In this issue News 1–4 Lifestyle 5–7 YDC ask teens Entertainment 8–10 to suggest budget cuts Sports 12 NCAA info Viewpoints 14–15 page 16 On the Street 16 page 12 Volume 18 • Number 5 • Winter 2008 • Please display through March 7 YDC talks to photojournalist Scout Tufankjian Brinda Gupta of the crowd in all of the photos she snapped. Young D.C. YDC sat down with Tufankjian Jan. 24. She President Barack Obama has become a sym- was signing her book Yes We Can at Studio B. The bol for hope and change for people across the coun- book takes readers on a journey from Obama as a try and around the world. He gripped the attention long-shot candidate all the way to election night. of many as he traveled from town to town on the She explained the exhilaration, and, yes, even the presidential campaign trail, winning people over fatigue that came walking alongside Obama at at each stop. Some were won over by his genial campaign stops, following his campaign bus on the personality, others by his political beliefs, and still road, or even flying in his campaign’s jet. others with the belief that the country just needed a “I was sent to cover him in a book signing in new direction. Unlike many of those who followed New Hampshire, and I didn’t want to go…but they candidate Obama’s every step through the media, found someone to pay me, and I took the five to photojournalist Scout Tufankjian experienced the six hour drive to New Hampshire. It seemed like a The crowd reacts to Barack Obama, Jan. 24, 2008, Dillon, S.C. a few days before the South Carolina presidential primary. excitement first hand as she captured the intensity SEE SCOUTING OBAMA , PAGE 2 Photo by Scout Tufankjian Langston Days in D.C. Rockville Rampage reflects Priscilla Ward and worked for a short but significant One year later, teens and adults see benefits Young D.C. time in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood D.C. is often observed on a po- during the mid-1920’s. His time from their struggle to report on gangs litical scale. There is, however, a rich in D.C. influenced his outlook and Fran Djoukeng Student Press Law Center. cultural history. It underpins the city. philosophy on working class African- Young D.C. They won because the student Black History Month is a good time American life. In October 2007, the Rockville journalists were fearless in reporting to look back and celebrate a man best This year celebrations for Hughes Rampage embarked on a reporting cru- gang activity in the Rockville area, as known for his striking poems, novels, were held at Grace Church in George- sade. Five months of investigating and were the adult leaders who supported plays, short stories and columns. town and Busboys and Poets in Shaw. editing later, Rockville High School them. All were warned by others that Each Feb. 1 we celebrate Langs- The celebration also included two journalists synthesized the results of the sensitive issue might spark retalia- ton Hughes’ birthday. Hughes lived SEE LANG S TON DAY S , PAGE 4 prolonged research into a package of tions by gangs and affect the commu- stories. Feb. 22, 2008, they published nity negatively. Editors Jaishri Shankar five stories about gangs in the commu- and Rachel Wagner won $5,000. Ram- nity. There were interviews with gang page adviser Peter Daddone and Prin- members, gang activity statistics and cipal Debra Munk nominated Shan- details of initiation ceremonies. One kar and Wagner. Ultimately Daddone year later, key members of the team and Munk shared the $5,000 award that led the process talked to YDC that usually goes to either an adviser about their work and its rewards. or principal for support of the First In November 2008, the editors Amendment. In addition, the group at- of the 2007-08 school year’s news tended the National High School Jour- section, the Rampage adviser and nalism Convention in St. Louis for the Rockville principal received the 2008 award ceremony. Courage in Journalism award spon- “The recognition from the Feb. 3, Holly Bass reads poems by Langston Hughes accompanied by members of sored by the Newseum, the National SPLC and Newseum was icing on Washington Musica Viva recreating orchestrations by Charles Mingus at Grace Church in Georgetown. photo by Priscilla Ward Scholastic Press Association and the SEE RAMPAGE , PAGE 3 News t Young D.C. t Winter 2008 SYesCOUTING OsheBAMA , F R OM did PAGE ONE stick with campaign dark event, but the way people reacted to him was so intense and so exciting that I thought he could really do it.” This was the Young D.C. is an independent newspaper written by and defining moment that convinced Tufankjian about metropolitan area teens. that there really was “something” in Obama Address correspondence to: that she wanted to be able to encapsulate in Young D.C. her photography. For the next two years of 1904 18th Street, NW Unit B her life, Tufankjian devoted the majority of Washington, D.C. 20009-1707 her time to capturing the intensity and pas- tel: 202.232.5300 sion of the crowd that gathered for Obama fax: 202.232.5306 at every stop in thousands of photographs. www.youngdc.org When asked about her experiences, Copyright. All rights reserved. Tufankjian replied, “It was really amazing. Co-Managing Editors I got to work nationally and visited every Fran Djoukeng Jin-Ah Kim southern state except Arkansas. Being able Montgomery Blair HS (Md.) Thos. Jefferson HS for Science to travel and talk to people from all over and Technology (Va.) was so amazing. So was the food.” But as Copy Editor Entertainment Editors the intensity of the crowd increased with Sebastian Swain (D.C.) Sareum Kim each passing day, so did the need for her to Centreville HS (Va.) the Philadelphia race speech–the most pro- News Editor stay composed so that she would not falter found moment of the campaign–I’d like to Brinda Gupta Priscilla Ward or miss an expressive moment of the cam- have seen his friends’ reaction to him.” Thos. Jefferson HS for Science Homeschooling (D.C.) paign. She was able to stay calm at even the As one of the few people that got to see and Technology (Va.) most stirring moments because, as Tufankji- how Obama himself transformed through- Layout Manager Gautier Lemyze-Young an said, “it is a job, and at a certain point out his journey to the presidency, Tufankjian Lifestyle Editor you’ve seen him so many times and heard a said she thinks that it was amazing how he Courtney Stein Centennial HS (Md.) speech so many times, no matter how pow- stayed relatively the same throughout. “He St. Pius X HS (Tex.) erful it is, that you’re just looking for the became more tired, but he was the same Reporters: Faith Ajayi, McKinley Tech (D.C.); Melissa Belk, The moment that is most exciting.” guy and a little crabbier because it was an King’s College (N.Y.); Archie Brown, Temple University (Pa.); Even on election night when the re- exhausting road. But everyone was crabby Christina Chang, Wootton (Md.); Flora Cheng, (D.C.); Mohammad sults were released, she said, “It was crazy. towards the end of the campaign.” Diallo, Friendship PCS (D.C.); Jade Earle, School Without Walls I hadn’t slept in three days. I was standing After following a single person for two (D.C.); Allie Frith, South Lakes HS (Va.); Jessica Gelfarb, Walt in Grant Park and all of a sudden the crowd years and trying to capture unique settings, Whitman HS (Md.); Melanie Kates, McKinley Tech (D.C.); Becky just exploded, and I saw a sign that said he’s emotions and moments, Tufankjian appreci- Koretz, Woodrow Wilson SHS (D.C.); Billie McCain, Salisbury president of the United States, and I was ates her own photographic skills. They have University (Md.); Armani McMillan, Forestville Military Academy just trying to capture the picture while at brought her much recognition. Tufankjian (Md.); Matt Nguyen, McKinley Tech (D.C.); Caitlin Peterson, John the same time realizing that the nation has majored in political science because she S. Burke Catholic HS (N.Y.); Lindsey Rennie, Mount de Sales changed.” Tufankjian wishes most that she went to Yale, which does not offer a journal- Academy (Md.); Diamond Riley, University of Virginia (Va.); could have captured the scenes backstage on ism major. Emma Safford, The Lab School of Washington (D.C.); Megan election night or behind the scenes March She said, “Photojournalism is the best Ternes, Charlotte Catholic (N.C.); Jonathan Ward, St. Albans (D.C.); 18, 2008, when Obama gave a speech on job in the world, and I’m always going to Maya Wells, Morgan State University (Md). Hafie Yillah, St. John’s race in America. Because, she said, “During do it.” She hopes that in the future she can College HS (D.C.); MaBinti Yillah, University of Maryland go back to all the places she visited Artists: Steven Anderson, Homeschooling (Md.); Casey Drogin, during the cam- Einstein (Md.) paign and see how Board of Directors: George Curry, Tom Donlan, Hector Ericksen- Obama’s presi- Mendoza, Rich Foster, Mary Hanley, Judy Hines, Sean Jensen, dency affects the Cynthia Farrell Johnson, Rosamond King, Carol Knopes (chairman), people. Carol Lange, Kathleen Reilly Mannix, Sarah Menke-Fish, Bob Neuman, Michael Phelps, Reginald Ragland, Phil Reid Brinda Gupta, 17, is a senior at Thomas Young D.C.