THE C.H.C. STAFF Caroline Kadir Editor-in-Chief
Rebekah Jacob Managing Editors - Content & Layout
STUDENT LIFE
Charter Daily News Ariana Ortiz Web Managing Editor Maxine Martinez Business Manager Mr. J. Foreman - Layout Mr. F. Fagen - Content Mr, J. Foreman - Video Advisors Mr. P. Bayer Principal Alan Mathew News Editor Kiersten Warren Student Life Editor Paula Lillquist-Rodriguez Technology Editor Morgan Lind Clubs Editor
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Michael Muela Sports Editor Maxine Martinez Features Editor Sophia Cortes Entertainment Editor Brianna Butler Lifestyle Editor Rachel Rivera Voices Versus Violence Editor Nicole Llanes & Sammantha Miragliotta Community Outreach Andres Alfonso - The CHAT Nicholas Amad - Web Photo Editors Justin Pierce Graphics Editor
LIFESTYLE
CONTENT STAFF: Caroline Kadir, Rebekah Jacob, Nicole Llanes, Ariana Ortiz, Rachel Rivera, Mia Mateo, Samantha Miragliotta, Maxine Martinez, Kiersten Warren, Paula Lillquist-Rodriguez, Morgan Lind, Andres Alfonso, Alan Mathew, Sophia Cortez, Brianna Butler, Samantha Cruz, Michael Muela, Sebastian Alvarez, Gabriela Carvajal, Kimani Dodd, Joshua Lasarte, Mariana Riano, Rebecca Lim LAYOUT STAFF: Caroline Kadir, Rebekah Jacob, Henry Severe, Megan Rasmussen, Hailey Watson, Zeshan Zubair, Monica Lozada, Natalie Fernandez, Valerie Verga PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF: Andres Alfonso, Nicholas Amad, Bryan Lara, Natali Brito, Megan Ingram, Jeinily Bencon, Yoko Witkowski, Aijah Harper, Francesca Brito GRAPHICS STAFF: Justin Pierce, Jasmin Bleus, Rosa Gomez, Carolina Othon, Matthew Morales-Galdamez, Dominick Zarcadoolas, Shane Wooden, Jaxen Wyborny CARTOONIST: Mariana Riano The C.H.A.T. is an official publication of the Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS). The content of out newspaper is not necessarily the opinions of our advisors and administration. The C.H.A.T. staff welcomes any comments to the editors and/or staff. The C.H.A.T. is a publication of C.H.C. (Charter High Communications) sponsored by the Communications and Technology Department of PPCHS. Pembroke Pines Charter High School 17189 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 Phone: 954-538-3700 Email: ppchsnewspaper@gmail.com Twitter: @ppchsnewspaper Instagram: @ppchsnewspaper The CHAT welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, libel, and space. Drop off letters in room C113 or send an email to ppchsnewspaper@gmail.com.
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CES VERSUS VIOLENCE
SPORTS
Who Will be the Next Mr. Jag? ARIANA ORTIZ WEB MANAGING EDITOR
Shining lights adorn the River of Grass stage. The spot lights flicker to reveal twenty PPCHS seniors giving their best shot at winning it all: the title of Mr. Jag. Mr. Jag is one of the most coveted PPCHS traditions that seniors look forward to each and every year. A new Mr. Jag struts down the hallway with a whole new attitude once they are crowned. Who will be the 2020 Mr. Jag? As always, contestants auditioned with their special talents to wow the committee with their unique abilities. This year over 45 boys auditioned, but only 20 are able to compete, leaving the judges in a tough position. Ultimately, each of the boys selected were chosen based on outstanding talent and stamina. The lucky 20 boys are: Nicholas Amad, Micheal Omole, Aki-
ra Coradin, Osei Price, Julian Esquivel, Zachary Phillips, Ikenne Ezenwa, Kent Phipps, Kyle Fuller, Jordon Rhoden, Mateo Hernandez, Blake Rodriguez, Mason Herrera, Tumi Shoeyoye, Julian Infante, Derell Sylvester, Colton Langs, Dylan Toledo, Sinan Majeed, and last but not least, Amarachi Ujagbor. All of the boys come from different backgrounds and have diverse interests and hobbies. Contestant Amarachi Ujabor states, “I feel like I stand out from all the other contestants for one because I am literally taller than all the others, but I also have a charismatic and fun personality that the audience will enjoy.” This year’s Mr. Jag contestants are being put to the ultimate test. Instead of the usual midday homeroom practices of past years, this year’s con-
testants will have to give up what PPCHS seniors cherish the most: senior privilege. Contestant Dylan Toledo confessed, “Even though it is really hard to get up early, it’s all going to be worth it one everyone sees the show. I know the audience is going to be so excited.” Twice a week, the boys wake up bright and early to perfect their dance moves for their group dance. This year’s dance theme is a teen favorite, but you’ll have to watch the show to see what moves the boys come up with. Not only are all the boys giving up their senior privilege, but they are working day in and day out to perfect their personal talents that showcase their personality and skills. Mr. Jag is hosted by PPCHS Student Government Association. This year, the show is being orchestrated by Madison Lopez
and Carissa Kaminsky. They will be the ones who approve and organize every last detail to ensure the show runs smoothly. Committee Co-Head Carissa Kaminsky expressed, “Madi and I have been working so hard and coordinating with all the boys and River of Grass directors to make sure we put on the best show possible. I really think this will be the best Mr. Jag yet.” SGA has been successful in making Mr. Jag an amazing event year after year, and 2020 will be no different. The show is set to take place on March 18, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are being sold right now so don’t wait! Mr. Jag is notorious for selling out. See you there!
Photo Donated By: SGA
Students Life
A Politician In the Making
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
MAXINE MARTINEZ FEATURES EDITOR
P
eople spend lifetimes searching for a single passion. Something that will drive their life forward and make them feel eager to work. Vincent Toranzo, a junior at PPCHS, was lucky enough to have found his passion at an extremely young age, politics, and since then has worked devotedly to ensure his future is a promising one. What sparked this young boys fervor was the 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama. At the budding age of 5, Vincent fell in love with America and specifically its government system. As the years passed the highschooler began to take part in his community. From speaking out on local issues to forming close ties with our city’s movers and shakers, Toranzo has made it so that his
voice is heard. Vincent Toranzo had made such an impact, that after the New Hampshire primary, the Southern states political director for Joe Biden gave him a call. He was offered the position of co-chair of Young Leaders for Biden. The PPCHS student accepted and now is a member of his idols campaign team where he hosts debate watch parties , canvassing, and other campaign events. Those who know Toranzo, know how much he supports the democratci candidate and how much of an honor it is for him to be part of Biden’s team. “I, along with almost half of America, believe that he can truly restore the soul of this nation, “ expressed Toranzo. He backs his assertion with Biden’s years of
professional and personal experience that Vincent believes aids in forming connections with Americans across the country. Although still in highschool, Vincent, uses his experience and opportunities to learn more about issues that really matter to him. Like gun control which he commented on by saying “time and time again we’ve seen assault weapons as the choice of weapon to end innocent lives.” It is these matters that fuel his goal to study political science and attend law school. With his current achievements and future plans, there is no doubt he will succeed in having a career in politics
Photo Donated By: SGA
Your Vote Counts SAMANTHA MIRAGLIOTTA STAFF WRITER
On the eleventh of March, seniors from
the class of 2020 will be able to vote in the primaries. The Broward public library will be the place where students take one of their first steps in being an official U.S citizen. For the very first time in their lives they will have a say in what they want to see in the future. Senior Alyssa Miragliotta expressed that “Voting to her is being able to have freedom.” Being able to vote means the freedom of choice and speech on the matter in your own government and is one of the most
important rights and responsibilities that U.S. citizens have. Sophomore Sofia Smith stated, “ I find that voting will be a freedom to have a say and to know what's happening in my government.” Voting gives citizens the right that allows them to be informed on what's occurring. About 150 million American citizens are qualified to vote. Unfortunately, many don’t. Freshman Angelina Godinez stated, “[she is] in no rush [she] has years to come, however when [she] comes of age being able to vote [she] doesn’t know if I'd want to.” They give up on making a
change and refuse to choose leaders and representatives who will do things that are important to them. Some may argue that this is a waste because if you have the power to possibly change what you want to see than “why not?” Voting for students lets them tell the government what they want it to do. For instance, if they think they’re paying too many taxes, they can vote for a person who promises to lower taxes. If citizens want more services, they can vote for someone who will promise to spend funds to gain more services. It’s also important for
citizens to know how to work the voting machines or to mark the ballots they’ll be using when they vote, so that their votes will be counted. Junior Makenzie Ahearn exclaimed, “Voting to[...] is a power that comes with responsibility and I am excited to be able to vote in the future for what I believe in.” Why is that so important? Because every vote counts! An election might be decided by a single vote and history would be changed because a person got…or lost…that one vote!
Photo By: CHAT Staff
SGA Soars at States KIERSTEN WARREN STUDENT LIFE EDITOR
On March 5, PPCHS SGA members woke up before dawn, at 3 AM to go to FASC, or the annual SGA States Convention. At this convention, SGA was running for state secretary, and are proud to say after endless campaigning with different schools, they won the position! PPCHS SGA now holds state office, and junior Vincent Toranzo is the new FASC secretary. Throughout the days of convention, members traveled to the campus of FSU and the state capital building to learn how to become better leaders. Students arrived back in sunny Pembroke Pines at 8 AM on March 8. All in all, FASC 2020 in Tallahassee, FL, was a success. Here are some of the highlights from the trip!
Donated By: Mr.Curry
Student Life CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
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Freshmen Venture to Hollywood Studios KIERSTEN WARREN STUDENT LIFE EDITOR
On February 7th, 2020, the class of 2023 traveled to Disney’s ‘Hollywood Studios’ for the annual freshman class trip. For the first time in years, charter’s freshman class did not go to Epcot, which had seemingly become a 9th grade tradition. Around the park, the freshmen proudly showed their creative class shirts, labeled, ‘Freshman Things,’ a creative play on the hit show “Stranger Things.” Some of the class of 2023’s favorite rides throughout the day included, ‘Toy Story Mania!’, the Star Wars rides, and the new rollercoaster, ‘Slinky Dog Dash’, built in 2018. Although, the freshman started off the day early, and came back after dark, the memories they made will last a lifetime.
Donated By: Class of 2023
FEATURES CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Juan Flores Carries His Own Tune
Students Bey
Photo By: Jeinily Bencon
S
enior Juan Flores has been a musician since the day he was born. His musical talent is undeniable as the sound that flows through every instrument he plays graces the ears of the audience members. What started as a hobby in middle school, has led Juan to have a very successful future as a musician. Juan is a multi-talented musician playing the violin, percussion, piano, guitar, and bass all with effortless ease.
After becoming impassioned by music and overwhelmed with talent Juan began to look for opportunities to grow and learn as a musician. He joined a group called the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles National Institute (YOLA) that is connected to one of the best orchestras in the world: the LA Philharmonic. Juan was hand selected to participate in this exclusive program that provides mentorship, travel opportunities, assistance with college applications, and introduces him to highly successful musicians. Juan states, “YOLA has been an amazing opportunity for me as a musician and it feels amazing getting to do what you love not only as a hobby but also a career.” Students in the program also receive the opportunity to travel and play alongside the Philharmonic and actually participate regularly in master classes with them in order for their musical gift to flourish. Through YOLA, Juan has been able to
play in the orchestra at grand venues such as Hollywood Bowl, Usher Hall, Tynecastle Stadium, and many others. Juan’s main orchestra, however, is local to his home in South Florida: The Miami Music Project, an organization whose goal is to “use music as an instrument for social transformation, empowering children to acquire values and achieve their full potential.” Students at the Miami Music Project are encouraged to use music as an agent to ignite their critical thinking skills to gain greater academic success. Their hope is that this will allow them to eventually overcome the disadvantages of poverty and inequality. Juan serves as the concertmaster of the youth orchestra for MMP.
In the near future, Juan plans to attend Northeastern University to earn a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. His passion for performance and practicing his craft has led him to major success very early on in his career that will only continue to prosper in the future!
Photo Donated By: Juan Flores
Powderpuff - NEVER
An Experience You’ll Forget
MAXINE MARTINEZ FEATURES EDITOR
On February 6, 2020 members of the
school united for the annual Powderpuff game, where the roles of boys and girls were reversed. The stands began to fill with eager PPCHS students and administrators alike as the players were warming up on the field and the cheerleaders’ voices were being carried across the bleachers by the wind. It was the making of a standard football game, except for the fact that it was anything but. The two teams were there for a game of flag football and differentiated themselves by the color of their shirts gray and black, and their flags yellow and red, respectively. While both teams put up a good fight and gave the NFL a run for their money, they weren’t the only reason for the crowd that night.
Some would say that the cheerleaders stole the show. Just like the football players were female, the cheerleaders were all boys; yet, they didn’t hesitate to put on their best girl power attitude. Senior Marcos Garcia, who was a cheerleader at the game, said “my friends convinced me to do it, but I think it went well. It was a lot of fun. They threw me up in the air, so it was like a real “team bonding” experience.” Some dressed in actual skirts and crop tops while others rolled up their own t-shirts to make what some consider stereotypical female clothes, but all of them cheered their heart out. They were peppy, loud, and got the crowd on their side. Nothing, however, was as impressive as the halftime show. The dance team was first to perform and as per usual
were regarded with thundering applause. Team member and sophomore, Samantha Villfane expressed “I think we totally kicked butt! It was really hype, even though most of the crowd was around the dunk tank. We got a lot of cheers.” When the team dispersed out ran the boys flaunting their girl inspired exterior. One could not have been prepared for what was about to come. As the first few notes trickled out of the stadium speakers the group broke out into a choreographed dance which featured stunts. The crowd went wild, nothing could contain their laughing, clapping, and yells of approval. But, this is not even the end of the show. Out came senior, and referee for the night Andres Alfonso, sporting, like, his counterparts a black and white striped shirt and pink tutu, plus the added bonus of a microphone. He stood facing the crowd, moved the microphone close to himself, and started to sing along to Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb.” The crowd was laughing and some stood on their
Photos By: Jeinily Bencon
feet trying to get a better look at the show taking place on the field below. As the game started up again, some sat at the bleachers intently watching the game. While others, went to partake in the other festivities that came with Powderpuff. There was a line for popcorn and cotton candy, but the majority of the crowd could be seen encircled around the dunk tank. Here people could pay a dollar to throw a ball and try to dunk the teacher who was sitting anxiously on top of a tub of water. “It was really fun and it was super cool to see the teachers get involved in school activities,” commented freshman Britton Katz. Some of these featured teachers were Mrs. Kelley, Mr. Jablonka, Mrs. Chevy, and more. Till the final minutes of the game, which crowned the grey team the winner, to the last splash in the dunk tank, Powderpuff was an immense success. I for one, cannot wait till next year›s displays of school spirit.
yond Charter T
he world of skateboarding can seem harsh. From an outsider it looks like all scraped knees and elbows, cemented parks, and broken boards. But hearing junior Brian Lynch speak about skateboarding is enough to put a new perspective in your head about this misunderstood world. The highschooler had been skating
Photo Donated By: Brian Lynch
FEATURES CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
The Reality of a Skateboarder
Photo By: Jeinily Bencon
since his freshman year, but it wasn’t till the beginning of junior year that he found himself devoting a lot of his time to this sport. He has spent much of his younger years searching for physical outlets but nothing piqued his interest. As a result, he spent much of his time on the computer. Until one day he stepped onto a board. Now he spends his life outside of school dedicating his time to working three days a week and skating the other four. Lynch, along with other members of the skateboarding community, skate where they can: parks, streets, neighborhood, etc. And while Lynch does have a go to place at the moment, “Hollywood West Skate park,” he describes the difficulties of being a skateboarder in Broward County. “The skateboarding community is very misrepresented. You go on YouTube and see videos like ‘angry skater gets in
a fight,’ but this stigma is so far from the truth. If you go to a skate park, you’ll usually see people getting along. But everyone believes this stigma already, he expressed. These preconceived notions make it difficult for those looking to ride. Broward is home to a few parks but many are out of reach, leading to skaters using local shopping centers or storefronts as makeshift spots. Riders are labeled as destructive and chaotic, even though many are simply looking for places to have fun and not cause harm. While there are difficulties revolving around skating in the community, the act in itself seems to be one that possesses many benefits. This is not to say, however, that one won’t face falls; both metaphorically and literally. Hearing Brian Lynch recount he took such a bad fall, after attempting a new trick, that it resulted in seven stitches across his shin, is enough to make one grimace in pain. Yet, it’s the lessons he learned from this accident and what it means to take things
Commemorating
ARIANA ORTIZ
T
WEB MANGING EDITOR
he name Trenton Saunders will forever strike a chord in the hearts and minds of every member of the PPCHS community. An amazing student and athlete, Trenton left his mark on PPCHS through his amazing athletic ability and star personality. After his tragic death in a car accident in 2013, teachers and students have worked to keep his spirit and memory present forever. The star athlete and charismatic person that Trenton was inspired the Trenton Saunders Foundation Scholarship awarded to a PPCHS senior athlete every year. PPCHS Student Government hosts a
Powderpuff football game that benefits the scholarship, as suggested by Trenton’s family. SGA spends months collecting donations and gathering sponsors for the event that help support the foundation. All proceeds from tickets to t-shirt sales also directly go to the scholarship. This year, the committee chair for the event was sophomore Angelina Cilli. She states, “Powderpuff is a really special event because not only does it keep Trenton’s memory and legacy alive, but it directly helps the future of another athlete. I worked really hard to raise as much money as possible for the foundation.” All in all, SGA was able to raise over $5000 for the scholarship, which as previously stated, will go directly back to one lucky PPCHS athlete. To apply for the scholarship, students must write an essay that adheres to the specific guidelines outlined by Trenton’s family. The prompt is as follows: “One of Trenton’s last tweets said “I enjoy every second of every day cause you never know when you’re going to run out of time.” As you live each day and experience your challenging times, how do you implement this philosophy in your life realizing how short and promiscuous life is?” The essay is to be no more than 500 words and capture the true meaning behind Trenton’s message. Applicants must also have at least a 2.0 GPA and 40 community service hours. The essays are collected and reviewed by a panel that includes Trenton’s family. The winner is then announced at the
slow and try again that demonstrate the appeal of skating. It seems that people skate for different reasons. Some do it as a claim to fame, while others may like the aesthetic of it. Brian Lynch finds himself skating because of how it makes him feel. He knew from when he first pushed off on a board that it was something he found fun and it resulted in both physical and mental growth. Starting off as simple hobby has quickly turned into something he loves.
the Life of
Trenton Saunders
senior award ceremony. Senior Amarachi Ujagbor said, “Trenton Saunders is a name that has always been respected in this school and I really hope to be able to be the next athlete that receives the scholarship.” In 2019, the award recipient was basketball player Chelsee Umbarita, and Chelsee continued her basketball career at Nova Southeastern University.
Photos Donated By: The Saunders Family
Trenton’s life will always be celebrated in the halls of PPCHS and his athletic ability will inspire each and every athlete who received the scholarship under the foundation. Trenton paved a path for PPCHS football, leading his team to enter the playoffs for the first time in PPCHS history. PPCHS will continue honoring Trenton for years to come.
FEATURES CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Students Beyond Charter A Rapper on the Rise NICOLE LLANES
B
Graphic Donated By: Bennett Pollack
STAFF WRITER
ennett Pollack, or Beezer, is a rising SoundCloud rapper. He sings and raps with both compassion and heart. He likes putting his feelings and thoughts into the songs through positive and calm beats and always tries to send messages. Currently, he has only 237 followers, but the average amount of people listening to his songs are around 10 thousand. He only has 4 songs out and his most famous is ‘do what you want with me!’, at 18.3 thousand listens. He began making music in 8th grade as the infamous Lil Silver, and from then on his passion only grew. He fell in love with free styling and mixing thanks to Diego Cavi, a famous SoundCloud rapper with 714 followers and almost 10 thousand listens per song. He was a mentor and inspiration to Bennett and taught him how to make music and make his beats flow. Many other artists have also inspired him such as Cudi, Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, Chance the Rapper, Rocky and many others. He explained, “I listen to like, 60 percent rap and 40 percent
alternative, indie and r&b. I don’t like limiting my taste buds to what is thought about a person. If they make good music, I listen, absorb, and see how they flow. I like to make my own versions from their music.” He never stops working on music, using everyday as an opportunity to grow and improve. He claims it relaxes him to fine new melodies and explores his capabilities lyrically. He currently has 15-20 songs in his drafts that he hopes one day will be available to all his fans. When asked if he has haters and how he reacts to them Pollack stated, “I expected to have more haters than I do. With how everyone is now, they always speak negatively and never believe in people. But to all the haters, I just brush them off. They could spend their day bettering themselves instead of putting someone down.” Bennett has a passion for music and people are constantly asking when his new songs will come out because they feel this passion when listening. Make sure to remember Bennett’s name because in a few years he’ll be all over the radio!
Photo By: Jeinily Bencon
Student Gives Back in a “Special” Way REBECCA LIM STAFF WRITER
W
Photo By: Jeinily Bencon
Photo Donated By: Jeylah Valdes
ake up, eat breakfast, get ready, and go to Special Olympics. This is what Freshman Jeylah Valdes’ typical weekend morning looks like. For the past seven years, she has been volunteering at Special Olympics and helping out special needs kids and adults every week. Jeylah volunteers for both winter and spring seasons of the Special Olympics; but, whichever season it is though, she dedicates several hours every weekend to work on skills practice with the athletes. Throughout the past years, she has been able to encounter many different people who make volunteering at Special Olympics every week a meaningful experience. The bonds and connections she has made with all the coaches and athletes over the past few years are what makes volunteering at the organization so special for her. Jeylah expresses, “Now when I go to volunteer every week, I feel more connected to all the athletes and coaches, since I’ve known them for so long.” Since she works directly with the special needs athletes, she has grown to appreciate them the time she spends with them even more over the years. Jeylah
states, “It makes me feel fulfilled when I go and help the kids because you can tell how much they enjoy being there. Seeing the smiles on their faces motivates me to keep going and to be there every week.” For her, seeing the people who she serves happy is the most important thing. Her love for giving back and making a difference started at a young age. She started volunteering when she was only around 8 years old. Jeylah explains, “My brother has been an athlete in Special Olympics for seven years, and ever since I was young, I wanted to participate in a sport and help out special needs kids.” The main reason why Jeylah started to volunteer at Special Olympics is because her brother, Jonathon, has autism. However, volunteering there has now become a passion and something she genuinely enjoys doing. Jeylah does not consider going to Special Olympics as volunteer work, but rather as an activity she enjoys going to. She loves to help out the athletes and see both her and their work pay off. She looks forward to going every weekend, and it has impacted her life forever.
VVV CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
The Dark Side of TEEN DaTING RACHEL RIVERA
The month of February is jam packed
with several different celebrations that we recognize every year. From Valentine’s day, National Black History Month, President›s Day, and every four years Leap Day February may be the shortest month but definitely isn›t short of celebration and remembrance. The month of February amongst all other things is also Teen Dating Awareness Month. In recent years there has been a push to raise awareness about teen dating, more specifically the dark side of teen dating. Teen violence is more common than it is talked about and comes in several different forms. In the new era of technology teen violence can be anywhere from physical and mental abuse to online tormenting. Teenagers who experience any form of violence within their relationship usually keep those details from their family and friends. Among U.S. high school students, 1 in 10
VOICES VERSUS VIOLENCE
students reported experiencing physical violence from a partner, meanwhile, 8 in 10 parents believe teen-dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue. Domestic violence is common among adults with women frequently the victims, what many people don’t recognize is that domestic violence is just as common in relationships of adolescent girls. Senior Tyra Wong-Sang mentions that “I think this stuff happens way more often than people expect but most of the time victims are too afraid to speak up about it. It’s extremely sad and I hope with the recent me too movement and more celebrities bringing attention to this problem that more people can feel comfortable coming out about it so together we can help each other.” A recent study published in 2019 by JAMA Pediatrics found that of the more than 2,000 adolescents killed between 2003 and
2016, nearly 7 percent 150 teens were killed by their current or former intimate partners. Ninety percent of the victims were female, and their average age was around 17 years old. In almost 80 percent of the cases, the perpetrator was 18 years or older. More studies continue to support the statements that suggest teen violence is more common than expected and more awareness needs to be brought to the situation. The National Survey on Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence claimed that more than 60 percent of teens had experienced some kind of physical, sexual and or emotional abuse by someone they were dating or previously were in a relationship with. “I’ve never been in one personally but I know someone who has been in an abusive relationship and it’s heartbreaking to see someone go through that especially at a young age. Abuse whether it be mental or
physical shouldn’t be another thing teenage girls have to add to the list of stress and fears they are already dealing with” says junior Rachel Bernard. As a way to bring awareness, experts are encouraging parents to be alert to changes in their children’s behaviors, attitudes, attire, social interactions, and levels of isolation. With the emotional intensity that dating abuse can put on young girls another fear is that if kept in the dark they can be at a higher risk to develop substance abuse, eating disorders, and future domestic violence. Although February is Teen Dating Awareness Month teens and adults should be more aware year round of possible domestic violence in the lives of the people around them. Getting involved and creating a safe space for someone to come to can make a huge different in a teens current situation and future situations. Stay aware and stay safe!
A Mental Health Boost
Valentine’s day was dedicated to a mental health day for the students to learn how to take care of themselves and to see what they can do to help others. Each building had a different activity they were completing. In C building the teachers presented a powerpoint on how students feel when they have anxiety, stress, or when they feel overwhelmed. The teachers had conversations with their students on what stresses them and what they think gives them anxiety. In S building the teachers showed a TED Talk on what happens to our brain when we do good deeds then the students completed worksheets on how they can do good deeds with different topics. Ms. Esteves, ninth grade biology teacher says, “I think this activity really benefited the students to try to do good deeds around their community, it helped them actually think about what they can do to help.” The students of Charter benefited from this amazing day and learned how to cope with tough times.
MIA MATEO STAFF WRITER
Language Arts: Self Awareness Science: Positive Psychology Math: Growth Mindset Social Studies: Self-Management Foreign Language: Emotional Management
ENTERTAINMENT CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
THE IS OPEN KIERSTEN WARREN STUDENT LIFE EDITOR
College students spend most of their days lounging in their dorms, studying hard at the campus library, or hanging out with friends. Nearly half of college students cannot afford food, which is a scary and overwhelming thing, especially for those of us that will be attending college in the next couple of years. Jon Bon Jovi, rock legend and founder of rock band Bon Jovi, is trying to change that statistic. Jovi recently opened up his very own “JBJ Soul Kitchen” restaurant on Rutgers University-Newark campus. Jon Bon Jovi opened this up for the reason to make sure that students don’t go struggling with food security in New Jersey. This new opening is the first time that his nonprofit restaurant has revealed itself on a college campus, and he hopes to make a big difference. Junior Amaya John said, “It’s really cool what Bon Jovi is doing to help college students in New Jersey. He’s really making a difference in students’ lives and helping them out.” The New Jersey native himself is dedicated to the food insecurity cause. He opened his first JBJ Soup Kitchen in October 2011, and has helped serve over 37,000 meals since. Freshman Camila King confessed, “There really aren’t that many celebrities that give back to the community without prompting from the public. The fact that he’s doing this makes him more honorable and shows his good character - it’s more than just music for him.” The soul kitchen recently reached a goal of having 51% of customers paying and 49% in need. To make things more convenient, reservations are not required to dine at these restaurants, and guests are served on a first come, first serve basis. Senior Kelsey St. Louis expressed, “Bon Jovi is really making a difference in the lives of these college students, and I would gladly take the assistance, especially from a legend like him.” The JBJ Soul Kitchen runs the Employment and Empowerment Team (EET) Program that also connects a team of professionals with qualified volunteers to aid with resume writing, interview skills, job coaching, financial counseling, and legal advice. The JBJ Soul Kitchen offers 3-course dinner meals, which is sure to fill up hungry college students. Customers also have the added choice of either paying for their meal or volunteering at either the restaurant or around campus. “Having good meals and access to food is one of the most important ways to start off your day. If college students are undernourished and cannot afford food, it will impact them negatively in their academics, so it’s great that Bon Jovi wants to end this vicious cycle,” pointed sophomore Cassandra Ramos. For diners who cannot pay, Jovi’s wife – Dorothea - assures that dignity and respect are always on the menu, regardless of socioeconomic status (NBC New York). With the recent opening of the location on Rutgers University-Newark campus, Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea have successfully started a chain of 3 restaurants in New Jersey. While the restaurant won’t exactly mean the end to food insecurity for college students, it’ll help solve a little bit of the problem in New Jersey - especially for Rutgers students.
oh snap
GABRIELA CARVAJAL STAFF WRITER
As we head into another wave of streaming wars, it’s crazy how often we are choosing streaming services over the traditional cable option. In November it was a loaded end to 2019 with the addition of streaming services from Apple and Disney. To enter 2020 we will see another streaming service checking into the ring: Comcast’s Peacock. This service is planned to air on July 15th to the general public giving customers 3 options to choose from. They offer a free ad supported version providing viewers up to 7,500 hours of programming including next day access to current seasons on first year NBC shows, Universal movies, Saturday Night Live, and Family Movie Night. In addition to this version Peacock also has its paid options giving customers a chance to pay $4.99/month with adds to original content as well as 15,000 hours of content. The better of the three includes Peacock Premium with a fee of $9.99/month extending users an add-free experience and original content. Now for those who are apart of Comcast have the upper hand with access to the free content and having a discounted price for that ad-free option to as low as $4.99/month. So, mark your calendars Comcast users who have Xfinity X1 and Flex since they prepare to launch Peacock for their existing customers on April 15! In fact, what sets aside Comcast Peacock from the rest is the ADDITION of live sports and having early access to late night shows. To make matters even better, those who pay for Peacock Premium have the opportunity to watch non televised Premier league soccer games starting in August and maybe a sneak peek into the Summer Olympics this year. With Comcast trying to spark interest in customers by emphasizing on sports packages they are really counting on blockbuster series’: The Office (coming in 2021), Battlestar Galactica, Saved by the Bell, Parks and Recreation, etc. What’s interesting in this business is the complicated licensing. Before Comcast got into the streaming business they have already signed agreements to showcase their TV series’ on other streaming servers naming Hulu, so their shows are scattered across different platforms, such as Hulu. So, it is going to be really interesting on how successful they will be as they come out. Aside from Peacock, Comcast has suffered some downfalls in the business experiencing a loss of 149,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2019. For sure one already knows that Comcast isn’t letting go of their cable since they predict to see at least 80 million users still in need of such services. Yet, this fall should have been expected at some point after they released a statement claiming that they are planning to do some rate adjustments in 2020 as more customers turn towards streaming channels. Yet, against all odds with being hit with a loss of subscribers and a terrible box office from movie Cats, they were able to strike gold pushing profits up 26%, adding 442,000 in the 4th quarter (more than 378,000 Wall Street predicted). Bear in mind that Comcast is paired with NBCUniversal (includes NBC Entertainment and Universal Pictures) “who saw revenue of $9.15 million, a decline of about 2.6% from the year-ago quarter. The filmed entertainment division saw revenue drop 21% from a year ago of 1.6%. Ironically though they blame it on ‘lower theatrical revenue’, [NOT their failed movie production Cats.]” (The Verge) Besides Comcast and NBC, the other competitors seem to be going through their own roller coasters. Even with all the competition against them, Netflix has continued to soar adding 8.8 million subscribers over the last three months of 2019, totaling more than 167 million paid subscribers. Upon reflection Netflix figures that its price hike has scared customers away in the US and Canada. Besides the already competitive industry, they added only 550,000, down from the 610,000 it added in quarter 3 of 2019 in North America. However, analysts say that with all the hype Disney+ has brought it won’t have a major impact yet since in many places in Europe won’t be able to see character Baby Yoda until March 24th or the latest as of summer 2020. Also, HBO Max won’t launch until May 2020 and while AppleTV+ is available in more than 100 countries, it hasn’t found what makes itself special from the rest. What’s new is the gaming industry. Video game publisher Activision Blizzard has entered into a multiyear partnership with Google that will not host its games, but will also service their technical needs. Along with that, part of the deal includes YouTube being the streaming partner for all the big e-sports titles, including the upcoming seasons of the Overwatch and Call of Duty leagues. Interestingly, is the fact that YouTube has struggled to break into the gaming industry amidst the competition with game streaming service leader, Twitch, who is owned by Amazon. So far this is a competitive industry, especially with other companies now sparking interest in building their live-streaming platforms, such as the infamous social media site, Facebook. For sure though it will be a matter of time before the other streaming giants start getting their hands on another grand opportunity to expand their revenues. So, if one were to really think about it, we wouldn’t be able to see who really rules the streaming world until 2021. Many will have to continue monitoring these companies since this is something that not only impacts viewers, but is changing the game of television as we speak.
Entertainment CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
What Year are We In? Reviewers try to avoid comparisons. Making a certain film the standard for others (barring special circumstances like sequels and remakes) is a lazy way of writing a review. But the Sonic Movie can’t be watched, let alone discussed, without throwing the viewer at least a decade into the past. Welcome back to the early 2010s, when the United States were playing Angry Birds on cracked iPhone 4s, wearing Twinkle Toes to the knees, and going to the theater to watch movies soundtracked to “We No Speak Americano.” Stop me if you’ve seen this one, zoomers: a furry CGI protagonist runs away from his homeworld, one unbeknownst to humans, and comes to be in James Marsden’s proximity. After accidentally harming the walking stuffed animal, Marsden reluctantly takes them on a road trip to a major city in California. He soon finds himself in hot water when the antagonist attacks them in his attempts to nab the anthropomorphic pal. The pair of leads get into family-friendly hijinks until the climax of the film where they work together to keep the antagonist from achieving his nefarious goals. Paramount had the audacity to resell Hop (2011) in the current year, and not in the nostalgic throwback way that’s trendy right now. The movie opens with Sonic (Ben Schwartz) escaping his picturesque home of Green Hill Zone after being attacked by a tribe of echidnas. Using his iconic rings as a teleportation device, he arrives in Green Hills, Montana, where he spends his days observing the small town’s citizens from afar. Sonic gains an affinity for local cop Tom Wachowski (Marsden) and tries to cope with his loneliness by pretending to be part of Tom’s family. Still, he can’t fight solitude--one night, he flies into a rage, causing a global power outage with his powers. This prompts the government into sending their wildcard, the brilliant Doctor Robotnik (Jim Carrey), to investigate. Meanwhile, Tom accidentally shoots Sonic with a tranquilizer dart, setting off a comedy of errors that leads to Sonic’s bag of rings falling through a wormhole to San Francisco. Bound by honor, Tom chaperones Sonic to the city, all while ducking and weaving out of Robotnik’s grasp. Through various misadventures, Tom and Sonic learn the value of friendship. Obviously it’s not just the Sonic Movie that bears uncanny similarity to Hop: movies with blends of CGI and live-action were and still are some of the most profitable children’s movies of our time. The reason why the Marsden Movie Formula doesn’t necessarily lead the mind to Hop first is because the friends-to-enemies arc has been done to absolute death (looking at you, Alvin and the Chipmunks). Then again, unlike Sonic, no 2010s movie had the audacity to end on a joke that’s just product placement. But does it work well within the movie in question? No. The story beats just aren’t convincing enough to give Wachowski any reason to care about Sonic when all the hedgehog’s antics do is deal him a myriad of injuries. To the film’s credit, it has all the fun parts of a wacky kids’ movie, too. The life Schwartz’s performance breathes into Sonic in conjunction with his adorable new design keeps the audience hooked, even when the visuals are a bit too simplistic. The CGI is used exactly as it should be for a goofy action movie: it’s stylized, exaggerating Sonic’s expressions from teenager levels of irritation to a toddler’s unfettered excitement, all which makes him more believable than the old design’s human teeth ever could. His boundless spirit is contested only by the sheer amount of fun Jim Carrey has as Robotnik. The raw spectacle of seeing Eggman dancing in a high-tech monster truck, punching a man through a dive bar window, and screaming about mushrooms to a rock is indescribable. But does it have any merits as an adaptation? As with any iteration of this franchise, the intra-fandom discourse will be nuclear. It tends to boil down to one question: does the adaptation in question capture the real Sonic? The answer depends on which fan you ask. Ben Schwartz describes his take on the character as a kid stripped of all rules and restrictions, and it fits well within the premise—Sonic practically raises himself after teleporting into Montana—but also jives with the franchise as a whole. SEGA’s 90s alternative to Mario captured everything about pre-teen spirit: the adolescent need for coolness mixed with a little kid’s energy. This movie’s greatest strength is that it doesn’t just stumble into this characterization by accident. Take Sonic’s bucket list: ride a bull, receive a gift, make a friend. The formula may not service the movie, but the theme of friendship, done to death as it may be, definitely does. After all, there’s little more 90s than friends and teamwork. Make no mistake: the movie is cheap at worst, and most of the time, it’s at its worst. But unlike more zealous Sonic fans would have the world believe, this isn’t the end of all cinema. The similarities between Hop and Alvin extend here—yes, they’re meant to get cash, but also satisfy the excitable twelve-year-old within us. The Sonic Movie sure takes us back to 2010, but there’s no better film out there to make you feel like a kid again.
March 2020 is Blooming with New Games MARIANA RIANO STAFF WRITER
Gamers rejoice! Spring is here, and it is jam-packed with highly anticipated sequels, ports, and remakes, as well as brand new content. Big publishers and established developers take the spotlight this month, from Sony to Nintendo to Bethesda and many more! With nineteen confirmed releases (and two other possible newcomers) within the next few weeks, there’s absolutely no better time than now to invest in that second monitor. So what exactly do players have to look forward to? Check it out! Animal Crossing New Horizons [March 20] - Fans of the little forest critters have taken the Internet by storm ever since the E3 2019 reveal. After development delays and drops of increasingly titillating teasers, the next installment of the life simulator series is finally here! This time, players can choose out of four generated islands to build their ideal tropical getaway. If the game’s cult following didn’t feel spoiled enough, a limited time Animal Crossing-themed console will hit stores on the same day! New Horizons will only be available for the Nintendo Switch. DOOM Eternal and DOOM 64 [March 20] - Not vibing with the politics of a cute animal town? Take a walk on the wild side with one of the most beloved first-person shooters of video game history! DOOM Eternal is being released on the same day as a port for its predecessor, DOOM 64. iD Software welcomes players back to Hell in another blood-pumping chapter to be released on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia. MLB the Show 20 [March 13] - Springtime brings the fifteenth installment in the MLB video game series! Developers have been reassuring the armchair athletes of the world that they have listened: Its gameplay tweaks - which they tout above all else hope to offer an even more exciting and immersive game than the much-beloved 19th. MLB the Show will be available only for the PS4. Persona 5 Royal [March 31] - Wake up, get up, and get out there on the 31st, because new days are on the horizon with Persona 5 Royal! The smash hit RPG from 2019 is set to bounce back with a new bling; Royal brings so much extra content to P5 that replaying will become nothing short of a must. Hope for a Nintendo Switch port is still alive, but for now, P5R will continue to pack the heat for the PS4 and PS3 only. Still hungry? Rest easy knowing these titles are just the tip of the March release iceberg, marking a killer beginning to a hot new season of gaming. Take advantage of that extra hour in the day, players: There are parallel worlds to save!
Just Keep Eating…At Home? The Rise in Ghost Kitchens GABRIELA CARVAJAL STAFF WRITER
No one would have seen this com-
ing - where we evolve into a society that values eating at home. Before, we were accustomed to being around people enjoying the struggle restaurants offered to customers. Now with the new implicaation of apps such as Uber Eats and GrubHub, they have been reshaping the $863 billion American restaurant industry, making it faster and more convenient. The shift in food delivery has sparked two types of digital culinary establishments. One is considered to be virtual restaurants attached to real life ones, except they make different cuisines specifically for delivery apps. Another includes ghost kitchens where there is no retail presence and serve just as a meal pre-hub for delivery orders. Junior David Zapata pointed, “This concept reminds me of Domino’s Pizza.” Essentially with this type of concept, we no longer need renting space for a dining room - only part of a kitchen that leaves behind the hassle and expense of hiring waiters or paying for furniture. In theory, several ghost kitchens can exist within the same space and share both equipment and staff to support multiple restaurants. With the rise of Uber Eats concepts, they change the very essence of what
it means to operate a restaurant. Since 2017, Uber has helped start 4,000 virtual restaurants exclusive to Uber Eats. Then, it approaches restaurants that use the app and encourages them to create a virtual restaurant. In 2013, this was sampled in Europe and China. Senior Shamor Hartley expressed, “In places such as Asia, it makes sense to have this since it’s in a larger populated city like Beijing - it may be a hassle to get take-out on your own.” In fact, they had $70 billion in orders in 2018, making it a successful trial! As ghost kitchens are rising in demand, we have been adding our own starting out in Los Angeles and New York to test out the novelty of its existence. Investors are key, but since this is still a new idea beginning to take on, there is high risk. For sure, this is starting to become a major industry to invest looking into the future. While this is a revolutionary change in the food industry, there are some downsides to this movement. Unfortunately, those who use delivery apps have to pay commissions of 15-30% on every order. Small independent restaurants with narrow profit margins can ill afford those fees” (New York Times). With ghost kitchens becoming demanding in some places, small businesses are forced to ex-
plore the trend and pay the commission. According to Uber (who do not provide financial help to virtual restaurants), the digital operations increase sales for restaurants by an average of more than 50%. Freshman Isabelle Lake argues that, “regardless of the increase, it is still important to support those who help make your business successful.” Overall, there still needs to be some adjustments in the business plan by the way it’s laid out because according to Mark Gjonaj (chairman of New York City Council’s small business committee), “there’s a concern that it could be a system where restaurant owners are trapped in an unstable/ unsuitable business model.” Surprisingly though, not many delivery apps are interested in expanding in the ghost kitchen industry. For example, DoorDash is one app who wants to have their own kitchens so it can help the company control things end to end, yet Grubhub is only investing in the real estate business. Aside from this, while ghost kitchens have been growing in numbers, one misses out of one of the best feelings between the consumer and the food. Think about it: when you go inside and eat within the restaurant, there is a connection between the meal and the consumer where one
emulates on the preparation and digestive processes needed to enjoy a meal. With your food being delivered, this takes away that emotional connection. Marcla Chatelain, a professor at Georgetown University, stated, “This structure of putting the preparation of food behind closed doors, it really disadvantages people who need the brick and mortar experience, such as having access to the internet, a meeting point, etc” (New York Times). Sophomore Alek Firpo said, “You know the most common place for one to meet up and eat in would be Chick-Fil-A for me.” What’s even crazier is the fact that name brand companies, such as Red Lobster, Chick Fil A, and Starbucks, are already exploring this option. As we venture into a more convenience-based society, it will be a matter of time before we see these in our neighborhood. Yet, while it has its perks, we must be mindful with the downsides it brings, such as jobs and brick/mortar restaurants being at stake. Certainly though, it will be an innovative way to make things in our lives easier, by not cooking at all!
Graphic By: Jasmine Bleus
LIFESTYLE
Finding The Luckiest Charms of Charter
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
SAMANTHA CRUZ STAFF WRITER
Luck may seem like a fictional thing.
It’s not exactly something a person can control, yet even with that knowledge everyone still seems to have some sort of trick that they follow in order to bring a spark of hope and a change of fate for the better. They use their lucky charms for anything, from winning a game to gaining some sort of ability to pass a test you didn’t even study for. It can be found by wearing a necklace that was passed down, or even in the beliefs that we were brought up with. Senior Amanda Cooke-William stated, “I don’t necessarily believe in luck, but I believe in faith. I believe that God will help me through anything and everything. There was one time at church that the teaching was based on the ‘key to success’ and they passed you necklaces with a key on it. Whenever I have something big coming up, I use that. I used it to take my permit test, my drivers test, and AP exams.” The majority of the time, we find luck in faith. It’s almost comforting to know that there is something that is there watching over. It helps to also serve as a sense of guidance. Some lucky charms are believed to be
something as simple as a jewelry piece. It’s something that may have been given to you or something you bought, but the power feels endless. “I have two rings: one black and one metallic gray. I try to keep them on me at all times. My hands feel empty if they’re not there, and it throws off my entire day. Whenever I’m anxious or bothered by something, I can always fall back on my rings as a feeling of comfort. The black ring I have is a broken mood ring and I feel like it provokes a special feeling - it’s become more than just an
accessory,” said sophomore Delano Fagon. It’s such a mystery, however, that even time can offer a stroke of luck. Luck is defined as success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions. That being said, luck can be as simple as a wish. Some hope. A chance. “I don’t really have good luck charms or do anything to bring me luck except for 11:11, but that’s more like a wish. Almost anytime I see the number 11:11 or my birthday on the clock, I’ll make a little wish in hopes of it coming true. Usually, it’s just simple
things like, ‘I hope I have a good day’ or ‘I hope I do well on this math test,’” confessed junior Kaylee Talbert. Often times, we view luck as something tangible with the help of a physical object. But luck can also be a foreign body. Luck can also be found in the smallest things. Freshman Emilio Acosta does a pre-game routine to help him get a bit of luck. “I usually play my favorite songs and jam before each of my games. I also make sure to put on my pair of lucky socks that help me with my soccer games. I play defense and I have to punt the soccer ball to the other side, which is what I use my lucky socks for. They are my good luck charm, I guess you can say.” Even though some objects or ideas can be so simple such as a pair of socks, luck may just be on your side. Although it may seem supernatural, the idea of having some sort of lucky charm is really interesting. It can be an object or a routine that is dear to heart and so unique that in some form it seems to help the person find a sense of comfort in the smallest of things. But in the end, who knows? They may be something small or they might just be real-life lucky charms.
Graphic By: Matthew Morales
Behind the Shamrock: A Brief History of Saint Patrick’s Day SOPHIA CORTES
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
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epending on what elementary school you went to as a kid, Saint Patrick’s Day was an odd - but welcomed - holiday. Students would often enjoy various leprechaun and green-themed activities, and some schools or classes would hold small scavenger hunts to find the fiendish leprechaun, who sometimes would turn the toilet water green or mess up the classroom in all his mischievous glory. “As a kid, I found it interesting how Saint Patrick’s Day was connected to green, even though it was originally blue, and the connections with leprechauns and rainbows were fun as well,” said junior Augustus Davies. While this four-leaf clover break from the usual humdrum of school was welcomed by students and teachers alike, not many know the true story, and subsequent legends, behind this lucky holiday. As the name suggests, Saint Patrick’s Day is a Catholic holiday celebrating Saint Patrick, who was the patron saint of Ireland. While Saint Patrick lived and died around the 5th century, the actual celebration wasn’t created until 1631, when the Catholic church declared March 17th a feast day in honor of the saint. “My dad is Irish,” expressed senior Daphney McCoy, “so I grew up on the story of Saint Patrick and how he drove snakes out of Ireland using his faith. I’ve always taken the story to symbolize
overcoming challenges while still holding on to your beliefs, something which I think is important!” It wasn’t until the 1700s when our modern celebrations and traditions like parades and turning everything green really took hold, with New York holding the first Saint Patrick’s Day parade in 1762, and the Irish rebellion in 1798 taking on the color green to represent the country as whole. “I didn’t know Saint Patrick’s Day isn’t technically that old,” reported freshman Sofia Grullon, “although I’m not surprised that it’s considered a recent holiday.” You can also thank Saint Patrick for inadvertently creating the ever-so famous McDonald’s Shamrock Shake and all your favorite four-leaf clover themed treats! As legend has it, he used the clover to teach the native Irish about the holy trinity. Even though the actual four leaf clover has not been recorded to have been used by Saint Patrick himself, its rare occurrence in nature is what grants its lucky reputation. Now how do leprechauns fit into this day of former holy celebration? The truth is, they don’t. Like the obsession with the color green, and the loosely tied in shamrock, leprechauns have nothing to do with Saint Patrick himself other than also being Irish. In fact, “real” leprechauns aren’t the mischievous red-haired, gnome-like creatures that grace boxes of cereal and elementary school classroom
decorations. As described in many Irish myths, leprechauns are short, wrinkly fey folk who are more malicious than impish. “I’m Irish and I like myths and stories, so I grew up with knowing what ‘true’ leprechauns were,” confessed sophomore Megan Cobb. “It’s interesting to see how some people see them though! They’re more like the bridge troll from Dora, except more humanlike and Irish!” One thing that is true, however, is the Leprechaun’s love for gold. The common knowledge remains true that the sneaky fey folk have pots of gold at the end of rainbows, but don’t go trying to steal any
if you don’t want trouble! While the green-filled holiday certainly began as a religious day of celebration, it has evolved to a much more secular day filled with luck and appreciation for Ireland’s rich culture. For the Irish, it is a day of strong pride, reveling in their country’s history and spirit, and for those who don’t come from across the pond, it’s a day where you can let loose and have some fun. So dress in green, wear those lucky clovers, and don’t forget to look for that gold at the end of the rainbow!
Graphic By: Matthew Morales
SPORTS CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Lacrosse’s Legendary Dynamic Duo SEBASTIAN ALVAREZ STAFF WRITER
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he dynamic duo of seniors Jan Smith and Daniel Felipe will go down as the best duo this school has had in program history. Jan Smith has the school record for the most goals and assists and of course, wins. He led the team in every offensive stat possible. Daniel played his first year for the team last season and easily grew as the 2nd best player on the team. The duo carried most of the weight last season, as the team had a record of 6-6, the most wins in school history for men’s lacrosse. But of course, it took hard work from these two seniors. Jan Smith, who started playing lacrosse for the school in his freshman year, went through everything an athlete can go through: losing seasons, tough games, having to put all his energy into one game, suffering injuries, and of course, experience winning seasons. Smith has the school record for the most goals and assists, where last season, he scored 25 goals and dished out 23 assists. An all-around player with charisma like no other, he loves the team to death. He’s most definitely the biggest asset and reason why the team went 6-6. But this year, he expects more wins and more records being broken. Smith expressed, “I want to leave this program with a winning record. But in order to leave the school with a winning record, certain stuff needs to be done, such as continu-
ing to build on what we were doing last year. This off-season, we continued to work as a team and getting our chemistry even better. I think we all understand the game and we’re even more prepared than we were last season.” Jan says this with confidence, and if you go to a practice,
club lacrosse wherever I go.” With the future still holding the option of lacrosse, the sport changed Jan Smith in a tremendous way, both as an athlete and as a student. “Lacrosse has changed me as an athlete by teaching me the reasons why to train and be in the best shape possi-
you’ll see that he is correct. Players look better, and they can catch and throw with a faster pace totally different from the start of last season. Jan Smith is the best player on the team, so where will he go after high school? He stated, “As of right now, I am undecided on where I will be going after high school. I hope to play
ble. Academically, this sport has taught me to manage my time better,” Smith confessed. Senior year, which is his last season, might be the best he’ll have, so keep your eyes open, because Jan Smith will explode and show off how great of a player he is. Daniel Felipe, who likes to be called
“Danny” instead, is the second piece of the duo. He was a 1st year lacrosse player last season. He was so good, it was hard to believe that it was his 1st year. He made A team for the Davie Barracudas travel team, the highest regarded travel team. He picked up a stick, and it was just right for him. In his 1st season, he scored 11 goals and tallied 4 assists. He made a significant difference by joining the team, including an increase in goals, and doors were opened. “I haven’t decided, but I want to play club in college,” Danny said. He already sees himself playing at a higher level. Danny was named captain this offseason, a great decision by Coach Smith, and you’ll always see him motivating others in a snap if he sees them doing something wrong. The senior voiced, “I hope I can just improve our overall confidence and level of playing by working as hard as I can.” With his laser shot and quick footwork, he hopes he can help the team win more games this upcoming season. The duo see themselves leaving a mark. They’ll make the season so fun that the underclassmen will see how hard they both work that they’ll continue the grit & grind of Jan and Danny. They want more than 6 wins. The team is in a new district, so they will play more games than they did last season, which gives them the chance to win more.
Jags Soccer Goalllllll to State GABRIELA CARVAJAL
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he 2019-2020 soccer season has been a rollercoaster for the Pines Charter jags. The boys had high expectations coming into the season, with hopes of surpassing their predecessors in years prior. With new coaches in place, many were concerned that the season would be a rebuilding year. For the past two seasons, the boys team has done fairly well with a combined record of 39-10, under previous coach Alvin James. Undoubtedly, however, jags exceeded expectations having a 18-2-2 record under new coaches Nico and Marc. While there were many doubters coming into the season, due to the change in coaches, junior captain Matthew Gordon wasn’t fazed one bit. Gordon expressed, “ I know the coaches personally and know[ing] they were good coaches and that our squad was talented. We [definitely] have what it takes to win Charter’s first soccer state championship.” The jags started off the season with a fantastic 9-0-2 record beating the likes of Cardinal Gibbons, with a comeback win at Coral Springs. The jags ended 2019 with a well fought-out draw versus topranked Cypress Bay. The team started off the new year with a draw against MSD and three consecutive wins. After those fiery victories, a major speed bump lied ahead with
STAFF WRITER
South Broward barging into Municipal Stadium, knocking off the team in a 3-1 upset, handing them their first loss. Nonetheless, Charter bounced back. Veteran senior Nicolas Amad stated, “This is the best team we’ve had in four years; we really came together as a team this year.” The team then went on another undefeated run leading into the district tournament. The tournament started off strong with a bye week, until they had to face rival school, Archbishop Mccarthy. Jags came out roaring with a 1-0 lead sending themselves to the district final. The boys got matched up against Alonzo Mourning High, which proved to be a tougher opponent than expected. Luckily, Charter came out early with a 2-0 lead, but ended up blowing it with Mourning tying the game 2-2 in the third quarter. Consequently, Mourning took the advantage in overtime finishing jags off at 3-2. Suddenly, senior Camilo Gonzalez scored in overtime to tie the game, sending the game to penalty kicks. Amidst the hope in the air, they ultimately lost in a heartbreaker. Soon after, Charter found themselves in a situation they haven’t been in often: ranking fifth in the regional tournament. This meant they would have to travel away for their first two regional games.
First, the boys traveled to Melbourne to take on Eau Gallie, whom Charter mopped the floor with 8-0, resulting in a follow-up match against the former number one seed, Terra Environmental. Thankfully, the Jags took care of business in a scrappy game taking home the win, 3-2. This led Charter to their first regional final game with a chance to make history, but it wouldn’t be easy with a tough Belen Jesuit team as their opposition. This game proved to be tough one, but with a goal from senior Ryan Lopez-Ordax, the Jaguars clinched a spot in the state semifinals, where they would be taking on Lely at home. Freshman Marcelo Mondragon confessed, “After I heard about the regional game, I wish I could play for the school team, yet my travel club won’t allow it.” The team came in buzzing with confidence and excitement for this match. The crowd for both teams were eccentric, setting the stage for the state semifinal matchup. The Jags started off fast right from the kickoff with junior Andres Jaime scoring within the first 23 minutes of the game! While the Jags struggled with foul calls throughout the game, that didn’t stop them from focusing on the task at hand. For
freshman Henry Guzman, that wasn’t a problem, as he blocked each ball that came his way. What killed the soccer team was the constant loss of possession and rushed play. The coaches - who were very engaged - persisted on their team to face Lely head-on with all that they got. With the right mindset, Charter was able to overcome their struggles and won the game in penalties. Coach Marc voiced, “This season has been too memorable to go out in the final; we expect nothing less than a state championship.” Now that they’ve conquered the state’s villains, they come to take on their next and final challenge of the season: the state championship game.
Photos By: Andres Alfonso
MAMBA MENTALITY: REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF KOBE BRYANT SPORTS
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
MICHAEL MUELA SPORTS EDITOR
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n Sunday, January 26, 2020, tragedy struck the sports world. Former Los Angeles Lakers player and NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine victims killed in a helicopter crash while heading to a basketball game in Calabasas, California. He was 41. Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978. He began his NBA career when he was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets and then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA titles in the 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002 seasons. Earlier in his career, Bryant competed in the Slam Dunk Contest during the NBA’s All Star Week festivities in 1997 and won it. Senior Daniel Dellostrologo was shocked by the news of Kobe’s passing. “When I got the notification on my phone, I was in utter disbelief. No one wants to see a legend like Kobe die so young, especially with his daughter,” Dellostrologo stated. In 200607, he switched his jersey number from 8 to 24. In the following season, Bryant won the NBA MVP award, the league’s highest and most prestigious honor. The “Black Mamba” led the Lakers to two more championships in the 200809 and 2009-10 seasons, when he was
also awarded the NBA Finals MVP in both wins. But as much as Kobe and the Lakers were enjoying the championship spotlight, time began to take its toll. Kobe spent most of the remainder of his career on the bench due to the multiple injuries that he continuously suffered. At the end of the 2014-15 season, Kobe Bryant announced that the 2015-16 season would be his last. Junior Emma Caulfield was never a big basketball person. “Hearing about Kobe and Gigi’s passing really is heartbreaking. The Bryant family lost a husband, father, daughter, and sister. It saddened me that legends like Kobe Bryant are gone so soon. And the tragic accident that he was caught up in was simply unreal.” She also said that he was a great basketball player and an allaround respective person. In his final season, Bryant received a standing ovation before and after every game he played. But in his final game, which was one for the ages, he scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz at home in the Staples Center in L.A. Freshman Luca Mancini had this to say about the legend’s performance. “I guess I was a little sad. He was a great player.” All of us were sad to see Kobe retire. “What can I say? Mamba out,” were Kobe’s final
words as a player to Lakers fans, blowing a kiss to them following his speech. The Lakers retired both of Mamba’s jerseys in 2017. Kobe Bryant will forever go down as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He finished 4th in the NBA’s alltime scoring list (Lebron James passed him for 3rd on Saturday), was an 18-time All Star, and a 15-time All NBA Team selection as well as being a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Kobe also won an Oscar
in 2017. To Kobe’s family and friends, we are praying for you all. Kobe Bryant left a tremendous impact both on and off of the court. He was a businessman and an ambassador for the NBA. Sophomore Jeremy Rodriguez said, “Kobe was always involved in the community, so now the NBA has a giant hole.” To Kobe, thank you for all of the memories and moments you gave us over the years. Mamba, you will be missed.
Boys Basketball Regional Tournament JOSHUA LASARTE
The Jags are competing for the title of
being the best team in their entire region. After another disappointing loss to Northeast in the district tournament finals, the Jags entered the regional tournament as one of the best teams. The Jags lost the district tournament in a disappointing two point loss to Northeast, who is the only team to beat the Jaguars this season. With all the success the Jags have had this season, they are currently the favorite to win the Florida Class 5A basketball title. Their first regional game was in Miami to face off against Northwestern on February 20th. One of the star players for the Jags who has been a stud in the playoffs is senior guard Dallas Graziani, who said, “It was fun, it was a lot of fun, our whole team played really well.” Dallas isn’t just a star for the team, but he’s also an NSU commit and will be playing for the Sharks next season. In the Jags’ regional quarterfinal game, they obliterated Northwestern by 41 points with a score of 74-33. Their defense was stellar and allowed Northwestern to score just 10 points in only one quarter. With this win, the Jags advanced to the regional semifinals against Northeast, who has handed the Jags both of their losses. They played against Northeast at a neutral court in Oakland Park on Tues-
STAFF WRITER
day, February 25th. During the season, the Jags played Northeast twice and lost both meetings. Sophomore guard Goeffrey Sprouse stated, “The talent we have this year can definitely help us achieve a state title we just have to continue to work hard.” With all the success the Jags have had, they are still staying focused and locked in on their ultimate goal. Charter defeated the Northeast Hurricanes 76-69 in the regional semifinals. After a thrilling nail biting game, the Jags got their revenge on the only team to beat them this season. After this win, the Jags advanced to the regional finals and will play against the Okeechobee Brahmans on Friday, February 28th. Star players Geoffrey Sprouse and Dallas Graziani led the way after Geoffrey scored 23 and Dallas scored 20. The Jags had four players who scored in double digits. Freshman Justin DeLuca said, “The basketball team should win the championship.” The whole school believes they have what it takes to bring home the regional and state championship. After their recent win, the Jags improved their record to 24-2 and entered the top 100 in the nation in class 5A rankings. The Jags are one of the best teams in not just the tournament, but in the state. Pines Charter has been shredding up
teams throughout the season and they’ve only lost to one team. Junior Johnny Montilla said, “I think they are going to kill the rest of the teams in the playoffs.” Although the tournament is filled with some of the best teams in the state, the Jags have been so dominant and were even ranked the best team in the state for some time. The Jags were the number one ranked team at the start of the playoffs and they’ll continue to live up to the expectations. In a state playoff game, the jags beat the Okeechobee Brahmans by 17 points to advance to the final four. The jags had three players who scored in double digits including Dallas Graziani who led the jags with 31 points. At the end of the game the jags won with a score of 72-55 after an explosive second half where they scored 44 of their 72 points.The jags will now face off against the Naples Golden Eagles in the final four to see who will play in the state championship. Going into this game the jags are 25-2 while Naples is 24-6, these teams will be playing against each other on Thursday March 5. In the state semi-finals, the jags knocked off the Naples Golden Eagles by 10 points with a score of 81-71. After defeating Naples, the jags are now the number one ranked team in the class 5A state championship. With this win, the
jags will now face off against the Rickards Raiders from Tallahassee in the state championship. Rickards heads into the game with a record of 20-7 while the jags have a 26-2 record. This game will take place on Saturday March 7 at 3. The state championship ended in a heartbreaking seven point loss at the hands of Rickards for the jags.
Photos by Andres Alfonso
TECHNOLOGY CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Airpods VS Beats
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“ prefer Airpods because personally they are better for working out and exercising. You can also keep track of them by using Find My IPhone. Beats are bigger and harder to carry around. I don’t like the Airpod Pros, however, they look weird. I like the sound-proof and water-resistant part of them but that’s about it.” - Freshman Megan Rasmussen “I’ve never owned Airpods, but it depends on the situation. Beats are more comfortable while Airpods are easier to carry around places. I think the first Airpods are better though, a lot of people don’t like the new ones.” - Freshman Kaylie Maldonado “I prefer Airpod Pros because they have a better sound quality, improved comfort, and their own noise-canceling technology.” - Sophomore Lindsey Silva
MORGAN LIND
MIA MATEO
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
“I prefer Beats because the volume gets really loud and the bass is really good. The only thing is that if you have curly hair, they mess up your curls.” - Sophomore Natalie Brito “Airpods because they are portable, small, and easy to connect and share your passion of music with other people.” - Junior Alejandro Hurtado “I like Airpods because they are easier to travel with due to their small size. I don’t have AirPod Pros, but I do like them because the noise-cancelling feature can improve the sound quality of the music with noises around you.” - Junior Nathan Moses “I’m in between Airpods and Beats. I like Beats because they don’t fall off and I love working out with them. They are
over your head and are good for long rides. But Airpods are so easily accessible and aren’t so big. They are simple and quicker to use if you would want to wear them around school.” - Senior Matteo D’Agostino
transparency. With the noise-cancellation, I use it to study and focus. With the transparency, it also allows me to listen to music without noise coming in.” Sophomore Alana Benitez
“I like Beats because they are louder, the sound is clearer, and they have better noise cancellation. I like how the Airpod Pros look though because they are small and fit perfectly in my ear and never fall out.” - Senior Jordan Caufield “Airpod Pros have changed how I listen to music by having the noise cancellation and
Photo By: Yoko Witkowsky
Compressing the Computer in Your Pocket ALAN MATHEW NEWS EDITOR
Rotary, touchtone, flip, smart, and
now apparently, repeat—well, almost. The evolution of the phone has taken a long path over the last century and a half, following trends that challenged each other into improving upon old, outdated designs and pushing the way humanity communicates into new frontiers. It’s been quite some time since that day in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell made the first ever call to his assistant, and there’s been no looking back since. There’s certainly a lot to appreciate in the strides phones have taken forward recently. To freshman Nicole Becerra, “New smartphones have given people the power of knowledge [...] because every smart phone has access to the internet and one may choose what to learn.” Except now, despite all odds, the boundaries between each step in the telephone evolution process have been blurred. How else would describe companies revisiting concepts that seem to belong to the pre-2010 era such as, out of all things, bendable phones? Just last year, Samsung announced a new type of smartphone that included a key element of one of its predecessors: foldability. In fact, senior Savaira Peerani almost seemed to have predicted this when she said, “I believe that we will try to reinvent older versions of phones to make them seem “cooler” or more modern.” The Samsung Galaxy Fold, according to the company, “features the
world’s first 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display, which folds into a compact device with a cover display.” Initial sales were met with doubt, which certainly wasn’t helped by an onslaught of device error reports from customers, something that Samsung has been met with more than once in recent years. With a re-launch later in 2019, complaints have died down, although the price hasn’t budged enough to make many potential customers take a chance on the device. According to USAToday’s Bob O’Don-
nell, “To be sure, price points for this cutting-edge technology are still too high for mainstream buyer acceptance – the Galaxy Z Flip is the cheapest of the bunch at $1,380, while the Motorola Razr is $1,499 and the Galaxy Fold is a whopping $1,980.” What’s still notable, though, is that this category of new foldable devices is still growing. As O’Donnell notes, companies like Motorola, a name from a bygone technological age to some, is also jumping into the mix with its Motorola Razr. The phone flaunts
Graphic By: Jaxen Wyborny
a dual-screen display which doesn’t actually separate when unfolded. While the Razr also carries its own drawbacks, the relative infancy of the technology does call for some allowances. The question still remains, however: what does all this mean for the current phone market? As of right now, not very much. While flip phone-esque models of devices are certainly a new and exciting prospect, the majority of American consumers have yet to greet the change with anything but apathy, or neutrality at best. “People don’t really want to go back to anything like flip-phones unless they’ve got good reason to,” observed sophomore Austin Mathew. While foreign markets do seem to be faring slightly better, the combination of price and uncertainty still seem to be holding foldable phones back from their full potential, whatever that may be. Nevertheless, this still-developing trend is just the newest link in the chain of innovation that’s brought us the phones we know today. According to Kevin Orbegoso, “Personally, I think the future of the smartphones wouldn’t be cosmetic upgrades but rather eco-friendly upgrades [...] Only time can tell!” With exciting prospects like 5G becoming more tangible day by day, change in all its forms serves a useful purpose. And before you dismiss it entirely, first consider the benefits of making the computer in your pocket even more compact.
TECHNOLOGY
What Technology in Cars Make Driving Safer and Easier for Student Drivers?
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Rebecca Lim STAFF WRITER
As soon as students turn 15, they usu-
ally rush over to the DMV to obtain their driving permit. After learning and practicing how to drive for a year, they take their license test and get their driver’s license. They gain independence, and many students drive themselves to school and other places. However, as exciting and freeing as driving sounds, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Plus, if drivers are irresponsible, it can lead to catastrophic accidents. This is why many students rely on devices, apps, and other types of technology to make driving safer and easier. Many new cars have implemented technology specifically to prevent drivers, especially teens and students, from collisions. Freshman Allyson Butler states, “I think the object and motion sensors in cars are extremely useful, because they’re extra safety precautions that will ensure safety when driving.” Despite the fact that this type of technology can make driving easier and safer, some actually feel that they can potentially be detrimental. Junior Faith Hearn expresses, “It’s doing the job for you… people need to learn to look back when parking instead of just looking at the camera, because some people get in accidents from only learning to look at the camera.” This technology and other car features that can prevent collisions, are fairly new. They were not commonly found in cars until the mid-2010’s, but now, many young drivers can’t seem to
live without them. Currently, the technology in cars that is used the most and makes it easiest for students to get to their destination is navigation, according to multiple students. Senior Alisa Chavez expresses, “The most helpful thing for me is using my phone as a GPS, because I can just get in my car and get to where I need to go, I don’t need a map or coordinates or anything like that.” For some drivers whose cars don’t come with their own navigation system, car-related phone apps can be very useful. Sophomore Savannah Searcy, a beginning driver, agrees “I only use my phone as my GPS, since my car doesn’t have navigation.” While for many drivers, using mobile GPS’ isn’t really a choice, some actually prefer mobile GPS’ because they are more compact. Since the evolution rate of technology only seems to get faster and faster, it’s no surprise that automobile features have evolved as well. The reason why technology in cars has improved alongside technology in other industries may be because most drivers drive everyday, even teens. Whether it be to school, work, or to meet up with friends, driving is many people’s main method of transportation. That’s why it’s so important for engineers and car safety experts to continue to implement new technology into cars that can reduce the amount of accidents, the amount of time drivers have to spend sitting in traffic, and more.
Graphic By: Jaxen Wyborny
Graphic By: Gabriela Carvajal
NEWS CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
China: Country or Empire? GABRIELA CARVAJAL STAFF WRITER
Egypt contains an essential shipping passage: the Suez Canal. Through these deals, China is “exploiting its economic clout, directing investment to woo governments that control vital assets” (NewYorkTimes). The European Union sentiment references China and its 16 allies as a threat to sovereignty. Since Graphic By: Dominick Zarcadoolas Europe’s money comes with conditions such as protecting s tensions rise between China and the labor and the environment, companies United States, one must not discount the and countries can get funds through a issues China has been causing abroad. Competition between China and the U.S., competitive bidding process. China facilitates with simpler demands: only comin terms of who has the most coverage panies from China may gain work (free in the East, has always been contentious. of competition) and consider themselves Since 2013, President Xi Jinping has an international ally with China. Unfortaken a different approach on how China tunately, this endangers the hold Europe is perceived globally. “After centuries of weakness and isolation, China is reclaim- has over countries violating democratic ideals. Note that the way China is getting ing what its leaders regard as its natural allies is through their debt traps. This is destiny - supremacy in Asia and respect around the planet” (NewYorkTimes). The where China offers a loan to pay for a specific project, knowing that country way China has been going about this is is financially vulnerable. If that country truly alarming. doesn’t pay back, the Chinese seizes that Disenchantment To achieve their goals, China is calculat- project and claim it as their own. Through this approach, China has “600+ projects ed on their appeals to different countries. around the world [that they financed] to For example, China loaned $3 billion win over allies and develop new markets” to Egypt to build a new capital. While (NewYorkTimes). Currently, “there are this benefits Egypt, it offers a solution to seven countries in the world whose exChina’s transportation aspirations, since ternal loan debt to China” is troublesome
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Fort Lauderdale’s Pipes had a Splash In December, South Florida began to face dras-
tic and harmful changes due to an issue that’s been around since 2019. The aging sewer pipes in the beachside city of Fort Lauderdale broke 6 times releasing 126.9 million gallons of toxic sewage. This spill broke records as it was South Florida’s biggest. It poured into streets, neighborhoods, and even tourist destinations such as the Tarpon River and Himmarshee Canal. Then, within 10 days the gallons of spillage rose by 79.3 million. This water spilled into George English Lake and Park. The sewage killed hundreds of fish and is a threat to manatees nearby. These pipes had been an issue since 2014 and it will take years to repair. South Florida is now calling for help from the state and federal level.
(Statista). Freshman Tristen Rivera expressed, “I believe China only sees their allies as pawns - using their resources for their betterment.” Essentially, China’s tactical approach is making waves and fueling worry, from one continent to another.
Overwhelming Influence
With globalization set as a priority, China has found new ways to seize power targeting the entertainment industry. This is a key strategy of a broader push by the government to take control of its global narrative and present a friendlier, less menacing image of China. Often intimidated by the nation, movie makers are manipulated to produce characters and scenes aligned to the Chinese government. In fact, China has even been funding American movie productions. Sophomore Xninda Crupta confessed, “I think it is [crazy] what China is trying to accomplish. I feel it isn’t appropriate what they are doing all for the benefit of their expansion.” With limited budgets, companies have accepted Chinese funding and the audience it entails. Since “China’s box office grew 9 percent last year to $9 billion” (LA Times), it is leaving companies option less and no choice but to buckle to the Chinese on the condition of presenting a friendlier version of the country. As China uses this industry to get their point across, they are slowly impacting America in an effort to better themselves as a whole.
A Bitter Government? Indeed, China has never been known as a champion of human rights. Just recently, leaked files exposed what China
did to its Muslim population. Given that China doesn’t agree with their beliefs, the government has been holding Muslims captive. “Around 10 percent of the Uighur population (Muslims) of Xinjiang is locked up” (NBC). Keep in mind (with their families in captivity), students came home to no families; therefore, the Chinese had to come up with an explanation for this confusion. Chinese officials told the children that their families are going through concentrated education. Senior Nicole Wyman said, “Sad to say, this is the new reality for the Chinese Uighurs.” The reason why China has enforced these lessons is to “counter terror, extremism, and separatism” (NBC). According to the Chinese, “[since 1990] ‘several thousand’ people have been killed or injured in explosions, assassinations, poisoning, arson, and riots carried by Uighurs (Muslims)” (NBC). “Comparing to what the Chinese were a decade ago, I feel they haven’t made anything any easier regarding their human rights,” stated junior Daniel Nicoldo. With China using these kinds of methods, China is making its way as a global superpower by taking matters into their own hands.
Through China’s initiatives, we should definitely be mindful of their motives. Ironically, for over a century China struggled to comprehend what made them so weak and how they fell so behind. Eventually, China will reach their goal to have world domination by 2049, so all we can do is be aware of what’s coming our way.
Hello Everyday Life
The UK’s Prince Harry and Meghan have caused
a stir in the news and royal family this new year. They’ve abandoned their use of the SussexRoyal Brand and royal duties. Prince Harry decided to do this move because he sought a more peaceful life. He wanted to be free from the journalists who had followed him and documented every piece of his life since he was born. This break from the royal family will be formally recognized starting March 31. This break away means they will become financially independent as they will no longer rely on public funding. Although they are reliving their duties, they are retaining their titles as Highness. There’s still a possibility they may return to royal duties in the future.
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The Doomsday Clock Ticks
NEWS
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
BRIANNA BUTLER LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Christi Joshy. She continued, stating, “I feel like the Doomsday Clock is an important wakeup call.” This is similar to the reason why the clock moved closer in 2019; however, many of these threats have intensified in the past year.
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Graphic By: Shane Wooden
he Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 by the board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists with an extremely simple concept: as the minute hand travels closer to midnight, these scientists believe the world takes a step closer to destruction. It was created in response to nuclear threats, and has moved back and forth for decades (The Nation). In late January of this year, the minute hand was positioned to be 100 seconds before midnight.
NICOLE LLANES
OCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
y: Justin Pierce
One of the main reasons for the clock moving is due to the threat of nuclear war. President Trump has chosen to end the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty, the last remaining arms-control treaty. There is also no talk of updating the expiring New START Treaty, meant to limit the amount of Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals. There are currently no negotiations going on between North Korea and Iran, two countries that have continued to use nuclear power as a threat (Washington Post). “I’m pretty shocked hearing about all the countries that can threaten nuclear attacks,” began freshman
The clock has also factored in the current situation with climate change. There are fires and droughts occurring in an international scale, most notably in Australia. Carbon emissions have continued to increase, and the United States has pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord (Wall Street Journal). “I’m not entirely sure how reliable the clock really is, but despite that, I do find it concerning how close we are to midnight now. Every year, we just seem to have more issues that need to be solved,” voiced senior Mya Saint-Louis. Despite this, she is still hopeful that there are many things that can be done. The bulletin has outright admitted that the purpose of the clock is not to be an exact scientific calculation. “Personally, I don’t believe that the Doomsday Clock is reliable, but it does serve as a way of informing the world that there are catastrophic events happening right now,” expressed junior Kevin Orbegoso. He quoted, “Important steps must be taken in efforts to ameliorate the current environmental and societal fallbacks we
experienced so far in 2019-2020.” Many refer to it as a publicity stunt that makes the world appear to be more dangerous than the reality of it is. The dramatization leads to public awareness, bringing up issues that most usually do not talk about otherwise. “I believe that the doomsday clock, while a good figurative indicator of how close we are to a catastrophic event, does not serve any practical purpose. I think the ticking forward of the clock does more to stoke fears than it does to actually give way to anything. However, this does not mean I want it to be removed. I’d rather that the clock not be taken as a serious measurement of how long until societies final moments, but rather a statement on how close we are to destroying ourselves, possibly as a way to raise awareness,” informed sophomore Leo Graham. He realizes that the number is arbitrary, but the clock still serves a greater importance. The Doomsday Clock is not meant to simply scare people, but instead encourage others to realize the threat will not fix itself. The bulletin encourages everyone to speak to local representatives and put pressure on political officials to invest money away from nuclear arsenals. The clock is able to move backwards as easily as it can forward. The farthest the Doomsday Clock was from midnight was 17 minutes in 1991. Now it is the closest in history with 100 seconds. They want people to to take action instead allowing midnight come sooner thanofexpected. midnight to come sooner than expected.
The Epidemic with No Cure As of September last year, vaping became a headline
on multiple news outlets as hundreds of people had been hospitalized. In the matter of a few months, this number has tripled. According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020 there will be over 2,600 hospitalizations due to e-cigarettes. Still today, the mystery behind vaping hasn’t been solved. After testing different products with THC, nicotine, and other cannabinoids, no single substance has been identified in all samples tested. However, Vitamin E acetate has come up as “chemical of concern”. Hospitalizations due to vaping will continue to be a growing issue until it’s hidden truth is figured out and solved, importantly, ended.
The End to the 18 Year War When Trump came into office, one of his main
goals and promises was to sign a peace deal with the Taliban. This may soon become a reality as the USA and Taliban are on the verge of signing a historic agreement. The Taliban and US have had a rocky past as they’ve been at war for 18 years. This war began after the 9/11 attacks and since then there has only been back and forth warfare. This may all come to an end on February 29th if the Taliban follow the 7 day “reduction of violence.” During this time they are expected to end all offensive operations throughout the country. If the agreement is signed on the 29th, then the American troops will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan if the Taliban agrees that Afghanistan will not be used as a base for terrorist attacks against the West. This agreement will require time and change on both sides.
NEWS
Coronavirus: The Second Coming of the
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
REBECCA LIM STAFF WRITER
Graphic By: Matthew Morales
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ultiple Chinese cities on lockdown. Face masks sold out at hundreds of stores. Calls from government officials to impose a travel ban. The death toll rising hour by hour. To many, this may sound like a rapidly spreading pandemic that we should be panicking about. While the current Coronavirus outbreak may have induced a state of national panic in China as well as around the world, many questions and uncertainties cloud this disaster. However, there are things that experts know for sure: for example, this particular strain of Coronavirus is completely new. It’s believed that the first infections of 2019-nCoV (as it is currently named), broke out at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. It housed live animals including pigs, bats, and snakes. Some of the first people to be infected were employed at the market. The virus was first transmitted from an animal to a human, but officials now know that human to human transmission is possible. This could explain why the Coronavirus is spreading so rapidly. If one infected person coughs or sneezes, everyone within a three-feet distance can retract the virus. Touching a surface with infectious droplets and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth can also allow the virus to spread (The Telegraph). The main thing that caused people to think of this outbreak as the second coming of the plague was the rapidity with which it spread. It hasn’t been long since the initial outbreak, but thousands
Plague?
of more cases have been reported since then. Unfortunately, officials and experts do not know precisely how many people have been infected. The actual number could be up to 70 times more than what’s been reported by countries (Vice). The unsureness “[shows] that this strain of Coronavirus was an unfortunate accident, but was probably present before now,” according to senior Chiamaka Osakwe. It’s no surprise that a lot of students are worried about the Coronavirus outbreak. “It’s a very dangerous virus that has been spreading rapidly… it’s really, really bad,” expressed freshman Javian Sandino. The deadly virus has already spread to both North and South America, Europe, and Australia, with the first official case in the U.S. confirmed on January 21, 2020 (CNN). The death toll from the outbreak has already climbed to over 200 internationally, and is expected to rise. This situation is one that is constantly changing. “Nonetheless, we need a solution… as soon as possible, to lower risk of infection and further lower death risk,” urged junior Emily Danzinger. But researchers at Hong Kong University who are working with the World Health Organization (WHO) stated, “The number of confirmed cases could double every six days.” Sophomore Camila Escobar voiced regarding the deaths, “I feel bad for the people who have already died of the Coronavirus… I think and hope that an antidote is coming.” Although there isn’t a vaccine yet for the respiratory illness, one is in the works (National Institutes of Health).
Scientists all over the globe are speeding towards a solution to the Coronavirus. The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia announced on January 28, 2020 that they had successfully grown the virus in a cell culture. They will share samples of the cultured virus with the WHO, who will then distribute them to labs around the world (The Scientist). There are other vaccine-creating efforts that are happening in the U.S, including one by Johnson & Johnson and biotech companies Inovio and Moderna - in collaboration with government labs. Multiple solutions are evidently on the way (The Washington Post). A non-health related consequence that followed this outbreak was the spread of racism towards Asians. Many people have begun to associate the Coronavirus with this group of people as a result of the outbreak starting in a Chinese city. According to the New York Post, businesses are refusing to serve Chinese customers, people online are mocking China’s exotic meat trade, and some citizens in other countries are even signing petitions to urge authorities to impose travel bans. Although the source of this outbreak is believed to be an exotic live animal that was sold at a Chinese market, these claims have yet to be confirmed. The racist attacks are making this situation worse by causing people to become even more fearful of the outbreak, and by causing them to put the blame on a certain group of people. Many are simply using this situation as an excuse to proclaim their racist and xenophobic views
towards the Chinese and other Asians. On January 30, 2020, reports of a potential Coronavirus infection in South Florida immediately incited panic in residents. According to the Miami Herald, students at the Benjamin School in Palm Beach County attended a Model United Nations conference at Yale University. A high school student from China who had attended the conference fell ill and was tested for the flu and the Coronavirus. The student tested positive for the flu, but the CDC has not yet confirmed his test results for the Coronavirus. As none of the students or teachers who attended the conference showed signs of illness, they returned to school. No cases have been confirmed yet in South Florida. To protect yourself from potentially getting this virus, wash your hands with soap and water, thoroughly cook meat and eggs, and avoid unprotected contact with wild or farm animals (WHO). Previously, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said, “Americans should know that this is a potentially very serious public health threat, but, at this point, Americans should not worry for their own safety.” However, the WHO officially declared the coronavirus a global health emergency on January 30th. This means that this outbreak is comparable to those of the Ebola and Zika viruses. It is only the sixth time that a declaration of this capacity has been made (ABC). But remain calm, health experts and officials are working tirelessly to manage the situation and prevent additional contamination.