Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Tyler Bergeron.

Learn more about the G.I.B.L.E.T.S’ win against PVI.

Check out the style section for Homecoming, Heroine style.

What’s Inside:

The VisorBishop O’Connell High School Volume 52 Issue 1

Among the whirlwind of ac-tivities of this new school year, Bishop O’Connell students have a familiar face paving the way, making sure academics get off to a wonderful start. Sr. Catherine Hill I.H.M. is serving as the new Assis-tant Principal for Academics.

Sr. Catherine is certainly no stranger to O’Connell. Valedictorian of the class of 1966, she has also taught in the science department for several years. She is looking forward to learn-ing more about aspects of the O’Connell

curriculum she hasn’t yet experienced, and giving back to the school what she has learned as a student, teacher and administrator. Strengthening the regular college preparatory program is one of Sr. Catherine’s main goals for this year:

“We’ve been spending a lot of time focusing our time on AP classes; they’re really at a strong level. We want to make sure that all the teachers who teach the regular college prep courses have the things they need, that those kids get all of the different opportunities.”

She is also looking at her new position as an opportunity to spread the presence of the I.H.M. sisters:

“I want to bring my commu-nity’s faith tradition, that they’ve always brought to O’Connell, and continue that contribution.”

So far this year Sr. Catherine has been working with the chairs of the various departments, planning out the year in order to “constantly improve programs and to provide teachers with what they need, whether it’s training or equipment.” One enormous task she has already taken care of is implementing the schedules for all of the students: balanc-ing the students’ needs with the ability of all of the departments to “thrive” at the same time.

Sr. Catherine has already had many memorable experiences and cre-ated special memories in her new posi-tion, especially with students. Watching student volunteers, who over the summer moved her office furniture and boxes from one room to another so quickly and efficiently, was especially inspiring

to her. “Students have been very coop-

erative and the faculty very supportive,” she added.

A few aspects of her job that she especially looks forward to are helping students with things beyond the classroom and working more closely with parents.

“Because I went to O’Connell,” she explained. “I’m looking forward to being able to participate a little more closely in helping people prepare them-selves for college and things beyond here; I’m looking forward to having that chance, in a way, to ‘give back’ for what the school gave me. ”

Sr. Catherine reminds students that high school is a time when they pick up many of the skills and learn many of the habits that they need in order to be “good, productive members of society, especially ones who express our faith, and just make the world a better place by being in it.”

Joanna HarkinsFront Page Editor

A Familiar Face Takes Over

With so much already done, and the new school year in full motion, wO’Connell looks forward to a very pro-ductive first year with Sr. Catherine!

"It's gonna be a success!" said Kayla Ferrari, SCA executive. The Wel-come Back Dance kicked the year off on Friday September 18th in the cafeteria. The cafeteria was transformed into a rave theme with lights and techno music. Almost 350 screaming stu-dents danced all night, and had the time of their lives. For those of you who didn't go to this smashing dance, the fee was $5, and the entrance time was 8:00 and the departing time was 11:00. Students expected a rave, just how Senior Tyler Bergeron and Mile Kerr had characterized it. The dance was hot! Literally, heaps of sweaty OC students and their guests dressed up in neon colors, and wacky outfits. There was a Crazy Cos-tumes contest and senior Bridget O'Keefe won, with her fantastic outfit! “It was a great way for the freshmen to meet other people and just mix. So many upperclassmen at-tended that it was AWESOME!" said an anonymous sophomore. Heidi Voss, another sophmore said “It was sweeeeet, and hope-fully there will be more dances like this one, throughout the year!" Between the seniors’ mosh pit, the crazy outfits, the rad dancing, and the wicked dj-ing styles of Tyler Bergeron

and Michael Kerr; the dance was a radical success. It was a great way to start the new school year. "Two Thumbs Up" said Alex Harrington; and indeed it was. Senior Jeremy Azurin, a senior class counselor, dressed up along with the “Q-Crew” in all blue. This group of seniors, lead by Laura Quintero and junior Vivi Mai, showed off their school spirit. He commented “Seniors dominated because we wanted to enjoy our last

back to school dance. Also, everyone enjoyed the music. I think that was the best part. SCA did a great job. ” The back to school dance was a great sucess, great entertainment, en-ergetic people, and a fun environment all played a roll. If this is any indica-tion, with teh help of the SCA, this year is going to be just as memorable.

The “Q-Crew“ show their school spirit and get everyone pumped up.

Back To School SpiritBrittany Davey & Dia BhatiaStaff Writers

Visor September 2009 Editorials Page 2The Visor

Bishop O’Connell High School6600 Little Falls Road

Arlington, VA Published monthly, the student newspaper of Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School is a public forum with its student editorial board making all decisions about its content, under the guidance of its faculty advisor. Opinions in the paper are not necessarily those of the staff, nor should any opinion expressed in this public forum be construed as the opinion or the policy of Bishop O’Connell High School, unless so attributed.

Editors-In-ChiefTaylor BroganJeremy Azurin

Front PageJoanna Harkins

SportsMark Moran

EditorialsErin McDonough

SpreadsJamitress Bowden

StyleMarley GarnerKellie HoganAlejandra Buitrago

EntertainmentDevon Spencer

HealthCait Petterson

Campus NewsChristy Branaamorn

Copy Editor Anna Jeffrey

Visor Enthusiast Danny Brennan

It’s August 21st. I’m on the campus of UCLA, an incredibly large California state school, when I hear a word pierce through the air like a siren, shattering all other sounds in its way as if on a mission to reach its target no matter what. And of all the words, of all the brilliant adjectives and nouns, of all the poetically beautiful syllables that grace the English language, what word do I hear? Why, none other than one of the most perplexing vernacular phenomena to ever occur in our time: “Bro.”

That’s right. This single syllable has emerged as one of the most widely used and straightforward phrases in our culture. How simple, yet how complex. How uncreative, yet how versatile. This phrase, which has earned its place among other intellectual titles such as “Son,” “Homie,” and “G,” is so widely used that it’s almost impossible to ascertain its exact meaning.

As high-schoolers, we often use this word to refer to a male acquaintance (you can tell I’m trying to sound smart with the copious amounts of big words I‘m using) who is close to us. Someone who possesses certain qualities affiliated with awesomeness. However, we have often heard people refer to their friend as

their “bro,” even if the friend is the exact opposite of cool. So it is clear that those who qualify for the title of “bro” are a diverse group.

With such a wide scope of people, how can we be certain we’re using the word properly? A student from Yorktown High School (who shall remain nameless, mostly because I made him up) believed that there was a “direct correlation between the title of “bro” and the sport of Lacrosse.” Whether or not this is true, we cannot be certain. But it would explain such variations as “Bro-lax” and “Lax-bro.” But this leads to another problem. How can we be certain all of the variations mean the same thing? We can’t.

We are bound by teenage culture to come across many alternatives to the word “bro,” such as “bro-sef,” “bro-skey,” and “bro-monger” (an actual student from UCLA explained to me that the title of

“bro-monger” specifically refers to the captain of a men’s lacrosse team). But it doesn’t stop there- oh no. The ability to create a new word simply by saying “bro” and then adding another syllable to it (example: “bro-stuff”) has made the subject even more complicated than it already is (or rather, what I’m making it out to be). It is clear that the versatility of the word, and the fact that there is no real definition, means that we will not be hearing the end of “bro” for a while.

But is this a bad thing? People often criticize us teenagers for brutally butchering the English language, sometimes making us seem as though we have no regard for the official English vocabulary (though I will admit, every time I hear someone say “LOL” out loud as a word, I feel the incredible urge to punch a panda, or something equally adorable and innocent). But is it also possible that we are adding words like “bro” to the current set of official terms to personalize our language? That we are trying to find a way to communicate to each other with versatile words that are interchangeable with just about anything? That we want to perfect the entire structure of speech by summarizing hundreds of words with a single syllable? No. Let’s be honest; we’re not that smart. But no matter what people may think, it is true that sometimes less is more, and that may just be the case……Bro.

Leela GuptaStaff Writer

The typical teenage driver: windows down, sunroof back, music blaring, speeding, and using the cell phone all at once. Don’t deny it; you’ve done at least three of these things simultaneously before. If you don’t drive yet, then you have definitely witnessed this numerous times.

State police departments have created laws pertaining to music and speeding already. Music needs to be silent enough that you can hear ambulances and police cars, and obey speed limits posted along the highway. Now states are cracking down and making stricter laws to discourage cell phone use while driving. In fact, six states and the District of Columbia have already banned the use of handheld cell phones when operating a vehicle, and if you are pulled over for using a cell phone you can be ticketed.

Texting is one of the most popular technological ways of communication in today’s society. According to The Wireless Association, approximately 75 billion text messages were sent in June of 2009. This number is significantly higher than the 7.2 billion texts sent in June of 2005.

And why not text? It’s fast, easy, and efficient. But unlike talking on the phone, which requires some multi-tasking skills, texting requires even more of the driver’s undivided attention. It’s no surprise then that one study found that at any given time 20% of all drivers on the road are texting.

But texting while driving is a serious danger that contributes to an increase in motor vehicle crashes. About 66% of drivers who text are young people between 18 and 24 years old. Since motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people from ages 15 to 20, it can be inferred that the distraction of

using the tiny screen device that requires intense concentration is not lowering these statistics. A British study also found that texting while driving impairs the driver more than being drunk or being under the influence of some drugs.

Overall, texting while driving is a serious hazard that many people do casually without thinking twice about their actions. The next time you drive and text, remember that those few crucial seconds you look down at your phone and start clicking away to your friend could potentially be your last.

Do U Txt & Drive? Think Again!

To Bro or not to Bro, That’s Kinda the Question

Staff WritersDia Bhatia, Brittany Davey, Emma

Delmontagne, Natalie Eichner, Drew Fletcher, Emily Gordon, Leela Gupta,

Imani Hamami, Ana-Maria Hecton, Kath-ryn Heppes, Suzanne Holland, Carolina

Hurley, Nicholas Kent, Kelly Kundinger, Erin McDonough, Collin Pin, Andrew

Saunders, John Scully, Cristina Totanes, Dylan Vorbach, Madeleine Young

Faculty ModeratorDan Culler

Danny BrennanSpecial to the Visor

New School Year, New Teachers

Starting a new school year usually includes seeing new faces. This year two new additions have been made to the faculty of Bishop O’Connell: Chemistry teacher Ms. Possick and Theology teacher Mr. Glasow. The O’Connell community is happy to welcome the two new staff members.

Ms. Possick grew up and attended high school in Maryland. After graduating,

Ana-Maria Hecton Staff Writer

Morning P.A. Announcements Return to Visual FormatDylan VorbachStaff Writer

By the end of the past school year, many students had begun to recognize the voices of the 2008-2009 Student Council Executive Board, as they led the student body in prayer and announced important school news each morning. This year’s SCA leaders have some bright ideas that will make the homeroom experience much more engaging. They will be operating the announcements

from across the school, beginning later this month, in the video production room.

The video announcements are not new to the school; a similar routine ran many years ago. But there was not the proper equipment upgrades to maintain the format, until a recent donation was made from within the O’Connell community that provided the Video Production Center with the necessary cameras and wiring. Thanks to this generosity, it is only a matter of weeks, or even days, according to the SCA moderators and Executive

Board, before the switch will be made. As the final wires are connected and

TVs installed, the announcers themselves have been hard at work developing some exciting additions to the morning program – hopefully features that will be a little more effective at keeping students at least semi-conscious at the beginning of the day.

“There are a lot of potential suggestions,” says SCA treasurer Alex Harrington, and they might include weather forecasts, featuring student artwork in the background, and even broadcasting

she went to Ursinus College in Philadelphia, where she studied Chemistry. During her college summer vacation, Pollick taught swimming at a local pool. It was here, during her freshman year, that she decided to become a teacher after realizing how much she enjoyed working with children. This year is her first year of formal school teaching, and so far she loves it, as expected. She decided to come to O’Connell because of the “family-like” community that Mr. Harrison spoke about as he encouraged

her to apply. She sees that as a vital.“Knowing what you want to do

when you get to college” is what she considers to be the biggest challenge in high school.

Her favorite quote is by Dr. Seuss, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Mr. Glasow teaches sophomore Church History and teaches junior Morality/Sacraments. Mr. Glasow went to high school at O’Connell, which influenced

his decision to teach. Mr. Glasow felt a calling to teach. He attended college at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and studied political science, history, and psychology. Currently, Glasow is attending Catholic University for his graduate degree in Theology. Mr. Glasow thinks that there are several challenges facing high school graduates today; one in particular is for the graduates to stay true to their beliefs. Mr. Glasow hopes to “be a good teacher, help my students grow in their faith, and not to be too boring.”

O’Connell welcomes Ms. Possick and Mr. Glasow. Hopefully they will feel welcome and enjoy their first of many years of teaching, helping their students to grow spiritually, mentally, and academically.

highlights from recent athletic events. “It will hopefully allow more

people to be involved,” commented faculty moderator, Mr. Tom Duesterhaus. Overall, the goal of the video format for the announcements is to engage more students in the morning than were reached by the Public Address system.

“I’m more inclined to watch TV than listen to the radio,” says Harrington. Hopefully this feeling will prove true for over 1,500 students and faculty who will be tuning in each morning.

Visor September 2009 Campus News Page 3

Addison SnidleStaff Writer

While the students of Bishop O’Connell were tanning on the beaches of the Outerbanks or vacationing in Eu-rope, the faculty and staff of Bishop O’Connell were hard at work super-vising the major construction that the school underwent over the summer. Walking around the school, stu-dents noticed some major changes, like a brand-new, state-of-the-art training room, generously funded by the Athletic Boosters. The new training room is al-most four times as large as the old one, complete with brand new training equip-ment and benches. The students were very excited to use their new resources. “The new training room is great! It’s a lot easier to take care of people be-cause there is actually space to move around,” said student-trainer Becky Tyrpak. New classrooms have also been added; the former Studies Office is now a classroom. Another classroom will be created where the Student Life offices were formerly located. This new class-room will be fully equipped with new computers, as well as SMART Boards. In order to create better and more efficient offices, the school has created the “Administrative Support Center” in the old library. This Administrative Sup-

port Center includes the Business Office, the Advancement Office, the Communica-tions Office, and the President’s Office. It is hoped that by locating all of the offices closer together, communication and effec-tiveness can be dramatically improved be-tween the different administrative offices. To many, it’s the small chang-es that make the most difference. Mr. Breen observed, “It’s the small things that let people know we care.” And there have been many small changes that will dramatically improve the students’ high school experience. All of the bathrooms have been remodeled with new stalls and mirrors. Everything has been repainted. The outside of the school has been landscaped as well. Another small but historical change was the moving of the engraved Bishop O’Connell High School stone from the back of the school to the front. This stone was part of the origi-nal building, before the remodeling project that took place many years ago. Over the years it has been moved around to different areas of the campus, but now it sits proud-ly in the front of the school. To many, the stone has become a symbol of community and unity among the alumni and current students, uniting the past with the present. Speaking of the stone, Mr. Breen remarked, “It’s such a wonderful way of bringing history together with the present.” According to Mr. Breen, many

Natalie EichnerStaff Writer

New Teachers, New ImprovementsBecky Tyrpak, a student-trainer, aids Katelynn Catalfamo in the New Training Room near the weight-training room.

So what exactly IS the Interact club? It is a service club where students work at various activities to raise money for the Kenyan orphans, as well as fulfill their ser-vice requirement at the same time. So how did it come to be? Years ago, Mrs. Lane, a religion teacher here at Bishop O’Connell, went to work at the Good Sa-maritan Orphanage Center in Kenya, Afri-ca. At the orphanage, Fr. Cosmas and other volunteers cared for Kenyan boys and girls who, because of HIV/AIDS, had lost both their parents and had no other place to go. During Mrs. Lane’s time at the orphanage, Mrs. Lane asked what O’Connell students could do to help the children. Thus began O’Connell’s project to “adopt the Kenyan kids,” as student’s worked to help pay for the orphans’ Catholic school education. Interact Club tries to help as much

Interact Club Reaches Out

The days of playing on the rut-ted field at O’Connell are almost over. Shortly after the 2008 football season ended, the school began a massive fund-raising effort aimed at installing brand new turf. The turf is expected to signifi-cantly help teams that use the field dur-ing the spring season, and teams that play in the fall season next year. With support from the Athletic Boosters, as well as alumni and other friends of O’Connell, it is hoped that be-fore too long the new turf will be a real-ity. It will be easier maintain, as it will not have to rely on rain and regular mainte-nance to keep it game-ready. In addition to easier maintenance, the turf can also withstand more use during the year, open-ing up the possibility for more games to be hosted at the field. It could also mean more logos and images on the field. The new turf will unfortu-nately not be used by some, as the se-niors that play either football or soc-cer will not be able to use it this year. “It’s great for rising students, but it’s unfortunate it came this late,” lamented senior Jason Fulbrook, a member of the Varsity Football team. The new turf will also re-duce the track to only four lanes. “We will have to do our work-outs on the Yorktown track now,” said senior Matt Tyrpak, member of the Track Team. However, tghe plan also calls for the track to be redone with a more suitable material for running. Despite the various changes the new turf will be a welcome addi-tion to the school. Receiving the new turf will put O’Connell on the same level as other WCACs school, such as Dematha, Gonzaga and Good Counsel and ben-efit the atmosphere of O’Connell sports.t

more improvements are still in progress. Some of these ongoing projects include fixing the drainage on the baseball field, replacing the old light fixtures for more energy efficient ones, and even building a new snack bar in the cafeteria towards the gym. The Administration is in the fi-nal stages of installing a buzzer system in the front doors, so that security can be even more effective throughout the school. Even with all of these changes taking place, the Administration is still not finished. “Hopefully people will under-stand that we care about making this a beautiful place to learn and grow as young men and women,” added Mr. Breen.

Drew FletcherStaff Writer

New Turf, New Year

as they can so that the Kenyan orphans can overcome their challenges.DJO’s tradition of service gives all O’Connell students an opportunity to help here at home as well as abroad. The Interact Club is currently looking to the class of 2013 in particular to answer the call to help fellow teens. Even if you don’t join the Club, you can help out! During your homeroom period every month on the first Thursday, you will get orange packets with a picture of an orphan on it. Interact Club asks to gener-ously donate to help your homeroom’s child. Another reason to join the club is the knowledge that in all of the money raised (every single penny), goes to-wards improving another’s life as well as enabling each orphan to live out his or her dreams for the future. The feeling of helping another person of your age is a joyous one. Please, join the Interact Club - You can help make a difference!

Visor September 2009 Campus News Page 4

Imani HamamiStaff Writer

Every year the flyers go upabout intramurals, with students rushingto get their friends together to create ateam.The sign-up process is simple: justget a sign-up sheet from the Activities’Office and round up your friends.Teams consist of fifteen players, withat least six players of the opposite sex. There is a small sign-up feeof five dollars per person, adding up toseventy-fivedollarsper team.Themoneycontributedwillgotothedifferentgrades.

Intrameural activities consist offlag football, ultimate frisbee, air hockey,dodgeball, foosball, ping pong, andvolleyball.TheeventsgoyearroundstartingwithflagfootballinSeptember.TheywillculminateinMaywithdodgeball.Ateamdoesnothavetoparticipateinallevents;butiftheydotheywillincreasetheirchancesofwinning“TheCup.”Everyteammemberdoesnothavetotakepartineverygameorevery season; they can take turns and letpeopleplaythegamesthattheyplaybest.

“We only played one game andgotourbuttskicked,but itwasstillfun,”

Connor ScullyStaff Writer

The class of 2013 has finallyentered the building: Bishop O’ConnellHighSchool.Dozensoffresh,youngfaceshave begun to flood the hallways. Everymorning O’Connell’s upperclassmenare greeted by their bright eager facesas they begin to experience this newchapter of their lives. As they enteredO’Connell’s storied halls some were alittle daunted; but they soon learned thatO’Connell is a welcoming community. Many freshmen are alreadydeeply involved in O’Connell’s clubsandorganizations. Joseph Scully said “I’veloved Bishop O’Connell since themoment I entered the building; and myaffection for the school only grows.” Freshman all across theschool seem to be enthralled byeverything that happens, enjoying everyminute of their time at O’Connell. Freshman year can be a littleintimidating, so here is a brief list ofhelpful hints from the “grizzled vets.” Don’t travel in large groups.Even though freshmenmayseemsmallerthen the rest of the school; strength isnot in numbers.As Gregg Jones, Junior,

commented “Some of the the freshmenseem to pack together, a little herd-like.” Travel alone, or with justwith one or two friends. It makes thehallways much more maneuverable. Don’t put all your books in abackpack; use the lockers the schoolprovides. The lockers are there so thatstudentsdonothavetocarryalltheirbooksatonce.Takeadvantageofthat.Notonlydogiantbackpackslookstrange,andblatantlytrumpet your rookie status, but it couldalso lead to back problems in the future. Join clubs, activities,or other organizations. Throughthese activities you will meet newpeople, and meet upperclassmen. “Iwasamemberofmanyclubs,andbefriendedmanyupperclassmenwhohelpedmegetmorecomfortablewith theschool,” remembers James Higgins, “Imademanylifelongfriendsfreshmanyear.” Sodon’tworryfreshmen.AlthoughO’Connellcanseemhugeandscary,withina few weeks it will become your homeaway fromhome.Theupperclassmen arealreadywarminguptothefreshman. Audra Nakas, Junior, hesitantlysays “They seem pretty nice, I guess”.EveryonehereatO’Connellhopesthatthefreshmanloveus,asmuchaswelovethem.

Welcome Class of 2013!

Go for the Gold in Intramural 2009commented Jules Connole, sophomore,about her intramural team last year.

If you do not have time to geta team together, you can just go andcheer on your friends and classmates.

Senior Taylor Stacksaid, “The games are fun to go toandsimplywatch.”

Basically everyone should getinvolved in the intramural program, eveniftheyarenotonateam.Intramuralssarejust a fun way to get involved with theschoolandhangoutwithsomefriends.Soeverybody!Get out there and have somefun!Getateamtogether,andgoforheCup!

Actual Cup Larger Than Pictured

Who We Are: The Unity Council is a group of students and teachers dedicated to strengthening the DJO family through unity. We will work throughout the year to address, and hopefully resolve, issues that divide the O’Connell community. In addition, we will also celebrate the richness of the heritages present in the community through numerous activities that honor O’Connell’s cultural, familial, and religious diversities.

What Our Goals Are: We will endeavor to:• Planeventstocelebratethe richness of the cultures in the school; for example, how cultures experience their Catholic faith

• Encourageactivitiesthatwill bring the entire school together asaunifiedbody

• Addressissuesthatmightcause dissention among our com-munity, such as bullying, both in person and on the internet; lack of sensitivity towards differences of race, gender and ethnicity; and resolvingconflictsinaconstructivemanner

Who can join: Any member of the student body who would like to contribute to the council by bringing forth any issues they feel should be attend-ed to or by aiding the council with additional information in the spirit of unity.

1. September is National Hispanic Heritage Month. In keeping with the Unity Council’s tradition of in-corporatingreligiousinfluenceintounity, here is a brief list of some Hispanic Saints who have feast days in September:

St. and Feast Day1. St. Francis de Morales – Sept. 102. St. Maria de Cerevellon – Sept. 193. St. Thomas of Villanueva – Sept. 224. St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) – Sept. 235. St. Garcia – Sept. 29

For the student body:

Thank you all for contributing to DJO’s effort to promote unity and understanding among the students, faculty, and staff. We ask for additional help from the student body because the council needs additional student feedback in order to help govern and orga-nize its activities. If anyone has

a question, comment, complaint, concern, or issue they feel should be examined by the unity council, write it down and submit it to one of the administrators or council representatives. Thanks again and God bless.Members StudentElected:Maurice Williams, Modie Chileshe, Jeremy Azurin, Devon Spencer, Joanne Johnson, Alex Nihill, Billy Ratledge, Armondo Luyando

Faculty Appointed: Deon Thomas, Jamitress Bowden, Blythe Brady, Taylor Rittue, Max Roewer,ErinConner,MeganGardepe, Francis Nguyen, Sandy Soman, Angelina Travers, Kather-ine Young, Marlena Fernandez

UnityCouncil2009-2010officers:Jamitress Bowden- PresidentDevon Spencer- Vice PresidentDeon Thomas- Secretary

Hungrygirl.com was started as an online blog, to communicate the average woman’s tips and tricks for everyday people. The Hungry Girl, also known as Lisa, uses commonly found ingredients in all of her recipes. She has published two books. Her latest is Hungry Girl 200 Recipes under 200 Calories. All of her recipes are delicious, nutritious, and easy to make.

Below is a recipe for a turkey club, except not your usual high-calorie lunch. This sandwich is only 222 calories, with 21.5 grams of protein and only 6.75 grams of fat.

Visor September 2009 Spotlight Page 5

Spotlight On: Tyler BergeronWhen The Visor spoke with (maybe ambushed) Tyler, he was chilling in the main lobby with Mike Kerr and Marielle Grenade-Willis. We decided to ask him a few questions, because he’s an interesting guy. You heard the Welcome Back Dance announcements.

Q: What is your favorite color, and why?

A: Black, Because My Heart Is A Black, Empty Hole Of an Abyss. Just Kidding, All the Colors of The Rainbow Are Pleasing to My Eyes.

Q: Who is your favorite Beatle?

A: [contemplates] John Lennon; Because He Told It Like It Was. (Mike Kerr wanted him to say “Daniel Johnston.”)

Q: Would you rather: a) lose your eyesight, or b) lose your Rasta glasses?

A: Eyesight, Because It Would Give Me an Excuse to Wear the Glasses All the Time.

Q: Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

A: Well, God Came First. But He Created The Egg, To Make The Chicken Hatch Himself.

Q: What would you order at a Chinese restaurant?

A: (Marielle suggests General Tso’s Chicken.) No, That’s Too Generic…Some Animal I Wouldn’t Normally Eat, like Octopus. Something Poisonous.

Q: On a scale of 1 to awesome, how would you rate the movie Giltter, starring Mariah Carrey?

A: 10 Stars And 5 Thumbs Up. Mariah Carrey Goes Beyond All…Race. (Mike says something about Ebony and Ivory.)

Q: Favorite holiday treat?

A: Hmm…Matzo Balls.

Q: You can legally have any animal in the world as a pet. Which do you pick?

A: Tyrannosaurus Rex. (Mike: “You can’t go back in time.” Marielle is laughing.) Fine. Hyena—to share laughs with. To laugh at my dumb jokes.

Q: You have 10 seconds to name your pet. Go!

A: Laughy the Hyena. (Later, Tyler changed his mind.) Laffy Taffy.

Q: And lastly: What is Jim Morrison’s birthday?

A: [without hesitation] January 26th.

Let’s Go Clubbing!

Ingredients: 2 slices light bread (40 - 45 calories each with about 2g fiber per slice) 2 slices turkey bacon 2 oz. (about 4 - 6 slices) 98% fat-free turkey breast 2 slices tomato 2 leaves romaine lettuce 2 tsp. fat-free mayonnaise Directions: Toast your bread. Cut bacon strips in half.

Over medium heat, cook bacon strips in a pan sprayed with nonstick spray until crispy, about 5 minutes.

Spread mayo onto one piece of bread, and then top with the turkey slices, tomato, lettuce, and bacon. Finish it all off with the other piece of bread.

MAKES 1 SERVING

Serving Size: 1 sandwich Calories: 222 Fat: 6.75g Sodium: 1,214mg Carbs: 23.5g Fiber: 5.5g Sugars: 4g Protein: 21.5g

Taylor BroganEditors-In-Chief

Cait PattersonStaff Writer

She’s Not a Nutritionist, She’s Just Hungry

More Welcome Back Dance

Visor September 2009 Sports Page 6

Undefeated Knights: The Talk of the TownHaley MilonStaff Writer

Knight’s football has gotten off to an explosive start this season with wins against both Wilson High school and St. Albans School, notching a 2-0 record for O’Connell. The season opener at Wilson was featured as The Game of the Week on Channel 4. If you tuned in, you would have seen the Knights put pressure on the Tiger’s offense, causing three pickoffs. “We knew up front that we had to get pressure on him,” said senior safety/running back Greg Gadell. “We succeeded in that and it opened up other things for us.”

O’Connell was also effective in moving the ball with its defense. A standout safety in the WCAC, Josh Trimble picked off a pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. Josh wasn’t the only Knight moving the ball; junior fullback Patrick Simms totaled 15 rushes for 109 yards.

The Knights returned to DC the next week to face St. Albans, putting on a show with a comeback from 16-0 in the second half. The offense moved the ball, with Gadell totaling 91 yards rushing, including a 45 yard run on a fumble. Gadell

finished the day with three touchdowns. As usual, the Knights excelled in all facets of the game. Trimble scored on an 80 yard kick return. Junior Michael Katz led the defense with 14 tackles. Senior Ray Donahue kicked a 32 yard field goal. One

setback occurred when Senior linemen Alex Berdahl pulled a hamstring in the first quarter, taking him out for the game. The highlight of the game was by far senior William Connor’s interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter. Connor saved the game by not allowing a final touchdown for the Bulldogs. The Knights are adjusting to their new personal very effectively, with new quarterback Nick Moribito settling into his position as the game manager. As usual, O’Connell has a tough WCAC schedule set for the season. Big games will include Dematha on October 24thand St. John’s on Oct. 31st. The highly anticipated PVI game will be played November 7th at O’Connell. “It’s hard to name one team in the WCAC. Every team is competition because the WCAC is such a tough conference. Any given week matches us against a good team,” said head coach Steve Trimble. The Knights face St. Mary’s Ryken at home on September 19th, with the hope of continuing their winning ways all season.

Knights Smash to Victory

G.I.B.L.E.T.SGirl’s Soccer:Kicking to

VictoryKaty HeppesStaff Writer

Thoughout the irls’ Varsity Soccer squads first few games scoring was down, with two senior players out: Jackie Morairty and Emily Leonard. The 5-0 win against Paul VI was a real success. Coach Starace commented, “I was really happy how we played, considering the last two games; but winning 5-0 was great.” So the coach was pleased and so were the captains.

Lisa Gonzolas and Jackie Morairty said, this about the win, “We were so excited when the first goal was made. We all got so pumped, especially because all our fans came out; they were awesome. The first goal was scored by Allison Dummel (sophomore) followed by Emily Lodge (freshmen) and then Gonzolas. The girls really pulled together as a team and didn’t let two missing players bring them down. Pleased with the result, the girls look forward to playing P.VI. later in the season.

Serving up SuccessAndrew SaundersStaff Writer

Girls’ Tennis is one of O’Connell’s most underrated sports. While most of the student body’s attention has been focused on football and soccer this season, O’Connell tennis has been quietly handling business against their tough opponents. The girls have been practicing hard everyday since the end of summer to prepare for their tough schedule that include tennis powerhouse St. John’s as well as O’Connell’s archrival P.VI. They have won 3 times already this year. All 3 were crushing defeats over Potomac, Good Counsel and a 9-0 drubbing of St. Mary’s Riken. Their only loss was handed to them by St. John’s Academy, which is one of the

top ranked WCAC schools for girl’s tennis this year. Only sophomore Leah Retta was able to pull out a win in her match against St. John’s, as O’Connell went 1-8 against them. The girls are lead by Coach Kluba, who is regarded with great respect among all of the girls. “His knowledge and love for the game of tennis inspires us to work hard and enjoy the sport we all love,” said Senior Captain Meghan Gardepe.

Gardepe, who has been on the team all 4 years is positive that she and the other seniors, Maddie Burkhard, Christine Mai, and Amy Shepard can lead O’Connell to a great season this year. Their home matches are played at Bluemont Park in Arlington, so get out and support O’Connell tennis this season.

Visor September 2009 Sports Page 7

Volleyball Spikes into a Victory

Kelly KundingerStaff Writer After a successful season in the 2008-2009 school year, the varsity volleyball team is pumped for another season. Though the team is young, due to many seniors graduating in 2009, there is a lot of experience. The hardworking team has practice every day that they do not have a game. The team, which consists of two seniors, ten juniors, and one freshman, is being lead this year by captains Dia Barber, junior, and Colleen, Wiliams, senior.

So far the volleyball team is off to a good start, with two wins against Bishop Ireton and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. The team has high hopes for and plans to have yet another successful season. “The team plays hard and has great sportsmanship.” Said Captain Dia Barber. She also went on to say, “We appreciate all of our fans coming out to our games and supporting us.” Be sure to stop by to see the Lady Knights play Tuesday, September 29 against Bishop Ireton at 5:30 pm.

Boys Cross Country Going the Distance

Erin McDonoughStaff Writer

While the Boys’ Cross-Country Team might not have as good a record as the girls, you can still find them hanging out at the track or running along the bike paths of Arlington. Some of them have even been known to run from their homes to O’Connell and back, or to jog through the snow to keep in shape. Wherever they go, they lead other O’Connell students to wonder where they would run if they were that in shape.

“I’d love it if I knew I could just run five miles to the store to get something if I needed it” says senior Suzie Holland.

Of course, as one member of the cross country team, senior captain Drew Fletcher points out, “You have to run back too”. The fact is you’re not likely to pick up groceries on foot, if only because you probably wouldn’t want to have to run home with a gallon of milk and a t-shirt drenched in sweat.

While running may not be the most effective means of transportation, that doesn’t stop the O’Connell Boys’ Cross-Country Team from doing what people have been doing since ancient times: running to compete. This year the Boys’ Cross-Country Team has unfortunately gotten off to a slow start in their meets. A number of factors contribute to their poor starting record. First, the team lost their head coach, Lewis Butler, at the end of last year. This

left them with no one criteria for training throughout the summer.

“It was really difficult to motivate people to work over the summer when we didn’t even have a coach yet” says senior captain Matt Tyrpak.

Once a new coach was hired, there was a whole new set of obstacles. First, the team had to adjust to a new training program. Second, the coach himself had to adjust to coaching. Although he ran in college himself, the new head coach, David Hebert, has never run a team before.

Then there is the fact that the team is so young; there are only two senior boys running this year.

“We’ve got a lot of talented underclassmen, especially in the sophomore class” says senior captain Matt Tyrpak, “but this year is a building year”.

That’s not to say that the team has no promise for this season. Most of this year’s runners have significantly improved times from last year, and even with the loss of last year’s seniors the team is faster overall. Tyrpak says that he thinks the team has a great chance of winning Arlington County, in which the team placed second in last year. He encourages everyone to come and cheer on the O’Connell runners as they compete at Bluemont Park on the thirtieth for the Arlington County Championship.

Climbing Up the HillsErin McDonoughStaff Writer

The Girls’ Cross-Country team, which won Arlington County, the WCAC, and Virginia Independent State last year, has once again gotten off to a great start. They finished fifth out of twenty-one teams in their first meet, Great Meadows Invitational on August twenty-ninth, and first out of twenty-one teams at the Peter Geraghty Invitational at Mount St. Mary’s on September fifth.

“The team is young, but strong”, says Claire Steindam, who is currently the only senior on the Varsity squad.

While they might not have many experienced team members, they do have lots of raw talent. This might be because Cross-Country is a very open sport; no one gets cut so everyone has the opportunity to prove their abilities throughout the year. Then again, the team’s good starting record might be the highly energetic and encouraging captains that the Cross country team boasts: Steindam is joined by juniors Michelle Van Horn and Alex Nihill in leading their team into another winning season.

Claire herself attributes much of the team’s success not only to the talent of the team, but also to their fantastic head

coach, Cindy Walls. “Coach Walls is very

experienced” Steindam says, “She’s been running and coaching, for years. And she always pushes every member of the team to do their absolute best”.

Walls has successfully led the Girls’ Cross-Country team for the past few years to many victories, and the team is optimistic about their chances of winning the Arlington County, WCAC, and Virginia Independent State tournaments again this year. O’Connell traditionally dominates Arlington County, and while the WCAC is more competitive, O’Connell is still a very strong competitor in the WCAC championship.

“It helps that the WCAC is pretty small”, says Steindam. “Coach Walls is able to keep her eye on the competition so that she can come up with the right strategies to win”. But O’Connell also does well in the larger Virginia Independent State Tournament, so clearly this is not their only secretto success. The O’Connell Girls’ Cross-Country Team is full of talented athletes, and hopes are high for another season at number one.

Upcoming Football Games:

9/26 vs. Good Counsel10/03 vs. Carroll10/10 at Gonzaga

10/17 at McNamara

Visor September 2009 Entertainment Page 8

Just what is it that makes a movie scary? This is a question that movie producers, directors, and writers have been asking themselves for decades now. What story? What monsters? What psychotically de-ranged yet sequel-surviving masked whack-jobs will make the average hu-man being let out a more-or-less little girl-like scream? Well, after all of their meetings, storyboards, and writing development projects, it has become clear that the well of ideas in Holly-wood has become as dry as the Sahara Dessert. From gory remakes like “My Bloody Valentine” and “Halloween” to completely unnecessary and somewhat disgraceful sequels (that’s right “Saw,” I’m referring to you), it would seem as if producers simply cannot muster the energy or will required to create a halfway decent horror flick.

Is this statement too harsh? Maybe. But is there plenty of evidence to prove my point? Certainly; the last decade has provided an especially plentiful harvest of not-worth-watch-ing “slasher” films that are the artistic equivalent of manure, including such “hits” (I’m using quotations to be facetious) as “Freddy vs. Jason” and “Prom Night.” The titles of both are a clear indication of Hollywood’s lack

of creativity, or self-respect for that matter.

Now, there seems to be noth-ing wrong with a group of stereotypi-cal jocks and cheerleaders partying together in a drug and booze filled environment (in the cinema, anyways). But when said party takes place at an abandoned cabin in the middle of nowhere that just so happens to be the private property of a hockey-mask-wearing lumberjack of death…well,

Seen Any Good Horror Movies Lately? Didn’t Think So.Danny BrennanSpecial to the Visor

Watch as Cassidy (Briana Evigan) tries to claw her way to survival in the horror-flick-of-the-month, Sorority Row. Scary, right?

that’s when we realize that Holly-wood is REALLY reaching for it.

But using the same old clichés is the least of our worries, my dear movie goers. There are far worse things to be worried about, such as plot recycling. In most cases, recy-cling is a good thing, but in cinema, it is one of the lowest and most shame-less (and coincidentally, most per-formed) actions a writer can perform. For example, a recent release titled

“Sorority Row” (oh drunk, homicidal, college girls…what would the world do without you?) has a plot that seems eerily familiar. That because we’ve seen it before. It is essentially “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, but now with sorority girls in skimpy outfits instead of Freddie Prince Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Does Hollywood really think no one recognizes the plot? Or do they just not care? Readers may be wondering, “So if all of the horror movies are ter-rible, why do they keep getting made?” The answer is surprisingly simple. Because they can be. We, as a collec-tive unit (high-schoolers, college kids, adults, lonely weirdoes who have noth-ing better to do), encourage bad movie making by purchasing tickets. Now, I won’t condemn someone for wanting to see Megan Fox play a possessed cheerleader who has a grudge against the male gender (“Jennifer’s Body”), but if we ever expect cinema to im-prove, we simply must stop accepting the grotesquely trite and momentously unbearable steaming piles of garbage laid out in front of us every time we go to the movies. Choosing not to watch what’s in theaters? Now that’s scary.

Here’s Top Gear in a nutshell: Host Jeremy Clarkson said, while reviewing the stunningly gorgeous Alfa Romero 8C, that he thought the car could have been made faster than it was. He then adds, “But then it would have been faster than a Ferrari, and in Italy, that’s a bit of a social no-no. It’s a bit like vomiting on the Pope.” That to me is a perfect explaination for one of the most enter-taining shows on television: Top Gear. Clarkson doesn’t bother talking about how the car could have been made faster; he doesn’t talk about why there is extra weight in the car because of new suspension or a bigger engine or anything boring like that. He puts everything in terms that people who know nothing about cars can easily understand and appreciate, and he makes it funny. And that also goes for his co-hosts, Richard Hammond and James May. And that’s what makes Top Gear so great. It gives people what they want in a car show, and goes nowhere near the drab, gray, boringness of those terrible car shows on ESPN 2 on Saturday mornings. That’s what makes Top Gear more than good; it makes it brilliant. It is the most entertaining hour on Television. Top Gear is an English show, and it airs on BBC America on Mon-day nights at 8 and 9, EST. It lives on

a steady diet of Porches, Ferraris, and exaggeration. Clarkson, Hammond, and May are all fantastic hosts, all very funny, and all know quite a lot about cars. And more importantly, they act like all middle-aged men should when they are given Lamborghinis to play with—like children. They obviously

have a fantastic time doing what they do, and that joy is transmitted to the viewer. Top Gear exists in a land of lunacy. The cars are often ridiculous, but they’re nothing compared to the challenges and races. The producers give the boys very small amounts of money, normally something around 1,000£ (about 1.6 thousand dollars)

and have them buy a set of wheels with it. They then have to push these terrible old cars to their limits, in both races and tests. They had to buy cars not meant to go off road, and then drive them halfway across Africa. They had to buy motorcycles for about $1000 in Vietnam and drive them up from the south of the country

to the north (to prove to the American Army that it was actually possible). But the challenges pale in comparison to the races. My favorite example is the race between a Bugatti Veyron and a high tech fighter plane. The Bugatti, the most powerful road car every made, had to drive a mile, turn around, and drive another mile back

across the starting line. The plane had to take off, fly a mile straight up, and then come back down across the finish line. It was way cooler than it sounds on pa-per. They’ve raced a Jaguar XKE down a ski slope against a skier, a McLaren F1 against a giant boat from London to Switzerland, and an Audi RS4 against some mountain climbers. All of that goes without men-tioning the often hilarious and normally stunning escapades of the STIG, the show’s racing driver who never takes off his helmet or says a word. Or the great celebrity interviews, the weekly features like the cool wall, and the fantastic camera work. It’s the best-shot show on television without a doubt. If I can find one complaint with the show, it’s that it’s British; so I don’t understand a very small amount of the jokes, more so if they’re made by Clarkson. But that small issue is completely covered up by the fact that people making fools of themselves is funny in any language and in any dia-lect. Top Gear is great; there’s no other word for it. It’s really fun to watch, it’s beyond entertaining, and it’s actually informative. You don’t have to love cars to like this show, but it works brilliantly if you do. Top Gear is for people who want to watch a show that cuts through the monotony of the average car show. Top Gear is for people who want to get some real world knowledge. Top Gear is for people who enjoy being entertained- quite thor-oughly.

Here are the hosts of the award-winning BBC show, Top Gear, (from left) Jeremy Clarkson, RIchard Hammond, and James May.

Another Awesome BBC Show: Top Gear RocksDave BundrenStaff Writer

Visor September 2009 Entertainment Page 9

“Hey remember that guy with the slick hair and bulgy eyes?”

“Yes! He plays Crazy-Eyes and…oh! Isn’t he the weird guy from Armageddon.”

“Ah, what’s his name? I just saw him as the mean, icky guy in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.”

“Call me crazy, but didn’t he play the mad-scientist man with the raspy voice in Click?”

“I’m so confused.”“Let’s IMDb it!”

Click, click. Moments Later:“OMG, Steve Buscemi!!!!”“It says here he was the voice

of Templeton the rat in Charlotte’s Web!”

“And he was in like pretty much every Adam Sandler movie.”

“FYI the raspy voiced guy is Christopher Walken. He was in Wedding Crashers and Catch Me If You Can.” If this sounds like a conversa-tion you had last week about Jonah Hill vs. Seth Rogan, than IMDb is for you. The International Movie Da-tabase is a cinematically fascinating website with an all-powerful search bar that will take you from Tim Burton’s new Alice In Wonderland, to seeing a full cast list for any movie you can think of and what each actor has ever acted in before. This fan-favorite site has popular quotes from every movie,

IMDb, for the Every-ManKellie HoganStyle Editor

so it’s an excellent tool for references in quick, witty conversations. For example, throwing lines from Zoolander and The Office into your dialogue will earn you instant popularity and keep your friends on their toes.

It also comes in handy when watching animated movies, such as Finding Nemo. If you feel like you recognize Nemo’s voice, upon looking it up on IMDb you would see that it’s Alexander Gould, the kid who plays Shane Botwin on Weeds.

This extremely versatile web-site is for movie enthusiasts, TV-junkies and the common man alike. You can watch trailers for upcoming movies, read last nights TV show recaps and basi-cally see or do anything even remotely moving-picture related. A definite fa-vorite thing to do is to check out secret future projects by my personal favorite actors.

E.g. “Holy cow, they’re coming out with The Hangover 2!”

or, “They’ve announced that everyone has signed on to the Arrested Development movie!!” So essentially, IMDb is an all around multi-purposeful website for everyone that is guaranteed to increase your movie knowledge, therefore mak-ing you the type of person that everyone wants to have around!

Mix of the Month: Back to SchoolEmily Gordon and Suzie HollandStaff Writers

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

Beirut – The Gulag Orkestar

The Generationals – When They Fight, They Fight

The Black Lips – Elijah

Man Man – Rabbit Habits

The Dears – 22 The Death of the Romance

Yann Tiersen – Comptine d’ete, No. 3

M83 – Kim & Jessie

Phoenix – 1901

Wolf Parade – Fancy Claps

Doom – Gazillionaire

Left Rights - Friends

If you like strange, read on. If you like mellow dance, read on. If you remember how great Keane’s three albums, Hopes and Fears, Un-der the Iron Sea, and his most recent, Perfect Symmetry are, then really. Please, read on. Comparisons may be a little trivial, but the soft, indie-rock group, Mew, can be judged by comparisons, in a positive way. Mew started out with an album entitled A Triumph for a Man, back in 1997. This particular album is generally unknown; however, their sophomore album, And the Glass Handed Kites received acknowledge-ment and acclaim in 2007. They also subsequently released Frengers and Half the World is Watching Me. Based on their album names, you probably have a hunch already as to how daring and strange they can be. Well, their fifth release gets even more odd: No More Stories Are Told Today, I’m Sorry They Washed Away The World is Gray I’m Tired Let’s Wash Away. Clearly, grammar or title length does not matter- just the music. As it should. If you listen to all five of their albums, the most pleasant quality of Mew would be their insane diversity. Every album is significantly different from its predecessor. It’s not necessar-ily a progression of sound, but more a recreation of their sound every time they release something new.

The first highlight of this album is its length: fourteen completely perfect tracks. I don’t know about you, but I’m particularly ticked off when a noteworthy band puts out short albums with three or four decent songs. This is evidently not the case; No More Stories Are Told Today… paints a musical picture: one you’ve never heard. Maybe they are comparable to Keane, M83, and possibly The Band of Horses- but still truly in a league of their own. The newest of Mew’s work displays strength in vocals, drums, ran-dom instrumentation, and especially the piano (occasionally synthesized: their newest trend). All of this makes “Tricks of the Trade,” track eleven, completely fabulous.

Number thirteen, “Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy,” instantly reminded me of MGMT, the new indie “it” band. It opens with “kid-ish” chants, sing-ing “No- don’t cry for me/ celebrate el sueno/the way it operates.” Insprational and weird, isn’t it? In case you didn’t know, sueno is Spanish for dream.

The opening track, “New Ter-rain,” is featured on television commer-cials. Mew does not fail to blow away its listeners with its organ sound! Bo Madsen’s lead vocals complete Mew’s distinctive sound: characteristic, but constantly changing, throughout Mew’s musical career.

If You Like Strange... Mew’s No More Stories Will Not Disappoint

Devon SpencerEntertainment Editor

Visor September 2009 Fashion Page 10Homecoming Heroines

It’s that time of year once more. Freshmen are lugging around huge

backpacks, Intramurals are beginning and students are buzzing about Homecoming. The theme this year is Masquerade Ball. Homecoming’s going to be amazing this year, but only as amazing as you make

it! Here are a few tips to help make this year’s homecoming the best it can

possibly be. 1. Girls should start getting

their dresses now! You’ll have a greater variety of dresses now than you will the day before the dance. And don’t think

that you have to get a dress from “Jessica McClintock” just because everyone else

is! Try to find a dress that not only fits your personality, but makes you stand

out. And if you find out someone else has the same dress? It’s no big deal; just rock

it your own way with cute accessories. Macy’s, JC Penney and Lord & Taylor

have really cute dresses for half the cost of those other stores.

2. Guys, don’t be too shy to ask that girl you’ve been crushing on that sits behind you in English. Nobody wants to

go to homecoming alone and there’s a possibility that she wants you to ask her

too! Just go for it, and if she says no? Again, no big deal. Go with a group! They’re fun and you’ll be with your

friends the whole night. What else could you ask for?

3. Make dinner reservations, group lists, and times for pictures early! It’s never too early to get started. If you wait too long, the night probably won’t

turn out how you want it to. 4. At the dance, you know the

teachers will be nagging about the dancing

Bring Out Your Masks, It’s Homecoming Time!

Zooey Deschanel’s style is retro at it’s best. This star-

let‘s fifties prints and simple silhouettes can be easily

emulated into your personal style to create a unique look that will turn heads through

several decades.

The Splurge:

This little emerald

number is a nod to Zooey’s

color palatte. JS Boutique Strapless

Taf-feta Dress: This strap-less back-zip taffeta dress in

shimmering peacock features a form-fitting ruched bodice and a flirty bow accent at the waist. Polyester; lined:

$129.00

The Inspiration: Zooey Deschanel’s Peacock

Dress

This is a more direct interpretation of Zooey’s peacock halter dress. Available at Forever 21, this Origami Cocktail Dress is a save at $27.80 Its features include side inset pockets, boning

in the bust, and a smocked upper back. Hidden side; zipper closure; fully lined.

so c’mon! Keep some room for The Holy Spirit, alright everyone?

5. Finally, enjoy your night. Don’t worry if some things don’t go your way; just relax, dance and have

fun with your friends! That’s what it’s about. “Homecoming’s amazing!” Mr. Duesterhaus said; but again, only as

amazing as you make it! Remember to buy your tickets at all lunch periods the

week before the dance ($12 for stag, $24 for a couple), bring your I.D.’s and remember your masks! October 3rd! Be

there!

The Inspiration: Peaches Geldof’s Red Carpet Edge

Peaches Geldof, the British Serena Van der

Woodsen, is known worlwide for her edgy,

avant- garde fashion. Her cobalt-blue, pleated dress makes a huge statement and contrasts with the red

of her lipstick.

By Carolina HurleyStaff Writer

Splurge:

Shorter, Topshop Bandeau Prom Dress. From Jolly Old England, this simple, yet elegant, short dress ties in the pleated deep

blue of Peaches’s dress. Price: $90.00

Save: Origami Cocktail Dress from Forever 21. Yes, there are fabulous

finds, but only if you know where to look. This pleated short, cocktail dress is only $27.80, leaving you enough money to splurge on ac-

cessories. Features include side inset pock-

ets, boning in the bust, and a smocked upper back: Hidden side

zipper closure, fully lined.

By Alejandra Buitrago Staff Writer