EDITION 2 OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL 601 KING STREET OVIEDO, FL 32765 NOVEMBER 6, 2020 VOLUME 61 OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM
2 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | NOVEMBER 6, 2020
the Scoop
Standardized test makeups underway PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBECKI STORY BY EMMA TAGYE Juniors and seniors will continue to take their rescheduled standardized tests until the middle of November. The abrupt closure of schools in March due to the coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of those tests until this school year. “This applies to a large number of juniors who were unable to take the [tenth grade Florida Standards Assessments English Language Arts test] in April 2020 due to COVID,” said Oviedo High School testing administrator Matthew Guglielmello. Safety measures to limit the spread of the virus will be implemented for the testing. “Computer labs will be at half capacity and masks are required for the entire duration of the exam,” Guglielmello said. Face to face students received a pass in their English classes with the date, time and location of the tests, while Seminole Connect students received this information via email. Seniors also have the option to take the US History End of Course Exam, which students must recieve a passing score in for an advanced diploma.
TESTING MAKEUPS. Testing makeups for standardized tests postponed due to the pandemic are underway.
Surging pandemic, heated election put nation on edge Over 225 days after the White House announced its “15 days to slow the spread” campaign, the coronavirus is raging across the United States. The country is heading for a third peak in cases, this one higher than the previous two, as the seven-day average of new cases approaches 75,000. The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects that COVID-19 deaths could reach nearly 400,000 by February. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, pleaded for more widespread mask wearing, calling the current situation “untenable.” The nation will also hold an extremely contentious election against the backdrop of the pandemic on Nov. 3. Early voting numbers have already surpassed half of the total votes cast in 2016, as states expanded early in-person and vote-bymail options because of the coronavirus.
The Democratic and Republican parties are waging war over election procedures in the judiciary, as the latter broadly seeks to limit the extension of mail-in ballot deadlines and the use of ballot drop boxes. Worries abound over the role the Supreme Court could play in the election, as it has already decided highprofile cases regarding whether mail-in ballots received after Election Day can be counted in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Three of the court’s nine justices have been appointed by President Trump, and two of those, in addition to Chief Justice John Roberts, participated in the legal battle over Florida’s recount in the 2000 election on George W. Bush’s side. Trump, in an Oct. 28 rally, said he hoped the courts will stop votes being counted past Nov. 3. An emphasis on popular participation
Entertainment Editor Mackenzie Holmes Elliott Siress Jaden MaduroVanterpool Online Editor Elsa Mattsson Emma Yost Brandon New Ashlee Ross Business Manager Emma Tagye Justina Nielsen Hannah Warrner Editor-in-Chief Patrick Costello Managing Editor Emma Yost Sports Editors Kenny Aponte Kait Peterson
Art Director Veronika Maynard Reporters Penelope Banks Vincent Crook Nikta Daryadel May Frangoul
Photographers Diego Lara Audrey Strembecki Faculty Adviser Ben Langevin Admin Adviser
in the election has reached a fever pitch, with athletes, celebrities and numerous companies exhorting people to vote. In some cases though, that’s been easier said than done. Voters have faced hourslong lines at polling places, and US Postal Service delays have made mail-in voting unreliable in the week preceding the election. The election has placed a burden on many Americans beyond the time and effort required to cast a ballot. Businesses in cities across the country have boarded up in anticipation of unrest. An American Psychological Association study found that the election is a significant source of stress for nearly 70% of Americans. This event, along with the ongoing pandemic, will provide the basis for many of this edition’s stories. We’ll cover
OUR WORD
Nancy Diaz
Mission Statement The Lion’s Tale is the Principal student newspaper Dr. Trent Daniel of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo High School Oviedo, Florida. Our 601 King Street mission is to provide Oviedo, FL 32765 news, feature stories, P: 407-320-4199 editorials and opinions F: 407-320-4213 relevant to our readers while upholding the Population: highest professional 2480 students across and ethical standards. in person and online The Lion’s Tale follows settings copy standards 19 newspaper staff outlined in the members Associated Press
OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • NOVEMBER 6, 2020 • VOLUME 61 • EDITION 2
Press Stylebook, 42nd edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press, and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA and FSPA. Distribution 800 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School. Subscriber information is available on OviedoJournalism.com. Reader Contributions
the return of students and teachers to campus with the beginning of the second quarter. We’ll look at how the election played out locally with regards to the candidates’ numerous visits to Florida, as well as seniors voting for the first time. Our staff also has coverage of important school happenings, with plenty of photos from spirit week, a report on testing makeups and a profile on Oviedo High School’s teacher of the year. Coronavirus cases remain fairly low in Seminole County, with an average of just 12.2 new cases per 100,000 people being reported each day. That being said, even a small outbreak can result in dozens of students and teachers being forced to quarantine, causing great inconvenience. The Lion’s Tale would like to emphasize the importance of mask wearing, social distancing and other sanitation measures, particularly on campus.
Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail or dropped off in Room 5-020. The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns and reserves the right to edit Letters to the Editor. Full policy is available on OviedoJournalism.com. Advertising Policy The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisements. The full advertising policy of The Lion’s Tale is available on OviedoJournalism.com.
Note: Stories must be finalized well in advance of press date and may not reflect the lastest information regarding the election. Thank you.
OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM
DESIGN BY PATRICK COSTELLO
NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 3
Dress code shows inconsistencies in application
Online editor EMMA YOST
As a teenage girl, dress code has been a part of my school life for as long as I remember. Trying to find cute but dress code friendly clothes was a common struggle in middle school. Finding ways around the rules and avoiding teachers who were known to be strict about it was just how things were. It was always a joke among my friends and I that of all things, shoulders were considered inappropriate. My first experience with the dress code was actually my first day of school in Seminole County. I was only in fourth grade, and I was new so I didn’t know about the dress code. My mom had bought me a matching Gymboree outfit, which just so happened to include a tank
Comparing food options in Finland, United States writer ELSA MATTSSON COURTESY OF ELSA MATTSSON When I came to America and went to Publix for the first time, I realized that a lot of the food is very different from what I was used to when it comes to packaging and variety for example. Stores are in general so much bigger here in the US. We have a couple big stores, but small boutique sized grocery stores are a lot more common in the area where I live in Finland. Here are some examples of how food looks different from where I come. Milk: Milk in Finland is packaged in cartons, made of recyclable cardboard, instead of plastic jugs. Yogurt and juice is also packaged in these cartons. Butter: We do not have butter in sticks, but in plastic containers with lids. This is also why baking with an American recipe is really hard back home. You need to convert “sticks of butter” to grams, as well as cups to deciliters and fahrenheit to celsius. Water: The water that comes from the faucet is drinkable and tastes the same as the water in bottles. We also have a
DESIGN BY PATRICK COSTELLO
top. While walking to lunch, my teacher pulled me aside and asked me to cover my shoulders with my hair so that neither of us would get in trouble. I was so confused, it was August in Florida, why couldn’t I wear a tank top? I was only nine years old; my outfit was not revealing or distracting in any way. A few years later at my middle school, there was a certain assistant principal who would walk around the courtyard in the mornings looking for girls who were violating dress code. One day, I was walking with my friend before first period when the assistant principal approached me and told me to go to the nurse’s office to change because my shorts were too short. At the nurse’s office, they called my mom and gave me an old pair of men’s gym shorts to wear. While what I was wearing did technically break the dress code, the shorts were barely too short and weren’t “revealing”. I remember feeling like she was just looking for someone to punishclass hadn’t even started, so how could my outfit have been “distracting?” I ended up missing most of my first period that day, because it took at least twenty minutes for them to call my mom and recycling system that lets you return empty bottles and cans back to the store from where they go to a recycling unit and turn to new products. Every can and bottle is worth 10-20 cents and so after recycling a whole bag of bottles you get a little money, which encourages sustainability. Cookies, chips and other snacks: The variety in a normal grocery store is huge compared to stores from where I come. Just the Oreo section here is about as big as the cookie selection in regular supermarkets back home. The variety of different cereals is also very big here as compared to Finland. In bigger grocery stores in Finland, there is always a section, where you can choose from different candy and pay by weight. We also have them at movie theatres. They are unfortunately not in use at the moment because of the pandemic. School lunch: In Finnish schools we get lunch for free. It is paid for by the taxpayers and so it is very inexpensive at the point of sale. The average lunch per person in Helsinki costs about $1. There are usually a few options to choose from like pasta, potatoes or rice, with some sort of sauce or meat. There is always salad and bread and both a vegetarian and vegan option as well. The food is not very high quality, since it is so cheap, but it is warm.
LUNCH TIME. A typical school lunch in Helsinki.
have her bring me a change of clothes. In high school, we were warned about violating the dress code the first day of freshman year. As I got used to being at Oviedo High School (OHS) it became obvious that most students weren’t worried about violating dress code, so neither was I. But I still would hear stories about male teachers who would inappropriately point out a girl’s shirt being see-through or students violating dress code by bringing blankets to school on a cold day. I always wondered why the responsibility is put on girls to dress so that the male students aren’t distracted. Why is it our problem and not theirs? Especially in middle school, there had never been an incident where my or a classmate’s outfit had been a class disruption, whether it was “dress code” friendly or not. The first day I came back to OHS since March, a guy wearing a mask that read “Trump 2020” opened the door for my friend and I. Right away, I felt surprised and caught off guard. I couldn’t believe that the school allows students to wear masks like that, especially in today’s divided political climate. Walking
Voting can foster change in our communities business manager
JUSTINA NIELSEN Turning 18 is a big milestone for many students at Oviedo High School. You gain so many responsibilities coming of age and for some it might seem overwhelming. It’s important to do research and talk to adults about what you need to stay on top of or think about. Out of all the rights gained at this age, the most important one is to get your voice out and vote. It may not feel like you are making a difference, in reality, citizens’ voices all add up and make a real impact. Voting allows citizens to have their voices be heard in government, fostering change in our country. Choosing not to vote contributes to maintaining the status quo, which can have negative effects. You don’t have to agree with a politician on every issue, but it’s important to evaluate the candidates and determine which one is closer to aligning with your values. You might have personal similarities with a politician, and that might be the biggest reason you vote for them. This election comes at a critical point and the next four years, and beyond, are at stake. Voting was considered so important
to lunch, I saw many other students wearing similar t-shirts and masks. It had never been like this beforethe only time I had ever seen anyone at school wearing something political was on America day during homecoming week. There is so much political tension in school and online due to the upcoming election, how is a Trump mask appropriate for school, but a sleeveless shirt or ripped jeans aren’t? Wearing any type of clothing with political messages seems much more likely to make people feel uncomfortable, regardless of which side they’re on, than almost anything a girl could wear. School should be a safe place for everyone, and allowing political slogans to be flaunted on masks or clothing can create a hostile environment prone to arguments and conflict. It seems hypocritical for the school to say “we can’t do anything about it” when this excuse is conspicuously absent when it comes to a dress code violation. If the school can tell girls what to wear, why can’t they tell students (of any gender) to keep contentious politics outside of school?
writer
MAY FRANGOUL in past years that people fought for their franchise, leading to constitutional amendments guaranteeing the right to vote for all races and genders. The Fifthteenth Amendment to the Constitution finally granted African American men the right to vote after the Civil War. They couldn’t be denied their right on account of race or color, at least in theory. The Nineteenth Amendment gave women the right to vote in the United States; women like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for years and were given what they rightfully deserved. It is thanks to people like these suffragists that voting is no longer limited to white men, and we owe it to them to exercise this right and influence the trajectory of history. Once you turn sixteen, you can preregister so you are set up to vote once you reach eighteen years of age. Earlier this year, Chris Anderson, Supervisor of Elections for Seminole County, came to our school to discuss voting and help students begin the registration process, a convenient opportunity for us. Whether you vote Democratic, Republican or independent, know that by voting you can affect change in your community and nation.
4 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | NOVEMBER 6, 2020
MONDAY
‘missed
Spirit Week
my alarm’
Spirit week kicked off with ‘Missed my Alarm’ Monday, where students were encouraged to come to school in their pajamas. This was the perfect way to get students excited and engaged in participating in the rest of the dress up days.
PHOTO BY ASHLEE ROSS
PHOTO BY HANNAH WARRNER
tuesday
‘country vs country club’ The split between ‘Country vs. Country Club’ brought out quite the contrast at OHS. Many students were seen wearing camo outfits and cowboy hats while others were seen with tennis skirts and polo shirts.
WEDNESDAY
PHOTO BY HANNAH WARRNER
‘Wish i were there’ ‘Wish I Were There’ Wednesday marked the middle of spirit week and students were asked to dress as they would have during the vacations they missed because of quarantine. Whether that was a week in Hawaii or a trip to the mountains, this dress-up day was a way for students to remember the time lost to the pandemic and laugh about it. PHOTO BY ASHLEE ROSS
PHOTO BY HANNAH WARRNER
PHOTO BY HANNAH WARRNER
PHOTO BY HANNAH WARRNER
THURSDAY
halloween costumes On ‘Thriller Thursday’, students were encouraged to come to school in their Halloween costume. With Halloween taking place the following weekend, students were eager to show off their creative costumes and outfits.
FRIDAY
spirit day!
On the final day of spirit week students were asked to come to school in their best OHS, black and orange attire. With the Oviedo-Hagerty football game being Friday night, students were excited to show their school spirit and wear OHS colors. PHOTO BY ASHLEE ROSS DESIGN BY HANNAH WARRNER, ASHLEE ROSS
NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 5
PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBECKI A HELPING HAND. Kammeraad speaks with a student in her class.
Kammeraad recieves recognition as teacher of the year STORY BY HANNAH WARRNER, ASHLEE ROSS
For the 2021-2022 school year, the staff and administration at Oviedo High School awarded Mrs. Kammeraad teacher of the year for her incredible intelligence, dedication and compassion for teaching. She is admired and appreciated by many of her students and fellow teachers and staff. She is widely viewed as a versatile educator, instructing Advanced Placement Language and Composition and English 1 as well as being the English department chair. “Kammeraad leads with her head and heart.” Dr. Trent Daniel, Oviedo High School’s Principal, said. “She was instrumental in helping the department stay coordinated with assessments and expectations.” Kammeraad believes teaching is not just a job, but a responsibility to implement life-long skills to ensure her students become successful adults. She values the ideas that students deserve to be seen and heard. “Teaching is a relationship. If we aren’t enjoying our time together; if we aren’t all feeling important and able to share our thoughts and ideas in a safe environment, then learning
can be difficult.” Kammeraad said. She makes students comfort levels a priority in the classroom which is vital to maintaining a growth mindset throughout the school year. When students feel more comfortable, they are more likely to participate and engage in class discussions. This benefits all students by allowing them to hear others’ perspectives and ideas on a topic. Not only have Mrs. Kammeraad’s students learned an immense amount from her, she has gleaned something from them. Whether it’s educational or personal, she has learned how to read students and become flexible to accommodate their needs. “Teaching is a delicate balancing game and teachers have to be able to recognize when they will get the most growth from students.” Kammeraad explained. She has found the perfect balance for her classroom, making sure all students feel confident with their work. This mindset stood out to Dr. Daniel, as well as her efforts to help the school through COVID-19. “She volunteered to teach more Advanced Placement courses
DESIGN BY HANNAH WARRNER, ASHLEE ROSS
when several of our teachers chose to teach at SCVS during the pandemic.” Dr. Daniel said. Having a productive and positive attitude helped Mrs. Kammeraad stand out amongst her colleagues. Stepping up during this pandemic proved how determined she is to provide the most support and help to all students and staff. Mrs. Kammeraad hopes that students leave her class not only prepared for college and AP Literature, but also with a positive outlook on learning. She hopes all her pupils are excited and enthusiastic about their education in the future. The connection between student and teacher is one of the most important parts of learning, and Mrs. Kammeraad makes this a priority. Learning and developing skills becomes much easier when the student can easily trust and
communicate with their teacher. “Without a doubt, the relationship I have with my students is my favorite part about teaching, ” Kammeraad said. Being a teacher does not mean just standing at the front of a classroom lecturing, but building relationships with students and helping them become successful and respectful young adults. Mrs. Kammeraad has been influenced by the world of schooling from a very young age, since her mom was also a teacher. She believes her mom is her biggest inspiration because she watched her take education further than simply standing in front of a class and reading a lesson. “She gave them the gift of love and being valued,” Kameraad said. “Students remember how you made them feel more than the content you teach.”
PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBECKI EYES UP FRONT. Kammeraad points to the screen as she teaches her class.
6 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | NOVEMBER 6, 2020
NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 7
Teachers return to a socially-distanced school STORY BY PENELOPE BANKS
Since March, students all over the world have had their schools shut down due to the coronavirus, leading to classes being conducted via multiple software programs such as Webex, Zoom and Google Meet. While this new arrangement has required adaptation from students, it has posed difficult challenges for teachers in particular. In many cases, these individuals are being forced to juggle between teaching students in online and face to face settings. William Furiosi, AP Biology, chemistry, and experimental science teacher at Oviedo High School (OHS), was required to be quarantined for two weeks due to his exposure to the virus while caring for his mother. Unfortunately Furiosi was exposed to the virus while taking care of his mother. “Logistically it was a challenge,” Furiosi said. “The substitute was my eyes and ears, so when the substitute was done with class, my presence was disconnected. It was hard to take attendance as well. Also, I couldn’t go around and help people with topics they were struggling with. Basically, I had to wait for students to ask for help and that was really hard”. Face-to-face learning often allows for more productive interactions with students, according to Furiosi. “Face-to-face instruction provides the better development of relationships and the ability to do hands-on learning,” Furiosi said. “Communicating with people is far more weighted on visual cues and body language than speech, so it is hard to relate as well through Connect. Additionally, through face-to-face, I am able to provide live demonstrations or allow students to explore science in the lab in real-time rather than through a video.” That being said, virtual instruction does
have its advantages. “On the other hand, Connect allows, in certain circumstances, greater involvement from students,” Furiosi said. “When people might be afraid to provide an answer in person for fear of failure, contributing via chat on Connect seemed much easier for my students. Additionally, technology was much smoother at home because my home setup is far superior than the classroom”. Similar to Furiosi, Ben Langevin, English 2, Newspaper and Journalism 1 teacher, was also required to quarantine for two weeks. He says he deeply missed those socially-distanced interactions with his students and peers. “I think Seminole Connect works really well for flexibility for students and as a way to keep students safe and engaged when they are quarantining, but man, do I miss my students? Absolutely.” Langevin said. Langevin also added his opinion on virtual school. “Virtual learning works wonderfully for some, and it’s the safest option we have in terms of COVID, but once a safe vaccine hits the market and the rise of cases dwindles down, brick and mortar education is still king, I hope,” Langevin said. Langevin also expressed his feelings on the different social and environmental impacts of this style of learning. “I like the flexibility it gives students,” Langevin said. “Think of how much money we would all save on gas? Think of the environmental impact? Virtual wins the day on those issues, no doubt.” Deanna Ferrante, 9th and 10th grade English teacher, found that her pet allowed her to bond with students while teaching virtually. “Students often got a glimpse of my dog, Comet, when he would wander up to my desk during class and inevitably bark or distract us in some way that would make us laugh,” Ferrante said. “Usually, it led to students holding up their own pets on their webcams and the whole class pausing to reflect
on all the cute animals we could spot on our screens. I feel like moments like those helped us bond, even though we weren’t all sitting in the same room” Ferrante was told she had to return to campus due to some of her students making the switch to face-to-face for the second quarter. Her feelings about hybrid learning still remain the same, and she says that she would consider doing it again. “I would definitely consider returning to virtual teaching,” Ferrante said. “I would hope that every teacher would if the spread of the virus continues to get worse in our district. I know Seminole Connect has its own challenges for teachers, as well as students, but it provided me with the ability to adapt to my students’ needs in a safe environment. Oviedo High School has done a great job of keeping students safe, but this virus is unpredictable.” She went on to emphasize that the health of students and teachers should be the top priority. “I think everyone--the country, the state, the school district, and our high school-needs to put the safety of teachers and students above everything else,” Ferrante said. “My greatest fear this year is that we will act too late to take the necessary steps to protect our students and teachers and it will cost lives” Ferrante said.
New school resource officer joins OHS STORY BY BRANDON NEW Officer Ryan Meyer has joined Oviedo High School (OHS) as a school resource officer. He attended OHS, where he played baseball, and graduated in 2011. Meyer was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school, but continued his baseball career at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He later graduated from UCF in 2015 and received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Meyer worked for a time for a private security firm before entering the field of law enforcement. His responsibilities at OHS include helping administration with disciplinary situations, acting as a liaison between the school administration and the Oviedo Police Department, and most helping
DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION BY VERONIKA MAYNARD
create a safe and fun environment for students and staff. He also helps coach the baseball team. “The school year is going smoothly with the COVID pandemic and with everyday operations,” Meyer said. “The faculty and students are doing a great job dealing with stressful times and working together to make it a great school year.”
A fresh start: students come back to school STORY BY NIKTA DARYADEL
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Seminole County Public Schools decided to offer three educational options for students. The first, called Seminole Connect, offers all classes in an online format, with students staying home and using Webex to view their teacher’s lessons and ask questions. The second is typical face-to-face instruction. Students attend their classes on campus but follow a block schedule, wear masks and practice social distancing. Finally, families can choose a hybrid option, which is a mix of Connect and in person learning. Students choose which classes they want to take face-to-face and which ones they’ll do at home via Connect. Per usual, Florida and Seminole County Virtual Schools are also choices. As the second quarter begins, some students are transitioning from one format to another. A transfer from Connect to in person is a big change for many students, as they have not followed their regular school routine since March. The lack of social interaction while isolated at home was a common factor in the decision to return.
“I chose to go back because it seemed like the virus was under control, and I missed hanging out with kids my age” said junior Aiden Tanner. Many students found that learning from home posed challenges academically. “I wanted to see all my friends in person, plus being at home has too many distractions,” said junior Chris Keeling. Being around friends and in the classroom creates an environment more conducive to learning for many students. Also, as Keeling noted, being at home provides plenty of distractions, such as access to the internet and the temptation to doze off. One difficulty for those doing Seminole Connect or hybrid is managing sleep schedules that vary throughout the week. For example, on orange day, if a student has math virtually third period, he may wake up around ten AM, whereas the next day he might need to wake up at six o’clock in the morning for an in person class. “I have adjusted nicely because all
my teachers have given me the proper resources,” Tanner said. Teachers have had a lot on their plates this year as well, but they’ve taken the time and effort to make sure that all their students have the resources to succeed, regardless of educational setting. Both Tanner and Keeling said they prefer faceto-face instruction because they feel they can better interact with their class. The school has taken steps to limit the spread of COVID so they and other students can prioritize their education and be sure their safety is in good hands.
8 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | NOVEMBER 6, 2020
NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 9
Biden, Trump descend on key battleground Florida STORY BY PATRICK COSTELLO As Florida goes, so goes the nationat least when it comes to presidential elections. The candidate the state has awarded its electoral votes to has been victorious in all but one race since 1964. With many of the recent contents decided by close margins, including the controversial 2000 election, in which George W. Bush was declared the winner by just 537 votes, Florida will once again be a key state to watch on election night this year. While both candidates are vying for the Sunshine State’s electoral haul, Florida may be especially important for President Donald Trump. Just days before the election, Trump is facing a deficit of between eight and ten points nationwide, and is trailing in nearly every battleground state, including the Rust Belt states, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, that were crucial to his 2016 victory. Even traditional Republican strongholds are in play, as a recent poll by the New York Times and Siena College showed Trump tied with Democratic challenger Joe Biden in Texas. Thus, a loss of Florida’s 29 electoral votes, where the race is relatively close, could spell disaster for the President’s campaign. In need of a boost in the state, Trump has turned to his signature campaign rallies. After a hiatus due to the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, he resumed holding rallies in late June, and has since held five in Florida, second in number to only Pennsylvania during that period.
Three of those events have taken place in the Central Florida area, as the President seeks to gain support in “purple” counties, those that are closely contested by the two parties each election. Trump’s rallies are often rowdy and spirited occasions attended by his most enthusiastic supporters. They typically feature him touting his administration’s response to the pandemic and the imminent arrival of a vaccine, as well as numerous attacks against Biden and other Democrats. At his Oct. 12 rally in Sanford, just a week after being hospitalized because of COVID-19, Trump claimed that he was “immune” to the virus and would give “a big fat kiss” to everyone in the crowd. Senior Justin Richburg attended that rally at Orlando Sanford International Airport and described his experience. “I met some of the nicest people; everybody was extremely friendly,” Richburg said. “The atmosphere was very patriotic, and it was for sure the experience of a lifetime considering this is the most important election this country has faced.” Trump has received criticism for holding large, in-person events in the midst of the pandemic. Social distancing is absent at the rallies and many in the crowd do not wear masks. The President continues to claim that the virus will “disappear” and has made 38 such statements since February, according to CNN. Cases are on the rise again, with the US gaining around 60,000 each day, and several cities have seen spikes in
COVID-19 following Trump rallies. Conversely, former Vice President Biden has sensed that keeping a low profile is often the winning strategy as a frontrunner. Biden, 77, spent much of his time campaigning virtually from the basement of his home in Delaware as he sought to avoid the virus that is especially dangerous for older individuals. Soon after the onset of the pandemic, the Democratic nominee did not make a public appearance for over two months. “Biden’s events are usually small or virtual because he understands the true threat of the coronavirus, unlike the current occupant [of the White House],” said senior Ashton Fields.
COURTESY OF JUSTIN RICHBURG TRUMP RALLY. Thousands of President Trump’s supporters attended his Oct. 12 rally at Orlando Sanford International Airport.
The state of the election
White House
Per Associated Press race calls as of 11/6. Presidential results updated immediately before press.
270 to win
Donald Trump
electoral votes
217
Joe Biden P 290
Biden did begin holding in-person events after Labor Day, with attendance limited to allow for social distancing. His visits to Florida included multiple stops in the Miami area, where he met with groups like Hatian-American community leaders. Biden also enlisted running mate Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama to shore up support in the state. While the difference between the candidates’ campaign styles is stark, interpretations vary. Some see it as an example of their contrasting approaches to the virus, while, according to Richburg, Trump’s ability to draw large crowds is evidence that his campaign has elicited greater enthusiasm than his opponent.
Pending an Associated Press call for Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina
House of Representatives Democrats 218 for majority Republicans 208
seats
193
Senate 51 for majority
Congress DESIGN BY PATRICK COSTELLO
48
seats
50
Pending an Associated Press call for 34 House seats across the country and a January runoff for two Senate seats in Georgia.
Seniors reflect on newly gained right to vote STORY BY KAIT PETERSON With everything that has happened in the horrifying adventure we know as the year 2020, the Presidential election has been dubbed as the season finale of a crazy reality. This election is going down as one of the most monumental and important presidential elections of our generation and this time around, Gen Z gets to play a huge part in deciding how our country will be run and changed in the next four years. Many of our seniors throughout the country-as well as a majority of our seniors at Oviedo High School-will be doing their part as citizens of the nation and voting.. Seniors at OHS have been researching, watching and sadly, stressing over the events playing out leading up to the announcement of who will be elected as the 46th president of the united states. Many students voting for the first time will be using their voices to vote in the most important election of our nation. There are many seniors on the other hand, who could not. Senior Maizie King is one of the seniors who has a late birthday and did not meet the deadline for the election. She
said “I think that it definitely would have given me some relief to feel like I made a difference by voting, although I did do a lot of research since a lot of the media portrays fake news.” King used her voice in other ways to try and help make an impact during the campaign by doing research and posting on socials to spread awareness. The seniors who could not have the opportunity to vote in this year’s presidential election used their voice in a multitude of ways to help their community and do their part as US citizens. Those who were able to vote also used their voices in other ways. “Before voting,” Senior, Kenny Aponte, said, “I thoroughly researched the views and actions both presidential candidates have taken and believed in during their campaign for president elect of 2020.” Making sure you do the proper research and paying attention to details when it comes to elections like this one can make a very big difference. Without the proper research many would vote based off of personal bias or falsehoods they hear or see on social media and news. Aside from the research, many young
voters cast their votes based on what they would like to see change in their country, whether it be good or bad. Aponte, after doing his research, found his candidate. “I placed my trust into Joe Biden to unite our divided country,” he said. “I’m looking forward to what he can do for the American people, regardless of party affiliation or background to create and maintain the beautiful, safe, protected, healthy and great country that America is and should continue to be.”
PHOTO BY AUDREY STREMBECKI GO VOTE. The Seminole County Library East Branch served as a polling place.
10 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | NOVEMBER 2020
Hype for 2020 video games STORY BY BRANDON NEW
. . . . .
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Release Date: Novemeber 1oth, 2020 Genre: Action-Adventure, Role-Playing
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Release Date: November 12th, 2020 Genre: Action-Adventure, Open World
Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War
Release Date: Novemeber 13th, 2020 Genre: First-Person Shooter
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Release Date: November 20th, 2020 Genre: Hack-and-Slash, Role-Playing
Cyberpunk 2077
Release Date: December 10th, 2020 Genre: Action Role-Playing, Open World, First-Person Shooter
NOVEMBER 2020 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 11
Postponed movies of 2020
DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS
STORY BY JADEN MADUROVANTERPOOL
In this new installment in the Assassin’s Creed games play as Evior, a viking warrior, as you lead your clan through ninth century England. On your adventure to settle new lands in Anglo-Saxon England, explore a beautiful and mysterious world and face brutals enemies and earn your place in Valhalla. A sequel to the 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales sees the rise of Miles Morales as he follows in the footsteps of his mentor Peter Parker while also trying to be himself. Meanwhile, a gang war is sparked between Roxxon Energy Corporation and a high-tech criminal army called the Underground, led by the Tinkerer. Set during the events of the Cold War, this new installment in the Call of Duty franchise hopes to be better than its predecessors. Play through the single-player campaign as you pursue an alleged Soviet spy codenamed Perseus. Go through the multiplayer’s new features and modes. Or battle it out in a new zombies experience. A spiritual successor to Hyrule Warriors (2014) and prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017). The game depicts “The Great Claminity” which takes place 100 years before the events of Breath of the Wild, now in a split timeline that follows Link and a new fate of the Kindgom of Hyrule. Set in the future where everyone is obsessed with power, glamour, and body modifications, you play as V as you adventure through a massive open-world known as “Nightcity” as you search for a one-of-a-kind implant that gives the power of immortality. So seize the day as the game gives you almost unlimited possibilities on how to complete your adventure.
DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS Black Widow (Marvel Studios) Original Release Date : May 11th, 2020 - New Release Date (as of now) : May 7th, 2021 Black Widow, directed by Cate Shortland, follows Natasha Romanova’s (Scarlett Johansson) story on the run and is forced to come to terms with a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past. Hunted down by opposing forces bent on bringing her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and severed connections long before her time as an avenger. This additional entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was set to come out to hit screens on May 11th, 2020 and would narratively take place after Captain America: Civil War. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this film has been pushed back until May 7th of next year.
Godzilla vs. Kong, directed by Adam Wingard, is the third and possibly final entry in Legendary Monsterverse, until further notice. While little is known about this film, the general synopsis states that years after Godzilla: King of the Monsters, alpha titans Godzilla and Kong are on a collision course for reasons unknown. Meanwhile, Monarch looks to uncover the origins of all titans as rival factions plan to manipulate the Titans for war. This movie was supposed to be released on November 20, 2020. Unfortunately, it is being delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. But unlike the other movies mentioned, this film got delayed because of the studio’s unsureness of the film’s success, especially coming off of the poor reception of the previous film.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Sony Pictures) Original Release Date : October 2nd, 2020 - New Release Date (as of now) : June 25th, 2021
The Batman (Warner Bros. Pictures) Original Release Date : June 25th, 2021 - New Release Date (as of now) : March 4th, 2022
Paper Mario: The Origami King Review DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS
ASSET CREDIT: NINTENDO
STORY BY VINCENT CROOK
DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS
Raya and the Last Dragon (Walt Disney Animation Pictures) Original Release Date : November 25th, 2020 - New Release Date (as of now) : March 21st, 2021 Raya and the Last Dragon, written by Adele Lim and Qui Nguyen, takes place in a land called Kumandra, split into five different regions. A warrior named Raya searches for the last dragon in the world. While the premise seems simple and promising; and personally I would take this over another live action remake. This film was supposed to come out as soon as November 25, 2020, yet, it’s been pushed back like the previous. It’s scheduled to release March next year, with no announcement that it will be accessible on Disney+
Steve joins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate STORY BY ELLIOTT SIRESS
If being able to explore a true open world is what you’re looking for in a game, filled with a new aesthetic never seen in Paper Mario before, then Paper Mario Origami King is the title for you. All in all, I rate Paper Mario and The Origami King an 8/10. While the ring battle system is a bit off, the game is a truly new experience, up to contest with classics such as Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Super Paper Mario, that any long time fan of the series should check out.
Many people still remember the old days of early Minecraft; the colorful putty-like textures and the simple yet limitless potential for players, new and experienced alike. The gorgeous and horrifying atmosphere, the culture and urban legends, it’s rise, fall and return to video game glory. And now 11 years later, we get to see the face of this game, Steve, rock the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster. Entering as the game’s 77th fighter, Steve was showcased on October 1st to many people’s surprise, shocked that this character–usually taken in the community as a meme or joke–was actually being added to the roster. Along with his partner Alex and enemies: Zombie and Enderman, the blocky nomad joined the brawl with mining, crafting, and building mechanics, a gimmick that made the team “have to rework all our (111+) existing stages” according to game director Masahiro Sakurai.
ASSET CREDIT: NINTENDO
Nintendo is one of the biggest gaming companies in the world. They have created 8 home consoles and 9 portable ones. They’ve also created 715 licensed games. Their most popular franchise and best earning one is most certainly Mario. One of the subcategories in this franchise is Paper Mario. The sixth Paper Mario game, Origami King, was released on July 17th 2020. Having sold 2.82 million copies in the first 3 months of release, it’s clear that many were expecting this title with high expectations. Along with the new release, new changes were also made. The game decided to get rid of the level system, switching to an open world area. While not as large as it seems, it provides continuity and gives a sense of true progression. Following it’s predocessors, instead of reusing Bowser as the main villain of the story like many other Super Mario games have in the past, Nintendo has introduced a new villain: “King Olly”, genocidally tyrant and older brother to Mario’s new companion Olivia. I think this gives a fresh face to the game, and is good overall. Critics have been a bit harsh on the game, due to multiple “unnecessary” changes. In my opinion, the changes made were good for the game. Multiple series from different publishers don’t make many changes, so having them is a positive and fresh experience.
The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves, is set during Batman’s (Robert Patterson) second year of fighting crime and follows him as he explores Gotham City’s corruption, both on the streets and beyond. The film was supposed to come out on June 25 of next year, but was pushed back until due to, do I even have to say it? While there is limited knowledge about this film, what is known is that there will include comic book favorites like The Riddler (Paul Dano), Catwoman (Zoe Kravtiz) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell).
ASSET CREDIT: MARVEL STUDIOS, WARNER BROS., SONY PICTURES, DC FILMS, WALT DISNEYPICTURES
– Future Chapters will be posted as Online Exclusives to “oviedojournalism.com” –
Godzilla vs. Kong (Warner Bros. Pictures) Original Release Date : Novemeber 20th, 2020 - New Release Date (as of now) : May 21st, 2021
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a film formally dated to come out on October 2, 2020 but was set back eight months because of, you guessed it, the Coronavirus. While little is known about this film, what we do know is Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and the tenacious alien entity, Venom will be returning in this film, along with Cletus Kassidy (Woody Harrelson) and the titular symbiote, Carnage. One large hope from the fans would be the promise of an R rating, especially because of Cletus/Carnage’s maniacal and violent nature established in the comics. Will their outcries be answered? Only time will tell.
ASSET CREDIT: UBISOFT, SONY INTERACTIVE STUIDOS, ACTIVISION, NINTENDO/KOEI TECMO, CD PROJEKT
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DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS “I’m- I’m floored! I’m flabbergasted!” exclaimed video game Youtuber ‘HMK’ in his reaction video to the reveal trailer. Another Smash-related Youtuber ‘Alpharad’ defended Steve’s inclusion in the game, enthusiastically explaining that “It was a matter of time. Like, he really is one of the biggest gaming reps of all time.” Whether a fan or not, it’s hard to dismiss this character’s addition as a throwaway, with all of the memories and nostalgia behind him, Steve was bound to fit perfectly into the framework of this already momentous game, one that gets to add another icon to it’s collection.
The ball of fire blazed above us in the darkness that was our ceiling. White and orange raging in silence, violating the blackness that bent around the flickering flames, that very same blackness stoking them, fueling them, keeping the white and orange enraged. It was a single star in the dark space that surrounded us, our personal sun which we marched through the nothing. And though the fire which crackled at the end of the long torch was in our control, we still orbited it all the same. We continued to walk. Our path, as open and nonexistent as it was, was illuminated by the fire burning at the end of the long torch, and it blindly guided us as we aimlessly walked. The torch itself was a mass of wood and other flammable materials lumped into a thick sphere, dwindling down into a twisted cone of sticks wrapped and held by ropes to a long metal pipe, slightly bending behind whoever carried it. A horde of men huddled close to one another carried the torch together, Decker at the head of this little group. He was a broad man with wide shoulders and golden-white hair, eyes sturn and melded by the shadows which were split by the orange light of the torch. I was a good distance from this small collection of men, the oldest of the Wanders not yet affected by the blights of old age. The fires of the torch drew my eyes upward, it was a challenge to not give in and stare, even more so to pull myself away. Something about the flames captured and intoxicated me as the blaze reflected in the shiny gloss of my eyes. Maybe it was the spectacle of this inferno which hung above us like a crazed lantern. Maybe it was the faint crackling and snapping of the fire which rumbled through the darkness with the shuffling of our feet and steady breathing. Maybe it was the light which interrupted the infinite darkness of The Hyperstructure. The Hyperstructure. It was such a fascinating name to me. Most of the Wanders just called this place ‘the world’, fewer just called it ‘home’, some didn’t call it anything. But Stephen had his own name for this realm: The Hyperstructure. Stephen had always been a more eccentric man, always thinking, his brain a ticking clock with no alarm to reach, forever going, forever just... thinking. He gave names to everything, maybe in some vain effort to categorize this unorganizable place, but I prefer to believe he was just a creative soul with nothing better to do. I didn’t know why I had clung on so tight to the name, but The Hyperstructure was all I had ever known, so being able to sum up all of my life into two words felt both comforting and overwhelming horrifying. The Hyperstructure, in dissociative terms, was this seemingly endless world; nothing but structures on top of larger structures, apart of even larger structures, those compositions just a small fragment of even more massive frameworks, those frameworks a mere flake in the vast ocean of grey architecture, an ocean which stretched in so many different ways in all different directions. The Hyperstructure was unfathomably enormous, immeasurably immense, limitless and boundless. Some even argued – religiously – that The Hyperstructure was growing, spreading, it’s infinitely infinite structures continuously expanding. The Hyperstructure was infinity, if dreamt and constructed. I always had a difficult time wrapping my head around it, but to attempt to seemed so pointless and pathetic. I, myself, was an infinitely small speck amongst the great and endless. The Hyperstructure was architecture and nothing but it; constructs and buildings, sometimes stretching out so far all the angles just thinned into one point beyond human sight, it’s true length possibly beyond human comprehension. Meaning and purpose were abstract concepts, foreign to the lawless rules of The Hyperstructure. And to try and explain the million kilometer tall doorways or the billion kilometer long bridges or the trillion kilometer sea of concrete was pure insanity. Stephen stood just before that threshold, naming the world was mad enough. For the past three months we had walked in this plain stretch of flat ground, grey and only occasionally marked by long lines heading in random directions, thousands of kilometers away from each other, or sometimes inches apart. The sky above us was pure black, but everyone knew there was something solid above us, for limitless skies that bled out into nothing didn’t exist. There was always a ceiling, no matter how far.
ILLUSTRATION BY ELLIOTT SIRESS
The only anomalies amongst the flat stretch of solid ground were columns of metal, etched with more lines, carved to little detail. Erected from the surface, they towered arounded, reaching to the ceiling, sometimes directly vertical, other times bent or titled in whatever direction The Hyperstructure saw fit. Sometimes they were prismic, other times they were cylindrical. Sometimes they stood, colossal, in the distance, other times they blocked our straight path and demanded for us to traverse around, sometimes for days. Stephen was convinced there was a ceiling low enough to be considered reasonably far, maybe some tens of thousands of kilometers above us. He was foolishly hopeful that the ceiling was thin or breachable, and that beyond it was some surface world, that we scrapped just beneath zero level. He would say, “Subcutaneous. Just beneath the skin, just under the surface. Subcutaneous. Sub-Subcutaneous.” There was no such thing. And even if the ceiling was thin or breachable, even if we could reach it in the first place, all it would lead us to would be yet another fold of The Hyperstructure. I loved the man, dearly I did, but, it was bordering on madness and to think up a world beyond The Hyperstructure was ridiculous. He proved himself wrong a year ago, “There is no number beyond infinity, for there is just more infinity. The Hyperstructure lies beyond The Hyperstructure.” The fires of the torch drew me in again, I absorbed myself in the flames over the darkness. There was only one other light that could apprehend my eyes and steal my soul more than the fire, and I could feel it coming any second now. The air sizzled a little. Then there was a flash, blindingly bright, the darkness killed by vivid white for a fraction of a second, before resurrecting itself and overtaking this nanoscopic slice of The Hyperstructure once again. Lightning crashed down in the distance, and just as quickly faded into the past. A thunderous roar as it’s final breath of life, sweeping across the world, a bellowing whistle that flooded past us and continued to wash over till sound could wash over no more. My eyes were infatuated by the ephemeral light, the scintillating white which died before I could enjoy the sharp and jagged shape of the plasmic blade which tore through space. I loved the fire, and I adored the lightning. I held onto them to help myself in the swallowing shadows. That millisecond of blinding brilliance carried me enough to keep walking. My heart skipped a beat and I tensed up excitingly when I felt a sizzle scratch through the cold air again. It seemed sharper though, hotter and more keen then before as it passed through my chest. The realization flashed in my mind just as Decker roared around him to the Wanders. “SCATTER!” We did, bolting in different directions just as lightning shot down to the ground and smited the floor, smashing into where we just walked and cracking the material. The thunderous roar turned into a deafening cry that shattered the air, burning it too. I inhaled what felt like fire even hotter than that which blazed at the end of the torch. I was thrown by some invisible force yards away, and I skidded against the floor as the white soaked past my eyelids, then faded to nonexistence. Time slowed to a standstill before speeding up just as fast, or slowly, and I returned, blinded and deafened. I pushed myself up from the floor, and my hearing only restored when Decker called my name amongst many others. “Robin!” I responded after a few seconds, calling out a sound my brain didn’t care to registriture. I just stood, collected myself, and hobbled over to where the torch was carried to after the lightning strike. Wanders gathered and I wormed my way past others, coming to see what everyone was fixed to. Three people laid motionless on the cracked floor, their bodies annihilated and reduced to scorched red, seared white, and burnt black. The skin had been vaporized, just bone and flesh marked by dark cracks which devoured the bodies. Their expressions were hauntingly frozened into oblivion. The lightning incinerated their being before it touched and destroyed their bodies. The rest of the details were erased from my head, I turned away towards the darkness before submitting myself back to the flames. Decker turned away from the scolded bodies and demanded everyone to continue, to leave. I knew those people’s names, I knew their faces, but turned and walked as if they were just another notch in The Hyperstructure. Well, now they were. Lightning flashed far in the distance. We continued to walk.
DESIGN BY ELLIOTT SIRESS
12 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | NOVEMBER 6, 2020
STAR ATHLETES: VOLLEYBALL INTERVIEWS BY MACKENZIE HOLMES PAIGE WISNESKI Q; You’re a freshman, and you would want to have as much of the typical first year experience as possible. How have you grown to adapt to your environment with the new experiences you’re having? A; Being a freshman definitely made me doubt myself in some situations by either thinking “I’m not good enough,” or “how am I supposed to compete with girls four years older than me?” But with the help of my coaches and teammates, I was able to see past those thoughts. My teammates really helped me out by always being super supportive and encouraging; even though I was a freshman they never treated me like one. It was such an amazing experience being able to play with those girls. Q; Is there any advice you would give to new student athletes? A; Some advice I would give to incoming student athletes would be to always manage your time wisely and be committed to your sport. Getting out of school and going straight to practices or games is not easy, especially when you have tons of homework due.
STEPHANIE GEBER Q; Is there a legacy you want to leave for your younger sister [Susan Geber] for her next four years in the volleyball program? A; I want her to be able to come into a program that always puts its best foot forward and that strives for excellence. I want her to be able to experience a team that supports each other no matter what and always has each other’s backs. Really, I just want her to be able to grow like I did and find herself with people who will be there for her all the time Q; Is there any advice you would give to new student athletes? A; Don’t take your time for granted. It goes by really fast, and you will miss it when it’s gone. Q; Which would you prefer to attend, a bigger or smaller college? A; Personally, I see college as a chance to grow and form lasting relationships. That being said, I feel that smaller colleges provide a more intimate environment both in the classroom and with the people. Smaller colleges allow me to learn in a place I’m more comfortable in, while also being able to grow and expand my relationships
PHOTO BY OHS JOURNALISM
Stewart looks to rebound from injury in final year STORY BY J. NIELSEN, M. FRANGOUL Joshua Stewart steps up to the first hole on the green. He places his golf ball on the tee and gets ready for the first swing. ‘Stay calm,’ he thinks to himself. ‘I’m the one in control’ Last year, Stewart faced an injury that affected his season. “Last year was a bit of a challenge because during the high school season I broke my wrist and was recovering from that,” Stewart said. “So this year I was able to play more and practice as much as I wanted to in order to get better. Last year was all about recovery.” Stewart is a senior here at Oviedo High School. He has been on the school’s golf team for all four years. Stewart acknowledged how he started golfing at just eight years old when his grandparents
started taking him to lessons. He had originally hoped to accomplish first in states but ended up tying fifth overall, scoring a 72 and 73 each day. “Josh has seven birdies and eight bogies over the two day tournament en route to a one over par 145,” said John Howell, social studies teacher and boys’ golf coach. “He was in the state finals three out of his four years in high school.” Stewart will be attending Florida State University under a golf scholarship. His main goal is to make it to the Professional Golf Association (PGA). He wants to further continue his golfing career post college. “Josh is the type of kid we all want our athletes to be. He worked hard at his game and took little to no time off,” Howell said. “He provided the kind of golf leadership and knowledge some of the less experienced players don’t have.”
COURTESY OF JOHN HOWELL SENIOR YEAR. Stewart stands in front of his sign on the golf team’s senior day.
DESIGN BY MACKENZIE HOLMES