The
Patriot Post
VOL. 23 ISSUE 4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
Digitally
Staff Editors-in-Chief
Maia Fernandez Baigun,12th Kristen Quesada, 12th
Online Editor-in-Chief Joanne Haner, 12th
Assistant Editors
Dear Heritage, This issue covers one of this generation’s biggest pressing yet underlying issues. With the rise of social media platforms (whether it be Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok), many topics seem to have been globalized, but also normalized. From popular Youtubers capitalizing off of anxiety to TV shows screening the neglect of characters’ cries for help, mental illness is no joke. Many of us have seen, at some point, a post or caption romanticizing mental illness. While its stigma has decreased from previous decades, it is important to keep in mind the power that some terms hold.
&
The
Patriot Post the American Heritage student news magazine
VOL. 23 ISSUE 4/ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 The Patriot Post is sold on a bi-monthly basis for 50 cents. American Heritage has 1,950 students and 160 faculty members.
Do you have a response to a column or article that was published in the news magazine? We accept and encourage letters to the editor by students, faculty or parents in response to any opinion pieces. Physically hand the response in to room 9114 or email it to patriotpost@ahschool.com.
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Alyssa Herzbrun, 12th Bella Ramirez, 11th Zoe Persaud, 11th
Online Assistant Editor Kayla Rubenstein, 11th
Adviser
Ms. Diana Adams
Copy Editors
Kristen Quesada, 12th Joanne Haner, 12th Zoe Persaud, 11th
Social Media Editors Madison Lynn, 12th Noor Sukkar, 10th
Sports Editor
Opinion Editor Sammy Rosenthal, 11th Alyssa Herzbrun, 12th
Features Editor
Emma Remudo, 11th
Entertainment Editor Bella Ramirez, 11th
Assistant Sports Editor Jack Shechtman, 11th
Cover Story Editor
Maia Fernandez Baigun, 12th
Staff Writer
Emily Anderson, 11th
American Heritage School 12200 W. Broward Blvd. Plantation, FL 33325 954-472-0022 ext. 3300 patriotpost@ahschool.com ipatriotpost.com
News 5
Opinion 9
Cover Story 15
or
Features 12
Entertainment 19
sports 23 (Front Cover/ Maia Fernandez Baigun) (Photo and Graphic/ Alyssa Herzbrun, Maia Fernandez Baigun, Michael Gurasci, Sammy Rosenthal, Zak Bitar, Joanne Haner)
Editorial Policy The Patriot Post limits opinion to opinion articles, columns and editorials. All editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff. Opinions detailed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of administration, faculty or the student body. At our own discretion, we will publish letters to the editor either in print or online at ipatriotpost.com. We reserve the right to edit these letters for grammar and layout restrictions and will not publish any content we deem libelous to any students, faculty or members of the community.
Patriot Post @ipatriotpost
Our Mission Statement The Patriot Post is an award-winning, student-produced hybrid publication that informs students about events, influences readers through editorials and entertains through features and reviews, all achieved through responsible reporting held to high journalistic standards. We strive to create content that adheres to the highest possible standards of journalistic integrity. Any queries about our content can be directed to patriotpost@ahschool.com or to a staff member in room 9114. With new posts on our online newspaper almost every day, the content doesn’t stop at the last page of this magazine. Visit www.ipatriotpost.com for more information, and subscribe for email notifications.
Table of Contents
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Kayla Rubenstein | Online Assistant Editor pl226461@ahschool.com
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news brief
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s a requirement for their social studies classes, junior high students and sophomores in non-AP classes completed a National History Day (NHD) project following the theme “Breaking Barriers in History.” Those who placed first in the school competition will proceed to the district competition Feb. 28. “It took me a very long time to get everything where it is now, and I’m very proud of how it ultimately turned out,” eighth grader Kayla Giset, who created a documentary, said. “NHD is and has been one of the best experiences of my junior high career.”
PERFORMING HISTORY: Mrs. Shaneka Major, Mrs. Jennifer Tacher and Mrs. Beth Vera judge a student on her performance. For a performance, students need to recite from memory an eight to 10 minute speech about their topic. (Photo submitted by Leslie Porges)
sCIENCE FAIR
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hile all honors students in grades seven through 10 must complete a Science Fair project, 25 students in science research took their projects to the next level at the Broward County Fair Feb. 7. Selected from a pool of 70 projects competing in the school Science Fair, the 25 participants competed against around 100 other student scientists. “I love the process of doing research at our school and the independence it affords. There’s something unique and impactful all the projects offer,” junior Angelin Mathew said.
EXPLOSIVE SCIENCE: Junior Angelin Mathew dedicated her summer and last semester developing her project. (Photo submitted by Angelin Mathew)
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News
spring fling
osted every year by the Lower School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), the Spring Fling will bring in fundraisers and activities to campus Feb. 29. Simultaneously, the Fine Arts department will showcase student-produced music and artwork during the Fine Arts Festival. For fundraising, the PTO will raffle baskets created by Lower School classes and Upper School clubs will offer booths with different activities. The Fine Arts department will sell wristbands for students to ride the carnival attractions. Inside the Fine Arts building, art projects will decorate the halls and students will perform on stage and in the bandroom. Check out ipatriotpost.com early March for a photo recap of Spring Fling.
(Graphic/Zoe Persaud)
POETRY OUT LOUD
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n addition to discussing different pieces of literature, English Honor Society (EHS) and Dead Poets Society (DPS) hosted Poetry Out Loud. Participants memorized a poem from the contest’s website and recited it in front of a panel of judges Jan. 28 in Mrs. Ashley Hendricks’ room, 7100, after school. Junior Irene Newman, who won second, will advance to the state competition instead of first-place winner senior Catherine Gomez-Thompson.
“I love seeing students who don’t usually participate in the arts get in front of the judges and pour their hearts out,” co-president of EHS senior Flora Ranis said. “Poetry is such a powerful and cathartic medium. Although students recite poems written by famous poets, students make them their own through their incredible and unique performances.”
LOUD AND PROUD: At Poetry Out Loud, contestants recited a poem in front of three judges — Mrs. Krisynda Cicos, Mrs. Calesta Soto and Mrs. Ashley Hendricks — was EHS members enjoyed the performances and snacks. (Photo/Joanne Haner)
News 5
More than College Counseling
Opinion/Editorial
Editorial:
Imagine a typical sleep-deprived, tightly wound student who is having an overall rough day. One bad grade can make this student feel as though everything is falling apart. Instead of going to his next class, the student tries to stay calm as he enters the guidance office in hopes of seeking refuge from his or her peers and calming (Graphic/ Alexander Strulovic Lord) down in a safe environment. Faced with the reality that this student igh school is the most formative doesn’t have an appointment and his guidperiod of adolescence. The added ance counselor is busy, the student now has stress of academics in a college to muster the courage to go on with his day, preparatory school combined with the so- just as unhappy as he was before. cial stresses of our young adult lives can Even though several guidance staff memput our will to the test. Sometimes, a stu- bers are licensed in mental health fields and dent may need a qualified adult to listen all are ready to listen to students with open to his or her problems to get them through ears, they are oftentimes unavailable to see the day. a student. For freshmen and sophomores,
counselors are there for support in addition to their advisory role. While junior and senior college advisers also open heartedly listen to student issues, some students shiver at the idea of exposing their vulnerability to the figure who will write their college recommendation letter. In extreme cases, counselors are prepared to provide struggling students with referrals to nearby psychologists, but this comes with an additional cost on the families involved, as well as the stigma that surrounds therapy. Students should have an option to see a licensed adult dedicated to listening to student issues on a personal level, providing students with an opportunity to feel safe and release their emotions in a non-academic environment. With depressive symptoms circulating in today’s youth, it’s important for schools to not only inform students that it is ok to ask for help but encourage the destigmatization of mental illness by providing students with easy, on-campus access to help.
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he Selective Service requires all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants, whether documented or undocumented, to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Failure to register within the given time frame may result in fines up to $250,000 or jail time of up to five years. In the case of a crisis requiring a draft, the government randomly pulls from the men registered under the Selective Service for examination before induction into the Armed Forces. With the growing feminist movement and push for equal rights, the Selective Service remains wildly outdated with the deliberate exclusion of women and requires revision in order to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex. Judge Gray Miller of Southern Texas ruled in 2019 that exempting women from the registration requirement violates the Constitution’s equal protection principles. Regarding the U.S. Selective Service System’s
arguments, Miller said they consisted of “archaic and overbroad generalizations about women’s preferences.” Previous gender roles confined women to domestic and family responsibilities while men provided for the household. However, society no longer restricts women to the home. Currently, women comprise approximately 10% of the current veteran population, a fast-growing demographic that shows the interest and capability of women in military service. Including women in the Selective Service also widens the pool of applicants, allowing more diversity regarding the people who serve the country. “As long as you’re going to have folks register, it has to be both genders because, if you do otherwise, you are sending a message that they’re not equal citizens,” said retired Army general Flora Darpino. Revising the Selective Service requirements and discarding the gender bias allows society to continue moving toward a more equal and fair future for all citizens.
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Zoe Persaud | Co-Assistant Editor pl238511@ahschool.com
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InclUde women in the draft
Opinion 9
No l ve for the likes Kayla Rubenstein | Asst. Online Editor-in-Chief able to see the number of likes their posts pl226461@ahschool.com receive, not how many everyone else’s
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s high school students living in the 21st century, we’ve heard some variation of the “social media is bad” speech. Whether the lecture focused on the impact of Instagram or how the sites are “soul sucking source of emptiness,” as eloquently stated by my dad, a common theme seems to repeat itself: too much social media leads to an increase in mental health disorders. Instead of focusing on the photos themselves, Instagram users tend to use the app as a form of unrealistic validation through the amount of likes and comments their posts receive. To combat this detrimental aspect of the app, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri announced at the Wired25 Summit that Instagram will test out a new policy to remove visible likes from users’ posts. With this initiative, select users will only be
posts receive. This change comes as a step in the right direction; with the removal of public visible likes comes the decrease of pressure to post the “right thing” that will garner as many likes as possible. It’s no secret social media fosters an environment that promotes an unrealistic lifestyle; users often post exaggerated versions of desirable aspects of their life, often in a bid to rack up the most likes on their posts. “We’re hardwired to find social interactions rewarding,” said cognitive neuroscientist Dar Meshi. With an instantaneous form of validation, Instagram likes feed into a form of addictive behavior, according to Meshi. Because likes work as a numerical way to measure social acceptance, comparing the number of likes your post gets in comparison to others only serves as mentally destructive behavior.
In a 2016 study conducted at Penn State University, users compared themselves to other users’ posts, which lowered their self-esteem. Not only do users suffer from a decrease in self-worth, they also reported feeling an increase in negative emotions as a result of the envy sparked by the deceptive posts. With the switch to no longer display Instagram likes comes a step in the right direction toward preserving Instagram’s mission: “to capture and share the world’s moments.”
A match to be made Not the end of your story Zoe Persaud | Assistant Editor pl238511@ahschool.com
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fter years of the media portraying students achieving their dreams before the credits roll at the final graduation scene, we conditioned ourselves to believe college will be the “best four years of our lives.” However, our childhood wonder causes unnecessary pressure about college acceptance and leaves students unprepared for the end of those four years. The obsession with “good colleges” and competitive culture pushes the majority of students to strive for prestige when applying to college, stressing them out before their career even begins. Alex McNeil, founder of McNeil Admissions, coined the term “Prestige Trap” in which students assume that the prestige of their chosen college somehow interchanges with their value as a human being.
Regardless of years of stress or the level of merit associated with college admittance, the screen doesn’t fade to black when you graduate. According to “All About Careers,” an online organization that provides career advice and opportunities to users, 44% of undergraduates cannot define the industry that they would like to work in after graduation and 52% of students agreed with the statement, “I have no idea what I want to do with my
(Graphics/Kristen Quesada)
career.” The societal emphasis on the pursuit of higher education and sense of elitism associated with college admissions has left students completely unaware of how to proceed after graduating college. The “College Grad” recommends that students explore their interests, set goals and plan on how to achieve them and connect their academics with real world experience through opportunities such as internships and jobs outside of campus. “Deciding what to do after college is part of the college experience,” writes Brian Krueger of the “College Grad.” “Take the time to explore your career options through both academics and career research.” Move past societal pushes for four years of prestige and toward success in the rest of your life.
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Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com
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ach year, the Club and Community Service Committee accepts new club ideas hoping to provide students with an array of opportunities to join clubs with others who share similar interests, whatever their interests may be. The Ping Pong Club (PPC), one of the many clubs accepted during the committee’s most recent approval round, looks to follow down that same path by accomplishing its main goal: to allow students to momentarily step ªaway from the stressful nature of school.” “I’ve had an interest in ping-pong for around two years now,” Richard Epstein-Dayan, president and founder of PPC, said. “My friend and I bought a table and would play daily. I truly enjoyed it, so when I realized that the school didn’t have a Ping Pong Club, I decided that it was the perfect opportunity for me to start something new.” The PPC meets
every Wednesday behind the 3000 building near the snack bar. Members can take turns playing friendly matches or focus on improving their skills for any upcoming tournaments the club might have, as Epstein eventually hopes to give members an opportunity to participate in both local tournaments and ones hosted at Heritage. “I want students to be able to enjoy themselves after school, to have a place to go to where the pressures of achievement aren’t there,” Dr. Gabriela Zaviezo, PPC adviser, said. “It’s not necessarily something that’s tied to academics; it’s purely for students to relax, have fun, meet new people and do something they enjoy.” With the Ping Pong Club continuing to gain more exposure, Epstein hopes more students feel welcome to join the community so they, too, can take a step back from school and enjoy themselves while doing so.
“If people decide that they want to relax and take a breather from school, they can,” Epstein said. “The entire goal of the club is for people to enjoy themselves and relieve some of the stress off their backs that they have from school.”
GAME TIME: President junior Richard Epstein-Dayan warms up before the first game of his club’s inaugural meeting. (Photo/Sammy Rosenthal) (Graphic/Emma Remudo)
Features 13
from stigmatized to sensationalized In recent years, mental illness has begun to lose its negative stigma. However, with the parallel rise of social media, it has become romanticized. Maia Fernandez Baigun| Co-Editor-in-Chief pl212601@ahschool.com
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here’s something about having a mental illness in today’s society that does not quite click with its expected connotation. Living in a generation where grave issues have been so romanticized by the internet and its users, they seem to have become something almost desirable. While there are plenty of people who suffer from these illnesses, influencers and companies are constantly using terms such as “depression” or “OCD” to market their products and make a profit. In 2018, popular YouTube influencer, Corrina Kopf, released hoodies with the word “anxiety” and its definition written in large print on the back. While she claims to deal with this illness herself and will donate 15% of those profits to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, her merch just helps normalize anxiety and makes it a trendy fashion statement. Mental health issues are very much a reality for many people, and they tend to heavily affect the victims’ lives. However, the idea that having a panic attack is “cute,” that not being able to sleep well for a couple of nights makes you some kind of a “genius” insomniac or that having an eating disorder is tragically beautiful is, honestly, frightening. “Mental illness is commercialized... it’s become popular to become mentally ill,” senior Juliette Reyes said. “As someone with mental illness myself not only is this offensive, but counter productive.” Willingly or not, this generation often finds itself blaming others for issues it could fix itself. Whether dealing with personal image in a society where only certain body types are glorified or climate change creating global disasters, we often dismiss our true influence in the results. In the past, mental illnesses were usually surrounded by a cloud of stigma; it was an untouched topic and too complicated to talk about. But, in an effort to shy away from this behavior, people have de-stigmatized mental illnesses so much that the balance has swung the other way. They have made it a trend. Now, these heavy medical diagnoses such as “anxiety” or “insomnia” seem to be carelessly sprinkled throughout daily conversations. People have started to become confused with whether they are as desirable as it appears to be online and what a mental illness actually
Cover Story 15
entails. While we may be quick to point fingers at different sources, they will mostly point back at the man-made rabbit hole known as social media. It has captured most of the global population—whether positively or not—and has proved itself to be impactful in our daily lives. When “Split,” a movie produced with the intention of creating an entertaining horror/thriller film, was released, producers started to receive multiple complaints about the way the main character portrays his mental illness, dissociative identity disorder (DID). However, it is negatively stigmatized as the plot revolves around one of his alters kidnapping and terrorizing three young girls and detailing their murder scheme. This only shows the extreme side of a disorder which “forms when someone is trying to escape reality — often because they experience a traumatic situation such as abuse,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This film was on many psychologist’s radar as it may have had a negative impact on people who have the condition. “What concerns me is how the film may inadvertently demonize people who are truly suffering,” Dr. Sheldon Itzkowitz, a New York-based psychologist and psychoanalyst said. “DID is a disorder that has its etiology in the worst form of human suffering—the abuse of innocent children.” More examples of the incorrect depiction of mental illnesses can be found pretty much anywhere online. Entertainment such as the popular Netflix show, “13
Do you think mental illnesses are portrayed differently in the media than in real life? 79% Yes 21% no
Have you noticed mental illnesses used incorrectly in social media? 91% Yes 9% no
16 Cover Story
Reasons Why,” also adds on to this problem. This show has gone through more negative criticism than many other shows due to its dark plot. While it is deserved, many reviews fail to mention a surprising line. In one episode, the protagonist, Clay Jensen, is pictured talking to his friend Skye Miller when he notices her self-harm wounds. “It’s what you do instead of killing yourself,” Miller responds. After this line, there is no mention of what you should actually do such as seeking help from a professional. However, it’s not the first time self-harm of this nature is pictured as an alternative or a solution. Although websites such as Tumblr that house countless posts promoting self-harm as a type of cure are slowly losing popularity, they are still accessible to almost everyone with internet access. Groups of users on this platform tend to post pictures of young girls staying up all night and crying or graphics of people self-harming. These images are deemed as something beautiful, poetic and artistic by many users. Even though this is already problematic, the real danger occurs when someone who is diagnosed with the illnesses the posts describe becomes susceptible to the influence of these images and quotes. However, when criticizing “social media” as a whole, we must remember that it is man-made. The user-generated content seems to be easier to express in a tweet than to speak about in person. This method of expression online but not being able to speak in person might give the user the confidence to face their reality, but it also hinders them from seeking actual help. According to NAMI, only 50.3% of U.S. youth (ages 6-17) diagnosed with any mental illness (AMI) seek professional help. But when being constantly exposed to “artwork” by people who are diagnosed, people might try and relate to these posts, and end up with a self-diagnosis. This is beyond problematic, as more people start matching their mood swings with bipolar disorder or their perfectionism with obsessive compulsive disorder (ODC) all because of something they see online. “Mental illness shouldn’t be a contest of who sleeps the least or who cuts the most. It should be a conversation of what steps we can take as a community to get better,” Reyes said. While breaking the stigma around mental illnesses shows society’s progression, we also need to stop encouraging its romanticisation.
(Photo illustration/Maia Fernandez Baigun)
Cover Story 17
Living the Hai life Emma Remudo| Features Editor pl209912@ahschool.com
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hile many of us may dream of going on a cruise, not many of us dream of performing on one. However, when junior Sophia Hai’s teacher at Brynn Stars Music Academy approached her with an opportunity to take main stage on a Royal Caribbean ship, Hai’s dreams became a reality. Hai began taking private singing lessons in seventh grade as well as participating in junior high theater. After performing with Senior High Thespians her freshman year, Hai took a break from Heritage Fine Arts to focus more on working with Brynn Stars. “My studio gave me more of a chance to fit in my style of singing,”
Hai said. “I like doing R&B and pop, but, in school, I have to do strictly musical theater and chorus.” With her studio, Hai performed at the Davie Vocal Theater holiday party to benefit children in need, the Weston Town Center Christmas tree lighting and a Marjory Stoneman Douglas tribute at Nova University. Adding to her resumé, Hai, along with a group of students from her studio, performed on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas Feb. 14-18. Everyone in the group took part in two main performances: a Beyoncé medley and a reenactment of the Schuyler sisters from the musical “Hamilton.” In addition, Hai performed a solo from the “Titanic,” singing “My Heart
Will Go On.” With her group, Hai had to practice for five hours on Sundays and two hours on Mondays. However, as part of practice outside of her cruise performance, Hai takes private singing and piano lessons for one hour once a week. While taking center stage on a cruise can be stressful, with enough practice, Hai made her performance “a sweet life on deck.”
ON THE HIGH SEAS: Junior Sophia Hai singing “My Heart Will Go On” for her solo song. (Photo/Submitted by Sophia Hai)
Big dreams for (behind) the big screen Kayla Rubenstein| Assistant Online Editor pl226461@ahschool.com
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hile those gracing the big screen as actors often receive the most recognition, their talent would go unappreciated without the work of those behind the screen, such as directors and camera operators. For these four students, the allure of designing and piecing together videos drew them to filmmaking. For many filmmakers at Heritage, having the opportunity to work with broadcast inspired them to broaden their interest into cinematography. “I was drawn to filmmaking when I first joined WAHS fresh-
IN THE MAKING: Junior Cole Holifield and senior Theodore Rackauskas direct a short film. “My favorite part of filmmaking is the actual filming part,” Holifield said. (Photo/ Submitted by Cole Holifield)
18 Features
man year and got my first camera,” junior Cole Holifield said. “From there [my passion] just grew and before I knew it, it had consumed my life, in a good way.” Similarly, senior Brandon Woods evolved an affinity for photography into a passion for filmmaking. “Filmmaking wasn’t always my set plan for the future. As I grew more interested in cameras and the different opportunities I could gain with them, I started to look into documentary work on a longer form, the video aspect,” Woods said. “Starting with broadcasting, I expanded my storytelling skills by speaking to interesting figures and capturing their special moments. Filmmaking allowed me to create the stories rather than chase them.” Junior Bella Ramirez has participated in three of the four publications on campus, finding her calling for filmmaking in broadcast as well. “I’ve always been a storyteller. I wrote my first screenplay in second grade. It was the worst musical you could imagine,” Ramirez said. “Since I was homeschooled then, I wrote about the craziest thing I could imagine: a sleepover. Yeah, yikes.” Yet for senior Jeremiah Bang, a different aspect of filmmaking drew him to the field: the audience and creative medium.
“Filmmaking more than anything is a storytelling medium; the messages you can bring to an audience and the people that watch said films are limitless,” Bang said. “Film is a mixed medium that just seems limitless and opens thousands of doors to the stories you tell,” he said. Currently, Ramirez, Bang and Woods are working on a film they shot throughout the summer: “The Adventures of Mister Perfect and Friends,” a charity superhero film. During this process, Ramirez experienced multiple aspects of the film, with her favorite being production. “Since I was so involved in pre-production, the production felt more like everything coming together than piecing portions on a timeline,” Ramirez, who enjoyed production best, said. “I got to interact with actors and crew; they inspire me to this day.” For those interested in videography, Bang recommends searching for a story. “Don’t be afraid to tell a story. Don’t be afraid that your work isn’t enough. Everyone tells stories, gossips, sends text messages, writes school essays and creates memories,” Bang said. “Humans are bent around stories, so don’t be scared to tell yours.”
Remembering Black History
While many are aware Black History Month is a month-long recognition of Black heroes of the past and present, most remain unaware of the history of the celebration. Read on to find out more about the contributions of Black leaders and civil rights heroes. Emily Anderson | Staff Writer pl238251@ahschool.com
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rom refusing seats to underground railroads, Black History month celebrates many impactful stories. Black History Month began in Chicago during the summer of 1915. Carter G. Woodson, an alumnus of the University of Chicago, found inspiration to start a month dedicated to Black history in some pro-African American exhibits in a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of the emancipation of slavery. At this convention, Woodson was inspired to create an organization that promoted the study of Black history and life. Later that same year, Woodson and four other friends founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). In 1920, Woodson began to urge Black organizations to promote the Black achievements and also hoped that other Black individuals would publish their discoveries in “The Journal of Negro History,” which he started publishing in 1916. His fraternity brothers created the “Negro History and Achievement Week” which was later renamed “Negro Achievement Week.” Woodson chose February as the month “Negro Achievement Week” took place because he wanted to recognize the birthdays two Americans who played a dynamic role in the shaping of Black history: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. By choosing these icons who had a major influence on Black history, he made it more likely that the event would be successful. Woodson believed Black history shouldn’t just be an affair that occurred for only one week. He urged schools to promote the education and awareness of Black history because he believed Americans deserved to learn about the history of Black people in America. Though Woodson died in 1950, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the celebration “Negro History Week” slowly started to transform into “Negro History Month” with the help of
cultural activist Fredrick H. Hammurabi. Finally, in 1976, roughly 50 years after its first celebration, the ASNLH utilized its influence to change “Negro History Week” into “Black History Month.” Since then, every American president has issued proclamations to support the celebration of Black History Month.
Forty-four years later, the celebration of Black history is just as vital as it was when Woodson was still alive. Black history is American history, and everyone should learn about the history of Black people and about the struggles and sacrifices the people before them had to make.
(Graphics/Kristen Quesada)
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Entertainment
Uproar: The Rise of Comedy Kayla Rubenstein | Asst. Online Editor pl226461@ahschool.com
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ith the benefits laughing invokes physically, emotionally and socially, it’s no wonder comedic shows and stand-up programs have risen in popularity. From Trevor Noah recounting a near-death experience he had with a snake to John Mulaney detailing his experience with President Bill Clinton, comedians provide anecdotes that inspire laughter and a break from reality. In recent years, comedy stand-up shows have gained more popularity, especially with the influence of platforms such as Netflix.
ports the trend. “Revenue for the comedy clubs industry has increased steadily over the past five years,” Rachel Hyland, an industry analyst for IBISWorld, said in an interview with Forbes Magazine. “While growth has been generally consistent from year to year, industry revenue increased 16.8% between 2013 and 2018 (an annual 3.1%).” What makes comedy so popular has to do with the impact laughter has. Laughter provides multiple health benefits, acting as a stress and pain reliever, immune system booster, blood pressure
Up from 2013 to 16.8% in 2018
Comedy Club Revenue in Recent Years 3.1% in 2013 Beginning in the sixth century BCE according to The John Hopkins University Press, comedy greatly influenced Greek theater. As time progressed, so did comedy, evolving to sitcoms like “The Office” to slapstick movies like “Airplane!” and sitcoms like “The Office.”” Now, many associate comedy with the stand–up routines both in person and on late night shows. While one can assume comedy has risen in popularity based on an increase of comedy specials on Netflix, an increase in revenue in comedy clubs sup-
reducer, brain stimulus and a workout. Yes, a workout; studies show that 10 to 15 minutes of laughing burns about 50 calories and works stomach muscles as they expand and contract with laughter. With multiple platforms offering comedy specials both in person and online, it’s easy to find one that fits what you’re looking for. Whether for 10 minutes or one hour, listening to comedy provides many benefits, contributing to its rise in popularity. After all, as the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine.
54+ stand-up comedians have won Emmys 12 Peabody Awards in comedy in the past 20 years (Graphic/Bella Ramirez) (Photo/Yahoo and Comedy Central Press)
John Mulaney Age: 37 Emmy winner, SNL Writer “New in Town,’’ ‘‘Comeback Kid,’’ ‘‘Kid Gorgeous’’ and “Sack Lunch Bunch’’ on Netflix.
20 Entertainment
Trevor Noah Age: 35 Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.’’ ‘‘Son of Patricia,’’ ‘‘Afraid of the Dark,’’ ‘‘Lost in Translation,’’ and ‘‘Pay Back the Funny.’’
Obscura: UMI Maia Fernandez Baigun | Co-Editor-In-Chief pl212601@ahschool.com
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ierra Umi Wilson, better known as her stage name, UMI, grew up in Seattle and began writing songs at the mere age of 4 years old. She currently balances her musical career with attending the University of Southern California, yet she still releases new music every couple of months. Her first album, “Interlude,” was released in 2018 and has four songs. While this may seem like an abnormally small number of tracks for it to be considered an “album,” UMI has released more than 15 additional singles. Much of her style traces back to her nostalgic high school days, as she often sings about her love life and vulnerability. Her sultry melodies combine with her honest and innocent lyrics to create a blend of genres.
Her tracks have gained popularity through different social media platforms such as TikTok. Among them is one of her earlier tracks, “Highschool.” Released in 2019, this track embodies UMI’s whole persona. It reminisces about her youth and small moments that would later shape her adult life. “I was too young to know back then, so give me another chance again now that I’ve changed, I know that we’ll be better,” UMI sings. However, UMI does not only sing and write, but she also directs her own music videos. When asked why she takes on this aspect of her career in an interview with Bright Life magazine, UMI responded: “I love it because I get to be hands-on with my art and really curate the aesthetic I envision for myself.” Although now she has a creative team to help her with some of the producing, she
(Photo/The Cools)
hopes to continue directing her projects and hopefully work with other artists in the future. Currently, UMI has held concerts every now and then, but has no solid tours or upcoming concert dates. However, you can always check on her status on her social media @whoisumi.
Speculating Theories Disrespect star deaths Noor Sukkar | Staff Writer pl243541@ahschool.com
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apper Jarad Higgins, formerly known as Juice WRLD, became the latest addition to the list of rappers who died young. In the past few years, the rap industry has lost many stars in their prime age or the peak of their fame. The most notable names include XXXTentacion and Juice WRLD. Along with the unfortunate circumstances of their death comes the negative connotation of conspiracies. Fans and the public alike were quick to speculate about the deaths of several rappers on the list mentioned. X and Juice both received a lot of attention following their passing, debatably due to their song lyrics or the circumstances of their deaths that linked to their deaths somehow. According to NME magazine, it is suggested that the star may have faked his own death “to promote a new single possibly called: No Pulse,” in relation to his death. XXXTentacion (Photo/CNN)
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The magazine continued: “There has been speculation by some fans on social media that the rapper is still alive and faked his own death – despite official confirmation of his passing from authorities. One Twitter thread that has been widely shared points to a previous publicity stunt that saw XXXTentacion appear to fake his own suicide, before revealing that it was for a subsequent music video.” Even though officials verified the fact that the rapper died, fans still went out on a limb to create an alternative theory of what happened to X. In an effort to avoid confronting reality, these theories cross the line in an upsetting and inconsiderate way. Juice WRLD’s death was met with skepticism because his music foreshadowed it. In his song “Legends,” he raps, “What’s the 27 club, we ain’t making it past 21… All legends die young.” If that didn’t stir a response, then the Tik-
Tok trend where users act out fake seizures to his song “Lucid Dreams” served a stronger base for theories. Many believe the TikTok trend and his lyrics hinted to Juice’s death. Frankly, the hypothetical theories are just disrespectful. As eerie as these theories may seem, they only block the truth. “These conspiracy theories were so easy for some to grasp because the truth is much more difficult to accept,” Jemele Hill, staff writer for The Atlantic, stated. Wild theorists do what they do because the reality of the situation is too hard to face, but not accepting verified facts such as death only allows for insensitivity on these rappers’ names. If fans truly wanted these stars’ legacies to live on, they should accept the disheartening losses, let the dead rest in peace and allow their families and the public to respectfully mourn.
Juice WRLD (Photo/NME magazine)
The Best of
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Both Worlds Jack Shechtman | Assistant Sports Editor pl235751@ahschool.com
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utting time and effort into physically draining activities can have a toll on one’s body. Working out constantly and getting ready for multiple sports can start to be tiring and stressful, but this is just a day in the life of a multi-sport athlete. Overcoming the daily body aches and minor injuries, multi-sport athletes continue to perform because of their passion for the game. The Patriot sports teams have many athletes who contribute to more than one sports program. For example, defensive back in football and defenseman in lacrosse, junior Connor Maron has been playing sports at Heritage since his eighth grade year. Maron attributes his commitment solely to his love for sports. “It is really fun [to be in season year round]. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have a sport to play after school every day,” Maron said. “I’ve played multiple sports my whole life so I’ve never really
thought about playing just one sport.” A majority of Maron’s year is spent playing sports. He starts off the year in January entering the varsity lacrosse season as one of the team’s captains. The season ends between the middle of April and the middle of May, and, after just a short break, he gets right back at it and plays lacrosse with his travel team. Throughout the summer he plays travel lacrosse and starts conditioning with the varsity football team for the upcoming season. When school starts, he begins football and remains in season till the middle of December. After a short break, the cycle restarts as he enters back into lacrosse season.
STEP IN: Junior defenseman Connor Maron drop steps to get in position to stop his opponent from going to the goal. “One thing in specific is I try and bring out my physicality from the football field to the lacrosse field,” Maron said. (Photo/submitted by Connor Maron)
super bowl 2020: Impacting Everyone Bella Ramirez | Co-Assistant Editor pl237961@ahschool.com
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ore than 300 minority businesses in South Florida worked with the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee to ensure the first Super Bowl of the decade went smoothly. In May 2016, the NFL announced Miami as the host of Super Bowl LIV and in November 2018, businesses started taking steps toward preparing the Super Bowl. However, the influx of business and culture in South Florida does more than just get fans hyped. “Whenever the Super Bowl comes to town, local businesses always need to know how
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they can get involved, and how it benefits the community,” Rodney Barreto, chair of the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, said to NFL’s Live It Miami. The Miami Herald predicts the Superbowl is worth approximately $500 million and can save small businesses in South Florida from chain takeovers. The Super Bowl’s outreach program specifically targeted minority businesses for this boost. Considering 14% of businesses in South Florida are black-owned in comparison to the national 9%, the Super bowl may help save our business diversity statistics. This also helped boost our economy through the tourism industry. In 2012, visitors in Indianapolis Super Bowl spent
more than $295.2 million. With hot tourism spots such as Disney and Universal, tourists may decide to stay and spend longer, aiding our businesses. Beyond impacting business and tourism, Superbowl LIV is creating a new chapter in history books with coaches and wins. Katie Sowers, offensive assistant coach of the San Francisco 49ers, made history as the first woman and first openly lesbian woman to coach during the Super Bowl. After a star-studded half-time show with Jennifer Lopez, J. Balvin, Shakira and Bad Bunny, the Kansas City Chiefs won their first superbowl in 50 years 31-20.
No time to reSammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com
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oming off another season ending in the district finals in the 2019 season, Coach Chad Moore and the boys lacrosse team look to finally pave their path to state this year for the 2020 campaign. While the past few seasons, all of which ended in defeat, have left a bitter taste in many of the players’ and coaches’ mouths, much of the team believes there is reason for excitement moving forward. Although the current team, most of whom have remained with the team for a few years, hasn’t been able to win the title, many Patriots feel the extra motivation to bring a banner back to Plantation in their last year as a unit. “Two years ago, almost the entire starting lineup was made of freshmen and sophomores,” junior Jack Shechtman said. “Now all of us are juniors and seniors, and we have been playing together for years. This is our last chance to
win a state championship and we are all hungry to reach that goal.” As recent trips to the district finals have shown, the team’s aspirations for the upcoming year are anything but impossible. In fact, many of the players feel that only minor adjustments stand in their way of a title. “I think that the most important thing for us is to work on being unselfish and making smart plays,” senior Tucker Leo said. “If we can do that, I think we can beat any team in the state.” Time will tell whether or not the team succeeds in making the necessary improvements to its game, but, regardless, a potential road to state this season will prove different from those of past years. The Patriots will play in a new division this spring, one without their rival team St. Thomas Aquinas, which has been the cause of Heritage’s fall in the district finals each of the last four seasons. “Not hav-
ing St. Thomas in our district will help us as they were our only two losses last year,” Coach Moore said. “The state playoff system for lacrosse, which is unlike all other sports in the state, only allows the district winner to advance. Every other sport takes the top two teams.” With experience under their belt and extra motivation on their side to finish out their last year as collective unit with success, the Patriots are staying prepared for anything this upcoming and long-awaited season throws at them. “Our team has developed a great chemistry, as most of us have played together for the past three years,” junior Ethan Heim said. “We believe this is the best team that we have had since our time at Heritage and are looking forward to the upcoming season.” The Patriots kicked off their journey, Feb. 15, when they played host to St. Edward’s High School.
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(Photos submitted by Zak Bitar and Hunter Chang)
The New
Battling Ben Madison Lynn | Social Media Editor pl231251@ahschool.com
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(Photo submitted by Battling Ben)
attling Ben: Heritage’s school mascot, attends football games to bring school spirit and amuse the crowd. However, what is it like being the student behind the costume? This year’s mascot heard of the open position during the morning announcements and became interested by the challenge. “I love going to any type of sporting event, especially football, so I filled out the application answering why I was interested and what I would bring to the table,” she said. While the mascot considers herself very energetic and good with children, what really piqued her interest was the fact she could stand on the football field throughout the game, having a front seat to cheer on and watch the Patriot football team in action. She put on her costume and ran out onto the football field to take part
College Sports CoMmits Scan the Code for more on other commits Jack Shechtman | Staff Writer pl235751@ahschool.com
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enior Kelly Torres, third baseman and catcher, committed to Duke University for softball her junior year. She has helped the Patriots win two state championships since joining in seventh grade. “When I first started my recruiting process I was in search of a school with the best of both worlds,” Torres said. “Duke is one of the top academic programs in the nation and competes with the top D1 athletic programs. I look forward to being challenged not only on the field, but in the classroom as well.”
in their first game, the senior night football game Oct. 20. After her first appearance as mascot and watching clips of the Phillie Phanatic, the official mascot for the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team, she became more comfortable with walking through the crowd and acting out cheers during the game. “My favorite part of being the school mascot has to be either the mystery of it all, being out on the field or the interactions I have with people. The fact that no one knows who I am allows me to not get too nervous before games and really get crazy,” she said. Although this was her first year partaking in this role, the mascot said she thoroughly enjoyed it. “It was such an amazing experience being on the field and hearing the plays being called and feeling that energy,” she said. “I have never done anything like that in my life, and I’m ready for next season. I’ve got many more ideas I can’t wait to try out.”
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enior Lilly Graves, center back and state champion, made the commitment to continue playing soccer at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in her sophomore year. With offers from George Washington, University of Southern Florida (USF) and Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Graves chose UCF because it had something, “you can’t get at every college.” “I chose UCF not only for its high level of soccer but also the numerous opportunities and trainings it provides its athletes,” she said. “Additionally, what made the school stand out to me was the family atmosphere. The head coaches are a husband and wife duo and they really treat us as if we were all their kids which is something really special.”
26 Sports (Photo submitted by Kelly Torres and Lilly Graves)
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