Traveling habits are changing in Ocean City

In this issue
Marc Broussard’s latest
album – review and
interview with the artist
himself
page 8
News
Lifestyle
Entertainment
Sports
Humor
Viewpoints
1–4
5–7
8–10
12
13
14–15
YDC reads the fourth
in the Twilight series
by Stephanie Meyer
page 10
Volume 18 • Number 1 • September 2008 • Please display through October 6
Traveling habits are changing in Ocean City
Lindsey Rennie
Young D.C.
The number of travelers to Ocean City, Md.
didn’t decline this summer,
but the U.S. Department of
Transportation confirmed
what Ocean City anticipated. People changed their
driving and spending habits while on vacation.
“There are many
more opportunities for
travelers and the travelers
have become far more sophisticated,” said Nancy
Howard, a member of the
Ocean City Council. “I believe traveling in general
will never be the same.”
Howard said that Ocean
City had 25,000 visitors
during the weekend of the
Fourth of July. Howard
spoke with one businesswoman who said her res-
taurant has been up every
day since the Fourth of
July. “Businesses that offer a good product, good
service and added value
where possible will do
well,” she said.
As for vacationers, it
is now common to travel
for shorter periods of time,
not go far distances, or not
travel at all. In Ocean City,
many tourists are finding
ways to still go on vacation, but save money at the
same time. “Here we are
at the park instead of the
boardwalk,” said Shelly
Scott of East Fallowfield,
Pa., mother of two daughters, ages five and six.
Scott is glad her daughters
enjoy spending time at the
local park, which the family visits often. “We can
stay longer since my mom
Photo courtesy of Lindsey Rennie
Visitors still vacation in Ocean City, Md. despite high gas prices.
has a condo down here,” said Scott, “but we can’t do many
expensive outings.”
The park is a popular place this summer for families
with young children and people of all ages. “I can spend
time with my friends and family for free,” said Joy Penaso,
15, of Hanover, Md. Mark Bradley, from Bear, Del., said
his family is “staying pretty low key during vacation week.”
Though Bradley’s home is a short distance away from
Ocean City, the family is not coming down as often as they
did last year, he said.
“In the past, because we are only a half a tank [of gas]
away from several millions of potential visitors,
our numbers have remained stable,” said Howard. She said that many people like to go to
Ocean City because it’s not too far from home,
but that travelers are tending to make their reservations later and later. “There was a time when
most of the reservations were made during the
first two months of the year,” with families staying for two to three weeks, but now many just
stay for long weekends, said Howard.
Both Howard and Donna Abbot, the Public Relations Director for the Ocean City Bureau of Tourism, know that lifestyles are changing and people are trying to save more money
than they spend.
“The trend has been that people are coming
for shorter, but more frequent stays,” Abbot said.
“This has been going on for many years.” She
added, “When you have a husband and wife both
working, it is hard for them to both get off at the
same time, so the trips have to be shorter.”
Ocean City has introduced many new family-oriented events to beachgoers this summer
such as free games, bonfires, concerts, and movSee OC , page 15
D.C. demands a vote and a voice
Matt Nguyen
Young D.C.
Photo courtesy of Matt Nguyen
The crowd waves their arms to “Demand the Vote”, a go-go song
performed at Busboys and Poets on a night of poetry and music
addressing D.C.’s lack of voting rights, Aug. 6.
DC Vote held a poetry, music and spoken
word event, “Votes, Voices, & Visions: A Night
Of Expression” Aug. 6 at Busboys & Poets near
U Street in Northwest, D.C. The event brought
youths and adults to see performances about
D.C.’s lack of representation in the House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate. D.C. residents are the only American citizens in the continental U.S. denied full privileges to affect how
the House and the Senate make decisions that
impact D.C. residents. Without full representa-
tion, D.C. residents cannot advocate whether a
war should or should not be waged. D.C. residents cannot advocate for their preferred educational, business or economic, health care, social
security and other vital issues. YDC spoke to
LeeAnn Byrne, a college student interning in
D.C. She is registered to vote in Rhode Island.
She said that poetry and music make thinking
about issues, like D.C. voting rights enjoyable,
especially for teens.
The event premiered a go-go song called
“Demand the Vote” written by local artist, Joe L.
DaVessel, commissioned by DC Vote. “The point
See DC Vote , page 2
News t Young D.C. t September 2008
Demanding a vote and a voice
DC Vote from page one
Young D.C. is an independent newspaper written by and
about metropolitan area teens.
Address correspondence to:
Young D.C.
1904 18th Street, NW Unit B
Washington, D.C. 20009-1707
tel: 202.232.5300
fax: 202.232.5306
www.youngdc.org
Copyright. All rights reserved.
of the event is to educate youth about DC
voting in the way that is entertaining and interesting,” said Joel Donelan, the student
outreach intern at DC Vote. The song includes a call-and-response hook,
D.C. we demand the vote,
In D.C. we demand the vote
For real progress!
D.C. we demand the vote,
for D.C. we demand the vote
So tell Congress!
The crowd really waved their arms and
sang to the hook and seemed to enjoy it.
Donelan, a member of the event committee, spoke to YDC on why it matters that
D.C. residents get voting rights in Congress.
He said this is “a part of democracy they
don’t have.” He said the artists did a great
job educating and entertaining the crowd
with their art focusing on D.C. voting rights
issues.
Donelan mentioned one problem advocates face—it’s not that people don’t care
about the issue, rather they are unaware of
D.C.’s lack of voting rights. Donelan said
that an important way for high school students to get involved is to pass the word. It
Acting Co-Managing Editors
Fran Djoukeng
Montgomery Blair HS (Md.)
Jin-Ah Kim
Thos. Jefferson HS for Science
and Technology (Va.)
Acting News Editor
Brinda Gupta
Thos. Jefferson HS for Science
and Technology (Va.)
Editors
Sareum Kim
Centreville HS (Va.)
Acting Lifestyle Editor
Courtney Stein
St. Pius X HS (TX)
Acting Co-Entertainment
can be as simple as making DC Vote a Facebook friend. Spreading the word is what Veronica Jones, a freshman at George Mason
University does. “I haven’t done the Facebook thing...but I have put the bumper
sticker on my dad’s truck. Also, I’d gotten a
pin and I wear it religiously... the pin has a
picture of George Washington with his
mouth taped and it says ‘Let Washington
Vote.’ So when I get stopped and asked
about it, that’s my way of spreading the
word.”
YDC asked Jones whether the event
was effective in educating her on the injustice. She said, “I do believe it was effective.
I wasn’t totally clueless, but it filled in blank
spots that I’d had such as the number of
teens who don’t vote and the big chunk of
votes that don’t get counted at all from
D.C.”
DC Vote was founded in 1998. DC
Vote will have an information booth at Fiesta DC 2008 to be held Sunday, Sept. 28 in
the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Visit the
DC Vote website to download “Demand the
Vote” song by Joe L. DaVessel.
Matt Nguyen, 17, is a junior at McKinley Technology HS in the District of
Columbia.
Priscilla Ward
Homeschooling (D.C.)
Acting Layout Manager
Gautier Lemyze-Young
Centennial HS (Md.)
Reporters: Melissa Belk, The King’s College (N.Y.); Archie
Brown, Temple University (Pa.); Christina Chang, Wootton (Md.);
Flora Cheng, (D.C.); Becky Koretz, Woodrow Wilson SHS (D.C.);
Billie McCain, Salisbury University (Md.); Armani McMillan,
Forestville Military Academy (Md.); Matt Nguyen, McKinley Tech
(D.C.); Rayshon Patterson, Prince George’s Community College
(Md.); Caitlin Peterson, John S. Burke Catholic HS (N.Y.) ;Lindsey
Rennie, Mount de Sales Academy (Md.); Diamond Riley, University
of Virginia (Va.); Emma Safford, The Lab School of Washington
(D.C.); Helen Stoddard, Yorktown (Va.); Megan Ternes, Charlotte
Catholic (N.C.); Jonathan Ward, St. Albans (D.C.); Maya Wells,
Morgan State University (Md). MaBinti Yillah, University of
Maryland
Artists: Casey Drogin, Einstein (Md.); Nina Stoddard, Yorktown (Va.)
Board of Directors: George Curry, Tom Donlan, Hector EricksenMendoza, Rich Foster, Mary Hanley, Judy Hines, Sean Jensen,
Cynthia Farrell Johnson, Rosamond King, Carol Knopes (chairman),
Carol Lange, Kathleen Reilly Mannix, Sarah Menke-Fish, Bob
Neuman, Michael Phelps, Reginald Ragland, Phil Reid
Young D.C. is supported by The Bureau of National Affairs, The
Children’s Charities Foundation, The Freedom Forum, and sponsors
of the 21st Cartoons & Cocktails, an auction of editorial art to be
held Oct. 23 at the National Press Club. Cartoons & Cocktails 2008
benefits Young D.C. the Friedheim Library at the National Press Club
and its programs, and the Cartoonists Rights Network International.
Letters to the Editor are welcome and sometimes published, either whole or
in part. Letters are subject to editing. Readers writing to the editors should
include contact information: name, age, telephone number.
Correction
YDC publishes corrections of matters of substance. Thanks for bringing
them to the attention of the editors via snail mail or email to newsroom@
youngdc.org.C
September 2008 t Young D.C. t News
September brings civic engagement conferences
Fran Djoukeng and Matt Nguyen
Young D.C.
at dsmith@ncoc.net and RSVP. Save the September
date!
The Meridian International Center, an acclaimed
Calling all for to civic engagement: the National
Conference on Citizenship plans to hold their annual nonprofit institution dedicated to advancing internaconference Sept. 22, 9 a.m.-noon at the National Ar- tional understanding through public diplomacy and
chives. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will deliver the global engagement, has developed the “Meridian
keynote address. In addition, the conference committee Global Engagement Series: Decision 2008 The Candiwill release the 2008 Civic Health Index and hold a dis- dates and Foreign Affairs.” There will be six pre-eleccussion session on the topic of national civic participa- tion programs. Some of the programs will have Gallup
tion and its future after the election. Plus, one young poll data and each program will have a representative
adult who has made a difference in their community of Republican presidential candidate, John McCain
and Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
will be honored.
This event was created to help encourage and An expert in the relevant subject matters will attend
build people to become active and engaged citizens. each program.
Look for YDC’s coverage of the Energy and EnNCoC is partnering with ServiceNation to bring this
vironment program as well as updates on the presidenevent together.
ServiceNation is a campaign launching summits tial candidates’ stance on these topics in the November
throughout the year and seeking to unite leaders from issue. Dates are subject to change, so call ahead of
all across America in order to work together and at- time. All programs are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Metempt to resolve social issues. The federal government ridian House. To reserve seats for any program, call
founded NCoC back in 1946 for the special purpose of (202)-939-5543 or go to Meridian’s website, www.
promoting more citizenry in Americans. NCoC is a Meridian.org. All the sessions will be broadcast on Menon-profit organization that sponsors programs that ad- ridian’s website after 1-2 days of each past program.
vance volunteerism and political involvement among
constituents. In this historic and exciting election year, Thursday, Sept. 11 – Beyond the Rhetoric: How the
Next Administration will Confront Terrorism. Policivic energy is at optimum speed and this event will be
cy and action in the Mideast peace process; U.S.
a great highlight bringing in many business and acaengagement in Iraq and Afghanistan; Relations
demic leaders. Seats for this event fill rather fast, so if
with Iran, Pakistan, India and China; Continuing
you would like to reserve a spot, email David B. Smith
Sleepless nights
challenges in the Korean peninsula.
Thursday, Sept. 18 – America the Beautiful: The view
from abroad. Reintroducing America to the World;
The challenges of U.S. public diplomacy with foreign publics.
Wednesday, Sept. 24 – Energy and Environment:
American policy in a world of increasing competition and soaring resources costs. Prospects for a
U.S. energy policy.
Thursday, Oct. 2 – America in the World Economy:
Fair competition and open markets. Protectionist
pressures; The Doha Round; NAFTA and other
free-trade agreements; Dollar weakness; Job creation and retention.
Thursday, Oct.9 – America and the Multilateral World:
UN reform and Peace-keeping around the world;
Darfur and other challenges to multilateral action;
Fighting HIV-AIDS and poverty; Enlarging
NATO.
Fran Djoukeng, 15, is a junior at Montgomery
Blair HS in Silver Spring, Md.
Matt Nguyen, 17, is a junior at McKinley Technology HS in the District of Columbia.
Meridian International Center
1630 Crescent Pl. NW DC 20009
(202) 667- 6800.
Study finds increased health risk for teens who don’t get enough sleep
Brinda Gupta
Young D.C.
Many teenagers have seen the clock ticking into the wee hours of the morning,
unaware of the dangers that come with lack of sleep. It is widely known that sleep
deprivation has adverse effects on the brain’s ability, but recently, researchers at
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have found that teenagers
who do not get enough sleep can develop prehypertension, blood pressure that is
higher than normal but not quite at the level of hypertension.
Technology, such as computers, mp3 players and cell phones, available at a
hand’s reach, has hindered most teenagers from getting the recommended nine
hours of sleep. A recently published study found the probability of getting high
blood pressure increased 3.5 times for those who have trouble falling asleep at night
or who wake up too early and 2.5 times for those who slept less than 6.5 hours.
These findings prove that although there is no definitive explanation of why humans, like most other organisms, need to sleep, this daily rejuvenation remains a
core function of the body that cannot be done away with without facing harmful
consequences.
As teens develop, the biological clock moves forward leading to changes in
sleep patterns and wakefulness late into the night. With a full schedule, many times
including an active social life, part-time job, extracurricular activities, as well as
school and homework, the fatigue caused by the consistent few hours of sleep can
have detrimental effects. Studies, as reported by the National Sleep Foundation,
have found that teens who get less sleep have an increased risk of accidental injuries, or even death, increased risk of stimulant abuse, negative moods, and low
grades and school performance. So fighting for that A+ by staying up late to do
homework, rather than spending more time on it earlier, might not be as beneficial
as it seems.
“Teens often underestimate their sleep needs. Lots of other priorities get in the
way of good sleep, especially in the teen years,” said Susan Redline, lead author of
YDC archive
the study. She continued, stating, “Our research as well as lots of other studies examining the needs for sleep to optimize thinking, functioning, mood, and metabolism, also point to the need to attend to one’s sleep needs (as one would do for diet
and exercise)”. Redline recommends “following consistent bed and wake times,
avoiding caffeine and nicotine in the late evening, keeping the bedroom dark and
comfortable and relatively free of electronics, and trying to get close to 9 hours of
sleep per night.”
Brinda Gupta, 17, is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science
and Technology in Alexandria, Va.
Voting 101
Jin-Ah Kim
Young D.C.
For many first-time voters, the whole election process
can seem daunting. To make the process clearer, YDC has
compiled a brief outline of three easy steps to becoming a
registered voter.
Register
Voter registration form may be requested through local
or state boards of elections or through websites with registration forms available for download. If this is your first
time registering to vote, you must include a government-issued photo ID. The completed registration forms can be
mailed to designated board of elections as indicated on registration forms.
The most important part about registering is to be on
time. Keep in mind these important deadlines:
D.C.—Voter registration: Monday, Oct. 6; Absentee
ballot request: Tuesday, Oct. 28; Absentee ballot due: Tuesday, Nov. 4
Virginia—Voter Registration: Monday, Oct. 6; Absentee Ballot Request: Tuesday, Oct. 28; Absentee Ballot Due:
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Maryland—Tuesday, Oct. 14; Absentee ballot request:
Tuesday, Oct. 28; Absentee ballot due: Tuesday, Nov. 4
September 2008 t Young D.C. t News
No matter how you look at it newspaper readers and
voters go hand in hand. An incredible eight out of 10
newspaper readers voted in the last two presidential
elections. And when it comes to the most reliable
voting block – seniors – an overwhelming 70% are
frequent and regular newspaper readers. In fact, a
majority of all voters,
55%, read their local
newspaper every day.
While it’s true that younger voters are more likely
to access political information on the internet, it’s
newspaper websites they go to.
So, even though cable news would like you to
believe something else, the truth is it’s newspapers
that deliver voters of all ages. Put newspapers in
your media mix if you want to put your candidate in
the winner’s column.
Sources: Moore Information (Mar. 2008), American Voter Media Use Study
conducted by Costas Panagopoulos, Yale University (Jan. 2008),
Pew Internet and American Life Project (Jan. 2007)
Get your polling station
Once your registration is processed, you should be notified of the polling station via mail.
Vote
If this is your first time voting at a polling station, remember to bring a photo-ID on Election Day.
College students who used their home address when
they registered to vote need to vote absentee if they now
live on campus and can’t get to their home polling place
election day. To be able to vote absentee, you must fill out
an absentee ballot request form for your home state so an
absentee ballot can be sent to your dorm room.
To download voter registration applications or absentee ballot request forms, visit the following web sites.
D.C:
www.dcboee.org/voter_info/
Maryland:
www.elections.state.md.us/pdf/2007_English_InternetVRA.pdf
Virginia:
www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Forms_Publications/Index.html
Jin-Ah Kim, 18, is a senior at Thomas Jefferson HS
for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va.
Banned Books Week
Sept. 27 – Oct. 4
Every year, librarians face people who want them to take
books out of circulation. Each year the American Library Association makes readers mindful of the attempted censorships
of And Tango Makes Three, Slaughterhouse Five, the Harry
Potter series and hundreds more. Visit www.ala.org/ala/oif/
bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.cfm to learn more about
Banned Books Week, Sept. 27 – Oct. 4. It’s time to celebrate
the freedom to read freely.
For more
information
visit our website
The Newspaper Association of America is a non-profit
organization representing the newspaper industry.
political.naa.org
Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23
Caitlin Peterson
Young D.C.
Constitution Week, the national celebration of
our rights, begins on Sept. 17 with Citizenship Day
and ends Sept. 23. It encourages citizens around the
country to read into the rights they are given and
enjoy the freedoms they have such as, free speech,
press, from and of religion, assembly and petition.
The Constitution guarantees many freedoms.
It also outlines the democracy we live in through
self-government. It stands as an icon of freedom
for both the citizens it governs and for people
around the world who are struggling to have their
voices heard and acknowledged. The Bill of
Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and the 17 amendments that follow, protect
individual liberties.
There are many different ways to celebrate
this week. People in the metro D.C. area can visit
the National Archives to view the original Consti-
tution permanently on display.
The William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives will host events. Legal scholar
Laurence Tribe discusses the newest volume from
Oxford’s Inalienable Rights series, The Invisible
Constitution, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 there will
be an event, Symposium: Lincoln and American
Values, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be a
discussion exploring Lincoln and the Constitution
from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the same theater.
The Daughters of the American Revolution
petitioned to create Constitution Week in 1955 to
celebrate the oldest blueprint for running a country
still in active use. Their petition became law in
1956. DAR Constitution Hall will be hosting events
for the week.
Caitlin Peterson, 15, is a junior at John S.
Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, N.Y.
September 2008 t Young D.C. t Lifestyle
LifeStyle
Counselors see bullying as a tween thing
Courtney Stein
Young D.C.
Bruised egos, introversion, fright, insecurity.
Any of these starting to ring a bell?
They are only a few of the many negative side
effects of bullying. Many think of the victim as the
person in need of therapy, assistance, or some sort of
moral support, but Yvonne Clark, a counselor at St.
Pius X High School in Houston, TX, insists the bully
has problems of his or her own that spur this spiteful
behavior.
“I see a bully as a very angry, unhappy individual,” she said.
When asked what may serve as the bully’s motivation, she replied, “Their low sense of self-esteem
[and] self-worth. They may have problems with their
home life, or problems forming friendships.”
She notices bullying most frequently among
girls, citing “petty jealousy” as the cause.
More specifically, Clark said bullying remains
“more prevalent” for girls around the “elementary,
junior high grades,” but warned, “…when you look
at an eleventh or twelfth grader doing this, there’s a
deeper psychological problem going on.”
Kerry Campane, a counselor at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va., agreed on the gender bias: “In middle
school we’re seeing a lot of female bullying, as witnessed in Lindsay Lohan’s Mean Girls” – which actually occurs in a high school setting, demonstrating
that students employ bullying techniques at both
stages in life.
Sarah Wagner, a sophomore at St. Pius X, disagreed and said, “Mainly guys [bully] because
they’re immature,” and proceeded to agree with a
girl sitting next to her, modifying her statement to
“freshman boys.”
Even so, there are ways to cope with bullying.
Clark mentioned a program at Mount Carmel High
School, where she worked for five years, in which
students were encouraged to socialize with new people at lunch time, in hopes of expanding their social
group and meeting fresh faces.
“The focus of the program was dealing with
social justice,” said Clark.
At Mount Carmel, 8 to 12 students would meet
with Clark in her office after school on a regular basis simply to vent “and be introduced to coping
skills.”
In regards to outcome, she said, “The girls
did very well with it…It eliminated some of the
negative attitude...There was respect that wasn’t
there at first.”
Students, however, take a slightly less proactive approach.
Wagner suggests simply “ignoring it.”
However, senior Bridget Marrs refuted this solution, saying, “I try to ignore it, but that doesn’t always work… Sometimes it makes me stress out a
little more than needed.”
Both agreed more extreme instances merit
adult intervention.
One such instance is “any form of abuse,” said
Wagner. “It depends on how serious it is – like [with]
extreme forms of [hazing], then definitely.”
Marrs, on the other hand, said, “It’s called for
in instances in which someone can’t function properly… when you’re afraid to go to school everyday.”
When asked when adult intervention is necessary, Campane replied, “That is the million dollar
question! I believe we should combat bullying at
home, first. Parents should educate their children on
bullying, and who to tell if they witness bullying at
school. The effects of bullying are powerful, and
even children at a young age can see them. Schools
need to do their part in bullying awareness as well.”
But in the case that this at-home instruction
fails, Paul Lubinski, chair of the counseling department at Pikesville High School in Pikesville, Md.,
stresses that victimized students make their plight
known for resolution to occur and suggests strict
punishment as a suitable bullying deterrent.
“The few times it has surfaced here [at Pikesville], it came to ‘a screeching halt’ when the bully
was made to understand that it could result in expulsion,” said Lubinski. “[But] critical in this is the
willingness of the ‘victim’ to tell us what’s being
done to them.”
See Bullying , page 7
InnerVision salutes artistic expression and solutions
Priscilla Ward
Young D.C.
At InnerVision’s 4th Annual Gala, 15 confident
teens stepped onto the dimly lit wooden stage for
more than just another quick-lived moment in the
spotlight. They wanted to express their experiences of
love, hope, and joy, through spoken word, poetry and
singing.
Youth and adults were drawn into the hip urban
atmosphere as the performers focused on everything
from “puppy love” to concerns in their neighborhood.
InnerVision is the brain child of Nate Cole. As
the student representative on the D.C. School Board,
kids would come to Cole and offer their complaints
about the lack of artistic outlets in the city. At the
gala, Cole shared something he saw from the Metro,
It was graffiti that said, “This is not vandalism, this is
my artistic expression.”
“This stuck with me,” said Cole now a junior at
the University of Maryland.
While a senior School Without Walls in D.C.,
Cole created InnerVision. His mission was to create a
venue that encouraged youth to express their feelings
in a way that positively impacts their community
through artistic expression.
“When I told my parents, youth group, and
school counselors my idea of starting InnerVision,
they did not believe it was possible for me to accomplish this,” he said. Much to skeptics’ surprise, InnerVision, now in its fifth year, has successfully attracted teens from all parts of the city and currently
has 15 members ranging from ages 15-22. The program meets every Saturday when the teens participate in lively conversations on the things that impact
them and their communities and then act on the issues
through artistic means.
Jasmine Jackson, a senior at Elizabeth Seton HS
in Bladensburg, Md., said, “The program has taught
me how to express my ideas through music and that I
can have an impact on my community.”
Franklin Owens, a senior at Duke Ellington
School of the Arts in D.C., said, “I really enjoy acting, but InnerVision has allowed me to develop my
music skills as well. Here I am able to express what I
am thinking about without being criticized.”
George Ross, a 2007 graduate of Thurgood
Marshall Charter HS in D.C., said, “InnerVision has
allowed me to come out of my shell and express what
I am thinking about without being criticized.”
The surprise of the evening was when Cole
switched places from emcee to performer. He made
a drastic change from business attire to cargo pants,
t-shirt, and dunks while rapping.
Cole announced during the gala that he will be
passing on the legacy of InnerVision to three of the
members, Ace the Town, Kiara Jackson and Jasmine
Jackson. Cole said, “I see the program becoming ten
times better than what it is now.”
Priscilla Ward, 17, is a homeschooled senior in
the District of Columbia.
Lifestyle t Young D.C. t September 2008
Cyberian Tyger
Google accessories
Jin-Ah Kim
Young D.C.
Google is no longer just a simple
search engine. Starting with the launch of
Gmail in 2004, they have expanded their
reach to include several sub-websites that
have enhanced Google’s growing popularity. Such features and tools include:
Google Calendar
calendar.google.com
This virtual calendar allows users to add
and edit events with the same ease as a conventional planner. Simply click on a date
and enter the name of the event. Users can
share a calendar with a common theme and combine their personal calendars with
public ones online.
Google Docs
docs.google.com From Word to PowerPoint, Microsoft Office applications are now
accessible through Google. Especially designed for on-line use, the biggest asset
of these web-based documents is that many users can edit one document at the
same time. With one click, your group can share documents with team members,
meaning no more last-minute e-mail raids as your group gets ready for a presentation. One catch is that to edit these documents, a Gmail account is required.
Google Scholar
scholar.google.com
This search engine searches through scholarly literature across many disciplines and
sources to ensure the quality of the results. Gain access to abstracts of primary articles without paying for on-line databases. It’s a smarter option than wikipedia, but
not a substitute for databases.
Google Sites – sites.google.com Get 10GB of web space for free with Google Sites.
This application allows users to create and share a web site with pre-made interfaces with just a click of the mouse. No coding, no designing and no fees required. As with all other Google applications, multiple users can edit, view and Decision 2008 Essay Contest: Write an essay about an issue you think is the most
important in the general elections. All applicants must be 16 years old before
manage these sites.
the deadline, Nov. 3, and must have resided in the United States for at least one
iGoogle – www.igoogle.com
year in order to qualify. Applicants must submit an essay of 1500 words or less. What happened to Google’s minimalist approach to their search page? Imagine
Only one award for $4,400 is available. For more information, visit http://www.
the conventional google.com page, then, clutter it up with various boxes with
presidentialcandidates.tv/scholarship.php
contents ranging from CNN breaking news to a game of hangman. Designed
with good intentions to make navigation easier, iGoogle undermines Google’s First Freedom Student Competition: This is an essay competition available to
students in grades 9 through 12 that attend a public, private, parochial or homefundamental philosophy.
based-school in the United States and District of Columbia. The essay must
address the subject of religious freedom, its history, contemporary importance
Jin-Ah Kim, 18, is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and
and significance in your life. The essay must be between 750 to 1,250 words.
Technology in Alexandria, Va.
The competition is provided by the Council for America’s First Freedom and
award amounts vary from $750 to $3,000. You must register online for the
competition by Nov. 24. Check http://www.firstfreedom.org/education/stu-
Exercise your pen, win
with essay contests
Listen to 2KNation
the voice of teen poets,
reporters and artists
Thursday nights, 7 p.m.
WPFW 89.3 FM
dents.html for more details.
Scholarship for vegetarians: Giving up meat can not only save the animals, but it
can save you money as well. So, drop the wheatgrass, grab a pen and apply. The
Vegetarian Resource Group is giving away $10,000 in college scholarship
money to two graduating high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and communities. Each student will receive $5,000. Students applying for this scholarship must be vegetarians who do not eat fish,
meat or fowl, and must be U.S. high school students graduating in Spring 2009.
The deadline for applications is February 20, 2009. For the application, visit :
http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm.
Compiled by YDC staffers.
September 2008 t Young D.C. t Lifestyle
Bullying from page 6
Bullies – get over it
However, Clark warns that if not controlled or minimized, some cases can turn into legal issues.
“What’s atypical behavior needs to be addressed – [but]
not always with punishment,” she said. “Support, resources,
and coping skills must be put in place.”
But the good news is that bullying can be controlled
and minimized.
Campane said, “Yes, it truly ‘takes a village’ but I do
think that if we put our efforts as a community into preventing bullying and increasing bullying awareness, I believe it
can be controlled.”
Additionally, bullies do grow out of it. Wagner partially
agrees.
“I think a good proportion of them do, but there’s a few
that just can’t let go or something.”
But until those who just “can’t let go” do let go, students must rely more and more on their pals and peers to
help shield themselves from this method of torment found
among today’s youth.
And some students gladly assist.
“I always have a comment to say to make kids stop – at
least for a little while,” said Marrs, who added, “I do what I
can.”
Courtney Stein, 18, is a senior at St. Pius X HS in Houston, TX.
Gina Kim contributed to this article.
People are talking
Checking on druggy
classmates is a drag
Sareum Kim
Young D.C.
She answers the phone with a laugh, “I’m
doing great! I’m high right now.” That’s Michelle’s response when I call her to ask how she
was doing. Somehow, that response doesn’t
alert me. It’s 11:07 p.m on a week day, and it’s
a response that I’ve heard a number of times.
Michelle is 16 years old and she goes to Centreville High School. If this story is surprising,
then obviously, you have been away from a
typical high school for too long. The drug usage amongst high school students is a serious
problem. The Center for Disease Control studied teen marijuana use for its Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance released June 6, 2008. Approximately one in five teens in D.C. and
Maryland reported to researchers that they had
used marijuana during the 30 days before their
interviews. Virginia was not included in this report.
In school, Michelle is just a normal student. At five feet tall, she fits right in with the
crowd. Carrying her little JanSport backpack,
she chats happily with her friends as she finds
her way around the crowd. However, when
night comes around, she becomes a party girl.
“I love MJ! I love the feeling it gives me. Dizzy and light headed. It’s so good.” She says in
a cheerful voice. “You know… we do it because it makes us feel good. I mean, think
about it. People aren’t going to do it if it doesn’t
feel good. And while you are high, you can’t
feel anything. It’s like escaping the world.”
That great feeling that teens crave may be
easy to access, but doesn’t come cheap. Depending on how good and how much you buy,
marijuana can cost anywhere from $10 to hundreds.
So why do so many teens do drugs despite the price and all the warnings from teachers and friends? “There are three main reasons.” Dr. Michael Clayton, a local psychiatrist,
says. “Biological, psychological, and social.
It’s not always easy to tease out the contributions these three realms make to each individual’s problems, but most people have contributing factors in each of these three realms.
Biological because genetics play a role in many
ways. Sometimes it’s also related to other mental health issues that have a big biological component. Psychological, because sometimes,
there are ways that people think drugs and alcohol can help them with their problems.
Sometimes they work a bit to help but also
cause problems. And social, meaning factors
due to friends and family.”
Whatever the cause may be, all teens
show signs of drug usage. “Different drugs
have different effects. Sometimes, people
around don’t really notice the change in behavior, but usually, someone has noticed and
has done something to get it taken care of. And
sometimes, kids who do drugs notice positive
signs as well. For example, ‘I can talk at the
party better after a few beers,’” he says. And
though its published statistics show that the
number of teens who do drugs has gone down
dramatically in Fairfax County Public Schools,
Clayton still sees many kids with substance
related problems.
There are many ways teens can get help.
Most area schools teach about drug usage and
the effects.
“Adults and friends can help by being
able to talk about the observations and see if the
person can notice that it’s a problem,” Clayton
says.
Sometimes, it’s hard for friends to bring
up the subject however. “I know it’s bad for
them, and I think it’s really gross but they don’t
listen to me. I just try to stay away from them,”
says Bobbie about her friends who do drugs.
When drug usage has gotten out of control
– it’s taking up more time and money, friends
and school are less important – there are always doctors to talk to. “Biologically we can
think about medicine to address the substance
part or the other mental health parts, and psychologically, counseling in group or individual
therapy can be helpful, and socially, working
with the family to help decrease the subtle ways
they may contribute to the substance problem.
“However, denial on the part of kids and
their family can be a big obstacle,” says Clayton.
For teens like Michelle however, the reasons and treatments don’t seem to mean much.
Teens are teens. Looking for fun and adventure,
they overlook motivation, ways to change and
their own denial.
Sareum Kim, 16, is a junior at Centreville
High School in Clifton, Va.
The CDC report cited in this story covers
many risky teen behaviors including tobacco use, unprotected sex and not wearing a bike helmet. Check it out by visiting
www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/pdf/yrbss07_mmwr.pdf
Entert
Young D.C. t September 2008
Broussard raises the bar with soul, goodwill
Lindsey Rennie
Young D.C.
Marc Broussard, the passionate, bluesy
alternative artist from the Louisiana bayou,
does not disappoint with his first full-length
album on Atlantic Records. Broussard inherited a love and appreciation for the art of music from his father, Louisiana Hall of Fame
guitarist, Ted Broussard. Broussard’s new album, Keep Coming Back, to be released on
September 16, begins with a title track that
will have you tapping your foot and wanting to
sway along with the strong seven-piece horn
section.
Broussard brings R&B and soul music
back to life by putting ardor into the words he
sings, and just by listening, you know he’s being honest with himself and with listeners.
While listening to Keep Coming Back,
you feel like you’re home, or just enjoying
some sweet southern comfort. Broussard has
stayed true to his roots with this major-label
debut of all original songs with two talented
ladies lending their vocals. Sara Bareilles,
who has toured with Broussard, sings back-up
vocals on “Why Should She Wait” and LeAnn
Rimes, who had Broussard as a co-writer and
vocal partner on her song “Nothing Wrong,”
sings on “When It’s Good.”
The album concludes with Broussard’s
acoustic ballad, “Evangeline Rose.” Broussard
is a power-house on this final track, a song for
his daughter. He sings about how much he
loves her and misses her while on tour. Marc
Broussard is an honest and endearing artist who
cares about family, home, his fans, and the mu-
Photos courtesy of Ashley Kalmanowitz
sic he sings night after night, never losing his touch.
Broussard said that fans often mention that his albums
never measure up to the thrill of seeing one of his live shows,
but Keep Coming Back makes you feel like you’re sitting in
the front row and Marc is singing right to you.
Lindsey Rennie, 15, is a sophomore at Mount De Sales
Academy in Catonsville, Md.
Down to earth words from the bayou
Gautier Lemyze-Young
Young D.C.
Marc Broussard’s new album “Keep Coming Back” is an authentic record
filled with real music, strong influences and great beats. YDC called him to talk
about the new album, his inspirations and his future plans.
The self-proclaimed family man seemed to be at home during the interview.
His young kids were playing very audibly in the background. His raspy voice was
a great contrast to his kids’ high pitched voices. After being asked where he got his
inspiration, he said “My kids. Absolutely. They’ve had a huge impact on every aspect of my life.... [They’ve been] hugely inspirational.”
Broussard’s attitude was real and down to earth; he’s a real pleasure to interview.
Broussard said his music, “encompasses a lot of things... I just call it soul
music.” He mentioned that his label change in 2007 to Atlantic Records was smooth
because a lot of the people he had worked with at his previous label also made the
switch.
At 26, Broussard has toured and performed with some of music’s biggest
sensations from O.A.R. to Maroon 5 to Dave Matthews Band. He is an accomplished singer and is joined by strong female vocalists Sara Bareilles and LeAnn
Rimes on his new album. Bareilles joins him on 14 of 43 stops on the 30-state
“Keep Coming Back” tour.
Broussard says his new CD is different from previous albums because it has
“virtually no editing on the tracks... it’s bare bones. And I have had more involvement in this album than any other project before.”
His dad was a famous guitarist and Broussard said that growing up with a
musician father and in Louisiana, “gave me an opportunity to get closer to the performing aspect of music at a younger age than most people. [A chance to] get up
close and personal with the performer inside me... it gave me a desire to be on-stage
at a very early age.”
His favorite venues? The 9:30 Club in D.C., anywhere with an NYC audience
and, of course, his hometown Carencro near Lafayette, La.
As for his future plans, Broussard hopes to expand his nonprofit organization,
The Momentary Setback Fund (which helps hurricane victims), into a global organization that could get more funding for projects around the world. He plans to use
his music and merchandise as a way to raise money for The Momentary Setback.
He would like Young D.C. readers to know this: “If you’re an old fan, thanks
for the support. If you’re a new fan, welcome to the club. We’re going to have fun.”
Old fans, new fans and curious people can listen to the title cut of “Keep Coming
Back” by visiting www.myspace.com/marcbroussard.
Gautier Lemyze-Young, 16, is a junior at Centennial High School in Ellicott
City, Md.
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September 2008 t Young D.C.
tainment
Photo courtesy of Bavaria Films and Picture This!
Above: Fish Dreams [Sonhos de Peixe] from Brazil; below:
Glue from Argentina, two of the many films to be screened
during the XVII Latin American Film Festival.
Collections Acquisition Program
gel Rodríguez-Díaz, “The Protagonist of an Endless Story,”
93, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, museum
chase made possible in part by the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives
ol and the Smithsonian Institution
Aziza Tichavakunda
Young D.C.
Sept. 15-Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month, commemorates and celebrates the contributions and culture
of the over 44 million Americans of Latin American and
Spanish descent. The span of days includes the Dia de
Raza, which celebrates the multicultural heritage and
history of the Americas, and the Independence Days of
Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Mexico and Nicaragua. The metropolitan area offers
some great activities in honor of this month and to increase cultural awareness. The ones below promise to
be fun and informative. All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Sept. 4 – Flamenco Festivities at the Smithsonian
American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard, NW DC,
5–8 p.m. – Enjoy a night of flamenco and rumba
demonstrations and lessons and be a part of a bilingual question-and-answer session.
Sept. 9 – Reyes of Comedy Night at the Warner Theater, NW DC, 5–8 p.m. – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 2008 will host this event of
five comedians presenting a comedic portrait of Hispanic life in the United States. To obtain additional
information and to purchase tickets, visit www.chci.
org. Admission is $50 for students.
Sept. 13 – Living in Many Worlds: Hispanic Heritage
Month Family Day Celebration at the Kogod Courtyard/Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art
and Portraiture, 8th St. and G St., NW, D.C, 1–5 p.m.
– Smithsonian invites families to a day of interactive
activities, dance performances, bomba and plena
music, arts and crafts, and bilingual tours.
Sept. 16 – Oct. 7 – XVII Latin American Film Festival
at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, Silver
Spring, Md. – The American Film Institute, the InterAmerican Development Bank and the Ibero-American Cultural Attachés Association present the Latin
American Film Festival, which will feature over 30
Latin American films during these three weeks.
Learn more about Latin American culture, customs,
history, and contemporary theatre while watching
good movies from South American countries and
Spain. For more information about the movies and
movie schedules, go to http://dclatinamericanfilmfestival.org. Admission is $8.50 for students with
valid ID, $9.75 general admission.
Sept. 30, Oct. 1-3, Oct. 7 – XVII Latin American Film
Festival at Gala Hispanic Theatre, Tivoli Square,
3333 14th Street, 14th and Park Road, 6:30 p.m. all
days except Oct. 7. The movies are listed on http://
dclatinamericanfilmfestival.org/gala.pdf.
Local Indian dance ensemble
performs new work Sept. 20, 21
Celebration
con sabor –
the vibrancy
of Hispanic
heritage month
Sept. 21 – Annual Fiesta at the National Zoo, 11 a.m.–
5 p.m. – Friends of the National Zoo invites you to a
day of animal demonstrations, dance performances,
Hispanic and Latino music, Latin American foods
and crafts for sale.
Sept. 28 – Fiesta DC 2008 in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood in Northwest DC, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. – The annual official Latino Festival of Washington, Fiesta
DC 2008, will feature four stages that will incorporate music, folklore, theatre and other performing
arts. In addition, Fiesta DC will include a Children’s
Festival, a Science Fair, a Community-Based Organization Information Fair, and sections for Arts &
Crafts, Public Information and International Cuisine.
Fiesta DC and the Smithsonian Latino Center are
working together to create engaging, cultural programming. Visit www.fiestadc.org for more details.
Oct. 4 – Latin Jazz Celebration at the National Postal
Museum, 2–5 p.m. – Enjoy conga drum demonstrations and interactive musical performances from a
quartet of students from The Music Teaching Project. Listen to Latin jazz’s oral history, learn about
the newly released stamp that pays respect to Latin
jazz and design your own heritage stamps.
– Living and Working in Space at the National Air and
Space Museum, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. – Learn about Hispanics’ contributions to aeronautics in a bilingual
program, do arts and crafts, and check out discovery
stations about how people live and work in space.
Aziza Tichavakunda, 15, is a junior at Banneker
High School in the District of Columbia.
Matt Nguyen and Priscilla Ward contributed to this
calendar.
Nine locally trained dancers from the
Nrityanjali Performance Troupe of Gaithersburg, Md, introduce a new composition yet
classical dance Sept. 20 and 21.
The work, Bhakti Manjari, is in a classical Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam,, It
explores the four major stages of ‘bhakti’ or
divine devotion, relying on the subtle nuances of group choreography to accent the
larger theme of relationships.
Nrityanjali’s Bhakti Manjari
Kreeger Auditorium
at the Jewish Community Center,
6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, Md.
Entertainment t Young D.C. t September 2008
Pharmakon –
An epic tale set in the early decades
of psychopharmaceutical drugs
Gautier Lemyze-Young
Young D.C.
Dirk Wittenborn’s fantastic novel Pharmakon weaves the tale of a psychology
professor, his family and their ambitions. Dr. Friedrich is a family man, a professor at
Yale in the 1950s with little money. Friedrich and his family live in a social circle
drenched in money and power, and Friedrich strives to feel at place in it. And he thinks
he could have found his ticket with gai kau dong. It is a drug from the South Pacific that
could very well be the cure to any mental instability. He and his partner, Dr. Winton,
the only female in the psychology department, conduct months of experiments on the
drug. They are quite certain it is very effective until one of their subjects goes crazy.
The outcome of this subject’s downfall is so horrible that Friedrich is forced to move
and find a new, better paying job in pharmaceuticals.
Pharmakon is first told from the point of view of a narrator, then switches to the
point of view of Friedrich’s youngest child, Zach. Zach’s whirlwind life is a fantastic
story. It starts with him turning from a young, ignorant boy into a partying teenager,
and eventually into a cocaine addicted screenwriter.
Wittenborn’s style of writing is phenomenal. Between the incredible detail and
amazing character build-up, the reader is sucked into this well-written world of pharmaceuticals. Wittenborn’s sense of emotion and dialogue is incredible and intriguing. Many times the book was glued to my hands. In particular, when Zach has a life
changing experience with one of the subjects of the Friedrich-Winton research at Yale.
This scene is so well written and so believable, that it is heavenly to read.
This novel will get readers thinking about pharmaceuticals’ impact on society. A
particularly great line is, “Friedrich wondered if there might be a way to prescribe
tears.” This line shows the way these doctors think and where pharmaceuticals could
be heading in the future. The effect would be huge and society would be changed forever. It’s just something to think about.
Pharmakon
by Dirk Wittenborn
Viking
416 pages
$25.95
Gautier Lemyze-Young, 16, is a junior at Centennial High School in Ellicott
City, Md.
Shedding some light on Breaking Dawn
Caitlin Peterson
Young D.C.
The much anticipated fourth novel in the Twilight
series, Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer is not one
to disappoint. This popular saga follows desirable
vampire Edward, fragile teen Bella, and the
Cullens, a family of
“good” vampires who
prey on animals rather
than humans. The
book, out Aug. 2, picks
up right where Eclipse,
the third novel, left off.
Edward and Bella’s
wedding is fast approaching, and from
there, the action picks
up and never stops. Thrills, excitement and anticipation abound as readers leaf through its 700+ pages.
Unlike the other books, Breaking Dawn doesn’t
stay with one character’s perspective throughout. It
begins with Bella’s point of view, switches to the perspective of her werewolf friend Jacob, and eventually
switches back to Bella. This takes away from the book
a bit, as there are some things that could be better explained by Bella rather than Jacob. But, his point of
view adds to the book in its own way.
For a book with such wide popularity, it is fair to
say that the author would never have been able to meet
all expectations. It is certainly not the best of Meyer’s
work, but it isn’t the worst either. This book isn’t as
believable as the others, and the characters seem rather
forced, their actions questionable and not what readers
have come to expect. So, there are bound to be those
who aren’t satisfied with this end to the series.
Overall, the book is a strong, emotional read. The
description is lacking at times, but it still succeeds in
keeping you hooked from start to finish. It is nearly impossible to put down once you start reading it – as addicting a read as the others were. Meyer did an exceptional job wrapping up her saga, but she left many
questions unanswered, which leads many to think this
wasn’t the end. One can only hope that it wasn’t. And if
there is more to come, what will Meyer think up next?
Breaking Dawn
Stephanie Meyer
Released Aug. 2, 2008
Little, Brown Young Readers
768 pages
Caitlin Peterson, 15, is a junior at John S. Burke
Catholic High School in Goshen, N.Y.
September 2008 t Young D.C.
Fall TV lineup sure to excite
Fran Djoukeng
Young D.C.
complex on your front lawn and your whole neighborhood
will be watching as you play for money based on how well
If you are worried that last winter’s writer’s strike has you know your family members. All you have to do for coldaffected the new fall television shows for the major networks, hard cash and prizes is to demonstrate superb knowledge of
your family. And, of course, handle the
you are not overreacting. The new fall
pressure of National TV.
television series are not quite as nuThe Mentalist (Scheduled to premerous as they were in 2007. Most
miere on CBS on Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
networks are planning to air two new
with a 2 hour special): Patrick Jane,
shows or less. Still, there are three
played by Simon Barker, stars in this
shows that seem to be promising:
series as a detective from California
Fringe (FOX), Opportunity Knocks
and independent consultant who is em(ABC) and The Mentalist (CBS).
ployed by the Federal Bureau of InvesHere’s the latest scoop:
tigation. Jane has a real knack and exFringe (Scheduled to premiere
traordinary record for solving grave
on FOX on Sept. 9 at 8/7c with a 2
crimes—all by using his keen skills- a
hour special): A thriller drama that exrazor sharp talent at observation. All
plores the lives of special agents who
the while, his tragic past haunts him
investigate unusual phenomena. The
and his every action. series centers on a man named Walter
Check the premiere for these
Bishop, a rather intelligent but fanatishows but don’t dismiss your favorites
cal scientist, who is reunited with his
from fall 2007, including:
estranged son by a female agent from
Michael Lavine / Fox
Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Fringe on Fox debuts with Anna Torv (left),
Deal Or No Deal (NBC)
Episodes will follow the relationships Mark Valley and Joshua Jackson
CSI: Miami, NY (CBS)
of the lead trio and delve into a multitude of self-contained whodunits.
Opportunity Knocks (Scheduled to premiere on ABC on Fran Djoukeng, 15, is a junior at Montgomery Blair HS
Sept. 23 at 8/7c): This is a brand new game show to be hosted in Silver Spring, Md.
by J.D. Roth that brings one lucky family in America together each week to play the game of a lifetime, for money. The
premise- camera and crew comes knocking on your front
door and asks if you want to play, then they set a huge game
Entertainment calendar full of humor, concerts
Venues:
1st Mariner Arena – 201 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Md. 21201
9:30 Club - 815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Black Cat – 1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
20009
DAR Constitution Hall – 18th & C Streets NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
Fletchers Bar & Grill – 701 S Bond Street, Baltimore,
Md. 21231
Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center – 12 N Eutaw Street, Baltimore,
Md.21201
Merriweather Post Pavilion – 10475 Little Patuxent
Parkway, Columbia, MD, 21044
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall – 1212 Cathedral Street,
Baltimore, Md. 21201
National Zoo – 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008, 202-673-4800
Nissan Pavilion – 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow,
Va. 20136
Patriot Center – 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Va.
22030
Pier Six – 731 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Md.,
21202
Shakespeare Theatre Company, 450 7th Street NW
DC, 202-547-1122
Sixth & I Synagogue – 600 I Street NW, Washington,
D.C. 20001
Rams Head Live! – 20 Market Place, Power Plant
Live, Baltimore Md. 21202
Verizon Center – 601 F Street NW, Washington, D.C.
20004
Warner Theatre – 13th Street between E & F Streets
NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
September:
1 – Jimmy Buffet concert – Nissan Pavilion
5 – Jerry Seinfeld – Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
5– Bob Newhart – Warner Theatre
6 – The Hint, American Diary, Anthem, and OH the
Story concert – Fletchers Bar & Grill
6 – Patti LaBelle concert – Pier Six
8 – Celine Dion concert – Verizon Center
Sept. 9 - Sept. 28: Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Theatre Company
11 – Stereophonics concert – 9:30 Club
13 – 3 Doors Down, Hinder, and Finger Eleven concert
– Merriweather Post Pavilion
14 – Third Day, Switchfoot, Robert Randolph, and Jars
of Clay concert – Nissan Pavilion
16 through the 21– Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor – Warner Theatre
17 – Balkan Beatbox and Deleon – Black Cat
19 – Curtis Album Release Party – 50 Cent & G Unit
Family – 1st Mariner Arena
20 – Several Species – The Pink Floyd Experience –
Pier Six
20 – Mary J. Blige concert – Nissan Pavilion
21 – The Mars Volta concert– Rams Head Live!
21 – Sunday in the Country featuring Sugarland, Rodney Atkins, Billy Currington, Jason Michael Carroll,
and Laura Bryna – Merriweather Post Pavilion
21 – Fiesta Musica at the National Zoo
26 – How Sweet the Sound, The Search for the Best
Church Choirs in America concert – Verizon Center
27 – Martina McBride concert – Nissan Pavilion
28 – Kathy Griffin – DAR Constitution Hall
Sept. 30 through Oct. 12 – Legally Blonde the Musical
– Hippodrome Theatre
Calendar compiled by Sareum Kim and Lindsey
Rennie.
Sports
TJ men’s volleyball set for first season
Young D.C. t September 2008
Jin-Ah Kim
Young D.C.
This fall, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology adds a new sport. Men’s volleyball was a club sport the past year, but became official
in July. Although women’s volleyball is very popular,
men’s volleyball is much more obscure, with only seven other schools in northern Virginia supporting official teams.
The seeds of it were sown long ago. “In the spring
of 2007, my friend Michelle Oresky saw that there was
a fair amount of interest in a men’s volleyball team,”
said Chet Markwalter, 18. Then juniors, Markwalter
and Oresky approached Melody Modell, director of
student services at TJ. “[In the end], Modell said that
there could not be an official team [in the 2007-2008]
year,” said Markwalter. According to Modell, the team
could not be official until it showed that it could support itself and that there was steady interest in it.
Markwalter and Oresky, along with Sumit Malik,
then a sophomore, started recruiting members and
found Anna Stamper, a history teacher, who could
coach the team.
After writing a charter and constitution, TJ men’s
volleyball became a club sport. Throughout the fall of
2007, the club practiced after school or during eighth
period. Eighth period at TJ is scheduled so students
can participate in club or team activities during school
hours. Through the year about 20 guys consistently
showed up for practice. Beyond rules and logistics, there are many challenges for getting a team started. “We actually had only
14 people come to the first practice,” said David Klayton, 17. “We’re hoping enough people can get interested to have multiple teams next year.”
“The rising seniors who took over have done a
great job of getting the team into the league, fund-raising, and establishing practice,” said Markwalter. “I’m
really excited for them and I know that they are pumped
to finally have a legitimate team.”
Another problem is experience. “I’ve never
played organized volleyball before,” said Mikas Kuprenas, 17. “However, we’ve practiced a lot over the
last year and some of us went to a team camp over the
summer to make up for the lack of experience.”
Klayton, who was one of six members who were
at the team camp at George Mason University, feels
that the team is ready for its first season. “There were a
few other teams from our league [at the camp] and they
were really good – but TJ’s gotten a lot better from
practices this August so hopefully we will win some of
our games,” said Klayton.
Anthony Hwang, 17, a veteran volleyball player
who has played in club leagues for 10 seasons, has
high expectations. “Although very few members have
played competitively before, they’re all very athletic
and hard-working so they’re picking up the sport at a
rapid pace,” said Hwang. “And our coach is great so
we should be able to play evenly with several of the
other teams.”
Daniel Higgins, 16, has played on youth leagues
for four seasons. He said the eighth period experiences
were invaluable to the team. “Most of our team gained
valuable experience last year,” said Higgins. “Many of
the other teams that we’ll be playing have been together
a lot longer than we have. That said, our team has great
chemistry and many talented athletes. This season will
be successful no matter how many games we win.”
Coach Stamper said, “Most of the guys have been
playing and practicing together since September 2007,
so they know each other and have great court rapport,”
said Stamper. “They are excited and ready to meet their
first opponent.”
The players also have goals that go beyond just
winning the games. “Our goal for this year is to lay a
good foundation for later classes at TJ,” said Kuprenas.
“We are an extremely upperclassmen-heavy team, and
so we want to show the freshmen and sophomore that
we exist, we’re a real sport, and they can play too.”
“[I expect] that the guys give 110 percent effort
and have as much fun as possible. I hope that we are
successful as a team, and that we win every game, but
even if we don’t, if you have fun playing it makes it all
worthwhile,” said Stamper.
TJ men’s volleyball will have its first game
Wednesday, Sept. 3 against Lake Braddock Secondary
School and Herndon High School.
Jin-Ah Kim, 18, is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in
Alexandria, Va.
archery•badminton•baseball•basketball•
bobsledding•bowling•boxing• canoeing•
cross country•cycling•fencing•football•golf•hockey
•judo•lacrosse•rowing
•skating•skiing•swimming•tennis•track and
field•volleyball•water polo•
weightlifting•wrestling
Has an amateur athlete in your sport been profiled
in YDC lately?
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reporters and looking for profile prospects.
Send an email to: newsroom@youngdc.org
September 2008 t Young D.C.
Humor
Casey Drogin
Casey Drogin, 16, is a junior at Einstein HS in Kensington, Md.
Don’t judge a book by it’s...oh, never mind
Archie Brown
Young D.C.
A Practical Guide to Racism, by C. H. Dalton,
proud holder of the “most obvious pseudonym” title
is precisely what the title suggests: a guidebook discussing and documenting racial stereotypes, slurs and
suggestive themes in a direct, understandable and uproarious fashion. Wholly provocative and at times
even incendiary, the guide stays wholly deadpan from
start to finish as if it were a fishing manual or instructions for setting up Tivo. This isn’t quite a mainstream
title, but it remains at the very least thought-provoking, if not downright astonishing.
Books like this one put reviewers in an awkward
position. To produce a review that’s understandable
for more than the niche audience, metahumor and
ironic behavior must be explained outright. Just to
avoid the beehive-poking factor, it tends to be a drag
to both write and read.
Photo courtesy of Comedy Central
The author, as described in his ever-so-serious guide, “In
1954, the famously reclusive former child prodigy, C. H.
Dalton, was born to a family of wealthy robber barons in New
Haven, Connecticut...After receiving his Ph.D. in just three
years, Dalton accepted the prestigious Charles Lindbergh
professorship in Ethnography at the Institute for Advanced
Studies in New Jersey, where he teaches an intensive
course load of two lectures every other semester.”
Suffice to say the book works in the same way
“The Colbert Report” works. The author, a Young
D.C. alumnus, isn’t actually a racist. He simply finds
the some hateful notions humorous enough to transplant into a more sterile environment in order to draw
out their inherent absurdity. Old racist standbys such
as “every Hispanic is obsessed with soccer” sound
silly and funny when put down in a big stuffy field
guide. There. Joke explained and humor ruined. Nobody involved in the book, or any newspaper reviewing it is remotely racist.
A Practical Guide to Racism is the perfect book
for learning true colors. People who see race as a nonissue can be identified if they laugh out loud at this
scintillating treatise on racial stereotypes worldwide.
Actual racists are those who read the book somberly
and see nothing out of the ordinary. Lastly, closet racists are the ones morally outraged simply at the title,
literally judging a book by its cover. That’s racist.
Archie Brown, 18, is a freshman at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa.
Boxes?
We ain’t got no stinkin’ boxes. We deliver free to
schools, libraries and teen hangouts.
Call the newsroom to get on the list:
202.232.5300
Viewpoints
Young D.C. t September 2008
Bullying: far more serious than TV lets on
Courtney Stein
Young D.C.
Movies and TV shows portray bullying incessantly – and some of it even manages to amuse the
general public. After all, isn’t there something positively uplifting about an outcast who, at the last minute, whips out a witty comeback to redeem his or her
previously downtrodden self and completely topple
the unjust high school hierarchy?
Of course there is. But sadly, life rarely mir-
rors an idealistic television plot. In reality, kids cannot conjure witty comebacks on cue, nor manage to
help themselves in more indirect ways. That’s why
students like Bridget Marrs, see story page 5, must
continue to aid their friends in eradicating this aggressive, exploitative behavior. Many make the
mistake of dismissing power in numbers as mere
verisimilitude. But knowing the inner insecure nature of bullies, they are much more likely to prey
elsewhere if they can no longer isolate their vic-
tim.
And that’s the key: upon witnessing it, that person should do whatever he or she can. In other words:
challenge the challenger – through direct confrontation, adult intervention, support groups, whatever it
takes. With a little effort, this generation can ensure
that bullying does not live on as a rampant childhood
epidemic, but rather, yesterday’s burden.
Courtney Stein, 17, is a senior at St. Pius X HS
Find YDC around town where you earn, learn and have fun
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About Viewpoints
Unsigned Viewpoints articles, or editorials, convey the opinions of the Young
D.C. editorial board. Any Viewpoint or column that has a byline or is signed by the
author reflects the opinion of the individual
author. It is not necessarily the opinion of
Young D.C., its editorial board or staff.
Young D.C. welcomes letters to the
editor, comments and submissions from
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Address correspondence to
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1904 18th Street, NW
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Young D.C., Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, exists to create opportunities for young people from diverse racial,
ethnic, geographic and economic backgrounds to work together to develop a responsible, independent media voice.
Its program encourages teens to examine new territory in the region’s fragmented
society to produce this newspaper. In the
process, its editors, reporters, photographers, cartoonists, illustrators and interns
develop skills for college and career.
Casey Drogin, 16, is a junior at Einstein HS in Kensington, Md.
September 2008 t Young D.C. t Viewpoints
OC from page one
ies. “We realize these are challenging economic times,” said Abbot.
“These free events are something that adds value to a vacation and we
hope that people can have some fun,” she said. “Also, our beach is free...
where [as] many resort beaches are not free.”
Alison Price from Baltimore, Md. came to Ocean City to see one of
the free movies screening on the beach. “We’re actually down here to
celebrate my 40th birthday,” said Price, “so high gas prices weren’t going
to stop us.” The mother of three girls, ages nine, 10, and 11, said she
thinks about her route more often so she doesn’t waste time or gas. “When
we got here we realized we had forgotten our beach chairs, but we decided
it wasn’t worth it to drive back and get them,” said Price.
Two twelve-year-old girls at the movie that night, Carlee Barrett
and Kamryn Evans, are locals who also feel hurt by the economy. “I’m
from Berlin, Md.,” said Kamryn, “and my dad lives in Rehoboth, Del.,
but I’ve hardly gotten to see him this summer because neither he nor my
mom wants to drive me back and forth.” Barrett agrees, “I barely get to
see my friends who live in the surrounding areas.”
Methods of transportation have also changed drastically for Ocean
City visitors this summer. “You can ride the bus all day for two dollars,”
said Megan Diggs, 12, of Glen Burnie, Md., “so we ride the bus all the
time.”
“We parked the car and left it for two weeks,” said Sandra Diggs,
Megan’s mother. “We’re also cooking every night, going to free events,
spending more time at the free beach and pool, and we brought games
with us to occupy our time.”
On the boardwalk on a stifling hot Thursday, Nicole Whewell and
Dan Calwell said they took the bus to get there. “We take the bus all the
time now,” said Calwell, from Denton, Md. The two teenagers know
money is hard to come by, and they said they need to save money in whatever ways possible. Whewell, from Ridgeley, Md., said, “we saved up a
lot more money than we usually do just to be able to come down here this
year and we’re constantly cooking in the condo that Dan’s family owns.”
Billie Dastra, a mother of three from Lancaster, Pa., said she was
cooking for her family each night and was constantly reminding her fam-
Photo courtesy of Lindsey Rennie
Many families watch Happy Feet, the free movie on the beach at 27th Street on a chilly evening in
early July.
ily they were still on a budget, even though they were on vacation. “I own three gas stations,” Dastra said, though she declined to say where they were located. “But trust me, gas
stations owners aren’t benefiting at all from high gas prices.”
Penaso loved having a vacation in Ocean City this year because it was her first time
down in five years. “My family usually thinks it’s a hassle to drive down with me and my
two siblings and spend a lot of money in one place,” Penaso said. She was only able to come
this year because her friend invited her. “My favorite part of the entire trip was taking the
bus down to see Happy Feet on the beach with my friends,” she said, “because sometimes
the best things in life truly are free.”
Lindsey Rennie, 15, is a sophomore at Mount De Sales Academy in Catonsville, Md.
Morefunhere.com shows a schedule of all the free events and offers special deals to families
to encourage them to visit Ocean City for a vacation.
The Bureau of National Affairs
Children’s Charities Foundation
Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation
The Washington Examiner
The Freedom Forum
The Herb Block Foundation
McCormick Tribune Foundation
for your generous support of YDC’s programs in 2008
Konrad’s Lens