oakton outlook 2012-2013 issue 2
DESCRIPTION
Issue 2 of the 2012-2013 school yearTRANSCRIPT
Outlookvol. 47 | issue 2 | 11.2.12
oakton
inside showtimeTrick-or-treating veterans share strange substitutes for Halloween candy
spotlightA Homecoming photo collage captures the festive aura and student excitement that filled the school
Democracy in the works
As the political climate heats up, students discuss their opinions on the candidates and issues of today
2snailmail11.2.2012
snailmailfrom the editors
misa mori
Editorial Policy The Outlook is an open forum for student expression. Unsigned editorials reflect the collective opinion of the Outlook staff. Signed editorials represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Outlook or Oakton High School. Reader opinions are important to the Outlook and contributions are welcome. Make your voice heard by sending us a line about what’s on your mind. Letters to the editor may be sent via email to [email protected] or dropped off in Mrs. Luna’s box in the main office or in room 135. The Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and content provided the meaning remains unchanged.
outlook staff adviserlauren luna
gabriela driscollmichelle lorussomadlin mekelburgmarilyn yang
touchdown editor
copy editor
business manager
showtime editor
newsworthy editor erin bennett
spotlight editor
indepth editor
viewpoint editors
online editor
editors in chief
jennifer prosser
ria bhatia
photo editor
oliver lopez-gomez
melanie aguilar
sofia crutchfieldkim gibbons
karli gillespie
reina datta
alana peters
carly stonehouse
jacque groskaufmanis
sunni beanabbey boninalex driscollnatalie eberhartlauren embroskikenneth hippe
staff writerstorri marquisramya mukallalaura murphyanee nguyenerin preaskornalex xenos
regards,Gabriela DriscollMichelle LoRusso
cover photo by alana petersstudent body: 2138circulation: 1300
As Election Day draws near, American voters, some Oakton students included, are starting to take their civic
duty seriously and study up on the candidates running in the presidential, senate, congressional and local elections (Page 20-22). But it’s important to remember that passion for politics is not unique to those 18 and older. Political clubs run through schools and the community, as well as volunteer and internship opportunities, provide students under 18 with the outlets they need to develop their opinions on and knowledge of politics (Page 10). To the politically weary: have no fear! This issue of The
Outlook is not entirely dedicated to the competitive political climate. Are you wondering what spooky movie to watch to get into the Halloween mind set (Page 30)? Do you want to revisit spirit week and homecoming weekend (Page 8)? Have you missed every single fall sporting event and are jonesing for a wrap-up (Page 13)? We’ve got you covered. Unfortunately, due to Superstorm Sandy, The Outlook was
unable to be distributed on the intended date of Oct. 31. Hopefully, the Halloween features we’ve included in this issue will still be a spooky, fall treat.
Madlin MekelburgMarilyn Yang
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spotlight indepthnewsworthy
3contents11.2.12
vol. 47 | issue 2 | 11.2.12in this issue
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gianna sheffield
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Work Awareness
& Transition Program builds greenhouses: Greenhouse built on funds raised by the WAT Program members
7 We’ve got spirit, how
‘bout you?: Students are the highlight of spirit week and homecoming weekend
8 Candidates campaign
to win student’s allegiance: The importance of promoting student involvement in the wide world of politics
23touchdown
Seniors prevail in
powderpuff: The seniors dominate in the annual flag football game between junior and senior girls
16showtime
Creepy Classics:
A collection of Halloween flicks from all ages that are sure to leave you trembling in fear
30
30
Mem
orab
le Moments
4recurring11.2.12
Going to the football game when we beat
Annndale was pretty exciting.billy clarke | 9
“
”I got interviewed by someone from
The Oakton Outlook.kevin benson | 10
“ ”
I took my first SAT and it w
as really hard.
rhea singh | 11“
”
The boy’s cross country team is third in the
state, not 10th like we thought we would be.
ricardo manoatl | 12
“
”
I went to a haunted house and it w
as scary.
max dollard | 11
“ ”
micaela sturm
| 12
I ran into a door because I wasn’t paying
attention. It hurt.“
”
I was volunteering and there was a group of Nepalis meeting in the building. Someone pulled the fire alarm as a prank so I chased them out of the building. chance crail | 12
“
”
I celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary. M
y wife and I went
to the restaurant where we got engaged for the second time.
chip comstock | adm
inistrator
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Follow us on Twitter @Oakton_Outlook
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newsbriefs
Oakton’s Drama Department will be putting on two Fall plays this year. “Suite Surrender” (see photo) will be showing on Nov 8, 9 and 20, and “Our Town” will be performed Nov 15, 16 and 27.“‘Suite Surrender’ is a comedy
taking place in 1942 about two movie star divas who hate each other and end up staying at the same hotel,” said Drama teacher Vanessa Gelinas. “The show is all about trying to keep [the divas] apart.”The other play, “Our Town”,
is based off the book by Forten Wilder and has a more serious plotline. The play addresses love, death and destiny, while following the daily activities of residents in a little town in New Hapshire.“I liked the idea of having
two plays almost back to back,” Gelinas said. “[‘Our Town’] has virtually no set and a big cast because I wanted to include the whole class.” The cast is looking forward to a
great show.
Oakton theater to debut fall productions The Oakton Activities Department plans on re-modeling up to three fields this
summer by replacing the traditional grass fields (see photo) with new turf fields. The goal is to replace the stadium field and the two football practice fields. “Grass costs a lot to manage, while the costs of maintaining turf are much lower,”
said Patrick Full, Director of Student Activities. “The turf fields will allow sports to practice outdoors instead of having to move indoors due to bad weather.”Two youth leagues, Vienna Youth Incorporated and Vienna Soccer, have been
helping fundraise for the turf fields and will cover about half of the total cost of the renovation. Oakton has also received two grants that will contribute to lowering the total cost of renovating the fields, which are said to improve Oakton athletics.“Turf is safer than grass,” Full said. “ Turf will give our athletes the advantage
they don’t get when they practice indoors.” The project is planned to start after the last home game in the spring season and is
expected to be finished by the fall of 2013.
2 Renovation of football fields to begin in spring
At the Virginia High School League (VHSL), the Paragon yearbook, Opus literary magazine and Oakton Outlook news magazine all received awards for their 2012 editions. The Oakton Outlook was awarded a Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press and also received first place at the VHSL State Championship. The Opus literary magazine has been awarded first place in the State Competition for the past three years. “It’s very competitive and hard to keep the title,” said Susan Sullivan, a literary
magazine teacher.The Opus won a national honorable mention (see photo); the first time for any
Fairfax County school literary magazine. The Paragon yearbook won an honorable mention in the VHSL State competition.
3 Publication achievements recognized at VHSL
erin bennettnews editor
anee nguyenstaff writer
5newsworthy11.2.12
alana peters
gianna sheffield
courtesy of vanessa gelinas
A quick overview of the past month and a brief look at upcoming school events. Be sure to check out oaktonoutlook.com for more newsworthy stories.
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6newsworthy11.2.12
erin bennettnews editor
alex driscollstaff writer
Best Buddies embraces the
challenge in D.C.On Oct. 20 Washington D.C. hosted
the Audi Best Buddies challenge. Best Buddies is an international organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Members or supporters of the cause were given the opportunity to bike with cycling legend George Hincapie, run with Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis or simply walk through the nation’s capital. The Best Buddies organization is working with the Virginia chapter for the challenge to raise money for Best Buddies International. Many of the Oakton Best Buddies members participated in the walk, including team captain Kat Fleckenstein. “[The walk] was a good experience and
was a great thing to do to promote Best Buddies and their mission,” Fleckenstein said. “[The mission] is about the inclusion of others and to not judging people based on their disabilities,” All of the local Best Buddies chapters
competed to see who could raise the most money from the challenge. The winning chapter received a visit from Glee star Lauren Potter, known as Becky Jackson on the show.
5Seniors launch online art gallery
Seniors Gary Yeh and Ryan Hintzman recently founded the Stet Gallery, an online art gallery that features the artwork of High school and College students in Northern Virginia. The seniors noticed a lack of representation for young artists, and decided to start a gallery of their own in order to promote young artists while also educating the youth about art. “Stet,” which means “let it stand” in Latin, was primarily used in proofreading, but in the context of art it can give the artist a clean slate to create unique and individual work. “We wanted to apply term ‘stet’ to art to let artists do their own thing
and to not conform to society,” Yeh said. The gallery not only displays students’ art, but sells their art as well.
The idea is to put out artwork that goes beyond the typical art found in galleries today.
6Kids are scientists too club teaches interactive science
The Kids Are Scientists Too (KAST) club has come to Oakton and will be going to local elementary schools throughout the year to inspire young students to become more interested in science by offering opportunities for students to take part in free science programs. On Oct. 5 the KAST club went to Navy Elementary to implement a fun, science based curriculum for kids. “We will be going to schools bi-monthly to involve the students in science
experiments, such as making rock candy and ice cream, while teaching the kids about the science behind the experiments,” said junior Vice President Diana Yen. During their first visit to Navy Elementary, the club members taught the
students the basics of engineering by having the students build bridges and see how much weight the bridges would hold. “The club as a whole is very excited to begin teaching the kids and get-
ting the program started,” said junior Brennan Garrett. “I look forward to working with the kids and getting them interested in science.”
4 5
courtesy of kat fleckenstein
6
alana peterscourtesy of stet gallery
4
7newsworthy11.2.12
The Work Awareness & Transition Program (WAT) recently built
greenhouses, and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Sept. 17 to commemorate the accomplishments of the WAT Program. The WAT Program focuses on teaching the students skills that can be transferred into the workplace. “We’ve come up with party
planning and business planning around the greenhouses,” said Amy Makrigiorgos, member of the Special Education Department. “We were looking for something we could do in the school that would teach [the students] transferable job skills.” The grant that the WAT Program
was awarded, the School Yard Stewardship Grant, funded the materials the WAT Program needed in order to build their courtyard greenhouses. “We wrote an application for a
grant through the Department of Facilities and Transportation Services,” Makrigiorgos said. “They awarded us a thousand dollars and we got the green house planted.”The audience welcomed Kevin
Concannon, the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, during the ribbon cutting ceremony. It is the responsibility of Concannon to fund the Food and Nutrition Services, a department that works towards increasing healthy American diets. “I love to see [greenhouses]
because they connect students back to where food comes from,”Concannon said. “It doesn’t come from a Safeway store, someone has to grow it.”The Work Awareness &
Transition Program focuses on in-depth career exploration, as well as job keeping and seeking skills. “You can apply the knowledge
associated with greenhouses in many ways,” Concannon said. “You can apply it to the environment, to
chemistry, to even mathematics of measuring or estimating, but for students here in this program that is intended to help them transition at some point into the work force.”The WAT Program also
concentrates on using community service work to help the students become more prepared for the work force. ”Some people can be smart but
they can be wanting on those soft skills, like how you get along with other people,” Concannon said. “So, I like the greenhouses and school gardens because they bring together that opportunity.”The newly constructed
greenhouses allow the students to plant and take care of the vegetables, while learning how to be able to efficiently collaborate with others.“They are also working with other
students, because it is a cooperative effort,” Concannon said. “While it draws some students that might be more reserved and less inclined to get involved.”The WAT Program plans on
continuing to plant, grow and harvest vegetables throughout the year in the courtyard greenhouses and will use the greenhouses as a learning opportunity. “I think I learned everything I ever
wanted to know about cold weather vegetables,” Makrigiorgos said. “Once we get these [vegetables], we’ll harvest in December and then we’ll do something with the greenhouses in the Spring as well.”The WAT Program students
worked diligently to construct the greenhouses and will use the greenhouses as a way to learn transferable job skills. “It has just been a great
experience and a lot of fun for the kids,” Makrigiorgos said. “The greenhouses offered us so many opportunities that we didn’t think would be there.”
Kevin Concannon and Amy Makrigiorgos spoke with students in the WAT Program after the ceremony. “The greenhouses are great because it is a cooperative effort,” Concannon said.
The newly constructed greenhouses are located in the courtyard outside the art gallery. “It’s just been a great experience,” Makrigiorgos said. “We worked with Leadership who helped us build everything, so it helped integrate us to the rest of the community.”
WAT Program members Sean Minnick and graduate member Matt Nelson gave speeches about nature. “The kids have been very excited about the greenhouses,” Makrigiorgos said.
erin bennettnews editor
Work Awareness & Transition Program builds greenhouses Oakton’s Work Awareness & Transition Program funds and builds two new courtyard greenhouses to learn job skills.
all photos by gianna sheffield
8feature11.2.12
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4 5 6
We’ve got spirit, how ‘bout you?Students went cougar crazy during the week leading up to the highly anticipated Homecoming game and dance. With four spirit days and a black-light pep rally on Friday, Oct. 12, Cougar Nation was loud and proud come Friday night; students were decked out in neon and performed a flash mob that silenced our opponent, Chantilly High School.
All photos by Alana Peters unless otherwise specified
alana petersphoto editor
Check out the Homecoming game flash mob at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DSL6unHzW8
9feature11.2.12
9
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1 Mr. Comstock photo-bombs sophomores Jordan Loria and Siwani Regmi during lunch on USA day.
2 Seniors Eddie Gerow and Jeremy Marchall photo bomb fellow seniors Helen Roberts, Emily Carroll, Andrea Raiello, Sergio Lazcano, Jillian Ostick and Katie Fabian, and show their patriotism in red, white and blue on Thursday’s USA day.
3 Seniors Prateek Yadav, Nestor Folta, Tony Raiti and Ferney Vasquez rock their powder-puff attire on Oakton’s burgundy and gold day.
4 Early Friday morning, students arrived at Oakton to find that game rival Chantilly had painted over the rocks in front of the building.
5 Freshmen show school spirit in Girls: Gold day, including Maddie Kim, Katie Smith, Jodie Koplaski and Xan Toney.
6 Senior and dance team captain Maria Canales goes all-out in America’s colors.
7 Oakton’s cheer team entertains the packed crowd during Friday’s pep rally.
8 Senior Jeremy Marshall has ups and a whole lot of neon spirit at Friday night’s Homecoming game.
9 The student section, or “Cougar Nation,” was packed full of students in their brightest neon clothes as they cheered on the Oakton football team at the Homecoming game Friday night.
10 Junior Ali Eagen leads Cougar Nation through the successful flash mob to Nicki Minaj’s Starships (check out the full flash mob on Youtube).
11 Seniors twins Naomi and Nestor Folta win homecoming king and queen together.
12 The homecoming dance theme this year was out of this world-space bound.
13 Students dressed in their finest, dancing to the “Cha-Cha Slide.”
7
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1310 11 12
Photo by Mike Peters
Courtesy of Lifetouch Courtesy of Lifetouch
pinonated peopleOakton students have been active participants in the many political elections,
from attending campaign rallies to interning for the candidates themselves.
10spotlight11.2.12
Joanna Ro, 12 (R)
karli gillespiespotlight editor
Joanna Ro has thrown herself into presi-
dential campaigning for the first time ever,
and she is learning what politics are all about.
Hoping to someday work in politics, Ro decided
that an internship at the Fairfax County Repub-
lican Committee was the perfect start.
“I started [working there] at the end of last
school year, and it went on through the sum-
mer,” said Ro. “I usually worked two to four
hours every day, and I helped with administra-
tive things, like cutting flyers. But, sometimes
the others and I made phone calls to voters,
reminding them to vote, and asking them what
their political views are. ”
She felt something like this would help shape
her future.
“I want to get into law, government and
politics when I’m older,” Ro said. “But I am so
uninformed, so I felt like I should get ahead and
see what [politics] are all about. An ideal job
for me would be something where I can help
lots of people, maybe get a law passed.”
Ro loved the experience and would do it
again if the opportunity presented itself. “The
environment was so supportive and friendly. It
was so drama-free there. I think it’s important
for seniors to get involved because we are so
close to the voting age, and if you’re going to
vote you should know what you’re voting for.
But, if you’re someone that doesn’t think it’s
that important, you don’t really need to get
[involved].”
Lorelei Christie has been passionate about
politics for as long as she can remember,
and with her liberal family she has been ex-
posed to politics ever since she was little.
As she grows older, Christie has become more
involved in politics. “This is the first election I
have been really involved in, but I have always
cared. I can’t vote [this election], but that’s
why I spend as much time as I can volunteer-
ing,” Christie said.
Christie began her involvement by helping
register voters at NOVA Community College
with friend Jackie Akunda. “I really enjoyed do-
ing that, so I read up more on of the issues, and
I became more passionate about it all. I love go-
ing to rallies and meeting all the politicians. I
made my way around the GMU campus once
to talk to Mayor [Julian] Castro, a keynote
speaker at the DNC. I also went to the Obama
rally in Woodbridge in September. It is really
cool to meet and talk to politicians,” Christie
said.
She feels it is important for people of all ages
to get involved in politics, even if it is just by
voting. “I understand being morally opposed
to voting in our two-party system, that’s fine,
I accept that,” Christie said. “But, when I was
registering voters, people would tell me to me
about why they didn’t want to register and it
was horrifying. Their excuses were, ‘no, [the
candidates] are the same,’ or ‘no I don’t really
feel like it’. These people had no idea how im-
portant it is [to vote], and they were just too
lazy to get out of their beds to do it,”
Lorelei Christie, 12 (D)
“He respects all humans, all Americans.
Immigration he is not so great on, but I
think he is trying to respect immigrants. He’s
great with women, minorities, and gays too.”
Why she supports President Obama:
(photos courtesy of joanna ro)
(photos courtesy of lorelei christie)
“Actually, even though I worked [at the
Republican Committee], I’m honestly not a
Republican, I’m more of a Moderate..”
Why she supports Gov. Romney:
“I basically stalked Mayor Castro to try and find him. I walked all around the GMU campus to talk to him,” Christie said.
“I love going to political rallies and events like the one I went to [here] in Woodbridge,” Christie said.
“The environment there was so supportive and friendly...it was so much fun,” Ro said.
“We [would make] phone calls to voters...and ask [about] their political views” Ro said.
11spotlight11.2.12
Graduates give golden adivce reina dattacopy editor
“Always try to interview at the school if they have that option. It is a chance to leave a good first impression, so they will remember your face when reviewing your applica-tion.”- Hannah Berlin, freshman at Christopher Newport University
“Send college applications in early, because it’s a lot easier getting them done before the second semester, so you can actually enjoy your senior year and not have to worry about making deadlines late in the year.”- Emily Corridon, freshman at James Madison University
“Do NOT get ‘senioritis,’ because your grades throughout senior year still matter. Also, when you go to college a lot of people still have ‘senioritis’ and don’t want to work in college. Try to push past that and work hard in col-lege as well.” - Garrett Allen, freshman at University of Virginia
“Really focus on your AP classes. I wish I had stud-ied more for the AP exams, because I recieved some credit for my AP classes, but I regret not making them my first priority.” - Megan Cahill, freshman at Virginia Tech University
Many say junior year is the hardest year, but senior year is just as challenging, only in different ways. It’s when students need to realize their true interests
and decide where they want to go in life. With all the stress of the application process, wouldn’t it be nice to have a reference that addresses all those confu-sions that arise? Even better, wouldn’t it be great to hear from those who have graduated from Oakton and know exactly what it is like to survive these four grueling years?
GET A FRIEND TO SIGN UP TOO & YOU BOTH PAY $225 EACH!
13touchdown11.2.12
touchdown October highlights of cougars on the prowl
Eight Oakton field hockey players were given Con-corde District honors. All-district first team were seniors Maggie Toye and Ciara Cooney, and juniors Brooke Mustain and Jen-nifer Prosser. Second team were seniors Annalise Capalbo, Amanda Amaren, Melissa Shebat, and junior Claire Weisskopf.
Oakton Volleyball’s annual Dig Pink was a success for all involved. Fresh-man Volleyball led the way beating Chantilly 2-0, and after JV dropped 0-2, Varsity responded with a resounding 3-1 win. Fans packed the gym, all decked out in pink. All the money raised from the game was donated to breast cancer awareness.
After starting 6-0 with big wins over rivals Madison and Herndon, Oakton dropped three straight district games against Chantilly,
Westfield, and Robinson to fall to fifth place in the Concorde district. The Oakton team has been plagued with injuries and poor luck but may still stand for playoff contention if they win Friday at Centreville and Chantilly loses to Robinson.
After starting the season 2-5, field hockey won six straight games to finish second in the district with an
automatic spot in district finals and region tournament. Despite losing to Westfield 5-0 in district finals, Oakton bounced back to trounce Washington and Lee 3-0 in the first round of the regional tournament. However, the cougars could not get past the reigning region champions South County, and lost 4-1, ending the season with a positive 11-9.
VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY
VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
VARSITY FOOTBALL Oakton goes into post-season ranked fifth in the district, fighting for a spot in regional play beginning on Nov. 9. Coming off a narrow 27-28 overtime loss to Robinson the team needs to beat Centreville at Cent-reville to keep their playoff hopes and season alive.
Volleyball started the season strong, sweeping the NVVA Tour-nament then keeping an even 7-7 re-cord before going into district play
where the cougars went 5-1 to earn the first place seed in district playoffs.Senior Misa Mori leads the team with 204
kills, closely followed by Emma Olson and Abby Mills with 148 and 139 respectively. Olson leads the team in aces, breaking the school record of 121 in a 3-1 win over Herndon.
As fall sports wrap up, winter seasons are just around the corner. Girls basketball and swim and dive are looking for state repeats while boys basketball seeks redemption.
emergency care formupdated physicalconcussion awareness
11/12- tryouts begin for indoor track and field11/13- winter sports parents meeting in the auditorium
10/31- winter sport reg-istration in cafeteria11/05- tryouts begin for basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, and swim/dive
check oaktonathletics.org for updates and more information
susan rodriguez
susan rodriguez
oaktonpatch.com
14touchdown11.2.12
Girls’ cross country achieves nationwide fame
Oakton girls cross country started off the 2012 season on the right foot, or spike for that matter. Coming into the season they were ranked number
one in the state and continue to uphold their paramount position as the best in Virginia. Their rank is a result of the girls’ hard work and
dedication throughout the summer. “We followed a packet assigned by Coach [Alisa] Byers,
which included our running assignments throughout the summer” said Allie Klimkiewicz, sophomore runner and 5th state runner-up. “We also attended practices run by the captains of the team.” The Chancellor Invitational was their first chance
to prove their dedication throughout the summer and declare themselves major state competitors. Beating the number two ranked team in Virginia by 70 points, the girls made a significant statement to teams throughout the state. “Winning the first meet definitely brought the team
high spirits, but with a challenging season ahead we know staying motivated is key,” said Hailey Doughtery, junior runner and co- captain. Driven by the confidence from the victory of their first
invitational meet of the year, it was to no one’s surprise when the girls cross country team dominated their second invitational meet of the year, the Woodberry Forest Invitational. “Winning [multiple] meets has helped the team realize that our hard work and training is paying off,
which is always a good confidence-booster.” Dougherty said. Led by race winner Allie Klimkiewicz, sophomore, Oakton’s top five runners finished in the top eleven places of the overall race, earning their second invitational victory of the season by a margin of 95 points. Teams participating in the Abemarle Invitational also
proved to be no match for Oakton’s power-house team. Once again, the girls placed themselves in a comfortable position, winning the race by 85 points. Klimkiewicz placed a grueling one second behind the first place finisher, but it was 18 seconds before the next runner would cross the finish line. However, the job could not be done without the help of her teammates who finished within three places of one another. The close bonds between the girls both on and off the course prove to be an exilerating force against their competitors.As the girls continue to reign superior throughout
Virginia, they nevertheless remain humble. Byers said. “I gave out a returning runner’s agreement
that said, ‘We won’t go on the website Milestat to find out any [rankings or standings]. I don’t discuss rankings, and I don’t discuss post season. We’re taking it one race at a time.”The team has set high goals for wiping out teams during
the rest of their season and will face tough competition from local competitor Lake Braddock.
After months of running past opponents, the girls’ cross country team is closer than ever to their goal of conquering Northern Virginia
natalie eberhartstaff writer
From left: Alli Klimkiewicz, sophomore, Hailey Dougherty, junior, Maryn McCarty, sophomore, Briana Stewart, senior, Kara Kendall, sophomore, Grace Stewart, sophomore, Shannon Carney, senior, and Kristi Carrigan, senior, pose with their newly earned 1st place trophy.
photo courtesy of hailey dougherty
Upcoming meet schedule:
10/24: Concorde District ChampionshipFIRST PLACE
11/01: Northern Region Championship@Burke Lake Park - 3:15 P.M.
11/10:VHSL State Championships@Great Meadow Foundation
15touchdown11.2.12
The thud as your body falls and hits the ground, cush-ioned by the wet grass but still hard against the Earth. The crack that reverberates
throughout your body, signaling a problem before the pain even begins. The heave up off of the ground accompanied by stag-gered breath as the pain slices through your body in every which way. Injuries are pervasive in sports and as an athlete the risk is well-known and even expected. An injury is devastating at any time, but
senior year may be the worst. Varsity football player Peter Ott can attest to this; Ott broke his collarbone in a pre-season scrimmage against West Springfield, po-tentially ending his varsity season before it even began.“It was hard, and yeah, it hurt pretty bad,”
Ott said. “It was my first major injury and definitely took some getting used to.”Ott began his football career at Oakton as
a member of the freshman team. “All my friends were playing, and it was
fun,” Ott said. He soon found a natural af-finity for the game.
Ott grew up playing sports and was involved in competi-tive baseball and swim. His athleticism, quick feet and good
hands helped him excel as a wide receiver. Throughout high school, Ott has dropped his other sports to focus on football.“It takes up a lot of time, but I’m better at
football than at the other sports,” Ott said.Football takes commitment, and it takes
drive to be good. Both are things that Ott willingly put in throughout rigorous training in and out of season. But all that hard work seemed to be sacrificed in one bone-shatter-ing moment.“Between Peter and a couple of other se-
niors we definitely missed a lot of leadership on the field,” said Miles Lindsey, a junior and teammate of Ott. For weeks Ott supported his team from the
sideline until he was cleared to play again. He got his first reps in against Westfield, and then again on senior night against Robinson.“Senior night is always special,” Ott said.
“But this year I think it’s going to mean even more.”
A season beginning on senior nightOtt returns to field after collarbone injury
Washington sports find success
Over the past decade, Washington fans have become accustomed to disappointment. The Redskins
have made the playoffs only twice in the last ten years. The Capitals have fallen short of the Stanley Cup despite star talent in Ovechkin and Backstrom. The burgeoning Nationals have failed to make a single postseason appearance - that is, until now.Washington seems to be rising out of
its slump. The Nationals finished their regular season with the best record in the MLB, clinching a playoff berth by win-ning the National League. Fans are catch-ing on with the excitement, and Oakton students are not immune to the growing sense of “Natitude.”“I’ve been a fan since the beginning,”
said Bobby Kurtzman, junior. “It’s good to finally see them doing well. The
atmosphere at the stadium is great; the Natitude has increased significantly.”Even the beloved “Dead-skins” are
opening a new chapter with the arrival of quarterback Robert Griffin III. The rookie was drafted second from Baylor University and has already hit the ground running. Named rookie of the month in September, Griffin has brought the Redskins to the third ranked offense in the NFL, a marked improvement from last year’s 26th ranking. Griffin has quickly become a fan
favorite. The nickname RG3 is a popular cheer at FedEx Field and home entertainment centers alike.“RG3 is exciting to watch be-
cause Washington has not had such a dynamic player since Sonny Jurgensen,” said junior Carter
Lawhorn. “He’s definitely attracting a lot of fans, and even though they’re mostly band-wagoners, it’s great to see pride in the home team.”
A Redskins fan since 1996, Lawhorn poses here in front of FedEx field for last year’s Christmas game against the Ravens. “I’ve always been a fan, but games are a lot more fun now that they’re actually winning,” Lawhorn said.
courtesy of carter lawhorn
jennifer prossertouchdown editor
Excitement sparked by new players
Ott talks to Daniel Mansfield, another in-jured senior, at halftime of the 28-0 win over Woodson.
courtesy of dan lohmann
jennifer prossertouchdown editor
16touchdown11.2.12
Seniors prevail in powder puff match
The ongoing rivalry between juniors and seniors continued at the annual powder puff football
game on Oct. 17. The girls showed off their athletic abilities on the field, while the boys cheered the teams on to vic-tory. Both teams competed to the best of their abilities, but in the end, seniors won 34-14. Senior Quarterback Helen Roberts helped utilize her team’s quickness to speed past the junior defense. The junior girls competed well, but fell
short containing the strong senior of-fense. “We played a lot better than we thought
we would, especially in the second half,” says Junior Jia Rodgers. The juniors fin-ished strong and tied the seniors in points scored in the second half. Even though they lost, the juniors are mostly content with their effort. “I think we had a solid team, and we
played well together,” junior Taylor Manley said. “If we have the same team next year, we should have a good chance of winning.”
Junior and senior powder puff boys out-fitted with official Oakton cheerleading uniforms offered a fun twist to the night. “In preparation for the game, we learned
and practiced many different cheers,” says Junior Edward Kao, “but the best part was definitely the dance routine we put together for halftime.” Junior Nathan Acquah, along with Kao,
participated to try something new. “I wanted to be a cheerleader because
my friends and I thought it would be fun, and I wanted to show school spirit,” Acquah says.
Speedy seniors will not be denied and sweep juniors in a 34-14 win
1. Seniors flash a number one as the squads pose together after the game. 2. Senior girls huddle before a play to decide their plan of attack. 3. Junior Kelly Malloy evades seniors on her pursuit to the end zone. 4. Cheerleaders hoist up fellow teammates during their performance at halftime of the football game.
all photos by alana peters
kenneth hippestaff writer
1 2
3 4
Teachers, adminis-trators and stu-dents have come
together to form the very first Oakton Honor Council.
The Council is a group, acting similarly to the way a jury would,
whose sole purpose is to investigate cheating cases in the school. Oakton’s Honor Council has
been specifically modeled after the Honor Council of William & Mary College. “The purpose of the Council at William and Mary is
to eliminate Honor Code violations all together, which would be the purpose here at Oakton as well,” said Cosponsor of the Oakton Honor Council, Elizabeth Fortenberry. When a student is suspected of cheating, a summary
of the case will from now on be sent in to the honor council. This summary will consist of a statement from both the student in question and the teacher,
along with any evidence supporting the case. The statement gives both parties a chance to give their side of the story. To become a member of the Honor Council, students must go through an application process.“Some teachers can recommend students but mostly
it’ll be ones who are interested and want to apply” said student member of the Honor Council, Gary Yeh. The Council members will remain anonymous
throughout the process and will rotate so that they can review different cases. The students in question will also be anonymous to protect the privacy of any stu-dent in question and to avoid any bias in the Council. “The most important thing is that we want students
to recognize that being honest and not cheating is part of somebody’s integrity” said cosponsor of the Oak-ton Honor Council, Cara Burke, “and we really want to promote that kind of culture in our school.”
Honorable intentionsOakton introduces an honor council with the purpose of investigating cheating cases
jacque groskaufmanisstaff writer
Abortion
19indepth11.2.12
Women should have the freedom of choice
Americans should not have the right to carry concealed weapons with them
Medical Marijuana should be legalized
Same-sex marriage should be legal
Universal health care should be provided
If you’ve chosen mostly a’s, your answers reflect a similar basic political opinion as that of the Democratic Party. President Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate in the 2012 Presidential election. For more detailed information of Barack Obama and his political plan, visit www.BarackObama.com
If you’ve chosen mostly b’s, your answers reflect a similar basic opinion as the Republican party. The Republican candidate is Mitt Romney. For more detailed infor-mation on Mitt Romney, visit www.MittRomney.com
If you’ve chosen mostly c’s, you should do more research on specific issues you may be unsure of. You could possibly associate with the Independent, Libertarian or Green party.
The defense budget is too big
Not sure which side to take in the upcoming election? Take this quiz to see where you fit on the ideological scale.
We should invest in many types of energy, including renewable
The government should regulate the economy, not moral matters
Undecided
Abortion should not be an option in most or all cases
a.b.
c.
Medical Marijuana
Undecided
Medical Marijuana should not be legalized
a.b.c.
Gay Rights
Same-sex marriage should not legal
a.b.
Undecidedc.
Health care
Citizens should only get health care from private providers
a.b.
Undecidedc.
Concealed Weapons
Americans should have the right to carry concealed weapons with them
a.
b.
Undecided c.
Military
Defense should be exempt from budget cuts
Undecided c.
a.b.
Energy
Increasing drilling and mining in the U.S. is the best energy policy
Undecided c.
a.
b.
Government’s role
The government should regulate moral matters and encouraging a free market
Undecided c.
a.
b.
Mostly a’s Mostly c’s Mostly b’sLiberal Moderate Conservative
indepth
jacque groskaufmanisstaff writer
20 indepth11.2.12 21indepth
11.2.12
Race to the White House Whether you are voting or not, it is important to understand what could impact you tomorrow
Obama omney
marilyn yangeditor-in-chief
Healthcare
Obama’s Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” has caused a great deal of controversy since its proposal in 2010. The plan requires every citizen to have insurance with the federal government or a private insur-ance company or face a yearly fine of $200. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “beginning in 2014, children up to age 26 can stay on their parents’ employer plans even if they have another offer of coverage through an em-ployer.”
Education
Under Obama, the Race to the Top Fund was signed into law with the stimulus bill of 2009. The program rewards states that fulfill the criteria. It was created to encourage states to reform their educational stan-dards by competing for grants from the federal government. Obama opposes federal vouch-ers that would give families money to attend either a public or private school; he believes it would reduce the standards in public schools around the country. According to “The Economist,” Obama has spent more money on higher educa-tion and Pell Grants.
E
nergy
As the Democratic candidate, Obama tries to keep a green image while still promoting energy growth. He has en-couraged domestic produc-tion of natural gas and issued about 400 leases to oil and gas. He postponed the Key-stone XL pipeline, although he will likely approve it after the election. Obama disap-proves of tax breaks for Big Oil. During the administra-tion, wind and solar power have doubled thanks to tax incentives and other subsi-dies.
According to Romney’s official campaign website, he would “issue Obamacare waivers to all fifty states.” His official posi-tion is to ultimately repeal the Affordable Care Act, but he has publicly shown an open-ness towards keeping some of the more popular provisions. Romney believes the states should have the freedom to shape their own healthcare systems with a set amount of federal money, called block grants.
Healthcare
Education
Romney wants states to have more control over their public school systems. He supports giving vouchers to poor or disabled children, so parents can choose to send them to a public or private school. The proposal is criticized by teacher unions as it could take students from the public school system; Obama says it will “drain resources.” How-ever, Romney believes the reform will give parents an al-ternative and improve public school standards.
E
nergy
Romney has promised the idea of “energy indepen-dence”: not importing energy from other continents after 2020. He wants to drill wher-ever possible in the U.S., thus promoting job growth and domestic supply. Romney doesn’t support taxes on Big Oil nor ending tax breaks. He will encourage growth in the job-rich coal industry by cut-ting down on environmen-tal regulations. He will end federal support for solar and wind energy, describing them as “sharply uncompetitive.”
Barack Obama was born in 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii to a Kenyan father and a mother from Kansas. As a child, he lived in Indonesia with his mother and step-
father from ages six to ten. He then moved back to Hawaii. Obama describes his childhood in Hawaii as an opportunity “to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect.” He has talked about occasionally smoking marijuana with a group of friends during his high school years, and later
said he regrets the drug use. He went to Occidental College in L.A. and transferred to Columbia University, majoring in political science with a specialty in international relations. He spent time working at business, research and community organization groups in New York and Chicago. Later, as a graduate student at Harvard, he became the first black presi-dent of the Harvard Law Review. He served as a state senator from 1997-2004 and joined the U.S. senate from 2005-2008.
Biden RyanJoe Biden served as a Delaware senator for 36 years before being elected
as the current vice president. He was born in 1942 in Scranton, Penn-sylvania and graduated from the University of Delaware and Syracuse
Law School. As senator, Biden was the chairman, or ranking member, of the Senate Judiciary Committee, gaining recognition for his focus on criminal justice issues. He has also served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Rela-tions Committee, dealing with issues and legislation related to U.S. foreign policy. As vice president, Biden as traveled around the world to improve foreign relations, helping secure the Senate’s approval of the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia.
Paul Ryan is currently serving his seventh term as the Congres-sional representative for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. He was born in 1970 in Janesville, Wisconsin, and holds a degree
in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio. Cur-rently, Ryan is the chairman of the House Budget Committee, which is in charge of overseeing fiscal legislature and promoting financial account-ability. Ryan is also a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, Social Security, health care and trade laws. Ryan is perhaps most well-known for his fiscal plan, “The Path to Prosperity.”
Moving “forward” with Biden “Believe in America” with Ryan
Mitt Romney was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1947. His mother was from Utah, and his father was born to American parents in a Mormon
colony in Mexico. As a young adult, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary. After his time there, he developed an appreciation for the French people, culture and language. When he returned, he enrolled at Brigham Young University and earned an English degree with the highest
honors. He married Ann, his high school sweetheart. They eventually had five sons. Romney enrolled in a joint business and law degree program at Harvard and graduated cum laude in 1975. He worked as a management consultant for a few years until co-founding the private equity investment firm Bain Capital. He was governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. In 2002, he was head of the organization of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
biobio
photos and information courtesy of barackobama.com, mittromney.com, whitehouse.gov and paulryan.house.gov
melanie aguilarindepth editor
sofia crutchfieldviewpoint editor
22 indepth11.2.12
• Frozecollegetuitionforfiscalreasons
• Pro-Life• Opposesstricterequalitylaws(requiringthatbusi-
nesseshiremoreminorities)whichKainesupports• Opposessame-sexmarriage• OpposesCapandTradeandaCarbontax• Opposesspendingresourcesonfightingglobal
warming
George Allen Tim Kaine
• Anyincreaseinthedebtceilinguntilcutsaremade
• AnyStimulusBill• AffordableCareAct
andwantsitcompleterepealed
• Pro-Choice• “SocialJustice”candidatewhosupportsvariousleg-
islationattemptingtoguaranteetheequaltreatmentofeveryone.
• PlancallsforuseofallVAenergysources• Bigonconservationandpreservationofnature,in-
cludingtheChesapeake• SupportsDREAMAct
WhenpeoplegotothepollonTuesday,theywon’tsimplybevotingforthenextpresident.Alongwiththeusualassortmentoffederalandstaterepresentatives,abattleisgoingonforoneofVirginia’stwoseatsintheSenate.GeorgeAllenandTimKaine,bothformergovernorsVirginia,arefightinginoneofthetightestracesthiselectionseason.Butwhatdoesallofthismean?Herearetheirstancesontheissuesthatmostaffectyou.
Whatyoushouldknowaboutthesenatecandidates
On Education
Economy/ Healthcare
Social issues/ environment
• Vouchersforchil-drenwhowanttoattendprivateandcharterschools.
• Extendinglowerstudentloanrates
• Investingineducationsystem
• Expandingpre-Keduca-tion
• Statefundingtocol-legestudentsdroppedby25%
• Spendingcuts• Abalancedbudget
amendment• Asingleratetax
systemwithnoincreaseintaxes.
• TheAffordableCareAct• Reducingloopholesin
taxsystem• Investmentbillsinvolv-
ingunemploymentinsurance,medicareexpenditures,andjobtrainingprograms
• AnyprivatizationofMedicare/SocialSecurity
• Cutstoanyinvest-mentsintransporta-tion,educationandcleanenergy
Sources: Kaineforva.com, georgeallen.com, ontheissues.org, politifact.com
“I’mdisappointedthattheyhadtouseallthisjudicialcreativitytocallthemandateatax.UnlikeTimKaine,whothinksthisisagreatachievement,Iwanttobe
thedecidingvotetorepealit.”-WatchingtheSupremeCourt’sdecisiontoupholdObamacare
BytargetingprogramslikeMedicareandSocialSecurityforthedeepestcutswhilemakingithardertoaskwealthyindividualsandcompaniestopaytheirfairshare,theRe-publicans’planaskseverydayAmericansbeartheentireburdenofspendingreductionswhileinsulatingbillion-airesandcorporationsfromcuts”-ResponsetoCap,CutandBalanceLegislation
In their own words
oliver lopez-gomezonlineeditoralex xenosstaffwriter
For:
For:
As Governor: As Governor:
Against: Against:
For:
For:
23indepth11.2.12
Candidates campaign to win students’ allegiance
From left: Lillian Vogel, a representative of Governor Mitt Romney; a member of President Barack Obama’s campaign; James Walkinshaw, a representative of Congressman Gerry Connolly; and Independent candidate Kevin Chrisholm all participated in Candidates’ Day on Oct. 17. They spoke to seniors about their campaigns and how they see the future of the nation.
On Oct. 17, while underclassman sat in classrooms, hunched
over their PSATs, seniors were treated to four, live, town-hall style debates including candidates and representatives of candidates running in the presidential, senate and congressional races. Each candidate or representative was given time to speak to the objectives of their respective campaigns before students took the stage and posed challenging questions regarding today’s political climate and issues. Conversation ranged from analogies
involving taxes and pie to a rap about political corruption by Chris Decarlo. Despite the wide range of political affiliations present, from the two traditional parties to several variations of independent parties, the focus was primarily on the economy and unemployment. “Day in and day out, what we hear
at the door is that people are worried about the cost of living here in Northern Virginia, and throughout Virginia they’re concerned about the economy at large,” said Gerarda Culipher, the representative for
George Allen. “The number one priority for the nation is getting jobs up and getting unemployment down.”The candidates also came together
on their beliefs regarding the importance of youth involvement in politics and their support of events like Candidates Day that help to inform young voters of issues that will affect them now and in their future. “The kids that are here today have
a chance to decide their own future. We are one of the few countries in the entire world where you can say that,” said Mark Keam, the representative for Barack Obama. “I grew up overseas and I know a lot of people who were born and raised in countries where they had no choice. They could go in and vote all day long but the reality is that their vote will not change the direction of the future.”
madlin mekelburgeditor in chief
“I wish that I was old enough to vote. It’s important for people who can vote to be here today. You can watch the campaigns and hear what the candidates say in debates, but having these representatives here gives everyone a lot more information.”
jamie hodges, 12
While underclassmen slaved away over their PSATs on Oct. 17, seniors participated in four town-hall style discussions with candidates from or representing the presidential race, the senate race and the 10th and 11th District congressional races.
all photos by madlin mekelburg
Sound bites
“Democracy’s a place, it’s somewhere out in space. This mission will succeed, come and help those in need.”
Independent candidate Chris Decarlo in his rap, “True Democracy”
“Instead of dividing the existing pie, we need to bake more pies.”
Lillian Vogel, a representative of Governor Mitt Romney
Your words
24 indepth11.2.12
65% of Oakton students say that the economy in general is the biggest issue in this election, compared to 37% nationwide.
source: gallup.com
4% of Oakton students say that unemployment is the biggest issue in this election, compared to 26% nationwide.
Do you hold the same political views as your parents?
No: 23%
Yes: 77%
Top 5 issues in this election, according to Oakton students:1. Economy
2. Foreign Relations
3. Women’s Rights
4. Job creation
5. Taxes
kim gibbonsviewpoint editor
Which presidential ticket do you support?one image: 10 students
Obama/ Biden
Romney/ Ryan
Other or Undecided
Did you watch the first presidential debate?
Yes: No:
25%
50%
75%
100%
Oakton by the numbersStudents share opinions on the presidential election
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26 viewpoint11.2.12 27viewpoint
11.2.12
Ever since the passing of beloved Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, the technology giant has been
under the leadership of Tim Cook. However, across the world of technology and beyond, many expressed doubt in Cook’s ability to carry on Jobs’ legacy and vision for Apple. The iPhone 5 was Cook’s first major test: could the new iPhone be just as innovative as its predecessors? As a previous owner of an iPhone 4 and now a proud owner of an iPhone 5, my verdict is a resounding yes. Apple will do perfectly fine under Cook.Of course, I was not expecting perfection from the
iPhone 5. Despite its criticisms and the Maps debacle of iOS 6, the iPhone 5 still surpassed my initial expecta-tions. I am not a heavy user of Maps, and the Washing-ton, D.C. metro area is not included among the prob-lematic or absent areas. I also do not find iOS 6 worse than the previous operating system, as some believe; I had previously installed it on my iPhone 4 and did not experience any supposed battery drainage. Above all else, 4G LTE compatibility was my top
desire for the new iPhone. In fact, mobile Internet connectivity is the top factor, if no the sole factor, that originally influenced me to purchase an iPhone or any smartphone. As an AT&T user, I can attest to the ac-celerated download and browsing speed of LTE; in fact, I would even go as far to say that it is comparable to my home Wi-Fi connection.
Other than 4G LTE compatibility, I was not particular-ly picky about screen size, weight, thinness or even pro-cessing speed. Yet even in these areas, I was impressed. The extra row of apps allows access more apps quickly, and the larger screen size makes movies and videos less of an eye-strain. Also, the lightness and thinness of the iPhone 5 makes up for the larger screen size in terms of portability. Yet processing speed was what surprised me the most; although it is slight, the iPhone 5 is still noticeably faster than the iPhone 4 when opening apps or using the camera. Nevertheless, the new lighting adapter for charging is
somewhat of a hassle regarding speaker accessories. I admit that am slightly irritated that I cannot plug my iPhone 5 into my iHome.Yet the adapter change was necessary for the iPhone 5’s revolutionary thinness, and it is only a minor hassle compared to its many merits. Besides, Apple released an adapter.All in all, the iPhone 5’s new and improved features
make it yet another successful product for Apple. De-spite what critics may claim, the faults with iOS 6 and the iPhone adapter are hardly deal-breakers. At most, they are minor annoyances that will likely be solved in the near future. That said, it is still a good idea to pur-chase the iPhone 5 under a new contract or a contract renewal; no phone is worth the $400 mark-up when purchased unlocked.
Apple does a fine job without Jobs marilyn yangeditor-in-chief
appl
e.co
m
It’s difficult to tune out the displeasure that so often colors today’s political climate. Some of the grumbles heard in the hallways or on your newsfeed may include claims
of politicians ‘not doing their job,’ ‘unequal representation,’ or perhaps condemnations of lies or policies or gimmicks or statements or slip-ups. The gist: we don’t like what’s happening right now. And that is a mighty valid opinion. But here is the underlying grumble, the grumble of grumbles, if you will: democracy doesn’t work when people don’t care.Well, Abraham Lincoln once said
something or other about government “of the people, by the people and for the people,” and he just might have been on to something. Elected officials are supposed to be toiling away in D.C.
to fairly represent their gracious electorate, yet we’re overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the legislation they pass (or, more accurately, the legislation they don’t pass). That’s because they’ve got the run of the place when their voters do not speak their minds, and even more so when their voters don’t even know what’s going on.If Americans want to claim this nation the best in the world,
they’re going to have to start giving a hoot. This stands across the board. Think politicians suck? Find candidates that don’t. Vote for ones who don’t. The media’s deceiving? Stop falling for their tricks. Don’t like a policy? Research, protest, petition. “One person can’t change anything?” Join an organization.
Think you don’t know enough? Learn. Does that sound like a lot of work? It is. The fact of the matter is that politics are baffling and complex
and oftentimes downright awful. Rolling over and just letting it be awful is not OK. The whole point of a free, democratic, advanced government is that you, the people, have the power to hold the awful stuff accountable and demand and suggest
something better. A lot of people in the world don’t have that power. And yes, it’s time-consuming, but it’s worth it to power our own government and make our own rules.No one is saying we all need to be poli-sci
majors. The key is to just pick up a newspaper often enough that those in power can’t pull one over on you (which, spoiler alert, is what they do). This goes for all Americans, whether or not they can vote.
High schoolers? You, too. Everyone claims that they’ll suddenly turn into a policy wonk on their 18th birthday, but for now they’ll just enjoy being young and ignorant. That doesn’t cut it. This isn’t a game that you start playing whenever you have time; the issues floating around right now are things that will impact you greatly now and in the future. Your college tuition, your healthcare options, your investments, how many taxes you pay and where they go. Whoever is elected, Obama, Romney—the future of America’s youth will change somehow. Like it or not, it’s up to us to pay attention and make sure it’s
for the better.
viewpoint Oakton students share their opinions on controversial topics at Oakton and in our community
The Staff Editorial is the official opinion of the Oakton Outlook
Engage against the machinePolitical apathy should be a thing of the past—whether you can vote or not
Halloween is here. All through the elementary school and middle school days, we would dress up in a cool costume,
get together with our friends and dash from house to house while collecting as much candy as our pillow cases could bear. But now that we are high school students, we are forced to ask ourselves that painful question that hovers in the crisp fall air: Am I too old to trick-or-treat? Every teenager would like to trick or treat. Who doesn’t want
free candy? Unfortunately, Americans tend to look down on trick-or-treaters who are “too old.” For example, if a thirty year old man in a Batman costume showed up on a doorstep request-ing candy, most people would find this extremely abnormal. The problem is that there is no ancient Halloween law code that declares a trick-or-treating age limit. It is up to us to interpret what is acceptable and what is not.Part of the decision has to do with the costume.
Anyone dressing up in a costume with a name like “sexy sailor” or “party bunny” should really consider staying home. Just think about all of the cute little third grad-ers’ minds that would be corrupted. They should be able to frolic around the streets without wondering why
their costumes don’t look like the tiny ones that the teenage girls are wearing. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of high school parties where these outfits are welcome.Another aspect to consider while planning your Halloween
night is homework. Teachers who assign homework on Hal-loween night send their students a clear message that they don’t belong with the crowd of four-foot tall kids running around the neighborhood. Is trick-or treating really worth failing that assignment? It’s not like all the candy in the world disappears at midnight on Halloween. As a matter of fact, I’m sure there is a bowl of candy sitting right by the front door with chocolates to munch on while studying for that big test.Lastly, anyone with a driver’s license should probably refrain
from the trick-or-treating festivities. Trick-or-treaters aren’t supposed to be able to drive. Why else would the tradition be to go on foot? So think carefully before slipping into that costume and
searching for the biggest pillow case in the house. This may be the year to start handing out candy instead. For those that are depressed by this real-ization, I suggest finding that ancient Halloween
law code. Until then, happy distributing!
Trick-or-treating: How old is too old? torri marquisstaff writerTeenagers should know when it’s time to stop
torri marquis
sofia crutchfield
28 showtime11.2.12
Visit the attractions’ websites for further information.
carly stonehouseshowtime editor
Located in Purcellville, the notorious Crooked Run Orchard is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. The orchard provides a great outdoor experience and offers a variety of crops. The crops rotate each season, but the fall offers a variety of apples, pumpkins, raw local honey and fresh-pressed apple cider.
Crooked
RunOrchard
Missed the Cox Farms Fall Festival? Check out Pumpkinville. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Pumpkinville is open until Nov. 8 at the Leesburg Animal Park. The annual fall festival includes giant slides, an inflatable obstacle course, straw tunnels, rope swings, kiddies’ karts, fresh cider and a variety of apples and more activities for a fun- filled family event.
Pump
kinville
Want the perfect leaf gazing experience? Belvedere Plantation in Fredericksburg hosts its Harvest Festival through the month of October until Nov. 4, giving families the perfect opportunity to fully experience the activities in the plantation. Enjoy the Maize Maze, Fun Barn, zip lines, Pumpkin Mountain Slide, Jumping Pillow, Pig Races, Little Farmer’s Corral, hayrides, roaring campfires and the animals at the Olde Barnyard.
EmbraceVirginia’sFall Foliage
Popular Cox Farms Fall Festival located in Centreville is open now until Nov. 6. Cox farms is filled with fall activities such as giant slides, famous hayrides, rope swings, farm animals and their babies, entertainment, beverages and food, as well as a little pumpkin you receive after paying the $9, $14 or $17 admission fee, depending on the day you visit. When the sun goes down, you can delve into the popular nighttime destination, Cox Farms’ Fields of Fear.
Farms
Cox
Plan
tation
Belvedere
What’s in your bucket?
I got a pencil, and I could not eat it.jessy koch | 12“ ”
I got batteries, old batteries.richie goodwin | 11“ ”
Not-so-sweet substitutes for Halloween candygabriela driscolleditor in chief
I got invited to have cookies in someone’s house by an older gentleman.
kami richter | 12
“ ”
I got a chicken leg.sara robinson | 9“ ”I got a toy car.
eric yoon | 11“ ”
I got a toothbrush.julia bruce | 10“ ”I got a binky.
jaskirat gill | 9“ ”One time someone gave me toilet paper. It was very soft.
lucas wratschko | 12“ ”
You know them love them: these delicious candy bars have always held a special place in everyone’s hearts. However, the seemingly never-ending selection of candy in the world has resulted in confusion as to which should hold the top spot. Students have voted to decide which candy bar should be the victor.
Candy Quest: The search for Oakton’s favorite candy barlaura murphystaff writer
The Snickers bar has a heavily peanut-based flavor. Its texture is both crunchy and chewy, making it one of the most diverse flavor options of the bunch. The thin chocolate layer balances out with the rich nougat center.
These various candy bars have all consistently topped the charts, but students have declared the Kit Kat to be the champion of teenage taste buds. Sample size: 50 people.
16%
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup has a thick peanut butter center and an outer coat-ing of delicious milk choco-late. This candy is ideal for anyone who enjoy perfectly creamy combinations.
34%
The Kit Kat bar’s light wafers are highlighted by an equally tantalizing layer of milk chocolate. The candy bar is a treat meant for sharing with its pre-divided halves.
38%
The Hershey’s bar is the simplest of the bunch with its sole layer of smooth milk chocolate. However, this classic never fails to delight your taste buds.
12%
photos by laura murphy
29showtime11.2.12
The 2004 American horror film “Saw” is the first of a brutal, seven-part movie se-ries that revolves around antagonist Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), who captures people
he sees as “wasting” their lives and forces them to take part in his twisted game. This particular movie in the series begins when Adam (Leigh Whan-nell), a photographer, and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes), an oncolo-gist, wake up in a bathroom with a third male lying dead between them and no recollection of how they got there. It only gets worse, or better, depend-ing on how you look at it, when the two realize they have been captured by Jigsaw and have been given directions on cassettes on how to survive. “Saw” is not for everyone. On account of its strong violence, gore, nudity and language, it is rated R. If you have a weak stomach or are under the age of 17, steer clear of this psychological thriller.
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Creepy classics Even if Halloween is long gone, there’s no reason you can’t cuddle up with a glass of warm cider and watch one of these spooky flicks
Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
A 1987 slasher film, “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” takes place six years after the events of the first film. This movie is, in my opinion, the best of the
Elm Street movies. While the movie stays true to the classic plot, with Freddy killing each child in a different and exceedingly more bizarre way, it differs in the fact that the children have an opportunity to truly fight back. Kristen (Patricia Arquette), one of the
“Elm Street kids,” reveals she has the power to pull others into her dreams, and the kids realize they are able to be whatever they want to be in their dreams, opening up their capacity to defend themselves. It is rated R due to mild nudity, drug references, graphic images and violence, but it is, in reality, not as scary as some of the more recent mov-
ies that are rated PG-13, because its special effects are not as realistic. Although it’s a relatively old movie, “The Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” is a classic that is sure to scare.
Saw
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
One of the earliest and most popular Peanuts animated television specials, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” has won the hearts of many with
its childish, yet adorable Halloween- centered story. Although it’s geared toward younger audiences, even high school students can appreciate this 1966 classic. This
special, which has aired every Oct. 31 on ABC Television Network since it picked up the rights in 2001, is centered around the Peanuts gang plans for Halloween, with Linus hoping that it will finally be the year the Great Pumpkin visits him,
and Charlie Brown attending a Halloween bash with his pals. If you’re looking to watch something thought provoking or frightening, Charlie Brown can’t help. However, if you’re looking for some light, pleasant entertainment to enjoy with family and friends it’s perfect.
cartoons courtesy of nicasio reid
michelle lorussoeditor in chief
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Protect your investment: iPhone cases
Mophie Juice Pack AirNever worry about running out of battery again. This handy case includes an attached battery charger for your phone.
Pros: Provides long lasting battery life, provides power and protection
Cons: Adds significant bulk to phone
Cost: $79.95
“I would recommend it to people. It was
really handy when I forgot to charge my
phone over night.” allie delgado | 12
Pros: Full body protection, not bulky, light weight, waterproofCons: Dimmer/reflective screenCost: $79.99
Lifeproof Waterproof
“I recommend it because it’s waterproof
so it protects my phone really well from
scratches and water damage.”
This case provides waterproof protection along with a built in screen protector and port covers.
Otterbox Defender
Pros: Supposedly indestructible, ultimate protectionCons: Very bulky, many components
Cost: $19.95“I recommend it because it prevents cracked
screens when I accidentally drop it all the
time.” taban jaff | 12
Dual layered for strength and shock absorption, this case is the ultra protector. Includes built in screen protector and port covers.
The notorious iPhone has continued to be the number one cell phone purchased since it’s first debut in 2007. The major-ity of students at Oakton already own iPhones but what differs from phone to phone is the case. Everybody has a list of different and specific qualities they want in their case whether it be a cute design or strength and protection. Students at Oakton share their expiriences with a few of the most popular cases on the market.
lauren embroski staff writer
nick embroski | 10
TV Show promosCheck out the newest TV show premieres and returning seasons of some of the hottest TV shows of this year.
Partners“Partners” is a brand new comedy on CBS star-ring Michael Urie, David Krumholtz, Sophia Bush and Brandon Ruth. When it begins, Joe (Krumholtz) is trying to decide whether or not he wants to propose to his girlfriend Ali (Bush). Joe’s gay best friend, Louis (Urie) is trying to help, but Joe is constantly telling him not to get involved, which Louis ignores. Louis’s boyfriend, Wyatt (Ruth) isn’t as huge a part in this episode, though this is sure to change according to the previews for the next few episodes. This TV show is good for anybody looking for a laugh who enjoys shows like “How I met Your Mother” “Friends” and “Two and a Half Men” . However, if you only have time for one show, there are better shows out there.
The eighth season of the popular CBS show “How I Your Mother” premiered on Sep. 24. Fans of the show were left on edge after the season finale of season seven when, it was revealed that Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), although engaged to someone else, would in fact marry Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) in the future. In the first episode of season eight, the show proves that this new season will be filled with drama. The premiere is filled with laughs, though it doesn’t quite live up to the expecta-tions set in the season seven finale. However, it leaves audiences looking forward to the rest of the season and finally getting the answers they’ve been waiting for.
How I Met Your Mother
The season three finale ended with a huge cliff-hanger that revealed that Elena (Nina Dobrev) would become a vampire, Tyler’s(Michael Tra-vino) body had been possessed by Klaus(Joseph Morgan), and Caroline(Candace Accola) is planning to run away with Klaus who she thinks is Tyler. During the premiere of season four on October 11th, Elena tries to find a way to become a human again, with the help of Stefan, Damon, and the others. While Bonnie battles with her-self over whether or not to use dark magic. Full of drama, if you haven’t seen this show before, go back and start at the beginning, or wherever you left off, unless you enjoy being confused.
Vampire DiariesJordana Spiro stars in the hit new show, the “Mob Doctor”. Spiro plays Dr. Grace Devlin who becomes indebted to the South Chicago ma-fia when she makes a deal with them to save her brother’s life. This deal, though she didn’t know it at the time she made it, involves her purposely killing patients on command. When she finds this out, she seeks help from the old head of the mafia, who agrees to help. This show sounds better than it is, though it has potential to become a great crime drama.
Mob Doctor
erin preaskornstaff writer
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