After months of rehearsals, Blake’s theater company will premiere their fall musical Aida tonight in the audi-torium at 7:30pm with general admission tickets selling at $10.

Aida tells the tale of Aida, a Nubian princess forced into slavery, and her love interest with her Egyptian cap-turer, Radames. In this play, Aida must choose between love with Radames and her leadership over her enslaved people. Junior Charles Harper, who plays Mereb, says, “I’m most excited to see a big audience for opening night to set the tone for all of the other nights we will be performing.”

The role of Aida is double-cast, and is played by seniors Yasmin Wamala and Alex Reeves. “I’m just ex-cited for everyone to see the months of hard work the cast and crew has put in come to life on stage,” says Wamala. Radames, the other lead role, is played by senior Yann Ellinghaus and junior Ryan Reynolds.

The cast and crew have spent their afternoons every day after school rehearsing for the play. However, as open-ing night approaches, their rehearsals have been extended to 9:30pm on weekdays. “Rehearsals have [been] a roller-coaster so far,” says Harper. “Some days we hit really high points and some days we hit really low points.”

Because of the various expenses that come with put-ting on a musical, staff and students have worked hard to fund Aida. To raise money, they have held fundraisers at Panera Bread and Café Rio. While they have only earned about $500 from these events, they have also received donations from the community.

Students have also worked to spread the word about the musical. Publicizing for Aida has involved putting up posters around the community, setting up an event on Facebook, advertising in the newspaper and telling people through word of mouth. The cast and crew hope to have wide attendance for their performances, even though the musical is in the fall and not the spring this year.

The musical releases in the fall because the audito-rium is available and it is easier for the AP students who would have to balance the AP exams in May and the spring musical. Director Michel D’Anna says the play will also be unchanged from the original, unlike their performance of The Tales of Arabian Nights.

In the past, Blake’s theater company has shown lively shows like Hairspray and The Tales of Arabian Nights. However, this fall musical is far from that. With a much more serious theme, the cast and crew are experienc-ing a change from the usual. “Usually Mr. D’Anna likes to

challenge people,” says senior ensemble member Raquel Castillo. Students can see the show tonight and tomorrow

night, as well as Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.

Fasdmen;rituhnbroiutbn-srtnrtnsrtjsrtjrysrjrstjsfsr

Students go all out for Benny Bengal and the Chocolate Factory spirit week, p. A4

Volume 14 Number 2 James Hubert Blake HS 300 Norwood Rd Silver Spring MD 20905 Online http://www.blakebeat.net November 11, 2011

Aida set to hit Blake stage tonight for first of five performancesby Leah Patterson & Samara Tux

Sophomore’s Homecoming weekend takes tragic turn

Tragedy struck sophomore Deneah Gilbert October 22 when she arrived home from the Homecoming dance to discover that her mother, Daraye Aishia Tyson, was in critical condition. Ms. Ty-son was pronounced dead the following day after attempted resuscitation.

Says Gilbert, “[My mom] was young, vibrant, really pretty and really funny. She never had an attitude; she never complained. She lived her life.”

Gilbert and her sister Zadreaun Lewis were extremely close with their mother, describing her as their “best friend.”

“[Ms. Tyson] was like my mom,” says sophomore Mariama Ndure. “It’s tough for all of us, but all we can do is stay strong.” Ms. Tyson was well acquainted with Gilbert’s friends, fre-quently spending time with them.

Shortly after her first birthday, Gilbert lost her father to a shooting. Her mother’s passing left her parentless, causing her move to Pennsylvania to live with her grandparents. Though she

is close with her other relatives, moving from Maryland has been rough for her. “It’s going to be hard – the only good thing is that we’re with our family,” says Gilbert.

It has been reported that on the night of her death, Ms. Tyson consumed a very small amount of alcohol, but suddenly had a strong negative reaction. For this reason, it is presumed that something was slipped into her beverage, but the cause of death is still being investigated.

The funeral was held October 28 in her grandparents’ hometown of

Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. “She looked fake, with too much make up on her; she didn’t look like herself,” says Gilbert of her mother at the funeral. “When we saw her in the casket, it was horrible.”

Gilbert’s new community has been very supportive of her recent struggles, offering her places to stay and bringing meals for her and her grandparents. “I didn’t really know her that well, but I hope she’s getting all the support that she deserves,” says senior Paris Broadus. “I can’t imagine ever having to go through something like that.”

by Savannah Doane-Malotte& Kristen Fresex

Gilbert relocates to Pennsylvania after her mother’s unexpected death

Stabbing rumor created by student spreads through Twitter and other media, p. A3

Junior Ryan Reynolds and senior Yasmin Wamala act out a scene in the fall musical of Aida, which opens

tonight and will continue showing through next week. --photo by Dennis Chan

Varsity boys’ soccer loses controversial

game in regional semi-final, p. D1

Negative costs of beauty outweigh look-

ing good, p. C 4-5

Students review performance of

iPhone 4S, p. C7

November 11, 2011 The Blake BeatA2Out-of-control student drivers forget dangers on road

Teen drivers are 50 per-cent more likely to crash in their first month of unsupervised driving than after the first year, according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Re-search Center, which conducted the study for AAA, concluded that travel related to school events leads teen drivers to carry more passengers, sharply rais-ing the risk of a serious or fatal crash. Students also believe loud music and other distraction im-pair inexperienced drivers. Says

senior Lynne Virgil, “I think the amount of people allowed in the car with [teens] at one time should be limited.”

Failure to slow down or yield is also a common mistake made by new drivers, causing 57 % of all crashes in their first month of provisional driving.

Due to inexperience, stu-dents are also more likely to make simple mistakes, such as not signaling for a lane change or not checking a blind spot, which can have disastrous results. Virgil admits to almost crashing after not checking her blind spot one night.

Students feel the need to continuously communicate

with one another, even behind the wheel. Though it is illegal and strongly discouraged, young drivers still text and drive. AAA states using a cell phone while driving quadruples the risk of crashing. “Teenagers always feel like they are invincible,” says senior Courtney Cristaldi. “[When] they text and drive or drive past curfew or speed they [think] they will be okay.”

Fellow students and par-ents worry that new drivers take advantage of the power associated with having a license. “They think having a license al-lows them to drive recklessly,” says senior Danielle Blocker. “[They] don’t realize that they

don’t know what they’re do-ing.” Blocker has been in cars with teen drivers who drove recklessly and barely avoided crashes.

Teenagers, nevertheless, are not the only risky drivers. Multiple students have seen adult drivers making dangerous decisions on the road. “I’ve seen adults have their blinkers on for miles which can be an indicator of drinking and driving,” says junior Emily Tempchin.

“Some [adults and stu-dents] are reckless and think nothing bad can happen to them,” adds Virgil. “This causes crashes because you never know what they are going to do.”

by Joal Chen& Janine Tairax Teenagers

always feel like they are

invincible. When they text and drive or drive

past curfew or speed, they think they will be okay.

Courtney Cristaldi

Sporting pepper spray becomes safety trend among Blake femalesWeapon for emergencies provides security to parents, Bengals alike

Carrying pepper spray, though a pun-ishable offense inside school, has become a trend among teenage girls as a safety pre-caution against rape and other crimes.

Many girls carry pepper spray regard-less of the school rule, as they think it is a necessity to their well-being. “We should still have the right to protect ourselves,” says senior Samantha Tyler*. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s [in] the halls or the streets.”

The school rule explicitly states that students are not allowed to have any type of device to cause injury to another person in-side school. Anyone caught with a weapon, including pepper spray, can be expelled or even reported to the police.

Living in the DC Metropolitan area,

many female students fear for their safety in everyday situations - even in attending school. Says senior Amanda Read*, “Girls are targeted more and can be more easily taken advantage of, which is why we feel we need extra protection.” Media coverage of crimes involving the kidnapping and rape of young women has increased awareness of their vulnerability.

In the state of Maryland, pepper spray is categorized as a dangerous weapon and people may only possess it for very specific reasons. The law says that if a person feels that it is necessary to carry mace in order to be safe, it is not a crime. However, it is up to a judge to determine what a reasonable precaution is.

Many parents provide their children, often young girls, with pepper spray so that the family feels secure. Says parent Amelia Castillo*, “I think girls should carry pep-

per spray to protect themselves from being attacked, especially when they are alone.” Ms. Castillo has her own daughter carry mace because she knows that a girl’s physi-cal strength can often not match the power of an attacker.

Some students worry that the pos-session of pepper spray could get out of hand if used in a non-emergency situation. They also question whether pepper spray is powerful enough to keep someone safe. Says senior Christian Jeong, “It is a type of protection, but it isn’t enough to [com-pletely] protect anyone.”

Companies and foundations such as Safety Girl and Girls Fight Back, which educate young women about the importance of self-defense, have created feminine pep-per spray products. These can be bought in several different colors and patterns, and are small and portable. Some can even clip

to backpacks or key chains, making them accessible and convenient to use.

The school rule states that pepper spray is a weapon and being caught with it can lead to suspension with a recommenda-tion for expulsion. Administration stresses the trouble that a student could get in for carrying mace, but understands the desire to feel safe. Assistant school administrator Rudy Tyrell Jr. says, “I think it’s a reflection of our society’s moral decay and predilec-tion for depravity. It’s sad.” He recommends carrying a whistle and a cell phone with the non-emergency police phone number.

To feel safer, Mr. Tyrell also suggests that girls take self-defense classes and always travel in groups. It is important for girls to follow their instincts about what is safe, and to try to avoid instances where they may feel uncomfortable.

*Names have been changed.

by Savannah Doane-Malotte & Kristen Fresex

November 11, 2011 The Blake Beat A3

After a shelter for a medical emer-gency was announced during third period October 24, senior Eliot Campbell* and several other students spread a false rumor that a student in the school was stabbed.

Campbell and three other students made the story sound believable by saying the news was on Blake Private. By word of mouth and Twitter, a large part of the student body was talking. “We were just being funny and seeing if it would spread,” says Campbell.

The rumor evoked a wide array of responses from students. Some students were cautious about believing hearsay. Says junior Allie Marcus, “I think [prin-cipal Christopher] Berry would have told

us if there was a stabbing, which made me a little reluctant about believing the rumor.”

“I would never believe that [there was a stabbing] unless I saw it for myself,” adds junior Rachel Woo.

Alumni Bryan Dowdall and Joanna Purich were both shocked that someone would create this kind of rumor. Via Twit-ter Purich said, “It’s just funny that anyone can say ‘someone got stabbed at Blake’ and it’s…believable.” Both alumni heard the rumor through Twitter.

Not all students found the rumor funny. In fact, many students thought it childish. “Some people are just really igno-rant and just want to stir up stuff that’s not true,” says junior Musa Malik. “They want to make a reputation for themselves.”

After the shelter, Mr. Berry an-nounced that the medical emergency was resolved and the student involved was okay. “I was a little mystified…I thought, ‘why is this happening?’ particularly be-cause I communicated with students and staff about [the shelter],” says Mr. Berry. There are confidentiality laws that restrict the details the administration can provide in those instances, but they provide as much information to the school as possible.

Mr. Berry received only one parent phone call three days after the shelter, and no students approached him with questions about a the stabbing rumor, so he was not worried. “I don’t believe the pervasive-ness of the rumor was that wide,” says Mr. Berry.

Unfortunately, the rumor was too

close to the truth for some residents of the community. In 2005 after a football game against Sherwood High School, a Rockville High School student was fatally stabbed in the parking lot. However, Mr. Berry does not see the connection. “I don’t think there is a comparison. One is a rumor and one is a reality for our school,” says Mr. Berry.

Campbell saw the rumor as a joke. “Once I saw [the rumor] on Twitter… I was dying [of laughter],” says Campbell. After the rumor was on Twitter for several days, Campbell revealed that the rumor was not true.

Adds junior Tara Vides, “Thank God we aren’t going to be the school known for a stabbing.”

*Names have been changed.

False stabbing rumor gets spread throughout school communityby Joal Chen & Janine Tairax

Seniors and their parents attended the financial aid work-shop November 1 to learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process and other student financial aid programs, including grants and scholarships.

At the workshop, students learned how the government calculates their need and how they can potentially receive more money to cover college expenses even if they do not have criti-cal financial need. Says senior Nnamdi Odoazu, “[The work-shop] was very helpful in the sense that we know everything we’re supposed to access and what was required.”

Melissa Gregory, Director

of Financial Aid at Montgomery College, explained how the fed-eral government uses a formula to determine how much aid they could give to a student. The formula subtracts the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the amount the family is reasonably expected to contribute towards college, from the Cost of Atten-dance (COA) which is the com-bined expenses at a college like tuition and room and board.

While the average of the EFC is about $12,000, students who show that their EFC is low can earn more federal money. However, the monetary aid that the government gives out depends how much they have saved. “Some families may not need financial aid to cover their student’s tuition,” says college

and career coordinator Kathy Moore. “[However], middle class families can qualify for financial aid – you won’t know unless you apply!”

While it is not hard for a student who is in critical fi-nancial need to receive money from the federal government, many students who do not show critical need are struggling to find money to pay towards their college. Says senior Emmanuel Clarke, “My mom [has a decent salary], but it never hurts to learn new ways to get money for college.”

For those students who believe they will not receive much financial aid, Mrs. Greg-ory suggests students to apply for the FAFSA anyway. “It’s important just to find out what

you’re qualified for,” says Mrs. Gregory. “You don’t want to be overlooked for scholarships and need-based aid.” She encourages students to research all scholar-ships early from both individual schools and private groups.

Mrs. Gregory explained how students can participate in the federal work-study program to pay for college. The work-study program is a campus-based employment program that does not have to be repaid, and is for undergraduate and graduate students. Students in this pro-gram are paid at least the federal minimum wage. Other advice students should take includes taking out loans or signing up for scholarship websites such as www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org.

It’s important just to find out

what you’re qualified for.

You don’t want to be

overlooked for scholarships

and need-based aid.

FAFSA process clarified by financial aid workshop for parents, studentsby Samara Tu x

Last week’s fad was dressing up as bloodsuckers for Halloween; however, Monday’s red hot trend was donating blood through Inova’s annual blood drive.

Bengals were more than eager to donate blood at Monday’s blood drive, donating a total of 95 pints and sav-ing 285 lives. “I feel like I’m helping someone,” says senior Brian Battaglia. “Why not [give blood]? It’s an easy way to help others out.” The vast majority of student blood donors feel this accomplishment as well. There are countless rea-sons to donate blood to people who are in need of it.

“As a young generation it’s important to carry dona-tions forward,” adds Inova blood donation services worker Terrance Cochran.

Even those who fear the procedures persevered through donations. “I was really scared; people were hold-ing my hand and they couldn’t find my vein,” says senior McKayla Adam. “I’m terrified of blood and needles, [but] I did it [and others] should too.” With the help of many student and teacher donors, this year’s blood drive had a higher turnout than that of previous years.

As long as students met the age and overall health requirements, students had the freedom of donating. For some, blood drives can be surprisingly relieving. “I feel like donating blood can help relieve stress… [and] build better self esteem,” says Inova donor center trainer Val Thomas.

As for the new shirt that comes with every donation, most donors agree that it is a great garment. With the motto “Others Live Because I Give,” donors could really relate to the shirt’s message which contributes to the shirt’s hip and

unique appearance. “I like [the shirts],” says senior Brittany Bradley. “They’re really colorful, plus I love the quote. It expresses exactly why I [gave] blood.”

To those students who are still deciding whether or

not to participate in the next blood drive, Inova blood drive worker Mady Lopez, who has done over 300 drives, has one thing to say: “It’s really not that bad; if it was, people wouldn’t come back and keep doing it.”

Senior Daniel Kim prepares to donate blood during the annual drive Monday. Students and faculty

donated 95 pints of blood, surpassing the goal of 75 pints. --photo by Niki Byrd

Fall Blood Drive saves lives, over 95 pints donated

by Emily Eaglin & Nicole Sterlingx

Successful, noble cause draws in many Bengals

Melissa Gregory

Some people are just really ignorant and just want to stir up stuff that’s not true.Musa Malik

November 11, 2011 The Blake BeatA4

Benny Bengal and the Chocolate Factory was this year’s Homecoming theme, which kicked off with the showing of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory October 13 and ended with the annual Homecoming dance October 22.

This year featured only four spirit days, due to the Maryland State Teachers Association convention held October 21. Homecoming week started a few days early with a movie night, followed by the traditional spirit week. Those days included pajama day, throwback day, wacky tacky day and class colors day. Senior Homecoming king Ricky Mancia says, “My favorite part of Spirit Week was class colors day [because] I felt re-

ally close to my fellow seniors and proud to wear blue.”

Adds senior Lizzie Reyes, “Ever since I was a freshman, I’ve been waiting to get the honor of being the color blue and wearing it around school.” Many students were pleased that principal Christopher Berry reinstated class color day after past years’ hazing forced administration to cancel this day of spirit week.

With the return of class colors day, students were shocked and disappointed when a fight broke out at Battle of the Classes. While many students feared the cancellation of the newly appointed day, Mr. Berry addressed students on Eubie TV stating that he would not punish the entire student body for the “stupid acts” of a few.

“My favorite part [of Homecoming

Week] was class colors day and powder puff because I was able to be with my friends and show my school spirit,” says junior Chante Goodger. Other Homecom-ing activities included the student-staff basketball game, hallway decorations and the powder puff game.

The Pep Rally was held on Friday in the gym where the cheerleaders and poms teams performed and where both the Homecoming court and spirit week win-ners were announced. Seniors won Home-coming Week overall, as well as powder puff, while the junior class won hallway decorations. Says SGA co-president and senior Rhea Wyse, “The SGA received a lot of negative feedback for moving the Pep Rally [to Friday], but surprisingly a lot of people showed up and some even tailgated.”

“There was so much school spirit [at the Pep Rally],” adds Homecoming queen and senior Devon Johnson. “I was really proud to see how many people came out even though we didn’t have school. The fact [that] we won the [football game against Blair High School] completed the night.” The varsity football team won the game 7-0.

Freshman Amber Reese enjoyed her first high school spirit week. “[Home-coming] was great. I liked all the spirit days,” says Reese, who participated in every spirit day. “My favorite [day] was Thursday, when all the class hallways were decorated.”

“I really liked the hallway decora-tions,” adds sophomore Cassidy Tarner. “[The hallways] were all really cool and it was fun getting candy.”

Spirit week provides sweet escape from everyday school routine

From left: freshmen Joseph D’Costa and Patryce Washington support

the freshman class. --photo by Allie Marcus

From left: (bottom row) freshmen Frankie Hedgepeth, Lauren Gil, Jenna Galeno and Chisom Exeani (top row)

Logan Dreher, Kathleen Edquilban, Maya Eaglin on Wacky Tacky Day. --photo by Tram Truong

From left: sophomores Cassidy Turner and Keiry Garcia roll out bed in their

comfy pajamas on Pajama Day. --photo by Allie Marcus

From left: seniors Cadijah Walcott and Melissa McNabb hand out candy while

showing off their hallway decorations. -- photo by Rebecca Kalinich

Junior Maddy Benjoar shows her junior class spirit during the Battle

of the Classes activities. --photo by Allie Marcus

by Larisha Winley & Leisha Winleyx

November 11, 2011 The Blake Beat A5

Seniors Sarah Hagan (left) and Alison Scher (center) go back in time on Decades Day

wih photography teacher Sara Hartenstine (right). --photo by Cecilia Girolami

S e n i o r s E r i k a Arancibia (left) and Ahmani Jones (right)

particpate in Pajama Day. --photo by Allie Marcus

Juniors from left: Emily Tempchin, Allison Dionne and Caroline Wannen

represent their junior class in all black. --photo by Margi Warner

Freshmen from left: Joan Wood, Kate Murphy, Zoey Hatzes and Alexa Steadmen

pulled out all the stops for their first Wacky Tacky Day. -- photo by Allie Marcus

Seniors from left: Matt Lipshultz, Raquel Castillo and Ashley Guevara wear their senior blue proud at the

Homecoming Game against Blair. --photo by Rebecca Schwartz

Senior Richard Muhammad displays senior pride on Class Colors Day

through his blue-themed outfit. --photo by Margi Warner

November 11, 2011 The Blake BeatA6Word from the Wyse: senior recognized for gene studies

Senior Rhea Wyse was recently featured on the National Institute of Health’s website for the work she completed this summer with genome research.

Wyse first became interested in genetics when she at-tended a genetics camp at Montgomery College in seventh grade. Wyse, a Sierra Leonean, became passionate about researching diseases that affect African Americans. Diabetes, hypertension and obesity are the three most prevalent diseases that affect the race and they are the diseases that Wyse studied the most.

Wyse’s research focused on the genetic disparities be-tween the genes of people living in Africa and African Ameri-cans who live in the US. Her and her fellow peers’ mission was to understand the environmental and genetic contribution to the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in the African American population. Wyse says, “Participating in this lab made me feel like I was giving back to my country of Sierra Leone.”

Last March, Wyse was accepted to the NIH’s summer program internship. She found an attractive opportunity in The Center for Research on Genetics and Global Health (CRGGH), which is a part of the National Human Genome Research Insti-tute (NHGRI), a branch of NIH, which focuses on the Human Genome Project. The center allowed Wyse to continue to pursue studies on her ancestral roots in West Africa.

Wyse was able to work in the lab and use cutting edge technology to analyze the genes of obese African American individuals with Type 2 Diabetes and without Type 2 Diabetes. “I had a great time because I was able to receive lab training and conduct research in my future field,” says Wyse. She was exposed to many different aspects of the field like biostatistics, data recording, lab safety and genotyping.

After finishing her research, she presented a scientific poster of her project to the National Human Genome Research Institute scientists in a lecture hall and then presented it at the Annual NIH Poster Day, which included scientists, medical students and others. She was later featured on the NHGRI website (genome.gov) for her work.

Wyse plans to work full-time in the clinical center this summer. She will have more exposure to patients and will get a feel for the job of a clinical geneticist- her future job. “It was great to know that I was making a significant difference in the world of health and medicine,” adds Wyse.

by Sammi Levittx

Senior Rhea Wyse is prominently displayed on National Institute of Health’s (NIH) website for her

innovative research this summer on human genomes. -- screenshot by Ghulam-Nabi Sallman

Male stirring up controversy by deciding to use girls’ bathroomStudents flushed with embarrassment when seen by boy in restroom

Ladies, you walk into the bathroom either to do your business, your hair or simply to get out of class, then you turn around and…there is a dude in there.

According to a number of students, there have been multiple sightings of a male student consistently using the girls’ bathroom. Senior Kathryn Evans would go into the restroom to do her makeup every morning and find him in his usual spot.

This is not the first time controversy has occurred in the bathrooms. In past years, transgender students have stirred controversy by using bathrooms of their intended sex. But, never before have male, straight or gay, students used female bathrooms for fun.

For some, this occurrence may become a little less peculiar the more regularly it is witnessed. But the first time can almost leave some girls on the verge of want-ing to shriek and run the other way. Says senior Amanda Raleigh*, “When I went into the bathroom, and a guy

[was] in there, I personally was a bit uncomfortable and thrown off.”

However, as startling as the experience of see-ing someone of the opposite gender in your restroom is, it still doesn’t seem to alarm students to the point where they believe it is an issue administration needs to deal with. “I don’t think it’s [that] much of an issue [as long as] he isn’t peeping on girls,” says junior Sandra Waithaka.

Today, the idea of the both genders sharing a bath-room is not so farfetched. Waithaka says, “I think gender neutral bathrooms are not a bad thing as long as there is a mutual respect for the use of the bathroom.”

“I think [gender neutral bathrooms] are a good thing,” adds Raleigh, “especially for transgender [stu-dents] or homosexuals.” The idea of creating a bathroom free for anyone to use would eliminate the confusion some have about which bathroom gay or transgender people should use.

Although this young male student brought much

talk and shock factor as he walked through those female restroom doors, he has yet to leave a monumental impact on many students. “Even though it can make people feel uncomfortable,” says Raleigh, “it doesn’t really cause a problem.”

Still, there are always students who believe regard-less of one’s personal preference, there are male and female signs outside the bathroom for a reason. “Just because he’s gay doesn’t give him the right to use the girls’ bathroom,” says senior Donald Harris*. “There’s a difference between being transgender and gay.”

Many students will continue to believe that their peers, including boys who choose to use the girls’ bath-room, should do whatever they have to do wherever they feel most comfortable doing it. “If you are doing your business, you don’t want to feel uncomfortable and strange in the bathroom,” says Waithaka, “Each person should have that privacy and comfort in the bathroom they use.”

*Names have been changed

by Vanessa Newman & Johnelle Revell x

Each person should have...privacy and comfort in the bathroom they use.Sandra Waithaka

Bengal works with NIH to make strides in African American research

November 11, 2011 The Blake Beat A7

November 11

November 17

November 12

November 14

OCT

10

Aida premieres, 7:30pmWestern New England Unversity visit, 11:45am

Mock SAT, 7amAida performance, 7:30pm

Informational meeting for the Alicia Betancourt Prize for Excellence in the Arts in D253, 11am

The University of the Arts visit, 12:45pmMorehouse College visit at Gaithers-burg High School, 6pmAida performance, 7:30pm

Coppin State University visit, 10am

November 18

November 19Last Aida performance, 7:30pm

Aida peformance, 7:30pm

Thanks for Giving SGA event, 3pm

Early release, 11:40am

Holiday - Thanksgiving

Holiday - Thanksgiving

BLAKECALENDAR

Nov

11

Newsbeats

n n n

TheForensicsTeamfinishedstrongaftertheirfirstmeetoftheseasonOctober29.SophomoreRiley Cruickshankplacedsecondinprose.Senior Joal Chenplacedfifthinproseandfirstwithareader’stheatrepiecedonewithjuniorRyan Reynolds.JuniorLydia Curdtsgotsixthinproseandtiedforthirdindramatic.JuniorJourdan Lewandagotfifthinpoetryandtiedforsixthindramatic.SeniorAlex Reevesplacedseventhinpoetryandeighthinchildren’sliterature.SeniorTerah Minor-Jonesgotsixthinchildren’sliteratureandsecondinreader’stheatrewithseniorJulie Mitchell.SophomoreCon-nor Shawgottenthinchildren’sliteratureandseniorRichard Muhammadplacedeighthinhumorous.ThenextmeetwillbeDecember10atBlake.

n n n

Female seniorswhohavea cumulative3.5un-weightedora4.0weightedGPAandhaveextraordinaryartistictalentareapplicablefortheAliciaBetancourt

PrizeforExcellenceintheArts.Withthisrewardcomesascholarshipofatleast$1000peryear.Formorein-formationregardingthisscholarship,pleaseattendtheinformationalmeetingMondayat 11am in theD253computerlab.

n n n

FuegoLatinowillbecompetingNovember28atthe12thAnnualMCPSLatinDanceCompeti-tion,afterfouryears,attheStrathmoreMusicCenterinRockville.Theeventwillbefrom7-9andwillincludeperformancesinthefollowingdivisions:Me-rengue,Salsa,Bachata,ChaCha,Jack&Jill,parentandstudentandalumni.Theteam,includingseniorsDiego Vallejosand Ginayra GarciaandjuniorsJa-son ObandoandLilet Broomes,hasbeenpreparingforthegroupshowcasedivisionsincethebeginningoftheschoolyear.

n n n Saturday,theBengalDrumLinecompetedintheNorthwoodDrumlineShowcase.ThegroupplacedfourthandwasledbyalumnusSamEvansandseniorcaptainsShawn GlissonandKyle Shaw.Thedrumlineismadeupof12memberswhopracticeduringlunchandafterschoolwithhelpfromMusicDepart-mentChairBrianDamron.

n n n

Senior Derick Ansah hasbeenawardedafullridetotheUniversityofPittsburghthroughtheDon-aldM.HendersonScholarshipfortheSchoolofEn-gineering.Thescholarshipprovidesfulltuition,alongwithroomandboard,inadditiontoa$500bookawardand$2000foreitherundergraduateresearchorstudyabroad.Heisoneoftwoincomingfreshmanengineeringstudentstoreceivetheawardthisyear.

Derick Ansah

Shawn Glisson

Diego Vallejos

Lydia Curdts

Ryan Reynolds

November 21

November 23

November 24

November 25

November 16SGA General Assembly in Amphitheater, 11am

November 15PTSA meeting, 6:30pmHampton University visit at Richard Montgomery, 6pm

November 11, 2011 The Blake BeatA8

Section B Blake Beat Opinion November 11, 2011

jjjjywryohwrthnsrsrnsbiuyulfyuttfcufyufysrjoinbusrjnlisurtnislrutnjsrtnrtnrsttrdrtdn

Seniors empty wallets paying for school fees, graduationExcessive costs for final year buries too many students in piles of bills

Cap and gown: $51. Yearbook: $75. Senior Pictures: $400. Fall sport clothing: $100. Homecoming dress: $50. Senior year of high school: priceless?

Senior year is supposed to be a year of no regrets - our last hoorah before heading into the adult world. But instead of going crazy and hav-ing a carefree existence, we are being thrust into focusing on the numerous expenses that senior year brings.

Being a senior comes with sta-tus, power, and excitement; however, it also brings great responsibility. We no longer can expect our parents to pick up the slack for us and pay for our clothing, outings with friends, or “unnecessary” things – rather, we are expected to get a part time job and provide for ourselves.

But what parents don’t seem to understand is just how expensive everything is and how it all adds up. Since school has started, I person-ally have spent about $300 on my homecoming dress and ticket, food,

fall/winter Pom clothing orders and so on. Although my parents have paid for the “important” things like my SAT, cap and gown, yearbook and senior pictures (which I’m grateful for, don’t get me wrong), the money I’ve spent, and will spend in the future, is ridiculous.

As a hostess at a restaurant that pays practically nothing, I usually don’t like to pay for stupid, frivolous things, but I find myself spending more and more money on things that actually do matter. I cringe at the thought of the money I’ll spend dur-ing prom season (limo, dress, dinner, etc) and then shortly after for beach week.

At a time that is supposed to be for making memories, we are breaking the bank to ensure we don’t miss out or regret anything. I should have listened to former seniors when they warned me to start saving up for senior year. So now, I’m passing that advice onto underclassmen. Although you might be excited for your final year of high school, know that there is indeed a price of seniority.

by Hayley Fixlerx

Teen pop stars are not measuring up to their counterparts of the 90’sMichael Jackson. Usher. Britney Spears.

Christina Aguilera. Rihanna. All of these world renowned entertain-

ers started out performing as teens. And even though they were performing to younger crowds and their vocals and dance moves were a little embarrassing, they were still able to chart music high up on Billboard charts and make a name for themselves that was actually taken seriously. What have Justin Bieber, Sel-ena Gomez and Miley Cyrus done? Absolutely nothing.

I often cringe when I think about what’s going to happen in a few years when Rihanna gets too old to be smellin’ the sex in the air and

Usher doesn’t have enough breath in him to be saying “Oh my gosh!” I mean think about it, our favorite teen performers have moved on with their lives and their talent and pizzazz have wound down.

Christina Aguilera just had a flop of an

album in 2010 with Bionic. Her highest single peak was at 23 on Billboard Hot 100 and her album sales were just at 110,000 in its first week. To put this in perspective: Aguilera’s

debut album in 1999 sold 252,000 copies its first week and spawned three singles that topped the same chart that she now seems to struggle successfully impacting.

What does this all mean? The music industry seems to be losing its youthful touch.

Young entertainers are used for that purpose strictly: to entertain the youth. They aren’t to be taken seriously- the only thing that Justin got the youth to do was sing the word “baby”

over and over again; Selena Gomez has tween girls singing flops of heartthrob songs and our girl Miley is just a Lindsay Lohan, Jr.

I’m not saying these individuals have no talent whatsoever, I just think that the way the industry has portrayed and approached their careers has made it impossible for them to move forward and be seen in a serious light.

America has always liked the idea of becoming obsessed over teens with true, raw talent. But in the past couple of years, this obsession has made the “artists” into works of laughter that will never be taken seriously. Because I mean, c’mon, can you seriously think that the Beebz will be performing all the way until he’s 30 something with his own little Bieber children? I don’t think so.

by David Hyltonx

Student cautions against most disappointing cell phones on marketBad reception, poor battery life, sudden freezes frustrate consumers

Everyone has had that one cell phone that just never works. It breaks over and over and over again, causing you to get replacement after replace-ment, and prompts the purchase of an entirely new phone.

Maybe it’s the reception, battery life, or the mortality of the cell phone itself that is unsatisfactory, but do not fear – here is a list of 2011 phones you should never buy (in no specific order), as their mediocrity will only leave you with disappointment.

1. Blackberry Curve: Crack-berries have been popular for the past two years, usually leaving their owners completely addicted to their numerous features and easy to use data system. But the recent Blackberry Curve has been a huge disappointment for reviewers. This phone is not only cheap looking, but is not long-lasting: many reported that their phone stopped working within a month. In addition, the key-board is teeny tiny (similar to other Blackberry models), which can make

typing really difficult. And for those who use their phones for all camera use, the Curve is definitely not for you, as the picture quality is reported to be awful.

2. LG enV Touch 2: Remember when everybody used to have some version of the enV? Though popular, it has never been well-rated, and the LG enV Touch 2 is no different. Reviewers state that the phone con-stantly shuts off and freezes, a huge warning sign that it is not a great cell phone. The battery life is also insuf-ficient, causing users to constantly lug around their chargers just to be able to use their phone on a regular basis. The touch screen is also not well-designed; some reviewers even called it ‘unusable.’

3. HTC ThunderBolt: First of all, this phone is a brick: so heavy that if you put it in your pocket, it’ll weigh down your pants if you’re not wear-ing a belt. In addition, many owners warn that you ‘may have to carry around a spare battery, a car charger, a charger for work, and another spare charger’ due to the ThunderBolt’s

very poor battery life. There is also no 3G/4G toggle which annoyed several reporters who previously held iPhones or other Androids with this feature.

4. Anything from AT&T: AT&T was recently awarded the worst cell phone provider in the nation by Consumer Reports, and many customers agree. Regardless of what phone you buy from this provider, the service will always be terrible. With tons of dropped calls, super slow internet, and horrible customer service, buying anything from AT&T is just a bad idea. Avoid phones from this company at all costs.

The next time that you’re buying a new phone and a sales-associate tries to get you to buy one of these horrible phones—run as far as you can in the other direction. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to deal with a crappy phone or provider, espe-cially for those of us who cannot survive without our daily dose of phone use.

by Savannah Doane-Malottex

Our favorite teen performers have moved on...and their talent and pizzazz have

wound down.

Senior proposes double the fun, encourages celebration of half-birthdays, p. B3

Section B Blake Beat Opinion November 11, 2011

November, 11 2011 The Blake BeatB2Irvin provides lesson on proper grammar, common mistakesSenior <3s to LOL at da real talk dat ppl use when they be swaggin out

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Inigo Montoya may find it inconceivable how often the rules of English grammar are completely ignored, so here are some remind-ers to help you sound less unintel-ligent.

There are always those per-sistent commonly confused words like there, their and they’re, which veterans of the English language can frequently misuse. Easily fixed mistakes like these give English teachers migraines (if your teacher

can focus on what you’re saying instead of your mistakes, you’ll probably get a better grade (and that’s how to use your and you’re, by the way)).

Some words are overused and misused, leading to some icky mistakes. Example: “That joke was so funny, I literally peed myself.” Think about that. If you literally peed yourself, that’s probably not something you want to be telling everyone. Other words are misused because they don’t exist, such as ir-regardless, alot, and anyways.

Since English classes rarely focus on grammar, students can make many mistakes. Because

we rarely see proper grammar and mainly rely on what we hear, many people write “should of” and “could of” instead of “should have” and “could have”. It sounds similar when spoken so many people don’t know it’s not correct to write it that way.

Punctuation tends to be mis-used often, mainly because it’s forgotten. To give just one example of the numerous (correct) usages of a comma, they are used to show a pause before addressing someone. “Let’s eat Grandpa” and “Let’s eat, Grandpa” have two very different meanings, and your grandfather would prefer the second one be-

cause it wouldn’t involve him being cannibalized.

The rules are sometimes thrown completely out the win-dow, leading to the graveyards of proper English: Facebook and Twitter. Without the crutch of spell-check, people either ignore grammar or make up their own words. This is a Public Service Announcement: U, Ur, Ain’t, Da, Noe, Tho, OMG, LOL, Swag, :), and <3 are not words. These non-words should not be part of your vocabulary. Please educate your-selves and correct yourselves. Do it for your own sake and for the sake of anyone else who reads it.

The rules are sometimes

thrown completely

out the window.

by Lucas Irvinx

Newman gives advice about self-fulfillment in Student Service LearningVolunteering: more than just completing the graduation requirement

Community service is defined as per-forming an action or service for the benefit of the public or common good. But it seems students today partake in such activities for a different reason- graduating.

I believe required Student Service Learning hours can be a very beneficial thing. When done right, students are more integrated and involved in their community, they’re learning to have fun while making a difference, and hopefully once they’ve gradu-ated they’ll continue to engage in community service activities. But like I said, this is the outcome when community service is done for the sake of community service.

See, community service is to benefit

people other than ourselves. Unfortunately, many kids only participate in it to benefit themselves. Although I understand 75 hours are needed, the point of volunteering is to give back to those who need it, without expecting something in return. And if you are expecting something, find yourself an actual job.

Then again, community service has become somewhat of a cheap labor system in itself. Schools, non-profits, and volunteer organizations know they themselves don’t want to spend the money on laborers, and they also know that students need hours. It all seems like a win-win-win. Organizations get free labor, students get hours, the com-munity is served.

The problem is that it doesn’t matter

to students that the community was served, it matters that their SSL hour sheet is filled out at the end of the day. And that isn’t the point. However, for many students, what they get out is more important than what they put in.

I can’t blame students either. Every poster I see, every announcement I read: “Need Service Hours? Volunteer here!” or “Make Sandwiches for Service Hours! Help feed the homeless!” The message is being delivered backwards- we make sandwiches to feed the homeless, not for service hours. Trust me; you’ll earn your 75 required hours. So don’t fret- get involved, have fun and volunteer. Just remember, ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for you community.

The point of volunteering is to give back to those

who need it, without expecting

something in return.

by Vanessa Newmanx

Hollywood is taking popular books and turn-ing them into TV shows; the problem is, most of the time, the writers’ plots and purposes of the books are destroyed in the process.

I used to think my biggest problem was seeing my favorite books mutilated on the big screen, but that’s no longer the case. Now, every time I turn on my TV there is another show based off of a book. I understand the appeal, but do my favorite novels have to be ruined?

The CW’s new show The Secret Circle, based off a novel by LJ smith, killed the plot when Nick Armstrong, a main character in the books, drowned in the fifth episode. In situations like these, it’s not even about a book to TV show conversion anymore; it’s just taking an idea and turning it into something completely different.

Since TV shows are at the mercy of their view-ers, who want excitement, something awe-provoking has to occur in each new episode or its ratings go down. Therefore it needs to be a decent sized book; because if it’s short, even if it’s a good read, producers will have to add twists to keep audiences watching.

The only show I’ve seen execute the conversion well is HBO’S Game of Thrones. Not only does it have all the original characters, but everything that happens comes straight from the book. I attribute this success to the book’s size and complexity; it has a lot more to work with in its 694 pages than most of its literary counterparts.

So, maybe it’s not the conversion itself that’s the problem, but the books they choose to convert. They should take the Game of Thrones off the shelf instead of short novels that were, you know, meant to stay books.

Never judge a book by TV-show spinoff:ineffective conversion

by Alex Reevesx

Page turners claim stories are taken out of context on screen

November 11, 2011 The Blake Beat B3

by Rachel Jaffex

by Aliya Deanx

by Dorian Pursex

‘Jayonce’ expectingHeir to throne shall be born

With a top selling album and a baby due February, I guess you could say that Beyoncé’s life is full of excitement. As Beyoncé’s due date approaches, interests grow concerning the future of the star-to-be.

As soon as Beyoncé announced her exciting news at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, I knew that the public would have a never ending obsession with the pregnancy. My prediction was accurate: minutes after she announced the news, social networking sites blew up expressing their excitement for the new celebrity baby. Various newspapers and magazines guessed baby names and predicted the baby’s gender just days after the news. No wonder she waited three months to tell the public.

I am also guilty of assuming her baby will be the next singer/ rap-per to be, and the media has had some effect on my expectation. Some websites have even computer simulated Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s faces to see what the baby will look like. One website even went to the extent to give parenting advice to the couple. Though these measures may be a joke, I don’t find them funny – it has simply gone too far.

I asked myself why Beyoncé’s baby was getting more attention than global news. Then, I realized that, to some, Beyoncé is the epitome of perfection, and therefore people expect her to produce perfection. If the world was expecting greatness from your baby, wouldn’t you feel some sort of pressure? I don’t think people understand the amount of pressure media is putting on Beyoncé. For example, the media has persuaded the public to believe that her baby bump is fake due to her belly moving.

I just hope that in the end, Beyoncé has a healthy baby. I am truly happy for her and her husband, and wish them and their baby the best. I have no doubt that their baby will be loved. All we can do now is wait for the arrival of baby Sasha Fierce.

SATs stressing students to learn testing strategies over actual material

I asked myself why Beyoncé’s baby was

getting more attention than global news.

Freshmen and sophomores: you just wait. Starting junior year, tests will make or break your entire future. PSATs will count for something and SATs will count for ev-erything. Standardized testing is a skill, so learn it quick.

Standardized tests are more about skill than they are about exercising understand-ing of material. Yes, students must know the basic material that these tests cover. But without having the necessary skills, such as taking the test worry-free, trusting their in-

stincts and other effective strategies, students will not test to their full potential.

I took the AP Government course sophomore year. Two full semesters of multiple page outlines, book quizzes, tests and good grades went right down the drain after taking the final AP exam. I got a two – I failed. I felt as if I rigorously studied, took notes and got A’s for nothing. Basically, it didn’t matter how well I did throughout the year; it only mattered how well I did on one test.

When junior and senior year roll around, SATs and ACTs will determine

students’ futures. Each college has certain eligibility criteria concerning these tests. Someone’s dream college could be one amongst a handful that focuses predominant-ly on test scores, even if they say otherwise. In this case, straight A’s for the past three or four years won’t cut it.

Simply put: some people are terrible test-takers. Everything students learn – or memorize – flies right out the door when they see the 100-question scantrons and the do-not-write-on-this test packets. They didn’t get any sleep the night before because they were either crunch-time-studying or staying

up from anxiety – or both. Situations like these are far too common in this generation, which has become so accustomed to stan-dardized tests.

When it comes time to take any test, some students are too busy reminding themselves that they can’t retake it, time is running out, grades are on the line, and there are too many distractions. How will students pass crucial tests if they can’t pass routine ones? The current and future geniuses that walk these halls are failing tests just because they are bad test takers, and not because they don’t know the material.

Twice per year senior wants people to eat their cake, have it tooWhy wait an entire year for

a little more happiness in your life? Don’t we all deserve not one, but two birthdays a year?

Unfortunately, after years of research and scientific study, it has been proven that each per-son only has one single, pitiful birthday a year. So what about the other 364 days? Do we have to live in suspense and anxiety about our upcoming day of birth? Do we have to suffer miserably because other people get to have a joyous birthday with cake and balloons and smiles and we don’t?

Well, world, you don’t have to fret much longer, for there is a solution for the long, treacherous 11 months in which you don’t have a birthday: the wonderful half-birthday.

According to Urban Dic-tionary, a half-birthday is “a day approximately six months before or after the real anniversary of a person’s birth.” On this day, people who observe it typically engage in festivities such as din-ner gatherings, half-birthday cake eating and planning for the actual

upcoming day of birth.While some consider the

celebrating of half-birthdays to be arrogant, excessive or over-indulgent, the fact of the matter is that too much of a good thing is – a good thing. So enough whin-

ing and complaining about people who are seemingly “too happy,” maybe you should try it sometime and stop feeling bitter and sorry for yourself.

Perhaps the haters would be more supportive if I explain the

logic behind a half-birthday. Say my birthday is February 2, but because of my busy schedule, my upcoming birthday slips my mind and I don’t get around to planning any activities until January 15– definitely not ample time to plan

for the best birthday possible.So, my half-birthday on

August 2 acts as a reminder for the quickly approaching anniver-sary of my birth. This gives me more than enough time to get ev-erything ready for the big day.

Besides it being the perfect cue that it’s time to start plan-ning, half-birthdays are also a great measure of progress. And that’s what America’s all about anyway, right?

We love progress and mov-ing forward. We measure it in schools and businesses, so why not in years of a life? A huge majority of the significance of a half-birthday is that you’ve successfully made it another six months on this big, beauti-ful planet we call Earth. If you ask me, I think that’s something worth celebrating.

Hopefully in the future, one’s half-birthday will be recog-

nized as a milestone in one’s life, similar to one’s wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, and, of course, birthday. So get ready to break out the candles and party hats not once, but twice a year, and embrace the very merry half-birthday.

November 11, 2011 The Blake BeatB6Technological revolution mastermind: gone, not forgottenSteve Jobs remembered for years of life-changing innovations at Apple

iPods, iPads and iPhones: our twenty first century must-haves…Thanks to the creative mind of Apple’s co-founder, Steve Jobs.

Our little handy devices were the brainchild of Mr. Jobs. Without him, we would not be able to take pictures and up-load them onto social networks; we would not be able to listen to music while walking to the bus stop; and we would not have our favorite apps to play or use. Although there are other products imitate Apple devices, are still the most popular. This is because its technology is user friendly for all ages.

This technology re-shaped the minds of the world and made our lives signifi-cantly easier. If not for Mr. Jobs, we would still be sitting in front of that outdated com-puter located in the corner of our houses. His eclectic variety of electronics was not

made specifically for the rich and adoles-cent, but for everyone in between.

After being fired from Apple, Mr. Jobs went to Pixar, where he successfully merged motion pictures into animated movies. Our personal childhood memories consisted of watching A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo and Toy Story 2. He enriched our childhood and taught us valuable life lessons along with morals that can be integrated into our daily lives.

Imagine a world where you can’t call your best friend when you’re lost or get instant directions home, because there is no such thing as an iPhone. Now we connect to the outside world by a flick of a finger or a push of a button; this is all

because of the many people who contrib-uted on Mr. Jobs’ team. Although it wasn’t one man’s effort, Mr. Jobs helped change

the face of the modern world by revolutionizing at least six different industries. Overall, he changed our concepts of personal computers, animat-ed movies, music, phones, tablet computers and digital publishing.

Mr. Jobs died October 5 due to a pancreatic neu-roendocrine tumor relapse complication. He left behind his wife of 20 years and four children. Mr. Jobs’ death was widely mourned as he left grand void in the world. Let us remember Mr. Jobs’ bril-

liance, passion and energy that enriched and improved all of our lives. Our world is immeasurably better because of Steve Jobs; life would not be the same without him.

Mr. Jobs helped change

the face of the modern

world by revolutionizing

at least six different

industries.

New coning, slothing, planking sensations sweeping the nationSeniors break down top ten best ways to prevent boredom

Every school year students innovate new ways to entertain themselves, creat-ing activities that no one else understands. Here’s our top ten list of this year’s fun shenanigans:

10. How often do you get to slice fruit with the stroke of a finger? Fruit Ninja allows teenagers to practice their fruit slicing skills and reaction time on a touch screen.

9. Social Networking, of course, had to make our list. “Facebook Stalking,” “Tweeting” and “Tumblr Posting,” have become the “trending topic.”

8. All you need is a pizza box—empty or full, a backwards cap, and a lame smile. Ring the doorbell and attempt to ac-cuse whoever answers the door of ordering a pizza, act a little discombobulated and disoriented on directions.

7. Evil Operator, on www.prankdial.com makes two numbers call each other and connects the call to your computer, allowing you to listen in on 30 seconds of their conversation.

6. Video games are simply the best way to ignore Mom and Dad and wander mystical lands of made-up places. We recommend Call of Duty and its minigame Nazi Zombies.

5. Speaking Spanish at Chipotle is definitly worth trying if you haven’t and is the best way to get a little extra chicken on your burrito. Even if the worker doesn’t

speak Spanish, if you can buy them over with your tuneful tongue, they will be afraid to question your Chipotle-mastered skills.

4. Planking has swept the nation with its awkward nature, but left hilarious and memorable pictures. Flat like a board and still like an inanimate object, you don’t have to be a pro, but you need to be focused to plank like one.

3. The new trend of this season is “slothing”. In order to sloth, you must walk with your legs out in front, and arch your back backwards and put on a goofy grin. Commonly used phrases when speak-ing about slothing are “sloth me out bro,” and “sloth it up,” and even “I’m having a slothly day” (A slothly day, of course, is a good day).

2. Let’s get down to it: www.colleg-ehumor.com is without a doubt the most entertaining website for teenagers to visit legally. This wonderful archive of funny material, such as jokes and parodies, is truly intended for the high school and col-lege audiences.

1. “Coning” is a relatively new trend that is constantly shaking the drive-thrus of America, one vanilla ice cream cone at a time. The idea is to go through a fast food drive-thru, order an ice cream cone and grab your sweet treat upside-down by the ice cream, leaving your car full of laughter and your server dumbfounded.

Hopefully you’ll use this list to your full advantage to get ahead of your friends in the race to stay entertained…until next year.

by Jake Gordon & Michael Joinerx

TOTAL HAIRA full service salon

15418 New Hampshire Ave.Silver Spring, MD. 20905

(301) 384-6116OPEN 7 DAYS

WALK-INS WELCOME

by Nicole Sterling& Michelle Ungx

November 11, 2011 The Blake Beat B7

by Emily Simmonsx

Student encourages AP teachers to consider curving tests Challenge to maintain desired GPA in harder courses worries junior

Almost everything we learn in school is formed as some sort of equation—and here is one that is easier to understand than most:

School + AP Classes = damaged GPA.

It‘s as simple as that.Let’s face it, no matter how

hard you study for any AP class, it is nearly impossible to get an A. How are students going to impress colleges when their final GPA is much less than ideal?

You try to take AP classes to challenge yourself, and maybe—if you pass the exam—to earn some college credit too. But it is difficult to maintain a grade that would please most colleges because of the high expectations and caliber of these classes.

Is it fair that we challenge ourselves with harder classes yet our grades suffer in return? We are actually trying by taking ad-vanced classes, and not taking the easy way out – which is why all AP teachers should curve tests.

I know some people do

slack off in AP classes and I un-derstand how teachers would be skeptical towards curving tests, since not every single student tries his or her hardest to earn the best grade they can achieve. However, AP teachers must realize that even though some students may not try—others do. Why should all students get a bad grade just because some lack effort?

AP teachers need to start curving in order to make sure that the intelligent students who make the effort to take their classes don’t have a bruised and beaten

GPA in return. With a low enough GPA, those students may not be able to get in to colleges that they prefer. How is that fair? I under-stand that some teachers already do curve, but the teachers that do not need to start.

Curving tests would help students succeed and go to the college they want instead of fail-ing because teachers choose not to curve. When students are getting D’s and E’s in AP classes, teachers should realize that the students are not the problem, but the harsh cur-riculum is. AP teachers—curve.

by Brenna Noone

Show certain to make viewers’ hearts raceEpisodes full of strong characters, twists

Drugs are never good – and in season four of Sons of Anarchy, it is clear just how bad they can really be.

Sons of Anarchy, a TV series depicting the close-knit family of a motorcycle club Sons of Anarchy California Redwood Original (SACRO), is violent, murderous and astonishing. A gang that runs both legal and illegal businesses, SACRO’s main income is their gun-running business. They buy guns from the Real IRA and sell them to other gangs and clubs. Gun-running has always been their business, never drugs (because of the constant warfare drugs are associated with); that is, until president Clay Morrow’s selfishness takes the club on a turn for the worst.

Hoping for a nice sum of money to retire comfortably with, Clay makes a deal with the Gal-indo drug cartel that leads the club into a downward spiral of destruction, pain, and confusion. He agrees to mule cocaine for the cartel in exchange for money and protection. This decision defies the set-in-stone attitude the club has always had against drugs – the resulting consequences are dire.

Jax, the main character and vice president, wants out, and agrees to the cartel only with the prom-ise that he will leave when Clay does. The rest of the club is divided on the drug issue, and tensions rise as they get deeper into the cartel. Members kill fellow members, suicides are attempted, long-kept secrets are revealed, friends turn foe, and a hit is put out on a member’s fiancé.

The show’s most notable feature is that, behind all the violence and betrayal, there is still a strong image of family love. Gemma Teller, Clay’s wife and Jax’s mother, is the backbone of the club. It is her motherly compassion and tough spirit that holds SACRO together. Teller makes it clear that, even in a world of violence and brutality, there is still love.

Guaranteed to make your heart race, Sons of Anarchy will continue to shock and awe with the lengths of treachery and deceit certain characters go in order to protect themselves.

It is difficult to maintain

a grade that would

please most colleges because

of the high expectations.

x