<bt>The hallways at Lake Braddock have not been the same these past two weeks. At first glance, everything seems normal: individual cliques mill about in their usual clusters, people frantically copy homework while sitting on the floor, administrators pull individual kids aside to enforce the new dress codes.
It doesn't take long, however, to realize that things aren't quite right. The majority of the conversations are about one subject in particular: the sniper. He has single-handedly changed life at Lake Braddock. All games have been postponed until further notice. The marching band is unable to practice outside. Students aren't even allowed to eat lunch in the courtyard.
Although many teams are enjoying the time away from rigorous practice schedules, several team members are beginning to feel how the lack of practice is going to affect them in upcoming key events.
"It's cool being worked so hard at band practice anymore, but [the marching band] has some important competitions coming up. Our director is starting to get nervous," senior Brian Crowe said.
To try to get around these new practice restrictions, some teams have apparently taken to informal practices as a team. There have been reports of the cross-country team running together through South Run.
Lake Braddock's students are doing their best to cope with the added stress that this event has put on all Burke residents. Jokes about not walking in straight lines and dropping to the ground every third step are running rampant, mostly as a way to keep real fears from showing through. Despite these charades of light-heartedness, Lake Braddock wants to see this killing spree come to an end.
"Basically, I'm just ready for things to get back to normal," junior Mark Wagner said.