‘ PEP O} PLANT
H.B. Plant High School• 2415 S. Himes Ave • Tampa, FL, 33629 •November 2015 • Volume 89• Issue 3
Grade reform: Read why the current grading system needs change
Space potatoes: Did “The Martian” hold up to standard? Page 14
Page 12
News Gathering
2 • Advertisement
November 2015
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November 2015
Previously @ Plant
3 • News
October Club Takeover Plain air art
The Art Club sets up a day in the park to complete some pieces in nature. After the event concluded, they had created drawings of scenery as well as portraits of each other as souveniors of the day. PO’P Gianna Cacciatore
USF invasion
Look back at it Club day came Oct. 23, bringing a day various clubs spent on the field including Scholars II. The club is sponsored by Napoleon Wade, administrator, and he created it to help close the achievement gap in the student body.
PO’P Gianna Cacciatore
Allison Figueroa (12) and Emilia DiFabrizio (11) spend time on their phones while waiting for the keynote speaker to take the stage. On Oct. 9, the Yearbook staff as well as Pep O’ Plant headed to USF to participate at the Florida Scholastic Press Association competition.
PO’P Gianna Cacciatore
4 • News
November 2015
November 2015
Advertisement • 5
6• Features
November 2015
Student singer performs at Panther Prowl Katie Chae Business Editor
this band called NeedtoBreathe because of the spiritual and folky vibe that their music brings.
Julia Gomez, senior, sings and plays to express her love of music and stabilize a base for her future.
4. Is there a way that people can listen to your music? A: I have a soundcloud and it’s a public stream. I also have an Instagram page, a Facebook fan page, and YouTube channel. They all have little videos or mp3 samples. You can find me on Instagram @J_music_official, my Facebook fan page is called Julia Adele, and my YouTube channel is called Julesmusic.
1. Is your family musical? A: My dad was a very talented musician. He could basically play any instrument. And my brothers kind of play the guitar. 2. Have you performed in public? Such as concerts, or school events? Describe those events. A: In public I’ve been hired to play at a restaurant called Love’s Artifacts. I’ve also been hired to play at the Davis Island Coffee Bar, the Bunker in Ybor City, and sometimes I do an open mic at the Hideaway Cafe. This year I also performed at Panther Prowl and that’s probably one of my most favorite performances I’ve ever done.
PO’P Gianna Cacciatore Julia Gomez, senior, played a medley of songs on her guitar at the Panther Prowl pep rally. Gomez practices often, usually three days a week, to perfect her skills.
3. Which singers or musicians do you admire? Why? A: I really like Ben Rector. I
love his voice and his lyrics. His lyrics are very light-hearted, true and honest. His music on the piano inspires me at heart. I like
5. Do you have an interest in teaching music too? A: I like to teach song writing. I would like to talk to new songwriters and give them tips and talk about their structure and help them find their new inspiration. 6. What advice would you give to beginners that are nervous? A: Just remember the feeling
that you have while playing by yourself, and know you can make others feel that way when you perform for them. 7. Do you get nervous before a performance? How do you handle it? A: I’m really excited beforehand but as soon I’m plugged in and I’m ready I get pretty nervous. But after a song or two I just forget that I’m nervous and start enjoying my performance. 8. What are your songs mainly about? What specific themes do they cover? A: Essentially, my songs are centered around a love theme. But sometimes I’ll write a spiritual song or life anthem sort of song. I often write songs about relatable feelings such as feeling out of place or feeling insignificant.
Features• 7
November 2015
Students determine best T-shirts
SADD vs. NEHS Gianna Cacciatore Webmaster PO’P Gianna Cacciatore
NEHS member T-shirt
PO’P Gianna Cacciatore
SADD member shirt
Clubs around campus create T-shirts to sell to their members, but the true question is who makes the best one? Boards spend anywhere from a few days to months to come to a conclusion on what is the best design for both regular member shirts as well as exclusive board shirts. So that question was taken to the hallways to get the real answer from students. After polling 60 students ranging from freshmen to seniors, it was clear that the National English Honor Society was the winner with a total of 15 votes (25% of the whole poll). The shirts are a light green and appear normal from the front, while the back sports a drawing of the school with a tree looming behind it. Off of each branch is the title of a famous work of literature. But if someone were to take a
closer look, they would discover some rather large mistakes. “[Upon picking up the shirts] I just laughed it off since I’m so detail-oriented that if I allowed myself to get mad about it, I would have been inconsolable. I found it a bit ridiculous that the error even happened - but I appreciated the
situation. “I think it’s hilarious that all of the book titles got messed up. At first I thought it was intentional, but even though it was a true mistake I think it really makes the shirt stick out among the rest,” Sydney Burns, junior, said. But pulling away from the
irony of the situation,” Grace Smith, senior and President of NEHS said. Some of the errors included minor ones such as “The Habbit” instead of “The Hobbit”, to more serious ones including “The dust Databuy” where “The Great Gatsby” should have presided. But upon talking to students they seemed intrigued by the whole
mistakes Will Hesse, sophomore, said, “I like it because the tree eloquently represents the use of literary works as a metaphor. The metaphor is the school as the ‘base’ of the tree and the roots stem out to our ‘learning’ of the arts.” The closest runner up to NEHS with eight votes was the Students Against Destructive Decisions
“Boards spend anywhere from a few days to months to come to a conclusion on what is the best design for both regular member shirts as well as exclusive board shirts.”
T-shirt. The shirt is a navy blue with a paw print on the front, the name of the club and the year inside of it. “I like the SADD shirt because it’s a good color and the back is very inspirational.” The back of the shirt has the saying, “Lets do the right thing,” Caitlyn Dellegatto, freshman, said. All the other clubs got five and below but the ones that gained five votes from students were: Kiwi, High Schools Against Cancer (HAC) and Thespians. “[The Thespian shirt is my favorite because] it’s just black and white and matches with everything. I honestly didn’t even realize it was their club shirt until they were all sitting together which I think is nice,” Chloe Sysk, sophomore, said. Every year students have their favorites and next year may bare different results but everyone will have their own opinions.
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8• Features
November 2015
PO’P visits Saturday Work Detail Staffer learns about unique disciplinary action Emilia DeFabrazio Copy Editor Assistant Principal David Webb was confused after being asked about voluntarily attending Saturday work detail. Giving up three hours of a Saturday morning is not exactly the epitome of a good time, but this is what disciplinary action entailed. Famous 1980’s film The Breakfast Club immortalized weekend punishment, however, it is not nearly as glamorous in the real world. As teachers clad in camouflage-chic called roll, one student said, “I don’t belong here.” Most were there for tardies, a virtually victimless crime nearly everyone has committed. The exhaustion and misery was evident on the students’ weary faces as each grabbed a pair of gloves and a trash bag and began walking around the track. Saturday work detail is shrouded in a certain amount of mystery for most, but most of it was just picking up trash in the seemingly endless parking lots and underneath the bleachers. One student said it was a bonding experience. The misfortune they all faced from giving up their Saturday mornings gave way to a
communal camaraderie between students. “So this is what prison is like,” one student said, finding humor despite the circumstances. She was not necessarily wrong either. Cars passed by on Dale Mabry and the overseeing teachers passed alongside us in a golf cart with the vaguely eerie feeling of being at school when hardly anyone else was there. This morning also happened to be the day that the football
‘‘ ” “We clean the school up… The kids enjoy it, and so do we, the overseers.”
players received their free breakfast. Football players meandered around as the sun shone brightly upon the group.Students trudged through campus picking up water bottles, pieces of paper and other treasures they weren’t so lucky to come across, such as used condoms. The majority of the time spent was filled with boredom, seeking shade and solace amongst the ruin. “Stage two of the due process,” US History Honors teacher Michael McWilliams said, describing the punishment. “We clean the school up… The kids enjoy it, and so do we, the overseers.” He suggests that the over capacitation of the school is to blame. “We have good kids here for tardies,” McWilliams said. US History teacher and overseer, Robert Engert said Saturday work detail is a “good alternative to suspension.” He finds value in the punishment because, “[Work detail] keeps them in class,” rather than harming their education. McWilliams also said it was “a pleasure to spend the morning with some of these students.” After hours of trash and parking lots one wishes to say the same.
Amazon.com
Adult coloring book craze tops bestseller charts Erce Phillips Editor-in Chief Coloring books have been discovered as a new method for adult stress-relief, and the new craze has swept the nation just in time for the holiday season. Coloring books created for adults are some of the top most wanted items and best-selling books on online shopping websites such as Amazon.com and others alike, giving an easy and inexpensive solution to the crisis that is last minute shopping for parents. The new adult coloring book trend that seems to be completely undiscovered by students and many parents has actually been on a roll, only growing and growing in popularity over the past few years. Studies show that coloring books, such as Johanna Bastford’s extremely well-received Secret Garden, Enchanted Forest, and
Lost Ocean are especially popular among adults as they help release inner stress and bring out a playful and child-like mindset in adults. This craze seems perfectly timed for students who often are left without a clue as to what presents to pick up for parents and other family members during the holiday season, and with Thanksgiving still around the corner, this gives ample time to look into buying one of the books that seems to soothe the adult mind and soul. As mentioned above, the most popular titles up for purchase come from author/artist Johanna Basford, with her bestsellers, all which are listed as “Inky Adventure and Coloring Books”. Basford’s coloring books are up for sale from about 10 dollars each, which allows for a unique gift that will relieve stress on parents and wallets alike.
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Features• 9
November 2015
PawCapella provides new sound for chorus Maggie Fitzsimmons Copy Editor Movies like Pitch Perfect and groups like Pentatonix have brought increasing attention to the music genre known as Acapella, in which songs are performed by a group singing without instrumental accompaniment. This year, chorus students have organized an Acapella group for the first time, known as “PawCapella”, and are working hard to ensure it’s a success. Towards the end of last school year, Andrew van Wert, senior, Marissa Sandler, senior, and Nathan Smith, sophomore, had the idea to start an Acapella group within the chorus program. They presented the idea to Bruce Yost, chorus director, who helped the students organize the group and create a class for it. “[Being a part of an Acapella group] is something that all singers want to do at some point in their lives, and we knew it would be a lot of fun to have at Plant,” said Sandler.
Starting the group and getting a class period for it had it’s challenges. The students knew that they wouldn’t be able to be successful without being able to practice everyday, and trying to
other activities would be nearly impossible. Because of this, they had to push to create a period that could fit into each student’s schedule so that they would have a designated time to meet and practice each
PO’P Ysabella Canto
PawCapella members practice the song “Mary did you know? They have arranged various songs, themselves, and will have the opportunity to preform them later in the year at various chorus concerts and Christmas performances.
coordinate the schedules of 16 people to find a convenient time for everyone to rehearse between sports practices, work, and
day of the week. “When the students asked to create the Acapella class, the deadline for creating new classes
for the 2015-2016 school year had already passed. I submitted their request to the office, and they actually had to petition downtown in order to get the class into the students’ schedules for this year,” Yost said. Thankfully, they were able to make the Acapella class a reality for this school year. Most of the original group of students who wanted to be a part of the group were able to join the class. Now, all 16 members of “PawCapella” are able to meet everyday during eighth period to plan and rehearse songs. All of the members of “PawCapella” are also members of other chorus classes at Plant, and some even have three periods in their schedules spent in the chorus room. This level of commitment has ensured that each member of the Acapella group is passionate about singing and genuinely cares about the Acapella group and chorus program as a whole. “Some of us even had to take
online classes over the summer so that we’d have room in our schedules for this class. I had to take two: physics and economics,” said van Wert. Mr. Yost is hopeful that the group will continue to grow in the future. The students will hold auditions for chorus students to join the class next year, and students who audition must also be in another chorus class in order to be a part of “PawCapella”. Students can see “PawCapella” performing this year at all chorus concerts and performances, the beta club induction ceremony, and also some christmas performances. At these performances, the students will perform songs that they have chosen and arranged themselves. Hopefully the group’s performances are a success and every one is able to enjoy this talented group of students performing a unique music style that will continue to be part of the chorus program for many years.
10• Centerspread
November 2015
Z Z Z Z Z
DISCO
Science snapch
Allison Centerspr
Kids today! Smells like science
Sleeping pills may increase tiredness According to Dr. Oz, most sleeping pills don’t promote deep sleep, which is normally when the body “restores” itself. “Although sleeping pills can help you go to sleep quicker than you may otherwise do so, they do disrupt the normal sleep rhythms-- the stages of sleep that we need to go through. They especially may interfere with REM sleep. Research shows that, for whatever reason, dreams are important to us and so if the sleeping pill is inhibiting you from getting your normal stages of sleep-- especially REM sleep-then that could cause you to wake up feeling maybe not as good as you should after a night's sleep.” -Michael Boza
A matter of the mind
Plants basically radiate green light Red light, wavelength 620–750 nm, is most useful to photosynthesis, so plants absorb a whole lot of it! The opposite of red on the visible spectrum is green--the color of chlorophyll, the pigment that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis. “You can think about it like this--plants are actually all the colors except green. Because we view colors as the colors that are reflected into our eyes. Plants are absorbing all the wavelengths with their specialized pigments, except for green. Green is actually the least important wavelengths for plants so it gets reflected into our eyes.” -Robert Tait
Brain surgery works without anesthetic Brain tumors that are too close to vision or language centers require special “Intraoperative Brain Mapping” surgery. The patient is intentionally awakened in the middle of the procedure.
“Pain is experienced through receptors--it's one of the somesthetic (body) senses. The brain [isn’t] able to send pain messages the same way most other parts of our body can. Being conscious during brain surgery can help the surgeon to prevent damage to any critical areas of the brain. Before lesioning (intentionally damaging) or [manipulating] any parts of the brain, the doctor can get live feedback.” -Michael Boza
Centerspread • 11
November 2015
OVER
hats blow minds
Figueroa read Editor
Ginger soakin’ in the rays
These Runts are bananas!!
Banana candy tastes unlike real bananas “In the 1950s there was a banana called the Big Mike, but Panama disease wiped them all out.They were genetic clones of one another, because [natural bananas have seeds and seedless bananas reproduce asexually]. So, because all [commercial] bananas were exactly the same they were all susceptible to this disease-- for a very short time, there was actually no available bananas... [Companies] found a different variation of the banana that was not vulnerable to this disease--the Cavendish, has been our banana [ever since]. And that's why [banana flavoring] doesn’t taste like our bananas--they actually taste like Big Mikes.” -Robert Tait
Chocolate can relieve stress A Middlesex University study showed that chocolate depresses brain waves associated with attention, and increases brain waves associated with relaxation and concentration. “Research shows that eating chocolate does help release some neurotransmitters that our bodies and minds find pleasurable, but let’s talk for a minute about classical conditioning. How many times have we eaten chocolate and it's been a pleasurable experience and has been to celebrate something? So maybe it's possible that we can come to associate the smell of chocolate with happy times and people that we love.” -Michael Boza
Sunglasses do more than look cool When light is reflected from shiny surfaces such as glass or water, it often comes back more concentrated as horizontal wavelengths. This creates the glare off water at the beach, or off a car on a sunny day--which can actually damage eyes. “Sunglasses have an ultraviolet protective coating, which is the visible spectrum that is harmful because of the “radiation” that causes damage over time to your eyes. So they put on a protective coating that blocks that wavelength of light.” -Heather Wakefield
12• Opinions
Pep O’ Plant 2415 S. Himes Avenue, Suite 103 Tampa, Florida 33629 (813) 272-3033 ext. 247
Editors-in-Chief Bennett Taylor Erce Phillips News Editor Joseph Rosenberger Features Editor Rachel Ferreri Opinions Editor Matt Blydenburgh Arts & Entertainment Editor Savannah Lowry Sports Editor Jacob Robinson Centerspread Editor Allison Figueroa Photography Editor Ysabella Canto Public Relations Zoie Ashmeade Webmaster Gianna Cacciatore Business Manager Katie Chae Circulation Manager Sam Werner Copy Editors Emilia Difabrizio Blair Eustace Maggie Fitzsimmons Staff Artist Zoe Antinori Photographer Darnell Henderson Staff Writer Pershia Haj Faculty Adviser Louisa Avery
November 2015
Teachers must abolish leniancies in grading system Editorial Though it might not sound pretty, face it. From a high school student perspective, practically everything that is done in that student’s day-to-day schedule in which they don’t do willingly revolves around getting into a college of some sort in the future. The fact of the matter is that the crazy chain reaction starting with high school and ending with a
‘‘
This is simply a call to making opportunities more even and to remove any flaws that may interfere with a student’s true grade.
decent occupation can’t be started without a work ethic that is centered around getting good grades and a GPA that universities can be wowed by upon admission. With this being said, if grades are so essential to determining the path of a student’s future life for better or for worse, then there needs to be major reform in how they are awarded at Plant High School. The problem with the grading system here is not simply that it is too strict or too loose when the time comes for teachers to put down a puny one letter grade that questionably defines how smart a student is and how they should be treated, but that it’s a mixture of the two. The system is twisted and many students can find ways to manipulate it in some ways so that the outcome of how they performed throughout the whole quarter can be entirely different than someone who may have performed just as well, and the fact that everything put into a quarter comes down to one letter that determines a whole lot more than just that, it’s scary to think that grades sometimes may come down to a luck of the draw regarding which teacher a student has. Quite possibly the most notable example of this flawed system coming into play is the drop
system, also known as Gold and Black Cards. These physical cards are received every quarter to reward a student’s efforts from the previous one in a “rich get richer” fashion. However, the problem doesn’t lie within the cards themselves, but rather the extremely loose rules that come tied with them. The current rules in their fullest proclaim that students may use a drop card on a test if that test is a passing grade, meaning the student received a 60 percent or more. Already this raises some differences in behavior between teachers who tend to be more strict and teachers who tend to be less strict. Though it often isn’t the case, certain teachers may be more lenient with the drop policy and grant students the opportunity to drop any test regardless of whether or not it was a pass or fail grade. Though a seemingly minor tweak in the rules, this could cause a serious change if a student was on the edge of moving up to the next letter grade and could theoretically end up in a change in GPA between a student who had a teacher that didn’t let them a failing test. However, there is another rule that comes in the fine print of the drop cards that often causes even more controversy between students and teachers because more
teachers tend to overlook it unlike the pass/fail test rule. If a student has just one unexcused absence or 2 excused absences, technically the teacher has the right to take away the student’s power to drop a test in their class, but the reason why so many students complain when this rule is actually put into place against them is because many teachers don’t take this rule into account when allowing drops. This rule is where the flaw in the grading system is truly exposed, and where whether or not a teacher is “nice” can be a game-changer for the outcome of a student’s GPA. Simply put, grades are ultimately in the teacher’s hands, but with many loopholes, extra-credit opportunities, and chances for mistake correction, the way that grades are handled all the time leading into final report cards must be more careful. This is not an advocation to make rules stricter, take away drop card opportunities, ruin student’s lives with more test guidelines or ruin teacher’s lives with more guidelines to follow in and out of the classroom. This is simply a call to making opportunities more even and to remove any flaws that may interfere with a student’s true grade. After all, for one letter that acts as a cog in the machine of life, it really better be accurate.
The Pep O’ Plant is Plant High School’s studentrun newspaper. Opinions expressed may not reflect the views of the entire staff or school. We welcome signed letters to the editors. Letters can be brought to room 103 or placed in Louisa Avery’s school mailbox. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject any letters. Some material courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service. Professional associations include Florida Scholastic Press Association, Southern Interscholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll.
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Opinions• 13
November 2015
Pro Vs. Con:
Does football deserve all of the spotlight? Smaller sports need love
Football justifies its attention
Column Bennett Taylor Editor-in-Chief Friday nights at Plant High School in fall automatically generate plans for football games by current students, reignite nostalgia in alumni, and create gatherings and tailgates for families and other members of South Tampa. This natural assumption that football should fill our social calendar for Friday nights is justified, as the sights and sounds of Dad’s Stadium for games possess unique and rare opportunities that few schools in the nation ever have; school pride radiates from the student section and community pride of our school is reflected in the rest of the home stands- often filled to the brim. These nights provide a strong case for the dominance of football as a primary focus of Plant
athletics; often sold out games, banners of sponsors hanging from fences lining the field and often direct contributions to the football team by local restaurants and other business groups. Is this unfair? Does football choke out other smaller sports, wielding an iron fist around the likes of sports like tennis and basketball? It does not. Simply put, Plant football is not a tyrant over other Plant sports; it is dominant, but it is justified as to why it is so “big time” as many refer to it. Logistically, football involves the most student athletes; hundreds play every year on both squads. This means that more parents are involved in fundraising for their sport, allowing them to provide some luxuries that some sports cannot muster, simply because the nature of most sports allows very few members to a team- lacrosse, in high school, maxes out around forty kids, at prep schools mostly across the Northeast. Plant football’s importance also can be credited to it’s tradition in the community; we are good, consistently. This correlates to local businesses getting involved, as large crowds and wide-garnered support can create new markets for local companies. Other sports cannot boast such strong tradition in an area so crazed with football; thus, sponsors and other benefits may be hard to come by.
PO’P Zoe Antinori
Column Darnell Henderson Photographer
P R O C O N
The student section is screaming with joy and sweat is raining down each individual’s body as they eagerly watch the bodies on the field colliding and tackling for a pigskin ball. Pulses are racing, eyes widening, hands and arms’ are littering the air as each student’s attention is centered on a single member of our team, holding that glorious ball, as he closes the short gap to the end zone. The entertainment and uproar that comes from students who attend football games is like no other. The unity amongst fellow students as they come together to rally on our football team makes it clear that not only do we enjoy football games, but we have a massive amount of school spirit. But why do we just limit this enthusiastic energy to just football games? Why not bring this spirit to all sporting events, big and small, at Plant? This is the issue at hand. Students should make it their duty to bring school spirit to all aspects of Plant, including all athletics. Attending Friday night football games is practically a ritual. Students of all social groups and all grades come and gather in those metal bleachers to stand for several hours and holler as loud as they can, creating a symphony of praises and encouragements directed towards our football team. However, the praise and sense
of unity only occur on those special Friday nights, putting itself on pause until the next football game comes around. Why don’t we change this and shed some school spirit on the underdog sports of our school? Most students are unaware of the multitude of sports provided and played at Plant, such as sailing, hockey, wrestling, tennis, softball, swimming and diving, crew, track, water polo and many more. Due to the lack of promotion, most of these sports don’t receive the recognition they deserve and go unacknowledged by students, and untouched by the school’s spirit. Whether it is going to a swim meet or a track meet, students should show their profound passion for our school, which is usually given towards football, and express it towards the school’s lesser known sports. Though these sporting events compared to football attendees usually consist of parents and relatives, this shouldn’t discourage students arrival. Students should go and cheer classmates on, or just go with friends and spend quality time together, while strengthening the harmony we, as students, achieve through sports. Attending these games can also give students a new perspective into Plant. Plant is extremely diverse, offering a surplus amount of activities, clubs, classes and athletics. Just seeing all the sports offered alone can allow insight into how much of a variety is present. And this assortment should be appreciated by all students. Even though football is immensely popular, and does deserve the hype it receives, there are other sports that exist that exude that same level of thrill and enjoyment. So challenge the social norms and go to a water polo meet with a few of your friends, and show that zeal for our school’s sports.
14 • Arts and Entertainment
November 2015
Film club comes to fruition
‘The Martian’ fosters potato love
Blair Eustace Copy Editor
Column Bennett Taylor Editor-in-Chief
After playing a scientist trapped on a foreign planet in the solar system to test human colonization, Matt Damon moved on to his next role, in which he plays a scientist trapped on a foreign planet in the solar system to test human colonization. Damon’s role in “Interstellar”, as Dr. Mann, surprised some viewers who did not expect an A-list actor to take a seemingly minor role; yet, “The Martian” illuminated the role of extremely intelligent botanist Mark Watney, stuck on Mars after being smacked straight in the nose by a flying object from a Mars space storm and losing his ride home. Complex cinematography complimented a unique storyline in space; brilliant visuals of a life on Mars amplified the vast beauty of the planet, while portraying a stark, lonely journey that the budding botanist must deal with. And, addressing the trailers, he does grow some potatoes with homemade fertilizer. The joke about his fertilizer could only make the bright comedic mind of the middle schooler laugh. His eating of potatoes appears to create its own unique subplot, as his completely unnecessary daily vlogs usually begin with a sarcastic comment about consuming some Mars grown spuds. Supposedly the film excelled in realistically portraying events of Mars, which likely upset scientists and other brilliant space buffs who love to rip on errors that ruin the movie for them. But, to the average eye, who really cares about whether or not the exact physics of the intercept
between Watney and his team in the spaceship was right? These scenes are cool. These are also the people who objected to the original T-Rex wrecking the modified, raptor-TRex in the latest “Jurassic Park.” Among many curious survival options, the eating of potatoes for a period of a few years seems not only highly unlikely, but extremely unappetizing and bland.
An insightful film can take viewers out of their seats and into the world of the characters, putting them in the story, and changing their entire perception of the world around them. A newly-formed club focuses on the capacity of film to impact and unify a generation in the midst of adolescence. The film club will focus on one iconic film each month to be discussed at club meetings. “It’s a very cerebral club - so a lot of analysis, sort of [a] Socratic seminar type [situation],” said Hunter Loiselle, junior, and president of the club. “The things that we tackle or cover in film club are things that I have wondered myself, and I’m sure that many [others], especially high schoolers have felt the same way I do. In a situation like high school it’s very tough, and you start thinking all these things, wondering, so we’re just trying to
help,” said Loiselle. The aim of the discussions will be to answer real-life questions, such as individual interpretations of the meaning of life. The club’s sponsor, English teacher Ms. Cowart, believes the club will be highly beneficial for students. “The analysis portion is what I want the students at Plant to be doing. It’s pleasing to have an analytical club that uses a different form of text than the ones people are used to using,” said Ms. Cowart. She believes students will be able to draw unexpected parallels between lessons taught in classes such as English and AP Language and Composition and the assigned films. “There’s arguments in film and it’s trying to send some sort of message, and often times that message is to think outside of our myopic box, to think about what we need to learn about ourselves,” said Ms. Cowart. Already enrolled mem-
bers are eager for the club’s beginning. “I’m really excited for it to start,” said Xan Miñan, senior. “It sounds like a fun thing, since it’s centered around discussion of some really great movies. I think it’s long overdue.” The club plans to examine films such as “The Shawshank Redemption”, “Pulp Fiction”, “Memento” and “Fight Club”- mature films with commentary on the human experience. “I’m actually learning along the way with all the members as we go and it’s gonna be really helpful to everyone,” said Loiselle. “It’s gonna allow for introspection and thus help us navigate and go into the world with empathy and compassion and a better understanding of the world around us and the people within it. We’re all here together.” Interested students can meet with Hunter Loiselle or Ms. Cowart for more information or to join; the club’s first meeting will be on club day, Nov. 18.
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If stuck on a island, alone, I would likely cry sad tears of sadness as I slowly swallow bits of potatoes that I grew with my feces. While I have reservations about the skill set of a space botanist in thriftily surviving on his own for a few years, I was pleasantly satisfied with my movie-going experience. So let’s all wait for another space movie, starring Matt Damon; hopefully, he’ll not be all alone in space.
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Arts and Entertainment• 15
November 2015
Burger Monger offers variety of burgers options High quality beef compliments friendly atmosphere, challenging favorite burger spots Matt Blydenburgh Opinions Editor Five Guys and BurgerFi have both been tough competitors in Tampa’s battle for best burger restaurant. While the former holds the best deal for your wallet and massive portions, and the latter may offer a much more trendy backdrop while you dine, South Tampa’s newest source of competition, Burger Monger acts as a major contender in the battle for best burger. After opening during the Summer of this year, Burger Monger brought in one of the strongest flows of customers into their shopping plaza, offering diners a different choice from the less-than-stellar Moe’s and the now-closed Just Thai options that previously limited customers. One reason for this could be the significant improvement in atmosphere that Burger Monger
boasts compared to their competition, with a much cleaner dining room and a more welcoming and bright feeling. But the main reason for the restaurant’s success is the high quality of food produced every day. What separates their food from others is the high-grade Japanese Akaushi beef used to make the patties. This beef is easier to digest as it has much less grease than traditional burgers but is still very juicy. Also, Burger Monger has a wider assortment of toppings, ranging from the traditional lettuce, tomato and onion to premium toppings like smoked bacon and chili that give burgers and hot dogs a better assortment of flavors. Their own signature “Monger Sauce” also gave the burger and fries their own variation on sweet and spicy. Although some other restau-
PO’P Matt Blydenburgh
rants may give a limited range of cheeses to choose from for their burgers, Burger Monger lets customers step outside of the same boring trend of american or cheddar cheese and venture into such choices as an amish blue cheese, whole-milk mozzarella
and even a fancy french brie. A single-patty burger with bleu cheese, lettuce. tomato and grilled onions had the freshest and best flavor out of the thousands of potential combinatoions the joint had to offer. Aside from the assortment of
food offered, Burger Monger also puts out some of the best milk shakes offered in South Tampa, both in quality and quantity. Although the flavors are more traditional, such as vanilla, chocolate and cookies and cream, the shakes are made using Haagen Dasz ice cream, giving more depth to the flavors of the shakes. Unlike many other restaurants that only give one serving per purchase, Burger Monger givescustomers both a full glass, as well as a tall metal mixing cup with the equivalent of another shake for you to finish or share with another friend. Burger Monger’s new-wave take on a burger joint has brought one of the better takes on casual dining in recent memory. Their extensive menu with near-limitless options helps them to stand out amongst their competitors as one of the top candidates for best burger in South Tampa.
16 • Arts and Entertainment
November 2015
Madrigal dinner features ‘Shrek The Musical’ Joseph Rosenberger News editor Emerging from his isolation in his dank, murky swamp, the classic green ogre Shrek will be performing at St. Mary’s Church as part of the chorus department’s annual Madrigal Dinner. This brilliant fairytale has resonated with everyone who has seen it on the big screen, and now is the perfect opportunity to see it adapted in a school musical. Every December the chorus department adapts a show that is accompanied by a recreation of a medieval feast in what is called a Madrigal Dinner. Like an onion, this musical will have layers and layers of amusement for everyone. Go for the food, the music, the laughs, and the great performances. Stuart Lindquist (junior), Carter Lindquist (junior), Samantha Jacobsen (junior), and Dante LoCicero (junior) will be the primary actors with the Lindquist Brothers starring as Shrek and Donkey respectively, Jacob-
sen playing Princess Fiona, and LoCicero playing Lord Farquaad. “It’s going to be awesome. Carter and Stuart and Dante are all so amazing and so I think this is going to be such a great show. I’m so excited for it,” Jacobsen said. This year, examples of songs being featured in the musical include “Story Of My Life,” “What’s Up Duloc,” and “Travel Song.” Last year “Frozen” was performed for the audience and included the participation of Jacobsen in the ensemble. The year before last featured a staging of the uproarious and entertaining search for the Holy Grail by the British comedy group, Monty Python. The chorus will not only continue their streak of performing well received shows like “Frozen” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” but they will also continue their streak of delivering them in the most entertaining and satisfying way possible. Under the leadership of chorus director, Bruce Yost, these students among all the others involved in the overall produc-
tion have practiced hard and are looking forward to the final performance on Dec. 5 and 6. “I’ve been practicing my Scottish accent and learning my lines and learning my music,” S. Lindquist said, who has been in “Putnam County’s 25th Annual Spelling Bee” and two other Madrigal shows. “I like being up on stage in front of everybody pretending to be somebody I’m not.” C. Lindquist, when not practicing with his brother and the other actors, has worked on his own performance. “I have been perfecting my Eddie Murphy,” C. Lindquist said. “It’s going to be perfect.” C. Lindquist has also been involved in several previous school productions, including “Putnam County’s 25th Annual Spelling Bee.” Come support the school and the chorus department this December. A different musical will likely be played next year, so don’t miss the opportunity to see this childhood favorite, thanks to the effort of students.
PO’P Darnell Henderson
Stuart Lindquist, junior, practices his lines in front of the rest of the chorus during auditions.
Arts and Entertainment• 17
November 2015
Mr. Penguin impresses with new location Sam Werner Circulation Manager
When craving a frozen treat there is a plethora of places located around South Tampa. These options include Cold Stone, Yogurtology or Dairy Joy. All these places have similar menu options: frozen treats with toppings. Mr. Penguin is one of Tampa’s most popular ice cream spots. The chain offers a unique concept of soft serve ice cream and Italian ice together. It sounds like a crazy combination, I too was hesitant at first to try the peculiar dessert option, but I’m so glad I did. Since the first Mr. Penguin located on Platt St. was so successful the chain has recently opened a second location at 1155 S Dale Mabry Hwy #11 Tampa, FL 33629. This location, right across the street from Neptune Publix, is much more convenient to not only the school, but also to anyone located in the Palma Ceia area.
PO’P Blair Eustace
This Dale Mabry location includes an indoor dining area with air conditioning and retro furniture, a nice change from the completely outdoor original location with benches and few tables. The air conditioning allows for a better experience, allowing the customer to no longer
have to worry about sweating on hot days and being able to eat their ice cream before it melts. The new and improved location still includes the same menu items, gelati, Italian ice with flavors ranging from root beer to bubblegum, and two traditional soft serve ice cream
flavors: vanilla and chocolate. The gelati menu item (which is a combination of Italian ice and ice cream) creates a nice contrast in texture. The ice cream, smooth and creamy and the Italian Ice, grainy and icy are completely different. The ice cream allows for the taste of the Italian ice to pop which creates a flavor explosion, when brought together they create an irresistible frozen treat. For someone less adventurous with their dessert options the chain offers both the ice cream and italian ice separately. The Italian ice offers a refreshing, icy feeling, leaving a craving for more. The ice cream soft and creamy melts on the tongue, leaving not only a glorious taste but a happy customer. With dessert spots popping up all around South Tampa, Mr. Penguin’s new, and more convenient location makes it a great choice for an after school treat or a family dessert night.
Mr. Penguin’s Flavors Mango Lemon Blue Raspberry Cherry Black Cherry Coconut Banana Passion Fruit Chocolate Mint Chocolate Cookies & Cream Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cherry Bubble Gum Tropical Paradise Rainbow Melon Ball Cookie Butter Orange Cream Root Beer Peach Piña Colda Sour Green Apple Strawberry Strawberry Lemonade
18 • Sports
November 2015
Water polo arrives in bay area Savannah Lowry Arts and Entertainment Editor In time with the 2015-2016 school year came the start of a new sports club, “813 Water Polo”. Founded by Brian Donahue and a group of interested students, the club has brought a new variety to the water sports of the school. The sport and club are described by junior, Caroline Donahue, as “a competitive sport and really tough, fun and very unique.” A handful of students have joined the club since its start. “I wanted to join because I tried out a couple practices and really liked it,” said Olivia McIntosh, sophomore. “813 Water Polo” has teams for both boys and girls. Member Jake Connery, sophomore, is a part of the club because, “it’s a
POP Darnell Henderson
fun sport, a great way to meet new friends, and it [has] also improved my swimming.” Water polo also has its known challenges such as a player needing to be able to tread water for four, six or seven minute periods, but for Connery the hardest part is, “having to occasionally get hit in the head with the ball.” However, for anyone to participate in a sport there must be a favorite part. “It’s a fun way to workout and it’s fun to be with friends,” said sophomore, Kenne-
dy Reed. This club has also provided a port for former competitive swimmers such as sophomore, Sophie Barbas, “I like water polo more than swim team because it’s a lot more interactive and something different. Water polo has come to the 813 and is most likely here to stay with growing popularity among the student body with just an open house sign up of 22 students. An official season is set to start on Feb 1 and last to April 2, by then the sport will most likely be an official part of Panther athletics. Sophie Barbas, junior, reaches above the water for a catch during practice. Plant Football Leaders: Passing TDs: Kyle Trina, 10 Rushing TDs: Tykese KeatonBaldwin, 5 Receiving TDs: Whop Philyor, 4 Sacks: Joe Ryan and Davis Bak, 5 Interceptions: Pat Cooper, 2 Tackles: Joe Ryan, 94
Star player reflects on fall season Pershia Haj Staff Writer Varsity football’s regular season came to an end Friday, Oct. 30th. The team will face Kathleen High School, a highly anticipated game. Wide receiver and running back, Whop Philyor ( Junior), totaled 3 touchdowns this season. Philyor has been offered a scholarship by Syracuse, Toledo, Cincinnati, and USF, but does not have a top choice yet. Q; What did you expect from plant football when you first started freshman year? A: “I didn’t expect it to be as easy it as it was when I first came, starting on JV- I went straight to Varsity when my six games were over.” Q: What was the best experience of the whole season for you?
A: “The game against Sickles. Our backs were against the wall the whole game. My experience from that game was catching a touchdown to give us momentum. It was the most clutch thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Q: Do you have any pregame rituals? A: “I read the bible every game and pray” Q: How does it feel to be on the field Friday nights? A: “Friday nights feel like I’m in a movie. The crowd is always electric. When I play I just feed off the the energy from our fans.” Q: What are your feelings towards going into playoffs? A: “I’m so excited. I want to see how tough our team really is because we have a strong group.”
Sports• 19
November 2015
Bottom Line Is... College football four taking shape
Column Jacob Robinson Sports Editor Thanks to crazy finishes with Michigan-Michigan State, Alabama-Ole Miss and even Notre Dame and Clemson, the College Football Playoff is already looking permanent, even if the season is in its 11th week. The four teams, currently Clemson, LSU, Ohio State and Alabama, will be completely different come the end of the season. The new number 1 team, the Dabo Swinney-led Clemson
Tigers, are atop the ACC, with notable wins over Notre Dame, Florida State, and Georgia Tech. On both sides of the ball, they dominate their opponents, and being undefeated among a top conference definitely shows they deserve their spot. The defending champions, Ohio State, who have battled with QB controversies to stay undefeated, will most likely keep their spot among the four. They do have to defend home turf against Michigan State and then the following week travel to Ann Arbor to play Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines on the 21st and 28th of November, respectively. They cannot lose both or else they will fall out of the rankings. The last current spot is held by the SEC’s Louisiana State Tigers. LSU enters the top four boasting a current undefeated record, by beating teams such as Mississippi State, Auburn and
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Florida. They do have to face two big tests in Alabama on the road
The four teams that will enter the tournament at the end of the season will be Clemson, LSU, Ohio State and TCU. and at Ole Miss. Les Miles and his team also shouldn’t forget
Texas A&M, because if any team can play spoiler to a team on the bubble, it’s certainly Kyler Murray and the Aggies. But the Tigers will prevail, and ultimately capturing a spot. With Baylor out of the picture, we turn to who will replace them as the last spot. And any postseason isn’t complete without Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. They got off to a rough start when they lost 43-27 to Chad Kelly and the Rebels of Ole Miss, but they’ve picked things up lately, beating Georgia and Texas A&M to find themselves having to potentially win out the rest of their schedule. They do, however, have to beat Leonard Fournette’s LSU team that will enter Bryant-Denny Stadium with an unbeaten record, but winning in Tuscaloosa is next to impossible (unless you’re Chad Kelly), and the Tigers will ultimately lose. The four teams that will enter
the tournament at the end of the season will be Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, and TCU. Alabama will ultimately lose to LSU, making them fall out of the picture with two losses. And after finishing the year with an undefeated record, TCU will find itself into the picture, shocking many. The matchups of Clemson-TCU and LSU-Ohio State will more entertaining than any other possible matchup. The 2016 semifinals will be what college football fans nationwide are waiting for. Notable upcoming games: TCU vs. Baylor, 11/27 Ohio State vs. Michigan State, 11/21 Notre Dame @ Stanford, 11/28 LSU vs. Texas A&M, 11/28 Oklahoma State vs. Bayor, 11/21 Alabama @ Auburn, 11/28 Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State, 11/28
20 • Advertisement
November 2015