Red & Black, October 2018 by HHS Today

Florida’s First High School Newspaper Hillsborough High School | hhstoday.com 5000 N. Central Avenue | Tampa, Florida 33603 October 2018 | Volume 120, Issue 3

CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE A look at some of the performances from the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration p. 14

Tardies and ISS have increased this year. Find out why. p. 3

Here’s a look at all the election information you need for Nov. 6. p. 8-9

How did the Terriers do this season? Fall Sports Recap p. 16

Sophomore Luisiana Navarez performs a traditional Columbian dance to the song “La Pollera Cobra” during the annual Hispanic Heritage month celebration. PHOTO BY MAKAYLA BROWN

briefs

October 2018

Red & Black

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MONTH PEERS HONOR TOP TEACHERS, STAFF The Teacher of the Year is Stefanie Zimmerman (3). “The award is both a huge recognition for the work we put in while also being a reminder for the importance this job is,” Zimmerman said. She is an English teacher who has been teaching for six years but has been at Hillsborough for three years. She also advises SGA and coaches girls soccer. The Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator Award went to Jazmine Clarke (1). “I work hard and it was recognized by my peers it shows to my peers that I believe in our kids,” said Clarke, the AVID teacher. The Instructional Support Employee of the Year award went to Jorge Quiroz (2). “It feels good because it’s the first time they acknowledge my job and I like to see the school clean,” Quiroz said. Quiroz has been a janitor for ive years at Hillsborough. STORY BY CEEJAY LIBERATORE

POETRY JAM COMING NEXT MONTH

Poetry Jam is a competitive poetry performance which puts dual emphasis on writing and performing. Poetry Jam is held every year in the Media Center. It will be held on Nov. 15 and Nov. 28. Students should report to the Media Center at 8:30-11:30 a.m. On the first day, students should bring any poetry they’ve written or are working on writing. The guest speaker will conduct a workshop focused on writing original poetry and practicing spoken word poetry skills. The first-place winner will perform at the district Poetry Jam. The packets to enter are in the Media Center and will be due Nov. 2. The packet must be signed by your homeroom teacher and first through fourth periods. For more information, see Media Specialist Barbara Magee. STORY BY RACINE SEIDE

NHS WELCOMES NEW INDUCTEES

IB and traditional juniors and seniors -- 116 of them -- were inducted into National Honor Society (NHS) this month. The four criteria of NHS that students must uphold are scholarship, leadership, service and character. At the induction, NHS president, senior Khloe Dang and other club officials presented these to the inductees. When members are inducted, they are given a certificate and light their candle using one of the four candles on stage, each representing one of the criterion. The requirements of NHS are to be at least a junior and to have and maintain a grade point average above 3.5. After the induction, one cannot join until the following year. To remain in NHS, you need to attend each meeting, which are held each club day, and you must have done community service. STORY BY SARAH ELLIS

NOPE VIGIL EDUCATES, REMEMBERS The NOPE Vigil about spreading the awareness of prescription drug overdoses took place in the Auditorium (5). Families, several police officers and a variety of volunteers from around the county started gathering at 6 p.m. for the event. In the Auditorium lobby, more than 500 photographs of people who died of drug or alcohol abuse were displayed from wall to wall (6). The main mission of NOPE is to provide middle and high school students with a message about the dangers of drug use provided by families and friends of victims, many of them involved in the pain pill and heroin epidemic. STORY BY MAKAYLA BROWN

JUNIORS ATTEND GROUP 4

IB Juniors attended a field trip as part of their Group 4 requirement for their IB Diploma. The field trip was to the Tampa Bay Watch in St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay Watch is a nonprofit organization dedicated tto the restoration and protection of the ecological properties of the Tampa Bay estuary. Students went out on a boat into the Bay (4) to observe and collect wildlife specimens and then returned to view the specimens under a microscope. Students ate lunch while looking out over the Bay before returning to school. STORY BY REEMA PATEL

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October 2018

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Many clubs and honor societies require service hours, as well as certain programs such as IB. Organizations below provide service hours for high school students.

Books for Troops May help by cleaning and sorting books (813) 920-4130

Metropolitan Ministries Provides a variety of services assisting the homeless families of Tampa (813) 209-1000

Faith Cafe Can help volunteer by driving, serving and being on the committee info@faithcafetampa.com (813) 877-6889

Feeding Tampa Bay Sorting and stacking goods, filling pallets, and other hands-on volunteer opportunities. (813)-254-1190

Girls with Confidence The role requires a positive and encouraging role model and supportive with partipants. info@girlswithconfidence.com (813)-571-2002

Glazer Children’s Museum Can volunteer for special events during the holidays to interact and inspire visitors. info@glazermuseum.org (813)-443-3861

TARDIES INCREASE THIS YEAR The tardy bell echoes through the halls but the shuffling feet and yells can still be heard from the hallways. When students are marked tardy they may receive a referral for skipping. As a result, their grades drop because they can’t turn in or receive assignments. A classroom tardy is defined as an unexcused tardy that exists when a student is not in his or her classroom when the tardy bell rings. The consequences for tardies start small with 0-5 resulting in verbal warnings and escalating to 36 and above tardies resulting in discipline directly from Student Affairs. According to Assistant Principal Quasar Givens, there were 1,500 total tardies in Quarter 1,

more than last year. At one point in the first quarter there were 87 students with 20 or more tardies. As a result of tardies or skipping, students will face stricter regulations. To make students more aware of the tardy policy junior Jaeyon Ball suggests, “Announcing it over the speakers every morning,” he said. “and having APs in the halls.” On one random day, there were up to 25 students who are still wandering the halls after the bell has rung. There are a variety of reasons that students are late, from crowded hallways to teachers holding students back. For sophomore Nagely Muoz she believes that a longer transition

period would prevent tardies. “I don’t have time to come from the 300 Hall all the way to the 500 Hall,” she said. Many students believe that the tardy policy would be followed more if there were stricter punishments. Many agree with the current punishments of ISS, OSS, late grades and referrals, junior Mallie Fernandez suggested enforcing the tardy policy with awards. “Like if you’re not tardy for so many days then you get an award for it,” Fernandez said. “[But] I don’t really think people are going to care about awards as much, if they’re not specific.” STORY AND PHOTO BY MERCY TSAY

SIGNING UP FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT WHAT IS DUAL ENROLLMENT? Dual enrollment (DE) classes are another option for students who want to challenge themselves and to earn college credits. DE students take college level courses either at Hillsborough or at the HCC campus itself. Some dual enrollment classes are offered at USF, but most are at HCC. DE classes are weighted the same as AP and IB credits, so students who participate will have higher GPA’s. DE classes also allow students to get a feel for how college really is.

1. MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS To take dual enrollment courses, Students have to meet the requirements for the class first, they must have a qualifying SAT/ACT or PERT score and at least a 3.0 GPA.

3. SELECT A COURSE The courses that students are allowed to take are decided by how well they do on the SAT/ACT or PERT Based on their score, students must choose a campus and then choose a class.

2. TALK TO GUIDANCE Students need to go to their counselor with your scores,and he or she will help you discuss what classes you are eligible to take. After that, students must fill out the Form-B sheet to approve the courses that they want to take. Guidance then Emails/Faxes the paperwork to HCC.

5. TURN IN FEE WAIVERS

FORM - B

$$$

After selecting classes, students need to see the guidance office at HCC. They will give students a fee waiver. Students must then give the waiver to the cashier in the admissions office so they won’t charge them for the classes or books.

4. REGISTER AT HCC

Visit the College and Career Lab for more community service opportunities.

HCC STUDENT ID

COMPILED BY RACINE SEIDE

xxxx-xxxx-xxx Student Name 1357523

GRAPHIC BY JOHN DOAN

Go to the admissions office and register as an HCC student to set up your student info pick up a student ID and set up your Hawknet email.

A+

6. TAKE THE CLASS Take the class and maintain your grades

news

October 2018

Red & Black

BEHIND THE SCENES HHS Thespians rehearse ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ for the One Act Play Festival Competition at USF Onstage in the auditorium, freshman Aiden Bourgeois bellowed in gravelly tones. “You leave me no choice but to count backwards from 10,” as he tightly gripped the wooden gun in an awkward position. Junior Carli Castro rushed to his side, adjusted his hand and moved his elbow down. Theater director Jeff Pittard demonstrated the crazed motions required in the scene by holding the gun and whipping his head and arms around in all directions. “You need to make it big,” he called from below the stage.

One Act Currently, members of the Thespians, are in the early stages of rehearsal for the One Act Play Festival Competition at USF. The One Act allows theatre programs from across the state to present their productions and receive score. Although not every Thespian could participate in the act, Bourgeois, Castro, senior Jeremy Monge, freshman Kaileen Barreto and junior Gillian Bennett each hold a lead role. “I play a madman and an insane character [in the Little Red Riding Hood],” Bourgeois said. However, the act deviates from the traditional tale. “I’ve always liked twisted fairytales when they take something and chew it up, spit it out and do something

different with it,” Pittard said. “To me, it’s very physical and like the three stooges on acid, it’s just nuts and I want the audience to think ‘what did I just watch? and what was that?’”

Characters According to Pittard, it was very easy to cast the parts. “I know pretty much after seeing a few theater games who I’m going to pick, I know who is ready, who has the stamina and sometimes when we’re doing a major musical I have auditions but these kids, these are all kids that wanted to join thespians and take it seriously, these are all my serious kids so I have no qualms about who they are.” Castro plays the mother in the play. “I was a large maternal figure in my brother’s life so I try and think about the person who is playing my child in the same way that I think about him, like I genuinely care for their well-being and you have to make that chemistry too like it doesn’t just appear, so you have to work with that person and get to have that bond with them, so you can fake it on the stage,” she said.

Preparation for the show To prepare for the performance, the cast reads through the scripts, prepares the set with furniture and props, recites

and practices the scenes and finally runs through the full show a couple times. Behind the scenes there are several more roles that are overlooked. Theater students can also do lights, sound, and can control the curtain and the stage, and organize props, makeup and publicity by creating posters. “People think the thespians are just the actors but it’s really not, it’s everything, every possible job in theater including business stuff,” Pittard said. “Theater is this whole little world into itself.”

Comedic relief Since childhood, Burgeois has created scripts in his room and talked to himself to create characters. “It’s the art of being anybody you want to be and there is something comforting about that, “he said. Pittard agrees that theater is therapeutic and thinks the play is needs especially today. “I like comedies, there is enough sad things in the world that I think comedy is healing,” he said. “When you laugh about things, it’s a lot better than moaning and groaning about some of the worst things that are out there.” The show will be at Hillsborough on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. and at USF on Dec. 6 or Dec. 7. STORY BY KATIE DELK

TOP To protect her daughter, junior Carli Castro holds a knife to the wolf, senior Jeremy Monge. LEFT Theater director Jeff Pittard instructs the cast from offstage RIGHT Before freshman Kaileen Barreto is eaten by Monge, she asks questions like ‘will I still be alive?’ BOTTOM Freshman Aiden Bourgeois practices for his role as the hunter. PHOTOS BY KATIE DELK

DEARLY ‘DEPARTED’ APPS While these aren’t dead, students find they’re using these apps less and less

“It makes me feel like ‘wow I don’t have a lot of friends’, but now it’s different; I realized that I don’t need no friends to be happy in real life.” KATHY SIMPSON, 9

“I only had family on there and I don’t talk to my family like that. When I look back it’s really embarrassing because I have ugly looking photos.” MARCO BELTRAN,10

“We used to use it for group chats and video chats and maybe school projects, but when I look back it’s more of a cringe.” HOWARD FLEMING, 11

“It got outdated, just the style of it, because now you have Snapchat and Instagram where you can instantly communicate with others.” BRIAN JOYCE, 12

COMPILED BY ALEX CROFT

hhstoday.com

news

October 2018

BUS DELAYS LEAVE STUDENTS STRANDED Students on the magnet transfer bus share growing frustratioms due to bus delays in the afternoon The sun beating down on their backs. Backpacks weighing down heavily on their shoulders. They watch one leave. And then another. And then another. Until the last one pulls out of the parking lot. At first, they complained, but now, they aren’t talking as much as before. Now they’re just kicking dirt around to pass the seemingly never-ending expanse of time before they can leave. The unusual quiet envelops the usually rowdy space. They’re the last ones there. Again.

Getting home late For students who ride the transfer bus, this has been almost a daily occurrence. And it’s not new. Last year, they could be found under the same tree, waiting for the same bus. The transfer bus averages around 10 to 15 minutes late on any average day, and that delay has been a source of frustration to the students who rely on it to get home. “It really interferes with after school activities and plans,” freshman Damion Huynh said. “It’s frustrating because while we’re waiting for the buses, we have to wait in the heat.” It’s a usual occurrence for buses to be late the first few weeks of school as drivers learn and get used to their TOP Students stand under a tree at the bus ramp to pass the time while they wait routes. But as the first quarter ended, for their bus to arrive . BOTTOM Students gather in the shade to stay out of the the patience of sophomore Joshua Lassey had run out. “My bus is late alsun while waiting for their busses. PHOTOS BY MARIN FEHL

most everyday since the beginning of the school year,” he said. “It gives me even less time to complete my homework resulting in even less sleep.”

Tardiness is expected There are multiple reasons a bus could be behind schedule. One is that its previous route serving an elementary school ran late. Another could be a lack of drivers that requires a bus to make what’s called a “double run,” where it delivers students then returns to campus to pick up others. According to district spokeswoman Tanya Arja, the school district began the year with more drivers than routes, but some drivers have left since August. As of Monday, the district was down 32 drivers short. The goal is to again get fully staffed and then establish a substitute pool, so there are enough drivers to fill in or help with routes. Much of the student frustration stems from the fact that this is experience is not just limited to after the final bell rings. Often, after experiencing delays for their first bus at school, they also must wait at the transfer station for a second bus. “I take a transfer bus so in total it takes around two hours to actually get home,” Lassey said. “What usually takes the longest is if we get to the transfer station on time and it takes an hour or so to transfer.”

However, not everyone on the transfer bus shares these frustrations. “The latest I have ever gotten home has been 5:30, which was annoying at the time,” sophomore Alexander Randall said. “At first, I was annoyed at getting home a bit later, and my mom was in the middle of cooking dinner. I vented a bit, but I got over it fairly quickly.”

The district’s plan forward This isn’t a popular opinion. For most, the delay has just been a disruption. “I have an after-school routine, and things are sometimes pushed off,” freshman Dreannah Smith said. “It causes things to get held back.” Smith doesn’t think the district’s plan is adequate to solve the problem. “I think the buses should have to get to school by a certain time,” she said. Randall agrees with the district’s plan. “I feel like [the problem] stems from a lack of bus drivers, so making the job more desirable so that drivers are less inclined to quit, and more people are inclined to take the job would be the best way I see to fix it,” he said. As of now, the transfer station continues to present an issue in getting students home on time. Still, Arja said on-time service has improved dramatically since last school year thanks to changes in start times. STORY BY MARIN FEHL

The magnet bus is

10 to 15 minutes late

According to a district spokesperson, the school district is currently 32 drivers short.

most afternoons, according to riders. Approximately 2 buses are late most mornings, arriving after 8:25, as reported by administration.

GRAPHICS BY JOHN DOAN

life

October 2018

Red & Black

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION FOR TONIGHT THINGS TO DO ON HALLOWEEN

LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

1)Watch movies with friends

ERROR: Costume not found

Whether you go out to the movies, or stay in and watch childhood favorites, this is always a good, safe alternative to going out. If you have Netflix, you could watch: “Coraline”,“The Sixth Sense” or “American Horror Story.”

Don’t have a lot of time to come up with a costume before Halloween night? Take a white t-shirt and write “ERROR 404: Costume Not Found” and you’re done. No effort required.

Erro r Cos 404: tum not foun e d

2)Pumpkin carving contest Go to your local grocery store or a nearby pumpkin patch and get a few pumpkins. Bring them home and have a contest with friends by seeing who can carve the most creative pumpkin. You can buy pumpkin carving kits at a grocery store, near where the pumpkins are sold.

Hippie For this costume all you need is a colorful shirt and jeans or a colorful/ flowery dress, a flowery headband, some round sunglasses and a peaceful attitude.

3)Have a costume party For many people, this is a Halloween tradition. Cheap and easy DIY costumes can be found online, YouTube or at HHSToday.com.

4)Cook something sweet with friends An easy and festive dessert is ghost strawberries. Dip some strawberries in melted white chocolate and add facial features with chocolate chips, leave a little drip and let it harden.

Lifeguard To have a super easy costume that’s won’t make you in the Florida heat all you need is a white shirt (write life guard on the back) and red shorts. Pair that outfit with flip flops, a fanny pack and some sunglasses.

Lifeg

uard

5)Have a bonfire Tell scary stories with a big group around a bonfire on Halloween, you can make your own story or find some online. If you’re not up to get spooked keep it simple and roast some marshmallows and make s’mores. COMPILED BY SARAH ELLIS GRAPHICS BY MERCY TSAY

THE PERFECT FALL TREAT

Fall is well underway and December is right around the corner. The fall season is met with a lot of anticipation, from Homecoming to Halloween to Thanksgiving break. One of the recognizable parts of this season is the food. Pumpkin and cinnamon flavored everything, cranberry sauce, turkey, cornbread, stuffing and that’s just naming a few. In preparation for the season, we asked some culinary students created their favorite fall treats based on their own most memorable dishes of the season. “I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but I still really, really like pumpkin pie,” sophomore Niah Ceparano said. “I actually baked it from

Masquerade For this look all you need is a fancy dress or suit and a mask that matches your outfit and covers only a portion of your face. This look is more suited for a party and not trick or treating but an easy look to pull off. COMPILED BY KILEY SMITH GRAPHICS BY MERCY TSAY

scratch before.” Ceparano and fellow culinary student junior Shawnee Martin have both been baking since childhood and know how to make many of the traditional Fall foods. “We normally make sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, fudge … and it’s me, my mom and my grandma that usually bake,” Shawnee said. “[My favorite is] probably pumpkin pie.” Senior Caleb Berry agreed, although he admitted he’s not much of a baker. “Honestly more so pumpkin pie,” he said. “Pumpkin pie is the best thing to eat.” Students in the program have been making different types of pie in the kitchen for the last few weeks. Culinary instructor Dalton Dunn is planning on teaching more fall recipes to his students in the LEFT Junior Shawnee Martin peels chopped apples in preparation for the apple pie. RIGHT coming months. Junior Shawnee Martin and Niah Ceparano pose after making apple pie. PHOTOS BY JOSH STORY BY JOSH MORRISON MORRISON

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life

October 2018

KICKER ZACH LONG PUNTS AWAY THE COMPETITION With a 6-6 score against Jefferson and 56 seconds left on the clock, the crowd roared and the opposing school’s drumbeats pulsed. But all the sophomore kicker, Zach Long, registered was his twitching left calf and rapid heartbeat. Without any hesitation, he drew back his leg and swung it forward, launching the ball through the two metal posts. “I had the adrenaline going through me and I kicked the ball and went straight through it and hoped it was good because it’s what I’ve practiced all the time,” Long said. “When I made it, I just turned to the crowd and stared out at them. Everyone was just hugging me, everyone was crowded around me, and it was a great feeling, I don’t have any words to describe it.” “He’s doing very well, he might be one of the most talented kickers I’ve coached in my career and that’s saying something,” coach Earl Garcia said. Spring season last school year was Long’s first on a football team. Long has played soccer since childhood and he said his skills as center helped hone his skills as kicker. “Football is something new and if I get

good at it, it should be something I’m really successful in,” he said. The 2017 punter of the team, Brandon Rivera, has assisted the kickers the past two years since he graduated. “[Long] is doing his best to follow my direction, but he has a lot of consistencies from soccer that are hard to break for him,” Rivera said. “But he’s doing pretty good.” Not only does Long have to adjust to the new sport, but to a new team. “I’m one of the few sophomores that starts but I just need to get adjusted because it is a totally different atmosphere than my soccer team,” Long said. “I think it’s hard because the team has tough spots knowing how to lose and knowing how to win.” Long is also the only player in IB. “Most of them don’t get to see me often, like we see each other in the locker-room and during games and between classes and lunch, but we don’t get to see each other except in the games and that’s where we bond with each other,” he said. As a junior and senior, Long plans to improve and lead the team. STORY BY KATIE DELK

TIPS FOR GETTING A JOB The Resume DO NOT LIE ON A RESUME They will find out through background checks and your references if what you say is true. Parts of a Resume: - Skills - Volunteer/Work Experience - References: These people can be teachers, previous employers or people that you’ve helped out with while volunteering. Don’t use family members. Resumes should only be a single page at most 2.

The Application There are many websites to look at for free. Indeed and LinkedIn are all used by hundreds of employers to view potential employees. E-mail the business owner directly if you can’t find an application offer. Sample E-mail: “Hi, my name is [Your name] and I am interestJOB SEARCH ed in working with your business. Attached is my resume for your reference. Sincerely, [Your name]”

Sophomore Zach Long practices his kicks during after-school practice. PHOTOS BY LAUREN KOMAR

VEDU RUIA TAKES TO THE SKIES

While some students look forward to getting a driver’s license, junior Vedu Ruia is preparing to get a flying license. Since he was young, Ruia has always been fascinated by planes. “The first time [that] I flew on an airplane, I knew it was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Ruia said. He thought that the concept of being thousands of feet above the ground in control of a plane was intriguing. His training began after he took an introductory flight at the Peter O. Knight Airport, at a local flight school. In order to get his permit, Ruia had to train with an instructor. “It wasn’t too difficult for me [to train] but I’ve heard it can be for some people,” Ruia said. Now that he’s able to fly alone, he feels more independent but has to think deeply about everything he does. Many people do not know about the intricacies of flying and how difficult it can be for some. “You

The Interview It can be the most intimidating part of the job finding process, but it doesn’t have to be. Start off with confidence, you’re advertising your skills so make it seem like you’re worth the time. At the beginning of the interview: Start off with a firm handshake (remember to let go) During the interview: Relax and answer questions confidently At the end of the interview: Give another hand shake (and let go again) Thank the interviewer for their time Follow Up: They’ll call you first. Wait one to two weeks to call back so that your possible employer has the chance to go over all the information and so they can process evLEFT Junior Vedu Ruia over erything the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. RIGHT Ruia poses in front COMPILED BY of the first JOHN DOAN plane he flew. PHOTOS COURTESY OF VEDU RUIA

have to be really good at communicating with other people through the radio, you have to have a lot of hand eye coordination and actually you use your feet for the rudder,” Ruia said. He rents a plane, typically a Cessna 172, from the local airport and flies once or twice a week. “I usually fly to nearby airports like Lakeland, Punta Gorda or I just stay within the Tampa area and practice maneuvers,” Ruia said. Ruia’s family supports him flying but does not completely approve of his hobby. “I don’t know if they like it to be honest,” Ruia said, “They think it’s a little dangerous but that’s fine with me.” Once he turns 17, Ruia will be able to get a flying license, allowing him to carry passengers other than certified flight instructors. “I don’t know whether its gonna be for fun or as a career, but ... all I know right now is that I want to do it for the rest of my life.” STORY BY JADEN SHEMESH

focus

October 2018

COUNTING YOUR VOTES All students old enough to vote were surveyed about their plans for the Nov. 6 election. Here’s what 87 eligible to vote had to say:

48 students are registered to vote

students are planning to vote

likely voters are Republicans

likely voters are Democrats

19 2

are planning to vote for Andrew Gillum

are planning to vote for Ron DeSantis

11 7

are planning to vote for Bill Nelson

are planning to vote for Rick Scott

likely voters are Independents The issues most important to them are: • • • • • •

Healthcare Immigration Gun Control Police Brutality Public school funding Criminal justice reform COMPILED BY MARIN FEHL

With the Nov. 6 election fast approaching and early voting already taking place at select locations, eligible voters on campus have begun to consider their voting options. Fairly evenly split, some of the eligible voters are planning to vote and others are sitting this election out.

Aisha Ademola For senior Aisha Ademola, her first-time voting will be a necessary privilege. “[Not voting] is neglecting the fact that you have a chance in the United States. We don’t live in a country where there’s too much corruption in the voting system, you know that no matter what, your vote will be counted,” she said. “People who don’t vote aren’t taking advantage of this opportunity, right and privilege that they have so it kind of makes me look at them and think they don’t understand how important it is to vote or that they’re not trying to educate themselves. It’s very disappointing.” For her, the importance of voting has been ingrained since childhood. “I’ve always wanted to vote, it’s something that I think is important and my dad always made sure that we knew how important it is, and he votes continuously every single election, so he definitely showed me the responsibility that I have.” But it’s not just about democracy. She’s trying to prove a point. Many voters were discouraged by the results of the 2016 presidential election, and her family was no exception. “My mom is an immigrant and she voted for the first time in the last presidential election and it made her very distraught. Originally, she didn’t want to vote at all, but I told her that she needed to because it’s important that America be on this path where it’s improving,” Ademola said. “But because Donald Trump won instead of Hillary Clinton, it made her very disappointed and she said: ‘I don’t trust the system now.’ So, I decided that I’m going to register to vote because

BREAKING DOWN THE BALLOT Here’s a look at the key amendments and taxes that will appear on the ballot on Nov. 6. I want to prove to my mom that the system actually does work.”

Anthony Khmarin But not everyone shares her feelings. For some, voting just isn’t really a main priority. “I think it’s probably important to vote but I don’t think that it’s the most unreasonable thing to not vote yet because you’re not very certain on what your beliefs are. So, I think you should be more solid in your beliefs before you vote,” senior Anthony Khmarin said. Khmarin missed the Oct. 9 registration deadline because he was unaware of it. According to him, by the time he realized he needed to register, he just felt unprepared. “By the time I realized that I should’ve registered, it was too late, and I didn’t feel like I was informed enough. I feel like to have voted, I would’ve needed to be more informed on the platforms of the current people on the ballot,” he said. Had he realized the deadline was approaching when it was, he might have spent Nov. 6 differently. “I should’ve paid more attention to [the registration deadline] but I didn’t. If I had known, I probably would have voted,” Khmarin said. His circumstances aren’t unusual. Of the 87 eligible voters on campus, only 48 registered to vote in time for the midterm election. But this doesn’t mean that high schoolers won’t show up to the polls. Immediately following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas earlier this year, youth voter registration in Florida soared 41 percent, according to polling done by TargetSmart. Various voter registration events have also taken place to bot only register young voters, but to encourage them to make it to the polls each election. The final day to vote in the 2018 midterm elections is Nov. 6. Polls close at 7 p.m. STORY BY MARIN FEHL

TIE’SERE DAVIS, 12

“It’s important because we don’t want to pick the wrong person, but sometimes politics are too much.” JANELLE HARRIS, 10

“No, I think it’s a waste of political time for everyone.” EDUARDO HERNANDEZ, 11

Amendment 3 This would give citizens the right to decide on any plans to expand casino gambling in Florida. Under the current laws, the state Legislature has this power.

Amendment 4 This would restore the right to vote to former felons who have served their sentences, with the exception of those who have been convicted of crimes such as rape or murder.

Amendment 9 This amendment would outlaw offshore oil drilling in state-owned waters. It would also prohibit vaping indoors, like smoking is prohibited in public buildings now.

Amendment 13 A single issue amendment that proposes to end wagering on dog races by 2020. The Florida Greyhound Association has already sued to remove the amendment from the ballot.

“Yes. Because you want a delegate that you can trust to represent your beliefs and can make a difference in the world.” CERESON EDMOND, 12 COMPILED BY DIADELYS MENA

JUST TO RECAP: FLORIDA’S KEY RACES Andrew Gillum (D) Gillum is the Democratic candidate for Governor. His main focuses as governor would be criminal justice reform, gun safety, healthcare and LGBTQ equality. In terms of public education, Gillum plans to invest more in the public school system through increasing teacher salaries.

Ron DeSantis (R) DeSantis is the Republican candidate for governor. His campaign has focused on opposing tax increases and defending the First and Second Amendment. If elected, he plans to boost classroom spending and establish greater vocational and technical training in public schools.

Bill Nelson (D) Nelson is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate. If elected, his main goals as senator would be to create new jobs and address the effects of rising sea levels. His plans for public education include establishing more STEM education programs and expanding vocational training.

Rick Scott (R) Scott is the Republican candidate for Senator. After serving two terms as governor, his goals as Senator would be to create hurricane response plans and continue tax cuts. Scott plans to continue to push legislation concerning treatment of mental health in schools and student safety. COMPILED BY MARIN FEHL PHOTOS COURTESY CREATIVE COMMONS

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO VOTE

Hillsborough School Tax The Hillsborough County School Board proposed a half-cent sales tax increase. The proposed tax increase would be used for school maintenance like air conditioning and general campus restorations. An individual plan for each school was made available to the public in September.

whod Do you think that it’s important to vote? sai it “Voting of course is important. It gives us an opportunity to express ourselves and to have a say in how our government governs.”

Red & Black

For both early voting and voting on Nov. 6, voters are expected to provide a valid photo ID which could include: • Driver’s license • U.S. passport • Student ID

Hillsborough Transportation Tax These are the voting locations closest to you: • Seminole Heights Library • Revealing Truth Ministries • Wellswood Baptist Church • St. Chad’s Episcopal Church • Jimmie B Keel Regional Library

A proposed one-cent tax increase that would benenfit mass transit and road improvement projects in the county. The proposed goal of the tax increase is to make the entire transportation network faster for cars to get from point A to point B.

STORY BY MARIN FEHL

STORY AND GRAPHICS BY MARIN FEHL

October 2018

RED&BLACK VOLUME 120, ISSUE 3

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marin Fehl WEB EDITOR Mercy Tsay DEPUTY WEB EDITOR Jaden Shemesh COPY EDITOR Katie Delk PAGE EDITORS Makayla Brown, Johnathan Doan-Truong, Sarah Ellis, Shawn Gist, Lauren Komar, Joshua Morrison, Reema Patel, Kylie Smith STAFF WRITERS Alex Croft, Ria Dey, Ceejay Liberatore, Diadelys Mena, Racine Seide ADVISER Joe Humphrey, MJE PRINCIPAL Gary Brady ABOUT Content decisions are made by student editors MEMBERSHIP Red & Black belongs to the Florida, National and Columbia Scholastic press associations AWARDS 2017-2018 FSPA All-Florida 2016-2017 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2016-2017 NSPA All-American 2016-2017 CSPA Hybrid Silver Crown The EDITORIAL reflects the view of student editors and can be found in the opinion section Bylined COLUMNS represent the viewpoints of their authors We welcome your LETTERS, which may be edited for brevity and clarity. Submit via email, deliver to Room 506 or mail to Red & Black, 5000 N. Central Ave, Tampa, Florida 33603. ADVERTISING content is subject to approval of the editorial board Visit us online at HHSTODAY.COM CONTACT Phone: (813) 276-5620 Fax: (813) 276-5629 Email: hhstoday@gmail.com Twitter: @HHSTodayOnline

opinion

Red & Black

WE NEED TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH Hidden behind closed doors. Whispered between families. Shoved behind a curtain of secrecy. But there’s no need for it to be a secret. Over 20 percent of teenagers aged 13-18 have or will have some form of mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It’s not a rarity. It’s not abnormal. But still, those who suffer from a mental illness have been called names or blamed for it. Or told to keep it hush hush to avoid the curiosity of prying eyes. But the truth is that our generation can’t afford to handle this like the generations before us. It’s not the 1950s. It’s not time to deny what we face. It’s time to help. But many who suffer from some form of mental illness font ask for it for fear of being judged and treated like a social pariah. So, it’s up to us to start a conversation. It’s up to overcome the fear and stigma that the generations before us carefully built to preserve the ideal image of normality. The implication that mental illness is inherently abnormal is ignorant. It’s arguably one of the most prominent issues facing our society right now. So, it’s time for us to do something. And it goes beyond just offering support and information on therapy and other treat-

ment options. We need to change our mindset. We need to create a culture that’s accepting of what has previously been hard to swallow.

GRAPHIC BY JADEN SHEMESH And it starts with us. We need to open up a conversation and stop treating mental illness like it’s something that

needs to be whispered about. We need to encourage the type of language that refrains from using mental illnesses as adjectives to describe our mood, and that creates a feeling of safety for people to openly seek help if they need it. We need to educate ourselves. We need to offer therapy and treatment more openly, and with options for those seeking it. But it’s not just our social culture that needs to change. It’s our focus. Rather than working constantly and feeling pressure to live up to the expectations of everyone around us, we need to leave time for self-reflection. It’s fine to take a break, normal even. But teenagers and young adults in the United States feel pressured to do anything but that, and we shouldn’t have to be forced to foster unhealthy habits. The demand from school should no longer outweigh your biological need for rest. The looming deadlines and social pressures flashed in front of us everyday can no longer be deemed more important than recuperation. Because it’s not just the people around us that we need to help, it’s ourselves. It’s our responsibility to remove the stigma. Because when millions who suffer from mental illness are too afraid to seek help, we need to reevaluate. Is it really more important that we maintain an illusion of perfection instead of helping our family, friends, and neighbors? It’s not complicated.

THE BACK GATE SHOULD NOT BE LOCKED Within the last two years, the gate that opens to allow kids to get in and out from the bus ramp and senior lot, also known as the “back gate” remains locked even when school just starts. I understand that we need to keep the gate locked for security reasons, but locking this gate also means that anyone who parks in the senior lot cannot get into the school. Coming into school late is not good, but it sometimes is necessary. For instance, If a student has a doctor’s appointment or just has to be late for a good reason. The only way to get into the school after the day has started is the door on Wilder, which is almost on the opposite side of the school. This leads students who park in the se-

nior lot to waste more time standing at the gate hoping for another student would be leaving campus to open the gate. As a result, students waste class time waiting for another student to leave campus and let them in. Because the gate is locked, students can skip school, but not even be able to get back in. Could this put in a student’s mind that they shouldn’t even bother coming back when they skip because the gate would be locked? While I don’t personally know a fix for this issue, something needs to be fixed about locking the gates. COLUMN BY LAUREN KOMAR GRAPHIC BY JOHN DOAN

opinion

hhstoday.com

October 2018

THE ISSUE ON THE TABLE: CONSENT We asked students to discuss their thoughts on consent in modern times Q: What are your thoughts on the Me Too movement?

Nicholas Greenwell, 11

“I think it’s good that [it] amplified the voices of sexual assault victims because they really need that. A lot of conservatives, they really just try to drown it out by saying ‘how can you know?’ they don’t even take it seriously. And so I think it’s a good thing that it’s amplified by the Me Too movement.”

“I think it’s stupid that our own president doesn’t believe women when they say someone touched them inappropriately ... It shows how America really is and how we would elect someone like that even with prior knowledge about his racism and sexism and like all these negative qualities about him.” Isha Modha, 9

Q: Why do you feel like we should or should not believe women that come forward about sexual assault?

Isha Modha, 9

“I know there are some women that lie about it for whatever reason, but I know people like my grandm was sexually assaulted last year and she’s 70 years old. And I feel like you don’t know notice how often it comes up but it happens all the time and people just don’t realize that. And I feel like we should believe people who come forward about it. And even though people lie, there should still be a court case on it.”

“People lie about everything. People lie about not robbing a bank, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a court case to hold them accountable for it. You have to see if they’re guilty. There’s no reason to believe someone if they say “I didn’t do it.” That’s just showing the bias that we believe men more than we believe women. It’s just you have to test it out Samantha Champion, and see what the sides of the story are and see who’s 11 telling the truth.”

Q: So why do we have such a problem with consent?

Isha Modha, 9

“I think that historically, men have always been in office more than women and even now, in 2018, there’s way more male Congress members, We’ve never had a female president, and I think that affects voters because they would like to have males in office because they appreciate the way men run a country and that’s why women don’t have as much power. People only want to fill their agenda.”

Q: What are your thoughts on toxic masculinity in relation to sexual assault? “I think the repression of emotion in men is completely different from sexual assault. Like, I don’t think that has anything to do with it. People hate this phrase, but I think a ‘rape culture’ is completely separate from the emotional repression of men.”

“Men definitely have injustices done to them because society tells them that men need to be strong especially in some communities. I feel like men are oppressed in that way where they can’t be feminine or express emotions, they overcompensate things and then act out like that as a way to assert dominance.”

Q: How do you feel as a society we can redefine consent?

Nicholas Greenwell, 11

Isha Modha, 9

“At the place I work we have to go through training to recognize signs of a sexual predator or a child that’s going through abuse, physically or mentally. You have to go through all these steps because someone might have a bruise on their arm and say ‘oh, I fell’ but in reality you see the repeated bruises. And if we’re not taking those steps and precautions kids are going to think it’s OK.”

Samantha Champion, 11

“I think one of the big problems is that people only like to believe sexual assault victims when it’s convenient to them. Somehow Brett Kavanaugh faces a strong testimony and is somehow like he’s just a young man and he didn’t really know any better and if he did, does it really matter, because it been 30 years? Its only when it’s convenient to people and I think that needs to stop and we need to evaluate accusations equally when compared to other accusations.”

Nicholas Greenwell, 11

“I read something about consent, and it was about how when children say they don’t want to hug their uncle or something, you don’t force them to hug their uncle because obviously they’re uncomfortable in that situation and they don’t feel like doing that. So I feel like you should teach your kids that when they don’t want to do something, they don’t have to.” Isha Modha, 9

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT Under our current state government, there is very little enforcement of environmental protection laws and no prosecution of the many individual and corporate polluters in Florida. Not only are laws not being enforced, but our government has degraded our environmental protection system by shutting down water quality monitoring offices and quite a few other programs in place to protect the planet. Florida’s leaders have allowed businesses to control what happens to the environment by approving business’ requests to take advantage of our Earth for money. Although in the near future, Florida will be one of the most affected states by climate change, Gov. Rick Scott has continuously ignored the reality of global warming and has done nothing to help prevent it and has gone as far to even denied its existence. Environmental protection is not just about preserving the Earth for future generations anymore. It has become about preserving the Earth for those who live on it now. We have clearly begun to see the tragic effects of climate change and pollution on our planet today. Not only is red tide killing many of our sea creatures living off the coast of Florida, such as fish, turtles and dolphins, but it creates a horrible stench and has a bad effect on the human respiratory system if someone comes into contact with it. Although we can agree that this is partially caused by natural causes, no one can deny its longer and longer occurrences over the past years. Many researchers believe that the causes of these longer lasting algae are due to increasing nutrient runoff from animal agriculture, a form of pollution. Another idea is that global warming is the cause, because algae grows better in warmer environments. Stronger environmental protections are needed to prevent our beaches from becoming unsafe forever. Make sure our government sets this in place by convincing your family or if you’re old enough, vote for candidates who will make these essential changes and at least protect our planet for a little bit longer. COLUMN BY ASHER MONTGOMERY

COMPILED BY REEMA PATEL AND JADEN SHEMESH

COMPILED BY REEMA PATEL

entertainment

October 2018

Red & Black

LIL WAYNE’S LIFE THROUGH ‘CARTER V’ Lil Wayne’s ‘Carter V’ has been released after much anticipation, and it lived up to expectations. Here’s what we have to say about the legendary album.

GRAPHIC BY JOHN DOAN

UPCOMING CONCERTS Twenty One Pilots Twenty One Pilots Nov. 3 at Amalie Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available and prices starting at $55.75 on ticketmaster.com.

Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran with Snow Patrol Nov. 7 at Raymond James Stadium at 7 p.m. Ticket prices at $37 on ticketmaster.com.

ASTROWORLD Travis Scott ASTROWORLD Tour - Nov. 12 at Amalie Arena at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at low as $26.20 each at ticketmaster.com.

Lil Wayne released one of his most anticipated albums ‘Carter V’ in late September. This album release date was marked for 2014 but has been on hold because of legal problems with Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group. Lil Wayne settled in court with the two major record labels. The label violated his contract many times which lead to Lil Wayne filing a lawsuit. But after the long wait, the album is able to drop. Fans and media have been loving the new album since it has been years since the original release date. The album featured recently passed artist XXXTentacion on the song “Don’t Cry.” XXXTentacion was shot and killed so fans finally got some new music. Lil Wayne also featured Travis Scott, Niki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar and Hip Hop Legend Snoop Dog I’ve been listening to Lil Wanye since I first started listening to rap music. Carter IV and III were both amazing to me. I loved every second of them so I was hoping to feel the same way about Carter V. The opening song “I Love You Dwayne” was a voicemail from Lil Wayne’s mother talking about how great of a child he has

who ? said it

been and the great things he’s done for her and his family. “Dwayne, mama proud of you. You done came so far.” The first song was “Don’t Cry,” and the hook opens with XXXTentacion. This to me was one of the best choruses on the whole album. It was easy to sing along with him. Then Lil Wayne’s verse comes in on “Don’t Cry,” this is one of the most popular songs on the album. Lil Wayne brings up things that most people don’t talk about, like his suicidal thoughts and how he almost killed himself. The best song to really get you in the mood to dance is “Let it Fly” featuring Travis Scott. The whole song is just one big masterpiece with Travis killing the hook and verse. Listening to the album feels like a short story about Lil Wayne’s life, with a different setting and vibe with each song. Lil Wayne has been trying to release this album for almost 5 years and now that it’s released, “Carter V” has certainly lived up to the hype. This is one of the best album drops of the year. Lil Wayne seems to never disappoint his fans. REVIEW BY SHAWN GIST

What was your favorite song from Carter V? “Uproar. The beat was fire and Lil Wayne killed his verse.” -ALEX CASTRO, 11

“Let it Fly with Travis Scott is the song of the year I’ve been waiting on these artists to collab.” -BAYRON RIVERA, 10

“Mona Lisa. This song reminds me of the better life I used to have.” -JEREMIAH MCNAIR, 12

KANYE WEST IS THE KANYE BEST

Steve Jobs, Tupac, Bill Gates, Van Gogh, Howard Hughes, Donald Trump, Floyd Mayweather, Michael Jackson, Hitler, David Bowie, Superman, Picasso, Jesus Christ, Walt Disney, Andy Warhol, Kris Jenner, Shakespeare, Willy Wonka and God. What do the people listed above have in common? They are all people that Kanye West has compared himself to. Kanye is one of the greatest artists to ever live. He is also, by far, the most controversial person of the 21st century. Being such a polarizing celebrity, a lot of the attention he receives is very negative. His public statements have caused people to forget exactly how important he is to popular culture. His statements have sparked one very specific question: Why is he like this?

Looking back Kanye spent most of the 1990s as a ghost-producer for the Bad Boy record label. He was uncredited on all these tracks. After

being a ghost-artist for a decade, he finally got the opportunity to work with his idol: hip-hop legend Jay-Z. Kanye West produced some of Jay-Z’s greatest hits and even granted him his first top-10 Billboard single, “Izzo (H.O.V.A).” This record established West as one of the hottest producers in the game. But Kanye had other plans.

Not enough He wanted to become a rapper as well. Initially, none of his colleagues took Kanye’s efforts to become a rapper seriously. He was always referred to as a “producer” and told to “stick to producing,” but he never gave up on his dreams. One day, while driving home from his studio in LA, West was involved in a near-fatal car accident that shattered his lower jaw and made it nearly impossible to continue making music. He never gave up. Kanye believed that this was the best time

possible to become a full-time rapper and with this belief, he released one of the greatest rap singles of all time with his jaw wired shut. In just 15 years, Kanye has dominated rapping, producing and fashion.

IDGAF Just imagine how little you would value the opinions of others if you: -- Were told to stop producing music and ended up becoming one of the best producers of all time. -- Were told to stop rapping and ended up becoming one of the greatest rappers ever. -- Were told to stop pursuing fashion and ended up becoming a billionaire from it. -- And now, more recently, were told not to pursue politics. West is a master in many fields and will never stop no matter how many negative headlines are made against him. The sooner people acknowledge his greatness, the better. COLUMN BY JAEYON BALL

hhstoday.com

entertainment

October 2018

NOW PLAYING IN A THEATER NEAR YOU... THE HATE U GIVE

NIGHT SCHOOL “Night School” was a hilarious movie and comedy, it overall had a lot of people laughing. The movie shows what happens to this group of people who have to make up their GPA. When they all meet for the first time to go to class it’s very awkward and it shows. Everyone has to introduce themselves and they all have different reasons and some are pretty scary and very confusing. Throughout the movie there’s a lot of amusing things that happen all of them. One of the characters Mackenzie “Mack” (Rob Riggle) is completely oblivious to anything that is going on around him and that anything is his fault which makes it so stupid that it is funny. Bobby (Fat Joe) has to take night school over the screen because he is in prison. It’s interesting to see him do a lot of things and even at one point talks about making toilet punch.

The movie will make you have a proper belly laugh when the teacher Carrie (Tiffany Haddish) is teaching Teddy Walker (Kevin Hart) because he doesn’t learn or pick up on things as quick as the others. But she beats the knowledge into the student and literally smacks him straight. What makes this interesting is because up to that point nothing bad really had happened to this character except for destroying his job. It has the times when it’s serious but it’s a goofier and silly version of high school. The best part about the movie is when it’s time for the largest obstacle any of the students faced which was actually passing the final test. Overall the entire movie was a very good comedy and a very different perspective of those who go to night school. REVIEW BY CEEJAY LIBERATORE

ple at once. Starr is enrolled in the private, mainly white high school, but lives and was raised in a lower income, full black community. She feels pressured to act like her peers at school, and feels as though she can only truly be herself at home. The greatest takeaway of this movie is that it shows the viewers the side of the loved ones of the victims, which we don’t often get to see. Tillman Jr. displays the love, the pain, the grief and the anger of those left after violent acts by police force, and that the story is never quite over. REVIEW BY SARAH ELLIS

VENOM

HALLOWEEN “Halloween” is the direct sequel to the 1978 horror film of the same name. Serial killer Michael Meyers (Nick Castle) escapes prison exactly 40 years after his killing spree, but Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), a survivor of his original spree, is ready for his return. Having never seen the original film, my expectations for the film were not high by any means; however, the fear I felt for days following my viewing is a testament to the success of the film. Perhaps the best aspect of the film is the acting (a very surprising feat for a horror film), as Curtis does an excellent job of portraying the strong yet tortured Strode. Other characters are not as memorable, but that only helps the film as it showcases the dynamic between Strode and Meyers. As Strode confronts her greatest fear, viewers find themselves imagining their greatest fears as well.

“The Hate U Give,” based on the book by Angie Thomas, is not an easy watch. Director George Tillman Jr. brings forth a fictional account of police brutality against the black community. After witnessing the fatal shooting of childhood best friend Khalil (Algee Smith) at the hands of a police officer, 16-year-old Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) must find her voice and become active in her community to protest the political injustices that the black community suffers from police force. “The Hate U Give” also depicts minorities having to balance home and school life, often feeling like they’re pretending to be two peo-

The pacing of the film constantly slows down and speeds up, but that is what makes the simple plot so menacing. The camera-work is spectacular because its wide shots show Michael Myers slowly creeping up on unsuspecting victims in their own houses in the most ordinary manner. Most of Meyers’ kills are quick, clean, and even off camera sometimes, which are somehow scarier than gory kills. The iconic score for the franchise returns in this film, sending your heart into a chaotic dance every time it is played. The film is able to sustain the suspenseful atmosphere from the first minute to the last, straining your adrenaline to the point of exhaustion. Disclaimer: If you’re similar to me, you may find yourself seeing Michael Meyers at every turn once you’ve watched the film. REVIEW BY JADEN SHEMESH

Although “Venom” started off slow, it picked up about 10 minutes in. The movie started off confusing but by the end it made sense. There were similarities between the movie and the Marvel comics for those who have read them but for those who are unfamiliar with comics the references didn’t make any difference. There were plenty of jokes that had everyone laughing all throughout the movie to make it interesting. The interaction between Eddie Brock and Venom (both played by Tom Hardy) made the movie far more entertaining. While the main characters of the movie were Brock and Venom, another important character in the movie was Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed). Drake was a very flat character in the movie. He was overly aggressive

and did not get much of a back story. Drake was just there and his life before the movie takes place was not described as much as Broke. The big fight scene between Carlton Drake and Eddie Brock was kind of long and the way the fight ended left some parts unclear. There could’ve been a better way to pursue the fight seen since it was a big part of the movie. During the resolution of the movie it was good to see certain parts come full circle. There were a few useless characters but none of them distracted from the plot of the movie. Overall the movie was about a 7 out of 10 and worth the watch. REVIEW BY KYLIE SMITH

Octubre 2018

FIESTA LATINA

instantaneas

Los estudiantes y sus maestros llenaron el auditorio mientras observaban la celebración de la Herencia Hispana; creacion del Latino Success Club.

Rojo & Negro IZQUIERDA Con el microfono en mano, Christian Silva le pregunta al directior de la escuela, Gary Brady, la capital de un pais. Las preguntas eran partes de trivialidades; y si contestabas bien, ganabas un caramelo. ABAJO Mano a mano, Antwan Ramsey, Cristina Villagomez, Cereson Edmon, Laura Castillo, Orlando Lopez y Flor Rodriguez, bailaron varios bailes mexicanos tradicionales; uno de ellos es conocido como el “Tapatio”.

ARRIBA Luisana Nevarez se ve bailando una cumbia colombiana, vestida en un traje tradicional. Ella circulaba el escenario al ritmo de “La Pollera Colora”. El traje de colores rosa y blanco, casi siempre es usado en este estilo de baile; con largos vuelos, echos para hacer el vestido facil de manejar. ABAJO Bailando adentro del “Bad Terrier” estaba Julian Rodriguez, abrazando a Andy Fuentes, mientras Emanuelle Lantigua le cantaba al publico. Con su carisma y su voz, Lantigua encanto la multitud y puso todos a bailar.

ARRIBA Estudiante Zoë Sleeter y maestro Andres Florez bailan juntos el baile tradicional colombiano “la cumbia.” Cuando ellos bailarón, otras bailarinas los rodearón, bailando y girando sus vestidos. FOTOS POR MAKAYLA BROWN

hhstoday.com

sports

October 2018

KICKING OFF THE SOCCER SEASON

Girls and boys soccer started conditioning on Sept. 29, and students have been out on the football field in preparation to get themselves ready for the upcoming season. On Tuesdays and Thursdays after school both teams can be found on the football field or in the baseball field running laps and practicing scrimmages. Ambitions and expectations this year are far higher than previous years according to coaches, since a large amount of seniors have left both teams since last year. “A lot of it is just to work on whatever skills that we need to do. It just depends because we have pretty much new team, and so it just depends on where our weaknesses are and working on that. I do want this to sort of be a rebuilding year because we did lose a lot of seniors and other people and so I want us to take the time to rebuild... So my goal is to establish the accountability that we need and the connections we need to become successful,” said girls coach Stefanie Zimmerman. This is going to be a recovery year for both teams, meaning coaches are working with players to build up a stronger connection. Although not many students come to conditioning, players that show up have a positive outlook on the upcoming season and tryouts that began on Oct. 22. “I was not on the team last year I came from a different school, but I am looking forward to meeting everyone and

playing with them.” said sophomore Zoe Schuler. Former player Marianne Strobl said, “We had so many seniors last year that we are having a little bit of a transitional year, we had like 10 seniors. So this year we’re having a lot new people on the team. We’ve done a lot of running, but mostly focusing on strengthening exercises because since soccer is not just track where you sprint the whole time it’s like endurance.” “Since there are so many new girls who haven’t played together, it’s quite different when you combine everybody. So it might be a little shakey at first but as the year goes on well pull it together, but over all its going pretty good!” Although both teams are working hard during conditioning, the boys are being pushed to run two miles in under 16 minutes to become the fastest team possible. According to coach Steven Colborne, it has become a determining factor on whether not students will be able to join the team, so if they are over 16 minutes there is a very slim chance of making the team unless a player shows strong skills on the field during practice. Many players are feeling confident in the fact that they are able to meet this requirement and are able to show their dedication to making the team. STORY BY ALEX CROFT

TOP Boys soccer team playing a scrimmage of soccer to determine skillset. LEFT The coach sets up drills and plays with the team so they can use her advice in game day situations. RIGHT Girls soccer team stretches out before getting ready to run and play soccer so no one will pull a muscle. PHOTOS BY ALEX CROFT

RIFLE TEAM PLACES FOURTH Rifle team places fourth in the rifle competition against Hillsborough County Schools at Sickles High School on Oct. 13

TOP Rifle team laying down on the ground in a shooting position for the best accuracy on the target to score the most points possible. LEFT Rifle team getting their rifles loaded up before the match against Hillsborough County schools. RIGHT Rifle team outside before the match to talk about strategy and what game plan they are going with before the start of their match. PHOTOS BY JOHN DOAN

The rifles clatter against their metal racks. The team gears up and grabs their weapons and ammunition. One after another, members of the Big Red Battalion’s Rifle team file out of the room full of weaponry and get ready for a day of shooting. The JROTC Rifle Team participated in the Sickles High School JROTC Rifle Competition on Oct. 13. The rifle team competed with other schools in Hillsborough County at the competition, placing fourth overall with 609 points gathered by the team. Junior Estevan Fonseca, the rifle team captain, earned the most points for the team by shooting accurately at his targets, racking up a total of 192 points. Hillsborough was scheduled to shoot at noon, so cadets arrived at Sickles at 11 a.m. to set up. The team is made up of eight people, and each person has to shoot at three targets, each one is shot in a different position. The three shooting positions are standing, kneeling and prone. Standing is the most difficult position to shoot in because the only support for the rifle is the shooter’s body and muscles. The kneeling position is easier than standing because cadets are on

the ground, so they can support the rifle by planting themselves to the ground and utilizing their legs and elbows. The last position is prone, which is the easiest position to shoot in, according to Fonseca. Cadets lay on the ground and support the rifle with their hands and elbows. The team placed in fourth, but Fonseca wants to aim higher in future competitions. “We received advice from the Sickles Rifle Team, and we plan to invest in better equipment for the team. We want to shoot better and we’ll get there,” Fonseca said. The team practices twice a week and during hell weeks, which are weeks that lead up to competitions. Practices are held every day of the week and each practice is treated like an actual competition, so cadets are better prepared for the competition at the end of the week. Estevan Fonseca said, “We’re going to take our hell weeks more seriously, practicing every day for two weeks leading up to the competition.” The next rifle competition that Hillsborough will be competing in is at Sickles again on Dec. 4. STORY BY JOHN DOAN

October 2018

FOOTBALL

sports

FALL SPORTS RECAP

Red & Black

PLAYOFF FATE Football, golf, cross country, swim and dive, and volleyball all are the sports whose seasons are coming to an end. REMAINS UNCERTAIN GOLF Playoff chances are slim after a 10-6 loss on Friday to Armwood. Sophomore Zach Long made two field goals for the Terriers which gave them their six points and Armwood scored a touchdown and made a field goal to win the game. Some of the games that are on the schedule aren’t games that are in a team’s district, but this game was a district game that determines Hillsborough’s chances for a spot in the playoffs. In previous years, chances of going to playoffs were determined only by district games. Around two years ago, the state organization changed the procedure for winning a spot at playoffs. “Its determined by our record, our strength of schedule, and the opponents record and strength of schedule,” head coach Earl Garcia said. With this new way to determine playability in playoffs, teams wont fully know if they will get a spot unless they win the district championship or they just have to wait until the regular season is over. “We have five district opponents it is like a subset of the season.” Garcia said “The champion of the district gets an automatic spot in districts and we have four districts in our region.” To be eligible for a spot in playoffs a team needs to be ranked eighth in the region. Hillsborough’s district is Armwood, Blake, Chamberlain, Brandon and King. While its already determined that the team wont win the district championship, there is still a chance for a spot at playoffs. In terms of the season so far their record is 4-5 verall and 3-2 in district play. “This was a disappointing season. We lost four close games and if we won one of those four, we would automatically be in the playoffs but now were at the mercy of the other football teams,” Garcia said. The game this week will be an away game played at Lennard, which also is not a school in the Terriers district, however it still matters for their chance at playoffs. STORY BY LAUREN KOMAR

The golf team this year was small with a total team of five boys and one girl. For each golf match, every team needs a minimum of four team members to qualify. The Terrier golf team had less than that for many of the matches so even if the golfers participated couldn’t officially qualify for a win or loss. However, the more crucial competition will be districts because that is more individual and it depends on the single golfer going rather than the team. “The season was fine and it was good practice for districts,” Bryan Burgess said. The team has two freshman who advanced to regionals Brady Johnson and Caden Ross. Johnson had a score of 90 in districts and an 89 in regionals. Ross hit a 108 in districts and regionals. Neither student qualified to move beyond regionals.

The boys and girls golf teams pose for a group picture together before their meet. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYAN BURGESS

CROSS COUNTRY

At the start of the season the team there were issues because of changing in coaching, the team had to change from having one coach to being split up and having a girls coach and a boys coach. The girls coach is Michele Johnson-Love and the boys is Danny Close. Both teams still work closely together even though they have different coaches. Despite the difficulties, the runners improved. “The biggest success was each runner breaking their personal record,” Johnson-Love said. The runners that showed up to the meets and practices frequently, even with the rigorous practice schedule that includes having morning practice. As for next year, the team is in full recruitment mode because a majority of the runners are seniors so they are looking for more runners to join next season.

Five of the boy runners and one girl pose for a group picture after a meet. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELE JOHNSON- LOVE

SWIM AND DIVE

The swim team observes their fellow teammates competing while they sit on the edge of the pool in a group. PHOTO BY MAKAYLA BROWN

The swim team was able to have a few students make it past districts and qualify for regionals. The swim and dive team is coached by Tom Paloumpis, and they held practice every week after school at Copeland Park. “As a team, we supported each other and became like a second family through all the ups and downs,” senior Captain Annabelle Hothem said. The swim team grew very close from their constant practices and their practically famous spaghetti dinners that the whole team and coaches participate in. Seniors Hothem and Madelyn Rawls, sophomore Andrea Stinguleseu and freshman Jorja Solak competed at county championships and they placed sixth place. Currently, the season is wrapping up their district competitions and some swimmers and divers are predicted to go to regional competitions.

VOLLEYBALL

The girls volleyball team had a district record is 8-2 and advanced to districts under the coaching of Julia Salo. The team is full of young players which is said to be beneficial for the upcoming years. “The season goal is to win districts and advance as far as we can to the second round of regionals,” Salo said “So far we the team hasn’t made it past that.” The team made it to regionals and faced Sunlake High School but lost 3-0, meaning that they were not able to advance further into regionals. In the future, the team plans to get past the second round of regionals and even progress further. STORIES COMPILED BY LAUREN KOMAR Senior Jordan ‘JT’ Brown makes a tackle just before the 40 yard line. PHOTO BY LAUREN KOMAR

The volleyball works together and communicates to make sure the ball gets over the net in three hits or less. PHOTO BY LAUREN KOMAR