FASHION FORWARD A look inside the creative mind of Maurín Santos López PAGE 18
A LEGACY Guidance honors senior students at awards ceremony PAGE 6
The newspaper of Cooper City High School | Issue V, May 2017
GIRL POWER How flag football forged the road to states, finishing off the group of five girls’ sports that have made it into the playoffs this year BY OLIVIA LEWIS AND HANNAH EUBANKS Sports Writers
DISTRICT CHAMPIONS Softball named district champions PAGE 23
Throughout the 2016-2017 school year, several of Cooper City High School’s sports teams have succeeded. However, it was different from most years for the Cowboys. Out of all the teams at Cooper City High School, five girls’ teams won district championships. Varsity soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, flag football and softball won a trophy for Cooper City High School and put them on the map. One of the first teams to win a district championship this year was girls’ varsity volleyball. This season was one of the most challenging for the Lady Cowboys, considering that they faced some of the best teams in the district. The girls were able to break through the obstacles and went 5-3 in district games. The girls practiced almost everyday after school, working on hitting and positioning. Before every game, the girls had a tradition where they would sing Pitch Perfect songs, creating good vibes among the team. Senior Nicole Pardon would lead the warm-ups for the team, stretching them and making drills. “This season definitely had its ups and downs,” senior captain Pardon said. “We went 5-3 in district, making us work ten times harder to win the district championship. I am beyond proud of how far we got this season.” The Lady Cowboys went into the district final game under a lot of pressure, knowing that they were facing South Broward. South Broward was undefeated in the district, making them one of the best teams. The girls didn’t let that phase them, and ended up beating the Bulldogs, making them back-to-back district champions. “I think I speak for most of the team when I say that we were very proud of how far we came this year, we had to really fight for the win this season,” senior Bella Volpe said. Moving on all the way to regional semifinals, the girls varsity soccer team won a district title for the first time in years. The team worked hard together the entire year, almost going undefeated. The team practiced every day after school at 3:30, conditioning and making game plans for the teams they were going to play. Before every game, the girls would stretch and do a quick drill to warm-up their legs. They would then get a pep talk from their head coach, Steve Cardona,
and scream their cheer. At the beginning of every game, the starting eleven players would run to the middle of the field and agree on their goals, and then make a joke to keep everybody calm. “I think the team did really well together to be able to get to districts, which has been our goal since the beginning of the year,” senior captain Katie Slinkosky said. “Each game was one step closer to the championship, and we took them on to be able to enhance our runner up title last year to champions this year.” This was one of the best years for the girls varsity soccer team in a while, and they gave it their all to get to where they ended up. Lacrosse is one of the newer sports at the schools, considering that it was a club sport. This group of girls were back-to-back district champions, winning their first ever district title last year. The girls varsity lacrosse team went undefeated for district games (8-0), placing them as number one in the district. The Lady Cowboys returned to the district championships to play the same team they beat the year before, Cypress Bay High School. The game kept everybody, including the fans, on their feet but the girls pulled through and won with a score of 14-7. The Lady Cowboys then moved onto the regional quarterfinals, where they played against the notorious St. Thomas Aquinas. The girls gave it their all, but lost to the Raiders. The girls varsity lacrosse team was known to be one of the best by many rival high schools. The girls warmed up at every game with energy, passing and shooting repeatedly. Before every game, head coach Bill O’Connell would scream a cheer and the girls would repeat it. This hyped them up and got them ready for any endeavor they faced. The girls hope to continue their district champion streak and bring home another trophy for the school next year. “I think we did really well considering we had a lot of obstacles to overcome,” senior captain Florence Andreiu said. Later in the year, the girls varsity softball team advanced all the way to regional finals where they faced off against the St. Thomas Aquinas. They were also back-to-back district champions, and wanted to redeem themselves for their loss at regional finals last year. The girls achieved great wins all year, blowing teams out. Continued on page 22
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Table of Contents NEWS
Concert band performs Encore!............4 Underclass awards honors students......4 NHS induction.......................................5 HOPE Club Suicide Awareness Week...5 Seniors honored for achievements.......6
OPINION
Twitter changes the world............8 Politics in science are complex......8 Coding should be a language.............9 The Lariat wins awards for work...9 Shopping at farmers markets......10 The end of the fourth quarter matters..10
FEATURES
Thanks for the memories............12-13 Where are they now?......14-15 Ms. Brandt-Asciolla: feminist theater...16 Hannah Riggot: exploring the future...17 Maurín Santos López: fashion forward..18
ENTERTAINMENT
The best ice cream places for summer...19 Born in China review..........19 Thirteen Reasons Why pro/con..20 Best required reading books....21
SPORTS ABOVE: Vice President Melanie Smith awards seniors their cords for NHS. Photo by Karina Blodnieks
Flag Football’s road to states......22 Softball named district champions..23 Baseball narrowly loses district title..23
The Lariat changes hands
Congratulations to the new editorial panel and staff members!
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Kendyl Counts Kyle Nelson
Sophia Wengier
MANAGING EDITOR Sabrine Brismeur
Tamarah Tamarah Wallace Wallace
GENERAL EDITORS
Olivia Lewis
HEAD EDITORS Noah Castagna Darian Sablon
SPORTS EDITOR
Last words
A letter from the editor The Lariat has been a source of stability for me since I began my freshman year. Walking into Mr. Grozan’s Journalism 1 class in 2013, I knew immediately that I wanted to play a role in building this paper. Little did I know, The Lariat would have trials aplenty for the years to come, and that serving at the helm of such a spirited paper, I would have moments of sheer joy, insurmountable pride and many, many, many tears. For those of you that have been long-time readers of The Lariat, I won’t try to hide our fallow period after our long-time adviser Mr. Grozan left unexpectedly at the end of my freshman year. For a long time, we were struggling to find our voice. My first year as editor-in-chief was filled with disappointments, but I won’t pretend it didn’t have to do with my own inexperience and lack of confidence. We had a staff with plentiful potential and an adviser that cared, but for some reason, the work wasn’t flowing. It took me a long time to stop blaming myself for this. And so, it is with both a heavy heart and immense pride that I walk away from The Lariat as the editor-in-chief that led it through both its worst year and its best. With the unmatched dedication of Ms. Callaway, we’ve worked to strengthen the paper and its writers to a level we could not have dreamed of a short 12 months ago. We are now one of the top eight print publications in the state of Florida, and I could not be more proud. In fact, pride sounds like an understatement. I am grateful beyond words for the hours the staff has put in, as well as the unequivocal passion and effort Ms. Callaway has poured into this paper. This turnaround is nothing short of miraculous. With that being said, I’d like to thank the woman who made this all possible; to Ms. Callaway, thank you for the endless support you’ve offered me. In many regards, you’ve been my anchor for the past year and I could not be more grateful for all you’ve done for me. To Kendyl, Kyle and Sabrine, I know you will do great things, so long as you remember everything we’ve done here. To Darian and Noah, who have my heart always, it’s been one of the joys of my life to watch you two grow into the powerful student journalists you are today. To the current staff, you all will individually bring me to tears the last time we’re all together; you are some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. To the incoming staff, every last one of you is incredible, and while I’m saddened I will not get to watch you all grow, I am so excited to see the new heights you will take this paper to. And finally, to the only person on the planet with a lifetime subscription to The Lariat: Ms. Doll, your support has only made us stronger. I will miss you. As I stand on the cusp between my secure memories at Cooper City High School and the vast uncertainty of college in New York City, I am humbled to have served as editor-in-chief for this paper. There is nothing in my life I have dedicated more time and effort to than the well-being of The Lariat. It is, in fact, through The Lariat that I have learned the true meaning of pride. The memories and lessons of the newsroom are ones I will carry with me to Columbia in the fall, so know that each and every staff member has left me a better editor, writer and person. For my final letter from the editor, I have only one thing I could possibly close with: remember your power. I’ve found mine through journalism. It is through truth that we can change the world. Stay fabulous,
Ben Milgram
ART EDITOR thelariatonline.com
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NEWS
Lights, camera, Encore!
Sound of Pride and concert band play their final performance BY KENDYL COUNTS Managing Editor, Print
ABOVE: Saxophone players perform at Encore! Photo by Colin Camblin On May 12, the Sound of Pride Marching Band and Color Guard took to the stage for their 11th annual end of year performance. Through an interactive prism concert, performers showcased their work from throughout the year as a final hurrah before the seniors graduate and that year’s band is immortalized in memory. Encore! features 33 acts from all parts of the Sound of Pride program: marching band, concert band, colorguard, and percussion. Performers began preparing for the show weeks ago, with students attending hours of rehearsal leading right up to the day of. The night kicked off with a social hour at 6 p.m., when friends and family arrived early to enjoy refreshments, participate in raffles and chat with the performers before the three and a half hour show began. “It’s amazing how much work goes into this,” band parent Maria Weaver said. “You can tell by the amount of people that are here to see the show - they know it’s going
to be great.” As social hour ended, the auditorium filled up with friends, family, faculty and even alumni - some of whom graduated years earlier, when today’s seniors were freshmen. “It’s different not being [a part of it],” Sound of Pride alumni Alex Zaffos said. “I always want to play when I see them on stage - it’s a little bittersweet.” Started in 2007 by former band director Chris Schletter, Encore! combines all musical and visual elements of the band program into one production. Each year, Encore! gives the students a chance to put their talents on display for their supporters without any judges in sight. Because the event takes place long after the competitions and evaluations have ended, students have more freedom to perform what they like, from movie classics like the “Star Wars” theme to a Kazoo rendition of “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. The chorus even participated in the celebration of modern music, performing the upbeat “You’re Welcome” from Disney’s Moana. The junior varsity color guard made their Encore! debut with a lyrical routine to “How Will I Know” by Sam Smith, and the varsity guard performed their award-winning winterguard routine to “Everything Must
Change” by George Benson. At the end of the show, both groups joined together for a masked routine, which they concluded by advancing threateningly into the audience. By redesigning movements from the field to fit the auditorium, Encore! achieves a mixture of indoor music with outdoor motion. Performers utilize not only the stage, but the entire auditorium; members of the ensemble march up and down the stairs, providing the audience with an immersive, surround-sound experience. Consistent with the form of a classic “prism concert,” the moment an act ended, a new one began unannounced. The combination of a lack of introduction for each act and the fact that it could occur anywhere in the auditorium kept the audience on their toes. Surprises were not only reserved for the audience, however. To celebrate Jed Davis’ 25th year of teaching percussion at Cooper City High School, the Sound of Pride Drumline performed the drum cadence “Spider,” which Davis first taught to the drum corps Suncoast Sound. This act of appreciation added to the emotional atmosphere of the night - for the students and staff of the program alike, Encore! is one of the Sound of Pride’s most memorable performances each year. As per tradition, the theatrical production revisits the music that was performed all year - the concept from which the name Encore! was devised. This year, the Sound of Pride redesigned their marching band show “The Right” to fit within the auditorium and played select concert band pieces that were performed at the State Music Performance Assessment. This gave students the opportunity to play their favorite pieces one last time before they pack it away to begin learning the next marching band show. Encore! is the last time that senior band members get to perform with the Sound of Pride, proving to be very emotional for some. Towards the end of the show, the seniors get together and sing “the band song,” a tune that was written many years ago by a Sound of Pride member with lyrics about family, hard work and lasting memories. Band members come together for this tradition before every performance as a symbol of the unity between them. As seniors stood with their arms around each other and sang this song for the very last time, many teared up reflecting on how far they have come. “For seniors, it’s our last performance with a family that we have come to know and love,” clarinet captain Melanie Smith said. “We have fun making music with each other, but we are never going to be able to do something like this, with these people, ever again.”
Underclass awards honors over 100 students BY TAMARAH WALLACE Staff Writer
At the end of each school year, Cooper City High School presents awards to many of its top performing students in a plethora of subjects ranging from mathematics to technical programs to world languages as well as honors those who have achieved recognition outside of the school. During this year’s event, administrators, along with a representative from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office, honored over 100 underclassmen for their academic, leadership, and service prowess. The ceremony was held on Thursday, April 27 and honored students with general awards as well as department-specific honors.
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For a complete list of winners, check out thelariatonline.com
NEWS
Passing the torch
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National Honor Society hosts induction ceremony to honor graduating members and new inductees BY DARIAN SABLON Online Editor The room was packed with both students and parents, celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in their lives and the end of another. The NHS Induction Ceremony was more than just the acceptance of over 100 students into NHS - it was an appreciation for everything that the club stands for. “It feels very humbling to be surrounded by such exemplary individuals such as the men and women in that room,” junior and NHS inductee John Lystad said. “They are all exceptional human beings, all of them great leaders and good people.” Cooper City High School’s NHS Chapter celebrated the induction of its new members on Thursday in the auditorium. Consisting of speeches from both old and new officers surrounding the NHS’s four pillars (scholarship, service, leadership and character), the ceremony served as a way to send off its 60 graduating senior members and reward them for their participation in the club. Special Recognition awards were given to those seniors who dedicated themselves to NHS and put in the utmost effort in trying to make every one of the club’s projects successful not only for the club but more importantly for the community at large. “I’ll definitely remember this moment for the rest of life, I got to help the community with Chad, we got to do great projects,” 2016-2017 NHS Country Representative Logan Piper said. “The ceremony really has a deep meaning for me.” Aside from saying goodbye to the past members, the ceremony was also centered around welcoming the 104 new members to NHS as well as its new officers. Ranging from both upcoming juniors and seniors, the ceremony served as a way to help bring a sense of unity among the inductees and promote active participation in the club for the betterment of the community. “I hope we can finally make an impact in our society as a whole,” junior and NHS inductee Alexis
Shectman said. “It’s not just going to be for service hours but it’s going to be for the community in total.” Overall, it was an emotional experience for everyone, particularly for the seniors as well as the club’s advisor Mr. Dixon, who received an award for his commitment to helping organize the club and its projects. “It was great saying goodbye to my seniors and welcoming the new inductees to National Honor Society,” advisor Mr. Dixon said. “Seeing the inductees walk across the stage gives me the hope to take this club above and beyond [its] endless potential.”
RIGHT: Vice President Melanie Smith awards senior Sam Steinberg her graduation cord. LEFT: Advisor Dwayne Dixon gives senior Logan Piper a medal for outstanding service. Photos by Karina Blodnieks
Talking more, saving lives
HOPE Sunshine Club holds Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week BY NOAH CASTAGNA Online Editor The CCHS chapter of the HOPE (Helping Overcome Problems Effectively) Sunshine Club held its Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week, which began on Monday, May 15 and concluded with the Hugs for HOPE 5K Run and Walk on Saturday, May 20. One of the HOPE Sunshine Club’s ultimate goals is to foster an environment where students feel comfortable approaching topics like suicide and mental illness directly among their peers. During the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week, HOPE Club members took to the cafeteria with this very goal in mind, offering an open platform for discussion and advocating for a more informed approach to these sensitive issues. “These are things that some students may not want to open up to their guidance counselor about,” HOPE Club member Atiya Pitaktrakul said. “No matter what problems people face in life, there needs to be something here for them.” Their efforts throughout the week culminated in the 4th annual Hugs for HOPE 5K Run and Walk held
at Markham Park on Saturday. The walk helped to raise money for the various HOPE Clubs throughout both Broward County and Miami-Dade County and bring the community together around positivity and understanding. “The goal is to promote positive mental health and inform people so that they are able to be kind to others,” counselor Mrs. Neeck said. “And hopefully, to save lives.” The HOPE Sunshine Club is an undertaking sponsored by the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention (FISP). The clubs are currently in 27 different schools (ranging from middle schools to colleges) and have saved 12 student lives in the last 4 years. Current programs include support groups for those that have lost a loved one to suicide as well as educational programs and tours. “There are a lot of things we just don’t talk about, as far as emotions go,” FISP representative Nate Andre said. “We need to discuss how to deal with these feelings in the right way in our communities, and nobody is talking about it.”
Check out thelariatonline.com for coverage on recent events like: Prom Yearbook release Environmental Club revamping the butterfly garden Check back weekly for more updates!
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NEWS
Honoring outstanding seniors
Senior awards gives graduating students a chance to celebrate their accomplishments BY SABRINE BRISMEUR Staff Writer
ABOVE: TV Production award winners Lian Chung and Jason Chua stand with adviser Alfredo Pichardo. Photo by Sabrine Brismeur Dozens of seniors took the stage last Thursday night to be recognized for accomplishments in sports, service, academics and scholarships, taking home awards ranging from small medallions to two-foot trophies. The program began with recognition of scholarships that were awarded to students by third parties, ranging from Broward County scholarships to Burger King and Wendy’s ones. These students received several thousand dollars from these merit-based scholarships, ranging from one thousand dollars to several thousand per year. Benjamin Goldstein received the Carsons Scholarship Fund for 1,000 dollars for his published research in the medical sciences and will be attending the University of Florida to study Computer Science.
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“I’m really happy that CCHS is doing so much to encourage their interests in the sciences,” Goldstein said. “I hope that future students will feel similarly supported in their research endeavors.” College scholarships soon followed, with some students on stage receiving more than 300,000 dollars from their universities to pay for their tuition. From large Florida universities to small liberal arts colleges and mid-size Ivy Leagues, seniors from Cooper City displayed a wide variety in school decisions on senior awards night. Melanie Smith, who is attending Tulane University in New Orleans to study Ecology and Evolution Biology, received over 200,000 dollars in scholarship money. Karina Blodnieks, the editor-in-chief of The Lariat, was granted over 250,000 dollars in financial aid through the QuestBridge program to Columbia University in New York, where she will be pursuing Political Science and English Literature. “I feel like this is the capstone of not just my high school career, but my life,” Blodnieks said. “My QuestBridge Match Scholarship gave me an opportunity I’d never thought
would actually happen.” Senior awards night also recognized students for any awards they may have received based on their performance in school or scores on college entrance exams. National Merit finalists Landon Counts, Hunter Harrington and Benjamin Goldstein were honored for their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Less than 1% of students who take the PSAT/NMSQT are awarded this scholarship, which grants each student 2500 dollars. The Miami Herald newspaper recognized three students as Silver Knights, “one of the nation’s most highly regarded student awards programs,” according to their website. These recipients - Ashley Santiago, Benjamin Goldstein and Madison Steinman - received 2,000 dollars from the Pulitzer-award-winning paper. Nine students out of a class of over 500 were acknowledged for straight As throughout high school, over 25 as scholar-athletes and only one student, Daniel Werbin, was recognized for his perfect attendance since ninth grade. Finally, senior awards
concluded with Departmental Awards, which gave accolades to students who have displayed excellence specifically in Cooper City. From Fine Arts to Language Arts and Mathematics, department heads and their teams had the opportunity to pick one student which they felt embodied their specific subject. Cooper City’s Most Outstanding awards went to Max Mickenberg and Cecilia Luna, who posed with an oversized trophy engraved with their names. Most Outstanding is generally
regarded as the highest honor at CCHS, which is awarded to a male and female student that display exceptional well-roundedness, service and academic prowess throughout high school. Mickenberg will be attending Dartmouth University and Luna will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). “Getting the award was one of the most shocking experiences of my life,” Luna said. “I’m really grateful for the recognition and I’m so happy to be where I am now.”
ABOVE: Most Outstanding award winners stand with their trophies. Photo by Sabrine Brismeur
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OPINION
How hashtags can change the world EDITORIAL BOARD
editorial
An analysis of Twitter as ground zero for the future of political activism In an increasingly digitized world, it seems Twitter has risen to the forefront of youth culture - and, all things considered, it’s a pretty powerful tool. But it’s about time we discuss what it means to approach 21st century communications with tact and skill, especially in the wake of what you may want to call the oddest political climate of our generation. In response to modern political and social issues (i.e. Black Lives Matter, the Planned Parenthood debate, etc.), it seems Twitter has taken on an identity all its own as a platform rife with commentary.
While it’s rare to find a politically charged post on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, Twitter has become a sort of political frontline. Affiliation aside, modern trends in Twitter discourse have, contrary to popular belief, been integral in forming the new wave of political activists. Citation: #woke. The phrase itself has its roots in the mid 20th century as an acknowledgement or awareness of structural oppression against the black community, but, like most things on Twitter, it has taken on a whole new meaning. With activists such as DeRay McKesson using the #woke Twitter community to further their own political ends (McKesson’s campaign for mayor of Baltimore was essentially fueled by his Twitter, despite his eventual loss), it’s a starting space for tomorrow’s leaders. With one hashtag and four letters, an entire population of impassioned thinkers have put boots on the ground in their freedom fight. This trend is bigger than Black Lives Matter - bigger than liberals and
conservatives, and bigger, even, than Donald Trump. This trend is the creation of tomorrow’s Reince Priebus and Elizabeth Warren. We’re not saying that Twitter is the end-all-be-all of modern politics; quite to the contrary, the political sphere is so much larger and more daunting than a 140 character rant. But all action starts in theory, and that’s exactly what Twitter is best at. Twitter brings opposing ideas into conversation with each other, without censorship, and Twitter gives every 16-yearold free-thinker their very first soap box. But, we can’t have the Twitter activism conversation without mention of fake news. So yes, be wary of fiction posing as fact, but a little research and critical thinking can generally debunk falsehoods. In truth, Twitter can be a melting pot of ideas that creates a unique culture. It’s the think tank of the 21st century, but there are no admission requirements. There’s a free flow of ideas and allegiances, and, if used responsibly, Twitter is the first debate space for tomorrow’s leaders.
Where politics meets science BY ZACHARY PERROTTA Staff Writer
How the relationship between science and politics needs work to be reliable Science - the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through the scientific method. Naturally, it seems that this set of processes created to determine the truth should not be influenced by forces which can skew reality in their favor. However, the influence of politics, which regularly works to paint pictures supporting biased agendas, has seeped its way into the truth. This interference on the part of interest groups and political organizations has worked to bring a new dynamic to scientific advancement, which brings to prominence a single question: should science be intertwined with policy? Science always will be intertwined with public policy to some extent. A multitude of issues in the political sphere, including reducing the impact of anthropogenic climate change and the promotion of vaccination all rely upon studies conducted by climatologists or vaccination researchers to reach conclusions about the potential impact of policies.
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In some ways, politics already has a positive impact on scientific development, just as in other ways the influence that politics holds over science is causative of a scientific malpractice of sorts. The issue is not that the scientific community is influencing policy. In fact, it should. The leaders of our time should allow scientific evidence to shape their positions on all issues. For instance, when the government decides to subsidize research to solve national crises, that is a reasonable action. When the government, lastly, runs departments such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which are intertwined naturally with science and attempt to achieve relatively non-partisan goals, that is acceptable. Instead, it is when the relationship becomes inverted, and interest groups influence findings to favor their positions that the relationship becomes problematic. To understand why, know that research is not free and, usually, is reliant upon governments or outside entities for funding. This phenomenon is not restricted to the U.S. and exists worldwide. Case in point: the Australian Research crisis of 2013, wherein the Australian Coalition party threatened to revoke funding from ‘wasteful research.’ “A Coalition Government ... will crack down on [the] addiction to waste,” Coalition MP Jamie Briggs said. “By
auditing ... ridiculous research grants and re prioritising funding through the Australian Research Council (ARC) [the Coalition will] deliver funds to where they’re really needed.” The ARC was also being compelled to provide 103 million USD over four years not just for healthcare research, but for the improvement of Australian healthcare itself. The reason behind this attempt at funding redistribution is hiding behind some fancy smoke and mirrors; in reality, it has little to do with where the money is going, but where it has come from. While the ARC asserts that their method for selecting research to award grants to is private and practical, the Coalition is attempting to audit it and, therefore, modify it. This method is one of the most prominent ways in which politics influences research: by shutting down projects that are perceived as useless. Moreover, because of the reliance of research on funding, private interest groups often capitalize on needy researchers to slightly alter results. This relationship was demonstrated when, allegedly, the Exxon Mobil company paid off the renowned and esteemed Princeton physics professor William Happer to write a study disproving the high impact of anthropogenic climate change. Today, Happer testifies before Congress frequently among others with eerily similar connections to companies which, entirely coincidentally, emit a high degree of CO2.
Like most issues, this is solvable. First of all, governments including our own must shift the role in which they play in the sciences, working to use scientific evidence in the same logical and truthful fashion that sciencebased agencies use. Yes, asking politicians to interpret studies correctly and not to misconstrue their results is a hard request. The way that politicians interpret and use scientific findings is just as critical as what the results say. Further, the government needs to continue to provide grants for necessary research, but must not influence that research as the private sector does. Lastly, the private sector, by extension, must refrain from the skewing of results and, if they disregard this recommendation, the governments of the world must promote effective peer review to weed out falsified and inaccurate results. By instituting such reforms, the U.S. and nations around the world will restore the faith in the credibility of research and reduce researchers’ dependence upon outside funding, which negatively influences the research itself. It will also increase the accuracy behind the positions of our leaders as credible research leads to more credible politicians assuming, of course, that they don’t continue to intentionally spin the results of this research to their own benefit.
OPINION
Javascript or French? HTML or Spanish?
The case for making coding classes a language credit BY ZACHARY PERROTTA Staff Writer
ABOVE: A coding program open on a computer in Mr. Schultz’ computer science class Photo by Saige Griffin Florida state Senator Jeremy Ringer is an anomaly. In a political climate where the need for educational reform has taken a major back-seat to other issues, this former Yahoo executive saw the necessity for a skill which so few employees possess yet so many professions require: coding. To fix this pressing issue, Ringers Florida Senate Bill 468 intends to allow coding classes to be a language credit in order to promote students taking them. It appears to be a relatively bipartisan piece of legislation; in the Florida Senate, it got 35 Yeas and a measly five Nays - proving the necessity of the change. Among the various benefits of the bill, which promotes taking coding classes, is supplementing the emerging market being grown and supported by the coding industry. The Conference Board, a trusted business data provider, both agree: 73% new jobs are in the computer science area of STEM, specifically, coding. These jobs aren’t just abundant, they are also highly desirable: after conducting an analysis on career earnings by major, the Hamilton Project found that computer science associate degrees grant their recipients $20,000 more in median annual income over their life. Additionally, these jobs are the number one source for new wages in the U.S. right now. Though it may initially seem complicated and inaccessible, with time and practice many find that coding is an enjoyable subject to learn and can provide a potential lifetime profession. The Change the Equation organization, in an evaluation of students’ enjoyment of classes, found that computer science was the third most likable. This is particularly the case for women and minorities who, if they take a high school coding class, are either ten or seven times more likely to major in it in college. These rates prove what is already common knowledge: when students are
encouraged to take a high school course, it enables them to determine if that subject is of interest to them and, if so, that could lead to the beginnings of a career. The issue in the status quo is that students, because of foreign language credit graduation requirements, are forced into taking classes such as Spanish when their interests may lie in coding. The opposition to legislation such as this argues that by including coding as a language credit, we disturb the sanctity of language based on communication such as Spanish, French and Mandarin. Sure, coding doesn’t enable its users to communicate at a higher effectiveness with each other by method of conventional language. But, it does let them comprehend the digital world which is only growing in scale. While students may learn Mandarin and never actually reach China, computers will be a part of their lives wherever they go. If our imperative as an education system is to educate students for employment, we have to consider the discipline in which they will work. So, as long as the coding world is providing such opportunity to their students in higher abundance than the language credits of now, we must value our students’ economic future and enable them to code. So long as grandparents come to their grandchildren, inquiring about how to update their Facebook profile picture, coding will be necessary. From personal experience, those cases are only rising in frequency just as the necessity for software developers and computer science majors is increasing. As long as the tech world evolves, our policy on coding in high school should co-evolve with it. And, because this is the natural next link on that evolutionary chain, this policy must be affirmed because it allows the student body of Florida to experience the immense benefits that coding has to offer.
a word from the editorial panel
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The Lariat wins state and local awards After a year of work to reimagine the newspaper, The Lariat is proud to announce we have received awards we hadn’t previously thought possible. The Lariat was named an AllFlorida print publication by the Florida Scholastic Press Association (FSPA) this April, a distinction which went to eight newspapers in the state. The recognition designates The Lariat as one of the top papers in the state, with four special distinctions in reader aids, coverage, layout/design and graphics. The Lariat website received a silver distinction for online media. In the Spring Digital contests for FSPA, Lariat staff members Sabrine Brismeur, Kendyl Counts and Darian Sablon collectively earned four All-Floridas for individual articles. Counts’ profile feature, “Teaching from Experience,” earned a Best of the Best, a distinction given to the top entry in the state. Writers received 12 Excellent distinctions and and 12 Honorable Mention distinctions collectively.
Editor-in-Chief Karina Blodnieks was named the third place Todd C. Smith Student Journalist of the Year and received a scholarship. Senior Saige Griffin earned an Honorable Mention distinction for her Tom Pierce portfolio for Photojournalist of the Year. At the Broward County Sun Sentinel Awards for High School Journalism, The Lariat received 17 awards, including second place Best Overall, first place Website and third place Most Improved. Individual staff writers Kendyl Counts, Karina Blodnieks and Noah Castagna received first place in Editorial Writer, Features Writer and News Writer respectively. These accomplishments are strides beyond the paper’s goals for this year, after receiving two awards at the very same ceremony this time last year. As an editorial panel, we would like to thank the hard work of the staff, and not just those who submitted work to one of our awards ceremonies. We know that each of you worked hard to make this a possibility.
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OPINION
Make your groceries green
Shopping at local farmer’s markets has ethical and environmental benefits BY KENDYL COUNTS Managing Editor, Print Summer is just around the corner, and that means plenty of free time to unleash your inner foodie. But, before taking a long romantic stroll through the supermarket aisles, consider stopping at the farmer’s market instead - not only does the experience build community by supporting local farmers, but it has environmental and ethical benefits that are often overlooked. With large agricultural conglomerates monopolizing the food industry, family farms can have difficulty competing with their more dominant counterparts. Additionally, the globalization of agriculture has placed them in direct competition with suppliers from around the world, many of whom are involved in larger corporate initiatives and do not sell directly to consumers. It’s not easy to share the market with big companies like Tyson that have marketing teams and retail deals to help keep them afloat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that slightly less than half of U.S. farms are very small, with annual gross cash farm income under $10,000; in contrast, companies like Tyson are making $37 billion in a single year. Shopping at farmer’s markets supports families whose livelihood depends on community patronage, giving them the business they need to stand a chance against these larger entities. On top of supporting the community, buying local food can have a global impact. According to the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), in the United States food travels about 1500 miles to get from farm to table. This transportation process consumes large amounts of nonrenewable fossil fuels, a vital economic energy resource. Conserving fossil fuels as much as possible will help to increase America’s independence
from foreign oil providers, as well as prevent the harmful environmental impacts associated coal and oil. By burning fossil fuels, the automobiles, ships and airplanes used to transport produce emit large amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, contributing to environmental problems such as global warming and ocean acidification. CUESA estimates that for every one kilocalorie of energy that humans receive as food, 10 kilocalories of energy were expended in transportation. This means that energy is being used faster than it is being produced - a hallmark of an unsustainable system of agriculture.
Maybe the local farmer’s market doesn’t sell chicken tender subs or barbecue potato chips. But where exactly do these foods come from, anyway? At farmer’s markets, most of the food is local, cutting down on the environmental costs and excess processing associated with transporting food across the hemisphere. Instead of burning thousands of miles worth of fossil fuels and producing carbon dioxide along the way,
much of the food at the farmer’s market is within a more environmentally sound range. Shopping for local produce also increases consumer awareness of exactly where food comes from. So, maybe the local farmer’s market doesn’t sell chicken tender subs or barbecue potato chips. But where exactly do these foods come from, anyway? As the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes, this is important information for consumers to be aware of in order to make informed decisions about quality, freshness and nutritional value. When a consumer is paying for food at a farmer’s market, not only are they paying for the experience and to support local agriculture, but they are also often paying for ethically-sourced foods. Big brands are notorious for housing animals in cramped quarters, applying antibiotics indiscriminately to prevent the spread of disease among their massive numbers of animals and using hormones to artificially speed up the growth and maturation of livestock. Animals involved in the production of local meats, eggs and dairy products don’t face these unethical restrictions and dietary alterations - instead they are given space to roam and diets that suit their natural needs. Without the incentive to mass produce animal products, local farms can provide their animals with a healthier and more humane lifestyle. It’s easy to take a quick trip to the supermarket and throw items into the cart, indifferent to the impact that they have on family farms, animals or the environment. However, at farmer’s markets, these concerns can be set aside, allowing consumers to enjoy the experience while choosing fresh, sustainable and ethical ingredients for their next meal.
PSA: Yes, school is still important
While the school year may be winding down, take heed and remain focused on academics BY SAVANNAH KEYSER Staff writer
ABOVE: Students sit in Mr. Dixon’s eighth block APUSH class. Photo by Sabrine Brismeur Stepping out of that last AP Exam or EOC feels like the biggest weight off any student’s shoulders. The end of these big tests unofficially marks the end of the school year, right? Wrong. Students tend to stop trying after these big tests are over. They let their grades slip, they stop turning in work and they even stop showing up to school altogether. They feel that it doesn’t matter anymore, but they couldn’t
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be any more wrong. “It’s so hard to push myself these last few weeks,” junior Danielle Sheloush said. “But I do it because I don’t want to let my GPA slip and possibly hurt me in the future.” Of course it’s tempting to stop trying at the end of the school year; summer is so close you can almost taste it, but it’s so important to power through and continue to give it all you’ve got until school is officially out.
Letting grades slip is a really bad idea at the end of the year for multiple reasons - not only is there very little time to bring them up, but a grade drop it could also jeopardize a student’s ability to exempt out of a final with a satisfactory grade. Every student knows how valuable exemptions are, and they know that they are privileges and not rights. Even with this knowledge, so many students are willing to give up that chance to exempt just so they don’t have to put effort into the end of the year. It’s not the smartest of choices. Not only does powering through give students more opportunities to use exemptions, but it will also give those who did finish strong a sense of accomplishment. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the fruits of one’s labor, and being able to see multiple As in Pinnacle definitely fits that definition. Pushing through these next few weeks might seem like a daunting task, but anyone who puts their mind to it can do it. Once school is out, it will finally be time to relax and reward oneself for putting in the effort. “I know that it will be better in the long run if I don’t slack off toward the end of school,” junior Madison Worley said.
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CENTERSPREAD
BELOW: Senior Roy Hen plays basketball at the annual 3v3 game. Photo by Saige Griffin
Seniors sign to collegiate athletics
With a pen in hand and smiles on their faces, four CCHS seniors actualized their dreams and made it big on Wednesday, February 1. Following suit on CCHS tradition, the sports signing ceremony honored the four seniors who have been recruited to play their respective sports at the collegiate level. Softball players Kara Lokeinsky, Dana DeFalco, and Kaitlyn Thompson and golfer Jedidiah Jhu all committed to Florida schools. “Initially, I was very surprised [when I found out I had an offer],” Jhu said. “But I was thankful because of the opportunity they were willing to give me.” Jhu will be playing golf for the Saint Thomas Bobcats come September. Coming out of his final high school golf season, Jhu has championed one local tournament and been the runnerup in three more, and his aspirations remain high. “My aspirations for when I’m at Saint Thomas is to be the captain of the golf team for four years and to be an all-American in academics and athletics,” Jhu said. Read the full article at thelariatonline.com
“I think my favorite memory of senior year was definitely being able to help everyone around me grow, whether it’s in band or water polo or NHS.”
Melanie Smith
ABOVE: Senior Melanie Smith receives an award for her Vice Presidency in National Honor Society. Photo by Karina Blodnieks
A new president
The election of the century has drawn to a close and an unlikely underdog has now taken his place as the President of the United States of America. Donald J. Trump became presidentelect in the wee hours of November 9 and has just begun his time in the White House, as he was sworn in as President on January 20, 2017 in Washington DC. “I stayed up until 1 AM to watch the election and as the hours winded down, I couldn’t believe the outcome,” Junior Talia Slann said. The 2016 presidential election was extremely close to say the least, with imperative swing states being in the state of “too close to call” for hours after polls closed across the country. However, it is clear that Secretary Hillary Clinton lacked support in key formerly Democratic states that would have won her the presidency. Trump outperformed even his own projections and won the vital states that Secretary Clinton lost. His unexpected last minute turnout has been likened to the vote for what has been coined the “Brexit,” or the British exit from the European Union (EU), across the pond earlier this year. Before the Brexit vote, most polls had predicted that Britain would stay in the EU, however, the mass flood of citizens who voted to leave was not counted by the early polls and the vote turned in favor of Exit- a similar unexpected outcome. Most polls, including that of CNN and FOX News, had projected Secretary Clinton to win the election, but according to CNN’s election night broadcast, Trump was able to successfully draw in a surge of white collar voters while Secretary Clinton did not entice the amount of minority votes she was expected to have. Read the full article at thelariatonline.com
ABOVE: Senior Edgardo Hernandez dances with Emily Valdez at Homecoming. Photo by Karina Blodnieks RIGHT: Senior Nicole Tjin a Djie works with a student in NHS. Photo by Sabrine Brismeur
“My best memory of NHS is the Museum Day trip and meeting my kids.”
Nikki Tjin a Djie
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CENTERSPREAD
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LEFT: Seniors Cecilia Luna, Max Mickenberg, Hunter Harrington, Ben Goldstein and Landon Counts receive medals at Senior Awards for having a 4.0 GPA. Not pictured: Karina Blodnieks, Jeremy Brower, Melanie Smith Photo by Sabrine Brismeur
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Remembering the best of the 2016-2017 school year The senior breakfast
Fighting senioritis
While underclassmen spent their Professional Study Day hitting the books, the Class of 2017 seniors celebrated their first senior breakfast at Cooper City High School, featuring bagels, a DJ booth, senior superlatives, and the classic panoramic class photo. “It really represents the accomplishment we’ve had, making it four years and coming together for one last hurrah,” Dawson Worley said. “The senior breakfast has been a Cooper tradition for decades,” class sponsor David Osborne, who oversaw the breakfast, said. The senior class officers put together the breakfast beforehand and focused their efforts on preparing for one of the first all-senior events of the year, but took a step back the morning of to enjoy the breakfast. Junior class officers served the food in the morning. “Everyone was tasked to get food from a different vendor,” class Vice President Danielle Kurtz said. “We contacted countless vendors to get discounts so we could provide as much as possible.” Read the full article at
Standing on the cusp between the two semesters, it’s high time for seniors to start dropping like Mayflies. It is the ailment of all ailments the one sickness that can keep any senior home three days a week with no symptoms except a case of unrepentant truancy. It’s senioritis season, because with applications sent, acceptances in hand or plans in place, it’s hard to resist the nagging urge to not really try that hard. “Senioritis is definitely real,” Senior Benjamin Goldstein said. “So far this year has felt like one giant personalization period: you’re technically supposed to do stuff, but why bother?” This thought process is compelling, but make no mistake: whatever institution of higher learning a student commits to will be keeping tabs. With mid-year and final transcripts due, private college admissions advisor Christine VanDeVelde says that “a college’s acceptance is conditional on completing the senior year at the same level of performance as when the student was admitted.” Obviously, prospective students shouldn’t be penalized for a single lettergrade drop in one class, but an overall “significant” GPA drop could be a red flag to colleges. Read the full article at
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Braving college decisions Welcome to the real March Madness. No, this one isn’t about basketball - it’s time for college decisions. As students wait in anticipation of doomsday, one thing is clear: rejection doesn’t say anything about talent, skill or achievement. Sometimes, rejection can even be a blessing in disguise. With most state school decisions already out, a large portion of the senior class knows where they’ll be calling home for the next four years. But when playing the admissions game, nothing is ever quite certain. With acceptance rates below fifty percent, big-name Florida schools like UF and FSU can be a shot in the dark for even the most qualified applicants. “After being deferred on the first round of decisions I began to feel down and I felt frustrated with the entire system,” senior Carolina Chiari said. Experiences like these aren’t uncommon. Every year, students face the fear of rejection firsthand, and oftentimes, this experience is taken to mean something about their merit and ability. Read the full article at
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ABOVE: Senior Lyndsey Kleiman poses with her 6th place award for DECA. Photo courtesy of Scott Kleiman
“My favorite memory of senior year was going to DECA ICDC in Los Angeles because I finally got to compete. I was also able to spend time with other DECA members. I made so many memories during that week in L.A.”
Lyndsey Kleiman
“My favorite memory of senior year was having the opportunity to have another one of my pieces hanging in a museum.”
Amber Rudner
In April, the AP Studio Art students had an exhibit at the Hollywood Arts and Cultural Center. All AP Studio Art: Drawing and 2D students participated.
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FEATURES
Where are they now?
A follow-up on all graduating past feature subjects Over the past four years, The Lariat has written sixteen features on students who are graduating on June 7. These features ranged from passionate freshmen building robots in their spare time to quirky photographers trying to finish off their portfolios. All features can be accessed online or in previous print editions of The Lariat.
Brent Pappas: coding the future ORIGINAL FEATURE BY DARIAN SABLON
Pappas’ feature was published in the second issue of The Lariat this school year. Since then, he has continued to practice coding and computer science, and even played a role in revitalizing The Lariat Online. As he moves on to the University of Central Florida, he wants to thank the teachers he’s had at CCHS. “The people I’ve met here have played a pivotal role in deciding not just my career choice, but how I will continue to live my life in general,” Pappas said. “The lessons I have learned here will serve me at all stages of my life, and are the foundation upon which I hope to build all my future skills.”
Jason Chua: pushing buttons worked ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KARINA BLODNIEKS
Chua’s feature had a resonant line: that he wants to “set and exceed expectations.” As one of the first-ever freshmen drafted into CTV, he is proud to say he believes he has met that goal. “It’s everything I expected it to be and more,” Chua said. “I didn’t think I would able to do so much.” Next year, Chua will be studying “something with computers” at Florida Polytechnic. “As part of high school, you want to leave your mark,” Chua said. “Just as I erased those before me, I know I, too, will be erased. But it’s nice to know I taught people.”
Dawson Worley: king of the field ORIGINAL FEATURE BY SOPHIA WENGIER
As Cooper City High School’s poster child for cowboy pride, Worley acknowledges the role that he’s played in maintaining school spirit since the publication of his feature. “My school career has really come full circle in that I have now moved from student to teacher,” Worley said. While it is unknown who will fill Worley’s jazz shoes when he moves on to University of South Florida, he hopes that his legacy of acceptance lives on. “I have grown and become my own unique individual, and through my actions I am able to demonstrate to others how to celebrate their own individuality,” Worley said. “As I leave high school to go off and accomplish bigger and better things, I’m grateful for the opportunities I have been given.”
Star Fassler: fighting to keep swimming ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KARINA BLODNIEKS
Fasser’s feature was written her freshman year on her struggle with tendonitis as a swimmer. Since then, she says the worst of it has passed, though she has since stopped swimming. “That time was the heart of it,” Fassler said. “I was definitely in a darker place at that time.” Next year, Fassler will attend University of Florida to study Engineering. She hopes that the future will hold better things for her than her past. “What I gained from swimming has made me into who I am today,” Fassler said. “Because of the experiences I went through, I’m so much stronger.”
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Max Mickenberg: POTUS 2036? ORIGINAL FEATURE BY LINDSEY HANNAH
Mickenberg is potentially one of the most recognizable faces at CCHS. In his time from freshman year onward, he’s grown from an admittedly lost freshman into a force of all things social science. “At the beginning of high school, my sights were set on being a doctor,” Mickenberg said. “And then as I continued to do different things like debate, DECA, APUSH, I changed my mind. I came to realize that it’s politics that I care about.” Next year, Mickenberg will be attending Dartmouth College and majoring in Political Science. “I’ve found what makes me happiest,” Mickenberg said. “I owe that all to my experiences at Cooper City High School.”
Hannah Vossen: an unsung hero ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KARINA BLODNIEKS
Vossen’s feature was written her freshman year about her battle with cystic fibrosis. While she still grapples with the illness, she has since dedicated her time and effort into volunteering to find a cure. “I started my team Hannah’s Heroes and in the four years, we’ve raised close to $8,000 for research,” Vossen said. But Vossen’s strengths go far beyond her illness; as a DECA state competitor, Vossen is hoping to continue this passion and pursue fashion. She is hoping to transfer to FIT after getting her Associate’s degree next year. “I think I realized more who I am and what I want to do due to my fashion program and DECA,” Vossen said.
Carolina Chiari: POCCHS
ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KARINA BLODNIEKS Chiari had big plans for the 2016-2017 school year when her feature was published in our back-to-school issue. Since then, she has seen some of her most ambitious aspirations unfold. “When we interviewed for my feature I had very little experience,” Chiari said. “Since then I’ve put together so many projects and done so much for the school.” On top of experience, the class of 2017 prom queen gained something else - confidence. Chiari will carry this newfound assurance with her to Florida State University next fall. “I really came out of my shell,” Chiari said. “Before this started I was not excited to talk at these events, but now I’m excited to talk to people. I feel like it’s made me a better person because I’m more willing to take risks and put myself out there.”
Lior Ayalon: trend setter
ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KYLE NELSON AND SAVANNAH KEYSER Ayalon’s feature was published in the January, 2017 issue of The Lariat, just a month before the preview of his fashion line, Equipt Color. Since then, he has officially debuted his lookbook and begun doing pre sales for clothing online. “As an artist, I feel like all my artwork has taken a huge turn,” Ayalon said. “It’s gotten deeper in meaning and it’s really expanded on a bunch of different levels.” As a part of his success, Ayalon wants to thank The Lariat and the fashion show as he gets ready to leave CCHS for University of Central Florida. “It meant so much for me that [they] let me speak my mind like that,” he said. “It’s been great. Sales have been good, and I’m just really happy right now.”
FEATURES
Landon Counts: dedicated to leadership ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KYLE NELSON
Counts’ feature was written earlier this year about his leadership and service to CCHS. Since the time his feature was written, Counts believes he’s grown into a stronger leader. “Over the course of my senior year, I’ve learned to accept my weaknesses and I’ve become more open to other perspectives,” Counts said. Counts will graduate as the Valedictorian of the class of 2017. As Counts moves onto Vanderbilt University in the fall, he hopes to continue his leadership in a different field: cancer research. “I’m constantly being reminded of how important it is as a leader to embrace both your flaws and your strengths, and to consider everyone’s circumstances and opinions,” Counts said.
Ben Goldstein: a future scientist ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KARINA BLODNIEKS
Goldstein’s feature was published three years ago in a print edition of The Lariat magazine, centered around his creation of a robot and strong interest in computer science. “Since then, I’ve tried to work on building stronger interpersonal relationships as well as robots,” Goldstein said. Goldstein will be graduating as the Salutatorian of the senior class, but perhaps most notably, he is graduating as a new person. Where previously his efforts were all filtered into academics, he is now proud to say he is a more social, well-rounded person. “I hope that I can find a way to pursue all my interests instead of just choosing one to focus on, but ultimately I just hope to be happy and healthy in the future,” Goldstein said.
Nikki Tjin a Djie: fighting for the underdog ORIGINAL FEATURE BY SABRINE BRISMEUR
Exiting her high school roles as NHS President and SGA 2nd Vice President, Tjin a Djie has certainly done a lot with her high school career. Her feature, which was written in the second issue of The Lariat this year, was appropriately titled “Champion of the Underdogs.” “I think it’s definitely becoming more and more apparent to me that there are awesome kids who aren’t necessarily noticed,” Tjin a Djie said. Next year, Tjin a Djie will be going to Bowdoin College in Maine with hopes of moving onto a job in the political sphere.
Jeremy Brower: Quizlet king
ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KENDYL COUNTS
In one of the best headlines The Lariat has ever written, Jeremy Brower definitely kept his ion the prize. As he heads to the University of South Florida, he is considering the idea of changing tracks. “I have now acquired an interest in possibly working for the government,” Brower said. He hopes to do biomedical engineering in a governmental setting. As senior year comes to a close, Brower is excited for his education to continue. Brower is one of eight seniors to be graduating with a perfect GPA.
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Logan Piper: building character ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KENDYL COUNTS
While Piper’s feature was written recently, he has nothing but good things to say about the end of his senior year. As he leaves CCHS for the University of Florida, he hopes that his impact will be felt for years to come. “The feature really encompassed what I did my senior year,” Piper said. “It talked about how I tried to leave my mark by helping people get involved in clubs and school spirit.” He knows he will carry these traits with him as he embarks upon the next chapter of his life. “In the future, I want to stay very spirited and get involved in everything I can,” Piper said. “I want to continue to help people. Being involved has helped my character grow.”
Kia Del Solar: campaigning for tomorrow ORIGINAL FEATURE BY TAMARAH WALLACE
Del Solar’s feature was written earlier this school year on her adventurous spirit and skill in Congressional debate. Since that time, she has started a blog, “Synonym for Thoughts,” centered around foreign and domestic politics. “I really want to take my thoughts and interests and share them with anyone interested in topics ranging from Senate elections to protests on environmental law,” Del Solar said. This summer, Del Solar will be travelling to the Amazon to photograph the wildlife in an attempt to get closer to nature. “I think my love for nature and traveling has definitely grown since then,” Del Solar said. “So much so that I want to practice law still, but maybe double in constitutional law and environmental law.”
Alessandra Luna: STEMming from passion ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KENDYL COUNTS
In the time since her feature was published in August of 2016, Luna has achieved a goal she thought was just a lofty dream; next fall, she will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It feels like I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the year,” Luna said. “Now I get to go to a place where I can really pursue everything I want to.” After winning Most Outstanding Female at the Senior Awards ceremony, Luna is excited for one thing above all. “It’s all about the science, man,” Luna said. “The math and the science. I’m so excited to do everything I want to.”
Natalie Mendoza: getting the right exposure ORIGINAL FEATURE BY KARINA BLODNIEKS
Mendoza’s feature was written earlier this year on her dedication to photography and the arts. Since then, her photography has progressed and she completed her AP Studio Art: 2D portfolio. “Everyday, I grow as an artist and as a person,” Mendoza said. “I’m still trying to figure out what it truly means to be an artist but everyday I grow more sure of myself and my talents.” As she gets ready to attend the University of Central Florida, she has a few wise words to share with fledgling artists. “What’s most important when calling yourself an artist is that you actually have to believe it and learn to believe in yourself, which is harder said than done,” Mendoza said.
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FEATURES
Ophelia’s Legacy How acting and Language Arts teacher Shannon Brandt-Asciolla is forging a new feminist theater BY CASSIDY NOWOSAD Staff writer
From teaching acting classes to directing a production to even writing a play of her own, theatre director and Language Arts teacher Shannon Brandt has proved she has dedication. Having transferred to Cooper City High only last year, Brandt hit the ground running and has directed four productions thus far. Her productions: “Legally Blonde,” “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and a special showcase, have displayed a shift to more eccentric plays. When she first stepped into the role of director, students expressed to her that they wanted to have a showcase with only the current theatre club members in order to catch the interest of the student body. The first production wasn’t necessarily a full-scale play or musical; instead, it was a showcase. At a run time of around two hours, it compiled several small, separate performances together to shine a light on the variety of the team’s acting. She said it was a great opportunity to help her learn everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. As for the most recent musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Brandt managed to bring in outside professionals and expand the cast to three times its original size. She developed an interest in theater at three years old, when she saw her first Broadway play, “Annie.” Growing up in New York City, she was surrounded by theatre and still reminisces about days she would spend in her room acting out all of the scenes from “Annie” in front of her stuffed animals. Eventually, she began to create programs and pop popcorn for her neighbors, who watched her perform. “I did my first play when I was six, and I remember sitting backstage getting my makeup done because I didn’t know how to [do] makeup then, and wondering if I could actually have this be in my life forever,” Brandt said. Her first director, Sandra Merino, made her value not only what goes into performance, but also what goes into production. She was one of the people who heavily inspired Brandt and showed her that everyone was a valuable asset to the program, even without being onstage. As an undergraduate, she directed her first outside shows for fringe festivals and did some improvisation as a paid, professional actor. She began her career as a high school theatre teacher; her first main stage production was “Brighton Beach Memoirs” by Neil Simon. Brandt began to work on writing her own play, about the contemporary feminist movement, in graduate thelariatonline.com school at Harvard University in Massachusetts.
TOP: Brandt talks in class with a playbill from a show she watched. BOTTOM: A line of playbills from shows Brandt has attended Photos by Sabrine Brismeur “[Everyone]... knows I’m a feminist [and] a huge advocate of women’s rights globally, and it has been stagnant in me,” Brandt said. “I had a grad course… [where my instructor] was like ‘just do it, just get into it, get your characters ready’ and just it’s there, it’s waiting for me.” Her science fiction play involves a female protagonist who has a close relationship with her father, despite his occasionally archaic views. The protagonist doesn’t realize the hold the patriarchy still has on women in
We just really need to see our sisters as the opposite of competition
Shannon Brandt-Asciolla
the modern day, and travels back to the different periods of the feminist movements to view societal dynamics before her birth. Brandt said her inspiration came from her mother Jasmine Brandt and explained that she was a very strong female role model in her life. Her mother had always been employed full time, and she explained how she learned
much of what she knows about feminism from her. As a result, her passion for feminism blossomed in high school, where she would cut class to visit Barnes and Noble. There, she discovered the women’s studies section and found the book called “Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls” by Mary Pipher. This book was very influential, as it inspired her feminist ideals. “Reviving Ophelia” is a nonfiction play about a woman therapist who speaks to the societal pressures on adolescent girls. The book inspired Brandt to read the rest of the novels in the women’s studies section. It influenced her so much that at one point in her life, she wanted to become a therapist. Eventually, this led to her discovery of the different historical waves of feminism, how feminism has evolved, and how it has now become a global controversy. “We just really need to see our sisters as… [the opposite of] competition. If we band together, there’s more [of a] foundation ... [it’s not okay to] not have equal pay [and] not ok for the government in any way, shape, or form to tell women how to regulate their bodies - it’s just not.” Even though Ms. Brandt has only been at CCHS for two years, her impact has changed the theatre program as a whole. “Theatre accepts all but not [those with] egos,” she said. “Everyone has a place to shine [here].”
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Exploring her future
Junior Hannah Riggot uses leadership to help others
LEFT: Riggott speaks at the NHS induction ceremony on May 17. RIGHT: Riggott sits and talks with Landon Counts in the cafeteria after the ceremony. Photos by Sabrine Brismeur and Karina Blodnieks
BY DARIAN SABLON AND KYLE NELSON Online Editor/Managing Editor, Online Explorers - these are the people often talked about in adventure stories, those individuals who exemplify a sense of courage in light of danger, overcome their personal dilemmas for the greater good and are in many ways the type of person we want to be. It is often very hard to find someone that embodies the qualities of an explorer perfectly, someone who is willing to take risks and push themselves to the limit by taking on different challenges. Fortunately, CCHS students do not have to look far to find an explorer already amongst them, walking the same hallways they do day in and day out. That pathfinder is none other than Hannah Riggott. From the start of her life, Hannah Riggott has always been a person to challenge herself, whether it be academically, physically or socially. The drive for a new adventure was something instilled into her from a very young age when she took part in competitive gymnastics. Starting when she was five, Riggott would often work hard to be the best that she could be, something that would carry over from the field of gymnastics to her school life, even as early as elementary school. “Gymnastics made me a very hardworking and dedicated person and I think that is the reason why I’m such a big perfectionist,” Riggott said. “It’s why I like meeting other people’s expectations because that’s what I felt it was all about for me.” Despite her initial passion for gymnastics, her interest would soon start to wane. When she entered eighth grade at Pioneer Middle School, she decided to open up a new chapter in her life and leave gymnastics behind. When she went on to high school, she discovered numerous opportunities, both in extracurriculars and academics. Throughout her high school career so far, she has taken over nine Advanced Placement classes, amongst them some of the hardest that Cooper City High school has to offer. In addition to her academic commitments, she is part
of the tennis team, National Honor Society and Student Government Association. Her work ethic and dedication have served as a source of inspiration for many, including her best friend since kindergarten, Jessica Less. “Hannah is someone who is intelligent, outgoing and compassionate,” junior Jessica Less said. “She puts full effort into everything she does and can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. Hannah keeps impressing
There’s no point in living life if you are just focusing on one thing. You have to explore so many different things and that’s what I started doing. I just started becoming friends with more people and I wanted to learn more about them.
Hannah Riggott
me as she has grown more in the last year than anyone else I know.” With every new chance, however, distinct obstacles have also arisen - often stemming from herself. Although she has grown to be a very active participant in her school, Riggott was an introvert when entering high school, focusing heavily on school and letting it take up most of her time. “When I was in gymnastics I never had time to go out with friends and to come into high school, the only
thing I knew was school as it was my biggest priority,” Riggott said. As she became more involved, she began to expand her focus away from school and more on the world around her, meeting people that she never would have otherwise and changing her perspective on her life. “There’s no point in living life if you are just focusing on one thing,” Riggott said. “You have to explore so many different things and that’s what I started doing. I just started becoming friends with more people and I wanted to learn more about them.” Overcoming her introversion was not easy, leaving a lasting impact on her. In fact, from her own experience with anxiety, she has gone on to research the fears harbored by gifted students. In her AP Research class, Riggott developed a project that compared the fears of non-gifted students and gifted students, hoping to shed some light on the societal expectations placed on gifted students. “I dealt with a lot of anxiety and I have so many fears that hold me back every day, so this project was really personal for me,” Riggott said. “I hope that it shows that others deal with the same fears and that it will change the way people view others.” Riggott says that she has seen herself changed immensely since freshman year and is still pushing herself to be the best she can be. Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, Riggott sees these setbacks as a way to better herself through reflection and expression. “Whenever I have a setback I will usually write about it, which helps me realize that it’s not the end of the world,” Riggott said. “I remind myself that the only way to fix something that went wrong is by making up for it in the future.”
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18
FEATURES
Senior Maurín Santos-López talks fashion and freedom BY KARINA BLODNIEKS Editor-in-Chief
Santos-López immigrated to the U.S. just a few months ago, but she’s already made an impact on the CCHS fashion world Pushing her off-brand clear-rimmed glasses up her nose, Maurín Santos López just doesn’t look like a girl from the suburbs. Clad entirely in painted denim, she’s certainly easy to find in a crowd. But under the layers of literal hand-crafted art, Santos López tells the story of the quintessential American immigrant. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Santos López made the nearly 800 mile journey to Cooper City about nine months ago. She chose to immigrate and live with her aunt, leaving her family and friends behind in pursuit of a career in art and fashion. “In the Dominican Republic, it’s really good if you have a lot of money or if you’re going to study to be a doctor or a lawyer,” Santos López said. “But if you’re going to study something with art, it’s really difficult. We only have one art school and it’s so expensive. Even if you have a scholarship, living in the place is just so expensive.”
expected to be overwhelmed with homesickness. However, since she’s found her niche in the CCHS art room, she hasn’t looked back. “Moving here transformed me into this happy and positive person,” Santos López said. “A lot of good things are happening to me right now. Yes, I want to see [my family], but I don’t want to go back.” Alongside her thoughts of her mother country, it’s the story of the American dream that’s motivated her. She says that living in a country with so much opportunity has allowed her to truly tap into her potential as an artist. Despite her newfound hope, however, she doesn’t stay silent about the depth of culture living in the Dominican Republic has given her. “I like drawing black people,” Santos López said. “My mom is black and my dad is white, even though they are both Dominicans. So I like drawing black people because I like the culture that they have.”
Moving here transformed me into this happy and positive person. A lot of good things are happening to me right now. Yes, I want to see [my family], but I don’t want to go back.
Maurín Santos-Lopez
Santos López says that Cooper City is like a whole different world, filled to the brim with opportunity. “I love Cooper City,” Santos López said. “I think if you live in another country like the Dominican Republic where you have no opportunities for anything, you really appreciate what you have here. So the fact that I can have a fashion club or the art class that I didn’t have there, [...] I’m so thankful for.” After leaving her family in the Dominican Republic, Santos López admits that she
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But living in the Dominican Republic as a black artist wasn’t always easy for her. A country with immense racial tensions, Santos López explains that she wasn’t always allowed to be herself unapologetically - especially, and perhaps unexpectedly, when it came to wearing her natural hair. “I got expelled from my class for having curly hair,” Santos López said. “It’s something that actually makes you see the world in a different way.” As is the case with many racially terse countries,
the Dominican Republic holds a lot of prejudices against the black community. The question of wearing natural hair for black girls is often off-limits, as many white employers or teachers believe it’s unprofessional. “In the Dominican Republic, we are black,” Santos López said. “It’s half black, half white, and people are so racist. They don’t like curly hair, they don’t like black people. If you’re black and you go to a place where it’s mostly white people, they look at you like you have no money or you’re going to steal something.” In many ways, Santos López feels that moving to the United States has freed her. “[It’s] opened her eyes to a whole new world of opportunities and freedom of expression that would not have been developed in our country of origin,” aunt Amanda López said. And that’s why, on February 23, when Santos López stood before the entire student body to display her own fashion line, no one really expected that she had such a long journey to get there. She slid right into her place in the student body, and in a short nine months, has made a name for herself as Cooper City’s fledgling grunge artist. “The fashion show was the best opportunity that I had ever in my life,” Santos López said. “I think [CCHS] allows you to do a lot of things that you want to express yourself. I think that’s amazing.” CCHS seems to agree, as many students - some that Santos López has never met before speak about her fashion line with enthusiasm. “When I saw Maurín’s line in the show it was a moment
TOP: Santos-López presents her clothing line at the 2017 fashion show. BOTTOM: Junior Felipe Lopez modeling a jacket by Santos-López. Photos by Sabrine Brismeur that felt like she’s been here forever,” friend Kiara Bencosme said. “I think it’s because she found her place here [at] Cooper so quickly without even trying; she drew on a jacket and the next thing you know she ended up making a whole clothing collection.” With a story in mind and the means to tell it, she’s using her art as a platform for immigrant voices. “Parts of my family tells me to stop drawing black people,” Santos López said. “They ask me why and I say, ‘I am black.’ Why would I deny something that I have in my blood?” Despite what some may call a dark past, Santos López’ art takes on an air of hope and passion. With bright watercolor marks and bold pen lines, she brings her papers to life through portraiture.
“I like painting people,” Santos López said. “You can feel people’s emotions by their faces, especially their eyes.” As for her fashion line, her signature is fabric paint on denim. She covers her clothes with quotes and faces, all of which she feels tell a story. Santos López plans to take a gap year after graduating to explore her options for higher education. She’s still unsure whether she’ll be pursuing studio art, acting or fashion, but no matter which path she chooses, one thing is clear: she’s really living the American dream. “As an immigrant going to another place, people think you should stay in your country,” Santos López said. “But no, the reason is not because I want to steal something from you. It’s because I think I deserve opportunities just like you.”
ENTERTAINMENT 19
THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT ICE CREAM A ranked list of places to visit for frozen dairy this summer
It’s a Friday - the Florida heat is scathing, school just ended and you have 15 minutes to spare. What’s better to fill the gaping, stress-induced holes in your life than ice cream after school? Very little. It’s for that reason that I, a self-proclaimed Cooper City ice cream connoisseur, am constructing this totally-official-and-not-at-all-biased list of the best places to get ice cream in the Davie/Cooper City/Weston area. Embarking upon this task was no easy feat; first and foremost, I had to consume enough ice cream to be a legitimate expert. But I like to believe I have an adventurous palate when it comes to frozen dairy products, so this list has been compiled using cutting-edge research tactics that even the best AP Capstone student wouldn’t think to use. And so it begins. BY KARINA BLODNIEKS Editor-in-Chief
Honorable mentions
Let’s get the obvious answer out of the way: yes, there is merit to driving down to Rock Creek’s Orion gas station in your pajamas and simply buying a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. That’s a tried-and-true way to efficiently and effortlessly get delicious ice cream at little to no cost or gas money. Secondly, props to PheNOMeNOM Nitrogen Ice Cream in the Tower Shops. The ice cream is worth the drive, but the drive will potentially get you stuck in University’s mid-afternoon traffic jam. Worth it? You decide.
Fifth place: Cream
The social media-crazed Cream has been getting a lot of attention lately, and it’s not for nothing. A previous Lariat review dubbed it “good enough to make me decide that the drive to Weston was all worth it,” which is about all you can say about it. With slightly sub-par ice cream stuck between way-above-par cookies, it’s no surprise that most of Cooper City High School’s student body seems to be flocking over in droves. But I have to say that the craze is almost illusory the cookies overpower the ice cream, and biting into hard ice cream isn’t too fun. All in all, however, it’s a worthwhile experience that is worth the drive and the line, even if the atmosphere is more fun than the actual ice cream.
Fourth place: Cold Stone
Nothing hits the spot better than memories of middle school. While it may be our run-of-the-mill Cooper City ice cream spot, it’s close, convenient and actually pretty good. The simple, not overly complicated flavors bring out the perfect amount of sweetness. Also, the flavors are pretty on point, unlike when an ice cream just tastes off. It’s simple and sweet, end of story. However, be wary of the Pioneer students. Early release days and Fridays are danger zones for any wellintentioned high schooler to go get some well-deserved ice cream. Middle schoolers start flooding the area around 3:45 PM, so keep your trip short and to the point.
Third place: Chill N Nitrogen Ice Cream
Yes, another Weston favorite. The drive is long, but not quite as backed up as a trip to the Tower Shops. A quick excursion down Weston Road will take you straight to the best nitrogen ice cream in a ten-mile radius. Chill N offers multiple base flavors ranging from authentic-tasting cake batter to a refreshing mint. The mix ins are good, also, allowing you to customize your ice cream for every occasion. Their menu is made to look like a periodic table, so you can nerd out while you’re there as well. Unfortunately, the drive to Weston may be off-putting for some. But aside from the distance, I see few downsides to the marvelous ice cream experience that is Chill N.
Second place: Haagen Dazs
Maybe you outgrew the Pembroke Lakes Mall in, like, sixth grade, but hear me out: the Haagen Dazs kiosk is an essential part of every trip down memory lane. With great flavors and rich toppings, the Haagen Dazs booth in the mall far exceeds any expectations. There are only a few down sides to our Cooper City favorite. Mostly, the location is horrible at best. If you’re in the mood for a lonesome night with lots of ice cream and self-reflection, the Pembroke Lakes Mall is probably the last place you want to be. But if you’re willing to brave the crowd in the name of self-indulgence, all the power to you.
First place: Carvel
This is the hidden treasure of Cooper City, Florida. Located only two and a half miles from CCHS, Carvel is by far the best, most reasonably-priced and conveniently located ice cream I’ve ever had. The strip mall is unassuming and the store itself is always empty, making for a surprisingly short wait. It’s needless to say that the ice cream is great. I will admit: it’s not as good as Haagen Dazs, but the location and service far outweigh that. The owner is a nice man who I’ve seen every time I’ve gone. All in all, Cooper City has a decent amount of good ice cream and options for every occasion.
“Born in China” was intriguing but lacked accuracy BY CASSIDY NOWOSAD Staff Writer
“Born in China” is an American and Chinese nature documentary film directed by Lu Chuan and coproduced by Disneynature and Shanghai Media Group. “Born in China” was released in the United States just in time for Earth Day. The film features several animals each living in their distinct habitat as each season passes. The first follows a snow leopard desperate to feed her young, the second a golden monkey no longer with his family and a giant panda raising her cub. The movie is overall geared towards younger ages but can still be enjoyed by any age for its entertaining story. Cinematography-wise, “Born in China” is breathtaking. The advanced camera shots and the amount of effort taken to get them were absolutely incredible. You could almost see each individual hair on the giant panda as she was feeding her young. The overall transitions were done nicely, showing a broad view of the landscape panning across as time passed. The ending was also intriguing, as it showed the type of equipment the filmmakers used and the harsh conditions they had to go through to film. The overall narration discussed what was happening in the film but gave false details to make it more of a storybook-esque film. For example, when the golden monkey was discarded from his family, he met a group of male monkeys which the narrator called the “Lost Boys.” The narrator provided false ideas as to how they lived their lives saying things such as “the golden monkey has trouble fitting in because the leader lost his eye to the golden monkey’s father.” This obviously pointed to the fact the movie was geared for younger children, but was still puzzling due to its violent scenes like when one of the smaller monkeys is snatched by a hawk. Overall I’d give this movie a 7/10 for its very appealing visuals, but content-wise it was lacking. The humor wasn’t very funny and often cheesy, but the appeal is how sometimes cute the animals behaved. I wouldn’t recommend anyone from 11-30 going to see this movie as it isn’t very action packed, and has a more childish tone throughout. “Born in China” is geared for younger children but provides nice visuals of the animals and the terrain they live in.
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20
ENTERTAINMENT
TH1RT3EN REASONS WHY Did the hit series do the topic justice?
WARNING: This article handles the topic of suicide and thus may be triggering The Netflix Original “13 Reasons Why” was recently released and has been the center of debate since because of its trivial depiction of various complex, dark topics. Based on Jay Asher’s 2007 young adult novel of the same name, the series was co-produced by actress Selena Gomez and met with mixed, but passionate, reviews. In fact, the controversy was so heated that Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie released a letter, warning students that the show “has potential negative impacts on our youth and their decisions to engage in dangerous behaviors.” As such, the show will not be used in any curricular manner. The letter from Runcie can be found on CBS Miami.
THE SHOW SUCCEEDED BY TAMARAH WALLACE Staff Writer
ALL: The promotional poster for “13 Reasons Why” Photos all comply with fair use standards for reprinting thelariatonline.com
It was the binge-watching phenomenon of spring break that left many minds tangled in a web of raw emotion and disbelief. The new Netflix Original “13 Reasons Why” has captured the hearts of viewers across the world as they struggle to understand the plight of Hannah Baker, an average teenager who decides to commit suicide and record the reasons why she did so. The show expertly navigates through pressing topics such as bullying, sexual harassment, depression, rape and suicide by slowly but surely telling a story that is both unforgettably painful, twisted, but incredibly eye-opening. One of the ways in which “13 Reasons Why” brilliantly calls the viewer’s perspective of suicide into question is when it blatantly showed a character exhibiting suicidal behavior throughout the series and somehow still manages to trick many into believing a different character was the one to commit suicide. In this way, the show forces viewers to deeply ponder what it means to be suicidal and, more importantly, recall how to identify the signs someone is going through that situation. This hands-on approach was something fresh, clever and wholly effective, inviting the audience to question their observational abilities. Critics believe the show’s writers made a disastrous mistake is in the case of Hannah’s love interest, Clay Jensen. Clay coming to the conclusion that it was partly his fault that Hannah died and that it was his inability to show his love for her that contributed to her demise was one thing that critics could not let go of. However, it is a perfect example of the effect of death on friends and family as well as how vulnerable the mind is at that point in time. It takes the simple logic of an outsider, or viewer, to understand that Clay’s judgement is distorted by his love for Hannah. Therefore, it is clear that the show is shrewdly depicting Clay in a common stage of grief. The series presents the potentially suicidal with possible ramifications of their actions. By projecting the worried faces their own loved ones onto those of Hannah’s friends and family, they now can imagine the impact that suicide could have on the people they are leaving behindsomething that might not have made a difference before they watched the show. In many cases, critics have said that the show romanticizes the aforementioned deplorable situations, most of all suicide, by depicting Hannah’s seemingly logical rationale behind it as well as portraying it as solely an act of revenge. However, it is apparent that it does quite the opposite. The series does its best to characterize Hannah as unstable in that she makes the mistake of blaming thoughtless teens for her own decision and is clearly painted as an unreliable narrator. Many aspects of the stories she recounts on the tapes were warped, most significantly, the subplots following some of the students who did her wrong. The notion of a mentally tumultuous Hannah is furthered in the last 30 minutes of the series as the creators, as well as writer of the novel the show was based on, explained that Hannah is undoubtedly a mentally ill character. Portraying her in this way is the only way to demonstrate the thought processes and demeanor of someone who is in this situation and subsequently a perfect way to teach viewers about this type of instability and how to spot it. While there are some accepted flaws within the series, the main idea of it remains resolute: that bullying, rape, sexual harassment, depression and suicide are all issues within our society that need to be the forefront of our global conversations. They should not be stigmatized but rather discussed openly with compassion and impartiality. That is the only way we will be able to progress further as a cohesive, capable society and mitigate these actions in the future.
THE SHOW STUMBLED BY SABRINE BRISMEUR Staff Writer
There is a lot of good about “13 Reasons Why”: the acting, the character development, the subtle cinematography and the mature tone of the series. Clearly, the writers weren’t afraid to tackle dark material and controversial, hard-hitting topics. The message of the show, something along the lines of be kind to everyone; you don’t know what someone is going through and you could save a life, is undoubtedly important in a nation where one in five high school students have reported being bullied. But one of the glaring issues with “13 Reasons Why” is the manner in which it treats suicide. Critics of the series have argued that it simplifies Hannah’s suicide by treating it as a direct result of bullying and actions by her peers. For most people, the reality is far more complicated. 90% of those who commit suicide suffer from mental illness, but the show makes no mention of mental illness relating to or playing a role in Hannah’s life. In truth, suicide is often a far more complex issue that cannot be traced back to any individual moment or person. Mental illness is so prevalent in suicide victims for a reason: it can catastrophize any event, making a mountain out of a molehill and causing an individual to feel as though there is no other option than suicide. It can blur reality and result in people who act irrationally and are unable to handle certain situations that a healthy person could. In “13 Reasons Why,” there is a very plain line that connects her peers’ choices to her suicide, and everyone involved is at fault for her death. The show portrays it as something that has blame and liability - at one point in the show, a main character remarks that “We all killed Hannah Baker.” Of course, bullying can be a reason for suicide, and the people in her life who caused her such anguish should be held accountable. But at the end of the day, they are not responsible for Hannah’s decision to kill herself, nor is anyone else in a real-life situation. “13 Reasons Why” fails by assigning direct blame to the individuals in her life and missing a vital opportunity to discuss, undoubtedly, one of the largest causes for suicide: mental illness. When nine in ten people experience the same issue that leads them to commit suicide, only giving voice to that one outlier is not representative of the problem at hand. Furthermore, the series glamorizes suicide by making Hannah Baker’s suicide an act of revenge. The premise of the shows suggests that Hannah’s suicide is the only way to get back at those who harmed her and force them to realize the consequences of their actions. In death, Hannah holds all the power. She’s trying to prove a point, and maybe, just maybe, those who hurt Hannah will be careful not to bully and treat others badly in the future. Portraying suicide in such a way is dangerous, especially for those vulnerable individuals. Suicide isn’t a petty act of revenge, a last shot at those who hurt you. It’s a life-ending act, not an acceptable way of payback. “Teenagers are especially susceptible to seeing suicide depicted in such a way, and taking dangerous and inaccurate lessons from it—such as that suicide is a viable coping mechanism when you feel hopeless or in despair [and] that it’s a glamorous way to get the attention you’ve been seeking (by never being forgotten) or the revenge you’ve been dreaming of (by getting back at people who’ve wronged you),” writes Korin Miller of self.com. But perhaps the worst thing “13 Reasons Why” could possibly do is suggest that suicide is something that could be solved by love. “I cost a girl her life because I was too afraid to love her,” romantic interest Clay says, but no single person is responsible for keeping someone alive and happy, nor should they be. Suicide is too complicated and serious to even entertain the thought that it could be prevented by love. Trivializing suicide to teenage angst that could be cured from a boy sucking it up and having the nerve to ask you out is a disservice to every individual who has considered suicide, attempted it or committed it.
English class is a source of entertainment, too
ENTERTAINMENT 21
The incontestable, irrefutable list of my own arbitrary opinions about required reading books BY LINDSEY HANNAH Print Editor
12. “Frankenstein”
6. “The Sixth Extinction”
I will always cherish “Frankenstein” as the book that ruined the word “countenance” forever. Sluggish plot, unlikeable characters and convoluted storytelling abound in this novel, which is at once depressing and disgusting. It is undeniably cool that it is the first ever sci-fi book and Mary Shelley finished it when she was just 19 years old, but reading this book as a summer assignment was almost as painful as being stitched together from different corpses. Sorry, too soon?
Yet another important book that a person can only handle reading once, “The Sixth Extinction” details the increasingly harmful impacts humans are having on the environment. Although this topic is inherently depressing, the book manages to convey it in a specific, understandable and hopeful way that makes it both a memorable and impactful read.
5. “Hamlet”
The second work of Shakespeare to make it on the list, “Hamlet” is often called his best play. It directly opposed the traditional main character of the time by making Hamlet overthinking, emotional and indecisive. Despite the fact that it was written over four centuries ago, Hamlet’s themes of death, duality and descent into madness have helped it to stand the test of time.
11. “Of Mice and Men”
Objectively speaking, “Of Mice and Men” is one of the great American novels detailing life during the Great Depression. Subjectively speaking, however, this is a slow paced novella that spends a significant number of words describing nothing (which is actually quite impressive, considering how short it is). While it is wholly unmemorable in my experience, I will concede that my genre of choice at the time was young adult dystopian, so maybe a re-read is in order.
4. “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Although it has been a whopping four years since I’ve read this book, it still manages to maintain its place in my heart (though it has had to scoot over a bit for new arrivals). While some might find it slow or detail-heavy, I recall enjoying these aspects most; without them, Harper Lee could not have created such vivid imagery of the Depression-era South. The book also serves as a harrowing reminder of historical abuses committed against African Americans.
10. “Life of Pi”
I was fascinated by this book’s take on religion, however, the graphic nature of some of the scenes (especially those related to the suffering of animals) lands “Life of Pi” at number ten on my list. The book’s obvious use of symbolism, however, makes it the perfect training wheels for someone trying to get the hang of understanding authors who write everything but what they mean.
3. “Brave New World”
A very close second-place, this book is at once hysterical and chilling, intuitive and shocking, foreign and relatable. Despite being written as a commentary of the materialism and industrialism of the early part of the 20th century, the observations made in “Brave New World” are just as relevant, if not more, when read in the context of today.
2. “Catcher in the Rye”
9. “How to Read Literature like a Professor”
Call me basic, like every other teen who relates to the everangsty Holden Caulfield, but what can I say? The reason so many choose this as their favorite book is that it connects with people on a level that is as universal as it is intimate. Potent with symbolism and unforgettable characters, “Catcher in the Rye” is not just one of my favorite books assigned in class, but of all time.
Okay, so this isn’t a novel, but I was still technically required to read it. It doesn’t top my list for obvious reasons, however I still found my reading experience to be generally enjoyable. My only caveat is the level of spoiler content within the book. Plot may not be the point of great literature, but I still would like to have the option of surprise, thank you very much.
1. “Devil in the Grove”
8. “Night”
Though this is not the kind of book anyone wants to reread, it is important that it is read nonetheless. Much like other books on this list, it details historical atrocities, specifically, the Holocaust. The fact that it is a true story written by a survivor makes the tale all-the-more poignant.
7. “Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Both exceedingly funny and surprisingly easy to read, “Midsummer Night’s Dream” has stood the test of time as one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. The sarcastic, deprecating and at times outlandish humor is not relegated to spectators of the 16th century, but rather has the capacity to be appreciated even by students of today. It isn’t higher on my list, however, due to the absence of powerful, emotion-evoking elements as well as it’s not-so-subtle digs at womankind throughout (yes, I know “Hamlet” does this too. Shhh).
ALL: Covers of the books mentioned in the article. Photos all comply with fair use standards for reprinting
“Devil in the Grove” is another book that recounts the crimes committed against African Americans in the 20th century, however, unlike “To Kill a Mockingbird,” it is nonfiction. The book follows legendary civil rights lawyer and Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall during the years before he won the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, effectively ending racial segregation in public schools. Although the events of this book actually happened, “Devil in the Grove” still reads like fiction, painting history in a whole new light. At times it is hard to believe that anyone could actually really commit some of the atrocities described, which only increases its chilling effect. Ultimately, “Devil in the Grove” is number one on my list because of the deeply engaging and candid story it tells.
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22
SPORTS
Five girls’ teams are district champions, continued Each and every girl contributed to their wins and district title. The girls were destroying teams all the way up until their regional final. They had been practicing and training for this game the entire season. The game was tied for almost three innings, with the Cowboys giving it their everything. Cooper City gave it their all but lost by one point. The girls walked off the field with their heads high, knowing that they did extremely well the entire season. The Lady Cowboys even became first-time champions at the Kissimmee tournament. Before every game, the girls would practice throwing and hitting, making sure that they were ready. Also, the team had a “big and little sister” system where the underclassmen would exchange gifts
with the upperclassmen players. The Lady Cowboys hope to continue their winning streak next year, and to make it farther than they did this year. “It felt so good to get that far because we worked so hard to get to that point the whole season,” sophomore Michelle Adelman said. Along with all the other success this season, girls varsity flag football moved on to states, ending the year with a record of 15-2. The girls had to work hard almost every day for about three months, spending each afternoon on the field after school. These past two seasons have been an overwhelming accomplishment for this program. Last year was the first time the flag football team had made it to district
semifinals since 2012. At the beginning of the year, head coach Al DiLiello, set the date of May 19 and 20 on the board at the first flag football meeting. Those were the dates for states. It was the goal for the Lady Cowboys all year, and they achieved it. They mastered the fundamentals and taught others. Their previous history humbled the team and with each win the team maintained a level of sportsmanship and class, representing Cooper City High School the best they could. Although the Cowboys did not win at states, it was an amazing experience and set the standards for the next group of girls. Before each game, the girls would listen to the Pitch Perfect acapella, which created an overall bond on the team. The coaches would also
remind the girls that no matter how hard or intense the game was, it was still important to have fun. “Reaching the state level was an extremely rewarding experience, especially since last year we lost districts by one point,” senior quarterback Caitlin Dunn said. “I’m so honored to have been a part of this team, and although it was cut short, I believe that the future teams to come will have something to build on from this.” Overall, the girl sports team dominated at Cooper City High School this year. Each and every team hope to continue making achievements and winning for titles for the school. They all worked extremely hard and diligent, and it showed in the end.
THE ROAD TO STATES
Flag football plays in the state semi-final game against Seminole Ridge BY HANNAH EUBANKS Sports Writer
ALL: Flag football paying Miami Southridge at the Regional Finals, moments before becoming regional champions. Photos by Karina Blodnieks
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On Friday May 12, the girls varsity flag football team dominated at Dr. Michael Krop High School, winning the game 26-8. This game takes them into regional finals against Miami Southridge at home on Tuesday, May 16 - a crucial game to win in order to advance to states. With the game ending at 38-0, Cowboys flag football was named regional champions. However, after a close game at states, the Cowboys dropped in semi-finals by a narrow margin. Starting with the first regional game, stress levels rose as the clock ticked closer to game time, but the Cowboys didn’t crumble under pressure or let the unexpected turf or heat advisories get in the way. Starting the game off strong, Gayla Vicnansky scored the first touchdown of the game after completing the pass for the extra point, securing an early lead of 7-0 for the Cowboys. On the defensive, freshman Annie Clark kept up the intensity from offense and picked the ball, setting it up for freshman Kimberly Slinkosky to do what she had been known to do all season. She ran the ball all the way down field, splitting players left and right and scoring a touchdown as Vicnansky then put away the extra point, putting the score at 14-0. Slinkosky once again scored a touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 20 point lead. Vicnansky gave it her all on defense as well, getting a pick to keep from giving any lead way to Krop. Krop scored soon after, changing the score to 20-6 and reminding the Cowboys that this game was not yet in the bag. The Cowboys’ defense was revived by Juliette Polanco, who picked the ball bringing the Cowboys back to life. Yet, in spite of the efforts made by the players, the blistering heat intensified, unnecessary balls were thrown and simple flags were missed. These small but critical errors gave Krop the chance to get a twopoint conversion, but the Cowboys held on to their 20-8 lead. With moments left,
Slinkosky scored again, solidifying the win and the Cowboys’ spot in the regional finals game with a final score of 26-8. After the big win on Friday, the Cowboys took on Miami Southridge in the regional final at home, the ultimate game that determined their season’s fate. On offense, Kimberly Slinkosky and Annie Clark scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, while on defense Jenna Jardine and Samantha Stofsky had picks to head into the second quarter at 12-0. The South Ridge defense stepped it up for the second quarter to prevent scoring, but the Cowboys maintained a strong defensive game. Jardine had two picks in a row, and Stofsky’s interception took the game into halftime. A minor scuffle ensued after halftime, with both teams throwing flags back and forth. As the game resumed, Clark scored one more touchdown, and Gayla Visnansky scored an extra point, raising the score to 19-0. On defense Visnansky picked the ball, followed by an interception by Katie Slinkosky. In a showcase of sisterly teamwork, Katie got the ball back for the Cowboys and Kimberly Slinkosky scored a touchdown, bringing the score to 25-0. Toward the end of the game, Emma Anderson and Stofsky worked together to get a touchdown as Stofsky secured the extra point. Once back on defense, captain Katie Slinkosky helped her teammate out and intercepted the ball. The final touchdown of the night was by Rachel Rolfs, ending the game at 38-0. The state semi-final game was held on May 19 against Seminole Ridge. The Cowboys lost by a narrow margin, but their accomplishments are the first of their kind in years. Though the odds were stacked against them, the Cowboys came out on top once again, proving their talent to all who came out to the game.
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SOFTBALL PLAYS FOR THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Cowboys take on St. Thomas Raiders in Regional Finals BY OLIVIA LEWIS Sports Writer The girls varsity softball team faced off against St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday, May 12. The Cowboys came to redeem themselves and win the regional champion title. The game went until the tenth inning, but the Raiders pulled through and beat the Cowboys by one point. The girls were full of energy, ready to play their most important game of the season. They played strong the entire first inning, not letting the Raiders score any runs. Each team was playing as hard as possible, trying to score as many runs as they could. At the bottom of the fourth inning, the Raiders were able to score one run. Quickly after, the Cowboys made a strong play and were able to tie the game. The game was still tied at the top of the six inning. The Raiders began to hit home-runs and
made the score 4-1 towards the ninth inning. The Cowboys were able to come back quickly and score two more runs. However, the Cowboys were unable to score another run and the game ended with a score of 4-3 in the tenth inning. Senior Kara Lokeinsky had an outstanding game, throwing twelve strikeouts. Sophomore Michelle Adelman had an RBI in the last inning and went 3-4. Her teammate, Kassandra Espinosa also had an RBI and got a hit. “I think we played hard,” sophomore Jasmin Herrera said. “We had some moments where our bats could have come in clutch, but it was a ten inning game and we played our hearts out.” Final Score: Cooper City 3, St. Thomas 4
Baseball falls short of district championship Cowboys lose the final game against the Nova Titans BY MARK BRENT AND BRANDON BERMUDEZ Sports Editor/Sports Writer
One of the biggest baseball games of the year happened on a sunny Saturday, May 6, between the Cooper City Cowboys and the Nova Titans. Both teams had faced each other in the regular season and were highly competitive games that came down to the final inning. Now both teams looked to gain this important victory to be crowned as district champs and bragging rights in their district for a whole year, and the winner would also have a chance to be regional champs in a game played soon after this one. Nova High School came out strong in the first inning by scoring 2 runs and having their way early. The Cowboys were able to get a hit or two in, but could not gain a run to put themselves on the
scoreboard. This put the Cowboys on their heels and made them have to play even harder to stay in the game. In the second inning the Cowboys answered back with a run themselves which made the game seem to be heading towards an all out scrum until the final inning. Both teams played tough on both sides of the ball getting hits and preventing runs as they headed towards the third inning. In the third inning both the Cowboys and the TItans held their ground, not allowing their opponent to score a single run and this moved into the 4th inning with Nova High up 2-1. The 4th inning was Nova’s best inning by far, by being able to to get some nice hits that resulted in great runs. Nova High School got 3 runs in this
inning and made things offly difficult for the Cowboys with 3 innings left in the game. Being down 5-1 meant the Cowboys had to have a tough mindset and work even harder to come back in this game. The 5th inning was well fought by both teams and though the Cowboys held Nova to no runs, they themselves could not score and as the innings were running out they needed to find some way to score in the final two innings to give themselves a chance. Also in the 6th neither team could put anything on the scoreboard and this became tough for the Cowboys as their district hopes were slipping away from them. Even though the Cowboys were down by 4, they never gave up and always kept their head up as the 7th and
final inning approached. In this inning the Cowboys were at bat first and needed to gain at least 4 runs before they got 3 outs. The Cowboys had some hits but nothing big enough to put them on the board and Nova’s defense played extremely well to help them become District champs. This was difficult for the Cowboys but this one game shouldn’t overlook how well their season has gone. “I feel like we had a good season.” said junior Cole Avchen. “Things didn’t go our way but we’ll be back next year. I plan to work harder and put in a little more effort to make sure we achieve our goal.”
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