Halloween enhanced by hauntings

Nonpartisan think tank says
states are passing laws that will
keep old, minority and first-time
voters from casting ballots
See p. 4
In this issue
Entertainment
Humor
Lifestyle
News
Soapbox
Sports
Viewpoints
9–10
13
5–7
1–4
15
12
14
YDC reviewers catch
Footloose on the big
screen and new shows
on television
See p. 10-11
Volume 21 t Issue 2 t October 2011 t
Halloween enhanced by hauntings
Dana Harrison and Nick Pope
Young D.C.
Markoff’s Haunted Forest
During the Halloween season, both thrill seekers
and scaredy cats alike have access to a new way to scare
themselves and get their adrenaline pumping: Haunted
attractions. There are numerous local and well known
haunted attractions throughout the DMV, but one in
Poolesville, Maryland has gained a lot of popularity:
Markoff’s Haunted Forest. Markoff’s Haunted Forest
opened 19 years ago, and has continued to scare brave
customers since. There are two trails to choose from,
both around 20 minutes each, along with Haunted Hayrides, zip-lines, ghost hunts, a fortune teller and more.
Other than just being a fun and horrifying place to
visit, being an employee is just as rewarding. YDC
spoke to former haunted forest employee Lindsay Farr,
18, a freshman at Champlain College, who worked at
Markoff’s Haunted forest for two years. She said she
enjoyed her experience. “Working at the Haunted Forest
was amazing,” Lindsay said while recalling her best
scares. “The best scare I ever made was when I was pretending to be a patron on the hayride with my friends.
Later in the ride, I was yanked off the hayride screaming. When I came back to see my friends’ reaction I
found my friend was so scared that she started crying.”
Farr said she believes that what makes Markoff’s
one of the best is that they understand that the most important part of scaring people is the suspense. “It’s not
the goriness or the blood that scares people,” Farr explained. “It’s the suspense and the sudden attack.”
However, mastering the art of the “sudden attack”
See Halloween, page 3
photo courtesy of Markoff’s Haunted Forest
YDC talks to Diggy Simmons about new releases
Nick Pope
Young D.C.
Nicki Minaj has her Barbie’s, and Lady Gaga
has her Little Monsters. Well, Diggy Simmons has his
Jetsetters. The Jetsetters are not only Diggys’s fans
but innovators across the world. YDC asked why this
term suits his fans, “A Jetsetter is someone who is
always representing themselves in a creative and new
way, from the way they dress to the way they talk. A
Jetsetter is someone who will always be true to themselves and not giving up on their dreams.” He says
some Jetsetter’s in his own life are Kayne West, Jay
Z, Lupe Fiasco and Pharell. He said ten-time Grammy nominee Pharrell is a big brother figure to him.
YDC asked Diggy what fans can expect on his
upcoming album he said, ”You will see a lot of new
styles on this album. I have the same aura and feel as
on the “First Flight” mix tape, but I took it and made it
diverse and in a whole new level.” Readers and Jetsetters can expect the as yet untitled album around the
end of 2011.
While some teens get up, get dressed and go to
school, Diggy Simmons has to get up, get dressed and
go to the studio.
Diggy Simmons is a new upcoming rapper, who
has a lot of buzz behind him. Last summer he rolled
on the Closer To My Dreams tour along with Jawan
Harris, Trevante, Lil Twist, Mindless Behavior and
Tyga. He started his dream at 15, with his first mix
tape “The First Flight.” The mix tape was a great success, scoring over one million downloads. This Simmons seems destined to become a rapper, because his father, Rev Run from Run DMC, and
his older brother Jojo are both rappers. When YDC
caught up with him before the tour stop at Howard
University, Diggy said that he is very surprised and
happy with the feedback he’s getting from his new
single “Copy Paste” and can’t wait to release upcoming singles. He will be on other tours after the Closer
Nick Pope, 16, is a senior at Duke Ellington
To My Dreams tour and will be doing a lot more perphoto by Nick Pope School of the Arts in the District of Columbia
formances before the end of 2011. Closer to his dreams: Diggy Simmons backstage at Howard U
News t Young D.C. t October 2011
Film says school-related stress is too much
Christina Lee
Young D.C.
If there is anything students should be worrying about for college, it should be
whether they are doing too much. Where is the limit? At what point is too much
simply absurd?
Vicki Abeles captures issues ranging from the significance of homework, sleep deprivation and the physical impossibility of juggling multiple AP classes with
extracurricular activities in her documentary “Race to
Nowhere.” She aims it at each citizen of the education
community and challenges them to answer questions
about the limits of “challenging” schoolwork.
Abeles is none other than a concerned mother of
three overwhelmed students. She began to examine
stressed-out students when her own daughter was diagnosed with a stress-related illness. In addition to her
documentary, she has written an open letter which says,
“Childhood has become indentured to test scores, performance and competition. We face an epidemic of unhealthy, disengaged, unprepared kids trying to manage
as best they can.”
Some of the examples Abeles uses in her documentary may seem farfetched or atypical to students in
the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. However, YDC talked to some local teens who can relate to the battles with
stress and pressure Abeles addresses.
Nikki Do, 17, a senior at Oakton HS in Vienna,
Va. is one of the many high school students who understand the dangerous effects of too much pressure. “My
parents aren’t that strict, and I think it’s the teachers
who place the most pressure on students. I want that ‘A’
and when you don’t do well on an exam, the teacher
gives you a disapproving look that makes you feel bad about yourself.”
It was while she was studying for a Physics exam that Do realized she’s had
enough. “I was in my room studying and suddenly I started having these mild stomach pains. I ignored them at first but then I was writhing with pain and the next
thing I knew was my mom taking me to the hospital. The doctor said it was because
of stress.”
Abeles uses anecdotes about students diagnosed with eating disorders and
other problems. She also includes an account of a student who committed suicide.
Should any of these be the result of a single bad math test or a failure to meet a
short-term goal?
Jay Mathews, an education reporter for the Washington Post, challenges the
accuracy of Abele’s depiction of highly stressed students as the norm. In his article
“Why ‘Race to Nowhere’ documentary is wrong,” Matthews says that Abeles is
well-intended and tackles an important issue, but her facts are misleading. He refers to a study from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, which
says that “15-to-17-year olds in 2002 and
2003 devoted about three and one-half hours
a day to TV and other leisure while their average time spent studying was 42 minutes.”
In the same article, Matthews interviews Abeles who counters his argument by
saying, “the University of Michigan study
you reference actually shows that the amount
of homework assigned to kids age 6 to 9 almost tripled in the 1990s.”
In her open letter, Abeles further challenges the current state of education. “We
cannot wait for large institutions or the government to make the changes our kids need
today. Education should not be driven by political and corporate interests. There’s too
much evidence that it isn’t working for any
of our kids. Layers of change are needed,
starting from the ground up.”
In the interviews used in her documentary, Abeles weaves a connection between
self-destructive habits like cramming and
cheating to overall morality. Students who
rely on risky methods throughout high
school, interviewees say, suffer in college
due to the difference in how they should
study versus how they coped in high school.
While Abeles urges viewers to set limits on the amount of pressure applied to students, students still must decide how to stabilize their morale, activities and studies.
“Race to Nowhere” is another education-related documentary. “Waiting for
Superman” and “Two Million Minutes” round out a trio of documentaries that raise
different concerns about reforming American education. “Race to Nowhere” (PG13, 85 min) is only shown in public screenings. You can find or host a local screening at http://www.racetonowhere.com/screenings.
Christina Lee, 17, is a senior at Oakton High School in Vienna, Va.
October 2011 t Young D.C. t News
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.
Managing Editor: Christina Lee Oakton HS (Va.)
News Editor: Dana Harrison, Wootton HS (Md.)
Lifestyle Editor: Lisa Hu, Wootton HS (Md.)
Reporters: Cuyler Deegan, The Lab School of Washington (D.C.);
Mohammad Diallo, Syracuse University (NY); Alex Greenhill, Brehm School (Ill.); Eyen Zame Johnson, homeschooled, (D.C.); Abigail
Melick, Woodrow Wilson HS (D.C.); Matt Nguyen, Lafayette College (Pa.); Olivia Patch, The Lab School of Washington (D.C.); Nick
Pope, Ellington School for the Arts (D.C); Abby Seitz, Fauquier HS
(Va.); Emily Yang, Churchill HS (Md.), Kathy Zhang, Paint Branch
HS (Md.)
Photographers: Kelly Fisher, The Lab School of Washington (D.C.);
Chidiki Jones Whitley, The Lab School of Washington (D.C.)
Board of Directors: Nate Beeler, George Curry, Tom Donlan, Rich
Foster, Mary Hanley, Judy Hines, Cynthia Farrell Johnson, Kathleen Reilly Mannix (ex officio), Sarah Menke-Fish, Bob Neuman,
Reginald Ragland (chairman), David R. Rapp, Phillip Reid, Samara
Sit
Advisory Board (Emeritus Directors): Hector Ericksen-Mendoza,
Sean Jensen, Rosamond King, Carol Lange
Young D.C. is supported by BNA, The Children’s Charities Foundation, Crowell & Moring Foundation, and sponsors of Cartoons & Cocktails 2011, an auction of editorial art held Oct. 20 at the Newseum’s
Knight Conference Center which also benefited the Cartoonists Rights
Network International. Sponsors included BNA, , C-SPAN, Lynn Edwards of US News & World Report, Foxhall Gallery, The Freedom Forum and The Newseum, Andrew J. Hagan and Linda T. Smith, Lipman
Hearne, Joe and Anne Murphy, The Obscure Organization, Politico,
The Washington Examiner and members of the YDC Board.
Letters to the Editor are welcome and sometimes published. Letters
are subject to editing. Readers writing to the editors should include
contact information: name, age, telephone number.
Corrections
Young D.C. publishes corrections of matters of substance.
Thank you for bringing them to the attention of the editors
by telephone (202.232.5300), e-mail (newsroom@youngdc.
org) or snail mail.
The summer issue (vol. 19, iss. 7), should have identified the college that accepted Young D.C. photojournalist
Matt Nguyen, which he is now attending, as Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.
Halloween sites for fright
Halloween, from page one
isn’t the only thing that makes Markoff’s
one of the best. “Each night the [forest]
scenes change and there is always something
different,” she said. “The forest improves
every night.”
Whether you are brave enough to enter
the spooky trails or just want to have your
fortune read, Markoff’s Haunted Forest is
for you. However, YDC recommends taking at least one trail to get the full effect of
this horrifying and fun experience. there is
an extra fee to enter more than one trail
To be sure to get tickets, purchase them
online. Nearby restaurants Bassett’s Fine
Food (19950 Fisher Avenue), House of Poolseville (19611 Fisher Avenue) and Cugini’s
Italian (19616-H Fisher Avenue) do sell a
limited number of tickets, too. Prices for
nights closer to Halloween are $20-25.
If you are interested in a job, or just
have inquiries about the forest, don’t hesitate to visit www.markoffshauntedforest.
com. Enter at your own risk!
Markoff’s Haunted Forest
13015 Rileys Lock Road
Poolesville, Md.
Six Flags Fright Fest
–D.H.
Six Flags Fight Fest is one of the most
scariest places i have went to. First there is a
scary haunted train ride. The train goes deep
into the haunted forest and that’s when the
frightening begins. They have live actors,
props, and special effects for the train ride as
well as the haunted trail. Before the trail they
have a creepy side show with a weird host
so you wont get bored at any moment. The
trail is filled with live actors, and walking in
the forest you cant help to be a little scared.
This haunted trail/train ride is not for kids,
teens and adults only. The only thing is you
have to pay to get in Six Flags Theme Park,
as well as pay again for the haunted ride/
trail. But if you want to be scared for Halloween, its completely worth it.
Tulip Gulch’s Psycho Safari
–N.P.
–N.P.
This year Tulip Gulch is back at the
Bowie Baysox Stadium with a new haunted
attraction: The Psycho Safari. Every year
they have a horrifying new theme, and this
time is no different. It has up to 30 live actors, props and special effects. This haunted
attraction is indoors, and rated PG-13 because of the horrors inside. From scary tribal
men to wild roaming creatures, it is definitely an attraction to visit this Halloween. It is
the longest running haunted attraction in the
region, this is their 10th year at Prince
Georges County Stadium, and their 25th
year in Bowie, Maryland. Tickets are $17
dollars, and the trail takes approximately 20
minutes to go through. Open Friday’s and
Saturdays Sept.30-Oct.22, and Friday
Oct.28- Monday Oct.31 6pm-11pm.
Dana Harrison, 17, is a senior at Wootton HS in Rockville, Md.
Nick Pope, 17, is a senior at Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in the
©2011 Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/voting_law_changes_in_2012
News t Young D.C. t October 2011
Non-partisan think tank issues report
about state laws that threaten democracy
Cuyler Deegan
Young D.C.
Some states are passing new laws that may make
students, the poor and homeless have a harder time
voting. In some states a new law says you must have a
photo ID licensed by the government or a passport. If
you do not have one of these forms of identification,
they will give you a free ID upon request at the DVM—
but you must specifically request one just for voting.
Some states do not mention this to the public, so if you
do not look it up then you will not know the new rules.
When you go to cast your ballot and officials ask for
ID and you do not give them a government issued ID,
then you cannot vote. Also some laws say students
cannot use college IDs to vote. YDC learned this from
oct.6 “Voting Law Changes in 2012,” published Oct. 6
by the Brennan Center for Justice. The center, it is at
New York University Law School, is devoted to fundamental issues of democracy and justice. They don’t
choose political party sides; they just use facts. The
points below quote the summary at the beginning of
this 56-page report.
• Photo ID laws: At least 34 states introduced legislation that would require voters to show photo
identification in order to vote. Photo ID bills were
signed into law in seven states: Alabama, Kansas,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
and Wisconsin. By contrast, before the 2011 legislative session, only two states had ever imposed
strict photo ID requirements. The number of states
with laws requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification has quadrupled in 2011.
To put this into context, 11 percent of American
citizens do not possess a government-issued photo
ID; that is over 21 million citizens.
• Proof of citizenship laws: At least 12 states introduced legislation that would require proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to register or
vote. Proof of citizenship laws passed in Alabama,
Kansas, and Tennessee. Previously, only two states
had passed proof of citizenship laws, and only one
had put such a requirement in effect. The number
of states with such a requirement has more than
doubled.
• Making voter registration harder: At least 13
states introduced bills to end highly popular Election Day and same-day voter registration, limit
voter registration mobilization efforts, and reduce
other registration opportunities. Maine passed a
law eliminating Election Day registration, and
Ohio ended its weeklong period of same-day voter
registration. Florida and Texas passed laws restricting voter registration drives, and Florida and Wisconsin passed laws making it more difficult for
people who move to stay registered and vote.
• Reducing early and absentee days: At least nine
states introduced bills to reduce their early voting
periods, and four tried to reduce absentee voting
opportunities. Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee,
and West Virginia succeeded in enacting bills reducing early voting.
• Making it harder to restore voting rights: Two
states—Florida and Iowa—reversed prior executive actions that made it easier for citizens with
past felony convictions to restore their voting
rights, affecting hundreds of thousands of voters.
In effect, both states now permanently disenfranchise most citizens with past felony convictions.
Cuyler Deegan, 17, is a junior at The Lab School
of Washington in the District of Columbia.
October 2011 t Young D.C. t Lifestyle
LifeStyle
Tastebuds
Starbuck’s seasonal treat charms this Tastebuddy
L
Lisa Hu
Young D.C.
ike most people who start their days off at un-godly
hours during the week, coffee is the only way I can
even attempt to power through the day. I drink coffee
almost every single day, sometimes even twice a day.
You know, on one of those days. So the taste of it can
get really boring, really fast. Finding a flavor I’d want to stick with is proving to be
harder than waking up at the crack of dawn. The problem is not for lack of trying, but
more so because I can’t seem to find one that fits perfectly.
Luckily, I seem to have found a solution. The arrival of Starbucks’s seasonal
pumpkin spice latte fits perfectly into the fall season. It’s ideal on a chilly day, when a
piping hot coffee can warm you up and keep you awake. For those of you who dread
ending up with a scorched tongue, Starbucks also offer an iced version of the pumpkin
spice latte. This is the closest coffee I have found to date that I haven’t gotten sick of.
This is partly due to the fact that this particular flavor is only offered for a limited time
by Starbucks. That’s why I have to get my fill. Or else I’m forced to wait for next year
to come around.
Generally speaking, I’m not crazy about pumpkin flavor (I could care less
about pumpkin pie), but the blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove combine to create a
spicy flavor that is uniquely Starbucks’s pumpkin spice latte. In my opinion, this sets it
far apart from the usual run of the mill coffees. If you’re looking for a way to spice up
your morning (literally), make a quick stop at Starbucks and decide for yourself. Before
it’s gone for good.
Lisa Hu, 17, is a senior at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, MD
photo courtesy of starbucks.com
The seasonal pumpkin spice latte starts the day off right for Starbucks
customers.
Cyberian Tyger
Screensavers morph into entertainment
Emily Yang
Young D.C.
Watching pipes, vector graphics, or even scrolling text move across a black screen has been a sense
of entertainment to younger kids, but what are
screensavers really for? When screensavers were
originally made, they were meant to prevent phosphor burn-ins with computers that were based on
cathode ray tubes. A phosphor burn-in is when there
is a permanent discoloration on some kind of electronic display screen, and would occur if the computer screen was left on for a long period of time.
However, even if screensavers did prevent
phosphor burn-ins in the past, they certainly have no
effect on modern technology anymore. Some people
believe that screensavers will help them save energy
on their computer, but this is not so. According to (is
Wikipedia really the best source? I love Wikipedia,
but for an informational article, I don’t think it’s
suitable—just make sure with Kathy), the best way
to help save energy and one’s computer screen is just
to turn off the monitor and refrain from using a
screensaver at all. Even if you use a screensaver, it
uses the same amount of energy as it does when run
normally.
Even though screensavers aren’t needed for
saving computer screens, they still have other uses,
like security. If the user walks away for a while and
the screensaver comes on, he will need the password
in order to access the computer again. This way, the
user won’t have to worry about any nosy people who
want to access their information. Despite the fact
that advanced technology doesn’t need screensavers
anymore, people still like to use them for entertainment or decorational purposes. All they have to do is
right click on the desktop, go to properties, click the
tab “Screen Saver,” and adjust to their preferences
accordingly.
Emily Yang, 15, is a sophomore at Churchill HS
in Potomac, Md.
Lifestyle t Young D.C. t October 2011
October 2011 t Young D.C. t Lifestyle
What’s
missing?
Could be
you are
the teen
YDC needs
at the
drawing
board
8,))1403=))3;2)67%8&2%-2'
%6)4639(8379443688,)463+6%173*=392+('
The Herb Block Foundation
Join YDC’s happy band of cartoonists.
There is room for both humor and editorial cartoonists.
Download an application from the YDC website:
www.youngdc.org
YDC is looking for more Cyberian Tygers.
YDC welcomes both teens with strong
interests in technology and teen technoskeptics.
Write–with CyTy in the subject line–to the
lifestyle editor:
[email protected]
The staff of Young D.C.
Volume 21
thanks
BNA
Children’s Charities Foundation
The Herb Block Foundation
and
the sponsors of
Cartoons & Cocktails 2011
for giving us a voice
in print
and online
Entertainment
Young D.C. t October 2011
Footloose remake kicks up its heels
Nick Pope
Young D.C.
Footloose was and is simply amazing. The remake’s dancing iss good,
and it definitely lives up to the 1984 original. Footloose tells the story of a
town that banned dancing, and a urban teen who challenges the ban. Characters Ren MacCormack (Kenny Wormald) and Ariel Moore (Julianne Hough),
are not sweet and innocent – they face problems and real issues that some
teens face today. Rev. Shaw Moore (Dannis Quaid) basically tries to control
the town with his laws and has issues he has to face as well.
This Footloose is not a sappy or cheesy movie. This movie is for our
generation and it is great. It’s for the young and old, everyone can relate to
this movie.
The director (Craig Brewer) did a great job of picking an amazing choreographer (Jamal Sims). The actors could actually act and dance. The problems depicted are still relevant. We all need to cutloose, footloose. So if you
love the original, you’ll absolutely love this one. This movie is a must-see.
Nick Pope, 16, is a senior at Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts
in the District of Columbia.
©2011 Paramount Pictures
Julianne Hough, center, commands the floor with Kenny Wormald in the remake of Footloose.
Horror movie DVDs
to keep you up at night
Kelly Fisher
Young D.C.
Halloween is the best time to sit in your basement, have all the lights off
and watch the scariest movies that you can think of. Here are some movies I
would recommend:
1.Poltergeist (1982) The movie won the Saturn Award in 1983 for best
makeup and effects. The Saturn Award is an annual award presented by
the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. I would
really recommend this movie because it has great visual effects.
114 minutes.
2.Boogeyman 2 (2007 horror/thriller/drama) I would recommend
this movie because of the suspense. After you watch the movie,
sleep with the lights on. 93 minutes.
3.Sleep Away Camp (1983 horror/thriller). I would recommend this
movie because of the gore and how the villain kills off campers. 88
minutes.
4.One Missed Call (2008 mystery/thriller/horror) The best thing about
the movie is the suspense. Every move someone made was one step
closer to his or her death. Edward Burns and Shannyn Sossamon
received 2008 Teen Choice Award nominations for their performances.
Leave it to the Teen Choice Awards to have a Horror/Thriller category.
87 minutes.
5.Friday the 13th (2009 horror/thriller). I would recommend this film
from the franchise because of all the gruesome killings that Jason does.
This one won the Teen Choice Award in its category. 97 minutes.
Kelly Fisher, 16, is a junior at the Lab School of Washington in the District of Columbia.
October 2011 t Young D.C.
Television
Season airs
one horror,
a coven,
and a new
Deschannel
Chidiki Jones Whitley and Christina Lee
Young D.C.
American Horror Story
American Horror Story teased viewers with
promises to pioneer a new frontier for television. It
would be a chilling ghost ride keeping viewers on the
edge of their seats. Unfortunately the first episode,
which aired Oct. 5, 2011, did not live up to its claims.
The characters, writing and overall content is a shameful waste of a clever premise. The characters in this
supposed tale of horror are bland and stereotypical.
The main characters are the Harmon family who
move into an infamous house that reeks of death–a
loving mother who uses natural healthy products and
hopes to have a problem free home, a father who takes
matters into his own hands and does not shy away from
opportunities to have sexual relations. He’s also cold
and emotionally distant, preferring to run from his
problems instead of facing them. Their teen daughter
Violet hates her new house, her new school, and especially the popular girls. She’s a cutter and a smoker
because she thinks it’s cool. The characters are one dimensional and bland. When frightening things happen
to them, the audience is not worried because there is no
connection to these uninspired characters.
The writing in this miserable first episode detracts
from the characters and story. The characters often have
nothing interesting to say or are cracking sexual jokes.
Suspense suffers from the writing. Nothing is foreboding. It relies heavily on the camera work to convey that
a character or place is not trustworthy.
American Horror Story can’t maintain the level
of interest necessary for a memorable television show.
Sexual content is constently flung at the viewers to try
to keep them watching. Fans of thriller/ horror will find
this series will not scare them to death. In fact, viewers
will be bored. In short, I find that subjecting myself to
torturous boredom is not essential entertainment.
Wednesdays on FX at 10 p.m.
–C.J.W.
Secret Circle
First Vampire Diaries, and now the Secret Circle.
The CW has reinvented another one of L.J. Smith’s
fantasy series into a new fall TV show. Although it
started out with a satisfactory audience of 2.11 million
viewers and Nielsen rating of 0.9, Secret Circle continues to satisfy the teen obsession with the supernatural.
Secret Circle stars Britt Robertson as Cassie
Blake, a seemingly normal teenager whose life turns
upside down after losing her only parent, Amelia, in an
“accidental” fire. The fire appears to be a scheme. This
leads Cassie to go and live with her grandmother in
Chance Harbor, Wash., where Amelia had abandoned
her murky witchcraft days after Cassie was born.
Oblivious Cassie soon learns that she, too, is a witch.
She completes the circle of a new generation of witches in Chance Harbor.
Warning: this is no Sabrina the Teenage Witch
business. Cassie gets entangled in paranormal activity
and a mix of feisty friends and untrustworthy adults.
Some of the scenes are so unexpected that the surprise
alone gives you the chills. When they mention demons
in one episode, I can’t help but feel uneasy about what
I’m about to watch. Don’t get me wrong—Secret Circle is very much teen-friendly and follows an interesting plot unlike the gory, spineless TV shows that see
light these days. It even has the hush-hush love thing
going on between Cassie and a guy who—gasp—is already going out with the leader of the so-called secret
circle. But the whole supernatural thing can get pretty
uncomfortable if you are expecting a safe and predictable story. Regardless of the typical formula that Hollywood loves to recycle, Secret Circle is a refreshing
show with mostly new faces, altered plot line and a
compelling force that just makes you want more.
Thursdays on the CW at 9 p.m.
–C.L.
New Girl
Ever since the movie 500 Days of Summer, I’ve
detested Zooey Deschanel. I know it’s unfair but Deschanel portrayed Summer Finn, the selfish, hard-toplease heroine way so realistically that I found myself
believing that she was Summer. But then New Girl arrived. If this is her way of redeeming herself to those
she disappointed, clearly she succeeded. Deschanel is
now my new TV best friend, with her quirky personality and Celine Dion-esque husky voice.
In this breath-of-fresh-air comedy, Deschanel
plays Jess, an idiosyncratic individual who moves in
with three guys she met online after an embarrassing
break-up. New Girl captures the awkward and hilarious
moments of post break-up syndrome, being stood up,
trying to be cool and just being a loser in general. The
three roomies patiently deal with Jess’s bizarre behavior and soon realize that they care for her as platonic
friends, or as they call each other, “bro”. It’s hard not to
fall in love with the characters within the first five minutes. As outlandish as Jess and her scenarios are, she
has a familiar quality reminiscent of friends and experiences. To those of you who watch Glee, you’re in for an
extra 20-minute treat on Tuesday nights.
Tuesdays on Fox at 9 p.m.
–C.L.
Chidiki Jones Whitley , 17, is a junior at The Lab
School of Washington in the District of Columbia
Christina Lee, 17, is a senior at Oakton HS in Vienna, Va.
Viewpoints
Young D.C. t October 2011
Young D.C. t October 2011
On the Street
First Amendment DIY
The importance of teen-produced journalism
Christina Lee
Young D.C.
The first time I walked into the YDC
newsroom in November 2010, I admit that I
was a little disappointed. My expectations
were ironically flawed by Hollywood’s glitz
and glamour depiction of the media. Our
modest newsroom located on 18th Street
NW crushed my little girl fantasy. But that is
all past and gone—now I love placing dibs
on the comfortable swingy chair, seeing the
familiar pile of newspapers on the wooden
desk, and keeping my eye out on potential
stories.
If you couldn’t already tell by my second sentence, I still possess the trait that
teenagers are known for: malleability. Whatever I see, hear or do, I am relatively susceptible to my environment whether I deny it or
not. This is where independent, teen-produced journalism comes in. Like most student-run publications, Young DC focuses on
issues and events that teenagers find interesting. Teens can relate to YDC because the
staffers are going through the same things as
they are. Sure, Seventeen or school publications aren’t as globally focused or as well
written as TIME or the Washington Post, but
we can’t deny the fact that the former allows
teens to find their opinions on incidents actually related to them. Teen journalists play an
important role in telling stories that adults
can overlook.
One of my favorite quotes is by one of
my favorite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald:
“That is part of the beauty of all literature.
You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” Like literature, teen-produced journalism reveals our
idiosyncrasies and sense of humanity. It is an
outlet for teen expression and presents openminded news coverage and most importantly, informs and entertains. With this broad
scope of possibilities, our malleability naturally turns into good-judgment and our
wishy-washy tendencies are replaced by realistic approaches to our future. Sure enough,
teen-produced journalism isn’t the best resort for intellectual stimulation, but bear with
us—we’ll get there soon.
Christina Lee, 17, is a senior at Oakton
HS in Vienna,Va.
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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 teens (in school or not) for all sections of the
newspaper. Please enclose name, address and telephone number
on all correspondence.
Address correspondence to
Young D.C. Managing Editor
1904 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
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.
Kelly Fisher, 16, is a junior at The
Lab School of Washington in the
District of Columbia.
Chidiki Jones Whitley, 17, is a junior at The Lab School of Washington in the District of Columbia.