Devil's Advocate (Volume 35, Issue 4, April 2019) by Devil's Advocate

DEVILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ADVOCATE STANTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

NUMBER 4 / APRIL 2019

LEAVING

STANTON BY SETH ABOUHALKAH

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

VOLUME XXXV

NUMBER 4

STANTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

4-5 9-11 12-15 16-17

Student Life

The Cost of Popularity / In modern society, brand-name clothing and technology have the power to mold public perception. Student participation in these trends has implications specific to the academic setting.

By Angela Villanueva

Arts & Entertainment

Comics, student-contributed art, a crossword puzzle, information on upcoming local events and The Record.

By Elyssa Mae Cronologia, Opal Haque, Amra Kajdic, Rohini Kumar, Caroline Robbins

Features

Dropping Out / Stanton students, both current and past, explore the complicated issue of Stanton’s transfer rate with help from parents, guidance counselors and administration.

By Seth Abouhalkah

Sports

Abandoning Athletics / Stanton students seem to avoid physical education courses despite these courses’ potential to help lay foundations for healthy lifestyles and relieve stress, amongst other benefits.

By Vaishnavi Suren

photo by Ysabella Rodriguez

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Photography

photo by Prachi Misra

photo by Ysabella Rodriguez

By Kennedy Cottle, Prachi Misra, Ysabella Rodriguez, Katie Stevens

Opinions

Editorials, followed by columns on political correctness, the Fermi paradox, the crisis in Venezuela, the value of IB, the reformation of modern literature and clubs at Stanton.

By the Editorial Board, Christa Assi, Rafae Jamal, Eesha Reddy, Serene Shibly, Kevin Stephens, Janelle Tengco

Photography

The New Reality / Applying special effects to photography focusing on everyday life has the potential to elevate what seems to be ordinary depiction to interesting, thought-provoking heights.

By Kennedy Cottle, Prachi Misra, Katie Stevens

Stanton College Preparatory School’s many honors and accolades irrefutably constitute a sizeable portion of the school’s identity. Similarly, the demands of Stanton’s Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework have a significant influence on public perception of the school. However, not all students seem to be willing to adjust to such an environment, as is reflected by Stanton’s transfer rate. Despite the culture of academic success promoted at Stanton and the sources of assistance and encouragement cultivated by its faculty and

Contributing Advocates: The Devil’s Advocate is searching for contributing writers, photographers, artists and filmmakers. Contact Editor-in-Chief Rohini Kumar at krohini601@gmail.com, Opinions Editor Tatyana Esquilin at tatyanaesquilin@gmail.com or Digital Media Editor Zahra Casado at zahracasado@gmail.com. Ads and Sponsorships: The Devil’s Advocate is dependent on our advertisers and our sponsors. When you purchase an ad with us, it reaches a diverse student population that can help your business. We can also design your ads. Our prices are: $35 (1/4 page), $60 (1/2 page), $75 (insert), $100 (full page b/w) or $150 (back page color). For an additional $5 fee, we can advertise your business on our website. Contact Business Manager Amra Kajdic at amrakajdic1@gmail.com or our adviser, Mr. Larry Knight, at knightl1@duvalschools.org.

APRIL 2019

photo by Kennedy Cottle

Macroscopic / A close-up look at the amazing world around us.

Editor’s Letter

Rohini Kumar Editor-in-Chief

staff, some students ultimately find they would rather pursue a different adolescent lifestyle by transferring to another school. The circumstances prompting students to transfer out differ depending on the individual, but regardless of this variation, Stanton’s transfer rate raises the question of whether the image of the school peddled to newcomers is able to provide a realistic understanding of life as a Stanton student. Additionally, it may signal a need for students to develop greater organizational skills, or for an even greater variety of resources to be made available to Stanton’s student body. This is the last issue of the Devil’s Advocate that will be distributed to all Stanton students during

Printed at Florida Sun Printing, Callahan, Fla. Please recycle this newspaper.

the 2018-2019 school year, so it marks the last opportunity I have to address Stanton students as Editor-in-Chief. Being a journalism student has been the light of my time at Stanton. As the seniors on staff move on in their academic careers, no doubt to do great things, I know I leave the newspaper in good hands. It fills me with a joy and gratitude I cannot describe with words to know I was a part of something so principled, dedicated and impactful.

Adviser: Larry Knight Editor-in-Chief: Rohini Kumar Managing Editors: Bettina Huang, Likhita Manchikanti Layout and Design Editor: Emmett Gideon Business Manager: Amra Kajdic Photography Editor: Katie Stevens Associate Photography Editor: Prachi Misra Digital Media Editor: Zahra Casado Associate Digital Media Editor: Brandon Deda Art Director: Caroline Robbins Videographer: Dylan Janson Public Relations Manager: Christa Assi Features Editor: Salma Drew Opinions Editor: Tatyana Esquilin Sports Editor: Jake Nachman Student Life Editor: Phong Huynh Website Editor: Zachary Genus Staff Writers: Seth Abouhalkah, Katelyn Colley, Isaiah Fluharty, Serene Shibly, Vaishnavi Suren, Angela Villanueva Photographers: Kennedy Cottle, Ysabella Rodriguez

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STUDENT LIFE Wearing high cost brands and following fashion trends are believed to be connected to the maintenance of a student’s popularity in high school culture.

The Price of Popularity

By ANGELA VILLANUEVA, Staff Writer

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Economic wealth and the social ladder are two aspects of society which are believed to be connected, driving the growth of consumerism. As the use of mainstream brands and new technology continue to rise, the idea of conforming reinforces the need to spend. Through social media influencers, popular trends constantly change while also shaping social norms of popularity. In a high school environment like Stanton College Preparatory School, trends influence the diversity of the fashion culture and student individuality. However, the belief of conformity to gain social status or popularity may involve a harmful pursuit of material gain. Materialism is often defined as a focus on material possessions as a priority and through this lens, it comes with negative comparisons between one’s goods versus another’s. It is often seen as an excessive lifestyle because of how materialism values money and belongings over basic needs. But this idea fuels society’s main pursuit of happiness because of its ideas surrounding money and affects Stanton students’ outlook on materialism. “I think that it [materialism] affects our perception greatly,” said freshman Tatum Bowen. “Many people look at materialism as something they need to have. Therefore, they work to achieve it to put themselves ahead of others.” With the idea of working for materialistic gain, some believe there is a constant pressure to adapt to society’s standard of beauty for popularity; however, others feel as if they are blindly following the lead of others. The idea of conformity moving from one expensive trend to the next is not unheard of and for certain students it may be hard to maintain.

animals they have on it and because you don’t see it as often,” said senior Ali Milatyar. “The only place you’ll honestly see it is if you go somewhere very suburban like the [Jacksonville] Town Center; if you go to Orange Park or the Avenues mall you will not see that.” Milatyar often wears Bape outside of class to associate himself with the brand. Contrarily, there are students like Milatyar who wear costly fashion but are completely removed from popularity altogether. For students like junior Eesha Reddy, wearing uncommon brands that show their individuality among their peers is of greater priority than demonstrating wealth.

“Without even realizing it, we conform to them [popular trends] because fashion is changing everyday.” —Miora Rambeloarisoa, 12th “Without even realizing it, we conform to them [popular trends] because fashion is changing everyday,” said senior Miora Rambeloarisoa, Stanton’s fashion club president. “I change my style based on my social media feed. One big thing that restricts me from following trends is definitely money. Because of money I can’t wear specific trends.” The craze of materialism is continuously encouraged by the focus on one’s own desires. According to Reuters, 74 percent of teens were more interested in spending money on themselves. Through prioritization of one’s wealth, students can exhibit distinct traits with their outward appearance which may contribute to their social standings. Students such as senior Alexander Rocha believe trends build status among their peers with the help of social media. “I feel like social media has a big part of that [influencing students],” said Rocha, an aspiring musician. “When something has a trend and people see that in real life, that’s going to give you popularity because people are going to recognize you for what you have.” Stanton students may also feel that ideas from pop culture directly affect their perspectives on how they view their peers. Other students embrace this influence with high-end gear which suits their tastes. “Bape [The Bathing Ape] is a clothing brand from Japan and the reason why I like it is because of the stitching, the

photo by Ysabella Rodriguez

Conformity of popular apparel and brands are commonly seen among Stanton students. “People need to stop letting pop culture affect them,” said Reddy. “There’s no need for people to spend money on unnecessary things because they feel that there is a certain brand appeal to them. It should be about getting what you think fits you.” However, in some cases, fashion trends keep certain students relevant in their social circles. These students find others with this similar passion for fashion. They may dress alike, with the same color scheme or style as one another or just capture the same intensity that varies among people’s fashion choices. While students may not acknowledge it or overlook a popular style, there is a relation to brands and their social groups. This topic, while it rarely comes into conversation, can be seen in groups that consistently wear one brand and are made up of the same people. “Sticking only to one brand that you wear just makes you fit into a cookie cutter mold of what a high schooler should be,” said junior Annika Miller. “There’s groups of people that only

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Through this perspective, people tend to value the more materialistic possessions and money. Recently, several people have developed mixed feelings about AirPods because of their difference in appearance but similar function with Apple headphones. “They’re just earbuds at the end of the day,” said junior Camille Petit-Perrin. “You’re not cooler than someone if you have AirPods—they do the same thing.” Despite Petit-Perrin’s opinion on AirPods, this brand continues to influence the frequency of their product usage among Stanton students at the expense of conformity. Apple’s latest products like MacBooks and iPhones can be seen in the hands of many Stanton students. “A lot of students use MacBooks, MacBook Airs and iPhones,” said junior Sarah Langham. “Most of the technology we use is Apple, even the MacBooks in the library. It’s one of those things that you forget is there because you’re so dependent on them. So today when people think of technology they think, ‘I want Apple.’”

“Sticking only to one brand that you wear just makes you fit into a cookie cutter mold of what a high schooler should be.” — Annika Miller, 11th photo by Ysabella Rodriguez

photo by Ysabella Rodriguez

Conforming to fashion trends does not always result in popularity. wear Vineyard Vines and Chubbies and then there’s people that only thrift their clothes.” By keeping up with fashion, some students have made a name for themselves and their style. Their knowledge on pop culture allows these students to grasp the concept of trends. “Sometimes when a trend becomes so popular it can reach a level of extreme, to where everyone has to have this one thing,” said senior Magdalene Herrera, a member of Stanton’s fashion club. “Everyone has to interact with other people who have it, like airpods. ” The current crazes do not only revolve around fashion.

The popularity of items increases the need to purchase them which may not be essential to one’s everyday life. Through this idea comes the pressure to buy products from Apple and other major brands, which feed materialistic desires. To counter this concept of accumulating wealth and popularity, Stanton’s yearbook staff removed the senior wealth-based superlatives. “Earlier in the year as the editors and I were planning for the senior superlative section of the book, that was something that we carefully took into account, to make sure to not include superlatives that were sort of arbitrary or essentially flaunting wealth,” said Mr. Benjamin Yadon, adviser of the Phoenix, Stanton’s yearbook. “We tried to make a conscious effort to not leave people or include people just for things like that.”

Juniors Madeline Tran (left) and Olivia Norenberg (right) wearing thrifted clothing. Concerns over materialism have made certain students believe personality has more value than appearance and physical objects. People’s behavior and their personalities can directly affect who their friends are, instead of conforming to trends themselves. Junior Sameh Arsalla feels the importance of friendship is unrelated to one’s possessions. “I think it all goes to people’s heads,” said Arsalla. “Those things [trendy items] aren’t really important. It’s not really necessary [for] a successful functioning person or someone who has good friends. I’m not saying I’m the most popular; I just have friends and I do not have those things. So it’s not that vital to your livelihood.” Students like Arsalla do not believe in the conformity of trends. These items may be a display of conformity through the normalization of mainstream brands and an outward appearance of one’s wealth. Mass opinions on pop culture often affects students’ thoughts on following trends which can be expensive. This wealth cultivates a certain type of people at Stanton.

“There’s no need for people to spend money on unnecessary things because they feel that there is a certain brand appeal to them.” —Eesha Reddy, 11th

photo by Ysabella Rodriguez

These students are known for their well-defined styles which capture the attention of their peers.

APRIL 2019

“Although it sounds like a cliche, money creates popular kids,” said sophomore Armani Strowbridge. “Fashion is a big part of Stanton culture and money lets people really express themselves through clothes. I think money and popularity go hand-in-hand to make the demographic at Stanton so much more diverse and unique than our school just being different ethnicities and backgrounds.” Trends have an influence on the predetermined social ladder developed during one’s early high school experience through the means of conformity. There is a connection between well known students, their social standing and their wealth based on brands. While some may acknowledge it or ignore it, materialism has affected Stanton students’ perception of the link between appearance and popularity.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CARTOON: “The Nerd Herd”

By CAROLINE ROBBINS, Art Director

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

“Sunflowers” by OPAL HAQUE, Contributing Artist (Original color version available at @dumplenn on Instagram)

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“Autumn Leaves” by ELYSSA MAE CRONOLOGIA, Contributing Artist

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE: STANTON INSIDE JOKES ACROSS

1. 5. 7. 9. 10.

Stanton students’ academic victories are celebrated with this schoolwide activity Seniors usually contract this at some point during their final year at Stanton Freshmen who take this course (abbreviated) are supposedly overachievers “Make it a great day ___ ____ , the choice is yours.” This security guard is well-known for his sarcastic teasing, which is generally directed at students trying to leave campus early or show up late 12. This became Mrs. Donoher’s nickname when a student coined it in an extra credit assignment 13. This wing of Stanton’s campus is known for having the best bathrooms DOWN

Mrs. Murrey-Settle wrote a poem with this title to express her love for curry 3. Students who take this science are known to complain about it all the time 4. Freshmen are told Stanton has one of these on its roof 5. This after-school Stanton institution is well-known for its French fries and nachos 6. This faculty member is well-known for her idiosyncratic intercom announcements 8. AP students complain about this mandatory unweighted course for bringing down their weighted GPAs 10. This broadcast production often delivers news alongside farcical, campy comedy bits 11. Mrs. Majova uses this affectionate term to collectively refer to Stanton students

JACKSONVILLE: UPCOMING EVENTS

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DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 10

source: cnn.com

Source: espn.com

Source: forbes.com

Source: apnews.com

Source: grammy.com

Source: devilsadvocate

The Record

Source: cnn.com

photos obtained from Google Images

Source: nytimes.com

Source: WHO.org

Source: cummermuseum.org

Source: jacksonville.com

APRIL 2019

Source: jacksonville.com

Source: nytimes.com

Source: cnn.com

Source: nytimes.com

Source: apnews.com

DEVILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ADVOCATE |11

LEAVING

STANTON By Seth Abouhalkah, Staff Writer

Stanton’s students, both current and past, explore the complicated issue of Stanton’s transfer rate with help from their parents, guidance counselors and administration. In the hallways at Stanton College Preparatory School, large plaques and posters reading “America’s Most Challenging High Schools!” and “Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School!” decorate the walls, showcasing to incoming students the success the school has achieved. Ranked fourth in the state of Florida by U.S. News and offering a total of 54 Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, Stanton is advertised as offering a challenging yet worthwhile education. Despite its great accomplishments, its student body has a high transfer rate. iiiiiThis school year alone demonstrates the decline in student body size as the grade increases, with 455 freshmen, 408 sophomores, 366 juniors and only 328 seniors. Witnessing such declines have led students, parents, and faculty to wonder why there is such a high rate of transfers at such a high achieving school. While the decision to leave has been attributed to a variety of reasons such as family or transportation issues, guidance counselors and students alike see the rigorous academic workload as a factor in the decision to transfer. iiiii“The most common reason I have seen students leave is the academic load, that it wasn’t what they expected,” said Ms. May Ibasco, a Stanton guidance counselor. “So students decide not to continue on this path because they’re overwhelmed and want to protect their GPAs before it does any more harm to their academic record.” iiiiiBecause Stanton holds a high ranking in the state of Florida, a stigma surrounds those who transfer from such a prestigious school. A common belief among the student body is that those who transfer to other schools do so because they cannot handle the stress or are not as intelligent as their peers. In addition to this belief, class rank further emphasizes the competitiveness between students by isolating those who are not performing as well and encouraging the constant comparison of grades. iiiii“Stanton is very competitive and it’s not always great to be comparing each other based on grades, scholarships or merit,” said junior Kamila Huber, who transferred from Stanton to Atlantic Coast High School in

the middle of her sophomore year. “If you’re one of the underperforming students in your group, it can be degrading.” iiiiiThe sense of inferiority fostered by Stanton’s highly competitive environment can create a fear that choosing to transfer for academic reasons will make students seem unprepared compared to their peers. However, not all students transfer due to Stanton’s challenging courses, some, like senior Amy Lao, choose to leave not because of the rigorous academics, but because of other interests and talents they want to explore. With ample free time and a flexible schedule after starting Florida Virtual School, Lao could focus on piano and shadowing a music therapist at the Jacksonville School of Autism. iiiii“I left because I wanted to explore more classical piano literature and I couldn’t learn as much at Stanton,” said Lao. “I also had competitions and master classes to travel to which forced me to miss school, and that wasn’t ideal for a school like Stanton.” iiiiiOther students choose a different route, opting to leave Stanton to improve their overall high school experience and mental health. Due to the school’s demand of student’s free time, some decide to leave to get more flexibility and time so they can enjoy their high school years. iiiii“I feel like a lot of kids at Stanton don’t get the opportunity to go out and be teenagers,” said Huber. “Transferring has helped me a lot because I can do more things like get a job, hang out with friends and just have a good time. Even though I was doing well academically, my mental health was really getting in a bad place.” iiiiiLike Huber, other students express concern regarding mental health and the stress a demanding curriculum can cause. According to a 2010 American College Health Association study, more than 25 percent of students say stress lowered their grades or ability to finish a course. The combination of increased pressure and low grades can result in students leaving the school to raise their GPAs and lower their anxiety levels. iiiii“I was miserable with the workload last year,” said sophomore Lizeth Estrada, who left Stanton to attend Darnell-Cookman High School after her

photo illustration by Salma Drew

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DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 13

LEAVING

STANTON By Seth Abouhalkah, Staff Writer

photo illustration by Salma Drew

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DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 13

FEATURES done everything,’” Then given the information, sometimes they see other opportunities their child missed, like going to other teachers for tutoring, or getting a peer tutor, because they haven’t asked.” iiiiiIn addition to their attitude, parent support can offer hope and new opportunities, and often be the final say in their child’s ultimate decision. Parents can also offer important advice or insight to students during the decision-making process. iiiii“My parents were a big part of my decision making. They were the ones who made the final decision to leave because they knew Stanton wasn’t right for me,” said junior Tanner Thompson, who transferred to Episcopal School of Jacksonville after her freshman year. “They completely supported my decision to leave.” iiiiiOther students can feel pressured by their parents to stay at Stanton because of its academic reputation and recognition as a top Florida school. Some fear if they leave, their parents will be disappointed. iiiii“My parents want me to stay at Stanton because they know it is best at preparing me for the challenges I could possibly face in the future,” said sophomore Ishika Khullar, who ultimately decided to remain at Stanton. “Part of the reason I want to stay at Stanton is to show them I am able to handle the challenges.”

Source: National Dropout Prevention Center

“My parents want me to stay at Stanton because they know it is best at preparing me for the challenges I could possibly face in the future.” —Ishika Khullar, 10th iiiiiStudents who transfer often have to consider opinions from both their parents and administrators. When students are thinking about leaving, Stanton’s’ administrators play an important role in encouraging them to stay, providing resources and offering safety nets to help the students improve. While in the process of transferring, all paperwork must go through administration to be processed and entered into the system. Some students, however, feel this adds

more pressure to their decision process. iiiii“Stanton’s administrators pressured me to stay,” said sophomore Hansa Pasyavala, who transferred to Atlantic Coast after winter break in 2018. “While my mom and I were discussing transferring with the administrators, they made other schools sound bad in a sense compared to Stanton and my transfer papers weren’t given to me until I ‘reconsidered’ my decision.”

“If we see a student wants to leave, we talk to them and their family about why they are leaving, and we try to offer support.” —Mr. Matthew Hemphill iiiiiWhile students like Pasyavala view the input as a negative experience, Stanton’s administrators explain they try to keep students to stay because of the relationships they’ve built with them. According to Stanton’s administration, these relationships aim to promote a safe, comforting and helpful environment for the students. iiiii“We don’t want to see students leave because we’ve built strong connections and relationships, and we genuinely care about them,” said Assistant Principal Mr. Matthew Hemphill. “We’re a family here, so if we hear a student wants to leave, we talk to them and their family about why they are leaving, and we try to offer support. We encourage students to come talk to us if they’re having a problem and we inform them about the safety nets we have available.” iiiiiConcerns about the amount of work and the quality of life at Stanton have driven some students to wonder, Is Stanton really worth it? Though the school can provide college readiness and better time management skills, it falls short for many students who say the intense work and stress was ultimately not advantageous in the end. iiiii“The work and stress is a lot of work for a minimum payoff,” said senior Tanusri Bandaru. “At Stanton you’re really struggling for an A when at other schools students do less work and get the same grades. Less effort at another high school probably would’ve gotten me the same college results.”

infographic by Salma Drew

freshman year. “[Since transferring], my GPA has gone up tremendously, and I feel way more relaxed at Darnell because last year I was so stressed about my grades that they were the only thing I could think about.” iiiiiAlthough academic pressure is a major reason students transfer, others choose to leave despite having strong grades. For these students, the motivation to leave stems more from increased opportunity than from stress or inability to keep up with schoolwork. According to many students, although Stanton advertises countless academic opportunities, it lacks in other areas they want to explore. iiiii“A student who transferred from Stanton might just want to focus on a sport,” said Assistant Principal Mr. Michael Kerr. “They would feel they have a good opportunity to get scholarships at another school.” iiiiiWhile students ultimately must weigh various factors in the decision to leave or remain at the school, parental influence can often be a determining factor in students’ choice. Parents can either provide a support system for their child or pressure them into making a decision they believe is right for them. iiiii“The majority of the parents that come to guidance want to support their child,” said Ms. Ibasco. “So if they see their child is staying up late, then of course it’s their concern to say, ‘I don’t think it’s healthy, I don’t know what else to do, we’ve

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photo illustration by Salma Drew

Due to the students who transfer from Stanton each year, the graduating classes tend to be noticeably smaller than the classes upon entry to the school. Through their time at Stanton, many upperclassmen witness the drop in class size as the years progress.

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photo by Prachi Misra

The transfer rate among Stanton students is commonly observed through the differences in class sizes. In many school-wide events such as pep rallies, these differences are highlighted as the senior class appears significantly smaller in population size than the freshman class. iiiiiDue to the more academically competitive environment, many students at Stanton feel a higher class rank is harder to achieve than at other schools. As a result, some students fear it can affect college decisions and limit where they go to college. iiiii“There are so many smart people here, but they have a low class rank. When a college looks at that they tend to think they are not as smart as other kids from different schools,” said senior Rachel Estanislao. “During freshman year I got one B and I was ranked 74th in my class.” iiiiiParents share similar concerns, as they witness their children’s’ quality of life possibly decrease at Stanton and

wonder whether the school will be valuable for them. While deciding where to send their kids to high school, parents juggle the worth of the education and whether it will be beneficial for their kids in the long run. iiiii“Overall, I don’t think Stanton is worth it. I have seen my daughter work hard to get a GPA that would be amazing at any other school,” said Estanislao’s father, Mr. Raymond Estanislao. “My eldest daughter went to Mandarin, and she had more free time and still got all kinds of scholarships. Overall, I think my daughter could have gotten a good education from a regular school.” iiiiiDespite the challenges that drive students away from Stanton, some students realize the value of a Stanton education after graduating. They say the hardships they endured in high school made college easier because they were already prepared for the material. iiiii“At the end of the day, even though Stanton was hard, it taught me a lot of useful stuff that I can use now,” said Stanton alumna Cindy Zheng, who graduated in 2018. “Although there is much more freedom in college, I always felt the tendency to get my work done fast and stay on top of everything because of how I was used to doing it at Stanton.” iiiiiRegardless of the argument over the worth of a Stanton education, it is evident that different students require different environments. Some students thrive in places like Stanton, while others find success in different places.

“Stanton is not a good fit for everyone, because there’s a lot of things we don’t offer that other schools offer.” —Ms. May Ibasco

photo by Prachi Misra

A primary concern for many students is the school’s rigorous academics. Students, such as freshmen Himanshee Jain, must learn to grapple with a heavy workload if they choose to stay at Stanton.

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iiiii“It comes down to what you are looking for in a school and what you want to achieve. It’s worth it to stay here if this is something they’re looking for,” said Ms. Ibasco. “But sometimes it’s not worth it for the kids who aren’t looking for this kind of education, who aren’t planning on doing medical school or engineering or things like that. Stanton is not a good fit for everyone because there’s a lot of things we don’t offer that other schools offer.” iiiiiOften, students, parents and administrators get caught up with the plaques and posters boasting Stanton’s excellence, but Stanton’s transfers reveal issues to be considered before jumping into a school that is considered “the best” on paper. Whether students leave because they have a talent they want to explore, a certain career they want to excel in or just want to enjoy their high school years, Stanton’s students and transfers show their ability to succeed does not lie solely in the As on their report card.

http://rdw.rowan.edu infographic by Salma Drew

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SPORTS

Abandoning Athletics Due to the emphasis that Stanton students place on their GPA and class rank, many drop unweighted athletics classes in favor of more traditionally academic subjects.

By VAISHNAVI SUREN, Staff Writer Much of the lives of Stanton College Preparatory School’s students revolve around courses usually considered “academic,” with a typical day at school ranging from stressing over a history test to writing an essay for English to trying not to fall asleep during a math lecture right after lunch. The importance of physical education can be overlooked in favor of core academic classes and weighted subjects, which are more likely to result in higher grade-point averages (GPAs) and class rankings. This phenomenon leading students away from physical education is one Stanton’s health teachers are attempting to fix by promoting active participation in sports as an academic subject. Aside from the Health Opportunities and Physical Education (HOPE) class taken during freshman year, no other gym classes are mandatory for Stanton students. This class provides the foundations for physical education which students can use to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the rest of high school and beyond. Participating in gym classes at school offers students the opportunity to explore different options for physical activity. “When teaching HOPE, I try to have different units involved, like a weight room unit or a cardiovascular unit,” said health teacher Sherrene Benedict. “I try to show that physical education is a lifetime sport. Participating in sports or resistance training is something you can do at any age if you take care of your body and keep it in shape.” Even if students know the importance of applying physical education to their everyday lives, they are also aware that all the gym classes offered at Stanton are unweighted. This causes students to avoid physical education in fear of these unweighted classes dropping their GPAs, especially those in the International Baccalaureate

(IB) program, who have more mandatory classes to take and find it difficult to fit gym into their schedules. “If physical education classes were weighted, I would probably be more inclined to take them,” said senior class valedictorian Kristina Liao. “The IB program does not have as many free slots for electives, though, so it would still be hard trying to fit in a gym class along with other electives I want to do, like IB art. The competitive environment at Stanton also means more people tend to ignore an unweighted class like gym.”

“When teaching HOPE, I try to have different units involved, like a weight room unit or a cardiovascular unit.” —Coach Sherrene Benedict For Stanton’s health teachers, however, the long-term impacts of physical education outweigh the impacts of a high school GPA, and can even serve as an outlet for the stress accumulated from other academic subjects. “As people get older, they don’t worry about what grade they made in calculus or English, they worry about how their health is,” said health teacher Robert Fleming. “Physical education is a way for students to burn off

photo by Kennedy Cottle

Some students gain adequate exercise by participating on Stanton’s athletic teams.

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photo by Kennedy Cottle

Gym class offers students an opportunity to be active and improve their fitness. extra stress and calories and take care of their health.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), increased participation in physical activity at school has led to higher grades and standardized test scores for students, and has also helped them stay on task in the classroom. Despite these benefits, a 2015 CDC report stated only 51.6 percent of high school students in the United States attended a regular physical education course. The lack of student participation in gym classes has resulted in Stanton’s health teachers making an effort to show students how physical education is like any other academic course offered at Stanton. At school, health teachers serve as heads of physical education, and distinguish physical education from physical activity, which can be performed outside of school without any guidance. “Most of our students do not get any physical activity outside of school,” said Coach Benedict. “When [health teachers] get the opportunity to have these students perform physical activity at school and learn to incorporate it into their everyday lives, we can help with some of the complications that come without exercise, like obesity or weak muscles.” Physical education, just like other academic courses, has a set curriculum with expected guidelines as well. According to America’s Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE), which sets the essential guidelines

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for physical education classes throughout the country, physical education class sizes should be consistent with those of other subject areas and align with school district and school teacher-student ratio policy. SHAPE also outlines five guidelines for a physical education curriculum: teaching students about applying motor skills, exercise tactics, health tips, teamwork and enjoyment to physical activity. “Physical education classes are similar to other classes at Stanton because there is the component of learning something first, and then learning how to apply it to an activity,” said Coach Fleming. “I think when Stanton focuses on preparing kids for college, our physical education programs do that as well.” Students still have reasons physical education classes do not appeal to them. They believe there is a lack of interest in the subject, which leads them away from taking gym classes. “I see students who take gym not care about it most of the time,” said sophomore Katie Russell. “It is just a class students use to do homework in, so it gets boring when no one actually participates in the subject.” While some students who take gym classes because they are not study-intensive may not show much interest in physical activity, health teachers believe students can still take away something from the class. Students can learn to implement physical activity

“Most students interested in athletics just participate in the actual team for the sport instead of taking a class in it.” —Raha Riazati, 11th and health practices on their own outside of school. “Some kids take gym classes so they do not have to study for an AP,” said Coach Fleming. “But usually they end up learning more about physical education and having a good time, and there is nothing wrong with trying to take an easier class.” While some students do not exercise in gym class due to disinterest in the subject, others may not enroll in the class because they are interested and skilled

photo by Kennedy Cottle

Students in gym classes read and take notes on methods of staying healthy. enough in specific athletics to prefer to participate in them outside of a classroom setting. Stanton’s various sports teams provide students the opportunity for physical activity without having to take gym classes. “Students in sports classes do not seem to take them because of an actual interest in the sport,” said junior Raha Riazati. “It is already difficult to squeeze in extra electives in our schedules, so most students interested in athletics just participate on the actual team for the sport instead of taking a class on it.” For students who do not have enough prior experience to try out for specific sports and make it onto the teams, however, gym class is the most accessible option for them to exercise in school. Health teachers believe the health component of physical education classes provides students with life skills not available in team sports. “The state of Florida requires students to take health classes,” said health teacher Joshua Westfall. “Even though some students look down on it, I think health is the most important class any kid could take at this school because it teaches students how to avoid injuries or diseases that could prevent them from learning in their other classes. Other academics are important, but being in good health is what lets students succeed in these classes.”

kids get in better shape and a better state of mind.” While students feel physical education is a class that takes away from their time to spend on other electives, Stanton’s health teachers believe the benefits of enrolling in gym classes beyond freshman year surpass the drawbacks. These classes help students learn how to take care of their bodies, increase their ability to focus in other subjects and build life skills they can use in their futures beyond high school. The importance of gym classes is often overlooked due to students’ concerns for maintaining GPAs and preferring to study for core academic subjects, but this stigma against the class prevents them from experiencing the long-term benefits of physical education.

“Other academics are important but being in good health is what lets students succeed in these classes.” —Coach Joshua Westfall

photo by Kennedy Cottle

Stretching is one of the ways students are taught to take care of their bodies.

APRIL 2019

By learning how to take care of their bodies, students can improve their performance in school. Health classes teach students how to balance the three components of their health: physical, mental and social health. Maintaining all three marks good health in an individual, and coaches believe being in good physical health allows maintenance of mental and social health. “Physical education is about teaching students why physical activity is important,” said Coach Fleming. “The education part is showing them the importance of things such as maintaining a healthy heart rate or not eating too many fats and sugars. That leads to the activity part of running, jumping and stretching. All those things help

photo by Kennedy Cottle

Some students prefer to pursue more commonly academic activities.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 17

photo by Katie Stevens

photo by Kennedy Cottle

photo by Ysabella Rodriguez

Macroscopic photo by Prachi Misra

A close up view of the amazing world around us.

Photography by Kennedy Cottle, Ysabella Rodriguez Prachi Misra and Katie Stevens

OPINIONS OPINIONS

More Funding for Guidance iiiiiDuring the formative years of high school, students navigate the balance between their academic responsibilities and peer and familial relationships. As students explore their passions and prepare for their next step into adulthood, they rely on their support systems of teachers, parents and friends. However, the individuals instrumental in this journey are not solely found in the classroom. iiiiiAt Stanton College Preparatory School, they reside in room 142, marked “guidance.” Here, guidance counselors Mr. Kyle Fessenden, Ms. May Ibasco, Ms. Stephanie Szymczyk and Ms. Misayo Watanabe work throughout the year as liaisons between administrators, teachers, parents and students. Guidance counselors have many responsibilities which range from writing letters of recommendation to filing student records. According to Mr. Fessenden, a particular day may include a parent-teacher meeting, communicating with college representatives and submitting student transcripts; however, there is no typical day. iiiiiAccording to Ms. Ibasco, the schedule of a guidance counselor changes daily due to their open-door policy, which allows students to walk in whenever they need a counselor. Unofficially, their job entails their service as the shoulder to cry on, the listening ear after a demanding test and the mediator of the latest feud—for over 1,500 students. At the end of the day, each counselor is responsible for the needs of over 370 students, needs which peak during the beginning of the year as seniors begin the five-month process of applying to colleges. iiiiiHowever, Stanton guidance counselors are not alone. In the United States, guidance counselors are assigned to an average of 482 students each according to American School Counselor Association’s 2016 “State-by-State Student-to-Counselor Ratio Report.” In Duval County, high school counselors work with 480 students each, based on calculations using US News statistics. According to the ASCA, the recommended ratio is 250 students per counselor, a ratio only Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming currently maintain. iiiiiAccording to a 2016 The Atlantic article, in a national survey asking what should be improved in public schools, only 6 percent of respondents rated counselor funding as a priority. The continuation of this perception has made it increasingly difficult for students to attain necessary contact with their counselors. iiiiiThus, students have begun to turn to third party college counseling services, which can charge upwards of $200,000 according to a 2014 CNBC article. These are resources unavailable to low-income and first-generation students, the most vulnerable students due to external factors such as familial responsibilities and language barriers. For them, a lack of advisory attention can lead to dropping out and forgoing a college education. At schools like Stanton, where 13 percent of students are economically disadvantaged according to US News, ensuring support for these students is crucial to their success. iiiiiIn order to make higher education more accessible to all students, guidance counselors must be placed as a priority for financial and administrative aid for the upcoming school year. As the primary counsel for a decision that can lead to an investment of up to $300,000, guidance wears far too many hats for far too many students. With growing student demand, more funds must be allocated to support the guidance department and its need for expansion. Funding for new software, like Naviance, can better organize postsecondary opportunities, and an additional general counselor will allow for more individual student attention. iiiiiFurthermore, creating specialized counselor positions to provide targeted guidance for underrepresented minorities and college counseling will enable more particular needs to be met. Districts and schools are responsible for the needs of their students, and by extension the needs of the guidance counselors they employ. In order to account for the increasing complexity of our students’ lives, the importance of guidance counselors in the pursuit of education can no longer be overlooked.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE established 1983 I Stanton College Preparatory School

2018–2019 Editorial Board Rohini Kumar Bettina Huang Likhita Manchikanti Emmett Gideon Zahra Casado Amra Kajdic Katie Stevens

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor Layout and Design Editor Digital Media Editor Business Manager Photography Editor

The Devil’s Advocate serves as the official newspaper of Stanton College Preparatory School. It is produced by members of the Journalism class. The editors reserve the right to edit any material submitted to the paper for content, grammar, length and accuracy. The Devil’s Advocate is a public forum for student expression, which encourages free exchanges of opinions concerning controversial and non-controversial community and school related issues. The advertisements and ideas expressed within the newspaper are not necessarily those of the newspaper adviser, newspaper staff, Stanton administration or the Duval County Public School Board. The Devil’s Advocate accepts advertisements from all businesses in the Stanton community. The ad format can be given to the staff or the adviser, Mr. Larry Knight. Students, faculty, and parents may contact the staff and adviser at (904) 630-6760 ext. 143 or at knightl1@duvalschools.org.

APRIL 2019

Illustration by Caroline Robbins

illustration by Caroline Robbins

Snap Judgements iiiiiAs long as political campaigning has existed, negative propaganda has been utilized to discredit a candidate’s opponent, rather than try and elevate their own platform. The danger of these smear campaigns is not simply the hatred they inspire, but their propensity to persuade using radical and often untrue claims. Nearly every presidential candidate since George Washington has been affected by vicious allegations from their opponents, as well as partisan media outlets. In the intensely divisive political climate of recent years, the tendency to accept such claims about any member of the opposing party has become much stronger. iiiiiThis problem isn’t contained at the federal level. Even elections for local positions, such as city council member or mayor, can still provoke controversy and verbal assaults. In a political flyer distributed in early February, dramatically entitled “Missing in Action,” former Jacksonville mayoral candidate Anna Brosche was accused by the Jacksonville on the Rise committee of “only showing up for herself” during her time on the city council. The flyer described how she skipped dozens of meetings and voted to raise her own pay and remove term limits. In response, however, The Beaches Leader, a local newspaper, published an opinions piece in which the author, Christine Arab, decided to do her own research and discovered the flyer’s claims were wildly exaggerated and plainly inaccurate. Yet while the flyer was sent to every house in the area, the rebuttal was only read by subscribers to the newspaper. This disparity left a percentage of citizens with a faulty impression of Brosche, potentially resulting in a distorted distribution of votes during the mayoral election. iiiiiAnother example this of “snap judgement mentality” bolstered by political affiliations is the social media response to the January 2019 encounter between the so-called “MAGA hat kid” and a Native American activist. The incident began when left-leaning internet dwellers uncovered a photo that depicted white teen Nick Sandmann, sporting a hat with President Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” and smirking at Native American Nathan Phillips during a protest. The outcry from liberal activists was immediate. With the addition of some unaccredited testimony about the mocking jeers of the Trump-supporting teens and the world was thoroughly convinced that Sandmann was the devil. They condemned him and his classmates, lashing out at them on Twitter. It was later revealed through video evidence that the Native American group had initiated the conflict and according to an article from Fox News, many were left feeling a little chagrined. In reparation for psychological damage inflicted by recklessly posted stories, Sandmann and his family have decided to sue the Washington Post for $250 million: a heavy consequence for a hasty decision. iiiiiWith a world of information at our fingertips and a host of unmoderated citizen journalists providing a flood of biased or incomplete “news,” snap judgements can be very dangerous. Smear campaigns are unquestionably effective, despite their tendencies to not only be inaccurate, but also to incite discord within the populace. However, they are only effective because we allow them to be. iiiiiWe, as a society, should take a lesson from these events. Bold claims and flashy titles should not be taken at face value. It is not enough to be passively aware; we must be actively and vigilantly searching for the truth because, more often than not, smear campaigns work. A 2016 study found “attack ads” tend to foster distrust in the government, which can be used to diminish voter turnout in strategically selected areas. iiiiiWhile certain scenarios of hasty condemnation are of relatively minimal consequence, when it comes to governmental elections, making decisions based on the vague, unsupported claims utilized in smear campaigns can have impactful consequences. We must keep this in mind, not just during the upcoming 2020 election, in which the incumbent, Donald Trump, is one of the most divisive presidential candidates in American history, but also in all future elections. In these trying times, we, as a people, must remain skeptical and make decisions based on facts, not propaganda.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 19

OPINIONS

A Place of Solace

Away with the Cliché

By JANELLE TENGCO, Contributing Writer

By KEVIN STEPHENS, Contributing Writer

iiiiiiiOutside the walls that encase day-to-day Stantonian life, Stanton College Preparatory School gives an initial impression of its rigorous work and high academic expectations. However, behind the accumulation of work and the pressure exerted in the midst of testing seasons, Stanton is a place of solace for students to cope with the stressors or to seek a haven that is being shared with people like them. With the establishment of over 50 clubs and sports teams, it is no surprise that the school’s extracurriculars manage to become integrated with our work and daily lives. The provision of after-school activities not only allows a student to pursue their interests and build a solid college application but also encourages the development of friendships and unity. Because of the diversity among people in the world, a rise in differences can sometimes provoke confrontations or thoughts of isolationism from groups of people. In order to defy any distinct signs of strife between classes and eliminate the exclusion from the student population, Stanton encourages its students to join clubs to work toward their interests and to emphasize its school-wide precept, “Ubuntu,” meaning human kindness. iiiiiiiAs an incoming freshman, I aspired to learn about the different opportunities to meet people that share a similar interest as me. For instance, when I joined Math Honor Society, or Mu Alpha Theta, I was slightly anxious for its first meeting. I remembered fiddling my fingers in my lap and scanning the assembly of students for any familiar faces. Little did I know that these people would become leading figures in my life as a Stanton student. As a student, I remembered being someone who was petrified to talk in front of a group of people, hesitant on voicing my opinions, and entangled on achieving grades that surmounted the ones before. By joining clubs and uplifting myself to initiate conversations instead of being the one who waits to be addressed, I found myself with people I could trust and look up to as leading figures who helped me acknowledged that numbers do not define me as an individual. With the number of extracurriculars I participate in, all of my stress dissolves and I find myself at peace while pursuing my interests with my friends. iiiiiiiThe amount of clubs and extracurriculars at Stanton shows a stress on friendship and familial bonds between students and the faculty. Through the sponsorship of clubs that promote cultural diversity, such as the Multicultural Club, and clubs that advocate and support different student backgrounds, such as the Gender-Sexualities Alliance (GSA), Stanton strives to establish a place that minimizes exclusion and encourages a sense of belonging and unity. The variety of clubs at Stanton inspires its students to serve their community and preserve its unification and school spirit through extracurriculars and clubs that fuse diversity with belonging. With this in mind, it is never too late to participate in extracurriculars or to contribute to your community—it all depends on your decision to create a change in this world. photo by Katie Stevens

illustration by Caroline Robbins

iiiiiWith literature being arguably one of the most popular forms of human expression, there is bound to come a time when themes, ideas and thoughts are reused. There is no problem with the repetition of thoughts or ideas, but a dilemma arises when they become overused to such an extent that originality is betrayed and a cliché is born. This issue is rooted in literature, but is not exclusive to it. In the modern technological age, cliches have spread to a variety of creative media. iiiiiIn today’s world, most literature has become so watereddown and stripped of meaning that authors struggle to express themselves. Readers no longer care about the message of a work, and are increasingly more satisfied with commonplace plots. The desire to please the masses is what drives authors to include clichés in their work. For example, a common theme in poetry is romance. Read any one poem from the genre and one would likely find proclamations of unrequited love and broken hearts. Even though ideas like these are overused, people continue to enjoy them. Unique poems do exist, but they are rare because readers are attracted to clichés. The creativity of writers seems to be going downhill, generation by generation, because it takes less to satisfy audiences. Instead of trying new things, many stick to what has worked in the past. iiiiiComing up with new ways to express oneself in literature can be a difficult task since people have been doing it one way for centuries, but there are several interesting and underused techniques that could be used to make a piece of writing seem original. Meta is one such tool, and while it can be difficult to pull off, someone who is an adequate enough writer could use it to connect more with their audience. Meta is when a creative work is self-referential, and it can enhance a piece of literature by breaking the fourth wall and putting the reader directly into the story without the use of cliched imagery or diction. Black comedy is another underused literary device, especially in today’s world where society is sensitive to dark humor and everyone strives to be politically correct. However, if executed correctly, a beautiful story can be crafted through the use of this technique. These are only two examples of the many ways an author could improve their writing without seeming repetitive, but these methods are often overlooked. iiiiiClichés do not enhance literature in any way; rather, they make it seem as if the author has little to no originality. In this present day, unoriginality spreads like wildfire. People take ideas from each other and replicate them into thousands of versions of the same stories. Audiences contribute to the issue, as the majority of them just accepts anything an author puts on a page, sparking no demand for originality. It is very difficult to avoid clichés in writing, and I personally have noticed clichés in my own poetry that take away from the message I was trying to convey. However, recognizing clichés is is as simple as reading over your work and making sure it is not a repeat of past ideas. It may be hard to be totally original, but there are many tools that can make a piece of literature unique. Striving for originality in one’s art makes the art form have more impact and meaning. photo by Katie Stevens

Are We Alone? By RAFAE JAMAL, Contributing Writer iiiiiThe Fermi paradox can be simplified as what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, the immovable object being it is highly improbable we are the only living things in the universe and the unstoppable force being the fact we haven’t ever had confirmed interactions with extraterrestrials. When you ask people, “do you believe in aliens?” there are many who respond with enthusiastic assurance, saying something like, “Yes, of course, my great uncle Gerald saw that UFO in Roswell, New Mexico back in ‘47.” However, more of us would answer with less confidence, reasoning that “We can’t be the only living things in the universe; aliens probably exist but they just haven’t been to Earth.” Regardless, most people appear to believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and while this seems like a perfectly reasonable presumption, it begs the question: where are the aliens? iiiiiI would like to believe humanity is not condemned to cosmic isolation, yet the lack of evidence of other life suggests perhaps this is the case. The universe has existed for approximately 13 billion years—surely in that time some kind of organic life would find its way to us, but it hasn’t. This is the dilemma the Fermi paradox seeks to rectify, yet it still

offers no solid evidence on which to place judgements. iiiiiThe Drake Equation, which uses mathematical variables to approximate the likelihood of intelligent civilizations

photo by Katie Stevens

20 | devilsadvocatepaper.com

illustration by Caroline Robbins

developing, also has its flaws. The variables for the equation include the average rate of star formations, the probability of stars forming planets and the probability of those planets even having cores. Due to the nebulous nature of these variables, the equation presents both a pessimistic and optimistic value based on what could be true. The equation

demonstrates there could be approximately 100 thousand intelligent civilizations per galaxy, or that the average number of civilizations per galaxy is far below one. We are either a statistical anomaly or a drop in the galactic bucket, and nobody really knows which one is the case. iiiiiThere have been many attempts at solving all of our extraterrestrial woes as people have come up with a myriad of theories about alien life. One of the most fascinating ideas requires an almost sci-fi view of space. Perhaps we are surrounded by aliens, but are just so insignificant we aren’t worth bothering to interact with. Perhaps our system has already been assimilated into a galactic empire we are so unaware of. iiiiiWhile this idea is a fun thought experiment, it also lacks anything resembling evidence and seems more like something out of a J.J. Abrams movie than credible scientific literature. The more likely conclusion—and the one many are afraid to admit—is offered by the Rare Earth hypothesis. Given the need for a planet with a firm core, survivable temperature, and dozens of other factors, perhaps Earth is exceedingly rare within the universe. This is our most likely explanation of why we’re alone, as it requires the least assumptions. iiiiiBy the rule of Occam’s razor, sometimes simple conclusions are more likely to be true than complex ones. So as disappointing as it may be, perhaps we really are alone, or maybe my article will live in infamy as just another inaccurate prediction of the future.

VOL. XXXV, NO. 4

Expression Denied by Discretion

Venezuelan Crisis

By CHRISTA ASSI, Public Relations Manager

By EESHA REDDY, Contributing Writer

The ability to freely express opinions and share beliefs has been called into question as people become more sensitive to harsh criticism. This has brought an increase in censorship due to the fear of offending others. We need to be able to respect each other’s opinions in order to improve inclusivity in society. If that cannot be accomplished, then we will never be able to move past issues stemming from differences in race, religion or ideology, and shift to other concerns such as government and international crises. iiiiiAs a child, I attended a private Catholic school where everyone was mostly conservative. The first time I was truly criticized for my beliefs was in the comment section of a YouTube video. I left a message praising someone for finding himself in Christianity, and suddenly found myself being bombarded with hateful replies. People commented that my faith was stupid and that it would only do harm to me. As someone who grew up being accepted for what I believed in, to have such an encounter was an unpleasant wake up call. iiiiiAmerican society advocates the First Amendment and its importance, but then places a limit on its power. This means we are “free” to express ourselves, but are silenced if our opinion is something mainstream culture does not want to hear. “Political correctness,” as defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary, is “language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society.” This is a direct example of photo by Katie Stevens

society’s limits on expression. iiiiiPublic figures have taken it upon themselves to delve into social media and speak on anything from political controversies to celebrity scandals. Ben Shapiro, an American conservative commentator and editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, is known for his highly opinionated tweets regarding the state of the government. Shapiro frequently criticizes the media for its treatment of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. In one incident on Oct. 29, 2018, Shapiro commented on President Trump’s use of the phrase, “the fake news media, the true enemy of the people.” Shapiro’s comments regarding the president sparked yet another debate regarding the nature of “fake news.” iiiiiPersonally, I think Shapiro is utilizing Twitter tactfully since he’s not afraid to both praise and criticize President Trump. Repressed conservatives have difficulty sharing their approval of the president and Shapiro serves as an outlet of expression for these conservatives. Left-wing extremists will denigrate anyone who supports the president; as a result, supportive parties of the president are silenced and outcasted, thus creating a tension between both political parties that should not exist to begin with. iiiiiSociety has a problem dealing with censorship and how to define what sets the boundary between free expression and unacceptable offensive commentary. It is astonishing how easily offended people can become nowadays, whether it be over President Trump or an idiotic Twitter “scandal.” Freedom of speech has collided with political correctness and has made it difficult to freely express one’s opinion, since many feel they will be judged for speaking out. Our society should stop suppressing views and start allowing for more open minded dialogue.

Why It’s Worth It By SERENE SHIBLY, Staff Writer iiiiiLast semester, amid many mental breakdowns and academic struggles, the same question continuously echoed in my mind: “Is the International Baccalaureate program actually worth it?” The IB program offered at Stanton College Preparatory School is known for its rigor, which is why it is also the source of many complaints from both juniors and seniors. However, administrators still encourage students to challenge themselves and take the IB program. At the end of last year, I was called down alongside a group of other students from the class of 2020 to Principal Nongongoma Majova-Seane’s office. There, all of the administrators discussed the many benefits of the IB program in an attempt to encourage us to make the switch. I was one of the many students persuaded to transfer. For some time after I made my decision, I asked myself if I had made a mistake. iiiiiWhen I switched into the IB program, many of my peers told me I would regret it. With this negative first impression, I started my junior year expecting the worst. However, I later realized the program wasn’t as bad as I was led to believe. After a semester of debating whether the decision I made was the correct one, I came to the conclusion that although the IB program entails an abundance of work and studying, it is beneficial. iiiiiIn my experience, the learning experience in IB is much more personalized than the Honors program. Through Extended Essays and Internal Assessments, I can delve into specific subject areas I am interested in, such as how William Shakespeare’s work explores Elizabethan societal norms. The program challenges students with many of the examinations resembling collegiate level work, such as photo by Katie Stevens

research papers and presentations. The dynamic in most IB classes gives students independence, which has helped me develop a sense of maturity and responsibility I didn’t have as an underclassman. iiiiiWhen attending a college preparatory school, students all sign up for a certain level of rigor. According to an article published in The Washington Post in 2017, Stanton is ranked as the ninth most challenging high school in America. With that in mind, it can be assumed that Stanton is difficult regardless of whether one is enrolled in the IB or Honors program. This thought often lingered during my own decision process. Advanced Placement courses were already challenging and time consuming, so I thought to myself, “If Stanton isn’t going to be easy either way, I might as well just take what’s considered the more difficult route.” iiiiiOn the other hand, many alumni have said IB is more difficult than college. This assessment may make it seem as though IB is unnecessarily difficult. However, the challenging nature of the program is efficient preparation, and will make for an easier future. iiiiiThis willingness to be challenged is what colleges like to see in their applicants. Many college websites reveal what admissions officers consider when evaluating applications. One of those factors are whether a student is taking the most rigorous courses offered at their school. When I attended the college fair at the University of North Florida in February, I talked to college admissions counselors from a variety of universities who all agreed that seeing students perform well in the IB program is impressive. iiiiiThese factors validated my decision to switch and alleviated any worries I had about being enrolled in the program. The IB program has pros and cons; however, the learning experience IB provides paves the way for a successful future.

“For some time after I made my decision, I asked myself if I had made a mistake.”

APRIL 2019

iiiiiLed by former president Hugo Chávez from 1999 to 2013, Venezuela experienced a socialist revolution based on the left-wing political ideology known as Chavismo, which still reverberates through the policies of current Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Under Chavismo, the Venezuelan government constructed a petrostate, making the country dependent on the singular economic commodity: oil. Since then, the Venezuelan economy has stagnated, pushing the nation into a tailspin crisis, which according to the Associated Press began in June of 2014 with a drop in global oil prices. Although the creation of a petrostate often takes the blame for causing Venezuela’s current crisis, numerous underlying factors played a role in escalating the issue. Festering corruption, expansion of presidential power and the increasing government suppression of dissenting opinion all contributed to the growing crisis. iiiiiAccording to a January 2019 BBC news article, hyperinflation as a result of the spiraling economy has approached 1 million percent, much of the population cannot photo by Katie Stevens

“Venezuela and its people face an uncertain future as tensions continue to rise.” afford basic necessities such as food and medical supplies and nearly 3 million have left the country in search of better prospects. Despite this, Maduro refuses to do anything to help. iiiiiAccording to The Guardian, on Feb. 18, 2019, President Donald Trump traveled to Miami, Fla. to plead with the Venezuelan military against supporting Maduro. He voiced his concerns on Maduro’s governance in an astonishingly accurate statement, commenting Maduro “would rather see his people starve than give them aid.” Although some foreign aid has been attempted, Maduro’s regime adamantly rejects the supplies, claiming that this foreign intervention is a part of a scheme to deconstruct the Venezuelan government. On Feb. 21, 2019, Maduro closed the border to Brazil and three Dutch Caribbean islands in order to block tons of donated food and medicine. Maduro’s policies are increasingly mirroring those of a dictator as he refuses to concede any power and provides an example of the repercussions of allowing corrupt, autocratic politicians to fill positions of power. iiiiiIn response to Maduro’s blockade, opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, led a caravan of trucks and buses filled by opposition lawmakers to the Colombian border, which houses a majority of the U.S. backed aid. In addition, numerous citizens who stood against Maduro since the start of his regime have constructed a series of relentless protests. These movements did nothing to faze Maduro, and he continues to maintain sway over the country due to the support of the Venezuelan and Russian military. He has proven to be unwilling to relinquish his control of the nation, even with the rising crisis in Venezuela and the global withdraw of support. iiiiiVenezuela faces an uncertain future as tensions continue to rise and its civilians’ lives are increasingly put at risk. Due to Maduro’s dictatorship-like rule and refusal of aid, it could be a while before the crisis resolved. Meanwhile, citizens continue to suffer due to a lack of food, clean water and medical supplies. Efforts to unseat President Maduro remain strong, but little progress has been made. Although the global community hasn’t been able to significantly aid Venezuela thus far, perhaps what the rest of the world can take away from Venezuela’s crisis is the cautionary tale it tells of too much presidential power and modern populism through socialist policies. Columns published in the Devil’s Advocate represent the views of the writers, not those of the newspaper.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 21

The New Reality

photo by Kennedy Cottle

A visual exploration of how technology is increasingly infiltrating our daily lives. Photography by Kennedy Cottle, Prachi Misra and Katie Stevens

photo by Prachi Misra

photo by Katie Stevens