Magazine 6.2 - Spring 2023

The Lasso Meridian High School

121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22043 571-730-4705 www.meridianlasso.org

Volume 6, Issue 2 Spring 2023

Editor-in-Chief

Stella Turner

Managing Editors

Clara Kasik

Isabel Costa

Public Relations Editor

Elizabeth Creed

News Editors

Kaylah Curley

Sophia Borghesani

Features Editors

Abby Crespin

Molly Moore

Opinon Editor

Preston Lieu

Staff Writers & Contributors

Sofia Braverman

Tessa Dunn

Anna Goldenberg

Rachel Grooms

Sasha Kasher

Tessa Kassoff

Madison Keelen

Victor Kidwell

Elbetel Kiros

Editor’s Letter

“I’m from Northern Virginia. Like, right outside of D.C.”

“We used to be called George Mason. You probably don’t know it.”

“It’s kinda like AP, but way more writing.”

Not very many people understand what it is like to live in The Little City. Despite our proximity to the nation’s capital and its large suburbs, Falls Church remains unique in many ways, all stemming from our small, closeknit community. Where everyone knows everyone, it is easy to fall victim to our echo chamber of ideas and ideals — yet, while we sometimes resent our “bubble” of a city, its distinctive conditions allow for our idiosyncratic character.

Meridian harbors nearly 900 remarkable students, whose individual aspirations and talents play off one another to define our unique community. Environmental conservation is shown through the popular Environmental Club (page 9), a student-run recycling business, and even the school building itself. The International Baccalaureate (page 10), from the Primary Years to the Diploma Programme, forms the basis of all students’ learning and character in our public schools. Athletics, whether students are competing (page 21), cheering (page 13), or learning how to treat sports injuries (page 11), are common ground for residents to bond over. And, with small local businesses (page 16) to meet friends or encounter neighbors at, there is no doubt that Falls Church is a one-of-a-kind place.

In an age where digital media (page 17) is omnipresent, students can join nationwide or global trends on any given day. But, in The Little City, young Falls Churchians have the resources to put a distinctly human twist on basic, impersonal trends.

Sara Meade

Kylie Moffatt

Ben Mossburg

Cailyn Murphy

Amity Pratt

Mara Statie

Vedika Thapliya

Arianna Vargas

Jamie Williamson

Mission Statement: The Lasso and its staff strive to inform their readers through accurate and factual reports, where information has been thoroughly gathered and verified; serve as an educational laboratory experience for those on staff; be accurate, fair, and impartial in its coverage of issues that affect the school community; not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy; cover the total school population as effectively and accurately as possible; report all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner, in accordance with the Canons of Professional Journalism developed by the Society for Professional Journalists.

Mug Sh ts Mustang

What’s your guilty pleasure song?

Lavender Haze by Taylor Swift

Where’s your favorite place to shop?

Ulta Beauty

Silver or gold?

Gold

Lazy Mike’s or Clare and Don’s?

Lazy Mike’s

What’s your guilty pleasure song?

Far by SZA

Where’s your favorite place to shop?

Urban Outfitters

Silver or gold?

Gold

Lazy Mike’s or Clare and Don’s?

Lazy Mike’s

What’s your guilty pleasure song?

Romantic Homicide by d4vd

Where’s your favorite place to shop?

Amazon Silver or gold?

Gold

Lazy Mike’s or Clare and Don’s?

Clare and Don’s

What’s your guilty pleasure song?

Smooth Operator by Sade

Where’s your favorite place to shop?

Unique Silver or gold?

Silver

Lazy Mike’s or Clare and Don’s?

Lazy Mike’s

What’s your guilty pleasure song?

Pink Moon by Nick Drake

Where’s your favorite place to shop?

Trader Joe’s

Silver or gold?

Silver

Lazy Mike’s or Clare and Don’s?

Lazy Mike’s

What’s your guilty pleasure song?

Gorgeous by Taylor Swift

Where’s your favorite place to shop?

American Eagle

Silver or gold?

Silver

Lazy Mike’s or Clare and Don’s?

Lazy Mike’s

Jerrod Anderson

I met with School Board newcomer, Jerrod Anderson, on a windy day a few months ago at the populous Northside Social. At the beginning of our conversation, a recycling bin beside us crashed to the ground. Anderson ran over to the toppled container, and immediately picked the can up before any bottles could fall out.

Despite the disturbance, we began with typical discourse, and he immediately mentioned his two children, both young attendees of FCCPS, and their passion for hiking.

“I go on lots of hikes with my kids, especially my older son, we kind of get out to the trails around the area.”

Anderson and his family moved to the City of Falls Church five years ago as he was looking for a job as his doctoral program focusing on health economics came to a close. “We’re kind of looking to kind of settle down . . . and there are plenty of jobs for economists and statisticians in the DC area.” The School Board member’s family, like many, was also drawn to FCC for its reputable school system.

“We heard that the Falls Church City schools were very good. I think that’s one of the reasons why a lot of people who didn’t grow up here move here.”

He accepted his job as a federal health statistician, and has applied his interest and education in economics and health to analyze and process data regarding the medical expenditure panel survey, which is a nationally representative survey of America’s health.

Anderson noted that he gravitates towards viewing the world in black in white, and recognized that he is “better at looking at the numbers.” As a federal health statistician, Anderson uses his expertise in data analyses to serve the broad American community. Similarly, when the recycling bin tipped over, Anderson employed his binary leaning brain to benefit his community.

Anderson ran for School Board in 2021 as a way to “use [his] skills to give back to the schools.” Although his campaign did not succeed in that initial campaign cycle,

EXPLORING “All Sides”

Anderson was appointed to the School Board on Jan. 31 to occupy Phil Reitinger’s vacated seat for the remainder of the calendar year. Anderson plans on running for reelection in the next election cycle.

The newest School Board member has used his data expertise to work with budget on the school board, while also pushing himself to embrace gray areas that expand past “the numbers” and noted that “numbers don’t necessarily tell the whole story.”

For example, as the School Board contemplates whether to implement later start times for the Secondary Campus, Anderson must consider data on sleep in adolescents while also prioritizing possible impacts specific to FCC.

“[Even] if a particular set of data says about X, it’s also about how that change affects how people structure their daily lives.”

So while decisions, such as start times, seem straightforward at a first glance, most issues are multifaceted and impact the communities in various ways. Comparably, when the recycling can buckled against the wind the day I spoke with Anderson, another customer may have walked past the can, or, if the winds had been stronger, the

can could have flown across the lot before the School Board member could pick it up. Further, Anderson has discovered through his role as both a federal and local public servant that not all citizens will agree with his actions.

To accommodate for differing beliefs, Anderson seeks to communicate with the community members to fully explain why decisions are made, and explain gray areas in policies to expand beyond the basic “yes” or “no” answer often relayed to FCC. Not only would this increase community engagement, but according to Anderson, it would bring more ideas and perspectives to produce more collaborative outcomes.

“Talking to people who disagree with you could be much more fruitful in understanding the entire issue, because they might be noticing something that I’m not.”

As our conversation on that windy day came to a close, the recycling can a few feet from us stood proudly, not constrained by one meaning, but as a symbol of how complex the world may be, even when there may only be clear cut choices. So I quickly refocused back to our ample conversation, and Anderson once again re-emphasized his goal. To not only maintain “utmost respect for both sides” — but for “all sides.”

In Our Country: Gun Violence

Every mass shooting that makes national news in the United States is followed by another. We are five months into 2023 and there have been almost 200 mass shootings, resulting in mass casualty. More people die every day, and the response to the gun violence remains the same.

The Second Amendment protects one’s right to bear arms, so it is easy to obtain a firearm with minimal requirements or background checks. But, while the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791 to protect oneself from militias, it’s no longer 1791. Welcome to 2023: where guns are now the problem, not the solution.

There is also a difference between safely carrying around a handgun for basic protection and carrying around militarystyle rifles for protection. According to the National Institute of Justice, 25.1% of mass shootings used military-style assault rifles.

The United States has the highest rate of firearm ownership in the world, more than double the next country on the list, wartorn Yemen.

“I think it’s pretty out of hand. I feel like a lot of people are talking about all the violence going on but not many people are actually taking action, though a lot of people that aren’t legislators are. They’re going to protests, they’re speaking out about it, but those in power aren’t really doing enough in my opinion,” sophomore Alissa Zagorski said.

A new surge of anti-gun activism has come at a heavy cost that has been collecting for years. In the last seven years, the number of mass shootings has only gone up, from 269 in 2014 to 648 in 2022, nearly triple. If we continue this current trend of 52 mass shootings in one month, we’ll get to the same number, roughly 648, by the end of the year, if not more.

Gun violence may seem far away, like a story on the news or a statistic told in passing. Reality check, it isn’t. It is in schools, on the streets, and killing kids. Gun-related injury has become the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1-19, beating car crashes. So far this year 495 teenagers, ages 12-17, have been killed and 1,221 have been injured, as of early May. When is enough, enough?

“Obviously car crashes and gun violence are both terrible things but gun violence is something that can be better prevented compared to car crashes. The fact that’s happening more when it can be prevented is part of the problem,” sophomore Flora Pelton said.

“There are people in America who own 20 guns, or a hundred, or even thousands of guns. That’s terrifying because they’re a threat, anybody who basically has access, becomes a threat…everybody can be part of the problem if the problem doesn’t get solved,” Pelton said.

It is estimated that Americans have

American politics has turned into a political battlefield, a “don’t let Republicans do this, don’t let the Democrats do that” ideology. Policymakers in this country need to get out of their politically polarized mindset and look at what is going on in the country around them. Every time we see a new story reporting on a mass shooting, the question is brought up, how many more people need to die until there is change made in this country?

United States. (Photo by Nick Gatz/Falls Church News Press)

bought more than 150 million firearms in the past decade. According to the Small Arms Survey, legal or otherwise, widespread civilian ownership of fully automatic rifles in the United States is only seen in a few other countries, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Yemen.

The question of safety in schools has come hand in hand with America’s rise in gun crime, mass shootings, and child injury or death due to guns. Concerning our school, this same question of safety started with last year’s false alarm intruder alert. “The new campus is great, but it’s basically glass. While, where we live isn’t too violent, we have a lot of areas surrounding us with a lot of violence going on,” Zagorski commented. “And if someone were to enter the school with a weapon, a lot of the surfaces [walls] are glass, so I do feel unsafe sometimes when I think about that.”

Things need to change or “... one day it could happen here and none of us are gonna expect it, it’s just gonna be a random day and then it’s gonna change everybody’s lives forever,” concludes Pelton.

“One day it could happen here and none of us are gonna expect it, it’s just gonna be a random day and then it’s gonna change everybody’s lives forever.” - Flora Pelton

school. (Photo by Anna Dickson)

Meridian’s Environmental Club has recently risen in popularity, accommodating its highest number of participants this year. The club meets during Mustang Block and works with plants and greenery within the school’s walls.

Senior Anna Dickson, the president of the Environmental Club, said that she “absolutely loves being part of the environmental club” and spends both time and energy “making [the club] an enjoyable and educational experience for all its members.”

The club’s goal is to make Meridian a more sustainable and environmentallyfriendly place. Students have the opportunity to help every Tuesday and Friday during Mustang Block. The group mainly works in the vivarum, maintaining hydroponics like lettuce and basil.

“The vivarium allows us to grow vegetables and other herbs without the use of soil,” Dickson said.

Students weed and harvest the plants over the course of six weeks. Afterwards, members “deconstruct the hydroponic towers, clean them of any salt crystallization, reconstruct them again, and then finally plant new herbs and vegetables.”

All the lettuce and herbs harvested from the vivarium are donated to Hands on Harvest, a nonprofit organization that strives to boost access to fresh produce and to reduce food waste.

Outside of their work in the vivarium,

Brightening Up Meridian: An inside look on the Enviornmental Club

members also water and pot plants around the hallways. To keep the plants fresh and healthy, the club always checks for any bugs that could potentially affect the plant’s growth.

Despite how much the group has already accomplished, they still have a lot more unique initiatives planned for the end of the year.

“We have many upcoming projects for the Environmental Club, but the one I am most excited about is our Earth Day extravaganza,” Dickson said. “On Earth Day, we celebrate the Earth and plan a bunch of environmentally-friendly activities and projects for our community and students to participate in.”

Additionally, the group has thought

about building ant farms, bee hotels, and even possibly obtaining chickens. Dickson mentioned that the school may have “a native terrarium where the club will keep a bunch of amphibians like frogs and toads” in the near future.

“I am very proud of how many students have joined the club this year, which made it possible to get the vivarium up and running to its full potential. Students should join this club because it is an easy and great way to make Meridian a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly school,” Dickson concluded.

IB or not IB?

That is the question

Choosing whether or not to pursue the IB Diploma is a principal decision for students at Meridian that all grades will eventually be confronted with. The IB Diploma, if picked, will define the basis of the classes a student will take in their junior and senior years.

“The big difference [between the IB Diploma and other paths] is that IB Diploma candidates have to meet the program requirements of what kinds of courses to take from each of the different groups,” Josh Singer, Meridian’s IB Diploma program coordinator, said.

He furthered that “IB students also have to complete the core requirements of theory of knowledge, the extended essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service). Course candidates, or students who just take how

the research, having to turn that into an outline, [and] turning that into a substantial essay,” Singer argued. “I think there is a value in what the CAS requires students to do as far as really growing throughout that learner profile.”

Senior Sean Lester, a student currently pursuing the IB Diploma, agreed that the IB Diploma has its fair share of benefits and does not regret his decision to pursue it.

“I think I made the right choice. It was a lot more work, like the Extended Essay and CAS, but I do think I learned a lot and I

Junior Rachel Brantley chose not to pursue the IB Diploma, but still had to think about her goals and aspirations before making a decision that she feels best reflects her interests and skills.

“I think I made the right decision because it is easier to pick and choose courses,” Brantley said. For example, “I know I am good at science, so I am going to do HL sciences, but I am not super great at history, so I will not do IB World History.”

This year, Meridian offered a new option called the IB Career-Related Programme for students to take their junior and senior years.

“The new IB CP pathway is a good way for people to dive deeper into a certain subject or area of work they are passionate about, such as sports medicine or design, and develop both personal and professional skills,” Singer described.

Similarly to the IB Diploma Program, Singer concludes that the IB CP plan could also add value to a student’s education.

think that it was very helpful in college admissions,” Lester said.

Nevertheless, Singer wanted to point out that one needs to start with what interests the student most when it comes to deciding which path is the best fit.

“Students [need to] know who they are and what interests them. I understand that there is a perception that the only way one can get into college is by pursuing the IB Diploma, but we have got to start squashing that because there is more to life than just pursuing something for the sake of what it could get you,” Singer said.

“In the same way that pursuing the IB Diploma can make a student look attractive to colleges and universities, picking an area of interest through the IB CP lens [will] also make a student pretty attractive to colleges and universities alike,” Singer said.

While the decision of whether or not to pursue the IB Diploma could potentially be quite daunting for underclassmen, Singer offers a few words of encouragement and advice.

“If your goals involve challenging yourself with the rigors of courses and exploring a topic of great interest through a lengthy research paper, then maybe the IB Diploma is for you. However, if all of those things are not matching your priorities and goals for your educational time at Meridian, that’s okay too.”

“ The new IB CP pathway is a good way for people to dive deeper into a certain subject or area of work they are passionate about, such as sports medicine or design.”

Healing Meridian Athletes Sports Medicine

Medicine. Students are given scenarios from the program that they must act upon, giving a real-life feel without the same stakes as treating Meridian athletes.

“We’re one of less than five schools in the country that have the opportunity to use the VR headsets,” Coach G said. “The headsets help students learn to work with recovering athletes and athletes with concussions.”

When asked about goals for the future of the class, Coach G knows where the class is heading. “Expand, expand, expand,” Coach G said. “Within the next two years, we’ll go from just two sections to four sections, and offer three levels for students, so they can continue participation in the sports medicine field.”

Megan Jackson thinks that taking Sports Medicine this school year was the right choice. “I feel like my time is going towards something important.”

Just past the gyms of Meridian High School and down the hidden stairway leading to the lower level, you might find yourself turning a corner and spotting all sorts of shoes lining the hallway. These sneakers lead to one of Meridian’s most popular courses: Sports Medicine.

Athletic Trainer Vicki Galliher, known by her students and athletes as Coach G, started the Sports Medicine Program at Meridian only six years ago, and the class has done nothing but thrive since then.

Forget about sitting in rows and watching the teacher lecture; Coach G guarantees an interactive experience for all students in her class. “This class keeps you on your toes,” said senior Megan Jackson. “My other classes are very linear and I feel like Sports Med is more real-life.”

“The energy level when we walk in is definitely high and positive,” junior Avery Ross said. Other students chimed in, describing the class as invigorating and energizing.

“Everything we do affects a person. When we work with an injured athlete, there’s always the risk that we could make things worse, causing actual consequences that impact someone,” Coach G said. The curriculum differs greatly from many other classes at Meridian because of the central focus on interactions with athletes that come in needing help.

Don’t think that once students leave the classroom, the knowledge gained is left untouched until the next class. Sophomore Grady Jinks enjoys taking advantage of office hours with Coach G, a year-long opportunity that happens every day after school during sports practices. “I think it’s fun to work with the teams,” Jinks said. “I get to know people that play all different sports.”

Jinks also shared that the new-this-year Virtual Reality headsets is a highlight of the class. Students have an opportunity to treat computer generated patients on special programs designed for students in Sports

fashion fashion fashion at Meridian at Meridian at Meridian

The In and Outs of Meridian’s Most Popular Sports

With over 100 total state and district championships across the 24 sports Meridian offers every school year, it should not be a surprise to anyone that Meridian’s students are passionate about sports. Whether students play “to get to know everyone in different grades and make friends” or “bond with friends over a similar interest,” sports are extremely popular at Meridian. As a result, The Lasso sent out a Google form a few weeks ago to gather data from the student body and find out which sports are most attractive among Meridian.

Some of the results were incredibly clear. For instance, students enjoy Meridian’s spring sports the most, with almost 50 percent of the school finding it the best season to both play and watch. Baseball and softball are two of Meridian’s most liked sports that garner ample love and support from students and staff alike.

“The softball team is basically my second family. If I have a bad day, they can always cheer me up and make me laugh. I love having these amazing people to play with,” senior Sara Rollins, the captain of Meridian’s softball team, said.

Tied with baseball and softball in popularity is soccer, one of Meridian’s most competitive and successful sports. Soccer is the school’s most watched and is tied as the school’s favorite spring sport, according to the survey.

“I really enjoy playing soccer because it is fun and gives you something to work hard at. I also play school sports because I enjoy the opportunity to play for our school with my friends,” sophomore Luke Borg explained.

While spring may offer the best season for sports, it certainly does not provide Meridian’s most popular sports. Indeed, basketball and football are Meridian’s most watched sports, totalling at 75 and 63 percent, respectively.

“Watching football and basketball games on a Friday night, especially close ones, are a surreal experience that I enjoy doing with my friends. The atmosphere of the stadium combined with the tasty snacks makes these games so enjoyable for all,” sophomore Liam Ross, an avid football and basketball viewer, said.

In addition to holding the reputation as Meridian’s most viewed sports across all three seasons, basketball and football are also Meridian’s most treasured and liked sports.

“Most students at Meridian are also athletes, so playing sports like football, basketball, and

soccer serves as a good way to become friends with people who will likely be in the same classes with you at some point,” freshman Jackson Watt said.

One of the main reasons as to why so many students appreciate playing basketball and football for the school stems from the copious number of students in attendance who fill up the bleachers for each and every game.

The softball team is bascially my second family. If I have a bad day, they can always cheer me up and make me laugh.” - Sara Rollins

“The student section is one of my favorite parts about playing basketball at this school. The loud chanting and cheering from the students gets the whole team hyped and ready to play,” sophomore Billy Asel said. “That’s why I strongly encourage all students to show up to all sporting events and support all of Meridian’s teams.”

for the record:

what’s trending?

Around this time of the year, students start to thaw out of the cold, cruel winter months and transition into a crisp spring. With this newfound timeliness and almost rebirth in the air, The Lasso has scraped together a list of the hottest tracks so far, with additional commentary from some of your favorite tastemakers around the school.

tracking the releases from both of them.

“[The song] just makes me feel like a baddie,” Corry said. Maybe that’s all there is to it.

deserves the same recognition that other rappers in the scene get.”

“DESPECHA” by ROSALIA

Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julian Baker form the ultimate, sad-girl dream team with their supergroup, boygenius. “$20” is one of the tracks off of their EP released to hype up the new album.

“I love “$20” because it’s such a mood booster,” freshman Hannah Boesen said. “The vibes are just so good—Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus’ voices are amazing together.” Boesen noted that it’s become a very popular song around the school.

“So many people I know are planning to go to the boygenius concert this June 16.” she said. Meridian students have been preparing for the indie-rock trio’s newest album, “the record,” so The Lasso readers should make sure to give it a spin.

Dubstep legend Skrillex has been firing off a round of singles with new and exciting artists as features. One of the more popular ones was “Real Spring” featuring rapper Bladee. It’s an electric and smooth mix, with an infectious beat.

“This song reminded me of June and

ROSALÍA has been an artist on the outside of the mainstream for a while, but with her new and catchy track “DESPECHA,” she’s finally receiving recognition as the exciting and experimental artist she is. The piano hook melody merging with the cool beat sounds incredible, and infuses the entire track with an infectious energy. “MOTOMAMI” was a big hit in the world of experimental pop and latin pop, and many students, including sophomore Nayra Gallego-León, understand the hype.

“I like how crazy the song is, and you can have so much fun listening to it and just dancing with friends,” she said.

“Trailblaze” by Cowgirl Clue

For this next track, art-countryelectronic-pop song “Trailblaze” by Cowgirl Clue has been on the radar of many underground music fans. I went to senior Kiana Collins to hear the Meridian scoop. “Country isn’t usually my genre of music. However, I do like when it’s mixed with synthpop, like the song “Roadkill” by the 1975—and this song!”

The track shows that Cowgirl Clue is putting forward a new and creative effort on the hyperpop scene and an inspired sound from an already-booming genre.

“People who call [Ice Spice] a pineapple are just haters,” junior Briana Corry said, preemptively defending the energetic rapper right out the gate. She calls the Bronx rapper the “next wave of female rap,” and I’m inclined to agree with her. Ice Spice’s bars on this track flow incredibly, and add a lot to the already-fantastic track by PinkPantheress. These artists clearly have a lot of potential, and it’s still early in their career—I’m definitely going to be

July of 2020, but in a fun way,” junior Alta Copeland said. It’s definitely a throwback, and I can hear the same nostalgic tones Copeland heard.

“The beat is fire, and this song has already gotten stuck in my head,” Junior Skyler Anderson, a veteran Sound Cloud rap fan, said. “I’m so glad this song is bringing more attention to Thaiboy because his music

“lover’s rock” tv girl

“Lover’s Rock” by TV Girl

This song by dream-pop band TV Girl might be the oldest track on this list, but I’ve seen and heard it all around the school lately. The song reminds me of the timeless quality of similarly shoegaze-tinted 2010s band Beach House’s music.

“[This song] takes me to a far off place where you start seeing the world with rosetinted glasses,” sophomore Allie Zagorski said. “Hearing the music, the energy… and the lyrics are amazing too.” You don’t have to take her word for it, either—these tracks all deserve some appreciation.

“$20” boygenius

“boy’s a liar” ice spice & pinkpantheress

“real spring” bladee & skrillex

“true love” yung lean & thaiboy digital

“despecha” rosalía

“trailblaze” cowgirl clue

The Potential Downfall of

Big Media Big Media

In 2018, Disney released “The Mandalorian,” a successful Star Wars series featuring a new side-character and set in the timeline before the sequel trilogy. The series was adored by both long-time fans of the franchise and the general public due to its fresh “space western” concept centered around a new character.

Shortly after “The Mandalorian’s” debut, Disney released “Boba Fett,” directly following the same western theme and reusing the characters from its predecessor. The “Boba Fett” series has achieved significantly less success and there are currently no plans for renewal. But why?

Fans crave originality. Fictional media is meant to be a source of entertainment and an outlet for creativity, and while fans may seek familiarity in comfort films or

How major media companies are trending towards

expansions upon their favorite cinematic universes, overused plots and continuous sequels grow to be boring over time.

However, Hollywood studios are trending away from risk due to an economic recession and strenuous transition from

streaming service to cut costs,” reporter and media correspondent Anna Nicolaou said.

Large media companies are struggling to prevent increasing debt. So, rather than working towards new innovation and new production, executives trend towards relying on established audiences of previous franchises.

Yet, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost for Hollywood studios. For example, Disney recently released “Andor,” a prequel story to a side-character from “Rogue One.” While the series originated from an already established franchise, it diverged from proven formulas and generated both

COVID restrictions that caused a severe decrease in revenue. Original films or even films that break proven formulas are an inherent risk that media companies are not willing to take.

The business model of media has fueled the production of proven formulas and a lack of original content, and consumers think they have a spectrum of choice that upon further inspection reveals itself to be monochromatic, just multiple shades of gray.

The Financial Times describes 2023 as a ‘year of turmoil’ for Hollywood executives.

“Warner Bros Discovery, the owner of HBO, has laid off hundreds of staff in the past few months as it grapples with nearly $50bn in net debt. The company has also removed dozens of shows from its HBO Max

Large media companies are struggling to prevent increasing debt.

critical and fan acclaim.

Creators like Stan-Lee from Marvel, and George Lucas from Star Wars built fictional worlds to provide the people with a newfound sense of not only understanding, but hope for society. At the same time, the art they create must be profitable. Media companies are tasked with the difficult job of balancing media success in a capitalist economy while also ensuring art is preserved and prospers.

risk aversion at the expense of creative originality.

Fans crave originality... overused plots and contiuous sequeles grow to be boring over time.

Media companies are tasked with the difficult job of balancing media success in a capitalist economy while also ensuing art is preserved and prospers.

Trending Restaurants in Falls Church

The weather is warming, the unidentifiable smell of fertilizer is in the air, and the residents of Falls Church City and the greater world are converging on the popular eateries of the area. To get a head start on the summer boom, The Lasso has compiled a list of places with superior food and seating that stand out.

Bakeshop

Cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and ice cream are appreciated at any hour of the day, any day of the week, and any time of the year. But the go-to place for go-to treats will always be Bakeshop. The food is fantastic, with an odd combination of both breakfast and desserts, but the one-of-a-kind atmosphere makes Bakeshop a one-of-a-kind place.

Rare Bird Coffee Roasters

This iconic local coffee shop is where to go on study days and quiet mornings. With great seating and the subdued friendly vibe, you can’t help but to forget about the coffee, for a short time at least. A great place to warm up in winter and meet up with friends in summer, Rare Bird Coffee Roasters is the place you can’t help but go back to.

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack

Every summer is not complete without at least one visit to Clare & Don’s. “I love to go to Clare & Don’s for dinner because they have a lot of music, and it’s a nice place that I go to with my family in the summer,” sophomore Allie Zegorski shared. With live music and the forever calm of summer break, Clare & Don’s is a summer experience we all need.

Like your local diner but more, Lazy Mike’s is the ideal place for a relaxed meal. “Their ice cream is also really good since it’s homemade. It’s been around for a long time, so I know everyone is familiar with it,” added junior Morgan Knight. From classic eggs and bacon to heart-attack-inducing ice cream, Lazy Mike’s is necessary for all Falls

Residents.

Mr. Rivera

“A lot of students have a lot of these throwback band [t-shirts] that they wear all the time, and I think there’s a very retro look now. I think it’s a pretty neat idea.”

Teachers’ opinions on Gen Z

Teachers’ opinions on Gen Z

What are some of your favorite clothing or music trends among Gen Z students?

“I would say this generation feels like a very conscious generation, a very sober generation. Plugged in, connected, empowered, technologically oriented are what most come to mind…From my generation, there’s a ton of movement, a ton of time where there’s no social media, there’s no parents, you’re just off the grid. So I would say with this generation though, more so than ever, you’re always on the grid.”

What words or attributes would you use to describe Gen Z?

“I think to the positive, there is an empowering element because you’re never working in isolation...I think that there is the ability to come and operate in much more unison...One of the challenges is that the levels of reported stress from young people are higher now than it’s ever been and I think that has been a trend with the younger generations. And I think that some of that invariably is related to social media and the connection that you have with it.”

Ms. Myklestad

“I’m glad that it’s getting away from the super tight jeans and all that because it looks more relaxed... I think what’s interesting is that there’s so many genres now … there’s probably hundreds of different genres which is really fantastic, so everyone can sort of find their niche and I think everyone has their own interests.”

How do you think technology has influenced Gen Z’s development?

“I think they’re really good self advocates. When I was younger, we were the “be quiet” generation, meaning that you do what you’re told and listen and play by the rules. I really appreciate that Gen Z questions things and they analyze and advocate for who they are and what they need. It’s awesome that they feel like they can they have a voice and they can use it.”

“I think it’s good and bad. The bad is obvious: there’s self esteem issues, there’s bullying, and there’s just this platform of people being anonymous and feeling like they can really target other people in such terrible and cruel ways. But then there’s the amazing, positive thing of being connected globally to people all throughout the world and you can learn from their perspectives, you can find people who are like you, and you can find different communities of support.”

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