p o r d y r e v E s t n u co Issue III, January 2019
STAFF LIST: Print Editor-in-Chief Genna Nordling
Online Editor-in-Chief Abbie Tuschman
Managing Editor
Alexandra Sansone
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TABLE of CONTENTS
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Head Editors
Annabelle Rosa Elena Valdez
Sports Editors Olivia Lewis Hailey Brown
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General Editors Joseph Sturgeon Arielle Kraus Sabrina Wong
Editorial Assistant Sasheen Joseph
Staff Writers
Emma Huerta Victoria Martin Sofia Mendez Karen Suros Ryan Merard Isabella Marcon Emma Franz Julia Safrin
Sports Writers
Hannah Eubanks Kyleigh Sprigle Kayla Gates
Photographers
Cassie Hartmann Carly Cuoco Kayla Florenco Alexa Jaspan
Illustrator
Colin Camblin
Adviser
Fallan Patterson
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ON the COVER
Taken by Print Editor-in-Chief Genna Nordling, the image on the cover depicts the redwood trees of the Muir Woods National Monument in California. The concept of the cover came to Nordling when she was looking through past photos she had taken and was inspired to create the current illustration layered over it. The concept of the article corresponding with the cover, the center spread, was born after Nordling presented her creation to The Lariat staff. All graphics and images not credited to The Lariat staff comply with fair use standards.
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NEWS
Email enigma
THE CONSEQUENCES OF STUDENTS LOSING THEIR COOPER CITY HIGH EMAILS Technology has made education more convenient by allowing students and teachers to integrate a major component of their daily lives into their schooling. Over the past decade, as the popularity of smart devices has skyrocketed, the presence of electronics in the classroom has become increasingly common. Computer carts and smart boards can now be found in classrooms and some students even bring their own laptops to school. With this increase, email has grown especially popular in terms of school communication as it allows teachers and students to interact in a professional manner. Previously, the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) funded the purchase and creation of the coopercityhigh. net website. The school was able to create Gmail accounts for all students with the coopercityhigh.net domain. As of August 11, however, due to the fact that all school websites were standardized by the district, the Cooper City High School (CCHS) website changed and the
old domain was terminated, the coopercityhigh.net emails could no longer function. At the time, administration confirmed that these emails would be replaced with a Microsoft Outlook email provided by the district. Students have yet to receive these emails and, according to Student Assessment Specialist Melissa Megna, the district is still ironing things out in regards to the Outlook student emails. The primary difference between the old emails and the emails that will be provided through the district is the switch from Gmail to Outlook. These emails have emails have been inactive since the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year and students and teachers have responded differently to their absence. The majority seem to think that the emails’ disappearance is an issue not worth noting. “I don’t think it matters either way [whether the school provides emails or not],” U.S. History teacher Dwayne Dixon said. “Just have an email. I’ve
seen how kids are resistant [to utilizing their coopercityhigh. net emails] or are refusing to use it … my thought is all we need to do is be able to contact kids.” As long as students aren’t still using the emails they created in middle school, Dixon noted, with addresses such as “Pikachu41@hotmail.com” and “ B i g G u y 6 5 9 7 @ g m a i l . c o m ,” students can utilize emails to maintain correspondence with teachers regardless of the domain. Students also share the mentality that the emails— though a nice additional resource—were ultimately unused. When the emails stopped working, it was only aggravating for a few individuals. “[The school email] was helpful for sure, but I didn’t really utilize it until five months after they gave them to us,” senior Alex Brower said. “And some people didn’t even know they had school emails to begin with.” Senior Amanda Mulvaney also commented on the incident, recalling that she had been using her school email for scholarships and college applications.
“It was really just a mild inconvenience,” Mulvaney said. As for Broward Advisers for Continuing Education (BRACE) Adviser Christine Siwek, she believes that it is an unfortunate situation but understands that administration can’t do anything else during this waiting period. She also advises that students make sure any accounts associated with the coopercityhigh.net emails be switched to a personal email. Despite the fact that students appeared to be outraged when the emails first became inactive in August, it seems that the ruckus has quieted down as students, teachers and administration have grown accustomed to the change. Once again, students who do not possess an email and want to maintain correspondence with teachers, continue the college application process or pursue a job opportunity should consider making an account using one of the following credible email services: Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook or AOL Mail.
BY ANNABELLE ROSA
Photo by Carly Cuoco
NEWS
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‘Tis the season WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FLU SHOT
During the 2017-2018 flu season, 80,000 “The flu is so readily spread that people Americans died of the flu while 900,000 were who are well and are at lower risks of dying hospitalized, a record-breaking year for flu from the flu are the ones that spread it to the season severity, according to the National most vulnerable populations,” cardiologist Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Now, Dr. Jennifer Cooke said. “The most important in the middle of the thing for people to understand 2018-2019 flu season, about the flu shot is that, if what Americans don’t “IF WE ARE ABLE TO we are able to vaccinate the know about the flu people who are likely to give VACCINATE THE vaccine could kill them. it to the people [who] are PEOPLE WHO ARE The first line of at the highest risk of dying, defense against the flu is LIKELY TO GIVE IT that’s how we can save lives.” the flu vaccine. Medical Viruses adapt and TO THE PEOPLE providers are encouraging evolve quickly. Vaccines everyone to get their developed prior to the [WHO] ARE AT THE are flu vaccination this flu season and represent year, so that it might be an educated guess on HIGHEST RISK OF maximally effective during which virus will be the DYING, THAT’S the peak of flu season. most communicable as “The more people HOW WE CAN SAVE well as the best manner to that can get vaccinated combat it. Even when a flu to protect themselves vaccine does not perfectly LIVES.” against the virus, [the match the most common -DR. JENNIFER COOKE flu during flu season, it still better the] chance of avoiding the flu and the assists in combating the flu CARDIOLOGIST severity and shortening deadly complications that come with it, the time needed to recover. especially the younger “The flu shot vaccine people and the older population,” takes the most popular strain from the registered nurse Lesley Johnson said. previous year and that’s what you’re inoculated Even with a healthy immune system, against,” Johnson said. “The flu itself tends the flu vaccine is considered to be the most to mutate and change, but a majority of effective way to combat the influenza virus. the vaccine will still cover you for that.”
This year, there are currently six flu vaccines widely available. The type of flu shot that is most appropriate largely depends on age. People that are 65 years or older tend to have weakened immune systems; therefore, the high-dose shot or the shot with adjuvant, an immune booster, is thought to be the best line of defense. “These special formulations are three to 10 percent more effective for those 65 and older,” professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Dr. Paul Offit said. “Both are currently offered only in trivalent formulations.” For most everyone else from 6 months old to 65 years old, the best shot is thought to be the quadrivalent shot. In the event that the quadrivalent shot is unavailable, it is best to get a trivalent shot and have some coverage rather than to wait for the quadrivalent shot to become available. For people that normally avoid the shot due to a fear of needles, there is a nasal spray version of the vaccine. Every flu season, people are encouraged to take measures to protect themselves— and those around them— by getting the flu shot. Although some years are better than others, last year was one of the deadliest. By becoming informed about the flu vaccine, Americans can take steps to avoid hospital stays, hospital bills and death.
BY ISABELLA MARCON
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NEWS
Bye bye, Butler SUZANNE BUTLER MOLDS HER FINAL MOMENTS TOGETHER AT CCHS BEFORE RETIRING After 40 years, Suzanne Butler, pottery teacher at CCHS, has retired. After 21 years of teaching at Nova Southeastern University, five years in New York and an additional 14 years at CCHS, she has decided to graduate from the education system. Butler has been teaching art for most of her career. The classes she has instructed range from drawing to fine arts to 3D art. H e r years as a
teacher haven’t been solely dedicated to the fine arts. Butler also has language arts on her resume, as she taught reading classes early on in her career. More recently, she has focused on the art of pottery at CCHS, a class that is reserved for seniors. Butler carried a large workload during her time at CCHS. Setting up the pottery room for her students’ 7:30 a.m. arrival required her to get to work around 6:15 a.m. She began by emptying and loading two kilns and preparing clay for the students’ projects. The class can get messy at times, resulting in Butler occasionally having to mop the floor and check tools to ensure they were still intact after use. Butler has had a passion for art since she was a child, which is why she chose to pursue art education. “Art has always been a passion of mine,” Butler said. “Since I was a very little girl, if you put me in a room I would be the happiest with my paper and my crayons and my glue. Throw glitter in and I would be in heaven.” Butler feels that the time of her retirement is appropriate and is ready to move
on to the next chapter of her life. Butler has many reasons for retiring at this time, one being that her husband is retiring as well. She believes that it would be convenient to retire with him. “It will be tough retiring mid-year, but it's the right time for me,” Butler said. Whenever a teacher retires, coworkers and students may have mixed emotions about their departure, especially when it occurs in the middle of the school year. Many of Butler’s students are emotional about her retirement and wish that she could stay for the rest of the year. “I’m sad that she is leaving,” senior Damien Forbing said. “I’ll miss her in Pottery and her teaching us how to create good art. I wish she could finish the year off.” For Butler, retiring mid-year may make this process a little tougher, but the thoughts of relaxation help her cope with it. Now that she has retired, she plans to spend a lot of time taking care of herself and her family. She has also considered volunteering to help the community. “I’m sure I’ll miss the students and my coworkers but there's so much out there to do, I’ll eventually get over it,” Butler said.
BY RYAN MERARD Photo by Kayla Florenco
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OPINION
Too school for Juul LIMITING TEEN ACCESS TO E-CIGARETTES IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION High school bathrooms have been smelling a lot better lately. Mango, bubblegum and creme brulee are among some of the scents that one might notice even just passing by a school restroom. But the sweet aromas aren’t from perfume or a new line of Febreze that the custodial staff has been trying out. The smell is from vaping, a trend that has taken over the nation. The modern e-cigarette was first introduced to the Chinese market in 2004 by inventor Hon Lik, who got the idea after his father– a heavy smoker– died of lung cancer. For many smokers that can’t break the habit, the devices seem like a good alternative to traditional cigarettes because they don’t contain tobacco. But the false impression that vaping doesn’t carry its own risks is leading to an epidemic among the young generation– specifically high schoolers. Since many antismoking campaigns focus on combustible, tobacco-filled cigarettes, many adolescents might be unaware of the risks associated with the fun, fruity flavors of e-cigarettes. Rather than buying e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking, many young users are vaping for pleasure– and as a result, are increasing their likelihood of smoking regular cigarettes in the future. “E-cigarettes could lead to more than 1.5 million years of life lost because their use could substantially increase the number of adolescents and young adults
who eventually become cigarette smokers,” Associate Professor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice Samir Soneji said. And while 66 percent of teens say they are vaping “just flavoring,” it doesn’t mean that they aren’t inhaling trace amounts of nicotine. Soneji states that even some e-juice that claims to be nicotinefree contains some of the stimulants. Not to mention, e-cigarettes without nicotine can still cause extensive lung damage, leading to health issues such as Chronic Obstructive P u l m o n a r y Disorder (COPD). But adolescents might not be considering these risks when they upload videos of themselves vaping to their Snapchat or Instagram stories. Today’s teens know the harm that smoking conventional cigarettes can bring. Since childhood, they have been bombarded with anti-smoking ad campaigns from organizations such as The
Real Cost and Tobacco Free Florida. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) has been making appearances in classrooms since 1983. But the dangers linked to Big Tobacco are still infiltrating the lives of America’s youth under the guise of Big Vape– and it’s time that the government steps in and does something about it. That’s why many were happy to hear the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s plans to increase regulations on flavored nicotine products, such as menthol cigarettes and sweet e-juice. The plans largely target products that are marketed toward young people, in response to the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n’s 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which found a 78 percent increase in e-cigarette use among high schoolers in the past year. T h i s announcement comes after the largest e-cigarette company in the United States, Juul,
said that it would suspend the sale of flavored e-juice pods in stores and the promotion of products on social media. The proposed regulations include limiting the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in stores and bans on flavored cigars. This could have a significant impact on African-American youth specifically since they smoke flavored cigars and cigarettes at higher rates than other groups. While some argue that the proposed regulations aren’t doing enough to keep the products out of teens’ hands, it’s undoubtedly an important move that can lead to other major changes in the e-cigarette industry. When such a large number of high school students are exposed to vaping each and every day, parents and teachers are rightfully concerned that the practice can have unforeseen consequences on their health and future. Because the practice is relatively new, scientists still aren’t aware of all of the longterm health impacts that frequent e-cigarette use can bring. Vaping in the bathroom at school is a way that many high schoolers relieve stress, socialize with friends or take a break from the chaos of rigorous course loads. But the cotton candy and s’mores scents that linger in bathroom stalls are a sign of a much more dangerous phenomenon. It’s about time that federal agencies step up to the task of protecting America’s youth.
BY ABBIE TUSCHMAN
DNA Testing
IT’S NOT WORTH THE TIME AND MONEY Growing through the stages of life from infant to adult, there’s only so much one can learn about themselves. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing kits have become more and more popular these days, allowing the population to discover new traits about themselves. Although what someone may find through these kits may be interesting, is spending all that money on them really worth it? People who use DNA testing kits are provided with elaborate details on a variety of topics, such as genetic health risks, wellness, carrier status and trait reports. The reports give back extremely intricate information. Some examples include: sleep movement, genetic weight, cilantro taste aversion, earlobe type, toe length ratio and mosquito bite frequency. Prices for these kits vary, ranging from $50 to over $130. That’s a lot of money to be spending to have a sample of DNA broken apart and analyzed. However, not all results are guaranteed to be 100 percent accurate. Some reports may be completely false, making it an unreliable source to receive information from. “The thing is, [the results] didn’t tell me things about myself, but they told me things that I’m most likely to have based on my genes,” 19-year-old Gabriella Jaspan said. “I found some of them to be inaccurate as well.” Jaspan was gifted one of these kits over two years ago. She used the company 23andMe. There are a multitude of companies who sell DNA testing kits, with some of the most popular being 23andMe, AncestryDNA, Living DNA, FamilyTree DNA and MyHeritage. All of these kits require the participant to submit a sample of their saliva in a collection tube using a specific barcode to the company’s lab. After sending in the sample, it takes about six to eight weeks for the results to be returned. An email is sent to the customer, notifying them that the reports are ready to view. These reports are presented digitally and are only available through the participant’s online account.
However, the security of DNA samples is not always protected. While some websites have a specific privacy policy where their processes are detailed, not all provide this extra feeling of safety. For the sites that don’t have their privacy policies listed, customers are not assured of a secure process. After sending in a sample of DNA to a random lab, where does it go after it has been evaluated? DNA contains the biological instructions that allow for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. These instructions are what make each species unique. If it is unknown where the DNA sample goes following its analysis, then that means outside sources could potentially have access to private information. Personal genetic data is not supposed to be released to the public or anyone untrusted. According to Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC), there are huge risks that arise by sharing DNA. Hacking is always a possibility that can occur with any large company. In June of 2018, more than 92 million accounts from the genealogy and DNA testing service MyHeritage were found on a private server. Laws covering genetic privacy may also not be broad enough. Currently, there is only one law that covers genetic privacy. Based on the CNBC article, the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (also known as GINA) is too narrow in its focus on banning employers or insurance companies from accessing this information.” Many suspicions can emerge as a result of DNA testing kits. While they may provide a unique look at some traits someone never knew they had, the potential findings aren’t worth the high cost and lack of security associated with the kits. Save your time and money.
BY SABRINA WONG
OPINION 9
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OPINION
Over-caffeinated and overworked High school students live extremely busy lives, starting their days before the sun rises and ending them well into the night. With more than a million things to balance, from school work and extracurricular activities to social lives and selfcare, teenagers are left with little time to themselves— meaning even less time to sleep. Student bodies tend to run on empty, having their energy completely drained with no time to ever fully recharge. Sleep deprivation is extremely common and extremely serious, as it can affect both emotional and physical well-being. Teenagers experiencing a lack of sleep find it increasingly more difficult to concentrate on and retain material. Mood swings and increased irritability are also common, as well as a weakened immune system and daytime fatigue. Feeling weary throughout the day
STUDENTS ARE NOT GETTING THE REST THEY NEED
causes many students to quickly become reliant on caffeine in order to focus on tasks and material presented to them. Professor Mary Carskadon at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University conducted a study regarding student sleep schedules. She discovered that waking up as early as 6:30 a.m. has led students to compromise their health for academic success. Aside from genetic predispositions or diseases that may affect sleeping schedules, seemingly healthy students are struggling to remain awake. Honors and AP classes provide strenuous homework that can take upwards of two hours, oftentimes
leaving students stressed and with little free time. Sleep is an important part of staying healthy. Not only does it allow for the body to restore its chemical balance and heal itself, but it also aids in memory retention and the formation of new connections. According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a lack of sleep will leave the brain exhausted and unable to perform tasks to its full capacity, which is precisely what so many students face. Students forfeit their basics needs, such as sleep, to accomplish their goals and maintain a healthy social life. Spending time with family and friends keeps a person present, however, if one
is experiencing a lack of sleep, these things can quickly become foreign to them. Staying in bed on the weekends to catch up on sleep missed during the weekdays takes away from connecting with others and simply living life. In turn, the lack of a social or personal life can lead to a decrease in mental health. Living completely drained, day by day, leaves teenagers hopeless. Medical professionals suggest that adolescents aged 13 to 18 should get at least eight hours of sleep per every 24 hours. However, this is seldom the case. Teenagers are expected to function as adults with fast-paced lives and little sleep time. Teenagers are still growing and in order to
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grow properly, a good night’s sleep is vital. The CDC concluded that only 27.3 percent of students aged 13 to 18 reported getting between eight to 10 hours of sleep in 2015; this number has stayed relatively consistent in the following years. Three hours of sleep is not normal but has been normalized, with more importance placed on school and extracurriculars than basic health. Students are pulling all-nighters every week and passing out in the middle of class from the exhaustion that plagues them. Sleep deprivation harms students across the nation, decreasing the quality of their work and their life. Students should be able to wake up without a cup of coffee, feeling well-rested and ready for the day to come. Society needs to stop viewing tired teens as normal.
BY ELENA VALDEZ
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CENTERSPREAD
Water ever Water conservation in Broward County. It may seem that Florida has an abundance of water because of the beaches and the Everglades, but that may not be the case for everyone in the state. In Broward County, as the population continues to grow, the need for clean, consumable water grows with it. According to the United States Census Bureau, Broward County had an estimated population of 1,935,878 in 2017, making it the second most populous county in Florida and the 15th most populous county in the United States. The problem is that all of these people consume a nearly unfathomable amount of water. Broward County currently estimates that its citizens use about 262 million gallons of water per day and if you include salt water, canal
water and reclaimed water, that number jumps to about 292 million gallons of water per day. Most of Earth’s water resources are inaccessible, and since there is only so much accessible water, its supply can, and will eventually, run out. Of course, some people may derive a false sense of security by the fact that the planet is made up of 70 percent water, but only three percent of that water is actually usable fresh water. About 68 percent of that freshwater is trapped in glaciers, icebergs or is otherwise unavailable. The result- global water scarcity. “I am concerned that water scarcity could affect me in the next 10 years because we’ve already seen droughts and poor water quality in America,”
sophomore Christian Mangles said. “Globally, the problem is even worse, not to mention the cost for cleaner water being high.” An estimated 1.2 billion people live in areas of water scarcity, which means that they lack access to water or safely usable water. In addition, another 1.6 billion people live in areas where water shortages occur, due to a lack of infrastructure to harness available water. For at least one month a year, 66 percent of the world’s population live in areas where water scarcity occurs. As populations continue to grow, water systems remain under stress. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming so polluted that they are not able to be consumed. Over half the world’s wetlands have disappeared. If you
factor in climate change and booming agriculture trying to keep up with the world’s food needs, it is not a question of if this will this affect the Earth, but when. The problem can even affect local cities and towns as well. A look at the past helps. In 2008, Cooper City had a water consumption problem and an expensive choice to make- decreasing the amount of water utilized, or investing $12 million to expand its water treatment program. Cooper City chose the conservation route and it has thus far been successful. The city implemented an aggressive water conservation program that featured rebates for highefficiency toilets, rain barrels (for gardening), sensor-driven irrigation systems and shallow
CENTERSPREAD 13
rywhere
but not a drop to drink
irrigation wells. The end result was that Cooper City was able to cut its water use 7 percent from an average of 99 gallons per person per day in 2008 to 92 gallons per person per day in 2016. As Cooper City and South Florida continue to grow, new and innovative ways to reduce water consumption can be implemented in advance of shortages. “The steps I can take to converse water now, if it could help ease water scarcity, would be watering my lawn less, or taking shorter showers,� sophomore Noah Lamdanski said.
BY ISABELLA MARCON
Photo and graphic by Genna Nordling
FEATURES
Not many students can say they’ve composed a symphony by age 16. That, however, is not the case for junior Enrique Poveda. Throughout his life, he has dedicated himself to music and plans to perform, for the first time in his life, his fourth symphony this December. Poveda’s affinity with music began in elementary school after he witnessed his school’s chorus perform. On that day in third grade, he decided music was something he wanted to pursue. Not knowing why he was inclined toward the art, he began to take the steps necessary to pursue it. “I remember seeing people in the school play and thinking that would be interesting to do,” Poveda said. “So that’s what got me into chorus, which got me into music.” Despite what some may assume, there was no pressure from Poveda’s family to pursue music. Poveda was inclined to indulge himself in the activity and his family allowed him to do so. They have encouraged him to follow his heart. However, Poveda’s family views music as a hobby– a commonality among many parents. But Poveda is dead set on making a career of his music. “I want to make something I’m proud of,” Poveda said. Having participated in Florida’s All-State Chorus and Broward County’s All-County Chorus, Poveda is involved in music with every chance he gets. He plays a plethora of
One student’s symphony instruments, from the classic piano to the simple triangle. His musical endeavors have extended outside of school and earned him a spot in the Florida Youth Orchestra: a national, non-profit organization for young, aspiring musicians at a professional level. “His writing style definitely matches his personality,” chorus adviser Anna Lotocky said. “When you listen to what he has composed, you get a glimpse of his soul. Enrique likes to include the unexpected at times in his writing.” It is not all high notes and melodies, however. There are often flat notes in his life. By being so involved in music, it has proven to be easy for Poveda to fall behind in school. Like a scale that is never balanced, he either works wholeheartedly on his music or wholeheartedly on his schoolwork. He describes the balancing act as sporadic. The scale recently has been tilted more so towards music. Poveda has finally finished his fourth symphony after more than a year of hard work and dedication. “The actual symphony took me about a year and a half to finish. It was the only thing I was working on,” Poveda said. “I wrote it at a very low point. I used it to simultaneously vent my current feelings and also try [to] create a projection of the future I could have if I got better.” Music, for Poveda, is a way to feel something. “A lot of my music was
ENRIQUE POVEDA MAKES MUSIC
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Photos by Carly Cuoco Student composer and junior Enrique Poveda works on the fourth movement of his symphony, “Gran Riassunto.” derived as a form of venting,” Poveda said. “In the past year, I’ve had an onset of numbness and music has become a way for me to remember the emotions I had to vent out before.” Making music and expressing himself has led him into a community of musicians in his same shoes. Poveda posts his work on SoundCloud, where he receives feedback from other musicians and his peers. The appraisal of his work and validation from others is nice at first but, as Poveda explains, in the end it is his own approval that matters the most. “It [other musicians commenting] was the first time I realized I could do
this for a living,” Poveda said. “But it’s all on me in the end.” The hard work of the past year has paid off– his fourth symphony, “Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major ‘Tempest,’” is scheduled to be performed by the Florida Youth Orchestra in early December. His symphony is composed of four movements entitled, “Passo Veloce con Furia e Trionfo”, “Allegro Scherzando,” “Romance” and “Gran Riassunto.” Poveda himself will be performing in the showing, rather than conducting. “[Music] is not something I can find a reason for,” Poveda said. “It’s just always been there.”
BY ELENA VALDEZ
FEATURES 15
BRIAN BECKER SHOWS HIS PASSION FOR TECHNOLOGY Every day, it seems as if new innovations are on the rise, as creators scramble in order to develop the newest and hottest commodity on the market. With these increasing amounts of technology, new gadgets are constantly being brought to society’s attention, which may take some getting used to. Some may find it difficult to adapt to the ever-changing realm of technological advancement. On the other hand, some miraculously soak up the new information quickly and apply it effectively in order to share with others. This is the case for freshman Brian
Photo by Alexa Jaspan
Becker, who is known among his peers as a “tech-savvy” guy who is able to fix iPhone screens to stage lighting to radio networks. “I think that Brian is very talented with technology across the board,” freshman Chase Perrotta— Becker’s best friend— said. “From being a DJ, knowing how to edit on two editing softwares, making two apps and being able to create his own radio station.” In school, Becker exemplifies this versatility and gift for technology through his impactful participation in multiple programs. These include TV production class, Variety Show operations and helping peers — and even teachers — with occasional technical difficulties. “He has a lot to bring to Cooper City right now,” TV production and Cowboy Television (CTV) teacher Alfredo Pichardo said. “He comes during Personalization hour and works on technical issues that I have in class. He [also helped] the technical side of Variety Show doing the staging. He’s helping me with audio and graphics because my seniors graduate and I need someone to take over, so I introduce him little by little to all the technology we constantly do to give back to the school.” All of this technological work, plus some classes from his past, have aided the creation of a strong foundation for Becker, allowing him to quickly work his way up to more advanced programs like CTV. “He took TV class at Pioneer Middle with Ms. Ferreira— so he excelled there, too— and I used to go there all last year to help him out,” Pichardo said. “He’s [now] advanced enough to possibly go into CTV. Right now, he’s keeping up with the challenge— he should be a good addition.” The benefits of this strong education of technology from middle school is visible in the recognition Becker has already received for his achievements in the field. In 8th grade, he even received a top award at the Florida Scholastic Press Association (FSPA) state competition. “I am very passionate about video editing, and last year I won All Florida for a Broadcast/News Package,” Brian Becker said. “It was a video about the flu and how to prevent it.” And, as if all of these helpful impacts on the school weren’t enough, Becker also takes on extraordinary projects outside of CCHS. Becker owns and operates
multiple radio stations, On Air With Brian Becker and a nightly show on ATTR, a network he also started and owns. “Both shows are very similar in the content. I talk about pop culture news, new music and such,” Becker said. “On Air With Brian Becker broadcasts on [about] 40 stations in different markets around the world, and when it airs is decided by the station. The evening show is every night from 6-10 p.m. on ATTR.” One of Becker’s more recent projects, specifically in the broadcasting field, is his new prominent radio network Clearwater Radio, which is a compilation of all of the radio shows he owns. Besides successfully creating and running the network, Becker also managed to create an application to accompany it. The app is currently available for free on the iTunes app store to any Apple mobile device running iOS software. “Clearwater Radio has been my project for the past year,” Becker said. “It’s a radio station network compiled of radio stations I have made that stream music to the app and website 24 hours a day, every day of the week.” Although Brian Becker has multiple talents and is a technological genius, he also has a caring and pleasant personality, something evidently prominent in his classes, extracurriculars and overall contributions to the tech field. “[He’s] well-rounded, extremely courteous and helpful,” Pichardo said. “[He’s] open enough that if anyone needs his help he’ll help all [of] his group do technology or editing when they’re having issues because he would already be finished.” Brian Becker’s future looks exceptionally bright, taking into consideration the tremendous amount of work he puts into his projects, a preexisting quality that has increased over time and as his love for tech grew. Out of all of his notable talents in the field, Becker believes that one specifically might suit him best. “I have always been interested in tech and I just kept getting more interested throughout the years,” Becker said. “I think I will probably go into the broadcasting field.” Whether it be among friends, teachers or fellow peers, Brian Becker’s impact on those surrounding him is evident. Becker’s giftedness in technology is one unique aspect about him, but the immense effort he puts into his work and what he does with this talent is what makes him truly extraordinary. “Brian inspired me by persuading me to join TV Production in the 7th grade, and now it’s one of my favorite things to do,” Chris Perrotta said. “Brian definitely inspires others because he is living proof that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it.”
BY EMMA HUERTA
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ENTERTAINMENT
Inescapable entertainment
THOUGH SOMEWHAT FAULTY, “ESCAPE ROOM” REMAINS INCREDIBLY THRILLING AND ENTERTAINING The recent film “Escape Room” leaves no room for boredom, despite having its rough patches. The movie centers around a group of six carefully chosen individuals who have all accepted the challenge of making their way through the most difficult escape room in the world, created by the company Minos. Lured by the reward of $10,000, they begin to solve what they think is a harmless puzzle before discovering that the rooms are designed to kill them. Viewers, beware: after watching, you won’t be enticed to complete an escape room anytime soon. The actors portrayed their characters well, taking care to immerse themselves in the high-risk situations their characters were living through. The fear was clearly depicted on their faces as their hands and voices shook with the emotion of fighting for their lives. Actress Taylor Russell wonderfully captured the innocence and anxiety comprising Zoey, the young genius who solves the entire game. Russell, however, seemed to lack emotional depth and was a bit disconnected from the plot. Despite Russell’s choppy character development, Deborah Ann Woll (Amanda) expressed a large range of emotions that helped her endear to the audience, making her inevitable death all the more upsetting. Logan Miller in the role of Ben— a down-on-his-luck grocery stocker— took charge of the scenes with an aloof attitude used to hide a heart of gold. Miller brought perfectly crafted quips and snarky comments to the film, diluting tense situations with comedic moments. While the puzzles themselves did not seem very complicated, the manner in which they were presented on screen never left the audience uninterested. The carefully crafted background music and
sound effects only added to the suspense as the contestants continued to narrowly escape death by pulling incredible stunts. The director, Adam Robitel, though inconsistent in his dedication to quality cinematography, had his moments. He played with perception by creating a room in which everything was placed on the ceiling, aptly titled the “UpsideDown Room.” Robitel’s technique of guiding the camera through unique and fluid movements successfully depicted the difficulty of navigating the room. The most impressive aspect of the film by far was the attention to detail. Upon further research, audiences will find that Minos, the name of the escape room company, has another meaning. In Greek mythology, Minos served as the king of Crete and commanded that seven young boys and seven young girls be sent to the labyrinth to face death by the Minotaur. This use of foreshadowing, however, might only be appreciated by those familiar with Greek mythology. Though the movie was enjoyable, it had a rough ending. It seemed as if the ending of the film was controlled by an entirely new director. The closing seemed forced and unnatural, leaving the audience with unanswered questions. It was as if the writers forgot about the last 20 minutes of the movie and had to throw it together in the eleventh hour, a stark contrast to the rest of the film. While the plot leaves room for a sequel or franchise, the rushed nature of the first movie’s ending will poorly set up future films. All in all, “Escape Room” makes for a good watch despite instances of inconsistent cinematography and lack of emotional depth among characters. Though it had its faults, it remains incredibly entertaining.
BY ALEXANDRA SANSONE
Blindly thrilling “BIRD BOX” TAKES THE INTERNET BY STORM
“Whatever you do, do not take your blindfold off,” is a warning Sandra Bullock repeats many times throughout the two-hour duration of Netflix’s most recently released thriller, “Bird Box.” The harrowing thriller follows a mother, Mallorie (Sandra Bullock), and her two young children, Boy (Julian Edwards) and Girl (Vivien Lyra Blair), as they desperately journey, blindfolded, in search of a remote safe house after a mysterious and unseen entity drives the majority of the population to commit suicide. “Bird Box” is based on the 2014 post-apocalyptic novel of the same title by American novelist, Josh Malerman. The novel was adapted into a screenplay written by Oscarnominated American screenplay writer, Eric Heisser. The film was directed the by Academy Award-winning director for 2010 foreign language movie “In a Better World,” Susanne Bier. A couple of weeks after its initial release on December 13, 2018, “Bird Box” sent Twitter and other social media platforms into a frenzy with fans of the movie doing the viral “Bird Box Challenge,” where one does a variety of things blindfolded like the characters in the movie. However, like many other internet challenges, it has been viewed as dangerous as some YouTubers took the challenge to another level, like Jake Paul, who went as far as to drive into traffic blindfolded. The dangerous challenge became so viral Netflix decided to step in and take action. On January 2, they issued a public health warning. Later, Netflix took to Twitter and tweeted, “Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.” The movie unintentionally sparked a viral internet challenge and has been undeniably popular among consumers, with many saying it’s Netflix’s biggest hit to date. The film was streamed by 45 million subscribers in the first week of its release, a record high for a Netflix original. While it is loved by many, it is equally hated by those who see many flaws in the film and nothing special about it. Some criticize it for being filled with plot holes and many unanswered questions that appear throughout the film. The movie is also being compared to “A Quiet Place,” another sensorydeprivation horror film of the same year, by fans and critics. Yet, others say the two movies have nothing to do with each other. Although the movie has been widely criticized, it scored a 63 percent (a passing score, also known as a ripe tomato) on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.7/10 on IMDb. Whether viewers love it or hate it, it’s no doubt that “Bird Box” has taken the internet by storm and has taken a lesser-known novel and turned it into a major, well-known Netflix hit. “Bird Box” is flying high in the Netflix rankings and will surely nest into movie history.
BY JULIA SAFRIN
ENTERTAINMENT 19
Streaming wasteland QUALITY VERSUS QUANTITY ON NETFLIX
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There is little doubt that the media-streaming provider, Netflix, is so popular that it has become more than just an entertainment option. It has assumed the role of shaping American culture itself. Having original content and a massive collection of movies and television shows, Netflix has an audience of over 118 million people worldwide, with 55 million of those subscribers residing in the U.S. With so many people turning to Netflix for their entertainment, it is time to ask the tough question: Is this a good thing? Given the fact that there are no longer local video stores, like Blockbuster, the concern is that new and young audiences may find it difficult to find, watch and enjoy amazing classical films. Netflix should continue to produce new programming, but should also include more classics from genres including classic movies, horror movies and classic television shows. According to the American Film Institute, of the top 20 movies of all time, there are surprisingly very few that are available on Netflix. Of the top 20 movies of the last hundred years, only “The Godfather” and “Schindler’s List” are currently available to stream on Netflix. Classic movies that are widely regarded as the best ever made, including “Citizen Kane,” “Casablanca,” “Gone with the Wind” and “Lawrence of Arabia,” are all absent from the Netflix streaming library. Now that the Halloween season has long passed, it is notable that Netflix’s horror genre leaves much to be desired. Although Netflix’s horror genre may be overflowing with movies, those available to viewers are generally of low quality and are substandard compared to classic horror movies of older times. Of the top 10 scariest ranked movies, according to Esquire Magazine, only one movie, “The Shining,” is available to stream on Netflix. Other classic movies that have inspired reboots, remakes and sequels, such as the original “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,”
“Halloween” and “The Night of the Living Dead,” are all unavailable on Netflix. Last year, the film industry recently released a new installment of the “Halloween” franchise featuring Jaime Lee Curtis’ character, Laurie Strode, who was in the original movie. “The Walking Dead” is in its ninth season, and recently said goodbye to main character Rick Grimes. In order to properly appreciate both of these horror titles, a viewer really needs to see the originals. However, Netflix seems to be overly focused on lower quality and B-movie horror fare. Turning to television shows, while Netflix has produced some interesting television programs, some historically good shows are likewise omitted from the Netflix streaming library. To give credit where credit is due, Netflix has produced some amazing television shows including “Black Mirror,” “Stranger Things,” “Big Mouth” and “The Haunting of the Hill House.” However, there are a lot of television shows that are conspicuously absent from the Netflix streaming library. Classic television shows that one might expect to see on Netflix but are unavailable include: “The Sopranos,” “The Wire,” “Seinfeld,” “The Simpsons,” “Freaks and Geeks” and “All in the Family.” It would be a shame for generations who mainly get their television shows from Netflix to miss out on these classic programs. Netflix is a powerful media source that has a broad base of subscribers. Cultural influence carries with it a great deal of responsibility. While Netflix should be celebrated for providing an expansive library covering a multitude of genres and for producing its own quality content, it’s sadly leaving behind some classic movies, horror films and television shows. These productions make up the foundation of today’s movies and television, and should not become casualties of the digital age.
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BY ISABELLA MARCON
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20
ENTERTAINMENT
A regretful rewind
YOUTUBE REWIND 2018 WAS A DISASTER On December 6, 2018, the popular videopublishing platform, YouTube, released its most anticipated video of the year: YouTube Rewind 2018. Full of overly cheesy throwbacks and awkward jokes, the video has received loads of backlash from its esteemed viewers. YouTube has been putting out such “rewind” videos since 2011, consecutively releasing one each year since. The videos were originally meant to summarize the past year by reflecting upon viral trends that were prominent during the respective year. The videos feature various popular YouTube video-creators, referred to as YouTubers, who made some sort of a special impact that year and remained relevant. This year, YouTube Rewind featured cool video bloggers like Emma Chamberlain and The Dolan Twins, talented makeup artists like James Charles, tech YouTubers like Marques Brownlee and gamers like Ninja. Even renowned actor (and now YouTuber) Will Smith appeared in the video. The video
also included references to some of the most monumental online trends, such as Korean pop music (“K-pop”), Fortnite and mutant makeup. So, if the video includes so many popular, loved nuances, why are people so upset? The general issue with YouTube Rewind this year is that it’s reportedly an unjust representation of 2018. It included some of the most prominent creators on YouTube, as
well as some famous jokes and events, yet the video still seemed detached from the requests of the masses and the true highlights of 2018. For instance, well-known creators like Pewdiepie, Logan Paul and Shane Dawson were not featured in the video, although they had (and still have) vastly recognizable impacts on YouTube. Pewdiepie currently has the most subscribers on the entire platform, and his constant bickering with the channel T-Series– which is close to beating Pewdiepie’s record– attracted even more attention from viewers. Both Paul and Dawson were also massively popular this year with Dawson’s documentary series discussing the behind-thescenes of Paul’s chaotic YouTuber life. Despite such huge impacts, these huge creators were left out of Rewind, much to the dismay of their huge followings. Between the fun parts of the video, the featured creators sat on logs surrounding a campfire.
These awkwardly placed and worded acknowledgments about triumphs made in the last year regarding serious topics seemed to interrupt the video, cutting off the cheerful recollections of past YouTube memories. Although the video did address many important events, this abrupt attempt at openly talking about those issues after watching YouTubers stuff their mouths with Korean food does not make the speeches believable, especially since they’re unconvincing in the first place. Not only in this scene but in Rewind as a whole, the YouTubers are trying to act along with the storyline, making the already cringe-inducing script even faker and just flat-out terrible. In response to the evident flaws of YouTube Rewind, viewers are showing backlash in all different kinds of ways, whether it be by leaving a distasteful comment or just by warning their friends not to watch it. Viewers have gone so far as making it the most disliked video on YouTube, with almost 10 million dislikes by December 13. They managed to beat the original record holder, Justin Bieber’s “Baby” music video, in just under six days. Overall, YouTube Rewind 2018 evidently did not live up to its expectations, as it had visible flaws and did not adequately cater to its audience. As with other embarrassingly bad content on the Internet, Rewind 2018 must now face the constant ridicule of viewers. Hopefully, Rewind 2019 does not meet the same fate.
BY EMMA HUERTA
SPORTS 21
New beginnings LACROSSE SEASON STARTS OFF
Photos by The Lariat Photography
Cooper City High School (CCHS) is home to very competitive lacrosse teams, both boys’ and girls’ varsity. Both of the lacrosse teams’ seasons start in late January and run until late April. In the previous year, both CCHS teams were successful when competing and they hope to succeed again this coming season. Last season, the boys’ team faced obstacles but was able to overcome them, making it as far as the district semifinals. Losing to Cypress Bay in a tight game, only one point stood between the Cowboys making it to district finals and achieving their ultimate annual goal— making it to states. This year, however, they face the obstacle of recruitment, as the team has not seen many new players. “So far we have [had] no freshmen come to conditioning,” junior Jordan Meshel said. “We lost close to 10 people who were our biggest contributors to the team.” The boys’ team has started preparing for their upcoming competitive season by holding preseason conditioning with hopes of getting a head start on what they believe is going to be a rigorous season. The team lost many valuable players and is not gaining many new athletes, especially any who have the same skill or experience as those who left. The Cowboys are anticipating a difficult season. “Yeah, we lost players, but we have enough guys that stayed
to make it work,” junior Robert Stephenson said. “We’re hoping to get another chance at a district championship.” The Lady Cowboys, on the other hand, have been on a winning streak for the past few seasons and hold the 2016 and 2017 district championship titles. However, they weren’t able to attain the win at regionals. The Lady Cowboys are hoping that this year they can win districts and make it further than they have in the past. “I think we can win districts again,” junior Marley Patterson said. “We need to be more focused in practice and take everything seriously.” The girls’ lacrosse team will hold conditioning in January and start their season in late February. They have a large number of not just freshmen, but upperclassman players coming in with an interest in trying out for the team. As opposed to their male counterparts, not many players left the team in the transition from last season to now. Both the Cowboys’ and Lady Cowboys’ seasons will start soon. The two teams are looking forward to more successful seasons and are hoping to win a few more championships. The girls want to keep their streak of winning districts going while the boys want to make it further in districts and possibly regionals. Both teams have ambitious goals for themselves.
BY KYLEIGH SPRIGLE
Undefeated 22
SPORTS
LADY COWBOYS KICK OFF THE SEASON WITH A PERFECT RECORD With soccer season underway, the Lady Cowboys have taken to the field, training and competing against schools across the county. Cooper City High School has faced many opponents so far, but remains undefeated. The team hopes to further their winning streak as the competition intensifies. T h e 2018-2019 soccer season began in late October. Students of all grade levels participated i n
Photos by Kayla Florenco
a week of tryouts in order to showcase their skills and potentially make the team. The selected players then practiced for the upcoming season, which officially started in November. Following a season that included a win a t the district
championship, the Lady Cowboys hoped to match those achievements this year. However, the team had many changes to work with. The first involved an adjustment to the coaching staff. Kevin Coleman took over as the head coach for the girls’ varsity team this year. Another involved changes to the roster, as the team lost and gained players prior to the start of the season. Many new students were promoted to the varsity level after showing a great amount of skill during tryouts. Among those players are freshmen Kylie Doherty, Alexis Monge, Tamar Shani, Julia Moore, Sabrina Molina and Sofia Molina. The girls have not only played at starting positions, but have contributed to the high scores at each game. “It’s an honor playing on varsity as one of the only starting freshmen,” Doherty said. “I feel like I’ve played good for a freshman.” Despite many adjustments, the team hoped to start the
year strong. The Lady Cowboys opened their season with a home game against Pembroke P i n e s Charter o n
Novemb er 13. The teams were tied with two points each for the majority of the game, but Cooper City managed to score the winning goal late in the second half. The game ended with a score of 3-2, and became the team’s first victory of the season. After a close opening game, the Lady Cowboys worked hard to improve both their defense and offense during their weekly practices. The result was an undefeated and unscored upon team. Since their opening game, no school has been able to score
SPORTS 23 a goal against Cooper City. The season consisted of many games in which the Lady Cowboys took a significant lead. One instance was the team’s November 27 game against Miramar High School, which ended with a score of 11-0. Cooper City took on and defeated the school once again on December 12, where Miramar lost by a score of 10-0. “I think that throughout the season we have learned a lot about how each other plays, which helped us in the games,” sophomore Karlie Schlosser said. “Coach Coleman has given us different strategies that help us penetrate the defense where a lot of our goals are scored from.” With the Lady Cowboys putting many points on the board and their opponents struggling to score, Cooper City has remained undefeated. The team has won 14 consecutive games, including their seven district matchups.
With such accomplishments has come recognition at both the local and national levels. Cooper City High School is ranked 24th in the state of Florida and 74th in the country for girls’ soccer. The team also holds the top spot in its district. As for the future, the Lady Cowboys look forward to the remainder of the year. With only four games left in the regular season, the team hopes to continue their winning streak as they approach the playoffs. Players hope to not only match last year’s district title, but advance even further. “We’ve learned to incorporate different playing
techniques to help us not only win games but prepare for harder ones down the road,” senior Sarah Megna said. “Hopefully all of the hard work we’ve been putting into our team will pay off and we can bring home another district championship trophy.” All in all, the Lady Cowboys are confident in their progress this season, which has included many wins. The team hopes to remain undefeated as they transition from the regular season to the playoffs. Cooper City High School’s girls’ soccer team looks forward to potentially winning the district championship once again.
BY KAYLA GATES
"BTS sparked my interest in learning again! The unique teaching styles, small class size, and personalized learning all helped me learn and become accustomed to the ins and outs of the SAT. I recommend BTS to anyone looking to improve their test scores!" Alex Katsotis
CCHS ‘19
1550 SAT+2 30
“Getting tutored by Adam Moss at Broward Tutorial Services was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Without him, my score wouldn’t have gone up 140 points. I wouldn’t have wanted to get tutored by anyone else, anywhere else!” Taylor Goldman University of Florida ‘22
SAT 1300
“I highly recommend BTS to anyone getting ready to take the SAT or ACT. Adam and Mike are really dedicated to the success of their students. They provided different strategies to reviewing material and practice testing and motivated me to do well.” Sam Mickenberg CCHS ‘19
SAT 1520