spencer’s Gifts, has over
700 stores nationwide. The stores are
traffic strip centers and malls, but each
store has a different inventory.
“We’re considered a gallery store,”
says Eugene David, assistant manager
of the Spirit Halloween in Westfield
Montgomery mall. “We primarily have
just the costumes and makeup—our other
locations such as Friendship Heights and
Bowie have the blood and the props and
everything.”
Spirit Halloween offers a different take
on traditional costumes.
“Typically you’ll see something like
Big Bird from Sesame Street for a kid—we
have that for adults,” David says. “Most of
the costumes that you might see for adults
that may be more bloody and gory, we
actually have those for the kids.”
Debbie Schlosser, manager Halloween
Adventure in Bethesda, says that the
popular costumes depend on the movies
released each year. Nonetheless, Schlosser
says that Star Wars costumes remain a
top favorite for kids. Although stores like
Schlosser’s offer hundreds of costumes,
some say that homemade costumes just
can’t be beat.
“When the whole E.coli thing was
happening, I was a bag of spinach for
Halloween,” sophomore Peter Jorgensen
says. “You can’t find a bag of spinach at a
costume store.”
The stores’ typically high prices also
turn away potential buyers. Most basic
costumes range from $20 to $70, but
there are even pricier options. Both stores’
websites offer collector edition superhero
costumes that can exceed $1,000.
Freshman Nick Bode says buying
costumes takes away from the fun of
dressing up.
“I always make my own costumes,” he
says. “It’s cheaper, and truthfully, I find it
more fun. It’s a whole extravaganza!” 

rtega junior Lucas A. R. Kornexl sophomore Mickey Hartz sophomore Jonathan Lowry

o old! When I was in 8th grade, Twenty…then it’s just Never, as long as you be-
people told me that I was creepy. lieve in Santa! Or until you
too old. But as long as you can’t pick up a bag of candy.
still have a child in you in Then people think you’re a
need of candy, you can still freak and a pedophile.
trick-or-treat. Yes we can!
12 Feature octobEr 26, 2009
Former students (class of ‘09) offer:
advice, stories, and random facts
from college
Hello from Cam
b
I have heard spridge!
a Senate cand eeches from and if those traits descr
who yo ibed
in my dorm ro idate who lived need to u w e re , y o u m ig h t
prize winner o m

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This is
dozen animat, learned half a enormoterrifying but also an
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I found great unity.
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percent of ou determines 40 grades, ill out. Worry about
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meet with at school credit for it! ap p y at a hool that geats rd le ss o f
h re g
actually ge W h it m a n , m o st d a y s dI o f sn o w e a ch y e a r, u st m e – a s NIKKI BRAND
U n li k e ass (an it is . A n d lltrege, nobody
tesy
photo cour
h o u rs o f cl h o w g o o d
only have 3rt-4class earlier than 10 soon as you
get to co
l is ranked #5 rs.
I never stath e re ’s a lw a y s a to n oef will care if your schoboe for football!  poses with he
r sorority siste
a .m .) b u t and reading to do outsid s or #15—except may ond from left)
Nikki Brand (sec
homework makes up for it. There’g uch love,
of class that in d e p e n d e n t le a rn in n G o o d luck and m
a lo t m o ressors won’t check up o n Nikki Brand
here–profe e sure you’re staying oof
you to makthe reading, and some
track with
october 26, 2009 in-depth 13

To the editor:  several times a week. I’m also considering

I didn’t know if I would miss Whitman joining the CU Snowboard team now that

Doug Acker UNIVERSITY OF

when I left. By the time my senior year was
ending, I just felt like I had been there for
too many hours. From 7:25 a.m. classes
(which of course I never slept through) to
SGA events that ended late, it seemed like
I had spent too much time at school. But
now, in Boulder, Colorado, having a great
time at school and learning too, I look back
and miss many things about Whitman. I
learned a lot there about myself and my
relationships with people and in class, too.
It’s incredible how many opportunities
Whitman can offer, so take advantage of
them while you can.  college. Okay, maybe it was the beginning
Whitman is great; I’m sure Pyle was,
too. You might not think so while you’re
struggling to prepare for an exam or behind
on a paper the night before it’s due. But
there’s a reason you push on through the
stressful times. Suddenly you are through
it all and bam, you’re in college. You can
stay out late, do pretty much anything you
want and live in very close proximity with
your 100+ best friends. One of the best
things about the dorms is getting to know
people from all over the country. I moved
at the start of middle school and again at
the start of high school, and in my opinion
transitioning into college was the easiest.
It’s not like in middle or high school where
everyone knows each other and groups
are already formed. You come to college
completely alone, but so does everyone
else. You quickly form friendships with
people you meet all over the place, and
some of these friends may end up being
among the best you ever make.  course I might need to crash at your place.
Now I’m at the University of Colorado at
Boulder and loving it. I became interested
in CU after seeing a picture of it on a wall
in Whitman. After visiting, I knew this
was where I wanted to be. Now that I’ve
been here just over two months I know I
made the right choice. I have joined the
Alpine and Climbing Clubs and am in the
mountains hiking, climbing or running
the season has started. It’s Oct. 18, and I
have already gone snowboarding twice.
I’ve also joined an a capella group. I guess
I got the idea after I wasn’t booed off stage
COLORADO AT
at Whitman Idol.  BOULDER
It’s midterm season now. I’ve spent the
past two weeks cramming and will spend
the next two weeks writing two papers
for my International Affairs class, which
together are required to be at least 22
pages. So college isn’t that easy.
It’s no secret, I might have slacked off a
little in high school once I got accepted into
of senior year. Okay, maybe it was when I
got senioritis going into sophomore year.
I might have missed a class or two. I might
have even skipped a homework assignment
every once in a while. But somehow I got
through it and got into the college I wanted
to go to.
Would I advise any of you to follow
my less-than-ideal academic path at
Whitman? No, I wouldn’t. You’ll be a lot
better off if you work hard consistently all
through your high school years (yes, even
in second semester senior year). But on
the other hand, high school (and college)
are more than about just studying. They’re
about learning about yourself and what you
want to do in life. Work hard, but enjoy
this time, and I hope to see a few of you in
Boulder next year. Or in the mean time,
if any of you happen to be renting a place
in any ski town this winter, let me know
and I’ll be happy to show you around…of
-Doug Acker
P.S. Mr. Paulson, we all know I was your
favorite student, but stop text messaging
me all the time about completely random
things…and accept my Facebook friend
request.  photo courtesy DOUG ACKER

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14 Arts October 26, 2009

Alums break into art business

By Adam Glazer
Alyssa Lesser
Walking down the halls and viewing the art that
alums leave behind, students see their predecessor’s Meanwhile, in New York City, Alyssa Lesser (‘08),
creativity and vision. Some of these alums have found who attends Parsons School of Design, is creating
ways to market their art not long after graduation. intricate jewelry inspired by the streets of Brooklyn.
“I worked for designers in a very industrial part
of Brooklyn, and I would always see these rusty
Maggie Golightly washers on the ground when I
was walking around,” Lesser
Golightly (‘07) took AP Art explains. “The juxtaposition
and is now a studio art major between ‘natural’ outdoor
at Brigham Young University. walking areas and these
On her newly designed website, industrial, forgotten findings
magzlittleartboutique.com, on the ground has always sort Antonia Mazuranic
Golightly sells small square of intrigued me.”
canvases of hearts painted in an Lesser collected these As a senior at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Antonia
array of colors. items and made the first Mazuranic (’06) paints mostly with oil and canvas, but
“I knew that the best way bracelet for herself, which was has recently been incorporating other elements into her
to circulate my art was online,” named The Kim Bracelet. As works, such as collage and spray paint.
Golightly explains. “My younger brother actually soon as some of her friends saw Kim, they encouraged Mazuranic exhibited her art at galleries around
designed the website for me as a present, and it’s still her to make more like it to sell. Cleveland and had pieces auctioned and shown at the
in progress.” “The rest of the pieces formed very organically from Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland and Spaces
On Golightly’s website, customers will soon be able this point on, and it was just me playing with materials Gallery, two popular galleries in the Cleveland area.
to customize their own hearts, choosing size, design and and trying to create pieces that I found interesting and “My work has
up to three different colors. desirable,” Lesser says. always had a lot to
Golightly started painting hearts as gifts for friends, After sending multiple emails and making phone do with beauty ideals,
like a pink and zebra print heart for a roommate who calls, Lesser finally contacted someone at Oak to discuss the female figure and
loved pink. selling her work. Lesser’s jewelry line, LESS, is available identity,” Mazuranic
“The hearts are on the side; I don’t make them for for sale at Oak, a boutique in NYC, and is available on s a ys . “I ha ve s o l d
class,” Golightly says. “They’re fun because I get to use their website, oaknyc.com. some pieces, and I’m
different colors and patterns.” Lesser says that since a lot just now working on
Golightly also plans to sell custom-painted sneakers of time and money goes into a website, which will
on her website. The idea originated when friends noticed making the pieces, it’s often hopefully promote
her artistic skills and asked her to paint their shoes. difficult to make a profit. some sales.”
She plans to continue her career as an artist “I sell to the store on a As a senior,
after graduating from BYU and would like to work in consignment agreement: if the Mazuranic has a lot of
either a gallery or a company like jewelry doesn’t sell, I stand to freedom to make her
Anthropologie. lose a lot of money,” she says. own work and use her
Between school and business, Although Lesser is working own ideas. After she
Golightly hopes she has plenty on jewelry now, her main focus graduates she plans to
to keep her busy for the next few is fashion. She wants to start a clothing line after she attend graduate school
years. graduates. for a master of fine arts
“Within the past week I’ve “I am studying fashion and just making the jewelry degree.
customized two different hearts as sort of a side project,” she says. “The pieces do reflect “I think [painting] is something that I will always
for two different people,” she my aesthetic choices and definitely compliment the do,” she says, “I hope to show work in multiple galleries
says. “I hope I’ll be able to keep clothes I design.” in NYC, but we’ll see what happens.” 
it going.” photos courtesy OAKNYC.COM
photos courtesy MAGGIE GOLIGHTLY photos courtesy ANTONIA MAZURANIC

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October 26, 2009 Arts 15

D.C. Gallery Review

by Adam Glazer

At the Smithsonian American Art

Museum, “What’s It All Mean: William
T. Wiley in Retrospect” showcases over
50 years of California artist William
T. Wiley’s imaginative paintings and
sculptures and will be on display through
Jan. 24.
The exhibit includes 88 of his pieces,
including oil paintings on canvas,
watercolor, sculpture and even a few of
Wiley’s experimental films. The exhibition
follows Wiley’s work chronologically and
masterfully shows the progression of his
ideas through art. Wiley is known for a
clever use of words and phrases in his
art, many examples of which can be seen
in the exhibit.
Upon entering the first gallery of the
exhibit, one of the most eye-catching
works is “Columbus Rerouted #1”, which
Wiley painted in 1961 with oil on canvas.
Wiley uses thick, heavy brushstrokes
in hues of black and gray, to depict an
alternate reality in which Columbus
had not made it to America and been
“rerouted.” Would Native American
culture be preserved? This painting
explores one of Wiley’s favorite motifs:
voyage. center of all the disorder and chaos is a
Lining the hallway leading to the next
photo courtesy WASHINGTON SPACES
William Wiley’s ‘Punball - only one on earth’
photo courtesy ASKART.COM
William Wiley’s ‘Studio Space’
gallery are some of Wiley’s smaller
watercolor paintings as well as a larger
piece, “Studio Space”. A large red square
in the center offers the only source of color photo courtesy MOMA
in the painting. Jasper John’s ‘Perilous Night’
One of the most intriguing works in
By Ryan Hauck
the exhibition is “In The Name Of (Not
to worry, It’s Juxtaposition).” Upon close
inspection of the painting, you can see Starting this month, visitors to the
an eyeball wearing a top hat, a yellow National Gallery of Art can see one of
grinning moon and the Statue of Liberty, the largest collections of abstract art
and many other strange objects. In the expressionism in the United States.
The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff
clean, blank white space, a technique that Collection is currently on display at the
Wiley utilizes in a few of museum. The Baltimore husband and
his works. wife team amassed pieces by renowned
Near the end of the artists like Frank Stella and the late
exhibit is Wiley’s Robert Rauschenberg over a 46 year
custom-painted period before Jane’s death in 2004.
pinball machine, The exhibit is divided into 10
Punball-Only themes that parallel the style or subject
matter of the pieces it contains: scrape, photo courtesy NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA
One on Earth,
which features concentricity, line, gesture, art on art, Frank Stella’s ‘Flin Flon IV’
cartoonish drip, stripe to zip, figure or ground, style will appeal to fans of both traditional
images that monochrome and picture the frame. and modern art. Lichtenstein’s 1974
only Wiley Among the highlights are Stella’s masterpiece “Cow Triptych (Cow Going
could produce. “Flin Flon IV” and “Gray Scramble.” The Abstract)” is arguably the greatest piece
The exhibit latter is a simple design whose uniquely in the exhibit. The piece consists of three
displays Wiley’s shaped canvas makes the painting paintings of the titular bovine, each one
many different notable. Unconventionally shaped more abstract than the last.
techniques and canvases also distinguish much of The short trip to DC is worth the
styles without being Ellsworth Kelly’s work, such as “Purple chance to view this impressive gallery,
overwhelming. It’s Curve,” which is quite appropriately a regardless of your artistic preference. The
a large exhibit, so be curved canvas painted solid violet. Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection is
prepared to admire Another stand-out is Jasper Johns’ simply too great an opportunity to pass
and learn about the “Perilous Night,” a painted canvas with up.
ideas and works three Styrofoam arms attached. The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff
of this outspoken While abstract expressionism may Collection will be on display at the
artist.  not be for everyone, pop artist Roy Nation Gallery of Art until May 2. 
Lichtenstein’s distinctive comic book

‘Wild Things’ ultimately underwhelming

by victoria scordato
Spike Jonze’s (year) highly anticipated
adaptation of the beloved children’s book, “Where the
Wild Things Are” debuted last Friday, Oct. 16 to critical
acclaim and packed theaters. The movie made upwards
of $32 million its opening weekend and earned a very
respectable 68% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite these ordinarily reliable indicators of a
movie’s quality and validity, the film was admittedly, a
bit underwhelming. Not quite as original or thought-
provoking as his other films like “Adaptation” and “Being
John Malkovich,” Wild Things was Jonze’s attempt at
mainstream, and dare I say it, even family fare. Though,
not wanting to let go of his quirky style entirely, Jonze
relies heavily on what he probably considers “edgy”
touches, but are in reality, just dark and in some cases,
fundamentally clichéd.
The opening scene couldn’t be any less original.
Absent father, distracted mother, indifferent older
sister, and poor Max, stuck in the middle of it all. When
he is finally transported to where the wild things are, the
movie becomes more superficially quirky, but remains
fundamentally formulaic. The metaphor positioning
the monsters as “out of control” adolescents and
Max as the frustrated and exhausted parental
figure is made painfully obvious—though its
lack of subtly pales in comparison to one of
the least tactful metaphors for rebirth that
has ever graced the silver screen.
In the book, Sendak portrays the Wild
Things as joyous, friendly, and fun, turning
the classic stereotype of monsters as
villains on its head. Jonze clearly doesn’t
understand this underlying appeal and
thinks its “edgy” to portray the monsters
as ferocious and in some cases, just plain mean. When readers. Many reviews praise Jonze’s “original” take on
Max first encounters the “Wild Things” they threaten the story, and assert that he unearthed the “dark” subtext
to eat him and when Carol, the de facto leader of the of the book. But, in all honesty, the book, which has
motley crew, finds out Max might not be an actual king, many more illustrations than actual lines of texts, doesn’t
he threatens to chew off his own foot. This portrayal seem to have much of a “dark side.” It is a children’s
really just plays into the stereotypes Sendak was book after all.
attempting to dispel. The movie is also fairly boring. Jonze relies way
Generally the movie doesn’t tend to too heavily on the originality of his idea, because
evoke the same emotions or reactions while the cinematography gorgeous and the
in viewers that the book managed to in costumes are very creative, the story is pretty
uninteresting. The plotline is hard to follow
and, ironically enough, the movie is dialogue
dependent. The filmmakers also hope the
viewers will be so enchanted by young
Max, played by a remarkably talented
new comer, Max Records. Though,
despite his undeniable charm, very
few actors can carry a movie almost
entirely by themselves.
All in all, the movie just didn’t
succeed in hooking the viewer
emotionally. The lagging pace
made it hard to become
invested in Max’s plight
and transformation. The
movie suffers from
Jonze’s creative self-
stifling in an attempt
to make the film
more “mainstream.”
The result is an
unsuccessful attempt
to be “edgy” and
egalitarian all at the
same time. 
photo courtesy IMDB
16 Spectator Oct 26, 2009

Spectator explains playoff selection process UPDATES TEAM

By Elizabeth Bernhard Football
from Anne Arundel
School Wins Losses Win Points Bonus Points Accumulated County. On the other The boys are currently 6-1, and
After football’s 6-1 start, the 4A WEST
Churchill 7 0 55.00 14.00 69.00 side of the bracket, while that is a vast improvement
team hopes to qualify for this the 4A South and
year’s playoffs.  The process Sherwood 6 1 48.00 14.00 62.00 from last year, they will have to
Whitman 6 1 48.00 9.00 57.00 North champions will step up in order to maintain their
and point system that gets play each other. The
them there, however, isn’t so Paint Branch 6 1 47.00 9.00 56.00 winning streak. Despite its record,
Springbrook 5 2 39.00 8.00 47.00 winners of these two the team has had all-too-close
straightforward. Qualifying games play each other
for the playoffs takes more 4A EAST wins over lesser opponents. With
Arundel 7 0 56.00 22.00 78.00 at M&T Bank Stadium a daunting away game schedule
than just a winning season. in Baltimore for the
      The top four teams in the North Point 7 0 47.00 23.00 70.00 ahead against Seneca Valley
4A SOUTH state championship. and Churchill, the offense needs
4A region qualify for playoffs.      Top teams in 4A West
In order to rank in the top four, Wise 7 0 56.00 21.00 77.00 to match the level at which the
Suitland 6 1 48.00 15.00 63.00 are currently Sherwood defense has been playing to ensure
a team must rack up a certain and Churchill. In 4A
number of points. Beating a 4A NORTH the team’s success.
Urbana 7 0 47.00 20.00 67.00 East, Arundel and
team in the 4A division gives a North Point lead their
team eight points. In addition, Thomas Johnson 5 2 33.00 18.00 51.00
region. Urbana and Field Hockey
a team earns one point for information courtesy MPSSAA.ORG Thomas Johnson lead After winning its first five
each of its opponent’s wins. 4A North, and Wise games, the team lost five of
For example, after defeating competitors in the 4A division If Whitman, currently the
are Whitman, Sherwood, and Suitland top 4A the last six, including two nail-
Northwest, a 4A team, the number four team, moves to South. In order to bitters against Poolsville and WJ.
Vikings received eight points Paintbranch, Springbrook and rank one or two, it will gain
Churchill. compete with these Anchored by Celeste Pilato and
and will gain one for each of home field advantage in the first teams, the Vikings Maia Paul, the Vikes hope to pick
Northwest’s wins at the end of “It’s basically five teams round of the playoffs. The team
fighting for four top spots,” need to stay consistent things up by playoffs and build
the season. that wins the 4A West region and determined in the off of their semi-final run in last
According to head coach Kuhn says. “One of us is going during the playoffs will go on
to be left in the dust.” playoff journey.  year’s playoffs.
Jim Kuhn, the five top to play the winner of 4A East
Girls Tennis

Braving the elements, crews stays cool, places in top half After a disappointing loss
against Churchill, the Lady Vikes
won their last match against
Rockville in straight sets. The
By Josh Lederman team ended the season with an
impressive 12-1 record thanks
At the prestigious Head of to junior standout Sarah Macy
the Charles regatta in frigid and number two singles player,
Cambridge, MA, the Whitman freshman Anna Volkov. The Vikes
crew team was up against tied for the Division 1 title with
the elements, the course and Churchill and B-CC.
even a questionable officiating
decision. Boys Soccer
Whitman’s two entries in the With a key victory at
world’s largest two-day rowing Poolesville, the boys have
event, the youth women’s eight improved to 5-3-2, extending
team and the youth men’s four, their winning streak to four
faced 40-degree weather and a games. Defenders Dominick Yin
torrent of rain. The boys fought and Aaron May have shut down
to a 35 th place finish in a field of their opponents in the back field
76, while the girls slid from 53 rd with three straight shutout games.
to 65 th because of a one-minute Offensively, Jonny Mehrez and
interference penalty that was Sebastian Cahe have provided
added to their time. goals for the Vikes, who begin
The penalty resulted from their playoff journey Oct. 30.
the girls failing to yield to a
passing boat coming around photo courtesy WILL BROWNLEE Girls Volleyball
the biggest turn of the race. The boys had to row through freezing rain and navigate a challenging course at the Head of Charles race. The girls have slipped lately,
Official rules state that the losing seven of their past eight
passing boat’s coxswain must warn a toughest for coxswains Silverstein really make a huge difference,” Ross games. The team looks to regain
boat before overtaking it. According and Andrew Triay, who, in addition said. “The turn at Weeks Bridge, the its early season form which led it
to cox Claire Silverstein, the warning to coping with the elements, had to sharpest turn of the course, usually to a 3-0 start. Behind seniors Eva
never came. navigate an intricate racecourse. messes up most crews. Our coxswain Drucker and Susannah Savage, the
“To be honest, I didn’t even see “This was a head race [a 3-mile had pretty much a perfect turn there Vikes hope to improve their record
them,” Silverstein said, “and the race, with the crews separated by which gave us some time on all of the in the last games of the season and
other coxswain didn’t yell to us.” 15-second intervals], which put a lot other crews.” prepare for playoffs.
Silverstein added that once her more responsibility on the coxswain The 35 th place finish was more
boat saw the other, the rowers tried than the shorter sprints,” Silverstein than enough to clinch a spot in the Girls Soccer
to steer out of the way, but couldn’t said. top half and therefore a bid in next Despite a strong 3-1 start, girls
fully clear the path. “There were full 90-degree turns year’s regatta. The feat is even more soccer has skidded lately, losing two
“I think everyone agrees we did in there,” Triay added. “I’d say this impressive because, as Triay pointed games 4-0 to Thomas Johnson and
the right thing,” she said. was definitely the hardest course I’ve out, many of the other entries were B-CC and dropping thier record to
Even before the debatable ruling, ever coxed.” club teams, not high schools. Colleges 5-6. With only one regular season
conditions posed a major challenge. A c c o r d i n g t o h i s t e a m m a t e s , and adult squads from around the game left, the Vikes look to senior
Boys rower Jake Ross said he raced in t h o u g h , T r i a y h a n d l e d t h e t o u g h country came to compete in other captain Kat Barth and goalie Hannah
freezing rain and called the weather navigation with ease. divisions, and over 300,000 fans Sasscer to lead a turn around and
“miserable.” “The coxswain in this race can watched the event.  build momentum as they head into
But the race may have been playoffs. 

the
Spectator Correction: Last issue’s cover photo was taken by Tom Nalls.
Statement of Policy
The Spectator is created by the staff of the Black & White at Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817. The Spectator is a publication for students
that seeks to both inform and entertain the Whitman community.
The Spectator encourages readers to submit recommendations 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 Spectator reserves the right to edit letters for content and for space. Letters to the editor may be placed in the Black & White mailbox or
in room B211, or can be sent to 2010blackandwhiteprint@gmail.com.
All content in the paper is reviewed to ensure that it meets the highest levels of legal and ethical standards. Accuracy is of the utmost importance to The Spectator staff.

Editor-in-Chief.......................................................................................................Jeremy Klitzman
Managing Editor......................................................................................................Sean Hyatt
Online Managing Editor..........................................................................................Louis Wolff
Design Director.............................................................................................Jenna Mahaffie
H e a d Co py E d i to r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S i l v i a Tu r k
Sports Directors....................................................................................Caroline Lippold, Reid Kellam
Feature Editors............................................................................Emma Bethel, Kevin Cecala
Opinion Editor.........................................................................................................Justin Lewis
Professional Sports Director..................................................................................Danny Lee
Photo Director........................................................................................................Simon Engler
Graphics Director......................................................................................................Danny Shannahan
Production and Design Managers...................................Alex Meyer, Andrew Beers
O p i n i o n / Fe a t u r e W r i t e r s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E m i l y M a s h e k ,
Will Brownlee, Haley Johnson,
R achel Norris, Sam Oshinsky
Sidelines Writers....................................................Daniel Royston, Josh Lederman
Senior Staff Writers......................................................................Ben Freeman, Tim Freeman, Aaron Hoffman
Andrew Palmer, Hannah Stein
Sports Writers..............................................................................................................................Elizabeth Bernhard,
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Elliot Markus, Juliet Mullins, Connor Vergara
Online Sports Link........................................................................................................ Christian Cosans
Business Manager......................................................................................Hidemi Omori
Technical Director.................................................................................................Ted Knox
Advisor..............................................................................................................Louise Reynolds
Assistant Advisor................................................................................................................Prudence Crewdson
 “
October 26, 2009 sPECTATOR 17

There’s some good possibility over the course of many years, that
if there’s appropriate arena development in Europe, there could be

PRO
actual NBA franchises in Europe.

BY DANIEL ROYSTON
After recent overseas preseason
games in the NBA, commissioner
David Stern stated that there is a good
chance of creating NBA franchises
overseas, specifically in Europe,
Pacific Asia and Africa. Though
some argue that the NBA should
only have American franchises, the
NBA should expand the association
overseas to increase global interest
in the sport.
Other than from North America,
the NBA’s website attracts the most
visitors from Pacific Asia and Europe.
This is a good indicator of the rapidly
growing global interest in the sport.
While overseas leagues would
likely increase the number of fans
and make basketball one of the
most popular sports in the world,
the biggest question of a global
expansion for the NBA regards the
potential organization. Stern has yet
to comment on a possible format and
hasn’t chosen between actual NBA
franchises overseas or NBA affiliates,
more like the NBDL, a minor league
for the NBA.
Since millions of fans in time
zones worldwide wait until midnight
to watch an NBA game, it only makes
sense to provide them with their own
teams to root for. For example, Greg
Tanner, a freelance T.V producer
from London, admits to staying up
until the early hours of the morning
to watch the NBA Finals.
Because the addition of another
division of the NBA overseas would
create travel and logistical problems
for the new franchises, it seems
logical that there should be separate
leagues for the North American and
overseas teams.
For example, there might be one
league for Europe, another for Africa
and a third for Pacific Asia. There
- NBA Commissioner David Stern
Should the NBA franchise
throughout the world?
could be a world championship of
some sort that could pit the North
American NBA champions against
those of other continents, similar to
the FIBA World Championship.
Having franchises in other
countries would provide a huge
revenue boost to the league.
Currently, the NBA is losing money
in the troubled economy and overseas
leagues would supplement those
shortcomings.
The global expansion of the
NBA seems to have already started.
Preseason games currently take place
overseas and plans are already in
place to hold regular season games in
London before the 2012
Olympics. It’s only
logical for the NBA to
expand as its global
demand significantly
increases. 
” BY DANIEL kluger
For years, NBA commissioner
David Stern has pushed for a league
expansion into Europe, but this
vision remains a fantasy. Stern
hopes to place one to three expansion
teams in the continent over the next
10 years and eventually expand
a few franchises into an entire
European division. However, this
expansion would create far too many
problems.
Expanding the NBA into Europe
would require new arenas capable
of holding up to 20,000 spectators.
Few European cities have arenas
large enough for such large fan
bases, a; the Staples Center in Los
Angeles is 950,000 square feet and
cost $400 million to construct.
Basketball is also far less popular
in Europe than it is in the U.S.
Soccer, which currently dominates
European sports, plays during the
graphics by DANNY SHANNAHAN
CON
same season as the NBA and could
steal potential fans away from
basketball games.
While European countries have
basketball leagues, franchises make
little to no profit each year. Even
though Europeans may stay up to
watch NBA games, most European
teams have to pay television stations
to televise their games. If expanded
to Europe, the NBA would likely face
similar difficulties.
Additionally, NBA players would
be reluctant to play in Europe.
While some argue that the creation
of overseas leagues will help
disperse talented players throughout
the world and thus create more
excitement for the sport globally,
this forces players to move their
families to a new country, leave their
friends behind, and travel longer
distances from game to game. It is
not fair to completely alter these
players’ lives to create a new leage.
The language barrier would
also prove difficult for players and
coaches. Since European teams
would consist of athletes from
numerous countries, coaches and
players would most likely have to
learn new languages to communicate.
Basketball heavily relies on verbal
communication between players,
so a language barrier would make
it difficult to call plays and to give
directions to other players.
David Stern dreams of expanding
the NBA into Europe and eventually
around the world, but this expansion
would do nothing but hurt both the
league and the sport. The minimal
fan base for basketball in Europe
would create an economic dilemma
and the lifestyle of NBA players
would drastically change. 

Coaches need set policy to deal with off-campus citations

by Sam Oshinsky
At the beginning of every sports season, coaches
warn their teams to stay away from drugs and alcohol
and inform them of the consequences of getting
caught with these substances. Each team is given
different consequences for the same actions. But
because MCPS does not have a uniform policy to
deal with athletes caught with illegal substances off
school grounds. Instead, coaches decide individual
punishments.
Schools should be able to decide on punishment
for players who get cited or caught with drugs
off of school grounds, and should set consistent
punishments for all teams.
Furthermore, these rules should be added to the student-
athlete participation contract so the rules and consequences
are clear to all athletes. Since the incidents occur off school
grounds, the policy should not be as strict as the Zero
Tolerance policy. The penalty for an out-of-school offense
disclaimer: photo is staged photo by SAM OSHINSKY
should be a one-game suspension for the first offense, 20 hours
of community service before returning to practice or games
for the second and a one-season suspension for the third.
Schools should create a consistent policy for out-of-
school infractions. It is unjust to force coaches to make
judgment calls about how strict to be with players because
it is not part of their job. Their duty is to train their teams,
not babysit them.
Not only is this unfair to the coaches, but it is also
unfair to the athletes. It is unjustified for players to
be punished for something that is not defined in the
student athlete contract. Because the contract only
discusses punishment for students caught with alcohol
or illegal substances on school grounds or at school
events, punishments are left up to coaches, who could
enforce a different punishment for each player.
Athletes need to be aware of the consequences of
getting caught with illegal substances so that they will
be deterred from partaking in illegal activities and so
that coaches can’t implement arbitrary punishments.
A consistent policy is necessary to clarify the
confusion surrounding this topic, and to establish a set
of consequences that all athletes will be aware of and
subject to. 

Universities should not lower standards to accept athletes

By Emily Mashek
Any university that lowers its
academic acceptance standards for
an athlete downgrades itself as an
institution for learning and undermines
the achievements of other students. The
goal of colleges should be to produce
educated graduates, not promote
successful athletic teams of unqualified
students who are less likely to earn a
degree.
The priority for every student should
be education, not sports. Lowering
acceptance standards for athletes isn’t
fair to students who worked diligently
to achieve the necessary test scores and
GPA to get into a school. An athlete
who is accepted into a school solely
to play a sport takes away chances
for academically gifted students to be
accepted.
Schools with rigorous academics
such as those in the Ivy League aren’t
allowed to grant athletic scholarships
and therefore give so-called “academic”
scholarships to athletes. This takes
scholarship money away from students
who actually deserve a scholarship.
When an athlete with subpar grades
enrolls in a top tier institution, he or
she may struggle to succeed in more
rigorous courses and fall behind in
difficult classes, defeating the purpose
of attending that university in the first
place.
Division I sports are a year-round
commitment, so athletes will have little
time to catch up in challenging
classes. These student athletes
are not ready for the academic
rigor to begin with, and the
large time commitment makes
it worse. Student
athletes sacrifice a
lot of time to play
a sport and can lose
focus on academics.
Between practices and
games, it is difficult to
find time to dedicate to
schoolwork.
The only way an athlete with
poor grades can get into a top tier
school is with the help of his or
her athletic talent. If athletes are
given this preferential treatment,
so should an actor that has the ability
to pursue a major in theater. The
actor can start his or her career
in college, unlike the athlete
whose sport likely won’t
contribute to a future
career. Admissions
officers must make
a final decision based on
academics, not athletics
Colleges want to please alumni
and sports fans to attract more
applicants to the university. Though
the desire for the money and prestige
that NCAA championships bring is
understandable, the school is only
hurting its reputation and lowering its
standards when it accepts unqualified
athletes. 
18 SPECTATOR October 26, 2009

Love bug contagious From Bethesda to Rome,

in coaching community Arrington (‘06) pursues dream European soccer,” she says.
By Haley Johnson and Emily Mashek “He just loves their style of
play.”
There’s a bug in the athletic department. No, not staph infection or H1N1, Although Arrington plays
it’s the love bug. Girls soccer coaches Greg Herbert and Sheryl Freedman professionally, he hasn’t given
and varsity field hockey coach Melissa Dorman were all recently engaged. up his education.
Dorman met her fiancé, T.J. Caswell, at Pyle, where she teaches special “Before I knew it, I was
education and he teaches P.E. Both Dorman and Caswell are coaches; moving into a new apartment
Dorman for field hockey and Caswell for Pyle boys softball and Whitman and beginning school again,” he
varsity baseball. Dorman says Caswell doesn’t know much about field hockey writes on his blog. “Attending
but they both love following professional and college sports. the American University
“Sports are a big part of both of our lives,” she says. “When we aren’t of Rome, I moved into an
coaching, we spend a lot of time watching football, basketball, ice hockey, apartment provided by the
anything. We go to any professional games when tickets come our way.” school with four other guys.
Though both spend significant time with their teams, Dorman says their The new apartment was located
coaching commitments have not affected their relationship. just across the river from my
“I have been coaching every year since we met,” Dorman says. “The two original place, in a region of
of us always have a lot going on. He stays busy too, coaching softball and Rome called Trastevere.”
baseball.” One of the reasons Arrington
While sports play a large role in both Dorman and Caswell’s lives, they pursued a career in Italy was his
play only a minor role in Freedman’s engagement with counselor William familiarity with the language.
Kapner. The couple met when they were both hired at Whitman five years He now speaks almost fluent
photo courtesy MATT ARRINGTON
ago and have been dating for the past three. Italian, which he began studying
Though Kapner is not a fellow coach, Freedman says he is a sports Arrington, at right, has progressed from Whitman captain to mem-
ber of the San Paolo Ostiense professional soccer club in Rome. while in high school.
enthusiast and ran cross country in high school. He supports Freedman in His teacher, Isabella Kyser,
her coaching duties and closely follows the team’s success. By Haley Johnson says that Arrington showed great
“We’re in a unique position to both be supportive of our school,” she says. interest in the language during the
“Even though he doesn’t coach, he offers emotional support for the girls.” Matthew Arrington knows what happens three years she had him in class.
Freedman says her commitment to girls soccer does not affect their when you follow your dreams. “Learning a language is hard, but
relationship but that she knows games and practices will be a large time Arrington (’06) captained the varsity soccer he kept at it,” she says. “I think he
commitment during the fall. team his senior year, but dreamed of taking knew he wanted to use it someday. He
“We rarely see each other August through October,” she jokes. his game to the next level. Now, he plays knew about the culture because of his
Their wedding is scheduled to take place in June of next year, and the professionally for the San Paolo Ostiense club connection with soccer, and he was very
couple will travel to South Carolina for the event. in Italy. enthusiastic.”
Herbert is not as open to talking about his wedding. Despite the girls After graduating from Whitman, Arrington But learning Italian was not the
soccer team’s attempts to find out the details, senior Emily Mason says that played soccer at George Mason University. only beneficial aspect of Arrington’s
he will not reveal very much. He started 12 of 13 games in 2007 before Whitman career.
“Herbert won’t tell us anything,” she says. “He’s afraid the team will crash transferring to the University of Maryland He says that being captain of the
or tailgate his wedding.” for his junior year. While at George Mason, soccer team was also an extremely
Herbert met his fiancée Laura Maring, a 90’s Whitman alum who works he decided he wanted to play soccer more meaningful experience.
at NIH as a recreational therapist, in September of last year. Maring played competitively. “To me, personally, it was a big
soccer for a year while at Whitman, and swam at Ithaca College in New York. “After my sophomore season I decided I deal,” he says. “It was an honor to be
She now plays on four different adult soccer teams. wanted to do more,” Arrington says. “I wanted thought of in that way, to be able to talk
Herbert says their relationship remains strong despite the amount of time to do bigger and better things and to play to the coach and represent the team.”
he spends with the team, especially since Maring recently began coming to professionally.” Arrington’s mother says that
some of the games and understands how important Herbert’s commitment Arrington prepared for a professional career Whitman soccer improved his playing
is to the team. by squeezing practice sessions in between as well.
“We actually had a joking discussion [about the amount of time I spend classes. He also worked with personal trainer “Whitman is one of the best teams
with the team],” he says. “I appreciate her supporting me and the girls during Emile Mbouh on technical skills. around, and Dave Greene was a very
the season; it means a lot to me.” “I would go to class and then work out and demanding coach,” she says. “That was
With the love bug moving fast, it makes you wonder: who’s next?  run,” Arrington says. “I had to do weightlifting a very positive experience for him. The
and just work on technical skills with the coaches really helped him develop his
ball.” game.”
Arrington’s stepfather put him in contact Despite the improvement Whitman
with an agent, who in turn got in contact with o f f e r e d h i s g a m e , t h e E u r o p e a n
a variety of European teams. Arrington tried evaluation process differs from that
out for squads in Italy and Switzerland, before of the United States, placing more
landing on San Paolo Ostiense. emphasis on instincts and leadership
The tryouts in Italy consisted mostly of than just athleticism. Arrington says he
exhibitions against other teams. Arrington likes the European style better and finds
played up to six days a week while coaches it more effective.
evaluated his skills and cohesiveness with the “The United States looks for the best
team. After the tryout period, the team offered athlete, not the best soccer player,” he
Arrington a one-year contract, which goes says. “Really, it’s not about how big or
through June. fast or strong you are. It’s about how
His mom, Debra, says he has always well you play.”
photo courtesy GREG HERBERT shown interest in playing soccer abroad and Playing professionally in the soccer
Herbert and fiancé Laura Maring plan to marry in June of 2010. that playing for San Paolo Ostiense will be a capital of the world, Arrington has
fulfilling experience for him. turned his dreams into a reality. 
“He’s always been interested in playing

Hall of Fame inductees return to field where it all began

By Elliot Markus
As Pascal Dobert stands on the same track ‘89), Craig Lake ( basketball, cross country and
where he became the most decorated track
star in Whitman history, winning four state
championships in three years, he reminisces
on his journey to this day. After winning, he
ran for the University of Wisconsin, where he
was a six-time Big Ten Champion, an NCAA All-
American,the1996NCAAchampionshiprunner-
upand1997NCAAchampion.Hethenraninthe
steeplechaseduringthe2000Olympics,placing
sixth in his heat with a time of 8 minutes
29 seconds. But finally, after a long and
storied career, Dobert, along with other
successful alumni, returned to the high
school where it all began to be inducted
into the Whitman Athletic Hall of Fame’s
first class.
The inductees include former
coaches Bill Dargert (basketball and
cross country), Sam DeBone (boys and
girls soccer), James Douglas (Poms and
wrestling)andHughHammet(boysand
girls tennis and girls basketball) as well
as players Lee Ann Chang (swimming
‘04), Andy Corno (lacrosse ‘01),
Anthony Dilweg (football ’84), Pascal
Dobert (track’92), Daniel Engelstad
(basketball, football and baseball’03),
Courtney Gaine (soccer, field hockey
From left to right, Dilweg, Gormley, Chang, Kuehl, Engelstad, Corno, DeBone, Dobert, Douglas, Lake, Smith
and Gaine all stand together at half time, after their induction into the first annual Whitman Hall of Fame class.
and basketball ’95), Chris Gormley (soccer’ 01),
Ryan Kuehl (football, basketball, baseball, track
track ‘90), Lindsay Seawright ( soccer, tennis and
basketball ‘93), Stephanie Smith ( volleyball,
softball and basketball ’00).
The idea for the hall of fame began
when athletic director Andy Wetzel was Whitman’s excellence on the field is
replacing championship banners in the gym
unprecedented compared to that of other
last year and saw the past athletic successes of
schools in the county. The inductees range
Whitman. from USA Olympians, Dobert, to NFL Super
“I realized that we had so many
Bowl champions, Kuehl
outstanding athletes and coaches,” Wetzel Track and basketball star Craig Lake
says, “I thought that we should have a way to
attributes her success in sports to the connection
honor them as well as our athletic history.”
she had with her coach.
“My coach Kerry Ward had an
enormous impact on my life,”
Lake says, “He was my basketball
coach and made me go out for
the cross-country team. I am
now a cross-country coach
today and hope I can positively
influence people as he did.”
A committee selects the
hall of fame inductees based on
their high school, college and
professional accomplishments
as well as their character and
community involvement.
“I think being in the Walt
Whitman Hall of Fame is a great
honor,” Wetzel says, “It is reserved
for those individuals who have had
outstanding athletic careers and
have given back to the school
community.”
Theprocessfornominating
photo by DEBORAH STEVENS next year’s class starts April 1
and ends June 1. 
October 26, 2009 Spectator 19

With pep talks and positive attitude, De Paula inspires team
continued from page 1
part of it,” she says. “He
“He and coach Swink always understood each
other. Ramon always loved to be there with football
players and loved cheering for them.” to go to states.
When he started as manager, De Paula helped with
equipment, created plays and gave pep talks. Though
De Paula did not do sprints with the team or run drills
with the coaches, he was always seen as a vital part of
the team.
“He was one of the guys,” Swink says. “When they
would lose a tough game he would take it just as hard
as they would and when they would win a good game
they would celebrate with him. Everyone treated him
with respect and loved him.”
JV coach Dan Wolfe is close with De Paula and
played football in 2003 while De Paula was manager.
Wolfe has many fond memories of De Paula throughout
their relationship, but one sticks out.
“My favorite memory of Ramon is watching him run
onto the field every Friday in front of the team,” Wolfe
says. “I get a great sense of pride when I see that.”
Soon after De Paula became manager,
representatives of Special Olympics Maryland heard
of his involvement with the team and asked him to
become an ambassador for them and deliver a speech
to their athletes. De Paula was reluctant at first because
football isn’t an Olympic sport, but eventually decided
to accept the offer.
After the successful speech, Swink asked De Paula
to deliver a similar speech to his team.
“Coach Swink says I can do a speech for the players
too; I am going to tell them something to pep them
up,” he told his mother. “I am going to tell my players
to do their best, work as a team, have fun, focus and
listen to your coach!”
Ramon’s initial speech inspired the players and
Swink invited him to continue giving pep talks.
De Paula continued to write motivational speeches
for the football team and eventually spoke at his own
graduation. The assignment: talk about a person who
had helped him at Whitman. His mother remembers
him struggling with the task.
time off that his boss gives out as bonuses.
He says cheering on the football team is
worth making sacrifices at work, especially
because the team this year is closer than
ever to achieving De Paula’s ultimate goal:
“It means a lot to me to be able to help
the team,” De Paula says. “We’ve never been
to states before; we have a good team so far.
Hopefully we can get there.”
Getting to games, however, isn’t always
easy. Because public transportation isn’t
very reliable, team parents often offer him
rides.
“He has all of these guardian angels
watching over him, all these wonderful
people who love him dearly” Haydee says.
Lynn Kline, mother of cornerbacks
photo courtesy FIGHTINGVIKINGS.COM Carson and Larry was De Paula’s second
De Paula has led the team onto the field since he started as manager in 1999. grade teacher, and frequently takes him
to games. Larry first met De Paula in sixth
“Ramon said ‘I can’t think of only one person grade and the two have been close ever since.
who helped me,’” she recollects. “He related all of his “He motivates us and is always there giving
experiences at Whitman and remembered all the people support,” Kline says. “He’s always wishing us well, and
who had helped him. He knew that everyone was going is such a great guy. He’s always really happy and so
to go away to different places in the world and would excited for football. It’s what he lives for.”
meet a lot of people in their lives, and would meet De Paula wants to stay with the team
people with special needs like him. He asked that when f o r e v e r . H e
they met these people they would do for them what they can’t imagine
had done for him.” a w o r l d
De Paula received a standing ovation from w i t h o u t
classmates, faculty and parents after his speech. bright lights,
Although he was leaving high school, his involvement b i g c r o w d s
with the team was far from over. and Viking
After graduation, De Paula attended as many games football.
and practices as he could. He currently works full time “I’d like to
as a copy clerk for the Department of Veteran Affairs, stay with the
limiting his participation to the summer and Saturday team as long
practices. Still, De Paula goes to every game. as possible,” he
“I come from work to football,” De Paula says. says. “They say
“Work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., then take the Metro, they can’t do
then my mom picks me up from the Metro and takes it without me, photo courtesy HAYDEE DE PAULA
me straight to Whitman.” so I’m always De Paula works as a copy clerk for the
To make it to games, De Paula saves up coupons for there.”  Department of Veteran Affairs.

Creatine’s potential benefits

tainted by possible side effects
by Sam Oshinsky “I really haven’t had any side effects
because of creatine other than the
Athletes train relentlessly to become occasional cramp and muscle twitch,”
the best they can be, practicing daily and the senior creatine user says.
lifting weights to gain any competitive Varsity football Coach Jim Kuhn
edge they need to dominate opponents. doesn’t support the use of creatine
Sometimes, however, simply training is because there’s not enough research to
not enough. Though most athletes rely prove its safety.
solely on their workout routines, some “I don’t advocate it or condone it, but
turn to supplemental creatine or protein I advise my players not to use creatine
powders to help build muscle. and other dangerous supplements,”
photo courtesy ANDREA JANNOTTA The body naturally Kuhn says.
Jannotta and Laukaitis play for the Maryland Exiles, a local girls rugby team, which com- produces creatine, which it M e d i c a l
petes against both local club and collegiate women’s teams such as UVA and UMBC. uses to increase energy, build professionals have

Rugby: not just for boys

muscle, synthesize proteins mixed opinions
and slow down lactic acid about supplemental
build-up. creatine and protein.
Despite its potential Protein powders are
Viking girls defy stereotype, join the scrum danger, creatine
enhances weight training
less harmful than
creatine, they say,
by Lily Durston sophomore year at Syracuse University. and provides benefits but still can present
“I had been seeing the team’s fliers such as enhanced muscle risks. If a player
Juniors Andrea Jannotta and Kristina all around campus since freshman year,” mass and improved takes more than
Laukaitis are not afraid to play rough. In Fensterstock says. “It seemed pretty exciting athletic performance and the recommended
fact, both have found an athletic outlet that and I ended up e-mailing one of the girls about endurance. Junior Andre SIDE EFFECTS dosage, he or she
encourages hard-hitting aggression: rugby.
Laukaitis and Jannotta decided to join
joining the team.”
Initially a little overwhelmed by rugby’s
Ames is one Whitman
athlete who uses creatine MAY INCLUDE... could encounter
an upset stomach
the Maryland Exiles after hearing about it complex rules, Fensterstock quickly caught supplements. UPSET STOMACH or kidney stones.
through their friends and siblings who play. on. One of her responsibilities on the field “I take creatine to get CRAMPS Doctors agree
“At first some friends and I went to the was to participate in scrums, where players increased strength as an TWITCHES though, that if
practice as a joke, but it ended up being really from both teams push against each other for added boost to working DEHYDRATION athletes take
fun,” Jannotta says. possession of the ball. out,” he says. NAUSEA creatine correctly
A rugby game consists of two teams, each “Rugby is definitively more physical than Though Ames is along with protein
with 15 players on the field at a time. Teams any sport,” Fensterstock says. “It is football aware of the potential VOMITING powders while
score points by carrying, passing, kicking or without the pads, combined with wrestling.” consequences of creatine, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE lifting, they can
grounding the ball into the endzone. Though Fensterstock suffered from a herniated he believes that the KIDNEY STONES benefit greatly. Elite
typically a male-dominated sport, rugby has disc in her back from an accident in high supplement’s benefits graphic by ANDREW B EERS Athletic Training
become increasingly popular among teenage school that eventually led to sciatica, or outweigh its possible side System, a company
girls. USA Rugby currently oversees 150 girls excruciating pain, in her left leg. Because of effects. that employs personal
programs across the country and women’s rugby’s physicality and roughness, she was “I would not put any drugs into my trainers and runs athletic programs for
rugby was recently added as an event to the forced to stop playing after her sophomore body with no knowledge of what [they high schoolers, supports the proper use
2016 Olympics. year. were],” he says. “Through my research, of creatine during workouts.
“I think it has become more popular “Getting injured was not at all difficult,” I found that if taken responsibly, creatine “Combined with proper training and
because until now, people were unaware Fensterstock says, “I would be concerned if a is a harmless substance that does provide a sound eating plan, creatine helps to
that there was a girls league in the area,” match didn’t have an ambulance on hand.” weightlifting gains. Prior to taking increase strength and add muscle size,”
Jannotta says. Despite the injuries the sport caused, creatine, my bench press max was 160. an EATS flyer reads.
Laukaitis joined the Exiles last year, Fensterstock enjoyed her time playing rugby Today it is 215 and increasing.” Protein is key to increasing muscle
though the team barely had enough girls to and the close relationships she formed with Other creatine users agree with Ames mass. When a person lifts, his or her
sport a squad. In recent months, however, her teammates. and believe that taking the drug is worth muscles tear slightly and proteins help
the team has recruited more players and now “A game this physical forces a special the risk. fill in those tears, which builds muscle.
has over 20 girls. bond between team members, as they work “I use creatine because it lets me push “You can’t lift and expect to gain any
“Last year we had to play with the Langley to protect each other in addition to attempting my physical limits,” says a senior creatine mass at all if you do not take any protein,”
girls team in Virginia for a few games, but now to score,” she says. user who wished to stay anonymous. Ames says.
we have a full team,” Laukaitis says. Jannotta, who played with Laukaitis “I’m able to work harder for longer Whether athletes are looking for that
Colleges around the country are also on the Exiles last year, remembers the because it gives me more energy.” competitive edge or are just looking to
getting involved with the developing sport exhilaration she felt while playing. These athletes have benefited put on some muscle, they must know
and many now offer women’s club teams. “The best part of playing was just the from supplemental creatine, they have what they’re putting in their bodies and
Karen Fensterstock (’06) joined a team her adrenaline rush during a game,” she says.  encountered slight side effects . how it could affect them.
20 Specatator October 26, 2009

end
Number of days of the year people get
free candy for dressing up like over-

1
paid athletes.

zone count ‘em

sidelines

with Josh Lederman
Finding a role model in the world of professional sports can be like trick-or-
Walking sports cliché:
Requirements—To encompass as
many idiotic clichés used by sports analysts
treating at that weird house where they only give out stale leftover pretzels—not very as possible, you’ll need to be somewhat
rewarding. Fortunately, when it seems like the purpose of sports is to crush your smart and not suffering from dozens
soul, these Halloween costumes can give you a chance to get even. of concussions (unlike the previously
mentioned analysts).
Execution—Take some sort of chip—
Stephon Marbury: poker chip, potato chip, chocolate chip,
tortilla chip, any chip—and tape it to your
Requirements—A shaved head, a basketball and shoulder. Now people will think you have
an ego that’s more inflated than Albert Haynesworth’s something to prove. Make sure to take
torso, but of course no NBA jersey since Marbury won’t friends with you and rent a bus service.
be playing in the league this year. Whenever you feel like blaming them for
Execution—This costume is good for loners who something, don’t do it. Instead, just throw
don’t want to trick-or-treat in groups, because given how them under the bus. Literally. Imagine the
unappealing Marbury is as a free agent, no one can be reaction you’ll get if you wear a shirt that
within a 20-foot radius of you at any time. Should anyone says “What it is.” (Sample conversation:
ask you to pass your basketball, stay true to character “What’s your costume?” “It is what it is”).
and hold onto it, because Stephon Marbury doesn’t pass Payoff—This costume will take some
the ball to anyone, not even if he’s triple-teamed by Kobe explaining, but it’ll be totally worth all the
Bryant, John Cena and a hungry piranha. confused looks from strangers when one of
Payoff—Your style of play—hog the ball, then sulk them chuckles. Well, maybe not.
when your coach sticks you on the bench—might offend
some (most of mankind), but it’ll also win you admirers photo by SIMON ENGLER
and a cool nickname like Starbury (even though it’s mostly
used ironically).
WNBA player:
Requirements—A tiny orange and white
WNBA basketball and a jersey with a hard-
to-respect name like the Bethesda Fantasy
(that one’s not real, but they’d fit right in with
the Dream, Sky, Sun, Shock, Fever, Liberty,
Mercury, Sparks, Monarchs and Silver Stars).
Execution—Be extremely sneaky, so that
you can get all your candy without anyone
Clinton Portis: noticing you were in their neighborhood that
night—just like this summer, when America
Requirements—You’ll want a #26 Redskins jersey, collectively failed to notice another entire
a helmet, some pads and, of course, Daniel Snyder’s WNBA season. And if you can find somebody
private home phone number on your speed dial. in an NBA jersey, take a percentage of his candy
Execution—In acknowledgement of Portis’ and throw it in the trash can to simulate the
seeming inability to gain yardage, you must only run NBA’s funding of the WNBA.
sideways the entire night. If you’re really committed, you Payoff—Instead of “trick or treat,” you get
can get your friend to wear a Mike Sellers #45 jersey and to use a catchy/nauseating slogan like “Expect
then spend the night picking fights with him. Great.” Or as ESPN columnist Bill Simmons
Payoff—You’ll get the Clinton Portis treatment— says, “Expect Layups.” 
that is, no matter how little candy you get every
Halloween, people like Daniel Snyder will continue to
treat you like you’re the best in the business, the Willy
Wonka of trick-or-treating.

SGA
“ ” the leaderSHIP never sinks
SPEAKS Aaron Schifrin
PRESIDENT
Luke Rozansky
VICE-PRESIDENT
Will Brownlee
TREASURER

announcements:
•Blood drive is on Nov. 5. Sign up!!
Lily Durston Julia Weingardt
•Keep recycling!
SECRETARY SECRETARY
• Check out the SGA website @ whitmansga.com for Class Officers:
‘10
news and announcements.
Mel Schwed, Nina Slesinger, Brandt Silver-Korn

‘11 Zach Schloss, Hannah Sherman, Rachel Norris

‘12 Ari Kapner, Danny Milzman, Melissa Kantor

‘13 Leslie Schwed, Valerie Acker, Lindsey Herschfeld