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POLICY AND CHANGE
LIGHTS, CAMERA, LEGISLATION
READY TO VOTE IN 2018
A&E
OPINION
AMT III class performs mainstage production of “Rent.”
Hollywood judgment hinders #MeToo and other movements.
14 30 37 47
Exclusive tickets and vacations arise from random lucky events.
Injured
athletes persevere through physical setbacks.
POWER TO
LISTEN TO US, WASHINGTON
FEATURES SPORTS
READY OR NOT HERE WE VOTE
ENOUGH HEAR OUR IS FRUSTRATION ENOUGH
With the November 2018 midterm elections approaching, students at the Bay are actively preregistering to vote to ensure they can cast their ballot. Senior Sandra Salvatierra said she was eager to register because she wants to help make change in the country. “If you are 18 or over and a citizen of the United States, you have a massive amount of power in the way you want your country to run,” Salvatierra said. “Registering to vote is just the first step in manifesting that power to enact the change you want to see.” Once teens turn 16, they are eligible to pre-register, thus allowing them to vote immediately when they become adults. Salvatierra recently turned 18 years old and she said she is highly anticipating turning in her ballot because she is excited to have her voice heard by politicians. “I just turned 18 years old last month, so I can participate in this year’s midterm elections. By voting, I want to dismantle the preconceived notion that teenagers are apathetic about politics. Social media activism is a great way to become involved, but voting is what really sends a message to our current political leaders,” Salvatierra said. “If you do not listen to our cries, your job is on the line. That is why I think my vote matters.” Salvatierra said she is angered by the current political sphere of politicians. By voting, she believes that this is the first step to voicing her concerns, those of which deal with politics circulating everyday lives through social media, which she believes affect young voters the most. “With social media endlessly providing the latest controversial politicians’ tweets, along with viral comebacks by other politicians or celebrities, it is hard to escape politics
Like Silvey, Advanced Placement U.S. Government teacher Laurie Marx said she agrees that voting is an important privilege to everyone in the country. “It is the most important thing an American citizen can do to impact who their elected leaders are,” Mrs. Marx said. “It is the fundamental cornerstone of American democracy and it is what makes us a representative republican form of government.” Mrs. Marx said that she believes people sometimes don’t understand the impact of voting and that young teens who are preregistering to vote need to understand the importance of their ballots. “What people don’t understand about actually voting is that you have an opportunity to have an impact on the future and the policies that your country is going to follow,” Mrs. Marx said. “If you give up that right, then policies are made without your input.” According to Mrs. Marx, before pre-registering to vote, people should have a background knowledge of American government and current politics. “Find out who is running and then find out what they stand for,” Mrs. Marx said. “Don’t vote for somebody because somebody else tells you to. Vote for somebody because you believe in their policies and you believe they are going to be the best person for that job.” After the last presidential election and current political climate, Mrs. Marx said teenagers pre-registering to vote will have a great impact on society. “I want to see those young people vote and make change,” Mrs. Marx said. “They need to know that your vote is your most powerful weapon.”
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in our modern day,” Salvatierra said. “We are more aware now than ever of what our politicians are doing, or more importantly, not doing, and we are becoming aware of the powerful voice we hold within the public.” Like Salvatierra, senior Ethan Silvey has pre-registered to vote, and he said he is already hoping to make change in the current political system through his vote. “Voting is critical, especially with today’s political climate,” Silvey said. “Complacency is killing America, and if this is really going to be the generation that makes a difference, then they need to show up to the voting booth.” Silvey said this generation receives most of the news through social media outlets, so this is the most important way to educate future voters. “Young voters are the biggest untapped voting group that can really make a difference in this next election,” Silvey said. “From the student standpoint, getting involved, posting on social media, talking with friends and volunteering is the best way to become engaged in the electoral process.” Silvey said he struggles with the fact that young voters don’t understand the power that their vote has in the current political system. “I think that with the way our political system is structured, many people feel that their vote doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things,” Silvey said. “People need to understand that just being a part of the political process is a privilege that not every country’s citizens have.” Silvey said he wants young voters to understand why their vote matters and that voting is a privilege for not only young adults but also for all eligible American citizens. “Our vote matters because it is a civic duty that not everyone has the privilege of exercising,” Silvey said. “It is pivotal that we uphold our end of the social contract and that we play our role in the process.”
POWER TO THE STUDENTS
BY OLIVIA LANDSMAN
RAISE YOUR VOICE
UT NG B YOU MIGHTY
E T O M O R P THE VOTE
WE WAN CHA T NGE
Cypress Bay High School • 18600 Vista Park Blvd., Weston, Florida 33332 • Vol 17, Issue 5 • March 2018