Issue 6, Vol.53 by highlights Newsmagazine

highlights

4 5 0 B i r d R o a d , C o r a l G a b l e s , F L 3 314 6

Issue 6,

M a r c h 2 013 , V o l . 5 3

>> A CAVALIER TRAGEDY:

SUPPORT FOR ZUNIGA FAMILY CONTINUES

On the evening of Feb. 21, an act of incomprehensible horror and tragedy struck the household of freshman Lauren Zuniga. In response, Gables students and faculty have stood together not only to mourn the loss and devastation, but to support the Zuniga family as daughter and mother continue on their road to recovery.

By Casey Breznick

SWIMMING IN SOLIDARITY

COPY EDITOR

news

Due to the graphic nature of the incident that occurred at the Zuniga household on Feb. 21 and for the sake of the Zuniga family still in recovery, highlights is refraining from detailing the exact events that unfolded. Lauren Zuniga and her mother, Michelle, are currently still at Jackson Memorial Hospital recovering from severe injuries. Their extended family has flown in from Minnesota to stay with Lauren and her mother. “It’s a really sad event, a tragedy. Something like this shouldn’t have happened to someone as innocent as [Lauren]. In my first period, we all wrote a letter to her. The whole entire freshman class was affected,” said freshman Oney Pino. Friends, classmates, faculty, and community members have rallied to aid and support the Zuniga family. Chefs Mercy Vera and Angel Vasquez and the school’s culinary arts program have been providing the extended family SWIMMING FOR A CAUSE: At the Swim-A-Thon event on Saturday, March 16, students swam laps of the with several meals per week. Additionally, via the website Shenandoah Swimming Pool to raise money for the Zuniga family. “The best part [about the Swim-A-Thon] Food Things, community members and teachers, included was being able to do whatever we could for a friend and her family,” said water polo captain Danae Diaz. Activities Director Ana Suarez, drama teacher Tracey Barrow-Schoenblatt, and College Assistance Program counselor Liz Stack, have also signed up to deliver meals. Outside of the school, community members are making Another way people can assist the Zuniga family is equal efforts to aid the Zuniga family. On Saturday, March with monetary donations in the form of checks that can 16, former swim coach of Lauren and her late brother be made out to “Marko and Magolnick PA Trust Account” Stefan, Alexander Urbizagastegui, held a Swim-A-Thon with “Zuniga Family” on the reference line. The PTSA can at Shenandoah Swimming Pool from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. be contacted for further information, including the mailing Participants paid $10 to swim any distance in the pool, and address. Commentary by Francis Perez money was raised via a garage sale of donated items, face The International Baccalaureate Honors Society STAFF WRITER painting and balloon animal entertainment, and the sale (IBHS), which organizes the annual Bridge 4 Peace event of food, drinks, and wristbands at the school to raise funds for As the International Baccalaureate (IB) oral reading “Love for Lauren”. charities and schools throughout It’s a really sad event, a tragedy. examination commences this year, the school’s The school has also initiated the Caribbean and Latin America, IB teachers are beginning to regularly administer Something like this shouldn’t efforts to console its students decided to show their support for exams and leave students with substitute teachers have happened to someone as and faculty who may have the Zunigas’ emotional recovery. and time-consuming busy work for the upcoming innocent as [Lauren]. In my first been emotionally disturbed or The event IBHS sponsored took weeks. Students take advantage of the teacher’s period, we all wrote a letter to grief-stricken as a result of the place on Saturday, March 2, and absence and procrastinate, putting most of them her. The whole entire freshman events. Principal Adolfo Costa featured a card-making booth behind in their learning schedule and negatively class was affected. said the school followed the for students to write personal affecting their overall academics. district’s “Crisis Response Plan”. messages for the Zunigas. To earn an IB diploma, students must fulfill a Oney Pino, The district offered to dispatch According to International host of requirements including passing three Stanfreshman third-party grief counselors, but Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator dard Level tests and three Higher Level tests, some of which the school’s in-house counselors Sylvie Cuesta, a bag full of cards consist of oral assessments. The oral exams are proctored by managed the situation. They was delivered to Zuniga after the teacher the student has been in class with for the whole visited each of Zuniga’s eight classes and informed students Bridge 4 Peace ended. Cuesta has also arranged a drop-off school year, and since there are more than 100 students about the incident and about how to deal with grief. Those box located in the IB Office in the 100 hall for any students taking an exam in each subject, teachers are occupied for identified as “expressing outward signs of grief”, according still seeking to write cards or messages. several days. Beginning in January, IB teachers administerto Costa, were given one-on-one support in the media Zuniga, a member of the school’s water polo team, ing foreign language orals have been absent from their other center. Members of the water polo team were also informed is also receiving emotional support from her teammates classes for weeks at a time. of Zuniga’s condition and offered grief counseling. and coaches. At all of their matches since Zuniga’s “The proctor has to have a relationship with the student, “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the hospitalization, each player has tattooed her number, 1, be familiar with the work, and be able to interject,” said IB family,” said Costa, who visited the Zuniga women on on their arms as well as yelled “One, two, three, Lauren!” counselor Sylvia Cuesta. March 6. before beginning each game. Continued on page 4.

IB ORAL EXAMS:

Detrimental to class time

PG. 13 Boys volleyball battles against Florida Christian in a close match

sports

PG. 10 highlights talks to the owners of ‘pimped-out’ cars on campus

features

insight

PG. 7 Are ‘superpowers’ confined to superhuman abilities?

opinion

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news

highlights March 2013

B4P fundraises $16k for Jamaica By Jordan Payne STAFF WRITER

Jordan Payne/highlights B4P: Juniors Elliot Blasser and Andres Castro work the grill (top left), while junior Johanna DeLuca showcases her singing skills on stage (top right) and students participate in a friendly soccer match (bottom).

On Saturday, March 2 the school held its fifth annual Bridge 4 Peace Walkathon on the track field. Students, teachers, parents, and community members came together to raise funds for Angels of Love Jamaica, a non-profit organization in Jamaica that sponsors critically ill children from low-income families who are continuously in and out of the hospital. This year’s goal was to raise $10,000 to support Angels of Love by creating an educational center in the pediatric ward of the May Pen hospital in May Pen, Jamaica. The school exceeded its goal, making a gross profit of over $16,000. The money will also go towards building an office for the principal and a dining area for the students of Orange Bay Primary School, a sister school in Jamaica. At the event, students turned in pledge forms for walking a certain number of laps around the track and participated in various activities such as karaoke, soccer and face painting. Clubs donated food including croquetas, sushi, and donuts. International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator Sylvie Cuesta, IB Honor Society (IBHS) sponsor Jessica Roman, the Parent Teacher Student Association, and IBHS were in charge of the event. IBHS members had a number of tasks including going out into the community to get sponsorships, food, or monetary donations, manning the booths, refereeing sports, and working registration. Three years ago, it was established that IB students had to complete an international component as part of their Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) project. Bridge 4 Peace was started six years ago, even before this was a requirement, but it has grown because it fulfills this international component. Bridge 4 Peace first sponsored a school in the Dominican Republic and raised money to fund a new school building and a computer lab, and donated ping pong tables, sporting equipment, and the funds to build a basketball court. After this project, Bridge 4 Peace funded construction to finish a school’s second floor and built an oven for a school in Hanchacho, Peru. “It’s so exciting. We had no idea where our idea was going to go but it’s amazing to see the Gables community come together to make an impact on our global community,” said Cuesta. Although the project helps IB students fulfill their CAS requirements, Bridge 4 Peace is open to all students at the school. In its first year, Bridge 4 Peace raised approximately $7,000, and that amount has more than doubled this year. “In our community, Bridge 4 Peace raises awareness for the impoverished conditions of schools in developing countries. In the countries we help, Bridge 4 Peace makes a difference in the lives of children and educators,” said IBHS President Liz Arza.

FLVS change for IB ESOL iLit initiative By Jordan Payne

Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction and became known to the school’s IB coordinators in November of 2012. International Baccalaureate (IB) “With the changing curriculum and students are no longer required to complete testing, there is a lot of uncertainty, so it a virtual course in order to graduate. Unlike is nice to have a statute saying that virtual the other academies, the IB program has classes for IB different graduation students are not a requirements. There is a lot of uncertainty, requirement,” said Beginning with so it is nice to have a statute IB Coordinator students in the class saying that virtual classes for IB Diana Van Wyk. of 2015, at least one students are not a requirement. Students not course within the 24 enrolled in the credits required for Diana Van Wyk, IB academy are graduation must be IB Coordinator still required to completed through complete a virtual online learning, course. If an IB such as through student transfers to another academy he or she Florida Virtual School. However, because will still be required to complete one virtual students who are earning an IB or Advanced credit. International Certificate of Education “Most people would say that it’s difficult diploma do not fall under this 24 credit to communicate with a teacher over a requirement, they are no longer required to computer, so I think it is a pretty good thing,” complete an online course. said IB freshman Juan Salazar. This information comes from the STAFF WRITER

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SENIOR PICNIC IN THE BULL PEN

By Jordan Payne STAFF WRITER

The school’s division of Bilingual Education and World Languages has implemented the iLit initiative, which offers teachers the opportunity to teach developmental language classes using iPads. This year is the program’s first in the district and the school was one of 12 chosen as a pilot. Title III; the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement Act, along with Pearson Education, are funding the initiative. Currently the program is made for Developmental Reading classes but next year will expand to include mathematics and science classes as well. The program is meant for all English Language Learner students who have recently arrived in the United States and have had less than three years in the public school system. English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher Jose Termes is currently using the iPads and his second and seventh

HAPPY HOPPERS

periods students are learning through this digital initiative. “The program is designed to provide immediate feedback and to create opportunities for the students to improve based on their level in reading,” said Assistant Principal Jean Baril. The instruction in these classes is completely digital. ESOL students are able to access sources of information, such as books and dictionaries, to improve their reading level and receive feedback on their progress. These reading levels are automatically adjusted through the online assessments. The iPads talk to the students so that they are able to hear how words are correctly pronounced and a projection screen in the classroom aids visual learners. At the beginning of each class, students read books of their choice for 10 minutes, practice vocabulary for 10 minutes, read and think aloud for 15 minutes, have classroom conversations for 10 minutes, have group conversations for 10 minutes, and then work individually for 30 minutes.

SKY HIGH

Christina Parodi/highlights

ROCK N’ BULL: Senior Stephanie Robinson holds on tight as the bull tries to throw her off. Mechanical bull riding was one of many activities at Senior Picnic.

IT’S IN THE BAG: Friendly competition was in the air as seniors participated in several different relay events throughout the day, including sack races.

BUNGEE JUMPING: Senior Luciana Garcia jumps for joy while relaxing on her day off from the stress of senior studies and college acceptances.

highlights March 2013

NEWS

STUDENT COUNCIL:

Elections go to run-off

By Mia Tolpin

time, so I’m going to use that advantage and make sure that everyone’s voice and opinion will be heard when important decisions are made. I’m also going to work closely with other Class officers for the 2013-2014 school year were elected officers to make sure they take everyone into account,” said on Feb. 15. An unprecedented run-off election took place on Passwaters. Feb. 28 to decide Student Council Vice President and Senior Cole Scanlon was elected Senior Class President, and Class Vice President. Darlene Fajardo was elected Senior Class Vice President. Next school year’s Student Council Vice President “It’s the most fun year because candidates, Sheyla Tendero and there’s the most events. I hope I’m the first non-IB Student Council Liz Wurmser, and Senior Class to make all the senior activities Vice President candidates, Darlene President in a long time, so I’m better than they were, while trying Fajardo and Camila Camacho, were going to use that advantage and to implement new ideas and new sent to a run-off election. A run-off activities,” said Scanlon. make sure that everyone’s voice occurs when the majority of the Allyssa Dobkins was elected and opinion will be heard. votes are not won by one candidate Junior Class President, and Nathali Patricia Passwaters, in the original election. Huet was elected Junior Class Vice Fewer than 2,000 ballots were junior President. collected out of over 3,000 students “I ran for office because it’s at the school, because some teachers something that has always been a did not distribute ballots and some students chose not to vote. part of my life, even in elementary and middle school. I hope to Patricia Passwaters was elected Student Council President, make college tour bigger and better than ever,” said Dobkins. and Sheyla Tendero was elected Student Council Vice Jordan Payne was elected Sophomore Class President, President. and Gabrielle Saliamonas was elected Sophomore Class Vice “I’m the first non-IB Student Council President in a long President. STAFF WRITER

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Mia Tolpin/highlights

Patricia Passwaters, Student Council President

Cole Scanlon, Senior Class President

Cavalier

Condolences

Students and faculty speak up about teacher Mercy Monzon’s car accident.

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Without her, we wouldn’t have a cheerleading team, so I really hope she gets better.

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-Isis Cabrera, sophomore

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As a friend, I try to be there to support her and keep her motivated.

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Congratulations!

•At the NDA National Championship,

the Gablettes placed first in medium varsity team performance, first in JV kick, second in small varsity kick, fifth in international team perfromance, and tenth in small varisty jazz

•The Gables Live! news team won second place in the music video category at the STN Conference

the mini-competition at Miami Dade College’s Meeting of the Math Minds

Monzon helps me strive for excellence, and we need her back here soon.

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Raveen Johnson, freshman

Compiled by Jordan Payne

Jordan Payne, Sophomore Class President

•Mu Alpha Theta won first place in

-Phillip Wisser, math teacher

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Allyssa Dobkins, Junior Class President

•In chorus evaluations, Gables Choral

and Cav Singers each recieved overall excellence, the Women’s Ensemble recieved straight superiors (the highest rating), and senior Lorelle Jock won superiors in student conducting

BRIEFS

Annual culinary gala By Rachel Ellis STAFF WRITER

On March 18 the Culinary Arts Program held its third annual Gala Night. The purpose of the gala was to raise money for the cooking competitions that students in the culinary program will attend later this year, and to showcase a menu that is fully prepared by the students. Throughout the year, culinary students are invited to cater events at Doctors Hospital and the Biltmore hotel. This year’s Gala Night will be held at the Dome restaurant. “We packed all the prepared food in Ziploc bags and had everything ready to go for the gala,” said culinary arts senior Johanna Maranon. The main course included chicken roulade lined with apples and sausage, and was served beside roasted fingerling potatoes.

Clocks to be fixed By Christina Parodi STAFF WRITER

Assistant Principal Joseph Evans announced that school clocks in the new building will be fixed after the fire inspection over spring break. For the past few months, students and teachers say they have felt frustration because they are unable to use their classroom clocks. The broken clocks have affected the comfort of students when taking exams. “When I was taking the FCAT I wanted to know how many minutes were left on the section I was working on,” said sophomore Sophia Gonzalez. Students have also said that they have to consult their phones during class for the time, which has brought increased scoldings from teachers.

Elsa Glazer awards By Christina Parodi STAFF WRITER

On April 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium, all seniors who have maintained at least a 3.5 weighted GPA and have fulfilled the school’s required amount of community service will receive the prestigious Elsa Glazer award. The recognized students will receive certificates and roses in an awards ceremony. The celebration will include performances by the Color Guard, Divisi, and the Jazz Ensemble. The award, named after Elsa Glazer, is given to students who she thought were “all about doing their best, giving back, being kind and thoughtful, reaching out, using their talents to make the world a better place and so much more,” according to the members of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). “She was an amazing woman and we hope to plant the seed for our students to emulate her as they continue to mature and turn community service into a way of life, not just a school requirement,” said PTSA Vice President of Administration Gail Poe Liu.

news SUNSHINE STATE

highlights March 2013

S HAK EN STANDARDS

Highest AP scores FCAT replacement By Casey Breznick COPY EDITOR

In mid-February a national report provided by College Board, the nonprofit organization that administers Advanced Placement (AP) tests, announced that Florida high schools rank fourth in the nation in terms of success in AP testing and scores. Ranking is based on the percentage of graduating seniors who passed at least one exam while in high school, and according to College Board’s “AP Report to the Nation”, the national average stands at 19.5 percent. Florida’s number is 27.3 percent, or more than 39,000 students, which marks an improvement from 23.9 percent in 2011 and 14.4 in 2002. Florida also moved up two places in the national standings compared to its rank last year. College Board’s national report singled out Florida’s high-ranking as being particularly noteworthy because it is the only state with a sizeable Hispanic population to have eclipsed the “equity gap”, who accounted for 29 percent of Florida’s passing AP students but only 24.8 percent of its graduates last year. Several other states, like Alaska and Mississippi, have removed their equity gaps concerning Hispanics too, but they all have very low populations and percentages of graduates who are Hispanic. Some critics have questioned Hispanics’ overall success because of the large number and proportion of Hispanic test-takers who take and pass the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam, which is not as difficult as the AP Spanish Literature exam. While all AP courses and exams purport to reflect college introductory counterparts, College Board found that Floridian Hispanics still achieve highly without their Spanish scores taken into account, though these exact findings have not been published. In line with the state’s success, the school’s 44.4 percent of passing students of all grade levels surpassed the state average of 44 percent passing at least one exam by 2012. In terms of the entire school’s population, 17 percent of students passed at least one AP exam, as compared to about 10 percent in 2001. “Florida pays for all of the students’ AP exams. I think the state provides a conducive environment and it encourages students to take AP exams. The barriers are all removed; all you need is the drive and desire to succeed. It’s a great opportunity,” said the school’s Testing Chair Lazaro Hernandez.

By Francis Pérez STAFF WRITER

To accurately compare Florida’s standardized test scores with other states in the nation, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Test (PARCC) will replace the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This change will occur in the 2014-2015 school year and will only replace the FCAT’s reading and writing portions for high school students in ninth and tenth grade. End-of-Course Biology and mathematics tests in Algebra 1 and Geometry will still remain. Just like the FCAT, the PARCC will still be used to measure a student’s understanding of the subject. The new test will be computer-delivered and some questions from the reading portion will consist of drag and drop and multiple choice questions that will have two or more parts per question. A section of the writing portion will consist of reading some type of text and then analyzing it. Although samples of PARCC questions have been published, the type of questions are subject to change. “The styles of the questions are changing and it’s definitely a harder test, but nothing is official. From now until the 2014-2015 school year, a lot of things could change,” said Testing Chair Lazaro Hernandez. The PARCC test is part of Common Core Learning Standards, which set national standards that specify benchmarks for each grade level. This serves both the teachers and the students as a guide to know exactly what they need to know and how to be better prepared. It also makes comparing the level of education in states across the country an easier process. “It is already hard to compare schools in just the state of Florida,” said Hernandez. Some students believe that replacing the FCAT with the PARCC will lead towards more improvement of schools. “Anything that will help Florida increase its education standards and overall level of education in a national scale is an excellent idea,” said sophomore Eduardo Guifarro. Florida is one of the 21 states, in addition to the District of Columbia and US Virgin Islands that have adopted the Common Core State Standards.

opinion The Immigration Debate

highlights March 2013

With the country in a tug of war over illegal immigration, highlights takes a look at two alternative solutions.

Amnesty for aliens

Pragmatic reform

Commentary by Stephan Chamberlin

Commentary by Casey Breznick

STAFF WRITER

COPY EDITOR

Eighty-six percent of Americans believe illegal immigration is a problem for the U.S., and 53 percent believe it harms American workers. With all this talk about an insecure border and how it harms the American labor force, it’s leaving some, myself included, skeptical about the dangers of prospective citizens jumping the proverbial fence in search of better opportunity. Even more illogical, the same people who drum up the fear about illegal immigrants are the same people who want to cut funding for programs to give people citizenship. Border security has proponents far and wide because people believe that making the U.S.Mexico border a big impermeable wall will solve the problem of illegal immigration. The southern border of the United States is approximately 2,000 miles long, and only about 600 miles of it is protected by fences. Six hundred forty miles of fence were erected, each mile costing the U.S. $2.8 million. Instead of building a giant fence, maybe we could have instituted a program to give illegal immigrants the opportunity to become legal residents. Really, anything would have been better than building a wall that looks good, but doesn’t actually protect the border at all. There are two ways to deal with immigrants who have already made their way into the country. The first way is deportation, where time, money, and manpower are spent on an immigrant round up. All that money is spent on taking people out of the country. This is illogical for two reasons: one, because it’s inefficient, and two, not every illegal can be caught through a massive effort to deport. The relationship between funding for these types of programs and desired results has diminishing returns. At a certain point, it’s just not worth it. The second way is amnesty, or giving people who have illegally come here the chance to redeem themselves through naturalization, as opposed to deportation. The sad reality is, the country works sort of like a big corporation, where the citizens are customers. The people who come here without a visa or stay after it has expired don’t pay income tax. Rather than deporting them, granting, extending, or renewing visas will create a better economic situation. These new citizens will be able to be on the payroll, pay income tax, use their real names on mortgages, and be able to do everything else that raises revenue for the government much more easily. Until recently, immigrants haven’t even been able to educate themselves. The DREAM Act, which Congress passed and the President signed, gave illegal immigrants the ability to get college degrees, and become productive members of society. If the DREAM Act can pass, why can’t other bills that help prospective Americans pass as well? This brings me to my next point. One of the biggest problems with getting comprehensive bills concerning immigration reform passed in Congress is xenophobia. Because a fairly large portion of the American population has an irrational fear of outsiders, they don’t understand how to deal with a very real problem that doesn’t go away just because the government throws money and manpower at it. The deportation view is formed by people too scared to address real solutions just because they don’t want to be neighbors and coworkers with people who got here 237 years after they did. If Americans really want to address immigration, we have to educate the populous.

Of all the proverbial cans the federal government kicks down the proverbial road, immigration reform has to be the most dented, scuffed, and crumbled of them all. This perpetual postponement is a result of incompetence, political squabbling, and the delicacy with which the booty of the Hispanic vote concerns professional politicians. But as damaging is the prevailing idea that we must choose between the equally bad , whether implemented fully or partially, of deportation and amnesty. Rather than detail the obvious shortcomings of amnesty and deportation, I offer a new perspective called principled pragmatism: acting as straightforward and practical as possible without contradicting core beliefs. My outlook opposes this country’s current immigration policy, which has failed to solve to the people’s satisfaction three questions: 1) what to do with the border between the United States and Mexico, 2) what to do with those already here illegally, and 3) how to prevent those we “don’t want” from entering and encourage those we “do want” to enter? My answer to the first issue is to let the states decide. I advocate this point mainly because there is no federal money to build a wall or anything similar. Unfortunately, so-called “fiscal conservatives” in government – those who supposedly advocate reigning in government largesse and waste – are only too eager to squander money in what would sure to be a money pit of a politically resonant but substantively minute wall. If the Border States have the money and consent of their governed, let them act as they wish, even if their actions include walls. While I do believe international borders and immigration policy are under the federal government’s legislative jurisdiction, my recent disgust with the federal government in general makes me open to having more competent states like Texas and Arizona take care of their own business. I believe in the universal freedom of movement as a natural right, but I have an equally strong belief in just laws, like those pertaining to naturalization. Violating the legal means to immigrate here is transgressing the law, and amnesty only rewards this bad behavior. But my reluctance to pay for the rounding up and deportation of millions of illegal aliens, unless they’ve committed additional crimes, is greater than my annoyance at those who bypassed legal immigration procedures. I advocate aggressively deporting violent criminals sucking taxpayer dollars sitting in prisons, and letting each state decide how to treat its illegal alien residents. On the third topic, I offer a radical yet practical plan. To prevent illegal immigrants – many of whom do not contribute to the tax basis of the federal or state governments except via sales tax and rents – from receiving extremely disproportionate entitlements from government, stop giving out these entitlements to them. Non-citizens are not to be recipients of citizens’ money. By not guaranteeing ample handouts in any form, including special college financial aid benefits, only those determined to work hard and commit themselves to American civic life will enter this country. Keeping in mind Murphy’s Law – all that can go wrong will – I recognize no plan ensures complete success. However, this solution saves taxpayers money, gets the ball rolling on entitlement reform, and sets us in the right direction, if not bringing us to the final destination.

TWO VIEWS

Opposable THUMBS Spring Break Homework

“Just what I wanted!” -Casey Breznick, Copy Editor

SAT vs. ACT? “Everyone loses.” -Orso Raymo, Staff Writer

New Fences “I feel like a lab rat...where’s the cheese?” -Audrey Fernandez, Insight Editor

Ultra Accident “You’re supposed to drop the bass, not the stage.” -Andrea Biondi, Staff Writer

Everybody loves Ultra Commentary by Nicolas Rivero OPINION EDITOR

There is nothing the citizens of Miami look forward to with more jubilant glee than the Ultra Music Festival (UMF). In the days leading up to the event, change is in the air. Downtown employees set up tents in their cubicles and make arrangements to camp out in their office buildings over the weekend rather than battle the traffic getting home on Friday; the homeless begin their annual exodus away from Bayfront Park, looking for a place where they can finally get some peace and quiet; Facebook newsfeeds fill with statuses advertising desperate bargains like “Looking for Saturday weekend two tickets. Willing to trade a Sunday ticket and two kidneys.” It is truly a magical time. Of course, if you don’t take note of some of these more subtle changes, just about any living creature with ears in the greater downtown area can tell when Ultra is in town. This is when the city gets to showcase some of its finest qualities. As we all know, Miami is famous for two things: first, its polite southern hospitality, and second, its efficient transportation system. This makes it a perfect candidate to open its streets and its public transport to 300,000 festival-goers, all in varying stages of sobriety, most of them tourists. Locals will be happy to patiently field questions from out-oftowners on a variety of subjects, ranging from “Where is the closest place where I can buy body paint and a neon bra?” to “How can I use the Metrorail to get to…? Oh, the Metrorail doesn’t actually go anywhere? Alright, I guess I’ll just take a cab.” This year, Miami will get a double dose of Ultra as the festival will, for the first time, span two weekends. Across the city, residents were elated to hear that they would be feeling the effects of Ultra for twice as long this year. However, on Dec. 10, City of Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff introduced a resolution to cancel the second weekend because it would be “disruptive to the local business community and area residents due to noise, nuisance behavior of festival goers, and grid lock traffic,” further alleging that “about 70 to 80 percent of these kids are on some sort of mind-altering drug.” In light of the fact that Ultra is expected to generate $150 million

for the local economy, the City Council rejected that resolution. They also unanimously passed a separate resolution uninviting the Commissioner from the municipal Christmas party that year, presumably because Marc Sarnoff is a major buzzkill and he has a funny name. Other than Sarnoff, the only discontented group seems to be downtown’s homeless population. Besides being kept up all night by the constant throb of electronic dance music, the homeless say they just don’t feel comfortable around the Ultra fans, who they claim are dirty, smelly, deranged, and will probably only spend their money on drugs, anyway. Your parents and many of your teachers are probably warning you that UMF is a cesspool of drugs and debauchery, but, you know, who listens to those guys anyway? Have fun at Ultra this weekend!

by the n 300

mbers

Thousand people are expected to attend Ultra

Number of days of Ultra this year

150

Million dollars will be pumped into the local economy by Ultra

Number of minutes Deadmau5 ranted about how much he hated Ultra last year (He will be performing during both weekends this year)

Source: Miami New Times Image courtesy of Radio Airplay

highlights March 2013

The students’ plea: reform our dysfunctional uniform policy STAFF

Editorial

It’s no secret that a large portion of the student body sees the school’s uniform policy as more of a suggestion than a hardand-fast rule. The guidelines are often bent (how many students do you think wear their IDs everyday?) and, unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see them ignored entirely. But this isn’t an issue of a few unruly students acting out. The problem is systemic; the school’s blend of strict rules and lax enforcement do nothing to encourage students to follow the rules. Let’s begin by debunking the myth that school uniform serves much of a practical purpose. A 2009 study at Syracuse University found no correlation between a school’s uniform policy and academic achievement (and I bet most teachers will tell you that they have more important things to worry about in the classroom than the clothes their students are wearing). You might make the argument that uniforms will boost security by making intruders readily identifiable, and that would make sense until you gave it a moment’s thought and realized intruders can wear polo shirts, too. Furthermore, school uniform does not encourage discipline when nearly half of the student body defies the uniform policy.

The school’s uniform policy is widely ignored and loosely enforced. A more accommodating dress code would make students more inclined to follow the rules while still accomplishing all the goals of having a mandatory uniform.

The real reason we have uniforms, quite simply, is because it’s nice to see a school full of students dressed up in matching outfits. It gives us a feeling of community, discourages ruthless kids from bullying each other for wearing the wrong clothes, and keeps us from wearing anything inappropriate. The highlights staff supports these goals wholeheartedly, but sees no reason why they cannot be accomplished with a more accommodating dress code. School spirit shirts provide a perfect example. If you wear one on a Friday, it’s a fun, comfortable alternative that lets you showcase your involvement in the school. If you wear one on a Thursday, it’s an unacceptable uniform violation and you’re getting a detention. Why draw this arbitrary line? Spirit shirts are exactly the type of thing we ought to be encouraging every day of the week, and students actually want to wear them. For that matter, why punish someone for wearing the wrong color polo shirt? What’s wrong with a plain t-shirt? Why not make some money selling Cavalier sweatpants? If the clothes we wear are appropriate and are not disruptive in the classroom or the hallway, then there is no good reason why the school

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“[Uniform] doesn’t let us express ourselves… I feel confined when I’m wearing uniform, like I can’t be myself.”

-Stephanie Elmir, junior

highlights ADVISORY BOARD:

ADVISER

BUSINESS MANAGER

COPY EDITOR

James Ziv

Melissa Nieves

Casey Breznick

SECTION EDITORS: NEWS

OPINION

FEATURES

INSIGHT

Brooke Donner Yaremy Fuentes

SPORTS

Gene Liu, Lukas Georgatos

-Daniel Regalado, sophomore

>> >>

Nicolas Rivero

Deanna Breiter, Audrey Fernandez

THE SCENE

Maggie Rivers

Staff Members: Laura Acosta, Eleonor Bauwens, Andrea Biondi, Raquel Braun, Avery Budin, Stephan Chamberlin, Anthony Concia, Rachel Ellis, Rachel English, Christina Parodi, Jordan Payne, Francis Pérez, Orso Raymo, Araceli Sanchez, Mia Tolpin, Cyrus Zeledon Contributors: Bailey Kling, Andrea Martinez highlights is the official publication of Coral Gables Senior High, 450 Bird Rd.,Coral Gables, FL 33146. Call (305) 443-4871 ext. 2383, email melissanieves@ dadeschools.net for ad rates. highlights accepts all legal advertisements. If a mistake occurs, the ad will be reprinted, free of charge, in the following issue. Subscriptions are available for $15 annually. Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school. highlights is an open forum and welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. Letters to the editor should not exceed 200 words and must be signed, but names may be withheld on request and with the concurrence of the editorial board. The editors reserve the right to reject, edit and condense letters. All letters should be turned in to the F237 mailbox. highlights strives to represent all groups fairly. Men and women of all races and nationalities will be represented with the same respect and dignity. This publication avoids racial identification except when it is essential to communication.

Press Affiliations: Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, NSPA Hall of Fame, Florida Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll

45 percent

Of students believe the school’s uniform policy is too strict.

55 percent

Of students polled were in uniform, as counted by the highlights staff on Mar. 7. Out of 100 students polled

IB orals halt learning Commentary by Francis Pérez

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ali Stack

I don’t mind [uniform]. It’s easier to pick out in the morning and makes everybody seem like they’re part of a whole.

should infringe upon our right to wear them. If you cannot agree on this point ideologically, then think of it practically: why waste the time and effort of teachers, security guards, and administrators on punishing trivial uniform infractions? A more reasonable dress code should be coupled with more consistent enforcement. As it is, you only have to wear uniform if you plan on walking through certain areas of the school or into a handful of classrooms. Nobody else bothers to enforce the rules because, as we have established, there isn’t any point to it. With a rational uniform policy that punished things that really need to be punished, you can expect that everybody would be on board with making sure the rules are followed. To be fair, the responsibility for the current dress code does not belong entirely to the school. Our parents voted to have a mandatory uniform and Miami-Dade County sets guidelines for what the policy should be. But that doesn’t mean the school can’t institute a few common sense changes like allowing students to wear approved spirit shirts every day. Moving towards a dress code that makes sense will be a longer process, but it is one that can begin today.

STAFF WRITER

Continued from page 1.

IB freshman, sophomores, and most juniors basically have a free period for weeks on end. Sure, the teachers leave the substitutes with work pertinent to the current lesson, but students with questions are left without assistance or formal lessons from knowledgeable teachers. Also, IB exams will test students on course material in only a few weeks. Having these oral assessments so close to the IB review time makes studying for the upcoming exams more difficult since the teacher is not available to teach the students what will be in the exam. Some teachers even question whether or not they should ever trust a substitute, so to be on the safe side, the teacher does not have the substitute collect any of the classwork. This instantly

translates in the student’s head to “you can do it later.” IB exams take more than a few days, so these “you can do it later” assignments are continuously put off, leaving the procrastinators with a pile of work due the next day. An ideal situation would be one where each IB teacher is assigned an assistant to accompany them throughout the school year. The assistant would be trained in IB jargon, requirements and testing procedure and would be familiar with the subject being taught. Once it is time for IB orals, the assistant, who by then personally knows the students, can be the one to proctor the orals while the teacher is in class or vice-versa. Funding for teaching assistants would be difficult, but perhaps current substitute teachers could be given the position. It is understandable that students who are being examined feel more comfortable testing with someone they know than with a person who they have never met before. Of course, your own teacher would be the best option, but at least you are with a trained individual who can easily interject, comment, and is someone you know.

Late passes pointless Commentary by Anthony Concia STAFF WRITER

In theory, one of the most important skills we learn at school is punctuality. Unfortunately, theory doesn’t always translate to reality, and in the case of arriving to school on time, many students find themselves piling up tardy passes. The reasons why we arrive to school late range from sleeping in, forgetting to set our alarm, getting stuck in traffic, struggling to find parking, or meandering through the still-unaccustomed-to labyrinth fence structure. The end result is always the same: we wait in line (which is really a confused and anxious mass of students and parents) in the attendance office and receive a slip of paper permitting our entry in class. Whether it’s an excused tardy or not, the late-pass process in this school is one requiring reform. “I think it’s unnecessary because I have to go to the other side of the school and wait in line for a long time” said freshman

Karelia Lanunza, who like many students, is frustrated with late passes. The requirement of issuing tardy passes is a districtmandated process – a nearly insurmountable obstacle to reform – and so it’s incorrect to blame the school’s administration. However, it is a fact that the excessive amount of time involved in obtaining a tardy pass is the same amount of time of classroom education that is lost. If teachers and administrators are so concerned about students missing valuable class time, then why send us to the other side of the school to wait in line just so we can get a piece of paper informing teachers something that they already know? A more sensible alternative would be to let teachers mark us tardy from their computers, which have access to the school’s network. Another solution would involve students picking up tardy passes during lunch, and then having them go back to teachers to get their tardies excused if they are excusable. This process mirrors that for excusing absences, which is kind of a hassle for both teachers and students but works out much better than the current tardy system.

insight

highlights March 2013

CAPED CAVS FROM WHOS THE DC AN E VIAL ESCAPAD D MARVEL E EVIL- OF FIEND S AGAINS HEROES T D MODE OERS, TO S AND M THE MOST A TO BE LS WHO SH OUR EVE LEVOLEN T R A DE “SUPER”, OW US WH YDAY ROL E A A S PER LOO highlights T IT MEA E U N A N D P E R H E R O K I N T O E M B A R KS S W R IMAG EALISTIC BOTH S HAT DEF ON I U INAT A IONS LLY IN O PERNATU NES RA U AND O UR DA R UNYIEL LLY D ILY L IVES ING .

insight

w e o r ? P

By Avery Budin STAFF WRITER

COMPILED BY DEANNA BREITER & AUDREY FERNANDEZ

Capes and masks make the characters we idolized in our childhood who they are; flying over cities with superhuman strength, shooting webs from their hands, disappearing in thin air. But being a superhero doesn’t have to mean having super abilities. Even without the incredible comic book costumes, students have accomplished outrageous endeavors and contributed selflessly to their community. Students today are incredibly talented, but some were simply born inherently skilled at certain physical tasks. Like cartoon characters with unimaginable sight or flexibility, the athletic department has bred a variety of trained competitors with remarkable physical endurance. Athletes from several teams have proven themselves worthy of competing beyond the school level, traveling to district, regional and national tournaments. “My record for the 50 meter freestyle is 21.2 seconds and my 100 meter is 45.47 seconds,” said senior superswimmer Anthony Soto. “I practice everyday.” More

DC Comics

highlights March 2013

oral reports; closely tied to the school’s that’s hardly worth curriculum is the super intelligence harnessed by mentioning anymore. the greatest of minds in the ever-present battle between Teachers have way more good and evil. Super villains and heroes alike share going for them than the brilliant knowledge and memory tactics that are difficult power of knowledge but they to find in the average pedestrian. Students capable of just choose not to reveal their true calming themselves down during exam weeks, taking colors in the open. mental vacations from after school jobs, or fantasizing “I teach, sponsor the sophomore about the weekend also classify as super, not everyone can class, diamond girls, interact club, and am ‘take a break’ when they’re overwhelmed. in charge of senior testing; I do a lot but I’m “When I’m bored in class, I can mentally teleport time efficient and I over plan,” said myself to China to teacher Margarite DePaola. “Superhuman” entails so much work as a concierge “Superhuman” entails so much at a nice hotel, it more than just a sweet logo or a helps change up the recognizable talent. Some of the more than just a sweet logo or a normal day,” said “super-regular” abilities students recognizable talent. Some of the “super-regular” abilities students are sophomore Jeronimo are capable of do just as much capable of do just as much to enhance any Martinez. to enhance any environment environment or situation they may find A defining or situation they may find themselves in. characteristic in themselves in. “I consider my ability to drift without superheroes is their getting caught by the cops a super power. ability to act in favor I always get to school on time,” said junior Gabriel of the general public. Carvalho. Students have embraced various opportunities to get Throughout the Gables community there are involved in their communities and help support causes numerous hidden talents and much undiscovered that make life changing impacts on other societies. potential. The word superhero has been redefined “I spent the summer of my junior year on a service as the ability of a person to overcome the ordinary project in Chile constructing a sewer system, which struggles encountered in everyday life and make resulted in 14 bathrooms and three water towers,” said something that expands to a wider community senior Sebastian Gazzolo. “I worked pretty hard but I than oneself. Though you may not be able to learned a lot about the poverty of the community; it made identify these individuals in the halls due to all my efforts worthwhile.” their incredible disguises, the school is filled Don’t be fooled by the masks either; students and with them. We have a sky high of our teachers alike have made significant headway into the very own right in the center of supernatural world. Even teachers with extensive tenure the city. may be able to relay the results of their students’ exam grades before giving the exam, or guess what their kids will say for their

“

NOT SUPE

IT WOULD TAKE 1709 PEOPLE TO MOVE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

A RUN TO THE SUN AT 6 MPH WOULD TAKE 1798 YEARS.

Commentary by Nic

DC Comics

OPINION EDITOR

A DRIVE AT 60 MPH WOULD TAKE 179,8 YEARS. NEARLY 50% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE IN EXTRASENSORY PERCEPION.

IF THE EARTH WERE FLAT, ON A DARK NIGHT, THE HUMAN EYE COULD SEE A FLICKERING CANDLE UP TO 30 MILES AWAY.

When you were a kid, you wished you had superpowers. spent a good part of the third g class, staring into space, and d about flying through the city in cape and skin-tight spandex. (T probably why you never learne add fractions.) Eventually, we all have to outgrow dream. However, for those of you who still haven few reasons why you should be thankful you wer superpowers. Every power has its obvious drawbacks. For example, imagine waking up one morning with x-ray vision. You stretch, look through your ceiling at the morning sky, and think

Centaur Publications

DC Comics

” ” N N A A M M U U H H R R E E P P U U ““SS S S T T N N E E D D U U T SST

probably I’m sure you grade sitting in daydreaming n a flowing This is ed how to w this childish n’t, here are a re born without

March 2013

SENIOR LAMAR BAXTER CHANNELS HIS SUPER-STRENGTH WHEN BENCHING 235 POUNDS.

SENIOR AND SUPER-SAMARITAN KEVIN PRADO HAS DEVOTED OVER 500 HOURS TO HELPING HIS COMMUNITY.

SENIOR ANTHONY MARISTANY TACKLES HIS SCHOOLWORK AND RANKS IN THE TOP 3% OF HIS CLASS.

SO ER

colas Rivero

highlights

to yourself “Wow…a power that will bring me all the excitement of being a TSA agent and inevitably make everyone think I’m a pervert? Neat!” Telepathy? You know all those people just annoy the pants off of you? Imagine being able to hear every single thought they have at every moment of the day. Super speed or telekinesis? Have fun never getting invited to go play football again. Elasticity? And you thought your stretch marks were bad now… Growing up, I used to watch The Wild Thornberries and I always wondered what it would be like to be able to communicate with animals. Looking back now, I can’t imagine that conversation would go very well. It would probably be something along the lines of “Hey, human. Animal here. Nice to meet you. Listen. I know you guys are the dominant species on the planet and all, but if you get a chance, after you’re done destroying our natural habitats and making the earth uninhabitable for all of us, would you mind telling everybody to stop walking around wearing our skin like it was some kind of fashion? It’s creepy.” But the ultimate buzzkill about being a superhero is this idea that “with great power comes great responsibility.” What? You mean to tell me that I can

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D UL HE Y O W ET FL O K LI TY T I IL B A

be a god among men with the gift of flight and the power to shoot lasers out of my eyes, but every time someone is in trouble I have to drop whatever awesome thing I’m doing and go solve their problem? Forget that. You can keep your superpowers. Besides, superheroes don’t seem to get paid very much. Many have to take up day jobs to make ends meet and spend business hours doing lame things like sitting behind a desk, wearing glasses, not hitting on Lois Lane, and everything else you might expect someone to do if they were trying really hard not to look like a superhero. Villains, on the other hand, always seem to have a steady cash flow and plenty of time to brood, pet white cats, and practice their evil laugh in the mirror. If I had superpowers and had to make that decision, I’d choose a life of crime without a second thought. Does that make me a bad person? Yes, it does. And let’s face it: chances are, you’re a bad person, too, and if you had superpowers, I bet you would turn into a horrible, horrible villain in a heartbeat. So, for the rest of us at least, it’s probably for the best that you turned out to be a completely and utterly unremarkable person.

ULD WO E TH LIK RENG ST ER P SU

18% 35% LD WOU LIKE EED RSP UPE

WOULD LIKE TIME CONTROL

*OUT OF 60 STUDENTS SURVEYED

features

highlights

March 2013

PIMP MY RIDE: By Andrea Biondi STAFF WRITER

At the end of the school day, as students rush to the parking lot in hopes of escaping the usual Riviera jam, the booming sounds of straight-pipe or dual-walled exhaust systems (inexpensive method of making your car sound louder) are heard roaring as some of the school’s more automotivelyinclined students roll out in their pimpedout rides. Whether their journeys began with a beat-up 1995 Honda Civic, or a well-kept 2010 Volkswagen Golf, a select body of students at this school have put their heart, soul, and wallet into body-chopping and tuning their “whip”, dedicating much time into transforming their beloved crap-box into a car that will turn heads. It may take a couple of years before the project can be completed, and since most people only expect to own their car for ten years before getting a new one, such an investment may not seem worth it. These gear-heads have decided otherwise. “I’ve had the engine’s computer reprogrammed, lowered the springs (updated suspension parts that allow the car to sit lower), changed the rims, and put some HID and LED lights in the front,” said senior Severiano Depardon who has thus far invested over $3,000 in his 2012

Volkswagen Golf. Even with all these modifications, Depardon is still not satisfied with his car and intends on refurbishing the exhaust system soon and installing a cold-intake system (revised air intake which adds horse power) for the engine. “In my opinion, a fun car that I enjoy driving is worth a couple grand,” said Depardon. Junior Gabriel Kulpa, driver of the lime green E46 BMW (pictured top left), has also put much time and effort into making his car highly distinguishable. “I’ve had my Beamer for about a year, but only finished the paint-job this Saturday [March 9],” said Kulpa with pride. Although some of his friends disapprove of the new paint job, Kulpa responded that he really “couldn’t care less”. “I’m the one driving it after all,” said Kulpa. Other pimped-out rides integrated among these regular factory-made, cookiecutter cars in the student parking lot include the blue and black Acura Integra, the grey Mazda RX-8 with the carbon fiber spoiler, and the black Nissan 240-SX with side skirts display in the school’s parking lot. Although the names of their owners could not be found, the highlights staff commends you and your sweet whips.

Gables IN ONE WORD

Our school is many things, so highlights decided to find out what word its students thought of when asked to describe it in one word. Out of six choices the word that won was:

CROWDED

Gables Edition Andrea Biondi/highlights

HOT WHEELS: These are just some of the distinctly unique cars located in our very own student parking lot. Their owners consider their cars their most prized possessions, like junior Gabriel Kulpa with his green BMW, and spend a good amount of time and money perfecting them.

The art of poetry and watermelons By Raquel Braun STAFF WRITER

The English Honor Society (EHS) welcomes anyone and everyone to share an afternoon of poetry and watermelon, when the EHS board organizes a Poetry Slam every few weeks to give an opportunity to poets or performers to spotlight their talents. Although Poetry Slam participants are usually EHS members, they accept anyone wishing to participate or just sit in and appreciate the performances. Some performers choose to share their original works while others opt for known poetry or other performances like story telling and comedy acts. The Little Theater is home to Poetry Slam but when it is not available, the slams take place in the new cafeteria and the now International Baccalaureate

Eleonor Bauwens/highlights

There was a write in option & the most creative words describing gables were:

Compiled by Rachel English

AN AFTERNOON FILLED WITH WATERMELONS: (Left) Junior Carlos Castillo performs one of his original poems. (Right) Juniors Rinita Rasheed, Leidy Villa, and Jennifer Castillo, were the judges for the poetry slam and are seen presenting the winner with the honorary watermelon.

By Christina Parodi STAFF WRITER

Patio. Members prefer the Little Theater based on the comfort factor and the intimacy level that the space offers. “By having the Poetry Slams primarily in the Little Theater, it allows us to have that intimate feel of supporting each others work,” said English teacher and EHS club sponsor Michelle Vidal, who occasionally performs at Poetry Slams as well. As the performances go on, the audience snacks on chips and soda while they gaze upon the performers that are brave enough as they bear all and take a leap of confidence. Before the performers take the stage, three random judges are chosen from the crowd by the EHS board members. These judges hold the responsibility of choosing a winner at the end of the Poetry Slam and whoever is deemed worthy is rewarded with the honorary watermelon. For information on the poetry slams, stop by Vidal’s room 102.

When we go about our every day lives, we take things such as health care, shelter, and education for granted because we believe they are things that everyone has. In other areas of the world, this is not the case. Angels of Love, this year’s beneficiary at Bridge 4 Peace, is an organization dedicated to assist critically ill, disadvantaged, underprivileged and vulnerable children across Jamaica. These children do not have the same advantages that we do so this organization was made to raise awareness of what these children are going through. Angels of Love provides information on just some of the diseases these children are diagnosed with. Some of the diseases these children have are many different types of cancer: Wilms Tumour, Medulloblastoma, Retina Blastoma, and Truncus Arteriosus. All of these diseases are potentially deadly, but with the proper attention and care can be treatable and even cured. To provide the healthcare needed to treat these diseases, Angels of Love depends on the financial support of many to help fund their support projects.

These projects include fixing up local hospitals in Jamaica, as well as simple things like collecting teddy bears and toys for the children to have for entertainment while they are recovering from the diseases. Angels of Love stresses that just about anything done will help these underprivileged children. Volunteers of Angels of Love help out in a variety of ways. Some volunteer directly in Jamaica with the children, in local shops and offices of Angels of Love, or raise vital funds. What a volunteer does depends on the interests and skills they have. Although students may not have the means to travel to Jamaica and help these children hands on, we can do little things such as donating clothing we no longer wear, donate stuffed animals, toys, and money. Students can also follow their Twitter page and like their Facebook page to add on to the growing online support. “When it comes to volunteering not only should we do local community service, we should also expand our philanthropies to other countries where children do not have access to the things we take for granted. Angels of Love is a great organization that does just this,” said senior Natalia Ramirez.

highlights March 2013

PIECES FROM THE PAST:

Vintage, consignment, and thrift shops take over Miami

As the high school population continues to dress identically, outliers and those attempting to break free from the norm will be pleased to discover the world of vintage and consignment. These alternatives to department stores and boutique shopping offer quality clothing that may be more pricey, but ultimately appeals to the growing population of those looking to be different.

By Raquel Braun

Vintage Revenge (vintage store)

More hectic than any other store, Divine Trash is more of a “hit-or-miss.” Located in North Miami, this boutique is strictly vintage, appealing to the size of any wallet. Divine Trash carries mainly clothing, but also sells jewelry, shoes, and handbags. The main focus of Divine trash is the clothing, so a less organized boutique is all part of the hunt for lasting vintage clothing. Vintage Revenge is a relatively new vintage boutique that undoubtedly has the potential to stick around for quite a while.

STAFF WRITER

Fly Boutique (vintage store)

Located in North Miami and Miami Beach, Fly Boutique is not a shopping experience that will be left empty handed. From the vintage music to the inviting scent of the quaint store, shoppers are entrapped and simply refuse to ignore the endless racks of clothing from the 1930s to now. Although the boutique is relatively small, the fact that it has two locations ensures that there are plenty of clothes to satisfy even the pickiest shopper. Fly boutique is exclusively vintage, carrying anything from clothing, to jewelry, to shoes and handbags, and even home décor and household appliances like record players and typewriters. Considering the high quality of the merchandise in Fly Boutique, prices are generally more expensive than other stores. Raquel Braun/highlights

>> Raquel Braun/highlights

Miami Twice (vintage store)

C. Madeline’s (vintage store)

Located on Biscayne Boulevard, C. Madeline’s is by far the most organized vintage store to date. As well as their website, the store is separated by decade. From the 1900s to contemporary clothing, C. Madeline’s has it all. Being one of the largest vintage stores in Miami, C. Madeline’s has so many options that customers often find themselves spending hours browsing each decade. Strictly vintage, C. Madeline’s also has a “Chanel Boutique” and customers are able to browse the website based on designers.

Consignment Bar (consignment store)

With fluorescent lights in the display windows this store obviously contrasts the vintage and thrift stores in Miami. The Consignment Bar in North Miami consists of more modern décor. Consignment stores take clothing from men or women who have no use for them anymore and sell them to other customers. Depending on the consignment store, the original owner receives a percentage of the profit from the sale. Unlike some vintage stores, it is easier to bargain and haggle a lower price in a consignment store, considering the main goal of the store is simply to sell the merchandise. Most, if not all products in consignment bars are designer, and therefore quite pricey, but always in quality condition.

Raquel Braun/highlights

Miami Twice is a clothing store mainly comprised of vintage clothing, but also appeals to those shoppers looking for modern, consignment and thrift clothing. Their website highlights the different options for shoppers. Located on Bird Road, Miami Twice advertises an array of vintage, modern, designer, and costume clothing as well as antiques, collectibles, and jewelry. Miami Twice has been in business for 28 years and is dedicated to appealing to every type of customer. The location is quite large, so there are plenty of options even for the most experienced shopper.

Raquel Braun/highlights

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features

highlights March 2013

Maggie Rivers/highlights

So you need a job? By Orso Raymo

OPINION HEAD WRITER

Wynwood’s creator: Tony Goldman

By Maggie Rivers

It seems as if Wynwood has been THE SCENE EDITOR the place to be lately. Located in Miami’s thriving art district, Wynwood, owes its success to visionary and developer Tony Goldman, a man who was dedicated to saving historical buildings and appreciating local architecture. Goldman started out in New York in 1968 by rejuvenating historical cast iron architecture in the SoHo district. In 1982, Goldman Properties moved to Miami. In Goldman’s spirit of historical preservation, he became responsible for restoring many historical Art Deco properties and developing Ocean Drive. Once Goldman was satisfied with his work, he passed his Miami Beach business to his daughter, Jessica Goldman-Srebnick, and ventured into the warehouse district of Wynwood by starting with the now-popular pizza joint, Joey’s. Goldman continued development in the area by encouraging artists to come collaborate with each other, especially through Wynwood Walls, which was the catalyst in bringing the

arts to the area. Some international and local artists that Goldman has collaborated with include Aiko, Ron English, and Futura. Wynwood became not only an arts district, but also a social center where gallery openings and art walks draw tons of people. On Sept. 11, 2012, Goldman passed away. A memorial dinner was held in December at the Wynwood Walls to honor the visionary. Several artists rose to the occasion to remember him through their art. Shepard Fairey replaced his existing mural with a new one that featured Goldman among other inspiring figures such as the Dalai Lama and Martin Luther King Jr. During Art Basel, an exhibition titled Time Evaporates, Emotion Elevates was based on Goldman’s ideologies and featured images of his were projected onto the walls. A new Kenny Scharf mural on the Wynwood Walls was also created with a special garden tribute. Goldman’s daughter is currently the CEO of Goldman Properties and still runs the company with her father’s values in mind. His philosophy of preservation and appreciation is still alive today through the communities he has touched in Miami that are gaining popularity.

If not by now, then soon you will come to realize that being a grown up is not as cool as you expected. Sure you get to stay out later, drive, and engage in countless other shenanigans, but everything comes with a price, and unfortunately coming to age carries a literal one. For a small percentage of the student population the First Official Bank of Daddy has them covered. The other 90 percent of the school is not so fortunate when it is time to dish out at the pump or the counter, but fear not, the solution is simple. Roll up your sleeves, and like countless generations of Americans before you, get to work. The first step to getting your first official paycheck is simple. Get involved. It doesn’t matter if you’re cleaning beaches or toilets; employers love to see involved, productive young adults in their offices asking for $7.25 per hour. Once you’ve compiled a resume involving a few weeks or so of good, hard, voluntary labor (this doesn’t hurt for college admissions either) and compiled a preliminary resume it’s time to apply for jobs that appeal to your interests. “I went to the application center at Publix, and then they called me and I’ve been working since,” said junior Forest Navarro. Supermarkets are the typical go-to place for teens in need of work. The sheer number of markets and flexible hours make them ideal for a first time job seeker. Typically, the interview process consists of nothing more than a simple computerized questionnaire (although they last an eternity), and a mastery of vocabulary, grammar, and general courteousness should ensure that you get the call from your local store in four to six weeks. If shoving foodstuffs and repeating “Will that be paper or plastic?” for hours on end doesn’t quite seem to fit your bill of the ideal job you may want to consider broadening your horizons. The local pizza parlor is the ideal place for a typical introverted 16 year old uninterested in making sure eggs get home intact. Nonetheless the interview is a bit more arduous and personal, requiring actual face time. The key to acing an interview is appearing confident, organized, and standing out from the average acneriddled teen. Now that you’ve scored your dream job and are happily toiling away at the beat of $7.25 an hour, the next step is ensuring you keep the job. More radical students will suggest blackmailing managers, but having a strong work ethic and making yourself an indispensable part of the “team” (in a good way) will go a long ways in ensuring the cash keeps on flowing. The fruits of labor are countless, and with the right outlook as well as these helpful suggestions from highlights, anybody can score his or her dream job.

sports

highlights

March 2013

All-Dade Athletes

Cavs selected to represent county By Gene Liu

Wynn, senior Shakur Cooper, and senior Christopher Ponce, who were chosen for the Honorable Donning the crimson and grey Cavalier uniforms Mention category. is an accomplishment in itself. Selected students have “I’m just making plays,” said taken a step further, representing both the school and senior Ryan Francis regarding his the entire county as part of the Miami Herald’s Allstate-leading tackle record. “I’m Dade teams. glad that I wasn’t overlooked this Since 1964, student athletes have been year.” nominated by the high school sports For three years, senior swimmer writers and editors of the Miami Anthony Soto has been chosen to Herald to represent their respective represent Miami-Dade in the Swimming counties. The top athletes in each and Diving category. Starting on the Third sport are then Team sophomore year, chosen by high then to Second Team as a I'm just making plays. I'm school coaches junior, Soto has reached glad that I wasn't overlooked the All-Dade First Team as along with the newspaper staff and this year. divided among three categories: the top 50 meter freestyle first team, second team, and third swimmer. Soto is also on the Ryan Francis, team, the first team being most Second Team for the 100 senior varsity prestigious. Athletes are then invited meter freestyle. linebacker and Allto an All-County awards banquet. “My club coach Nine Cavaliers will receive actually called me and told Dade First Team awards at this banquet. For the second me to check online,” said member consecutive year, senior varsity senior Anthony Soto. “I linebacker Ryan Francis will be one of wasn’t very surprised, but these honorees, but this time as a member of the Defensive I’m still honored.” All-Dade 8A-6A Football First Team. Francis leads the the Junior Brent Webber, freshman Tomas division in tackles with 145. Also a part of the All-Dade Nieves, junior Michael Hammond were chosen as Football team are senior Roberto Zaldivar, senior Mark honorable mentions for the All-Dade Golf team. SPORTS EDITOR

‘‘

Baseball brings home a win

Lukas Georgatos/highlights

By Gene Liu SPORTS EDITOR

Starting with a Gables pitch on Woodway Field, the Cavalier varsity baseball team faced off against the Barbara Goleman Gators on March 14 in a district match up. The first inning was uneventful with only two batters making a base hit, ending 0-0. In the bottom of the second, the Gators changed pitches following numerous walked players. After a well-placed bunt, the Cavaliers secured the first run, which was quickly followed by another run. Resulting from mainly off-target pitches, junior German Reyes would step up to the plate with bases loaded. Unwavering from the pressure of two existing outs, Reyes hit the ball out of Woodward Field, resulting in a grand slam. The second inning ended 6-0, with a Cavalier advantage. The third and fourth innings mirrored the first with regards to eventfulness, maintaining the 6 run Cavalier lead. At the top of the fifth inning, the Gators also found themselves with bases loaded. After a bunt, the Gators

seemingly scored their first run but would get waved off as the runner failed to tag-up when rounding third base. The bottom of the fifth saw another Cavalier run after a third Gators pitcher change, extending their lead. The sixth the top of the seventh inning followed. Playing the bottom of the seventh proved unnecessary as the Gables Cavaliers successfully shut out the Goleman Gators, 7-0.

Lukas Georgatos/highlights

By Gene Liu SPORTS EDITOR

SPIKED: Senior Daryl Bustamante sneaks the ball pass the Patriot defense, taking a brief lead for the Cavs.

strongly, answering a three point streak with a 9 point run of their own. Roof lighting would interfere, constantly disrupting the already trailing Cavaliers. The final set would go to Florida Christian with a score of 25-12. Following the game, the Cavaliers joined the Patriots for a prayer as a show of both faith and respect.

MARK THE DATE March

Boys Varsity

STAT BOX

Boys Water Polo

MOON SHOT: Junior German Reyes watches as the ball sails over the fence for a second inning grand slam.

Loss for Cavalier volleyball On March 15, the boys varsity volleyball team faced the Florida Christian Patriots in the school’s gym. Leading with a missed serve, Gables quickly sank to a 0-2 deficit. After a Gables spike, senior Daryl Bustamante led a three point streak, the score to 4-3. For the remainder of the first set, points see-sawed to both the Cavaliers and the Patriots. The final score was 23-25 in Florida Christian’s favor. A very vocal Patriot team, filling the gym with various booming chants and borderline screaming, started the serving for the second set. With a 4-10 score in favor of the Patriots, Gables took the first timeout of the game to refocus. Play resumed. Gables started quickly, scoring four straight points; however, a controversial call to re-play a serve kept the ball from Gables, ending the momentum. Plagued by various serving faults by the Cavaliers, Florida Christian took the second set 17-25. Serving would return to Gables. The Patriots came out

CAVALIER League Record 8 - 5

FEB 21 MAR 5 MAR 8 MAR 12 MAR 13

Cavaliers

vs 18 - 2 W

@ Tamiami

Cavaliers

Sunset

vs Hialeah 9-1W

@Tamiami

Cavaliers

@ Tamiami

Miami Beach @ Hadley

MAST

vs 3-7L

Gardens

Columbus

vs Cavaliers 8 -12 W

vs Cavaliers 7 - 11 W

@ MAST

Softball

League Record 9 - 3 FEB 26 MAR 4 MAR 5 MAR 7 MAR 12 MAR 13

Cavaliers

@ CGHS

Cavaliers

@ CGHS

Cavaliers

@ CGHS

Cavaliers

vs Ronald 15 - 0 W vs 3-0W

TERRA

vs 5-4W

Goleman

vs Miami 15 - 0 W

@ CGHS

Cavaliers

@ CGHS

Reagan

Miami Beach

vs Miami 2-5L

High

Springs

vs Cavaliers @ Miami Beach 5 - 15 W

to support our athletic teams and cheer them on! Varsity

Varsity

Boys Varsity

22 23 4/1 4/8

Water Polo

vs. Miami Country Day

Fri. at 4:30 p.m. at Country Day High School

Baseball

Softball

Sat. at 3:30 p.m. at Port St. Lucie High School

Mon. at 3:30 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High

vs. Port St. Lucie

vs. Coral Reef

Volleyball

vs. Westland Hialeah

Mon. at 3:30 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High

sports

highlights March 2013

Wrestling put in Olympic choke hold Commentary by Casey Breznick COPY EDITOR

Wrestling evokes images of the most primal combat, with two hulking masses of muscle, sweat stinging their eyes, clenching each other, and grappling for the momentary instance of leverage that will ensure victory. It’s pure sport, and it always has been. But to the shock and chagrin of wrestlers and mat-side aficionados (and bemusement to the unaffected yet intrigued remainder of the population), wrestling will no longer be a core Summer Olympic sport beginning with and continuing after the 2020 games. Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, Olympic sports since their reincarnation in 1896 after a 1500 year hiatus, will be featured for the last time at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Afterwards as a non-core sport,

wrestling will have to vie for a spot to be featured in the 2020 games in competition against seven other sports (or activities – I’m not sure) like rollerblading and squash. Golf and rugby will be featured in 2016. “I think it's a bad decision because the Olympics were created with wrestling as a main attraction. Plus, golf is completely uninteresting, unless it's miniature,” said senior Moises Areas. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave no official reason for its demotion of wrestling. Most likely, low television ratings and limited international participation sealed this exemplar sport’s fate. The IOC has voiced concerns about overcrowding at the Olympics, which is hard to believe due to the all-too-conspicuous empty seats at the London games, but apparently the return in television advertising revenue in comparison to the space and time committed to hosting wrestling just isn’t profitable. For

this reason I can’t blame the IOC, because blatantly obvious than one of the sport’s name: without its turning profits we won’t have future Greco-Roman. The Hellenistic spirit of the Olympic Games. Also, fewer than 60 countries game is as embodied in wrestling as it is in the participated in wrestling at London, and medals pentathlon. Additionally, wrestling is a pure are concentrated to only a few countries, sport – a physical skill where individuals or like Russia. However, some countries earn groups can compete and where victory and the majority of their Olympic medals from defeat are objectively determined – unlike, say, wrestling. figure skating and Azerbaijan (try gymnastics, which I think it's a bad decision because finding it on a are judged. the Olympics were created with map) won six of My final wrestling as a main attraction. Plus, opinion on its gold medals in golf is completely uninteresting, wresting. Surely, the matter is unless it's miniature. these countries somewhat can’t feel too divided. While I Moises Areas, happy, and I doubt am disheartened senior they’re churning by the tarnished out athletes image of the competing in every sport as China does. Olympics, I am also all for the pursuit of Cash flow and geography aside, I think revenue and profit. But, I do not believe the the real reason why wrestling’s demotion has Olympics is losing any money by hosting resonated negatively with non-wrestlers like wrestling, and for this reason I believe the IOC myself is because the sport is synonymous should not have axed it, but at least in 2016 with the Olympic Games. It doesn’t get more we’ll have golf to watch.

‘‘

Dolphins propose new home Canes scandal Commentary by Cyrus Zeledon

Regardless of how the city or the Dolphins would like to finance the stadium renovation, taxpayers would front most of the cost and would be wasting their money It’s not every day that a sports team on another team that repeatedly fails to make the playoffs. demands a new stadium from its host city. According to the Miami Herald, 73 percent of Miami-Dade However, for Miami, it may seem so. voters oppose the Miami Dolphins tax-break plan for the The proposed stadium would be an stadium improvements. It has only been a year since the Marlins upgrade from the Dolphins’ Sunlife Stadium Ballpark Stadium opened to the dismay of local taxpayers and in Miami Gardens, the Miami Dolphins’ fans disappointed with the team’s habit of not reaching the hometown for 26 years. This massive playoffs and trading off all of renovation comes with a hefty its good players. The Dolphins “I do not agree with [the renovations] price tag of $400 million of hardare no better. Their last playoff earned taxpayer money. The because we could use the money for appearance was in 2008 and it Dolphins proposed a financing has been three decades since the something else like the school system. plan to the Florida Senate and last time the Dolphins reached We do not need to spend money House that relies on an annual the Super Bowl championship. on new renovations of the stadium $3 million state subsidy and an As Miami sports fans, we would because we have other sports teams increase of mainland hotel taxes like to see our favorite teams that generate plenty of revenue into the steadily improve. The Dolphins, to seven percent. The idea behind these city. however, seem to prefer staying renovations is the possibility as the underdog of their division, Maximilian Bavastro, that Miami might host the Super and the league. senior Bowl in 2016 and gain revenue So, will a new stadium from the tourists that will guarantee a better football team hopefully spend money at this electrifying event. However, even or more funding to the city of Miami? We have seen many sports if the city agrees to build the stadium it is not guaranteed that the teams have successful turnarounds with their new stadiums, such city will host the Super Bowl. Suppose Miami was guaranteed as the New England Patriots. However, the fact of the matter is to host Super Bowl L; past studies have shown that hosting the that the Miami Dolphins aren’t the New England Patriots, so it is Super Bowl is not an effective capital infusion. not guaranteed that they will have an amazing season with a new “I do not agree with [the renovations] because we could use stadium. the money for something else like the school system. We do not Maybe the Florida Panthers should request taxpayer money need to spend money on new renovations of the stadium because for improvements to their stadium as well since they have at least we have other sports teams that generate plenty of revenue into made a recent playoff appearance and seem a bit more promising the city,” said senior Maximilian Bavastro. than the Dolphins. STAFF WRITER

‘‘

Softball’s new pitch By Rachel Ellis

STAFF WRITER

The University of Miami (UM) men’s basketball team has seen outstanding success this season, beating some top teams, including the once top seeded Blue Devils, and winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship; however, a newly discovered scandal could have the team facing penalties. The scandal originates with Nevin Shapiro, a Miami booster currently incarcerated for a $930 million Ponzi scheme, which he used to fund inappropriate benefits for athletes and staff of both the football and basketball programs from 2002 to 2010. Some of these benefits included cash, prostitutes, restaurants, nightclubs, travel, jewelry, and even bounties for on-field play according to a Yahoo! News exposé. Shapiro’s boosting broke several of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) bylaws, such as, Bylaw 11, involving impermissible compensation to coaches, and Bylaw 16, involving extra benefits to athletes. “In my opinion, since UM was unaware of [Shapiro’s] actions, the current team should not be penalized and instead UM should be fined a reasonable amount declared by the NCAA,” said senior William Brown. Former Miami head basketball coach Frank Haith has been named as a participant in the Miami boosting and could face severe NCAA charges as the current Missouri head coach. Possible charges include unethical conduct and failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance, consequences which will not stop him from coaching, but will ruin his reputation within the college basketball community. As of now, no consequences have been suggested or imposed on the current UM team. These pending consequences could not come at a worse time, as the team continues to push forward towards the NCAA tournament.

Bridge 4 Peace

Champions

STAFF WRITER

“

Rachel Ellis/highlights

Flag football

“

Softball season has just begun and the athletes are already off to a good start. The girls have put in long hours of pre-season training and daily practices which include Saturdays, in the hopes of making it to the State Championship. “[Making it to states] would be an amazing experience and at the same time would give Gables softball a great reputation. Also I want to make history as a senior because we have never made it to states before, but hard work should get us there,” said senior and co-captain Christie Falcon. Coached by biology teacher Natalie De La Vega and led by seniors Christie and Catie Falcon, the team has physically and mentally prepared themselves for the upcoming season. “I have scheduled two tournaments this year, opposed to only having one and we will have a lot more team bonding activities to unify the team,” said De La Vega. Practices are usually about two and a half hours long and have days dedicated to defense and others to offense. The players do a variety of drills to work on their catching

By Lukas Georgatos

Lauren Perna, third baseman

I hope to make it past the regional finals and then to the district finals. I know we can make it really far this year.

and hitting as well. The season continues through March, comprised by an average of two games held per week.

First Place: Michael Sanchez, Victor Gonzalez, Daniel Ramirez, Chris Rodriguez, Robert Torrence, and Nicolas Bond Second Place: Eric Richardson, Logan Morris, Carson Morris, Daryl Bustamante, and David Giraldo

Soccer

First Place: Kevin Lopez, William Wu, Alejandro Facundo, Eugenio Alvarez, Julian Falconi, Lukas Georgatos, Daniel Castro Second Place: Max Geckler, Fred Bardi, Mario Asensio, Miguel Asensio, and Juan Balcazar

Thirst Quencher By Laura Acosta & Maggie Rivers STAFF WRITER & THE SCENE EDITOR

Miami is known for its exotic variety of food and drink all tied in with some Miami sabor. highlights gives you some suggestions for Miami’s best beverages: bubble tea and batidos. Bubble Tea, or Boba as it is alternatively known, has found its way into the 305 to the relief of Miamians. The heavenly beverage that hails from Asia is traditionally a tea or milk tea with tapioca pearls (or bubbles) in it. However, with its arrival to Miami, bubble tea now has become refreshing thanks to local spins on the beverage. The local bubble tea veteran is Lan Pan Asian Café. The small café is easily accessible by public transportation due to its close location to the Dadeland South metrorail station. For only four dollars, customers can get a variety of bubble tea flavors customizable with different syrups and tea bases. The café even includes a small window specifically for bubble tea purchases. New to Miami is Boba Station, a food truck dedicated only to selling bubble tea. The truck features all the traditional flavors of bubble tea but also sells fruit smoothie bubble teas and morir soñando (a creamy smoothie that translates to mean to die dreaming) bubble teas. If you want to mix up your beverage from the traditional tapioca pearls, you can even substitute them for fruit jellies or juice-filled pearls. For five

dollars, you can get your bubble tea fix on the go. A cool and creamy drink perfect for a hot Miami day, a batido is not necessarily the same thing as a typical American milkshake. Batidos feature a wide range of Latin fruit, such as mango, guanabana, and mamey, as well as typical shake flavors like strawberry and chocolate, as well flavors rarely seen as a viable option for a sweet treat, like wheat. A Cuban tradition, most recipes call for condensed milk, adding thickness to the shake. Around Miami these drinks are easily found at the nearest Cuban restaurant, paired with a sandwich hot off the press and dripping with cooking grease. One of the most widely known Cuban restaurants in Miami, Versailles Restaurant has long been a meeting place for Hispanics around the city. Their wide range of batidos includes the basic chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, and the tropical papaya, mamey, and guanabana fruits. An alternative to the traditional restaurant setting, El Palacio de Los Jugos’s multiple locations provide a casual Latin eating experience. All locations feature a variety of fresh fruit, often on sale to visitors, that are made into juices and milkshakes daily, and are the perfect companions to the gargantuan amounts of food served to customers.

March 2013

Coffee Heaven By Maggie Rivers THE SCENE EDITOR

Tucked away right off Miracle Mile on Giralda Avenue is Pasion del Cielo. The café, whose name literally translates to Passion of Heaven, really is heaven on earth for all die-hard coffee fans in Miami, a city which is not typically known for its coffee other than Café Cubano. The local coffee chain’s vibe is typical of most coffee shops; the café features brick walls, plush couches, chalkboard announcements, free wifi, and indie music playing in the background. Many of the café’s patrons can be found typing away at their laptops, doing seemingly important work, which makes for an overall productive environment. Passion, as many of its frequent customers lovingly call it, even features rotating collections of art around the café. Passion also proves to be better than other ubiquitous coffee chains, such as Starbucks. Not only are prices generally cheaper than those of Starbucks, but Passion is open until 11 pm everyday (except Sunday, when it is open until 10 pm), after both Starbucks locations on Miracle Mile have already closed. Pasion del Cielo’s main feature is the fact that customers can choose the nationality of their brew, from anywhere from Hawaii to Peru. Customers can choose according to the helpful charts which indicate each bean’s aroma, flavor, body, and acidity on a scale of one to four. For those who still can not get enough of their typical Starbucks drink, Passion even offers near duplicates for some Starbucks favorites like frappuccinos and shaken tea lemonades. Passion’s food pairings such as sandwiches, empanadas, crossiants, and alfajores are all from local restaurants and are both delicious and r uto inexpensive. rib t n co So far, Pasion del Cielo only has two g/ n locations in the Miami area: the original li Coral Gables location and one in downtown Dadeland. A Midtown location is currently in the works. So when a coffee fix hits, change your usual Starbucks routine for some killer coffee and friendly baristas. While you are there, make sure to pick up a frequent visitors punch card– you will definitely be back again. Bai ley K

the scene

highlights

the scene CLASSICAL MUSIC Symphonic Sounds

highlights March 2013

ig ighl

ht s

eR gi

/h ers

By Laura Acosta

A serene cultural oasis nestled “The WALLCAST concerts at the new in the center of a tourist hotspot, the world symphony resurrect the charm and New World Center in Miami Beach grandeur of the otherwise lost art form [of provides the city with a rich musical experience. This year, the classical music],” said senior Jan Burkhardt. New World Symphony celebrates its 25th season, with special The New World Center features a state shows to commemorate the success they have had in the past of the art performance venue surrounded quarter century. by classrooms and rehearsal rooms, all The symphonic season began on Feb. 24 and extends designed with the idea of creating a cultural until May 4 with a packed schedule of events, ranging from space that stands out in Miami. Its upper Beethoven’s renowned Fifth terrace within the Symphony to spotlights on building offers visitors The WALLCAST concerts at the young, emerging musicians in the the chance to observe new world symphony resurrect world of classical music. the activities taking place the charm and grandeur of The center gives many in the center, all while talented conductors and viewing the vast park the otherwise lost art form [of musicians the chance to be surrounding it. classical music]. seen in the musical world, and Additionally, the Jan Burkhardt, senior multiple shows throughout the center features light food season are held to give them this and snacks from award opportunity. One show on April winning chef Thierry Isambert 20 even mixes the music with dancers from Miami City Ballet. before performances and during intermission. During Extremely accessible to any student who enjoys classical WALLCAST concerts, the center even offers a boxed music, the average ticket starts at around $15. Some performances lunch featuring an artisanal sandwich with gourmet potato are completely free, such as the frequent outdoor WALLCAST chips and cookies for $18. concerts held in the center’s expansive public park, where the For those who truly enjoy classical music, or anyone who power of modern technology is harnessed to project stunning wants to take a break from modern, mainstream radio, the New images of the orchestra in action onto a huge projection wall. World Center is perfect for a musical escape. STAFF WRITER

‘‘

JAZZ MUSIC Soul Fest: Jazz swings into Sunlife Stadium By Araceli Sanchez

After providing many years of unforgettable concert experiences, the Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival has become a highly anticipated event in the South Florida music scene. For seven years, the City of Miami Gardens has come alive in March for the two day festival, featuring jazz musicians, ethnic food, and arts and crafts from all over the nation. On March 16 and 17, the annual tradition once again emerged at Sunlife Stadium as one of the fastest growing events in the country took over. Jazz in the Gardens aims to bring together artists of various jazz genres, including rhythm and blues, hip hop, and classical jazz, to entertain a large crowd of excited patrons. Last year, Jazz in the Gardens drew in over 45,000 spectators, STAFF WRITER

including locals and out-of-town visitors, seeking to catch a glimpse of Miami’s jazz scene. “A great performance will get a great reaction from the audience…and vice-versa,” said two time producer of the festival, Scott Gartner. This year, Sunlife Stadium once again took on thousands of people and put on a fantastic show with many nationally acclaimed artists, both old and new. The festival also featured a wide variety of food vendors which included traditional soul food and Jamaican, Haitian, and Cuban delicacies. “The City of Miami Gardens has done a wonderful job growing the brand, and hopefully [this] year will be even bigger and better than 2012,” said Gartner prior to the event. The event was hosted by Michael Baisden, a well-known

producer, author, social activist, and radio host of the Michael Baisden Show. The festival included performances by esteemed musicians such as Ne-Yo and Earth, Wind and Fire. Also performing were Monica, Charlie Wilson, New Edition, Najee, Rachelle Ferrell, Mary Mary, Fantasia, and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. To find the perfect combination of artists, the staff listed a group of potential artists and figured out who got the best feedback from Miami Gardens, and their tactic worked According to Gartner “a great line up of artists, plus an enhanced experience for all who attend,” are the main aspects that contributed to the growing population of people attending the festival. All these artists gathered together for two days along with thousands of jazz lovers and created another unforgettable festival event.

MODERN MUSIC Raqu el B

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Arsht Center livens lineup

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gh li

By Raquel Braun & Rachel English

STAFF WRITERS

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts brings culture and class as well as sheer entertainment to Miami. The Arsht center is widely known for being the go-to center for exceptional operas and plays in the greater Miami area. The center has recently released its newly revamped schedule of events from March 2013 through June 2014 which includes performances by Miami City Ballet, plays such as Brothers Beckett, musicals such as Priscilla Queen: of the Desert, and classic operas such as La Traviata. Brothers Beckett From March 7 through 24, the Adrienne Arsht center will host productions of Brothers Beckett. In the play, two brothers, Kevin and Brad Beckett are living together in a rundown studio apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey complete with pink walls and bunk beds. Kevin is awaiting the arrival of his girlfriend,Tuesday, whom Kevin will propose after he confides

in his brother. Brad, not approving of Tuesday, plots to not let it happen. Tickets are $35.

Priscilla: Queen of the Desert Priscilla: Queen of the Desert is a musical about three friends who hop on an old bus in the Australian outback in search of love and friendship. The production features over 500 Tony Award Winning costume, in addition to popular, upbeat songs that drive the audience to get up and dance with the performers. Tickets range from $26 to $99. La Traviata A classic that has been enchanting audiences for the past 150 years, La Traviata will be playing at the Arsht Center on April 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, and 27. La Traviata is about one of the most desired women in Paris who is dubbed by society “la traviata,” or otherwise translated as woman who has gone astray. However, one day she meets her lover but is forced by her father to make a sacrifice that would ultimately save the family’s reputation. The sacrifice leaves her with a broken heart and a disease which brings her to her death. Tickets range from $25 to $179 and are limited so be sure to purchase them soon.