theviking

Loudoun Valley High School News Magazine 340 N. Maple Ave. Purcellville, VA 20132

issue 3, February 2012

Behind the Curtain

A Look Back at Winter Sports

Political Viewpoints

page 3

page 7

page 11

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thevikingat a glancestaff:

editors-in-chief Rachel BoisjolieTatum DavenportTorri Hart

copy editorMelissa Fairfax

photo editorCharles Lyons

ad managerMadison Coppa-Luckman

staff writersAlessia AndrejasichKelly AshleyChristine AyalaJennifer ColantonioBlake DavisGaelyn FosterLeigh GeorgeKatherine Hall-WurstAlexandra MillmanCourtney MorganLauren PakMadeleine RiceMairin RivettRachel SnyderMeagan SolanoSheridan SuminskiJo TrombadoreCharlotte TuohyConnor Wood

staff photographersPaige ArmstrongTierra DongieuxLiam Klavon

adviserPaige Cox

contactpaige.cox@lcps.org340 N. Maple AvePurcellville, VA20132540-751-2400

The Viking Values:The Viking is a student-based newsmagazine at Loudoun Valley High School. All questions, comments or concerns can be brought to the staff’s attention in room 135. All editorials are published at the staff’s discretion. All quotes are validated by audio files. Advertisements and ideas are encouraged as long as they are appropriate and correlate with the student body.

inside:Why do you Manage? Managers commit hours of time to their teams.

Behind the CurtainThe audience only sees half of what goes into making a production.

Suit Up The swim team’s dynamics showcase their abilities and friendships.

Compete. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.A look back on the winter sports season.

The Brainy BunchMembers of Academic Team show off their knowledge at competitions.

That’s DebatableDebate Team closes down their season, sending six members to higher levels of competition.

Where Do You Stand?A break down of the political spectrum illustrates differences in political parties.

Pro/ConTwo Viking editors face off in a debate over the death penalty.

Fashion FrenzyA winter fashion expo shows what styles work.

cover: Senior Nick Robinson helps the team advance to a first place district finish.

“Good things happen to good people who work hard.”-Harrison Jackson

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Forward Harrison Jackson prepares to shoot a decisive foul shot at a district game against Tuscarora. The boys’ team went on to win the game 78-42.

why do youmanage?Managers dedicate an average of fifteen hours a week to managing a team.

Every hero needs a sidekick; Batman has Robin, Superman has Jimmy Olsen, Captain America has Bucky Barnes, and athletes have managers. Managers are the staple that holds the team together but do so without acknowledgement from the outside world. There are water bottles to be filled, clocks to run, mats to clean, and uniforms to wash; these things keep a team together, and the person that runs it all is the loyal manager.

“My friend wanted me to do it, so I did,” junior Katie Janda said about choosing to manage the wrestling team. Fellow managers continued to say the same thing when asked why they manage.

Though managers may accept their job willingly, they are in for a surprise when they get

their list of chores. Managers neatly fold and wash the laundry, fill up each water bottle, frantically keep score, and adjust to the smell of sweat. Each sport has its own unique challenges.

“I have to clean up blood, sweat, and grossness!” sophomore Carly Spear said about managing for wrestling.

The most disgusting moment for the set of eight wrestling managers is grasping the hairy, dripping-wet mop with their bare hands and ringing it out. The managers first spray the mat with antibacterial spray, wipe it up, and rinse the mop with water. Then they ring it out until it isn’t soaked.

The most challenging aspect for junior Evelyn Gillis is “the amount of time wrestling takes up; it eats up your life.” An average wrestling match held

on the weekend lasts for eight hours. At meets, it is up to the managers to keep score for each wrestler’s match; the point system is tricky, so it takes a lot of brain power.

“You get take-downs which are two points, reversals which are two points, escapes which are one point, a near fall that can be two, three, even four points! A pin is six points,” Janda said.

Other duties include managing brackets, which are a packet of diagrams designed to show who will proceed to each round of the meet; they have to be filled out for every individual match, even if a Valley wrestler isn’t involved. At home matches, the managers perform their usual jobs along with running the clock and tapping the referee when each two-minute period is complete.

In the gym during the girls’ basketball practice, managers constantly re-fill water bottles, run the scoreboard for activities and keep the equipment

“[Managing] eats up your life.”-Evelyn Gillis

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Clockwise left/Polizotto, Gillis, Muchado, and Richards scoring and running the clock; Gillis emptying water; Polizotto and Janda at the score table. Clockwise right/water bottles; Polizotto cleaning blood; Gillis cleaning mat; Gillis and Muchado taking stats; Polizotto and Gillis running score board.

organized. At games, the three managers’ main responsibility is to keep the book.

To manage the book, each shot taken has to be recorded along with the total points earned.

“[The most challenging thing] is definitely doing the books, especially if there’s an issue, because you have to stand up for your own book and if you have a mistake you have to be willing to admit it,” senior Ciara Bucci said.

Not only do the managers learn to run the scoreboard and keep score, but they also have to organize their time.

“Some of the games that are away can be really late nights, so it’s kind of tricky to make sure you manage your time,” Bucci said.

The boys’ basketball managers take on the same responsibilities as the girls’ managers but with a few more restrictions.

“At practice, we’re not allowed to use our phones, and we have to watch the boys,” junior Christina Hopkins said. “[The most challenging thing is] dealing with the boys’ stenches.”

Though managing brings unique challenges and takes up a lot of time, it still has its rewards in getting to know the team; seeing them jump up in thrill, shout because of excitement and smile because they know they’ve accomplished something amazing is a reward in itself.

“Entertaining” is the first word Gillis used when she thought of managing wrestling. Some aspects of managing may be more dull than others, but getting to know the team seems to be a major highlight. An instant smile appeared on Janda’s face when she was asked how the team interacted.

“The team is really close. They like to cuddle, they love each other, and it’s so noticeable! It’s such a friendly sport,” Janda said.

For Bucci, the best part of hanging out with the team is a bit more deep.

“It’s just nice to see them be proud of themselves when they accomplish something or see them having fun; that’s the best part,” Bucci said.

Many people ask “why?” when someone says that they’re a manager, and most will respond with, “My friend pretty much dragged me into it.” Even when the manager can’t explain why they put up with all the responsibilities, it’s evident that it is about the inside jokes made throughout the season that no one else understands, the nicknames between managers and players, and the family atmosphere that is unbreakable. By the end of the season, many will say what Hopkins said when asked if she’ll come back next season: “I’ll definitely manage again.”article/Torri Hartphotos/Torri Hartspread/Torri Hart

TRAINING ROOM KNOWLEDGE

THE BOSS: His name is Andy. He is the trainer for every sports team and every athlete at Loudoun Valley.

WHERE TO GO: The training room is the home of the medical kit, water bottles, ice, and bleach for blood clean-up. This is a manager’s supply headquarters.

WHEN TO VISIT: Managers come into the training room at the start of practice for water and the medical kit and at the end to clean up the supplies used that day. Athletes are welcome in the office any time to speak with Andy. People are always rushing in and out.

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stressful.” During a performance, the drama

club instructor and the play’s director, Ike Stoneberger, can always be found sitting in the stage left stairwell. From there, he watches the show and makes notes of what could be improved. Stoneberger gives no instruction or warm-up requirements before a show but offers the traditional “break a leg” and “have fun” to the cast. He rarely intervenes during a play, but Stoneberger posts critiques for the cast after a show. Though Stoneberger works hard in rehearsals to help actors perfect their characters, he sits back and relaxes during a performance.

“My emotions are very similar to any audience member,” Stoneberger said. “I try to let go of my attachments

and allow the play to wash over me.”

Despite the chaos, the dark stage behind the curtain is home to hundreds of laughs and inside jokes for drama students. Cast members tease each other, joke about their costumes, and repeat familiar lines as they are performed on stage.

“We have so much fun backstage sometimes,”

junior Doug Breton said with a laugh. For drama students, drama is

nothing less than a second home and a way of life. article/Gaelyn Fosterphotos/Roger Birch, Tierra Dongieuxspread/Leigh George

curtain. However, the orderly system is by no means tranquil. Anxious cast members waiting for a cue go over lines or pace around restlessly. Some of their calmer companions whisper to friends, meditate, or listen to the show. Nevertheless, actors are faced with the task of costume changes, the most abundant pastime backstage. While the idea of sprinting off a stage and immediately stripping down in front of an entire cast of actors seems bizarre to the audience, for cast members, this occurrence is as natural as breathing. Some actors are lucky enough to remain in one costume for the entirety of the performance, but it is not uncommon to change costumes five or six times. Junior Abigail Greene, the “amazing costume girl,” puts costumes together

and helps actors swap outfits during a show. Costume changes are hectic, but most cast members feel that drama is a second family and declare that the backstage changes are not strange.

“I had two costume changes [in the production],” sophomore Lily Olson said. “It’s not really weird, more

productions. They also help build sets and help cast members ready their hair and makeup before a show.

Once call time comes, action explodes backstage. Actors change into their costumes, fix their hair, and apply makeup for the first scene. Necessary props for the show are preset to allow for easy access amongst the piles of items backstage.Some actors go over their lines or run an “Italian fire drill,” which is a practice technique in which all of the cast gathers in a circle and runs through the lines of a particular scene or even the whole play. Besides the pre-show practice and costume preparations, actors talk to each other and “get pumped” for the play.

After preparations are complete, the atmosphere backstage becomes subject to a series of rituals. Before musicals and some other productions, the cast does the Valley drama chant. They repeat the chant several times and gradually raise their voices each time until they scream the words. Before “The Taming of the Shrew,” the cast initiated a new tradition of a full-cast handshake, much like the game of Twister but with hands. Actors also have unique rituals of their own. Senior Eavan Kennedy jumps up and down pogo-stick style before every show.

“For whatever reason, this practice always helps me center all of my energy,” Kennedy said.

Once the show begins, business falls into a familiar rhythm behind the

It is Friday, December 9, 7:29 p.m., and the countdown begins in the auditorium. One short minute remains until the curtain opens and the audience experiences the opening of the much-anticipated play, “The Taming of the Shrew.” A single red drape separates the calm murmurs of the audience from the anxious whispers of the cast and crew backstage. The auditorium lights dim, and a dark silence engulfs both sides of the curtain. A final moment of excitement passes over the room as the deep red curtain draws back, and the show begins.

A play is nothing without a set. The tech crew works for weeks leading up to the performance, constructing scenery for the show. During a play, the “techies” scurry about backstage, ensuring that the lighting and sound onstage are perfect. They assist the actors in scene changes and move bulky props during a show as well. Though their presence behind the curtain is unnoticed, the techies are a vital asset to the success of a production.

On the night of a performance, cast members are required to be present at school one and a half hours before the show. Though some may go home to ready themselves for the show, most stay after school for a Friday night performance. On those nights, cast members wait, talk, and eat the food provided by the Drama Booster. The Drama Booster is an organization of parents that works to benefit every drama production. Consisting of parents from both drama and tech students, the booster donates props, costumes, money, food, and endless time and effort to the drama

BehindtheCurtain

Before the curtain goes up, backstage teems with action.

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BehindCurtain

left/Ben Zook, as Petruchio, muses to Virginia Theerman, as Baptista Minola, at the Drama Department’s production of “The Taming of the Shrew.”right/Over the years, Valley has steadily acquired a collection of costumes and props which are stored in a closet in the chorus room.

They are the self-proclaimed night owls, the bus-party animals and the human fish. At night, while no one is watching, the swim team members magically transform into aquatic creatures. After the homework is finished, the bus ride is over, and all other activities are put aside, the swimmers jump in, eager to begin preparing for their next meet.

A practice typically starts around 8 p.m. and ends around 10 p.m., following a 30- or 45-minute bus ride, depending on the pool’s location. Unlike most teams that occasionally travel to attend away games, the swim team travels for everything. The pool that the team uses alternates between Ida Lee in Leesburg and Claude Moore in Sterling.

Unlike full swim teams consisting of 50 people, Valley’s swim team consists of only 31 swimmers, making it one of the smallest but also one of the closest.

“Numbers-wise, we’re statistically eliminated from winning. Even if every person wins their event, the total score is never high enough; we still lose,” senior Ian Miller said.

The team’s closeness dates back to their younger years, as most of the team has been swimming in summer house leagues since they were small. The team’s dynamic is also a result of

Late night practices, laps that turn into miles, and bus ride adventures define the swim team.

“I feel like I’m in the water more than I am on land.” -Shannon Pierce

the extra things the team does outside of the water. On the bus the swimmers sing, dance, yell and

talk throughout the ride to unwind from their day. It is a time for them to relax. As practice begins, each swimmer prepares for the type of event they will be swimming in their next meet, be it distance or sprint. The team often faces fatigue after their late-night workouts, long day at school, and hours or so of homework.

“I feel like I’m in the water more than I am on land,” freshman Shannon Pierce said.

Along with a few others, Pierce also in a competitive league called Snow. Snow’s practices are held early in the morning and are commonly followed by practices at night.

“I am always sleep deprived. There’s just not enough time to do everything in one day,” Pierce said.

Unlike dual meets, where individual points help accumulate the

team’s total score, Snow takes part in open meets, where the individual score that is counts.

“The biggest difference between how the teams are scored is with an open meet, it is all on you,” Pierce said.

Before meets begin, teammates engage in a chant shouting “MEN, MEN, MEN” or “TO INFINITY AND BEYOND”. At the meets, the swimmers cheer each other on at the edge of the pool and by the blocks. Although it’s hard to hear their fellow swimmers cheering while in the water, the team believes it is the thought that counts, and seeing

their teammates there in the brief moments they come up for air is always encouraging.

“When you hear or see the team’s expressions while you’re swimming, you can tell how close you are and know to keep pushing,” senior captain Kaitlyn Weaver said.

While the team may be less competitive than other teams because of its size, the team experiences a stronger bond than most. After practices and meets, the team goes to IHOP. Like the bus rides, breakfasts at IHOP bring the team closer.

“It’s safe to say that we annoy every waiter we have,” Weaver said. “We all get separate checks and are just as loud in the restaurant as we are on the bus.”

“After the season is over, it’s only a few months until we’re together again in the summer season,” junior Mark Shayka said. Over time, the team has gotten to know each other on a much deeper level. Each swimmer feels comfortable enough to help each other and ask for tips about strokes. Winning isn’t the most important thing.

“We all genuinely care about each other,” Pierce said. “We’re a family.” article/Tatum Davenportphotos/Sheridan Suminskispread/Tatum Davenport, Leigh George

22 different events in a meet

10 different theme songs for the summer season

3 tubes of face paint used at a meet

40 handprints have been stamped on one

person

2 miles swam each practice

from season to season by the numbers...

suit UP

Briar Woods Meet Mark Shayka Senior Picture Cara Broshkevitch The cheering section

5 hours a week spent at Gruto’s in the summer

4 different strokes

1 box of Triscuits eaten per meet in the

summer

12 scoops of ice cream eaten in

one meal

3 times per season that they play water polo

Ian Miller Shannon PierceThe girls’ swim team Anna BroshkevitchHannah Backman

“The season has gone by really quickly; it’s been a fun season and we learned all the cheers really well and quickly,” junior Alisa Fishel said.

“We definitely let the pressure get to us in some of our meets; we could have done better if we were relaxed and calm,” freshman Katie Mendenhall said.

“There’s not much to improve on; we’ve been practicing hard, we’ve been playing well, winning a lot of games…we have really great chemistry,” sophomore Paul Rowley said.

“I would say it was a slow start, but as it went on, I got better. My highlight was winning districts,” senior Josh Hawk said.

“Actually, the best part of the season was how we lost every game. Not a lot of people can lose on the last game they’ll ever play and think, ‘Wow, well at least I’m here,’ and reflect on it in a positive way,” senior Lauren Jane said.

“I think what I’ll miss most about the season is hanging out with everyone and just being together,” senior Katelyn Weaver said.

quote bar/Cameron Kiani; Jessie Hardesty; Samantha Chavez, Alexie Badura, Kristen Cobb, Gabby Duff; Josh Hawk; Megan Skillman; Ian Miller

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Compete.Eat.Sleep. Repeat.

top bar/John Yoxthimer; Hannah Backman; Samantha Chavez, Alexie Badura, Kristen Cobb, Gabby Duff; Alivia Yourchisin, Katie Mendenhall, Brittany Raffa, Megan Skillman; Jacques Deaver; John Williams; Jordan Kittinger, Rachel Leigh, Alisa Fishel, Alexie Badura, Samantha Chavez, Kristen Cobb; Kirsten Graves, Carmen Del Vecchio.

middle bar/Josephine Trombadore; Jill Hurtt; Josh Hawk; Justyn Miller, Neill Frazier, Ethan Watts, Kyle Fulton, Coach Chad Dawson, Cameron Kiani; Samantha Chavez, Alexie Badura, Kristen Cobb, Gabrielle Duff, Liliana Jarvi; Ny Gillis; Jill Hurtt, Caitlin Gore; Anna Broshkevitch.bottom bar/Lucas Troesh; Ethan Watts, Josh Grimard, Coach ChadDawson; Courtney Halterman; Katie Mendenhall; Lauren Jane; Alisa Fishel, Lana Vaillancourt, Samantha Chavez, Rachel Leigh, Alexie Badura; Marcus Oden; Josh Grimard, John Yoxthimer.photo credit/Paige Armstrong, Roger Birch, Rachel Boisjolie,Tierra Dongieux, Melissa Fairfax, Torri Hart, Zach Kakol, Sheridan Suminski.

Season HighlightsThis winter, six sports teams competed for new records. Senior John Yoxthimer rocketed to stardom when he scored his 1000th point of his high school basketball career. All together, the boys’ basketball team ended their regular season with an amazing record of 19-3. They also placed first in the district and won the district tournament. Junior wrestler Josh Cassada-Maple completed his regular season with an almost undefeated record; despite one loss, he still qualified for the state tournament with seniors Josh Hawk and David Jarvis. Senior Ian Miller also represented Valley at states for the swim team, while junior Josephine Trombadore and freshman Bria Lloyd represented the gymnastics team. spread/Rachel Boisjolie

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Can you answer these Academic Team questions?

The Brainy

What is the area of a square with a perimeter of 16?

Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase are the phases of what process of eukaryotic chromosome division?

What Virginia-born man was known as “His Accidency” after succeeding William Henry Harrison to become the tenth president of the U.S.?

What ancient Egyptian board game, which means “passing,” involves throwing sticks to determine how to move your pawns?

What is the common English meaning of the Japanese word “arigato,” the French word “merci,” and the Spanish word “gracias”?

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Bunch

There’s a family in room 117. After school hours, they can be heard laughing and singing from far down the hallways.

When they’re heard joking and teasing each other, one may assume it’s just a friendly get-together. But this family’s game of choice is an intense version of Trivial Pursuit.

Sponsored by teachers Alvena Ritenour and Katarina Felts, Academic Team takes Trivial Pursuit to a whole new level. When combined, the members know the singers of the latest songs, the famous rulers of distant countries, the records set in sports, the answers to calculus problems, the awards won by actors and actresses, the authors of classical books, and the scientific names of biological illnesses. One team member affectionately calls the group ‘The Brainy Bunch’ to show their knowledge in all areas.

“No one person could do the whole thing themselves,” junior Cecilia Gallagher said. “Actually, one person could probably do it themselves, but we don’t like to do it that way. It’s not really fair to the others.”

There aren’t any tests or auditions one must pass in order to become a member of ‘The Brainy Bunch.’ Participation is from “mostly word of mouth,” according to Ritenour, unlike sports where participation requires formal tryouts. However, Academic Team’s season, from October to January, functions similarly to a sports season: practices are only

Mondays, but there are meets every week as well as district, regional, and state competitions.

There are three parts of each match: two toss-up rounds and a directed round. Only four people may play at a time; team captains Alec Miller, Erin Fischer, and Frank Song choose these people before the meets in combinations to best cover all topics of questions. One selection of four members collaborates in order to answer the 10 questions of the directed round; although the four contribute to answers, only the captain may answer. Any of the four people may answer during the 15-question toss-up rounds but without collaboration. The toss-up questions also tend to be longer than the directed questions.

“I wish the questions weren’t so long and drawn out,” junior Mae Markowski said. “I wish it was more like Jeopardy.”

Meets also differ from Jeopardy in the sense that students do not have to listen to the entire question before answering. They can interrupt the readers at any moment. They answer via handheld buzzers, thus blanketing floors with wires in the libraries and classrooms where meets are held. After buzzing in and answering, students may be greeted with groans or congratulations. If students answer incorrectly when buzzing in early, points are deducted. As the long questions give easier clues away toward the end of the question, answering later may be safer, as points are not deducted for wrong answers after the question is completed.

“It’s good and bad,” Gallagher

said. “It makes people more nervous to buzz in early because there’s the risk of losing points. It helps because if someone on the other team buzzes in and loses points, then we do better.”

After completing both the toss-up rounds and the directed round, the match ends. “The meets are pretty formal,” Ritenour said. “There’s a reader and a timer and they keep it quiet. Usually the students are very competitive and anxious to win, especially when we played Woodgrove.”

The team members are competitive during the matches, but before the matches, there are no thoughts about nerves or jitters.

“We usually sing on the bus, whether it’s just Frank Song and me or a huge majority of us,” junior Frank Demauro said. “It helps us get loose and release the pressure before and after the competitions.”

At practices, too, the team balances intense competition with fun relaxation. Members split up into two teams with names such as Tebow vs. Losers, Caps vs. Losers, Us vs. Them, and Euphemisms vs. Innuendos. The teams then set off to compete against each other in a mock match. With everyone competing, the Brainy Bunch can get a little crazy.“We’re so ridiculous,” Gallagher said. “Everyone has their own unique aspect of ridiculousness. When we bring it together, it’s just like a mushroom cloud of ridiculousness.”article/Rachel Boisjoliephotos/Rachel Boisjolie, Charles Lyonsspread/Rachel Boisjolie

Answers:1. 16, 2. Mitosis, 3. John Tyler, Jr., 4. Senet, 5. “thank you”

Academic Team is a different kind of competition.

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Tension is thick in the air as dozens of anxious Debate Team members wait for their long day at the debate tournament to begin. A debate judge yells out, “Round one posted!” and the jittery throng of students turns into an aggressive stampede of competitors. The chaotic multitude crowds around a single slip of paper and takes note of their information. Tall debaters push to the front and call out information to their shorter teammates who are unable to fight their way through the crowd. Then, the initial anxiety of the room dissipates as competitors gather their belongings and rush to their first debate.

Debate is one of the most crucial aspects of contemporary politics and society. Universities nationwide, such as Harvard, James Madison, George Mason, Wake Forest, Liberty, and Georgetown, have debate teams and offer scholarships to gifted debaters. University summer debate camps are also a popular form of recreation and training. Debate Team co-captain and sophomore Madi Remillard is one of the passionate debaters who attended the Harvard Debate camp this past summer.

Debate is growing in many high schools across the nation as well. In West Coast states, such as California, Oregon, and Washington, debate or argumentation is a year-long high school elective. These schools corroborate the budding idea that debate is a vital part of education in a democratic society, rather than just an impressive after-school club. Debate Team coach Julie Hildbold has connections with various universities and high schools on the West Coast and is cognizant of their views on debate.

“On the West Coast, debate is a class,” Hildbold said. “When I tell them we have to do all of the work as an after-school team activity, they are shocked. They can't believe my team has to fit this in as an activity.”

Debate Team meets for practice every Tuesday and Thursday after school. The team is given a new “resolution,” or topic, every two months, which debaters must research, dissect and argue. The goal of debate is to be able to recognize both sides of a topic and argue the affirmative and the negative cases in a tournament. The heated and current

topics selected for debate include illegal drugs, immigration, juvenile delinquents and domestic abuse, so a team must posses a high level of maturity.

The upbeat Debate meetings consist of research, collaboration and practice arguments. After they receive a resolution, the debaters use internet sources, libraries, and a handy information packet from the Harvard Debate Team to gather evidence about both sides of the argument. Once the extensive research is complete and all points discussed, the team begins “casing,” the process of organizing their arguments and research into a logical speech. Once they complete their cases, debaters predict what their opponent might say in a debate and brainstorm counterattacks. Then, it is up to the debaters to study hard in preparation for the next debate tournament.

Although Debate practices are full of intense research and hard work, the atmosphere is fun and easygoing. Debate members tease each other, joke around and generally have fun. Members also feel a sense of “family” in their team.

“The atmosphere of our practices is just wonderful. It's so relaxed and we all get along really well,” freshman Morgan Blanton said. “Everyone on the team has kind of the same sense of humor and it feels just like being with your friends.”

Debate tournaments are the marathon of the mind. The Debate Team attends tournaments once or twice a month, always on a Saturday. On the day of a tournament, debaters rise at six a.m. and travel to a high school in their league, the Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League (WACFL), to compete.

The team registers at nine and anxiously waits for the judges to post the first round or debate. When the slight sheet of paper is posted, members flood to it to find out who their opponent is, which side of the debate they will argue and what room

their debate is in. Each debater has four rounds a day, two of

which are after lunch. The last two rounds of the day are arranged by “power-matching,” in which a debater has an identical number of pre-lunch wins as their opponent. Debaters motor through their rounds and gain confidence as the day progresses.

The last round of the day is heated as competitors throw themselves at the argument to make a last impression. At the end of the day, the tournament closes down with an awards ceremony, which announces the top placings in all of the divisions: Novice, Junior Varsity, and Varsity. Debaters hope to place in the top six of their division in order to obtain a half qualification to

the Metropolitan Championships in March. Six members of Valley’s team have qualified this year.

The atmosphere of a debate tournament is in stark contrast to the relaxation of practices. Before a debate, some nervous debaters scan their notes, while others listen to music or chat with friends. However, most competitors loosen up as the

day goes on, and by the time the bus leaves the tournament that evening, the team buzzes with jokes and funny anecdotes from the day.

“The ride [home] is usually riddled with sayings and jokes that sprouted during that tournament,” sophomore Austin Merritt said. “The first meeting after a tournament is always like a little party where we get food and reflect on our performance. It’s lots of fun.”

The Debate Team offers a new way of looking at controversial topics and a vehicle for intelligent insight. The forensic family acquires not only a vast field of knowledge, but also a set of friendships and matchless experiences.

“Being on the Debate Team gives me a sense of purpose and belonging,” Remillard said. “Being part of a team is a great thing, especially when the team is as fantastic as the Loudoun Valley Debate Team.”article/Gaelyn Fosterphoto/Madeline Swartzspread/Torri Hart

“When I tell [other teams] we have to do all of the work as an after-school activity, they are shocked.”-Julie Hildbold

that’sdebatable...Longs days, fast banter, and loads of research: welcome to the Debate Team.

Junior and co-captain Daniel Ackerman and junior team member James Holland

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n the

midd

le, th

ese a

re th

e extr

emes

whic

h ten

d to

char

acter

ize th

e view

s of e

ither

cons

erva

tives

or lib

erals

. Use

this

as a

guide

in or

der t

o dete

rmine

whe

re Y

OU st

and!

Whe

re d

o Y

OU

Sta

nd?

abor

tion

In ge

nera

l, libe

rals

belie

ve th

at a

woma

n has

the r

ight to

choo

se to

have

a s

afe an

d leg

al ab

ortio

n.With

out s

uch

a cho

ice, th

ey fe

el tha

t a w

oman

has

been

strip

ped o

f her

right

to ma

ke he

r ow

n med

ical d

ecisi

ons.

Cons

erva

tives

typic

ally

do no

t sup

port

abor

tion;

many

of

them

belie

ve th

at fro

m the

mo

ment

of co

ncep

tion,

a new

life

has b

een c

reate

d. Th

us,

they v

iew ab

ortio

n as t

he

taking

of a

life.

affir

mat

ive

actio

nCo

nser

vativ

es te

nd to

be

lieve

that

indivi

duals

sh

ould

be hi

red o

r adm

itted

base

d on a

bility

alon

e, be

lievin

g tha

t to ju

dge t

hem

base

d on e

thnici

ty ab

olish

es

equa

l opp

ortun

ity.

gun

cont

rol

Cons

erva

tives

tend

to be

lieve

tha

t too m

uch g

over

nmen

t co

ntrol

over

gun-

use c

ould

infrin

ge up

on th

eir C

onsti

tution

al rig

ht to

bear

arms

and l

eave

the

m wi

thout

imme

diate

prote

ction

again

st cri

mina

ls.

Man

y libe

rals

belie

ve th

at the

ow

nersh

ip of

certa

in we

apon

s sh

ould

be re

strict

ed an

d tha

t the

re sh

ould

be a

certa

in am

ount

of go

vern

ment

contr

ol to

help

prote

ct the

lives

of

innoc

ent v

ictim

s.

Liber

als ge

nera

lly be

lieve

that

the pl

ight o

f illeg

al im

migr

ants

in the

U.S

. mus

t be d

ealt

with

in hu

mane

way

s tha

t ma

y inc

lude a

mnes

ties.

They

als

o sup

port

immi

grati

on

polic

ies th

at en

cour

age l

egal

immi

grati

on.

Cons

erva

tives

typ

ically

supp

ort s

tricter

bord

er co

ntrol

to ke

ep

out il

legal

immi

gran

ts wh

o com

pete

for jo

bs

and b

urde

n the

socia

l we

lfare

syste

m.

imm

igra

tion

Libe

ral

Con

serv

ativ

e

Liber

als te

nd to

belie

ve th

at it i

s the

gove

rnme

nt’s d

uty to

en

act la

ws th

at en

sure

eq

ual o

ppor

tunity

in

circu

mstan

ces w

here

dis

crimi

natio

n has

been

or

is ev

ident.

11

gay

mar

riag

e

dea

th p

enal

tyLib

erals

tend

to be

lieve

that

the de

ath

pena

lty is

wro

ng an

d acti

vely

supp

ort

its de

struc

tion.

They

belie

ve th

at the

jus

tice s

ystem

will

alway

s be fl

awed

, an

d thu

s, the

re is

no g

uara

ntee t

hat

the pr

isone

rs be

ing ex

ecute

d are

ac

tually

guilty

. Man

y of th

em se

e the

de

ath pe

nalty

as st

ate-sa

nctio

ned

murd

er.

Cons

erva

tives

are t

ypica

lly

pro-

death

pena

lty, b

eliev

ing th

at it i

s jus

t to ex

ecute

crim

inals

who h

ave c

ommi

tted e

spec

ially

heino

us cr

imes

again

st so

ciety.

Th

ey be

lieve

that

in the

se

case

s, ex

ecuti

on is

the o

nly w

ay

to en

sure

comp

lete s

afety

of cit

izens

and t

o car

ry ou

t justi

ce

fully.

euth

anas

ia

taxe

s

terr

oris

mW

hile

reco

gniz

ing

terr

oris

m a

s a

thre

at

to n

atio

nal s

ecur

ity,

liber

als

tend

to s

tress

the

impo

rtanc

e of

per

sona

l pr

ivac

y an

d op

pose

the

Pat

riot A

ct o

f 200

1 th

at

dram

atic

ally

incr

ease

d la

w e

nfor

cem

ent’s

abi

lity

to g

athe

r inf

orm

atio

n.

Cons

erva

tives

stre

ss th

e im

porta

nce o

f nati

onal

defen

se

and v

iew te

rroris

m as

a hu

ge

threa

t to na

tiona

l sec

urity

. Thu

s, the

y typ

ically

supp

ort th

e Patr

iot

Act. T

hey a

lso be

lieve

that

captu

red t

erro

rists

shou

ld be

trie

d in m

ilitar

y cou

rts.

Peop

le wh

o are

mor

e lib

eral

tend t

o be

pro-

eutha

nasia

. Th

ey be

lieve

that

it is

a per

son’s

right

to ch

oose

to en

d his

or he

r own

life i

f ter

mina

lly ill

.

Peop

le on

the

Cons

erva

tive s

ide

gene

rally

do no

t sup

port

eutha

nasia

, beli

eving

it is

wron

g to e

nd a

life,

even

whe

n the

patie

nt’s

cons

ent is

give

n.Co

nser

vativ

es us

ually

su

ppor

t the t

radit

ional

view

of ma

rriag

e co

nsist

ing of

one m

an

and o

ne w

oman

. Whil

e so

me su

ppor

t civi

l righ

ts un

ions,

they b

eliev

e the

trad

itiona

l san

ctity

of ma

rriag

e sho

uld be

pr

otecte

d.

Liber

als te

nd to

supp

ort

same

-sex m

arria

ge. T

hey b

eliev

e tha

t eve

ryone

, hete

rose

xuals

and

homo

sexu

als al

ike, s

hould

enjoy

the

right

of ma

rriag

e and

all th

e ac

comp

anyin

g leg

al pr

ivileg

es.

artic

le/Jo

Trom

bado

resp

read

/Jo Tr

omba

dore

phot

os/C

reat

ive C

omm

ons (

www.

flickr.

com

)

Liber

als ty

picall

y ac

cept

taxes

as a

nece

ssity

in or

der

to pr

ovide

adeq

uate

publi

c ser

vices

.

Cons

erva

tives

usua

lly su

ppor

t low

er ta

xes.

They

often

distr

ust

the go

vern

ment’

s reg

ulatio

n of

their m

oney

, beli

eving

that

citize

ns sh

ould

spen

d mor

e of

their o

wn m

oney

.

12

Pro ConThe 34 states in the U.S. that choose to implement the death penalty

align themselves with countries such as Iran, Iraq, and China—only the most ruthless governments in today’s world. 128 countries worldwide have abandoned capital punishment, leaving it behind for a variety of more humane sentences. The death penalty still thrives in the U.S., though, and remains one of the most anachronistic elements of our government still in action today.

The essence of the death penalty’s wrongheadedness comes down to its cynicism for the capacity of change and human goodness. Rather than respect the sanctity of life, the penalty disregards its subject with an exploitative flick of the wrist. It fails to engage with its subject’s humanity, offering no chance at reformation or an alternative path for the criminal. Most of all, its irrevocability illustrates the punishment as thoroughly irrational and reactionary.

Furthermore, the people who are administering this punishment are humans too and, thus, can easily make mistakes. Because the death penalty is a unique punishment—one that cannot be undone, no matter how you look at it—it is distinct from more common prosecutions and sentences, almost all of which are reversible and easily abrogated. Innocent people can easily be killed with tenuous justification.

When a government commits what is at its core an act of stone cold murder, it communicates to civilians that this method of solving problems is permissible. Some states in the U.S. that initiate the death penalty even see in an increase in their murder rate directly following the stature’s enactment. By combating murder with more murder, a government diminishes and commodifies death itself, reducing both its tragedy and gravity.

There is no reason why the death penalty is preferable to a lifetime of incarceration. In terms of disseminating the proportional punishment to a crime as serious as murder, doesn’t a lifetime in prison have more gravity and impact than a short, swift execution? U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan said it best: “Death is not only an unusually severe punishment, unusual in its pain, in its finality, and in its enormity; but it serves no penal purpose more effectively than a less severe punishment.”

A lifetime of incarceration would not only better communicate the wrongness of murder but also make sure such criminals

receive the appropriate level of psychological, emotional rehabilitation in prison. After all, responding to an act of murder with yet another act of murder is hardly a clear-eyed way to approach the issue and is a solution

that sends a mixed message. Though an action indeed deserves a morally proportional response, sometimes

that retaliation ought not to be an exact mirror of the initial action.

It’s clear that states who utilize the death penalty don’t see a drop in their murder rate; rather than deter crime in

these places, the rate increases, sometimes significantly. For example, the South, an area which accounts for 80

percent of U.S. capital executions, also boasts the highest murder rate in the country. As more states begin to drop the penalty altogether, however, the homicide rate has dropped by 5 percent. Without

even taking into account the moral muddiness of it all, this means that the base-line intent of the penalty is a failure since its goal is ostensibly to lessen homicides and make explicit the undeniable severity of the crime being committed. A hypocritical and thoroughly barbaric punishment on every level, the death penalty

is a certifiable failure.article/Charles Lyons

photo/Tierra Dongieux

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It’s simple physics, and yet, it holds true in more ways than just scientifically. All actions have consequences, and when someone takes another person’s life purposely, what gives him the right to live?

According to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), 34 of 50 states in the U.S. have the option of capital punishment, as does the U.S. military. The premeditated murder of another human being is the ultimate criminal act in a civilized society; capital punishment is not vengeance, but the consequence of willful behavior that society must punish in order to achieve justice. All citizens must know that to willfully take the life of another is to endanger their own.

An alternative to capital punishment is life in prison, but is that adequate punishment? For taking another human’s life, criminals are given a place to sleep, three meals a day, and often enjoy better health and dental care than most citizens, all on the taxpayers’ dime. Let’s get this straight: hardworking, honest citizens are paying their hard-earned money in order to sustain a felon? Does that not just passively condone their actions?

Our justice system is supposed to be based upon reform; prison is for criminals who can be reformed in order to contribute to society. However, can we really believe that these people are remorseful for their actions? A murderer has already proven himself devoid of respect and in violation of all that a society expects from a citizen.

Opponents of capital punishment suggest that some of the cases that lead to the death penalty cost taxpayers more than lifetime incarceration; however, this is particularly due to the corruption of our legal system in which lawyers can game the system with endless appeals on technical grounds that have no direct bearing on the case. The system must begin to deny appeals in regard to minute details that have no pertinence to a suspect’s innocence or guilt; it is not a suspect’s argued innocence that keeps him on death row for 20 years, and which causes the cost of capital punishment to be higher than that of lifetime incarceration, but the prolonging of his case. In a case where all irrelevant appeals based on the fanciful imaginations of capital punishment dissidents have been denied, and where there is absolutely no doubt of a criminal’s guilt, he should be fairly tried, sentenced, and consequently executed in a timely manner.

One of the largest moral questions brought up by opponents is the humaneness of capital punishment. Lethal injection is the common form of capital punishment in the United States; it is carefully designed to be administered as a sequence of three shots, according to the DPIC. The first of these is a barbiturate that depresses the central nervous system in as little as 30 seconds, putting the person into a state of unconsciousness. The second injection causes muscle paralysis so that the nerves can no longer send messages to the brain; the third stops the heart from beating. This method is designed to be as humane as possible, with no pain to the lawbreaker.

With lifetime incarceration, the criminal will live while the remainder of his victim’s future is lowered into the ground, six feet deep; whatever measure of happiness or quality of life that a criminal can glean while imprisoned will far exceed that of his victim. Capital punishment, on the other hand, is the ultimate form of justice in consequence to the ultimate crime. Taking an innocent life is no excuse: actions deserve consequences. article/Melissa Fairfaxspread/Rachel Boisjolie

Death PenaltyThe Viking editors face off

13

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>Ever thought about shorts over tights?These girls step outside the box, and it looks good.

>Why not bring back the 80s? These bright jackets and scarves make the outfit.

>Riding boots – the kind you’d never actually get dirty riding in.

>Guys in ties – kudos to these guys on their sharp fashion…girls notice.

>Trendy shoes and…black socks?

Fashion Frenzyspread/Meagan Solano

>>