PANTHER
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Miami Palmetto Senior High School
7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156 Tuesday October 25 2022
Panthers Past and Present
CONT 11 | Feature
Teachers then and now LOCal
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It is their first year of high school. Hundreds of students walk through the doors of Miami Palmetto Senior High, unaware of what the next four years will hold.
05| NEWS MATHESON HAMMOCK
For Miami locals, Matheson Hammock Park is a staple of the community. The park provides both tranquility and an opportunity for family and friend gettogethers and remains a historic plot of land in Coral Gables.
Oct.16 celebrates World Food Day, honoring the Food and Agricultural Organization’s establishment in 1945. According to the FAO’s 2022 report, within the last year, the world faced a serious food crisis as 193 million people throughout 53 countries suffered food shortages. The World Health Organization warns that serious malnutrition can affect these victims for the rest of their lives, including stunted growth, development delays and poor immune systems.
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ents OCTOBER 2022
www.thepalmettopanther.com
@thepantherpaper
07| LIFE 17| Sports EARLY CHILDHOOD COST OF SPORTS
NATIONAL
An active serial killer in Stockton, CA. who has been active for the past few months was caught on Saturday, Oct.15 and charged with homicide. The alleged killer, Wesley Brownlee, is 43-years-old and went on a killing spree of men aged 21-54 Years old. When caught by the police, it is believed that Brownlee was on another violent rampage. Despite Brownlee’s motives remaining unclear, authorities believe his actions were intentional.
INTERNATIONAL
While some students spend their For many, playing a sport creates a second block of the day in subjects passion that lasts long into their lifesuch as social sciences, a select time. Whether for leisure or competifew at Palmetto have the opportu- tion, sports remain part of the human nity to mentor younger students. condition.
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19| opinion TWIN DYNAMIC
The grainy ultrasound revealed a misleading image of one healthy baby with a normal amount of arms and legs, but it had two heads.
As Florida’s west coast begins its clean up efforts after Hurricane Ian, Lee County officials decided to raise the landfill transportation fee to $40 per mile, contrary to the current 5 cents per mile. This will increase the amount of money taxpayers will pay, while also taking money from government funds. Lee County cannot handle the amount of debris in its landfills, resulting in the need for the utilization of landfills outside the county and in nearby areas. Issues lay at the fact that a truck can only carry 100-cubic-yards of debris; considering that Lee County will likely use other landfills, this can round up to about 10,000 landfill trips and an overall amount of $20 million in taxes.
04| NEWS
CELEBRATING CULTURE: Miami Caribbean Festival
The Miami Caribbean Carnival is an annual event celebrating Caribbean culture during Columbus Day weekend, bringing visitors together from around the world. The carnival, celebrated with parades, music, cultural foods and festivities, is completely organized by people with Caribbean roots. Originally, carnivals started as a pre-Lent tradition—a Roman Catholic custom derived from Italy. Roman Catholics practice austerity during Lent, with the carnival serving as the final festivity prior to it. As for the Miami Caribbean Carnival, it was originally founded in 1985 by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association committee. The carnival consists of four main affairs: Junior Carnival, J’ouvert, Panorama and Parade of the Bands. This year, the events commenced with the Junior Carnival on Oct. 1, six days prior to the official carnival. On Oct. 7 of the following week, the festival kicked off with the Panorama Competition, a battle between steel bands that play Caribbean music. Then, on Oct. 8, the J’ouvert took place, involving calypso and soca bands with dancers from dusk to dawn. On Oct. 9, the carnival concluded with the Parade of the Bands, including masquerade bands and cultural costumes. The Caribbean, a diverse region with numerous cultures, allows for distinct carnivals to take place. Though various countries in the Caribbean organize carnivals, each region has their own traditions. Cuba has carnivals, such as San Juan Camagüeyano and Carnaval Santiago de Cuba; these carnivals take place in the summer months— typically June or July. “Specifically, I have attended the carnivals of my country, Cuba. They are celebrated in
the summer. There is a lot of live music. Carriages with dancers pass by [accompanied by]troupes with Afro-Cuban music. People dress up and dance too,” Miami Palmetto Senior High Advanced Placement Spanish teacher Adalberto Martin said. “The origin goes back to the first Africans brought to the island. Little by little these African festivals were mixed with European customs and the carnival as we know it today emerged.” The carnival unites Caribbean people of various heritages. Despite cultural differences, people of all backgrounds come together to celebrate each of their individual cultures and relish in each other’s customs. The annual carnival encourages representation and diversity amongst Caribbean people while giving Miami a taste of each culture. Hosting cultural events in Miami—a diverse city created by people of various backgrounds, brings knowledge about different cultures and allows people to embrace their heritage with honor. One community of proud caribbeans in Miami are Jamaicans. “When you think of the culture overall, you think of a lot that goes into it, so you think of the music, the food and it all plays a part. It’s that special spice, you know? We love our roots, the food, music and all aspects of our culture,” MPSH African Heritage Club sponsor, and proud Jamaican, Trisha Jarrett said. Caribbean people are proud of their roots, and the carnival showcases some of that diversity Miami holds dearly.
Ivy Lagarto
Design Editor
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Daniel Perodin DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO
Staff Writer
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NEWS |05
Re s t or i n g
For Miami locals, Matheson Hammock Park is a staple of the community. The park provides both tranquility and an opportunity for family and friend gettogethers and remains a historic plot of land in Coral Gables. According to the Matheson Hammock mission statement, the park was built “to preserve the wild and natural beauty.” Over the years, it has grown from a small plot of land to 630 acres due to donations and purchases from the heirs of William John Matheson. In 1991, an original plan was made to restore the park and its natural area, known as the Endangered Lands Program. “This was a voter-approved tax referendum where the voters wanted to have money so that we could buy and set aside some of these environmentally sensitive areas for perpetuity, so it was originally $90 million set aside with plenty for acquisition as well as
management, and in the last 30 years, we have acquired up to 27,000 acres,” Environmental Resource Project Supervisor at Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management Joy Klein said. Since then, Matheson Hammock has not only been a hotspot for picnics, trails and quinceanera photoshoots, but also a vital part of South Miami’s ecosystem. In its entirety, it is home to mangroves, hardwood hammocks and other foliage and fauna that makes up South Florida’s distinctive nature. Over time, the west side of the park has been unavailable to most people in the community due to a lack of resources to manage and restore its unique ecology. However, Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation And Open Spaces has secured new resources: a $3.3 million project, known as The Matheson Hammock Wetland Restoration Project, that plans to restore Matheson’s natural habitat while adding improvements for continued and controlled dog access and recreational use by guests. The project is currently conducted by the county’s Environmentally Endangered Lands program (EEL). “The west side has a lot of green nature trails filled with wildlife that is not commonly seen in Miami. It is very unique and 100% worth saving,” Matheson Hammock Adventure Sports Instructor and
environmental advocate Santiago Aguirre said. The project includes six main elements: vehicle access improvement, an updated parking lot, installation of a boardwalk, a limestone nursery, a fenced area for unleashed dogs and keeping the trails untouched. “The mangroves in East Matheson are really important as they are nurseries for different animals like horseshoe crabs, white-spotted eagle rays, snails and manatees, and implanting a limestone plant nursery in the West would be extremely beneficial for them, and honestly the entire park as it works as one ecosystem,” Aguirre said. Restoring Matheson Park allows for positive long-term effects that not only affect South Miami’s ecosystem but the entire city. “A lot of people may not realize that natural areas do a lot more for the people of this county. They help to sequester carbon, which in turn will help mitigate sea level rise, they produce oxygen, they buffer storm surges, they block sound pollution, they raise property values, they filter water,” Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department Natural Areas Manager Jennifer Stern said. “So making sure all of our natural areas are in good shape, good health and the habitats are in good condition is always important.”
Isabella Hewitt Contents Editor
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DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO PHOTOS BY VALE ARIAS
06| NEWS
P R O F IL E ON 2023 S T U DEN T COUNCIL
SENATORS
16 2023
COMMITTEES COMMITTEES
For the past two years, Miami Palmetto Senior High School’s Student Council has been held back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, post-pandemic, the sky is the limit for 2022-2023 senators. The 16 Senate committees are divided between Co-Chiefs-of-Senate Christina Perez and Alexandra Shapiro. Perez oversees Special Events, Staff Appreciation, Recruitment, Community Outreach, Public Relations, Public Relations Content Creation, Student Involvement and the Voices of Palmetto. Shapiro delegates School Safety, Environmental Outreach, Advertising, ICC Liaisons, PTSA/ ESSAC Liaisons, Parliamentarians and Historians. “I have to communicate with the senators and make sure that they are up to par with their positions and that they are doing their jobs,” Perez said. “I am also always voicing their ideas to Mrs. Valero to make sure that they are creating tasks and accomplishing them.” A major goal for Senate is to act as a medium for the entire student body to partake in school legislation. To encourage this, Student Council meetings are open forums where attendees’ comments— regardless of their positions—may be communicated to the Council. “We have made all of our Student Council meetings open to the public, so anyone can come in to view them,” Perez said. “We also started passing more legislative bills so everyone at Palmetto can come into our meetings and vote on a bill and whether they want it to be passed or not. This way people at Palmetto have the opportunity to make decisions for our school.” In addition to inviting students from all of Palmetto to partake in Student Council meetings, Homeroom Representatives have been reintroduced, acting as the House of
Representatives. This way, students do not have to seek out members of the Senate to address an idea or concern. Instead, they have a guaranteed representative in their third-period class whose job is to report student needs back to the Council. “We brought back Homeroom Representatives this year because it gives students that are not involved in Student Council at all a voice,” President of Student Counil and senior Abigail Lambert said. “This year, it is our main way of incorporating more diverse voices within Student Government.” The 2022-2023 senators have made it their goal to revitalize student involvement at Palmetto. Since students have returned to school, the Student Council has already hosted a variety of events, passed several new bills and is in the process of planning many more projects.. “At our last meeting, the Student Council passed a resolution [written by junior Isabella Diez], saying the Student Council recognizes September as Hispanic Heritage Month,” Shapiro said. “[The] Student Council is also planning a Fall Festival very soon.” Though the school administration possesses executive power over the happenings of Palmetto, students underestimate how much influence the Student Council holds over school affairs. The 2022-2023 Senators encourage students to approach the Council with their concerns before alerting a teacher or administrator. “Sometimes it does not take an administrator to solve a problem,” Lambert said. “Student Council has a lot of resources and a lot of connections, probably more than most students would think. If we can avoid burdening administration with unnecessary concerns then we should do that as much as we possibly can.”
Jasmine Judge
Business Manager
j.judge.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO PHOTOS BY VALE ARIAS
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT:
Students Becoming Teachers
While some students spend their second block of the day in subjects such as mathematics and social sciences, a select few at Miami Palmetto Senior High School have the opportunity to mentor younger students from neighboring elementary schools. Assisting in tasks such as grading, organizing and engaging in one-on-one mentoring, these students act as teacheraides in schools around the community such as Pinecrest Elementary, Palmetto Elementary, Howard Drive Elementary and Pinecrest Presbyterian. At MPSH, the early childhood program consists of four different levels. The first level, typically taken by freshmen and sophomores, teaches students about children’s mental and physical development. In levels two through four, students have the opportunity to observe these developmental factors in a handson environment. In order for students to be eligible to travel off-campus to these schools, they must complete the introductory course level first. “I chose [to take] the class my sophomore year and then continued it on into my junior year through my electives. In the first level we learned about the way children act, respond to certain things, how they learn, how they gain skills and much more about their early years and their own outlooks on life,” MPSH junior Katerina Diaz said. Once students complete the first level, they are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in the later levels. “We go off campus every day [in] the class except Wednesdays. I go to Pinecrest Presbyterian day school. I work with Mrs. Valentine and her Pre-K class,” MPSH junior Lily Areco said. “The kids are four to five years old, so next year they are going to start kindergarten which means they have a lot to learn. Not only
academically, but manners too.” Typically, students arrive at their classrooms around 9:30 a.m. by bus. The students start helping teachers as soon as they arrive. “Usually I get there, sign in and then go to my classroom. Sometimes my class will be playing outside on the playground or inside [the room] learning or playing, it rotates every week,” MPSH sophomore Amelie Gonzalez said. “Throughout the day, I will either help the kids in their play stations or if they are learning I will check over their work. Once they finish their playtime or work time, I go with them to lunch [and] if I do not go to lunch with them, then I stay back with the teacher and help with paperwork,” However, each student’s experience in the program varies. For Palmetto sophomore Riley Rousso, who works with a Pre-Kindergarten class at Howard Drive Elementary, she typically arrives during a “calm time.” “In my class, the time I usually get there is free play time. The students have different stations they can go to to do different things. I play with the kids, help them with whatever they need and help the teachers,” Rousso said. “I basically just go from station to station helping all the students. Then we have clean up time where we sing a song for 10 minutes, and then the students sit in circles and talk about what they did today in their playtime.” At the end of the day, those participating in the program are still students. However, they build mentor-like bonds with their teachers creating positive environments to both learn and teach. “My experience with this school and teacher has been very positive because all the teachers and staff are very kind and well-mannered. My teacher is a sweetheart who does a great job including me in her daily routine and allows me to aid her with
anything in the classroom and with the kids, making me feel like one of the teachers myself,” Diaz said. While some students initially joined the program due to their love for children, others joined for the opportunity to learn and gain experience in their prospective fields later in life. “I took childhood development because I want to be a child psychologist. My plan has always been to attend college and major in psychology. [Early childhood] has really helped me understand how a child develops mentally, emotionally and physically,” Areco said. The MPSH Early Childhood program gives students an intermission from constant academics, while also providing numerous opportunities they would not otherwise have. “I would describe the program as almost a privilege to be a part of and helpful to prepare for the future. I really love going to my school and being with my students and I learn a lot each day I am with them,” Rousso said. “This program is a really good learning experience and is definitely helping me prepare for a future with kids involved in some way. Even if you do not want to work with children, it is a great experience.”
Amy-Grace Shapiro
Online Co-Editor-in-Chief
a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO
08| LIFE
WHY DO PEOPLE CRAVE FEAR? Fear encompasses an array of emotions that, in most cases, contain a negative connotation. When picturing the word fear, many people visualize an idea or figure that haunts them in the shadows of the night. However, In the case of avid horror fans, this perspective is drastically changed. Horror fans see fear as an exhilarating rush that other genres rarely possess. “You are never bored when watching a horror movie, whereas with other genres you easily lose focus because they don’t have that scary aspect that drives you to be more engaged in what you are watching,” Miami Palmetto Senior High School junior and horror fan Anna Levitt said. According to Northwestern Medicine, through a process called the excitation transfer process, violence in media can cause a pleasurable reaction among viewers. Many horror movies fall under the category of “violence in media” triggering a response that leaves audience members wanting more. “My favorite horror movie is either ‘Scream’ or ‘Us’” ‘Us’ is a different type of horror movie because it is sort of weird, and I like how you can’t seem to figure out what is happening,” MPSH sophomore Lexi Herskowitz said. In psychological horror movies like “Us,” the movie’s main purpose is to cause the viewer to question everything they just watched. This subcategory of horror focuses on the mental, emotional and psychological states of fear, often
depicting events as more realistic. “Unrealistic horror movies seem cheesy and aren’t as scary because they aren’t relatable and you can’t really imagine yourself in that position,” Levitt said. “I prefer horror movies that aren’t as gory and leave more to the imagination.” Oftentimes, many associate fears with uneasiness. When it comes to most horror fans, this feeling does not exist. Fear turns into an all-encompassing desire for exhilaration that takes the viewer into a world of their own. According to Concordia University, horror movies and shows trigger an immediate response that contributes to this boost of adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine. Many people seek out horror movies to gather information to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Dr. Aldrich Chan, a neuropsychologist from the Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness explains the reasoning behind this growing curiosity, horror fans continue to search for. “Some people may chase fear because they are interested in the feeling of mastering it,” Dr. Chan said. “This also releases different neurotransmitters and activates regions of the brain that may boost confidence and preparedness for the future.” Aside from the science behind the commonly asked question “Why do people crave fear?,” one can form a deeper knowledge from the different perspectives horror fans take on this constant appreciation and fascination towards every aspect of fear. For those who oppose scary movies, considering them from an outside perspective may give insight into the minds of these fans and how this constantly frowned upon emotion feeds the hunger they continuously try to fuel.
Ava Garcia
Managing Editor
a.garcia.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO
LIFE |09
diving into marine mammal cruelty Many supposedly animal-friendly encasements, like SeaWorld, have faced recent controversy with the public questioning if these multi-million dollar companies care for their animals properly. Although the park emphasizes animal rescue and focus on habitat protection, the park has been the focal point of many documentaries, specifically about what goes on behind the scenes. For instance, “Blackfish,” released in 2013, focuses on Tilikum, an orca who was taken away at only two years old to live in a tank in Sealand Canada. The documentary details the psychological effects of keeping an animal in captivity, leading to aggression toward humans and other orcas. “No animals should ever be treated cruelly, and sometimes you just need to treat animals how you treat others. You should treat animals how you want to be treated because they deserve to be treated as humanely as possible,” Miami Palmetto Senior High School junior and Animal Welfare Society President Dahlia Harris said. In 2014, SeaWorld’s attendance dropped by one million visitors following the release of“Blackfish,” gaining global attention. After multiple demonstrations, SeaWorld announced the end of its orca breeding program, and in the same year, California banned captive orca breeding. “Social media allows something that doesn’t get documented or doesn’t get brought to people’s eyes to be seen, and once something is brought on social media, it’s hard to erase because there’s so much evidence of it and by the minute many people see it and share it, and bring it to others attention,” Harris said. Organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment o f Animals (PETA) bring attention to the mistreatment of animals ranging from laboratories to the entertainment
industry. “Animals in captivity suffer intensely at places like SeaWorld that abuse and exploit them for profit. Animals like Corky the orca should be released to seaside sanctuaries where they can dive to great depths, swim long distances and engage in other types of natural behavior. They [animals] are coerced into performing tricks in exchange for food, all in the name of entertainment,” PETA Student Action Organizer and Speaker Reilly Park said. In addition, PETA brings awareness to SeaWorld annually on July 24 with Boycott SeaWorld Day, where influencers and celebrities work to raise awareness and protest SeaWorld via social media. Furthermore, whale and orca tanks at SeaWorld are small compared to their natural environments. Their tanks are 86 feet by 51 feet and are only 34 feet deep — not twice as deep as the length of an average orca. In the wild, orcas can travel at least 100 miles a day. SeaWorld also often takes animals captive at early ages, leading to depression and aggression. “SeaWorld confines orcas, beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins to small concrete tanks at marine ‘abusement’ parks across the country where they slowly go insane from stress and frustration to create animals the company can exploit for profit. While bottlenose dolphins can swim up to 60 miles each day and dive depths of nearly 1,500 feet in their ocean homes, at SeaWorld, 140 of them are crammed into just seven concrete tanks and that to them are equivalent to a bathtub for a human. Orcas and other animals are regularly drugged to manage stress-induced behavior and relieve the endless monotony of swimming in circles all day,” Park said. Despite the arguments against SeaWorld, the management is working on an active mission to conserve Florida’s coral reef: the Florida Coral Rescue Center.
“Essentially, they are working with endangered corals that are being affected by what’s called Stony Coral Tissue Loss, … the leading theory is that [the disease] was in the sand when they dredged the Port of Miami in 2014, and it… started to infect corals. It kills nearly 100% of the corals that it infects, and it infects about half of the reef-building corals you found in the Caribbean. So [SeaWorld] went out in front of the disease line and rescued a bunch of corals that had not yet been exposed to the disease, to keep them in safekeeping, ” MPSH Marine Science teacher Nicolas Quintairos said. SeaWorld has also worked to reach younger audiences, creating awardwinning educational programs that teach schools, teachers and children about the world and animals. “Another good thing that SeaWorld does is it inspires young minds, especially the impressions it leaves on little small children. If you talk to a lot of marine biologists, their first interaction with any major ocean animal was at SeaWorld… future PhDs and future professors start their investigation or their launching point for their career as they get inspired to go into marine biology because of SeaWorld,” Quintairos said. Compared to other aquariums like Miami Seaquarium, Quintairos believes SeaWorld provides better treatment and care for their animals. “I’ve never understood this obsession with Seaworld itself, and why not go after the smaller parks that have much worse conditions for their animals than SeaWorld? Seaworld has some of the best facilities in the world for these animals. So from my perspective, I feel like the public’s anger is misplaced,” Quintairos said. “But there’s other parks within the United States that don’t have the same facilities as Seaworld and don’t have anywhere near the facilities and they’re still keeping whales and dolphins.”
Ava Stuzin
News Editor
a.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO
the
PANTHER october column
of STAFFERS MONTh the Mia Shields | Design Editor Ivy Lagarto | Design Editor
DEAR BAD BUNNY, THANK YOU
Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, famously known as Bad Bunny, has changed how many Hispanics view their culture as a result of his unapologetic authenticity as a musician Bad Bunny’s signature reggaeton beats blast at every party and gets everyone to dance — bringing utmost joy to any situation. Many view his music as vulgar and explicit; however, many tend to ignore the meaning behind his lyrics and indulge in the lively latin beats. Bad Bunny challenges stereotypes inside and outside of his genre of music, while also touching on real political and economic issues in his songs, all while never letting his true Hispanic pride fade. He has made an immense global impact where almost everyone has heard of him or knows his songs, which is a big deal for the fans that look up to him, and an even bigger deal for his people back home in the small island of Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny brings out a certain sense of pride and unity that no other artist has. No matter the criticism he receives from his political statements in songs or his style, he continues to remain true to himself and his culture. He never shies away from his Puerto Rican roots and inspires people to be themselves. On behalf of all the Hispanics and everyone who listens to his music, thank you.
Paulina Handal Staff Writer
p.handal.thepanther@gmail.com
A Peek Into the Past...
Angela Lin ‘15
Kenneth Spiegelman ‘84
Steve Batten ‘82
Lisa Mallard ‘99
Becker Downie ‘93
12| FEATURE
once a panther, It is their first year of high school. Hundreds of students walk through the doors of Miami Palmetto Senior High, unaware of what the next four years will hold. Like most freshmen, these students feel intense nerves and fear their challenging workload, but look forward to the next few years full of passionate school spirit. Some of these students, picturing their futures as Panthers, would never anticipate returning to campus after walking the graduation stage. During their time as students, MPSH alumni had the typical American high school experience — cliques of jocks, nerds and band kids and attending the school’s iconic activities such as Homecoming and Panther Prowl. For those alumni who have returned to MPSH as faculty, reliving these experiences provides a different perspective, but all with the same eyes that witnessed these events years prior. 1979 — the year of big hair, no campus air conditioning and the year MPSH Athletic Director Steve Batten first stepped foot on campus. As a student, Batten did the same thing he does now: sports. He was a memorable player of the football team and a large part of the school’s sports culture until his graduation in 1982. His love for sports reflected in his school life, with his favorite subjects being Human Anatomy and Physiology. In class, Batten described himself as the class clown; his high school years were amusing and mischievous with an occasional visit to the principal’s office. Once he returned to MPSH, Batten was not always the Athletic Director. Ironically, he was originally hired as the Dean of Discipline. “I had to deal with a student who got in trouble. I had to call home, and tell them their child is in trouble and have a parent meeting. And the mother and father, I went to high school with. The father is like, ‘Steve you are killing me, we did that when we were in school.’ I said, ‘I know, but it is no longer allowed,’” Batten
said. “My 40 [year] high school reunion was [recent] and we were talking about that at the reunion. Everybody is laughing and they are going, ‘you were the Dean of Discipline?’ and I was like, ‘that was me.’” When Batten returned to MPSH, one of his previous teachers, Yvette McKinney, was his boss. Batten was also the softball and football coach before he became the Athletics Director in 2015. “[Having McKinney as my boss] was not so weird because I had known her for so long and even as a professional at other schools,” Batten said. “It was not a true boss; it was much more of a mentorship, and I owe her a lot of thanks.” Since Batten attended MPSH as both a student and teacher, being on campus again allows him to relive his high school memories. Even though the school is now housed in a new building, many of the traditions, such as Panther Prowl, remain the same from when he walked the halls as a student. “In the old building, oh my gosh, I got deja vu all the time. Sometimes I would do a double take and felt like a ghost was on me and feel like, ‘Oh, I cannot do this.’ It brought back a lot of memories,” Batten said. 1981 marks the year AP U.S. Government and AP Comparative Government teacher Kenneth Spiegelman started high school. Spiegelman, a quintessential band kid at the time, spent his high school years in all the activities the music program had to offer. Spiegelman could always be found in the band room as he participated in the jazz band, marching band, concert band, musicals and played in the orchestra. “To brag a little bit, our marching band was absolutely stellar. Over 200 people on the field at halftime. We marched in the Orange Bowl parade; there are videos of our band on YouTube,” Spiegelman said. “I will never forget when our band went to Ireland to play in the St. Patrick’s Day parade as the guest of the
FEATURE |13
always a panther Lord Mayor of Dublin, and we were flying home on a chartered flight from Dublin to Miami, and food poisoning broke out on the plane. I was probably one of maybe 10-12 people who did not get sick, but the rest of the plane did get sick. They ran out of barf bags on the plane; it was a really awful, awful night.” Spiegelman’s time at MPSH also gave him two of his best friends; the three remain close to this day. According to Spiegelman, since he became a teacher, his personality has not changed much. He still identifies as the same person who marched the halls and the football field from 1981 through 1984. Originally, Spiegelman taught at Miami Beach Senior High School for 11 years, but he eventually found his love for white and blue and returned to MPSH. “My first 11 years as a teacher I taught somewhere different, and I loved my time there, but it never felt like home. This is home,” Spiegelman said. Becker Downie, the Digital Design and Digital Information Technology teacher, graduated from MPSH in 1993, unaware that life would bring her back to her alma mater as a teacher. As a student, Downie was the ultimate jock. She played softball and volleyball throughout her years at highschool and went to college on an athletic scholarship. Downie, just like many of today’s highschoolers, has a school horror story, and in true MPSH fashion, it is associated with the notorious bagels. “They started selling bagels, and I was in my English class and I took a bite. And right when I took that first bite, I knew something was wrong with the cream cheese, and I felt like I was going to vomit,” Downie said. “So I am trying to get the teacher to write me a pass, but she was not doing it. So I ran out of the room and threw up in the bathroom. And then I went to Mr. Manzelli, who was our assistant principal at the time and I was like, I just vomited from a bagel; I was a mess.”
Downie never had another bite of a MPSH bagel, and to this day, she steers away from the past trauma. Downie left high school thinking she would become an accountant, but soon realized that career path was not for her. She worked as an admissions recruiter for a year-and-a-half at Florida International University, which motivated her to become a teacher since she enjoyed seeing the students’ excitement over getting accepted into a university. In the age of capri pants, chokers and hip hop, guidance counselor and Student Services Department Chair Lisa Mallard experienced the class of 1999’s close-knit school spirit. Born into a lineage of Panthers, MPSH has been a second home to Mallard her entire life and she has developed a sense of family within the community. “Within this community, you have your teachers who are here, the teachers who have their children here, so it has always been full circle that way,” Mallard said. “Even before I was a student, I used to do the attendance. There was no electronic attendance, you would have to physically take cards and put them into a little envelope. I would sit here, so they would have me run the attendance and go to all the classes and pick the attendance up. And then, Donnie, one of the security guards, would get in the golf cart and drive me to Palmetto Middle.” When she was young, Mallard characterized herself as an extrovert. As the daughter of a school counselor, Mallard and her friends gathered in her mom’s office during lunch and made it “the place to be.” Because she had been roaming the halls of the school since before becoming an official student, she never had an issue finding comfort on campus. “[My personality was] probably the same way you see me right now. I always got in trouble for talking. Ms. Spivak yelled at me everyday that I talked too much. She would purposely send me on
14| FEATURE passes to go do things, so I stopped talking,” Mallard said. In her high school years, Mallard bled white and blue. Not only did she involve herself in National Honor Society, cheerleading and student council senate, but chanted the Alma Mater with full Panther pride. Having participated in many of the events students have today, Mallard reflects on her past years as she now sponsors NHS as well as the class of 2023. As a result of her family history of Panthers, there was no doubt in Mallard’s mind that she would return back through the doors of MPSH. Mallard initially made her return as a substitute teacher and eventually a science teacher, before taking on her current position as a guidance counselor. The science teachers and courses she took at MPSH ignited her interest to study science in college and teach at the school. Her journey to becoming a faculty member traced back to the relations she made with the staff and the mentorship along with guidance they provided. Although Mallard jokes about the difficulty during the transition to calling her past teachers by their first names, she adores working with those whom she grew up with. “I was in the department for student services for a long time, and then I became the department head, and [faculty] started coming to me for help, and I’m just thinking, ‘oh my God,’ these were people that graded my exams, these were people that threw me out of class because I talked too much and, you know, now they are coming for help,” Mallard said. “Now there is a different type of respect and it was just, I don’t know, it is the coolest feeling. It really is.” Flash forward to the class of 2015, former MPSH student and current Orchestra, Guitar and AP Music Theory teacher Angela Lin strolled through the school’s halls, and embraced her love for
music during her time as a student. “My time here at Palmetto was definitely an influence on me actually going to college and studying music education, and I quite enjoyed it here at Palmetto,” Lin said. “For a teacher at least it is very nice to come back to an environment where you are comfortable because teaching is something that is very vulnerable, and it is very uncomfortable at times. So, at least knowing the buildings and knowing the teachers here made it a lot easier of a transition.” As a student, Lin was timid and preferred to express herself through music and band, Mu Alpha Theta and serving as the president of Asian Culture Club, which she currently sponsors. “In high school I would say you would not think I would be the person I am now. I was very quiet. In fact, I disliked getting called on. I would never raise my hand. And I was probably the shyest person you would ever meet,” Lin said. Like many who attended the school, Lin did not expect to be back at MPSH. Returning as a faculty member has allowed her to rekindle relationships with previous teachers and gain a new perspective of life as an educator.
Sofia Strohmeier Copy Editor
s.strohmeier.thepanther@gmail.com
Brooke Wilensky Copy Editor
b.wilensky.thepanther@gmail.com
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See you in the halls, an m l e g e i Sp h t e n n e K
Angela Lin
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n e t t a B e v e St
L
d r a l l a M isa
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SPORTS |17
Soccer’s Biggest Event:
THE WORLD CUP
The stadium is loud, the fans are decked out in their team’s colors and the excitement is contagious. It is one of sport’s biggest events: the World Cup. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is around the corner, and will take place in Qatar from Nov. 20 to Dec.18. In the past, the World Cup would take place during the summer months of June and July, but due to extreme temperature changes, the World Cup moved back to the fall season. The World Cup operates with 32 teams from around the world divided into eight groups with four teams in each division; playing the opening match this year will be Qatar vs. Ecuador. “My favorite thing about watching the World Cup is seeing all the countries that get together and play against each other to the whole world all together as one, watching one game.” Miami Palmetto Senior High junior and soccer player Andrea Nuez said. Four-time winner Italy failed to qualify after losing to North Macedonia, marking the team’s first non-qualification since 1958. Other teams such as Sweden and Columbia failed to qualify this year as well. “I am a little upset by the big names not being there; I am happy though that other teams are given the chance to perform at the World Cup. We have some new teams like Wales,” Miami Palmetto Senior High sophomore and soccer fan Brandon Devito said. Serbia shocked the world by qualifying for the World Cup after beating Portugal 2-1. Many fans will tune in to see how Serbia will do during the tournament. Many have hope for new teams winning the World Cup this year like Serbia.
While Brazil has won the most World Cups with 5 wins, Italy and Germany only trail behind with 4 wins. “I’m looking forward to seeing some new winners this year, because over the years, Brazil always wins. So hopefully there’ll be a new team, maybe Messi or Ronaldo, because it’s their last year, like after this year they retire.” Nuez said. World Cup viewing is popular even among people who do not typically follow soccer. Panini Fifa World Cup Trading Cards are one of the many ways in which fans demonstrate their fascination; this year, Panini confirmed that 670 cards are available to collect. “Although I do not watch much soccer, I love being interested in something my dad loves to be interested in and I like collecting all of the books. I can never leave a sticker blank,” MPSH senior Christina Perez said. “We kind of go overboard every year and bought six 250-pack
boxes this year, so maybe we will collect a second book.” The 2022 World Cup president Gianni Infantino expects around five billion to watch the match this year. If this occurs, it will surpass the 3.5 billion views from the 2018 games. Many tune in with their family and friends at World Cup parties, or simply watch the games on their own time. “I like to leave all the games that are on during the week, [and then] I like to watch [them] on the weekend and that is how I spend my weekends,” Devito said. “So the USA, for example, if they have a game during the day, or during the week, I will try to watch it the same day instead of leaving it for the weekend.” France took home the trophy at the last world cup in 2018 after beating Croatia in the final, 4-2. Brazil, Argentina and France are among some of the top teams that fans hope to win this year. Additionally, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who plays the position of forward, has announced that this World Cup is his last time competing in the tournament. “To everyone who is watching the World Cup, I hope there is a good World Cup this year, and the final, it’s got to be Ronaldo vs Messi, Argentina vs. Portugal, that has got to be the game for their final years,” Devito said.
Madeline Volpe
Multimedia Editor
m.volpe.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY MIA SHIELDS PHOTO BY MADELINE VOLPE
18| SPORTS
For many, playing a sport creates a passion that lasts long into their lifetime. Whether for leisure or competition, sports remain part of the human condition. While playing sports has its many benefits, financial barriers may stand in the way of student’s abilities to continue their sport. For sports like track and field, and basketball cost less due to their minimal equipment and uniform. While, sports like baseball, lacrosse, gymnastics and dance add up in price due to the abundance of equipment, uniforms, lessons and competitions. However, sports like track and basketball technically cost less, but still pose a financial strain for those who are not able to afford it. “When I was younger, my parents…would buy me one racket... the rackets were…about $100. When I got older, they had to buy me way more stuff like…every time strings pop on the racket, I need more strings. When I go to tournaments, they have to pay for shoes, they have to pay for tournaments. So, in total, that’s a lot of money and rackets, [which] cost $250 each. Then the shoes are $150 [and] I go through shoes every week…then the strings are $200,” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior and competitive tennis player Alessandro Munoz said. Munoz plays tennis every weekday; because of this, the added cost of clinics, equipment, lessons and tournaments means that thousands of dollars go into tennis every year. “For tennis, it has spent a huge [amount] of money over the years. Sometimes I haven’t been able to go on trips with my family and go on vacation a lot because [it was] always just tennis. And tennis is one of the most expensive sports; you have to buy a lot of things,” Munoz said. For MPSH senior and lacrosse defender Bethany Deferrari, her immense dedication equates to a large sum of money because of tournament fees, travel and equipment. “Usually for any first season in a club, it’s gonna range anywhere from $600 to $1,000. For a season club…including tournament fees and stuff like that…you also lose equipment like mouth guards really easily, and each are $20, and then goggles are like $30 [along] with the stick,” Deferrari said. “But in my more advanced club, we travel around America for tournaments. So then I’ve also had to pay for travel fees, and it’s a lot more expensive. So it’s [around] $1,500 to 2,000.” Palmetto provides aid for students who are unable to to completely cover the costs of sports. For instance, the lacrosse team provides players with the required equipment they need, such as their sticks and goggles.
The Cost Of $ports
“It definitely [is pricey], but I wouldn’t say [Palmetto expects you to buy your own equipment], especially in lower-level clubs…when I started out…they know what’s a big investment because a stick is [anywhere from] $130 to $200. They would have practice sticks you could use, and Palmetto [also] has goggles and [other equipment] like that at the school that we can use, but it is definitely [pricy] like if you want to practice at home, which is something I definitely wanted to do,” Deferrari said. For some other sports, however, costs can be non-negotiable without financial aid, which is common for playing sports outside of the typical school environment. For that reason, the cost for sports like dance adds up quickly. “In a month, you have your tuition rates to be dancing at your studio, and that depends on how many classes you’ve been taking in a week. Then you have your uniform, which is $50-60 each… and then you have your pointe shoes which are around $115 and $120, and mine usually lasts me about two weeks, sometimes less,” MPSH ballet dancer Alexandria Browne said. “Then there’s the things that go inside of the pointe shoes and those are $20. [It’s] a lot, and with $100 privates too, there’s also that fee.” The issue many students face regarding their respective sports is the financial barrier that has the ability to limit students from advancing to the next level. “[The cost] definitely does stop me from having full opportunities, because we do competition in our studio and competition is thousands of dollars, because there’s the competition fee, and then your director does a fee because she’s taking you… then the costumes which are $1,000 each, and sometimes you’ll do two variations, so that’s thousands of dollars just on costumes. And then there are summer intensives which are from $6001000…I made the choice not to go to competition this year because I want to be able to go to summer intensives and work with top companies, So there’s definitely a financial barrier, ” Browne said.
Nicole Martin
Senior Copy Editor
n.martin.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY MIA SHIELDS PHOTO BY MADELINE VOLPE
FACEOFF:
Are Americans Overly Obsessed with True Crime?
YES:
True crime stories have become increasingly popular through television shows, books and podcasts. People are fascinated by the juicy details behind infamous serial killers, along with the acts they have committed. People find these shows captivating because they are based on real-life people and events. In a twisted way, people use these tragic events as a form of entertainment. Is this obsession with true crime doing more harm than good? The entertainment industry frequently recounts gruesome stories to feed the army of true crime-obsessed fans. According to Forbes, as of Oct. 3, the number one ranked show on Netflix in the U.S. is “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” by Ryan Murphy. This widely popular and controversial show tells the story of Dahmer, along with his 17 victims. After only 12 days, the show’s views reached 496.1 million hours, according to Variety. A controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Dahmer series is that spectators are overlooking the atrocities his victims and their families went through and instead are using the gruesome incidents as a source of amusement. A principal part of why true crime media is so popular is because of the way these films are captured along with the way these stories are told. For instance, many true crime films contain a dark and ominous mood that keeps viewers on their toes, even if they may already know what will come next. Although fascinating, true crime can also have negative effects on the spectator’s mental health. For example, it may increase viewer’s fear and anxiety. Knowing the disturbing events down to the smallest detail may have people walking on eggshells, traumatized by the very idea of the possibilities of what could happen to them. According to Vox Magazine, these shows affect the average person’s day-to-day life. To answer the question, yes, people are overly obsessed with true crime. This obsession neglects the victims that have suffered and needs to come to an end. In addition, it is important to look at these horrific stories and realize the fact that these tragedies occurred in real life and are not fictional forms of entertainment.
no:
With the recent release and success of the true crime documentary, “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” one important question has surfaced: Are people overly obsessed with true crime? They are not. In fact, it is okay to find entertainment in true crime. There has been scientific research by behavioral scientist, Coltan Scrivner, proving that one of the possible reasons for people’s obsession with true crime is natural human nature for intense psychological curiosity. It remains important to note that this is not the first piece surrounding Jeffery Dahmer that has been released. In 2002, the film “Dahmer” was released starring Jeremy Renner as Dahmer. The director, David Jacobson, was praised for the film’s approach of portraying Dahmer as complex rather than a bad person. Another Dahmer film, “My Friend Dahmer,” came out in 2017, focusing on Dahmer in high school before he committed his crimes. Dahmer is played by Ross Lynch, who gave a very underrated and stellar performance according to various reviewers. There have been several true crime shows that have received widespread attention solely because individuals love the entertainment of true crime. Shows like “Dateline” and “48 Hours” have both had almost over 30 seasons, which just proves how popular true crime is amongst viewers. If these portrayals of criminals were so bad, then why does the media continue to represent them? “Tiger King,” is a true crime show that blew up in 2020, during COVID-19 quarantine. According to The Wrap, an online news and entertainment website, “Tiger King” had 5.3 billion minutes viewed in the first week and 4.4 billion minutes viewed in the second week. This show would not have been successful if it went against people’s moral judgments to watch the show, because many thought it was acceptable to watch exclusively for entertainment purposes. So yes, people are obsessed with true crime but that is okay and it is what was intended by the directors of these shows and movies. The director’s objective was to get the viewer invested into their work and that is exactly what they did. Destroying this trending genre would be criminal.
Alexis James
Jake Hawkins
a.james.thepanther@gmail.com
j.hawkins.thepanther@gmail.com
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
OPINION|20
Use Your Voice and Use It Wisely: The Importance of Voting in High School “Why should I care about politics if I am just a teenager, my vote will not make a difference,” is one of the most frustrating, yet most common phrases kids my age use when asked about their political views. Discussing politics can become extremely controversial extremely quickly, but this does not mean that teenagers should not be discussing the topic at all; in reality, developing educated opinions about politics and government is imperative to becoming a competent U.S. citizen and voter. As taught in the required civic literacy class each middle school student in the state of Florida must pass to move on to high school, the inherent responsibilities of a U.S. citizen are as follows: paying taxes, obeying laws, serving as a witness in a court of law, jury duty, registering for the military draft, volunteering and most of all, voting; the most powerful way for youth to speak up on issues that directly impact them and their communities. The decisions that shape the state of our country affect youth in the same ways they affect the politicians making them, if not to a greater extent. When young people participate in democratic processes and civic life, our opinions and
perspectives shed light on issues that affect us uniquely and are the determiners of our future. These issues include pressing topics such as education, healthcare, the environment, gun violence, abortion, immigration, housing and so much more. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), there are about 8.3 million newly eligible voters for the 2022 midterm elections. More specifically, there are 4.5 million white young people, 3.8 million young people of color, 2 million Latinos, 1.2 million Black youth, 500,000 Asians and 80,000 Native Americans eligible to vote this year. In the past four years, CIRCLE has reported “major increases in youth voter turnout” since 2018 and 2020. Presumably, national events that have occurred since the 2020 election such as the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, the Jan. 6 Committee’s continued hearings and other legislative activity have prompted more and more youth to register to vote. CIRCLE found that as of September, 18 out of 41 states providing reliable data have already reported more young people (ages 18-24) registered to vote than in 2018. However, in regard to the youngest possible voters (ages 18-
19), only nine of those states are ahead of their 2018 numbers. This proves that while there have been major increases in youth civic involvement in recent years, there is still work to do to encourage youth to register to vote and show up to do so. While most high schoolers do not turn 18 — the minimum age for voting eligibility — until their senior years, one can pre-register to vote as young as 16. So, the excuse of being “too young” to educate oneself on candidates and opinions from across the political spectrum becomes a choice to remain ignorant in the face of responsibility.
Sara Paredes
Feature editor
s.paredes.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY PAULA ORTIZ
OPINION|21
Wombmates to Moving in With a New College Roommate My mother thought she was giving birth to an alien. The grainy ultrasound revealed a misleading image of one healthy baby with a normal amount of arms and legs, but it had two heads. After a few seconds of sheer terror, my mother realized she was not giving birth to a spawn of a Greek mythological monster, but to twins. To those wondering, yes, I am younger by one minute. Yes, we were premature. No, we are not identical. No, we cannot read each other’s minds, but we do share an unspoken language in a way I cannot fully explain. Yes, it is helpful to receive the day’s missed homework from one door down, and yes, we are planning on going to different colleges. Having a twin is a blessing that I often take for granted. Since birth, I have had someone who could accompany me through every milestone. We went to the first day of school together, we performed in school plays together, played sports together, studied for tests together, took our drivers tests together and we will walk across the stage at graduation together. Although at times having a twin felt annoying, like when he would blow out our birthday candles before I got the chance every single year, he has shaped me into the person I am today. I consider myself a fearless person, partially due to my brother. I did not have much to fear growing up since I was never alone. The longest time we have ever been apart is one month and that was only until last summer. When I sat up, afraid of the monsters under my bed as a child, he was sitting up in his bed on the other side of the room with me. If I was sorting out my own obstacles, he was too. Only with age have I appreciated how unique that is. Sharing many experiences did not hinder us from forming our own identities. Not just his blue eyes versus my brown eyes, or his right-hand dominance versus my left-hand dominance, but our interests and hobbies differ too. Today, the two of us participate in
different clubs, sports and volunteer organizations. We listen to different music, we want different jobs, have some different friends and want to attend different colleges. Most high school seniors anticipate leaving their families and going to college. Whether it is attending a community college or going one thousand miles away, the next chapter of one’s life begins once one separates from their family. At college, we will experience a new place without each other for the first time. I have gotten used to being called “the twins” at home, but that will not be the case in college. While I am very excited to pursue a higher education, it is difficult to imagine that in one year, I will be seeing my brother through a phone screen and not down the hall. Do not get me wrong, I am still eager about college. I await the day I open my college decision letter, move into my dorm and meet my new roommate. Living in a community with new people, different cultures and unique classes excites me. However, despite my excitement and anticipation, leaving my brother will be hard. But even if I am blowing out my own candles for my birthday alone, without anyone to steal my thunder, I know he will be blowing out his candles at the same time, wherever he may be.
Samantha Elkins
Print Co-Editor-In-Chief
s.elkins.thepanther@gmail.com
DESIGN BY PAULA ORTIZ PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA ELKINS
STAFF
Print Co-Editor-In-Chief Samantha Elkins Online Co-Editor-In-Chief Amy-Grace Shapiro
Managing Editor Ava Garcia Senior Copy Editor Nicole Martin Senior Multimedia Editor Ryan Mckean Senior Design Editor Ella Pedroso Business Manager Jasmine Judge Feature Editor Sara Paredes Contents Editor Isabella Hewitt News Editor Ava Stuzin Life Editor Michael Angee Sports Editor Eitan Greenberg Opinion Editor Sofia Taddeo-Goldstein Multimedia Team Valentina Arias Maddie Volpe Emilia Haus
STAFF EDITORIAL LETS EMBRACE THE PANTHER PRIDE
The term “new normal” is quite contested upon. Will we ever be able to revert back to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic? Will we ever be able to enjoy life as a teenager the way others older than us did? Maybe, maybe not. Nevertheless, for Miami Palmetto Senior High, a “new normal” is something that should be embraced and participated upon— after all, you cannot knock it till you try it. 2020 posed as a devastating year for most, but highschoolers faced an additional struggle. The class of 2020 lost their prom, grad bash, their graduation and overall, the staples of MPSH’s iconic senior year. The class of 2021 never even received a last first day. The class of 2022 was limited to a Homecoming hosted in the gym along with many other classic events. The classes of 2023 and 2024, having lost their underclassmen years, only received two truly authentic years of their high school experience. The years some consider the best of their lives, were lost to a worldwide pandemic. This fate does not have to stay the same for MPSH’s current freshmen, sophomores and those yet to come — and even upperclassmen who have at least one, or two, more years to make up for the lost time. The events and activities that make MPSH what it is, are back. The Homecoming dance took place at a venue and Panther Prowl commenced after school in the auditorium. Recognizing the importance of utilizing opportunities that other classes did not have the pleasure of experiencing is essential. Highschool only lasts four years and one will regret it if they do not participate. Go to those Friday night games, attend those peprallies, go to dances and jump until you fall down and make sure to dress up on spirit days. Do not wait until next year and do not let the fear of embarrassment impede on your high school experience. To MPSH underclassmen: Carpe Diem. Seize the day.
Design Team
Jasmine Judge Ivy Lagarto Mia Shields Paula Ortiz
Copy Team
Edie Carneiro Gabriella Alvarez Brooke Wilensky Sofia Strohmeier
Staff Writers
Alexis James Jake Hawkins Paulina Handal Daniel Perodin
Adviser
Laura Aviles
correction In the last print issue, “Hail to Thee Palmetto High” by Isabella Hewitt, 2022, Vol. 65, No.1, page nine, there was an error. Kenneth Spiegelman teaches AP United States Government and AP Comparative Government and Politics/International Law. The Panther staff apologizes for the mistake and reminds readers to email any further concerns to s.elkins. thepanther@gmail.com and a.shapiro.thepanther@ gmail.com
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. The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7431 SW 120th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 1124. 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 1237 or e-mail us at s.elkins. thepanther@gmail.com and/or a.shapiro.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
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. 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