The Panther 2020-2021 Issue 2: Panther Politics

PANTHER

the

V 63|N2

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156

THURSDAY, 3 DECEMBER, 2020

PANTHER POLITICS

DECEMBERcontents NEWS LIFE

07 07 GREATER LGBTQ REPRESENTATION AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION

08 08 THE TRUE MEANING OF THANKSGIVING

FEATURE FEATURE

11 11

PANTHER POLITICS

SPORTS SPORTS OPINION

16 MIAMI DOLPHIN’S COMEBACK STORY

19 HOW POLITICS HAVE AFFECTED DAILY LIFE

STAFF Editor-In-Chief

COVER

ON

THE

Nicole Markus

Print Editor-In-Chief Jane Heise

Online Editor-In-Chief Jack Meyer

Valentina Caceres (12) takes a picture of Biden and Trump sign.

Managing Editor Kate Stuzin

Senior Copy Editor Priscilla Bermudez

Senior Design Editor

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Local

Senior Multimedia Editor Valentina Caceres

Business Manager Sofia Vinueza

Feature Editor Ana Martinez

Contents Editor Katriona Page

News Editor

www.thepalmettopanther.com

Julia Strasius

news briefs

Allison Gould

Following a close run-off mayoral race in the primaries, the Democratic candidate and County Commissioner for District 8, Daniella Levine Cava, held a victory over her Republican opponent and Commissioner for District 13, Esteban Bovo. The news comes as a major victory for Cava and the Florida Democratic party with the Miami-Dade county mayor serving for Florida’s most populous county of 2.7 million people. Overall Levine Cava had 54% of the vote, over Bovo’s 46% after 100% precincts reporting.

National

The Democrat nominee Joseph R. Biden defeated incumbent President Donald J. Trump in the presidential election, meaning Biden will become the 46th president of the U.S.; though Trump has remained highly skeptical about the election results, he agreed to relinquish power if the Electoral College affirms Biden’s win. However, Trump has yet to formally declare defeat. Currently, the President-elect has begun preparing his new administration declaring it will include an all-female senior White House communications team.

International

United Airlines has officially begun chartering flights to deliver doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for rapid distribution if approved by regulators. These series of flights mark a major milestone in the journey to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there remains a major challenge to organize the manufacturing and delivery process of such a large number of vaccines world-wide. As of now, Pfizer would need approximately 660 million doses to establish immunity in the United States alone.

Jacob Grindstaff Opinion Editor

Sydney Campbell

j.grindstaff.thepanther@gmail.

Life Editor

Sports Editor Bella Martin

Opinion Editor Jacob Grindstaff

Multimedia Team

Camilla Bondy Isabel Lopez Isabella Hewitt Amy-Grace Shapiro Samantha Elkins Valentina Arias

Copy Team

Cristele Moztarzadeh Angelina Astic Kate Markus Katriona Page

Design Team

Gianna Hutton Ana Martinez Julia Strasius Ella Pedroso Michael Angee

Staff Writers Gabe Salvat Tomas Curcio Luca Rodriguez

Adviser

Laura Aviles

RED ROOSTER 4|NEWS

reviving overtown’s diverse culture In the early weeks of December, Red Rooster plans to open, providing a new perspective to the community and revitalizing the culture of Overtown. The eccentric rooms, live music and engaging artwork give the restaurant a distinctive, warm feel for all diners and passersby to enjoy.

The restaurant’s origins trace back to Harlem, New York during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s to the 1930s. At the time, the Red Rooster functioned as a speakeasy — a place selling alcoholic beverages as well as a place for performances in this predominantly Black neighborhood.

“Before I opened Red Rooster in Harlem, I spent a long time being a student of the neighborhood. I learned about the history, my neighbors, and what makes it such an incredible place to live in America,” world-renowned chef Marus Samuelsson said. “Being a part of the community and hiring locally are at the core of what Rooster is all about.”

After learning about the deep history and culture in Harlem, Samuelsson decided to revitalize it by founding and re-creating the Red Rooster Restaurant in 2010. In the following years, Samuelsson extended the culture to other locations by opening a restaurant in London in 2017 and in Overtown in Dec. 2020.

Red Rooster plans to open its third restaurant i n

Overtown Miami, a predominantly Black neighborhood in the 1950s, similar to that in Harlem. The neighborhood had visits from stars such as Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Jackie Robinson, who spent a lot of time in Overtown due to segregation. However, a highway placed over the neighborhood years later allowed people to go over the neighborhood rather than through it, making Overtown a place people could disregard and bringing crime, drugs and poverty.

“When we opened this restaurant, we wanted to celebrate,” head chef of the Overtown Red Rooster Tristen Epps said. “We wanted to celebrate what the neighborhood used to be and celebrate the history it had, and help the community by introducing the [restaurant] that is full of color, full of great food and really changed the concept of people’s minds of the neighborhood.”

Epp’s cooking style and diverse background has affected the restaurant’s dishes at the Red Rooster in Overtown.

Epps came from a Trinidadian background, and his mother’s career in the military caused him to move multiple times throughout his childhood, going to three elementary schools, two middle schools and three high schools.

His background allowed him to develop a cooking style encompassing Asian, Southern, Indian, Latin and Southern food. Moreover, Epp’s work as a chef has not gone unnoticed: he has participated on the Food Network show “Chopped,’’ where he won second place, and on the ABC show “The Taste,” where he met Samuelsson, eventually helping him become the head chef at this restaurant.

“We’ve definitely brought some Red Rooster favorites to the menu but we’ve

a l s o pulled a lot of

inspiration from AfroCarribean flavors and local ingredients in Florida. I’m excited for folks to finally be able to come in and check it out,” Sammuelson said.

The menu, composed of individualized, unique dishes, originates from a place of personal experiences and varies depending on the location. Red Rooster located in Miami serves plates inspired by Latin, Bahamian, Asian and Jewish cuisine, while the restaurant in Harlem primarily focuses on Carribean cuisines and the one in London tends to serve meals inspired by Italian and Indian foods. Although a wide range of flavors and textures exist on each menu, every single item has a story behind it.

“They are definitely eye catching; they are definitely eccentric, but the most important thing is that they are all personal. We are not going to put a steak on [the menu] just because we think everyone likes steak. We try to name everything here on a narrative,” Epps said.

NEWS|5

Through the inclusion of stories of individuals involved in the restaurant, as well as the inclusion of stories about the neighborhood, Red Rooster creates a sense of community not only in its atmosphere but in the very food that diners consume.

Red Rooster originally planned to open the Overtown location in Dec. 2019, then pushed the date back to Mar. 2020. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and national quarantine, Red Rooster did not have a chance of opening up to the public. On Juneteenth—otherwise known as African American Freedom Day—the attached creamery opened, but soon had to close due to a rise in cases. 120 of the staff members were furloughed, but even in this case, Epps along with the few other staff members did not want the restaurant to sit doing nothing over the extended period of time.

The restaurant partnered up with World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that works to provide meals to those that cannot afford food during times of a natural disaster, such as COVID-19. Red Rooster became the first Miami outpost of this organization and donated 250 to 300 meals a day about three times a week.

This food was not only given to those

living in Overtown, but also donated to school programs.

As the restaurant prepares to officially open in the upcoming weeks, Epps and the other employees must keep in mind the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. The restaurant offers outdoor dining and does not seat more than six people per table, and tables must stay up to ten feet apart.

Epps hopes that once Red Rooster has the ability to invite diners from all over Miami, it will allow for those not familiar with the rich history of Overtown to embrace the area.

“I want Overtown to be the next popular neighborhood and celebration of this neighborhood...especially a place of color because I think this part of town deserves that notoriety,” Epps said.

Allison Gould Life Editor

a.gould.thepanther@gmail.com

Ana Martinez

Feature/Design Editor

a.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS PHOTOS BY TRISTEN EPPS

6|NEWS

florida raises minumum wage to

$15 an hour

On Nov. 3, Florida voters cast their final ballots in for the presidential and representative races. On those very same ballots, Florida voters set their eyes upon a list of amendments given to the public to ratify for the Florida Constitution, one of these including the Florida Amendment Two: Raise Minimum Wage.

Amendment Two put forth the idea of raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour

by Sept. 30, 2021 and then increasing it by one dollar every year until it reaches the $15 mark in 2026. Moving forward, after 2026, the minimum wage would fluctuate annually according to inflation.

This Amendment’s ratification came through by a small margin. According to Ballotpedia, the Amendment needed a supermajority, over 60% of the vote, for ratification. 60.82% of voters agreed to its introduction, less than one percentage point above the minimum vote needed.

Florida’s current minimum wage of $8.56 has slowly increased since the ratification of Florida Amendment Five of 2004. Florida Amendment Five took the minimum wage of $6.24 at the time and increased it based on the Consumer Price Index, which the U.S. Government releases and adjusts as needed.

Supporters of Amendment Two include groups such as Florida For a Fair Wage, who make the argument that workers currently on the Florida minimum wage cannot fully support themselves and their family without government assistance.

Opposition groups against Amendment two include groups such as Save Florida Jobs, Inc. who make the argument that increasing the minimum wage will have major negative effects for the Florida economy with many workers losing their jobs, losing benefits and receiving reduced hours.

“I was very happy,” supporter of

Amendment 2 and A.P. Macroeconomics teacher Joel Soldinger said. “It is a good idea… there are always going to be tradeoffs where everybody can’t benefit.”

Responding to criticisms of the Amendment, Soldinger believes it to be a good idea in the long run.

“Eventually the $15 minimum wage will start to be the norm...Good business will want employees to be paid a high minimum wage,” Soldinger said.

In 2009, the national government put forth the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 after the worldwide economic collapse of 2008.

The Congressional Budget Office released a report in 2019 that raising the federal minimum wage to $15 would improve the livelihood of 17 million Americans, but leave 1.3 million jobless.

Issues arise for students at Miami Palmetto Senior High School looking to join the workforce.

Palmetto junior Lilija Stevenson currently makes minimum wage ($8.56 an hour) at a department store.

Despite being on it, Stevenson remains on the fence about the idea of minimum wage going up.

“I like the idea of minimum wage going up, but I’m not an adult so I don’t have bills or rent to pay…,” Stevenson said.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2017, 20% of all students enrolled in high school were currently employed in some manner.

With these higher wages, students may soon start to find even more difficulty in entering the job market as it grows more competitive in Florida.

“I think I used an online job site like Indeed… and I got an email notification so I applied and she got back to me the next day… It was very simple,” Stevenson said.

Situations like that of Stevenson’s may grow more complicated as the Miami job market shrinks.

Despite Florida’s Republican turnout for the presidential and representative races, Florida voters surprisingly supported Amendment Two’s progressive agenda..

Over the next six years, Florida’s economy may drastically change in some ways but with this slow integration, businesses, whether local or franchises, may also find their footing.

“When you boil a lobster, you do not throw him in boiling water,” Soldinger said. “You slowly heat up the water to make it more humane, as Florida is attempting to do here.”

Tomas Curcio Staff Editor

t.curcio.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS

NEWS|7

florida's lgbtq elections wins: A Look Into its Impacts on Inclusivity

The recent November general election made great strides for representation, especially for the members of the LGBTQIA+ community. According to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, a record number of 220 LGBTQ candidates won elections this year, including Florida’s first openly LGBTQ state senator, Shevrin Jones.

“Florida is one of the most diverse states in the country, and our vibrant communities deserve representation that looks like them. The more perspectives and voices at the decision-making table, the better off we all will be,” Jones said.

After reaching his term limit in the Florida House of Representatives, Jones now represents District 35, which straddles the Broward-Miami-Dade line, in the Florida Senate. He belongs to the Democratic Party, which significantly underperformed — particularly in South Florida — when President Donald Trump won the state once again. To combat this, Jones seeks to push for reforms alongside the state’s and nation’s top Democrats as one of his first actions in office.

“Donald Trump and Mike Pence have spent the last four years rolling back protections for LGBTQ people,” Jones said. “I know that I’m not alone when I say that LGBTQ+ leaders across the state and country look forward to working with President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to make equality a reality for all Americans.”

The recently formed LGBTQ Advisory Board of Miami-Dade also plans on achieving reforms alongside Jones, as well as advising the Board of County Commissioners. The council had their first meeting last March, and in their

November meeting they elected their Chair and Vice Chair: transgender woman Aiyana Angeni Gonzalez and lesbian veteran Lynare Robbins, respectively.

At their November meeting, they also passed a motion requesting that the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Miami Begins with Me Program — which deals with approaches to customer service and includes a module on LGBTQ Sensitivity and Awareness — becomes required for all Miami-Dade County employees.

“The program is going to prevent an employee at a car rental, for example, from saying ‘Why do you have an X in your passport,’ since they will be trained to know that the X means gender neutral or gender non conforming,” Program Director of the Miami-Dade LGBTQ Advisory Board Gabriel Paez said.

According to Paez, Miami-Dade County had over 1.2 million LGBTQ visitors that left $1.7 billion in economic benefit to the county in 2018. Incorporating the Miami Begins with Me Program allows for businesses to tap into this overlooked group and ultimately empower the greater Miami tourism industry.

Having a better understanding of inclusion and diversity not only enhances the county’s economy, but also its resident’s perspectives.

“The more that we can undermine hate speech with loving words, logical argument [and] truth telling, the more that speech will begin t o lose its power,” Paez said.

“The board, through our Quality of Life sector, w i l l work to combat hate speech through education and

eliminate bullying and cyberbullying.”

At Palmetto, Alliance sponsor and English teacher Dan Hurst has firsthand had to deal with hate speech and has worked to find ways to prevent it.

“I turn hate speech in the classroom, whether it be towards the LGBTQ community or a certain race, into a teachable moment,” Hurst said.

“When something at school wasn’t handled right, or a teacher didn’t treat someone respectfully, then I can step in. I will either talk to the teacher, or address the situation to the principal to see if some kind of change needs to be made policy-wise at the school.”

The club has attempted to broaden their member base to attract more allies by changing their name from Gay Straight Alliance to Alliance a few years ago. Additionally, Hurst has brought in a variety of speakers to club meetings and plans to begin projects that promote advocacy.

“Last year, the club put a poster in the office that talked about how parents should communicate with their children who are LGBTQ. We have yet to move that into the new office, but we are working on it,” Hurst said.

Overall, the actions made on state, county and school level have made immense progress towards equality, but the complete elimination of bigotry has yet to be attained.

“I’m a firm believer that representation matters,” Jones said. “I look forward to the day we don’t have anymore ‘firsts’ because our country will be that much more equitable and united as a result.”

Kate Stuzin

Managing Editor

k.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS

08| LIFE

THE TRUE MEANING OF

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving: a holiday that represents something different for everyone.

To some, it offers a time to spend together with family, while others may simply enjoy the idea of the food they eat on that day.

The first-ever Thanksgiving occurred in 1621. A year prior, a group of pilgrims began their journey looking for land across the ocean. As time went on, the pilgrims worried their food supply would run out; they needed to learn how to grow their own food but did not know where to start. Luckily, Native Americans showed them how to grow plants in the spring so that they could have food by fall. When fall came around, the pilgrims had a surplus of food, allowing them to eat a nice, big dinner. They invited the Native Americans because they knew that, without them, the feast would not have happened. This originated the tradition of having an inclusive dinner on the third Thursday of November.

Thanksgiving can mean something different to everyone; no two people have the same response. Miami Palmetto Senior High School students and faculty exemplify this idea.

“To me, the true meaning of Thanksgiving is being appreciative for what we have. Thanksgiving gives us a time to reflect on what we have and be thankful for the people, experiences and blessings we have in our lives,” Palmetto sophomore Sebastian Soto said.

He believes that Thanksgiving gives everyone a chance to be thankful for what they have and to not take it for granted; he considers it a time to reflect.

When Thanksgiving does come around, people across the country have a variety of traditions to celebrate the holiday.

“Well, we always do this activity early in the day called the Turkey Bowl, which is basically that we invite family and friends over to the park next door and play a game of soccer,” Palmetto

sophomore Gabriella Brayer said.

Her family has held this tradition every year for as long as she can remember. She enjoys the game because it allows her to spend time with her family and friends while also playing a sport she loves.

Along with family and games, people love the delicious Thanksgiving meals.

“I have turkey, sometimes some pork mixed with beans, along with other things like lima beans and sweet potato casserole,” Palmetto senior Trevor Gunn said.

He enjoys eating the food his family makes, as well as spending time with them.

Apart from students celebrating Thanksgiving, teachers find the holiday exciting as well.

“Thanksgiving means to me a time of reflection with an emphasis on gratitude. The food is pretty good also,” Palmetto English teacher Mr. Gray said.

Thanksgiving comes around once a year for all families to enjoy. This time of year gives everyone the chance to reflect, spend time with family and eat delicious food.

Valentina Arias

Multimedia Photo Editor

v.arias.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY ELLA PEDROSO

PHOTOS BY ISABEL LOPEZ

A RUFF YEAR FOR HUMANS, A PAWSITIVELY PERFECT ONE FOR

LIFE |09

rescue animals

For the last four years, The White House has remained a pet-free zone. Prior to these four years, the last time the First Family did not have a pet was during James K. Polk’s presidency in 1845. However, with President-Elect Joseph R. Biden set to move into the White House in Jan. 2021, two of his most loyal companions, Major and Champ, will move in too.

Although many dogs have lived in the White House before, Major will make history as the first rescue dog to live in the White House. The German Shepherd joined the Biden family in 2018, when they fostered and adopted him from the Delaware Humane Association. The Bidens got their other German Shepherd, Champ, in 2008 from a Pennsylvania breeder. He lived in Washington, D.C. while Biden served as Vice President from 2008 to 2016.

News of Major’s impending arrival to the White House sparked delight PHOTO BY GIANNA HUTTON among rescue animal-lovers around the country.

“With Major, Joe Biden’s rescue dog, being the first to move into the White House we are all excited. Our hopes are that the stigma of a rescue dog, as anything less than one bought directly from breeders, will fade away,” Miami Palmetto Senior High junior and treasurer of the Palmetto Animal Welfare Society Club Analysse Humaran said. “Joe Biden’s family can set a far-reaching example of the wonderful experience of owning a rescue dog to others in this country.”

PAWS focuses on educating people on relationships with animals. Meetings focus on different ways people can interact, discover, affect and support animals. The club offers tips on reducing meat consumption, opportunities to donate supplies for rescue dog shelters and often invites service dogs to the school.

“For anyone with a love for the animal world, PAWS is a great club for them. Overall, it’s an animal educational club embedded with related service opportunities,” Humaran said.

Major’s arrival to the White House is not the only monumental moment for rescue dogs in 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals saw a 70% increase in rescue animals entering foster care compared to last year.

Local rescue organizations, such as Paws 4 You, experienced the same trends.

“A lot of our fostered dogs were adopted since people were home and they built great relationships with these animals.” Paws 4 You Executive Director and Founder, Carol Caridad said.

However, the rescue organization also experienced major financial setbacks due to the pandemic. Due to the organization’s status as an essential business, volunteers and administration had to keep working.

“Prior to COVID, we would have 60-90 dogs in the shelter every day. From about April to July, we were down to an average of 20 stray or owner surrender dogs a day.” Caridad said. “As we offer boarding of animals to the community, we had to depend upon spring break and summer vacations to bring in income for the organization. We had to find a way to pay our medical bills, food, services, and supplies. We had to furlough some of our workers. Our budget [during the height of the pandemic] was completely off and we had no idea if we were going to make it.”

Thanks to tremendous community support and government and community grants, the organization received over $50,000 to help them bounce back from all their financial troubles.

Paws 4 You, a non-profit animal rescue organization based in Miami, Florida, provides sheltering, fostering and placing for abandoned animals. Through this, the organization saves rescue dogs from unnecessary euthanasia and abandonment. They offer animals the chance to become a part of a loving family.

“We find most of our animals as strays from down in the Redlands and Homestead. We take in these animals, when the time is right we vaccinate them and treat them for heartworm.” Caridad said. “We spay/neuter, microchip them and get them ready for adoption. Whatever the dogs need, we do for them.”

Although humans have had a rough 2020, dogs and rescue animals have certainly had a great year.

Bella Martin Sports Editor

b.martin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY ELLA PEDROSO

PHOTO BY ISABEL LOPEZ

10| OPINION

JOURNALISM STILL MATTERS, NO MATTER WHAT POLITICIANS SAY Believe it or not, journalism still matters. For weeks and, more consequently, for the last four years, teenagers have repeatedly heard the words “fake news,” so much so that while they may understand the concept of journalism, they might not understand just how much our freedom of the press gives us as a human race.

The Constitution defines freedom of the press as an integral right in our country, one that defines our democracy and allows us to live free from the reigns of tyranny. The freedom of the press reflects such an important tenet of our society that the First Amendment holds it as one of its five rights.

And so, when our current president uses his freedom of speech on platforms like Twitter to attack our freedom of the press, it concerns me.

When several politicians tasked with keeping us safe from things like a global pandemic subscribe to Q’Anon conspiracy theories, it concerns me.

And when I hear my peers and friends call well-respected publications “fake news” while solely obtaining their news from unqualified social media accounts, it concerns me.

Journalism, contrary to the beliefs of some, is not inherently “fake.” In fact, it is the very rejection of falsehood that shapes the field of journalism in the first

place. It remains deeply jarring when I listen to politicians urge their constituents not to accept the results of our fair election simply because the media called it, when they had no problem doing so in 2016 when the election went their way.

The White House Correspondents Dinner, a presidential tradition that allows the president and well-

respected journalists to engage in a night of camaraderie and fun, reflects an important respect for one of our most basic freedoms as American people. President Donald Trump has failed to attend one of these events, offering up both a fundamental rejection of the hard work America’s journalists put in to keep citizens informed and safe and an excuse for his supporters to reject the truth. Leaders do not incite fear and distrust in people like journalists. Leaders recognize that

journalists may, at some point, report on a subject that paints them in a bad light, but choose to promote trust in them anyway.

I constantly hear people say “facts don’t care about your feelings,” and I urge them to take their own advice.

Listen to the facts, the ones provided by respected news outlets. Know that journalists dedicate their entire life to protecting our right to knowledge and our ability to hold our government accountable. Some journalists even put their lives on the line, entering extremely dangerous situations so that we as Americans can know what happens domestically and overseas.

Also, take the time to respect the work of young journalists that reject the constant bombardment of attacks on the media and aim to enter a cold, difficult field often devoid of the common praise other professionals obtain.

Without journalism, our democracy would cease to exist. Without journalism, we would plunge into an era of misinformation, tyranny and war. Always remember that, while you may choose to reject the freedom of the press in an attempt to block the truth, journalists aim to protect your way of life and your freedom of speech by exposing corruption and falsehood every step of the way.

Nicole Markus Editor In Chief

n.markus.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MICHAEL ANGEE

FEATURE |11

PantherS react to

the election

DESIGN BY ANA MARTINEZ

12| FEATURE

eyes on the election Election years tend to cause tension across the country, no matter where one lives.

However, the 2020 election season will go down in history as an election like no other.

From a global pandemic to racial unrest plaguing the country, this made for a heated election, with plenty of divisions between the supporters of now Presidentelect Joseph R. Biden and current President Donald J. Trump. These political affiliations also had an impact on members of our own Miami Palmetto H i g h School community, all of whom have their own diverse political views.

TEAM TRUMP

45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump made many promises at the beginning of his campaign run in 2015.

These promises persuaded his current base to vote in his favor.

Although some traditional conservatives do not agree with the current president in full, his promises of strengthening the military and law enforcement, lowering corporate taxes, and reassuring the American people that he will maintain the integrity of the second amendment, reflect traditional values they support.

Trump presents himself as an advocate for the military and national security. At the beginning of 2020, Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which allowed for a historic $738 billion in defense spending.

Supporters of the 45th president believe Trump’s emphasis on homeland security and economic advancements place him ahead of Biden.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Trump had the ability to capitalize on the growth of the economy. The record of job growth, which started at the beginning of former President Barack Obama’s presidency, kept growing as Trump took office in 2016.

“I supported Trump because he actually made a difference in our country’s economy in a good way,” Palmetto junior Thomas Peacock said.

Some supporters of President Trump believe that his values, including patriotism, benefit the American people.

“His actions and sense of patriotism gained my support,” Palmetto sophomore Emma Schain said.

When Trump initially refused to leave office, some of his supporters followed him into the fight in the name of fair election.

“I believe he is in the right; there are multiple pieces of evidence of fraud votes that could flip three states off Biden

FEATURE |13

to Trump if they take those fraud votes out,” Peacock said.

team biden

President-elect Joseph R. Biden will be sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2021.

Throughout his campaign, he has promised to improve racial inequality, health care and international alliances.

On Nov. 7, 2020, news outlets began to officially project Biden as the winner of the election, making him the President-elect of the United States and the future 46th president.

“I was really happy he won. I thought that our country needed a change in administration especially after COVID and all of the political issues,” Palmetto sophomore Alessandra Masi said.

Supporters of Biden prefer him over Trump due to his stance on health care, gun reform and various other policies.

“I supported Joe Biden in the 2020 election because he supports gun control; he believes in climate change and will listen to scientists about a viable plan to deal with the coronavirus, and he has empathy and is a man of the people, which is something Trump won’t ever have,” Palmetto sophomore Anna Blanco said.

Palmetto junior Criya Mahabir also supported former Biden in the 2020 election.

Mahabir felt relieved when news outlets

DESIGN BY ANA MARTINEZ PHOTOS COURTESY OF JADE PITA AND NICOLE MARKUS

announced that Biden had won. Since Mahabir did not qualify to vote on Election Day, she talked to her mother about her support of Biden instead. “[My mother] is always undecided when it comes to voting for the U.S. President. I told her my views on both candidates, and I believe it impacted her vote,” Mahabir said.

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

With such opposing views, some find themselves neutral or independent when it comes to politics. Due to not fully agreeing with either visions of the presidential candidates, Palmetto senior Rossmery Reyes felt conflicted supporting either of them.

Candidates in one of the several independent parties ensure independent voters choose a candidate based on specific issues rather than party. Non-partisan politicians tend to deal with issues facing the country, rather than basing their views on their party affiliation and party’s ideas.

“It was tough for me at first, but I had decided that being an Independent was more for me because I agreed with a lot of what their opinions were more than any of the other two parties. This has affected my relationship with my family because they have told me many times to just ‘pick a side’ and that ‘my vote won’t count if I vote for a third party,’” Reyes said.

Moreover, some Palmetto staff remain

neutral. Palmetto AP European History and AP Research teacher Daniel Corradino believes that not telling others who you support prevents unnecessary arguments.

“I’ll say on social media that there are some people that were like, every day, post multiple times. What I would do on Facebook is I would just snooze, like it just got too much,” Corradino said.

GETTING INVOLVED

Voting remains one of the most effective ways to remain politically active and ensure that your views reflect the government’s actions. However, if one is ineligible to vote, one can still make a difference and potentially impact other people through educating and volunteering.

Members of the Palmetto community got involved with the elections, from promoting their political beliefs through social media to helping candidates with the campaigning process.

“On Election Day, I went out to Palmetto High School and [Palmetto] Middle School to encourage people to vote in support of a local election runner Shannon del Prado for a few hours,” Palmetto senior Jakob Gundersen said.

In addition to this, Palmetto’s teachers also used this unique election as an opportunity to get involved. Palmetto Honors Economics teacher Armando Gonzalez explains how he

14| FEATURE manages voting registration for Palmetto.

“I was registering students to vote on the current Democrat or Republican nominee,” Gonzalez said.

Palmetto also hosted a mock election, with Palmetto students voting on who they would have supported in the 2020 election on @mpshactivities’s Instagram poll. The Instagram poll’s results showed Palmetto students supported Biden over Trump 53% to 47%, and Daniella Levine Cava to Esteban Bovo 69% to 31% in the MiamiDade mayor election.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Although the election itself has come to an end, it appears Trump will not concede to Biden unless the electoral college confirms Biden’s win, and has filed lawsuits across the country in an attempt to overturn the election. While many of these lawsuits were dismissed, Trump has made it clear he will not go down without a fight.

Biden has attempted to continue moving forward with his preparations for taking office. Biden has already named Ron Klain as his Chief of Staff, and has more Cabinet picks on the way. A lot remains uncertain

about what happens prior to Jan. 20, 2021, but these issues will soon resolve before Biden takes the Oath of Office and officially becomes the 46th President of the United States of America.

Michael Angee Design Editor

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Isabel Lopez

Multimedia Editor

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Jack Meyer

Online Editor-in-Chief

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mock-election

results

statistics according to @mpshactivities on “instagram”

president of the united states

53%

mayor of miami-dade county

31%

voted for

joe biden

47%

voted for

donald trump

DESIGN BY ANA MARTINEZ

voted for

esteban bovo

69%

voted for

daniella levine cava

NBA

Rating COVID-19 Responses in

Major Sports Leagues For many professional sports leagues, the 2020 fall season looked very different from 2019. Sports leagues, from the National Hockey League to Major League Baseball, had to modify how they approached the game, but not all solutions looked alike.

The NHL announced their plans to continue the season first. On May 26, two and a half months after pausing team training camps, the NHL commissioner announced the “Return to Play Plan.” This allowed training camps to restart in July and moved the Stanley Cup playoffs to two hub cities, Edmonton and Toronto, where the players isolated in “bubbles” from Jul. 27 to Aug. 15.

While living within the bubbles, the league provided a stringently-enforced set of rules. According to players and coaches, compliance officers would have conversations with those not complying with mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines, and players would receive a reprimand if they entered each other’s rooms. According to the NHL, by the time the players left the bubbles, the league had conducted 19,898 COVID-19 tests, none of which came back positive.

Some Miami Palmetto Senior High students agree the NHL’s precautions seemed effective.

“I think they were really good,” Palmetto senior and hockey fan Seth Kessler said. “The NHL actually has good management and there were no cases reported the whole time the playoffs went on. It seemed really safe.”

The National Basketball Associ-

L H N

ation took a similar approach, confining all players, coaches and staff members to a bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Each team — 16 made the playoffs — stayed at one of three Disney hotels and practiced and competed at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

Everyone involved took COVID-19 tests daily, and while individuals could leave the bubble if necessary, they needed to quarantine for at least 10 days before returning. The NBA thought about smaller details, too; referees attached bags to their whistles to catch saliva, playing cards came in single-use decks and each basketball was sanitized with a special disinfectant.

The measures paid off, and by the time the playoffs ended, the NBA had recorded zero positive tests. Some players — who had lived in the bubble upwards of three months — joked that, while there, they felt so safe that boredom seemed like the bigger danger, not COVID-19.

“I was actually very surprised; I thought that the playoffs went more smoothly than I could have imagined,” Advanced Placement U.S. History and basketball fan Silvio Vargas said. “So, all things considered, I feel like the NBA did a pretty good job of protecting players, protecting fans, but also, actually putting on the playoffs.”

Unlike the NHL and NBA, MLB did not do a COVID-19 bubble, but still took extensive safety measures. For MLB players, COVID-19 precautions meant a 100-plus page safety guide, tier system, mandatory personal protective equipment, no public transportation, temperature checks and symptom questionnaires.

It also entailed smaller precautions, like propping open doors to minimize contact, pre-packaging extra supplies if a player needed something like sunscreen and replacing frequently-touched baseballs.

The most significant measure was the tier system.

Teams determined

MLB

who had access each tier, with tier one limited 60

to

to 87 people: players; 12 coaches; six physicians; two bullpen catchers, physical therapists, strength coaches and trainers and one manager. Tier two allowed a maximum of 38 people, while tier three was limited to 150 people.

However, for viewers at home, the sport itself mostly stayed the same; these changes took place primarily behind-thescenes. “[The measures] didn’t really impact the way I viewed the game,” Palmetto junior and baseball fan Marcos Tamargo said. “I did miss the funny fan reactions and interactions, but other than that and the pressure of the ‘big game,’ it was baseball and still cool to watch the playoffs.”

While MLB notes they made every effort to ensure the safety of players and staff, contact with others was unavoidable.

According to a July 17 ESPN article, one anonymous MLB player came into contact with 63 others on game day and, in September, MLB had to postpone 43 games due to positive cases and team-wide outbreaks within the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. However, on Oct. 24, MLB announced no player tested positive in 54 days, and by the end of the season, just 91 of the 172,740 tests — 0.05% — conducted during the season had come back positive.

Katriona Page

Contents/Copy Editor

k.page.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

16 | SPORTS

Bounceback bounceback the ultimate

How the Dolphins Went From “Tanking” to Playoff Contention A lot can change in one year. Just one season ago, the Miami Dolphins started on a seven-game losing streak, which led many to assume that the Dolphins would get out of the playoff picture for the foreseeable future. However, following an offseason that featured several under-the-radar signings and draft picks, head coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier have Dolphins fans very excited to see the team’s newfound potential.

While the Dolphins’ 2019 season may seem insignificant to many due to the team finishing with a lackluster record of 5-11, it actually helped to kick off Miami’s revitalization. Young offensive stars like wide receiver Devante Parker and tight end Mike Gesicki began to break out in the second half of the season, and Flores helped lead the formerly-league worst Dolphins to a 5-4 record in their final nine games.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the 2019 season occurred when the Dolphins upset their division rival and the 2018 Super Bowl

champion New England Patriots in the final game of the regular season. While the game had no meaning for the Dolphins in terms of their final record, it provided an enormous morale boost to both the players and fans, who now saw then-rookie head coach Flores and this team’s capabilities.

“The moment the Dolphins beat the Patriots in Foxborough, I knew we finally had our guy [in Flores],” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior Julio Peralta said.

The front office then went to work during the offseason, filling in multiple team needs prior to the 2020 season. The Dolphins immediately made numerous splashes within the first few days of free agency, including signing linebacker Kyle Van Noy, cornerback Byron Jones and offensive guard Ereck Flowers to lucrative multi-year deals. Miami also made a few smaller signings that went relatively unnoticed at the time, including linebacker Shaq Lawson and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.

The Dolphins were also active in the 2020 NFL Draft, with five picks in the first two rounds. As had been widely anticipated for nearly a year, Miami snagged their next franchise quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick in the draft. Later on in the draft, Miami drafted three offensive linemen and two defensive backs in order to patch up some of the remaining holes

in the roster.

Even with these moves, many analysts did not foresee much success for Miami this season. Prior to the season beginning, the Dolphins ranked as the worst team in the NFL in Madden NFL 21. The season did not exactly get off to an ideal start either, with the Dolphins facing tough opponents, such as the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks, which led to a 1-3 record in their first four games.

However, the Dolphins soon started to heat up, with their defense becoming one of the best in the league. Ogbah has evolved into one of the best pass rushers in the league, while Miami’s secondary has become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Additionally, the offense has gradually improved after Tagovailoa took over as the starting quarterback in week eight. While a lot can still change over the course of the rest of the season, the Dolphins appear to have a bright future ahead of them, and likely have only just gotten started.

“I thought that the Dolphins were going to have a losing record going into this season,” Miami Palmetto Senior High sophomore Matthew Lewis said. “But, as of right now, they look like a playoff team.”

Jack Meyer

Online Editor-in-Chief

j.meyer.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

SPORTS |17

The Politicization of Sports Teams visiting the white House

When it comes to sports, there has always been an abundance of controversy.

Many people argue about their favorite team and bet on the outcome of games, as friendly disagreements are a large component of many sports games. The love of a team, heightened at championship games, shows the contagious energy and camaraderie that sports can bring to a multitude of people. For the winning team, a celebration to commemorate all the hard work from the season takes place along with the fans celebrating at home. People throw parades and parties, and even dance in the streets. Yet, when invited to continue the celebration at the White House with the President of the United States, some athletes decline.

The tradition of sports teams visiting the White House dates back to 1865 when two baseball teams visited President Andrew Johnson, with President Ronald Reagan starting the tradition of honoring championship teams more regularly at the White House.

After Johnson, presidents invited the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey Association, along with college teams and countless other winning sports teams to the White House as well.

More recently, this tradition started to become a political event, as many athletes refused to go because of their conflicting political beliefs with those in office or to protest events they find unjust.

“I think for them [athletes] they see this as a way to kind of push back when they think there are things in society that are wrong and need to be changed,” Associate Dean and Director of Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Program at the University of Miami School of Law, Greg Levy said.

Although this seems like a new occurrence, several teams in the past have not received offers to visit the White House, as well as players deciding not to

attend while the rest of their team does.

In 1999, the Denver Broncos never received an invitation to the White House after winning the Super Bowl, without receiving a reason as to why. Some speculate President Bill Clinton’s impeachment the month before was a factor in the decision.

In 1984, Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Cedric Maxwell did not attend the Boston Celtics visit to the White House. Maxwell claimed a busy schedule due to preparations for his wedding and Bird said if the President wanted to see him, he knew where to find him. The public did not seem outraged or upset when either of these events occurred, unlike the present day.

More recently, when former President Barack H. Obama and President Donald J.Trump invited sports teams to the White House, many players declined in protest of some policies each respective President backed.

In 2013, football player Matt Birk skipped out on the Baltimore Ravens visit to the White House after hearing Obama’s remarks on the Planned Parenthood organization. In 2017, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry stated he would not attend the champions visit to the White House, with the rest of his team doing the same. This resulted in Trump officially uninviting Curry via Twitter.

A pattern started appearing of athletes stating they would not visit the White House if given the chance and, as a result, the President’s administration did not extend an invitation to those teams at all.

While some people disagreed with the athletes, others praised them for their actions.

“Declining that offer would show disrespect to the President or accepting it

would be really important because not every team gets a chance to do something like that,” Palmetto freshman varsity volleyball player Gianna Graziano said.

Many athletes receive hate for not accepting the invitation, as many view it as an American tradition to do so, and not a political visit.

“Right now both sides are trying to use athletes to support their political agenda and so I don’t know if that’s favourable for the athlete to do that, and it is a personal decision and they’d have to make that decision on their own, but going to the White House should be to shed light on the individual and their accomplishments on the sport, not because of their political views,” Palmetto tennis coach Kelly Gibson said.

When famous athletes refrain from going to the White House, it represents more than missing the event. It signifies a protest on issues they felt needed to be addressed or resolved.

“Teams are getting more educated about politics and just really looking into it more and seeing what type of people are in office and using their voices for or against it,” Graziano said.

Megan Rapinoe, the captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team famously said in a video interview she would not go to the White House if they won the World Cup in 2019, sparking a big uproar in the media. “[If] athletes rightfully believe that there are problems in the country that are not being properly addressed by a particular administration then it is a really good opportunity to take a stand,” Levy said.

Samantha Elkins

Multimedia Video Editor

s.elkins.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

18| OPINION

FACE OFF:

SHOULD MSO BE ALLOWED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR ?

YES

NO

In the midst of these unpredictable times, the perfect option for school does not exist. However, proper education remains key to future success. In terms of effectiveness, virtual education stands nowhere near comparable to inperson school. While My School Online may appear ideal for select students, for the majority of the student body, physical school presents less challenges on the road to learning.

As convenient as MSO seems, not all students have access to reliable and fast-working internet to keep up with the online programs. At Miami-Dade County Public Schools, platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and the initial K-12 program, which has proven unreliable in the past, serve as the basis of the MSO program. On the first day of distance learning, the whole county attempted to access the online program K-12, but after several days of difficulty, opted for a third-party alternative. This failure by the school system showcases what could potentially go wrong in the future, especially for students learning through the online modality.

Similarly, teachers with students learning via MSO and in-person cannot pay equal attention to everyone. Teachers need to adapt to teaching two separate classes at the same time: one projected on the board and one seated in class.

Unfortunately, this way of teaching leads to insufficiency and poses difficulties for all those involved. Because of this, both online students and in-person students suffer the loss of having a more distracted teacher, which results in less focused lectures. As physical students thrive, online students get left behind.

Online learning requires a great deal of focus and motivation that many students do not have.

Without a teacher on top of their students, many may fall behind, leaving them confused and less likely to succeed in that class.

The New York Times reports that online students prove less likely to pass end-ofcourse exams due to a lack of retention of essential content. The online students who need the most help end up receiving the least attention. Online students do not get the same face-to-

Amy-Grace Shapiro Multimedia Editor

a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY ISABELLA HEWITT

On Friday, Mar. 13, Miami-Dade County Public Schools closed physical campuses to ensure the well-being and safety of students and staff due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, everyone needed to attend online school. Fast forward to present day, and schools reopened for in-person learning beginning on Monday, Oct. 5, with the option for students to continue online schooling or to return to campus. Since the initial closing of schools, government officials continue to report thousands of new COVID-19 cases daily, and we have found ourselves with an alarming inundation of cases compared to when we originally shut down.

Offering the My School Online option reduces the number of kids on school campuses by more than half, providing schools with more space for everyone to social distance.

Distance learning has also provided the opportunity for anyone with health issues that cause them to be considered high risk to remain at home. If schools do away with online schooling come January, many students’ lives and health would be put at great risk for no redeeming reason.

Though an argument could be made that the quality of education declines when learning online, parents and children need to make this choice on a case-by-case basis.

Furthermore, many kids can learn much better in an online setting because they do not have to face the distractions that appear in-person. At school, many kids face bullying, anxiety and extreme stress. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, at least 20 percent of students ages 12-18 reported experiencing bullying at school. Clearly, these students would learn better in the comfort of their own home — without the fear of harassment.

In most classes, teachers attempt to separate students, creating a safer environment that enables kids to stay as far apart as possible. If physical schooling becomes mandatory, the amount of people occupying space and the number of desks necessary would double.

With the addition of so many kids, it would grow extremely difficult to enforce social distancing, and COVID-19 cases would rise drastically.

There would also be too many students for the staff to consistently enforce a mask mandate.

Kate Markus Copy Editor

k.markus.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MICHAEL ANGEE

OPINION| 19

A HOUSE DIVIDED

HOW THE CURRENT POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE HAS INFILTRATED OUR PERSONAL LIVES This year has proven to be immensely difficult for almost everyone around the world. The deaths of over one million people continue to impact countless families. Rough economic circumstances have created limited options for families that struggled prior to the global pandemic, and many people’s plans for the future have met their untimely demise. However, a rather unanticipated consequence includes the end of many relationships, an issue stemming from the federal government.

President Donald J. Trump has maintained a laissez-faire attitude toward COVID-19 from the very beginning. Journalist Bob Woodward revealed that in a conversation with Trump in early February, Trump spoke of his plans to intentionally downplay the severity of the illness so as not to alarm the American people or cause a panic. Trump has spat on COVID-19 precautions throughout the last eight months, holding multiple rallies without enforcing social distancing protocols or mask mandates. He notoriously held a COVID-19 super-spreader event at the White House to welcome Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court; many politicians gathered in the Rose Garden, mingling with one another as the pandemic continued to rage on.

When Trump eventually contracted the disease himself, he tweeted: “Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump administration, some really great drugs and knowledge.” For many, this feels like a direct slap in the face to the 248,000 dead Americans who had no choice but to let the virus “dominate” their lives.

On the opposite side, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, regularly urges the American people to continue to practice social distancing procedures, wear masks in public and remain vigilant about their own virus exposure.

One of the issues with these massively different viewpoints lies in the fact that the virus has become so politicized that supporters blindly follow the politicians that they worship, no matter the consequences.

Dealing with COVID-19 has turned into a Trump vs. President-elect Joseph R. Biden war, rather than the American people coming together to beat COVID-19. Those who support one political party or politician now mostly socialize with one another, given that their social distancing protocols, or lack thereof, remain relatively the same. This selfimposed isolation from those with differing

opinions because of COVID-19 has ended friendships on account of numerous reasons.

Anger felt by both sides, those who choose not to quarantine and carry on with their lives as normal or those who have been locked up in their homes for eight months, has become so toxic that many friendships have ended simply because the current political atmosphere surrounding COVID-19 does not allow for this kind of socialization.

It is genuinely sad to think that the issue of a deadly virus turned into a political game, unlike the many other countries that united and overcame the virus together. In the U.S., COVID-19 has turned into a series of Twitter attacks and bold-faced lies and, at a certain point, friendships fell apart because of this deep divide. Whether from indignation or purely social isolation, it remains pertinent to acknowledge how the pandemic has drastically changed social structures in the United States. COVID-19 has politically infiltrated society; many friend groups that worriedly texted each other on Mar. 13 have ceased to exist. Those with the same political viewpoints have grouped together, and, assuming your text messages delete after not being touched for a month, your conversations with former friends have drifted out of memory and into iCloud.

Jane Heise DESIGN BY MICHAEL ANGEE

PHOTO BY ISABELLA HEWITT

Print Editor In Chief

j.heise.thepanther@gmail.com

20| LIFE

PAWSITIVE PANTHERS

A look into some of Miami Palmetto Senior High’s newest student-led groups and initiatives

PHOTO BY GIANNA HUTTON Despite the pandemic impeding normal extracurricular activities, it has not stopped passionate groups and individuals on campus from launching projects aimed at raising awareness for particular issues, four of which center around financial literacy, climate literacy, the gender gap in STEM courses and careers, and the lack of accessibility to volunteer opportunities.

finance club Launched last year, the Finance Club aims to increase student understanding of how financial systems work and the variety of employments available in the economic and business fields.

“A lot of high school students just don’t know much about business generally; they only know we have jobs like engineering, doctors or lawyers. Not many really think about business, or the stock market or finance,” Palmetto senior and Finance Club President Mike Zhou said.

Through specialized and general meetings on the first and third Wednesday of each month, club officers and special guests teach members valuable life skills that go beyond what a classroom offers.

“You can join at any level, and all of our officers are well-versed in finance and all the club members help each other learn and understand how money works,” junior and Vice President of Operations Alexandr Kim said.

Other than finance, this club also teaches students other important skills in fields like consulting, management and entrepreneurship.

“When a lot of people go to college... and they first hear about business... they sort of start switching tracks,” Zhou said. “My goal isn’t to make them pursue business, it’s just to let them know that there’s a separate career path out there they could pursue.”

To get involved in Palmetto’s Finance Club, students can follow @mpsh_finance club on Instagram and text @mpshfc to 810-10 to join their Remind.

CLIP

Founded by Palmetto alumnus Nicole Gazo last April, the Climate Leadership Information Project serves as a subdivision of the Science National Honor Society and certifies students as climate speakers in collaboration with the CLEO Institute. CLIP also offers peer-to-peer lectures inside school.

“After taking environmental science my junior year, I thought it was ridiculous that it took me over 10 years of standard education to finally even get the chance to take a class like environmental science which taught us about the climate crisis. It’s just really ridiculous that students have to be voluntarily willing to take a college course in high school, to simply gain an understanding of global warming and the fact that if we don’t act now,” Palmetto alumnus and founder of CLIP Nicole Gazo said.

Gazo started CLIP in hopes it could empower students, similar to how receiving a climate education fueled her activism journey.

“I think it’s important to have this climate literacy at Palmetto and just in general in high schools because it took me one class to finally gain the courage to reach out to my elected officials, go out and help pass climate emergency declarations, and pass a straw ban...it gave me the courage and the courage that I needed to show myself that our elected officials are willing to listen and work with us,” Gazo said.

Similar to how the Health Information Project (HIP) enters into history classes, CLIP members go into biology classes throughout the year and educate students about the climate crisis.

“It is important that students receive a climate education so that they know what climate issues are out there and are able to help stop them before they get out of hand,” junior and Science National Honor Society President-Elect Aiden Kong said.

Members also start an annual public service campaign about a particular environmental issue.

“Last year, we completed an Earth Day public service campaign highlighting various ways to help fight climate change leading up to Earth Day. It is important to bring attention to these issues so that we are able to protect our environment from getting degraded and polluted to the point of no return,” Kong said.

To get involved with the CLIP, students can follow @clipmpsh and @mpsh.snhs on Instagram.

women in technology

LIFE |21

The newest club on campus, named Women in Technology, and runs as a subdivision of Mu Alpha Theta and targets another issue — the lack of women in the STEM field.

“I decided to start Women in Tech because I noticed a huge gender disparity in the field of computer science and STEM in general, and I want to start to try and close the gap,” junior and founder of Women in Technology Nicole Quintela said. “It’s ridiculous that there’s one girl in a class of 20 guys in a computer science class... when we all have the same education.”

Although it is the newest club on campus, Quintela has big plans for this up-and-coming group.

“I really hope that the branch of MAO, first of all, will become its own club and... be a tradition at Palmetto where we can have as many girls as possible learning to code, even if it’s not what they want to do with the rest of their lives. I want them to be able to experience new things and really realize that STEM is not as intimidating as people make it out to be,” Quintela said.

Establishing clubs can be hard, especially Starting a club is never easy, especially not during a pandemic, with hybrid schooling. when schools are hybrid.

“It’s been not an easy process. I’ve really had to push to get things done, I’ve sent so many emails, contacted so many people, and I’ve failed again and again, but ultimately I was able to find a solution to make this happen,” Quintela said.

To get involved with Women in Technology, students can follow @mpsg.wit on Instagram and text @nquintela to 810-10.

Gianna Hutton Design Editor

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THAT’S HOT, Cyber Monday YOU’RE NOT Black Friday

No one should ever look forward to Black Friday. Why would someone dream of waking up before the sun and joining the swarm of 80 million-plus shoppers fighting over unnecessary items, just to then stand in line for hours and become another consumer manipulated by big businesses on this “national holiday?” Everyone knows that Black Friday deals are not even that good, but consumers still find themselves at Dadeland Mall every year, convinced that they just have to take advantage of the “extra 10% off sale items” deal at Nordstrom. If these reasons have failed to keep people away in the past, I hope that Americans can find some common sense this year, in the midst of a global pandemic; the last thing America needs is millions of people gathering in Bath & Body Works, touching and smelling everything in sight. Instead, shop from the comfort of your home on Cyber Monday. The lovely Internet makes it easy to really find the best deals, all while not losing any sleep or risking the well-being of an entire country. Besides, if one plans on spending hours and hours shopping, they might as well not do it less than 24 hours after expressing gratitude for everything they have in life.

Valentina Caceres

Senior Multi-media Editor v.caceres.thepanther@gmail.com

STAFF EDITORIAL A love letter to Thanksgiving side dishes While this Thanksgiving may not look like past Thanksgivings, one thing remains a steadfast and integral part of the beloved fall holiday — side dishes.

Beginning with a classical addition, green beans remain a staple at many Thanksgiving tables across America.

However, the children (and some adults) at the table usually try their best to remain as far away as possible from the deep green vegetable. Sticking to the theme of vegetables, varieties of varicolored root vegetables often get drizzled with vegetable oils and topped with seasoning and spice blends. The brilliant profusion of the dish appeals to crowds of all types, with parents often adding special secret ingredients to make the side appealing to the youngest attendees and relishing in victory when the pickiest of eaters nod in approval. One cannot mention side dishes without paying homage to the variety of breads that accompany Thanksgiving dinner.

Corn bread, rolls and practically any variation of baked goods act as a classical addition to any side dish or main course, receiving rave reviews from eaters everywhere.

Now comes the long-debated option of sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows. When crafting Thanksgiving Day menus, many parents prepare the dish in an attempt to encourage the most selective and uninterested young eaters to engage in Thanksgiving feasting. Feeling confident and at ease that the base of the dish contains a vegetable, many parents eagerly give their children multiple servings of the dish, with many of the youngsters ready for the heaping of marshmallows which top the sweet potatoes. Another controversial side dish, cranberry sauce, can be found at nearly every dining table on Thanksgiving Day. While the sauce itself may not face much criticism, the debate regarding the superiority of homemade versus store-bought still lingers today. With a plethora of options, the dependability of Thanksgiving side dishes brings a special sense of normalcy during a year which, for many, has never been further from normal. One thing remains certain: with Thanksgiving side dishes, there is always something for everyone at the table.

Angelina Astic

Copy Editor

a.astic.thepanther@gmail.com

MISSION STATEMENT The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about school-wide, local, national, and international news. The Panther’s content aims to represent the student body. Editorials feature the opinions of staffers. Features of other students, teachers and clubs further promote the spirit, culture and personality of Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7460 S.W. 118th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 2337. The views expressed are solely those of The Panther staff. Students who wish to respond to an article in this publication or discuss another issue may write letters to the editor and submit them to room 980 or e-mail us at n.markus. thepanther@gmail.com. The Panther has professional membership in NSPA and CSPA. The Panther prints 1,400 copies per issue for distribution. The Panther is distributed for free to all students in school. Please visit our paper online at thepalmettopanther.com.

BYLINE POLICY: All creative work (such as illustrations, graphics, photos and writing) excluding staff editorials and staff member pictures will include byline credits.

CORRECTION POLICY: Any errors in print will be acknowledged in the next print issue in a correction box. Any errors online will be acknowledged immediately. Errors include facts, figures, misquoting and name misspellings.

ADVERTISING POLICY: Ads will be designed by the advertiser and include all information the advertiser wants included.

If the advertiser asks the staff to design the ad, the individual who sold the ad will design the ad or the Ads Manager will. Ads will be approved by EICs, the Advisor and the Ads Manager. If an ad produced is illegible, contains false information, or the advertiser does not like it, they will receive a free ad in the next issue. If you would like to advertise, please contact us.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY The School Board shall comply with all Federal Laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. The Board will enforce its prohibition against discrimination/harassment based on sex, race, color, ethnic, or national origin, religion, marital status, disability, age, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, social and family background, linguistic preference, pregnancy and any other basis prohibited by law. The Board shall maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of discrimination/harassment, which includes Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct such as unwelcome touching, graphic verbal comments, sexual jokes, slurs, gestures or pictures. All students, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of prohibited discrimination or harassment against students by employees, other students and their parents or guardians, or third parties. This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment at all School District operations, programs, and activities on school property, or at another location if it occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.