October 2018

po’p

the

pep o’ plant OCTOBER 26, 2018 Volume 92 Issue 2 H.B. Plant High School 2415 S. Himes Ave. Tampa, FL 33629

politics issue

Your opinions won’t matter if you never make them heard

school board elections

how do desantis and gillum compare

why young people need to vote

pages 12 & 13

pages 19 - 22

pages 38 & 39

designer – name

# | Section | PO’p month year

Table of contents 4,5 School news 8,9 JAZZ BAND AWARDED 13 ROBOTICS CLUB RACE 14 HALLOWEEN COSTUME QUIZ 15 COMPARING CANDIDATES

16 SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS 22 18 Q&A WITH KATHY CASTOR 24 20 HOW TO SPOT FAKE NEWS 31 21 YOUTH NEEDS TO VOTE 32,33

VOTER AFFILIATIONS new oreo review SWIMMER SHARES PASSION SPORTS UPDATe

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see page 13

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4 | news | PO’P october 2018

Designer - Maizie tremblay

IN BRIEF

Students accepted to Dali fashion program

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Senior Anne-Sophie Labossiere says the Dali Museum helped her think more about her approach as an artist. Labossiere found the program cool because it lets young voices into the museum.–GRACEN RIVERA

theater Troupe #0817 Attends Individual Events Festival

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wenty-seven students from the Plant Theatre Company attended the district nine Individual Events festival at Gaither High School Oct. 6, displaying a variety of performances ranging from monologues, to duets, to solos and student directed scenes.

In total, the scores for the performances were eight excellents and eight superiors, with three of the performances receiving the Top Honor of Critics’ Choice awards: senior Logan Franke with two monologues and a solo musical along with senior Gabby Fehring and junior Jason Calzon performing a duet acting scene.

“Receiving the Critics’ Choice award was extremely satisfactory because Gabby and I had rehearsed our piece so much during the time approaching IEs,” Calzon said. “To be recognized for all of your hard work by the adjudicators is truly gratifying.”

Troupe leader Dan Franke has been working in the theatre department for the past five years and said he has never seen such amazing results.

“It felt great receiving the results,” Franke said. “I expected them to do very well since they were well prepared, and it was a really great group of kids with some past kids and new ones. It was a very heartfelt and happy festival.”

– CAROL KORNWORCEL

fter applying for a program at the Dali Museum in September, junior Summer Purks and senior Anne-Sophie Labossiere were accepted to display their artwork and fashion design and improve their works by attending sessions for budding artists.

Each student had to submit a portfolio of their work and a statement of how they gained interest in fashion design, while the program itself consists of 12 sessions where students practice different aspects of design.

“The program helped me think more about my approach as an artist,” Labossiere said. “I find it really cool how they let our young voices into the museum.”

The sessions are specifically for aspiring artists, and the purpose is to allow students to think creatively.

“I wanted to get more experience in the arts because I’m a 2-D art student, so I mainly just draw and paint,” Purks said. “I wanted to do something 3-D and interactive that kind of forced me to go outside of my comfort zone.”

Labossiere said that the program is especially useful because of her passions in life.

“I hope to continue with this as a career because I am truly inspired by how fashion can unite people,” Labossiere said. “I love how clothing can evoke a strong emotion in others. Confidence, nostalgia and power.”

Both students said that they found the sessions helpful.

“So far it’s been really cool, and it’s been a challenge because it’s something new for me and I’ve never really done anything like this before, but it’s also fun because I get to do something different,” Purks said.

While the sessions were difficult, Labossiere also found them to be rewarding.

“I would say that the hardest thing is turning your vision into a reality,” Labossiere said. “There are so many options on what fabric to use and how to construct things. But figuring these things out makes it more fun too.”

Both students agreed that the program is great for people interested in art or design and recommend it to people who are intrigued by those things.

“If you’re into art and want extra experience and something new, it’s really fun,” Purks said. – JESSIE LARRINAGA

Nope Task force informs about dangers of drug usage

Marching Band places third at Invitational

ophomores attended a presentation hosted by Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education (NOPE) Task Force Monday, Oct. 8. This presentation sought to warn students about the dangers and consequences of drug usage.

The NOPE Task Force is an official organization that travels around the country to educate students about the effects of narcotics.

“I don’t think [the presentation] should have been mandatory because they should’ve included trigger warnings,” sophomore Sophia Emonds said. Emonds voiced her concern for a lack of trigger warnings due to certain images shown at the presentation, such as that of a dead body.

Besides learning facts about the issue, sophomores also listened to personal stories of substance abuse victims. These stories were told by the mothers of said victims. One such story was shared by Dawn Golden, whose daughter Katie Golden attended Plant High School before passing away from overdose in 2017.

“When she shared Katie’s story it brought back a lot of memories to me because me and Katie were friends growing up,” senior Gabi Tishler said. “I hope that her being brave and sharing Katie’s story will prevent it from happening again.” – ISABELLA ANK

he marching band traveled to King High School Saturday, Oct. 13 to compete against 27 other schools in the Lion’s Pride Invitational, where they placed third.

Each band is evaluated in areas such as percussion, music, marching, dancers and overall effect as they perform their show on the field in front of a panel of judges.

“It’s hard to compare different bands,” band director Brian Dell said. “The judges have to make a decision and it is what it is.”

The marching band placed third overall and earned awards for Superior Danceros, Superior Drum majors, Superior Band, Superior Percussion and Best Overall Percussion.

“It’s not winning, but it’s not about winning all the time, it’s about how we grew as an ensemble,” Dell said.

The ensemble started their day at 2:15 p.m. when they arrived at Plant for a two-and-a-half-hour practice.

Following practice was dinner, and then loading up the buses. Once they arrived at King High School, they unloaded and got set to perform.

“It’s really exciting to do,” senior Abby Hoyt said. “A lot of people think band competitions are lame, but I think band kids think they are exciting.” – KATE CARANANTE

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Designer - carter hamlin

PO’P October 2018 | News | 5

Band, Orchestra perform in annual Fall Concert

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he Orchestra Fall Concert took place on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium, featuring the orchestra, guitar ensemble and jazz band.

Guitar students played first, followed by orchestra and then jazz band.

“We sounded really good,” senior Philharmonic student Raelyn Hoskinson said. “We have a lot of new prospects in orchestra that can make us sound even better.”

The concert featured three orchestras: Concert, String and Philharmonic. Concert went first, followed by String and Philharmonic played last.

“I thought the concert went very well,” orchestra director Steven Bossert said. “Especially for being the first concert of the season, I thought all the students played beautifully and just did a fantastic job.”

The jazz band played four songs: “Basie Straight Ahead”

by Count Basie, “Bugle Call Rag” by Buddy Rich, “Late in the Quarter” by Mike Dana and “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller.

“We made a lot of progress really quickly,” sophomore Kayla Verra, one of the jazz band soloists in “Straight Ahead,” said. “We had to learn a lot in a limited amount of time. We had really strong soloists, too.” – ARIANA CIMINO

Alongside the philharmonic, Senior Alexandria Stefanovici plays the violin in the auditorium Thursday, Oct. 4. The philharmonic is the hardest level of orchestra to audition for. – ALEA JENNINGS

students receive flu shot

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tudents lined up to get flu shots Oct. 12, administered

by Healthy Schools nurses in anticipation of the approaching flu season.

“My mother, who is a doctor, has made me get it every year, and I have never gotten the flu,” sophomore Charleigh Baab said.

The Healthy Schools nurses gave 166 flu vaccines to students.

“Most kids don’t realize how important the flu shot is,” Charity Judino, a nurse from Healthy Schools, said. “It helps virus-fighting antibodies to develop before the actual virus gets around. Even though there are different strands of the flu virus, getting the vaccine dramatically reduces your chances of catching it.”

The nurses were stationed in the college resource room and shots were given throughout the day.

“I think it’s worth it to get the flu shot,” senior Troy Burkhart said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry, and you might as well do it while they’re at school.”

Flu season officially is from December to February, but cases have begun to occur according to ABC Action News.

“The reason students should get vaccinated for the flu is because it is preventable,” Judino said. “Our goal is to keep kids in school as much as possible, and that means staying healthy and not getting sick, in this case, by getting the flu shot.” – ADDIE ROBEY

school District prepares for hurricane Season

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his school year, Hillsborough County prepared for the hurricane season with designated hurricane make-up days: Veterans Day observation Nov. 12, and three fall break days from Nov. 19 to 21.

“I am very happy with how hurricane season’s gone so far,” principal Johnny Bush said. “But if we did miss any days, we don’t really have a say in the decision of the district.”

If there’s a hurricane, Nov. 12 will become a school day. If further make-up days are required, then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving break will become school days as well.

According to the county, students are required to be in school for a certain number of hours every year. Plant is already at the minimum number of hours required for schools. – ADDIE ROBEY

CHORUS PRESENTS ANNUAL FALL CONCERT

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ince the first week of school, Chorus has been preparing for the annual Fall Concert, which took place Oct. 2.

“This was probably the best overall Fall Concert that I can remember.” said Bruce Yost. “I’ve been teaching here for 24 years, and the outstanding effort of the service was great and the results of that effort really showed.”

The Varsity Chorale performed two songs and the two a cappella groups, the Pink Panthers and Paw-cappella, performed as well.

Co-president of chorus and varsity chorale member Elizabeth Bado performed in her a cappella group, the Pink Panthers.

“We definitely went outside of our comfort zone with the song choice,” Bado said. “The songs were beautiful and definitely well prepared.”

Senior vice president of uniform Alex Collins oversaw appearance and the dress code.

“My favorite part was everyone looking great,” Collins said. “I thought this was the best one because everyone really listened.” – AVA NELSON

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PO’P October 2018 | Advertisements | 7

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All That Jazz

8 | features | PO’P October 2018

Designer - Natalie kerr

Performing “In The Mood,” junior Dorian Ice plays the tenor saxophone center stage along with the jazz band at their performance Oct. 4 in the auditorium. The jazz band had been practicing for weeks for this production. – ALEA JENNINGS

Designer - natalie kerr

Jazz band performance wins nationally recognized award by foundation for music education Walking into the band room, the loud blaring of the trumpets and the beating of the drums make the room feel alive with energy and music.

The students in jazz band knew that their passion and hard work had paid off when band director Brian Dell told them that they had been recognized with the national award, the Mark of Excellence, through the Foundation for Music Education Oct. 3.

“This is a huge honor and a big step forward for the jazz program, and places them at a high level with the powerhouse Texas band programs,” Dell said.

The Mark of Excellence project has been around since 2008 and is based in Texas, but groups apply on a national level. It recognizes and awards outstanding achievement in performance and provides a unique competitive environment, allowing ensembles to compare their performance quality to other groups from across the country.

“I am so proud of them,” Dell said. “This was a great opportunity to see how we stood up against other schools across the nation.”

Last May as an ensemble, the jazz band submitted an

PO’P October 2018 | features | 9 entry from their professional recording session, and the program recently released the results of their win. They were one of two groups in the United States to be nationally recognized for their excellence.

“I’m in band because I love music and playing my instrument with a big group,” sophomore Kayla Verra said.

“It felt so rewarding to be recognized for all of our hard work.”

They stand out for the individualized, personal nature of their music and the passion behind what they do.

“My favorite part about being in jazz band is how I get to express myself,” junior Sam Hakanson said. “I really like the type of music, and I get to express a lot of individuality through it.”

The jazz band plays a variety of different performances in the community, including a fall concert with the orchestra, fundraisers and gigs at restaurants.

“The music we play is definitely challenging,” senior Jack Kurtz said. “But after a great concert, it is always worth it to feel proud of how we played.”

According to the musicians, they rely on improvisation, their music blending together in harmony but also preserving aspects of individuality.

“Jazz band is much more involved and much more of a close group than any regular band,” Kurtz said. “There is less of us, so the intimacy with the music that we make is at a much higher level than in concert band.”

There are twenty-four people in jazz band, including six saxophones, five trumpets, five trombones, two drums, two basses, two pianos and two guitars.

“I like playing multiple instruments in jazz band,” freshman Mia Alcala, who plays the clarinet and the tenor saxophone, said. “Since I’m the only freshman, I was a little nervous going into it, but Mr. Dell and everyone made me feel so at home.”

Members attribute one of the reasons for their recent success to be their band director, Brian Dell. As a professional jazz drummer, his passion for music and jazz is a source of motivation and inspiration for many of the students.

“Ever since freshman year, Mr. Dell has brought me up with how to do certain things on the drum set, and how stylistically things should feel,” Costello said. “His passion for jazz, and jazz drumming in specific, has been very helpful for me. It’s been very fun to learn from someone that’s so great and passionate about what he does.”

The band earned superior ratings at the FBA State Jazz MPA the past two years, which are the first in school history.

“I am so proud of the growth of this jazz band and their relentless work ethic to be among the best,” Dell said.

“These students have definitely earned this.” – ADDIE ROBEY

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1: Playing trumpet, senior Jack Kurtz takes part in the jazz band concert Oct. 4 in the auditorium. The jazz band earned a Mark of Excellence through the Foundation for Music Education.

2: Playing the piano, sophomore Charleigh Baab reads her sheet music while playing in the jazz band. The past two years jazz band has earned superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association State Jazz Music Performance Assessments, the first in school history. 3: Seated for her performance, junior Tabatha Vera plays the alto saxophone along with the jazz band. After submitting their entry in May of last school year, they were just recently announced as award winners by the Foundation for Music Education. 4: Along with the jazz band, sophomore Gabe Howard plays guitar during their performance. The jazz band received a Mark of Excellence award, being one of the two groups nationally recognized. 5: Senior Micah Smith plays the bass trombone Oct. 4 in the auditorium. Every student playing with the jazz band had to audition, and these selected students went on to win the Mark of Excellence award. – ALEA JENNINGS

10 | Advertisements | PO’P october 2018

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PO’P October 2018 | Advertisements | 11

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PO’P October 2018 | features | 13

Designer - alexis alvarez

Speed Racer

The robotics team placed fifth in their class at the annual Electrathon of Tampa Bay, an electric car race, at Hillsborough Community College’s Brandon Campus Sept. 22.

Seniors Caleb Summitt and Luis Martinez represented the team at the race. Besides competing, they also worked on completing the car. Although some components were bought online, Summitt and Martinez had to wire the vehicle, which took about a day to finish.

“I liked the idea of doing something hands on,” Martinez said.

The Electrathon requires an electric motor, though competitors can choose between lead acid or lithium batteries. Summitt and Martinez used lead acid in the form of two car batteries.

“Electrathon is truly STEM in action,” Electrathon

of Tampa Bay publicist Fredi Beck said. “It’s a way of spending time in the fresh air, allowing students and volunteer mentors and advisors to interact and learn from each other.”

The event consisted of two races, one beginning at 10 a.m., the other at 1 p.m. A total of 11 other drivers competed, though drivers were separated into different classes.

“Passing people is what really makes you keep wanting to race,” Summit said. “It’s the most rewarding thing to know you have built a faster kart.”

Both Summitt and Martinez drove their car using handlebars similar to those on a bicycle. Summitt drove in the morning race and Martinez raced in the afternoon.

While one student drove, the other gave instructions via a Discord channel.

The driver’s overall objective in the race is to complete

Robotics Team competes in electric car races as many laps as possible within one hour. However, battery changes are not allowed during the race, so drivers can only compete until their batteries burn out.

“Getting the kart to finish a race [was challenging],” Martinez said.

A total of two batteries were used by Martinez and Summit during the competition, but they would like to use four in future races. Summitt ended the first race with 69 laps in 50 minutes before the first battery ran out, while Martinez completed 36 laps in 30 minutes using the second battery.

“It’s a fun ‘motorsport,” Summitt said. “And I love racing go-karts...”

For future races, Summitt and Martinez wish to build a new car due to the limitations of their current one.

-ISABELLA ANK

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3 1. Speeding around the parking lot, senior Caleb Summitt races ahead of his competitors at Hillsborough Community College Brandon Sept. 22. As Summitt was driving, senior Luis Martinez delivered him instructions through a headset, such as whether a car was about to pass him or not.

2. With only minutes before the start of the 10 a.m race, senior Luis Martinez helps senior Caleb Summitt with their car Sept. 22 at Hillsborough Community College Brandon. The students only had a week’s notice that they would race, but they were able to complete the car in time.

3. With senior Caleb Summitt in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, fellow senior Luis Martinez makes final preparations before the beginning of the first race.

4. Waiting for the second race to commence, senior Luis Martinez sits in the starting zone at Hillsborough Community College Brandon Sept. 22. During this race, one of the drivers crashed, causing a brief pause in which vehicles were lined up again. – ALEA JENNINGS AND ISABELLA ANK

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Designer - natalie kerr

PO’P October 2018 | features | 15

what kind of costume should you wear on halloween?

Take this quiz to find out

What are you doing this Friday night?

A Hanging out with friends b Shopping for new clothes c Making memes d Going to the football game E Going to Halloween Horror Nights Which member of your friend group are you?

A The leader b The creative c The comedian d The listener E The wild card The ideal costume if you got mostly:

What is your favorite social What movie are you media platform? watching on Halloween?

A Snapchat b Instagram c Twitter d Facebook E Tumblr

A ”Hocus Pocus” b ”The Nun” c ”Scary Movie” d ”Addams Family” E ”A Quiet Place”

What is your favorite part of Halloween?

A Collecting candy with friends b Posting pictures of your costume c Pranking trick or treaters d Carving pumpkins E Going to haunted houses

As

Bs

cs

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

A M&M’s b Pumpkin Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups c Snickers d Candy corn E Black licorice

Ds

Es

Group trendy Funny Classic Scary You clearly love your tribe, so spending Halloween together is a no-brainer.

Pay tribute to other iconic friend groups with a “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” or “Harry Potter”-themed costume.

In your mind, the perfect Halloween costume is one that everyone will easily recognize. Dress up according to what is most popular right now, like your favorite character from “Riverdale” or “Fortnite.”

If you are always cracking jokes, your Halloween costume should be equally as funny. Let other comedic characters inspire your outfit, like those from “Rick and Morty” or “Bob’s Burgers.”

All things old school are right up your alley, so revamp an old favorite for the perfect costume.

Anything classic like a devil, angel, cat or a superhero is perfect for you.

You are not the kind of person to mess around on the scariest night of the year. For a costume with major scare factor, take after horror movie staples like Freddy Krueger or Mike Myers.

Designer - laura alvarez

16 | spotlight | PO’P October 2018

GILLUM - Wants to take immediate action on climate change by embracing a new plan to have Florida use cleaner energy to create new jobs, healthier people and purer air - Wants to protect natural recourses that make Florida a tourist attraction such as by making protecting the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee a priority, keeping water clean from toxic algae blooms and protecting clean water sources (AndrewGillum.com)

Compare Florida gubernatorial candidates in the nov. 6 election

desantis

Environment

- Plans to complete the Everglades restoration projects and will work with the Trump administration to ensure that they’re finished - Wanrs to raise the Tamiami Trail and bridge 2.6 miles of the trail to allow clean water flow - Believes that one state agency should lead the effort for clean water in Florida and be uniform, efficient and effective (RonDeSantis.com)

- Wants to remove family separation policies and change existing border laws (AndrewGillum.com) -Supports DACA (OnTheIssues.org)

Immigration

- Wants to enact E-Verify to ensure legal workforce and fair wages for Floridians - Is not in favor of allowing sanctuary cities in Florida (RonDeSantis.com)

- Supports statewide policies for equal treatment and rights to LGBT Floridians (AndrewGillum.com)

LGBT RIGHTS

- Supports ban on assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, bump stocks and armor-piercing bullets - Supports tighter gun control through background checks and restricted access (AndrewGillum.com) - Pushes for equal pay legislation - Proposes a law to offer no-cost contraception (AndrewGillum.com) - Wants to keep Planned Parenthood running (ontheissues.org) - Believes healthcare is a fundamental right - Supports the For All plan to lower costs and expand coverage in Florida - Wants to restore Floridian’s healthcare security (AndrewGillum.com) - Believes quality public education is the best chance for equality - Proposed $1 billion investment towards public schools - Wants to raise teachers’ starting salaries to $50,000 and have veteran teachers compensated for years they’ve worked - Aims to ensure that by 3rd grade, 100 percent of students should be reading at their grade level - Is opposed to for-profit charter schools (AndrewGillum.com)

“Gillum is better for the people as a whole, not just

big corporations. He’s more progressive economically and socially.” – laney markman, Senior Dedicated alliance of Democratic students president

Gun laws women’s rights healthcare

Education

- Opposes same-sex marriage and supports faith-based opposition to same sex marriage (OnTheIssues.com) - Believes in defending the second amendment for law-abiding citizens (RonDeSantis.com) - Supports carrying a firearm without a permit if the gun is in the open (Tampa Bay Times) - Opposed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which directed $1.6 billion towards investigation and persecution of violent crimes against women (OnTheIssues.com)

- Has not released a detailed plan but is opposed to Medicaid expansion (Orlando Sentinel) - Is pro-life and supports banning abortion after 20 weeks (OnTheIssues.org) - Wants Florida schools to achieve top three status in NAEP and K-12 achievement rankings - Has a goal of Florida’s schools ranking as one of the top five universities - Wants to ensure 80 percent of public K-12 spending goes directly to the classroom with the direct commissioner and state board of education to oversee spending and work with legislature to give the district an opportunity to see how they’re spending money - Aims to expand apprenticeship programs and support mastery-based curricula so students can get jobs as soon as possible - Supports educational choices such as magnet, charter, FLVS and homeschooling (RonDeSantis.com)

“De Santis is a better choice because Gillum will

bankrupt the state of Florida. DeSantis will be cleaning up the environment, promoting jobs and tax cuts.” – john awad, Senior alliance of plant republicans president

Designer - natalie kerr

Po’P october 2018 | spotlight | 17

LOCAL ELECTIONS approach get to know recently elected school board members, candidates still in the race, voting details School board acquiring new members School board election primaries

occurred across Tampa Aug. 28. School board members usually serve a fixed period of two to four years, and openings happen every two years. There are seven different districts, with Plant located in the second district while also being in the sixth district, as it is county wide. The general election will be Nov. 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the remaining candidates. Registration began Oct. 9, and early voting is from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4.

Stacy Hahn has been elected for office as a school

Henry Washington, a candidate for sixth district

Karen Perez has beat four previous candidates for

Tax referendum up for vote this election season This year, the School Board is hoping to use the half-cent referendum, a public question on the ballot, to raise money to repair schools and for construction projects.

This past year, the state increased base funding by 47 cents per student.

“It’s gonna be a huge benefit to us because we’re going to get some things done that the district otherwise doesn’t have the money for,” said principal Johnny Bush. “Our AC system needs overhauling, our roof is probably going to need to be replaced down the road, just a lot of things that we don’t have because our building is pretty old.”

If passed, the tax would bring in roughly an additional $131 million each year. The referendum will be voted Nov. 6.

the fourth-district board member position and was the last candidate to enter the race by turning in her application only seven minutes before the deadline. She has been involved with Memorial Hospital as a clinical therapist and social worker and was also an educational instructor at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital and Women’s Center, according to her website.

While it is too late for the school board election, registration to vote is available online by going onto “Register to Vote Florida” at: www.registertovoteflorida. gov/en/Registration/Eligibility.

Florida Identification or Driver’s License and the last four digits of social security must be provided. This is also when voters choose to register with a party or independently.

When registration is completed and submitted and all requirements are met, a Voter Information Card will be mailed to the address provided on the registration

voting information WHO CAN VOTE: Anyone 18 years of age or older, and is registered at least 29 days before the voting date.

WHERE TO VOTE: Most voting polls are at public libraries or recreational centers. Voting by mail is available by going online to www.votehillsborough.com.

HOW TO VOTE: The three ways to vote are by mail, by early voting or on election day at the polls. When going to vote, it’s necessary to show two forms of ID that include a photo and a signature.

How the school board’s actions affect plant The school board oversees organization of all schools within their district and determines policies to ensure schools operate effectively, and continually improve.

In addition, they manage district budgets to allocate resources appropriately, according to the Hillsborough County Public Schools website.

School board policies are enacted across the district. Their decisions are what caused the high school start times to shift from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., as well as creating the calendar each school year.

They have final approval on the district decisions such as textbook adoption and administrator placement.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VOTER PARTY AFFILIATIONS As of Oct. 16

Number of Voters

board member, is a U.S. Army veteran and has 42 years of Hillsborough County work and experience. Washington started as an assistant teacher at B.T. Washington Elementary School and continued as a teacher and coach at Turkey Creek Junior High School and King High School. He also worked as the assistant principal at McLane Junior High School and was appointed principal. Later, he worked as the area director and ended as area superintendent, according to his website.

board member in District 2, defeating former incumbent Sally Harris, who had been on board for one term, being elected in 2014. Hahn is also the Director of Professional Development and Partnerships for the University of South Florida’s College of Education. This is her second year running for District 2 school board, and she was endorsed by former Supervisor of Elections and Hillsborough County superintendent Earl Lennard.

How to register to vote

334,421 269,932 251,526

Dem

rep

other

Party Affiliation Source – Florida Supervisor of Elections COMPILED BY CAROL KORNWORCEL GRAPHICS BY ERIN MOFFITT AND EMILY VARCELONA

18 | Advertisements | PO’P October 2018

Po’P october 2018 | spotlight | 19

Designer - Maizie tremblay

# Fake News

House of representatives official kathy castor discusses the relationship between politicians and the media in the era of fake news Used with permission: pixabay.com

U

.S. Rep. for the Florida 13th District Kathy Castor answers questions about her perspective as a politician on the media and the concept of fake news.

How would you sum up your current view of the media?

[It is] vitally important in this day and age when there is so much confusing news out there, and we have someone in the White House who has demonstrated a track record of misleading folks. I’ve never seen anything like it. But for me personally, it is very important that I am able to answer questions that journalists ask me and that I’m able to share the things I am working on with my constituents.

How do you think the idea of “fake news” has affected the relationship between politics and the press?

It has galvanized the press. It’s been interesting because over time we’ve seen a reduction of newspapers — we’ve lost the Tampa Tribune in our home town — and I think that has really hurt the ability of the average person to get news. At the same time, it’s been a boom to journalists in online media, but the problem is there used to be a few trusted sources and now it’s all over the map. Citizens have to be very careful and do a little bit of their own homework on what is truthful and what is not.

What advice would you give to a media consumer trying to discern real facts from potentially biased interpretations of political events?

There are fact checking websites, and you really have to be discerning. It’s difficult now because people really like to have their own personal views reinforced, but it’s

important for them to go to trusted sources.

I guess I’d leave it at that, but it’s difficult in this day and age, especially when there is so much misinformation online.

Do you think the media ever misrepresents politicians and their views?

I don’t think it’s the Tampa Bay Times or CNN or the New York Times or the Washington Post. People need to understand the difference between the editorial content and the news report content. Some sources out there attempt to sway your opinion, and people have to think for themselves. That’s the importance of a strong education system, so that from a very young age people can think critically and analyze, and if they don’t trust the answer to something, go and do a little research themselves. That’s a great [benefit of ] the Internet, there is so much knowledge at your fingertips, but it needs to come from

trusted sources.

How much, if at all, does the media’s coverage influence your position on hot topic issues?

I’m a huge consumer of the news. I’m constantly reading different news sources, and I have to take all of that in and bring it all in to help me make policy decisions.

Add on to that, talking to my neighbors informs me. What they care about helps me prioritize the matters I’m going to focus on in Tampa and in Washington D.C. In your experience, do you think the media speaks differently about men and women?

Oh yes, absolutely. There’s always much more attention to a woman’s age and appearance. It’s not quite as blatant as when my mother entered public service in the ‘70s, but I definitely notice it.

– NATALIE KERR

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Po’P october 2018 | spotlight | 21

Designer - Maizie tremblay

8

signs to spot fake

Unrecognized author

Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real? If there is no author, then consult another source.

Unrealistic headline

Unusual URL link Unreliable source

Where was the story published? Has it been republished by another source? It is important to click away from the story to investigate the website that’s publishing it.

The best way to recognize if a news story is fake, is to look at the URL. Sometimes fake news sources will use a link that looks legitimate, so check for mistakes or unusual formatting within the URL.

If you spot a headline that makes you wonder if it’s true, type the headline into a search engine to see if other sources have posted about the same subject.

Computer icon: Maizie Tremblay

Unverified image

Fake news stories don’t tend to have their own imagery, so they use images that already exist but use them in a different context. Some images may also be edited to fit the fake news article.

news

Out of date

Poor formating Fake news reports are usually written in poor formating. Check for spelling and grammar.

A

Information used with permission: Newseum.org, IFLA.org

hoax or humor Can’t tell if the story is hoax or humor? Check the source again and make sure they are not known for publishing humorous articles.

Fake news stories tend to be published multiple times.

Check the date and make sure it’s recent.

Icon used with permission: Pixabay.com

Designer - isabella ank

22 | spotlight | PO’P October 2018

Ready, Set, Vote!

Young voters must participate in elections to benefit their entire community Staff editorial

T

he belief that America’s democracy is rooted in the voting rights of its citizens is accepted by many. Unlike empires of the past and countries ruled by absolute power, Americans can shape the path of their nation’s future.

Unfortunately, too many Americans are not exercising their right to vote.

An absence of voters is nothing new, though it shouldn’t be regarded as acceptable. According to the Washington Post, approximately 43 percent of eligible voters did not vote in the 2016 Presidential Election.

With a population of about 227 million voters in 2016, this means that millions of voices were left unheard.

Had these missing voters showed up to the polls, the America of the present might look different. Even more disconcertingly, many of these absent voters tend to be younger, while participating voters are decades older.

It is especially important for younger generations to become active in politics. Pew Research Center has shown that although the majority of eligible voters are aged 53 and younger, they don’t cast nearly as many votes as older generations. Specifically, during the 2014 Midterm Elections, people aged 54 and older cast 21 million more votes than those aged 53 and younger.

A person who is 54 years old is likely to have different concerns than a person who is 18 years old, and these differences will be reflected in their voting habits. For example, an 18-year-old voter may be worried about the ever-increasing problem of student debt; meanwhile, a 54-year-old may not understand (or care about) the gravity of the issue.

If the younger person chooses not to vote, however, they will have no say in how the problems they are passionate about are resolved. By abandoning their civic duty, they are allowing the country to be steered by older generations. Resultantly, the politics of local, state and federal governments will be skewed towards catering to those who made their voices heard.

Problems that plague younger generations will continue to be ignored if young American citizens continue their apathy towards voting. The candidates chosen will not represent the interests of young people as accurately as possible. Thus, American’s democracy becomes skewed towards the minority.

Maggie hayes

Besides showing up to the polls, Americans need to put effort into researching candidates. A vote cast in ignorance will not help anyone. By voting without doing proper research, a person might be supporting a candidate who is unconcerned with or does not share the same stances on some issues.

Poor research on candidates and their stances, however, is just as detrimental as no research done at all.

Voters need to use reliable sources of information to check their facts. Many sources of media are inclined to publish sensationalized stories, or in worse cases, outright lies.

When researching a candidate’s position, it is helpful to verify information with other trusted sources.

Snopes.com, for example, is a fact-checking website and is completely non-partisan.

With midterm elections just around the corner, it is imperative for people of all ages, especially younger people, to make their opinions heard.

In Florida, the position of governor, along with 29 U.S. House seats and one Senate seat are all up for grabs. Besides this, local seats are also free, such as positions on the Hillsborough County School Board.

The outcome of November’s election will pave the way for Florida’s future. All eligible voters must take responsibility for their community and vote. To maintain American democracy and have a voice in government, the people need to make their voices heard through voting.

Designer - alexis alvarez

Po’p October 2018 | spotlight | 23

should voters register with a party or remain independent?

Pro

It takes 18 sun rotations for the government to legally define you as an adult. Once that happens, you can sign a document that pledges your duty to the military as well as vote. The power a citizen has is immense, but under no circumstances should you become an independent.

Affiliating yourself with a party means you have control over the candidate you wish to represent your beliefs. One gets to vote for their favorite candidate within a primary, and by showing support, voting for them and donating money, their candidate builds a clearer path to office.

Independent voters can only vote in main elections, and with the two-party system that controls America, the vote can often seem to be the lesser of two evils.

Some independents are unsure of what they want, either because of centrist views or a rough year in candidates. Instead of rejecting a party, it’s best to just pick one. Every party has ideas that members don’t agree on, so compromises are necessary to cast ballots for people voters support at every step in an election.

Joining a party is not a death sentence or a contract. People can mature, change and shift political ideals. If one joins a party and rejects its values as they age, there is no shame in changing to another or taking time to choose the one that best fits their new beliefs.

You can’t sit on the fence forever; parties mean power, and citizens need to stay involved in all levels of elections. – RILEY SCHOFNER

Registering independently lets voters align with their political values High schoolers who are registering to vote must declare something incredibly important: their party affiliation.

This seemingly innocuous question is actually a much more important decision than a first glance would suggest. Florida, along with 13 other states, operates under a closed system for primary elections. This means that, in order to vote in a certain party’s primary, the voter must be registered as a member of that party.

Voters with no party affiliation comprise about 27 percent of Florida voters according to the Sun Sentinel, and this 27 percent is restricted from participating in the primaries for no reason other than their lack of affiliating with a major party.

But this should not discourage voters from registering true to their values. If one lied during the registration process in order to participate in primaries, this clearly violates the spirit of the voting process.

Voters not politically informed enough to declare their party affiliation should not bind themselves to a party that does not represent their views; this skews the numbers of those in major parties and weakens the position of independents.

An independent voter looking to register to vote soon should not be afraid of identifying themselves as what they truly believe, and this includes everyone who falls outside of the political hegemony of the Democratic and Republican parties.

– GRAHAM HILL

con

Registering with a party allows voters more control over elections

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PO’P october 2018 | opinions | 27

Designer - natalie kerr

C

reo Evolution

oncealed between the iconic, rounded and famously embossed wafers that make up the Oreo cookie lies a constant surprise, an experiment with the laws of nature, dessert and processed food in the balance.

After the birth of the nearly surreal Pina Colada, Cherry Cola and Kettle Corn flavors this May, the Pep O’ Plant staff could ignore their calling no longer. Adopting six of the newer flavors of Oreos, each member had a mission: taste, rate and describe these edible twists of the beloved classic.

With an average rating of 4 /10, the Birthday Cake Oreo lost the six-flavor race and consistently scored lower than its counterparts. Associated with the adjectives “sickly,” “vile,” and “trash” by junior Riley Schofner, few had kinder words to offer.

“Smells like a birthday-cake Yankee Candle,” senior Katy Kasper said. “Not noticeably birthday-cake flavored.”

What makes a cookie taste like a birthday cake remains a mystery, but the sprinkles embedded inside were much easier to distinguish.

“Aesthetic contrast between the cookie and funfetti cream,” sophomore Katie Valenti said. “Doesn’t taste like birthday cake, but still has a sweet taste.”

Narrowly coming out ahead, Red Velvet reviews were perhaps the most divided of all and averaged to a meager 4.8/10. With red-saturated wafers and a cream-cheese filling, Oreo calls this cookie “supremely dunkable” in its product description.

“Tastes kind of bland and artificial, with a touch of plastic,” sophomore Jessie Larrinaga said.

While its sweetness and apparent lack of flavor received the brunt of the criticism, sophomore Emily Malone likened its smell to that of “sour milk” and “the football players’ field house”. Few were on the fence about this cookie, with both extremes offering passionate insight.

“I met god, and she is this cookie,” junior Alexis Perno said.

When asked to rate it, Perno spouted seven consecutive 10/10 ratings, each followed by an excess of exclamation points.

Tied for third place with Rocky Road, Peanut Butter scored a close 4.94/10.

“The smell was not as stomach turning as the red velvet, and the appearance of the simple black and brown cookie was appealing,” sophomore Ava Nelson said. “The taste was simple and reminiscent of a Nutter Butter, and once you bit into the crumbling cookie you felt satisfied.”

The simplicity of the Peanut Butter Creme cookie disappointed more than it surprised.

“This cookie is just as boring as its name,” senior Isabella Ank said. “Although the chocolate crust gave it a tad bit of sweetness, this failed to offset the ugly taste of peanut butter.”

Matching Peanut Butter with an identical 4.94 average score, the reception for Oreo’s Rocky Road Trip cookie was just that: rocky.

“It’s pretty good, but I mostly just taste chocolate,”

PO’p Staff explores new flavors

sophomore Addie Robey said. “Also, there are some weird capturing a flavor as delicate as cinnamon but as sweet as chunks of nuts.” the well-known glazed pastry it’s modeled after may have Filled with a chocolate creme, marshmallow pieces and led to its singular flaw. soy nuts, some went as far to label it as unpleasant, with “It tastes like every other cinnamon-flavored item I’ve a lingering flavor senior Caton Gonzalez described as an ever had,” sophomore Avery Franks said. “aftertaste of Styrofoam.”

Regardless, the Cinnamon Bun Oreo was, without “If I was stuck on an island with only these, I would question, the most well-received cookie. starve to death,” junior Graham Hill said.

While the future of Oreos is certain to be rife with Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie came in second with a the new and the unusual, followers can look forward to the score of 5.88/10, and its components are best said in the rumored Peppermint Bark cookie on the horizon. words of those who tried it.

- CHLOE-AMELIE AIKMAN “Graham cracker, peanut butter, then chocolate?” senior Chad Mendez said. “I don’t like it.”

While there was disagreement as to its quality, some commented that its flavors were less processed than its synthetic siblings, earning it a place among the top.

“Fantastic,” senior Thompson Draper said. “Tastes actually good and natural.”

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie is one of many to join the Nabisco nut-flavored family, some of its notable members being the PB&J, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and Double Delight Oreos.

With the highest score by far, the Cinnamon Bun Oreo “takes the cake” with a 7.41/10 and the most consistently positive reviews in the race.

“It has a creamy texture inside,” junior Nicole Prus said. “When I eat these Oreos, it reminds me of fall.”

Others, like sophomore Vendela Busbee, compare its smell and taste to Christmas and the baking of gingerbread cookies.

“Very clean presentation,” senior Tegan Fannin said.

“Love the minimalism.”

From top to bottom: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Red Velvet, Rocky The difficulty of Road, Cinnamon Bun, Birthday Cake. – ALEA JENNINGS

28 | Advertisements | PO’P October 2018

keep up with school news @ PHSNEWS.COM

Designer - carter hamlin

PO’P OCTOBER 2018 | SPORTS | 29

Swimming since she was four years old, sophomore Morgan Austrich plans to continue throughout college. She said that swimming helps her manage her time and stay motivated in school. – PAOLA LABORDA

Diving In

Morgan Austrich Sophomore Varsity Swimmer

Swimmer races ON SCHOOL TEAM, HOPES TO CONTINUE IN COLLEGE

S

ophomore Morgan Austrich was four years old when she first learned to swim. These first strokes ended up taking her down the road of competitive swimming and continued to follow her into high school.

“I was really excited to do high school swim,” Austrich said. “I’m a breaststroker, so I normally swim the 100 breast and 200 AIM and relays.”

Whether it’s waking up early for practice or spending a weekend in the pool, time is a major factor when it comes to swim.

"In the summer I swim six days a week, four hours a day, and during the school year I swim six days a week for three hours a day.” Austrich said. “Swimming helps me manage my time and stay motivated in school.”

An array of different training regiments along with a diet are put into practice by Austrich and other swimmers.

“It’s challenging because you have to work really hard, and everyone’s really fast.” Austrich said. “I probably eat like four times as much food as a normal person, and I try to eat healthy, but that doesn’t always work.”

Practicing throughout last year, Austrich was able to participate at swimming States.

“Last year I swam at States and I got sixth at the 100 breaststroke, and our team got second place overall.” Austrich said. “It’s really fun to go to a meet and see your hard work paying off.”

The hours Austrich spends training for swimming are also hours spent with a team.

“It’s really fun to work as a team,” Austrich said.

“Especially in high school season, there is so much emphasis done on how well the team does. We’re very motivated and determined, and it’s honestly such a fun thing to do. We all push each other.”

While still swimming in high school now, Austrich has made plans for the future.

“I want to swim in college,” Austrich said. “That’s my goal.”

The years spent by the pool have taught her many lessons she can use outside of the water Austrich said.

“Swimming has definitely changed me so much as a person,” Austrich said. “It’s taught me so much about defeat and victories and working with other people.”

– AVA NELSON

Fun Facts Birthday: Dec. 19, 2002 height: 5’’6” Years swimming: 12 Swimming Accomplishments: sixth in the State Individually and second as a team Favorite Stroke: Breast Stroke DREAM SCHOOL: Cornell University or duke university SWIM ROLE MODELs: missy franklin and kaitie meili Hobby: Drawing Favorite Food: Chocolate

30 | SPORTS | PO’P October 2018

Designer - laura alvarez

Sports update Fall sports update: Special Olympics teams all placed first at the Fall Classic Sept. 22,

1

and will continue to States Nov. 11. girls cross country competes in Districts Tuesday Oct. 23, with Regionals Nov. 3, then State No. 10. Boys cross country headed to Districts Oct. 22 at Rogers Park where they could qualify for Regionals Nov. 3 in Punta Gorda. Swim team will competes in Districts Thursday, Oct. 25 after a county championship win, their sixth year in a row. Junior Varsity football finished their season Oct. 11, with only one loss out of five games. Boys golf won Districts Oct. 16, then followed up with Regional win Oct. 22. Volleyball won Districts This photo gallery showcases these sports in action.

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1. Freshman Michael Gonzalez sprints at the end of the boys cross country race. The boys ran 3.1 miles at the Western Hillsborough Invitational at Al Lopez Park Sept. 25. – ALEA JENNINGS 2. Running from an opposing player, senior Isacc Rodrigues gets his flag pulled while holding the ball Sept. 22 at Dad’s Stadium. Partners and athletes from all over Hillsborough County competed in the Fall Classic. – AVERY FRANKS 3. Running through rain-soaked fields, seniors Maya Gonzalez and Lexi Ashby compete in the junior varsity race at Al Lopez Park Sept. 25. It was the girls cross country team’s third meet of the season. – ALEA JENNINGS 4. Swimming in the girls 200-yard individual medley, sophomore Carin Sanchez secures seventh at Bobby Hicks Friday, Oct. 5. She qualified for county championships with a seed time of 2:14.04. – ALEA JENNINGS

Coming up:

Volleyball Regional Semifinal- Oct. 29, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Varsity football game- Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Newsome Boys/Girls Regional swim meet- Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Clearwater

4

fall sports teams make accomplishments as they near final events of the season

PO’P OCTOBER 2018 | SPORTS | 31

Designer - alexis alvarez

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5. Senior Carson Moran prepares to chip the ball during a match Sept. 20 at Eagles Golf Course. The boys golf team won districts with an 8-over-par 308 Oct. 22. – SABRINA PAREDES 6. Doing her approach to hit the ball, freshman Lily Frierson spikes the ball down securing a point for the varsity team in the gymnasium of Freedom High School Monday, Oct. 15. Although the game took place at Freedom, the opponent was Leto high school, with a final win over Leto 3-0. – TEGAN FANNIN 7. At the sound of the gun, the members of the boys cross country team dash through puddles at the start of the varsity race Sept. 25. The boys placed first at the meet with a score of 24. – ALEA JENNINGS 8. Doing one of her stunts, sophomore Carly Ludger smiles to the crowd Sept. 22 in the gym. All three of the Special Olympics teams, cheerleading, Panther Black and Panther Gold, are going to States Nov. 11 at ESPN Orlando. – AVERY FRANKS 9. As part of the senior tradition, a crowd of teammates hold kickboards above their heads and slap senior Morgan Shelton on the back as she runs through them Oct. 11 at Bobby Hicks Pool. The team won against Wharton High School. – VENDELA BUSBEE 10. Getting into formation on the line of scrimmage, junior varsity football players wait for the snap of the ball Oct. 4 at Dad’s Stadium. The team won against Robinson High School 35-25. – EMILY MALONE

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