The Panther 2022-23 Issue 7: Freedom on Wheels

PANTHERthe

Miami Palmetto Senior High School 7431 SW 120th St. Miami, FL 33156 Friday April 28, 2023

FEATURE

FREEDOM ON WHEELS

Whether playing key roles in financial independence, socializing or simply as hobbies, these MPSH teenagers find their “freedom on wheels” in more ways than one. Obtaining their driver’s licenses have allowed these fast and furious Panthers to find community among other car enthusiasts, earn their own money and learn the ins-and-outs of having a car.

37TH ANNIVERSARY OF FBI SHOOTOUT

On April 11, 1986, FBI agents engaged in a shootout against two serial criminals in Pinecrest, FL.. Referred to as one of the FBI’s deadliest shootouts in history, two agents were killed while five agents sustained serious injuries.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo altered findings in a study on COVID-19; his revisions stated that some doses of the COVID-19 vaccine posed a high health risk for young men, especially those from ages 18-39. Ladapo’s changes state that risks of cardiac death are more severe due to the vaccine than previously stated. This false information brought forward by the Surgeon General was later used to fuel negative opinions about the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Researchers have criticized Ladapo for changing the results of the study out of political, not scientific, concerns.

LIFE

THE LAST CLASS

Established in 1958, Miami Palmetto Senior High’s buildings stood high and strong, welcoming and shaping thousands of students into success. The buildings that cultivated prosperous and notable students left a legacy in the memories of many students.

naTIOnaL

LIFE ON POINTE SILENCING THE YOUTH

The elegance of ballet caught the eyes of many Miami Palmetto Senior High students at an early age. Outside of school, they all live a life within the mirrors and barres of their dance studio and in the grace of their pointe shoes.

Fox News settles a 787.5 million dollar suit with Dominion Voting Systems after the network spread accusations of the company rigging the voting machines against former President Donald Trump. Following the suit, Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson was relieved of his position at the network, Allegedly vulgar messages regarding a Fox executive and a Trump adviser were found during the Dominion lawsuit proceedings. The company subpoenaed internal messages from prominent names within Fox, one of them being Carlson himself.

TikTok is a place where millions of young people perform, explore dances and make their own creative videos for people all over the world to see.

Tense fighting in Sudan ensued as the military led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Group clashed over disputes of who will take power following the military coup. The coup began in 2019 and the deposition of former head of State Omar al-Bashir followed it. The fighting left at least 450 people dead and thousands injured. The United States government is considering different options to get Americans out of Sudan as over 16,000 are registered as being in the American embassy.

The 37th Anniversary of an FBI Shootout In Pinecrest

The 37th Anniversary of an FBI Shootout In Pinecrest

On April 11, 1986, FBI agents engaged in a shootout against two serial criminals in Pinecrest, FL.. Referred to as one of the FBI’s deadliest shootouts in history, two agents were killed while five agents sustained serious injuries. As Special Agent and supervisor of the squad, Gordon McNeill fought for his life and those in his squad, just a few blocks away, his daughter Suzanne Farwell (née McNeill) sat in the newspaper room at Miami Palmetto Senior High about to begin her day as Feature Editor on the newspaper. Upon entering the classroom, yearbook students who were out selling ads during the prior period began describing a shootout just a few blocks away.

In 1986, a series of bank robberies, armored cars ambushes and murders plagued the South Florida community. William Russell Matix and Michael Lee Platt would seek out solo target practice shooters in the Everglades, kill them, steal their cars and use them to carry out their crimes. To many, Matix and Platt appeared as unsuspecting local business partners who ran a landscaping business. They had even stopped by to shop in the mall along the back entrance of the shootout; Suniland South Shopping Center. Today, it contains MPSH students’ favorites like Pinecrest Bakery and Daily Bread; today only one store remains in the mall from when the shootout occurred: Mainzer’s Deli.

“At the time my mother-in-law, Inge, was at the hair salon here when it happened. They used to come in the shop and order sandwiches here. From what I understood, they were very nice,” Owner of Mainzer’s Deli Cheryl Oswald said.

While Matix and Platt kept evading the FBI, they had been following the stolen cars and planned to run plates along US1 to catch the criminals. On Apil 11, FBI Agents Benjamin Grogan and Jerry Dove spotted a stolen black Chevrolet Monte Carlo on US1 with the correct plate and radioed for backup from other agents in their unit: Edmundo Mireles Jr., John F. Hanlon Jr., Richard A. Manauzzi, Gilbert M. Orrantia and Gordon McNeill.

Following Grogan and Dove’s attempt to pull the car over, the criminals sped away. A car chase ensued on backstreets and the five other agents met on 82nd Ave, where the chase ended as three agents’ cars steered the Monte Carlo car into a tree, trapping Matix and Platt.

The two criminals opened fire and began a gunfight between them and the FBI, where over 150 shots were exchanged for over five minutes. At MPSH, Suzanne sat in math —her period before newspaper — hearing what she thought were fireworks because the window was open. Suzanne and the other students did not know that what they heard were not fireworks, but one of the bloodiest shootouts in FBI history.

“I’m sitting there (in newspaper class) and I knew, I figured out what happened. So I got up and I used the phone in the classroom to call the FBI office to ask or try to get my dad on the phone. Then someone on the phone said they were sending an agent to come pick me up and I knew what had happened and I was just like ‘oh my god’,” Suzanne said.

Suzanne was taken to the hospital to see her father, yet this was not the first time Suzanne saw her father that day. Just a few hours before, they had conversed at home before his morning stakeout.

“It was the ‘80s so we wore skin-tight pants and sometime in first period, I split my pants. I literally split my pants and I had to go home and change. And so when I got home, it was strange because [my father] was home and normally he would be gone by then in the office. I said ‘what are you doing’ and [he] told me because I knew about the case…he was keeping me and my family up to date on the whole case. My dad said ‘well it’s a Friday and they always have hit on Fridays and they always hit before noon. So we’re going to go and we’re going to meet at this one bank on US1,” Suzanne said.

As the supervisor of the squad, Gordon had initially planned on delegating banks for different officers to surveil. He told Suzanne the plan and she began making her way back to MPSH with new pants.

“So he told me all this and I said ‘okay’ and as I was walking out the door I said ‘don’t get shot!’ It sounds so cheesy and it did end up looking cheesy in the movie they made (about the shootout) but…I had just seen him so I knew what he was doing; he had just told me 45 minutes before so I knew something had gone terribly wrong,” Suzanne said.

At the shootout, Gordon shot Matix — which played a key role in apprehending the criminals before they died — yet he was injured in the process. After being airlifted to the hospital, doctors found bullets through Gordon’s spine paralyzing him from the waist down. It took about one year for Gordon to relearn how to walk and continued to have long-term damage resulting from his injuries. As for the other agents on the scene; Manauzzi received serious wounds, Orrantia and Risner were pinned in their car on the other side of the street wounding Orrantia and Mireles and John Hanlon suffered injuries as they came under high- powered fire. Agents Grogan and Dove fired at the criminals in close range; both agents were tragically killed.

“It was so sad because the two men who died, Jerry Dove, was like 30… He was the youngest agent on the squad and then Ben Grogan was about to retire. It was just so sad and tragic. After my dad recovered, he went on to become a pretty requested speaker to different law agencies, police organizations, companies and people who were interested in hearing the story. I think that was kind of healing for him for dealing with the tragedy of the whole thing,” Suzanne said.

Many of the FBI agents involved underwent serious injuries and struggled to fight since they were outgunned. According to Suzanne, Agent Mireles saved her fathers life as he swung his uninjured arm to shoot the criminals before they could run Gordon over in Grogan and Dove’s car. According to Suzanne, her parents threw Mireles a party after he recovered as an expression of gratitude for saving her father’s life.

Following a tragedy, The FBI has an Incident Response Team that studies positive or negative incidents to look at what they could do better in the future. While reviewing the case, the FBI determined that their agents had inadequate weapons to match the caliber of guns that the criminals possessed. The shootout served as a catalyst for the FBI to re-evaluate their weaponry and update their protocol.

Manuel Ortega, a now retired FBI agent, joined the squad involved in the shootout six months after it happened. With two agents dead and some injured, the squad needed someone to step in for the job. Soon after joining the ranks, Ortega witnessed the FBI’s implementation of new protocols.

“After the shootout, they determined that revolvers were not the way to go. And when I first came out of the Academy, I was issued a 357 Magnum revolver. And then a couple of years afterwards, I was transitioned into a semi-automatic pistol, as an outcome of what we learned from that shoot out in Miami-Dade,” Ortega said.

In the movie of the shootout, “In The Line of Duty: The FBI Murders,” it depicts the agents stopping to reload the chamber after each round while the criminals consistently shot with semiautomatic weapons.

“I’m really happy and proud about [the new protocol] and given the caliber of weapons that most of these criminals have,

in order for law enforcement to have a fair chance to protect the community and themselves, they have to have proper weapons that can compete with the criminals. I’m happy and I know my dad was proud of how it impacted that aspect of guns for law enforcement,” Suzanne said.

In the beginning of joining the squad, Ortega witnessed some of the impacts the shootout brought to the men.

“It was sad because Gordo (Gordon) was still walking around… you could see in his step he couldn’t walk very well. Ed Mireles, since he had had his arm almost destroyed, he had administrative duties; he was on the night shift radio. And all new agents had to be trained on the radio by him, so I got to know him very well,” Ortega said. “Terry Nelson was still on the squad and most of the guys that had survived… Most of the guys were still on the same squad. So it’s something we talked about, but really didn’t talk about much.”

In April 2015, the FBI Miami Field Office and U.S. General Services Administration officially named its FBI Miami headquarters the ‘Benjamin P. Grogan and Jerry L. Dove Federal Building.’ Former President Barack Obama signed the legislation designating the building and former FBI Director James B. Comey attended the grand opening.

While many do not frequently visit the FBI headquarters, the common side street in Pinecrest remains a local cut through to this day. Citizens remember the history of that road 37 years later.

“It was quite traumatic at the time but out of bad things, good things always arise. The love and support that I got from people and the way that it made that impact on law enforcement weapons and just [my father’s] heroism that day… I am very proud of him and what he did that day and how he and all of them put themselves on the line with their lives, and two of them paid the ultimate price. I do feel proud and consider him and all of them that day a hero,” Suzanne said.

Samantha Elkins Print Co-Editor-in-Chief

s.elkins.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY EMILIA HAUS

DESIGN BY LUNA GARCIA

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC 6 SOUTH FLORIDA

Construction to Continue At Site of Ancient Tequesta Town

On April 5, the City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board gave permission to developers to continue construction at the site of the ruins of an ancient town in Brickell. The town belonged to members of the Tequesta tribe of South Florida. The site is thousands of years old, leading to calls from archaeologists and members of the Native American community to preserve the land.

The decision by the Preservation Board means that the Related Group, the developer in question, will resume the construction of three towers at the site. University of Florida Assistant Professor of Anthropology who specializes in archaeology, Daniel Contreras, says though discoveries made at construction sites like the one in Brickell are commonplace , the significance of each site should be considered.

“It’s fairly common that archaeological sites are found this way. It’s frustrating for the archaeologists, and we usually see it as our role to advocate for more attention to the archaeological materials at risk. That’s not to say that those are all that matter — no one is arguing that there should be no more construction at all — but as archaeologists, we often find ourselves in the position of making the point that the potential importance of archaeological sites should be taken into account,” Contreras said.

The site is adjacent to the Miami Circle National Historic Landmark, discovered in the late 1990’s. According to the University of Miami Associate Professor and Chair of the Anthropology Department William Pestle Ph.D., the Miami Circle and the newly discovered archeological site are part of the same ancient town. Dr. Pestle says the reason why the circle was preserved and not the newly discovered site comes down to the public pressure to preserve the Miami Circle after its discovery.

“The public’s attention was captured by the Miami Circle, and so politicians took action. I’m hoping that we can mobilize the same sort of reaction for the site that is currently being excavated,” Pestle said.

Pestle attended an April 4 meeting of the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board to advocate for the preservation of the site.

“When I became aware that this portion of the site was being excavated and the amount of material that was coming out, we’ve had about a million artifacts already that have come out, I became concerned that unless there was a public pressure campaign and unless the city took some sort of action, that we might lose the opportunity to preserve some portion of the site and that we might lose the opportunity to really study thoroughly, the millions and hundreds of 1000s if not a million artifacts that have already come out of the site,” Pestle said.

Pestle says that the Preservation Board’s decision was partly influenced by money and politics instead of historical significance.

“Let’s just say that, you know, the developers and the city have millions and billions of reasons to push ahead with development, and it’s hard to put a dollar value on the past. So, when the city is weighing out the relative value of millions of dollars, many new housing units, lots of jobs, the growth of the city on the one hand - which you can put dollar values onand the past on the other - which doesn’t have a dollar value assigned to it,” Pestle said.

Experts say that Miami can expect more discoveries like the one in question. According to University of Miami Professor of Archaeology Traci Arden, downtown Miami is located in the same area the Tequesta used to occupy.

“The entire downtown has prehistoric remains underneath it pretty much, at least everything along the river. So yes, there’s lots more material like that to be found,” Arden said.

Despite failing to preserve the entire site, archaeologists and activists remain hopeful that some portion of the site can be conserved. The Board’s decision opens the door for a plot of land that has not undergone excavation to receive some protection.

“They voted to continue in the process that could lead to protection of a portion of the site that hasn’t been excavated yet, and so I felt like that was a positive step. And I think there’s a lot of work ahead of us to see that that is realized,” Pestle said.

d.perodin.thepanther@gmail.com

Staff Writer

DESIGN BY LUNA GARCIA PHOTO COURTESY OF CNN

Daniel Perodin

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATIAS J. OCNER

An Effort to Compost Within the Community: Pinecrest’s Composting Pilot Program

In an effort to create a dent in the issue of food waste, with the ideal effect benefitting Biscayne Bay and the South Florida environment, the composting project within Pinecrest is the newest environmental initiative in the community.

Initially brought forward by Councilmember Shannon del Prado and officially began in March, the project aims to influence residents to collect materials such as leftover foods, soiled paper and cardboard to contribute to the production of compost in order to curb the amount of food waste within Pinecrest and to create sustainable soil for local flora.

“Composting is something that is dear to my heart because my daughters are always talking about it and frankly I tried composting and it’s not easy…it really is kind of a science,” Pinecrest Councilmember, Shannon del Prado said. “I started asking around and I learned about a group called Fertile Earth.”

Fertile Earth, founded by Dr. Lanette Sobel in 2011, was started after a trip to Miami in 2009 in which it was found that hotels create over one ton of “organic” waste. The discovery of chemical fertilizers running off into water sources prompted Sobel to create a solution that maintains sustainability for the future. Additionally, during her time in sustainability consulting for the hospitality industry, she discovered the massive effect of food waste on the ecosystem and further planted her forethought of wishing for a better future for the environment.

“Its essentially our effort to participate in recycling and the compost of course reduces the need to use fertilizers, Fertile Earth sells composting product at the farmer’s market which you can buy, it’s very reasonable but, nonetheless you can go and leave your food scraps for free and then they come by and they pick them up during the week and

they create compost, and so it’s just an effort to be good stewards of the Earth,” del Prado said.

In collaboration with Fertile Earth, The City of Pinecrest has organized a composting project in order to create a more sustainable future for Biscayne Bay and the health of wildlife within the community and beyond.

“We did not inherit the Earth from our parents, rather we are borrowing it from future generations, and just like anything we borrow, we have a duty to safeguard it. And so I kind of see it as our little starfish, one little thing our community can do collectively to lessen the burden on the bay and improve the community we live in,” del Prado said.

Employees of Fertile Earth advocate for the cause that is extremely important to them at the Pinecrest Gardens’ farmer’s market every sunday.

“It came from the earth, it should go back to the earth, not the landfills,” Fertile Earth truck driver Paul DeJesus said.

The initiative was posted on March 13 to the Village of Pinecrest website in order to inform residents about the project and has seen positive results thus far, as every Sunday for the last four weeks at the Pinecrest Farmers Market at Pinecrest Gardens, residents can contribute their collected to a communal bin. Additionally, throughout the week residents can contribute to communal bins near Whilden Hall, between Pinecrest Gardens and The Pinecrest community center.

“It’s part of our city’s tradition to find ways to be a little more green, a little less harmful to the bay, a little more kind to the planet,” Vice Mayor of Pinecrest, Anna Hochkammer said. “So over the years each one of the council members has picked up the baton in different ways and carried it different ways with different initiatives… but it’s definitely about giving people the opportunity to do the things that they know are good for the environment, rather than

JUST 27% OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAVE ACCESS TO COMPOSTING PROGRAMS

just talk about it.”

According to the World Wildlife Foundation, humans “waste 40 percent of the food we produce” and consequently contributes to 10 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions on the planet, as stated in an article on the foundations website, inferring that the utilization of food waste in the United States for fertilizer alone would positively impact the wellbeing of the environment.

“I think we really desperately need to understand that the things that we are doing in our yards and in the grass medians in our parking lots, in our agricultural lands down in South Dade, have traditionally done a huge amount of damage to Biscayne Bay and to the quality of the water in the Biscayne aquifer,” Hochkammer said. “If we don’t as individuals make a commitment to do something to decrease the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that is pouring into Biscayne Bay and into the aquifer that we’re going to essentially be facing an existential threat in south florida and we’re really right there with Biscayne Bay. So composting fits into that larger conversation.”

The challenge presented remains as the rapidly increasing demand for food, according to the Harvard Business Review, the demand for food is expected to increase anywhere from 58% to 98% by the year 2050.

The passion brought forward by everyone working on the composting project is hopeful to create a snowball effect through South Florida, as residents will pick up the sustainable call to action and take the first steps into a more optimistic future for the environment.

Michael Angee Life Editor

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The old The old

The Last

Established in 1958, Miami Palmetto Senior High’s buildings stood high and strong, welcoming and shaping thousands of students into success. The buildings that cultivated prosperous and notable students left a legacy in the memories of many students. But with time, MPSH’s original buildings, which witnessed students transition into new chapters of their lives, aged as well. After 62 years, the time came for MPSH to experience a new, refreshing change.

“My metaphor would be, the old Palmetto was like an old pair of Reeboks. They felt comfortable but they didn’t really give you the support we needed. When we moved to the new building, all of the sudden you got a new pair that felt a little tight maybe, and had to get adjusted to, but you knew you were in a better pair of shoes. You guys are so much better off in a new building,” retired CAP Advisor Harry Nereberg said. “The memories are still going to be the same memories made. It’s all gonna still be the same; you’re just gonna have a different place that you hung out, a different place that you met your first boyfriend or girlfriend, the room where you had the best teacher you ever had before, where you got asked for prom, things like that. It’s

all the same, it’s just gonna be in a different spot.”

During January of 2020, MPSH began a renovation of the school, creating a brand new environment for students and staff alike. Yet, a sense of nostalgia lingered, especially for the class of 2023, who saw the “old” MPSH become the “new” MPSH.

Today, seniors still reminisce about the “old” MPSH and the comforting feeling that it fostered. The old buildings had areas and memories that felt special to many students, such as the interconnected buildings or the greenery and nature surrounding the campus, giving MPSH the old high school feel.

“There’s definitely this idea that the brick was very homey, like the way that the vines were growing on everything. It was very old and comforting, and like that the [new] white might be a little dry, but I don’t think that’s true. I just think that like now Palmetto has changed and our attitude toward Palmetto should also change. So I think like, well, we’ll be walking into the big entrance and it will still be home. It’ll just be like a bigger home with more opportunities,” MPSH senior Diego Espinosa said.

The class of 2023 and MPSH staff will always cherish the old

and New: and New:

Class....

buildings in which they made memories, but a sense of eagerness arose to come back to a new and improved school.

“It was so exciting when we came back that first day after Christmas break. We were walking into the new building and everybody [was] taking pictures on 120th St. That was one of the most exciting moments of my career,” Nerenberg said.

On the last day before excavators tore the red-bricked entrance of the school alongside all the other classrooms, cafeteria and auditorium, MPSH students and staff decided to leave their final goodbye. Throughout the day, the staff allowed students to pour out their creativity by drawing on the walls. Students took this freedom and ran with it. They wrote their names across the walls that meant the most to them and drew whatever they could in the little time left.

“I think [my favorite memory] probably was when we wrote down our names and wrote messages. I feel like it was on a lot of social media, just the way that people were like, our schools getting torn down, and we get to write stuff on the walls…it really kind of drew close to what we were doing…like even Jeff Bezos went to school in those buildings. So the fact that we were going to be the ones to close that off was pretty special, and it was a core memory,” Espinosa said.

The sudden switch to new buildings and improved classrooms held a different ambiance, making students feel as if they were in an entirely different campus; but these renovations motivated students, solidifying the bonds between MPSH students and staff alike. Old MPSH buildings held precious memories for many, but the transition into the new buildings presented various opportunities for students, showing how the Panther spirit remains no matter which buildings and hallways MPSH students walk through.

“With the new building, the fact that everything was brand new, nobody has experienced it before, it felt very different, but I feel like the old building, all the classes before us had been in that building, and every single alumni class had been in that building,” MPSH Senior and TVP member Sebastian Soto said. “So, we definitely felt more tied to Palmetto versus to when we came to the new building, it felt like we were in a different school completely. The old building made it more sentimental and it made us stronger as a Panther community.”

As the last class to have walked through the original MPSH buildings, the class of 2023 will be the last class to earn a diploma with a picture of the old entrance on 118th St., symbolizing the end of the “old” MPSH and the beginning of a new era for younger students.

Within the borders, the legacy behind being a Panther who walked into the school from the main entrance on 118th St. now remains a fond memory.

“When I walk down 118th St., I still feel the flavor of the old building. The old building and the new building are just like cars. You could have a brand new one or a really old one, but it will get you where you need to go. Palmetto got so many people where they needed to go…it doesn’t matter about the building, it matters about the kids, and the character, and the teachers, and the leaders,” Nerenberg said.

These buildings serve as a true testament to MPSH’s past. They hold a plethora of memories for past classes, teachers and students.

Ivy Lagarto Design Editor i.lagarto.thepanther@gmail.com

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the PANTHER APRIL COLUMN

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THE MONTH

Dear Miami Palmetto Senior High Bell System,

I wanted to express my appreciation to you and your pleasant timeliness. The fact that you do not ring at the correct time is nothing short of splendid; after all, I love the late dismissals from my classes because it makes me late to the following class. It is so considerate of you to ring your bells in the middle of a period while I am hyperfocusing on an important test. I understand that you went off schedule because of daylight savings time and I could not feel more gratitude that you stuck with the change even after daylight savings ended. The random ringing always keeps me on my toes — or given how it interrupts me in class, it keeps me awake throughout lessons or tests. You give MPSH a unique twist, every other school’s bells are aligned with their schedule; however, you are a free-thinker and a paver of your own path. The inaccuracy of the bells changed my life for the better. For one thing, I got so much better at telling time. Thank you for everything; the bell system makes me proud to be a Panther. The bell system embodies the main element of a student’s everyday life at MPSH — turbulent. I will always appreciate the way that you are, thank you— for being you.

Sofia Taddeo-Goldstein Opinion Editor s.taddeogoldstein.thepanther@gmail.com

PALMETTO’S FAST AND FURIOUS

Whether playing key roles in financial independence, socializing or simply as hobbies, these MPSH teenagers find their “freedom on wheels” in more ways than one. Obtaining their driver’s licenses have allowed these fast and furious Panthers to find community among other car enthusiasts, earn their own money and learn the ins-and-outs of having a car.

On a November afternoon, a 1976 Pontiac Firebird TransAm pulls into the Flanigan’s parking lot off of Bird Road. The driver, dreaming of short ribs, curly fries, coleslaw and soda, minds his business as he prepares to place an order and wait in line for a table. All of a sudden, his head turns: an older woman calls out from behind him, “Hey! I lost my virginity in that car!”

Miami Palmetto Senior High school junior Logan Shapiro laughs off the woman’s comment, having grown accustomed to the casual thumbs up from other drivers on the road, shoutouts on his way to baseball practice, stares from his peers and compliments from his fellow vintage car enthusiasts. Shapiro’s passion for the

classic car community stemmed from a childhood love for all things engines and cars.

“It sounds a little weird, but I’m in a bunch of group chats where all they talk about are cars and if anyone needs anything; there’s always someone in the group chat that can supply. With learning about cars, you can basically learn about all engines in general. When I was 14, I rebuilt a boat engine, and that kind of translated over to the car, because once you figure out the basics for that, you can do anything,” Shapiro said.

One day, during the summer between his sophomore and junior year, MPSH junior Vance Schroeder woke up to see his dream car for sale: a 1967 Ford F-100. Schroeder hopelessly dreamed of the car, thinking he would never get it as his father was reluctant. But to his surprise, he found it in his driveway on a sunny July evening. Over time, Schroeder has learned the ropes of his old-but-new car.

“But now that I’ve been driving it for a while I’ve formed a weird sort of a bond with it because I’m the only person who knows how to start it and make sure the lights don’t blink and how to make sure the windshield wipers don’t stay up and keep it from stalling out...it’s kind of like only I know its secrets,” Schroeder said. “Plus, when I got to start it for the first time, I completely fell in love with the loud rumble of it and the old smell. Plus a guy as small as me driving a truck that huge is pretty funny. A match made in heaven. ”

Growing up surrounded by classic cars, MPSH senior Stevie Ricklick found her passion at the age of 15, when she first got her permit. Ricklick now owns a collection of classic cars and has become a talented car “fixer-upper,” alongside her dad.

“I got into cars when I was 15 and bought my first car, a 1967 Mustang, and redid it myself and still have [it]. After that, I bought a 1972 Volkswagen dune buggy that I redid as well. Just recently I bought a retired 1947 Chevy snow plow/dump truck that I’m in the middle of redoing,” Ricklick said.

Earning one’s license, which many consider a rite of passage, not only comes with freedom but comes with responsibility. For many students, their cars have become a vessel for opportunity: whether through getting a job, driving around for fun or relying on the vehicle for transportation to extracurriculars.

FREEDOM ON Wheels u

Having worked at the Target on 104 St. since the week he turned 16, MPSH senior Christopher Valle expresses a deep appreciation for having his own transportation to work, leaving school at 11:30 a.m. every day as part of the OJT program.

“[Having a car] is an idea of independence for me. So, now that I have my own power, I can get my stuff done quicker. I don’t have to rely on anybody else. Just for myself. Which is the idea that most people have nowadays,” Valle said.

For classic car enthusiasts, fixer-uppers, hard workers and everything in between, the ability to earn one’s license at the age of 16 prompts various changes in lifestyle and routine. Whether it be for casual transportation, collection, hobby or work, these teenagers have each earned their freedom on wheels.

“When you turn the car on, you can hear the sound of 1000 Bald Eagles screeching… it sounds like freedom,” Shapiro said.

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“Plus, when I got to start it for the first time, I completely fell in love with the loud rumble of it and the old smell. Plus a guy as small as me driving a truck that huge is pretty funny. A match made in heaven. ”

“When you turn the car on, you can hear the sound of 1000 Bald Eagles screeching…it sounds like freedom,”

- Vance Schroeder (11)

- Logan Shapiro (11)

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PHOTOS BY RYAN MCKEAN

PHOTOS BY EMILIA HAUS

It may take years of practice, but eventually, an athlete’s hard work pays off: the moment of commitment to their ideal college. Committing to college for a sport is not an easy feat and takes years of curating highlights and working on skills. For Miami Palmetto Senior High athletes, they play with their school team and with sports clubs with the final goal of playing at the collegiate level.

Multiple students at MPSH commit to a college for sports each year, with a lot of behind-the-scenes work others are not privy to. Players typically get recruiters attention through uploading online

Many start the recruiting process early in their high school career and later commit to a school in their senior year after visiting all their prospective options. In a student’s sophomore year, they will start signing up for the NCAA Eligibility Center. This essentially approves athletes for the recruitment process and makes sure their academics are up to date. College coaches are not allowed to reach out to high school students until the beginning of their junior year, so that is when the recruitment process starts in earnest. All the while, many athletes dream about going to a school they have supported from a

“My recruitment process started the summer of my junior year, and then I recently committed in February,” MPSH senior varsity football player

Justin Wood said. “I knew I wanted to go to college for my sport, the first time I put on a helmet and every practice I went to, I told myself ‘I want to do this for as long as I can.’”

Wood’s thoughts echo a common goal for many athletes. After years of dedication and hard work, those fortunate enough to receive multiple offers have a difficult decision to make. Countless components make up an athlete’s final decision, extending beyond a school’s athletic programs.

“I took a lot of visits to a bunch of different

Boston to continue his lacrosse journey.

The love for a sport often begins at home, watching one’s favorite team on television or at games. As a result, many athletes have their eye on a college that they have rooted for since they were young to finally live the childhood dream of playing for their team.

“I decided on [University of] Miami because it’s the team I grew up watching and grew up rooting for,” Wood said.

While athletes must put in time and effort to play at the collegiate level, the recruitment process cannot be done alone. Athletes require help from their community and coaches to hone their skills and for guidance throughout the recruitment process.

“My travel coach does a lot of the behind-the-scenes work; he invites a ton of coaches [to watch our games]. He knows a lot of us personally and knows what our goals are,” MPSH

“And then we take kids on college trips in the summer, we go and visit schools, we do camps. So I would say the head coach is probably the most integral part of a kid getting recruited,” MPSH teacher and head football coach Michael Manasco said.

Aside from the three athletes listed above, MPSH is home to countless other athletes recruited to play in college. Students are recruited from almost every sport to all different divisions.

Brooke Wilensky Copy Editor b.wilensky.thepanther@gmail.com

Maddie Volpe Multimedia Video Editor m.volpe.thepanther@gmail.com

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BY

IVY LAGARTO

PHOTOS TAKEN BY MATTHEW LEWIS, JUAN BAUZA, JORDAN KEUSCH AND DIANE FRANKLIN

senior and varsity softball player

Abigail Wylie

she plays for has strong academics, so her sure to keep this in mind. Next year she will be playing softball at Emory University.

“Emory kind of fit best with what I was looking for: a good academic school where I could play softball. I didn’t want to go somewhere for softball where my education wouldn’t be that

MPSH’s athletic staff is also heavily involved in the recruitment process. The coaches are the ones tasked with reaching out to schools and sending them an athlete’s film and transcript. They have a designated company film every game, so each athlete has access to

It was important to Wylie that the

Life On Pointe:

palmetto's ballerinas

The elegance of ballet caught the eyes of many Miami Palmetto Senior High students at an early age. Outside of school, they all live a life within the mirrors and barres of their dance studio and in the grace of their pointe shoes.

The unique skill of ballet requires discipline, commitment, practice and extensive dedication. Most ballerinas begin as young children and carry on their passion to advance their talents, living a majority of their lives at dance competitions and practicing new routines on a daily basis.

“I started [ballet] when I was threeyears-old. My mom put me in it and I really liked it and kept going with it,” MPSH junior and ballerina Sofia Portugal said. “It kind of takes my mind off of everything; it’s a way to get out of everything that’s going on in school.” Especially for youth, ballet practices more than just physical abilities. Ballet improves coordination, posture, range of motion and balance, while teaching discipline and endurance. Starting young allows a dancer to have the proper foundation and gain skills as they begin advancing their potential. Additionally, the technicality and abstract nature of ballet has a major influence on dancers, as the inspiration and organization extends beyond just the different steps of the choreography.

“I’d say [ballet is] different as compared to other styles [of dance] because well, first off, it’s a lot slower. There’s no words to [the] songs, it’s just classical music, and it’s not interpretive,”

MPSH junior and ballerina Alexandria Browne said. “Other styles of dance are more open to people’s interpretations, but ballet is all about technique. So it’s very specific, which is not like other styles of dance. And so I guess I chose [it] because it’s a

lot more organized.”

The emphasis of gracefulness and discipline surrounding ballet culture defines the form of dance. Many ballerinas spend their entire afternoons in a studio practicing for upcoming recitals and competitions. The amount of time spent at the studio leads to the formation of powerful relationships among their fellow ballerinas.

“We’re [currently] preparing for a show now, and we just spent last Saturday there for like six hours and we all take naps and eat together and it’s fun spending time with [the other dancers],” Portugal said. “We spend a lot of time with each other so we definitely have really, really close relationships, like even on days we don’t have dance we’re still together.”

Ballerinas dedicate hours to learning dances and practicing pointe, leading to decreased time spent for completing schoolwork and other activities. Many find themselves cramming time in between breaks or late at night after practice to do all of their unfinished assignments, leading to late nights and fatigue.

“Getting burnt out is definitely one of [the hardships I’ve faced in ballet] because you have to work like six out of seven days. I’m usually at the studio for five to six hours a day, so that’s a lot. And then on top of school, it’s easy to get burnt out,” Browne said. “Dancing for so many years, and then having to decide if you want to do a career or not, it’s kind of a whole lot.”

Despite the difficulties, ballet has introduced these dancers to their passion, which they admire and demonstrate through hours of work. Ballet is based heavily on the amount of technique a dancer is equipped with. When ballerinas reach at least 11-yearsold, they will begin practicing with pointe shoes. This presents another level of challenges to dancers, as they must master balancing all their weight on their toes. As dancers become more accustomed to the shoes, they will begin doing partner work with other dancers. From jumps to leaps, and even lifting, ballet on pointe presents a unique flair in the dance world.

“When first advancing to pointe it felt like a whole new type of dance style. It took a long time to get used to dancing the style of ballet on different types of shoes,” Portugal said. “As much as dancing on pointe has become a natural way of dancing, there is a lot of pain that comes with it. After dancing for hours on pointe shoes it causes a lot of pain since you are literally dancing on your toes.”

According to ballet demographics, girls outnumber boys in ballet by a ratio of 20 to one. MPSH junior Alastair Page is one of those male ballerinas. Dancing since the age of 10, Page has found a passion for dance.

“I started dancing at age 10 when my sister was shy about starting ballet and wanted me to do it with her,” Page said.

For all dancers, dancing creates a community unlike others. Bonds made between fellow dancers and even their instructors, help encourage maximum effort among themselves. The positive relationships made in the studio carries from the dance floor to the spectators.

“Something I love about dance is performing in front of the community,” Page said. “What keeps me motivated to dance is helping the community.”

For some, their dedication for the art form has single-handedly fused its way into their daily lives. Beyond her regular practice time, Browne spends hours at her dance studio teaching others ballet. This has not

Sofia Strohmeier Copy Editor s.strohmeier.thepanther@gmail.com

Gabriella Alvarez Copy Editor g.alvarez.thepanther@gmail.com

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PHOTOS BY VALE ARIAS

FACEOFF: Can fans go too far?

no:

With social media’s continuous growth in popularity, celebrities have become the forefront of many people’s minds across the world. When scrolling through social media, many find themselves obsessing over specific celebrities unlike anyone before. Terms including “fangirl” or “superfan” describe this group of people who devote themselves to a singer, band, actor, etc. These terms often hold a bad reputation due to the mass media painting them as “obsessed,” but the truth behind a “superfan” is not an obsession over an artist; instead, it remains the complete dedication and idolization of someone who they see as a role model.

Some may underestimate the ultimate power fans hold. Take Taylor Swift’s fans for example: when Ticketmaster failed to provide millions with tickets they took matters into their own hands, ‘Swifties’ sued Ticketmaster for violating antitrust laws and unfair consumer laws. This demonstrates their authentic dedication to Swift, making right in a wrong situation and their ultimate desire to attend her show. Similarly, when Swift re-released her albums fans immediately backed her up, causing the new re-recorded albums to receive more streams than before.

The term “fan” often appears in the wrong light, which adds to the constant conflict sweeping the internet, specifically between fans arguing over this concept of being the “best” fan. Some characterize the “best” fan as someone who knows all the lyrics to an artist’s songs, or taking interest since day one, but being a fan does not come with a rulebook. Truly loving an artist or even just admiring a song makes someone a fan, which often gets misconstrued by the media. Of course, some “superfans” may go too far, but what about the fans that truly stand beside the artist? Those fans remain the true heart of the fanbase. Looking up to a celebrity should not have a label of shame, especially when that artist inspires millions of people. Anything can go too far, especially with social media, but artists would not have their celebrity status without fans, which demonstrates the immense impact they have on the world.

Ava Garcia Managing Editor a.garcia.thepanther@gmail.com

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YES:

Fandom culture provides a community for those who share adoration for a celebrity, athlete, influencer or other idols. “Fangirling” often serves as a form of momentary escapism, and while this creates a positive sense of belonging among fans, this adoration can turn into obsession.

These “die-hard” fans can form parasocial relationships with their idols, meaning one side exhausts energy into another individual while the other is utterly unaware of their existence or dedication. Fans may lose their sense of reality and the lines between admiration and reciprocated friendship are blurred. Because of the nature of these relationships, obsessive fans often overstep the boundaries of normal enthusiasm and breach the individual’s privacy.

The belief that a fan has a personal relationship with their idol often places celebrities in danger. Many celebrities have had their addresses leaked over the internet, and given access to their location, certain obsessive fans justify going to their homes. For these reasons, celebrities commonly have stalkers, because some fans have a false sense of personal connection to this individual.

Likewise, some fans feel the necessity to “protect” their favorite influencers, creating unnecessary conflict with others over the internet. For example, the recent social media debacle between Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber. People speculated that an Instagram post made by Bieber targeted Gomez, and her fans responded aggressively, attacking Bieber across several platforms and even sending death threats, dropping her following by thousands — all in Gomez’s defense.

Though Gomez’s fans may have justified their actions, ultimately both Gomez and Bieber spoke out about the situation, saying that the conflict arose out of thin air. Gomez expressed disappointment in her fans’ actions, disregarding one of her most prominent messages: spreading positivity and kindness.

With the popularity of cancel culture over social media, some fans feel as though they are required to police celebrities’ lives. Fans hold their idols to an unrealistic standard, ignoring the fact that they are human and make mistakes. While they may believe that they are morally doing the right thing, these actions ultimately perpetuate toxicity and hate.

Jasmine Judge Buisiness Editor j.judge.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTO BY MADELINE VOLPE

Silencing The Youth? The Banning of Tiktok’s Impact ON Politics

TikTok is a place where millions of young people perform, explore dances and make their own creative videos for anyone from all over the world to see. In past years, however, TikTok has become a prominent place for political activism and news to spread to its young audience. Although the service does not allow political ads, many political figures have used this app for campaigning and marketing through their own account. TikTok is currently owned by the Chinese-based company ByteDance, which has led some lawmakers to fear that U.S. data could be subject to handling by the Chinese government.

This fun and creative app is tailored to one’s different interests and is currently in talks of being banned for the second time. Back in 2020, former president Donald Trump’s administration first threatened it with a ban via executive order if it did not sell itself to a US-based company. Then, in June of 2021, President Joe Biden went on to sign an executive order revoking the Trump administration’s potential ban on TikTok and instead directing the Secretary of Commerce to see if the app poses a threat to national security.

As the primary audience and users of TikTok is Gen Z, the loss of this platform would make it significantly more difficult for young people to access political content and mobilize around political causes. According to a report done by the education advocacy organization Murmuration, the Walton Family Foundation and the public opinion firm SocialSphere, Gen Z mostly uses social media sources to access trending and current news. So, if TikTok were to be banned, this would lead to a decrease in political participation among young people who are unaware of any political news. Additionally, the banning of TikTok could send a message to young people that their voices and political expressions are not valued, which could further discourage their political engagement.

In recent years, TikTok has been used by various social and political movements to spread awareness and organize protests. For example, during the Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. in 2020, TikTok was used to share information about demonstrations, amplify the voices of Black activists and call for justice.

In the case of Tiktok being banned over national security concerns and the collection of user data by the Chinese government, the ban would effectively prevent Americans from using the app, thereby limiting their ability to engage in free media and free speech activities on the platform. If this

Ava Stuzin News Editor

a.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY PAULA ORTIZ

BY MADELINE VOLPE

global sensation is to be banned, what is next? Will all forms of global media then be at risk? The banning of TikTok is just a reason to limit Gen Z’s ability to access global news and spread activism. Therefore, a ban on TikTok that challenges the rights of Americans to express themselves would violate the First Amendment, which protects the basic freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or any American’s right to speak freely, among other rights.

The ban on TikTok would be a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and individualism. A person should be able to make the decision about what apps they want to have on their electronics and if they want to take the risk of exposing their data to Chinese organizations.

By restricting one’s media, the U.S. is simply trying to strip young people’s knowledge of activism and political freedom. If the ban on TikTok is to be set in place, that just shows that the U.S. is taking a step in the wrong direction and embodying the very values of an authoritarian nation.

PHOTO

PANTHER the

Samantha Elkins

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STAFF EDITORIAL

All around the U.S., students hear gunshots ring in dorms, classrooms, school bathrooms and all around their campuses. No one deserves to feel that fear, especially in a space that should ensure a safe learning environment. Even if one leaves unharmed or has no loved ones affected, it does not erase the trauma of the systemic pattern and endless cycle.

All decent people feel sorrow and righteous fury about the latest slaughter of innocent children in Tennessee. Just like every other school shooting that rises to the surface, law enforcement and intelligence agencies search for motivations, including the vital question of how the murderer might have been fueled to commit acts of domestic terrorism and leash havoc in an elementary school. That is right and proper.

However, motives do not matter to the parents of dead children in Tennessee, nor did they in Florida, Oregon, South Carolina, Michigan, Texas and far too many other places. The attention and anger of Americans should also be directed at the elected leaders whose job requires keeping us safe, but who instead place a higher premium on the money and political power of an industry dedicated to profiting from the unfettered spread of ever more powerful firearms.

It is a moral outrage and national disgrace that civilians can legally purchase weapons designed specifically to kill people with brutal speed and efficiency. These are weapons of war, barely modified and deliberately marketed as tools of macho vigilantism and even insurrection. America’s elected leaders offer prayers for gun victims and then, callously and without fear of consequence, reject the most basic restrictions on weapons of mass killing.

As per the Gun Violence Archive — a nonprofit research database — with the Nashville school attack, more than 130 mass shootings have occurred across the U.S. so far this year. In each of the past three years, there have been over 600 mass shootings, almost two every single day on average.

Opponents of gun control declare, as they do after every school shooting, that no law can unfailingly forestall a specific criminal. That is true. They speak, often with sincerity, about the constitutional challenges to effective gun regulation. Those challenges exist. They point out that determined killers obtained weapons illegally in places like France, England and Norway that have strict gun laws.

Amy-Grace Shapiro

Online Editor-In-Chief

a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.com

MISSON STATEMENT

The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about school-wide, local, national, and international news. The Panther’s content aims to represent the student body. Editorials feature the opinions of staffers. Features of other students, teachers and clubs further promote the spirit, culture and personality of Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7431 SW 120th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 1124. The views expressed are solely those of The Panther staff. Students who wish to respond to an article in this publication or discuss another issue may write letters to the editor and submit them to room 1237 or e-mail us at s.elkins. thepanther@gmail.com and/or a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.comThe Panther has professional membership in NSPA and CSPA. The Panther prints 1,400 copies per issue for distribution. The Panther is distributed for free to all students in school. Please visit our paper online at thepalmettopanther.com.

BYLINE POLICY:

All creative work (such as illustrations, graphics, photos and writing) excluding staff editorials and staff member pictures will include byline credits.

CORRECTION POLICY:

Any errors in print will be acknowledged in the next print issue in a correction box. Any errors online will be acknowledged immediately. Errors include facts, figures, misquoting and name misspellings.

ADVERTISING POLICY:

Ads will be designed by the advertiser and include all information the advertiser wants included. If the advertiser asks the staff to design the ad, the individual who sold the ad will design the ad or the Ads Manager will. Ads will be approved by EICs, the Advisor and the Ads Manager. If an ad produced is illegible, contains false information, or the advertiser does not like it, they will receive a free ad in the next issue. If you would like to advertise, please contact us.

The School Board shall comply with all Federal Laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. The Board will enforce its prohibition against discrimination/harassment based on sex, race, color, ethnic, or national origin, religion, marital status, disability, age, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, social and family background, linguistic preference, pregnancy and any other basis prohibited by law. The Board shall maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of discrimination/harassment, which includes Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct such as unwelcome touching, graphic verbal comments, sexual jokes, slurs, gestures or pictures. All students, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of prohibited discrimination or harassment against students by employees, other students and their parents or guardians, or third parties. This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment at all School District operations, programs, and activities on school property, or at another location if it occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.