Issue 1, Vol. 60

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highlights

THE NEW NORMAL IN THIS ISSUE: Cheer at UCA, pg. 20 Icy n’ Spicy, pg. 27

Coral Gables SHS |

Issue 1, Volume 60

|

450 Bird Road, Coral Gables, FL 33146

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preview

highlights

editorial board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Business Manager Social Media Manager Adviser Online Features News Opinion Sports The Scene Insight

Alexandra Torres Estelle Erwich Alexander Sutton Ruben Escobar Grace Rodriguez Melissa Gonzalez Natalia Pallas Hanna Ebrahimi Oraida Rodriguez Kevin Monjarrez Sara Ebrahimi Arianna Peña Aya Hamza & Isabella Villarroel

staff writers Isabella Ahumada Camila Aitken Lisbeth Arrieta Barbara Borja Mercedes Debesa Dilan Denham Sharon Florez Alia Gamez Sandra Hanuschik Laura Hernandez Miguel Lemus Alma Martinez Jonathan Mesa Isabella Morales

In this issue

Thomas Morcillo Melanie Nunez Alexa Orozco Celine Perez Addys Plata Nataly Rabelo Marta Rodriguez Isabel Quintanilla Maya Shah Kerly Soto Emma Vela Gregoire Winston Austin Yagoda

publication policy highlights is the official student-produced news magazine at Coral Gables Senior High School published and produced by highlights staff members. highlights has been established as a designated public forum for student journalists to educate and inform their readers on issues of concern to their audience and dissemination of news and ideas to the entire school community.

As the producer of a scholastic publication, highlights subscribes to the responsibilities set forth by the National Scholastic Press Association Code of Ethics for scholastic journalists and advisers. According to Miami-Dade County Public School Policy, student media is not subject to prior-review by administration or district personnel and as such, all content is determined by and reflects the views of the student staff members only. highlights welcomes reader feedback. All letters should be addressed to highlightscghs@gmail.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor.” highlights reserves the right to publish any letter sent.

pg.22

courtesy of Thais Forbes

Features 4 Meet the board 6 Lessons beyond the classroom

News 10 Puerto Rico's political crisis 12 AOF Interns left unpaid

Opinion 14 Trump’s twitter rhetoric 18 School construction wreaks havoc

Sports 19 Sexual abuse in sports 21 Lilliana Bonner: competitive sailing

The Scene 24 Battle of the Cuban sandwiches 26 Thrifting with a cause

Insight 28 The evolution of the nuclear family

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summer session

Grace Rodriguez / highlights

GABLES GOES LIVE: GablesLive! students familiarize themselves with the auditorium lighting equipment.

pictures

PAINTING PERFECTION: Students help teacher Natalie De la Vega prepare for the new year by painting their classrooms.

Laura Hernandez / highlights

MAKING THE MOLD: Ceramics students prepare pieces for teacher appreciation week.

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AS THE DECADE COMES TO a close, the school seems to be preparingfor a new era. Along with the excitement, nerves and perhaps slight dread that this new year brings, change is an unavoidable aspect during this transitionary period. With new classes, new teachers, new students and even a new construction site taking up a majority of campus (pg.18), the changing atmosphere is palpable. New waves in culture have taken the world by storm. As 2020 approaches, diversity seems to be evermore present in all aspects of life — from sports, to pop culture to families. Twenty years ago, picket fences, stay-at-home moms and smiling white children were synonymous with the nuclear family (pg.

28). Today, multi-racial, single-parent and same-sex families are now the new normal.

After the Larry Nassar scandal rocked the nation, law enforcement is finally beginning to battle the sexual abuse epidemic that has

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: The Gablettes dance team warm up for the year with summer intensives.

from the editors become ingrained in sports culture (pg. 19).

Meanwhile, new sports have begun to emerge, and inclusivity has reached its peak. Gone are the days where women in sports are frowned upon. Junior Lilliana Bonner (pg. 21) has taken up sailing and sophomore Thais Forbes (pg. 22) is breaking gender stereotypes in the golf world.

Perhaps the biggest change is the upcoming presidential election. With over 20 democratic candidates, this will be the most populated presidential race in history, albeit the most diverse. Six women, three African-Americans and two Hispanics are among some of the candidates challenging the political status quo.

Closer to home, the centuries-old Cuban sandwich has been continuously evolving, and highlights has officially crowned a champion (pg. 24).

Sanguich de Miami’s classic Cuban sandwich is the epitome of perfection and an example of how sometimes, things are better left unchanged.

As the school year begins, keep in mind that

some of the most important lessons you will learn are not from a textbook, but rather from the trials and tribulations that teachers have faced (pg. 6). English teachers Michelle Zaldivar, Margarite DePaola and history teacher Kathryn Landsea can all attest to this.

The challenges they have faced now aid them as teachers as they can spread the lessons not often found in a textbook. Often times, more change is brought along by life experiences than by tests and assignments. As constant as change is, the decision that follows it is also unavoidable — to embrace it, or to fight it.

So do not shy away from change.

Welcome it with open arms.Without change, there would be no future.

Sincerely, Alexandra Torres and Estelle Erwich

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features

the Alexandra Torres Editor-in-Chief

Estelle Erwich Managing Editor

Alexander Sutton Copy Editor

Melissa Gonzalez Advisor

“In the kitchen, wrist twistin’ like it’s stir fry.”

“I’m a star. I’m a great, big shining star!”

“A selfie a day is the sauciest way.”

“Don’t drag my desks!”

Hanna Ebrahimi Features Editor

Oraida Rodriguez News Editor

Kevin Monjarrez Opinion Editor

Sara Ebrahimi Sports Editor

“Ding, Dong! Your opinion is wrong.”

“Future Miami Heat bench warmer.”

“You’re NOT my dad!”

Thomas Morcillo/highlights

“Princess Consuela BanHANNA Hammock.”

Arianna Peña The Scene Editor

Aya Hamza Co-Insight Editor

“Self-proclaimed 80s child.”

“R.B.G.? More like A.Y.A.”

HALL TALK The highlights staff records what students are talking about during summer activities.

Isabella Villarroel Co-Insight Editor “Got my head in the clouds.”

Natalia Pallas Online Editor

Ruben Escobar Business Manager

“Make highlights Great Again.”

“That’s all for me Gables...”

Grace Rodriguez Social Media Manager “Anything for the aesthetic.”

“To whoever has my voodoo doll, please scratch between my butt cheeks. I am in public.”

“When I was little I dreamt of becoming a dictator.”

“They should make wires for AirPods.”

“Why do people drown when they can just drink the water?”

“You wouldn’t sell your feet for a sticker?”

“That’s Hebrew? Oh yeah, you read Muslim.”

HIGH GEAR

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features

Junior Olbin Gil ignites his engineering career, creating a product that will combat Miami’s heat

BY MELANIE NUÑEZ, STAFF WRITER

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an effective inventor, including his ability to learn things on his own and recuperate after failure. Brown provided Gil with sage advice on how to start a business and establish contacts that would push him in the right direction.

Despite developing a successful product, Gil often struggled with self-doubt. He worried that due to his lack of formal qualifications, he would not prosper. However, Gil went on to be successful both because of and in spite of being his own biggest critic.

“You do not need to come out of the Wharton School to create a great business. The challenge is executing [the business] at a grand scale,” Gil said.

Gil does not plan to stop after Flow’s release. He intends on applying to Massachusetts Insitute of Technology to study engineering. Gil wishes to pursue a career in the technology industry and make a lasting impact on the world and his community alike.

As for Flow, he plans to grow the company by expanding his line of products.

Regardless of the path he chooses to take, Gil’s persistence is guaranteed to propel him forward.

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NSPIRED BY MIAMI’S HUMID as well as financial support from his parents, climate, junior Olbin Gil is swinging he plans to continue to develop his brand. The into high gear. Whether he is NFTE national competition will take place on impressing judges w]ith his business skills Oct. 16, and Gil hopes to win the cash prize or posting blueprints on his social media, of over $10,000 to invest into manufacturing there is never a dull moment for this young future products for his brand. His strategy to engineer. Gil devised an innovative product win nationals is to perfect his design and begin that has the potential to help millions selling the product to highlight the appeal to of Floridians avoid the inevitable heat. the consumer base.

“A [baseball] cap is not enough to drive Hard work and ambition pushed Gil onto the humidity and sweat from your body, so I created an alternative approach,” Gil said.

Gil’s prototype, Flow’s Personal Portable Fan, is unique from other similar products on the market. While most fans are heavy and inconvenient to carry around, Gil’s is portable, refined and lightweight.

“What makes this device a valuable product is the internal blade mechanism, which Courtesy of Olbin Gil prompts a sleek and stylish look on the exterior while enforcing a strong breeze to your neck,” Gil said. “This mechanism works by creating BRILLIANT BLUEPRINT: Junior Olbin a difference of pressure inside of the fan Gil’s complex draft highlights his notable that will allow it to absorb more air from a engineering skills. second intake, therefore amplifying the air and creating a breeze for [the customer] to enjoy with discreteness and comfort.” a path of prosperity. While instructed by Gil’s product will retail on Amazon for $25 business experts like Vkostik Vladimir and later this year in an assortment of colors, with his entrepreneurship teacher Niki Brown, he a customizable lanyard for an additional fee. learned the skills required to construct a Gil’s first taste of business and engineering feasible business plan. was through his involvement with Future “[Gil’s] ambition and desire to Business Leaders of America and Engineering create is what got him where he is Club, but his connection with the Network now,” Brown said. “He has an For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)—a entrepreneur’s mindset.” national program that allows students to learn In the process of working about entrepreneurship through competitions— together, Brown admired sparked the flame that would become his the qualities Gil business. possessed Through his that made participation with the him organization, Gil went on to win the NFTE ighlights i/ h im Bizcamp sectional ah and regional competitions, providing him with the confidence and resources to start his business. With the help of these rewards,

the extra mile to ensure a perfect product for consumers.

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CHARISMATIC CEO: Junior Olbin Gil goes

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Lessons Beyond The Classroom

features

Teachers share their untold stories in hopes of reaching their students in ways a textbook cannot

BY ADDYS PLATA AND EMMA VELA, STAFF WRITERS

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tudents walk into class every day to listen to 90-minute lectures that are intended to prepare them for upcoming assignments and exams, rarely considering their teachers’ pasts or the obstacles they have overcome in their lives before they knew them. With a heavy emphasis on garnering high test scores within the public school system, teachers are often

forced to direct all their attention towards new techniques that cover as much of the curriculum as possible. This leaves little to no time for the teachers to explore their personal narratives that can benefit students with the life lessons they uphold. These true lessons come from the wisdom attained through real-life experiences.

For English teachers Michelle Zaldivar and

Margarite DePaola and history teacher Kathryn Landsea, unanticipated obstacles in their lives resulted in the character and perseverance they exhibit in their daily lives on campus.

The humanity of a teacher can often be lost in homework assignments and lesson plans, but there is more one can learn from a teacher than what is displayed on their Promethean board.

Margarite DePaola After a seemingly ordinary childhood, English teacher Margarite DePaola could have never imagined the rest of her life dealing with a life-changing secret and profound trust issues. Thus, when her mother faced a series of recurring medical complications in 1997, a shocking diagnosis immediately left DePaola in disbelief. Her mother had been diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), an illness she had acquired nearly seven years before, but had never addressed.

For DePaola, the relationship she had built on trust and love between herself and her mother quickly took a toll and created doubts and concerns about every aspect of her life.

She connected the dots, and it became clear that the real reason her mother never shared drinking cups and was very private with her toiletries was because of the stigma held in the 1980s that HIV could be transmitted through saliva. Among other reasons, DePaola’s mother was afraid that if she acknowledged her disease, she could lose her health insurance or her job.

DePaola soon questioned whether

her mom had lied about other things. Had she avoided the truth about her health to protect DePaola from the emotional pain it could cause?

Would she be present for important events in her life, such as her wedding and the birth of her children?

DePaola began to develop a n x i e t y, thinking that at any minute s h e

Addys Plata/ highlights

could lose her mother to the virus. This fear kindled unhealthy attachments to toxic friends and past relationships.

Though the journey to healing was difficult, it was through unconditional love and therapy that DePaola and her mother worked on forgiveness and learned that they were both capable of rebuilding their relationship.

“This is the toughest thing I have ever had to deal with and one of my biggest life challenges, but look, here I am, talking to you, spreading my mom’s love around.

[My] mom would come to Interact meetings to talk about living with HIV. She worked through her shame that way,” DePaola said.

In 2015, DePaola’s mother was able to witness the birth of her grandchild, both a relief and profound joy for DePaola.

“If I had to go on this journey and have this ‘experience’ again I would not want it with anyone else but my mom. I am who I am because of her. My students have the teacher they have because of what I have gone through,” DePaola said. “I will be there for them and my daughter as my mom was there for [me and my siblings].”

Michelle Zaldivar

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Zaldivar’s upbringing strays from the common narrative. In May of 1990 — days before her second birthday — her father was sent to prison for being the leader, organizer and supervisor of a continuing criminal enterprise. She suddenly became another statistic under which her mother had to bear the responsibility of both parents.

She was oblivious to her family’s unparalleled circumstances until other children began

questioning her about her father’s whereabouts.

As a child, she found it difficult to comprehend why she had to face the consequences of crimes she did not commit.

“All my crimes were committed before my kids were born. Afterwards, it was just the matter that I was already a fugitive,” her father Miguel Zaldivar said. “It is very painful seeing your kids grow up [from a prison cell].”

Unlike her peers, who were accustomed to lives adhered to the standard nuclear family model, Zaldivar only saw her father when she visited a prison. Despite this hindrance to her relationship with her father, she was grateful for the few opportunities she had to build a relationship with him.

Initially, Zaldivar’s father was sentenced to 50 years, but his sentence was later reduced to 25 years. As he was transferred from the United States Penitentiary Leavenworth in Kansas to Her Majesty’s Prison in the Bahamas, Zaldivar’s weekend plans were quickly occupied with visits to federal prison.

Grappling with the impact of

Kathryn Landsea

Kathryn Landsea, best known for her extensive knowledge in European history, skill in teaching and the care she shows for her students, did not learn her greatest lesson from a history book.

In May of 1989, when she was 16 years old, Landsea sat in the driver’s seat of her car and drove her three friends—Julie Diehl, Cathy Allen and David Connolly—home from school.While speeding down a curved road in her neighborhood, she lost control of her car and crashed into a tree. Allen sprained her ankle, Connolly fractured his arm and Landsea obtained a massive gash across her face. Unfortunately, Diehl had more substantial injuries, including brain damage and a shattered elbow.

It took months and numerous surgeries for her to begin healing. Due to the damage, she attended her graduation in a wheelchair and had to defer her admission to the University of Virginia until the second semester. Additionally, Connolly lost his athletic scholarship to play lacrosse for Villanova University in the fall.

Not only was her mind, both consciously and unconsciously reminding her of what she had done, but the accident was an open door for others to express their anger towards her and the mistake she would come to regret for the rest of her life.

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her father’s absense and consistently missing out on plans with her peers, Zaldivar inevitably struggled with her self-esteem and sense of identity during her teenage years.

Among the most difficult consequences of her dad’s incarceration was that he was unable to attend milestone events like her high school graduation or 16th birthday. Nonetheless, life without a father figure ingrained a sense of independence and perseverance that she may not have developed otherwise.

When her father was released from prison, it was challenging for the pair to adjust to a new chapter of life together. Zaldivar insists that although life with a family member in prison comes with its challenges, it does not have to determine the type of life people lead for the remainder of their existence.

“Life is hard, but it does not have to shape who you are. The kinds of obstacles that you face now are just a small reflection of those that you will continue to face and fight for the rest of your life. Now is when you decide who you are and how you are going to deal with those things,” Zaldivar said.

The year after the accident, her parents was nonetheless a sensitive topic for Landsea to bought her another car. Students that were angry discuss with others. Once she started teaching, about the outcome the accident were quick to she became more open to the discussion and react. The first day she drove it to school, the began telling her students the story, in hopes car was vandalized. of making an impression on them as they For years, Landsea continued to feel guilt approached the driving age. for the byproduct of her irresponsible driving.

She now fully understands the importance She continued to blame herself and felt of leading the car responsibly and staying responsible for what Diehl’s unchosen future focused behind the wheel, because became. Although their relationship was the consequences to be faced destroyed short term, Landsea and Diehl for reckless driving are not rekindled their bond as adults and stand worth the allotted years as support systems for one another as the of grief and regret. anniversary of the accident approaches.

By sharing their “[Diehl] spent years in pain because stories and personal of my choices and her family suffered grievances, teachers because of me as well. I have mostly have the power forgiven myself, but I still feel guilty to help students sometimes. I always reach out to her on who struggle the anniversary of the accident and it through similar was not until this year that she said situations. h something I realized I needed to hear so much: she told me she forgave me,” Landsea said. “I waited 30 years to hear those words, once I heard them, it helped me forgive myself. It was the greatest thing to hear.”

While learning to forgive Emma Vela/highlights herself and heal, the accident

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in BRIEF

NEWS REVIEW

news

CALENDAR AUGUST 29: PICTURE DAY

SEPTEMBER 2: LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL

SEPTEMBER 13: CLUB FAIR

SEPTEMBER 24: OPEN HOUSE

CONGRATS Seniors Aleksander Aguilar, Jonathan Mesa, Adrian Padilla, Charles Sommer, Richard Smithies and Nicolas Saliamonas for participating and placing top 10 in the nation in the Sage Global Business Competition this past summer. Qualifying as a semifinalist, Smithies, Padilla and Sommer offered their business plan Helios Mining as an answer to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a renewable energy source.

C.A.R.S. GOES DISTRICT WIDE The Coral Gables administration created the College Application Readiness Symposium (CARS), a program designed to assist rising seniors through the college application process with workshops and activities, serving as an aid for the school’s rising seniors each year. The success of the program has garnered the attention of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, becoming his districtwide initiative.

“If the district is on board then we’ll have more resources available, not just to have this in all schools but to make it even bigger and better at our own school,” college assistance program advisor Khushnuma Driver said.

Carvalho hopes to bridge the gap for low income students to provide them the resources for college planning.

GABLES MEDICAL LAUNCH For the upcoming school year, Gables Medical Leaders, a new club and branch of Science National Honor Society will “offer a motivating, enriching environment for ambitious students,” senior and club founder Yazmin Quevedo said.

The club promotes itself as a place for students interested in the health sciences to further their knowledge on related topics, participate in programs, and attend field trips that allow them to explore their future career. Their monthly meetings will offer unique experiences such as learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to measure blood pressure. Overall, students can approach the board members for advice on applying to programs involving pre-health sciences.

SEARCH FOR MUSIC TEACHER With the departure of both music teachers, the school has found a new teacher — Krystal Espada — to manage all music classes as well as music-related clubs such as Divisi, Tri-M, Gables Guard and Band of Distinction. The school had been searching since the summer due to the resignation of both Gerardo Brenes — previous choir director— and Carlos Hernandez — previous band director. Gablette and dance director Erika Diaz will take over the role of academy leader, following former academy leader Carlos Hernandez’s leave.

“We do need a band director to practice after school, we need a band director compete, we need a band director to provide music for us to dance to,” junior Sophia Leon said. h

UNPAID INTERNS

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ACADEMY OF FINANCE STUDENTS FEARED THEY WOULD NOT MEET AOF CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AFTER NOT BEING PAID BY MDCPS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

news

BY CAMILA AITKEN, STAFF WRITER

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S THE SUMMER MONTHS commenced and students began internships, several had found themselves working in places that could not afford to pay them. As a result, students part of the Academy of Finance (AOF) were at risk of not receiving their AOF certificate due to them not meeting the internship requirements.

AOF students are obligated to attain a paid internship of a minimum of $500 in order to receive the Academy of Finance certification, usually doing so during the summer months.

These students are given the opportunity to gather experience and polish their resumes while trying out various activities and fields of work through the school. The school became the vessel for students to find those internships and recently, the National Academy of Finance (NAF), has been offering an extra incentive on top of work experience for their interns, payment. However, this summer, too many students had been accepted internships, meaning the abundance of students could not all be compensated. For those that were impacted, lead teacher of the Academy of Finance, Natasha Lopez, had found businesses during summer for some students to work. She had managed to guide some of her students through the application and hiring process, and eventually, land internships for some. Regardless, as for those few who could not acquire any other internships during the summer, the school will attempt to aid them during school months to meet the AOF certification requirement.

“Some of [Lopez’s] kids got the news that they were not placed or getting paid, and she came in on her own free time in the summertime and found places for them to go work to make sure they got the internship provided for,” Activities Director Ana Suarez said.

The internships were promoted by the National Academy of Finance (NAF), which

came from partnerships with companies that provided payment as well. Since reimbursement was promised, students were relying on their paid summer internship for the AOF diploma.

Now, after a certain amount of students had the summer internship not work in their favor, they may need to complete internships during the school months in order to meet the requirements.

“

“SOME OF [LOPEZ’S] KIDS GOT THE NEWS THAT THEY WERE NOT PLACED OR GETTING PAID, AND SHE CAME IN ON HER OWN FREE TIME IN THE SUMMERTIME AND FOUND PLACES FOR THEM TO GO WORK TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT THE INTERNSHIP PROVIDED FOR.” ANA SUAREZ, ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR

Once the school gives students the information they need for the internship program and finds them appropriate employers, it is out of the school’s hands. From then on, the student becomes the responsibility of the individual employer.

“The lack of compensation was an issue with the district’s third party, or whoever sets up the internships,” principal Adolfo L. Costa said.

As of now, surveys have been sent out, asking students questions about their summer internships. This will give the school a more accurate understanding of what occurred during the time the students were working and the complications that they faced their payment.

The issue seems to stem from the miscalculation of the amount of hired interns. In the past, the district had accepted a very small amount of students for the program. However this year, to counteract that issue, too many students were selected, causing an abundance of workers and the shortage in funds. When the program realized that they had hired students over what they could afford, they offered them volunteer hours in return for the work. Despite the new incentive to stay, it was still enough for certain students to leave their internships entirely.

“I first received a call from the Dual Enrollment office and they said I wasn’t in the system. They didn’t know if it was too late for me to get into the system. I received this call one week into the internship. The office then said I could work for hours instead, but I told them I don’t work for free,” Senior Susan Fernandez said.

Despite the backlash for the mistake, many students working towards graduation, searching for ways to resolve the AOF certification requirement. Just as the new school year starts, so may the prospects of interning without worrying about the possibility of receiving less to no compensation than what was expected.

“Things happen. Adjustments are made.

It’s happened to us in different things that we’ve done, but the important part is that the community continues to provide the funding and open the doors for students of high school age to get into a business setting and be an intern because that’s the important part, whether it’s h paid or not.” Costa said.

Quick Facts

$

On average, students that have completed internship programs earn

15% more than those who

did not participate in internships.

After

graduation,

seniors are

30% likely

to be given a job offer, however those with internship experience

are

58%

likely.

Source: Purdue University Northwest

10 news

The Puerto Rican Crisis

Puerto Rico struggles to stabilize their government and find a replacement for disgraced Governor Ricardo Rosselló

BY LAURA HERNANDEZ, STAFF WRITER

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ESSAGES between Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and 11 other men were revealed to the public on July 9, 2019, detailing offensive comments regarding members of the Puerto Rican government and comments belittling victims of Hurricane María. The 889 messages were released by Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism and the reports shocked the island due to the fact that the messages came from a trusted, harmless official. Puerto Rican citizens spoke their minds on social media regarding the scandal, deriding the governor’s inability to deal with the bankruptcy and debt of the U.S. territory alongside the mishandling of supplies and funds for personal reasons.

“There are still many people in Puerto Rico without homes due to the hurricane and he has not done anything to help the people of Puerto Rico. To hear that, it was just absolutely disgusting,” junior Michael Toimil said.

Citizens from all over Puerto Rico held peaceful protests on Wednesday, July 14, 2019, in the searing sun on the streets of Old San Juan, where they demanded Rosselló’s resignation.

The outrage from the crowds was also due to Rosselló being largely connected with five members of the Puerto Rican Board of Education who illegally took government money and distributed it to underhanded businesses. About $15.5 million was transferred from government storage to these businesses between 2018 and 2019, with most of the people involved in the fraud having already been fired or resigning from their positions.

Rosselló, however, remained in power, saying he refused to let the leaked messages and rumors about his involvement in the fraud distract him from working towards his continued government involvement and re-election.

“Rosselló not accepting his own mistakes and not listening to public criticisms only proved how much of a bad governor he was, he wouldn’t listen to the people’s demands,” junior Lorena Garateix Vicente, said.

Despite a large push for impeachment,

Rosselló was never forcefully removed from office due to pressure from the New Progressive Party, which makes up the majority of both government houses in Puerto Rico and supported Rosselló’s election campaign.

The speaker for the New Progressive Party, Carlos Mendez Nuñez, said the party did not support starting the impeachment proceedings against the governor unless his actions became more destructive. The New Progressive Party refusing to impeach Rosselló angered many Puerto Rican citizens, further fueling their will to protest against the governor and their desire to support other candidates in the fight for political stability.

“I was completely shocked and outraged by the fact that he was connected with a $15.5 million dollar tax fraud. Not only was this a selfish act and extremely disrespectful to Puerto Ricans, it gives Puerto Rico a bad reputation and value,” junior Brenda Paugh, said.

Ultimately, Rosselló resigned on Aug. 2, after days of protests and pressure from the United States, including Puerto Rico. Hearing the news on the televised address, audiences gleefully celebrated his resignation. To many Puerto Ricans this meant their protests proved successful.

Before his leave, Rosselló appointed Pedro Pierluisi to be the next governor and Secretary of State.

Pierluisi promised to adhere to the voters and focus his governing and his decisions on the good of the people. Citizens of Puerto Rico disagreed on whether to let Pierluisi take the position of governor due to his business partnership and friendship with Rosselló.

“Everyone is scrambling right now and I think [the Puerto Rican government] needs to put their thinking caps on in regards to what they are going to do next, because the people want the island to progress and the right person to be in place,” Jazzlene Rivera, a Puerto Rican who participated in the protests and works with the school, said.

The island’s House of Representatives Pierluisi to the position and confirmed that he would not stated he

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back down from the fight to be governor after the Puerto Rican Senate filed a lawsuit against him.

The Puerto Rican Supreme Court, however, overturned the decision, removing Pierluisi from the position of governor. That same day, Wednesday, August 7, 2019, the Supreme Court swore in his replacement, Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez. Now governor, Vázquez promises to serve Puerto Rico and push it towards a brighter and more politically stable future.

Vázquez did not originally plan on being the next governor. She was against the position and was rightfully sworn in after The Supreme Court ruling of Pierluisi where she was the next. Still processing the quick changes from Rosselló as governor to Vázquez, Puerto Rican citizens wait to see the future of Puerto Rico, and nearly the whole country now continues to anticipate the success in clearing their debt and dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane María.

“I think the current state of affairs in Puerto Rico have been going on for a long time now and now that all these issues are coming to light after the messages, it is something that had been a long time coming and now is getting jumbled and crazy.”

“I was there in person. It was nice seeing the Puerto Rican people get together and put their hearts and souls into something important and I felt very proud to be Puerto Rican and that be part of that experience.”

“One of those leaked messages showed how they were insulting the people and joking about those who died during Hurricane Maria back in 2017. I’m glad many Puerto Rican’s stood up for what they believed was right and converged into a huge group to protest and show the world what was happening in Puerto Rico,”

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opinion

Conflict for profit

Companies have begun posing as progressive affiliates to generate attention and profits.

COMMENTARY BY THOMAS MORCILLO

S

INCE THE early 20th c e n t u r y , advertising has aimed to manipulate unconscious elements of human psychology to appeal to a consumer’s self-worth and create a want for a product in their mind. In today’s world of socially aware consumers, traditional ads featuring images of sex and power have fallen out of favor with an audience that wants products from companies presenting themselves as responsible. In the newest form of corporate manipulation, companies have targeted consumers’ morality by stating hollow affiliations with current social issues while still acting in their own self-interest. This unethical practice has created unnecessary and damaging conflict among opposing groups on social media to boost these corporations’ own brand awareness and profits.

Certain consumers who agree with these political stances may be encouraged to support brands with seemingly similar moral compasses.

However, these corporations have also caused several short-lived boycott movements, backlash on social media and even destruction of their products from a mostly conservative minority. Though this may seem like the opposite of good press, this outrage leads to companies themselves to becoming a talking

point and providing the corporation with an even greater level of exposure and attention, with the original ads being forgotten shortly after airing.

In September 2018, Nike launched an ad campaign featuring controversial former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, infamous for kneeling in protest during the national anthem, celebrating 30 years of their “Just Do It” slogan and the achievements of their athletes. The ad supporting Kaepernick’s activism was poorly received by conservative fans of the brand, immediately inciting the #BurnYourNikes and the sight of people destroying their functional Nike products. This impotent outrage of people burning their own property only further incentivized support for Nike’s message. For Nike, beginning the conversation in such a flamboyant way and becoming its focal point resulted in market exposure that no amount of ad-blocking could prevent, with the company receiving a spike of 61% in sales of soldout merchandise and a $6 billion increase in its market value, according to CBS. This phenomenon was a clearly intentional move to increase brand awareness due to these benefits, and Nike created chaos and conflict to profit from contentious political issues. After airing this ad campaign, it was visible that Nike’s strategy of commercializing a political movement for profit was effective. They have been successful in their goal of politically branding themselves and appealed to socially aware consumers looking to support a “socially conscious” corporation.

Another company which has tried to gain

students speak up

“

YOU SHOULD BE TARGETING YOUR AUDIENCE AND POLITICAL MOVEMENTS ARE NOT YOUR AUDIENCE.

“

-Lucas Gonzalez, junior

consumers by taking a stand is Gillette, who aired a #MeToo-supportive “short film” encouraging men to consider their actions and confront toxic masculinity through selfreflection. As a result, the company received the expected overwhelmingly negative response from conservative groups shaming the ad for what they felt was excessive blaming of men. The company was simultaneously being supported by progressive groups, and as a result of these two avenues, received similar exposure to that experienced by Nike’s ad campaign.

However, the brand’s actions are very different from the message of progressivism they were trying to convey. Gillette as a company continues to sell women’s products like razors at a premium s, marking them up to generate further profit from branding them as “women’s only” products. As they were supposedly championing gender equality, they were still actively profiting off the opposite.

These advertisements serve as examples to show that ultimately, corporations are simply trying to make consumers buy their products. Brands are not, and will never be, consumers’ friends or political representatives, and purchasing their products should not be considered as a strategy for participating in social causes and movements.

The commercialization of political movements is a deceptive practice that implies greater action than companies are often willing to take. This unethical, predatory practice creates unnecessary conflict and plays on the worst of consumer’s political impulses, only worsening a divide in the political spectrum for profit. h

“

“IT’S SMART BECAUSE POLITICS IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL. SO THEY’LL PROBABLY GET MORE ATTENTION.

“

-Walter Cartagena, junior

STAFF-ED: Gables’ new look

13

opinion

As construction looms over Gables, parking poses a great issue for student drivers.

P

ARKING MAY BE THE MOST mundane school activity in many students’ lives, but thanks to renovations covering a majority of the student parking lot, it could now be the most hectic. With construction work overseen by the school district leaving but a measly 132 parking spots left exclusively for students to duel over, it has become evident that the school should find an alternate solution for the rest of the student body that drives to school.

Unfortunately, although there is a great need for additional parking spaces, there seem to be few viable options available, leaving the remainder of student drivers to find a way to park without getting fined, towed or being late to school.

The construction is meant to remedy several problems ailing the school to prepare for the upcoming planned renovations. It is being run by the Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) school board and is largely out of the hands of school administration. The construction is a project stemming from the $1.2 billion bond given in 2012 to MDCPS. Though the situation will create inconvenience, it is not a reason to attack or demonize school staff or administration for the nuisance it is creating. Though the obstruction is not in their control, solutions to ease the major inconveniences caused by it is, and should be acted on quickly in order to minimize issues for students, teachers and staff alike.

In an attempt to avoid excess chaos caused by the construction, measures are being put in place to ensure less chaos, including a zero-tolerance policy requiring students to purchase a decal that would assign them parking spots. However, priority is reserved for students doing On the Job Training (OJT). The remaining spots will be distributed to seniors next,

Quick Facts

juniors after this and then to underclassmen.

Park and other surrounding businesses to “I like that we have assigned spots because allow students to park at a decreased rate. it guarantees that I am going to have a place “I’m currently awaiting a phone call from the to park every day,” senior Emily Kay said. parking authority that deals with Merrick to see if Although teachers should not be expected they’ll give us a better deal than what they normally to give up more of their morning class time, a do over there,” Principal Adolfo Costa said. simple way to ease the chaos the construction This would not only provide a safe parking will cause would be leniency in cases of space for student drivers but also ensure that they students being five or ten minutes late as a will not be late to school because of Merrick result of being stuck in excess traffic, walking Park’s proximity to the school. Principal Costa has long distances to find parking or getting stuck in also explored the option of St. Mark’s Lutheran an extra crowded hallway when outside paths Church across the street from the school’s front are closed. Teachers are only expected to do entrance, however, the location will most likely this though for the first not be a viable solution. few weeks of school Regarding the blockage and return to normal around the pavilion, halls schedules afterward. being more crowded than Punishments for before will evidently cause excess tardies could chaos and heavy foot result in students being traffic in between classes unfairly kept from and during lunches. On“Flexibility.

We school events, sports or campus activities such as extracurriculars. Some Club Fair or treat days will just all have to be students have no other now have to take place flexible... and use means of transporting somewhere else, instead of different spaces.” themselves to school their traditional locations. other than driving “Flexibility. We just Principal themselves such all have to be flexible, Adolfo Costa as magnet students still have those events. We without a bus system just have to change where available to them. they’re at... [We must] be Traffic surrounding the school could also flexible and use different spaces.” Costa said. prevent students arriving on time, regardless Although flexibility among students and of whether they travel by bus or car. In staff is going to be necessary to ensure that addition to student drivers, students who are every school day runs smoothly, it is important dropped off to school this year by family or to note that encouraging flexibility is merely the the bus will also find arriving noticeably first step to providing a comprehensive solution different and difficult. Neither students nor to this issue. This solution would be one that teachers should be punished because of includes an understanding of student needs. circumstances outside their control and are Even if it is something as seemingly insignificant impacting the time it takes one to get to class. as parking, providing solutions, leniency and A possible solution that could be offered understanding could massively help a student to eliminate the parking situation would be successful in and enjoy their school year, be to make an arrangement with Merrick regardless of caution tape or orange cones h

The current construction is currently slated to last until 2021

“

Source: Adolfo Costa

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ construction project will cost the district about $26 million.

14

opinion

TWO VIEWS: Home of the free And Fearful With back-to-back shootings in El Paso and Dayton rocking the nation twice in the span of less than 14 hours, new attention has been aimed toward President Donald Trump and the role of his rhetoric in inspiring the shooters. Is the president responsible for the deaths of 31 Americans?

15 opinion

COMMENTARY BY ALEXANDER SUTTON his campaign. Racist ideology, however, has been around far longer than Donald Trump has, and the more time we spend blaming one man for these heinous crimes, the further we stray from making the structural changes necessary to eradicate the hate that caused these shootings. The ultimate cause of the shootings in El Paso and Dayton is hateful ideology. Hate is manifested in many different ways, and in El Paso, it took the form of the same white nationalism and xenophobia frequently connected to Trump’s rhetoric. Within the last decade, America has been devastated by shootings caused by anti-Semitic hate, anti-Republican hate, anti-liberal hate, homophobic hate, and hate in the form of radical Islamic terrorism. And, as it appears, the shooter in Dayton, Ohio was ideologically liberal and believed in democratic socialism: his Twitter account showed support for socialist Representative Alexandria OcasioCortez and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, spoke negatively of ICE, and bemoaned the election of Donald Trump.

And though the rhetoric employed by the shooter in El Paso is nearly identical to the hot right-wing air blown around by

Trump, it should be clear that both of these shootings have the same cause as all other shootings: troubled individuals latching onto one of many forms of hateful ideology.

Hate is not unique to America. Mass shootings, on the other hand, are a purely American epidemic, due in large part to our nation’s negligent gun culture and laws. Our country is filled with law-abiding gun owners, but being an irresponsible gun owner is totally legal too. This is an immense threat to innocent lives in our nation and empowers those deluded by hateful ideology.

“I don’t think politically Trump caused it, because our gun laws are not very good in this country,” sophomore Raymond Giffune said. “Anyone can own a gun buying online. They don’t allow that anymore, obviously, but it can still happen.

Almost everyone in America owns some sort of a gun.”

The president has made a fool of himself by getting entangled in petty partisan politics in the wake of national mourning, and his continued rhetoric about immigration crackdowns does nothing to slow the xenophobia growing in this country. Ultimately, however, if we lose sight of the fight against hatred and gun violence in our efforts to tear down one man, this nation may never see an end to these massacres. h

NO

A

MERICA has a gun problem. It also has a racism problem. The back-to-back shootings that rocked the nation in early August put both of these problems on display at the same time. President Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants and general opposition to gun control measures mean that many people point toward him as the man to blame for these mass murders. Trump, however, is a small part of a large issue that has plagued this country since far before his election and, if the lessons of today are overlooked in an attempt to blame one man, the larger issue will continue to plague it for long after.

It is no secret that Trump’s rhetoric regarding immigrants has been incendiary and offensive, from his widely criticized remarks about right-wing protesters in Charlottesville being “very fine people” to his accusation that many Mexican immigrants bring drugs, crime and rape — a statement with which he launched

COMMENTARY BY MERCEDES DEBESA

D

YES

ONALD TRUMP’S INAUGURATION FOR presidency preceded a growing sentiment of something unexpected: hate-based violence.

Trump’s rhetoric during his presidency has been unacceptably harsh towards minorities, and is now evidently one of the major causes for the current increase in violence against them. Before Trump’s inauguration, mass shootings were already a growing concern in an American’s daily life— but after 2016, the numbers have seen an unprecedented increase. The Washington Post has calculated that the average rate of shootings per year skyrocketed from 5.1 during Obama’s presidency to 7.9 under Trump, making it an increase of more than 50%.

On Aug. 3, 2019, in El Paso, Texas, a shooter killed more than 22 people, including children, with his main motive being to kill immigrants. The shooter, Patrick Crusius, held anti-immigrant sentiments which mirrored the rhetoric of Trump, writing in his racist manifesto about a current immigrant “invasion.” The president’s antagonization of specific races and

groups gives these xenophobic groups the entitlement and validation to normalize societal division.

“I feel that if his comments towards immigrants and people of color were less extreme, the violence in our nation would decrease,” senior Adrian Vidal said.

When people are encouraged to see others as enemies, the assumptions are made that harm will be done to them, causing fear and animosity. This fear can, as a result, evolve into acts of violence, especially when unstable individuals accept extremist ideologies.

“When you dehumanize your opponents... you are running the risk of someone taking your words and acting upon it,” Daryl Johnson, former lead analyst at the Department of Homeland Security, said in an interview on the NPR politics podcast.

Although it may be dismissed as “just words,” Trump’s rhetoric has had a massive impact compared to others due to him being a figure who represents America’s conservative population. Trump has had a history of attacking those who disagree with his

political stance, such as when he attacked four congresswomen of color. On social media, he told them to “go back to their country,” despite three out of four of them having been born in America, seemingly villainizing their ethnicities as a form of political insult. The way that Trump consistently dehumanizes those he disagrees with opens a doorway to make them the next target of hate crimes.

“The people who were killed or injured were mostly people of color or Hispanic,” senior Nayelis Cardenis said. “And most of the shooters in recent years have been white, and have been white supremacist at that.”

Unless the president stops his hateful rhetoric, he will continue to allow the spread of violence and animosity throughout the nation. Adding more hate only adds more fuel to the fire. It is time for Trump to start representing all people, no matter their skin color, creed or background, and start openly demonizing the actions and ideologies which fuel these devastating hate crimes. h

16

opinion

The database decision

After a series of mass shootings and tragedies, an expansive database has risen as a solution COMMENTARY BY AUSTIN YAGODA

A

LL AROUND America, mass shootings continue to occur in schools despite increasing gun and school safety

should be promoted and accepted as quickly as possible by students, parents and administration.

One of the main goals of the database was to increase communication and discourage silence between individuals and groups that may notice red flags regarding troubled legislation. students. In the case of Despite all efforts the Parkland shooting, by activists and many groups already lawmakers, no had concerns about major precautions the shooter such as the On Oct. 8 a mobile FBI, the school district, have been taken, until now. In Sheriff’s office, a app named FortifyFL the the wake of mental health facility the shooting at was unveiled as an and the Department of Marjory Stoneman and Families, additional way to gather Children Douglas High but none shared their School, on information through respective information August 1, Florida with other agencies. an anonymous tipping This instance motivated implemented a new database service. the creation of this that tracks database to allow these student’s social Source: Florida Department of concerns to be properly education and media activity successfully and behavior. flagged.

The However, this is database would bring currently the best opportunity available to the information that each source holds drastically reduce the unfortunately high into one central place, allowing for chance of mass shootings in the future, and proper examination and successful

Did you know?

identification of the data and suspects.

There are many ways that the database obtains information. First off, it uses social media tracking, a method that entails monitoring a student’s social media page, checking posts or comments for any sign of strange behaviour or comments. People will more often than not show signs of strange activity through their social media or in person with others that they are comfortable with. With the database in effect these signs will be monitored and steps can be taken. It then utilizes student and police records for any previous concerning a c t i o n s .

Other

opposable thumbs Storming Area 51 “I’m getting my alien, cowards.”

-Sharon Florez, Staff Writer

Summer Reading “Bold of you to assume I remember how to read.”

-Kevin Monjarrez, Opinion Editior

Euphoria “Nothing like high school musical. ” -Isabel Quintanilla, Staff Writer

Muffins “Like cupcakes, but circumcized.”

-Jonathan Mesa, Staff Writer

Construction “They’re finally building the fourth floor pool!”

-Gregoire Winston, Staff Writer

Love Island “Its like pumping extra IQ points straight to my brain.”

-Dilan Denham, Staff Writer

17

opinion

agencies such as mental health groups and child welfare services provide information on students as well. Using data collected from each source, the database is able to connect the dots and create a file for a specific student, labeling them as a possible threat. This is unlike previous methods where the signs and threats

w o u l d b e idly ignored.

While this holds great promise for school safety, it also raises serious

“

I AM ALL FOR THE EFFORT TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS A LITTLE INVASIVE. ALTHOUGH PEOPLE MAY POST THING ABOUT LIKING GUNS IT IS NOT A TELLTALE SIGN THAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO ACT ON IMPULSE. SARAH WHALEN, FRESHMAN

privacy concerns for students, as there is the possibility that private information

could be viewed by an untold n u m b e r s of people.

“I’m all for the effort to try to minimize the problem, but it is a little invasive.

Although people may post things about liking guns it is not a telltale sign that they are about to act on impulse.” f r e s h m a n Sarah Whalen said.

Dozens of advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and Southern Poverty Law Center oppose the database, as they not only believe it to be a privacy threat, but a source of misinformation. They claim that students who may have mental disorders or behavioural issues will be falsely painted as security threats. Some claim that this kind of false identification may also be used by schools to justify the removal of students who have mental issues and disorders. Although these fears are valid, in response to those claims, the office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has assured the public that this kind of misuse cannot happen, as only certain government officials have access to the database’s information.

Going beyond protecting students’ lives, many also believe that this kind of surveillance will make students feel uncomfortable and uneasy posting hateful content, inadvertently stopping bullying and harassment, as students will try and steer clear of having a “suspicious” file made on them in the database. In brief, any possible negatives are greatly outweighed by the benefits, as the implementation of this technology will vastly reduce the possibility of a shooting. There is a certain point where school safety must be prioritized over other issues, especially when the end goal is as important as reducing school shootings. As such, the database poses a viable solution to alleviate America’s violence problem, and prevent tragedies in schools. h

Kevin’s Korner

Insert Text Here: COMMENTARY BY KEVIN MONJARREZ Odds are, you are about to become very intimate with the concept of procrastination.

Staying up late, challenging your computer screen to staring contests, clicking the random article button on Wikipedia on a rampant quest for trivial knowledge because gosh diggity darn it there is a chance you end up in Cash Cab tomorrow, and wouldn’t it be embarrassing to be the laughing stock of Cash Cab? The addiction to avoid work is something all of us as students cultivate. We let these habits fester within ourselves despite how obviously bad they are. Even as I write this, minutes before it’s due, I fondly look back at all the time I’ve spent not writing this. Although I now scribble in a panicked frenzy, regretting my life choices in agony — would I be the same man I am today if I had not discovered the rich history of Bulgarian dance theory that one summer night this past week? Is my increase in worldly knowledge not equal in moral value to inconveniencing my friends, peers and teachers? I believe it is.

As soon as students enter the school’s gates, procrastination becomes more than just a silly habit and graduates to the rank of a culture that brings us closer together. We suffer and laugh together as we beg our teachers for extensions, and wallow in our unproductivity as they inevitably decline our request. For this reason, I celebrate procrastination.

I celebrate procrastination for the extreme boost of passion, energy and efficiency that the panic associated with it grants us. Because of procrastination, our brains reach levels of cognition that the great philosophers of old could only dream of. Entire projects done in one night with nothing but teamwork and grit: this is procrastination. A challenge, always followed by triumph, and a whole Kevin’s Korner, written in 30 minutes. h

18

sports

CHEER AT UCA The school’s cheer teamattended Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) camp for the first time since 2015

BY ISABEL QUINTANILLA, STAFF WRITER

P

OM POMS, SPIRIT STICKS AND hours of hard work have filled the cheerleading team’s 2019 summer.

The cheerleaders are reaching new heights after attending the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) camp between, July 26 and, July 29. In preparation for the difficulties of camp, the team had a one week summer camp at the school before attending UCA. Head coach Megan Aridas was inspired to take the team to camp because she attended UCA when she was a college cheerleader.

Camp proved to be an immense learning experience for the cheerleaders because they were given the opportunity to work with UCA staff, who are professional cheerleaders, which allowed them to learn safe, correct technique. These new techniques permit the team to increase the difficulty of their routines, making them more compelling to audiences.

“Cheerleading has really helped me get out of my comfort zone. UCA camp was a huge factor in that too, because there were other teams there, and it really taught me how to be myself,” junior Jada Garcia said.

The team participated in a range of activities, including team bonding, safety seminars, game day, pep rally routines and games with other teams. Game day is a routine that the team uses to perform at football and basketball games. The team would play a game called “Little Sally walker” in a circle with the other teams. The safety seminars ensured that the cheerleaders knew how to perform with perfect technique to prevent unwanted injuries.

“At UCA, we had a team bonding activity where we had a small paper and we wrote two goals, one goal as a cheerleader and another as a team,” spirit officer Genesis Caceres said.

The cheerleaders dominated camp as they took home first place for best sideline cheer, third place for their game day performance and fourth place for their pep rally routine. They were also awarded the Top Banana Award for their undying spirit, attentive manor, timeliness and enthusiasm.

“I am extremely proud of all of my

“

AS A TEAM, UCA REALLY HELPED US BECOME AWARE CAPABILITIES. OUR OF TAUGHT ALSO THEY TECHNIQUES NEW US WHICH HAS HELPED US ACHIEVE AND IMPROVE SOME DIFFICULT STUNTS.

JADA GARCIA, JUNIOR

cheerleaders. After going to camp, they see how difficult cheerleading is and how much work it takes to look great and perform difficult routines,” Megan Aridas said.

Aridas is jubilant to show the school everything the team has been working on for football and basketball games.

Assistant coach Stephanie Nunez is also

pleased with the team’s improvement and newfound confidence after camp.

“I believe that Ms. Aridas and myself would like to see the team work towards performing in more showcases and eventually in competitions,” Nunez said.

The school’s cheer team not only scored well together, but also excelled individually. senior Ashanti Gibson, junior Jasmine Morales, junior Daesha Walter and sophomore Kylie Alvarez were recognized with UCA’s prestigious All-American award.

Additionally, senior cheerleaders Gibson, Melanie Rodriguez and Steffie Sanchez won the Pin it Forward award, which is an award for demonstrating the qualities of an exceptional cheerleading team member.

“The biggest takeaway would be to push forward no matter what. You might not get it the first try, but you will get it eventually,” captain Melissa Rodriguez said.

The cheerleaders’ first time at camp has been critical in helping them reach their goals for this upcoming year. Not only have they drastically improved in areas like stunting techniques, but they are now also more knowledgeable in how to be exemplary school leaders. Eventually, the team hopes to participate in cheerleading competitions and showcase their recent improvement.

The cheer team hopes to return to camp next summer to continue to strengthen their squad.

“I am excited to see where this year goes.

Every year the team has been improving and I want to keep that going,” head coach Megan Aridas said. h

FEARLESS FLYERS: The cheerleaders fly high as they showcase their stunts.

Addys Plata/highlights

19

sports

Lilliana Bonner: Competitive Sailing Mercedes Debesa /highlights

While most students her age prefer more mainstream sports, junior Lilliana Bonner has always felt at home on a sailboat

BY SANDRA HANUSCHIK, STAFF WRITER

H

UNDREDS OF COMPETITORS compete not only against people but against towards her goal of becoming a professional line up, waiting for the signal alerting the elements [of nature],” Bonnersaid. sailor. Currently, Bonner practices three them to begin sailing. Guests sit in To Bonner, sailing is more than just a times a week on Saturdays, Sundays and the stands, anticipation building with sport. It is dedication, good sportsmanship, Wednesdays. She is determined to fulfill her eyes locked on the water. Within seconds of discipline and positivity. She is always desire for the sport while also maintaining the signal, every boat is racing to the finish thinking of ways to practice or activities to high standing academics in school. line, cutting through the water. Though this do in order to higher her level in the sport “Sailing takes a lot of time and in order to scene appears very different from a traditional and achieve more. She is a very hard worker get good at it you have to be dedicated. high school sporting event, it is no stranger to and is extremely dedicated to the sport. School work will make it harder for junior and competitive sailor Lilliana Bonner.

“In other words, even after practice me to get time on the water As a young girl, Bonner’s life revolved sailing is always on my mind,” Bonner said. but I’ll have to learn around the ocean as she began attending She plans to continue sailing through how to manage my sailing camps at the age of seven. Inspired and beyond high school. Bonner is currently time,” Bonner by motivated people who took their passion switching to a 29ers boat, a high performance said. h for sailing to a competitive level, Bonner sailing skiff, or small boat. Her main goal began competitive sailing at the age of 15. is to make it to Youth Worlds, the largest She practices at the Coral Reef Yacht Club youth regatta in the world, but first she must (CRYC) in Biscayne Bay on Team CRYC. be eligible for the qualifiers. Despite She has competed at three sailing events entering the notoriously rigorous — the Junior Olympics, Orange Bowl and International Baccalaureate Midwinters — where she participated in two program, Bonner person sailing competitions. Though she has will nonetheless yet to win a trophy, Bonner strives to earn persevere and one in the near future. She enjoys the rigor w o r k and feeling of achievement sailing brings her because of the difficulty of the sport. In her position as a crew, Bonner controls many things inside the boat to increase boat speed all while maneuvering the sails to attain as much wind as possible. around her.

SMOOTH SAILING: Bonner sails away during a competition Courtesy of Lilliana Bonner “Sailing is such a unique sport because y o u

SET SAIL: Pulling the sails, Bonner maneuvers the boat

Courtesy of Lilliana Bonner

20 sports

TRAINING for the WIN

PRESEASON TRAINING KICKS OFF FOR GOLF, FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL AS STUDENTS GEAR BACK UP FOR A HARDCORE YEAR OF WINNING

BY ISABELLA MORALES AND GREGOIRE WINSTON, STAFF WRITERS

D

AY AFTER DAY, THROUGH sweltering heat and the blazing summer sun, the school’s athletes battle through sweat and tears to achieve a future they once took on as a dream.

Throughout the summer, these athletes went through vigorous training to better their skills for their upcoming seasons. Whether it was

in the gym, in the weight training room or on a golf course, junior athletes Tyous Taylor and Deborah Eusebio and sophomore Thais Forbes dedicated themselves to training weeks before school started for the competitions they will soon face. Their daily routine, diet and motivation all play an important role in their abilities, their attitude and their dedication to

summer training. These players sacrifice their free time to improve their athletic capacity and have standout seasons. Such athletes are prime examples of how talent is not only natural, but also earned through dedication. With their own techniques and practicing methods, these Cavaliers dedicate themselves to work towards their own goals and those of their teams.

dEBORAH EUSEBIO

Win st

on ts

/highligh

school, in order to balance both of them. So my daily routine is very hectic on and off season,” Eusebio said.

Throughout the summer, Eusebio has a certain routine that helps her improve her abilities. Waking up at 7 a.m. with a positive attitude, Eusebio is ready to conquer the new day.

Arriving at school before everyone else, Eusebio starts to set up the court for practice at 9 a.m., where certain drills that better the team’s skills are performed. After a tiring 3-hour practice, Eusebio hits the weight training room right after. Having powerful legs and a strong core are important qualities to have when playing volleyball, according to Eusebio.

Thus, building her leg strength and abdominal muscles throughout her daily routine is key. Depending on the day, Eusebio then trains for softball afterwards.

She completes her daily exercise routine with a light jog around her neighborhood at the end of the day.

All of this training and determination add up to make Eusebio an inspiring student athlete who puts forth maximum effort in anything she does, any day of the week.

Grg oire

Competing in various extracurricular activities has never been abnormal for junior Deborah Eusebio. Coming from an athletic family, she has seen it all. From tap dancing in her early childhood to playing on the school’s girls softball team and on the girls varsity volleyball team, Eusebio is very familiar with the dedication that sports demand.

Eusebio’s interest in volleyball did not develop until her sophomore year. Her admiration for the sport was sparked after realizing how much playing volleyball affected the lives of her sister, mother and cousins when they were younger. With her family as her main motivation, Eusebio is ready to follow in their footsteps and determined to enhance her volleyball skills, even if it means making sacrifices.

“If you want something you have put in the effort.

I have beach trainings where I work on my momentum, vertical jump and playing the different positions on the court 2-3 times a week, in Kendall, which is a 50 minute drive from where I live,” Eusebio said.

Although Eusebio works on enhancing her skills on a day to day basis, her schedule is usually very chaotic throughout the school year.

“My daily routine is very busy. I always have something to do. I go to sleep very late when it comes to sports and

TYOUS TAYLOR

ire Wins ton h /hig lights

By repeating the same drills and practicing his techniques, Taylor understands that the only path to success is hard work and commitment. Usually, he enjoys training at the beach, because the sand forces the leg muscles to contract and strengthen.

His workouts typically include high-intensity cone drills, such as weaving, jumping and sprinting from cone to cone, but also the jock-strap to strengthen muscle resistance and elasticity.

Hoping to reach his high expectations, Taylor looks toward the running back of the Cincinnati Bengals, Quinton Flowers, to maintain his constant, day-to-day motivation.

Taylor admires this role model, and dreams of becoming a professional player in the NFL. Taylor is prepared, both mentally and physically, for the challenges life throws at him. The numerous hours of practice he has sacrificed every day, both for individual and team practices, individually, and with his team, will continue to transform him for his future and the future of the Cavalier Nation.

go Gr

Kickstarting his football career at the age of three, junior Tyous Taylor has sacrificed time and effort to get to where he is today.As the starting quarterback of the school’s varsity football team, Taylor has always approached football with leadership, confidence and discipline. With the team spirit in mind, he wants to improve his individual skills in order to benefit the Cavaliers.

“I want to improve my leadership. I want to lead the team, I want to get the team up in football, in the academic life, cause without the grades, there are going to be no athletics,” Taylor said.

Using his family as motivation, Taylor strives to continue the sport his father and siblings took part in. As a result, he pursues to drive his team to win the district title. Having had a remarkable season last year with a record of 2200-2300 yards and 22 touchdowns, Taylor hopes to replicate and improve those achievements this season. He also practices with the Miami Immortals outside of school to get more practice.

“I feel so passionate about football because I started playing at a young age, and I continue pushing myself every season to improve and perfect my game,” Taylor said.

21

sports

THAIS FORBES Co

u

rbe

f Thais Fo

sy o

rte

s

Starting golf at the age of 10, Forbes suffered from a difficult childhood before blossoming into a prominent golf player. Due to difficulties with her family, Forbes moved from Suwannee, Georgia to Miami, where she realized she would have to quickly get accustomed to a completely different lifestyle. From Calle Ocho to South Beach, the cultural diversity of Miami was strikingly unlike Suwannee. This has never been a setback for the sophomore.

Nevertheless, Forbes has now become an eminent golfer for the school’s Varsity team, as she hopes to reach states with her teammates and aspires to learn how to be a better team player.

To prepare for the upcoming season, Forbes has devised a detailed training schedule with the help of her personal coach. Pushing herself every other day, she starts off the morning with 45 minutes of putting, 30 minutes of irons, 20 minutes of drivers and another 30 minutes

of putting, finally finishing off with the golf course 18hole walk. Taking up two and a half hours of her day, Forbes is more determined than ever to become one of the best at her sport, and aspires to someday be part of the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

However, under the innumerable hours perfecting her game, Forbes plays golf in tribute to her father, who she deems to be the spark that gave her a real interest in golf.

“My father and his friend Chris were both amateur golfers and they impacted me in unimaginable ways. They helped me so much because they were good golfers. That started to help me in my game,” Forbes said.

There was also this lady that was a professional LPGA Golfer that impacted me so much because she took me out and told me I would help my game so much, and the fact that she was so great at the sport made me better,” Forbes said.

In the years to come, Forbes hopes to achieve what so many golfers dream about: reaching the LPGA and succeeding at the highest level. Through hard work and self-discipline, Forbes serves as an authentic inspiration for present and future Cavaliers. If she continues on this path, she has the best chances for success. h

22

sports

Protecting athletes from predators

A new bill will not stop sexual abuse in sports without a change in culture COMMENTARY BY MARTA RODRIGUEZ, STAFF WRITER

I

N JULY 2016, Larry Nassar, ranked among the nation’s most esteemed athletic doctors, was convicted for sexually abusing hundreds of female olympic competitors.

The infamous case shocked millions internationally, revealing a realm of unseen sexual abuse within the world’s premier sporting events. A new bill may be the solution to this problem, but still needs major improvement before it can be enforced and a new, safe culture that free of sexual abuse is created in the sporting world.

Senators Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act (EOAA) in early August of this year, aimed at preventing athletes from being sexually abused. The bill allows for greater oversight in amateur and professional leagues and reinforces the proper intentions of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the organization which investigates allegations against coaches and athletes in the professional sports industry. This bill’s provisions would be a step in the right direction towards ending sexual abuse in sports. If the bill becomes a law, the Olympics will no longer have an independently-run board of directors, and they would be required to report news in a specific format and monitor their staff more closely than before.

One of the main issues regarding sexual abuse in sports is the amount of time that is often allowed to pass between an assault and an investigation. After Nassar was initially exposed for his crimes, the most asked

question revolved around how these crimes had gone undetected. An FBI investigation against him was opened in September of 2015 yet progressed at an inappropriately slow rate.

By the time the Indianapolis Star published its original exposé, 40 more young women had been abused by him. If the senators want to be pragmatic, their bill must be able to outline methods of reducing and preventing sexual abuse and punishing its perpetrators so that those in custody will have limited mobility within their professional practices while under investigation. As it stands, the bill does not do enough to combat sexual abuse or speed up the slow process through which abusers are discovered and convicted.

“I do think it will be more effective, although sadly, there’s always going to be a case

everywhere but [this bill] will prevent it as much as possible,” senior Kirsten Martinez said.

While the bill seems to be a good solution at first glance, it will cost millions of dollars to enforce these additional protections. The bill requires the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to provide SafeSport with $20 million for athlete protection. However, the government has not determined whether the money that the USOPC must pay SafeSport will come out of athletes’ salaries. Although

these athletes would benefit from this, their safety at work should not come out of their own paychecks. A safe working atmosphere should be a necessity, not a luxury.

Another aspect of this issue left unconsidered by Moran’s and Blumenthal’s bill is that a piece of legislation alone will never be totally effective in combating sexual abuse if a change in culture does not come with it. Even if all of the EOAA’s issues are resolved, unfortunate cases like the one involving Nassar will continue to take place, because the U.S. has not yet recognized sexual abuse for the true problem it is. Though movements like #MeToo have helped to draw attention to this unacceptable abuse crisis, too many people still fear that if they are not careful, they will become a sexual predator’s next victim. This cannot be solved through legislation; such a change in culture will only come through continued exposure of predators over a long period of time, including ordinary people — not just celebrities, who make up a small percentage of all sexual predators.

Ultimately, the EOAA is a solid bill which has noble goals, and through various changes to its language, could even amount to effective legislation that will combat sexual abuse and prevent evil people like Nassar from abusing more victims. If a clause is added mandating that the money paid by the USOPC cannot come out of athletes’ salaries, and if the senators add provisions to ensure that the investigations will be speedy and result in quick convictions for the guilty, the bill would be a step in the right direction. If movements like #MeToo continue to draw attention to the issue and focus more on abusers who have never been famous, the U.S. may finally begin to see a decrease in the number of abuse h v i c t i m s .

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Marta Rodrig

“Anything that has to do with sexual abuse should be dealt with quickly and the bill needs to be fixed before being placed.”

Josseph Gonzalez, sophomore

“Although the process is long, it will be worth it at the end because sexual abuse will be prevented.”

“It should have been dealt with right off the bat because since it’s been too long others are gonna think they can get away with.”

Alana Perez, junior

E-Menu Chinn, junior

Sandwich Showdown

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the scene

Tradition Meets Contemporary with Two of the Most Popular Cuban Sandwiches in Miami

BY ALMA MARTINEZ, STAFF WRITER AND GRACE RODRIGUEZ, SOCIAL MEDIA

T

HE CUBAN SANDWICH HAS been a Miami staple for decades. From the toasty Cuban bread to the sweet pink ham and the melty Swiss cheese, these

Sanguich

sandwiches are a constant craving. Restaurants all over South Florida have offered their own takes on the dish, either staying true to tradition or creating their own variation of the

sandwich. Competition is fierce between cafes so highlights visits two Cuban restaurants, with two versions of the sandwich, to determine which rendering is better.

Chug's Diner

Two centuries ago in Key West, Cuban Wandering down CocoWalk, an aroma of Alma Martinez / highlights freshly blended Cuban coffee lingers outside, Cigar factory workers gave way to the Cuban sandwich, which has remained a delicacy for luring pedestrians inside. The moment one steps in Cuban music fills their ears as customers dine decades. Once just a basic ham and cheese sandwich in between two slices of Cuban bread, and chat. In a corner there is a table of dominoes it has been passed down for generations with that sits unoccupied. For every patron at Chug's Diner, this little piece of Coconut Grove specific modifications made along the way in hopes to one day create the perfect recipe. More transports them to a Cuban-American paradise.

SUPER SANDWICH: Sanguich's El Located on 3444 Main Highway, Chug’s than a century later, Sanguich de Miami has Cubano, gives Miami a taste of the finally crafted the ultimate Cuban sandwich. serves authentic Cuban diner food with a twist, classic Cuban sandwich As a waiter approaches a customer's table, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

The most famous item on the menu is the “Cuban Sandwich” is an the scent of cafecito and toasted Cuban bread dance around the atmosphere, making mouths water. Gently, the waiter places El American take on the classic. Prepared very meticulously, Chug's takes pride in this American-Latin fusion. Sourdough bread from California Cubano — a combination of spiced ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard, sandwiched in between two pieces of Cuban bread — on is hollowed, then zesty Dijon mustard is spread on to hold down the the table. Soon enough it is time to indulge in what may quite possibly meaty and flavorful paté. Honey ham is laid for a sweet touch, and for more salt, Tuscan salami is added. Swiss cheese and be the best Cuban sandwich prepared in the city of Miami. tangy pickles top the sandwich before it is closed and finished. For $17.99, customers can try this American With the bread toasted to a crispy goldenGrace Rodriguez / highlights brown and the pickles chilled to perfection, twist on the iconic Cuban sandwich.

Sanguich de Miami’s self-proclaimed title lives Upon first bite, acid tickles the tastebuds. Then the ham, salami and paté come in moving the tasting on as one of the greatest Cuban sandwiches in Miami. Not only does the El Cubano sandwich experience from sour, to salty and sweet. However just when it seems like this flavor symphony will satisfy cravings of all kinds with its salty and savory flavor, it leaves customers begging for the end the soft and gooey cheese comes in creating a next bite. Sanguich de Miami insists no meal is sandwich that both overwhelms, yet satisfies any food cravings. served until it meets their standards, which are FANCY FUSION: Chug's rumored to be very high.

“The most popular foods on the menu are combines Cuban and American the cafe con leche, tostada, Duck Media Noche and “What also sets us apart from the rest is our ingredients tendency to give our customers smiling faces and for sure the Cuban sandwich,” General Manager Enzo satisfied appetites,” employee Alex Rodriguez said.

Calipa said.

While there may seem like a scarcity of Cuban cafes in the At Sanguich de Miami, sandwich prices average in the $10 range, offering customers a nourishing meal that does not empty pockets.

Coconut Grove area, Chug’s Diner gives customers a fresh idea of what Cuban restaurants could be. With so much food to taste and games to Its iconic location on Calle Ocho also provides a scenic view while customers have the sandwich of their choice. play, no other diner feels as close to home as Chug’s.

Though declaring one recipe the best comes with great responsibility, Sanguich de Miami’s 'El Cubano' is leading the race with no competitor even coming close. In comparison to its American-style counterpart at Chug’s

The Final Verdict

Diner, Sanguich de Miami’s sandwiches stay true to their Cuban roots, and choose not to forget their humble beginnings. El Cubano’s melted Swiss cheese and heated pulled pork also give the taste buds a heavenly experience,

From the restaurants unbeatable atmosphere to the amazingly low prices, this meal is guaranteed to leave any customer satisfied and smiling, which is the Sanguich de Miami guarantee. h

24

the scene

ICY-N-SPICY Xiaoli Liu’s new ice cream shop is cooling off Miami with the hottest treats

BY BARBARA BORJA, STAFF WRITER

A

FTER A LONG DAY SPENT AT SOUTH BEACH IN 90 degree weather, Icy-N-Spicy serves as the perfect trendy shop for locals and tourists alike to cool down and grab a bite to eat. Complete with Miami Vice-colored lights and balloon filled roofs, the ambience of this fun, decorative, Instagrammable ice cream and dessert shop fits right into Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive.

Incorporating her Chinese heritage and giving personality along with her love for dessert, first-time business owner Xiaoli Liu has turned her dream of running Icy-N-Spicy into reality. IcyN-Spicy is founded upon Liu’s childhood memories of lending a hand in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother, learning and making traditional chinese desserts for her family’s shop in her hometown. After meeting her husband in Miami, the everlasting high temperatures inspired her to use what she knew about desserts and design to create simple treats to complement the heat.

“It may be rainy or sunny, but people always want ice cream,” Liu said. “We were looking for locations because we did not know where to start. We were looking for places in Downtown like Wynwood but by accident my realtor found this location in Miami Beach, and it turned out to be a blessing.”

Accident or not, the Miami Beach location has greatly benefited their business, bringing a variety of customers who are equally satisfied.

Having been open for only four months, Icy-N-Spicy has quickly gained customers and popularity. Their famous cotton candy ice cream cones have become a customer favorite. This sugary dessert comes in 12 different cotton candy flavors served in a choice of regular, chocolate, red velvet and matcha flavored cones. One to two scoops of 16 specialty gelato flavors or their creamy frozen yogurt counterparts are then added to the inside of the cone and finally garnished with selected toppings. The end result is a fully authentic ice cream cone surrounded by a colorful cloud of sugar.

The cost of this dessert ranges from $8.75 to $12.75, depending on the choice of flavors and number of scoops.

Barbara Borja / highlights

For less of a sugar craze, one can order a single scoop of Icy-NSpicy’s authentic gelato for $4.80, or two for $6.80. Employees at Icy-NSpicy are amicable and helpful, and intend to provide great service and satisfy newcomers, meaning that testing out flavors is easy and pressurefree. Liu strongly emphasized how important the energy in her store was and how she sees customer satisfaction as her number one priority.

According to Liu, her most authentic ice cream flavor is the spicy pineapple. The smooth and tangy pineapple sorbet gelato lightly seasoned with pepper flakes is what Liu brings from her home culture to the streets of Miami.

“Where I grew up, we ate a lot of spicy food, so that is where the ‘spicy’ part of the name ‘Icy-N-Spicy’ comes from,” Liu said.

She agrees that spicy pineapple is an interesting flavor, as seen by many people’s willingness to try it.

People are most fond of the mix between sweet and spicy.

For a smaller treat and a different ice cream texture, the menu also offers the traditional Chinese ice cream dessert mochi, a small sticky rice dumpling filled with ice cream. It is offered in raspberry, strawberry, coconut, lychee, matcha, black sesame, chocolate, mandarin, Thai tea, red bean, pistachio and mango flavors and costs $3 a piece. For those willing to spend more, the rewarding 24K Gold Madagascar vanilla ice cream cone, priced at $35, is a perfect choice.

Whether one comes for the exotic desserts or for an exciting and colorful treat to help cool off from a day at the beach, Icy-N-Spicy makes for a great place to pass the time on Ocean Drive, with beautiful views overlooking the beach.

Liu still has bigger aspirations even in the face of her business’s large growth within a small span of four months. Her ultimate goal is to open more locations around Miami and later in other big U.S. cities with her greater dream being New York City. Liu describes herself as a dreamer and explains that by maintaining the customer service and product quality that makes Icy-N-Spicy so special, she will continue to lead her business to success. h

talking about tacos

25

the scene

Mi Rinconcito Mexicano is sharing and preserving authentic Mexican food, all in the heart of Little Havana

BY CELINE PEREZ, STAFF WRITER tostadas, three fried tacos, three enchiladas and three sopes, also served with guacamole and pico de gallo. With a meal like this, customers have the chance to sample and indulge in some of Mexico's most famous and traditional dishes. While the majority of these dishes have some type of meat, primarily chicken or beef, Mi Rinconcito Mexicano caters to customers that seek an alternative to meat yet still want to sample some of Mexicos most famous dishes. A vegan section on the menu offers customers other protein substitutes, such as mushrooms and mixed vegetables still prepared and presented like any other dish.

Despite its popularity and the sometimes massive crowds that will form to get inside, the quality remains top-notch. Mi Rinconcito Mexicano keeps its promise of classic Mexican comfort food, with presentation and quality to blow the competition away.

“The food, I can tell you as a Mexican, and even before working here, this is one of the restaurants that has the most traditional flavor of Mexico. What makes it like this, I believe, is that the owners are at the front of the kitchen, so that helps a lot,” Mendoza said. s ight

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ROM THE OUTSIDE, MI Rinconcito Mexicano’s unremarkable appearance doesn’t stand out from Calle Ocho’s usual eccentricity. However, the moment customers walk in, they are pleasantly greeted with years of Mexican heritage and tradition. The voices of Luis Miguel and Jorge Negrete — two of the most well-known Mexican singers — fill the room with rich culture and take customers on a trip to Mexico. Sombreros, traditional Mexican art and ceramic dolls line the walls around the restaurant, as vibrant multi-colored piñatas hang from the ceiling. In the back, a bakery cooks up the traditional Mexican pastry, “pan dulce”, or sweet bread, and "conchas", cruncy sweet rolls of bread, for those who want something quick and sweet to eat.

Mi Rinconcito Mexicano, located at 1961 SW Eighth Street in Little Havana, has been giving residents a taste of authentic Mexican food for over 13 years. Mi Rinconcito Mexicano is open every day, Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays they close at 10 p.m..

The restaurant resides in a neighborhood known for its predominantly Cuban culture, making it stand out among the other Cuban restaurants and cafes in the area. Tourists and locals craving an escape from the usual Cuban feast flock to Mi Rinconcito to stop by and enjoy a meal while taking in the cultural and festive interior of the restaurant.

“People come mostly for the tacos on the menu. There are also various combinations with different dishes, which are also very famous. They have a bit of every Mexican dish. There’s also traditional food like mole chicken and fajitas,” Joselyn Mendoza, the restaurant’s manager, said.

Meals range from $3.50 to $18.95 and one of the most recommended items on the menu is the combinaciones which includes three

TACO TUESDAYS: Authentic Beef Tacos at Mi Rinconcito Mexicano are a hit

With 13 years of business, the restaurant has a long history. According to Mendoza, the name of the restaurant, Mi Rinconcito Mexicano, stems from its humble beginnings.

Years ago it was once just a small restaurant in a “rinconcito," or corner right across the street from where it now stands. Since then, the establishment has grown and so has its popularity with all of South Florida.

One of the most fascinating things about this restaurant is the view that customers get of the kitchen. Just another aspect that makes this eatery feel like home, customers have the opportunity to watch the chefs shuffle in and around the kitchen, cooking everything from tamales and fajitas to tacos al pastor.

The good prices and delicious food are what keep customers coming back. Often times families can be seen dining here and whether they are regulars or first-timers the staff at Mi Rinconcito Mexicano make the experience fun and pleasant. On birthdays, like most restaurants, the staff will come to the customer’s table and celebrate, the difference is they do it the Mexican way. The staff places a sombrero on the customer’s head and proceed to sing “Las Mañanitas," a birthday song by Vicente Fernandez, a very well known singer in Mexico.

“Everything here is very economical and great for the price. I come here very frequently with my family,” German Lares, a frequent customer of the restaurant, said.

Mi Rinconcito Mexicano has been preserving and sharing Mexican culture and the authentic taste of Mexican food for many years. This Little Havana staple has become part of the lives of many families who enjoy going to the restaurant. From its ambience to the abundance of food, this restaurant assures that everyone gets to experience a little corner of Mexico in their h backyard.

26

the scene

Good karma, half off

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Price Tags with a Purpose

BY NATALY RABELO AND MAYA SHAH, STAFF WRITERS

I

N THE PAST FEW YEARS THRIFTING has gained popularity. These unique shops can take you back to another decade, help you save money and bring your wardrobe or home a new style. These

three shops not only benefit a customer looking for retro attire, they also help nonprofit organizations with powerful missions.

Committed to helping people in different situations, Out of the Closet, Lotus House

Thrift Chic Boutique and Dragonfly Boutique all raise funds for programs that aid in providing easy HIV testing, safety for victims of domestic abuse and job opportunities for formerly incarcerated women.

Out of the closet Friendly faces greet customers as they enter through the door and pop music blasts through the speaker. Clothing racks stacked with jeans, dresses, shirts, jackets and coats line the store. Shelves overflow with books, trinkets are littered throughout the store and the pharmacy is fully stocked. The satisfaction of a successful thrift extends beyond just a good find. At Out of the Closet, buying gives back. In an effort to reach their community, Out of the Closet has been helping those affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic.

Located at 2900 Biscayne Blvd., Out of the Closet Thrift Stores has been giving back to the community since 1990. Working closely with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, this facility has provided assistance to those affected by HIV and AIDS. Ninety-six cents of every dollar made at the thrift store are donated to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation,

which focuses on being able to provide medicine and treatment for those affected while also raising support and educating the surrounding community. Within the same location, the space offers a wellness center and a pharmacy where patients can get tested and obtain medication in the case that they need treatment. To promote sexual health and education, the store offers contraceptives that are free to take whenever needed. The ultimate goal of Out of the Closet is to provide a person affected by the epidemic a lifestyle in which they can receive help, regardless of their financial stability.

“So many people come in saying ‘If you guys weren’t here, we wouldn’t be able to afford our medication or pretty much live, '' manager John Chavez said.

With the help of the thrift store, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has been able to stick to their slogan of “cutting-edge medicine

FRESH FINDS : Vinyls, books, furniture, clothes and more fill Out of the Closet.

and advocacy regardless of ability to pay” and has now served over 1.1 million patients in 43 countries. According to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in an effort to end the growing epidemic, they have performed nearly 2 million free HIV tests worldwide and distributed 32 million free condoms in 2013.

A multitude of items come into the store daily, including clothes and furniture ranging in style from vintage and chic to new and modern. The variety and abundance of items that are found throughout the store provide a way for everyone to find something they like and give back to the community at the same time.

Out of the Closet bridges the community to the individual in an essential way. Through shopping with this thrift store, something as trivial as a new dress for a night out, a unique vinyl, or an old book one can help someone else get life-saving medication.

Nataly Rabelo / highlights

Lotus house boutique The Lotus House Thrift Chic Boutique is filled with many charming pieces but their true beauty lies in their mission: assisting once homeless women to smoothly transition into regular life. The thrift store acts as a second home to the staff and this feeling is radiated through every corner of the store, making customers feel welcome when shopping.

Unique articles of clothing are displayed on racks positioned around distinct pieces of furniture and when trying something on, one can hear the comforting sound of the coffee machine whirring from the in-store cafe.

Since 2009, the Lotus House Boutiquelocated at 2040 NW Seventh Ave-has been making a difference in women’s lives for the better. Partnered with the Lotus House Women’s Shelter, a shelter focused on ending child and family homelessness in the community, the thrift store plays a big part in aiding women in their daily lives. Most of the donated clothing and shoes are given to the women and children at the shelter to assure their basic clothing needs are met.

Additionally, donated household amenities are often used as decor for the homes of those who have transitioned out of the shelter.

27

the scene

JUNGLE OF JEWELS: Lotus

House Thrift Chic Boutique has tons of vintage items in and outside of the store

Nataly Rabelo/highlights

Those who live in the shelter can also take internships within the shop to gain work experience and earn an income.

The store offers a vast number of items like heels, jewelry and dresses for both the women shopping and those from the shelter.

These can range in style anywhere from highend to classic everyday pieces.

Focusing on bettering the lives of these women and helping them go back to feeling comfortable is the top priority of this organization. They provide the best they can to assure these women a stable future moving forward. Lotus House Boutique gives these women hope in that, one day, they will be able to flourish again.

DragonFly boutique As soon as customers enter Dragonfly Boutique, a colorful array of different dresses and shirts all ranging from different eras and styles catch their eyes. Next to one of

the clothing racks a vintage desk with small figurines of musicians strumming their guitars adorne its surface. While apparel sits in the first half of the store, furniture, artwork and reading material takes up the rest. Alluring paintings and classic bureaus line the VINTAGE VARIETY: Dragonfly Boutique walls, all ready to be purchased. The offers hundreds of items from multiple eras book bins include modern favorites like the Hunger Games along with poetry, self help and classic literature. Vinyls from different artists like Billie Holiday, Ertha Kitt and Frank Sinatra overflow from bins on the floor.

Located at 3141 SW Eigth St., the Dragonfly Boutique gives visitors a chance to browse through numerous finds, while also giving back to those in need. The boutique was created by the non-profit Ladies Empowerment and Action Program (LEAP) to help incarcerated women transition to daily life once their sentences are up. After being released many formerly incarcerated women have to deal with the grandeous adjustment of getting back to every day civilian life. This comes with many responsibilities and challenges Maya Shah / highlights that can leave these women confused

and without the proper financial and mental support. LEAP has made it their mission to provide help for these women. Inside prison they hold classes and teach varying courses to help women learn skills that will benefit them after their release. Not only do they provide help with finding a job, LEAP also aids with housing, substance abuse and providing women with a community. Working at the boutique is the first job for many women newly released from prison until they have enough experience to find other jobs. Once they move on to better opportunities, it makes way for other women to have the same chances.

Glennis Pajan, a LEAP mentee working at the boutique has been impacted by the many good deeds of the program. The store has provided her and many other women a new opportunity along with an outlet to share their stories. “[LEAP] gives you motivation, they give me energy, they answer a lot of the questions that I cannot answer myself,” Pajan said.

It comes as no surprise that the charming and eclectic ambience has first-time visitors always coming back. LEAP has worked to create a sense of acceptance and an area free of judgement inside their boutique. Many will visit for the selection of memorabilia, but stay for the cause it represents. h

28

insight

As the monolithic nuclear family evolves 29 insight through the decades, younger generations are moving away from conformity to modern standards s Ce ns us

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as the traditional home model shaped the lives and outlooks of those whom it affected, the new nuclear family system is raising a generation with a foreign perspective, attitude and experience to their elders.

The traditional nuclear family was once synonymous with the effort to keep white Americans unaffected by immigration in the United States.

Diversity was seen as shameful or unwanted due to the prevalence of racism in the early 1950s. To discourage ethnic minorities from advancing from their position as “second class citizens,” white supremacist movements and groups such as the Ku Klux Klan were formed and were known to publicly shame and chastise minorities and lynch any that mingled with Caucasian citizens. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, efforts such as the Civil Rights Movement allowed for the national attitude towards interracial interaction to begin to change.

In 1970, the United States Census Bureau (USCB) reported that Caucasian households made up 89% of households in the U.S. which had gone down to 79% in 2016.

The USCB also reported that, in 2016, 13% of households

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PON THE ARRIVAL of the 21st century, the traditional structure of a nuclear family was soon left at the doorstep of generations past. Coined in 1949 by anthropologist George P. Murdock, the term “nuclear family” is the traditional domestic model made up of one stay-at-home mother, a breadwinning father and two children; all of whom are of the same race. Over time, society has moved away from its more traditional views due to the population’s demands for equal rights and representation through movements pushing for the rights of women and minorities. In an albeit gruellingly slow process, American society became more tolerant and accepting of a family model antithetical to that of a century prior. In this vastly different environment, the nuclear family is now unrecognizable to the one Murdock described nearly 60 years prior. The modern nuclear family has evolved to include interracial, homosexual, divorced parents and single parents. These new family units have become mainstream as society’s views have broadened.

One defines their family through their own lens and by their own experience. Just

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STUDENT POLLS

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interracial marriages.

Leading the charge for equal rights for diverse families were potent political movements which advocated for the nontraditional, beginning with the legalization of interracial marriages in 1967 and more recently with the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015. Interracial marriages may still have perceived as shameful, but were no longer illegal, enabling their prevalence.

From 2012 to 2016 the United States saw an increase in interracial households from 7.4% to 10.2%. Similarly, following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, the USCB recorded between 2 million and 3.7 million children under the age of 18 having same-sex parents.

In addition to these non-traditional households, modern families can solely consist of one person under 18. The number of these families — whether it be orphans, runaways or the emancipated — have spiked in recent years. The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness reports that there were over 70,000 homeless students in 2018. According to Youth.gov, there are many reasons as to why a child or teenager would run away, but most have such as neglect or abandonment.

The media’s strict depiction of exclusively heterosexual, white, happy families bred a fear for those living in the media has begun to depict these new modern families as the norm, shame surrounding these situations may often still be present.

“It is hard because I only have my mom to depend on,” senior Melany Falcon said.

“My mom has had to work two jobs, which is twice the work she should be doing if she was with my dad. I used to hate talking about it or avoiding the subject altogether, but I have grown to appreciate everything she does for me.”

Modern nuclear families have been portrayed in television shows such as Modern Family, Black-ish and Stranger

Things in an attempt to create an accurate representation for viewers. This diverse will sow seeds for tolerance in the next generation, improving conditions for nontraditional families within the United States as their situations are progressively deemed socially acceptable.

Whether it be through shows portraying same-sex parents such as in the Fosters, blockbuster movies prioritizing minority culture or celebrities being openly accepted for being queer, media representation is a key step toward establishing tolerance regarding different family units.

The media’s accepting depictions — whether through television shows, movies or music — have played a role in establishing a sense of normalcy within societal standards regarding them. These depictions are aiding the normalization of the modern nuclear family by putting these different households in normal settings that the standard 1960s nuclear family would and other racially related obstacles being resolved through acceptance and proper representation.

Adoption, homosexuality and widowed or divorced parents are no longer frowned upon to the same extent because of the pervasiveness of these types of families.

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, the total number of public adoptions increased from almost 50,000 in 2001 to over 52,000 in 2012 with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reporting almost 790,000 divorces out of 2017.

With all of this change, the question of whether these new families can be considered an evolution or devolution of the traditional nuclear family remains.

The key to answering this question lies in understanding the psychological effects of growing up in a modern family.

“A divorce can impact a child mild, moderately or severely depending on many different factors,” licensed Miami psychologist Stacy Jones said. “The higher an impact on the children.”

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households in the U.S. had gone down to 79% in 2016. The USCB also reported that, in 2016, 13% of households were Black and Hispanic and 5% were Asian, showcasing

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14.5% of students have interracial parents

53.9% feel less pressured to have a traditional family

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insight

Certain non-traditional families are more harmful to children, such as divorce which can have heavy effects on a child’s mental and emotional wellbeing and stability. According to Psychology Today, divorce tends to intensify the child’s dependence and it tends to accelerate the adolescent’s independence. This, consequently, can also lead to behavioral problems and an emotional absence where their non-custodial parent would be.

“A divorce can impact a child mild, moderately or severely depending on many different factors,” licensed Miami psychologist Stacy Jones said. “The higher

children to see this modern society as an evolution from the racist and sexist past of the U.S. “Having parents that are ‘different’ also affects the child depending on support and environment. Kids with parents who are foreign, same-sex or interracial are more susceptible to bullying because they are targets just for being ‘different,’” Jones said. “With good communication with parents and a community that is supportive, their psychological well being will be healthier than a child in a home without open communication.”

With this move in the direction of

of an impact on the children.”

As today’s children are brought up in a more accepting society, the modern family has paved the way to a new, more open-minded generation. Growing up with same-sex or interracial parents and being exposed to representation in the media would create an accepting environment for

a healthy setting in which they would be nurtured into being themselves. Thus, or choosing an occupation much smoother, less terrifying and not heavily dependent on race, sex or appearance. The younger generation would feel less pressured to give birth at an early age, and this lack of

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pressure combined with an increased focus on achieving personal career goals has led to a dip in the country’s birth rate.

Unconventional family models are now more pervasive than the infamous 1960s-era nuclear family. The rearing of Millennials and Generation Z has had a students polled reported feeling less pressured to have a 114,000 sam traditional family in e-sex couples the future.

Diverse and interracial communities are inevitable as global 2 0 1 6 demographics continue to change. In addition, the evolution of human thinking and acceptance cannot be stopped.

Despite there always being bigotry and racism in the world, acceptance is the way forward as the modern nuclear family evolves beyond a traditional, monolithic precedent. h Source: Th e Williams Institute

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“When I was four, my dad ... [left] but he never came back. As time passed, I’ve learned that my mom is an independent woman and has done a great job raising me.” - Luisa Arce, junior

“It was harder for my parents [as an interracial couple] because my dad has many racist relatives in the South. When they met it was a struggle.”

- Maxwell Dickinson, senior

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Ruben Escobar / highlights

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“I never felt ashamed of having same-sex parents, I just didn’t understand that I was any different ... I felt isolated from all the dad talk, Father’s Day but that was pretty much it. I’m proud of my two moms.”

- Maddie Abraham, senior

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lightbox

To prepare for the upcoming season, the school’s football team has been training vigorously over the summer from June 7 through Aug. 16 practicing their footwork and speed through numerous drills.