staff writer

After a shaky start to the season, the varsity girls’ lacrosse team has finally found their groove, and they are letting their opponents know it. In a tight-knit match up on April 24, the girls came out on top against their rival team Churchill with a win, to bring their overall record to 8-1.

Although Churchill came out to an early lead, both teams were playing neck and neck until junior defender Cara Traub tied the game up at 2-2. After that, a barrage of Wootton goals were sent Churchill’s way and because of great communication and tremendous saves by freshman goalie Olivia Mangun, the defense kept Churchill at bay for a majority of the first half. With less than five minutes remaining in the half however, Churchill came back with several breakaway goals to even it out with a score of 6-6 to close the half.

Senior captain and midfielder Marisa Cresham opened the half with an early goal to regain the momentum. Though both teams were offensively oriented, the Patriots communication and organization showed in their game play. Junior attack Mady Romm and Traub both displayed their finesse and stick skills and scored a pair of hat tricks. Notable performances were also made by junior midfielder Stephanie Weissenberger and sophomore midfielder Ellie Kobylski. On defense, freshman defender Marisa Morakis continues to impress in her first year on the varsity. The game ended with a 15-10 win for the Patriots.

“After losing [her sister] Chloe to an injury, Marisa has stepped up to fill her shoes,” said head coach Kasey Marchwicki. “She has been just as loud and we’ve seen the same tendencies and athleticism that we need on this squad.”

On April 22, the girls played Bethesda-Chevy Chase and showed their dominance in a 15-7 win. Cresham and Romm both had a four goal performance, and junior midfielder Dani Averill continued to be a dominant factor on defense.

The Whitman team was almost no challenge to the girls’ currently on their hot streak. Cresham put up a five goal performance. Romm also displayed her skill with an additional five goals, a season high for her. The game ended with a 17-10 Patriots win.

The victorious tone of the game was completely different from the overtime shootout against Walter Johnson. In the final moments, the Patriots were able to score an additional three goals to bring them to a 19-16 lead to close the game.

staff writer

Coming off of two strong wins over Churchill and Clarksburg, baseball has improved its record to one game under .500, sitting at 5-6, 4-2 at home.

Facing their rival, the Patriots went into the game coming off of their fourth win of the season. Senior pitcher Andrew Craig pitched the whole game and allowed only four runs. The team scored six runs, matching their season average, winning 6-4.

“The key to our victory was solid pitching and executing plays when we needed to,” junior pitcher Matt Hsiung said.

Wootton played at the 4-8 Clarksburg Coyotes on April 20. Seeking their first away win of the season, the Patriots pulled through winning 5-3.

On April 17 the Patriots played the Whitman Vikings in a divisional battle. The Patriots jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the top of the second inning, but the Vikings responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second. Whitman tacked on three more runs in the third inning and two more in the fifth. Wootton scored in the fourth inning, but was scoreless for the rest of the game. Whitman won 7-2.

“The way we can improve as a team is to be able to clutch hit in key situations,” Hsiung said.  “When we all execute and make plays and get hits when they count, we win games.”

One day earlier, on April 16, Wootton faced off against the 9-1 team from Bethesda-Chevy Chase for a game that proved to be a constant battle for the lead. Wootton scored first taking a 3-0 lead, but BCC quickly caught up and took the lead, scoring three runs in both the second and third inning. In the fourth inning, the Patriots were able to tie the game by scoring four runs, but BCC again responded by scoring one run in the fourth inning and three in the fifth making the score 6-3. One inning later, Wootton scored five runs, but BCC retaliated again, scoring one run in the sixth and two in the seventh off of a walk off triple. In the end BCC had the advantage, winning 13-12.

On April 13, Wootton played the 2-7 Walter Johnson team. The game started off slow for both teams, resulting in two scoreless innings. Wootton scored first in the third. WJ tacked on a run in both the fifth and the sixth inning. However, the Patriots were able to pull through and scored two runs in the seventh inning to give them the 3-2 win.

On April 11 the Patriots had their most decisive victory over Richard Montgomery. They held RM scoreless while scoring 10 runs of their own, one in the first inning, three in the third and sixth in the fourth, the most that they have scored in a single inning all season.

“The win over RM gave us a huge confidence boost in our defensive ability,” sophomore Matthew Ainsworth said.

The Patriots are currently in third place in their division, behind only Bethesda Chevy-Chase and Whitman. They are scoring on average 5.72 runs per game, but are on average allowing 5.81 runs per game.

The team played Gaithersburg and at Rockville, but they could not be included in this issue.

staff writer

Game. Set. Match. These three words define the boys’ varsity tennis team’s 2013 season as they have dominated their competition with a record of 9-1.

In the Patriots’ biggest match up of the season, the team was handed their first loss when they played against Churchill away on April 24. This loss broke the Patriots’ 57-match win streak that has extended back since 2008. The score of the match was 4-3. This was a highly anticipated match for both teams, as they both entered the match with an undefeated record.

The three Patriot wins were earned by the number two doubles team consisting of junior Abhishek Patwardhan and senior Jonathon Lee, the number three doubles team consisting of seniors Stefan Oganesoff and Souvik Ghosh, and number two singles player Titas Bera.

“We had a strong start to the season and we don’t plan on letting up,” Bera said.

The Blake Bengals traveled to Wootton on April 23 and lost to the undefeated Patriots in all seven matches. The Patriots continued their winning streak in anticipation of their drive toward the state tournament.

In number one singles, senior Mateo Cevallos won in two sets with scores of 6-0 and 6-2. Five out of the seven matches that the Patriots played in were won by the Patriots, with scores of 6-0 in just two sets.

On April 20, the Patriots matched up against the Walter Johnson Wildcats at home and won 5-2. The match against the Wildcats was expected to be challenging for the Patriots, as the Wildcats have gradually become a top-tier team throughout the past couple seasons.

The team was shocked that Cevallos, the reigning boys’ singles division and state champion, lost to Walter Johnson’s Baron Baris in just a mere two sets with scores of 6-2 and 6-3.

“It’s hard because being the best team in the county we always have to play our best and it can be difficult,” Coach Nia Cresham said.

Another surprising match was when the number one doubles duo comprised of seniors Varun Ganti and Kevin Chan lost their match in three sets against Wildcats Guy Bevin and Leo Bloomberg, with scores of 7-5, 6-7 and 5-7. Although they got off to a strong start by winning the first set, Ganti and Chan were defeated in the next two sets, both of which were close.

“It won’t happen again,” Ganti said.

While the Patriots did not emerge victorious in these two matches, the rest of the team pulled off five wins and overcame the strength and skill of the Wildcats.

The Patriots were met with similar success in their match against Whitman.

The Patriots played the Whitman Vikings at Whitman on April 17. The Patriots demolished the Vikings 6-1, giving the Vikings their first loss of the season and dropping Whitman’s record to 5-1. The Vikings are one of the strongest competitors of the Patriots this year.

Cevallos played a match against Whitman’s Joey Gumataotao and won in two sets in a crushing display. The scores of the two sets were 6-0, 6-0.

On April 15, the Patriots had a home match against the Kennedy Cavaliers. The Patriots once again smashed their opponents, winning all seven of their matches.

The team won 7-0 once again when they voyaged to Richard Montgomery to face the Rockets on April 12.

In the number one singles match, Cevallos won with close scores in each set. The first set Cevallos won 7-5 and the second set he won 6-4. Bera won his match without even letting his opponent win a game. The score of both sets were 6-0. Senior Gabriel Fan won his match 6-2 6-1.

staff writer

Displays, paintings, and drama, oh my! Have no fear; the annual Festival of the Arts is here. From 7 to 9:30 p.m. on April 29 to May 2, the annual Festival of the Arts will celebrate the arts department while recognizing the many talented students the school has to offer.

The festival is presented by the Center for the Arts and led by the head of the arts department, Sue Thorpe, and ceramics teachers Malinda Pierce and Christina Gutwein. Gutwein has been preparing by creating nametags for about 250 students and matching them to their pieces. She has been eyeballing pieces and selecting the best work of the year. “I would like for students to see the remarkable dedication that their peers have put into their pieces,” Gutwein said.

Every art class participates in the festival by having their best work of the year exhibited. In addition to the display of visual arts, including ceramics, paintings, drawings and photography, multiple performances take place as well.

Each night brings more excitement than the last. On the first night, there will be art exhibits, chamber music and a vocal spotlight.

Students in theater two, an upper-level drama class, will be performing monologues they have been practicing in class. “I am looking forward to it,” theater two senior Daniela Weinsweig said. “It should turn out really well.”

April 30 will bring more art exhibits, theater performances and the jazz and concert bands.

On May 1 there will be a choral music concert. The festival will end with a final concert by the band and orchestra.

“The Festival of the Arts is going to be awesome this year,” junior chorus member Aaliyah Dixon said. “We are excited to perform with our seniors for a last time but we are sad to see such a talented class go. I’m looking forward to be going off to college in a year, but it will be difficult to leave a school with such amazing staff and students.”

The Festival of the Arts features the best artwork, music and performances of the year from all grade levels.

staff writer

With the 11-1 win against Churchill on April 22, the varsity softball team improved to a 6-4 record and clinched the 4A division. The Patriots went 5-0 in their division beating Richard Montgomery, Bethesda Chevy-Chase, Walter Johnson, Whitman and Churchill.

They won their division for the second straight year and only the fifth time in school history. “We may have won our division, but it is not that important, we need to focus on winning rest of the season,” junior pitcher Kelly Reagan said.

The Patriots won by mercy rule at the end of the fifth inning against Churchill with steady scoring throughout the game. Junior pitcher Haley White pitched the entire game and only gave up one run.

The Patriots tried to extend their winning streak to five on April 19, when they played at Clarksburg in a non-division game, but lost 10-5. The game was close in the early innings, but the Coyotes scored four runs in the seventh inning to seal the game.  Catcher Dana Barbaro led the offensive attack, scoring three of the teams five runs. White pitched well, striking out five batters.

The Patriots shutout the Walt Whitman Vikings on April 17, winning 12-0 at Whitman. The Patriots won by mercy rule at the end of the fifth inning. The Patriots started off strong scoring four runs in the first inning. They fielded well, not committing any errors and only giving up two hits throughout the whole game. Sophomore left fielder Toria Yan led the team with three hits.

In freshman pitcher Gracie Gesiskie’s first start of the season, the Patriots beat the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons 11-1, on April 15. Gesiskie pitched well, only giving up six hits and striking out nine batters. Senior Andrea Kemp hit a three-run home run in the first inning, which was the first home run a player has hit this season.

The Patriots won by mercy rule against the Walter Johnson wildcats 12-2, on April 12. The game was close early, but the Patriots scored five runs in the third inning. White led the team on both sides of the ball, scoring three runs and pitching the entire game.

So far this season White leads the team with an earned run average (ERA) of 2.45 in 45.2 innings pitched, and Yan leads the team with 16 hits. The team has won five of its last six games. The recent success can be attributed to better fielding and pitching. “We are not giving up a lot of the unearned runs we were giving up earlier in the season,” head coach Alton Lightsey said.

The Patriots played at Gaithersburg on April 25, but this game was too late to be included this issue.

arts editor

The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival concluded its 2013 run on April 21, bringing its longest streak in history to an end. Until 2013, Coachella lasted only one weekend. This year, the festival brought together 175 performers and thousands of dedicated fans to Indio, California, for two weekends of music, art and culture. From April 12-14 and April 19-21, music-lovers jammed to some of the latest and greatest rock, pop, rap, hip-hop and electronic artists at one of the most famous music festivals of this generation.

There were many performers at Coachella this year who are more mainstream than others, and have received a lot of attention. R. Kelly made a surprise guest appearance during the band Phoenix’s set, coming together for a remix of Phoenix’s song “1901″ and R. Kelly’s popular hits “Ignition” and “I’m a Flirt.” This random mix took the audience and critics by surprise, but still made for an entertaining show. The infamous Red Hot Chili Peppers, breakout band and recent Grammy award winners the Lumineers, the recently reunited Fall Out Boy and an appearance by popular rapper 2 Chainz provided fans with entertaining and recognizable setlists.

Some artists were less well-known, but still managed to get some attention. Comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel made a short episode in his series titled “Lie Witness News,” where actors asked festival attendees their opinions about random bands. Little did they know, the bands that the actors named were completely imaginary, yet the participants managed to provide full responses as if they were the band’s number one fan.

Coachella is a unique experience not only for its music but for its art and atmosphere as well. Craft tables filled with do-it-yourself activities including making postcards, making instruments, creating new fashion accessories, decorating signs for campsites and more were all offered throughout the festival grounds from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. every day. The colorful, intricate statues and displays were located throughout the site, making the festival more than just music. Even the concert halls were unique, featuring hanging chandeliers, creative lighting displays and large flat screens. Concert attendees were especially impressed by the new Yuma Tent with wooden floors, disco balls and air conditioning.

“After hearing about Coachella, I’m getting excited to go to Bonnaroo  in June,” senior Grant Fox said.

Coachella is the first of many exciting music festivals occurring across the country this season, and has set the bar high. For those attending Firefly, Bonnarroo, or any music festivals this year, enjoy. Meanwhile, fans will be eagerly awaiting the lineup for next year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

staff writer

The co-ed volleyball team competed against the Gaithersburg Trojans on April 24 in hopes of getting back in the groove of things after losing to the Sherwood Warriors the game before.

Seniors Mat Saunders and Trey Troxell stepped up to plate to deliver sturdy hits across the net. “The team as a whole played great, we passed the ball well and delivered pretty good hits” junior Emily Meyer said.

With Gaithersburg having their senior night this game, all of the Trojan starters did not start in the first set. The first set score was 25-4, with the Patriots dominating the floor. The second and third set ended with a closer score of 25-17 for the second, and 25-15 for the last.

Coming off of a strong win against the Churchill Bulldogs days before, the team lost to the Sherwood Warriors on Monday, April 22, after winning five straight. “Unfortunately we just couldn’t leave with a win, I wish we would’ve executed better, but we will practice to correct those mistakes” Meyer said. Even though the Patriots lost, players like senior Maddie Augostini worked the ball around well, setting up excellent hits for the hitters in the front row.

Prior to the loss against the Warriors, the Patriots competed against rival, Churchill Bulldogs and destroyed them with a score of 3-1. Saunders played well with strong hits in the front row, alongside senior setter Hannah Ludema.

The Patriots dominated the floor in the first set with a win of 19-25. However, in the second set the Bulldogs fought their way back in the game, winning the second set and leaving the Patriots to step their game up.

Sophomore Andrew Merchant came off of the bench strong and put in some worthwhile minutes. The Patriots won the third and fourth sets, winning the match overall. “Churchill is obviously a huge deal, so for us to win especially after losing the second set it was pretty exciting and I was proud of the team,” Meyer said.

On Wednesday, April 17, the Patriots took on Blake with Meyer broadcasting her strong set of hits. “Blake was a great game; we executed the things we practiced on all week in practice, so overall I was happy.” Weissberg said.

Another player who made a strong effort was senior hitter Lily McWilliams. McWilliams took advantage of the set balls and drove the ball across the net, leaving the Bengals in shock. All three sets were an success for the Patriots, with a score of 25-17 for the first, 20-25 for the second and 25-19 for the third.

Having three consecutive 3-0 wins under their belt, the team played the Walter Johnson Wildcats in a thrilling match, which the Patriots won 3-0 yet again.

Troxell contributed greatly to this win with powerful hits across the net, alongside teammate Saunders and Ludema.  “The whole team played great, I was pleased with the way we passed and set consistently the whole game,” Ludema said.

Coming off of a heartfelt win the game before against the Rams, the Patriots competed against the Paint Branch Panthers and left the floor with the win.  “As usual, there wasn’t one star performer; it was a good team effort,” Coach Mary Malinauskas said.

staff writer

Shawn Carter, popularly known as Jay-Z, recently released a song called “Open Letter,” using lyrics within the song to attack his critics. The song is about his recent trip to Cuba with his wife Beyonce, which many politicians such as Senator Marco Rubio of Florida criticized.

“I think Jay-Z needs to get informed.  One of his heroes is Che Guevara.  Che Guevara was a racist.  Che Guevara was a racist that wrote extensively about the superiority of white Europeans over people of African descent, so he should inform himself on the guy that he’s propping up,” Rubio said during an interview with ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl.

With the song, Carter makes numerous references to recent criticisms – he claims that he never meant to start a war, yet people are turning “Havana into Atlanta,” implying that the media was overplaying his trip. He also addresses President Barack Obama, stating that he said for Jay-Z to “chill or you’ll get me impeached.” Carter’s lyrics about the President suggest that he wants to address the criticisms of politicians, yet he would not like to add to the burden of the President.

Carter’s influence in the United States is well-documented: he owns his own record label, clothing lines, and restaurants; Carter also recently opened up his own sports representation agency, Roc Nation Sports. Carter also has been active in politics, notably during the 2008 presidential campaign, where he supported increased volunteer participation and helped send voters to polling stations. He also supported Obama’s campaign, performing for free in voter-drive concerts financed by the Democratic National Committee.

Although Obama is close to Carter, he said he does not feel the need to address Carter’s remarks in “Open Letter” about the president’s involvement in the trip to Cuba.

“We’ve got better things to do – I wasn’t even familiar that they were taking the trip,” Obama said in an interview with the Today Show that aired on Wednesday, April 17. “My understanding is that I think they went through a group that organizes educational trips down to Cuba. You know, this is not something that the White House was involved with. We’ve got better things to do.”

Media outlets such as CNN previously reported that the Treasury Department had fully authorized Jay-Z and Beyonce’s recent visit to the island as an “educational and cultural exchange.”

The music industry, maintains a lot of attention on its stars, emphasizing artists’ successes and failures. A career can swing from a success to a downtrodden failure in a matter of days, such as that of Kanye West. West was considered a revolutionary, talented rapper who would change the face of the genre for the new generation. However, after interrupting Swift in the middle of an awards speech, West’ popularity subsequently imploded in America and across the world. Likewise, Carter’s recent trip to Cuba was met with much derision, yielding harsh critics but also vehement supporters.

“Depending on the type of music and their popularity, artists can have a big impact on the world, even if their mistakes start in the United States. Music is a universal genre, not something that is limited to the US,” social studies teacher Fevronia Cresham said.

With the growing spotlight on Carter, major TV networks such as NBC, CBS and ABC ignore the positive impact Carter and Beyonce can have on countries such as Cuba. Beyonce recently performed during halftime at the Super Bowl, and is recognizable across the globe. Carter’s money can be used to help impoverished nations such as those in Latin America; Carter has made significant contributions to non-profit organizations over the course of his career.

“[Carter] is a symbol for a lot of students at Wootton. He started from the bottom of the barrel and rose to the top through hard work and determination, yet he never forgets to help those who come from similar backgrounds,” sophomore Johan Raphael said.

staff writer

Tragedy hit the small town of West, a town in central Texas, on Wed., April 17, when an explosion at a fertilizer plant swept flames across the town,  killing at least 14 people, including four rescuers, injuring as many as 200, and demolishing an estimated 75 homes.

Although authorities have located the spot where the deadly blast first sparked, investigators are still unsure of how it was triggered.  State fire officials have confirmed that criminal activity was not involved.

The recent accident has brought a focused scrutiny to West Fertilizer Co.’s safety records and those of similar plants. According to Dallas Morning News, the limited funds granted to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has led the agency to prioritize checks on larger towns; West has not been inspected in more than 20 years.

Furthermore, the emergency planning report submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency states that the company reported no risk of an occurring explosion. However, investigators have found storage units containing 540,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and 110,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia – which have the potential to cause a volatile explosion as seen in bombs – that should have been disclosed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The billow of smoke following the aftermath of the fire is 90 percent contained and the plumes are not toxic, according to local fire officials.

Recordings of the repeated phone calls, roughly 50 within 35 minutes, recounted the dread rapidly spreading among the residents. Many of them were clueless as to the explosion until consequent backlashes caused a sudden tornado of window shards. The blast was registered to be so powerful that it was documented as a small earthquake.

“Accidental fires always remind me of the time my house completely burned to the ground. This incident in particular reminded me of the fear I felt when I was sleeping, unaware of the flames climbing up the sidings of our house and suddenly dragged from bed awakened to the fact that I was in danger. Imagining the same circumstances on such a bigger scale makes the situation all the more frightening and emphasizes the importance of having safety precautions and plans,” sophomore Lia Ajose said.

An estimated 300 to 400 responders from multiple different local, state, and federal agencies have contributed to the recovery of the town. The Red Cross, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the US Chemical Safety Board have sent in their own investigative teams to the site to assist the locals.

The community has come together to rebuild. The nearby baseball field was converted into a shelter for evacuees. On Thursday, April 18, around 100 cots were left empty and a supplement of water bottles and resources remained untouched. Many of the individuals displaced were offered places to stay at the homes of friends and neighbors.

“It is unfortunate that many people were injured. These families deserve support from their friends, relatives, and the community in general to cope with their loss and I am glad to see it happening,” sophomore Aileen Sun said.

The town has also taken a few other measures in hope of returning to normalcy. Available trucks brought in extra school supplies, desks, and portables to the only standing campus left, West Elementary School. Schools planned to reopen on Monday, April 22.

President Obama plans to offer his condolences by attending the memorial service for the victims who died.

features editor

The Social Network (2010)—anguishing over his break-up with then girlfriend Erica Albright, Mark Zuckerberg creates a site for male students to rank female classmates. Upon encountering one another months later, Albright retorts:

“As if every thought that tumbles through your head was so clever, it would be a crime for it not to be shared. The Internet’s not written in pencil, Mark, it’s written in ink. And you published that Erica Albright was a bitch, right before you made some ignorant crack about my family’s name, my bra size and then rated women based on their hotness.”

While Zuckerberg bullied peers by creating his own site, the vast majority of cyberbullies needn’t look any further than the public online forums already available to them.

Initially, gossip sites were the primary medium for posting vitriolic remarks. For instance, People’s Dirt hosted schools nationwide, prompting its users to spill their classmates’ business. The site, which included a page devoted to Wootton, was shut down by Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler in spring 2009 after a former Whitman student posted death threats. Juicy Campus, a similar site used on college campuses, also shut down in 2009 after becoming a wasteland of threats and hurtful comments.

With gossip sites on the decline, cyberbullies have taken to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to continue their sprees. Some send messages directly to the victim. Others who are more cowardly choose not to tag their target, yet post publicly in hopes that the target will take a hint.

I’ve been a victim of the latter. After publishing a particularly controversial article regarding hazing in Wootton athletics, I immediately became the target of a continuous stream of obscene, crude tweets posted by teammates and strangers alike. Recently, in a thin attempt at revenge over SGA’s Twitter wall, a student likened my image to a perceivably ‘ugly’ photo on the since deleted account, @YouLookLikeWHS. While it is easy for me to consider the sources of these posts rather than internalize them, it struck me when a teacher remarked that many kids have killed themselves for less biting comments. Sixteen-year-old Jessica Laney of Tampa did just that days before my ordeal.

In the countless cases of cyberbullying-related teen suicides that have garnered national media attention over the past few years, the comments’ viciousness ranges—from comparably tame stabs to serious threats. In all cases, I’d be willing to bet that these students’ administrators would give anything to have acted when the bullying persisted.

With social media, people are constantly connected. While these outlets are prime tools for making one’s voice heard, they’re abused when people lose their sense and filters altogether. When people use Twitter accounts as online diaries, they forget that the world can see whatever they post. Whether or not a comment is intended to hurt, disgusting, unnecessary remarks have the potential to spiral into a tragedy quite quickly.

If a student was bullied in our parents’ day, they at least had the promise of the final school bell’s toll, at which they could escape to the privacy of their homes and the comfort of their families. Today, the bullying follows students home. A student can be bullied all day at school, and then cyberbullied all night at home. There is no off switch.

Some action is being taken. Last spring, Maryland passed a bill threatening up to a $500 fine and a year in prison for electronic harassment. Nicknamed Grace’s Law after Grace McComas, a Howard County 15-year-old who resorted to suicide after months of cyberbullying, the law will take effect Oct 1.

However, school policies are hazy. On athletic teams in particular, punishment is ultimately left in the coach’s hands, according to athletic director Christopher Thompson and administration.

While it’s one thing to not impose a middle man on a coach and their team, schools need to enforce a standard of accountability. A cyberbullying athlete at this school should not be allowed to continue serving as captain when their counterpart at another school is removed from the team. Professional players have been reprimanded for similar offenses, as when Liverpool soccer player Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 for posting a distorted photo of a referee along with rude commentary. The disconnect between this generation and administrators who don’t know what it’s like to grow up maintaining a second, online social life does victims a disservice.

There’s something wrong when SGA members, who are generally pretty popular among the student body, are bullied for taking a stand against bullying that wasn’t all that radical. There’s something wrong when the wall of public Tweets exemplifying cyberbullying was replaced after day one with a flimsy wall of compliments. Whether SGA had planned this or did so because of peer pressure, the action said, ‘hey, you guys posted some bad stuff, but it’s okay because you’re genuinely great people.’ As Thought Catalog blogger Nathan Savin Scott puts it: “If you treat people poorly, or start fights in bars, or steal, or hit dogs, or pick on the weak kid in school, you are not, nor can you be, ‘actually a good person on the inside.’ You are an a–hole.”

The last thing this school needed was another ineffective slap on the wrist. It encourages the idea that there is no true punishment.

Cyberbullying is a byproduct of new media. Hopefully over time, people will see that they can never erase what they post; if what they post drives someone to suicide, they certainly can’t undo the death. Take a step back, and think whether that person being targeted deserves whatever scummy remark is about to be engraved on the worldwide web.

Perhaps Albright, in addressing Zuckerberg, really did put it best: “You write your snide bulls–t from a dark room because that’s what the angry do nowadays. I was nice to you, don’t torture me for it.”