Issue 2, Vol. 58

highlights

SMOKE AND MIRRORS ALMOST FAMOUS

COST OF SENIORITY

PAGE 6

PAGE 14

Three students with famous family members— Frank Gore, Andy Garcia and Richard Tardits— reveal what it is like to be related to a celebrity.

Issue 2, Volume 58

Oct. 2017

The last year of high school is a milestone for many, though various financial obligations may cast a shadow on the senior experience.

TRICK OR TREAT

With the season of scares quickly approaching, Miami’s best halloween shops packed with costumes and spooky decorations re-open.

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Coral Gables SHS 450 Bird Road, Coral Gables, FL 33146

2 preview sports

4

Security guard Javier Yanes shares how he balances photography and coaching with his day job.

20

As the fall season reaches its peak, sports team captains give highlights insight into their roles.

5

The school’s teachers are tested on how much student slang they really know.

22

New studies regarding the dangers of CTE in football players cast a shadow over the sport.

news

the scene

10

Hurricane Irma had devastating effects, cancelling a week of school for students across the Southeast.

24

Ninja Lounge allows anyone at any age to try their hand at ninja-level obstacle courses.

12

The class of 2019 will be attending the school’s fourth annual out-ofstate college tour in November.

25

Korka Comics appeals to comic book lovers with its vast supply of both new and old comic series.

opinion Going to the school library for books has become a thing of the past.

16

As gender identities have evolved in society, so have the terms used to describe them.

ON THE COVER

The phrase “Smoke and Mirrors” reveals the hidden truth of drug culture among students, and the effect it has on the school environment.

insight 28

Recent technological developments have paved the way for a new standard for drug use among students. To unearth the reality of teen drug culture, highlights investigates the consequences of in-school drug use.

FIND US ONLINE

advisory board

staff writers

Editor-in-Chief Leila Iskandarani Managing Editor Vanessa Vazquez Copy Editor Jack Band Business Manager Amanda Pallas Social Media Manager Audrey Weigel Adviser Melissa Gonzalez Features Sofia Viglucci News Angelle Garcia Opinion Benjamin Estrada Sports Dylan Carol The Scene Natalie Viglucci Insight Alejandra Orozco & Sutton Payne Online Karina Wu

Makayla Bell Tatiana Campos Daniel Cortes Dilan Denham Estelle Erwich Ruben Escobar Sophia Heilman Kevin Monjarrez Thomas Morcillo Savannah Payne Arianna Peña Alejandro Prida Mathilde Requier Cecilia Rodriguez Sara Saliamonas Alexander Sutton Alexandra Torres Mariam Vela Alfredo Wolfermann

contributors Cavaleon 247 Sports

highlights @highlightscghs @highlightscghs

Arianna Peña/highlights

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10

Mathilde Requier/highlights

features

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What’s your opinion? Send us an email with the subject line “Letter to the Editor” at highlightscghs@gmail.com.

We reserve the right to publish any letters sent to this email.

publication policy highlights is the official student-produced news magazine at Coral Gables Senior High School published and produced by highlights staff members. highlights has been established as a designated public forum for student journalists to educate and inform their readers on issues of concern to their audience and dissemination of news and ideas to the entire school community.

As the producer of a scholastic publication, highlights subscribes to the responsibilities set forth in the National Scholastic Press Association Code of Ethics for scholastic journalists and advisers. According to Miami-Dade County School Policy, student media is not subject to prior-review by administration or district personnel and as such, all content is determined by, and reflects the views of, student staff members only. highlights welcomes reader feedback. All letters should be addressed to highlightscghs@gmail.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor.” highlights reserves the right to publish any letters sent to this email.

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Get in touch with us at highlightscghs@gmail. com for advertising

opportunities

TIME TO BUY A YEARBOOK! Yearbooks will be sold for $55 until October 31 Come to room 9222 with cash or check, or order online at www.yearbookordercenter.com School Code #1354

Sara Saliamonas/highlights

4 features

One job is not enough

Security guard Javier Yanes reveals his multi-faceted lifestyle

By Sara Saliamonas, Staff Writer

J

AVIER YANES IS NOT ALL he appears to be. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Yanes moved to Miami when he was 14 years old. At 22, he began working as a security guard at the school. Twenty eight years later, he still holds the position— though his contributions to the school go beyond security. He has worked as a football and baseball coach, calling his involvement in high school students’ early lives a vital part of who he is. Today, he holds three occupational titles: security guard, professional photographer and soccer coach.

In more recent years, Yanes was hired as an assistant coach for Southwest Senior High School’s girls varsity team, with next to no knowledge about the sport.

“I had to learn with the head coach.

We spent a day going through the dos and don’ts,” Yanes said.

Now, three years later, Yanes coaches his soccer team comfortably and genuinely enjoys working with the players and travelling with them to various games throughout the season.

Perhaps Yanes’ most striking quality, though, is his talent in and long-standing passion for photography.

As a child, Yanes was always fascinated by cameras. When he was older, he started taking photography classes at Florida International University and Miami-Dade College to pursue the activity further.

“It started out as a hobby, but then one day I was hired to cover a photoshoot,” Yanes said. “I had never done anything like it before, but they were happy with my photos, so I now continue to cover a variety of photoshoots and events.”

Yanes now has his own website showcasing his talent and business. Of the various events he photographs— including sports events, weddings and baptisms— sports games and practices are his favorite. Sports photography has taken Yanes from New York City to Honolulu through his coverage of the Miami Tropics basketball team. He has

also photographed University of Miami’s sports teams and the school’s sports teams, and covered nationally recognized athletes including Frank Gore, Mike Lowell and Jonathon Vilma, who started their sports careers at the school. Yanes credits baseball photography with being his favorite of them all, as he is enthralled by the plays of the game which make for powerful images. Yanes’ love for the game is clearly reflected in his photographs, which capture the fleeting moments of the game— sliding into homebase, catching the final out and hitting a homerun being among them.

Yanes has previously shared his talents with students, forming a photography club when he first started as a security guard. He mentored students, teaching them how to use black-and-

SNAPSHOT:

Javier Yanes prepares to capture an image, portraying his talent and life as a photographer.

white film cameras and to develop photos in the school’s since-closed down darkroom.

“I taught them everything from the composition of the photo to the development of the film,” Yanes said.

Although the club no longer exists, Yanes continues to explore the depths of film photography along with digital on his own time, both professionally and as a hobby.

To Yanes, balancing the three jobs is effortless. Each job offers Yanes a new opportunity to help others and to succeed personally in expanding his talents.

“It’s all about the experience of dealing with the kids and trying to make them a better person in the future,” Yanes said. h

5 features

Family meets fame

Students give the scoop on their famous relatives

By Sophia Heilman, Staff Writer

A

didn’t exist in America he decided to go into the NFL,” Elodie Tardits said.

Richard Tardits was drafted to the New England Patriots in 1989 as a linebacker. Not only can Richard Tardits make claim to his status as a retired professional athlete, he is also credited with his accomplishments as a father and great influence to his daughter and son. His son, Sam Tardits, has even followed in his footsteps in his shared love for the sport.

Richard Tardits tells Elodie Tardits and her brother a collection of stories from his football career. Elodie Tardits recalls her favorite one.

“He tells me a lot of stories,” Elodie Tardits said. “One time a record of his was broken and fans were calling him and they were very emotional about it.”

HALL >> talk The highlights staff records what students are talking about in the hallways during passing between periods.

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When sophomore and foreign exchange student Elodie Tardits came to the school for a year abroad, her retired National Football League (NFL) father, Richard Tardits, came along to drop her off, paying a visit to the United States from their home country of France in the process, and landing him back in the land of overzealous sports fans and Monday night football.

Growing up in France, Richard Tardits never had the opportunity to explore the game of American football.

However, when given the opportunity to play in college at the Univeristy of Georgia and the NFL immediately after his graduation, he did not hesitate to take it.

“He had the possibility to play football in college, and since rugby

sy rte ou

Richard Tardits

its Tard die Elo

MONG THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL’S STUDENTS ARE everything from office workers to doctors and the occassional Hollywood actor or professional athelete. Four students at the school have family gracing the Red Carpet along with Hollywood’s household names, and others sliding across football fields beneath blazing stadium lights and popcorn-wielding fans. Sophomores Elodie Tardits and Frank Gore Jr. and seniors Gilbert Frierson and Sofia Puentes have let highlights in on their famous family ties.

In t h e face of her father’s impressive history as an NFL athlete, Elodie Tardits said his fame does not affect her life and their fatherdaughter relationship— aside from the occasional “is that your dad?” she receives from her peers.

Elodie Tardits does not mind the attention. In fact, she likes having a famous father.

“I’m really close with my dad; I pretty much tell him everything,” Elodie Tardits said. “He’s really funny and chill. He is like a friend to me.”

BLOCK 1

MAKING THE PLAY:

In a game as a New England Patriot, Richard Tardits runs a play.

BLOCK 2

“My wrist has erectile dysfunction.”

“You aren’t a Virgo if you eat curry.”

“The soil split in two, it’s like a butt cheek.”

“Bro, stop breathing my air.

This is my air.”

“Bro, there’s a guy who made “I’m not emo, but this one a creature from a sperm and a time at Hot Topic...” chicken nugget.”

its Tard die Elo

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Frank Gore

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON:

Frank Gore and his son, sophomore Frank Gore Jr., sit together at a post-game FOX News interview.

NFL l e g e n d Frank Gore has a cousin, senior Gilbert Frierson, and a son, Frank Gore Jr., attending the school. Gore is an alumnus of the school, and played for the University of Miami prior to being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts as a running back. “[He started his career] by playing football at a young age, he worked hard day and night and put in the extra work,” Frierson said.

Passion for the game is what has fueled Gore’s 13-year long professional career.

“He was born to play football,” Frierson said. “He doesn’t like the fame,

he just loves the game.”

Off of the field, Gore is known to be a caring and selfless man. To his son and cousin, he is consistently supportive.

“He’s hard on us,” Frierson said.

“He calls us every day to make sure we’re doing what we need to do. Frank expects a lot from us both, he’s loving and caring but if I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do he’s on me about it.”

Gore is lending his son and cousin valuable advice in their pursuit of their own football careers.

Despite his character on the field, Gore keeps to himself when he is not playing. This softens the macho, pokerfaced identity typically assigned to football players.

“He’s a quiet person, but once he gets to know you, he’s very open,” Gore Jr. said. “He cares about how we do in life.”

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So fia Pu en te

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Andy Garcia To many, the name Andy Garcia may ring a bell. For senior Sofia Puentes, it simply belongs to her uncle.

Known predominantly for his acting in films such as “The Godfather Part III” and “Ocean’s Eleven,” Garcia is an established Hollywood name with a 30-plus year career under his belt and is coming out with new projects soon.

Red carpets and Paramount Studios sets aside, Garcia is recognized as a familyman to those close to him, according to Puentes.

Garcia’s favorite movie to act in was “The Lost City” because he felt a personal connection to the content. “[‘The Lost City’] was about Cuba... [about] the politics and fighting. How Cuba was when he grew up there and his

family before him,” Puentes said.

Currently living in Los Angeles, Garcia makes a point to travel back to Miami to catch up with his family. While in Miami, he spends much of his time fishing on his boat, going to dinner and hanging out at home in good company.

Puentes said that the distance between them has prevented them from being closer than they are, but when they are together, they take advantage of their proximity to each other.

“When he visits I go to his house often and we all have dinner together as a family. He’s cool, he’s reliable and really trustworthy,” Puentes said.

While Garcia’s fame has moderate effect on his relationship with his niece in the long run, he has grown used to

te ur Co

having attention thrown at him routinely.

Puentes can confirm such an account, having experienced it all herself. She knows first hand just how difficult fame can be.

“He’s always getting questioned and giving autographs. When we go out everyone’s like “who is that?” and “can I get their autograph?” so it’s a lot of attention towards us and I like that,” Puentes said.

Garcia loves his Hollywood career and is not planning on slowing down any time soon. h

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STRIKING A POSE:

At a premiere in Miami Beach, senior Sofia Puentes (far right) and her uncle, Andy Garcia (far left) pose for a photo.

features 7

Testing the teacher highlights assessed teachers on their familiarity with the slang of 2017

By Audrey Weigel, Social Media Manager Danie es/h

l Cort

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gh ighli ts

EACHERS WERE PUT TO THE POP CULTURE TEST BY RECEIVING QUESTIONS RELATING to colloquialisms commonly used among students in the classroom and outside of it. Words such as “dead” and “ship” were integrated into a question, mostly geared toward asking teachers about the overall class environment. For example, instead of only questioning if a teacher knew what the colloquial term “dead” meant, the teacher would be asked if they had every felt “dead”. On the same note, teachers would be asked if they have ever had any students that were their “O.T.P.”, or if they had any “crusty” students. The interviews are intended to lend a clue as to how much of this rhetoric teachers have grown familiar with through their time in the classroom. Evidently, their aptitude for slang verges on underwhelming.

Crusty

A phrase to describe someone who is dirty.

“Most of [my students] are crusty.”

“Ugh that’s awful, yeah, some of [my students] are crusty. But I try to help them through it.”

“Do I think anyone is crusty? Me, probably.

“The bathrooms [are crusty].”

one true pair

One’s favorite relationship, usually in a fandom.

“What does that mean? Is that the new vibe from you kids? I don’t understand. Ok just tell me in layman terms. You mean in school? Yes, I do. I have an OTP.” “What’s OTP? Other T? Oh, man. Are they my OTPs? Yeah no, I don’t have children friends.”

ship

To support a romantic relationship between two people.

“Do I ship them? No, I only ship stuff back to Amazon.”

“Ship? Like to Abu Dhabi? The way in which Garfield would ship Nermal? I would like to ship some of my students away from my class. Nah, they’re okay.”

I have no idea what it means.”

neck

A way of someone receiving a slap on the back of their neck for stupid thoughts or ideas.

“That sounds really bad. No. I don’t want anything to do with that, whatever that is.”

“What does that mean? Neck one of my students? No. No. No.” “I don’t get it.”

“OTP? What does that stand for? What is OTP!? One True Person?”

dead

When one has laughed as hard as they possibly could.

“No. No. Is that slang? That seems mildly inappropriate given the concerns, you know you’re not supposed to talk about [that].”

“If I would’ve died I wouldn’t be here. Tell me what that means. I just died.”

“Yes! I die all the time. Everyday I die. In class I die. At home, yeah.

And then I come back to life.”

triggered

Getting filled with annoyance or anger after seeing or hearing something one cannot stand.

“What is triggered? Where did you get these things from? I would really like to know where you get these things.”

“That’s an odd question. In which sense, like what do you mean by trigger?

“I get triggered all the time.”

h

Source: Urban Dictionary

8 news

Gablettes make a splash

The national champion dance team spends their weekend washing cars to raise money

SOAPY SMILES:

Team captains, officers and dancers wash soap off cars during their fundraising efforts.

Sara Saliamonas/highlights

CLEANING CREW:

The Gablettes raised money for their many costs, which include costumes, competition registration, equipment and training.

news 9

News Briefs

By Cecilia Rodriguez, Staff Writer

Upcoming Events Oct. 19-20 Picture day in the gym Oct. 23-26 Homecoming spirit week Oct. 27 Teacher Planning Day Oct. 27 Homecoming football game vs. Columbus Oct. 28 Homecoming Luau Dance Nov. 23-26 Thanksgiving break Nov. 28 Bridege 4 Peace Kickoff

Homecoming, spirit week, football: excitment builds

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HE WEEK OF OCT. 23 is homecoming spirit week, during which students are encouraged to dress according to different themes. The theme for Monday Oct. 23 is color wars, meaning each grade level will wear an assigned color— seniors-red, juniors-gray, sophomores-white and freshmen-black. Tuesday Oct. 24 is Western Day, so students are encouraged to wear Old West-style clothing.

Wednesday Oct. 25 is Blast from the past and Thursday Oct. 26 is whiteout day, which is exclusive for seniors.

Spirit week leads up to the homecoming football game against

French Honor Society

F

RENCH HONOR SOCIETY, (FHS) sponsored by IB and AP French teacher Florence Rouit-Gonzalez, is the newest addition to the school’s extensive list of clubs.

The board, made up of juniors in RouitGonzalez’s IB French class, is led by junior Natalia Rodriguez and includes Eve Adan, Nidia Volmar, Dominique Babin and Angie Lopez.

“For our first year, our board of founding officers is a very dynamic and motivated group. There’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll do a great job,” Rouit said.

The club aims to not only promote French language and culture, but to improve aspects of the school and community. FHS plans to decorate foreign language classrooms and team up with Gables Earth to better the school’s recycling and digital recycling programs. Additionally, they plan to launch an after-school tutoring service twice a week for students taking any level of French.

The French Honor Society’s first meeting was on Oct. 5 in Rouit’s room 9209. The $20 club dues will be collected later this month. h

the Columbus Explorers, which is set to take place Friday Oct. 27 at Tropical Park. The game will build upon the rivalry that the Cavaliers have held with the Explorers for years.

“I’ve gone to the homecoming game every year since I was a freshman, and I love the hyped crowd and the high levels of tension and excitement in the stands,” senior Jesse Kluck said.

The night after, Saturday Oct. 28, the homecoming dance will take place in the gym. The theme for the dance is tropical luau, but students are not required to dress according to the theme. There will be dancing, food and the announcement of the homecoming king and queen. h

Congratulations Junior Gerardo Rodriguez commited to the University of Virginia for baseball Coral Gables Senior High School was designated gold in STEM by MDCPS

Senior Nicolas Madero won a local amateur level boxing match in the 155 weight class

10 news

Florida gets rained on by Hurricane Irma After the category five storm tore through U.S. coasts, Miamians recover from the first hurricane impact in a decade

By Estelle Erwich, Staff Writer

A

S THE NATION REELED from the unprecedented flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, an even larger storm began barreling towards the Atlantic coast. Called Irma, the storm began in the Atlantic basin, and by Sept. 1, most Caribbean nations began issuing hurricane warnings.

By the night of Sept. 4, Irma’s winds had reached speeds of 185 miles per hour, classifying it as a record-breaking category five storm. Its projected path set to cross the majority of Florida’s coastline and parts of its interior.

As local news channels continued to advise against the treacherous storm and national newspapers blared sensationalized headlines declaring the storm ‘nuclear,’ Floridians took every precaution to prepare. Locals frantically rushed to purchase supplies, rapidly depleting grocery stores and gas

stations, houses and businesses were boarded up. Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDPCS), alongside most state universities, cancelled classes and after school activities on the Thursday and Friday before the storm. Classes for MDCPS would not resume until Sep. 18, totaling seven missed school days.

With mandatory evacuations in the Keys, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Key Biscayne, highways became congested quickly as millions of residents and tourists fled the impending storm. Sophomore Isabella Escudero was among this number, leaving to Louisiana.

“During Hurricane Irma, my family and I went to Campti, Louisiana,” Escudero said. “We saw on the news that it was passing through Hollywood, where I live, and that it would be bigger than [Hurricane] Andrew, so we didn’t want to take the chance.”

DID YOU KNOW?

At one point, Hurricane Irma was the strongest hurricane the National Hurricane Center had ever recorded in the Atlantic Source: Worldvison.org

MDCPS schools received a sizable amount of damage. Though there was little significant infrastructural damage recorded, almost every school in MiamiDade County was without power. Trees and other debris covered most campuses and every site had to be cleared before it was safe for students to return.

School restoration began nearly immediately after the storm passed.

According to Vice Principal Joseph Evans, the school system has a sophisticated and efficient system in place for natural disaster recovery. First, the principal arrived on campus the day after the storm to send a complete report of damages done to the school via a mobile app connected to a district spread sheet. Principal Adolfo Costa was present the day after the storm passed.

“There was a lot of debris, a lot of trees down…[but] I was glad to see

Major hurricane impact locations in the last 25 years Hurricane Katrina: Cat.5/ New Orleans, LA Hurricane rita: CAT. 3/ PORT AURTHUR, TX Hurricane Andrew: Cat. 5/ Miami, FL Hurricane Sandy: Cat. 3/ Atlantic city, NJ Hurricane ike: cat. 4/ Galveston, tx Hurricane Harvey: Cat. 5/ Rockport, tx HURRICANE DENNIS: CAT.4/ NAVARRE BEACH, FL HURRICANE WILMA: CAT.3/ CAPE ROMANO, FL HURRICANE GUSTAV: CAT. 3/ COCODRIE, LA hURRICANE hugo: cat. 4/ Charleston, SC HURRICANE IVAN: CAT.3/ GULF SHORES, AL

Vanessa Vazquez & Angelle Garcia/highlights

*“Major hurricane” defined as a category 3+ storm ** Other hurricanes not included on list: Charley, Irene, Floyd, Isabelle, Hermione, Dolly, Isaac, Humberto, Arthur, Irene, Emily, Frances, Jeanne

Mathilde Requier/highlights

news 11

DAMAGE DONE: Left: A Coral Gables firefighter surveys the damage done by the severe storm. Right: A large oak tree was uprooted by the storm, the roots laying on their side.

we had only lost power for about an hour. Then, we jumped into the mode of calling the custodians and anybody else who was available to help start the cleanup process.”

The school’s custodial, security and administrative staff arrived the next day and worked throughout the week students had off to begin to recuperate from the extensive damage. Trees were chain sawed down and dragged across campus on golf carts, areas damaged by water were cleaned and mountains of debris were removed. Freezers also had to be emptied of spoiled food and then restocked and all electric and air conditioning units checked. After the school staff completed the majority of the work, professional teams were brought in over the weekend to perform specialty electric jobs and heavy lifting.

By Monday morning, the school was ready to reopen, thanks to the restoration efforts of MDCPS staff such as Costa and Evans and the custodial staff.

“We [MDCPS] do an excellent job - we’re trained in natural disaster [recovery] two or three times a year,” Costa said.

As thousands realized their conditions were unlivable or supplies would be scarce for weeks, residents fled to join scores of other displaced individuals in shelters across the state.

One such shelter housed 1,600 refugees

at its peak, according to Red Cross media spokesman Tony Briggs.

“We are giving them a safe place to stay, three meals a day, we have free health care and mental health care as well… we will be open for as long as we are needed,” Briggs said. “This is what we do. We help people, we open up shelters when asked and we make sure that people have a place to stay. Its like a life boat for them.

Along with these shelters, MDCPS also opened 42 of their 392 schools to accommodate displaced residents.

Some were even pet friendly to make sure no animals were left behind in the dangerous storm’s path.

These shelters had the capability to house up to 100,000 people, and many of them quickly became full reaching capacity hours after being opened, such

as North Miami High. Though confusion circulated as to which shelters were full and which were not in the panic before the storm, MDCPS and county officials worked to make clear which locations were still open.

In preparation for the return of students and staff, two days before school was set to begin again, MDCPS principals and custodians spent their days cleaning. Gyms, auditoriums and cafeterias, anywhere displaced citizens resided to ride out the storm was bleached and cleaned out.

As residents restore the damages done, the work can seem daunting, especially with the visible reminders left behind.

“Miami’s such a beautiful city; it’s very hard to see all of this debris and trash everywhere,” Evans said. h

Visit our showroom at 1623 NW 84th Ave. Doral www.silhouettone.us stusa@silhouettone.com

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12 news

Upperclassmen set out to visit colleges Juniors and seniors visit universities in and out of the state as college application process nears

By Daniel Cortes, Staff Writer

T

HE SCHOOL WILL BE hosting its annual college tours for the graduating class of 2019. The out-of-state college tour will take place from Nov. 9 to the 16, while the in-state college tour will take place from Jan. 16 to the 18.

Past college tour trips allowed students to see major cities and universities across the country first hand. Participants of the tour can look forward to familiarizing themselves with 12 public and private colleges and universities spanning across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, including: Johns Hopkins University, Goucher University, University of Maryland and more.

On top of visiting schools, upperclassmen going on this college tour trip are going to be touring historic Washington D.C. and Virginia. The trip includes a whole day of touring museums and monuments, such as; the White House, Capital Building, National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial. In Maryland, students can look forward to spending thier time in between touring colleges on the Maryland pier and bay.

“I want to see how schools are outside Florida and see what they offer, plus it’s not something everyone can do so I took advantage,” junior Pablo Contreras said. “...It’s important for me to visit other [universities] so I can expand my knowledge on what colleges could really offer and learn how to find the perfect one for me.”

For students who want to know more about colleges close to home, there is a separate in-state tour that shows students around public Florida state schools. Aside from visiting colleges, attendees will also go on a night ghost tour in historic St. Augustine.

“Not only are students seeing five amazing schools, but they are also eating on campus, they are learning about dorm life.” junior class sponsor Margarite DePaola said.

Collections for the in-state trip will be throughout October and will cost about $410 and includes two meals

lodging and transportation during the trip.

“I haven’t done much research on colleges, so I’m going on in-state college tour to see what universities have to offer and what they expect of me. I can’t wait to see what it’s like to be on a college campus.” junior Matthew Wagner said.

Students that are interested in attending, pass by Student Activities room 9219 or visit CavsConnect for more information. h

out-of-STATE American University Catholic University of America College of William and Mary George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University

Goucher College John Hopkins University Loyola University Maryland University of Maryland University of Richmond University of Virginia

Cost: $1050 / Dates: Nov. 9-16 Stops: VIRGINIA, mARYLAND, Washngton D.C.

IN-STATE Flagler College Florida State University University of Central Florida University of Florida University of South Florida Cost: $410 / Dates: JAN.16-18 STOPS: Gainesville, Tallahassee, ORLANDO, TAMPA, ST. AUGUSTINE

13 opinion

STAFF-ED: Library latency

The school’s library should take steps to better serve the needs of students

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from last year’s tests and Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) testing.

Then comes the Pre-SAT (PSAT), then, English Language Arts (ELA) tests and so on. It is due to this continued misuse of the center that the library at school is a mystery to a good portion of younger students at Gables. This makes the library feel more like an impenetrable citadel than anything else, as more often than not, students who are not testing cannot enter.

“During the school day I do feel like [getting into the library] is an issue,” sophomore David Fernandez said. “The combination of security guards, closed hallways and testing usually make it pretty hard.”

Testing is not the only reason why the library proves to be difficult to use. Should a student actually succeed in entering the library they will be offered a meager book collection. As many students have discovered for themselves, the school’s book collection has not been updated in recent years. Despite this underwhelming collection however, there are efforts to improve the availability of new books through digital media..

“There have not been any updates to the book collection here at Gables,” Testing chair Ms. Andrews said. “but we are working on a system for students to check out tablets and read any book they would like on them.”

With advancements such as these, the library has the potential to serve students

The school’s library and media center sacrifice accessibility and book lending in favor of serving as a year-round testing site.

DID YOU KNOW?

In the United States, there are over 80,000 public school libraries.

Source: American Association of School Librarians

to a greater extent than it currently does.

A larger physical collection, attainable through school drives, would also provide students with access to a wider array of books should the tablet idea fail. Ideally, the larger selection would even cater to students’ required readings. With the addition of a dedicated librarian or media specialist, which the school currently lacks, the library could easily become a haven for student discussion and study.

The school’s library is in need of some serious change. The issue of testing could be alleviated through the addition of computer labs, use of student tablets, or even dividing the library into dedicated testing and media centers.

The library could also undergo massive improvements, in terms of promoting student activity, simply by focusing more effort into advertising or promoting itself to a greater extent. Many students are unaware that library operates after school until five p.m.

The media center also has the opportunity to boost student interest by following through on a few of their older ideas. Still on the school’s’ website is a page for the media center’s monthly theme which has never been updated. The school’s library is capable of improvement and its development should be seen as a priority. With administrator support and proper funding, the school’s library would be able to better support students in their quest for knowledge. h

Kevin Monjarrez/highlights

IBRARIES ARE MORE THAN an outdated internet, they are hubs filled with opportunities to learn create and share information. When managed correctly, libraries can be of great use to students besides serving as a wifi hotspot.

“I like to go [to the library] a lot to do homework and study with my friends,” sophomore Alex Panamo said. “It’s a good and quiet place to get stuff done.”

Ranging from the forms of a traditional public library to more modern learning centers, libraries, specifically those within schools, all have the opportunity to aid students. The school’s media center however, seems to force students to endure a trial of inconvenience before getting any use out of it.

According to the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), libraries support students in academic achievement, learning and acquisition of skills, making libraries a core component of educational institutions everywhere. In spite of this he library at school wastes this opportunity, shying away from providing basic services resulting in low student activity.

Attempting to utilize the school library presents a great challenge. One glaring issue is that the library is almost always closed. For the most part, this is because the library is reserved for testing year-round. Testing begins in the library at the start of the school year, with make-ups

14 opinion

The cost of celebration

As seniors prepare for life after high school, prices can quickly add up Commentary by Alejandro Prida, Staff Writer ITH THE school y e a r under way, seniors and their parents must shift their attention away from celebration and towards the year at hand. Along with its academic rigors, an all inclusive senior year comes with a multitude of expenses that can shock unsuspecting parents. And while some of the costs can be mitigated or forgone,

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there is no way to avoid them all.

A senior at the school who has taken two SAT and ACTs respectively, studied for them using preparatory books, applied to the University of Miami, Miami-Dade College and the five major public universities instate; University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida and Florida International University will have already spent over $500.

These are obligatory expenses for

students who plan to attend a four-year college or university and account for less than half the total potential cost of senior year. Moreover, senior students who wish to attend college outide the state of Florida can expect a significant increase in cost.

The optional extras of an allinclusive senior year hold the potential to drive costs. These optional activities and amenities that are offered to seniors are a great privilege. This, of course, comes at a price, over $700 in total for

DID YOU KNOW?

The average family spends $544 on prom night, in addition to the ticket.

Source: VISA

$enior Expen$e$ $320

$60

Class fundraiser

Gradbash

Grand total: $400 - $1,100+

$85 Prom

Additional costs: - Homecoming ($25) - Yearbook ($55+)

$35

$250+

Senior pictures

- SAT/ACT prep books ($13 ea.)

Average cost of college application fees Benja m

$30

Senior picnic

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$30

- Club dues ($20 ea.)

- Sending test scores to colleges ($12+ ea.)

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$60+

per SAT or ACT test

Cap & gown rental Source: Student Activities Compiled by Alejandro Prida and Benjamin Estrada

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Courtesy of Cavaleon

END OF THE LINE:

(Top) Seniors flaunt their crowns on their last first day of school; (Bottom) Last year’s senior class electrifies the auditorium during their class pep rally.

“It really bums me out.”

-Ruben Escobar, Staff Writer

“If you have to make it sexy, you probably shouldn’t wear it.”

-Alejandro Prida, Staff Writer

I CAN’T AFFORD EVERYTHING...I HAVE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, SO I MIGHT SKIP OUT ON CERTAIN TRADEMARK SENIOR ACTIVITIES

-Catherine Healy Senior o

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Halloween costumes

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INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE SINGULAR FUNDRAISER, THE SCHOOL [SHOULD] MAKE ITS OWN.

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-Harrison Senior, Senior

opposable thumbs Sitting down for too long

I DON’T THINK THAT GRAD BASH IS WORTH THAT MUCH [MONEY] BECAUSE BESIDES ITS COST YOU HAVE TO BRING EXTRA MONEY.

-Estuar Trochez, Senior

Courtesy of Cavaleon

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prom, senior picnic, grad bash, class ring, senior pictures and a yearbook.

Although entirely optional, these events and memories are opportunities for seniors to celebrate with their friends and class mates. While it is shocking that most of the end cost which gives senior year its bad wrap is to cover nonessential expenses, it is difficult to imagine a senior willingly giving up these deserved rewards after four years of hard work.

All in all, senior year could cost upwards of $1000. That is no small sum, and a large portion is virtually unavoidable. Lowering the costs of activities for seniors would not only allow more students to partake, it would lessen the entire financial burden of the year, even if only slightly.

This seems unlikely for two reasons. For one, activities put on by the school must be staffed according to the number of participating students by volunteering chaperones, which would necessitate a significant increase in parent involvement. Secondly, and most obviously, these are events parents have already paid for, and are therefore much less likely to willingly give up their time for.

However, there are things parents can do to lower costs slightly. Among them filling out a free and reduced lunch form which waives SAT and ACT fees as well as lowering the cost of college application fees, although not all students are eligible to receive these benefits.

Seniors themselves are the most capable of making their school year affordable and enjoyable. By carefully considering the specific class activities they wish to partake in and prioritizing what is most important to them, seniors will save money. h

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opinion 15

Impromptu hurricane breaks “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

-Benjamin Estrada, Opinion Editor

College applications “Difficult, but oddly enlightening.”

-Sofia Viglucci, Features Editor

16 opinion

TWO VIEWS: Neutral pronouns New gender identities have given rise to a wave of alternative pronouns Commentary by Ruben Escobar, Staff Writer

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students speak up

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YOU SHOULD DEFINE YOURSELF HOWEVER YOU FEEL. I FEEL LIKE A GIRL SO I DEFINE MYSELF AS ONE.

“

-Susan Fernandez, Junior

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IT’S UNNECESSARY...

ALTERING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE JUST TO APPEAL TO PEOPLE’S EMOTIONS.

-Johann Budel, Freshman

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called she from time to time.”

According to USA Today, a Canopy Oaks Elementary teacher in Tallahassee, Florida, sent a note home requesting that students use the following gender neutral pronouns when addressing her, “they,” “them” or more specifically “Mx.” This led to some controversy within the school district and among parents. As a result, the teacher was transferred to another program in the district.

Gender-neutral pronouns are becoming more widespread within hospitals as well. According to Healthcom Media, “people who identify across the gender spectrum may not feel comfortable being referred to with the pronouns she, her, he or him because these pronouns do not reflect their personal gender identity. New genderneutral, non-binary pronouns include they, them, zie, zim, sie and sir.”

It is unhealthy, both mentally and physically, to not be able to express who you, as a person, are or want to be.

According to the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law, “Medical and mental health professionals, social workers, and thousands of families recognize that when a person is not allowed to live as their authentic self, stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide are frequent consequences.”

The vocabulary expansion of nonbinary genders and pronouns has benefitted literature and spoken language by adding flexibility to speech and writing. For example, alternating pronouns in rhymes, poetry, novels or short stories is an effective way of making these works more inclusive.

This new trend has spread throughout educational and healthcare sectors, and is slowly becoming normalized in society.

It is considered disrespectful to assume someone’s gender or pronoun, so, as a suggestion, it would be wise to ask beforehand. To sum, these gender neutral pronouns allow everyone to identify and be identified correctly.

Without them, non-binary people would not be able to express themselves. h

Rub en

RONOUNS are no l o n g e r as simple as “he,” “she” and “they.”

The more common use of gender neutral pronouns such as “zie” and “hir,” are meant to more accurately refer to those that do not identify exclusively with a binary pronoun.

Neutral pronouns offer much more flexibility in addressing people with more fluid gender identities an appropriate alternative to traditional binary pronouns. As society becomes gradually more open-minded and accepting, the use of gender neutral pronouns has begun to spread to schools, public restrooms and other areas.

According to The Humanist, “Trans[gender] people often change their names, and some do it more than once. Some identify as male or female; others identify with blended gender identities, or with entirely different gender identities other than male or female.” Some LGBTQ+ individuals do not identify with any gender, and others reject the concept altogether.

The LGBTQ+ community was right to have adopted new pronouns to properly address those who do not identify as male or female. With increasing respect for gender identity, came the formal differentiation between gender fluidity. Subsequently, more specific pronouns for new genders were created. Today, neutral pronouns are slowly becoming a cultural tradition within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I consider myself an ally of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer+ (LGBTQ+) community. I identify as a straight female, but I prefer the pronoun “x”. In my opinion, anyone can have a preferred pronoun without technically being part of the community,” said sophomore Engel Murillo. “I was born and have always identified as a female, yet I prefer to be referred to as either “they” or “x” by friends, although I do not mind being

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I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE SHOULD BE WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BE AS LONG AS THEY’RE HAPPY.

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-Daniella Colugnatti, Freshman

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opinion 17

Commentary by Alexander Sutton, Staff Writer

By the numbers The intricacies of gender identity are foreign to many. highlights surveyed the school’s student body to get their views on this recent phenomenon.

10%

Of students identify with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth

Of students have never heard of common gender-neutral pronouns

22%

OF Students have faced discrimination over their gender identity

Of students believe that nonbiNary individuals should use "they/ them" instead of new pronouns Out of 356 students surveyed from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, 2017, 82 were freshmen, 90 were juniors, 92 were sophomores and 92 were seniors.

65%

53%

Benjamin Estrada/highlights

GBTQ+ ISSUES ARE BEING discussed with increased frequency every day. The increase in attention that non-binary people have been receiving has brought pressing and controversial issues to the forefront of discussion— chief among them the great pronoun debate.

Confusion arises around which pronoun should be used when somebody does not identify with either male or female, and various solutions have been proposed to resolve the uncertainty. However, not all of these solutions are created equal.

Specifically, the pronoun debate revolves around people who find the words “he” and “she” inaccurate to describe their identity, and which pronoun they should use: “they,” or newly-invented pronouns such as “zie” and “hir.” These new pronouns are relatively unknown to most people.

Since the use of these new words is not mainstream, it seems for now as though the gender-nonconforming community would benefit from limiting the array of pronouns to “he,” “she,” and “they.”

With people becoming more open about gender identity, the issue demands attention. The community of people with non-binary gender identities is rich with diversity. Many designations for gender identity exist— cisgender, transgender, agender, bigender and genderqueer are just a few. It is clearer now more than ever before that there are many variations of gender perception— it has never been just male and female.

The English language is far less malleable than human gender. “He,” “she,” “it” and “they” are the four standard third-person personal pronouns used in everyday speech. One idea put forth is to repurpose the plural pronoun “they” to act as a singular, non-genderspecific pronoun instead of a plural one. People who do not identify with a single gender frequently opt to be described by the pronoun “they,” seeing it as a compromise between the male “he” and female “she.” Many scholars and grammar sticklers have balked at this idea because of its current ungrammaticality, although it has

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been gaining lots of traction—both the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Style Guide have approved of its use.

This solution is a good compromise, because it provides a clear and simple answer to the question of which pronoun to use if not “he” or “she.”

An alternate solution is to create new pronouns to refer to people of indeterminate gender— to make up new words, and use them as pronouns alongside the original “he,” “she” and “they.” Dozens of new pronouns have been created, “ey,” “per,” “xe,” “hir” and “zie” being among the most popular.

The concept of using new pronouns has been gaining popularity since the 1980s, but has not yet become mainstream.

As an extension of freedom of speech, anybody is free to choose which pronoun they would like to use, including newly-created ones. However, choosing to call oneself by anything other than “he,” “she” or “they” seems like an unwise decision. The new neutral pronouns are not practical for everyday use, since awareness of them is still not sufficiently widespread. Using these pronouns does not provide an easy solution to the perplexing pronoun problem— it causes undue hassle to the very person who is supposed to feel more comfortable being identified by their pronoun of choice, because of the likely need to constantly explain the idea to people unfamiliar with the concept.

The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, reveals that only 2 percent of the gender-nonconforming community prefers an invented pronoun, while more than a quarter of respondents designate singular “they” as the pronoun of choice.

This data proves a point: until the use of invented pronouns becomes more common, the gender-nonconforming community would benefit from limiting the array of pronouns to “he,” “she” and “they.” h

18 opinion

Protecting patriotism

The American national anthem and flag must not be desecrated Satirical commentary by Dilan Denham, Staff Writer H, SAY can you s e e , By the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed, At the twilight’s last

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gleaming?”

Wait, why are you not standing?

Are you crazy? That is illegal! The honorable President Trump just set a law making it illegal to not properly respect our country’s national anthem.

Such disregard for the United States’ flag could have you charged for up to 12 years in prison! Ever since our righteous president watched his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys, play against the Arizona Cardinals, he simply could not believe his eyes.

Trump did not understand why anyone would kneel against the sacred national anthem. What could people

Daniel Cortes/highlights

possibly be protesting? With equality and justice at an all-time high in our society, President Trump was perplexed at the football players’ blatant defiance.

He wasted no time in grabbing his phone and opened up Twitter to tweet out: “DISGRACEFUL! THEY SHOULD ALL BE FIRED”.

Trump later added that “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race.

It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. The National Football League must respect this!”

This comes only two days after tweeting: “Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

In Rage, our noble President signed an executive order which makes disrespecting the flag and anthem illegal.

The extensive legislation explains each way you could disrespect the flag; All of

DID YOU KNOW?

In the same time span, President Trump has spent 3 times as many days in office on leisure time than President Obama.

Source: The Washington Post

which are punishable by law.

In accordance with the new executive order, the national anthem will now play three times a day, seven times a week on new national anthem sirens. At those times, all able-bodied citizens will be required to stand and observe the national anthem.

On the issue of what happened to the athletes who started this controversy, it is mostly unknown. Days after the anthem incident, they all disappeared without a trace. It is thought that President Trump deported them with the same swiftness he used to expel members of his cabinet.

Dishonoring the flag is a serious moral transgression. Not only does it bring shame upon our great nation, but it also undermines the competent leadership of our fearless President.

Upholding our anthem is just one step in the journey to making America great again. h

sports 19

Copy Editor Brings it On

highlights’ very own high flying phenom, Copy Editor Jack Band, impresses again

By Mariam Vela, Staff Writer

A

FTER DISCOVERING HIS which left the out-ofhidden talent in the art of shape Copy Editor dance with the Gablettes for a pleading for a break. day, highlights Copy Editor Jack Band “I have never felt such a burn decided to give it another go, this time, in my hamstrings in my entire life. They with the school’s cheerleading team. At were literally on fire. I have absolutely dismissal, Band met the team in front no idea how these girls can do this every of the Ralph Moore building. There, day,” Band said. he came across a scene of energetic Despite his inability to reach his cheerleaders all dressed in pajamas, ankles during stretches and having a posing goofily for the camera and less-than-average squat form, Band dug taking quirky group pictures. Having deep in order to prove himself with his not received the memo it was the stellar jumps and kicks. He compensated team’s pajama day, Band felt slightly for his lack of coordination during more out of place, and approached the conditioning with his skill group with a seemingly forced smile and determination to be a and an awkward greeting. Once practice began AT THE BEGINNING however, Band OF PRACTICE did not just fit HE DEFINITELY in— he shined. contributing Although he member to STARTED OUT AS AN did eventually the team, and his UNDERDOG BUT AFTER get up to speed, almost perfect THATTOE TOUCH HE toe touch left the the beginning of practice was MIGHT AS WELL BE THE cheerleaders with no cakewalk.

HEAD CAPTAIN. their jaws on the Not having concrete floor.

EVE ADAN, exerted himself “At the JUNIOR beginning physically in of over a month, practice he the rigorous warmups were almost too definitely started out as an underdog, much, as Band was unable to keep up. but after that toe touch he might as well The conditioning consisted of a variety be the head captain,” junior cheerleader of stretches, squats and jumping jacks, Eve Adan said.

Building confidence as the practice went on, Band started to showcase h i s

creativity and pure grace in his jumps.

Somehow, he was able to mirror all the high flying stunts the cheerleaders were performing, sometimes even catching more air than the girls themselves. The Copy Editor was able to impress senior captain Alicia Hernandez with his unexpected talent, proving yet again that he is an athletic specimen to be reckoned with. “ I think he did better than I expected. He came in with an open mind and tried everything we threw at him…I’m very proud,” Hernandez said.

After a rough start, he was able to unleash his skills and demonstrated that the pom poms are right for him. With an undying passion for his new specialty, Band may consider trying out for cheerleading the coming year. h

JUMPING JACK:

(from left) Band awkwardly stretches his hamstring, attempts and fails to do the classic jump split, shows his laser focus doing a high kick during drills.

Mariam Vela/highlights

20 sports

Fall Captains take control

As they ride out the fall season, the captains tell highlights what it takes to be a leader

By Amanda Pallas, Business Manager

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HOUGH MOST STUDENTS have been on campus since mid-August, fall sports athletes have been working hard since the summer to lead their teams through the season. Whether they are the captain of Gablettes or bowling, these students

are willing to dedicate all their time and effort to their teams. While serving as head of the sport, these captains enjoy the time they spend with the team but also work hard with their teammates to ensure success in the upcoming season. These leaders were chosen by

SUPER SETTERS:

Amanda Pallas/highlights

(From left) Seniors Ximena Puig and Yara Faour set the team up for success .

Girls Volleyball Captains: Ximena Puig and Yara Faour

Yara Faour Why did you want to be a captain?

“I wanted to be a captain in order to help lead the team and play a bigger role as a whole. I felt like being the captain would allow me to contribute more to the volleyball team, a team very dear to my heart.”

What role do you play as captain of the team?

“As captain, I mainly help motivate the team. I try my hardest to encourage everyone. My ultimate goal is to help everyone believe in themselves and their abilities, even in the face of mistakes. They’re all incredibly talented players. I also feel like Ximena and I serve as role models for the team, so that includes promoting good sportsmanship, respect for the referees, etc.”

Ximena Puig How long have you been captain?

“I was captain of the JV team my first year on the team and then my junior year when I made the varsity team, I became captain again.”

What role do you play as captain of the team?

“As captain, I’m in charge of making sure the girls know what is going on in relation to games and practices. But my main job is to keep them motivated and to lift their spirits if the score is 5-15. My coach doesn’t expect much from the captain role, she only asks for us to never let the girls give up and always be there to cheer them up and make them forget about their mistakes.”

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite part about being captain is the relationship I have formed with teammates and my coach. I love being able to have fun even through the loses. I believe I am a very cheerful person and I tend to focus on the good things, something that I learned as captain and that has helped me succeed as captain.”

their coaches because they embrace the qualities of commitment and authority. These athletes also serve as a bridge between players and coaches, communicating any concerns either group may have. highlights has asked what the fall captains have been up to.

Swimming Captains: Audrey Aragon and Luis Lopez

Audrey Aragon What role do you play as captain of the team?

“As captain I have to show leadership in the team, I have to help all of the team with any problems they have regarding their starts or strokes, and I have to make sure that our team does everything they can to help us succeed in meets.”

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite part of being captain would probably be the fact that my teammates, especially the rookies and underclassmen, look up to me for guidance on things both pool and life related. I also like the fact that the boys captain, Luis Lopez, is one of my close friends and we have the same mindset of doing all that we can in order to help our team do well.”

Luis Lopez How long have you been captain?

“I’ve been captain for about two weeks, but I’ve been a leader of the team since the beginning of the season.”

What role do you play as captain of the team?

“As captain I along with the girls captain (Audrey) speak to the coaches more than any other athlete as we have to be the barrier between the athletes and the coaches. We also have to decide who swims what in certain meets and be a leader who the others listen to.”

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite part of being captain is being able to decide who swims what at meets, because it’s something every captain has done in the years before me and because I get to choose what I want to swim and what I don’t, which hasn’t been an option in previous years.”

STAR SWIMMERS:

Seniors Luis Lopez and Audrey Aragon pose before a swim meet against Miami Beach.

Alfredo Wolfermann/highlights

sports 21

Boys Bowling Captains: Arturo Diaz-Dube and Kevin Monjarrez Amanda Pallas/highlights

DYNAMIC DUO:

(From left) Seniors Gabriela Estua and Summer Campagna model a silly prom picture.

Girls Bowling Captains: Summer Campagna and Gabriela Estua

Summer Campagna What role do you play as captain of the team?

“As captain, I help to organize the team, and to keep a positive attitude throughout practice and games.”

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite part about being captain are my teammates. We all get along so well and have fun with each other in every match.”

Gaby Estua: Senior How long have you been captain?

“This is my first year being captain, but this is my second year on the team.”

Why did you want to be a captain?

“I wanted to be captain because of two things.

One I felt like Summer and I (being the only seniors) were more mature and thus we’d be better at guiding the team. Secondly, we know the dynamics of the Gables bowling team being that we’ve played and practiced with the team from as far back as three years ago.”

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite part about being captain is definitely cheering the team on and making sure that there’s a constant excitement throughout the whole match and keeping the team in a positive state of mind.”

Arturo Diaz-Dube What role do you play as captain of the team?

“I don’t think I play much of a role I just try to motivate the other bowlers to bowl better.”

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite part of being captain is just getting to give advice and they listen to me.”

Kevin Monjarrez How long have you been captain?

“I have been captain for about a week now, just made captain this year.”

What role do you play as captain of the team?

“As captain my main role is to work on improving my teammates game and motivate them during matches.”

Sara Saliamonas/highlights

DANCING DIVA:

Senior Gablettes captain Alisa Sanchez gives a big smile as she leads her squad.

Gablettes Captain: Alisa Sanchez

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite part of being captain is really the confidence it provides me. I can now say ‘I am a bowling thug’ with pride.”

BEAMING BOWLERS:

(From left) Kevin Monjarrez and Arturo Diaz-Dube laugh it up.

Amanda Pallas/highlights

How long have you been captain?

“I have now been captain for four and a half months.”

Why did you want to be a captain?

“I wanted to be captain because the team helped me grow into the woman I am today.

The thought that I could help everybody on the squad flourish and learn new things about themselves and their personalities made me want to become the leader.”

What role do you play as captain of the team?

“As captain, I lead the team and help communicate with them. My coach tells me lots of things that need to get done in order for the team to succeed, and I ensure that all the needed steps are taken to get those things done and make sure the year runs smoothly.”

What is your favorite part of being captain?

“My favorite thing about being captain is being able to watch my teammates succeed and helping them not only with their dance skills, but also with learning about themselves and helping them flourish to their best possible self.” h

22 sports

Paying the Price: CTE and the NFL Risk of developing CTE looms large over the sport of football, as head injuries take their turn in the spotlight Commentary by Alejandro Prida, Staff Writer

I

N LATE JULY, B o s t o n University (BU) researchers published findings that 110 of 111 deceased former National Football League (NFL) players who donated their brains to research suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE, a neurodegenerative disease that can only be accurately diagnosed postmortem through examination of brain tissue, develops as a result of repeated mild trauma to the brain. Symptoms include memory loss, depression, impaired judgment and suicidal behavior. It has become a concern in the last five years as the link between the degenerative disease and prolonged football play becomes increasingly clear.

Players, active and retired, have been vocal regarding the news. Hall of Fame running back and two time Super Bowl champion Terrell Davis told the Denver Post “I can’t lie, we’re all scared,” just hours before his induction.

Baltimore Ravens lineman John Urschel and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, ages 26 and 31

respectively, retired from the NFL after BU announced their findings.

The NFL has consistently avoided acknowledging any possible connection between injuries sustained during play and the development of degenerative brain diseases. Commissioner Roger Goodell, in a pre-Super Bowl 50 press conference, downplayed the risks of NFL play, saying “there’s risk in everything.” In February, Dr. Mitch Berger, head of the NFL’s subcommittee on long-term brain injury denied any correlation between NFL play and degenerative brain disorders. This is no surprise, given that donations from the NFL for brain trauma research are exclusively granted to league-affiliated doctors. Moreover, league officials routinely avoid questions regarding CTE and have not publicly announced any plans to aid afflicted players.

However, the NFL has not remained entirely passive on the issue of brain trauma. In 2013, new concussion guidelines including educative requirements for coaches and team staff during the preseason were implemented.

Another stipulation which mandates that a player reporting or showing concussion symptoms be removed from

A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE FINE THEN ARE NOT OKAY NOW. [CONCUSSIONS] WEREN’T LOOKED AT AS SERIOUSLY. TIM NEAL, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

gameplay to be examined by medical professionals was added. That player cannot return to football activities until returned to baseline cognitive function.

“A lot of things that were fine then are not okay now. [Concussions] weren’t looked at as seriously.” head varsity football coach Tim Neal said.

Some progress, then, has been made. Players today are more informed than ever about the dangers associated with playing professional football. The CTE problem, however, is not entirely addressed by these guidelines, which only extend to instances in which a player receives a concussion. CTE develops slowly, taking years to show symptoms. As such, non-concussive head injuries are potentially more dangerous because no characteristic symptoms of a concussion are present.

With droves of evidence to support their claims connecting football and CTE, scientists are surprised at the lack of concrete action by the NFL. Nonetheless, the NFL cannot diffuse responsibility much longer. Research will continue, and it is possible that in the near future a non-refutable link between CTE and professional football could be established. h

diagnosed during the 2016 NFL season

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Hard Hitting Numbers: the dangers of CTE

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not make it into injury reports

Source: ESPN, Frontline Concussion Watch Compiled by Alejandro Prida

current or former NFL players have committed suicide since 2011

sports 23

Cavs crush Hi-Tides

The school football team drowns Miami Beach in a mercy rule win

By Tatiana Campos, Staff Writer

T

HE CORAL GABLES Cavaliers paraded onto the Miami Beach Hi-Tides’ field, ready to redeem themselves after an unfortunate loss against the Palmetto Panthers, 30-33. Though the Hi-Tides were expecting a win against the Cavaliers, considering their 15-0 win in their previous matchup against the Felix Varela Vipers, their expectations were soon shattered. The odds were in the Hi-Tides’ favor; as they were projected to win based on their state ranking and recent victories. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers came out swinging, beating the Miami Beach Hi-Tides, 35-0, at the away game on Sept. 28. Improving to a 2-2 record, the Cavs look to build upon this win and continue playing at this level for the rest of the season.

“I think they’ve played an excellent game tonight. I’m excited to continue coming to the games this season because we should be able to get far if we continue to play like this,” sophomore Sydney Pell said.

As the rain poured down, the Cavaliers continued to score. The team’s offense was incredibly efficient, reeling in touchdown after touchdown.

Just minutes into the first quarter, junior running back Rayquan Berry scored a passing touchdown, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Later, entering the 3rd quarter, special teams took its turn in the limelight, with two touchdowns from inside the 20-yard line, giving them a 21-0 lead. On defense the team played aggressively, stifling the HiTides’ offense repeatedly, giving up

only two first downs the entire game, making it one of the first “lights out” performances this season.

“I believe that we could have played a little better. We did have some mistakes here and there, but overall we played well and we still have time to continue improving,” junior offensive tackle Everton Henry said.

The football players were not the only people facing fierce competition that night. Just as halftime was about to end, a cheer-off broke out between the Cavaliers’ and Hi-Tides’ cheerleaders.

Each team performed a set of impressive stunts and deafening chants. Similar performances by the band and color guard kept the fans engaged, despite poor weather conditions.

“Just going back and forth showing our skills against the other cheerleaders is definitely something I’m going to remember,” junior cheerleader cocaptain Yanely Peña said.

Overall, the team played coherently and executed outstanding plays, proving that the team has a promising season ahead of them. Senior cornerback Gilbert Frierson stood out that night, returning two punts for touchdowns.

The Cavaliers will look to continue to fight and persevere the rest of the season in order to make the playoffs, especially in their homecoming game against their longtime rivals, the Columbus Explorers. This matchup ended 21-14 in the Cavs’ favor last season during the playoffs. Support our Cavs Oct. 27 at Tropical Park at 6:30 p.m. in this pivotal game. h

CONFIDENT CORNER:

Tatiana Campos/highlights

Senior cornerback Jeremy Hooks signals to his teammates about the upcoming play.

24 the scene

Warriors welcome Ninja Lounge’s diverse course welcomes all

Alexandra Torres/highlights

By Alexandra Torres, Staff Writer

S PATRONS WALK INTO Ninja Lounge, the long awaited excitement of swinging from bar to bar and attempting the infamous salmon ladder finally becomes a reality.

At last, they too have a chance to try out the obstacle courses that they have been seeing people compete on TV for years, making them seem a lot easier than they actually are.

A near-perfect replica of the extreme obstacle course TV show “American Ninja Warrior,” Ninja Lounge, located at 11401 NE 20th Lane, boasts over 10,000 square feet of trampolines divided into three different courts, as well as 30 different obstacles featured on the famed show. The obstacles vary in difficulty, the easiest being the quintuple steps— a set of five inclined stepping boards boards alternating over a large space, which players must speed through without falling— and the hardest being the salmon ladder, a 7-ring structure with one movable ring that athletes must use to ascend. Other notable attractions include a ropes course hovering nine feet above the ground, a ninja course for those too short to attempt the full course (customers must be 5 feet tall to do so) and a virtual reality simulator that puts

A

NINJA LIFE:

A customer swings from an upperbody focused obstacle replicated from “American Ninja Warrior.”

customers through different scenarios, such as galactic warfare or time travel.

According to employee Veronica Rodriguez, owners Malka and John Livingston and Tamir Wershaw started Ninja Lounge as a gymnastics center to satisfy demand in the area. They later incorporated obstacles from “American Ninja Warrior”, as Malka Livingston is an alumna of the show and they wanted to combine their already popular gymnastics center with challenging obstacles that anyone could attempt.

Ninja Lounge occasionally hosts competitions, during which alumni of “American Ninja Warrior” and those training for it can compete against each other. At the most recent competition, over 100 athletes competed for the highly-coveted prize of bragging rights, as well as a picture uploaded to the Ninja Lounge website. The gym also hosts yearly Junior Ninja Obstacle competitions, in which children ages 5-17 compete for a membership to the gym, a trophy, and the title of Ninja Warrior Kid of the year. This year’s competition will take place on Nov. 11 and 12.

Apart from competitions, Ninja Lounge offers all-inclusive classes that

range in difficulty, including martial arts, parkour, and aerial silks. The gym also hosts activity days on the first Sunday of every month, during which all classes are offered in a single day for no extra charge.

Ticket prices range from $14 per person for one hour to participate in only one activity, to $55 for two hours to participate in all activities. Antislip socks, required for all trampoline courses, are an additional $3. Although many gym-goers are American Ninja Warrior hopefuls, the majority of the patrons at Ninja Lounge just go to try out the obstacle courses or jump on the many different trampoline courses.

“I’ve always watched American Ninja Warrior, so when my friends mentioned Ninja Lounge to me, I wanted to come try it out and see what it was like to train for the show,” freshman Mia Crabill said. “Although It is a lot harder than it looks, the atmosphere is very welcoming and all the employees are extremely helpful and watchful to make sure nobody gets hurt. ” Whether one can complete one obstacle, or can get through the entire course, Ninja Lounge is the ideal venue to explore one’s inner ninja. h

the scene 25

e h t s t u p ous. s c i m o Korkravecl in ma, srtavffewlriter ma ianna pena By ar

L

the verdict: website: korkacomics.com address: 10538 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33174

price range: $10-$15 atmosphere: Animated rating:

Extra!

Extra!:

A Korka figurine delivers news

Arianna Pena/highlights

OCATED IN A TINY STRIP mall near the Florida International University (FIU) Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Korka Comics sits undisturbed. A bright red neon Superman sign stares down on approaching customers, distinguishing Korka from the other stores on the strip. The shelves inside the shop are stacked with the most recent editions of popular comics such as DC, Marvel and Star Wars. Figurines from different television shows and movies sit in glass display cases illuminated by dramatic lights. Korka’s main goal is accomodating to the needs of the customer which explains the large quantity of comics readily available.

The store sells the two biggest names in comics— Marvel and DC— as well as independent titles, such as Image Comics, IDW Publishing and Valiant Comics. Most comics are priced at $10 to $15, despite their extreme rarity. The store also sells small figurines from popular movies and TV shows, which are sold for about $5 to $8.

The store itself has the largest collection of figurines and plushies of all other comic shops in Florida, according to korkacomics.com. The comic books themselves could be anything from Archie to Star Wars, but the most newest and most popular comic issues can be found on one of the many shelves all around the shop. The Marvel collection includes many well-known titles such as Captain America, Spiderman and Black Panther. The DC collection includes Batgirl, Harley Quinn, AquaMan and Wonder Woman. Korka Comics also offers board game tournaments,

something that is not typically done in comic book shops. The games tend to be role play games and include such titles like Magic the Gathering, Pathfinder and more.

At Korka, customer and staff alike are reminded of their childhood.

“In 1989 I got heavy into comics. I used to collect little toys and whatnot, but I was always into Batman and superheroes,” Richard Tarrau, a manager at Korka Comics said.

“Working at Korka keeps you young. You stay a child at heart.”

When asked about what drew them to Korka Comics a husband and wife both recounted what brought their love of comics. “I would play Smash [Super Mario: Smash Brothers] and I was one of the few girls who would play in my family. That was the only thing to do I only hung out with boys and only watched anime for the longest time, and I’m also a very huge fan of super hero females.”

Stephen Korka opened Korka Comics in January 2013 with help from some of his friends. The first location, situated in Pembroke Pines, saw high profits because of its low priced comics and figurines. Korka opened the store’s Miami location, on 10538 SW 8th St, in April 2015, hoping to appeal to nearby FIU students.

Korka Comics is a source of nostalgia for adults and a way for young adults and teens to explore a new and exciting world. The shop is a way for people to enjoy the things that they love and discover brand new titles. It is a great way for the self-spoken nerd to find mostly any comic they desire. h

26 the scene

Halls bound to scare

With Halloween around the corner, these costume shops are bound to impress

By Mathilde Requier & Ruben Escobar, Staff Writers

S

URELY, HALLOWEEN IS ONE of the most attractive and exciting festivites of the year for every generation, from high school students to adult staff.

By either decorating the exterior and interior of one’s home with ominous cobwebs and skeletons, dressing up in snappy costumes, going trick-or-treating, or making jack-o-

lanterns, everybody celebrates Halloween in their own unique way.

With such a vast expanse of shops getting ready to start sales for the upcoming holiday, highlights decided to take a look into the multitude of spooky stops in the city to find the three best stores for students and faculty to purchase anything and everything Halloween related.

La Casa de los trucos

SCARY SCULPTURES:

costumes online to either pick up at the store or receive as a home delivery. La Casa De Los Trucos will be open from 10 a.m to 8 p.m Monday through Sunday throughout the month of October, but will revert back to its normal hours of 10 a.m to 6 p.m after the holiday, so go and grab a costume for Halloween before it is too late!

Ruben Escobar/highlights

Sitting behind an unassuming lot and decorated with fictional monsters at 1343 SW 8th Street, La Casa De Los Trucos, or The Home Of Costumes, has catered to many of its customers for over 30 years. The vast majority of the employees speak both English and Spanish, which is very beneficial considering the location is a predominantly Spanish-speaking area on Calle Ocho.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, and, let me tell you, the vibe is still the same. The employees are very welcoming and eager to help, the place still showers you with mystery and curiosity. From costumes to tricks and gags, this little shop of horrors still has it going on,” Jorge Fernandez said.

From the outside, the building seems somewhat abandoned and grim, however, when one walks inside, they are overwhelmed by the variety of affordable costumes lining the walls. In addition to the collection of costumes, display cases exhibit the many props and accessories one can purchase to accentuate their wardrobe, home for Halloween or even for an upcoming costume party.

For over 30 years the little shop has been operating successfully. La Casa De Los Trucos also has a website that customers are able to visit to order their

What with the high demand for Halloween apparel and decorations, many shops are quickly selling out of desired items and it is, in many cases, a battle to claim the costumes one has traveled to purchase. At La Casa De Los Trucos, Halloween Mega Store and Spirit Halloween, there is still much in store, making these the three shops that best fit the bill for Halloween this season.

An evil clown and floating ghoul await customers at the entrance of Spirit Halloween (right).

Shelves stacked high with hats and masks fill La Casa de os Trucos (left).

Mathilde Requier/highlights

the scene 27

Halloween Mega Store Whether looking for an outfit for a Halloween party, an evening candy hunt, or just wanting to add some Halloween spirit to one’s front porch, Halloween Mega Store provides for all Halloween requests.

Customers can roam through endless rows of outfits and decor, and the store’s assortment of costumes includes everything from Alice in Wonderland to Santa Claus. In addition, Halloween Mega Store has a collection of accessories including wigs, corsets, hats, weapons and tombstones.

What differentiates this store from most Halloween stores is its variety of group costumes. There are group costumes for many genres, from the Wizard of Oz to Finding Nemo themed costumes. The store is located at 5701 Sunset Dr #184, in proximity to the

HAPPY HAUNTING:

A spooky danger zone in Spirit Halloween (top and bottom), scary skeletons line the Halloween Mega Store (middle).

school.

“I came here to look for a costume for my toddler. I ended up buying her an angel costume for a very cheap price,” customer Melissa Ortiz said.

It is an inconvenience that the room itself is dark, making it hard to read labels. Moreover, the store’s wide selection makes for overcrowded shelves of costumes. The shop is also loud, especially on Friday and Saturday afternoons.

“I came here to observe… and I find that there is too much stuff in too little space,” customer Adrian Pilco said.

Despite its shortcomings, Halloween Mega Store serves as a convenient one-stop shop for the average trick-ortreater. With over 2,000 costumes and 1,600 accessories, it offers more than enough choices.

Mathilde Requier/highlights

spirit halloween Along the sides of South Dixie Highway lies the gateway to the spooky world of Halloween, Spirit Halloween.

Just walking in and looking around offers customers the feel and sensation of this ominous festivity. From animatronics— moving, lifelike sculptures— to plastic amputated limbs, Spirit Halloween provides frightening yet attractive decorations to create the ideal haunted house.

When entering the store, customers find themselves in a “Spirit Hollow” passageway with a flying devil-horned ghoul on the left and a wolf on the right.

Should they step on the hidden trigger point, the spine-chilling creatures start moving and howling. The collection of Animatronics continues through the entirety of the store.

These three-dimensional moving structures are available at a wide range of prices: the cheapest animatronic is a ‘3 foot’ Rise from the Grave Ghoul’ structure at $39.99, and the most expensive, a ‘5 foot’ Stitch Witch Sisters’ structure priced at $299.99 dollars.

Spirit Halloween is also highly accessible; besides having three locations in Miami, Pinecrest and Kendall, spirithalloween.com allows

clients to browse their full range of products and order merchandise online.

All proceeds from Spirit Halloween go to the Spirit Children association.

This association partners with over 140 hospitals in the United States and Canada, as well as with the Child Life Department, to provide a happier experience for children living at these hospitals. They fund for various art and music programs and have so far raised $37 million dollars.

“I think [this store] is pretty good.

There’s music playing, it kind of makes you feel welcomed,” said customer Maureen Rodriguez.

Overall, Spirit Halloween is a unique shop that stores an impressive collection of everything Halloween. h Casa de los Trucos

Mathilde Requier/highlights

Mathilde Requier/highlights

the verdict Halloween Mega Store

Spirit Halloween

price range

$5 - $250

$6 - $160

$3 - $300

atmosphere

Cluttered

Overwhelming

Festive

address

1343 SW 8th St

5701 Sunset Dr.

9801 S Dixie Hwy

wesbite

crazyforcostumes.com

halloweenmegastore.com

spirithalloween.com

rating

28 insight

the deal with drugs

BY SAVANNAH PAYNE

drug culture among high school students has been changing over the last few years. highlights investigates the how drugs affect students’ social and school lives.

Alejand ra

Orozco & Leila Iskandarani/ highli

ghts

b BEGINNING WITH THE decriminalization of marijuana in Oregon, Alaska and Maine in the 1970s, the United States has continued on a path toward fully legalizing marijuana.

Medical marijuana was legalized in Florida in 2016, and various groups are continuing their efforts to push the recreational marijuana amendment on the state ballots. Increasing numbers of pro-marijuana legislation is representative of a larger, perhaps more contentious matter— society’s shifting drug culture, particularly in the high school environment.

PUNISHMENTS

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) currently has a zero-tolerance drug policy, meant to reduce school violence and promote a healthy learning environment.

MDCPS regulates disciplinary actions by leveling each behavioral offense.

Tobacco products and smoking devices fall under level two. Begining at level three, the offenses intensify. Level three behaviors are classified as “offensive/ harmful behaviors” and can result in punishments like suspensions, requests for expulsion or required counseling.

Among these behaviors is the “possession or use of alcohol, unauthorized over thec o u n t e r medications, d r u g paraphernalia, controlled substances and/ or anything that alters mood or is used for mood altering,” according to the MDCPS Student Code of Conduct.

Selling, buying or distributing drugs on campus is considered a level four offense— “dangerous or violent” behavior. To put the severity of how MDCPS views the infraction into perspective, dealing drugs is disciplined at the same level as motor vehicle and grand theft, sex

insight 29 offenses and hate crimes.

Depending on the type and amount of drugs found— either being used by or in possession of a student—penalties vary. In the event of an on-campus drug infraction, an on-campus resource officer, which every school in MDCPS is required to have by law, will work with school administrators to issue an appropriate punishment in accordance with MDCPS’s Student Code of Conduct. Punishments for drug related incidents can involve city or state police and range from suspensions to expulsion.

MDCPS has implemented “success centers” as a way to curb outdoor suspensions, that take students out of school for days or weeks at a time, unsupervised and unable to receive credit for missed schoolwork. There are currently 27 success centers in Miami-Dade County (MDC) that house students who have committed a level three offense, including any drug-related infraction. According to Assistant Principal Joseph Evans, students are able to keep up with schoolwork because the school sends the success centers everything the students will be missing.

Students at success centers are also required to speak to counselors about their behavior and future consequences as a form of therapy.

The idea behind success centers was to promote addressing a problem instead of sending a problem away for a short while with no attempt to fix it.

“I think [the success centers] have been effective. I will not tell you that it is a very fun place to go, yet it’s not a jail either,” Evans said. “[The success center] is a place to address and fix a problem.”

Though, the student opinion of success centers differs from that of the district. Instead of seeing it as helpful, one junior, Dante Hernandez, shared his

“I DO THINK THAT DRUGS HAVE CHANGED...

TEENAGERS USE MORE DRUGS THAT ARE NOT AS VISIBLE NOW.”

-ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, JOSEPH EVANS

Daniel Cortes/ highlights

30 insight

most commonly abused drugs 1. Alcohol & nicotine 2. marijuana 3. Painkillers 4. cocaine 5. heroin Source: The Addiction Center Compiled by: Alejandra Orozco

DRUG culture evolving

However, from the student’s perspective, this may not be the case.

Out of sight of administration, the presence of recreational drugs within the student body is still prevalent. It is a possibility there is simply a decline of students being caught for drug offenses and not a decline of usage in the student

“

hts lig

Maria m

Ve la/ hi

gh

opinion towards drug programs.

“Drug programs that try to stop kids from doing drugs are pointless. If kids want to use drugs, they’ll find a way... doesn’t matter how many times you tell them drugs are bad,” said junior Dante Hernandez.

While MDCPS has been enforcing success centers to toughen the county’s response to drug-related issues, some school administrators claim they have seen in-school drug related issues decrease.

According to Evans, the amount of referrals administered by the school by this time last year was double the number the school has given out so far this year. He attributed the decline to the awareness of consequences among the student body.

“

STUDENTS DON’T JUST DO IT TO FIT IN, BUT TO BE LIKE THEIR IDOLS TOO. RAPPERS HAVE BECOME THE NEW ROCKSTARS OF THIS GENERATION AND DRUGS ARE A REALLY BIG PART OF WHAT THEY PROMOTE AND RAP ABOUT. -Karla Argenal, Senior

“

SOCIAL MEDIA DEFINITELY PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN DRUG USE IN HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT I THINK DRUGS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS... I DON’T REALLY THINK IT’S ANYTHING NEW, EVERY GENERATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAS DONE THEM. -Adam Riquenes, Junior

“ “

I DON’T THINK DOING DRUGS IS MORE POPULAR NOW, I JUST THINK WE’RE SEEING PEOPLE DO IT MORE NOW...

BECAUSE OUR CELEBRITIES AND IDOLS FILM THEMSELVES DOING IT, KIDS THINK IT’S COOL AND FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. -Peter Kellogg, Freshman

body.

While the administration claims they have seen a decline of drug use in the last five years, a National Survey on American Attitudes on Substance Abuse found the amount of drug-infected high schools has increased in the last decade.

The discrepancy can be attributed to a new drug culture among students.

Teenage drug culture has evolved due to increased accessibility and advances in technology, paving the way for new consumption methods and simplifying the concealing and distribution of drugs. Students can discretely consume drugs using edibles, which are foods infused with marijuana, vaporizers or vape pens. Vape pens can be filled with flavored water vapor, tobacco or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oils- the chemical ingredient in the Cannabis plant responsible for marijuana’s psychological effects, allowing students to administer drugs surreptitiously. These vape pens are absent of smell and allow for a higher concentration of THC than other smoking methods because they use marijuana oils and wax and, rather than turning solids to gas as other smoking methods do, vape pens turn liquids into vapor.

JUULs, which are a version of

students Speak up

“

Regarding a new changing drug culture in society, highlights asked students their opinions on the role it plays in the modern school system.

insight 31

drug use at gables FOr a better sense of drug use at gables, highlights surveyed 420 students who answered questions about their experience with drug use and their opinions on its role in modern society.

45

percent of Gables students have used recreational drugs.

20

percent of freshmen

47

percent of sophomores

61

percent of juniors

88%

83%

of students believe drugs are accepted/ normalized in modern society

Of students are aware of the Punishments of on-campus drug use

15%

1 in 4 STUDENTS HAVE used drugs on school grounds

72

percent of seniors

OF STUDENTS HAVE bought or sold drugs on school campus

88% Of students believe drugs are easily accesible to high school students

Out of 420 people surveyed on Sept. 27, 2017 Alejandra Orozco/highlights

electronic cigarettes, have been gaining popularity, as they are small, lightweight and can easily be transported and hidden. They are used with pods of varying flavors, each of which contain a cigarette pack’s worth of nicotine, according to the JUUL website. These new technologies allow for drug usage and smoking, on and off school grounds, to go unnoticed by school administration.

Evidently, while the administration might not be catching students possessing or using drugs, there is still the possibility that drugs are present. “[Drug culture] is forever changing, because there are always new things coming out, it’s the gummies, and lollipops and the candies,” Assistant Principal Aida Diaz said.

The convenience of buying and using drugs evidently contributes to a growing commonality of drug usage among high school students— in fact, in a survey conducted by the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse, almost half of high school students surveyed across the country (44 percent) said they know of a student who sells drugs at their school.

The survey also found that over 60 percent of high school students across the country reported that “their high schools are drug infected.”

“Students think that marijuana, because it has been legalized in some states, it’s okay... and it’s not okay,” Diaz said.

As a result of the increase of drugs in highschools in the last decade, the school campus can be seen as a drug outlet itself. Students are susceptible to the presence of drugs in regular social life, sometimes both in and out of school. Students are being exposed to this lifestyle and as a result, this type of culture is being perceived as normal.

This is the trend that begins to influence society’s attitude towards drugs.

Drugs in high school are becoming an increasing part of the developmental environment that students experience every day, and it is a component of their teenage culture. As a result of evolving culture and technology, drugs are becoming more accessible, widespread and normalized within the student body.

While the administration has seen a decline in drug cases on campus, this could be attributed to the changing culture affecting teens and not a drop in drug usage. The presence of drugs in high school is prevalent everyday among students in and out of school. h

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lightbox Junior Eliza Beltran speaks to a representative from the University of California at Berkeley.

At this year’s college fair, which took place on Oct. 10, representatives from 80 colleges spoke to upperclassmen about their schools.