RED & BLACK
Florida’s first high school newspaper | Hillsborough High School 5000 N. Central Ave. Tampa, FL, 33603 | hhstoday.com | August 2017 | Volume 119, No. 1
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You are here See what’s happening on campus this month. | p. 4
Dark side of the moon Students and staff turn their eyes to the sky for the solar eclipse. | p. 5
Oh, the places we’ll go
Some walk, some Uber, some SnapMap their way. Take a look at where students go and how they do it, inside.
Keeping their guard up Color guard preps for their first football season as a team. | p. 16
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summer
August 2017
SUMMER REWIND AROUND THE WORLD IN 18 DAYS This summer, a group of rising IB seniors toured Europe for two weeks, led by their Theory of Knowledge teacher Zaan Gast and AP U.S. history teacher Lisa Sigmon. Europe trips are done every year with upcoming seniors at the school, something many in the program look forward to. This year, the group traveled to 8 countries in 18 days, from Italy to Austria, England to Germany. Travelers were able to visit many famous sites at each stop, such as the Eiffel tower in Paris and the still unfinished Sagrada Familia church in Madrid. For senior Sophia Leon, the Europe trip was a life changing experience. “My favorite city was Innsbruck, Austria,” she said. “It had a scenic view and architecture, it was really colorful.”
STORY BY JORGE GARCIA PHOTOS COURTESY KELLY GAST
JUNE 2 - JUNE 18
JULY 2
Red & Black
This summer break was longer than previous ones; here’s a look at a few of the things students did with all that extra time.
BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES
Summer vacation is intended to be the time to sit back, relax and forget about school. But current sophomore Hirsh Kabaria kicked off his summer by preparing for a national competition. Kabaria won 10th place in Introduction to Information Technology at the FBLA National Competition in Anaheim, California in early July. He chose the event because he has always been interested in computers. In fact, Kabaria has built his own computer. Kabaria believes this is what helped him win. “In the process leading up to it I learned a lot about computers,” he said. “But at the conference itself I learned how to manage, how to present to a large audience, and also how to lead a small chapter like mine.”
STORY BY VARUN PURI PHOTO COURTESY HIRSH KABARIA
JULY 23-30
JULY 25
SHAWN MENDES LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT
STRAIGHT TO THE POINTE
Olivia Sewell has been dancing since she was 2 years old. When her friend told her about auditions for a scholarship to Joffrey Ballet School two years ago, she and her friend decided to try out.“We figured we would do it just for the experience,” Sewell said. When they found out they got in to the school it was a surprise to them.“We were extremely shocked when we actually made it,” she said. To attend, Sewell had to raise money. “I had to do a lot of babysitting and dog sitting to help pay for the costs.” “I did all types of dance like ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop from well respected choreographers who have danced on Broadway or professionally in general.” She said. Sewell had a chance to dance, took it and had a blast doing it.
STORY BY ABBY CONGER PHOTOS COURTESY OLIVIA SEWELL
This summer Shawn Mendes made a stop in Tampa for his Illuminate World Tour on July 25. Mendes began the show with his upbeat pop song “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back.” The Illuminate World Tour is named after Mendes’ sophomore studio album of the same name. The Illuminate album features some of Mendes’ most popular songs, such as: “Treat You Better,” “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back,” and “Mercy.” The album was released in September of last year, and allowed Mendes to reach the number one spot on the Billboard 200. Illuminate sold over 145,000 copies within its first week on the shelves, and since the release, Mendes has toured around the world and played over 100 shows. For junior Cristina Villagomez, the concert was an unforgettable experience. “This night will definitely always be in my memories,” Villagomez said.
STORY BY THEONTAE WALTON PHOTOS COURTESY CRISTINA VILLAGOMEZ
summer
hhstoday.com
August 2017
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OPEN HOUSE HELD The thunder of “We are the Big Red!” boomed through the halls, greeting the new students as the band, cheerleaders and Dancerettes performed. On Aug. 8, students were once again welcomed back to school. Prior to receiving schedules, new students attended an orientation restating the expectations for the year. After orientation, students picked up their schedules before meeting their teachers and getting their supply lists. The schedules were prepared by guidance for nine weeks, with the aim to accommodate student requests. Traditional freshmen and sophomores went to the cafeteria and juniors and seniors went to the second floor for their schedules. All IB students found their schedules in their homerooms. Clubs and other organizations set up tables in the main hall to recruit new members, and tried to work around the rain. A table was also set up for a Barnes & Noble representative, who was there to sell students textbooks for the year.
FRESH NEW BEAT Standing in the sweltering heat for several hours was how most of the Big Red Band spent the week before school started. Band camp began on July 31 and ended Aug. 3. Members practiced marching and new songs for this year's theme, The Black Parade: Famous Last Words. All of the songs come from My Chemical Romance's album, "The Black Parade.” They also practiced their stage tunes on the football field, prepping for the half-time shows with songs like ‘Let’s Go’ and their ‘Fight Song.’ "I liked learning how to march because I didn't know how to march,” freshman Matthew Fenton said. “I'm excited to perform at football games.”
STORY AND PHOTOS BY KATIE DELK
STORY BY MERCY TSAY PHOTOS COURTESY MICHELLE FROST
JULY 31-AUG. 3
AUG. 2
AUG. 8
AUG. 10
CARTI COMES TO TAMPA People from all around Tampa gathered at The Orpheum to watch Playboi Carti perform for his first official tour around the United States. Carti is best known for his hit single ‘Broke Boi’ which was released April 2, 2015. This year he released his first ever self-named mixtape, which features Lil Uzi Vert, A$AP Rocky, and new up and coming SoundCloud artist, Levan Kali. To promote his new music, Carti announced his 2017 ‘Playboi Carti Tour’ which ranges from locations such as Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio. The mixtape includes songs such as ‘Magnolia’ and ‘wokeuplikethis*’, which were both on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Several students were able to make it to the concert that night. “Being able to see him in person was one of the wildest experiences of my life” Sophomore Nia Arellano said. “Especially because there were so many people packed into one small venue.” Along with the help of special guest stars Pierre Bourne and Young Nudy, Carti created what for some people was considered an unforgettable night.
STORY AND PHOTO BY RIA DEY
ROBOTICS REWIRES The Robotics team is making some improvements to their club this year, the first being their old T-shirt cannon. The team previously used plain white PVC pipes for the machine, but have recently upgraded. Club president Christian Alfano painted the pipes with red and black stripes with the intention of making them look more appealing and professional. His main goal was to get more students interested in the club and to encourage them to join. “The presentation says a lot about who we are as a team,” Alfano said. The robot has the same basic design as the previous cannon, but with a few modifications. Club members had to rewire the entire robot and also added a second compressor, which will make the process of shooting the tees much faster. Only the presidents work on the electronics, because they tend to have more experience. Alfano modestly called it a “collective effort,” while the majority of the team and supervisor Marian Manganello said he was the main contributor to the project and put many hours into it.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAROLIN HEARNE
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August 2017
campus
Red & Black
SWITCHING LANE-S
It’s the start of a new school year and an abundance of students greet and chat with the familiar faces of friends, teachers and faculty they haven’t seen all summer. Through all the recognizable bodies on campus, stands one of the newest members of Hillsborough administration staff, Kieonna Lane. Before Lane made the switch, she worked at Jefferson High School. After 14 years at the school, Lane decided to move to Hillsborough to be the new Assistant Principal of Student Affairs. “I saw a new opportunity, [and] I actually know quite a few people who are here,” Lane said. When asked to compare her experiences at each of the schools, Lane says it’s pretty difficult to compare her time at Jefferson to her three weeks at Hillsborough. “My role is different here than it was at Jefferson; [coming in] I kind of got an idea of what it would be like here,” Lane said. “Other people painted a picture for me, and being here a couple weeks I’ve been pleasantly surprised.” Lane has replaced Jackie Eisenhauer, who
ABOVE During C Lunch, Lane assigns students their lockers of choice and writes them down to keep track of them as they wait in line. Outside of her responsibilites as an AP, Lane hopes to make improvements in the lives of students both in and outside of school. PHOTO BY THEONTAE WALTON
PICTURE DAY IS COMING
New AP for Student Affairs Kieonna Lane moves from her position at Jefferson to a new one at Hillsborough worked as the assistant principal of student affairs for two years at the school before she transferred to Gaither High School at the end of last school year. Lane joined Hillsborough administration soon after Eisenhauer’s move and hopes to fix any issues that may arise. She intends to approach problems by analyzing numbers. “I’m really big on data,” Lane said about how she would approach any issues that may be presented to her or to the school. “I’ll have conversations with my team, and have them look at the data.” Lane is optimistic and wants to see improvements made within Hillsborough while she remains an assistant principal. “We’ll identify what the problem is, and explore some potential solutions, develop a plan, and put that plan into play,” Lane said. Lane is most eager to get to know the students on campus and everyone in it. “I’m very excited to get to know the students and seeing how I can have a positive impact in their lives,” Lane said.
STORY BY THEONTAE WALTON
SENIOR PACKAGES AVAILABLE NOW
Senior packages are now available for sale in Room 535 and at HHSToday.com
Lifetouch will be on campus minders will be sent out soon with on Sept. 13 for underclassman more information and a picture Purchases can be made in Room 535 during period picture day. day ID that students will be able 7 before and after school only. The entire package costs Order forms will be distribut- to submit online to place their or$360 and is due by Aug. 31. However, multiple payment ed by English teachers; thoseThe who senior der. package is exclusive to the Class plans can be made. You can also make theexpenses $360 pay- for the year. The 2018 package includes: of 2018 and helps budget choose to order pictures willHilsborean turn Underclassman ment on hhstoday.com which is due Aug. 31 as well. yearbok photos will all their form in when they go to take be taken in the gymnasium. StuSee Ms. Fiore for more information. Keep in mind that 1/8 page senior ad in yearbook pictures. dents will be sent to take them the package does not include cap and gown fees, senior Homecoming ticket Orders can also be placed on- during English classes, or during pictures, club honor cards or the IB hood. Prom ticket line at mylifetouch.com. Photo their study halls. Senior photos are also being taken currently at packages can be customized.GradBash ReCOMPILED Lifetouch studios at 12060 Race Track Road. The deadticketBY FERNANDO ROSAS line to take pictures and choose which one is included Senior spirit shirt in the yearbook is Sept. 1. To have any photo in the Senior grad name T-shirt yearbook, senior photos must be taken with Lifetouch by Sept. 20.
PICTURE DAY CHECKLIST:
Photo order forms, if applicable
What comes with the package?
Comb or hairbrush
Homecoming ticket
Senior spirit shirt
Avoid sunscreen- it reflects light
Prom ticket
T-shirt with grad names
Lint roller and/or wet wipes
GradBash ticket
Personal mirror to check your appearance
Hilsborean yearbook
1/8 page senior yearbook ad
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campus
August 2017
OVER THE MOON
Students, teachers gather on H Patio and beyond to view solar eclipse All across the country, newscasters warned against it. Scientists were brought on air to remind of the dangers of it. Administrators advised via intercom against it. It may seem like common sense not to stare directly at the sun. Yet last week, shortly after school, students and teachers were doing just that. Using special viewing devices, of course. A total solar eclipse crossed the country last Monday, the first of its kind to do so in 99 years. Total solar eclipses are so rare because the moon orbits the earth on a tilt, and the likelihood that its path will cross the sun’s just so is low. In Florida, the eclipse only reached roughly 85 percent totality. A partial eclipse was visible between around 1:15 and 4:15, with the maximum coverage coming at 2:50. Students and teachers alike scrambled to find ways to view the eclipse. Local libraries handed out glasses after visitors watched brief safety videos, but quickly ran out. If solar eclipse glasses couldn’t be found,
spare cereal boxes and tin foil rolls were rounded up to make viewers. Although, sans solar spectacles, people couldn’t look directly at the sun, viewers enabled them to see the shape of the moon eclipsing the sun. Hillsborough County Public Schools seemed to anticipate the amount of students who would call in sick to view the eclipse. A post on the HCPS website announced that, given a parent note, any absence to view the eclipse was excused. Many students took advantage of this. Of the 1,980 students at Hillsborough, only 892 of them attended on Monday. Senior Aidan Arnold roadtripped to South Carolina to see the eclipse in its totality. “It was absolutely amazing and worth the long drive,” Arnold said. “The coolest part was how the shadows were when only one percent of the sun was showing.” From the H Patio to seven hours away, students and teachers alike took part in the astronomical event.
STORY BY MAKAYLA BROWN
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT This is the path that the sun and moon followed across the United States on the day of the eclipse. This is a display of how a solar eclipse occurs. The moon’s orbit coincides with the sun’s, creating a shadow.
Red & Black
Top Left: Math teacher Christellyn Lora uses a pinhole viewer to watch as the moon eclipses the sun. Top Right: Trying different ways to watch the solar eclipse, Mishell Thomas- King and Alexis Cooke gathered on the H Patio to see the magic happen. This was not Thomas-King’s first eclipse. “Now that I’m an adult it’s really awesome to be able to see a partial eclipse twice,” she said. Middle: Freshman Reginald Johnson purchased solar eclipse glasses. “Only because it’s a once in a lifetime thing and I can say I saw it,” Johnson said. “I got these to look at it for longer than you’re allowed.” Bottom Left: Senior India Green and juniors Daniel and Devon Driskell share solar eclipse glasses. Bottom Right: Junior Nick Jeske looks up at the sun with his eclipse glasses. Jeske traveled to South Carolina to see the total solar eclipse. (Courtesy Nick Jeske) PHOTOS BY MAKAYLA BROWN
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news
August 2017
Red & Black
ART OF THE BRICK COMES TO TAMPA Traveling art exhibit includes sculptures made entirely from LEGO bricks
ABOVE The exhibit features replications of pieces such as Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh (bottom left) and The Kiss by Gustav Klimt (middle right) recreated with LEGO bricks. The artist also created some of his own original art pieces using the bricks. PHOTOS BY MIA PEREZ
The Art of the Brick is a new exhibit located in downtown Tampa that features artwork created by Nathan Sawaya. The exhibit is in town from June 23 to Sept. 4 and will be touring in several other locations around the world. Upon entering, a video is displayed that explains the reasoning behind the artist and the moments behind the construction of his creations. Once the video has finished, visitors are free to explore the pieces that await. Much of the work in the exhibit consists of original pieces by Sawaya. One of his most notable pieces is Yellow, which features a human-like figure opening itself up to reveal dozens of LEGO pieces spilling out. Yellow is “about my transition opening up to the world,” as Sawaya said in an interview with the Fast Company. Another piece that draws attention is the lifelike dinosaur. Sophomore Mallie Fernandez enjoyed it when she went with family to the exhibit. “I’m just really into dinosaurs and the way the bones were structured was really accurate,” said Fernandez. Along with the Sawaya’s original works, there are pieces by well-known artists that he recreated including Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, the Scream by Edvard Munch, Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Statue of David by Michelangelo, and the Kiss by Gustav Klimt. The artist intends for the artwork to expose people to famous art pieces while also urging them to
CIVIL CITATIONS PROGRAM EXPANDED 2,081 juveniles were arrested in 2016 for a variety of sentences. On July 20 Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren announced that the use of civil citations would be expanded. This will allow more first-time juvenile offenders with minor crimes to complete the civil citation program instead of facing prosecution.
What it is
The expansion to the civil citation program began on Aug. 1 and according to the Florida Department of Judicial Justice, is a chance for juveniles to “participate in intervention services at the earliest stage of delinquency”. In its essence, the program is intended to keep minors from entering the justice system for minor crimes. Those who complete the program will avoid criminal charges or convictions.
Minors who receive civil citations must complete community service, as well as other actions, depending on their case.
Benefits of the program
The system has already been implicated in other counties around Florida and has been successful for the most part. Pinellas County has been using this system for over 20 years; according to the Tampa Bay Times, the county has issued civil citations to 92 percent of the youth that came in contact with county law enforcement. The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has also said that the civil citation program helps to keep youth who aren’t harmful to public safety out of the system, reduces costs of processing misdemeanors for youth and frees up limited resources to focus on more serious offenders.
tune in to their creative side and inspire them to create their own pieces of art. At the end of the exhibit Sawaya featured a piece that was a blue print of the entire building. Junior Ingrid Yen saw it when she went to the exhibit with her family as well. “It was really cool to see everything all at once, and even though it was smaller than what it was supposed to be, you could still tell what it was and where it was,” Yen said. The exhibition also allows its visitors to create their own LEGO creations at the end. The ‘Brick Yard’ is the designated area at the end of the exhibition where visitors of all ages can be found creating their own LEGO creations. “A lot of the people were creating just little figurines or different things that represented them,” Fernandez said. The Vinick Family Foundation helped bring the exhibit to Tampa. Jeff and Penny Vinick, owners of the Tampa Bay Lightning, have donated millions of dollars to similar programs. Last summer’s The Beach Tampa was one such program, and converted Amalie Arena into a giant ball pit. The programs are geared toward enhancing the community’s understanding and appreciation of art. Posters at the exhibit display quotes from Sawaya. “Art makes better humans, art is necessary in understanding the world and art makes people happy,” one reads. “Undeniably, art is not optional.”
STORY BY MIA PEREZ
The civil citation system will only be applicable to certain crimes. Misdemeanors such as petty theft, battery and possession of marijuana under a certain amount are included. It will not include 13 misdemeanor offenses, such as driving under the influence, domestic battery or possession of a firearm.
Future of civil citations
Having these expansions passed and implemented is a follow-through on a campaign promise from Andrew Warren, so it is possible the program will be expanded further. The State Attorney’s Office keeps track of all the citations issued, who receives them and the result of the case. This will help them determine if the system of citations should be extended to second and third-time offenders.
STORY BY MERCY TSAY
news
hhstoday.com
TESTING CHANGES Several changes to standardized testing will go into effect this year. The Algebra 2 End of Course exam will be eliminated, meaning students from now on will no longer have to take the exam, but the situation is different for students who have already taken the exam. “We had to come up with something to level the playing field for any student who should’ve taken the test in the spring or earlier,” SDHC’s Assessment and Accountability Director Nicole Binder said. “So, we created an online Algebra 2 test administered via SchoolCity.” The SchoolCity test will have the same scale as the Algebra 2 EOC.
Swapping PERT for PSAT
Aside from the Algebra 2 EOC changes, adjustments to the PERT test came up as well. The FLDOE debated replacing the PERT test for the PSAT. “While this is an accepted way to create concordant or comparative scores, it severely limited the number of students who would meet their graduation requirement,” Binder said. “If the PERT option goes away, as suggested by the FLDOE, many more students will not graduate simply because they will not have the opportunity to test.” The reason why students would have a smaller opportunity to test with the PSAT is because, currently, the PSAT is only offered to students one time a year, while the PERT is offered every other month. For the time being, the PERT test has not been replaced by the PSAT. “If there is a shift to the PSAT only to meet the math graduation requirement, the test should be offered multiple times,” Binder said. All these changes to testing, state and county wide will begin to go into effect this school year.
STORY BY LAUREN KOMAR
EDITOR’S NOTE: The author of this article is Nicole Binder’s daughter. Content has been edited to maintain objectivity.
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The elimination of the Algebra 2 EOC is one of several alterations to previous testing policies across the state this academic year.
HOW ARE YOU AFFECTED BY THESE CHANGES?
START HERE Are you a senior?
Impact on schools
However, the elimination of this EOC exam doesn’t only impact students; it impacts schools as well. The Algebra 2 EOC previously played a part in determining school grades, along with other factors. “Since many students now take Algebra and even Geometry in middle school, the population of students taking a math course which counts for school grade in high school has shrunk dramatically,” Binder said. “By using fewer students from the school to count for a grade, the grade itself isn’t truly accurate of what teachers are doing with the entire student body.” The Florida Department of Education, FLDOE, decided to remove Algebra 2 from the required EOC test list after public input. “Many felt that the test was too hard,” Binder said of the choice. “Other than removing the Algebra 2 test, nothing else really changed for the requirements of testing.”
August 2017
No.
Yes. Have you already met your math requirement?
Have you already met your reading requirement?
Yes.
Yes.
No. Pass the Algebra 1 EOC or the PERT.
No. Pass the FSA ELA Reading.
Receive your diploma at graduation, given you’ve completed all other requirements.
GRAPHIC BY MARIN FEHL
EXPANSION BILL PASSED The Bright Futures scholarship program is exclusively funded by the state of Florida for high school students who wish to attend college. By accomplishing certain academic achievements, students are able to apply for various award levels, each including its own criteria required for eligibility. To apply for this program, students are required to submit a Florida Financial Aid Application during their senior year. The program works by rewarding students with a certain amount of money per credit hour completed. For the 2016-2017 school year, the Florida Academic Scholars Award provided $103 per credit hour, the Florida Medallion Scholars Award provided
$77 per credit hour along with the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award, and the Academic Top Scholars award provided $44 per credit hour. “Any money that can be put into our education can help tremendously but the amount of money this scholarship offers does not cover even close to enough of it,” said junior Leon Nickolas. “Along with the prices of things such as living arrangements, textbooks, and tuition fees, the cost of college can become quite overwhelming for many families across Florida.” For incoming college students, the Bright Futures expansion has been put into action. For the 2017-2018 school year, students that are eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars award will be
receiving enough funding to cover their full tuition and applicable fees. IB students who successfully acquire their IB diplomas, and get the appropriate SAT/ACT test scores will automatically qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars award. The Bright Futures expansion is a step up for many students outside of the IB program looking to attend college in Florida. Not only will it inspire some students to work more towards a Bright Futures Award, it will also take some of the pressure off those who are trying to gain access to college education.
STORY BY RIA DEY
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focus
August 2017
Red & Black
LEARNING TO DRIVE ALL OVER AGAIN
Battle of the Parking Lots
Senior Luis Sanabria has been driving himself since he was 15 and living in Puerto Rico. But since moving to America, he’s faced some roadblocks. The first time senior Luis Sanabria drove, it was in Puerto Rico. But it wasn’t to learn how to drive. It was to rush his brother to the hospital. “I got scared and I didn’t want to see my brother bloody,” he said, “I’m the person that takes control in a situation.” Driving in Tampa is not the standard, as it is for most Americans, to Sanabria. All through his childhood, he lived in Puerto Rico. On Aug. 8 two years ago, he moved to Tampa due to the poor economy in his old home of Guaynabo. From age 15, Sanabria had driven due to the inaccessibility to supermarkets and central locations in Puerto Rico. Upon arriving in Tampa, Sanabria observed that road aren’t structured the same. “It’s different here because you drive straighter, in Puerto Rico it’s more chains, and it is like a course,” he said. “It’s hotter and the streets are not good there because they have big holes.” Despite the roads being more straight, Sanabria feels less safe driving in the U.S.. “Here, I feel more scared because I don’t know yet some streets, I get lost,” he said. “I don’t know people anymore and they drive crazy so I’m more scared driving here.”
You may be planning to park at Starbucks and walk, or maybe you’ve given up on parking entirely and decided to resort to hitchhiking. But before you throw your hands in the air and fly to school on a magic carpet, here’s some things you should know about parking at HHS.
St. Paul Lutheran Church
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Working toward a goal
Although Sanabria has a learner’s permit, he rides the bus to school every day because he does not have a car. “I don’t have any problems with the bus, I think it’s better for me because I don’t have my own car right now and it’s all I got,” he said. In Puerto Rico, Sanabria had a car but he sold it because it was too expensive to transport it here. “I don’t go back to Puerto Rico, just in summer or Christmas, but not always I can go over there and all of my family there has a car so I made the decision to sell it,” he said. However, for two months, Sanabria will work at McDonald’s for 3 hours during the week for to save up for a car. “I’ve always wanted to be a working man, and I like it make my own money,” he said. “The reason I don’t have a care is because I don’t get the money, that’s why I have a job to save money to buy my car.” “I work to make them feel glad because they know I’m trying to get my own money.” On days that he has work, Sanabria takes an Uber to McDonald’s. “They are helpful because they are faster to pick me up.” Sanabria moved to Tampa in search of economic opportunity for his family. Upon hearing of the decision to move, Sanabria resisted. “When my mom said we are going to move to Tampa, I was like no, I don’t want to, I’m good here,” he said. “I was obligated to move here but over time I got used to coming over.”
cars
STORY BY KATIE DELK
$200 per year
• Students are only able to park on the left side of the lot. • Students can’t park during church functions.
VS.
HHS Senior Lot
190 cars
$20
per year
• Students can purchase curbs stops for an additional amount to personalize their parking spots. DATA COMPILED BY REEMA PATEL GRAPHIC BY MARIN FEHL
Missing Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, Sanabria faced adversity in the struggles of his neighborhood economically and in the crime and drugs there. However, he was able to overcome these obstacles by finding a supportive group of friends. “I found good people to tell me, ‘hey don’t do that, that’s bad, keep studying and go to school,’” Sanabria said. Sanabria also sold water for 10 to 12 years to assist his family. “I tried to get money for the family, so my childhood was hard,” he said. Although Sanabria lives with his three brothers in Tampa, his other siblings and grandma are in Puerto Rico and Philadelphia. “Sometimes the separation is hard because we only get together sometimes like Christmas and Thanksgiving,” he said. “[However,] it’s not hard because I always text with them, I always got communication with them.” Driving is not Sanabria’s only challenge. His primary language is Spanish, yet when he moved here, he was required to learn English. He learned by watching movies, singing along to English music, and having native speakers as friends. In the future, he plans to become a nurse, like his mom. Sanabria said he wants to help children with cancer. “She works with a kid who has brain cancer and he can’t move, my mom always takes care of him and that’s what good I see in her,” Sanabria said. “I want to be just like that and help people like she helps him.”
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COURTESY BUSING CUTS CAUSE INCONVENIENCES
TOP Luis Sanabria uses the Uber app to find a car ride. Sanabria uses Uber when he works because it’s faster and takes him directly to the McDonald’s that he works at. Sanabria works in an effort to save up and buy his own car, so that he won’t have to Uber anymore. Bottom Sanabria gets into his Uber when it arrives. Sanabria also rides the bus home on days he doesn’t work. PHOTOS BY KATIE DELK
The final bell rings. Students can be seen carpooling, driving, and disembarking from a bus. Or maybe they’re walking 2.4 miles. Due to budgetary issues, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) eliminated courtesy busing for middle and high schoolers, a service provided to those who live two miles or less from school. “We’ve identified about 38 routes, that alone is about $3 million,” General Manager of Transportation Jim Beekman told ABC Action News. While this course of action is solving financial problems for the county, it has also caused transportation dilemmas for those who no longer have access to courtesy busing. This is the case for many students at Hillsborough.
Chavarria walks to school every morning with his cousins from the intersection of Rome and Hillsborough avenues. “It takes us about 45 to 50 minutes to get home walking,” he said. This outcome was expected. “There’s going to be some hardship on people who are used to having courtesy busing and now they’re going to have to change their work schedules,” school board member Melissa Snively, the only school board member who voted to keep courtesy busing, told ABC Action News. Despite this expectation, it hasn’t been received well by some of the students affected. “I don’t think the rule is fair, it leaves people that rely on bus transportation in a bad situation,” Chavarria said. “I don’t think having to walk to school because I live less than two miles away is fair.”
Haggen Chavarria
Chavarria’s cousin, sophomore Oazey Chavarria, expressed similar displeasure. “I don’t feel safe because when crossing the roads there are cars that pass at a fast speed making the road dangerous to cross,” she said.
“I am forced to walk because of this rule and because when it is time for school all of my family has left for work already and I don’t have anyone who can take me,” sophomore Haggen Chavarria said.
Oazey Chavarria
The cousins have also had to walk to school in inclement weather. “Last week, my cousins and I were in the middle of our journey walking when suddenly it started to rain and we had to run fast but it was worthless because we got all wet,” Oazey Chavarria said.
Negative impacts
Her argument isn’t based only on inconvenience- the removal of courtesy busing has already prevented her from attending school. “My family doesn’t want me to go alone because of outside danger,” she said. “Sometimes, we don’t have the opportunity in any way to go to school. It gives us the disadvantage of not taking the education we need everyday, and even the opportunity to graduate.” But Chavarria has some ideas for how to remedy this problem. “I think it would help a lot if the government could provide [the bus] to those who need it depending on the situation they go through,” she explained.
STORY BY MARIN FEHL
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world
August 2017
Red & Black
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE WORLD? MUDSLIDES IN SIERRA LEONE On Aug. 14, a major mudslide ran through the Sierra Leone town of Freetown. The mudslide was the cause of almost 500 civilian deaths, of which approximately 150 were children. Freetown and its surrounding area were facing severe heavy rains, causing mudslides to form from the nearby mountain, Mount Sugar Loaf. However, the force of the mudslide was not the only threat posed to locals. The water and mud rushing into the town with the mudslide can also carry harmful waterborne diseases including Typhoid and Cholera. Meteorologists in Sierra Leone did not give warning ahead
of the over three days of torrential downpour, which could have contributed to the deaths. Due to the amount of deaths, and how abrupt this crisis was, a mass grave was created in the nearby city of Waterloo. This is not Sierra Leone’s first crisis in recent memory. Sierra Leone has faced an Ebola epidemic recently, which cause around 4000 deaths. World organizations like UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) are working to aid the victims of this mudslide. The British government donated $6.4 million to help with the basic necessities, food, water, shelter, and clothing.
STORY BY LAUREN KOMAR
VENEZUELAN PROTESTS CONTINUE For the past few months, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in Venezuela have taken to the streets in opposition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Anti-government protests have occurred over the last several years; however, demonstrations have escalated since March, with protesters clashing with military and police forces. In late June, a helicopter flown by a Venezuelan police pilot opened gunfire and dropped grenades over the Supreme Court as an act of defiance against the government; however, there were no casualties in that incident. Since Maduro’s election in 2013, he has been criticized for jailing political opponents and delaying local elections. The Supreme Court consists of justices who are loyal to President Maduro, and the court has been overruling much of the legislation produced by the opposition-led Congress. In addition, as oil prices have decreased over the last several years, the country, which sits on one of the world’s largest oil reserves, has experienced an economic crisis. Venezuela’s inflation rate has been rapidly increasing throughout the past few years, and there have been record highs of poverty and violent crime in the country. Due to the high inflation
rate, many locals cannot afford basic necessities, and even many of Venezuela’s public hospitals and medicines have become unavailable. The unrest continued in late July after a controversial vote was held to choose the members of a new National Constituent Assembly that will rewrite the country’s constitution. Many leaders have called the election illegitimate as it was created to replace the lawful National Assembly. As a result, the United States banned more than a dozen Venezuelan officials from conducting business in the U.S. and placed sanctions on President Maduro. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation in Venezuela by saying that military action against the country is a possibility. Maduro responded to President Trump by calling for military drills this week. International leaders have called the current crisis an end to democracy in Venezuela as President Maduro takes more steps toward a dictatorship.
STORY BY JADEN SHEMESH
NORTH KOREAN THREATS ESCALATE Tensions have grown between the United States and North Korea as threats from both sides escalate pertaining to military weaponry, specifically the possible testing of nuclear bombs. North Korea has made quick advances on their military technology specifically, their missile system. Their missiles could possibly reach the United States, although this claim hasn’t been fully verified. Donald Trump said on Aug. 11 that the U.S. military is ready if North Korea was to “act unwisely.” Despite these claims, no blatant moves have been made by the U.S. military to position for action. South Korea and the United States have recently started their annual military exercises, Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, to-
gether. These exercises began in 1976 to practice defense against North Korea, since there was a raid at that time. North Korea is said to have plans to fire missiles at Guam, a U.S. territory and military stronghold with a population of over 160,00, to ‘test them out.’ However, the country will observe the United States’ actions before making a decision to launch. Japan, an ally of the United States, also has guided missile destroyers. If a missile were to be launched, Japan’s proximity to North Korea could allow it to prevent the missile from ever hitting land. Whether or not North Korea has a missile that can reach the U.S. and its territories, tensions and threats continue to escalate.
STORY BY MERCY TSAY
opinion
hhstoday.com
August 2017
11
DON’T SEND ME YOUR LOCATION Snapchat’s latest update introduced the SnapMap, but is the interactive feature a fun way to see your friends or just the newest stalking tool?
find your friends
The power to track your friends with a pinch of your phone screen has proved daunting for many. Parents and kids alike are divided on the dangers that could come from such an easily accessible way to find people’s exact locations, feeling it walks the line between friendship and stalking a little too closely. Unlike other social media location services who just share city or town names with your followers, SnapMaps share your exact address, along with your Bitmoji character on an actual map. However, most of these concerns can be put to rest by the multiple privacy options. The app gives users three options to share their location, either with all of their friends on the app, with select friends or with no one if you choose to go on “Ghost Mode.” Ghost Mode is great for if you decide you don’t want your friends up in your business or if you’ve got some shady meetups coming up. Select Friends gives the option to let only trusted friends see where you are. While this option has been available since Find My Friends was introduced in 2011, SnapMaps provides the same tracking ability for the nosiest of Apple users without having to go through iMessage. Giving select trusted friends access to your location could even help keep you safe. In the age of online dating, SnapMaps allow your friends to make sure you stay safe, and haven’t been kidnapped and brought to another state for the sale of your organs. Along with being able to make sure your friends are still safely on their date or at a party, it also can help cut down on texting and driving. Imagine a world where you don’t have to text your friend “10 minutes away!” while behind the wheel. Many critics of SnapMaps cite the app’s ability to ruin relationships. Listen, I get that seeing your boo’s Bitmoji driving to a friend’s house would hurt, but at least you’d know. You can now make sure your friends and loved ones aren’t lying to you. Your friends went out without you? Now you can expose them. So rest assured Snapchatters, you can still send your streaks in peace.
STORY BY JULIANA LECHNER
you
SAIDit
go on ghost
The latest feature on Snapchat, the SnapMap, is a stain on the good name of the beloved social media platform. It allows you to see the exact location of everyone you know and everyone you know to see your exact location. While this may be a dream for some people, it sounds more like a nightmare to me. Let’s be real for a second. The map gives everyone you’ve added on Snapchat — people you may or may not know — your exact address, to street level accuracy. In what world does that sound like a good idea? It would be one thing if the map just gave a general idea of where you are at any given time, but when it gives your precise location, the situation can easily become dangerous. Most teenagers have at least a few people on Snapchat they’ve never met before. When your location is being shared, a stranger can easily become a stalker. There are bullies, predators or even jilted exes to worry about. In certain areas, even police have issued warning to parents and teens alike that the new Snapchat feature should be used with discretion. At this point, you may be chiming in to point out the Ghost Mode setting. Yes, it’s true that sharing your location through SnapMaps is optional and location sharing is not automatic. However, even with Ghost Mode on, there are other problems to worry about. Maybe you see all of your friends at the movie theater even though you’re 100 percent sure you told them you wanted to see that movie, or you see your best friend in his Bitmoji car driving towards your girlfriend’s house and think, did he just roll up on my girl? The SnapMap has the power to jeopardize relationships in a snap. When it comes to safety, privacy and even spared feelings, the SnapMap is an abomination. As long as it remains a part of Snapchat, I would make sure you’re on Ghost Mode. As they say, ignorance is bliss.
STORY BY REEMA PATEL
How do you feel about the new SnapMaps update? Creepy or convenient? “I think it’s dangerous and no one should really have it on.” Alizee Soto, 11
“It’s creepy knowing where people are.” Kishan Makati, 10
“I don’t think it’s that good because people can see where you are, that’s weird.” Jayla Troupe, 9
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editorial
August 2017
RED&BLACK VOLUME 119, ISSUE 1
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madison Forbis WEB EDITOR Carolin Hearne PAGE EDITORS Makayla Brown, Katie Delk, Marin Fehl, Jorge Garcia, Lauren Komar, Juliana Lechner, Reema Patel, Fernando Rosas, Mercy Tsay STAFF WRITERS Leslie Bracamontes, Abby Conger, Ria Dey, Arianna McQueen, Mia Perez, Varun Puri, Jaden Shemesh, Theontae Walton ADVISER Jill Burns, 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
ERASING RACISM, NOT HISTORY
Confederate monuments and the debates over their removal have been plastered across the news. Some call for their immediate relocation; others say that to remove unpleasant history is to toe the line of erasing it.
A racist by any other name is just as racist. Wanting to preserve history is an understandable viewpoint. But there’s a fine line between preserving history and praising it. Though the intent at the construction of Confederate statues may not at the time have been to directly support racism, the Confederacy represents the ideals of the Civil War South and the inherent racism present in it. The Confederacy stood for all things un-American: secession from the union of the states, and the denial of human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Its symbols should not be preserved.
Cautionary tales
Monuments are intended to idealize, to memorialize, to ensure the carrying on of a legacy. The legacy of slavery and oppression should never be carried on.
We cannot and should not praise the oppressors. Keep them in museums and textbooks, for certain. But they should never be treated as anything other than a cautionary tale. If the purpose of preserving history is to learn from our mistakes, then it simply makes no sense to be naming elementary schools after people who fought to the bitter end to keep others in chains. If monuments are to be put up, surely they should be in honor of those who broke chains, not put them on in the first place.
Removal
The removal of Confederate monuments is just as controversial as the monuments themselves. A rally was held in Charlottesville Virginia, where Neo-Nazis gathered in arms to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. 19 people were injured and one was killed when a car
AWARDS 2015-2016 FSPA All-Florida 2015-2016 NSPA All-American, 2015-2016 CSPA Crown receipient 2015-2016 4x NSPA Best of Show awards The EDITORIAL reflects the view of student editors and can be found in the opinion section Bylined COLUMNS represent the viewpoints of their authors
slammed through a crowd of protesters. How much violence has been incited over these beacons of racist sentiment? The protest received national recognition, after the violence. President Donald Trump responded by declaring that there were, “good people on both sides.” There are no two sides to hate. There are no two sides to bigotry. Opinions on both sides of a debate should always be considered. But not if the opinion of one side calls for the oppression of the other. The statues themselves may not stand for hatred, but they inspire those who do.
Destruction
But this doesn’t mean Confederate monuments need to be destroyed. In Durham, North Carolina, protesters toppled a Confederate monument after their complaints about it went unanswered by the city. This is not the answer either. It may feel satisfying to knock over a symbol of hatred, but the repercussions of these actions could lead to even more problems and backlash down the line. Monuments are private property, and so should not be defaced or destroyed. Nonetheless, if the purpose of these monuments is solely to preserve history, surely they would be best placed where history is best kept- museums. Teaching history is a necessity for both sides, but there are some aspects of history that only deserve acknowledgment, not open praise. By putting these statues into museums, we could educate without encouraging similar actions.
Local impact
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, Fl 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 Snapchat: @HHSToday Instagram: @HHSToday
Red & Black
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIA ARTZ
These statues aren’t just located in some faroff backwards land in the deep south. They’re much closer to home than some may think. Hillsborough County Commissioners passed a motion to remove a memorial to confederate soldiers in front of the county courthouse earlier this month. A stipulation of the motion was that funds for the monument’s removal had to be raised using private funds. In less than one day, the total cost of removal was covered by private donations. Notable donors included Bob Buckhorn and the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is more than possible to remove these monuments peacefully and legally; it is not only our right, it is our responsibility. As long as we praise oppressors, we deny ourselves true social progress.
hhstoday.com
entertainment
August 2017
13
NOW IN A THEATER NEAR YOU
Summer vacation brought plenty of new films to the big screen - we ranked the best (and worst) movies of the summer, so you don’t have to.
1.
Throughout Kidnap I had the urge to scream at the screen the whole time. Every other scene there were unrealistic choices made by the mom, Karla Dyson (Halle Berry). At one point in the movie, she even neglected the chance to save her son Frankie McCoy (Sage Correa) by not taking down one of the kidnappers when she had the chance. Halle Berry played the role of the mother surprisingly well considering the movie’s plot. The kidnappers were well-written characters; they did things only smart villains would think of. They were so good, at times they made Halle Berry act like she was making a fool out of herself. Like when they separated, one taking her son and the other going after Karla to attempt to get rid of her.
3.
Detroit is a crime drama, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, that follows the events of the Algiers Motel murders of 1967. Three young unarmed black men were killed and nine others were violently beaten. All of this is set during the Detroit Riot of 1967, which was one of the most violent and infamous civil rights riots in U.S. history. The film stars John Boyega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith and many more rising actors. The acting in the movie was stand-out. In the film, Boyega portrayed Dismukes, a young man that was gripping and likable. Poulter played a police officer. However, the majority of the other characters deserved more complexity. The directors took the actors for granted, giving them dry and predictable lines. Good context and setting were provided for the events that would occur later in the film. With such horrific and hard to swallow content, the audience needed an accurate idea of what was going on in Detroit in the 1960s, which Bigelow delivered on. What she didn’t deliver on was insight and authenticity. How can we know how these events truly felt if they were written by two
2. On the other hand, after she takes control of the situation, she ends up taking out the man that aided in her son’s kidnapping. That is when things start to get interesting. One other thing Karla did right was not to trust someone who seemed innocent. Her paranoia in that aspect ends up saving a few lives at one point. So, Kidnap isn’t necessarily the best for those who like to pay attention to details and have the decision-making aspect of movies accurate. But the concept of the movie is very interesting, and if some of the scenes were written differently, it would have been an outstanding movie. Overall, it had a good ending and that what really matters.
STORY BY ABBY CONGER
white writers? And it’s not to take away from Bigelow’s directing abilities, this just wasn’t her story to tell. I will say if the audience doesn’t know about the events of the Algiers Motel murders and the Detroit riot of 1967, this movie can be educational, although it’s dramatized. Detroit is not a movie for the squeamish. Almost every scene includes some sort of shooting or beating. Be aware before you see it that your gut will wrench and your eyes will water. Also, be aware that the movie drags on, because the majority of the film takes place in one day. The audience is relieved afterward when you see the days after the events, just to escape that one terrible day, even though your need for justice isn’t met. Despite its break-out cast and well-executed build up, this film misses the mark on integral factors including writing and authenticity. The Detroit riot is an important story to tell and the writers and director disappointed on a potentially great film.
STORY BY CAROLIN HEARNE
Annabelle: Creation serves as a thrilling prequel to the Conjuring franchise despite its flaws. The movie tells the story of how the titular doll came to be. However, it doesn’t just focus on Annabelle, but supporting characters as well. For example, Talitha Bateman was amazing as Janice, a possessed polio-afflicted orphan. The first night Janice spends the night in the orphanage, she finds Annabelle and everything gets more interesting with her character from there. From ultra-realistic special effects to costume choices, the movie actually made me picture Annabelle standing over me at night. The efforts of the film’s talented cast are strong but the writing makes the movie fall flat; Annabelle struggled from a lack of suspense. The setup is promising, offering the audi-
4.
The Dark Tower was released on August 4 and has received many bad reviews since the release. Even with award winning actor Idris Elba as the lead, it seems that The Dark Tower couldn’t be saved. Despite having all the pieces of a quality film, including the talented Matthew McConaughey as the villain, the film was a disappointment - especially to those who are fans of Stephen King. The movie had redeeming qualities, like the CGI and the editing, but when other adaptations of Stephen King’s work, such as The Shining, Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption, have had high reviews, it’s hard to not have high expectations. The original series is known to be Stephen King’s showpiece, containing eight individual novels. The first novel of the series, released in 1982, was a collection of short stories - an awkward arrangement when making a movie. It also doesn’t seem to have a specific genre it felt more like a strange jumble of sci-fi, western and a very depressing coming of age film. One of the things that made it hard to watch was that it did not have any consistent theme. The plot is pretty simple, following the same
ence some decent jump scares early on. But as the movie progresses, they become too obvious. The movie soon spirals into clichés: there are dark rooms, possessed children, a really old house, and record players that start playing by themselves. This movie was definitely not the best out of the Conjuring franchise, and might have been better off with the same producer as some of the earlier movies. Despite these flaws, the movie did have a few other redeeming factors. Like after the end credits, where a reference to The Conjuring 2 appears. Faults and all, Annabelle: Creation makes for an exciting ride for horror movie fans, especially those who have been following the Conjuring franchise from the beginning.
STORY BY ARIANA MCQUEEN
principles as the average action movie. There is a place, in this case, a tower, that keeps all the universes intact. There is only one person, the gunslinger (Idris Elba) who protects this special place from the villain, known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey). Their reasoning for wanting to destroy the tower is never truly explained or it simply does not make sense. Without a doubt, Matthew McConaughey is an amazing actor in general, but there are some scenes that make it obvious that he was only selected for name recognition. Every time he appears on the screen and does something villainous, he looks like a ten-year-old boy who got away with cursing. The characters are interesting, but The Dark Tower is lacking substance and identity - it’s good for entertainment that lasts for a couple minutes, but at its roots, there is nothing to distinguish The Dark Tower from other action movies. The film company and producers seem to be so caught up with having a franchise and making a profit that they did not focus on the top priority - the quality of the movie.
STORY BY LESLIE BRACAMONTES
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entertainment
August 2017
Red & Black
you
SAIDit What do you think of The Defenders?
MAKE IT TO NETFLIX
“I’m really excited for it, it’s got a lot of my favorite heroes coming together, and I want to see how the writers play it off.” Johnathan Doan, 10
The Defenders, a new Netflix show, is now streaming and features four Marvel heroes. Netflix released a new Marvel miniseries recently, titled The Defenders. The Defenders is about a group of vigilantes who unite together to defeat a common enemy called, “The Hand,” a criminal organization bent on reaching total immortality.
Consistent characters
The group consists of four unlikely heroes: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Each have had their own show before uniting together in The Defenders. The show so far has stayed true to the past series, containing the same themes for each character. Daredevil is a blind crime-fighting vigilante by night and a defense attorney by day. However, at the end of his storyline, he has many tragedies happen to him affecting his character before uniting with The Defenders. Jessica Jones, the only female in the group excluding other heroes’ girlfriends, has also had her fair share of tragedies, including the childhood trauma of her adoptive mother being abusive to her. Working as a Private Investigator, Jones is the most resistant to the idea of being a hero. She does not like the idea of using her super strength for saving others and avoids situations that force her to. Luke Cage, known in the Marvel comics as Power Man, is the third Defender and has indestructible skin. Luke Cage is also known as the hero of Harlem and the only member who is adamant about saving people, although he doesn’t exactly want to be a hero. Before uniting with the others, Cage was released from prison and discovered a
criminal recruiting the youth of Harlem known as the man in the white hat. He later discovered that the man in the white hat is connected to The Hand which led him to unite with the Iron Fist and then the others. Danny Rand, who has the alter ego of Iron Fist, is the last so-called hero.
Past reviews
The past shows that contained the main characters have had mixed reviews, excluding Jessica Jones which won a Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music. Many claimed that the storyline was dull and slow paced. This was a big complaint specifically for Iron Fist and Daredevil, the said past shows containing the main characters.
“The show so far has not disappointed. There is so much action and drama, I love it.” Anaeli Martinez, 12 “It can be a little cheesy now and then but it’s a great show.” Riley Karekos, 11
How is the show so far?
The show has not disappointed yet with great on-screen chemistry between all the characters. The lighting of the show was beautifully done as well as the editing. Each scene felt like a masterpiece. The show is very violent, with most scenes containing carnage, and containing many intimate scenes. There is a specific scene where Elektra, a character from Daredevil, massacred a group of Hand soldiers; if that doesn’t pique your interest then the show may not be for you.
“I would be Luke Cage because he’s a caring person at heart and always steps in when necessary.” Joshua Owens, 11
STORY BY LESLIE BRACAMONTES
THE STRUGGLES OF STREAMING Netflix, Hulu and HBO go aren’t worth what they cost. Hulu may have less commercials than cable, but it doesn’t have the same variety, and the shows aren’t live. If I wanted to watch the end of Criminal Minds, it could be a week before Hulu has it. Streaming services are also proving easier to hack. HBO Go keeps getting all its content leaked before it releases, like season finale of Game of Thrones. HBO doesn’t let you search by actor or director either, which makes it harder to use because there is a large variety of movies. Another problem with these costly services is that people just share passwords. While this may be beneficial for family and friends to save money, ultimately this is taking advantage of the system. Password sharing costs streaming companies millions in lost
revenue. Netflix is already $20 billion in debt, and it keeps making more original content. Clearly, something has to be wrong with this business model. However, not all streaming companies make the mistake of relying on subscriptions for revenue. Some companies understand that subscription streaming services are flawed. Crackle, for instance, is a hidden gem. It’s free, and it has plenty of recent TV shows and movies. Crackle just might be a better alternative, if you’re trying to cut some costs while still staying entertained. Completely free, Crackle relies on the use of short commercials to fund its site, much like how Hulu service does. Their website is clean, quick loading, and relatively easy to nav-
igate by title or genre. The most important thing is that Crackle is 100-percent free, and offers a much larger library than Hulu and Netflix. But Crackle is an exception to the rule. Most streaming services just aren’t worth it. It takes months for movies and shows to be put on Netflix, if they ever make it there at all. And now that Disney is moving its content to its own streaming service, Netflix will have even less recent options. Subscription services are becoming more and more specialized, and the costs keep rising. They weren’t worth it then, they aren’t worth it now, and they won’t be worth it in the future.
STORY BY ARIANNA MCQUEEN
sports
hhstoday.com
August 2017
15
WIDE RECEIVES A NEW PLAYER Senior Ken Montgomery commits to play football at University of California Los Angeles on a full scholarship The roar of the crowd from the packed stands. The thundering sound of feet hitting the ground. The cheers of teammates when a touchdown is scored, and the frustrated sighs when the other team pulls ahead. The sounds of the fight song being played by the band are recognizable from the clock tower; students, staff and alumni alike gather at its source. It’s a Friday night, and it’s football season. Every football game is organized chaos, and that has been the reality for senior Ken Montgomery since third grade. Montgomery’s efforts as a player have not been without reward, as in the spring of last year, he learned he had been offered a full ride scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Montgomery was in math class when he heard the news that the school he had been dreaming of attending since middle school had offered him a place in their program. When the final bell rang, Montgomery wasted no time in sharing his news. “First, I told my girlfriend, and she just told me how she was and how important my education was,” he said. For Montgomery, the scholarship offer to UCLA was just one more step he needed to take to reach his end goal of playing in the NFL. “I’ve been wanting to play in the league since I was a kid so with that being said football is my main goal,” Montgomery explained. Montgomery wants to utilize every benefit his scholarship offers when he arrives at UCLA. “I picked UCLA because I felt like that was the best school for me academics wise,” he said. “ And I’m going to be in California and I wanted to get away from Florida to experience something new.” While football is the main reason he’ll be attending UCLA, Montgomery plans to take full advantage of the academic facilities to study sports broadcasting
and fashion. While he is devoted to football, Montgomery places an even greater emphasis on his college education. “NFL stands for ‘Not For Long,’ so football isn’t going to always be there for me so having a degree is important,” Montgomery said. But Montgomery has plans for the future. After he finishes a career in the NFL, he wants to become a fashion designer. “I want to design a lot of girl’s stuff, like dresses, because I love women and I want them to look good,” Montgomery said. “I’m more excited for designing women’s clothing than for playing in the NFL,” he joked. Initially, his parents were shocked, but Montgomery made it clear it was important. “My mom and my family said it’s kind of different because they never really heard anybody say that,” Montgomery said. “I just told them that I just want to make a change and just design clothes, something new.” UCLA is a big step, and Montgomery hopes to show his new coaches that he deserves to be a part of the football team. “I gotta go out there and prove myself because this is a different level of team, people are faster and stronger,” he said. His coaches at Hillsborough have taught him lessons that he plans on using to aid in this endeavor. “Being mentally tough, not letting people get to me and to keep striving and being me,” he gave as an example. “To not let foolishness get to me and to be more mature about things.” As Montgomery continues to play football, he’ll keep one reason in mind. “I play for my family, just to have my family be emotionally happy and wealthy,” he said. “They just told me to do anything that makes me happy and playing on the football team made me happy and I was good at it.” Montgomery isn’t certain about what his future will hold, but he knows his scholarship to UCLA is only the beginning.
STORY BY MARIN FEHL
CHEERLEADER MAKES ALL-AMERICAN TEAM Dioscar Montesino started dancing at a young From childhood, Dioscar Montesino has loved dancing. He did ballet, contemporary, jazz and hip hop before high school. Montesino planned to join the Dancerettes his junior year, but did not make the team. Instead, he connected with the cheerleaders and found that he enjoys the camaraderie. “I like to compete against people who are really competitive so it’s really fun at the same time and once you get to college, you get to go to places, different cities,” he said. In spite of being the only male on the team, he says he receives support from his friends. “Right now, it’s just remembering everything and keeping work from school and everything you need for football and cheer,” Montesino said. “I try to pick the main thing, then I go to the second and third.” Every night, Montesino does homework then practices for cheer, eats dinner and ends with practicing dance.
Making the team
In August, Montesino tried out for the All-American cheer team, a team that thou-
age and worked to become a member of the All-American cheer team sands try out for. Only 10 percent of those applicants are accepted. The contenders were required to learn a cheer and perform for the judges. “I was nervous I would mess up, but I just gave it my best,” he said. Although he executed the hand motions incorrectly, he believes he made the team because he had the best co-ed stunts, tossing the flyer and absorbing the momentum with his legs. Sophomore Karrington Gordon also made the team. When she found out she was accepted, she was scared because she was the only sophomore from Hillsborough. Although she chose not to participate this year, she said she is grateful that Montesino is able to. “He’s a senior so I think he should get that experience in his life,” she said. “I was excited that if I don’t get to go, even though she might not go this year she’ll go next year,” Montesino said of Gordon. Montesino was accepted into the group but he faces the challenge of raising adequate funds for the trip. The price for the trip is $3,165. Through a gofundme page, he has raised $1,500.
“When I made it, I was really excited,” he said. “I was like now I have to get this money and try really hard.”
International performance
The All-American cheerleaders will perform in London for a Christmas parade. “I’ve never gone before, I just wanted to go to the parade and be in it,” Montesino said. The cheerleaders each have a routine they dance to. “For the girls you have to have a dance, extreme dance, a cheer and a jump,” he said. Montesino will be doing a coed stunt. Cheering is not the only activity the team will do in London. Three days prior to the parade, the All-American members will be touring London. Montesino is excited to explore the hotspots. “We get to go on tours, take pictures, buy items and have fun,” Montesino said. In high school, Montesino feels cheer is not as highly regarded as in college. “They’ll either be like ‘oh my God, you’re a cheerleader,’ or ‘ok,’” he said. “It’s not the same as when you go to college for cheer, they’re really well respected.” Montesino plans to attend UCF or University of Alabama and continue cheering in college.
STORY BY KATIE DELK
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August 2017
sports
Red & Black
PUTTING THEIR GUARD UP Color guard works to become a team capable of capturing their own limelight at their first football game.
TOP Members of the color guard prepare to practice with the band. MIDDLE RIGHT Color guard captain Ariana Berrien tells senior Keren Perez her position. LEFT Perez works to perfect her flag twirls. BOTTOM RIGHT The color guard continures practicing as a storm begins to roll in. PHOTOS BY JORGE GARCIA
Out on the football field, flashes of red and yellow flags are scattered everywhere. The flags are hurled up into the air- sometimes they’re caught. Other times they fall. The newest addition to the halftime show, the color guard, is hard at work in the unforgiving sun. They are practicing their twirls, throws and dance moves, making sure not to let their flags slip from their hands. In addition to the band and Dancerettes, the color guard will now be participating in the performance aspect of football games. Senior Ariana Berrien, color guard captain, believes that despite being a team completely comprised of newbies, the color guard is making great progress and has had a successful start to their year. “I think that it’s really refreshing because we’re a first time team,” she said. “Everyone is really excited and working hard.” The color guard’s head coach, Victoria Perez, has previously coached color guard at other schools. According to her, teaching these students has been a fun and exciting experience. “This is a really diverse group of kids,” Perez said.“They’re a fun group and really willing to work hard which is what I love about them.” As head coach of the color guard, Perez tries to implement teaching values and skills, both in and outside of practice, including showing up on time and having good moral character. One thing the color guard values most is teamwork and unity. As an otherwise inexperienced team, everyone is learning the movements and steps at the same time. “We’re all new, we all help each other out, we have little pow wows which help us build relationships,” Guard Lieutenant Nyliah Clark said. An example of the team’s unity can be seen around their ankle. As a team building exercise, each member of the color guard cut a red piece of string and tied it around each other’s ankles, where they will remain until they fall off. “We basically tied our bond together,” Berrien said. “It shows we are brothers and sisters and will always be there for each other.” As a main event in the halftime show, the color guard plans to draw enough focus to stand out from the crowd. “We’re the visual aspect of the performance,” Perez said. “We want to bring more spirit, more color and more fun.” The team wants to make sure to captivate the audience’s attention with their flags and dance moves. Moving forward, color guard members hope to keep growing and progressing as a family, and refine their skills as the year goes on. “Something I always tell my kids is that we always move forward and never backward,” Perez said. “We’re always striving to be better than we were yesterday.”
STORY BY JORGE GARCIA
EARLY MORNING PEP RALLY OPENS FOOTBALL SEASON Friday night- no, morning lights. At 5:30 a.m. sharp on Friday, the gym lights turned on, and so did the cameras. A pep rally had been scheduled for the morning so News Channel 8 could broadcast just what it feels like to be in the Hillsborough student section on game day. They weren’t the only ones to show up. In addition to the news team, the cheerleaders, Dancerettes, and band were expected to show up early to perform for the cameras. This early wake up call did not go by unnoticed by the perfomers. “I didn’t think it was fair that we didn’t have a say in it and it was too last minute,” Dancerette captain Claire Hamilton said. “I think the afternoon pep rallies would have been more exciting to cover.” But some students didn’t mind setting their alarms. “At first
I was pretty shocked and dreaded it a little because that’s really early. But honestly I’ve been excited since that passed,” Dancerette co-captain Emily Quin said. “It was a great opportunity for us to be on live TV, and if getting there early was required I totally understand it.” Despite the time of day, the crowd wasn’t lacking when it came to the spirit of the event. “The morning [pep rally] was more hyped up even though it was so early and there was a small group of people,” Hamilton said. Quin felt that the team benefited from the experience. “I think everyone’s dedication to the team really shone through,” she said. But Hamilton wasn’t convinced. “It was pretty inconvenient and stressed me out because I had so much homework to do and Friday was such a long day with three pep rallies and a game,” she said.
But even though she wasn’t on board originally, Hamilton didn’t mind giving the pep rally her all. “At one point the news guy had Claire and I teach him our dance to ‘Let’s Go!’ and that was really fun,” Quin said. At the end of the day, News Channel 8 got their coverage, and the Dancerettes got to perform in three pep rallies. But the work was not in vain. “We didn’t have any extra practices scheduled because we already practice three times a week, but I think there was definitely extra motivation there,” Quin said. “Once we got there everything was so much fun that [waking up early] was definitely worth it. As for anyone who wants to see the early morning pep rally, check out News Channel 8’s website for footage from the morning.
STORY BY MARIN FEHL