Baitline Vol. 2, Issue 1

Page 1

Baitline VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL: WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS NOT An Ongoing Battle: the Plight of Women for True Equality

Mother Nature's Gratification for the Global Pandemic

DECEMBER 2020


Publication Policy The Baitline Newspaper is the official student news publication of Coral Reef Senior High School, and is written, designed, and published entirely by its staff members. Baitline is an established public forum, and welcomes a wide variety of pieces with the ultimate goal of informing students about news, events, and happenings both inside and outside the Coral Reef campus. Through its articles and issues, Baitline hopes to create a more educated student population that is more overtly open to discussing current events and analyzing a variety of points of view. As the producer of a scholastic publication, Baitline abides by the guidelines presented by the National Scholastic Press Association Code of Ethics for scholastic journalists and advisers. According to the policies of the Miami-Dade County Public School System, media produced by students is not subject to mandatory review by school administrators or district personnel. Thus, all Baitline content is the product of views and opinions held by student staff members only, and is in no way a reflection of overall school views or beliefs. The student editorial board and corresponding student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication. Baitline gladly welcomes reader questions, comments, or feedback. Letters to the editor may be submitted to Ms. Woolley-Larrea’s mailbox, delivered personally to room 310, or emailed to baitline@coralreefhigh.org with the subject line "Letter to the Editor." Letters to editor should not exceed 300 words, must be signed, and must include writer's address and phone number for verification. Baitline reserves the right to publish any letter sent.

Baitline

Coral Reef Senior High School Student News


CONTENTS 5 An Ongoing Battle Isabella Delgado

9 Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Ana Lucia Garcia

4 Editors' Note 12 Are Students Actually Learning? Abril Strachan

30 Mother Nature's Gratification for the Global Pandemic Paloma Vigil

Jessica Wilde shares how to overcome writer's block. Story on p. 20

14 Louisa Santos and Her Underdog Victory Eric Parrilla 19 Dead in the Water Martina Lenz 21 The Great Movie Theater Meltdown Veronica Sanjurjo 24 The Fashion Gradient Isabel Yip 27 The Untold Heroes of STEM Ana Brito 33 The Rise of Tik Tok Krystal Li 35 Accountability in Accounting Alexandra Ruiz

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Baitline Editors-in-Chief Isabel Yip Samantha Perez Staff Supervisor Mrs. Stephanie Woolley-Larrea

Editors

Newsmagazine Staff Writers

Krystal Li Ana Brito Alexandra Ruiz Lina Oliveira-Ulrich Veronica Sanjurgo Paloma Vigil Isabella Delgado Ana Lucia Garcia Martina Lenz Eric Parrilla Abril Strachan

CORAL REEF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 10101 SW 152nd CT +1-305-232-2044 | baitline@coralreefhigh.org

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EDITORS' NOTE We must lift the student voice... This year, we were tasked with creating a publication that spoke to the issues plaguing students’ minds and doing justice to the importance of the student voice at Coral Reef upon returning to school among these trying and uncharted circumstances. We found it particularly important to give students a platform to showcase their fears, questions, and hopes concerning the future. What with the seemingly never ending quarantine, the separation we now feel from our peers and teachers, and the pressing question of equality, our writers have had plenty to contemplate and put into writing for you to read, preserving these struggles in ink. With that being said, we hope you find a strange sense of peace and comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your fears as you read and this whirlwind of a year comes to an end.

Samantha Perez

- Samantha Perez & Isabel Yip Editors-in-Chief

Isabel Yip

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An Ongoing Battle: the Plight of Women for True Equality BY ISABELLA DELGADO

Just recently in the 2020 presidential election, we observed millions of women,

Courageous and powerful women have proven time and time again that they can accomplish incredible feats and

including students at Coral Reef Senior

overcome unfavorable circumstances. Although the battle

High School, turn out to vote.

for true gender equality in this country has seen major progress in past years, the fight continues today— there is still a long way to go. Indicators of the presence of this inequality manifest themselves in various parts of women's

Fittingly, this year’s theme for Women’s History month in March, in honor of the centennial of the 19th Amendment’s ratification, was “Valiant Women of the Vote.” It was a month completely devoted to celebrating courageous women such as Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony, who observed an injustice in society and resiliently fought for change. We celebrated female trailblazers of the past who paved the path to the ballot for women. Today, the outcome of these women’s tireless dedication to the fight for equality is tangible— our experiences

are

shaped

by

it.

Nonetheless,

while

recognizing how far women have come, we must remain vigilant and counter the traces of gender inequality that

lives, one of the most prominent and harmful being the wage gap. The wage gap refers to the difference a man is paid for doing the same job as a woman in the United States. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, on average women receive 82 cents for every dollar a man receives in their salary. Clearly, inequality remains inherently ingrained in our system. The fact that women get paid less than men for working just as hard loudly conveys outdated patriarchal sentiments of male superiority. We live in one of the most socially advanced countries in the world, yet it is a country in which all groups do not have true equality. What does this say about the world we live in?

continue to plague our society and force women to have to fight so hard to obtain the same rights as men.

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It seems a little ironic for a society who refuses to offer true equality for women to be celebrating their contributions to history. This wage gap between the salary of a man and that of a woman reflects outdated ideas of the “public vs private sphere dichotomy,” in which men were expected to dominate the public sphere, working to provide for their families, while women were expected to stay at home and perform domestic tasks such as child care and cooking/cleaning. This dichotomy unfairly justifies the wage gap by advancing the idea that women do not need to earn as much because their husbands should be the sole provider of the family. The wage gap thus ultimately demonstrates the effect these degrading gender roles continue to have on women. However, we can celebrate those women who were able to escape from under the crushing weight of gender inequality and honor them by continuing to persevere in the fight to

attain true gender equality. Today, women can be seen in all occupational fields from STEM to athletics; these fierce women have flipped patriarchy on its head and completely broken free of the box of traditional confining gender roles. Sadly, by paying these women less than they deserve, we fail to recognize the contributions they are currently making in all occupational fields. Consequently, society conveys to women the message that their work and time is somehow worth less than that of their male counterparts. At Coral Reef we see female leaders who represent this fight for equality; we see women transcending societal barriers and leading their fellow peers in clubs and other spheres of school. Moreover, many of these young women are using their voices outside the walls of our school in the form of voting,

We live in one of the most socially advanced countries in the world, yet it is a country in which all groups do not have true equality. What does this say about the world we live in?

Pictured: Hannah Chon (left) and Claudia Alvarez (right) on Election Day 2020.

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Equality is not something women should have had to fight for, nor is it something women should have to continue to fight for today. a fundamental right they would not have had without the work of Alice Paul and other female trailblazers who paved the path to the ballot for women. Hannah Chon and Claudia Alvarez are both seniors in the IB program who voted for the first time in the 2020 presidential election; they shared what this moment meant to them. Claudia appreciated the fact that voting gave her “the chance to make a real difference and actually act upon [her] beliefs as opposed to just being discontent with certain aspects of our government.”

Claudia and Hannah are just two inspiring examples that demonstrate how far women have come; however, women still have a long way to go and individuals like Hannah and Claudia represent the hope for true equality. While we can appreciate women’s place in society today, we must remember that equality is not something women should have had to fight for, nor is it something women should have to continue to fight for today. Equality in all aspects, from the right to vote to the right to an equal wage, is a fundamental right that should belong to all human beings, regardless of their gender or any other status. BAITLINE NEWSPAPER | 7


Equality in all aspects, from the right to vote to the right to an equal wage, is a fundamental right that should belong to all human beings, regardless of their gender or any other status.

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MIRRO R,

ALL: EW H

R ON O R IR T M

WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS NOT ANA

LUCIA GARCI

A

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When we think of celebrities we admire, we see

These minimizing attacks targeting self-esteem

them as a mystery, or someone who is far away in

cause changes in daily lives that might be so

a world we will never get to see or experience. In

miniscule that a person does not even notice the

reality, we are all just one swift scroll motion away

effects of their screen time on social media. For

from seeing how our favorite actress is spending

example, when asking the student body of Coral

her weekend in Cabo, staying in her grand villa

Reef for their personal experiences with the topic, a

with ten of her closest (and also millionaire)

student said these interactions have even affected

friends. These luxuries seem so natural to us now

how she picks out outfits. She states, “these

that we let them influence the way we think,

standards have truly brought me down… [they]

exemplifying the fact that social media has caused

caused me to cancel plans with friends because I

a grand decline in the current youth’s self-image

didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin.” Although

and self esteem, and is only getting worse by the

people often do not think these acts mean much,

second.

they are directly a part of the overwhelming consequences of social media use.

As kids enter their teenage years and start discovering who they are and grow comfortable in their bodies, their mental health reaches its most vulnerable state. Anything teenagers see can affect their own perception of themselves, and our generation’s current addiction to social media only fuels this fire. The insecurity issue concerning youth was demonstrated in a study done by the University of Toledo and Ohio State University. The results showed that the people who compared

"AS VIEWERS, THEY TAKE WHAT THEY SEE AND THINK THAT SINCE THE INFLUENCER’S PICTURE-PERFECT WAY OF LIFE SEEMS SO MAGICAL, THEY ARE THE ONES DOING SOMETHING WRONG.".

themselves most to others around them also spent the most time scrolling through Facebook, rather than those who had a higher self-esteem.

What makes this crisis even worse is how universal

Apps such as Facebook give users the freedom of

the topic is. It would take no more than five

building and creating their profile in any way they

minutes to find ten people with the same problem.

would like, which although gifts the user artistic

Another Coral Reef student says that the beauty

expression, also means that the presentation of

standards decided and enforced by the posts she

one’s life is up to how that person chooses to show

sees “made [her] feel like [she] could never

it. Teenagers have no idea what might be actually

compare to those girls, and that [she] needed to do

occurring behind what the users show. As viewers,

as much as [she] could in order to at least look

they take what they see and think that since the

similar to them.” Whether it is TikTok or Instagram,

influencer’s picture-perfect way of life seems so

the feed teenagers see and spend hours scrolling

magical, they are the ones doing something

through shows people described as “goals” or

wrong. In this way, young kids put the blame on

“absolutely gorgeous.” While this is great for

themselves and wonder why they are not as

empowering others, it also creates a beauty

similar to that.

standard that others feel like they need to live up to. In reality, many of these

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standards are reached with unnatural procedures

If passed, it would require a label on any altered or

and routines. Some of these are also minimal

enhanced post alerting the viewer that it was in fact

features in someone’s appearance that they might

digitally modified. This is in hopes of making

never have even noticed before, such as having a

viewers or followers more aware of the hoax that is

wide ribcage or little dips on their hips. Seeing

online appearances, and as a result, cutting down

examples of what society deems beautiful and

on the self-esteem issues resulting from these sites.

then looking in the mirror and seeing something

However, this is not the first law of the sort to be

different is hurtful. It engenders a thought process

passed. In 2017, France passed a law that

in teenage minds of them not being enough

demanded

because they do not fit into the impossible

“photographie retouchee,” or edited photograph.

markings society has declared.

The breaking of this law results in a fine of about

any

ad

have

a

warning

with

45,000 US dollars. Laws like these are much more This now brings up the question: what is the

effective at spreading awareness and getting into

solution to this escalating dilemma among youth?

people’s minds than just trying to teach them that

And while society is still figuring out how to

pictures on social media are a false reality. It is

properly assess this problem while still allowing

blatantly telling them from the user himself, instead

people with free range of what they post, some

of someone else who might not be correct on the

countries have already begun addressing the

situation.

issue. For instance, in England, multiple members

controversial topic to discuss or a “maybe” in

of Parliament have proposed a law called Digitally

government, but rather an “obviously” when asking

Altered Body Images Bill.

if they should be passed.

These

solutions

should

not

be

a

With the constant updates that are put on the apps on our phones and the progressive wave of technology, everyday we get closer and closer to the idealized version of life we imagine while simultaneously becoming strangers to our own reality. People often wonder why our generation is constantly facing mental illnesses or self-esteem issues. What they do not realize is how much social media ends up changing the way we view ourselves. The façade teenagers see everyday is getting harder and harder to decipher. Adding their young and impressionable minds, they believe anything they see, which is why we must put more importance on this crisis and its solutions.

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NTS E D U T S ARE Y L L A U T AC G? N I N R A LE

“physically, like someone just teaching.” A freshman said she learns best by “just paying attention.” These three students all answered with a different preference or learning style. Thus, if the thousands of students in high schools around the world were interviewed, there would likely be an

ABRIL STRACHAN Everyone has a different learning method, whether it's visual or physical, musically or mathematically.

While

that

makes

people

wonderfully diverse, it can also cause hardships for them, mainly in school. All students have a different way of learning, and many teachers only teach a certain way, which may be beneficial to some, but certainly not all. Coral Reef High School is a good example of a diverse school filled with students from a variety of backgrounds. In fact, the amount of kids may even overwhelm the teachers here. On top of this, with all the chaos happening in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, many teachers are more behind than ever, with little time to worry about how they are teaching their students. However, if teachers did give a bit more thought to how exactly students learn, it could go a long way. So, the big question is: how exactly should teachers teach? Students from all schools have many different things to say about this topic and how exactly they learn best. Student Martina Lenz said that she learned best visually, by reading things in her head or seeing them displayed in front of her. Like Martina, some people are simply built to learn better by examples or pictures. Another student said he learns best

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even greater variety of answers. Through this, it is clear not all students share a learning style. People learn differently because the brain is built up of many different networks that help learning, and each person relies on a different network more than the others. When people go through educational experiences, it is found that they prefer certain ways of understanding information, like physically, visually, or even linguistically, based off of this different network in the brain. For example, if a student realizes that they study with flashcards best, they would likely be a visual learner, someone who


learns best by looking at information in

Now that they see that the learning styles of

different forms. This person would then have a

students can differ, teachers may now be

better understanding of the lesson, provided

wondering which way they should teach. The

they studied enough, of course.

answer is all of them. This may sound daunting, but really, it’s not. A pupil stated that

A question to consider is: why does it matter?

she believed that teachers should allow

While a change in teaching style may not sound

students to learn things the way that would

like a big deal, for many students it can

actually work. For example, her German

completely alter their learning experience.

teacher created a very fun project with

Many students are suffering because their

students separated into groups according to

teachers only go about their lessons in a way

their learning styles and did their assignment

they simply do not learn from. Freshman

with creative freedom. According to the

Brianna Garcia said that a lot of teachers make

student, “everyone ended up doing a very

students take extensive notes, and although the

good job because they did it in a way they

notetaking may help others, if Brianna herself is

enjoy.” If every teacher used this method,

taking notes she cannot take in the information

where they find each student’s learning style

she is given at the same time. So, while another

and then allow them the liberty to do their

student may prosper from vigorous note taking,

assignment in the way they feel is best for

others may fall behind. It is a difficult situation

them, then there would be a mutually

that is not fair for students who pay better

beneficial

attention to the lesson told by the teacher

understands the lesson clearly.

situation

where

each

student

rather than the notes themselves. So, how can this problem be solved?

Summarily, students have different learning methods. In order for teachers to make sure they are having the best learning experience, they need to be aware of their differences, and apply it when teaching. For instance, teachers

"While a change in teaching style may not sound like a big deal, for many students it can completely alter their learning experience."

may include a fun project in their lesson plans to uncover the differences in students, and apply that information to improve their teaching style. Applying may mean to mix all the styles in one lecture, or to give the students creative freedom. There are many possibilities. For teachers to make this extra step

will

enhance

experience

and

becoming

more

a

holds

student's the

efficient,

school

possibility beneficial,

of and

enjoyable.

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LUISA SANTOS AND HER UNDERDOG VICTORY

WRITTEN BY Eric Parrilla

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FROM CORAL REEF CLASS PRESIDENT TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER After endless hours spent knocking

A

on doors, countless phone calls, and

founded

an

of

brand, “Lulu’s Ice Cream.” In great

unprecedented

mobilized

amount

students,

business

the

owner,

nitrogen

ice

she

cream

Santos

contrast to her opponent, she had

clinched the race for the District 9

neither prior experience in office nor

School

any

Board.

Luisa

successful

This

recent

victory

name

recognition

panned out in the general election on

started

November

November 2019.

3rd,

when

she

defeated

her

when

campaign

back

she in

veteran politician Dennis Moss by a 4 point margin.

It is rare nowadays in Miami-Dade County

Dennis

Moss

someone

popularity

commissioner for Miami-Dade County

powerfully

since the days when the rubble and

Despite

debris from Hurricane Andrew was

someone

still fresh. Serving for 27 years, he

insurmountable

had

termed

been

for

a

already

had

rise

Luisa uphill

and

Santos battle

with

in as has.

against

seemingly

name

recognition

his

and experience, Santos managed to build a support base that outmatched

Student Board for the 9th district.

Dennis Moss’s, who had 27 years to

Some merely viewed his run as a way

create his own. Dennis Moss, for his

to elongate his time as an elected

part,

official,

fences,

to

his

of

as

her

to

swiftly

previous position when he ran for the

adding

out

as

great

name

recognition.

had

several

along

promised

signs

with

placed

flyers,

various

on that

educational

reforms. Yet, it seems he fell short Luisa Santos arrived in the United

with

States from Colombia when she was a

different

child,

remained

banking and canvassing. Moss mostly

undocumented until she turned 18.

relied on his experience and what he

She attended Coral Reef Senior High

had done for the county through his

School as a member of the Business

work on the Miami-Dade Commission

Academy,

in

and

graduated

afterwards College

she

attended and

Georgetown Washington D.C.

the

in

2009,

and

Miami-Dade prestigious

University

in

involving

his

the

events,

such

campaign.

certainly campaign,

had but

community

its

The

as

phone-

experience

benefits

Luisa

in

in

Santos

the has

proven that those are not the only things one can rely on.

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Santos has also proven that votes cannot be taken for

Many of these student volunteers have never worked

granted. Though Luisa Santos herself says that she

for school board members before, leading Santos to

cannot say whether or not Moss took votes for

regard it as “a very productive relationship” where “it

granted, she certainly asserts that her campaign went

was helpful to have the student’s perspective when

above and beyond to reach out to members of the

given the right guidance and opportunity.”

community. The

fact

that

Moss

does,

indeed,

have

more

Some might argue that Dennis Moss was more

government experience than Santos, does not mean

qualified for the student board position since he has

that Santos is any less prepared or adequate for the

much experience in government. Santos accepted a

elected position. In fact, Santos actually has experience

Zoom interview with Cuda Baitline and responded to

in matters that precisely pertain to education. She

such claims that “the best kind of leadership is

worked in the Department of Education under the

leadership that

is

Obama administration while she was at Georgetown

accessible, understands the issues,” not necessarily

University.She recounts that in the Department of

leadership from a person that has the most experience

Education, she “made conferences and focus groups”

in office.

to help out veterans and first-generation college

comes

from the community,

students. Seeing firsthand how effective it was to bring Despite having more government experience than

stakeholders together and recount their experiences

Santos, Moss wasn’t able to make enough of an

and needs, Santos formed the vision that came to be

affirmative case or vision as to why voters should give

the crux of her campaign.

him a shot as a student board member. That ultimately led to his defeat, setting a precedent for all others who

When she started her campaign, Santos believed that

seek electoral office in South Florida.

people were ready for responsible leadership, meaning she

approached

her

campaign

with

thorough

With the unprecedented momentum for a student

dedication and zeal. The determined candidate wanted

board seat, Santos galvanized supporters to call and

to improve the school system by making it more

knock on doors. This outreach would develop the name

equitable and open. By hearing out everyone, she

recognition and the awareness that was needed so that

believed that policy could better satisfy those in the

Santos could have a feasible shot in surpassing Moss in

district. With this vision in mind, it did not matter to

the election. She campaigned vigorously, attracted

her that Moss was a veteran politician. Instead, what

many, and rode through the election.

mattered

was

the

opportunity

to

improve

the

schooling system in South Florida. In her own words, the mobilization was something “that [she had] not personally witnessed for a school

That commitment to her vision was reflected in the

board election.” Over 150,000 people were contacted

policies she stood for. Just about any candidate can

through text messages and phone calls. Furthermore,

place a few vague reforms on their website-- the

over a hundred student fellows were involved in her

difference is actually having a conviction on the

campaign, showing their support through volunteering,

promises. Luisa Santos not only placed her policies on

making phone calls, and knocking on doors.

the flyer and her website; she made it inseparable from her campaign.

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She had and continues to have, a detailed list of

“Through FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) I

policies that she feels must be passed in order to better

learned Robert’s Rules of Order which was about

the lives of students, teachers, and parents in Miami-

parliamentary procedures which would apply to the

Dade County. These include improving the student-

school board I’m currently in,” Santos described.

counselor ratio, promoting social and emotional learning,

enacting

culturally-relevant

learning

in

schools, and ending the school-prison pipeline.

While she was class president in Coral Reef, her urge to challenge the status quo grew, leading to her asking the question: “Why not?” Among the many changes she

Apart from her specific vision and extensive outreach,

enacted, Santos chose to put sunflowers in the school

Santos happens to be quite young compared to those

when the norm was roses because “why not?” Santos

who usually run for student board positions. Selling a

remembers how she was challenged academically and

transformational and inclusive agenda was made easier

involved in various activities including those that were

by her youthful appearance, which added to her

focused on the community. Her love and knowledge of

positive branding and relatability amongst students

the community truly formed during her Coral Reef

and bolstered her message to younger generations.

days, which many other politically engaged students in

Campaigns for elected office involve positive branding

Coral Reef can relate to.

of the candidate and Santos effectively embraced a message of transformation that paired well with her

Currently, as a recently inaugurated student board

youthful image.

member, Luisa Santos is facing various issues that are of grave importance to the community. Certain issues

Her relative young age signifies a fresh change in a

appear to be first in line to address, including the

political sphere dominated by older officials, and in

growing achievement gap in Miami-Dade County due

turn, suppresses any doubt about her commitment to

to

her core message and policies. The combination of

connected to the Internet and have access to

powerful messaging, clear policy goals and a youthful

computers are faring unequivocally better than those

and fresh vision all went in Santos’s favor in her recent

that do not.

the

COVID-19

pandemic.

Students

who

are

election. Santos noted the consequent disparity of the effects of When prompted, Santos credited her high school days

online schooling and the pandemic on racial minorities

for much of the preparation for her campaign. As a part

and undocumented students. “Migrant students are

of Coral Reef’s Business Academy class of 2009, she

disconnecting at a much higher rate. Black students

was taught “to be a leader and a servant to [her]

have regressed the most in their math assessments.”

community.” She even became the class president. Santos could even specifically recall different things

Santos urged that “We need to go above and beyond to

that she remembered from her days in Coral Reef that

reconnect with them. We need to get creative with

would eventually contribute to her political success.

finding

them.”

She

sees

a

need

for

effective

partnerships with technology companies to get devices and Internet connection for those students.

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Another pertinent issue for her is the unjust

challenges

faced

by

undocumented individuals attempting to stay safely in the country. Santos emphasized the need for targeted measures so that those students who do not have legal status in the country can be educated as effectively and safely as any other student. To this extent, Santos has already introduced an item to the school board

to

ensure

that

there

are

resources available and training for faculty

so

that

undocumented

students and those of mixed-status (parents are undocumented while the children are citizens) can have equal access to opportunities. It will take some time to see whether or not Santos will be able accomplish everything she promises. Her drive and persistence are clear, however, and it does not seem that she would want

to

abandon

her

goal

of

challenging the status quo, a task she has undertaken since her time at Coral Reef. Her appropriate experiences, clear vision, and engaging campaign will all allow her to continue to challenge the status quo and fuel change as a member of the school board.

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DEAD IN THE WATER Written by Martina Lenz

"But without it, I’m dead in the water,” states Randy Williams, a 56-year-old American sheriff who lost his job in the aftermath of the COVID-19 virus. In this case,

he

is

referring

to

the

unemployment compensation program that Congress created this spring. Due to the have

pandemic, soared

businesses,

unemployment upwards.

and

difficulties

rates

Companies,

workplaces

funding

the

had

expenses

necessary to support their employees, forcing them to make the decision to layoff

and

maintaining

furlough

people,

the

minimum

bare

only of

workers needed. Many people live in bubbles of financial success, oblivious to what others must endure to survive. Yet outside this bubble,

thousands

of

schools,

companies, and communities grapple with economic and financial insecurity, a problem exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

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As many as 13 million people in the United States

When students at Reef were asked about the

are walking a thin tightrope, solely relying on the

expiration of government aid, many expressed

federal

disagreement

Pandemic

Compensation

Emergency

One

freshman

My aunt lost her job and times are tough. She is

basic

increasingly

currently in search of another, but now with the

concerning, as the federal program is scheduled to

financial aid stopping she doesn’t know what to do.”

expire on December 26th of this year, leaving many

Another student interviewed believes that with

with little hope of making ends meet.

MDCPS not receiving enough financial government

become

as

action.

unemployment plans, to subsist and support their has

well

the

personally affected states, “I believe that it is unjust.

This

as

with

other

needs.

program,

Unemployment

aid, Coral Reef “…may go through hard times… Miami-Dade County experienced over 220,000

teachers need to get paid and the school needs

Coronavirus cases, along with 3,792 Coronavirus-

support, or else it may close…”, and “…with less

related deaths. As a result, companies are going

money, it will become increasingly harder to focus

bankrupt, workers are being fired, and schools are

on the safety of students.” The school is fighting to

struggling to stay open and adequately protect their

stay open despite the constant battle with rising

students. The unemployment rate in Miami-Dade

COVID cases, and the end of government aid might

County is more than double what it was last year,

signal the final blow to the school’s finances.

having risen from 7.6 percent to 13 percent, according to the Unemployment Insurance Data

However, institutions in Miami with programs to

Dashboard.

support people in need do exist. For example, the program “Adopt a Family for the Holiday,” created

In

turn,

state

governments

must

support

all

by the institution “Neighbors for Neighbors,” served

struggling households, along with providing relief

thousands of members in South Florida last year.

for counties through emergency funding. Miami-

They will continue their efforts this year by working

Dade County is receiving government aid, which

to aid the unemployed.

could lead to financial struggles in its public schools once the help ceases. Without the county receiving

Nonetheless, this is only a temporary solution to

money, schools might have a hard time supplying

slow the increasing rate of financial insecurity and

classrooms and students with sufficient safety

homelessness in Miami-Dade County and provide a

measures and tools, such as masks and hand

path out of this dilemma. There are many teachers,

sanitizers. This includes Coral Reef Senior High

students, citizens, and unemployed people dreading

School, which, like many schools, had additional

the unfortunate end of December. Whether Miami

expenses related to the COVID-19 crisis. In an effort

and the United States in general, will be able to

to provide additional aid, Congress has been

withstand such a change is still unknown.

providing most unemployed U.S. workers with $600 per week as supplemental employment benefits, the bare minimum for many to live on. Yet as the law comes to an expiration, lawmakers have failed to reach an agreement on what comes next.

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THE GREAT MOVIE THEATER MELTDOWN VERONICA SANJURJO

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The smell of popcorn wafts through the air, creating an aroma so heavily scented of butter that you’d think you could taste it. The carpeted floors feel sticky and dirty, yet remind you of when your same feet graced the theater alongside your family as a child. The upholstered seats look worn and torn but transport you back to sitting in the theater with your friends in middle school, happy to be without parental supervision for the first time. Frequenting the local movie theater is one of few universals that almost every American can share. People have long turned to movie theaters as a way to cope with hardships, watching the lives of others as a way to escape their own. However, as we face COVID-19, an obstacle plaguing society with disillusionment, we have no movie theaters to turn to because, as with everything else, the pandemic has dramatically altered the landscape of the movie industry. Since the first was established in 1905, people have turned to movie theaters to escape the most difficult times in American history. For example, after the height of the Great Depression, the movie industry rose to new heights, as it gave the public a long-desired sense of pure joy. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced into the hearts of audiences across the countries. The Marx brothers and

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"... as with everything else, the pandemic has dramatically altered the landscape of the movie industry"

their creation of the ‘screwball comedy’ genre generated endless laughs, providing much needed comic relief to distract from the misery. Characters became more zany and lively than ever before, compensating for the rigid personas that so many people had to adopt as they desperately attempted to scrape by. The people on the screen could be goofy and rambunctious while the average person couldn’t. However, if only for a few hours, people could transport themselves into the worlds created for the silver screen, pretending to lead the lives of their favorite characters rather than their own. In this way, the movie industry provided more than just simple entertainment, it provided a therapeutic form of escapism.


As years passed, genres changed and actors came and went. Yet, the one constant was that movie theaters brought people together. When the lights came off, people weren't rich or poor, black or white, young or old. They were just people. People laughing at the same jokes and crying at the same tear-jerking scenes. The pandemic has been the exception to the rule of movie theaters being turned to in times of need, as it has turned the industry upside down. Movie theaters were one of the first things brought down, as the idea of strangers sitting side by side in a closed room clearly went against all CDC social distancing recommendations. Regal, one of the most popular movie theater chains, was forced to furlough 24,000 of their 25,000 workers in the wake of the pandemic, leaving employees without a job and people without a way to connect. Senior Daniela Garcia Baerga echoes the voices of many across the country in stating that she would “never even consider going into a movie theater anymore.” But, has that much really changed since the days of the Great Depression? Just because people no longer go to one communal location for their movie-watching experiences doesn’t mean that they’ve stopped turning to movies as a way to cope. People still use them as a way to escape reality, even if it's just to a world one year ago in which people didn’t wear masks as they walked down the street. In addition, streaming services such as HBO and Amazon Video began taking over the role of movie theaters, charging premium prices for renting newly released movies that, in what seems like a distant past, would have premiered in theaters.

This has allowed people to acquaint themselves with new stories and characters, escaping from the arduous times. Additionally, because of the rise of social media platforms, people have been able to emulate the community of a movie theater, turning to sites like Twitter to air their opinions about what they’ve watched and find people who feel the same way as them. Besides, even before the pandemic began, traditional movie theaters were already on their way to becoming obsolete, as the streaming services surrounding us made going somewhere to watch a movie you could watch in the comfort of your own home seem nonsensical. This caused people to ditch their local theaters and only make the trek for the luxury theaters equipped with bars and full kitchens that became more and more popular. When weighing the options, it became clear to many that traditional movie theaters were out, as people valued comfort over nostalgia. Yet, these pre-pandemic attitudes have largely been forgotten, as people yearn to regain the simple things in life such as the stroll to the movies. This boils down to one classic aspect of the human condition: wanting something only when you can’t have it. Maybe when the dust has settled movie theaters will be back and better than ever. Or maybe they’ll become extinct, left behind in the wake of the all-powerful streaming services. In a world of uncertainty, anything is possible.

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D I E

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G R A

be

O N

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T H Isa

A VIEW INTO CHANGING PERSEPCTIVES OF MASCULINE AND FEMININE FASHION

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Lace and ruffles, blazers and collared shirts: these clothing staples have had gendered connotations throughout the history of fashion. In Western society, pants were not truly accepted as a clothing item for women until the 20th century, beginning with the dress

reform

movement

of

the

1900s.

Fashion

movements became tied to larger social justice issues like the fight for women’s rights and the Women’s Suffrage Movement. To think that a piece of fabric would be considered unacceptable for an entire gender is about as blasphemous an idea to Americans today as people disagreeing with a woman’s right to vote. But these

ideas

about

fashion

and

gender

are

not

antiquated sentiments; patterns, colors, textiles, and silhouettes still hold associations of masculine and feminine. In the visionary strides of men who cross this gender boundary, ideas about gender and fashion are being challenged more than ever. This month, singer and actor Harry Styles was the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue Magazine, making history in the fashion industry and marking his legacy as a champion of gender neutral fashion. Styles graces the cover in a baby blue lace gown accompanied by a black blazer, constructed with the strong masculine shoulders that are a hallmark of men's tailoring. Striking this balance between feminine and masculine, sporting a double breasted suit jacket and a pink overskirt, the young fashion icon makes one thing very clear: the long established gender distinctions in fashion are being

HARRY STYLES, PHOTOGRAPHED BY TYLER MITCHELL, VOGUE,

blurred.

DECEMBER 2020

means for the future of fashion and all of society. While his Vogue cover sparked worldwide awe and

Senior Andres Rincon, in contemplating the influence

appreciation,

the

brazen

less

of people who blur these distinctions, finds that

comfortable

by

these

of

“Learning to be comfortable in your own skin, in your

criticism changing

of

those

definitions

masculine and feminine interrupted his bask in the

own

spotlight. Most outward in their criticism was political

considering what other people think.” In this mingling

activist Candace Owens, who attacked Styles on Twitter

of politics, fashion, and gender, it is clear that fashion

by calling his feature “an outright attack”, and making a

has bigger implications than runways and glossy

call to action to “bring back manly men.” Owens was

magazine spreads. The styling of Styles’ cover is a

met with support for what is essentially an attack on

carefully curated piece of art, and just like all

free expression, counterbalanced with an outpouring of

masterpieces, the true meaning lies beneath the

support for Styles and what his cover

surface.

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clothes,

is

much

more

important

than


A double standard exists in this debate of masculine and

strong, one dubbed as the garb of the weak, men’s and

feminine fashion. Women have championed fashion

women’s fashion have traditionally taken on polar

revolutions since the days of hoop skirts and forbidden

definitions. However, as these distinctions become less

trousers, to wearing blazers and ties from the red carpet

clear, and clothing is seen as a form of expression rather

to the board room. In fact, Candace Owens herself has

than demarcations of gender, the creation of a fashion

been photographed in a flamingo pink oversized men’s

gradient ushers in a new era. Blending from one color

suit, a mixture of color and silhouette that seems to

into the next, the possibilities are endless, and fashion is

mirror Styles’s mixing of gender norms in fashion. In

beginning to take on its true role as a method of self-

checks and plaids of traditional menswear, a woman is

expression. Taking down meaningless barriers of who

seen as empowered and professional. As she presents in

can wear what, the world is a catwalk of the human

a conference room or struts down the runway, she is

spirit. Fashion becomes what Junior Marco Villamizar

seen as defying these gender norms, and she’s admired

calls “the reflection of the wearer,” as “people have a

for it. A man in the delicate fabric and billowing ruffles

need to feel different from other people, to distinguish

of womenswear comes under scrutiny, however. Called

themselves as their own entities and find fashion as an

weak or simply “wrong”, men who digress from the

outlet to accomplish that.”

traditional rules of gender and clothing are sometimes made to feel lesser for embracing feminine fashion

The free flowing fabric of the future is an invitation into

ideals. The characterization of men in customary female

a new world, one that can already be seen as potentially

fashion as weak begs a larger question: “What does this

causing upset and disagreement. As an artform, fashion

say about the perception of women in society? What

inevitably

makes womenswear inherently weak?”

conceptions of the norm. In a world tormented by

creates

conversations

about

changing

gender roles and machismo in every sector of life, gender neutral clothing can be seen as ushering in a new understanding of gender. In the wake of these changes,

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DEHPARGOTOHP ,STREBOR AILUJ

Rincon believes that “having gender fluidity in fashion signals a deconstruction of this binary system, a step towards what can be seen as gender abolition.” In the anticipation

of

what

feels

like

a

joyous

fashion

revolution, those who uphold rigid understandings of expression are unwavering. The reality is, however, that change is on the horizon, and with every thread and seam, with every subtle defiance of the systems in place, fashion belongs to everyone as a tool to mold the future. Villamizar sums up the vision of the future by saying, “Not all people like that notion, but no one can change the atmosphere that the new generations are creating.”

In what has been dubbed by its critics as an “Attack on Masculinity”, the real onslaught comes from the blatant hatred of those who see femininity and masculinity in opposition. Calling someone weak for embracing aspects of womenswear makes femininity the force under attack, as the mere thought of women's clothing on a man is seen as some sort of act of treason against the male identity. One dubbed as empowered and

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T H E

U N T O L D

H E R O E S B Y

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A N A

O F B R I T O

S T E M


Mae Jemison, Grace Hopper, Katherine Johnson, Rosalind Franklin. These names provide a small, yet significant, glimpse into the countless women who have shaped the course of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics throughout time. From the foundation of modern programming to the momentous discovery of DNA structure, women have long been trailblazers of the STEM field, confronting scientific obstacles and breaking gender barriers along the way. Despite this, women’s contributions to the field have remained overshadowed and overlooked in favor of their male counterparts. Moreover, stereotypes, stigmas, and perceived gender roles continue to plague and prevent women and their contributions from being acknowledged, lauded, and acclaimed. As more equality is achieved, it is imperative to look at the past, present, and future of women in STEM to truly understand the depth of the impact women have had on the field over the course of history and to continue to advocate for the inclusivity of women in a career path that often seems, at least superficially, dominated by men. Until recently, women have often been excluded from scientific research, denied opportunities, or even had their findings erased by the more powerful, but not for a lack of dedication or interest. In the 1960s, in the midst of the heightening Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, astronauts Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn were celebrated as the first American men to reach space. The country endlessly praised their longawaited victory. Yet, behind their highly revered accomplishment was the work and dedication of hundreds of unseen NASA human “computers,” women who endlessly computed the orbital trajectories of the men’s flight to space, along with thousands of other calculations that were crucial to the space mission.

These “hidden figures,” as they are famously referred to in the popular movie and novel written by Margot Lee Shetterly, were often AfricanAmerican, female college graduates trained in computer programming and engineering. As African Americans, they were targeted, segregated, and forced to work solely in the West Area of Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, separated from their fellow computing coworkers. One such forgotten individual was Katherine Johnson, who analysed the trajectory for the Freedom 7 mission in 1961, the first human space flight chartered by the United States. One year later, astronaut Alan Shepard personally asked her to complete the same task for his orbital mission in 1962, despite the fact that advanced technology allowed for this to be done without human interjection. He solely entrusted her with the safety of his flight. Only in 2015, at the age of 97, was Johnson finally acknowledged for her contributions to the Space Race by being granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors possible for citizens of the United States. However, in recent years, great strides have been taken by young women from all around the world to pave the way for the inclusivity of their sex in the STEM sphere. Pooja Chandrashekar, a computer scientist and activist, is an exemplary illustration of the countless people valiantly fighting for greater female participation in the sciences. As a mere high school sophomore, Pooja founded ProjectCSGIRLS, a “youth-driven nonprofit working to close the tech gender gap.” By hosting technology-driven workshops and competitions, the nonprofit strives to flip the traditionally male-led technological world on its head and introduce thousands of little girls to the field.

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Yet one does not need to look that far to find highachieving women making great strides for inclusion in STEM-related fields. Here at Coral Reef High School, countless female students head clubs and organizations centered around different science and math strands, often concerning the most pressing global issues, such as environmental protection, climate justice, and health awareness. For instance, Hannah Chon, Co-President of Fairchild Club and Ecology Club here on campus, states how she “[loves] being part of such a close-knit community that together explores the environmental and ethical concerns of our actions, which is especially important here in Miami, where climate change is so monumental.” As a board member, Hannah has helped organize the school’s involvement in various experiments and competitions, such as Fairchild’s Growing Beyond Earth, where around 20 students were invited to take home a pepper plant as part of a research project that aims to provide pertinent data to NASA scientists developing new technologies of growing food for space missions. As Nichelle Nichols, past NASA ambassador and Star Trek actress precisely stated, “Science is not a boy's game, it's not a girl's game. It's everyone's game. It's about where we are and where we're going.” The future of science and all other STEM disciplines rests not solely on the shoulders of men, but also on the shoulders of women who desperately long to be involved. Ultimately, women’s achievements in science can no longer be glorified as notable simply because it is not deemed ordinary for women to have a part in this field. No longer can we allow the accomplishments of thousands of women pioneers to go unrecognized by the masses. For every woman who has ever been welcomed and credited by the scientific community, there are thousands of silenced voices yearning for a chance to have their findings heard. Hence, it is one’s responsibility to shine light on the female scientists, engineers, and mathematicians that have shaped and continue to mold the world around us.

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MOTHER NATURE'S

GRATIFICATION

PALOMA VIGIL

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Carbon Decreases

The pandemic yields unprecedented benefits to global pollution.

world will have 37 billion US tons of CO2 in the air by the end of 2020. This value is down from the 40.1 billion US tons emitted in 2019. This drastic change followed the multiple lockdowns that the United States has undergone in order to decrease the number of COVID-19 cases in every state. “Emissions from transportation accounted for the largest share of the global decrease,” researchers in the Global Carbon Project stated. The emissions that arise from surface transport such as cars, trains, and any other form of transportation fell by about half at the peak of the COVID19 lockdowns in the earlier months of 2020. Now, as the US continues to quickly fall into another COVID-19 surge, more lockdowns and stay-at-home orders may cause these CO2 emission numbers to drop again, once again helping our environment.

EMISSIONS DROPPED AROUND 12% IN THE US, 11% IN EUROPE, BUT ONLY ABOUT 1.7% IN CHINA However, this is not the most effective way to fight climate change. Increasingly, climate change is being recognized as a pertinent issue that must be addressed to save our planet in the coming years. Lockdowns should not be the only way to lower CO2 emissions; yet, it seems to be one of the most effective ways thus far. When compared to 2019, emissions dropped around 12% in the US, 11% in Europe, but only about 1.7% in China. China had an earlier lockdown with a much less severe second wave of the virus. Nonetheless, the main reason for their lower number is that most of China’s emissions are industrial based due to the nature of their economy. The gases produced by such industries are called NOX gases. They contribute to acid rain, pollution, and other environmental concerns such as eutrophication. Yet even as the United Nations continues to warn the world, we are still not doing enough to stop the global environmental crisis. Although CO2 emissions were not as high as in 2019, they are still some of

DID YOU KNOW?

For ten months the world has been halted. Ten months of less cars. Ten months of less trains. Ten months of less flights. Most importantly, ten months of fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. COVID-19 has defined the year 2020, providing society various reasons to resent the virus and its deadly implications. Worldwide, there have been around 71.2 million cases and 1.6 million deaths. On a global scale, only 45.5 million have recovered, and many were left with damaging side effects to their health. Despite the

harmful effects on humans, the virus is positively changing our environment— a change desperately needed. On average, CO2 emissions have dropped by about 7% percent this year according to a report from the Global Carbon Project. This project is led by a group of international scientists who track atmospheric emissions. Their main aim is to integrate knowledge of greenhouse gases into daily human activities and the Earth system studies. After countless hours of research, this notable group estimates that the

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the highest numbers we have ever seen, with 37 billion tons of C02 added to the atmosphere in one year. This number will only continue to rise if no further action is taken. Thankfully, Coral Reef Senior High students have recognized this catastrophe and aim to be a part of the solution. There are many clubs at Coral Reef that have placed emphasis on the selfless value of helping our environment. These clubs include, but are not limited to, the Science National Honor Society run by the electric Mr. Cloutier and Dreaming Green run by the dynamic Ms.

can be a part of the effort to eliminate greenhouse gases.” Dreaming Green places an emphasis on saving the environment through recycling, reducing, and reusing all of our resources and doing just what they preach: keeping the world green. Additionally, the Science National Honor Society is approaching the global climate change issue in a more scientific manner as they seek to understand and limit the chemical and biological effect of Photograph by the Dreaming Green club members

Marroquin. Students in both of these clubs are making the most out of this very different year to continue to help the environment, even if this means working remotely. Dreaming Green had an especially important project where they designated last month, November, as “Alternative Transportation'' month. Gabriel Vazquez, Vice President of Dreaming Green stated, “We encouraged all of our members to take pictures of themselves using alternative transportation such as biking, walking, carpooling and public transportation. We gave them all of the tips to follow social distancing and maintain safety and health. We need to do this so we

these greenhouse gasses. Although they also praise simpler methods like those such as dreaming green, they want to use technological and scientific approaches to decrease the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere. Senior member, Malena Gonzalez-Fernandez, says that “It's incredible to see how the recent decrease in car and plane travel due to the pandemic has led to a decrease in CO2 emissions. While it is large corporations who should be taking responsibility, we as individuals can also help cause change by using more sustainable

means of transportation like biking.” Malena is starting a social media campaign as part of her work with the Science National Honor Society to encourage bike riding and post its many personal and environmental benefits. Clubs such as these are creating tightknit communities at Coral Reef dedicated to encouraging others to dream green as well.

MOVING FORWARD Only if we continue the efforts to reduce CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions on both a local and global scale can we extend the life of our planet. We must take care of the Earth so it can continue to provide us with the resources, vegetation, and life necessary to survive. Mother Nature has done so much for us, and now it is time to give back to her.

Dreaming Green members promoting evironmentally safe practices

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THE RISE OF TIKTOK

A look at the fastest growing social media platform of 2020 Krystal Li

In just three short years since its launch, social media service TikTok has made great waves in the world of social media. Now boasting around 850 million monthly users and spanning over 150 countries to people of all ages and backgrounds, TikTok has become a significant rival to established social media platforms and streaming services in the battle for dominance in digital entertainment. While TikTok is still largely used by teens, a growing number of adults are starting to use the app, and as TikTok expands to include more and more users, their reach only increases, quickly taking over the global digital media market.

So, what exactly is TikTok? TikTok is a video sharing platform and form of social media where people post videos called “TikToks,” involving things such as singing, dancing,

Since other social media apps like Facebook

telling stories, or even just comedic content.

and Snapchat are largely aimed at

Since Chinese tech company Bytedance

communication, and Youtube is primarily

redesigned the social media platform Music.ly

centered on produced, high-budget content,

to create TikTok in 2017, the app has only been

the absence of these two apps left a large

expanding, capturing the digital markets of

gap in content possibilities. Considering most

both China and the U.S. at an unforeseen

social media platforms focus on influencer

scale. Following the shut-down of Music.ly and

content, the average consumer has no

Vine, two wildly popular video-sharing apps

means of creating content of their own.

where users lip-synced to their favorite songs

Enter TikTok, an app capitalizing on this lack

and shared videos aimed at making others

of creative opportunities. On TikTok, anyone

laugh, existing social media services could not

can post a quick, 60-second video and share

make up for the type of content created on

it to their page with the possibility of

these two platforms.

reaching millions of users around the world.

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With over two billion downloads and 100 million active users in America alone, the fast-paced rise of TikTok has left many wondering what differentiates the app from other media services. The secret to TikTok’s popularity lies in its recommendation algorithm, a system that personalizes videos shown to a user’s exact interests and is based primarily on user

TikTok can still bear negative effects on the mental health of frequent users. As students at Coral Reef have said, people can lose entire days from scrolling the FYP of TikTok. According to one student, once they enter the app, they “lose all track of time” and end up being on TikTok sometimes “for the rest of the day.” The same algorithm designed to curb

interaction. For example, if someone watches a video in full and leaves a like or shares the content, the algorithm will see that they liked the video and give them more posts from the same creator. Beyond an individual scope, if many users are interacting with a video, the algorithm will see that the video is entertaining, so it will then distribute it to more people.

boredom also keeps people on TikTok for as long as possible; with only one swipe needed to move to another video, it's hard to escape the unlimited stream of videos the FYP offers.

For students, the consequences of TikTok addiction are especially far-reaching. According to one junior at Coral Reef, spending too much time on TikTok has left them “always scrambling to finish homework

The information gathered by the algorithm is

past midnight.” From failure to finish

reflected in the “For You Page” or “FYP.” Upon opening the app, users will see their FYP immediately, a section of TikTok containing a plethora of videos put forth by the algorithm. In interviews with students at Coral Reef, some

schoolwork to lack of sleep, a seemingly harmless app becomes much more damaging when the addictive nature of the FYP mixes with unsuspecting youth who purely want to

say they spend between 3-5 hours a day on

enjoy a funny video. While TikTok has

this page and look at it as frequently as

attempted to combat this issue with warnings

“between classes and in all [their] free time.”

when people have been on the app for too

This behavior can not only be attributed to the

long, the effectiveness of simply prompting

personalization of videos to users, but also the

users to take a break has yet to be shown.

short length of TikToks which provides quick satisfaction, as well as the abundance of original and enjoyable content. Because users

As time progresses, TikTok continues to not only maintain its popularity, but its growth in

upload thousands of hours of video a day, there is never a shortage of fresh videos being pushed onto the FYP. Thus, whereas someone might not interact with Youtube one day because their favorite creator has not posted,

the entertainment space is unparalleled. Despite concerns raised by some over the tactics of TikTok in keeping users engaged and returning to the app, TikTok increases in

TikTok draws users to the app day after day

popularity each month across all age groups

with the promise of new and equally

and backgrounds. Following just three years

entertaining content each time.

since the launch of the app, TikTok has already become a formidable force in the

While the addictive qualities of TikTok are agreeably entertaining, like all social media,

social media world, with the dominance of the digital world set in its sights.

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ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACCOUNTING ALEXANDRA RUIZ

An economic look at investing into our future. The movement to solve the climate crisis, among many things, asks for an investment into the future of the Earth, and it seems that investors are listening. As publicly traded companies begin to release their annual reports, statements regarding impacts on the climate are becoming more common, littered among the hundreds of pages that once only contained fiscal earnings. The question of an additional financial statement joining the existing four that quantify a business’s value has been proposed since climate change was acknowledged in the mainstream, but has recently gained momentum as concerns grow. With 2019 being the warmest year in history, it is becoming clear that the economic doom that is tied to climate change is not one that investors are willing to take a chance on. Perhaps the most popular example of sustainability reporting can be seen through Apple’s Environmental reports, quantifying everything from renewable energy implementation to fibers used in manufacturing. The report has similarities to Annual Reports that investors are used to reviewing, with their most recent 2020 progress report coming in at 99 pages, filled with analysis, quantifiable appendices and independent audits for each fact. The costs for the company’s decisions are also closely being reported on in conjunction with this new report, providing a glimpse into what a future sustainability report could look like. A similar reporting system could be implemented into the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which would dictate how companies report their financials throughout the United States.

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80% OF TOP 100 COMPANIES ACROSS 52 NATIONS ALREADY IMPLEMENT A FORM OF SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING KPMG 2020 Survey of Sustainability Report The International Business Council of the World Economic forum, representatives from Big 4 accounting firms and the Bank of America have been working toward implementing ESG standards that can be adopted to match recent financial and environmental challenges. Reporting these metrics could urge businesses to improve their environmental shortcomings and become a significant factor in a company's worth in the eyes of investors. Bill Thomas, Global Chairman and CEO of KPMG International along with other prominent leaders in the field of accounting are working toward this initiative, with Thomas stating, “More than ever, companies need to do better for the communities they serve. It’s not only the right thing to do, but together, we can create a virtuous cycle that benefits a wider slice of the general population, engage more stakeholders as we do it, and attempt to solve the world’s great problems.” Although it is an ambitious goal, it is becoming a necessary process for many top companies, with 80% of top 100 companies across 52 nations already implementing a sustainability report according to KPMG's 2020 Survey of Sustainability Reporting.


In the United States, accounting standards are determined by a division of the Securities and Exchange commission (SEC), called the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Although prominent US companies are setting standards independently, SEC leadership has declined to add standardized requirements for environmental financial reporting in their latest release. This was faced with pushback from Commissioner Allison H. Lee and Caroline A. Crenshaw who acknowledged that such measures could help ensure global financial stability. For countries outside the United States, accounting standards are set by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation. They have since been implored by the International Federation of Accountants to take meaningful steps as well, with IFAC CEO Dancey stating “The accountancy profession must continue to play an active role in helping companies, economies, and societies achieve a more sustainable future, made all the more urgent due to the climate emergency.”

United States SEC building in Washington DC, Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

A global issue like climate change is in need of global cooperation, with industries and individuals alike. The cost of carbon emissions in the long term does not reside in a single Income Statement, and the depreciation of our Earth is not reflected on a single balance sheet. A system where these factors are not considered is one that misleads investors and the public alike. With top 100 companies contributing to 71% of global carbon emissions, it is necessary for accountability to return to accounting.

SEC Commissioner Allison Lee, Corporate Governance, 2019

BAITLINE NEWSPAPER |

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