Tweet of the Month[P.11]

Best November Movies[P.6]

Who’s to Blame for Ebola?[P.7]

(Photo credits (left to right): Clipart, ComingSoon.Net, Twitter.com)

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NOVEMBER 2014Vol. 10 Issue 2

$0.00 the overachieverinternational academy central student newspaper

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ELEMENTs IN HARMONY

by Naomi Haque (‘15)

Most seniors can remember their shaky breaths as they walked into school on the day of their first IA Olympics. In 2011, the theme was ancient civilizations. With the Mayan doomsday ahead of the then freshman, it felt like there was no way they were going to make it out alive, especially while clawing their way through the 100 hallway.

It was a rough Olympics for those freshmen, and it only got worse when they lost sophomore year. Since then, however, the

class became united, and has transformed into the senior class that ended up winning this year’s Olympics, through rain and numerous “putting out fire” jokes.

Anticipation for Olympics riled up IA throughout Spirit Week. Each passing day taunted the school, but it cannot be put into words how especially badly the Seniors wanted to finally win like the senior classes before them had for the past three years.

Amidst the commotion of Spirit Week, however, Mr. Wolf began his IB2 Theory of Knowledge class

with a quick reminder: the staff and underclassmen were expecting a lot from the seniors, not competition wise, but instead with their sportsmanship, hoping that they would act as role models to the younger classes. He referenced the class of 2014’s conscious decision to not incite vicious competition among the classes, and hoped that the class of 2015 would make the same choice.

Though this was a buzzkill at the time, it really made the senior class more aware of how it was acting towards the other IA students, and

allowed this class to make better decisions for the remaining days of Spirit Week. This change not only helped the senior class, but made the entire school more unified during Olympics.

With the details out of the way, the stress of Car Night dawned on IA students. With the evening fast approaching, the hallways were cluttered with chunks of cardboard and reams of paper. However, like everything at the IA, car night was a learning experience full of teamwork, communication, and creativity. But most of all, it was

OLYMPICs 2014

ABOVE: Hayyan Haroon leads the senior class in chants through pouring rain on Olympics Day (photograph: Fee Christoph)

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Boko Haram denies Freeing Girls Boko Haram denies freeing girls despite claims from the Nigerian military that they negotiated a ceasefire.

by Aakash Beesabathuni (‘16)

On October 17, the Nigerian military announced that the captured Nigerian School Girls have recently been freed. The initial reports stated that after over a month of negotiations Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist group that had captured the School Girls, and the Nigerian government have agreed on a cease fire agreement as well as the release of the school girls. Boko Haram kidnapped the school girls well over a month ago and after nearly a month of negotiations Boko Haram finally accepted the Nigerian government’s demands.

Though many details were unclear, Nigerian government that that releasing the girls will take much time; however, a large group of the girls will be released soon. It has been estimated that over 276 girls were abducted and still over 200 girls are still missing. The government also has stated that a primary aim is not only releasing the girls from abduction, but also attempting to end all insurgency in Nigeria. That is why the negotiations about the role of Boko Haram are still undergoing change. As for the negotiations about Boko Haram and its role in the Nigerian country the government is not providing any details.

The negotiations had taken place in Chad not in

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staffPRINCIPAL Ms. Lynne GibsonAssOCIATE PRINCIPAL Mr. Christopher SmithFACULTY FACILITATOR Ms. Sarah ClancyEdITOR-IN-CHIEFJenna WangsCHOOL NEWs EdITOREleanor KhirallahWORLd NEWs EdITOR Rana-Armaghan K. AhmadFEATUREs EdITORsSydney RosenAlayna WongENTERTAINMENT EdITORsMonali DesaiAlaina Valente OPINIONs EdITORAbrar QuazisPORTs EdITORMax TotskyBACK PAGE EdITORAnna HoppeCONTRIBUTORsAakash BeesabathuniSara FarooquiNaomi HaqueAleks PavlovichKenan SinanAlex TrombleyEve WashingtonMazen Zamzam

Nigeria as per the insurgency groups demands. Until now only two meetings with the terrorist group occurred according to the Nigerian government. Both the Nigerian government as well as several other countries in the African continent have stated the militant group’s desires. Boko Haram in a local Hausa language means “Western education is a sin”. The groups aims are relatively similar to its name.

However, on October 31, everything stated by the government was denied. Boko Haram claims that they have not made peace with the government and their leader, Abubakar Shekau, said “We have not made ceasefire with anyone. We did not negotiate with anyone. It’s a lie.” Instead, they claim they have taken all the girls into separate groups and married them off.

Boko Haram’s main goal is eliminating and removing any Western culture in Africa and impose strict Sharia Law throughout the African continent. According to sources such as CNN and BBC Boko Haram choose to kidnap the Nigerian school girls because Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and it would

affect the most people this way. Although the Boko Haram are s e e m i n g l y willing to c o o p e r a t e with Nigerian g o v e r n m e n t one of its main goals is to still destroy the Nigerian g o v e r n m e n t and place t h e m s e l v e s as the government of

Nigeria. That is why the militant group based most of its actions in the Nigerian country.

The actions of the Boko Haram have intensifying this year as an open show of defiance against the Nigerian government which supports many Western ideals. The militant group this year has bombed

shooting at Washington High schoolA Seattle high school shooting has left the community shaken in the wake of tragedy.

by Mazen Zamzam (‘16)

Jaylen Fryberg, 15, shot and killed multiple teenagers at Marysville Pilchuck High School near Seattle over a personal dispute.

Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, 14, died late Friday afternoon, officials

at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett said. Zoe Galasso, 14, was killed during the shooting Oct. 24 by a popular freshman at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Gia Soriano, also 14, died Sunday at the Everett hospital.Two other students remain hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Andrew Fryberg, 15, was in critical condition Friday and Nate Hatch, 14, was in satisfactory condition. The shooter, Jaylen Fryberg, 15, died of a self-inflicted wound.The shooter was angry over a personal dispute when another girl would not date him. He allegedly lured the victims to him through text messages. His last

tweets hinted that he was about to unleash anger.“Our hearts are broken at the passing of our beautiful daughter,” Shaylee Chuckulnaskit’s family said in a statement released by Providence officials. “Shay means everything to us. In Shay’s short life she has been a radiant light bringing us incredible joy and happiness. She has been a loving daughter, a caring sister, a devoted friend and a wonderful part of our community. We can’t imagine life without her.”Newly released police radio traffic recordings from the shooting scene showed officers faced a daunting task as they responded to reports of a shooter. They learned

Women lead a protest over the kidnapped Nigerian girls (Yahoo! News)

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they would have to secure a maze of buildings that make up the sprawling campus.About a minute after 911 dispatchers reported at 10:39 a.m. Oct. 24 that they were receiving calls of a shooting in the Marysville-Pilchuck High School cafeteria, one officer got on the radio from inside and said: “It’s confirmed. We have a shooter. We have five down.”A few seconds later he added, “The shooter is DOA. We’ve got apparently four” and then “the shooter is down. Two casualties.” Two minutes later:

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Halloween at IAHalloween is the second most expensive holiday for the U.S., ranking only behind christmas! See what costumes and candies topped the charts this year. by Eve Washington (‘19)

It is estimated that Americans spent more than $7.4 billion dollars on Halloween this year, including costumes, candy, and decorations. The most popular costumes are princesses, Spiderman, Frozen characters, and action heroes for kids; witches, Batman, pirates and zombies for adults, and pumpkins, hot dogs, devils, and bumblebees for pets. The amount of chocolate and candy sold and consumed at Halloween is nothing less than frightening. About 90 million pounds of chocolate is sold during Halloween week for a total of $1.2 billion in sales, compared to 65 million pounds at Easter and 48 million pounds during Valentine’s week. The most popular chocolates are Snickers, Reece’s, Kit Kat, and M&M’s. The most popular candy is candy corn and Americans purchase more than 20 million pounds of it each year. In total, $680 million dollars is spent on Halloween candy. The top five candy selling days are in October, but more candy is sold on October 28th than any other day in the year. Just like the costumes we have worn and the candy we have consumed over the years, Halloween has undergone many changes throughout its history dating back 2000 years. At the IA, the Halloween tradition changed this year too. Halloween has always been a unique and fun experience at the IA and a very fun way to celebrate the holiday. The main event in the past was IA’s Halloween Passport, where we have festive activities such as a costume contest, corny jokes, and teacher challenges. Unfortunately, the Halloween Passport was cancelled this year. Many students were disappointed and felt that they were missing out, but others were still excited to be able to dress up and celebrate with their friends. The IA saw costumes ranging from Newsies to Starbucks cups through its halls. With the relaxed Halloween celebration this year, the best costumes were clever and unique and stood out from the usual crowd of costumes. No doubt we will all enjoy the costumes and the candy but who can argue that Halloween has never been quite as sweet, even without the Halloween passport, at the IA because of the three and a half day weekend with no homework!

Juniors Create Matchmaking Website international Academy juniors Seraj Desai and Alex Marshalek are the creators of Spark, a matchmaking website.by Eleanor Khirallah (‘15)

Although IA students spend most of their time frantically annotating packets in ten minute passing time, trolling class Facebook walls, or cramming for “quizzes” that seem to have as much material as normal tests, it seems that they still have enough time for love. Thanks to two juniors, Seraj Desai and Alex Marshalek, IA students can be now be thrown into an online dating pool through fm.quiblify.com. Titled “Spark,” the website displays two theoretical matches and allows anyone to select which match is better. All of the people on the site are matched solely based on gender, so the actual compatibility all rests in the opinions of users. In order to be put in this IA dating network, a person must sign the waiver located on the website and give it to the creators, Desai and Marshalek. As of right now, the matches only consist of members of IA’s junior class, yet there have already been over 50,000 responses on the site. Currently, Desai and Marshalek are trying to involve the other grades, but for now, users can select which matches are better than others with the IA juniors. Desai and Marshalek have captured the

IA community with a site they designed and continuously maintain, all while dealing with the stress of junior year. How does one become inspired to create a site like this though? For Desai, it came from a movie. “Truthfully, I got the motivation from watching The Social Network. I wanted to tweak Zuckerburg’s Facemash site,” he said. In Desai’s case, sitting around and watching movies led to a “spark” of an idea that turned into a pretty cool website for IA students. His goal with this project, though, is much more heartfelt. “I hope that’s it’s been a fun time waster for people to relax and collaborate on,” he said. Who knows what will come of this matchmaker site. For now, it’s a great way for people to imagine couples of the junior class, but in the future, it could be much more. Desai and Marshalek were just two juniors trying to let their class blow off some steam, and instead, they created a website that got lots of people interested. That’s just all in a day’s work for the students of the International Academy.

How IA Celebrates Thanksgiving On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a national holiday honoring the early settlers and their harvest. At international Academy, a school filled with diversity, families celebrate the holiday in their own way. by Sara Farooqui (‘16)

The month of October is such a tease when it comes to fall. A few red and orange leaves can be spotted here and there and only some days is it cold enough to bust out those cute fall sweaters. The true essence of the third season lies in the month of November, a month chock-full of traditional fall activities, mainly leading up to the holiday birthed in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln: Thanksgiving. Whether one wishes to enjoy some great deals whilst shopping, watch football, or relish some typical fall cuisine,

Thanksgiving time serves as an occasion to truly immerse in American culture. The Pilgrims celebrated the holiday considered the “First Thanksgiving” after their harvest in 1621. The celebration was an act of gratitude for the bounties of food the Pilgrims produced after a difficult period in which they were unable to yield a fair amount of sustenance. To celebrate a good harvest, people prayed and feasted on large spreads of food with main staples including turkey and pumpkin. Thanksgiving

became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln recognized a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” Though we continue to follow some of the same traditions today, a lot has changed. A huge custom on the Friday following (or even the same night of ) Thanksgiving is “Black Friday.” “Black Friday shopping is crucial if I want deals on potential presents for the holidays,” says Zoé

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The site is an online matchmaker, not unlike the Matchmaker from Mulan (Wikipedia)

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Olympics (CONT. P.1)

“a time to bond with our class, learning our strengths and weaknesses,” according to junior, Joyce Lee.

Thankfully, with bellies full of food thanks to the PTIA, the once cluttered hallways became appealingly decorated. It was then ime to go home, stay up late doing homework, and anticipate Friday.

The ball started rolling immediately on the day of Olympics with the senior tradition of chanting at the cars pulling into the school. Indoors, the decorated hallways were full of frenzied students painting their faces, looking for last minute cans, and excitedly preparing for Olympic events. Going from class to class was hectic, too, but nonetheless plenty of fun.

“The seniors’ hallway was scary,at first, and I thought I would get dragged into the circle,” said Jessica Bao (’18). “But I could see it was all in good fun!” The seniors were able to carry out their hope of being intimidating, while also keeping a good vibe with the other grades.

Soon, it was time for the assembly, and the Fire Nation’s bold entry impressed everyone. Even with the craziness of the rain during the afternoon events, the unity of the entire student body was seen across the school, from students to teachers to parent volunteers. For instance, when the seniors finished their portion of the Watermelon Eating Contest,

they immediately began to cheer for the sophomores. During the car race, the junior and senior pit teams helped the sophomore class out when its car broke apart. Though most may think the seniors always take a clean and easy win, the underclassmen really put up a fight this year, making the win all the more worthwhile to the seniors, but also fun for the other classes.

The seniors won with 276 points, but the other classes were close behind with the juniors scoring 250 points, the sophomores with 217, and the freshmen with 153. Though there can only be one literal winner, each class emerged victorious, becoming more unified, and in turn creating a richer community at the IA. The seniors got the victory they’ve been waiting for, but the younger students also benefited.

“Our class has grown a lot closer since the last Olympics and this has improved our performance more than I’ve ever imagined,” said Dana Saleh (’17).

The key outcome of this year’s Olympics results, at least for the seniors, can be summed up in one statement from senior Maureen Wu (‘15): “The seniors have R15EN.”

ABOVE RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: Junior girls competing in tug-of-war; freshmen cheering in the sidelines, senior boys celebrating tug-of-war victory (photographs: Fee Christoph)

LEFT TO RIGHT: The Senior Entrance in the ISC; sophomore boys compete in tug-of-war in the rain (photographs: Fee Christoph)

IA in VogueSee what’s trending this season on the runways and in the hallways of iA.

by Payge Lindow (‘17) November is time for giving thanks, and one of the many things we can be grateful for this season is fashion! This month, you’ll see cozy scarves and stylish jackets. There are a ton of creative ways to wear scarves. Try draping it around your neck so the lengths are even on each side, then wrap a thick belt around the middle, or tie the ends of a scarf into a knot, and wearing it as an infinity scarf. Whether, its florals or fringe, scarves are the way to go this month. As the temperatures drop, the trends get hotter. It’s all about army green this season, whether it’s a t-shirt, joggers, or a parka. Find versatile and cute parkas from brands like Urban Outfitters, MoMo Cloth, and Lucky Brand. Leather or gold accents can take this jacket up a notch. Try pairing it with a short fall dress for a trendy look.

rAJAA SHOUkfeH (‘16)Rajaa wears a cute floral tunic over leggings, and a studded burgundy cardigan. This outfit is creative, comfy, and cute!

MAYA ZiegLer (‘17)Maya pairs jeans and a cozy flannel with an army green parka. The fur lined hood and big brown buttons make this the perfect fall staple.

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Gotham: A Time Before Batman explore the city of gotham before Batman and the Joker took over. ABc’s new fall show explores the life of detective gordon as he tries to save gotham before it completely turns dark.

by Aleks Pavlovich (‘17)

A city is falling apart with a corrupt police force and city hall. Crime is running rampant and only a few decent cops are up to the task of cleaning up the city. Welcome to the city of Gotham, this fall’s new hit show on ABC. With premier of many new shows for the fall season, it might be difficult to decide on one to take time to sit down and follow until the end. Rest assured, Gotham will not be a disappointment. Starting from the origins of DC comics’s Batman, the show portrays how the magnificet city of Gotham, is slowly falling apart and crumbling as the underworld and mob rises. It is meant to be a precursor to the Batman movies, revealing the back stories of iconic characters from this franchise and what made them become the hero or villain that they are known as. These characters include Catwoman, the Penguin, the Joker, and of course Batman. The series follows one detective named James Gordon and shows the city of Gotham through his eyes. Gordon grew up in the city and remembers it as both mesmerizing and exciting. When Gordon joins the police force, it is his hope to restore Gotham to the mystifying city that he remembers as a child. He is not alone in this endeavor, as he becomes partnered with police legend Harvey Bullock. Together, the two of them undergo some of the city’s most extreme profile cases ever. However, the story mainly focuses on Gordon alone and how he takes Gotham’s

police department by storm. It will also focus on the unique relationship that Gordon forms with the young Bruce Wayne, who at this time is being raised by butler, Alfred Pennyworth. It is this relationship that is never forgotten by Wayne and plays a major role in him becoming the driven and iconic character that the world knows him as. Executive producer and creator, Bruno Heller, is the founder of this crime drama. However, the show is still in the process of trying to find its own unique defining quality, one of which will make it something special and set it apart from others shows like itself. It was for this reason that many critics were very harsh on their reviews of the first few episodes, calling for the show to be laid to rest. But others, such as The New York Daily News’s David Hinckley, claim that the first episode was like, “a 45-minute movie, with stunning visuals that never feel like a shrunken TV version of the Batman films against which it will inevitably be measured”. As the weekly episodes have continued, it seems as though most of the distasteful critics and public opinions are slowly changing their tune. Gotham is has since picked up speed with it’d plot and is finding its way in the hearts of superhero and Batman fans alike. That being said, this show is intended for anyone, not just fans of the Batman movies. So when trying to decide what to watch, sit down and lose yourself in the dark, yet strangely inviting world of Gotham.

Promotional poster for ABC’s new superhero TV series, Gotham (Forbes.com)

Humans of IAinspired by Brandon Stanton’s “Humans of New York” photo blog, “Humans of iAc” aims to share the stories of students and staff at the international Academy central.

What’s your story?

by Sophia Kim (‘17)

“HOW MANY LeiS DO YOU HAve ArOUND YOUr Neck?”

“i HAve Like, 27. THeY repreSeNT THe NUMBer Of frieNDS i HAve, BUT YOU’D HAve TO MULTipLY THAT BY A HigH NUMBer firST.”

-kYLe ALexANDer (‘17)

“i’D HAve TO SAY i WOULD prOBABLY cALL MYSeLf rApUNZeL.”

“WHY iS THAT?”

“WeLL, i HAve reALLY LONg HAir. AND i’M kiND Of OBSeSSeD WiTH HAirSTYLeS. i LOve

THe pASTeL HAir DYeS…i HAve A HUge piNTereST BOArD fOr THeM!”

-SHeriDAN NUNNerY (‘16)

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Best Movies of NovemberMockingjay: Part 1 and Big Hero 6 are the most anticipated movies of November.

by Deepali Desai (‘16)

The month of November brings some of the most anticipated movies of the year. One of the most anticipated movies of the year, Mockingjay: Part 1, releases on November 21 and is one of the year’s most anticipated movies.

With Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth returning for the third movie in the franchise, Mockingjay: Part 1 is sure to be just as exciting and action packed as the first two. New characters that were introduced in the book will also be present in the movie, such as Julianne Moore playing President Coin, the leader of District 13. Video promotions for the movie have been releasing since late June, with short clips and previews of characters in the movie, and revealing some plots in the movie that will be further explained in the movie and are in the book.

This movie be a continuation of the events that ended in the previous book and movie, Catching Fire, and Katniss will be living in District 13 after she had ended the previous Hunger Games by shattering the arena, after which the Capitol had destroyed Katniss’ home of District

12. As her nation, Panem, is rebelling against the Capitol, which is fighting back by punishing its own citizens, Katniss is encouraged by President Coin and her friends living in District 13 to fight back, and lead and encourage her nation through the revolution, no matter what turn it takes and how painful it becomes. Additionally, as the Capitol had taken Peeta at the end of the 75th Hunger Games and held him hostage, she must fight to save him as well.

As there are always alterations from the book to the movies, there is no exception in this movie as well, as some changes will be made with the characters, when they are present in the movie, and the scenes from the book that are included in the movie. Even with these changes, the movie is sure to please its audience and the fans of the books as much as it has before.

The book Mockingjay written by Suzanne Collins is being split up to be made into two different movies. The fourth and final movie in the series, Mockingjay: Part 2, will be releasing on November 20, 2015.

Another highly anticipated movie this November is Big Hero 6. Many critics view it as the next big Disney movie, as it was created by the people who made the Disney hits Wreck It Ralph and Frozen. For the first time, Disney will make a movie based off of a Marvel character, as the Marvels comics have a superhero team of the same name.

The movie is set in a fictional hybrid metropolis, where the protagonist, 14 year old robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, and his robot Baymax fight a criminal plot. The villain of the story team up with their friends to fight the villain and stop his plans, and to solve the mysteries surrounding the crimes. Big Hero 6 will be releasing in theaters on November 7, and with its goofy robot and team of inexperienced crime fighters working to stop a villain, it is sure to make people laugh.

With some of the most anticipated movies of the year releasing this month, there is definitely a lot to look forward to.

The promotional posters of Mockingjay: Part 1 (left) and Big Hero 6, two huge movies to hit theaters in the coming months. (ComingSoon.Net, Disney)

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Currently, millions are in danger of being infected by Ebola. It spreads through contact

with the bodily fluids of an infected individual. The symptoms are harsh and severe; nausea, vomiting, fevers, severe weight loss, bleeding from the eyes and bruising. As of yet, there is no working cure to solve the issue.

But, how could this disease have slipped out of the hotbed of Western Africa and gotten into America? Who is to blame for Ebola spreading? And, furthermore, what can be done to limit the spread of Ebola?

Ebola first spread into America when a Liberian man, Eric Duncan, infected with the deadly disease, boarded an airplane headed for Dallas, Texas. He caught the disease when carrying an infected woman to her home where she died. Regardless, he decided that it was safe to travel. In America, he developed the symptoms of Ebola and sought help at a Dallas hospital.

When Duncan went to the hospital, the staff sent him home with the diagnosis of a flu and some antibiotics. Two days later, Duncan was rushed to the same Dallas hospital by fire and rescue EMTs. It took another two days for the CDC to officially declare that Duncan had Ebola.

After the case was confirmed as Ebola, the hospital assigned Nina Phum to Duncan, a nurse who received her certificate for treating critical illness only a few months prior. This nurse, after reportedly not following proper procedures in removing the protective gear, contacted Ebola along with co-worker Amber Vinson. Amber Vinson traveled to Akron, then to Cleveland and back to Dallas before she reported herself sick with fever and was diagnosed with Ebola. The two nurses are said to be responding well to treatment. But who did they spread it to? And where can the finger of the American public be pointed at for allowing the rapid spread of the disease?

There is no doubt that some groups and regulations are at fault. First off, Eric Duncan is responsible. After exposing himself firsthand to an Ebola patient without any precaution, he should not have tried to leave the country and should have turned himself in to a hospital immediately.

Second, flights should have been greatly restricted out of Ebola hot zones. All, non-government, personnel should have been banned from entering or leaving the country where Ebola was widespread. Finally, the Dallas hospital should be blamed. Not only did they irresponsibly send a man exposed to exhibiting symptoms back into the public with only a prescription for antibiotics, but they also followed illegitimate procedures that potentially cost the health of two nurses and many others.

This last group is possibly the most at fault for the spread of Ebola in America. With unenforced and lackadaisical procedures, they have endangered hundreds of lives. Dallas Hospital’s irresponsible actions have led to the widespread panic and, possibly, an ebola epidemic.

However, it is not enough to simply identify the source of the problem. One must also find ways to reduce solve or at least stop the spread of an issue. A simple answer to this problem is to completely ban the travel from infected zones and neighboring countries. Or, if a citizen is truly intent on getting back to America, the citizen should be held in isolation for up to twenty-one days, the maximum period of time before which symptoms will show.

To stop the spread of the disease in America, all family members and people who have come in direct contact with infected citizens should be held for the same twenty-one day period. With a bacterial war on American soil, the government cannot be slow to act. Let us hope that there is a cure to this horrendous disease before it claims any more lives.

OPINIONTHe OverAcHiever / NOveMBer 2014 | p.7

Who’s to Blame for the spread of Ebola?Americans went into Africa to help with a pandemic of Ebola. Ironically, this only made situations worse when Ebola decided to tag along with Americans back to the US.

by Alex Trombley (‘17)

A Grade AboveAre you an underclassman looking for a little peer-to-peer guidance on school, life, and everything in-between? Welcome to The Overachiever’s new advice column, where you will find helpful tips and encouragement from a grade (or two) above.

by Zoe Hunter (‘16)

Hi everyone, Happy November! We’ve been in school for about 4 months now and I’ve gotten some pretty interesting questions from my fellow peers. I picked questions that I feel everyone thinks about sometime in their IA career. So without further ado, here are the questions!

Q: HOW cAN i BALANce MY ScHOOL WOrk AND A SOciAL Life?

A: This is a really good question! Often times I find myself struggling with this. Here is what you should not do: don’t hang out with your friends during the week (Friday’s and study dates are exceptions). Most of the time everyone is tired by the end of the school day, and if you go out and hang out your friends, you are going to go home completely unmotivated to finish your homework (I am guilty of doing this).

Here is what you should do: if you know you have a lot of homework or a test the next day, learn to say no to your friends. It is hard to say no though because you’ll feel left out knowing your friends are having fun without you, but your grades are more important. Your social life won’t get you into a good university, so think of that every time your friends want to go hang out after school, and you know you have a lot of homework.

Q: iT iS ALMOST HALfWAY THrOUgH THe YeAr, cAN i STiLL JOiN cLUBS?

A: Yes you can still join clubs! I’m sure many there are many clubs at the IA that will happily accept new members. There are some exceptions however, but what I would recommend is to talk to the one of the board members or teacher sponsors of a club, just to make sure.

Q: HOW cAN i MAke MOre frieNDS?

A: Talk to people! Join clubs! Be partners with someone other than your friend! This is a pretty broad question and honestly, making friends is hard, especially if you’re shy. All I can tell you is to find some way to put yourself out there and hope for the best!

Q: WHeN SHOULD i STArT STUDYiNg fOr THe AcT?

A: If you are a freshman or sophomore I wouldn’t worry about the ACT until it actually matters (i.e. junior and senior year). I would recommend taking any practice ACTs that are offered at any schools. Also talk to your counselors! They know what is best for you and are more than willing to assist you.

The second-ever Ebola patient in America is wheeled into a hospital in Atlanta (USA Today)

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Why iPhone?Apple has always been behind in technological developments when compared to Android. Here’s why you should consider switching from your iPhone to an Android.

by Aakash Beesabathuni (‘16)

Since Apple’s founder Steve Jobs passed away it seems as though Apple has stopped innovating. For the past few years many websites such as CNet have stated that Apple has been playing nothing but a catch up game to Android. Android’s Nexus 4, a device that was released close to two years ago, is in par with Apple’s iPhone 6 when compared to hardware specifications. Apple has been mainly susceptible to changes with its latest technology updates.

Apples iPhone 6 still has quite a bit of catching up to do before it can match many Android based phones. Apple’s iPhone sensor is not a new concept in the mobile

phone world; Motorola’s Atrix, a device that is close to 4 years old, has the same feature that the iPhone 5s had. This leads many into thinking why Apple is still able to maintain such a large market share in the smartphone industry. The simple conclusion that many come to is brand loyalty.

When Apple first released its phone, it was a revolution in the mobile industry. A device with nothing but a touchscreen, and had a superior camera was appealing to people and thus the iPhone became popular. However, now there is no reason for Apple’s iPhone to still be popular. Apple is well behind other smartphones

when it comes to software and product specifications. Samsung’s 16 megapixel camera on its flagship smartphone dwarfs Apple’s 8 megapixel resolution on the iPhone 6. When it comes to the camera Android’s cameras literally are over two times as good as Apple’s, so why is Apple able to maintain such a large market share?

The most obvious answer is design. Apple spends much time and money to ensure that Apple products are the most aesthetically appealing products on the market. That is why for someone who just wants a smartphone, Apple’s all metal iPhone seems much more appealing than Samsung’s plastic

Which is better, iPhone or Android? (Gigaom.com)

wrapped Galaxy S5. But is it fair that Apple is only surviving due to its superiority in exterior design? If Apple is only focused on aesthetics it only seems logical if its market share in the smartphone industry plummeted the year the iPhone 5 was released.

Another one of Apple’s main reasons for its continued success is brand loyalty.

Many iPhone users continue using iPhone’s due to brand loyalty. Apple customers are more likely to stay with Apple than any other smartphone manufacturer’s customers. Apple’s use of its own Operating System may also be one of the key factors of Apple’s continued success. By using its own OS, customers who are accustomed to iOS are forced to stay with Apple’s iPhone whereas Android users can easily switch from Samsung to Motorola or Motorola to Samsung with ease.

Does brand loyalty and aesthetics outweigh technological superiority and convenience of changing products? Most people would say no. Apple is simply scamming their users to continue using their products with flashy ads and specialized terms such as retina display. In truth Apple barely has any areas there it truly outweighs other smartphones in the market. If Apple’s users would only open their views and attempt to change what products they are using, they will understand that the iPhone is over glorified. In fact websites such as CNET and TechRadar repeatedly put Android and even Windows phone based devices above Apple’s iPhone. In fact in early October CNet published an article stating that the Galaxy S5 trumps the iPhone 6 in almost every technological aspect.

So iPhone users, why do you still use the iPhone?

Washington shooting (CONT. P.2)

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“I have two that are still breathing and alive. Looks like I have three possibly deceased.” Freshman Jaylen Fryberg was quickly identified as the person who opened fire at his classmates before killing himself. The recordings, sent to The Associated Press in response to a public records request, reveal the breadth of the police response and the difficulty as officers spent the next two hours trying to get hundreds of students to safety. Authorities have not yet released 911 calls from inside the school. After one hour, 51 minutes, an officer called in to report: “I need four buses. We have several hundred kids still sheltered in place.” One hour, 20 minutes into the

crisis, the dispatcher told the command post that a parent called to report his son received a text message “indicating that they were lucky (Fryberg) only had six rounds. I don’t know if that was from the subject or secondary.” The commander responded: “That needs to be addressed immediately.” As officers arrived at the area, the command post moved them around — closing off this road, securing that building, taping those doors and filling those buses. They had to get medics to the injured, but they didn’t know if anyone else was part of the shooting. That made the officer inside anxious. But they still needed to secure

Washington’s largest high school and reunite those 2,500 students with their parents. Officers went building to building, knocking on the locked doors and yelling “police.” The students and teachers had followed protocol and locked themselves in secure places, but that created a needle-in-a-haystack situation on a campus made up of dozens of separate buildings. They moved some students through the parking lot before being advised that the cars had not been cleared. A new set of officers rushed in to make sure no other shooters were hiding in the vehicles. They finally loaded the students on buses and carried them several

blocks away to the Shoultes Gospel Hall church, and to their frantic parents. Hundreds gathered Thursday on the Tulalip Indian reservation for a memorial service for Jaylen Fryberg, who came from a prominent tribal family. Earlier this week, the Tulalip Tribes released a statement condemning the shooter’s “horrific actions,” but adding it was their custom to come together in times of grief. After the shooting, the tribes issued a statement on the latest death, saying “our hearts are heavy as we hear of the passing of Shaylee Chuckulnaskit. Shaylee and her family are part of our extended Tulalip community and we offer up our prayers.”

NAMe: Anna HoppegrADe: 12th SpOrT(S): SwimNAMe Of HigH ScHOOL/OTHer TeAMS: Berkley High School Swim & Dive

If you would like to nominate the next student Athlete of the Month (it could be yourself!), contact Adrienne Joe at joe.adrienne45@bloomfield.org!

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sPORTs student Athlete of the Monthevery month, an exceptional student athlete is chosen to be recognized in this column. October’s Student Athlete of the Month is senior swimmer (and The Overachiever’s back page editor!) Anna Hoppe.

by Adrienne Joe (‘17)

Describe your daily after school routine during the swim season.I leave from school, and I go to my district high school. I get changed, and then we stretch and get in the water, and practice until 6pm. Then I go home and do homework. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have practice from 5:30-7 am, which I have to get up at 4:30 am for. Also, I have occasional swim meets after school.

What is one of your greatest accomplishments as an athlete?Probably being able to endure more than I ever thought I could. When we practice or when I do events at meets, I set myself up for limits that I don’t think I can exceed. But swimming has taught me that I can really push myself past what I think I can do.

What’s the biggest challenge you face in swimming, and what do you do to overcome it?I think the biggest challenge is trying to get everything done. It’s a lot having to think about schoolwork, and extended essay, and college applications, and internals, all at the same time while swimming four hours a day, going to swim meets, spending time with my family, and even seeing my friends. It’s just a lot. But that’s what the sport teaches you, to multitask, micro-manage, and prioritize.

So far, what has been one of your favorite memories with your team?We have this week called Hell Week, where we swim 10,000 yards everyday. I think my favorite memory was completing this with my lane-mates, who I all like a lot. We were really happy about how we did, and we were pushing ourselves on times we had never swam before in practice—that was a great moment for me.

What’s one goal you hope to achieve this season?Well I have my league championship meet coming up next week, and states in two weeks, so I’m hoping to make states next week with my team. I just want to finish the season strong, and really make good memories with my teammates, since it is my last year.

THe OverAcHiever / JUNe 2014 | p.9

Are the detroit Lions Finally Contenders?After decades of disappointment, the Detroit Lions might finally be ready to establish themselves as a team we should all take seriously.

by Max Totsky (‘16)

Anyone who has been a Detroit Lions fan in the past fifty years probably knows what sourness tastes likes. The Lions have the longest active Super Bowl/NFL Championship drought in the league, are the only NFL team to have a winless 16-game season, and have only won one playoff game since the 1950s. With all this in mind, it is understandable why the Detroit Lions have, for such a long time, been the laughing stock of the NFL. However, the 2014 season is looking to turn that image around. The season has reached its midpoint and the Lions are leading their division at 6-2, a record that is beyond respectable. With results like this, it is easy for Lions fans to get excited. A successful Detroit football team has always been a fragile concept, which is why every Lions win this season has felt like a long exhale after a protracted amount of time underwater. Things started very comfortably with a one-sided game against the New York Giants, but ever since then the Lions seem to have been sneaking away with every victory, often coming back from a huge deficit and pulling through in the final minutes to get the win. All of that poses a question. Do the Lions have what it takes to be serious contenders this season? Whether you are gleefully optimistic or cynically dismissive, there are many things that need to be considered. First of all, if the season ended today, the Lions would be the 3rd seed in the NFC. That’s pretty reassuring. They also have arguably the best defense in the league. However, one could refute this by considering the circumstances that come with a relatively easy schedule. The only difference in a matchup between the Lions and the now 2-6 Atlanta Falcons was a field goal with four seconds left, a fact that is not necessarily soothing. Indeed, the Lions are not dominating anyone, even teams like the Falcons who are towards the bottom tier of the NFL. Of course, the only thing that really matters in the long term is results, but worries like this raise skepticism regarding how the Lions will fare against stronger teams. If they are barely beating the Falcons, then how will they stand a chance in the playoffs? Of course, the Lions have recently been dealing with a plethora of injuries, leaving their offensive very shallow. They have been playing without their #1 WR (Calvin Johnson, probably the best in the league), #1 RB (Reggie Bush), and top three TEs. If an injury-ridden Lions can be 6-2, the potential the team has when healthy is towering. When their stars come back, the team might find it a bit easier to pull off success. As exciting as this season has been so far, it is far too reminiscent of the recent early season sparks lit by the Lions that have led to nothing but blown momentum. The Lions are 2-14 in the second half of the last two seasons, which highlights their tendency to start big but finish horrifically. This might make Lions fans uneasy about the rest of the season, but this “threat” can not be taken too seriously. The 2014 Detroit Lions are a new team who should be able to reach new heights.

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Why We should Be Excited About the PistonsWith plenty of changes being made in the offseason, the Detroit Pistons are looking optimistic for this upcoming year.

by Kenan Sinan (‘16)

The 2014-2015 NBA season has kicked off and it would be no surprise if many people see no reason to care about the Detroit Pistons. Recently, they have struggled on court and in the front office, but this season Pistons fans have a lot to look forward to, following changes in all departments. Firstly, the Pistons hired Stan Van Gundy as their head coach which means they finally have someone with the potential and experience to lead them to the playoffs. Stan Van Gundy’s past successes makes him stand out among previous, unknown Pistons coaches like Michael Curry, John Kuester, Lawrence Frank, and Maurice Cheeks, none of whom have coached a single game since being fired by the Pistons. In contrast to these four, all of whom had a losing record with the Pistons, Van Gundy has a 64.1% winning percentage in the regular season, one of the best amidst active NBA coaches. Unfortunately, the Pistons do not have the talent of Van Gundy’s past teams, but they do have plenty of young players who can grow through Van Gundy’s influence. If there is one player to be fired up about it is Andre Drummond, a star in the making. When Andre Drummond was first drafted, many experts saw his potential reward, but acknowledged the chance that he might never fulfill his capacity. However, in the past two years, Andre has proved the experts wrong. Entering the league at 19, Andre has already shown that he is one of the best centers in the

NBA. With Josh Smith and Greg Monroe playing power forward, the Pistons might have one of the best four-five tandems in the league. The addition of Stan Van Gundy is also looking to benefit Drummond.

Back in 2007, when Van Gundy joined the Orlando Magic, he was able to increase Dwight Howard’s statistics in nearly every single category and there is no question that he can do the same with Drummond. Similar to what he did with the Magic, Van Gundy should be able to implement a Triangle offense centered around him. With improvements at the free-throw line and and with his post-game, we could definitely see Andre as an All-Star this coming February. Over the summer, the Pistons signed many 3-point specialists, like Cartier Martin, Caron Butler, and Jodie Meeks. Last year, the Pistons ranked 29th in 3-point shooting, with a horrible 32.1% shooting percentage. This is why Van Gundy let bad shooters like Peyton Siva, Will Bynum, Charlie Villanueva, and Rodney

Stuckey, walk from the team. Last year, the Pistons had nobody to trust with shots in clutch situations. With the addition of these new players, the Pistons offense will be able to run with greater smoothness and accuracy The Pistons should be an exciting and competitive team that should win at least 45 games. Even if they go nowhere in the playoffs, it will still be fun to see a Pistons team that is relevant again.

schools, killed innocent school children, murdered politicians, and most recently kidnapped many Nigerian schoolgirls. Over 2000 civilians have been killed by the group this year.

In prior years it has been extremely difficult for the Nigerian government to access and openly communicate with the Boko Haram, but now the government is able to communicate with the terrorist

Boko Haram (CONT. P.2)

Hunter, an IA junior. And she isn’t wrong to believe that Black Friday offers some of the best deals of the year. Electronics and clothing are among some of the most popular items people target. Black Friday has even become a family tradition to some, like Sarah Khan, who says, “My family and I get up at 3 A.M. every Thanksgiving and hit the mall. I think it’s totally worth it because, obviously, I can get great deals, but it’s also a fun family thing to do.” But some may argue that it’s quite ironic that after a day spent giving thanks, we venture out to buy things we may not even need. “I find it kind of weird, but it’s an American tradition, and fun too, so there’s nothing to lose,” says Selin Levi. Football is also among the many traditions in American culture associated with Thanksgiving. Nearly all levels of football – from high school to college to the NFL

– play on Thanksgiving or over the long weekend. This tradition started in 1869 in Philadelphia when the Young America Cricket Club played the Germantown Cricket Club. The crowd was ecstatic and the tradition somehow seemed to stick. Today, people enjoy watching football on Thanksgiving as a form of leisure. In fact, some families and recreational groups hold an annual “Turkey Bowl,” a series of informal matches similar to flag or street football. Thanksgiving is best known for the wide array of foods typically eaten. Turkey, pies, and potatoes are the usual fare, but at International Academy, a school where we celebrate Diversity, different foods become part of the Thanksgiving tradition for some families. For example, Deepali Desai’s family “likes to eat Indian food such as curry, naan or paratha (flatbread), pulao (rice with vegetables), and

Thanksgiving (CONT. P.3)sweet potato fries. It’s different from normal Thanksgiving foods, but it’s what [they] do.” Whatever your family tradition, sharing good food is a universal way to display gratitude and express thanks. The fourth Thursday of every

November is marked with food, football, and family. While today’s Thanksgiving would be unrecognizable to the attendees of the First Thanksgiving in 1621, it continues to be a day for Americans to gather around the table, enjoy family, and give thanks.

group rather easily in Chad. That is why several Nigerian government officials have publicly stated that a chief aim for the government is not only to retrieve the girls, but also to appease and if possible even remove the Boko Haram from Nigeria. Even though a ceasefire has been agreed upon the Boko Haram has violated the agreement in by attacking near the border of Nigeria and Cameroon.

by Anna Hoppe (‘15)

i HAve TO ADMiT THAT i reALLY ONLY LOOk fOrWArD TO NOveMBer, BecAUSe iT iS THe

MONTH Of MY BirTHDAY. THe WeATHer cAN Be preTTY cOLD AND MOST Of THe TiMe

ALL Of THe cOLOrfUL LeAveS HAve fALLeN. ON THe OTHer HAND, i DefiNiTeLY cAN’T cOMpLAiN ABOUT THe WArM ciDer AND

AppLe pieS!

- LeNA HOppe (’18)

MY fAvOriTe THiNgS TO DO iN NOveMBer Are DriNk HOT ciDer AND gO AppLe

pickiNg!

- JOYce Lee (’16)

“i Like eATiNg greAT fOOD, giviNg THANkS AND SpeNDiNg TiMe WiTH MY fAMiLY ON

THANkSgiviNg.”

-DYLAN DeWALD (‘15)

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BACK PAGETHe OverAcHiever / NOveMBer 2014 | p.11

This Month In Preview

Tweet of the Month Phoenix PollWhat do you enjoy most about the month of November?