The Panther 2020-21 Issue 6: The Climate Crisis

PANTHER

the

V 63|N6

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7431 SW 120th St, Pinecrest, FL 33156

Friday 30 April 2021

THE CLIMATE CRISIS THE CLIMATE CRISIS THE CLIMATE CRISIS

APRILcontents NEWS

04

RISE IN HATE CRIMES TOWARDS MINORITIES

06 LIFE

DOCUMENTING FOOD INSECURITY

09 FEATURE

MIAMI AND CLIMATE CHANGE

13 SPORTS

PALMETTO’S BADMINTON TEAM

OPINION

15 FACEOFF: BLOCK SCHEDULE OR REGULAR SCHEDULE

COVER

ON

STAFF

Editor-In-Chief

THE

Nicole Markus

Print Editor-In-Chief Jane Heise

Online Editor-In-Chief Jack Meyer

The cover picture depicts the coastal flooding that occurs in Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables, Florida. The image shows a flooded parking lot inundated by King tide flooding in the morning.

Managing Editor Kate Stuzin

Senior Copy Editor Priscilla Bermudez

Senior Design Editor Sydney Campbell

TWITTER

@thepantherpaper

follow us INSTAGRAM

@thepantherpaper

WEBSITE

Sports Editor

National

After the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution was temporarily put on hold due to concerns of rare blood clots developing after the shot, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended that states begin redistributing the vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has faced multiple complications since its rollout began, with approximately 15 million shots accidentally being ruined due to human error at a vaccine plant.

As of Apr. 28, there have been 17 cases of blood clots reported, primarily in middle-aged women, with over 8 million Americans having received the shot. Business Insider reporters that 41% of Americans see the J&J shot as “very or somewhat unsafe”.

j.meyer.thepanther@gmail.com

Katriona Page

Allison Gould

California governor Gavin Newsom will have to face a vote of confidence later this year after a petition for a special recall election succeeded. The Republican-led petition collected more than 1,495,709 signatures, which surpassed the necessary threshold of 12% of ballots cast in the last gubernatorial election to trigger a recall. Newsom, who claimed the recall would “threaten our values and seek to undo the important progress we’ve made”, has faced heavy criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including an incident last November where Newsom was seen attending a large indoor gathering, thus violating his state’s own COVID-19 guidelines.

Online Editor-in-Chief

Ana Martinez

Contents Editor Life Editor

The Centner Academy, a private school in South Florida, has banned teachers from coming into contact with students if they receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The school has cited since-debunked reports that the vaccines cause reproductive issues for women. One of the school’s co-founders, Leila Centner, gave teachers who plan to receive the vaccine three options: inform the school if they had already been vaccinated and stay away from the students, let the school know if they get the vaccine before the end of the school year or wait until the school year ends to get vaccinated and see if the school will allow them to return. Regardless, teachers would have to remain away from their students and would effectively lose their jobs.

Jack Meyer

Sofia Vinueza

Feature Editor

Julia Strasius

news briefs

International

Valentina Caceres

Business Manager

News Editor

www.thepalmettopanther.com

Local

Senior Multimedia Editor

Bella Martin

Opinion Editor Jacob Grindstaff

Multimedia

Camilla Bondy Isabel Lopez Isabella Hewitt Amy-Grace Shapiro Samantha Elkins Valentina Arias

Copy Team

Cristele Moztarzadeh Angelina Astic Kate Markus Katriona Page

Design Team

Gianna Hutton Ana Martinez Julia Strasius Ella Pedroso Michael Angee

Staff Writers

Tomas Curcio Luca Rodriguez

Adviser

Laura Aviles

04| NEWS

Minorities in America:

The Climb in Prejudice Against Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups in the United States America’s population consists of many individuals from a range of ethnic and racial backgrounds. Miami Palmetto Senior High School, a microcosm of the nation, reflects a similar level of diversity. Yet, even with an abundance of racial and ethnic groups represented in the U.S. population, there remains a systemic issue of oppression that minority groups face, resulting in some cases, discrimination, prejudice and even hate crimes.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation defines a hate crime as a criminal offense that is motivated by opposition to race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity. In recent years, the country has seen an increase in these motivated crimes, as well as prejudice towards racial and ethnic groups.

In 2019, reports from the Department of Justice show 8,559 Americans were victims of single-bias hate crimes, meaning that the offender had a singular motive for acting violently while 260 were victims of multiplebias hate crimes. Of the single-bias cases, a race, ethnicity or ancestry bias was the cause of 57.6% of them. This set of data is solely based on reported hate crimes, indicating that the number is potentially higher.

Compared to the Department of Justice’s 2015 data, the number of single-bias hate crimes rose by over 1,700 in 2019, reflecting an overall increase. While reported hate crimes amount to an extremely high number, the open bigotry that ethnic and racial minority groups face daily has also been

rapidly growing.

Jerika Richardson, the Senior Vice President for Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives at the National Urban League, is a vocal advocate for minority groups in America and leads the organization in their justice-related initiatives. Throughout her career, which has focused on equity in the United States, Richardson has studied and responded to the discrimination that individuals face.

“I think while people have harbored prejudices, and we would see these incidents popping up from time to time, I definitely think the increase in that rhetoric and, quite frankly, hate speech that went with it, by groups that may have been attracted to some of that rhetoric really just has emboldened people,” Richardson said.

Most recently, this rise in hate crimes is accompanied by a spike in enmity towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

According to a 2020 study conducted by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism, occurrences of Asian American hate crimes increased by 149% from 2019 to 2020. Crimes and prejudice targeting the AAPI community were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with attackers sharing the view that all Asian Americans are directly connected to the spread of the virus. With the former presidential administration blaming China for the pandemic, this message became indoctrinated in many Americans, thus causing them to react violently.

Prior to the eruption of blatant crimes towards the AAPI community, subtle forms of discrimination cultivated within society.

Miami Palmetto Senior High Student and Asian American P a u l Yan has

experienced bigotry as a member of the community.

“I haven’t experienced outright racism, but definitely microaggressions,” Yan said. “When my family and I went out last February, in the beginning of COVID, people would be like, ‘Oh, where’s your mask?’ before people wore them in America.”

Single-bias anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination throughout the past year have gained national attention, along with a rise of international attention towards the racism that the Black community faces.

The 2017 Charlottesville rallies and, more recently, the death of George Floyd helped the nation realize the level of hatred that the Black community faces. The FBI found that in 2019, 48.6% of hate crime victims were targeted due to an anti-Black or African American bias, demonstrating the extent to which the Black community is impacted.

While race acts as a large motivator for many offenders, a person’s ethnicity also drives hatred, which could potentially accumulate and result in a violent release.

The Jewish community in the United States has faced hate crimes for decades, and in recent years, the number of instances of anti-Semitic acts has increased. A study carried out by the Anti-Defamation League in 2019 reported over 2,100 anti-Semitic incidents, including hate crimes and more minor forms of bigotry.

Another minority group that constantly experiences oppression and frequently becomes the target of hate crimes is the Latino community. The El Paso Shooting in 2019 was an ethnic-bias hate crime, with the offender admitting to holding racist beliefs about Mexican Americans.

“There are no closed doors anymore,” Richardson said. “And I think those prejudices have done more than just bubbled to the surface, they’ve kind of exploded.”

Allison Gould Life Editor

a.gould.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY ANA MARTINEZ

LIMITING local legislature:

NEWS |05

ENERGY PREEMPTION BILLS IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WOULD RESTRICT MUNICIPALITIES’ ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Two energy preemption bills in the Florida Legislature — SB 1128 and HB 919 — will restrict the use, transportation, conversion or sale of any particular type of fuel, hindering local municipalities energy independence.

“A city couldn’t regulate these fuel sources for electricity that supplied their customers within their city boundaries. So, for example, if a city wanted to commit to achieving 100% renewable energy by a set date, they no longer would be able to do so and any existing resolution or policy or ordinance would be nullified,” Policy and Campaigns Manager at the CLEO Institute Gianna Trocino said.

The legislation would nullify any current local ordinances on the city or municipal level dealing with specific energy commitments such as renewable energy.

“It’s telling local governments that they no longer have a say in how their businesses and homes are powered and instead, this issue is going to be preempted to the state, where the state also does not have any say in how fuel sources are regulated; it’s kind of just leaving it up to the utility providers,” Trocino said.

As a result of the bill, activists across the state have risen up in opposition,

saying that it impedes on local energy independence.

“Local city council meetings are where residents — old, young, red or blue — can take agency on the issues that affect us.

Where we turn from citizens to our own self-advocates,” Orlando student activist and 2020 graduate from Windermere High School Sara Almosawi said. “I’ve witnessed this first hand — earlier this year, climate activists and Orlando residents joined hand-in-hand to pressure the Orlando Utilities Commission for a stronger green energy plan that our community needs. This couldn’t have happened without the ability of local bodies to create policy catered to the needs their communities demand — and this bill strips that away from us.”

Highlighting the need for community energy decisions, activists have also pointed towards their personal experiences w i t h climate change and energy.

“In the

aftermath of Hurricane Irma, a hurricane intensified by the type of dirty energy that bills like these could promote, I witnessed something beautiful in the midst of the rubble. As trees toppled over the houses, there were neighbors there to pick them up and rebuild. As people had no electricity, neighbors lent lamps and generators to power the homes of others. I say this to prove that our communities know what’s best for them, contrary to the logic that these bills spew,” 18-year-old college student and climate justice organizer John Paul Mejia said.

On Apr. 26, HB919 passed the House and will be vetoed or signed in the upcoming weeks by Governor DeSantis. This means that for residents, there is not much time left to voice their opinions.

“A lot of times, legislators at the state level drive up to Tallahassee. They’re up there for about 60 days, and they don’t hear as much from their communities back home as they probably should… If you can email or call or put on social media publicly, tell your representatives that you do not like these bills, [that] you want your local government to have control. Anytime there’s public pressure, the better,” Torino said.

Gianna Hutton Design Editor

g.hutton.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY ANA MARTINEZ

06| LIFE

documenting food insecurity: How One Palmetto Teacher Used Film to Spread Awareness

South Florida may be known for its sunny weather and beautiful beaches, but in addition to white sands and blue skies, it is also the most food insecure region of the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Miami Palmetto Senior High School English teacher Alicia Edwards hopes to highlight this startling statistic and bring attention to the issue through her new documentary about food insecurity.

“I’d like for people to understand what’s happening within cities, not just in Miami in particular, but in America in general,” Edwards said. “I think it’s important to shine a light on that.”

The documentary is one of three filmed for “Pass the Mic: Tell Our Stories,” a compilation of short documentaries about various community issues exacerbated by the pandemic: evictions, food insecurity and incarcerations.

The project, presented by Oolite Arts and the Community Justice Project, matched filmmakers with Miami residents impacted by these problems.

“My background is as a broadcast journalist, but I was invited by Oolite Arts Foundation to make this film. I’ve never covered food insecurity specifically before, but [Oolite] was familiar with my work [as a broadcast journalist] and a few other projects that I’ve worked on in Miami,” Edwards said.

As the director and producer, Edwards was responsible for hiring a camera crew, directing their shots and devising t h e angle o f the

story. She also worked closely with the editor, directing editing and sound production throughout the entire process.

However, Edwards acknowledged some differences in creating a documentary versus writing a news story.

“Journalism, in general, just needs a soundbite or two lines that support your topic. Filmmaking is very different because you have to go back to the people time and time again and they have to be willing to receive you. Film requires that you spend much more time with the participants, and you really have to create relationships with them in order to get the best story,” Edwards said. “So I think that relationship-building is a really important component.”

Edwards was paired with the Village FREE(DGE), an organization that combats food insecurity in Miami through easily-accessible community refrigerators. The community fridges help feed Miami residents struggling to purchase their own food or make it to food drives. Edwards highlighted the fridge located in Liberty City, as well as the founder of the Village FREE(DGE), Sherina Jones.

“Following Sherina... was my favorite because she’s just such a selfless person. She just really is so concerned about her community. That’s always at the forefront of her mind and it was really inspiring to watch that,” Edwards said.

Even though “Pass the Mic” was live-streamed on Mar. 31 (and is currently being submitted to film festivals), Edwards still works to help the Village FREE(DGE)’s mission.

“I’ve continued to volunteer there and I’ve brought my family to volunteer there now. We’re very much in touch,” Edwards said. “I just hope that [my documentary] fundraises for this organization because it really is a fantastic organization.”

To support the Village FREE(DGE) or learn more, please visit villagefreedge.com.

Katriona Page

Contents/ Copy Editor

k.page.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICIA EDWARDS DESIGN BY ELLA PEDROSO

LIFE |07

The Underline: Miami’s Largest Linear Art Park

Seven years ago, Meg Daly broke both of her arms in a biking accident, leaving her unable to drive a car. This led her to grow more reliant on public transportation such as the Miami Metrorail.

While taking her daily walks to the stations, Daly noticed the empty and uncared for lot of land underneath the platforms, and conceived the idea for the Underline.

The Underline, a 10-mile and 120-acre long linear park transforming the land beneath the Miami Metrorail, aims to connect the Miami community with a multimodal trail, gathering spaces and nature walks.

On Oct. 19, Daly’s vision came to life when the first and most challenging phase of the project— the Brickell Backyard —went on display. The Underline project looks to complete two more additional sectors: one at the Vizcaya Station and the other at the Dadeland South Metrorail.

In phase one, with help from designer James Corner Field Operations, Daly created a half-mile long trail that stretches from Miami River to Coral Way in Miami’s most densely populated neighborhood, Brickell. The first sector has multiple butterfly gardens, a 50-foot long dining table, gaming tables, an outdoor gym with stationary equipment as well as basketball courts and mini pitch soccer fields.

Phase two currently stands in pre-design, with construction beginning this summer. Once completed, the trail will run for 2.2 miles, from Coral Way to Southwest 19 Avenue. This section of the linear park plans to offer three amenity areas: a children’s park, a spot for farmers markets and another area where families can gather to learn more about Vizcaya.

Daly has already secured a federal contract for the third phase, which will be completed by 2026. A very ambitious phase and fastmoving in development, it will cover seven miles, from Southwest 19 Street to Dadeland South. This sector includes seven amenity areas, including workout spots, places for bands to play, sports courts, bioswales and more.

These newest phases introduce an area that offers multiple forms of transportation in hopes of reducing the use of cars in Miami.

“We are catering to the alternative transportation mode; we are trying to get people out of their cars by providing a safe place to walk and bike. We are infusing 120 acres of nature into a very built-out environment; we are planting more than 4,000 new trees along those 10 miles and, in some areas, we are recreating the Pine Rockland that was lost due to development,” Chief Operating Officer Patrice Gillespie Smith said.

The project as a whole focuses on reviving lost Miami art and culture by displaying murals, weekly live performances on the big stage and transforming everyday items into artwork with a message. As soon as all three phases are completed, the Underline will be the biggest Miami art park.

“We are a public art park and believe we will be the largest public art park in Miami. We have had the installation of a thousandsquare-foot mural by a local artist; we also have a resiliency art project that is in the works and is going in by the end of May. There will be two ping pong tables, but they are in the form of art installations, because the artist feels very strong about interactive art, so she has created the tables to bring people together,” Smith said.

Along with the artwork displayed on the tables, they also spread awareness about sea level rise and climate change in Miami.

The Underline also takes satisfaction in the wide assortment of vegetation that follows the park.

“We really take pride in our 80% native planting, which is really special. We use what is natively here in Florida to bring back our wildlife; if you build it, they will come,” Urban Horticultural intern for the Underline Graciela Martin said.

In a partnership with Miami-Dade County, engaged board of directors, public and private donors and hundreds of volunteers, the Underline has become an example of repurposing unused land for a public park and community space.

Amy-Grace Shapiro

DESIGN BY ELLA PEDROSO a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTO BY AMY-GRACE SHAPIRO Multimedia Editor

08 | INFOGRAPHIC

P

LMETTO’S ECO-INITIATIVES

247

students educated in Climate 101 presentations, as a part of the Climate Leadership Information Program since March 2021

APES MEATLESS MONDAYS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS COMPOSTING PODCAST CLIP After the presentations students had shown a:

41% 38%

219

13,000+ 13,000+ 13,000+ collective views on Tik Tok and Instagram on Meatless Mondays Recipies made by Palmetto’s Agents of Change Team

increase in understanding of climate change and its impacts of students indicated they would like to become future climate certified speakers

views on the compost drop-off sites map for virtual students created

by Palmetto’s Agents of Change Team

INFOGRAPHIC INFORMATION COURTESY OF AGENTS OF CHANGE

100+ plays on Palmetto’s Let’s Speak Green Podcast

3

episodes of 20 minutes released

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

FEATURE | 09

Apr. 22 marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, a national recognition of the environmental movement. For Miami, this day of recognition remains especially crucial; in the past 50 years, human impact has brought detrimental changes to South Florida’s environment, making Miami the most vulnerable coastal city in the country to climate change, according to Scientific American.

With increased threats such as extreme heat, intensifying hurricanes, rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion, climate change puts Miami’s unique ecosystems at stake. These threats emphasize the need to understand and influence how climate change impacts the community.

10 | FEATURE

THE IMPACT OF CLIMA Climate change refers to the variation of the Earth’s global or regional climates over time. Natural factors can cause these changes, but greenhouse gas emissions have amplified these changes. In recent decades, the world has experienced the worsening effects of climate change because of global warming: an increase in average global temperatures as a result of increased greenhouse gas concentrations.

Human activities in the form of burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation have increased carbon emissions by 40% since the 1700s, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This greenhouse gas has warmed the surface and lowered the atmosphere of the Earth about one degree during the last 50 years. Evaporation, moreover, contributes to the effects of greenhouse gases, as the increased evaporation increases humidity, average rainfall and the frequency of heavy rainstorms in many parts of the world.

Overall, global warming has brought consequential impacts to the world’s ecosystems, bringing potentially deadly effects to all areas affected by this scientifically proven phenomenon.

“I was 12 years old when I visited my family in Beijing.

I was shocked at how much air pollution there was. It was impossible to see the blue sky because of how much smog there was, and residents were almost always wearing masks. My sister told me to close the window because breathing the air was like smoking cigarettes. It was the first time I was really aware of the climate crisis,” Florida climate activist and solar water purifier inventor Sabrina Hu said.

In Florida, the effects are no less detrimental to the unique ecosystems that encompass the state.

Extreme heat, rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion and intensifying hurricanes pose as four of the greatest consequences caused by global warming in the state.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average state temperature has risen two degrees in

less than a decade. This has contributed to a multitude of issues, such as extreme heat.

“By 2050, a third of our year could be above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot and not safe to live in. It is especially not safe for our most vulnerable communities who depend on public transit and work outside,” GenCLEO Program Coordinator Gabriela Rodriguez said.

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to a variety of heat stress conditions, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

It can also exacerbate prolonged health conditions in people of all ages.

Global warming and rising temperatures have become the main source of all other climate change related threats to Florida’s environment. In recent years, a record number of hurricanes have hit the Southeast United States as a result of warmer Atlantic Ocean temperatures. Warmer ocean temperatures provide hurricanes and tropical storms with more energy, and therefore, allow them to become more destructive. According to the NOAA, an increase in storm frequency from nine to 23% in the Atlantic Basin will occur by the end of the 21st century.

These stronger and more frequent hurricanes now become both a safety and financial concern for Miami residents, affecting homes and lives.

If oceans and the atmosphere continue to warm, sea levels can continue to rise and become the most threatening issue to Miami and Florida, in general.

According to the EPA, sea level along the Florida coast may likely rise one to four feet in the next century. Rising sea level can submerge wetlands and dry land, erode beaches and worsen coastal flooding. Moreover, the surging sea levels can physically displace some 800,000 Miami residents — nearly a third of the population — and may render a large portion of the city uninhabitable.

FEATURE | 11

ATE CHANGE ON MIAMI “Climate change is such an incredibly strong issue, so we cannot just talk about climate change and these impacts; we also have to think about the people who are going to be most impacted by it,” Rodriguez said.

Rising sea levels also contribute to saltwater intrusion, the third main impact that climate change has had on Miami. As the oceans rise, saltwater concentrations in freshwater habitats greatly increase. In Miami, the Biscayne Bay Aquifer — Miami-Dade County’s primary source of drinking water — has become increasingly susceptible to saltwater intrusion.

Saltwater intrusion also poses a threat for South Florida’s other ecosystems, including the Everglades, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Rising sea levels and increased salinity threatens the species in the area that do not tolerate salt water, such as cypress.

In response to all of these climate change threats, the City of Miami has adopted the “Miami Forever Climate Ready” strategy, which works to significantly reduce climate change risks by invest-

800,000 residents in Miami-Dade can be displaced by rising sea levels, in total

1/3 of the population

ing in eco-friendly infrastructure projects, protecting the waterfront from threats such as flooding.

The city has also adopted the Resilient305 strategy and Regional Climate Action Plan 2.0 to develop plans that protect the city from climate change’s impacts. In addition, Miami signed the We Are Still In pledge, a promise to uphold the goals set out by the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement at a local level.

Miami has also focused on protecting oceans and coasts by passing the Shores Forward plan which focuses on water quality, marine wildlife, education & outreach, ocean trash and carbon pollution.

Miami, however, still has a long way to go to significantly reduce the impacts of climate change.

“Climate change is not just detrimental to the environment. It impacts everything around us, from racial and social justice, food and water security, immigration, national security, housing, economy, mental and physical health, gender equality and a plethora of other [issues],” Hu said. “These issues are inter-connected—they cannot be solved unless we also address the climate crisis.”

40% increase in Carbon Emissions since the 1700s due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for heat and transportation INFOGRAPHIC COURTESY OF THE EPA

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

12 | FEATURE

PHOTOS BY GIANNA HUTTON

how palmetto is fighting cliumate change Palmetto students and faculty have taken on the climate crisis and transformed it into an educational and creative platform through the introduction of clubs and student-run organizations.

The Climate Leadership Information Program (CLIP) is a student-run club dedicated to teaching high school students about climate change from its science to its impacts to its solutions. Prior to teaching students in the classroom, presenters must undergo a Climate Certification Process, which teaches them how to educate others on climate change. Outside of Palmetto, CLIP has reached over a dozen high schools and brought in over 150 presenters. “[CLIP] is not just a requirement for students; it’s about fostering more conversation in the classroom about climate change. Students are provided advocacy opportunities, for example, how to take action, how to go to government meetings and how to write letters to elected officials.

Students in CLIP then bring those advocacy skills back to their schools,” Rodriguez said.

At Palmetto, students have also succeeded in introducing new environmentally friendly initiatives such as Meatless Mondays in the cafeteria and a composting project where students can drop off food waste, where it then transforms into a fertilizer for plants.

Along with CLIP, Palmetto has also formed a partnership with the ASPEN Challenge, a non-profit organization that introduces a platform to students dedicated to influencing policy and serving their communities biggest needs. In Miami, students conducted peer-to-peer Climate 101 lectures to approximately 250 students

and raised their understanding of climate change.

Palmetto students have also moved beyond the school’s borders in creating environmental mission organizations such as Let’s Speak Green, a group dedicated to empowering climate crisis activists by providing resource tools through their Instagram @letsspeakgreen. The account — run by Palmetto junior Analysse Humaran among others — has expanded climate change knowledge to their near 200 followers through their vegetarian cookbook and Spotify podcast, found under the username @letsspeakgreen.

“I think our projects do two things. It helps people understand the climate crisis in a manageable and factual way, so that people can take initiative and teach others to do the same. We also directly provide people with ways to take that initiative through our composting and meatless campaigns. We are a one stop shop for people who care even a bit about our environment, and we are bit-by-bit cultivating this culture of individuals that care enough to be proactive about their and their communities’ environmental footprint,” Humaran said.

Besides joining or creating organizations inside or outside of the school, Palmetto students can also become more sustainable through simple changes to their lifestyles.

“Some of the best things you can do is composting at home, reducing your food waste, reducing your use of plastic, which is again where privilege comes in because a lot of people do not have access to alternatives,” Rodriguez said. “There are so many individual actions you can take and those are just a few.”

Moreover, students can reduce waste through other smaller changes such as carpooling, turning off the lights when they leave a room and riding a bike or walking rather than driving a car.

If the resources are readily available, individuals or families can make larger lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprint, which is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization or community.

“In Miami, if it was cheaper, we could see more people go to photovoltaics, or solar panels. People have their own personal preferences on cars, but trying to find a more efficient car [could reduce carbon emissions],” AP Environmental Science teacher Pamela Shlachtman said.

While climate change has a large and threatening impact on the world’s ecosystems,small, simple changes that people can make in their daily lives can help reduce its impacts.

“Climate change is not gonna end now; it will only get worse going into the future unless we make some big changes, so high school students should especially be concerned as its effects — socially, financially, environmentally, and mentally — will impact them as adults more than now,” Humaran said. “We need a culture of climate literate individuals who will continue to make sustainable choices, and teach later generations to do the same.”

Bella Martin Sports Editor

b.martin.thepanther@gmail.com

Ana Martinez

Feature/Design Editor

a.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com

SPORTS|13

Palmetto Badminton

DEVELOPS ATHLETICISM AND FRIENDSHIP Badminton is a dynamic sport that people play using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. In order to play, one needs heightened cognitive agility and extreme attentiveness. Miami Palmetto Senior High’s badminton team recently placed second overall in the Great Midwest Athletic

C

o n f e r e n c e .

“Badminton is a mental sport, you have to think wisely in where you are going to hit the shuttle,” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior and girls Badminton Captain Ella Sleeman said.

Along with the intellectual aspects of badminton, players also need lots of strength, stamina and endurance for the sport. When playing, one must have good

motor coordination in order to make the sophisticated racquet movements.

On many badminton teams, specifically Palmetto’s team, one does not need previous skills or experience and receives the proper training upon joining.

“We have a very open team where no tryouts are required; you can just join and play a game,” Palmetto Senior and boys Badminton Captain Daniel Perez said.

The environment of the school’s badminton team focuses on welcoming students and having a strong team bond.

As a team sport, having collaborative and close team members remains vital to the game and the overall spirit.

“I am so thankful for the sport because I have met countless incredible people because of it,” Sleeman said.

Many students on the Palmetto team enjoy the social aspect of badminton, where they have met numerous friends and made many long-lasting bonds.

“As a personal experience, it is a place where I have met many of my closest friends, and I have introduced others to the court too,” Perez said.

Along with creating bonds, badminton also has a number of health benefits. It lowers one’s chance of developing several diseases, such as coronary heart disease.

Moreover, badminton can increase one’s stamina and strength which helps in day-to-day activities and tasks.

With such a large variety of ways to play the sport, such as boys, girls and mixed doubles and boys’ and girls’ singles, one can play wherever they feel most comfortable.

Badminton, first developed in the 19th century, has gained popularity in recent years. It traces back to

ancient Greece, China and India and was commonly played in England. Those engaged in the sport see it as one of the best out there.

“It is the best sport in the entire world, and it is a very fun culture. I like bragging about the fact I am a part of the badminton team,” Sleeman said.

Isabella Hewitt

Multimedia Editor

i.hewitt.thepanther@gmail.com

Kate Markus Copy Editor

k.markus.thepanther@gmail.com DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS PHOTOS BY ISABEL LOPEZ

14| OPINION

THE PROBLEM WITH

#NotAllMen

Not all men, she thinks, but she still clenches her keys while walking home alone in the dark. Not all men, but she feels invalidated when no one believes her cries for help after experiencing sexual assault. It is not all men, but it is enough women.

According to a Mar. 2021 survey from United Nations Women UK, 97% of women ages 18 to 24 experience sexual harassment at some point in their lives. The U.S. Bureau of Justice found that men account for 99% of offenders described by single-incident victims of sexual assault. Women know that not all men commit the act of sexual violence, but in every case, the perpetrator nearly always is a man.

The #NotAllMen serves as a defensive response to these statistics that allows men to not accept any of the blame.

The #NotAllMen began trending on social media shortly after Mar. 3, when a police officer abducted and murdered Sarah Everard as she walked home at night in South London. This prompted the police to send out a statement warning all women to not go out past a certain time.

Women should not receive punishments or regulations for problems men have created. Green Party politician, Jenny Jones, thought so too and sarcastically proposed a bill in the House that would require a 6 p.m. curfew on men to stop them from

Kate Stuzin

Managing Editor

k.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MICHAEL ANGEE

committing crimes. Men completely missed the point she tried to make that women do not need to change their habits to fit the needs of men.

They retaliated with hate mail and ultimately rallied behind the phrase, “not all men.”

This defensive response to gendered violence acts as a sad attempt to derail the conversation and dismiss women’s experiences. Instead of defending themselves when no one has attacked them, men need to listen and empathize with the pain that some women have had to carry with them their whole lives. #NotAllMen negates the experiences of survivors of sexual assault.

The statement “not all men” is not inherently false, but no truth-seeking sentiment lies behind it; rather, men use it as permission to not own up to crimes committed by mostly men and vouch for male innocence instead. This does nothing to solve the problem of sexual assault and actually undermines it.

It is not all men, so it is not all sharks either; but if one sees a shark in the water at the beach, everyone swims to shore. When walking home at night, just like Everard, how can women differentiate the “good” versus

the “bad” men? Women must actively take precautions to protect themselves regardless of the men around them.

Not all men until he has a daughter and fears that she may get taken advantage of. Not all men until he does not trust other men around his girlfriend when she dresses a certain way. Not all men until he sends her a text saying, “get home safe,” because he fears she could get jumped by none other than, you guessed it, a man. Even men do not trust other men. If you stand behind the #NotAllMen, you avoid admitting that men are a part of the problem.

FACE OFF:Block or Regular Schedule?

OPINION|15

BLOCK

In a normal year, Miami Palmetto Senior High students would experience six different hour long classes and two different lunches in a single school day. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and health guidelines, students’ school days experienced vast changes.

Now, instead of six classes a day, students attend three two-hour long classes and one of three different lunches. The school made this change in order to control the number of contagions among students and promote effective social distancing.

The new schedule seems to have proven its effectiveness and, next year, Palmetto plans to continue with it. Block scheduling provides ample benefits to both students and teachers. For teachers, it allows them to plan more in-depth lessons with their students and cover larger amounts of material in a more concise fashion.

For students, this scheduling provides them with more time to do their homework and less stress throughout the day because they only have to worry about three classes at a time. This is the most beneficial part of block schedule, because it allows students to enjoy more time on extracurriculars and hobbies that would be consumed by doing homework for six different classes on a daily basis.

In addition to teachers having the ability to give more detailed classes, they can also give more individualized instruction because they see a fewer number of students in a span of a day than they would in a six period a day schedule. In years where teachers do not have to teach both in-person and My School Online students, they have more chances to interact with their students in a greater span of time.

Similarly, students can form closer bonds with their teachers and feel more comfortable asking questions in class since teachers do not feel rushed to teach all their material and complete activities within the short span of an hour.

Though some may argue that teachers may lose students’ attention since the classes last longer, the benefits outweigh this risk.

Overall, block scheduling remains more beneficial than a sixperiod day because teachers c a n review their material in a more detailed fashion, students have reduced amounts of daily homework and daily s t r e s s and teachers can foster more individualized relationships with their students.

Priscilla Bermudez Senior Copy Editor

REGULAR Regular

Anxiously tapping my foot, I constantly shuffle through tabs on my laptop looking for ways to keep my mind stimulated. I look up at the clock, and it reads 10:40 a.m.. In a normal year, I would have finished with class and headed out to lunch but due to block scheduling, I have another hour of time remaining. This feels like the biggest problem that long-term block scheduling has presented for myself and my fellow classmates.

In a normal school year, our school days would consist of six onehour periods that incorporate plenty of variety and a vast array of subjects in an appropriate amount of time.

However, in order to reduce crowded hallways and students coming into contact with each other due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MiamiDade County Public Schools elected to move to a block schedule this year, which consists of three two-hour periods and students attending their respective classes once every two school days.

This proves itself problematic for plenty of students like myself who already struggle with staying attentive and engaged in their classes. Two hour blocks have proven themselves mentally draining with minimal results in terms of academic performance.

In fact, one could argue that since students tend to engage less in class when the periods last longer, their academic performance may dwindle, as has commonly occurred this year.

While there are circumstances where block schedule makes sense, such as the pandemic this past year or during times where most of the school is taking standardized tests, staying on a block schedule for the entirety of next year makes no sense.

With the rate of Americans getting vaccinated, President Joe Biden predicts that the U.S. may return to a state of normalcy by the Fourth of July on multiple platforms. As such, social distancing may likely not be as pertinent an issue upon the start of the 2021-22 school year, effectively eliminating the main reason Dade County switched to block schedule in the first place.

As a graduating senior, this decision does not affect me, but I do not want students like myself to unnecessarily struggle with block schedules and the obstacles it presents for another year.

Jack Meyer

Online Editor-in-Chief

p.bermudez.thepanther@gmail.com j.meyer.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTOS BY ISABEL LOPEZ

DESIGN BY MICHAEL ANGEE

16| PERSONAL ESSAY

SAYING GOODBYE TO THE PLACE I GREW UP

In the fall, I will move to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL to study journalism and political science. I plan to board a three hour, 25 minute plane ride and move 1,410 miles and one time zone away from the only place I have ever called home.

It’s hard. I have to work on all the physical necessities required to move like enrolling in school, picking out my dorm decor and packing up my things, but I also have to mentally prepare myself to leave my friends, my family and the community I have grown up in since the day I was born.

A lot of uncertainties come with moving to a new place. Yes, it’s what I worked for throughout high school, and I feel thrilled to move to an exciting new area full of things to explore. But I also wonder, will I make friends? Will I do well in school? Will I adapt to the climate of a midwest school on the lake after moving from Miami? And, the most important question of all: will I be happy?

One of the hardest things this year was the inability to spend my senior year with the people who have made my high school experience.

Some of my closest friends stayed home this year as online students due t o the pandemic, and regularly

scheduled s e n i o r events like Prom and Grad Bash got cancelled.

Seniors this year, including me, feared we would not get the closure we need to move on. But this month, Miami-Dade County announced that

seniors would, in fact, get an in-person graduation: our first (and last) real senior event. Having that closure makes things easier.

Every day that passes in my fourth quarter of my senior year of high school, I think about these things.

And with that, I mentally prepare myself. I think that with all of the excitement and congratulations that surround college acceptances, people often forget how much of a shock it must be for seniors to pack up and move away.

Now is the time I want to spend time with my friends and family, and make meaningful memories before I leave for school. In that way, I am preparing myself for the move. In advance of moving, I have already started to reach out to fellow Northwestern students to make connections and have some people I know before we actually start living in the dorms. I already have a roommate who I love, and having that connection really helps as well. Doing research about on-campus groups I might fit into or classes I want to take makes me feel more secure that I can build a community of people in Chicago, too. Moving on from one place does not mean I will be isolated.

To the seniors who feel nervous about leaving: you are not alone. It’s okay to feel a mixture of emotions; having those nerves in advance of one of the biggest changes of our lives is natural. It does not take away from our excitement, our gratitude and our happiness at having the opportunity to pursue higher education. If anything, it demonstrates our readiness to enter the world as adults and handle things on our own. Remember, though physically we might stand somewhere else, our community that supported us in high school remains with us in spirit to support us through our next journey too.

Nicole Markus Editor-in-Chief

n.markus.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MICHAEL ANGEE

SENIOR EDITORIALS out next month!

Keep an eye out for our special last issue, highlighting the senior members of our paper.

PROMO | 17

WE ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Check us out on all platforms!

@thepantherpaper @thepantherpaper @thepantherpaper

the

PANTHER online stories are on our website

www.thepalmettopanther.com

THAT’S HOT: investment pieces

YOU’RE NOT: overconsumption

Most people know that thrifting remains one of the best options for both their wallets and the environment, but almost all TikTok and Youtube videos on the subject fail to turn watchers away from the current obsession with overconsumption. While thrifting is a great first step towards becoming more eco-friendly with fashion, the notion of buying bags and bags of clothes just because of the cheap price tag does more damage than one would think. Instead of applying the same bulk buying habits that one would when shopping online on Fashion Nova the best way to both help the planet and look fashionable when thrifting is to focus on investment pieces. Merely shopping for trends at second-hand stores continues the cycle of overconsumption that largely contributes to our over-spilling landfills. Instead, when thrifting, invest in versatile and durable pieces that you know you can wear with almost anything in your closet. This way, as you build your closet with more and more of these investment jackets, jeans and blouses, you create a wardrobe filled with beautiful, classic pieces that never go out of style, limiting the obsession with overconsumption and keeping dated clothes from ending up at Mount Trashmore.

STAFF EDITORIAL Inequality in Sports For women’s sports, the past few years have consisted of monumental highlights, from the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team World Cup titles to Simone Biles dominating the world of gymnastics.

However, barriers surrounding women’s sports still remain.

Title IX guarantees all genders equal opportunities in educational institutions that receive federal funds, from elementary schools to the collegiate level. These rights are continuously infringed upon, most recently by the National Collegiate Athletic Association during March Madness.

After an Oregon Ducks women’s basketball player, Sedona Prince, posted a Tik Tok showing one weight room made up of yoga mats and six dumbbells racks (the women’s gym), followed by an image of a vast weight room filled with benches, racks and barbell weights (the men’s gym), the internet erupted in fury. The weight room scandal was an embarrassment for the entire college sports world. The gyms did not receive funds based on how much money the men or women brought in, but by the NCAA as an institution. They did not just give the women a worse gym than the men — the women did not receive a real gym at all.

With all the challenges, the future still remains bright. With the use of social media and the exportation of ideas, those in the wrong will be held accountable and it ensures something like this never happens again to female athletes of any age.

Valentina Caceres

Luca Rodriguez

v.caceres.thepanther@gmail.com

l.rodriguez.thepanther@gmail.com

Senior Multimedia Editor

Staff Writer

MISSION 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 n.markus.thepanther@gmail.com. The 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.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY 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.