PANTHER
the
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Miami Palmetto Senior High School
7460 SW 118 Steet, Miami, FL 33156
Tuesday 12 November 2018
SCHOOL OF SOUND
2 CONTENTS
N E W S BRIEFS
CONTE V61 N2
MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS The 2018 midterm elections showed some shake ups in Florida. Republican Ron DeSantis beat Democrat Andrew Gillum in a race decided by less than one percent. The former Republican governor of Florida, Rick Scott, defeated incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson in another tight race decided by less than 50,000 votes. Nelson asked for a recount. Donna Shalala defeated Republican nominee Maria Elvira Salazar and became a major democratic pickup for the House of Representatives seat in Florida’s 27th district.
ON
THE COVER The cover of this issue contains a photo from a rooftop photoshoot on top of the Dadeland parking lot. All of the pictures within the Feature section were taken by Mia Zaldivar (12).
US ECONOMY GETTING STRONGER According to CNN Business, workers returning to their jobs after recent hurricanes has raised the U.S. economy to the best numbers in years. The booming economy introduced 250,000 new jobs to go with an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent, the lowest rates seen in 49 years. President Trump commented on this by sending out a tweet, “Wow! The U.S. added 250,000 jobs in October - and this was despite the hurricanes. Unemployment at 3.7 percent. Wages UP! These are incredible numbers. Keep it going, Vote Republican!”
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
Dear Editor, IMMIGRANT CARAVAN CONTINUES ON Despite threats from President Trump, a large caravan of migrants continues to approach the US border attempting to enter the country. The caravan originated in Honduras and grew to encompass over 5,000 people, granted shelter through a sports stadium in Mexico City. Trump threatened to deploy troops at the border to prevent the entrance of the caravan. Some migrants have felt pressured and turned back home, but a lot continue their perilous journey with no definite ending in sight.
“I liked the JUUL article beause you put a lot of facts that can help people stop juuling.”
SINCERELEY,
MADDIE WRIGHT (12)
Dear Editor,
“I liked the way that you included women’s sports into the article to make the article better.”
SINCERELEY,
ISABELLA MARTIN (9)
ENTS 5
12 FEATURE Palmetto’s up and coming musical artists.
12 8
17
05 08life
news
Ex-convicts regain voting rights in the 2018 election..
The Panther explores unique fashion styles at Palmetto.
18 17 opinion 18 sports
An inside look at Palmetto’s wrestlers.
Artist Banksy’s new stunt is not what it seems.
4 NEWS 12 NEWS
The United Nations has released a warning that the Earth is heading towards a warming of three degrees celsius by the year 2030, which proves a dangerous threat to the planet. According to the U.N.’s report, humans need to aim for an increase of only 1.5 degrees celsius, but those odds are looking increasingly slim. As a result of human’s excessive use of fossil fuels, large amounts of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases have been released into the atmosphere. Since the industrial era, the Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.85 degrees Celsius, according to the U.N. The next two to three years are imperative in reversing the damage fossil fuels have created by doing things like switching to green energy. According to the U.N., detriments of not doing so include loss of sea ice, sea level rise and increases in temperature. “I think we’re already seeing some of the effects. We’re just kind of used to it,” Advanced Placement Biology teacher Sara Edelman said. “I used to go to Miami Beach early in the morning to practice yoga, and on the full moon and it would flood, and that never used to happen when I was younger.” According to the U.N., the current warming trend can be attributed to human activity since the mid-20th century. Climate Central reports that the last time there was this much carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere modern humans did not exist. “The biggest way we’re impacting our climate, I think, is use of gasoline cars,” Edelman said. “Something we can all do is carpool.” According to the EPA, in one year a single vehicle puts 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide provides life for plants and is often taken back by them during photosynthesis. However, when too much of it is released into the atmosphere it traps heat, increasing Earth’s temperature. Consequently, the last two decades of the 20th century were the hottest recorded
DESIGN BY GEMMA TORRAS
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our planet s Greatest Threat in 400 years, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. According to CBS, 2.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide are released into the air every second. Out of the top ten polluting countries in the world, the United States and Germany have been the only ones to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. China, the world’s biggest carbon dioxide polluter, released ten billions tons in 2011, almost 50 percent more than the United States. “There are ecological footprint calculators that are available online,” Edelman said. “You can see what you do that uses the most amount of energy and then you can make specific changes.” While some countries have made progress, the U.N. report indicates that the rest of the world needs to catch up as there is a lot at stake. According to Grist, Glacier National Park in Montana, which had 150 glaciers in 1910, now only has twenty six. By 2040, there could be ice-free summers in the arctic. Not only are glaciers melting and carbon dioxide levels skyrocketing, but sea levels are rising at dangerous rates. Since the year 1900, water levels have risen five to eight inches, while the previous 2,000 years saw almost no changes, according to the Smithsonian. The situation is not entirely hopeless but will require never before seen levels of change in how humans conduct themselves. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, solutions vary from electric cars to reforestation “It’s not too late to make a change and it’s not too late to get involved,” Edelman said. “There’s tons of activism that’s going on and activities that you can do to try and get the word out to get people to care.”
Jayden Woodfall Staff Writer
j.woodfall.thepanther@gmail.com
NEWS 5
Restoring voting rights to ex-convicts A BREAKDOWN OF AMENDMENT FOUR allow ex-convicts to vote are Kentucky, Iowa, and Virginia. These states do not completely restrict ex-felons from obtaining voting rights. The process to re-apply for them remains so lengthy and troublesome that it appears futile, which shows the importance of the Amendment Four passing in Florida. A crucial aspect of the amendment reveals that those with previous murder or sexual assault charges cannot regain their voting rights, unless the Governor took definitive legal actions, working on a specific case by case basis. In essence, the people allowed to vote again now does not include all ex-convicts, just those with less severe charges. “...In order to get your right to vote back in Florida if you’re a convicted felon you have to go to a panel led by the governor and the governor has almost total authority over this. What the amendment seeks to do is do what most states do now, which is have a prescribed period of time where once you’re released from prison after a certain number of years you get your voting rights back, the exception being major crimes-- rape, murder, etc.-where when once convicted you always lose your rights,” AP U.S. government teacher Kenneth Spiegelman said.
The argument to pass this amendment is both its unconstitutionality in alienating people by not allowing them to vote and opening up the ability for politically inactive citizens to engage in democracy, rivaling the counter argument that awarding voting rights to those disobedient to national laws promotes scornful national values. “If you make a mistake and you complete and serve your time and realize what you’ve done wrong, you should be able to get those rights back,” Comparini said. Despite the difficulty in passing amendments in Florida, Amendment Four passed, showing the massive support in favor of it. “It’s very difficult to pass a wconstitutional amendment in Florida because it requires a 60 percent vote, which is the majority,” Spiegelman said. It passed with a 64 percent vote.
Allison Strasius Feature Editor
a.strasius.thepanther@gmail.com
6.1 million lost their right to vote because of a past felony conviction Florida accountED for nearly 25 percent, or 1.6 million of these
INFOGRAPHIC BY GEMMA TORRAS
INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE ACLU OF FLORIDA
Florida now joins the 47 states that allow convicts who have served their time to vote, a new status earned with the recent midterm elections and the passing of Amendment Four. When Floridians took to the voting booths on Nov. 6, they voted on a total of twelve constitutional amendments ranging from changes regarding property taxes, gambling, requirements for judges and ex-convict voting rights. All amendments except Amendment One passed. Amendment Four allows felons who completed the entirety of their sentences to regain voting rights, which will dramatically alter statewide voting patterns for Florida in the future. Ex-convicts in Florida previously made up around 1.6 million of the total 6.1 million people unable to vote nationally, according to the American Civil Liberties Union chapter of Florida. “I’ve always seen this as an issue. In Chile, it’s also an issue, and I know voting in other countries -with women too- is a problem. We’re a world power and we should give [that power] back to the people. The constitution is ‘We the People’ and so we shouldn’t exclude people,” junior Fiorella Comparini said. The three states that still do not
6 ADS
On the streets A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IN SOUTH FLORIDA
INFORMATION COURTESY NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS
over 6000 homeless students in the Miami-Dade County Public School system
For the first time since 2010, the national count of homeless people in the U.S. has dramatically increased whereby 17 out of every 10,000 people are homeless on a given night, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. While this may not seem like an alarming number, it means that over 0.17 percent of the national population fit the criteria for homelessness like living in their cars, on someone else’s couch or a place that’s not meant for human habitation, such as an abandoned building. In 2016, the Miami Herald recorded over 6000 homeless students in the Miami Dade County Public School system. While it often goes unrecognized by the student body, there are Palmetto students who are homeless and at risk of becoming homeless. Being at risk for homelessness has different criteria. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, criteria that technically classifies a person as at risk includes: not having the resources or support immediately available to prevent them from being moved into an emergency shelter, living in someone else’s house due to economic issues or temporarily living out of a hotel. Paws For Panthers, a PTSA funded program, helps serve a select group of students at Palmetto who face homelessness or housing issues. The program provides these students with school supplies, hygiene products, gift cards and covers things such as book fees and school event tickets. “It really is a way for students who are in need to get the help they deserve,” counselor Cheryl Concepcion said. The program started in 2014 when school social worker, Ana Garces, approached the PTSA president, notifying her of a student in dire need. “We had a student who lived with his grandmother and after the Christmas break, he didn’t come back to school and we were looking for him. Some of his classmates said that his grandmother had passed away during the break and he was home. He didn’t know what to do, he had never done laundry in his life, he didn’t know what his future was going to have for him,” Garces said.
17 out of every 10,000 people suffer from homeless on any given night INFOGRAPHIC BY GEMMA TORRAS
After seeing this situation firsthand, Garces knew she had to help. “So he met with me and I spoke with the PTSA and asked if there was anyway we could help him. The PTSA was able to give him a $50 gift card every week for food. And then we were able to help him with school supplies and things like that. He finally graduated and went to the military. He comes back every year to say hi and thank you. He’s been a very productive member of our society, ” Garces said. This student’s situation made the PTSA wonder about other Palmetto students in similar situations. And thus, Paws for Panthers was born. The goal of the program is to make sure that all students have everything they need to succeed. While Paws for Panthers mainly serves students who are financially needy, evicted and/ or do not have a stable place to live, most of the students are not necessarily homeless but rather considered at risk. In recent years, the amount of people at risk of homelessness has rapidly risen, especially in South Florida and Miami-Dade. The Camillus House is a non-profit organization located in Miami that offers assistance to the homeless through crisis hotline for people at risk. The hotline has existed for almost a decade. However, in the past four months they have received 4000 more calls than usual, according to NBC 6. “The goal of the program is to make sure that our students have everything they need to have a positive academic career that every student deserves no matter where they come from or their home situation,” Garces said.
Olivia Solomon
Business Manager
o.solomon.thepanther@gmail.com
8 LIFE
Dress to Express
Uniforms are so last year. This year at Miami Palmetto Senior High, every student can express themselves through their clothing. As students stroll through the hallways, they can be found in a variety of different styles, whether they are strutting in the latest trends or embodying their own styles.
Freshman Sophomore Waking up and getting ready for school before 7 a.m. every day is a challenge for most students. Freshman Brighton Brown expresses how her style is more on the comfy side for school. “Sometimes I wear cool jackets, but mainly I wear jeans or leggings with a tee,” Brown said. “I also like wearing my mom’s old stuff, which is cool.” Brown explained how fashion is a way to express who you are, whether through comfortable sweatshirts or keeping up with the latest trends. Brown stated how inspiration for her style comes from different outlets. “If I see something that no one else has and I find it interesting, then I’ll be more inclined to buy that item,” Brown said. Fashion to Brown is not only clothes, but unique shoes as well. “Shoes are a big part of my style; sometimes I will base my whole outfit on shoes,” Brown said.
Freshmen are not the only students who dress to express who they are. Sophomore Michael Martinez describes his style as an “androgynous edgy teen,” both inside and outside of school. “My message is that no one should care about what’s for boys and what’s for girls. People should be happy and comfortable with what they want to wear,” Martinez said. Clothing should not be about impressing others, rather it should be there to inspire your own creative self. Self-expression is important to Martinez, and the new nouniform policy has given him an outlet for that. “To all the Palmetto kids out there, don’t be scared to express yourself. It doesn’t matter about labels or what clothes are for ‘boys’ or what clothes are for ‘girls’ whatever makes you feel good and you like wear it. When you love what you wear that’s what makes you look the most confident,” Martinez said.
Junior
As the overload of junior year stress kicks in, being able to throw on something comfy and cute is precisely what junior Nia Hunt goes for. Hunt stresses the convenience that not having a strict uniform provides and explained how having siblings in different grades and schools can be very costly in regards to uniforms. “Not having to worry about spending money on buying uniforms for all of my siblings has helped save money,” Hunt said. Being able to choose how you look on a daily basis allows people to show who they truly are. “I wear a lot of sarcastic shirts with different sayings on them. When I walk into class most people read my shirt... I am witty and sarcastic, so my shirts capture my personality,” Hunt said. Fashion is not only a way for people to look good, but it provides an opportunity for students to express who they truly are.
Senior
As the weeks pass by and “senioritis” slowly kicks in, most seniors are staying up late to submit last minute college applications, and only sleep a few hours each night. After a long night, the last thing any student wants to do is to put on stiff khaki pants or an uncomfortable polo shirt. “I’m glad we don’t have uniforms because it just makes getting ready and [getting] out the door so much easier; you can put something together and be out the door in 10 minutes,” senior Daniel Rodriguez said. Some students believe that clothes play a role in how someone views you. Rodriguez explained how it is important to dress appropriately at school, but clothing should not be the determining factor of who you are. “ I don’t think what I wear should affect anyone, I wear what I like and feel comfortable in,” Rodriguez said.
Sophia Dealejo Life Editor
s.dealejo.thepanther@gmail.com
PHOTOS BY JOANNA SALVAT
LIFE 9
LIFE OF A WORKING STUDENT FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND SCHOOL Success in both school and the workplace does not need to be an impossible scenario for high school students. The number of students in the workforce has decreased in the past couple of decades, and with good reason. Due to increased competition regarding college acceptances, students prioritize their education over gaining job experience. It is a common misconception that students cannot attain both a lucrative work experience and a fulfilling high school career. A balance between work and school can be reached if one is willing to put in the time and dedication needed to be successful in both. While juggling both a job and school, students gain life skills such as the ability to properly manage one’s time, organize tasks and accomplish a set of personal goals. Kayla Henderson, a junior at Miami Palmetto Senior High and a receptionist at Flo Yo yoga studio, manages her demands from both work and school. She feels as though her job does not inhibit her performance in her school work, as the environment she works in supports her by allowing her to study during her work breaks. “I think it’s definitely worthwhile... and it’s just a good experience to have, for when you get older and when you get into college to have already been working and dealing with other people outside of school,” Henderson said. Work exposes teens to useful experiences that helps them build crucial life skills. With proper planning comes the satisfaction of accomplishing goals; the requirements of both work and school gives teens the chance to develop skills that can be applied for the rest of their lives. Jobs also teach young employees how to work better with others and how to take charge through leadership roles. Working in the same environment every week with the same people can also create new friendships. Senior Cristian Conde, a busser at The Original Lots of Lox Deli, manages to have a good time while working with his coworkers. “Since a lot of us are kids working we tend to get bored easily so we [find ways] to entertain ourselves,” Conde said. “We often complete ‘challenges’... so that we can be entertained and have a good time.” Working with others as a team creates friendships that
might not have existed otherwise. Different relationships in the workplace can help develop skills in teamwork and leadershipnecessary components for success in a future career. Jobs bring many different people together in a space that fosters new relationships and can provide lucrative contacts for the future. Junior Melanie Valero works two jobs and maintains a 3.0 GPA, but not without the cost of a good night’s sleep. “...The only complaint that I have is that I am always sleepy… seeing as how when I start doing homework around 10 p.m. then I get home and finish around 12:30 a.m.- sometimes even 1 a.m. and I wake up at 5:30 for school,” Valero said. A part-time or full-time job may infringe on one’s sleep schedule, making it difficult to remain productive during school. However, with practice and proper scheduling of time, balancing a job and school does not need to cost students a good night’s rest. Sometimes, maintaining a balance of time can be difficult and your sleep schedule may be harmed, but the benefit of gained experience in the workplace supersedes the loss of sleep. While having a job may have its faults, it can also give teens a newfound sense of responsibility and individuality. “...There are many things that having a job has taught me. The main one being independence,” Valero said. “I always enjoyed being independent...when you have a job you feel good, like you are in control of your life.” Jobs provide financial freedom that forces teens to consider their personal priorities and make decisions on their own; this causes them to develop a distinct personality for themselves. Work and school do not need to be mutually exclusive; they can both be important in the lives of students. Although finding a balance between work and school may seem difficult at first, the more it is done, the easier it becomes to handle everything that comes at you. Success in school and in the workplace can be a realistic accomplishment for those who are dedicated and motivated to reach their full potential.
Isabel Wilder Copy Editor
i.wilder.thepanther@gmail.com
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SYDNEY CAMPBELL
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FEATURE 11
HOMEGROWN
VOCALS These artists at Palmetto do more than just enjoy music, they create it. Read on as we cover three students whose musical skills are to write, produce and perform their music.
12 FEATURE
PEAR opportunity for those who have so little to be able to express themselves through a medium thoroughly understood by all,” Nameth said. PEAR’s lead guitarist Nameth also credits social media as playing a major role in earning the young band the recognition they already have. The band currently has one song out called “Demons” on all major music platforms, including Spotify and iTunes. “We use Instagram, Youtube, Twitter and Facebook. Having a younger generation of people that are listening to you, they always have a way to stay informed and see what you are doing. You can give them information on gigs and other events. I think that has been a much more effective way to build of fan base, because otherwise it would just be word of mouth and our friend’s telling people to come out to our gigs,” Nameth said. Nameth hopes to keep playing and performing music and using it as his creative outlet and expressive talent. He already feels that being a part of PEAR has impacted him as both a musician and a person and he could not be more grateful to have had the opportunity to create and take part in such an experience. “PEAR has given me an outlet to express a musical voice that has culminated inside of me throughout my years exploring music,” Nameth said. “By beginning a project of my own, included with the voices of every member, PEAR has become something we can all look to as a way to share our voices with everybody, everywhere.”
SPOTIFY
SUMMARY 721 STREAMS FOR “DEMONS”
234 LISTENERS 125 SAVES SOCIAL MEDIA
Starting out as an impassioned young artist in the School of Rock House Band program, junior Paul Nameth took a leap and started his own original band, PEAR. “There are six people in my band. Me, Aiden Hayes, Rafael Parede, Ethan Truba, Andrea Moscae and Daniel Collaso,” Nameth said. “We thought we should play together and eventually we just ended up hanging out and doing some of those rehearsals together and just wanting to make music together.” Nameth has had professional training for guitar--his main instrument of choice--and has years of experience with it as well. As he grew, his commitment did as well, and he started dedicating more and more time to what he realized was a possibility for his future. “I got my first guitar when I was in third grade. Around eighth grade, I started School of Rock and learned more about soloing and playing with a band. That’s when I really started taking it seriously,” Nameth said. Nameth not only manages to contribute significant time to both his school work and his music, he also finds ways to intertwine the two. Last year, he hosted a music centered community service project which he plans on hosting again this year on Jan. 24. “I hosted Battle of the Bands last year that I did as a fundraiser for Music Reach, a charity that gives music education to underprivileged students in Miami-Dade. It was empowering seeing the work I put into the event finally paying off, knowing that what I raised was going towards something I deeply care about and is an underfunded necessity: the
THEBANDPEAR THEBANDPEAR THEBANDPEAR PEAR
PHOTOS BY MIA ZALDIVAR
FEATURE 13
JAZZY JAZZY ORTIZ Before junior Jazlyn Ortiz could form full sentences, she sang. “Before I could speak I was singing,” Ortiz said. “It was with Disney movies; I would sing the songs from Mulan. My first performance with a small group; I sang Little Mermaid, ‘Part of Your World.’” Through natural talent and her many teachers, Ortiz transformed from a little girl humming a Disney song to a vocal wunderkind. Ortiz now books gigs and trains her voice with a Grammy-award winning vocal coach. “I was in the children’s voice choir… that’s where I learned to read music,” Ortiz said. “Being in chorus and being in groups and knowing how to blend with people is a big part of being a soloist.” Ortiz followed her innate talent for music as it expanded throughout elementary school, middle school and now high school. Her musical capabilities translated further from just her voice and into Ortiz’s knack for several instruments: the ukulele, piano, bass, guitar and drums. Ortiz also performs on stage, a specific passion of hers. “Singing is my life. Music is my outlet. I feel like my body is at homeostasis when I’m on stage, that’s when I feel like that’s where I’m supposed to be,” Ortiz said. Among the array of people who have inspired Ortiz, her elementary school chorus teacher unlocked the enthusiasm she holds for on-stage performances. “The major thing that got me hooked
was Mr. Diaz, the chorus teacher at Palmetto Elementary just goes one day ‘Jazzy you’re singing a solo.’” Ortiz said. “He made me do it, I didn’t try out or ask for it, he just assigned it to me and when I did it I was like, okay, I like this. So, he basically started that fire for me.” One childhood performance turned into dozens, and Ortiz quickly found a kinship with vocal groups and has had experience with numerous organizations. “I’m in a lot of different organizations,” Ortiz said. “I’m in an alumni group of children’s voice, which is like a choir, and I’m in the Little Dreamers, it’s called LDF, and it’s with Phil Collins.” Ortiz hopes to pursue music in her future. “At first, I wanted to be an elementary school music teacher, because Mr. Diaz, I wanted to have that impact on kids like he had on me, but then I went on tour,” Ortiz said. “Even if I make it, I still wanna teach.” Ortiz not only plays five instruments, writes and performs music, she also dances and choreographs. Ortiz occasionally books gigs with junior Paul Nameth, of PEAR, and trains with a widely respected vocal coach to continue to hone in on her musical and performance skills. “There are those moments of clarity,” Ortiz said. “I feel like I was given something, and I don’t see it as mine. I just see it as something that I need to share.”
Singing is my life. Music is my outlet. I feel like my body is at homeostasis when I’m on stage, that’s when I feel like that’s where I’m supposed to be. JAZLYN ORTIZ (11)
14 FEATURE
LIL Z What started out as a fun joke, seven months later, became a serious goal and more than just a pipe dream. Growing up in a musical household with his mother and sister singing more often than not, Samuel Zelaya, a sophomore better known as Lil Z, decided to follow in their footsteps. “My mom used to make music when I was little so I grew up in a house around a lot of music, because my sister also made music,” Zelaya said. “She used to sing Frank Ocean, Ed Sheeran and artists like that.” Zelaya started making his rap music and posting it on Soundcloud around five months ago with the release of his first original song, “Hate.” He posts all his music on Soundcloud, through the account @LILZ. “I was just listening to the beat of an XXX Tentacion song, and I just started making music off that, it was obviously terrible but that’s what got me started,” Zelaya said. Sam singlehandedly controls every aspect of his music, from finding beats to writing the lyrics. He soon hopes to expand into different genres of music and learn to produce as well. “My lyrics just come straight from my head. I think about it and keep writing, Zelaya said. “Before, when I first started making music, I wasn’t as good at putting words together and making a story, but now I write freely and it turns into something and then, I just make it what I want to make it.” Since Zelaya still attends Palmetto as a sophomore, making music for about six to eight hours a week, while managing to fit
his school work in his every day schedule represents a difficult task. Sam hopes his drive and gift land him a job somewhere in the music industry, regardless of what job it may be. He gives much of his credit to social media, apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, for helping him spread his music and reach a wider and growing fanbase. “The goal would be just creating music day in and out and no matter what happens, I would want to be involved in music. Even if it means being a producer or working in a studio or at any level I would be willing to do that,” Zelaya said. “Social media is one of the biggest things because if there wasn’t Snapchat where you can swipe up, I would probably have way less plays, so social media is the main base of my music that makes me able to get it out to people.” Zelaya’s passion for music exists on more than just an artistic level. He feels his music helps him mature as a person, and his writing reflects that. Not only is music an outlet for Zelaya, it is an aspect of his personality and a gift that rewards him in non-materialistic ways. “I haven’t fully matured. Music changes my whole mood because when you see people listening to your music and you see them going crazy and they are so happy, it puts you in a better mood because you are doing something for someone else,” Zelaya said. “I’m making music for them and they are appreciating it and that is so special to me.”
Allessandra Inzinna
Camila Myers
a.inzinna.thepanther@gmail.com
c.myers.thepanther@gmail.com
Senior Copy Editor
Online Managing Editor
SOUND CLOUD
SUMMARY 44,367PLAYS 893LIKES 67REPOSTS 20COMMENTS IN TOTAL
HIGHEST PLAYS IN A MONTH
7,538
IN OCTOBER
AVERAGE PLAYS PER MONTH
3,697
INFOGRAPHICS BY ALEXANDRA PEDROSO
SPORTS 15
WINTER SPORTs LEADING TO STATES INTENTIONS FOR THE SEASON TO COME BOYS BASKETBALL Coach Marcos Molina: “Last year, I thought we had a great season. We won the GMAC championship, we had three seniors sign college scholarships, which is very important to our program. We had a great season, we ended up losing a game we should not have lost. But, we fell short. I believe my passion for basketball is contagious. I think they see how hard I work to get them better, how much I personally put into them individually and as a program. I think they follow suit, how hard you have to work not only to play at this level, we play at the highest level that there is in high school basketball, but also in college. It is not a guarantee that we are gonna get there but we are going to give it everything we have got.”
GIRLS BASKETBALL Jania Diaab (12): “I think there is going to be a big change in girls basketball this year. I think we have a more dedicated team and a different mind set when it comes to basketball IQ. We started working on basic fundamentals needed to win games and I really do believe it will take us far. The team is working to form a bond so that we know how to work together and finally make a district championship. I believe with everything we are putting into the sport this year, we can make it to the top.”
BOYS soccer
GIRLS SOCCER SPCCER
Coach Patrick Larco: “My intentions for the team honestly are as far as these guys want to take it. I can only coach so much. I’m not on the field actually playing. If I was then I would guarantee whatever I felt comfortable with. We have a very strong team and I’m very optimistic. I look forward to being one of the top teams in the district and then continuing in the playoffs. I want to become more of a cooperative and listening style coach. Incorporating a lot of things that some of my senior leaders on the team are talking to me about. So we will see how it goes.”
Sofia Irigoyen (12): “This year we have some very talented freshman who will assist us to create a stronger front all together. Our goals this year surround the word ‘champions,’ coach very early on before the season, shared with the captains and I that our goal as a united team was to play and be rewarded with success. Compared to last year I think we are putting everything we have, and then some, on the line. There is a bond not just between the seniors but with the whole team, and everyone shares the same amount of respect for the other person.”
WRESTLING Coach Anthony Fadelle: “Last year was our first year, and we started off the season somewhere around 15th in the region and then by the end of the season we were one of the top five teams in the region. We took six kids to states, three of them are coming back this year. It’s individual and then based on the individuals, they score points and then the team goes from there. This year we have those three guys back that went to state. The people going to states this year are Kane Vandermark, Chris Green and Corey Gallivan. We have a good group coming back, and we are expecting to do good things this year.” INFORMATION COMPILED BY JENNA BONDY PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE GALLIVAN
Biggest Fans
SPORTS 16
TEACHERS CRAZY FOR THEIR COLLEGE TEAMS
S E N A C
Loni Perse, an English teacher who teaches Pre-Advanced Placement and AP English Language, has been a diehard University of Miami fan since her childhood days. This is mostly due to the fact that being a Hurricane runs in her family. “My dad [Donald Bosseler] played fullback there, and his name is retired in the stadium,” Perse said. After graduating from the University of Miami, Don Bosseler went on to play for the Washington Redskins and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In the NFL, he was a one time Pro-Bowl fullback. The UM craze in her family continued even after her father left the Canes, with the various memorials honoring the time he used to play there. “My dad was honored on the field last year at Hard Rock Stadium, and my son now attends Law School at UM,” Perse said. When it comes to going to games, Perse tries to make it to the stadium to attend as many games as possible. “I try to go to as many games as I can, and my husband goes for all kinds of UM sporting events; sometimes we have people over for the away games,” Perse said. “I also went on the field with my dad when he was honored at a Hurricanes game.”
John Hayduk, the AP Human Geography teacher and coordinator of the Forensic Investigative Academy, is one of the proudest Gator fans out there. Hayduk currently owns season ticket passes and prides himself on traveling to almost every home game. “I have been a season ticket holder since my oldest daughter got in and was a baton twirler,” Hayduk said. “I go to around 90 percent of home games.” In regards to what makes the University of Florida special, Hayduk says that it is his past experiences at the school itself that makes him such a dedicated fan years later. “I went to school and graduated from UF and I understand what it’s like to be an every day student,” Hayduk said. Even through Hayduk loves the university for what it was, he acknowledges that the school has changed since his time there. With an ever-changing cityscape, Gainesville differs from the city he was once familiar with. “Technology has completely changed and the surrounding city of Gainesville and has become way more popular,” Hayduk says.
GAT OR S
S E L NO
Sara Tuttle, a Geometry, Pre-Calculus and Calculus teacher, has been a Florida State University fan since her days at the university. Tuttle remembers her days at FSU fondly. “When I went to FSU, it became a part of me and there was a real family dynamic,” Tuttle said. In regards to FSU football, Tuttle is an unwavering fan and always tries to make the trip for football games. “My goal has always been to go to one game a year, and one road game,” Tuttle said. “When the [Seminoles] are here, playing the Canes, I try to go .” Considering that Ms. Tuttle was a former University of Florida student, she can wholeheartedly say that FSU was a better place for her. “I have the unique experience of going to UF for a year and transferring to FSU,” Tuttle said. “FSU just had the feeling and vibe that I wanted in a school.”
Benjamin Spiegelman Online Editor-In-Chief
b.spiegelman.thepanther@gmail.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF BENJAMIN SPIEGELMAN DESIGN BY CHLOE GALLIVAN
SPORTS 17
WHEN HARD WORK MEETS DEDICATION
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PHOTO COURTESY OF CHLOE GALLIVAN
SNEAK PEAK INTO THE WORK ETHIC OF WRESTLERS Hard work and dedication become the first things that come to a wrestler’s mind when thinking of wrestling for Miami Palmetto Senior High School. They practice year-round and work even harder during their intense training for the prime season. The wrestlers at Palmetto feel prepared to take on the season starting in winter. Participating in an individualized sport divided by weight classes, every wrestler has their own work cut out for them. Every weight class, every portion of training and every mindset varies with each wrestler. New to the school, senior Giancarlo Fuentes quickly saw the difference between his old school, Miami Killian, and Palmetto’s wrestling system. “There’s a big difference. Here, I consider more of a real wrestling program ... coaches are more involved, we have extra personnel helping… for lifting [and] sports medicine, they help us out a lot…” Fuentes went on to say that the practices for Palmetto remain “harder” and “much more intense” and the technique and knowledge that Palmetto wrestlers have to offer are “far superior” to what he experienced at Killian. Just like Fuentes, Senior Kane Vandemark aims to exit Palmetto’s wrestling season a state champion. On the path for first in the state, Vandemark works daily on the
improvement of his skills and “100 percent guarantees” the top spot by the end of the season. Vandemark plans to continue working hard and wants stay focused on his path to number one as a Palmetto wrestler. Vandemark does not just honor the promise of commitment presented by the team, but he also has a close relationship with his coaches and teammates. His motivation comes from the atmosphere of camaraderie that the team gives. “They push me, and I don’t like to lose. I hate to lose,” Vandemark said. Not only do the wrestlers have to train nearly every day, they have another challenge to conquer: cutting weight. To do so, wrestlers make an effort to lose weight before matches. This includes dieting, minimizing food and liquid intake and intense exercise to cut down body fat. “I consider it like us going through our period,” Fuentes said. “Everything gets
Here, I consider more of real a wrestling program... coaches are more involved... GIANCARLO FUENTES (12)
worse. Classes feel longer. You’re watching everyone eat all of their food and drink all their water and you’re just kind of there depleted of energy, your mouth is dry… it takes a lot.” According to research done by Vanderbilt University, 75 percent of wrestlers use fasting to reach their goal weight. The effects of this can include the development of lifelong eating disorders and damaged kidneys. Dehydration, a common way to enter a wrestling competition, becomes a resource to be able to compete at the needed weight for the tournament. “You kind of feel depressed… you can’t have food and you’re just waiting… you have less energy when you wrestle,” junior Josh Mizelle said. Despite the strain of daily training, extra practice and cutting weight that the wrestling team holds on their shoulders they persevere and aspire to dominate at their tournaments as a team. “We’re not going to stop until we get it,” Fuentes said.
Chloe Gallivan Design Editor
c.gallivan.thepanther@gmail.com
18 OPINION
MAKING [BANK]$Y In early October, the anonymous street artist Banksy auctioned off one of his famous pieces entitled, “Girl with Balloon,” in a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The spray painted canvas sold for more than three times the pre-sale estimate at about $1.2 million, a record price for the artist. Then to the sound of an alarm, a machine embedded in the frame shredded the artwork, leaving half of the piece in long strips hanging from the bottom and leaving all of the auctiongoers shocked. At first glance, this move may seem in line with the anti-establishment ideology that Banksy tries to establish in his body of work. But, several issues with this public stunt have prevented it from becoming the monumental anti-capitalist moment that Banksy imagined it to be. The first glaring issue with the shredding was that the artwork was only partially shredded. The ribbons only emerged from the bottom of the frame for a couple of seconds before the alarm and the shredder shut off. One might wonder why Banksy would only partially destroy his art in his grand gesture to show the lack of material value that art really contains. Like most of Banksy’s stunts, this was completely superficial. He shredded his art purely for commercial value because he knew it would shock his audience and consequently would garner a lot of attention. This introduces the second issue with
the stunt. Banksy said, several days after the auction, that he meant for the whole painting to be shredded. This shows that Banksy intended to highlight the lack of inherent value that art possesses. But accepting payment for the painting, goes against this specific purpose because it gives it an exact monetary value of $1.2 million. This stunt follows a pattern that can be found in all of Banksy’s work. Banksy begins by finding social or political issues that the general public disagrees with, then he creates a low-effort shallow depiction of some familiar character or pop culture reference, and finally he gives the depiction a small twist to align it against the issue. Resulting in a bland, unoriginal and pseudo controversial piece of street art that guarantees to get at least several million shares across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For example, one of Banksy’s earliest works is a stencil of Vincent and Jules, the gangsters from the popular movie Pulp Fiction. But instead of them holding their guns in their famous pose, they hold bananas. It becomes hard to imagine that Banksy took more than ten minutes to come up with an idea this simple. A print of the work sold for £10,600 in 2012, and has sold tens of thousands of times since then in the form of posters and t-shirts. Perhaps worst of all, the shredding stunt completely lacked originality. Banksy did not invent self destructive art with this piece. Self destructive art
has existed as an art form since World War II after being pioneered by Gustav Metzger, who created intricate works of fabric that would slowly be melted away by hydrochloric acid. Many other artists have worked in destructive art since then, like Chris Burden, who made a sculpture that, if enough people entered the gallery displaying it, the building that housed it would collapse. Banksy’s art, not groundbreaking, interesting or imaginative, contains no creativity. Instead of giving Banksy any time in the spotlight, that attention should be placed on smaller artists who do similar things in a much more innovative manner. Artists like Lady Pink and Fab 5 Freddy, street artists who both address real controversial problems in society, should receive recognition for their art which stands for more than just exploiting social issues to make some money.
Garrett Livingston Multimedia Editor
g.livingston.thepanther@gmail.com
Should Celbrities FACE OFF:Express Their Political Views?
19 OPINION
YES
In recent political elections, many celebrities have taken a stand and endorsed the candidates of their respective political parties. They have used social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram to encourage their fan bases to take political action and register to vote. However, many people have brought into question if celebrities should broadcast their political views to their supporters. Even though celebrities’ lives appear to be vastly different than the average citizens’, they still receive the same constitutional rights as anyone else. Celebrities who choose to express their political opinions are simply exercising their right to free speech. In the event of a scandal, having a celebrity endorsement can get a political candidate back into the good graces of the public. Throughout the countless public accusations of the 2016 election in which Hillary Clinton ran against Donald Trump, both Clinton and Trump had popular faces willing and able to speak out for them to the media. Beyonce and Lebron James supported Clinton during her campaign, while Trump had Dennis Rodman and Mike Tyson on his side. Political candidates have celebrities to connect to the public in a way that they cannot. Celebrities also bring attention to current political issues and use their influence to create change for the better. Taylor Swift encouraged her fans to register to vote through her Instagram, and within 24 hours there were 65,000 new registered voters in the state of Tennessee. Becoming informed about current events and politics can not only help a celebrity to be more in touch with reality, but can also inspire their fan base to do the same. Even if their fans do not watch the news or particularly care about any given election, having their idol encourage them to vote can make a world of difference.
Jane Heise
Copy Editor
j.heise.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMILLA BONDY
NO
Celebrities have and will continue to place their influence on everyday life. Ranging from television programs to movies and now on social media. Celebrities, only a tweet or post away from influencing the lives of many, obtain an influence that many others do not. Far too many stars share their values and political ideology with the wide variety of fans that they have; most recently both Taylor Swift and Kanye West have endorsed political figures: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The public, especially those on social media, has regarded the views of these stars as integral. Nothing stops these celebrities from sharing their opinions because they possess the right to free speech like anyone else, but they should not utilize their platform to express political views. These stars earned their popularity through different means, often possessing talents in the arts: singing, dancing, acting. This, however, does not entail that they are necessarily informed on political matters. Many cannot grasp the complexity of political issues and policies, so who says that these celebrities know best. Promoting civic duties like voting can improve the effectiveness of our democracy, but as an educated society, we should be cognizant of who informs us on influential legislation that can affect the masses. Celebrities do not register the fact that most hard-working Americans cannot enjoy the same luxuries that they have. These big names, more often than not, live their lives very comfortably and do not understand the struggle of regular, hardworking Americans. Those who live in the likes of Hollywood and New York do not have to suffer the same issues as the rest of the country. Thus, a celebrity’s opinion can be taken; however, we must take into consideration the context of their experiences and the way they live.
Samuel Stone Opinion Editor
s.stone.thepanther@gmail.com
SKIN sHOWING
20 OPINION
the best of both worlds
Every year, new fashion trends on social media rise through a wave of instagram models, skimpy clothes and controversy. Those that wear clothes generally considered sexual in nature most likely feel confident with what they wear. Instead of judging people by what they wear, society should shift towards acknowledging people’s personal choices and what makes them feel confident going out into public, whether they wear crop tops and shorts or a T-shirt. Last October, the #MeToo movement spread rapidly throughout the U.S. and other countries around the world. The movement originally highlighted the sexual misconduct and harassment occurring in the Hollywood industry; however, men and women began to embrace this new movement to spread awareness about an issue that society ignored. Anyone affected by sexual harassment could come forward with their stories and illustrate the enormity of the subject, but it also empowered many to feel comfortable and confident in their clothes without fear of sexual repercussions. Since then, society criticizes catcalling and inappropriate comments on clothing and skin, and instead of blaming the victim of these acts, people decide to look at the perpetrator instead. According to a study taken by Kia, a car company, a little black dress and high heels consists of the two top ten items that make a women feel confident. This clothing generally has a connotation of being “sexual” in nature. The assumption behind women wearing these clothes is that they do it to impress others, which may be true in some instances, but more often than not, the clothes give women the
confidence that they may lack in themselves to go out and enjoy themselves. While each individual determines how much they want to reveal through their clothing, certain venues and platforms dictate that mature content should be toned down. For example, those with large social media platforms aimed at young children should do their best to keep inappropriate images to a minimum. This does not necessarily mean the clothing they wear but the content placed online and the message it spreads. The fans that make the influencer famous most likely will continue to support them no matter what they post, but creators do not want to be held accountable for their fans viewing mature content at a young age. Each clothing or outfit choice should be just that, a choice. While places exist where people choose to dress more conservative, it ultimately comes down to each person’s individual thoughts about their outfit. If someone feels good in what they wear, they should be revered for their confidence in stepping out into a judgemental society and owning their style choices.
Nicole Markus Copy Editor
n.markus.thepanther@gmail.com
ADS 21
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STAFF Print Editor-In-Chief Natalie Askowitz
Online Editor-In-Chief Benjamin Spiegelman
Print Managing Editor Mia Zaldivar
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Allessandra Inzinna
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Jane Heise Nicole Markus Lindsey Solomon Isabel Wilder
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Camila Bondy Jayden Woodfall
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Laura Aviles
STAFF EDITORIAL
On Oct. 2, journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey, and never walked out. Recordings gathered capture the Washington Post columnist’s brutal final moments. Khashoggi’s death reflects the current war on journalists in America and around the world, and since Khashoggi worked for the Washington Post, Trump should have denounced his murder. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time, a journalist dies in search of the truth. Journalists put their lives on the line every day to deliver information that empowers people. The people that deliver news, especially in countries and areas where it remains unsafe to do so, deserve protection. Political and religious tensions continue to mount, and with that comes the increasing danger a journalist might find themselves in. Trump received criticism for his reaction to Khashoggi’s murder, referring to him in a tweet not by name but as “our Saudi Arabian citizen.” Many thought that this was disrespectful to Khashoggi’s legacy. According to Forbes, journalists were forced to leave countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria because their workplace became too dangerous. Several of the reporters who died in the past were specifically targeted for simply their job title of “journalist.” The press often goes against entire government entities to inform the public. Some sacrifice their lives everyday to report on severe issues and crooked officials. Without the free press in the world, people would stay in the dark of all issues, uneducated and uninformed; the perfect prey for oppressive governments and corrupt people in power to take advantage of.
SINCERELEY,
The Panther Staff
AN OPEN LETTER TO:
AN IDEA PUSHER
The lines between sharing knowledge and pushing opinions has become blurred. Some teachers promote free thinkers. They give their students the tools to form their own informed decisions. When did that involve spreading your own political opinions to classroom full of impressionable youth? Politics is, and always has been, based on opinions. Teachers exist whose opinions have educational value, such as encouraging students to look past things such as gender or race, or reminding them to vote. Other opinions may not have value. For example, according to Time, a teacher told a bunch of 8-year-olds about how Democrats were sore losers after the 2016 election, and taught them a lesson on how great Trump actually was. What’s the educational value in blatantly telling students what to think? Lately, it is tiring to be an American. Constant political tyrades take place in the news, in every branch of government and even in some people’s homes as political views clash. Politics can make some students feel even more fatigued in their own school. Every aspect of human existence seems
divided by politics, but for a teacher it should not matter, because while it is important to discuss these topics as they occur and provide the impartial facts, that’s where it should stop. Idea pushers as teachers preach to the perfect audience. Most students try not to contradict a teacher so they stay quiet. The ones who agree get cemented in their opinion, negating any free thinking. Then there leaves the students who have no idea what’s going on in politics and just decide to trust their teacher. Congratulations, you’ve just made a clone of yourself! I am aware of the fact that my pool of knowledge pales to that of teachers. But in the world today, teeming with polarizing events and falsehoods plaguing society, free thinking seems like the most important thing to teach today’s youth.
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