Issue 3, Vol. 54 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 3,

N o v e m b e r 2 013 , V o l . 5 4

Cavs rout Coral Park Common Core cut

By Jordan Payne

Score Leaders

Gregory “Buddy” Howell ATT - YDS - AVG - TDS 8 - 162 - 20.3 - 3

Dijion “D-Breezy” Smith COMP - ATT - YDS - TDS - INT 3 - 5 - 64 - 2 - 0 By Angelika Menendez & Nicolas Rivero

sports

“We did great,” said defensive back Donovan Brown. “We executed pretty well. We didn’t miss that many assignments, STAFF WRITER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF so it was a good win, but we can always improve.” Following a decisive win over rival Miami High, The Cavalier offense got off to a quick start with a scoring the fired up Cavalier football team defeated the Coral drive culminating in a two yard touchdown pass to freshman Park Rams in a one-sided 42-0 Homecoming victory wide receiver Kenmore Gamble early in the first quarter. The on Friday, Oct. 24. The game brought the team’s team remained in control for the rest of the quarter, capping record to 7-1 and put the Cavs in position to clinch it off with another touchdown pass from senior quarterback the district championship with a win over Miami Dijon Smith, this time a 40-yard bomb to junior Shaquery Beach Senior High tonight on the school’s field. Wilson. At the end of the first, the Cavaliers already had a The lopsided game featured six Cavalier commanding 14-0 lead. touchdowns involving five different players and Running Back Gregory Howell wasted no time in a stifling defense that rarely allowed the Rams past the extending the advantage, scoring on a 38-yard run early in 50-yardline, giving up only 74 yards of total offense on the the second quarter. After converting the extra point, kicker day. Friday marked announcer Allen Rangel’s 1000th game Michael Hernandez delivered the kickoff and pinned the Rams with the school and its first shot at a on their own 11-yardline. Coral Park district championship since 2006. was forced to punt the ball away, giving They’ve been working their “This puts us that much closer to the Cavaliers good field position on butts off. They were working a district championship,” said Head their opponent’s 45-yeardline. On the their butts off last season... Coach Roger Pollard. “Miami Beach first play of the drive, Howell ran 10 and we can see it now. is a team that can go out and beat us, yards for a first down, then scored from Roger Pollard, but that is why we play the game… 35 yards out on the very next play. This We line up, we play, and we see who Head Football Coach set up the halftime score of 28-0. is going to win and who is going to The second half saw a 47-yard lose.” touchdown run from Howell and a 10With a win tonight, the team would have the first seed in yard touchdown from running back Keino Mike. Neither team the playoffs and face North Miami Beach for a rematch of scored in the fourth quarter. last year’s playoffs, when the Cavaliers beat the Chargers to The Cavaliers have shown marked improvement over their advance. 4-8 record last year, which was Pollard’s first season as Head “I know that those guys were chomping at the bit all Coach, but he does not attach much meaning to this change. season, like we were chomping at the bit all season to play “We do not want to focus on results,” said Pollard. “We Columbus because they knocked us out, so we’ve got to only want to focus on hard work. Hard work brings better get better to get ready to play a team that’s really, really, results…They’re a hard working bunch. They’ve been working really hungry to face us,” said Pollard. “It’s great. District their butts off. They were working their butts off last season, championships. Yay. But let’s go to the playoffs and do better which was the main point in which we went into a lot of than we did last year.” growth, and we can see it now.”

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PG. 7 highlights explores the facts and mysteries of extraterrestrial life

insight

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PG. 2 Students dance the night away at Briza on the Bay

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In letters to the State Board of Education and the US Department of Education, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced on Sept. 23 that Florida was withdrawing from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test. This test was supposed to be administered corresponding to Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which teachers are still expected to follow. According to flgov.com, the state decided to not administer the PARCC test because of the need to “remove the state from federal intrusion in education policy,” seeing as how PARCC goes beyond Florida boundary lines, and because the test did not meet the needs or expectations of students and state leaders in its cost effectiveness and testing time. In his letter to State Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand, Scott outlined a six-step course to provide high academic standards but prevent “intrusion from the federal government.” These steps include ending Florida’s relationship with PARCC, directing the Commissioner of Education to get public feedback on Florida’s current Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics standards, officially rejecting CCSS apendices (which include reading and writing samples designed to teach the benchmarks), and, after Dec. 31, to continually review and accept public comment and criticism regarding Florida Sunshine State Standards. A similar letter was sent to US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, in which Scott wrote, “The provision of [academic] standards is a fundamental duty of our state government, while the operation, control and supervision remains, as the Florida Constitution directs, the purview of our local school boards.” This year, the school will feel no tangible differences regarding testing. Although Florida Comprehension Assessment Test (FCAT) is on its way out, freshmen and sophomores will take the FCAT Reading and sophomores will be administered FCAT Writing. This year there will be End of Course Assessments (EOCs) for Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, and US History. “I expect to see some new EOC areas in the future. There are some other academic areas where EOC tests are being piloted, like personal fitness,” said Assistant Principal Lazaro Hernandez. In Scott’s Executive Order, he wrote that no later than Dec. 31, “the Commissioner of Education shall recommend to the State Board of Education the termination of Florida’s role as the fiscal agent for PARCC.” In this Executive Order, Scott also called for the Commissioner of Education to recommend the State Board of Education to issue a competitive solicitation for a new test. This new test must provide timely and informative result reports along with costs and testing times that are in line with those of current tests. The test must also measure student mastery of the subject, be able to be compared to other states, and be as rigorous as current assessments.

PG. 15 Arbetter’s Hot Dogs, serving quality comfort food since 1960

the scene

Maggie Rivers/highlights HOMECOMING HEROS: (Top left) Allen “Al” Rangel gets a cooler bath while announcing his 1000th game. (Bottom left) Coach Roger Pollard addresses the team after the victory. (Right) Halfback Gregory Howell runs 38 yards to score a touchdown.

STAFF WRITER

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highlights November 2013

Homecoming recap: the court, ticket sales By Jordan Payne

The school’s annual Homecoming dance was held at Briza on the Bay on Oct. 24, shortly after the Cavaliers football team defeated the Miami Coral Park Rams at home by a score of 42-0. The day before the dance, at the Homecoming Pep Rally, the Homecoming Princes and Princesses were announced. The Freshman Princess was Sofia Quevedo and the Prince was John Smithies. The Sophomore Princess was Karla Santoyo and the Prince was Joshua Zambrano. The Junior Princess was Kayla White and the Prince was Charalampos Politis. At the actual dance, at 10 p.m., the Homecoming King and Queen were announced. Derya Tansel was crowned Homecoming Queen and Daniel Moran was crowned Homecoming King. While Homecoming ticket sales were extended, the minimum of 300 tickets was not sold. In total, 271 tickets were sold. Seniors bought 148 tickets, juniors 83, sophomores 21, freshmen two, and 17 were sold to students from other schools. “We didn’t meet our minimum. I was hoping that with all the changes from homecoming nominations we would sell out,” said Student Activities Director Ana Suarez. STAFF WRITER

Courtesy of Herff Jones

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY: (Left) Senior Winny Delcin and her date Robert Quintana share a dance together. (Middle) Senior Josie Palacios throws her hands up as she moves towards the DJ stand. (Top Right) Juniors Alexa Alcalay, Allyssa Dobkins, Carla Stieghorst, Ines Merbabet and Sasha Teman show off their homecoming dresses with smiles. (Bottom Right) A group of juniors busts a move on the dance floor.

Alumna wins big By Bianca Mangravite

Karen Russell, school alumna, has been awarded the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship Award for her short story collection “Vampires in the Lemon Grove.” Russell is a fiction writer who mixes fantastical components with psychological realism and themes of change and redemption. The MacArthur Award grants $625,000 to “talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.” The grant money will be paid out in quarterly payments in the course of five years. It permits Russell to work on her future projects without the unyielding financial responsibilities that would normally be first priority. “My goodness, it pays the most immediate dividend,” said Russell of the grant in an interview with the Miami Herald. “It’s a huge relief from the pressure of how you are going to pay rent. With every new project you start from zero again, and that insecurity doesn’t go away. I’m working on my second novel, and it feels as scary and baffling as ever.” Over the past few years, Russell has won a series of honors for “Saint Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves,” another collection of short stories, and a novel, “Swamplandia.” Her awards include a National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” young-writer citation in 2009, and a spot on the New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” list of notable writers in 2010. In 2012 she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In addition to her writing work, Russell has taught writing and literature at a prestigious collection of colleges such as Williams College, Columbia University, Bard College, Bryn Mawr College, and the University of Rutgers, Camden. Russell graduated from the school in 1999, and will be coming to Miami for the Miami International Book Fair on Nov. 22-24 to promote her book. STAFF WRITER

Metro prices rise By Maria Ovalle

Miami-Dade County has increased public transit fares to meet operational costs of the approved budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Effective since Oct. 1, the transit fares for the Metrobus and Metrorail increased from $2.00 to $2.25. The student price increased ten cents to $1.10. The price hike, the first the county has seen in five years, will generate extra revenue to allow the Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover services to continue operating without any cutbacks. It will also help keep stations, tracks and equipment running safely and efficiently. On the Miami-Dade County website, the Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) system said that public transportation is a “cost effective transportation option” that helps save people from high gas prices. Last year, MTD services transported 108 million passengers. “The price increase sometimes prevents me from taking the Metro because I don’t always carry that much money with me, and I take the Metro as a last resort to get home” said junior Coby Sanchez. Parastransit trips, day passes, week passes, and month passes have also been affected by the new budget. Paratransit trips are Special Transport Services for people with mental and physical disabilities. Paratransit prices increased from $3.00 to $3.50; one day passes went from $5.00 to $5.65; weekly passes went from $26.00 to $29.25; and monthly passes went from $100 to $112.50. The Metromover Golden passport (for residents over 65 years old), and Patriot passes (for Miami-Dade veterans with low incomes), will remain free. The MDT system will also be undergoing metrorail replacement and infrastructure renewal projects. A new Traction Power Substation is scheduled to be installed at the Palmetto Station to provide energy for the new Metrorail, with construction beginning in 2015. Each of the 29 Metromovers will be replaced by new vehicles that “incorporate a sleek new design, greater reliability and improved customer service.” STAFF WRITER

Homecoming Spirit Week

Angelika Menendez/highlights Angelika Menendez/highlights

Angelika Menendez/highlights

Olivia Field/highlights

COWS, HEROES, AND COMICS OH MY: (Left) Junior Nina Llado poses as a cow on western day. (Middle) Junior Patrick Quintana dresses up with his friend Luigi, junior Francesco Messarina, to show their spirit and Cav pride during homecoming week. (Top Right) Freshmen Jocelin Mora, Jenna Tracy, Claudia Echemndia, Lorena Fernandez and Amanda Lopez represent their favorite superheroes on cartoon/comic day. (Bottom Right) Sophomore Kaylee Nieves goes retro on cartoon/comic day.

highlights November 2013

Freshmen council elected By Olivia Field

as many votes as past years, according to Secretary of State Hanna Payne. “The online voting is very different. People aren’t used to it so they kind of have to adapt to a new style of voting, so you have to allow for that also,” said Secretary of State Michelle Tapia. Activities is still deciding on how it will administer voting for the next student council election. The new freshman class board said it is ready to get started this year. “I’d like to get students more involved in the school, not just with sports. I want to organize more things for the freshmen class likes events, dances, and more pep rallies. I would raise money for this. I would also like to have more field trips than allotted,” said Holden Payne. According to freshman class sponsor Lauren Noval, students who wanted to run for any student council position had to pick up an election packet which consisted of their proposed plans, biography, and a teacher recommendation. After their candidacy was approved, they were able to publicize their campaign through posters and tags. Starting this year, Student Activities made it possible for students to campaign through their social networking sites as well.

Olivia Field/highlights

Student Activities opened the online voting for the 2013 freshman council election on Sept. 27. Candidates who were running for President, Vice President and Secretary waited until Oct. 3 to see who had won. They had to wait even longer due to a too-close-to-call result. After a re-vote was conducted, the freshman class board is: Holden Payne as President, Sydney Scanlon as Vice President, Annie Farrell as Secretary, Mark Braun and Hannah Cordes as Treasurers, Bryce Scanlon and Max Schoenblatt as Chief Advisors of treasury, and Bryan Tucker and Albany Muria as board members. To win an election that has more than two candidates, one of the candidates has to receive more than 50 percent of the votes. The top two candidates go to a run-off election if none take a majority. The top presidential candidates, Payne and Bryan Tucker, along with the top vice presidential candidates Sydney Scanlon and Natalia Clement, had to go through this re-campaigning process. This year, the online voting accumulated about 300 votes out of the whole freshman class. Instead of making the whole student body sit down and vote at school, they were asked to complete the process at home. That is why they did not get STAFF WRITER

FRESHMEN TAKE CONTROL: (Top row from left) Bryan Tucker, Albany Muna, Annie Farrell, Sydney Scanlon, Holden Payne, Hannah Cordes and Max Schoenblatt. (Bottom row from left) Bryce Scanlon and Mark Braun.

New crime hotline EHS goes national By Camila Lupi

The school recently started using a new crime hotline number, 305-448-9761, to replace the old text line that it had previously used to report both in-school and out-of-school crimes. The new crime hotline number was created for students, faculty, and parents to let the school know of any danger or crimes that they hear about. According to Assistant Principal Lazaro Hernandez, the hotline number is not limited to in-school crime only, but for any suspicious activity that people may see. The hotline is a telephone extension in which a message is left anonymously. “It is several people’s jobs to check those messages daily,” said Principal Adolfo Costa. The switch, made earlier this year, took place when the district took away the phone that the school had been using for the text line to use for its own purposes. According to Costa the text line that the school had used prior to the new crime hotline number had been beneficial. Although nothing major had ever been reported, the text line did allow for people to give leads on certain crimes. Costa hopes that the new crime hotline will have the same value. STAFF WRITER

upcoming events NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JUNIOR TREAT DAY, BOTH LUNCHES

BLOOD DRIVE, RIVIERA PARKING LOT

FALL FROLICS, AUDITORIUM, 6:30 P.M.

CLUB PICTURE DAY CAP AND GOWN PAYMENTS MR. CORAL GABLES, AUDITORIUM, 6:30 P.M.

By Eleonor Bauwens

This year the school’s English Honor Society became a recognized chapter of the National English Honor Society (NEHS). As an NEHS chapter, members will be nationally recognized and receive a membership card and pin, and the senior members will receive graduation cords. Members will also be put into an NEHS database that is easily accessible to colleges. Beginning this year, NEHS has tried to be more involved in the school by providing their members with community service opportunities every month such as writing tutoring as well as a book drive. NEHS will also continue to hold poetry slam events as it has in previous years. “I’m excited about the fact that we are going national this year because I really think it will benefit our students a lot more in the long run and it will benefit our school to have another national honor society to be affiliated with,” said NEHS sponsor Michelle Vidal. NEHS meets the second Monday of every month. At the next meeting on Nov. 12 members will be making holiday cards to send to soldiers. STAFF WRITER

GSA returns as club By Anthony Concia

Senior Lorraine Cruz brought back the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) this month in hopes of raising awareness and support for the school’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) community. A member of Gables Players, Cruz originally incorporated GSA topics into Gables Players meetings along with their theatrical activities, but now has created GSA as an independent club to focus on making the school a safe and supportive environment. GSA is a student-led organization that intends to discourage discrimination and bullying towards anyone with a different sexual orientation, and to provide help, advice, and support for LGBT, questioning, and heterosexual students. The school used to have a GSA club, but it was cut in 2009 when the sponsor Marcos Redondo left the school. Cruz, now president of GSA, was secretary of Gables Players when she came up with the idea of bringing back the GSA club. Cruz conducted meetings concerning GSA topics during Gables Players, such as family matters, coming out, and religion. After getting approval from Student Activities Director Ana Suarez and trying to find funding, Cruz officially set up the club. “I wanted to reintroduce GSA into Gables again because after my experience with Gables Players, I noticed that there were a lot of issues with the students so I gave them a chance to talk about their sexuality,” said Cruz. Meetings for GSA are on the last Monday of every month. Raquel Hernandez is the club sponsor and the school’s sexual minority liaison. STAFF WRITER

Sales. Service. Support.

Discounts for CGHS students that join Rose Bandits group lessons!

Math Economics SAT Prep www.JamesEducation.com

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news

highlights November 2013

School restricts flyers, uses new website By Ali Band

After years of walking through the halls and being bombarded by flyers on doors, walls, and windows, parents and administrators raised the concern that these advertisements are both unsightly and disrespectful. In response, the administration banned all flyers from the campus with the intention of eliminating any unappealing stamps on the school campus and promoting the school website as a new outlet of advertising. The chief complaint against the flyers was that they were often placed over the glass of display cases dedicated STAFF WRITER

to the school’s achievements in past years. “It is a double edged sword for us,” said Student Activities Director Ana Suarez. “On one hand, I was somewhat wary of the ban considering that flyers were effective because students can sit in classrooms staring at the wall for an hour and a half, which is enough time for the information on a flyer to be drilled into their minds. However, by the same token with losing the information on events like student elections can be effectively circulated on our website.” According to Suarez, many students vote in elections

Posse finalists Cav Crash cut By Jordan Payne & Joey Lancaster STAFF WRITERS

Seniors Danae Diaz, Melissa Perez, and Maura Torres have been chosen as finalists, and senior Michelle Tapia was chosen as a semifinalist, for the Posse Scholarship, a four-year fulltuition leadership scholarship. Each year, from September through December, Posse administers the Dynamic Assessment Process, an evaluation geared towards young leaders who may be overlooked based on traditional admissions criteria, but who can succeed at certain colleges and universities. Through group and individual interviews, the Posse staff, along with partner university administrators, selects 10 students for each college or university. This group becomes the Posse. Posse is located in nine cities across the country. Certain colleges and universities correspond to certain cities. Posse Miami is partnered with Franklin & Marshall College, Hamilton College, Mount Holyoke College, and Syracuse University. Diaz chose Franklin & Marshall, Torres chose Hamilton, Perez chose Mount Holyoke, and Tapia chose Syracuse. “I think Posse is a great opportunity for students who wish to study out of the state but don’t have the funds. My hope is that I will be chosen to join a great group of students who share an interest in bettering the school and community,” said Perez.

Because only five acts By Mia Tolpin submitted their applications by STAFF WRITER Oct. 11, the 2013-2014 Cav Crash was cancelled. Cav Crash is the nighttime talent and spirit show during homecoming week which gives students an opportunity to perform in something school related without having to be in an extracurricular activity or club. In 2001, Cav Crash started up again after a few dormant years. Gablettes dance team coach Mo Marmesh and Student Activities were responsible for putting the show together. “It’s disappointing that it’s cancelled because Cav Crash was meant to promote spirit and homecoming,” said Marmesh. In earlier years, Cav Crash raised about $1,300-$1,500, which benefitted the school and the Gablettes. Also, in previous years, more than 10 acts signed up, as opposed to this years six talent acts and three skits put on by the sophomore, junior and senior classes. “I’m really upset that Cav Crash is cancelled, I went last year and it was so much fun. Everyone was really spirited and having a blast,” said sophomore Cathryn Cordes. Cav Crash applications were announced every day on the morning announcements for about two weeks prior to the application deadline. “I would think that kids with talent would be more proactive about finding out about Cav Crash,” said Student Activities Director Ana Suarez.

without knowing whom they are voting for. The website not only gives the student body and faculty access to information about school events, but can also be used to educate students about their candidates. Parents and administrators have devised an alternative to flyers. Ten additional display cases have been ordered and are being installed around the school to provide more space for school advertisements and campaigning. Principal Adolfo Costa’s recommendation is to start using the new school website to advertise events happening around school as well.

CONGRATS Allen Rangel announced his 1,000th game. Junior Rafael Tarazona placed first in the Epicure Grand Pix chess tournament.

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opinion

highlights November 2013

STEM: Females not represented in the field Commentary by Maggie Rivers MANAGING EDITOR

The fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are notorious for being male dominated. While women account for 48 percent of the employees across all jobs, they only account for 24 percent of the employees in STEM jobs, according to the Economics and Statistics Administration of the US Department of Commerce. In most current efforts to get girls more actively involved in STEM fields, people are turning to females still in school – that is elementary, middle, and high school – to see what changes can be made to generate female interest. No methods used, so far, have been wildly effective. As a girl interested in pursuing a career in science, I have wondered why STEM classes traditionally have skewed male to female ratios. In my physics class alone, which has over 20 students, only five girls are enrolled. This trend continues

among the school’s high level science classes, including the computer science classes. The robotics team currently has only two female members. Thankfully, occurrences of active sexism do not run as rampant as they have in past. While at the school, I have never dealt with someone telling me I was incapable of studying or performing well in science as a female. The biggest reason why girls are not involved in science, it seems to me, is cultural definitions of the female role– ones that, traditionally, do not include STEM fields within the woman’s capacity. As a child, I was never encouraged to find interest in science or math. My school gifted classes from elementary to middle school were largely populated by girls and focused on English and reading. Now in high school, I find the low female involvement in STEM classes is part of a vicious cycle. Being in a class with such a disparity in its numbers of boys and girls hasan effect on female attitude. It’s largely discouraging and isolating a lot of the time. Despite being well aware of my abilities in physics, I still hesitate when helping out a classmate or sharing an answer with the class.

“I make sure to call on the girls and get them involved,” said Science Department Chair Orestes Mayo. “I want them to feel like they can participate and be a part of something.” Mayo has recently recieved a grant from the AP Google STEM Initiative which is supposed to be used to promote minority and female involvement in STEM classes. Mayo was one of 50 physics teachers (out of 501 teachers total) to recieve grant money. In some ways, however, being surrounded by mostly males pushes women to do better. While last year I was not confident in my skills in science, I applied myself to learning and understanding physics, and this year I am more self-assured. As a result, I feel like I have gained the respect of my peers, including those that are male. Even so, simply pushing for female interest through school is not enough. Support for girls pursuing STEM needs to come from all corners of society. Encouragement to consider an interest in STEM from family, teachers, and role models can make all the difference for a girl who has been under the notion that she just isn’t cut out for it.

Dade County’s misguided pit bull ban Commentary by Maya Iskandarani STAFF WRITER

The generalization of the supposedly violent nature of pit bulls results in well-behaved, innocent dogs being punished for the deeds of a small minority of aggressive pit bulls, whose misbehavior can most likely be attributed to poor treatment on the part of the dogs’ owners. Well-meaning legislation fails to address the root cause of dog attacks. Pit bulls have been banned in Miami-Dade County since 1989, one of the oldest examples of breed-specific legislation in the United States. The local public’s agitation with pit bulls was sparked by a savage, but not fatal, attack by a pit bull on 7-yearold Melissa Moreira in February 1989. More recently, in 2001, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a study in which it was claimed that pit bulls killed 66 people within the previous two decades. Both of these events are factors in the widespread panic and bias against pit bulls in the Miami-Dade community. The previously mentioned study has been largely discredited because of its heavy reliance on an ambiguous classification system used by police officers to identify dogs as pit bulls. An up-to-date study by the CDC states that a very small number of dog attacks are fatal and the

highlights ADVISORY BOARD:

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

BUSINESS MANAGER

ADVISER

Nicolas Rivero

Orso Raymo

COPY EDITOR

Maggie Rivers

Melissa Nieves Gonzalez

Cyrus Zeledon

SECTION EDITORS: NEWS

OPINION

THE SCENE

SPORTS

FEATURES

INSIGHT

Brooke Donner Laura Acosta

Yaremy Fuentes

Stephan Chamberlin

Francis Perez

Raquel Braun

Staff Members: Ali Band, Eleonor Bauwens, Avery Budin, Anthony Concia, Danny Delgado, Rachel Ellis, Javier Fernandez, Olivia Field, Maya Iskandarani, Joey Lancaster, Camila Lupi, Bianca Mangravite, Haley Manning, Angelika Menendez, Maria Ovalle, Jordan Payne, Susana Rudin, Araceli Sanchez, Sydney Scanlon, Mia Tolpin Contributors: Herff Jones, Isabella Izquierdo 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 9220 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.

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number of breed-specific attacks is too insignificant to calculate. The major fault with the enforcement of this ban is that the methods used to classify dogs as pit bulls are vague; even if it could be proven that pit bulls are naturally more uncontrollable than other dogs, pit bull lookalikes are being punished along with pit bulls because of imprecise classifications. Breed-specific legislation is not effective in preventing the kind of dog exploitation that triggers the vicious behavior that pit bulls have been associated with for so long. The breeding and torturing of pit bulls for dog fighting can easily be applied to a different breed. The intention of the law, to reduce the number of dog attacks, is therefore not being met because the attacks can be made by any kind of exploited dog. In addition, breed-specific laws target all animals of that particular breed, so innocent, as well as guilty, pit bulls are caught and euthanized. Prior to the legalization of pit bulls across the state, Ohio was spending $17 million a year on the enforcement of a law nearly identical to the pit bull ban in Miami-Dade County. In early 2012, voters decided against the repealing of the pit bull ban, in spite of its obvious lack of potency. Neither West Palm Beach nor Broward County have such ridiculous prohibition laws against pit bulls and Miami-Dade County should certainly follow suit.

Iranians prepared to bring peace; Israel still suspicious Commentary by Stephan Chamberlin OPINION EDITOR

Over the past half a century, Iran has been a place of religious and political fundamentalism. Surprisingly, newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been building a peaceful relationship with President Obama, but unfortunately, Iran’s troubled past with our closest ally, Israel, might stand in the way of defusing tensions between the three nations because of a long standing cultural and religious conflict between Israel and Iran. Israel’s view comes across as shortsighted; Obama shouldn’t be afraid to put a little space between himself and Israel to try and open up with Iran. When Obama finally gets the chance to talk things out with Iran, it isn’t going to be straightforward and simple. More likely, the small, but very vocal minority in both countries are going to be very displeased, and many Americans will be wary of our newfound allies. The suspicion wouldn’t be unwarrented: the governing bodies which advise and control the president of Iran have consistently used rhetoric which would scare the pants off any American diplomat within earshot; Ali Khamenei, the religious leader of Iran has presided over vast crowds chanting, “Death to America.” Many would see the conditions in Iran and think the country was populated by radicals with a North Koreaesque fanatacism and a fervent hatred towards the United States. But the fact remains, the United States and United Nations sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy; all the majority of the Iranian people want to do is make peace with the rest of the world. When President Rouhani finally stands up and talks out the nuclear nitty-gritty with President Obama, he will be looked at favorably by the grand majority of his people. More than that, it’s in the best interest of all three nations to clear the air of the tension and hatefulness which has been promulgated on all sides over the past few decades. The previous president of Iran, who denied the holocaust ever happened, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is out of office. President George W. Bush, who included Iran in his so called “axis of evil,” is also out of office. The only person not willing to start fresh is the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, who still holds a grudge. Personally, I don’t blame him for not welcoming the Iranian peace talks wholeheartedly. If another leader threatened me with “wiping me off the map,” I would no doubt be upset, but sometimes, a prime minister must put aside spite to accomplish geopolitical goals. If Rouhani is ready to compromise and Obama is already eager to leave office with more allies than he started with, we can’t hold back just because our best friend doesn’t want us to sit with the new kid in the cafeteria. It isn’t fair to the Iranian people, the United States, or the Israelis who would prefer to see Iran as an ally, and not a threat.

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Selfies “I love them and I love me.” -Maggie Rivers, Managing Editor

Western Day

“Cactus was the only politically correct option.” -Laura Acosta, The Scene Editor

highlights November 2013

Common Core testing rejected in Florida

STAFF

Editorial

As a nation, it is important that there is a standard in education that allows for all our citizens, in every state, to be equipped with the same basic set of knowledge. Common Core sets that standard. It creates a national test that gives an accurate account of a student’s knowledge on a subject compared to students across the country rather than a patchwork of standardized state tests. The system that Florida has reverted to, by rejecting Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), creates different levels of education in different states and it is detrimental not only to the states with low standards, but to the United States as well. With Common Core, states are forced to abide by a set national standard. It doesn’t allow them to manipulate their standards so they aren’t accused of not properly educating their residents. States that adopt the Common Core curriculum are also required to adopt the PARCC, a new assessment designed to accompany the newly implemented Common Core curriculum. As of now, Republican Governor Rick Scott has rejected the PARCC testing that he had adopted in 2010. Formal assessment is not going to take place until the 2014-2015 school year, according to the official Common Core Initiative website, so Florida still has time to adopt the Common Core assessment. It seems unreasonable and illogical to accept the standard and curriculum of Common Core, but refuse to adopt the test

that was specifically designed for it. Rick Scott describes it as a “Federal government intrusion,” on his state’s right to set its own standard, neglecting the fact that the standards for Common Core already exist in the state of Florida, and that any alternative assessment that Florida spends taxpayer dollars to come up with will have to follow the same benchmarks as the PARCC test, anyway. Rick Scott’s main argument for rejecting PARCC is based on his political interest, rather than the education of Floridian students. He has not formulated a coherent argument against it or stated why it might be bad for our public school system; he is simply rejecting the implementation of this test based on political grounds, which seems selfish and unreasonable. This is an alarming situation especially since Florida has always had notoriously low standards for education. Colleges used to dismiss a Florida high school diploma and regard their grade point average as meaningless and inaccurate due to the very low education standards that Florida had. Although the situation is no longer so dire, adopting a national standard in education eliminates any doubt that some states are not up to par. To make sure that our public school system is held to a high standard, and that our high school graduates are college ready and prepared to enter the workforce, the PARCC assessment must be adopted by Rick Scott and his fellow republicans in Florida. It is important for the nation to be on the same page on issues as vital as the education of our youth. The political interests of certain politicians should not stand in the way of progress. Petty politics is a dangerous game that is gambling with the advancement of our education.

by the numbers 35-55

Total dollar cost per student of interim and summative assessments (the alternative to PARCC testing)

3 Number of years it took Florida to leave PARCC

5-1 Vote by which the Florida Board of Education rejected the nucleus of Common Core

18 states have adopted PARCC testing

School health standards

The potential benefits of the school’s ban on junk food have been mitigated by the sale of sugary sweets. Should the ban be eliminated or enforced? Commentary by Nicolas Rivero

Commentary by Javier Fernandez

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

STAFF WRITER

Enforce ban

Eliminate Ban

The days of scavenging Pop-Tart wrappers for the last crumbs and Juniors and seniors will remember the days when there were Pop-Tarts in begging friends for pieces of pizza crust have seen their end. Those whose sole school vending machines and a constant line at the pavilion for Papa John’s motivation to get through the day was a greasy slice of Papa John’s goodness pizza. Last year, in an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle among students, the or a nutritious pack of stale strudel has noticed the school’s “healthy” lifestyle district eliminated these unhealthy options entirely in favor of granola bars initiative. The district’s decision to do away with the unhealthy foods and and parfaits. But there have been two glaring exceptions to this junk food invite a new variety of healthy food “options,” that in reality, offer no choice purge: at lunch, in the hallways, and during class, students and teachers are at all. It assumes students cannot be trusted to make healthy decisions for selling candy and doughnuts. themselves through its half-hearted efforts to control food options at school. It is Giving up my junk food is a sacrifice, but it is one I can stomach in the name about time for the district to let go of yet another childlike restraint on its beloved and of student health. However, the benefits of not selling unhealthy food at school are tossed proclaimed young adults. out the window if you still have teachers selling doughnuts in the classroom. The prominence of candy sales at school gives insight on the desires, demands, Principal Adolfo Costa said of this inconsistency, “I don’t think it’s an issue, because and decisions of our overall student body: while we may not usually seek the we all make choices, you know, and we have the choice to consume what we “healthiest” options, we all feel a similar sense of deserved right to make our choose to consume and it shouldn’t be dictated to anybody what we are to own choices, to the extent that we are willing to break the rules. Rather than consume.” He went on to say that students ought to be trusted to take their try to stomp on the candy fundraising as well, the district needs to realize we health into their own hands as young adults and make the right decisions when are big kids. It is time to trust us, regardless of our life-changing decisions to their stomachs start rumbling. grab a bag of regular Lay’s over the wholesome “baked” version, or demand Of course, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has taken just the opposite the ever-so-slightly (but of course, vastly unhealthier) better quality Papa position, removing unhealthy food options in an effort to lead students from John’s pizza over the district-approved standard lunch pizza. temptation. The idea behind the district’s implementation of the initiative is “The candy sales are supposed to be community sales. They are not supposed to be to create an environment where students can only make healthy dietary choices and get sold in school, so that’s why a lot of times we are confiscating the candy and giving it in the habit of eating well at school, and that is an admirable goal. But if candy and doughnut back to them after school,” said Principal Adolfo Costa. sales are tolerated, and if students are encouraged to buy them by their teachers and peers, then Aside from the fact that our school’s admirable efforts to prevent candy sale on campus has they are no longer in a healthy environment, meaning that food options at the school have been seen little results, the large amounts of revenue from these candies not only prove that their sale is restricted for no gain. vital to fundraising, but it again reflects the choices us students will make, regardless of whether To be fair, it is the official policy of the district and the school that students are not allowed or not the choice abides by school rules. to sell candy in school, although anybody who spends any time at school knows that this rule is While the district looks to condone more active living and healthy decisions, all credibility is respected about as much as uniform policy was in years past. But just as the administration has lost when it tries to claim that it is simply providing the “option” to eat healthy. gotten students to wear uniform much more often this year through noticeably stricter enforcement “They are trying to give you a healthy option… because nothing is dictated as ‘you must have of the rules, it can also cut down on candy sales by enforcing those rules more strictly as well. this,’” said Principal Adolfo Costa. Doughnut sales, on the other hand, are indefensible in the context of the healthy food Our district’s concern for students’ health is truly appreciated, but so long as we eliminate the initiative. It doesn’t matter if the proceeds go to United Way. It doesn’t matter if the sales are only unhealthy choices (and nonchalantly accept the sale of unhealthy goodies) while simultaneously temporary. Neither of those things makes doughnuts any healthier, nor do they make it any more claiming that everyone has “options,” the initiative is not going to be respected. As Principal logical to officially sanction doughnut sales after eliminating other unhealthy options. Costa said, “We’re in the business of educating,” so the district should put a greater focus on This inconsistency is the only thing holding back an otherwise promising healthy food informing than removing meal options from students entirely, especially when its effects are initiative that includes education about nutrition and exercise through the Health Corps program likely minimal. Just as easily as someone could pay $2 for a hot slice of heaven on campus, and promotion of an active lifestyle through Play 60, which are both in line with Costa’s thoughts any determined student can walk a hundred on how the school ought to improve student Compiled by Stephan Chamberlin feet across the street after school to feast on Sir health. These programs encourage students to Pizza. There is no need to punish a student by make healthy choices. The district’s policy, making them wait a couple extra hours; at the on the other hand, has been to eliminate all end of the day, literally, it is our decision to lead unhealthy choices, and then inexplicably allow a healthy lifestyle or not. Unless administration doughnut sales, while the school has largely feels so strongly about its health policy that it turned a blind eye to candy sales. If you want plans to give police dogs another field day by to get rid of unhealthy options at school, get 200 calories 250 calories 290 calories casually invading our pockets for Pop-Tarts, rid of all of them. This half-measure nonsense 110 from fat 25 from fat 90 from fat the prohibition era needs to come to an end. benefits no one.

TWO VIEWS

Maggie Rivers/highlights

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ALIENS

highlights travels out of this world into the realm of the scientific unknown and analyzes the mysteries behind extraterrestrial life. From a scientific dissection to a cultural perspective, we take a look at the possibility of alien existence and its influence on human society.

insight

highlights November 2013

aliens invade human culture By Javier Fernandez STAFF WRITER

Alien existence is probably more widely accepted now, and the comical approach to aliens is largely because of pop culture’s fascination with the concept and less association with religion or worship, rather than derision towards the idea of extraterrestrials. Modern day accounts of alien encounters have also hugely transformed since ancient times, and nowadays eerie reports of abductions and UFO sightings cannot go unnoticed, if even just as a form of amusement. Even current study remains prevalent: books such as The Threat, by David M. Jacobs, Ph.D., illustrate deep, in-depth analysis of alien evidence. From collection of study to alien abductee interview, Jacobs even concludes that alien integration into society is likely the ultimate goal for aliens; a disturbing task that has likely been largely fulfilled already. The legitimacy of these stories of being probed by a green creature or witnessing a foreign machine in the sky are always up for question and should be judged on a case-by-case basis. Often times, these accounts are just publicity stunts. Sometimes, though, one cannot help but wonder if at least one of the intricately designed cornfields made overnight or many permanently traumatized “abduction” victims have some legitimacy to their evidence. “The craziest alien mystery I’ve heard is from a movie called Fourth Kind. A lot of people associate this with alien abduction,” said senior Natalie Pacheco. Most Alien reported alien encounters are characterized by abductions or aliens using humans as hosts. The Fourth Kind is a popular Alien movie set in Nome, Alaska in which a group of people were hypnotized by a psychologist and then possessed by some outer force; aliens. Coincidentally, Nome reports one of the largest numbers of missing people in the United States. Clearly, there is a wide spectrum of belief and possibility that pertains to alien existence and interaction, a concept that stemmed from ancient times and has been shaped over and over to this day. All the evidence provided, creepy accounts of alien interaction, and wild conspiracies are undoubtedly entertaining, but what stands out is the immense accumulation of information and legitimate evidence acquired for thousands of years. Every culture, no matter the context of time or location, has sufficient argument and evidence to make reasonable claims about aliens that cannot be ignored, but the true question lies in how each individual interprets the awe of these (possibly) slimy green creatures’ existence. For those that still disprove the notion that there may be extraterrestrial existence, it is only about time before they begin to show up on the sides of milk cartons under the question, “Have you seen me?”

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First claimed human contact with aliens in Cape Girardeau Crash retreival.

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The eerie world of extraterrestrials has awed human society since ancient civilizations; the possibility of unearthly existence intrigues humans so much so that entire careers are dedicated to studying them intensely. Regardless of whether or not these “creatures” exist is far from the point. Rather, the lack of knowing makes extraterrestrial study all the more fascinating. Alien culture continues to have prominence in modern day culture, from movies such as “Space Odyssey” and “E.T.”, to taboo magazines about celebrities being abducted by aliens, to all too believable accounts of UFO sightings. For as long as the mystery remains unsolved, the allure of otherworldly existence will remain a captivation. Ancient civilizations were often enthralled by aliens because they were associated with godlike encounters and divine presence. Reports of alien sightings or abductions were taken seriously and widely accepted, as outer space life was a lot more respected and feared than it is today. From the Stonehenge to Easter Island’s mysterious human head figures to colossal shapes only understandable from an outer space view, unnerving evidence of possible alien interaction has left a mark that to this day brings up questions. Many civilizations had endless amounts of evidence, from sculpted figures to pyramid paintings, that all but pointed at the existence of past alien encounters or worship. The Mayans, for example, created stone figures that represented men who looked to be wearing modern day space helmets, while ancient Egyptian pyramids like the Great pyramid of Giza, curiously located at the intersection of the longest lines of latitude and longitude, suggest nothing less than the possibility of other-worldly influence on Earth’s greatest architectural creations. In modern day culture, although more evidence and information has been gathered and understood (and it is now generally accepted that in such a massive universe it is far from likely that Earth is the only provider of life), a more comical and lighthearted angle has been taken in regards to extraterrestrials. From their prevalence in blockbuster movies to being the topic of strange radio shows (like Orson Welles’s 1938 radio broadcast “War of the Worlds” that suggested alien invasion and instilled shock to listeners around the world), aliens have made an imprint on contemporary society primarily as an entertaining novelty. That is not to say that belief of alien existence is odd or less respected nowadays. “I believe in alien existence because it only makes sense that there is some sort of other life in the universe. I actually take evidence about alien existence seriously because scientists even support it as proof that aliens may exist,” said freshman Natalie Ochoa.

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The painting, “The Baptism of Christ,” has what appears to be a UFO in the background.

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Kenneth Arnold claimed to have witnessed the first UFO sighting

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the possibility of alien life By Avery Budin

INSIGHT HEAD WRITER

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For every UFO sighting or alien encounter reported in science media, there’s a backlash of criticism from the public community. As much as people want to believe in life outside of earth’s atmosphere, they appear to share doubts as to whether there’s concrete evidence to support any of these theories. While small, green-skinned, large headed creatures may not be an accurate depiction of otherworldly inhabitance, there is data revealing the presence of chemical compounds required for life on other planets. Little is known about the research being conducted on other planets aside from the studies conducted on Mars. Scientists have now found that there are other candidates in the solar system that have the ability to support living matter. The Astrophysical Journal and Science Journal published the potential habitability of three planets extremely far from our solar system, including Kepler-62e, Kepler-62f, and Kepler-69c. Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, is also under inspection as a possible candidate. Predictions have been made that while life on other planets may appear in forms very different from those on Earth, so long as the basic requirements of liquid water, sources of energy, heat, and organic compounds can be found, Europa has a chance of supporting life. “I’m sure other life exists. The universe is too big for just humans. They (other life) probably just practice a different way of living,” said junior William Midence.

The issue of atmospheric ability to contain enough oxygen to support living organisms as well as the low levels of pressure proves problematic to planets like Mars that would otherwise be capable of supporting life. “It would be selfish to consider Earth the only place capable of sustaining life; though there isn’t any tangible evidence to support claims of ‘alien’ life, it seems possible that somewhere in the vast universe, life can be supported elsewhere,” said biology teacher Eric Molina. Approximately $55 million are invested each year in the studying of extraterrestrial life. Unfortunately, the lack of evidence to prove its existence has discouraged many scientists, including even the strongest of believers. “There’s no real proof of life anywhere else. Could it be possible that life exists outside of Earth? Perhaps. But I would have to see it to believe it,” said senior Claudia Tripetti. It was the recent hype about Area 51 that inspired the rejuvenation of alien belief. As the C.I.A. acknowledged the existence of the area, Nevada inhabitants began to question why a top-secret military installation was set up in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Public curiosity led to the influx of tourists visiting the desert, and the numerous security warnings and privacy fences have only encouraged curiosity. Still, without any real evidence, extraterrestrial life continues to be a controversial debate among both the scientific community and the general public. Without support for or against the possibility of new life, the question of alien existence remains unanswered.

features

highlights

Mia Tolpin/highlights

WHAT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR

10 Remy Fuentes/highlights

November 2013

Gablette Sweethearts By Remy Fuentes & Mia Tolpin FEATURES EDITOR & STAFF WRITER

SWEETHEARTS: The senior Gablettes made sure to pick their best friends for Sweethearts in order to feel completely comfortable around each other. (Top left to bottom right) Seniors Christopher Muniz, Alexis Mendez, Javier Fernandez, Jacob Slosbergas, Natalie Pacheco, Sebastian Courty, Dayde Moreno, Juan Suarez, Joseph Lopez, Cole Scanlon, Robin Perez, and Kimberley Perrera.

Imagine not only being lucky enough to dance among our award winning Gablettes, but being specifically honored by them selecting you to be their Sweetheart. It is tradition for each senior Gablette to receive two Sweethearts to show them support. This chosen group of guys will stand by their Gablettes for the remainder of the year by performing with them during pep rallies and dance shows. While the dance team goes off to competition, the Sweethearts voluntarily accompany them, demonstrating their dedication to the team. “It’s nice to know someone’s there to cheer you on,” said Gablette Coach Mo Marmesh. Before the school year the Gablettes choose their Sweethearts. The next step was for the guys to fill out an application to check if they met the requirements. Once they were accepted, the the guys had to do an initiation dance. This year’s picks are seniors Joseph Lopez, Javier Fernandez, Cole Scanlon, Sebastian Courty, Christopher Muniz, Jacob Slosbergas, Juan Suarez, and Robin Perez. After being initiated, the Sweethearts are taught a dance by the girls that will be performed by all of them at the Senior Pep Rally, Fall Frolics, and Gablette Review. “[The Gablettes] dedicate so much time to their practices and to supporting other teams that it’s a change for them to be supported by their friends,” said senior Cole Scanlon. The routine was first performed during the senior pep rally. Everyone in the crowd was cheering while the Gablettes and their Sweethearts danced to a Spanish music mashup. They dressed up as “salseros” to match their dance routine that showcases the Gablettes’ latin backgrounds. Although the Gablettes are the best dance team in the nation and fifth in the world, the Sweethearts are not. Every year while the Gablettes swiftly lift their legs off the ground into the eye-high leg kick, the boys are struggling to keep up. “Their humor motivates us to do better,” said senior Gablette captain Alexis Mendez. The boys are extremely willing to learn anything thrown their way. Most of them have known their Gablettes even before entering high school and offer comfort to them.

Homecoming court gets crowned By Maria Ovalle

Every year during wanted Homecoming to be the special night that it the month of November once was. To promote interest in the event, there students from our was a prince and princess for every grade. For the school anticipate the glimmer and shine of the first time, voting for the court was conducted online Homecoming dance. Whether or not you have a through a link on the CavsConnect website. stunning date, a limo ride with all your friends, Winning a spot in the Homecoming court is and an after party, going with your closest friends, about more than gaining popularity. To be the having a memorable time, and witnessing the much Homecoming Queen, Tansel said that she had to anticipated announcement of Homecoming king and be herself and that the support from her friends queen is an unforgettable event. helped the dream come true. Moran said he has been The night was filled with bullied in the past but entrancing music and non-stop has managed to hold his I had initially planned on just dancing. Though the rest of head up high now. being able to look back on my the court was announced at the “What makes a high school experience and Western Pep Rally, students Homecoming King and say at least I was nominated, waited until the night of the Queen is the way they but those plans have changed. are involved in school, dance to learn who their King and Queen would be. This and they must also be Derya Tansel, year seniors Daniel Moran and outstanding people that Derya Tansel were announced everyone wants to have senior as Homecoming King and around,” said sophomore Queen, respectively, on Oct. Barbara Jimenez. 24. In an uproar, the crowd cheered for the new Sudents from every grade level attended Homecoming king and queen and chanted “Derya” Homecoming and had a satisfying time with their several times as Principal Adolfo Costa announced friends dancing the night away. Briza on the Bay the Homecoming Queen. was breathtaking with all the multicolor lights and “I had initially planned on just being able to comfortable white couches. look back on my high school experience and say at On Monday the whole school was buzzing least I was nominated, but those plans have changed with talk about how great the night was. Our …When the winners were announced, I was Homecoming King, Daniel Moran, speaks for all definitely surprised,” said Tansel. when he said Homecoming was a lively night to Activities Director Ana Suarez said that she never be forgotten. STAFF WRITER

Courtesy of Herff Jones

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CUTE AND CROWNED: 2013-2014 Coral Gables Homecoming King and Queen, seniors Daniel Moran and Derya Tansel, stand victoriously after being voted in by the senior student body.

highlights

November 2013

11 Sydney Scanlon/highlights

Life before teaching STAFF WRITER

It is hard to imagine many of our much loved teachers as anything but educators. We think of them as having mundane jobs that begin and end at the same time everyday in an endless cycle. But some teachers had or still have quirky side jobs that come with great back stories. Globe-trotter Tracey Barrow-Shoenblatt may be our renowned drama teacher but she was once known for mixing drinks at the Globe on Alhambra. Fourteen years ago, while struggling as an actress, Barrow worked as a bartender for three years. Thankfully, she had great bosses who were very understanding, about her schedule so that she could attend theater auditions. The pay was also great; she took a 50 percent pay cut to become a teacher. She found it to be a positive experience, aside from the occasional “drunken idiots.” The Heat is on Math teacher Sherry Furnari has been teaching for 29 years and has been a Miami Heat statistician for 24 years. She began by calculating statistics for the University of Miami men’s basketball team and was later hired by the Miami Heat. In college Furnari was originally majoring in Physical Education, but decided to change to a Mathematics major. Her part-time statistician job combines her passion for sports and math. Furnari said she loves both teaching and being a statistician; they have different kinds of pressure. As the only female of 10 employees on the Miami Heat staff, she needs to be logical and a quick thinker. She must be successful at her job since she has been given three championship rings over the years.

College 101:

highlights sits down with Suffolk Universitiy representative Joseph Walsh to talk about the importance of developing a relationship with an admissions officer.

By Ali Band STAFF WRITER

College; an exciting concept but the word itself can inflict terror in students. So many students are hesitant to begin their college search process because of the sense of mystery and obscurity that surrounds the qualities colleges look for. The first step, however, is to become aware of the available options and an easy way to do so is by speaking to a college representative who knows a school and its admission processes. Joseph Walsh, an admissions representative in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Suffolk University, provides directional advice about the recruiting process of most universities and the typical attractive characteristics of an admitted student. Students are sometimes repelled by the idea of speaking to a college representative because they are stressing to impress them, but admissions officers are not as intimidating and judgmental as students might think. Representatives and admissions directors, like Walsh, are mainly concerned with getting a clear and all-encompassing picture of a

student and want students to boast about their accomplishments as much as possible. “My main job is recruiting and garnering the best of the best,” said Walsh. It has been said over and over again by teachers and college counselors that the goal of many colleges is to develop a school with rich quality through their students. College representatives are experts at filtering out who will add substance and a little something extra to their school. “We try to get the good stories to come to our school. The kids with texture. The ideal goal is to develop a diverse campus. If I could pick one attractive characteristic about an applying student, it would be, hands down, a good personality. We also want to get the message out about our school, ” said Walsh. The fear that high school students have of speaking to a college representative is futile considering they have limited chances to prove themselves. It is important to develop a relationship with admissions officers and demonstrate interest because it can enhance student applications and help them jump off the page.

Sweet-tooth Lauren Noval, AP World History and Psychology teacher, has quite the sweet tooth. As a high school senior, she worked at F.A.O. Sweets in Sunset Place. Dressed in khakis and a lollipop tee, Noval expertly sold all kinds of delicious treats. The downside was the minimum wage and that she had to work on weekends. However Noval did get free candy for herself and her friends. The Voice The man on the speaker, John Bryant, was once a disc-jockey. At the young age of 11, an assistant at a local radio station hired Bryant to run errands. He was soon promoted to retrieving records for the DJ at a sprint. “It was cool and beat real work,” said Bryant. Later he worked at a jazz radio station, not speaking but just playing jazz during the night and early morning shifts. Then Bryant worked as a middle-of-the-night radio host which he was very bad at, but he did get to take home the company van and earned $10 an hour. He said a DJ must keep it “light, bright and tight.” Books on wheels With a love of language, Spanish teacher David Kirsner thought driving a bookmobile was the best job in the world. For a summer when Kirsner was 20 years old, he worked for the MiamiDade County Library System. He provided people lived far away from a library or unable to go to the library with books by bringing the library to them. “I was always a reader from the time I was a kid,” said Kirsner. Kirsner loved his job driving all around the county. He chose the books in the van and gave recommendations, but he said the most rewarding part was how grateful the patrons were.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ADMINISTRATOR By Rachel Ellis STAFF WRITER

With phones ringing off the hook, disciplinary issues coming out of their ears, and district meetings held on a weekly basis, the administrators of our school barely have time to take a deep breath. After speaking with a few of them, it was quite evident that a substantial amount of work goes into keeping the school running smoothly. All administrators have their own set of jobs and responsibilities that may change from day to day. “There is no normal day. Nothing is structured and then Coral Gables Senior High happens,” said Assistant Principal Lazaro Hernandez. According to Hernandez, dress code, failure to serve detentions and transportation are common matters that he deals with on a daily basis. On the other hand, Principal Adolfo Costa spends the majority of his time addressing parental concerns, school maintenance and disciplinary issues.

“I have to have my day organized in order to get everything that I need to get done completed, while focusing on the safety, health and well-being of the students,” said Principal Adolfo Costa. Similar to the student athletes and club participants at school, the administrator’s day does not come to a close when the final bell rings at 2:20 p.m. In fact, football games, town hall meetings and an overwhelming amount of work that cannot be completed during the school hours can keep administrators extremely busy until 11:00 p.m. “In order to make [Costa’s] day go as smoothly as possible, I need to address all of his immediate needs and deadlines. It is my job to keep him aware of all the situations going on at school,” said the Principals Secretary Charisse McKenzie. Whether you find them in their office or roaming around the school in their golf cart, there is no doubt that the administrators of our school are working diligently to keep every aspect of the day running smoothly.

Rachel Ellis/highlights

By Sydney Scanlon

HARD AT WORK: Principal Adolfo Costa sits in his office while reading through student paperwork as part of his action-packed day keeping the school running.

features

highlights

November 2013

By Remy Fuentes FEATURES EDITOR

Remy Fuentes/highlights

It takes one dedicated person to give thousands the opportunity to experience peace through yoga. This practice can be spread all around the world – from big cities like New York to small islands like Fiji – and affect people in the same way. Senior Cameron Dennis is committed when it comes to practicing yoga; in fact, just a month ago he became certified by participating in a 200 hour teacher training course. In hopes of “spreading the love and awesomeness that comes with yoga all around the world,” he has signed up to be a part of the Africa Yoga Project. This organization offers two programs: the Seva Safari, where volunteers travel overseas solely for the purpose of the experience of yoga, and the Ambassador Program, which is more rigorous by requiring a pledge, fundraising, and a 14 day stay in Kenya. In order to gain more experience, Dennis has chosen to pursue the Ambassador Program to be an apprentice for an on-sight yoga teacher. NAMASTE: Senior Cameron Dennis takes time Through this organization he between classes to do some yoga. will travel to Kenya in order to enlighten the residents with his yoga teachings and encourage them to meditate and practice yoga in order to stay healthy and happy. Achieving this will be a bit of a challenge. Aside from the expenses that he must pay out of his pocket, such as the plane ticket and vaccinations, this program requires a $4,000 donation to help pay the African teachers and build schools or studios, but it will all be worth it upon his arrival when he meets the people whose lives he will be influencing. Dennis shares the vision of the Africa Yoga Project, which is to bring hope and happiness to countries in times of hardship by introducing a positive experience for the invited teacher as well as the students.

The art of tailgating Tailgating is a long-standing American tradition. You will not find this in your history book, but we can assume our founding fathers tailgated before crossing the Delaware. “Back in England, I used to tailgate hard at the Cricket matches. I guess it was just my American roots,” said freshman Bryce Scanlon. By definition tailgating means to party before a sporting event -– most commonly football. But recently people have also begun to tailgate at country concerts and basically anything else that has parking lot. When someone mentions the word “tailgating,” the most common mental image involves large pick up trucks, red cups, hotdogs, football games and an overall good feeling of team spirit. In typical American fashion, this art entails grilling burgers and drinking a couple of beers (root beers for us high school children). But tailgating is not restricted to just burgers; it encompasses various other forms of greasy goodness. You can include hamburgers, french fries, corndogs and even nachos if you are looking to mix things up a bit. While tailgating is fun and games for some, to others it is a necessity. “If I am at a women’s sporting event, the only way to make it bearable is if I tailgate,” said junior Cristian Gazzolo. Students have noticed the impressive development in our football team, and as the games become more popular, so does the concept of tailgating. Students can be seen in the parking lot before the games carrying on the great American tradition and art of tailgating.

By Susana Rudin

Isabella Izquierdo/Contributor

STAFF WRITER

‘MERICA: To pre-game, sports enthusiasts typically tailgate before an event in the parking lot of the venue and enjoy drinks, food and music.

Spotlight:

Karina Williams

Olivia Field/highlights

Africa Yoga Project

PUMPED UP: Beloved MC Karina Williams gets the crowd on its feet during the Western themed spirit week pep rally.

By Olivia Field STAFF WRITER

Every event needs a Master of Ceremony (MC) running across the stage telling jokes and bringing the pep into pep rallies. Senior Karina Williams has taken on the important role as one of the school’s new MCs and will be attending every one of the events in order to fill them with spirit. Williams first heard about the position of MC through Instagram. Her friends tagged her in a post about the spot opening and soon enough she was getting teacher nominations. “I started to ask around to see who would be good for MC and Karina’s name came up multiple times,” said dance teacher Mo Marmesh. After showing interest in the role, she talked to Marmesh and soon enough was put on stage. Marmesh said that William’s vibrant personality was just what they needed for MC. Williams also participates in cheerleading outside of school and is a member of Troupe, so she is well known for her spirit and outgoing attitude. “I have always found public speaking and school projects to be fun and not challenging. Being MC is just like a huge project to me,” said Williams. The spotlight is not only on Williams during the appearances. She will be accompanied by Cav Man, junior Patrick Quintana, and partner MC, senior Javier Fernandez. Williams and Fernandez have become much closer since they began sharing the stage. She said that they have a really similar sense of humor so they are always laughing and can follow through with each other on stage. Both are extremely unpredictable, so it is good that they can feed off each other’s energy. “Since there are so many lights,” said Williams, “you feel like you are by yourself but then I like saying jokes and comments and then hearing all the feedback from the crowd.” Williams feels completely natural while on stage, proving no doubt that Williams was born to be in the limelight. She also explains that her favorite part is prepping for the show. “I get super nervous and excited and I kind of get an adrenaline rush. During the show everything spills out into the crowd and my performance,” said Williams. Hosting the pep rallies are a huge part of Williams’ senior year. She said that her main goal is for there to be no dead moments in the crowd and to keep the spirit up from beginning to end.

sports

highlights

November 2013

CYRUS STEPS TO A NEW BEAT Laura Acosta/highlights

CYRUS WITH ATTITUDE: (Left) Before the practice begins, captain Winny Delcin dresses Copy Editor Cyrus Zeledon, also known as Baddie, with a jean vest and a pink bandana. (Middle) Zeledon practices the steps many times before finally being able to properly step the routine and (right) finishes practice by “posting up” after captain Delcin commands him to do so.

Commentary by Francis Pérez SPORTS EDITOR

After a rigorous past in the Gablettes’ dance room, Copy Editor Cyrus Zeledon is at it again, giving the sport of dance yet another chance. Only this time, the music will not be playing from a CD player, but made by the school’s one and only step team, Sistas with Attitude (SWA). “If I did Gablettes, I can do this,” said Zeledon. As the eager Zeledon walked into practice at the patio located in front of the Child Care classroom, SWA's captain Winny Delcin supplied him with the appropriate practice attire: a jean vest and a pink bandana. Ready to start stepping, Zeledon

By Eleonor Bauwens STAFF WRITER

Eleonor Bauwens/highlights

While some go to the bowling alley for a nice time with friends, sophomore Matthew Monjarrez practices rigorously with the school’s bowling team. “He’s a top player on the team and a fantastic studentathlete. He’s a great team leader and I look forward to great things coming from him,” said Head Bowling Coach Stephen Campagna. Monjarrez joined the bowling team because his younger brother saw bowling shoes and he thought they were “cool,” so he bought a pair along with a bowling ball. The bowling center near his home started a free youth bowling program to generate interest in the sport and after joining a year ago Monjarrez has been hooked. “The team is ready to learn. I’ve seen great improvement in all the players,” said Monjarrez. Monjarrez watches Professional Bowlers Association on ESPN and said that his inspiration is Pete Webber. He looks forward to winning districts with the team and hopes more students will join.

ROLLING ON THE ALLEY: Team Captain Matthew Mojarrez demonstrates the different moves he uses on the alleys.

Trying for >> triumph in golf By Haley Manning STAFF WRITER

The school’s boys and girls golf team finished the season with wins at the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) allowing them to move on to regionals. However, they did not advance past that. “The team is working very well supporting one another. What a pleasure to have the opportunity to be their coach,” said Golf Coach Tracy Watkins. The girls’ team placed second at districts on Oct. 15 with Marisa Urruita placing third overall and placed second at the GMACs last month. “I felt very accomplished that I received second place at GMAC’s. I was proud that I brought Coral Gables Senior back on the map … proud to say next year I’ll bring the gold,” said freshman golfer Marisa Urruita. The same success from the girls’ team was also reflected in the boys’ performance. Tomas Nieves placed first overall in the tournament at districts. “I was a little surprised but I knew if I played the way I was playing the whole year I would do well. As a team I think we didn’t live up to our potential … but I’m proud of our team that we made it to regionals,” said Nieves. The girls’ and boys’ teams practice together and review golfing techniques every Tuesday and Thursday after school. “We practice at the beautiful Biltmore Golf Course and play at several golf courses around the county,” said Watkins. The girls and boys teams went on to regionals gaining cumulative scores of 412 and 359 respectively. “Regionals wasn’t the best tourney for us. I didn’t play as well as I could have and neither did Michael Hammond and Brent Webber, but for next year I will do better,” said Nieves. Although neither golf team ended the season as they had expected, both said that they will make improvements for the upcoming year.

The Sistas had him repeat the routine as many times as he needed to get the right steps at the end. However he was not excused from the punishments the step team had to undergo if they didn't cooperate. “You can't stop. Stopping is running,” said Delcin. As the name implies, the Sistas always kept up their strong attitude at all times during their step routines, something Zeledon had a hard time imitating. When Delcin gave the command, “Baddie, post up,” Zeledon stood confused and smiling, but Delcin was quick to get a smiling Zeledon to a serious face and a straight standing pose. Once the practice was over and the rhythm and beats were dismissed for the day, Zeledon was made an honorary SWA sweetheart. He will be performing alongside SWA at the Black History Month pep-rally in February.

New coach hired By Haley Manning STAFF WRITER

Haley Manning/highlights

Monjarrez strikes for bowling team

asked, “should I stretch?” to which Delcin hesitantly responded, “um, if you want to.” Following SWA's tradition of giving each member a nickname, the Sistas were quick to call Zeledon “Bad Cyrus,” singing this new name in chorus. However, it was later shortened to “Baddie” and they refused to call him otherwise. “We don't call him Cyrus. His name is Baddie,” said Delcin. Teaching Baddie these new moves was no easy task. Only nerves were seen in Zeledon's eyes as he asked the steppers, “is this the easiest one you have?” The Sistas were very patient in getting him to learn the steps, and only offered encouragement. They even supported him when the routine called for a body roll, to which Zeledon awkwardly responded by jerking his shoulders back and forth simultaneously. “I like it. It's his own thing,” said Delcin.

In an effort to help the school’s swim team, Alexander Urbizagastegui has been added to the school’s staff as the Assistant Swim Coach for this year. During high school, Urbizagastegui attended Miami Senior High School and was a member of PLAYING IN WATER: New their swim team. Once he assistant swim coach graduated he went to the Alexander Urbizagastegui military, and after serving, he helps prepare for swim attended Florida International meets. University. He has known Alexander Donis, the school’s Head Swim Coach, for about four years, and he even taught some of the swimmers on the team to swim when they were growing up, so coaching this team was the natural choice for him after graduation. “It’s nice to see the transition of some of the swimmers I used to teach before, and how they’re making progress,” said Urbizagastegui. Swimmers on the team say he has made a good contribution and the season has been a blast. “He has a great personality, easily approachable and is eager to improve our technique,” said senior Maxwell Wood. The coaches’ assistance was reflected in the swimmers’ success this season. The girls’ team won all of their meets, and the boys only lost two meets, against Hialeah Gardens High School and Ronald Reagan, by only two points. “At practice, Urbizagastegui splits up the work with Donis, so that each swimmer can get more attention and can get individual help,” said sophomore John Fernandez.

Pre-game meal correction

In the last issue, a factual error was written about the football team’s pre-game meals. The meals are directly and entirely funded by the football team and booster club, not through the school or the athletic department.

sports

highlights

November 2013

Playing private schools Commentary by Cyrus Zeledon

sports. “I hate it. I cannot stand it. I wish we could get rid of it tomorrow. [Public From the beginning of school schools] are not competing on the same plane,” said athletics, private schools have Athletic Director Louis Romero. always stood out as being the Playing private schools is more than heavyweight champions of sports inconsiderate, it is below the belt. Besides all the in high school with their recruited money and the recruitment that private schools have, athletes and donations from some private schools have programs that literally alumni. To level the playing field breed players from an early age. For instance, Miami between private and public schools, private schools Swimming, which is located at Ransom Everglades, should compete in a private division. trains children of any age and those kids usually go Generally speaking, private schools have no on to swim for Ransom Everglades in the water polo excuse not to win since they or swimming teams. are allowed to legally recruit Private schools’ advantages I hate it. I cannot stand it. student-athletes for their help them build a winning I wish we could get rid of it athletic capabilities. They record, which also goes a long tomorrow. [Public schools] can also receive money from way in recruiting prospective are not competing on the big-shot donors and alumni athletes. Public schools same plane. who help sponsor the private generally don’t have that Louis Romero, school’s sports teams. The benefit of being able to boost Athletic Director money that was donated can their superlative sports teams to then be spent on anything possible future students of their from the latest equipment and sports technology, to school. There are some public schools that do have better coaches and staff members. On the other hand, superb sports programs like Booker T. Washington public schools cannot recruit student athletes since High School for football or our very own school’s it is against state regulations and they do not have badminton team, but for most public schools that is money readily available as private schools do. not true. In addition, students don’t need to have passing With all the private school’s recruitment for test scores or grade point averages in private schools athletic performance and lack of academic standards, as in public schools to participate in sports because public schools’ sports don’t stand a chance against they do not have to follow district and state rules on these bred players. COPY EDITOR

‘‘

Changing up polo By Maya Iskandarani STAFF WRITER

Invented in Ireland in 1891, cycle polo is exactly what it sounds like: polo on bicycles instead of horses. That’s right: wheels instead of hooves. Cycle polo was officially recognized as a sport by the International Cycling Union in 2001, and cycle polo teams can be found in countries all over the world, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, France, Pakistan, and Argentina. Complete with a League of Bike Polo and international tournaments, cycle polo is as serious as any other sport. The two principal classifications of the sport are traditional bike polo and hardcourt bike polo. Traditional bike polo is the strictest form, played on a grass field with certain dimensions and with five to seven participants per team, four on the field at a time. Hardcourt bike polo is much less formal, played at a faster pace, with three to five members per team and on any available hard surface, such as tennis courts or street hockey rinks. Both variations are played on specialized bicycles called fixies. “I think the hardest part would

Rachel Ellis/highlights

Sailing with the Cavaliers

be figuring out how to ride a fixie,” said junior Nicolas Viglucci, “because you have to keep pedaling as long as you’re moving, and then to stop and play takes a lot of skill because you don’t have hand brakes. You just stop [using] your feet. It’s probably just as physically demanding as regular biking, [with] the added component of coordination.” With the support of fellow bike organizations Emerge Miami and The Miami Bike Scene, Miami Bike Polo was established in April 2011, with the intention of becoming a group dedicated to playing and recruiting for bike polo to improve local esteem of the sport. Anyone is welcome to attend bike polo games hosted by the group twice a week at José Martí Park; further detailed information can be found on the website miamibikepolo. com. The 2013 World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championship will be taking place in Weston, Florida, from Oct 16-20, at Weston Regional Park. West Broward Bike Polo will be hosting the championship, with over 60 teams traveling from far and wide to participate. Volunteers and spectators alike are welcome.

CAVALIER STAT BOX

Varsity Football Cavaliers

OCT 10

@ South Ridge

Cavaliers

OCT 18 GONE WITH THE WIND: The Coral Gables Sailing club, consisting of eight members, practices every Saturday and Sunday at the Coral Reef Yacht Club in preparation for their first regatta happening on Nov 2 and the rest of their season.

November

MARK THE DATE Varsity

Coral Park

High

vs Cavaliers 42 - 0 W

@ CGHS

Girls Volleyball

STAFF WRITER

‘‘

Killian

vs Miami 37-0 W

@Curtis Park

OCT 24

By Avery Budin

meet the requirements of an $18 club fee, prior experience, and current enrollment in a sailing competitive team out of school. Practice is being held twice a week, every Saturday and Sunday at the Coral Reef Yacht Club (CRYC) in Coconut After a slippery ride, a new addition has been made to Grove, where six members of the sailing club practice regularly, community: the Coral Gables Sailing Club. Founded by junior and is led by the sailing coach at the Club. Members are now Rachel Ellis with the help of other competitive sailors attending using double-handed boats known as 420s, as well as Laser the school, the new team is making its way into the private Radial single-handed boats, provided by the CRYC. school dominated sport. With the competition season underway, the team has already After noticing the opportunities to compete in regatta registered to compete in their first regatta on Nov 2. competitions alongside private schools, Ellis decided it was The Sailing Club aspires to raise time for Gables students to take on enough money to purchase team new challenges. Months after the Luckily we’ve been able to equipment in the future, and to open the original proposal, the Interscholastic create a club that is eligible to club up to any individuals interested Sailing Association (ISSA) granted compete in regattas. in learning the basics of sailing. Until approval for a sailing club to be Sofia Bratt, then, the club will be working towards established, with the requirements expanding itself and assimilating into the that it remain unaffiliated with the sophomore private school competition arena. school; although its members must “Ever since I began attending Gables, I’ve wanted to start still be enrolled at the school. a sailing team. Luckily we’ve been able to create a club that is The startup of the club has faced many obstacles including eligible to compete in regattas, but hopefully in the near future financial support and membership, but it is making headway it will become associated with the school and eventually turn into creating a larger program with greater financial stability. As of October, there were eight members in the club who had to into a varsity sport,” said sophomore Sofia Bratt.

vs 7 - 21 L

OCT 8

vs 0-3 W

Cavaliers

Ferguson

vs 3-0 L

Cavaliers

vs 0-3 L

South West

@ CGHS

OCT 10

@ CGHS

OCT 22

OCT 8

South Miami

@ Braddock

Boys Bowling Coral Park

@ Bird Bowl

vs 5-2 L

OCT 14 Miami Christian @ Bird Bowl

OCT 15

Columbus

@ Bird Bowl

Cavaliers

vs 7-0 L

Cavaliers

vs 7-0 L

Cavaliers

to support our athletic teams and cheer them on!

Girls Varsity

Boys Varsity

7 13 18 22

Football vs. Southwest

Thurs. at 7:00 p.m. at Tropical Park

Soccer

vs. MAST Academy Wed. at 4:00 p.m. at MAST Academy

Soccer

Basketball

Mon. at 4:00 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High

Fri. at 7:30 p.m. at Christopher Columbus HS

vs. Braddock

vs. Columbus

the scene

highlights November 2013

grab good grub

A combination of new and old, traditional and modern, these Miami restaurants are perfect for a simple, no-frill meal.

Donut Deception By Sydney Scanlon

Sydney Scanlon/highlights

STAFF WRITER

DONUT HAVE DOUGHNUTS: Located in a very simple Key Biscayne strip mall, the Doughnut Gallery does not actually offer doughnuts on their menu.

Arbetter’s: Miami tradition By Angelika Menendez STAFF WRITER

Angelika Menendez/highlights

As you exit your car to enter the small, brightly colored hot dog stand, you are greeted by the aroma of hot dogs and french fries. Arbetter’s Hot Dogs is a family run restaurant that has been open since the 1960s, and continues to keep customers happy with its assortment of hot dogs. The restaurant has outdoor seating for those who would prefer not to sit in the crowded inside area, and if you don’t want to eat there you can take your meal to go. Around lunch time the restaurant is packed with customers who want a quick, economically priced bite to eat. Arbetter’s is a great place to go after school or when you want to hang out with your friends and eat. The prices range from $2 – $5

depending on the kind of hot dog you want. Options are limited to a hot dog, a corn dog, a cheese dog, a chili dog, or a chilly cheese dog, along with a side of french fries, cheese fries, or chili fries. Refreshments cost $1.15 and refills cost 25 cents, but to get a free refill all a customer has to say is “I love Larry Bird” or “I love Bob Cousy.” The hot dog joint is owned by avid Boston sports fans, so the walls are decorated with paraphernalia from Miami and Boston teams and the owners even offer a free bowl of baked beans to any customer if the Red Sox win the World Series. The restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. from Sundays to Thursdays, and from 11:00 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. They do not accept credit cards, but have an ATM for customers who need to get cash.

The Donut Gallery on Key Biscayne may be missing doughnuts, but it is famous for its breakfast and lunch. It is open every day from 5:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is one of the top dives in Key Biscayne. Opened in 1972 by Benjamin Zambrano, the classic diner has been owned by the same family for over 40 years. It was passed down to Zambrano’s son Nelson and his wife Ota, who still own it today. It has been frequented by the likes of tennis player Andy Murray, baseball player Cal Ripken Jr., politician Newt Gingrich, and by loyal customers and tourists alike. Alhough the restaurant only seats 24 customers at a time, people will wait for a table since everyone loves the family-style diner with its vinyl seats.

Sophomore Raphaela Game always walks to the Gallery. She loves its noisy but homey atmosphere. “My favorite thing to get is the chocolate chip pancakes; I drench them in syrup,” said Game. As diners eat, they will hear the bell chime as customers walk in followed by “Hey Lori!” Lori del Hoyo has been working at the Gallery for 28 years; she knows many of the customers by name and knows what they regularly order. Del Hoyo explained that the reason the restaurant opens so early is to cater to early-risers and teenagers returning from late-night parties. “What makes The Donut Gallery special are the customers,” said Del Hoyo. The staff recommends the “Ted Special,” which is an English Muffin topped with bacon, ham, eggs, tomato and melted cheese. And don’t forget: this restaurant is cash-only!

Momi Ramen madness By Araceli Sanchez STAFF WRITER

Hidden behind other popular Brickell hot spots, Momi Ramen serves dishes unique to the Miami food scene. Momi offers a refreshing change from the typical idea of ramen noodles, a cheap and quick food that can fill you up. Here at Momi, the chef-owner adds his personal touch to the popular Japanese food by adding unique ingredients and food preparations that are not common in other restaurants of this type. According to the chef, the secret to these delicious noodles is that they are made fresh daily and never reach the refrigerator; they are just served hot and fresh to your bowl. This means these noodles taste nothing like the just-addwater version of ramen noodles that most people are familiar with. They claim that health is their number one concern, and they make their noodles with no preservatives. The tiny restaurant may be easy to miss among the clutter of the popular Brickell scene. The owner keeps the menu small, and offers very few choices

including large platters of noodles, salads served in stainless steel bowls and various beverages and appetizers, but he is constantly changing the menu and adding various toppings to the dishes, which is why the menu is never posted on the Momi website. Many of the homemade noodles feature pork broth which is made fresh but is obviously not vegetarian. In fact, most of the menu is not vegetarian friendly. Although closed on Mondays, Momi is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. – 12 a.m. The noodle dishes may be considered on the pricey side, but the platters are big enough to share. The tiny restaurant hosts a communal table and a few other eating spaces, but its wood and metal design makes it feel spacious, clean, and open. The kitchen is open to the restaurant so hungry patrons can watch their food being prepared through a clear panel, ensuring that food comes hot and fresh to the table. Momi only accepts cash, so make sure to have money on hand for your meal. Momi Ramen is located at 5 SW 11th Street, welcoming you to indulge in ramen noodles with a unique twist.

The Rose Bandits Cycling Team promotes women’s cycling, a healthy lifestyle, community events& education of our members.

305 -778 -6370

Facebook: Rose Bandits

WEINERMANIA: With its bright red awnings and cozy outdoor seating area, Arbetter’s humble location has been serving hot dogs for over 50 years.

South Miami 1559 Sunset Drive

10% OFF Your Check (305) 668.0396 Dine – In Only Not Valid w/Other Offers or Specials

South Miami 1559 Sunset Drive

Buy 10 Wings get 6 Free (305) 668.0396 Dine – In Only Not Valid w/Other Offers or Specials

Find Your Sports Grill @ sportsgrillmiami.com

www.rosebandit.com

rosebandit.racing @gmail.com

We want to offer female CGHS students to be part of our movement! Exclusive discounts on group road or mountain bike lessons - from “clipping in”, turning, handling skills, pedal stroke to bike maintenance. Please contact us at rosebandit.racing@gmail.com or call 305 778 6370 for more info.

the scene

highlights November 2013

The practical guide to:

MIAMI'S ArT FAIrS THE SCENE EDITOR

Laura Acosta/highlights

As November comes to a close, Miami starts to see the beginning of an annual occurrence: the invasion of the art fairs. Usually taking place during the first week of December, these massive events are scattered across the city, bringing in tourists and locals alike to get a glimpse of the art from all around the world. Going to a few art fairs can be fun for a high school student, but students are not millionaires who can come down to Miami for a weekend to buy a few paintings. Tickets can be very expensive and additional expenses can make the fairs go way over a typical student budget. Knowing exactly how to tackle an art fair is the key to making the experience worthwhile. A majority of first-time art fair visitors head straight towards the first art fair to come to Miami, Art Basel. Basel is the most mentioned art fair, but that does not make it the best art fair, or the only art fair. With just one ticket costing you $42, it may be smarter to go to some of the less known art fairs, where the entrance fee is half of that such as Art Miami and Arte Americas. There are plenty of things to see at the other events, maybe even similar pieces to what you might see at Art Basel. Just because Kanye West spends his time at Art Basel, does not mean

Move over for Miami museums

you have to be there. Additionally, it is important to find out what fair really interests you. Different art fairs cater to different tastes, usually apparent with a quick visit to a fair’s website. There are even fairs like Design Miami, allowing visitors to see modern design, rather than typical forms of art. There are fairs all over the city. Know where you are going. If you just stagger over to Wynwood expecting to find something, chances are you may miss what you were originally looking for. A large amount of fairs take place in Miami Beach, so do appropriate research on your art fair of choice.

Laura Acosta/highlights

By Laura Acosta

By Araceli Sanchez STAFF WRITER

ART ALL OVER: (Top left) Visitors of the Art Miami fair in Wynwood closely examine a Hyperrealistic painting. (Top right) A maze of galleries representing art from different regions across the Americas give art enthusiasts plenty to see at Arte Americas. (Bottom right) While currently under construction, this computer rendering shows what PAMM will look like upon its completion.

Courtesy of PAMM

This December, Miami will welcome yet another art museum to the community. Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) will open its doors to many art lovers this winter during Art Basel Miami Beach. Along with the neighboring Patricia and Philip Frost Museum of Science (opening in 2015), PAMM will be an important part of the museum complex, which is under development in downtown Miami, more specifically in Miami’s Museum Park. With its unique architectural design inspired by the historic Stiltsville in Biscayne Bay, PAMM will add a new venue for cultural events and advance the art scene in Miami. The aim of the museum is to showcase works that are in tune with the growing diversity of Miami’s immigrant population, and will focus on works that embrace the cultures of the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. They are also trying to support local artists and performers so that they can have new opportunities to display their art forms. PAMM plans to offer a variety of educational programs and learning opportunities for future artists, art lovers, and people of all ages. The permanent collection will feature works from the 1930s to present day modern art, and mostly display work from the Western Hemisphere. There will also be constant changes in the guest exhibits, featuring artists from around the world with diverse and unique styles of painting. In addition to this work, PAMM will feature artist talks, academic lectures, and artist performances of a variety of genres. Plans also include the opening of a waterfront restaurant overlooking a beautiful view of Biscayne Bay. PAMM will offer free admission every second Saturday of the month for a family friendly event to create and view artwork, and every first Thursday of the month to explore the museum and enjoy lectures and screenings from different artists. The museum will be closed to the public on Monday, but will be open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday and from 6 – 9 p.m. on Thursday evenings. Excitement about the new museum is building in the local art community, and many art lovers are waiting on the edge of their seats for December to come around in order to experience PAMM for themselves.