Alex Hyder


Name: Alex Hyder
Position: Online Op-Ed Editor
Graduation Year: 2007
Hyder, as he is affectionately (or, as is often the case, not-so affectionately) known, is thoroughly enthused about his position on SCO. A junior in Blair's Magnet Program, he is too lazy to write a more extensive bio but nonetheless finds the energy to write for Chips. He is an admitted golf addict who dreams of a vacation in St. Andrews but hangs around the local municipal courses to get his fixes. His second hobby, playing the stock market, is generally more remunerative but less engrossing than the first. Hyder is a very busy person. In addition to his formidable course load, he plays on Blair's golf team, plays clarinet in the Marching Band and serves as Chief Justice of the SGA Review Board. He also plans to be in this year's spring musical. He swears that one of these days, the stress will drive him insane. Of course, there are plenty of people who would say he is that way already. Hyder enjoys the music of Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman and Dean Martin, although he also loves country and is a self-professed aficionado of classic rock. A true citizen of the DC metropolitan area, he is a die-hard 'Skins fan and often sports a red Nationals cap. And in case you were wondering, this color does reflect his(fairly strong) political views, much to the chagrin of just about everyone around him. Hyder can usually be seen lolling and milling about in clothing he got for free or from yard sales, oblivious to the fact that his garments are about twice his age. Hyder has a first name, but can't remember the last time he or anyone else actually used it.


Stories (36)


WingFest, part I

By Alex Hyder, Simon Kanter | March 12, 2007, midnight | In Restaurant Reviews »

Wings: the final frontier. After so aptly and—ahem—selflessly conquering the realm of burgers on our heroic quest to find, for the edification of our readers, that which can only be described as the acme of beefiness, we could only contemplate what our next quest would be. Finally, on a dark, stormy night, otherwise known as last Tuesday, the answer came to us in the pepsin-induced haze of a dream: let there be wings!

Talent show postponed

By Alex Hyder | Nov. 17, 2006, midnight | In Local »

The upcoming talent show, originally scheduled for this evening, has been postponed, the SGA announced this morning. According to SGA President Eric Hysen, the show's new date has yet to be determined.

ID color coding system draws media attention

By Merlyn Deng, Alex Hyder, Payal Patnaik | Oct. 18, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Reporters from several television stations came to Blair this afternoon to interview principal Phillip Gainous, SGA President Eric Hysen and several students about the ID policy after a Washington Post story brought this year's changes, including the new, controversial color coding system to public attention.

Picnic greets incoming freshmen

By Alex Hyder | June 8, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Blair's administration organized a picnic Tuesday night in the SAC for incoming freshmen in which the students were introduced to Blair and told of the many extracurricular opportunities available at Blair.

Hysen sworn in as SGA president

By Alex Hyder | June 6, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Junior Eric Hysen was sworn in as president at noon last Thursday in the SGA office before several members of the 2006-2007 SGA cabinet, marking the beginning of Hysen's term of office and the end of senior Barun Aryal's administration.

InToneNation impresses in spring concert

By Alex Hyder | May 31, 2006, midnight | In Music »

InToneNation, Blair's a cappella group, performed in its annual spring concert last night in the band room from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.

Blazer Bash a hit with students

By Alex Hyder | May 16, 2006, midnight | In Local »

More than 200 students attended the Blazer Bash in the SAC Friday, May 12, according to 2007 Class President-elect Anjana Mohanty. The dance, which featured performances from many Blair clubs, ran from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m.

Hysen wins SGA election

By Alex Hyder | April 27, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Junior Eric Hysen has been declared the winner of the SGA presidential election over sophomore Will Bucher, SGA Parliamentarian Christie Lin announced today. Hysen currently serves as SGA chief of staff under President Barun Aryal. Sophomore Molly Martinez was elected vice president.

Montgomery homeowners shouldn't like Ike

By Alex Hyder | March 30, 2006, midnight | In Op/Ed »

The warm weather that usually comes with spring has only just begun to assert itself, but the race for Montgomery County Executive seems to be growing hotter by the day, as could be seen in a debate held in Silver Spring last week between candidates Ike Leggett and Steve Silverman. Despite leaving many issues still unsettled, especially issues regarding mass transit and the purple line, both candidates left this early debate having thoroughly established their platforms when it comes to real estate and hopring and the warm weather that usually comes with it has only just begun to assert itselfme ownership.

Chips burger showdown, part I

By Alex Hyder, Simon Kanter | March 24, 2006, midnight | In Restaurant Reviews »

In this parlous era of terrorism and bird flu, of lobbying scandals and Donald Trump's toupee, there still remains one last vestige of hope: the hamburger. Nothing could be purer, more quintessentially American, than a thick slab of beef wedged between loads of fixins and a toasted bun.

Silver Spring's own bridge to nowhere

By Alex Hyder | March 13, 2006, midnight | In Op/Ed »

It rises majestically from the Forest Glen Metro stop, flying high into the air, running parallel to Georgia avenue before soaring over the Beltway on- and off-ramps, ducking under the Beltway itself and making a landing next to what, in the mind of some bureaucrat, is a spot of vital importance to pedestrians: the parking lot of some town homes.

Silver Chips profiled by New York Times

By Alex Hyder | March 8, 2006, midnight | In Local »

The New York Times published an article in today's edition praising Silver Chips as an organization of "tireless reporters."

Petition deadlines extended

By Alex Hyder | Feb. 28, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Students applying for certain SGA positions have until March 8 to submit their applications, according to Parliamentarian Christie Lin.

Snow day prompts changes to Spirit Week

By Alex Hyder | Feb. 14, 2006, midnight | In Local »

SGA Chief of Staff Eric Hysen announced today that yesterday's snow day has forced the organization to re-schedule Spirit Week.

Tropical iced teas

By Alex Hyder | Feb. 13, 2006, midnight | In Drinks »

It may be the middle of winter, but it's never too early to dream of life in more southerly climes, of palms swaying in the warm breeze, of deep blue waters lapping the white shoals of some dot on the map nestled between the famed paralles of Cancer and Capricorn. And although the realities of daily life may prevent you from hopping a jet to Hawaii, these quick iced teas will have you ready to break out the shades and SPF-45. Forget about wind-chill; these iced teas are all about chillin' out and hanging loose. Impress your friends or just relax on the front porch with these authentic Hawaiian recipes.

Blair to hold winter spirit week, pep rally

By Alex Hyder | Jan. 23, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Blair will hold a second semester spirit week, SGA Chief of Staff Eric Hysen announced Friday. The SGA-coordinated event, which was approved Friday afternoon, will be held from Feb. 13 to Feb. 17, and will feature five themed spirit days, culminating in a winter sports pep rally at the end of Friday afternoon.

Damn, "Yankees" has heart

By Alex Hyder | Jan. 18, 2006, midnight | In Plays »

For true devotees of the national pastime, the season is never long enough. Washington fans are no different — after a 33-year drought of strikeouts, home runs, and stolen bases finally lifted from the nation's capital, a six-month season played in a relic of a stadium was not nearly enough to quench their thirst, especially since the Nats finished last in their division.

SGA to hold diversity celebration at lunch

By Alex Hyder | Jan. 12, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Blair's SGA announced today that it will conduct a celebration of Blair's diversity during both lunches on Monday, Feb. 13. The event termed "Mix it Up," encourages students to sit with people they may not know and make connections with them.

Blazers, Blair alumni attend CAP Alumni Night

By Alex Hyder | Jan. 5, 2006, midnight | In Local »

Approximately 25 Blair graduates, alumni of Blair's Communications Arts Program (CAP), paid a visit to the SAC last night to participate in CAP Alumni Night, answering questions from current students and their parents.

Redskins victory secures playoff berth

By Alex Hyder | Jan. 2, 2006, midnight | In Professional »

No one would have thought it at the end of last season, when Joe Gibbs, fresh from retirement, led the redskins to a disappointing 6-10 finish. No one would have thought it at halftime of game two, when the Skins were scoreless against their Dallas Cowboy rivals. Yet when Sean Taylor returned a fumble 39 yards for a touchdown to secure a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the waning minutes of Sunday's must-win game, it became apparent to all: the Washington Redskins were playoff-bound for the first time since 1999.

The lazy cheapskate's guide to holiday shopping

By Alex Hyder | Dec. 23, 2005, midnight | In Humor »

If you are reading this, then you likely find yourself in the same situation as I. You, sir, are a man, I guarantee it. How do I know? Because, like millions of men the world over, you are reading this on Christmas Eve, and, after emerging from a seemingly endless pile of work, you have just realized that haven't made a penny's worth of Christmas purchases.

All the president's men redux

By Eve Gleichman, Alex Hyder | Dec. 6, 2005, midnight | In Features »

By now, you've probably heard something on the 6 o'clock news about a scandalous mess going on just across the Beltway. You've most likely read about it in your Washington Post, heard about it over the radio on your way to school and perhaps even talked about it in class. There has been a lot of clamor and hubbub about a case regarding New York Times journalists, investigations in Africa, uranium, undercover CIA agents and more finger-pointing than a Three Stooges film.

Shots fired in Beltway chase

By Alex Hyder | Dec. 2, 2005, midnight | In Local »

Police pursued four shoplifting suspects last night in a dramatic rush-hour chase around the Beltway, ending with the crash of the suspects' vehicle on Colesville Road, according to Montgomery County Police press releases. Three of the suspects were arrested; one was taken to MedStar hospital after receiving gunshot wounds from police.

"Walk the Line" to the box office

By Alex Hyder | Nov. 23, 2005, midnight | In Movies »

Yes, that is Joaquin Phoenix, the guy from "Gladiator." And yes, he is singing "Folsom Prison Blues" perfectly, hitting the low notes and conveying the persona of an outlaw in the way a nation of fans thought only the Man in Black — country legend Johhny Cash — could. Perhaps that's because before his recent demise, Cash himself hand-picked Phoenix to portray him in "Walk The Line," an enveloping biography of the man who grew to become one of country music's most colorful characters — in spite of his monochromatic wardrobe.

"New Faces" auditions extended

By Alex Hyder | Nov. 22, 2005, midnight | In Local »

Due to a limited response to requests, two more days of auditions have been scheduled for Blair's winter show, "New Faces."

Nurdles and squidgers and winks, oh my!

By Alex Hyder | Nov. 18, 2005, midnight | In Features »

In its long, storied history, Montgomery Blair has produced more than its share of dominant athletes. Gymnast Dominique Dawes, hero of the 1996 Olympics, attended Blair. So did Washington Wizard David Vanterpool and Orlando Magic point guard Steve Francis. Now, Blair is the proud home of another rising athletic star, a junior who, at age 16, has become a tour de force — number 52 in the world rankings — in his chosen sport.

Blair drum line wins county competition

By Alex Hyder | Nov. 13, 2005, midnight | In Local »

The Blair Marching Band drum line trounced five other schools from around Montgomery County to win the first annual High School Drum Line Competition at Kennedy High School, yesterday, Nov. 12.

Anarchy reigns in streets of France

By Alex Hyder, Hokuma Karimova | Nov. 10, 2005, midnight | In International »

Monday marked the twelfth day of street violence in Paris and its suburbs, as the most intense street violence to hit France in four decades spilled into over 200 cities and towns throughout the country.

Miers withdraws nomination to Supreme Court

By Alex Hyder | Oct. 27, 2005, midnight | In National »

President Bush accepted Harriet Miers's withdrawal of her nomination to the Supreme Court today, Oct. 27, according to news reports and an official White House statement.

Fall fashion preview

By Alex Hyder | Oct. 26, 2005, midnight | In Humor »

As fall arrives, the styles found in stores and on students are changing almost as quickly as the leaves on the trees. This, however, does not stop one fashion icon - yours truly, Chips' best-dressed staffer - from looking good. With these latest trends everyone can stay warm and look (almost) as good as me…

A supreme mistake

By Alex Hyder | Oct. 24, 2005, midnight | In Op/Ed »

George W. Bush has always billed himself as a "uniter, not a divider." Now, at long last, the President has lived up to his promise: the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court has united secularist liberals and hard-line conservatives — against his decision.

Graffitists apprehended

By Alex Hyder | Oct. 4, 2005, midnight | In Local »

Three Blair students were apprehended last week in connection with the recent proliferation of graffiti in several boys' bathrooms, according to Blair security officers. Security refused to reveal the students' names or give any identifying information other than that all three were male.

Dividends at the pump

By Alex Hyder | Sept. 12, 2005, midnight | In Op/Ed »

Leave Blair, cross Route 29 and you will encounter a surprising number: $3.19. No, this isn't the price of a small steak-and-cheese sub at Jerry's; it is the price of a gallon of regular gasoline at the Four Corners Shell.

Blair grads focus of Washington Post Magazine cover story

By Alex Hyder | July 31, 2005, midnight | In Features »

The Washington Post Magazine featured Abby Fraeman and Sherri Geng, both 2005 Blair graduates, in its cover story, "Aptitude Aplenty," by Kathy Lally, on July 31, 2005.

Phillips: Fresh seafood on the waterfront

By Alex Hyder | June 27, 2005, midnight | In Restaurant Reviews »

Nestled on the waterfront in Southwest DC, only a few blocks from the L'Enfant Plaza, Phillips Flagship offers a hearty meal, a casual atmosphere and views of both the Potomac and the Capital Yacht Club that serve as the perfect complement to the restaurant's offerings. The location is convenient to the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station, and its proximity to the Mall and many of the District's monuments and museums make Phillips the perfect place to dine after a day spent touring DC.

Protesters rally outside of Blair during speech

By Alex Hyder, Grace Harter | June 24, 2005, midnight | In Print »

An estimated 400 protesters rallied near the Blair property during a conference held by President George W. Bush to voice their opposition to his proposed plan to reform Social Security.



Images (3)


Photo: graffiti

By Alex Hyder | Oct. 12, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

The work of "Blaze" invaded the privacy of a boy's handicapped bathroom stall.

Photo: Bush Motorcade

By Alex Hyder | June 23, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Part of President Bush's motorcade lines up in the Colesville Road parking lot.

Photo: Protesters at Woodmoor

By Alex Hyder | June 23, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Demonstrators assemble at the Woodmoor Shopping Center before the protest.