Red & Black, November 2017

RED & BLACK

Florida’s first high school newspaper | Hillsborough High School 5000 N. Central Ave. Tampa, FL, 33603 | hhstoday.com | November 2017 | Volume 119, No. 3

Linked murders cause panic Students and staff react to recent murders in the Seminole Heights area. | P. 4

IT’S TURKEY TIME

From the traditional Thanksgiving to the (somewhat) less celebrated Origami Day, the season of holidays is here.

The art of the fold Learn about the history of origami- with an interactive twist. | P. 8 & 9

Signs of the times Why do football players wear individualized gloves? Find out inside. | P. 15

2 November 2017

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Red & Black

ADMINISTRATORS ENCOURAGE BUS SAFETY Additional emphasis was placed on transportation safety measures during National Bus Safety Week.

National Bus Safety Week was Oct. 16 to 20 to promote caution and protection of students on buses.

To address bus safety, administration heeded the district’s instructions. “Bus safety is something we practice and educate year round,” district Media Outreach Coordinator Tanya Arja said.

“During National Bus Safety Week, our transportation department posted some educational information on social media regarding how bus safety is everyone’s responsibility.”

An announcement was also made to emphasize not crossing the roads to get on and off of buses and not standing in buses.

According to Givens, the bus is a safer alternative to walking.

However, it can easily be taken away. “The buses do provide a very important service and we don’t

want to take advantage of them because on any given day, you know, we could not have buses,” Givens said. “We could be like a lot of cities where students use city transportation.”

Givens feels that bus drivers are also significant. “Of all the jobs, I truly appreciate bus drivers, I don’t think I could do it,” he said. “It’s amazing because we all have jobs, we don’t all have the job that we want, but I find that 90% of the bus drivers do it because they enjoy doing it, and with all of the work and headaches sometimes, they come back every year.”

Sophomore Timothy Stull is glad he can ride the bus. “I feel safe on the bus because I know every time I get home safely,” he said. “The bus driver is really strict, we just sit there and go home.”

On the other hand, due to the Seminole Heights murders, students have been more alert and have taken precautions. Sophomore Noharis Tomas said she feels more comfortable because she rides with her friends on the bus.

“Since there is a killer out there, it is better to walk together, even though it might not make much of a difference, it can help,” she said.

Along with concerns of the killer, students are anxious about loiterers near the bus stops. “When we stop there is always people

around... and when we get off, they just stare at us, it’s kind of weird,” junior Joanna Hernandez said.

To protect themselves, some students suggest having other adults present on the bus or by bus stops to watch as well.

“Because the lady who is driving cannot see everything that goes on, that’s why she needs a person to help her,” freshman Lacey Sullivan said.

In addition, all buses contain seat belts, yet they are not mandatory. To ensure safety, students agree that they should be used.

“When you get on the bus, they need to walk by and see if you have them on,” freshman Destiny Sylvester said. “Just in case something happens, they need to make sure that we don’t get hurt if we get in an accident.”

Although bus safety is especially prevalent at this time, Givens feels that it is significant year-round. “If you only do it specific times of the year, people tend to forget,” he said. “In cases of bus safety, carelessness quite often creates and causes accidents. It’s something that they need to be reminded of on a regular basis to ensure that people will be smart about what they do and abide the rules.”

STORY BY KATIE DELK

STUDY TIPS FOR SUCCESS

With midterms fast approaching, some may find themselves attempting to dive in to a stack of study materials, only to find they have no idea where to start. These simple study tips can help with staying focused and retaining information.

STORY AND GRAPHICS BY REEMA PATEL

POMODORO TECHNIQUE Split study time into short 25-minute periods and take 5-min. breaks in between. After 4 study periods, or “pomodoros,” take a 30 min. break.

We’re in the bright green building at 5127 N. Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights!

We have our hand-crafted ice pops, plus house-made gelato, superfood acai bowls, and locally roasted coffee.

Come on in, IT’S ALL GOOD! whateverpops.com

STUDY BEFORE BED Study right before bed, as the brain strengthens long-term memory during sleep.

FORM A STUDY GROUP Get a study group of up to four people and designate one person as the leader, who delegates tasks

WHEN DO STUDENTS START STUDYING FOR EXAMS?

8%

Start a month before their exams

46% Start a week

46% Start a day

before their exams

before their exams

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campus

November 2017

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MONTH LEFT Looking through a microscope at the IB Group Four field trip to Tampa Bay Watch, junior Khloe Dang attempts to identify zooplankton and phytoplankton. The field trip is an annual event for all IB juniors. “I though it was so cool to be able to clearly see something so small,” said junior Jackson Roberts of the microscopes. “We could really see the organism completely.” | PHOTO BY DELORES BATTLE

ABOVE Junior Danny Chen observes his classmate Ethan Pham preparing to throw a net into the water. Chen and his classmates collected plankton to observe on their Group Four field trip to Tampa Bay Watch. “Little things such as microplastics going down the drain from soap and face scrubs can be harmful,” Chen said. “This is the kind of stuff we don’t even think about.” | PHOTO BY DELORES BATTLE

ABOVE Members of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) pose for a picture during their recent field trip to Hillsborough Community College. The club attempts to address various issues, such as peer pressure and substance abuse. “The students learned about their roles and how to recruit and provide community service opportunities on our campus,” said FCCLA sponsor Jessica Raia. | PHOTO COURTESTY JESSICA RAIA

BELOW In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, teachers and students participate in the annual door decorating competition run by English teacher Monica Sleeter and Spanish teacher Maria Gonzalez. Below are two of the winners of the competition. Spanish teacher Ana Lejido’s students created a replica Salvador Dali, and art teacher Caitlin Clay’s students made a model of Frida Kahlo. | PHOTOS BY REEMA PATEL

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THREE MURDERS LINKED IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS

4 November 2017

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David Lee, a local business owner, recently unveiled a mural on the side of his building, honoring the deaths of three individuals in Seminole Heights. Messages to the families and friends of the victims can be placed underneath the mural. | STAFF PHOTO In recent weeks, the shooting deaths of three individuals in southeast Seminole Heights has sparked fears among residents of a serial killer in their neighborhood. Each death occurred within a mile of each other, and have caused concern for local schools and businesses.

The first victim, Benjamin Mitchell, was killed on Oct. 9, followed by the deaths of Monica Caridad Hoffa on Oct. 11 and HHS alumnus Anthony Taino Naiboa on Oct. 19. The similar nature of each of these shootings, in both location and time frame, has led law enforcement to believe that they are related.

Taking precautions

The Tampa Police Department (TPD) remains unsure of the identity of the shooter, but have released video footage of a person of interest and have asked those who know anything to contact them immediately by calling 813-231-130.

“We are not saying this person is a suspect,” Tampa Police Interim Chief Brian Dugan said, as reported by ABC Action News. “We believe this person saw or heard something that could be a key to solving these murders.”

According to a recent press release from TPD, precautions have been taken by local law enforcement to ensure any evidence that may lead to the arrest of a suspect will not be overlooked.

Officials are also urging caution and common sense, rather than panic and speculation, to avoid any further fear amongst Seminole Heights residents.

Hitting close to home

The most recent victim of this shooter hit close to home. Naiboa attended Hillsborough for his first two years of high school, before transferring to Middleton for the remaining two.

Special educator Johanna Wright in Room 133 is currently raising money and accepting donations to aid Naiboa’s family with funeral costs.

Despite the proximity to the school, Principal Gary Brady is certain that after school events will be handled the same way as usual until further instruction from TPD or the mayor’s office.

“If something were to happen again, then we’d have to look at events, but the general idea was that we weren’t going to cancel events, we were just going to increase police presence,” Brady said.

Potential dangers

But Brady’s real fear isn’t after school events, it’s the potential danger to those who walk home after them. “It’s close to here and it’s close to Middleton too, so I spoke with their principal and she talked about how there are a lot of kids walking those neighborhoods all the time,” Brady said. “I know when I leave here sometimes after a game it could be midnight and I drive home and there are just so many people out there still.”

Even with repeated assurances from Brady about the safety of after school events and activities, students are still concerned.

“I feel like there’s going to be a lot of police presence more than usual and everyone is going to be on their toes so the slightest sound or something like that will cause us to evacuate,” sophomore Anthony Allen said.

However, if the situation persists Brady and the school resource officers may be forced to reconsider after school activities and events. “If this keeps going on then I think they should say [after school activities] have to stop and move location,” school resource officer Joe Amiel said.

Local impact

Increased police presence has been placed around schools and bus stops, and officers have been patrolling nearby neighborhoods. While this presence has made the neighborhood more secure, it has also caused fear and panic amongst some residents.

“I can’t even take out the trash by myself because my mother is too scared that I’ll be killed. I can’t walk home anymore so I have to wait on my grandparents to come pick me up,” Allen said. “I can’t do my afternoon run anymore, and at night I can’t sleep because I hear those helicopters flying all night.”

But not everyone seems bothered by it. “My mom makes me shine a flashlight outside when I take out the trash but that’s it,” freshman Rachel Kandl said. “I don’t walk home, and I stay after school with my friends, so it doesn’t bother me all that much.”

School response

Despite concern in the neighborhood, many students feel that the school’s response has been appropriate. “I feel like now the school is doing the best they can because all the AP’s and the officers are on high alert,” Allen said.

STORY BY MARIN FEHL

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November 2017

SAVED BY THE BELLS

Due to complications with the current bell schedule, high schools will begin at 8:30 and end at 3:35 for next school year. The decision was made including the input of HCPS students, parents and teachers.

The new proposed bell schedule for the 2018-2019 school year will allow high schools and magnet middle schools to begin first period at 8:30 a.m., rather than the current start time of 7:35 a.m., and finish at 3:25 p.m. instead of 2:55 p.m.

According to the Hillsborough County Public Schools website, last year, more than 12,000 students were late to school multiple times because bus drivers were not able to complete their designated routes.

The new start time will allow bus drivers to transport the students to school in time for their first class.

“The buses will probably start arriving at 7:30 a.m.,” Assistant Principle for Student Affairs Darryl Givens said. “It might be better only because there’s a longer time frame between when they pick up one school and the other.”

Some argue that science supports this decision.

“For years, [scientists] have said that 8:30 is a better starting time for high school kids that they need more sleep,” Principal Gary Brady said. “I think that’ll be good.”

The idea of changing the bell schedule was proposed in Spring 2016. Meetings were held with only district officials attending, to vote on the original bell schedule proposal.

The school board held a total of 56 stakeholder meetings, involving the community, that started back in August 2016. Out of the 1310 people who participated in the stakeholder groups: 227 were

students, 930 were staff, and 153 were parents.

Although the district heard over 1,000 people, it sought feedback regarding what all other stakeholders would like to see for the new bell schedule. The district encouraged people to get involved through phone calls, emails, letters, social media, and campaigns.

Also in August., students and parents were able to suggest school times through the online bell schedule simulator, on the official HCPS website. Over 18,000 people responded to the simulator. The simulator showed a general estimate of what times schools would begin.

From the simulator, everyone was able to vote which times they preferred.

The voting started Sept. 1, and was open until Sept. 24. A survey was created, centered around the most requested times to start school from the bell schedule simulator.

The survey held some ground rules for choosing times such as: there must be at least a one-hour difference between school types, each selected time, must meet the required minimum of 54,000 min/ year, and each suggested time, must not exceed the maximum. By the end of the survey, the schedule that pushed magnet middle and high schools an hour back in the day had won out, and was chosen for the upcoming school year.

YOU SAID IT

5

How do you feel about the new bell schedule?

JT Brown, 11

“For athletes it is worse because practice is going to be longer.”

Vedu Ruia, 10

“I’d rather get home earlier, so I can have more time to do homework.”

STORY BY THEONTAE WALTON

Adalis Moody, 11

“Even though I have to go into work a little bit later, I get to sleep in.”

TEACHER CONTRACTS WILL NOT BE UPHELD BY HCPS

Although Hillsborough County teachers have met the necessary evaluation scores, they will not receive the raises they had previously been promised via contract, affecting a third of more than 14000 teachers.

Under the contract, teachers’ salaries would remain the same for 3 years and increase by $4000 the fourth year if they have satisfactory ratings. The district has withheld the salary increases due to continued financial pressures: technology for classrooms and tools for educators, training and professional development for teachers, maintenance and building upgrades as well as repairing and replacing air conditioning systems. Hurricane Irma only served to exacerbate these financial pressures.

Teachers respond

In response, teachers have protested though emails, pickets and media statements. Due to their outrage, the district answered with a statement to ensure that students and staff are important to them.

“Our district has given our employees more than $200 million in pay and benefits increases over the past four years, despite a district financial picture that was not promising,” says the statement, provided through the Tampa Bay Times. “Because of that, our district’s fund balance – which is like our savings account – has dropped dramatically as increased pay has been given out, while at the same time funding from the Legislature has not kept up with the amount needed to pay for our additional costs. As a district, we have to balance priorities and budgets every year to focus on all

aspects of what it takes to help students succeed.”

Although the teachers admit they do not work for the pay, the loss of the raises do impact them. “I do disagree with them taking advantage of the fact that we will always do what is best for the kids and that is what it seems like they are doing now,” Algebra 2 teacher Jason Wiggins said.

Personal financial impacts

Some teachers, including English and SAT Prep teacher and student council sponsor April Fiore, gave up their tenure, which provides job security, in order to receive the raise. “I thought ‘this is crazy, I gave away my tenure for this new step increase,’ and I know there was small print that said it had to be approved by the district, but the whole thing just made me very angry,” Fiore said.

Some that were expecting the money planned around it. Fiore bought a car, intending to use the raise to pay for it, as well as for her home mortgage, which she aims to pay off before she retires in 8 years. “It’s not going to be as easy as we expected,” she said.

English teacher and student government sponsor Stefanie Zimmerman was also affected. “For me, we’re looking into buying a house and that $4000 makes a huge difference,” Zimmerman said. “So it really does impact teacher’s plans whether immediate or within the future.”

The retraction of the raises could possibly affect the teachers’ attitudes at school, in addition to their personal monetary situations. “You feel less motivation to keep giving and giving and all the extra time and emotion that goes into teaching that you don’t

get paid for,” Zimmerman said. “It impacts your ability to want to be here and it makes you question is this a good decision and should this be something I keep doing all the time.”

Kelly, a father of four children who budgeted around the raises, is considering leaving the district. “It makes me question if it would be better to get a job at another district, that’s a little bit more financially stable or has better leadership at the school board level,” he said. “I like working for the district, I love working for Hillsborough High School, and being here for the students, but unfortunately, none of that translates into helping my kids go to college or paying any bills.”

Some teachers came to the consensus that they should be higher on the priority list. “I am extremely disappointed and feel like they prioritize their spending in a different way and that they need to really put teachers first because we are the ones directing instruction in the classroom,” art teacher Caitlin Clay said. “And that if they don’t do that, they are going to see lots of really highly qualified teachers looking for positions in other districts where teachers are prioritized.”

According to Stephanie Baxter-Jenkins, Executive Director of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, the district did not break any contract because it is open for teachers to renegotiate.

“It is not a breach of contract because negotiations are reopened yearly,” she said to WTSP. “So not technically in a legal sense, but what it does represent is a breach of good faith.”

STORY BY KATIE DELK

6 November 2017

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MENTAL HEALTH PRESENTATION POLARIZES presentation was very helpful or take it seriously.”

For some, the message merely got lost. “I felt like it was just a waste of a day since no one really got what they were trying to say, nor did they realize the weight of the problem,” Doan said.

“I think that if we brought in a speaker who had experience either helping someone in need or being helped and has them speak in an assembly, more people would have realized suicide is no joke.”

Not everyone took issue with the effectiveness of the meeting, but in some cases the presentation wasn’t informative. “I didn’t learn anything I didn’t really know before, but I do still like that they’re keeping us aware,” senior Mijail Gonzalez said.

Students weren’t the only ones who felt like the presentation was insufficient.

Some administrators responsible for the delivery of HCPS’ PowerPoint also have their doubts. “I don’t think it addressed everything. Absolutely not. But this was a district mandated presentation and every school has to give the same one,” guidance counselor Shawnree Miller said. “Watching a PowerPoint and just hearing statistics is never a good way to do anything.”

However, teachers do undergo extensive suicide prevention training before the school year begins.

“Every teacher was in service prior so they should’ve been able to speak on in and they should have been able to answer any questions,” Miller said.

This issue goes beyond more than just a PowerPoint.

“I’ve been on both ends of this, I’ve had to help my closest friends and I’ve had to convince them that their lives are worth living and getting them help, and I’ve also been in a situation where I thought ending my life was the best solution,” Doan said.

“This issue is really important to me and I just want people to realize that it’s a real problem.”

If you or anyone you know is suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts, talk to someone and seek guidance or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

IMIA L U B

BINGING

DEPRESSION

HRENIA SCHIZOP

STORY BY MARIN FEHL

If you or anyone you know is suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at: 1-800-273-8255 Or call the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay by dialing: 2-1-1

AN OR EXI A

AN XIE TY

Since 2005, the suicide rate among teenagers has nearly doubled, and that rate is continuously increasing. To help bring awareness to this issue, Hillsborough County Public Schools mandated a suicide prevention presentation to be given by school guidance counselors which was met with a mixed reaction from students and staff.

In an extended homeroom on Oct. 26, teachers and students engaged in a discussion concerning suicide awareness and prevention. Some students responded enthusiastically to the idea of discussing this issue.

“So many people are just unaware of the problems that we’re facing today, and I think that these presentations are a great way to bring some light to these problems,” sophomore Johnathan Doan said.

Doan wasn’t alone in his enthusiasm. “It’s important to discuss suicide prevention because people nowadays go through so many more issues and have nothing to support themselves or don’t know where to turn,” sophomore Alekhya Peddu said.

However, the delivery of the presentation didn’t live up to many student’s expectations.

“I think if they gave more personal stories in more description it would connect with the readers and initiate a more serious discussion,” Peddu said.

“I know some people didn’t think the

POST TRAUMATIC STRES S DISORDER GRAPHIC BY FERNANDO ROSAS

ACT is an acronym that teachers were trained to use, to help students that may have mental health issues:

Acknowledge and notice them Care about the situation they are in Tell someone immediately about it

OLD MARCHING UNIFORMS GET NEW MAKEOVER Band Boosters give worn out uniforms a second chance by recycling them into hand bags What started as a tradition for seniors has grown into a new fundraiser for the Big Red Band. This year may be the only chance for current students to purchase a limited-edition band bag.

This idea was first proposed by the Band Booster Board to raise funds. Jamie Albero, mother of senior Stephanie Albero, first started this new tradition.

Albero was making the pillows that are traditionally given to the graduating seniors and thought of an idea to turn them into a fundraiser.

“I did some research on Pinterest and found this company in California that makes them,” Albero said. “I sent them two uniforms and they sent me back two

samples that looked amazing.” The bags from the company Marching Bag inspired the hand sewn designs that Albero made herself.

The bags are being sold at football games, through word of mouth and through the Hillsborough High School Music Department Facebook page.

There are several different types of bags: large, medium and small tote bags, a laptop bag as well as a wristlet or pillow.

The prices can be viewed on their Facebook page.

Prices per item vary from $65 for a laptop bag to the least expensive, $15, for a wristlet.

STORY BY MERCY TSAY

From left to right: A large tote bag, a small tote bag and a laptop bag. PHOTOS COURTESY JAMIE ALBERO

snapshot

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November 2017

7

WALKING FOR A CAUSE

Students gather to walk in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk to support their community and raise money to fight against cancer.

The annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, presented by Seminole Hard Rock and Casino Tampa took place on Saturday Oct. 28 at Amalie Arena. Over 20,000 people attended the 5K walk along Bayshore Blvd. The event provided entertainment from various artists, snacks, water and free samples of various items from the sponsors of the event.

The event raised over $600,000 and is fast approaching its goal of $760,000. Students Fighting Against Cancer Club raised $1,500 of that amount. The club president, senior Melissa Tempest, and her club of around 100 members, advocate for cancer awareness.

Cause of the club

“My mom had breast cancer when I was very young and I was never able to be there for her. Instead, other people helped her when I couldn’t,” Tempest said. “So now I feel obligated to give back to the community for what they did for my mom. After the first walk last year and its popularity, I decided to expand to the whole school

and create a club.”

So far the club has raised $2,500 in total and continues to raise money for the fight against cancer.

“My goal is ultimately to make a difference in the lives of those suffering in the community and provide the opportunity for students to work up close with these diseases and maybe even have a life-changing experience,” Tempest said on her goals for the club.

Future plans

The club’s biggest events include the recent Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and the March 3 Relay for Life. Over 50 club members attended the walk.

“The walk made me feel involved because I felt like I was raising awareness for an issue that many women go through,” junior Jessalyn Mendoza said. The Breast Cancer Awareness Walk has been going on for many years now and continues to be a recurring event.

STORY BY MIA PEREZ

TOP: Members of SFACC attending the walk pose for a group photo, marking the first big event the club raised money through this year.

MIDDLE LEFT: Walking with club sponsor Stefanie Zimmerman, senior Melissa Tempest explains why she started the club. “I wanted to do it not just for the club, but to bring it to the entire school because the fight against breast cancer never ends,” Tempest said.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Junior Nanjalee Singh dances in the street with a sign during the walk. “I had a great time, I went to support survivors,” Singh said.

MIDDLE: While passing out T-shirts to her fellow members, Tempest discusses the plan for the walk.

BOTTOM LEFT: Junior Antwan Ramsey holds a sign above his head during the walk. “We are there to support and raise money to help others,” Ramsey said. | PHOTOS BY MAKAYLA BROWN

In total at the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk...

Students Fighting Against Cancer Club...

Over 20,000 people attended Over $55,000 was raised Now has approximately 100 members

Raised over

$1,500 for the walk GRAPHIC BY MAKAYLA BROWN

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focus

LEFT Junior Brian Truong sits at the bus ramp to create paper cranes. “For anyone just starting out with origami I recommend the crane since it’s the most popular and pretty simple to make,” Truong said. | PHOTOS BY JORGE GARCIA

STORY BY JORGE GARCIA

Not only did it take a large amount of time and paper, but people kept taking the stars that he had made. “I was close to 95 percent done when I decided to just give up,” he said. “People kept stealing from my collection.”

Origami has helped with other areas of his life as well.

Truong believes that through origami, he was able to form a stronger bond with his family.

“It helped me connect with some of my family members, mainly with my cousins,” he said. “It allowed us to communicate better compared to a typical family.” Origami also allows him to refine some of his other talents. If he’s bored with nothing to do, Truong will pull out some paper and start doing origami to work on his finger reflexes. He practices his finger reflexes to perform better in video games.

As long as he has paper and creativity, Truong will be able to keep making origami art.

7. Now take one layer of the back of the body (the end of the diamond) and fold it so that the upper edge of the leg is parallel to the head fold.

Repeat on both sides.

2. Then pinch the horizontal fold together and push in to form a diamond.

3. Fold the corners in on both sides to form a narrower diamond, then fold the triangle down both ways to form a crease.

CREATED BY MERCY TSAY PHOTOS BY MAKAYLA BROWN

8. Then fold the bottom of the leg backwards and fold half of it forward to make the feet. It may help to open up the folds of the feet, so it will stand better.

Repeat on both sides.

6. Fold the diamond vertically so that the triangle at the bottom is folded in half. Take the tip of the folded crease at the top and fold it in to form a blunt ‘beak’. Also fold in the triangle crease to form small ‘arms’.

1. Start by cutting the centerspread down the vertical fold. Use one half of the centerspread per T-Rex. Fold the paper horizontally, vertically and diagonally both ways to form creases.

4. Unfold the triangle part of the base and open it until you reach the horizontal crease, then push in and form a flattened diamond. Repeat on the other side

5. Fold down one of the sides and flip it over so that the triangle is facedown, then fold the point of the diamond horizontal in both directions. This will form a crease, so that when you fold the entire diamond vertically the crease will naturally form.

HOW TO: MAKE THIS PAGE INTO AN ORIGAMI T-REX

One minute it’s a crane, the next it’s a flower, then it’s a ninja star. With only his hands, pieces of paper, and his imagination junior Brian Truong has the ability to manifest whatever he desires into reality. It’s not magic, it’s origami.

Truong has always been fascinated by the art form. When he was younger he was amazed that a person could turn a simple piece of paper into something else.

“I just thought it was so cool,” he said.

“I could be transforming a piece of paper and turning it into something 3D.” He remembers the first thing he ever madeonly using a strip of paper, he created a star. From then on he went on to create more elaborate and difficult creations.

At one point, Truong took it upon himself to create 1000 stars for an art project. This was one of the most difficult origami experiences for him.

He originally decided to make 1000 stars for his art project because he thought it was out of the box and memorable. But to his disappointment, it proved harder than anticipated.

BRIAN TRUONG MASTERS THE ART OF THE PAPER CRANE

World Origami Day will take place Nov. 11, so we thought we’d teach you a thing or two about the 3D art form.

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To see how to make an origami terrier, head to:

*Or, if you don’t feel like typing it out, scan this:

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Send us pictures of your origami T-Rex!

GRAPHIC BY MARIN FEHL

An international peace project called “A Million Paper Cranes for Peace by the Year 2000” is created to promote nonviolence and collaboration.

2000

Eleanor Coerr publishes “Sadako and One Thousand Cranes” which is linked with the origami crane and international peace movement.

1960

A set of symbols is developed for origami instructions.

1935

Origami spreads to England and the United States.

1900

The first collection of origami models, including the frog base, is published.

1845

Origami is introduced to Spain by the Moors; they fold only geometric shapes.

800 AD

Origami spreads to Japan and is practiced only by the wealthy.

600 AD

The Chinese emperor’s servant discovers paper folding and the emperor takes an interest in it.

100 AD

HISTORY OF ORIGAMI

November 2017

10 November 2017 RED&BLACK VOLUME 119, ISSUE 3 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madison Forbis WEB EDITOR Carolin Hearne

STAFF WRITERS Leslie Bracamontes, Abby Conger, Ria Dey, Arianna McQueen, Mia Perez CONTRIBUTORS Sydney Cabana, Aidan Duque ADVISER Jill Burns, MJE PRINCIPAL Gary Brady ABOUT Content decisions are made by student editors MEMBERSHIP Red & Black

belongs to the Florida, National and Columbia Scholastic press associations

AWARDS 2016-2017 FSPA All-Florida 2016-2017 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2015-2016 NSPA All-American 2015-2016 CSPA Hybrid Silver Crown 2016-2017 3x NSPA Best of Show awards The EDITORIAL reflects the view of student editors and can be found in the opinion section Bylined COLUMNS represent the viewpoints of their authors We welcome your LETTERS, which may be edited for brevity and clarity.

Submit via email, deliver to Room 506 or mail to Red & Black, 5000 N. Central Ave, Tampa, Florida 33603.

ADVERTISING content is subject to approval of the editorial board Visit us online at HHSTODAY.COM CONTACT Phone: (813) 276-5620 Fax: (813) 276-5629 Email: hhstoday@gmail.com Twitter: @HHSTodayOnline

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LOCKED DOWN On Oct. 26, a student called 911 and reported an individual with weapons on campus. After a brief lockdown, Principal Gary Brady came on the intercom and announced that there had been no serious threat: a student from another school had made a prank call.

But no one was laughing.

When threats of armed individuals on campus are made, law enforcement response is almost immediate and thorough.

It’s not just one police officer that shows up, and in some serious cases, even the S. W. A. T. is called to the scene.

Law enforcement has enough on their plates without responding to nonexistent threats, especially with heightened fear surrounding school safety.

Lockdowns have a tendency to send the school day to screeching halt, and those done in response to prank calls are a dangerous waste of everyone’s time.

It’s difficult to continue instruction when students are trying to reach their parents and classrooms must remain quiet.

Not only does this disrupt classes, but it causes panic and fear among students and staff.

Students contact their parents and teachers contact their families, but more often than not it’s to inform them of nothing. There’s only one thing pranks like these accomplish: hysteria.

And of all times to call a school with a false threat, this was not it.

Recent murders have caused fear in the Seminole Heights area and sparked rumors of a potential serial killer.

This call was made while these thoughts were at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

Suffice to say, it was clearly not the time for any extra drama.

On top of this being an inconvenient prank, it’s also stupid. In Florida, it’s illegal to fake an emergency in a public location or school.

The student responsible for the call will no longer be attending a high school in Hillsborough County.

Does it really seem worth losing a job and future after for a high school “prank”?

Even though nothing happened,

the threat still had to be taken seriously. But unfortunately, confusion stopped this lockdown from being entirely effective.

Some teachers believed it was merely a tardy lockout, before Principal Brady clarified on the intercom.

Others didn’t completely follow the procedures that are in place in the event of a lockdown. It’s been two years since Hillsborough has had a lockdown- this was the first one for sophomores and freshmen.

Maybe we as a school could use some practice in lockdown procedure.

Due to the present siutation with the Seminole Heights shooter, teachers, administration and students are more on edge.

This was obviously not the best time to have a refresher in safety procedures.

Although it’s important to practice safety procedures, it should never have to be done under a false threat of danger.

And that false threat of danger should never stem from something supposedly intended to be a joke.

EDITORIAL

PAGE EDITORS Makayla Brown, Katie Delk, Marin Fehl, Jorge Garcia, Lauren Komar, Reema Patel, Fernando Rosas, Jaden Shemesh, Mercy Tsay, Theontae Walton

opinion

A GOOD CASE OF THE MONDAYS

HCPS comes up with a plan to make up school time missed due to Hurricane Irma.

Following Hurricane Irma, and the week off dubbed “Irma Break,” Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) came to the conclusion that in order to reach the required number of hours for the school year, days would have to be made up.

Surveys were distributed to teachers so they could select their top three ways to make up the days missed from the variety of options they were given. Among these choices included making up days during spring or winter breaks.

When it was decided, no one lost any days off their breaks, and no one lost any long weekends. HCPS decided that four early release Mondays, starting on Oct. 23, would gain an hour and become regular length school days. And some people seem pretty upset about this.

But let’s face it, isn’t it better to stay an hour later for a few Mondays than to come in on one of our precious days off ? We’re not losing any weekends, and we’re not losing any part of our breaks.

And if I lost days off my winter break, Hillsborough County would be receiving more than just a few strongly worded letters.

It’s not like an extra hour is going to make a huge difference in our Monday experience. No matter how you cut it, it’s still Monday. But that’s not the only thing this plan has going for it.

Losing part of our spring break was among the considerations for makeup days, meaning we would have lost days off of our shortest break (the one which arguably has the nicest weather). Would any of us really have been any happier if that were to happen?

Somehow I don’t think so.

Yes, we don’t have that nice, extra hour in the afternoon for four weeks. But when it’s all said and done, we only have to stay in school for an additional four hours. And for seven days of school missed, I’d say four extra hours is a pretty good deal.

COLUMN BY MARIN FEHL

opinion

hhstoday.com

November 2017

11

HOT TAKES OF THE WEEK: STUDENTS’ OPINIONS ON CURRENT EVENTS national

global

CATALANS NEED TO CONSIDER On Oct. 1, a vote took place in the Catalonia region of Spain to determine whether Catalonia would secede from the country it had been a part of since the 15th century. Unfortunately, the referendum did not pass uneventfully.

On the same day that the vote took place in Catalonia, the Spanish Civil Guard raided more than 20 regional government offices and institutions, detaining at least 14 separatist officials for their roles in organizing an Oct. 1 secession vote that Spain considers unconstitutional. The SCG (Spanish Civil Guard) was unnecessarily brutal in doing so. The civil guards also raided a warehouse in an industrial park north of Barcelona, forcibly seizing nearly 10 million ballot papers. All of this was done in an effort to prevent the referendum from going through in Catalonia. The actions taken by the SCG were excessively violent, resulting in nearly 900 people injured.

I was born and lived for 6 years of my life in Barcelona and have always known about the tension between the Spanish government and the Catalans. However, I never imagined that the situation was this serious.

On another note, it is quite possible that Catalonia’s parliament has good reason to split from Spain. Spain has never been a great political power. In fact, for about a year (2016-2017) Spain had no Prime Minister at all. However, just because the Catalonians have reason to split doesn’t mean that it was well thought out at all. To be fair, the exact opposite can be said, the Catalonians have not thought out their split with Spain whatsoever. Their economy has been dealt many a heavy blow, due to the threat of secession, yet they continue to push for independence from Spain. Even if there is a good reason for doing something, the action should only be carried out if it has been thought out in detail.

The Catalans are a proud people. But it could be possible that their pride is blinding them. Spain’s largest bank, Caixabank (CAIXY), has shifted its HQ from Barcelona to Alicante in southeastern Spain “in order to protect the interests of our customers, shareholders and employees”, setting the bar for other businesses in Catalonia. All of this, and yet, the Catalonian government continues to insist that they have the situation under control. Perhaps when all is said and done, they should be asking themselves: What happens after we gain independence?

STORY BY AIDAN DUQUE

local

THINK WITH FACTS, NOT FEARS As parents and children were trick-or-treating on Oct. 31, a truck drove through a bike path in Manhattan, near the One World Trade Center, killing eight people and wounding 13, according to CNN. The Uzbek driver, Sayfullo Saipov, then crashed into a school bus and exited the vehicle with two guns (later found to be a paint-ball gun and a pellet gun).

According to The Economist, a police officer fired his gun at him, and the driver is now in police custody, in a hospital. Although ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the attack, police officers found a note near the vehicle indicating that Saipov had declared allegiance to the Islamic State.

After yet another terrorist attack, even more Americans feel unsafe and as though the world is progressively getting more dangerous. And while perhaps they are correct in some aspects, U.S. cities have become significantly safer over the past decade. According to a study done by The Economist in 2016, “...murder, violent crime and property crime fell almost universally” between 2004-05 and 2014-15 in major U.S. cities.

News outlets and social media only perpetuate the hysteria and panic caused by terrorist attacks. Many of us can’t help but watch the news immediately after terrorist attacks, but watching coverage of terrorism can cause us even more stress and anxiety.

People tend to make decisions based on the stories they hear on the news more than on the statistics that could disprove the severity of those situations. For instance, news focuses on a small group affected by a terrorist attack but not on the hundreds of thousands of more Americans that are affected by gun violence. And many public figures help spread fears of terrorism. While President Trump tries to divert attention from his endless amount of ridiculous scandals by senselessly talking about inevitable terrorist attacks, he causes millions of Americans to be afraid for their safety.

There are much more likely, immediate threats to humans than terrorism, one of which being global warming. The fear of being attacked by terrorists is much greater than the amount of people actually affected by terrorism.

And yes, of course it is completely rational to fear potential threats and we won’t stop watching the news anytime soon because we want to be as informed as possible, but that does not mean people should interrupt their daily routines or leisure activities because of fear. Recognize the bias in all forms of coverage of terrorism and be more skeptical. Be observant and report suspicious activity, but understand that terrorism affects so few and that by listening or watching sensationalized coverage of terrorism, our freedom to feel safe is subconsciously restricted. Because if we stop feeling safe in our own home, then terrorism wins.

STORY BY JADEN SHEMESH

SENIORS: DON’T STRESS Let’s face it. You’re stressed. Who can blame you? It’s senior year, and every day is a never-ending deluge of college applications, AP courses, SATs and ACTs, and generally piecing your life together in preparation for the impending year.

Stress feels different to every person; it manifests itself as anything from a jittery sensation, an inability to sleep or headaches. More extreme symptoms include chest pains and nausea. It’s commonly the material for jokes amongst the senior class, but should not be taken lightly. In the long run, stress can cause serious issues. Fortunately, while stress and anxiety may be a seemingly inevitable part of the senior experience, there are many coping mechanisms that may help mitigate the inhibiting effects of pressure.

Seniors are constantly reminded to manage their time carefully, and as annoying as it is to be constantly reminded, creating college matrices of deadlines and academic calendars undeniably help reduce some of the feelings of being overburdened.

However, it’s important that we budget time for enjoyable activities as well.

Set aside half an hour each day for something you genuinely enjoy doing—drawing, playing an instrument or a sport, or even taking a nap. Exercise is an effective method of reducing stress as well.

Furthermore, it is important to not be overwhelmed by pressures alone. When in doubt, call up a friend or talk to family members about concerns. External support is an equally important form of encouragement as an internal drive.

Finally, know that the ends justify the means.

Don’t let the infamous senioritis take control. Remember that hard work now means maximizing chances of success for exams and college applications in the future.

With less than a year left to go, it’s worth giving everything you’ve got.

STORY BY SYDNEY CABANA

12 November 2017 life SENIOR COLLEGE INFORMATION

Red & Black

Q&A

For many seniors, applying to college is a stressful process. We asked college and career specialist Debbie Wanner to clear up some confusion.

Q: When is the best time for students to start their applications?

A: By Nov. 1 seniors should have already started their applications because they are coming up on deadlines soon. Juniors not so much. Unless they are going to be early grads, but typically by spring their junior year they should start doing their college research and visiting campuses. For upcoming seniors, you should start your applications in the summer entering your senior year.

Q: What should students look for when they are researching colleges?

A: There are different things. It’s always about finding the perfect fit-what is going to work for you and your family’s situation. You should look at the size of the university, look at the majors. You should also look at the scholarship opportunities. It just depends on what your interests are, how much it costs, where it’s located, there’s all kinds of thing like that to be considered when you’re trying to choose.

Q: What is the difference between early action and early decision?

A: Some colleges offer both, some don’t. They’re both similar, but early decision is kind of like your top choice. But it’s binding meaning that if you get accepted you have to go to this school, but early action isn’t.

Q: How binding is early decision?

A: If you applied to a college with early decision and you got accepted then you can’t apply to other schools. You can only apply to one school with early decision.

Q: What is FAFSA? A: It provides money for students to go to college. It’s federal money, like a grant. It’s based off the family’s financial situation and they put it through an algorithm. Currently the federal government pays 59,000 every year. The application has to be done every year, meaning that each new school year you have to reapply.

Q: When is the deadline for FAFSA? A: The application opens on Oct. 1. It doesn’t have a set deadline, however the money does run out so the sooner the better.

Q: When should students send in their transcripts?

A: Send them after you apply, although it depends on the university. Sometimes they want them right away sometimes they don’t like them. For FSU and UF, you have to complete a self-reported academic profile (SSAR) and then they want to confirm that everything is correct later.

Q: Where can students get their transcripts?

A: From Ms. Pagan in guidance. There’s a form called transcript request; you fill it out and return it to her. If she can send them electronically, then it’s free. Otherwise, it’s two dollars.

Q: Should a student apply for a student loan?

A: What I recommend is that you exhaust everything before you do a student loan. There’s all kinds of private scholarships and if in the end, you still have a gap with the money that you own, you should. But it should be a last resort. You should consider getting a small loan-just get what you need.

UNDERCLASSMEN...

Don’t worry ,we didn’t forget about you.

Even underclassmen can begin preparing for college. Here are a few things for your mission, should you choose to accept it.

1. Prepare for college entrance exams

Although colleges are trying to know about the real you, test scores are still an important aspect of college admissions.

You should start preparing for the SAT and ACT and take the PSAT seriously. If you do well on the PSAT you may qualify to be a National Merit scholar, which means free money!

2. Apply for scholarships

You don’t have to be a high school senior to start applying for scholarships. If you start looking and applying now, you’ll have the chance to really stack up some college savings.

3. Have a good relationship with your teachers

Towards the end of junior year your going to have to consider who is going to write your recommendation letter. You’re going to want a teacher who will speak positively about you. This recommendation should not be taken lightly.

Q: How do you know whether or not you are eligible for free apps?

A: If you are eligible to receive free lunch, then you are eligible not only for free college applications but also waivers for free SAT and ACT. You receive two SAT waivers and two ACT waivers and then four college app waivers

STORY BY LESLIE BRACAMONTES

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING TO THANKSGIVING DINNER? START HERE!

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

BRING:

NOTHING. YOU OBVIOUSLY DON’T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVITIES AND WOULD RATHER BE ALONE

NOPE. SURE

FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

HONESTLY...

NOTHING

WHAT’S EVERYONE DOING THANKSGIVING MORNING? SLEEPING IN

NOPE.

ON A SCALE OF 1-10 HOW LAZY ARE YOU?

OK...BUT YOU’RE STILL DOING DINNER RIGHT? OF COURSE!

WATCHING THE PARADE!

WILL THERE BE CHILDREN? 1-5 6-10

CAN YOU BAKE? (say yes)

WHO IS COOKING?

MOM LOTS.

A SHOW-STOPPING APPLE PIE. MAKE SURE TO MAKE ENOUGH SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE A SLICE.

THE GANG

BRING: BRING: A NICE FESTIVE ORNAMENT. SOMETHING TO REALLY LIVEN UP THE PLACE.

THE CATERER...

BRING:

MAC AND CHEESE! FROM YOUNG TO OLD, EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD MAC AND CHEESE.

GRAPHIC BY JORGE GARCIA

entertainment

hhstoday.com

November 2017

13

IS ‘BIG MOUTH’ TOO INAPPROPRIATE?

‘Big Mouth’ is one of Netflix’s new shows but has caused controversy over whether or not it is appropriate for children to watch. Some love it and some are absolutely disgusted. Check out the opinions of two of our staffers here.

Netflix’s new animated series, ‘Big Mouth’ has created a wave of controversy concerning whether or not it promotes the sexualization of children.

It is. From scenes where the middle schoolers are committing sexual acts on inanimate objects to actually showing children’s privates, the show consistently crosses the line. There’s just way too many disturbing images for a show.

Age Groups

At some points the show feels like it is constantly objectifying children and with all the scandals in Hollywood currently, this doesn’t feel far-fetched.

Although the creator of the show, Nick Kroll, has stated that the purpose is to make puberty more comfortable to think about, the show should be aimed towards actual preteens rather than of adults.

The show goes from sweet and innocent to just uncomfortable to watch. It was intended to be about the challenges preteens face while going through puberty. On paper that sounds like a great show, but the execution makes it hard to watch.

As shows like ‘Family Guy’ and ‘South Park’ gain popularity, the jokes get more inappropriate, it has to end. A show may be animated, but that does not justify portraying children in sexual situations Every year with the advancement of technology, kids are getting more access to TV shows that are not suitable for them. It should not be easy for a 12-year-old to lie about their age to watch a show with nobody knowing, but it is.

Big Mouth is borderline pornographic. At certain points, it feels like the kids are being abused. The show tries to play off a crack addict mother and abusive brothers as relatable.

Facing Opposition

le. Some have said that the show makes them feel normal when thinking about their awkward years, but 25-year-olds watching middle school age kids discover their bodies is just creepy.

Of course, dirty jokes are funny - that is why shows like ‘Archer’ are popular, but these jokes are bland and repetitive. Its vulgarity is too intense, the jokes are simply crude and it’s far too inappropriate for audiences young and old.

STORY BY LESLIE BRACAMONTES

Big Mouth released on Netflix not too long ago, and I have to say, it is one of the funniest shows I have ever watched.

The show deals with a group of awkward middle school kids, and shows the difficulties and embarrassments that come with going through puberty in a kids’ pre-teens.

While the show might seem raunchy to some, it deals with topics that many typical kids going through puberty face, but never talk about.

The Hormone Monster

Big Mouth makes these somewhat uncomfortable topics funny by providing the unexpected new encounters, and feelings that happen during puberty with the Hormone Monster.

The Hormone Monster is a big, hairy creature who pops up whenever one of the kids is faced with a difficulty that pertains to puberty.

The monster basically portrays the common middle schooler’s thought process when their hormones are going crazy, and their emotions changing every couple minutes.

For many people, puberty is just one long, bad memory.

Big Mouth highlights the awkwardness that puberty is and gives many viewers the feeling of relief when they realize that there not the only ones who went through such a weird time.

The show might run hand in hand with a comedic style of that of ‘Family Guy’, and ‘South

Pa r k’ .

The characters talk about realistic issues, but they are exaggerated and altered to be funnier similar to that of ‘Family Guy’.

Not For Kids What people need to realize is that Big Mouth is a show geared towards teenagers and adults, not kids.

The show is vulgar and talks primarily about genitalia and issues that occur due to hormones from puberty, so it is definitely not for kids, despite it being a cartoon.

Despite the premise of the show being puberty, it’s not just about the changing body. Big Mouth shows the pressures that come with becoming an adult: parent problems, crushes, dealing with anger, and sadness.

It is definitely not a show for people that have a limited sense of humor especially since the show has a “no boundaries” sort of feel to it.

Since it is on Netflix, it’s not censored at all so anything goes. If you have a good sense of humor, one that would appreciate the humorous side of the grotesque aspects of puberty, and genitalia jokes then you will really like this show.

STORY BY LAUREN KOMAR GRAPHICS BY MERCY TSAY

STUDENTS COMMENT ON #METOO AND ITS IMPLICATIONS In 1996, a young child shared her sexual assault experiences with youth camp director Tarana Burke. At that time, Burke felt helpless and was incapable of comforting the girl and admitting that she too, had been there. After seeing the harmful effects, even on young children, this moment inspired Burke to later initiate the #MeToo movement to recognize the widespread issue of sexual harassment, assault and rape and demonstrate that victims are not alone.

When Harvey Weinstein was accused by over 50 women of sexual misconduct, the #MeToo movement went viral and women and men began posting their experiences on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Actress Alyssa Milano helped surge the movement with a callout tweet to victims, saying it was,

“so we can give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem and stop telling us we’re ‘overreacting.’” #MeToo followers can comment on other people’s posts to relate to other survivors’ experiences and provide insight of how they overcame their own to unite against sexual abuse.

“I think that women finally speaking up for what’s going on in their lives is very inspirational and it should’ve happened a long time ago,” sophomore Nia Arellano said.

Junior Leon Nickolas follows the #MeToo page because she identifies as a feminist. “It’s important for everyone to be represented,” she said. “And I feel that everyone should have love, peace, equality and support for each other.”

Not only are women speaking up on the topic, but also men. “It’s their own right, they can do

whatever they want,” sophomore Eduardo Hernandez said. “It’s good for them to tell us how they feel, because if they don’t speak up, they won’t get anywhere in life.”

On the other hand, the hashtag has received opposition by individuals who argue it is solely a plea for attention and that the victims need to “man up,”. Senior Jenna Callison believes discussion of the acts is needed for women to heal and to reveal that sexual abuse is really happening. “I don’t think it’s about attention, I think it’s about spreading awareness,” she said. “Usually when some women come out about being assaulted, it allows other women to not be as afraid to speak out on it.”

STORY BY KATIE DELK

GRAPHIC BY MERCY TSAY

entertainment

14 November 2017

Red & Black

LIVES UP TO THE HYPE Stranger Things season two blew my mind.

Stranger Things is a sci-fi horror Netflix series.

Set in the town of Hawkins, Indiana, the first season of Stranger Things focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of 13 year old Will Byers amid supernatural events involving a young girl, Eleven, and ends with her disappearance into the mysterious Upside Down where the paranormal Demogorgon originates and haunts the people of Hawkins.

The following season is set a year later and focuses on the effect of the Upside Down on Will Byers, after he was rescued by his mother

Joyce and police chief Hopper, and the search for Eleven. Stranger Things season two lived up to every expectation I had and more.

The sequel season of a television series usually fails to be as good as its first season, but Stranger Things season two definitely changes my mind on this. This season was even more action-packed than the first and tuned into every emotion I have.

It started off a little slow but once it took off, there was no going back. It seemed as though every episode ended in a cliff hanger and I couldn’t stop watching until all my questions were answered. The cliffhanger episodes will have you

binge-watching the entire season because ‘just one more episode’ turns into a vicious cycle where the choice of watching another chapter undermines that of getting one more hour of sleep.

While it maintained its 80’s atmosphere and further explored the characters we all know and love, the second season brought us new characters, thickened the plot and created new relationships.

This season also developed characters I didn’t know how to feel about, like Steve Harrington.

Before this season I wasn’t a big fan of his bad boy persona, but the second season made me

love his character and sympathize with him. The trailer gave us only a glimpse of the action that follows into the second season.

My only question remaining is, you can take Will out of the Upside Down, but can you take the Upside Down out of Will?

What we know now is that Will is having flashbacks from his time in the Upside Down, the Hawkins National Laboratory is still being shady and well, the Demogorgon is still taunting and hanging over the quaint town of Hawkins.

STORY BY MIA PEREZ GRAPHICS BY CAROLIN HEARNE AND JORGE GARCIA

THOR: RAGNAROK IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

The newest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is “Thor: Ragnarok”, which follows Thor’s (portrayed

by Chris Hemsworth) adventures as he attempts to prevent Ragnarok, the term for the apocalypse of his kingdom, Asgard.

The third film in the Thor franchise wastes no screen time, as every minute is jam-packed with some sort of chaos, starting from the first scene, where Thor explains to the audience what he has been up to since the previous Avengers film, and then proceeds to destroy the fire monster Surtur (Clancy Brown).

Although a straight-to-the-point plot is definitely exciting, the story seems rushed at times, with minor characters appearing and disappearing constantly, and important facts seemingly skipped over.

Returning characters from previous “Thor” and “Avengers” movies, such as Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), demonstrate previously under-developed personalities in the newest installment.

Both Hulk and his alter-ego Bruce Banner have important dialogues with Thor, finally demonstrating that there is more to his character than just an angry, green monster. Loki is still the same trickster that he was in other films, but the characters acknowledge his fickle moral code, and the movie effectively gives the audience more of an understanding of the ‘why’ of Loki’s character.

RETURNS TO THE CW The film also introduces a few new characters such as Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) who only serve to advance the plot.

While Thompson’s character was one of the most likable, she felt like just another potential love interest for the mighty godof-thunder.

The main villain in “Thor: Ragnarok”, Hela, while more developed than some of the other Marvel baddies, ultimately fails to attract the audience to her storyline. Hela is Thor’s older sister, and while she is the goddess of death, her powers are never truly explained, causing the audience to never truly understand the extent of her abilities, and therefore not care as much about her.

The movie differs from the others in the “Thor” franchise in that it doesn’t take itself as seriously. By adding the same elements that made the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films huge successes, such as a nostalgic music playlist and more comedic dialogue (a seemingly never ending amount of jokes, really), “Thor: Ragnarok” is easily one of the better, more exciting films in the MCU.

STORY AND GRAPHICS BY JADEN SHEMESH

After a suspenseful season 1 ending, Riverdale, a show based on the Archie comics, has returned. So far the season is going great, with many plot twists surrounding the returning characters.

After finally figuring out who killed Jason Blossom the new season starts with a panicked Archie rushing to the hospital to ensure his dad’s safety. Jughead, one Archie’s best friends, has been forced to move to Southside high, the high school that most of the kids from the gang the Southside Serpent’s go. To topoff the already crazy plot, the person who shot Fred is still on the loose, and is killing or attempting to harm the people Archie and his friends care about. Many people make fun of Cole Sprouse (who plays Jughead) as an actor. I disagree, he’s a great actor and it’s nice to see him on something else other than The Suite Life of Zach and Cody series.

So far the season has been good with several twists and turns if that’s even possible compared to the previous season that dealt with a person that only killed one person. Anxiously, I’m waiting to find out who the serial killer is and who else is going to get hurt before the killer is caught.

STORY AND GRAPHIC BY MAKAYLA BROWN

sports

hhstoday.com

SIGNS OF THE TIMES Jahaad Malphus, 12

Senior linebacker Jahaad Malphus has the University of Florida logo on the palms of his gloves.

“They give you a better grip,” Malphus explained. “It’s my favorite college team,” he added when explaining why he chose the University of Florida themed gloves.

Martin “MJ” Nieto, 12

Senior player Martin “MJ” Nieto chose Clemson University for his gloves.

“I chose Clemson gloves because their motto is ‘All in’ s every time I put those gloves on I’m ‘All In,’” Nieto said.

Agyehim “Iggy” Thomas, 12

Senior Agyehim “Iggy” Thomas plays safety on the varsity football team.

Thomas has a logo that resembles the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pirate on the palms of his gloves.

“They’re my favorite team,” Thomas said simply to explain his choice.

November 2017

15

Football players wear distinct football gloves with the logos of college or NFL football teams on the field to pay tribute to their favorites.

Pierre Alsint, 12

Senior and defensive player Pierre Alsint also chose to have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on his gloves, to support his town’s NFL team. Alsint’s gloves differ from Thomas’ in that Alsint’s gloves include the Buccaneer flag, while Thomas’ focus on the skull in the team’s logo.

Tyrese Spain, 12

Varsity running back Tyrese Spain wears the mascot of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team on the palms of his gloves.

Willie GIllespy, 11

Willie Gillespy, number 10, is a junior wide receiver for the varsity football team. Gillespy has many gloves but he chose to wear his gloves with the University of South Florida bulls logo for the game against Lennard High School.

PHOTOS BY MAKAYLA BROWN COMPILED BY ABIGAIL CONGER

THE GIRLS SOCCER TEAM KEEPS UP THEIR TWITTER ACCOUNT With the girls’ soccer team starting back up, their original twitter account is coming back as well.

Senior Kat Bowers created the twitter account last year during the season and it got attention for its unique comedic style.

On the account, the team uses humor in situations that would typically be upsetting.

Last year, when the girls believed they would lose to a team, they posted tweets joking about it.

“I decided to make it funny because our team is funny.” Bowers said “We like to take things lightheartedly, but of course we are still working hard at games and practice”.

While Bowers owns the account, all the girls on the team contribute tweets.

“When ever a funny comment is said either at practice or a game it is posted” senior Haley Michael said.

However, the account also serves to distribute information about the team, and to gain more support at games.

“A part of making the twitter funny was to get attention from the school and students,” Bowers said. “This way more people will show up to the games and see our actual skill level.”

Last year, the girls record was six wins and nine losses.

Teammates hope that the twitter account will entice students to become interested and possibly consider joining the team in upcoming seasons.

STORY BY LAUREN KOMAR

Tweets posted by the girls’ Twitter account that provide information about upcoming events, with their own style that they tweet in.

16 November 2017

web

Red & Black

HHSTODAY.COM’S WEB HITS

Hillsborough students walk 12 blocks with Seminole Heights Elementary to symbolize their commitment to get to graduation.

Check out the full coverage at HHSToday.com | PHOTOS BY MORYAH WELLS World Origami Days started Oct. 24 and will last until Nov. 11, here’s how to make an origami terrier. Check out HHSToday.com for the full video. | PHOTO BY REEMA PATEL

OLIVIA HOLT’S NEW SINGLE WILL BRIGHTEN UP YOUR PLAYLIST

THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

Halloween has passed but let’s take a look at what Halloween used to be. HHSToday.com showcases the ‘true’ meaning of Halloween.

Pop singer-actress Olivia Holt recently released her new single and video for her song, “Generous”. It’s a very upbeat song and gets me nodding my head. This is a type of song that you can listen to whenever you are relaxing or studying.

The single already racked up to 1 million streams on Spotify. Her last single “History” was a major hit, it received 128 million streams on Spotify.

Continue reading this story by Mauro Monroy on HHSToday.com

LOCKDOWN DUE TO WEAPON THREAT

All of the doors were locked and Principal Gary Brady forbade anyone to leave the classroom. This was not any ordinary tardy lockout.

Hillsborough began a lockdown at 2:20 p.m., Oct. 26, after receiving an anonymous threat that a weapon was on campus.

Continue reading this story by Katie Delk at HHSToday.com

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