February/March Issue 2015

LightningStrike Taking Miami-Dade by Storm

Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High • 1410 Countyline Road • Miami, Florida 33179

RECYCLERS ON STRIKE Dan Sicorsky editor-in-chief At roughly 64,000 pounds a year, Krop’s recycling program collects more recyclable material than any school in the county and twice as much as the school in second place.

But with testing season in full force, few noticed that classroom recycling bins weren’t emptied on Thursday, Mar. 5.

“Remember, we’re on strike!” special education teacher Manny Quiroga responded when his students asked why they weren’t going on their scheduled recycling run during fifth period.

The reason for the strike?

For three years, Quiroga has called the recycling company, Ecological Waste System (EWS), asking for a new dumpster to replace the school’s broken one.

The lid on the dumpster was missing, meaning that anyone could dump anything in there anytime. Computer parts, printers, food wastes and other trash were added to actual recyclable

Looking for the plus in Reading Plus Studies have shown that the best of readers only read an average of 600 words per minute (wpm), but English teachers assigning Reading Plus have noticed that some students are reading a whopping 900 wpm through Reading Plus. Either our school holds some of the fastest readers out there or something isn’t right.

Developing independent silent readers has been Reading Plus’s goal since the mid 1990s.

The program helps students increase vocabulary and reading skills and enhances their chances of scoring higher on the Common Core test. Costs in typical installations for Reading Plus vary from $15 to $30 per student and are paid for by the district.

Program temporarily cancelled to boycott collection company

was again promised the new dumpster would arrive by the end of the recess. But by March – three months later – still no sign of it.

On Thursday, Mar. 5, Quiroga sent a mass email to all faculty and staff to inform them that until ECW replaced the broken bin, recycling would be cancelled. He included ECW’s phone number for those concerned to call. “If you call, they will get the point,” Quiroga wrote in the email.

By the afternoon of that same day, ECW got the point. In an email to all faculty and staff, gifted department chair Ruth Smith communicated what she was told when she called EWS: The bin would arrive the next PHOTOS BY DAN SICORSKY morning, so please stop calling.

IN IT TO ‘BIN’ IT: After three years of asking the recycling collection company to replace a damaged container, the special By the next day, Friday, the education students and teacher Manny Quiroga decided to stop recycling until the container was replaced. (Clockwise from new dumpster had arrived, and left) Senior Daniela Ben-Arie empties a science classroom’s recycling bin on Mar. 6, the same day the strike ended. The Quiroga’s students ended their new container (left) was delivered on Mar. 6 after many faculty members called the collection company to complain about the old container (right). The recycling mural in the cafeteria was painted at the request of Quiroga several years ago. two-day strike and started recycling once again.

In a follow-up email to all material. cyclable material,” he said. “But I a new one,” Quiroga said, “and faculty and staff an hour after Quiroga would often go into feel compelled to do it because it they’ve always said ‘Oh yeah, no the dumpster arrived, Quiroga problem.’” the dumpster and remove the doesn’t belong in there.” wrote: “Thank you… You made But there was a problem: The trash thrown in there by others.

For years, Quiroga was made possible what I was not able to “It’s not my job to jump in the false promises by EWS. “I’ve new dumpster never came. do in three years of trying.”

Before winter break, Quiroga bin and get stuff out that’s not re- asked and asked them to bring

EDUCATION

Sophie Muchnick copy editor

March 12, 2015 • Issue 5 • Volume 17

Miami-Dade County Public Schools conducted an independent study on Reading Plus use within the district. The analysis examined students in grades 3 through 10 at all levels of ability. The study was conducted to look at the effectiveness of programs in boosting students’ reading and math FCAT scores.

STEPHANIA SALAVERRIA The results proved that NEED TO READ: Sophomore Chloe NissetReading Plus has a posi- Raidon completes a Reading Plus assignment tive effect for students of in the information center. all levels. This report was quired home learning assignment. also conducted for the 2010-2011 However, some students don’t see school year and had nearly the the value in Reading Plus and ofsame results. This led M-DCPS to ten refer to it as a pain. state that Reading Plus was found "Reading Plus could be bento have a consistent positive im- eficial for some people, but it provement for students who used doesn't help me," sophomore the program efficiently.

Since then, M-DCPS has im- ► see “READING PLUS,” plemented this program as a repage 3

TESTING

Technology glitches delay FSA testing statewide Kaila Jones guest writer Computer-based testing for the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) resumed Mar. 5 after statewide technical difficulties stalled the testing process, pushing the initial timetable back by three days.

The system slowed for the students who could log in to their testing site, but did not work at all for others. Test takers awaited solutions from first period until fourth period on Monday.

Freshman Fatima Bahar said she missed her math class, physical education, and speech and debate class while waiting for test administration.

But students didn’t waste all of their time.

Freshman Natalie Enamorado was in room 2187 when testing was supposed to commence. She said that she took the practice writing test once the actual test failed to launch. She estimated that the practice test lasted 30 minutes.

“I don’t like it,” Enamorado said of the new standardized test which replaced the FCAT this year. “But it’s something that I had to do.”

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho suspended testing throughout Miami-Dade County until the state could guarantee they solved the problem.

The American Institutes for Research, the testing firm affiliated with FSA, later identified the problem as a software issue.

According to the Florida De-

► see “TESTING,” page 3

More inside: • Don’t call me big, call me beautiful - page 4 • Lunch line confessions - page 8 • Sophomore gives TED Talk - page 13 • The great dress debate - page 15 • Through the lens - page 20

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News

tops Page 2

KROP’S

Seniors Kimberly Foreiter and Daniela Michanie were selected as National Coco-Cola Scholars.

Seniors Daniel Guberek and Elliot Karr were selected as National Merit finalists, and senior Kaila Jones was selected as a National Achievement Finalist.

The Lightning Strike The Lightning Strike• September • February/March2008 2015

From local to global:

What’s going on around the world?

MIAMI-DADE, FLORIDA: The owners of the largest mall in the nation, Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have proposed a plan for a new mall in Miami-Dade County. This mall would be the new largest mall in America that would cost $4 billion to make and create 25,000 new jobs.

SPANISH FORK, UTAH: A 25-year old woman was found dead in a fatal car crash in a river outside of Salt Lake City. The women’s 18-month old daughter was found alive in the car 13 hours later. The baby was flown into a Salt Lake City hospital and survived.

COLOMBIA: Colombia’s government and Farc rebels have agreed to work together to remove land mines in rural areas of the country where they have fought since the 1960s. The Farc rebels are estimated to have 8,000 troops which is about half of what it had in 2001.

CHAD: Boko Haram, a Nigerian based military group, enforces fear into people of the Islamic State villages that terrorists groups are increasing in Iraq and Syria.

American forces and other Chad allies have helped the villages by training troops and forming counterterrorism groups.

CHINA: Political figures in China have removed a popular documentary which highlights the country’s severe pollution problem on their most popular news websites. The documentary highlights a widespread concern in China over air pollution.

FRANCE: The High Courts in France have ruled that Facebook can be taken to court in France. A man’s Facebook account was shut down because he posted a photo of an explicit painting made in the 19th century. sources: CNN Miami Herald

Compiled by Ethan Curtis

For the first time in history, Krop’s Model United Nations team went to New York City to compete in the National High School Model UN Competition.

The girls’ varisty soccer team was the only team to qualify for the FHSAA Academic Team Champions Award for winter sports. The team’s players had an average 3.280 unweighted GPA. Sophomore Maya Levy qualified for the state and international science fair with her project “Clinical Accuracy of NonInvasive Glucose Monitoring for Ex-Vivo Artificial Pancreas.”

She will represent Krop in two events.

Krop’s apprentices from the Florida Grand Opera who performed for Starlight will receive a 50% scholarship to the Florida Grand Opera Summer Opera Camp for high school singers.

Krop was selected to be highlighted on Channel 6’s segment, “Brag about your school.”

Compiled by Alec Eidelstein

CORRECTION:

On pages 10-11 of the Strike issue published on Jan. 31, the African-American astronaut was misidentified as Mae Jemison. The woman pictured was another female astronaut. The Strike acknowledges this error and apologizes to readers.

ACTIVITIES

PeaceJam committee introduces ‘Krop Talks’ Daniela Michanie opinion editor The PeaceJam group, which brought to Krop the Wall of Hate, Humans of Krop, and Mix-It-Up Days has introduced “Krop Talks,” a new way where students are sharing ideas worth spreading.

The PeaceJam Committee, a component of the Student Government Association at Krop, is part of an international organization that pairs student leaders with Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

The goal? To help resolve 10 of the world’s most pressing social issues, or known to the PeaceJammers as “Global Calls to Action (GCA).” Under the leadership of committee chairs Daniela Michanie and Sara Eghtessadi, Krop’s PeaceJam chapter has made remarkable progress in Krop’s chosen GCA, “Ending Racism and Hate.”

“As a part of our chosen GCA to End Racism and Hate, we are constantly trying to think of new ways to reach new people,” Eght-

LUC PIERRE-LOUIS

IDEAS WORTH SPREADING: Senior Sarah Eghtessadi speaks to an audience of students and faculty about the stereotypes of Muslim women on Feb. 11. Eghtessadi’s talk is part of a larger project started by the SGA’s Peace Jam committee’s goal to “end racism and hate.”

essadi said.

The committee recently launched “Krop Talks,” which allow different students, not necessarily involved in PeaceJam, to give 15-20 minute presentations about a topic that relates to racism, hate, or discrimination.

“Much like the famous Ted-

Talks, the goal of Krop Talks is to allow our students to spread ideas about the things that matter to them,” said senior Luc Pierre Louis, who recently delivered a Krop Talk about the stereotypes of Afro-Americans.

These discussions, which are held in the auditorium during both

lunches, are open to all students.

Many clubs, including the Social Studies Honor Society, are encouraging their members to attend the Krop Talks. So far, the PeaceJam committee is pleased with the amount of people that have shown interest in the talks, but plan for growth.

“While we’ve had a really good turnout, we hope that in the upcoming talks we will have even more people,” Eghtessadi said.

“What we’re doing is so important.

We are giving empowered people a voice to share their stories. It is the responsibility of our peers to listen.”

Eghtessadi herself has given a Krop Talk about the stereotypes and the media’s distortion of Muslim women, and senior Kaila Fives presented a talk about the stereotypes of mental and developmental disabilities.

Upcoming Krop Talks will include discussions about the media’s effect of body image and stereotypes of immigrants.

DEBATE

Mock Trial, Model UN teams compete among other schools Corbin Boiles staff writer Countless practices, grand fundraisers, and after school research sessions are just a dash of what Mock Trial and Model UN are all about. But based on students’ and sponsors’ accounts of the events, they paid off.

Mock Trial

Practicing since the beginning of December, Krop’s Mock Trial team participated in the Dade County chapter for the sixteenth time on Feb. 12 and 13.

The Mock Trial is a fictional court case composed of students preparing legal cases for both a defense and prosecution team.

Both the plaintiff and defense teams tried the case of Harper Sanders vs. Everglade Computers Inc. and CharTech Tech Services, a case dealing with two companies invading a teenager’s privacy. Although

both sides competed against one another, they agreed on one thing: It was an unforgettable experience.

Schools from all over the district went to the James L. Knight Convention Center to try the case.

Laura Marino, a lawyer for the defense team, thought the experienced schools helped make the competition worth it.

“Being surrounded by schools that are incredible and competing against them was nerve-breaking,” Marino said. “But the fact that I was able to do it with my team was really rewarding.”

The Mock Trial team participates in four rounds every day and is rewarded points based on attorney and witness performances. Although the Krop team was not one of the 4 teams chosen to go onto the semi-finals out of the 50 schools that took part in the competition, it remains motivated and is excited

for next year’s trial.

Model UN

For two weekends, on separate occasions and in seperate locations, students were transformed into United Nations delegates and mentally transported to the countries they represented. Summed up into three words, this situation is Model United Nations (UN).

In Model UN, students are divided into delegations of two people and become part of different committees that serve different purposes, like humanitarian or environmental. Delegates unite with other delegations from several high schools to discuss global issues.

Apart from annually taking part in the Miami chapter in Miami Dade College (MUN), this was the first year where Krop participated in the national Model UN competition in New York (NHSMUN).

Senior Dan Sicorsky, the team

captain for the Miami competition, explained the preparation that goes into competition.

“We had weekly meetings where we practiced, went over procedures, and learned debate vocabulary,” Sicorsky said. “Each delegation also prepared position papers, which are submitted before the competition.”

To prepare for these position papers, the team worked after school to review past papers and peer review each other’s. While both the national and regional team described how stressful the competition is, they agree the key is to keep confident.

Sicorsky and senior Lina Zuluaga, who represented Uruguay, won the award for Best Position Paper; sophomore Mathew Block and senior Laura Katz, also representing Uruguay, were rewarded Best Delegation; and juniors Andres Rosero and Joss Gitlin, on behalf of Latvia, received an honorable mention.

News Page 3

The Lightning Strike • February/March September 2012 2015 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT

Argentine prosecutor commemorated amid speculation, mystery Michael Katz staff writer

We are in the midst of the biggest conspiracy of the century.

Jan. 18, just before midnight, Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman is found dead, locked inside his bathroom with a bullet wound to the head from a .22 caliber pistol he allegedly borrowed from his assistant the day before. He’s scheduled to be at court the next day to uncover what might just be the biggest case of corruption Argentina has ever seen.

Nisman had compiled a 298page report stating that the Argentine president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, and her foreign minister, Hector Timerman, were negotiating with Iranian leaders to protect the terrorists responsible for the 1984 bombing of a Jewish community center, the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA), in exchange for oil.

Nisman had been investigating the attack, which left 85 dead and hundreds injured, for the past 10 years, and had concluded that the bombers were part of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah. The culprits remain unpunished, and the allegations of corruption have sparked protests, rallies and movements worldwide.

On Feb. 18, a procession was held in Beth Torah, a synagogue in Miami, in which about 300 members of the Jewish congregation met to commemorate Nisman.

Several Argentine representatives attended as speakers.

“Alberto Nisman did not commit suicide,” said Dr. Knoblovitz, the General Secretary of the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations, who had been with the prosecutor two days before his death. “Nisman was passionate.

He loved his kids and his job and was loyal to the Republic of Argentina.”

NISMAN DID

NOT COMMIT SUICIDE. [HE] WAS PASSIONATE. HE LOVED HIS KIDS AND HIS JOB AND WAS LOYAL TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA.” –DR. KNOBLOVITZ But recent information shows that the case against Hezbollah may not have been as strong as we thought. There’s also been speculation of an attack by Syria. In addition, state news agencies argue that Argentina is currently in need of refined, not crude oil, which Iran cannot offer. And, while a 298page report may sound lengthy, Horatio Verbitsky, the president of Argentina’s leading human rights group, pointed out that only two pages of Nisman’s report concern the legal basis of the criminal

charges against Kirchner.

While substantial evidence points towards suicide, most Argentines don’t buy it. Freshman Carolina Szlufman, who was born in Argentina and maintains close relationships with family members there, believes that what happened to Nisman was an embarrassment to Argentina. “A man was trying to prove that the government is corrupt; that the president of my country steals from the people. I believe he was killed by the government so the truth wouldn’t come out, and that’s wrong in so many ways.”

For now, the Kirchner situation is almost pure speculation. What we can be sure about, however, is that there is way too much deceit going on in this case for it to be coincidental. Jonathan Blitzer, in a report for The New Yorker, stated that the investigation on the bombing has lasted 20 years, during which the original investigating judge, the former head of the Argentine intelligence services, some of the prosecutors, police officers and the former head of an AMIA-affiliated organization have all been charged with wrongdoing.

It is unclear what to expect from the Kirchner government or the Argentine people, but rest assured – the Argentine people are one of the most nationalistic and proud people on the planet. The pride they share for their country is one not found anywhere else. If one thing is for sure, it is that the Argentine community’s pride in their country will get them through this together.

NISMAN SITUATION BY THE NUMBERS

85

reported dead in the 1984 bombing of a Jewish community center

298

pages in report stating that Kirchner negotiated with Iranian leaders

300

members of Beth Torah met to commemorate Nisman’s death

10

years, that Nisman had been investigating the bombing before he was shot and killed.

‘READING PLUS’ from front page

Daniel Sustiel said. “The stories repeat and sometimes I don’t even have to completely read stories and I’m still able to get the answers right.”

Other students have learned to take advantage of Reading Plus. An anonymous source referred to as “Jane” to stay anonymous for safety reasons has started a profitable business. Jane started charging money to do other students’ Reading Plus assignments in her freshman year.

When Jane was given answers by a friend, she realized she had found a gold mine.

Jane claims to have made almost $3,000 since the start of her business. She charges $1 per lesson and $2 if contacted on the weekend. Five people work for Jane and she pays them 40 cents for every lesson they complete. However, she is considering discontinuing her business.

“I’m thinking about stopping because I don’t want to get in trouble,” Jane said. “It’s also academic dishonesty, and I don’t want this to affect me being able to get into college if I get caught.”

Another reason Jane is considering halting her business is because English teachers have caught on this cheating scandal. They first noticed cheating was going on when reading teachers saw that one of the top searches on school computers was “Reading Plus answers.”

Department chair and English teacher Alina Feldman first noticed when she gave her students the FAIR test and saw

little to no improvement from the beginning of the year. She required her students to write a letter of apology and fess up on cheating. In the letter, they had to say they would no longer cheat, and if they did, they would be subject to suspension or expulsion depending on the severity.

English teacher Farrah Frazier is taking away all A’s that were given for Reading Plus to suspected cheaters. She is requiring them to come after school and prove they didn’t cheat, or confess to the academic dishonesty.

If their in-person reading rate matches their Reading Plus rate, they get the A’s back, but if the rates don’t match, Frazier will not only remove A’s, but move students back to the appropriate reading level.

Although English teachers are cracking down on cheating, other students have taken on the task. Now, Jane pays someone else to do her Reading Plus because she is too busy with her clients’ assignments.

According to Principal Dawn Baglos, the conversation with the student who is allegedly selling answers isn’t finished and the accusations are still being looked into.

Reading Plus has proved to help students with vocabulary and silent reading, but many students don’t see the point in this tedious assignment.

“I’d rather read a book with my teacher and class than spend 30 minutes reading about stories on Reading Plus that don’t interest me,” sophomore Leo Zighelboim said.

‘TESTING’ from front page partment of Education’s Twitter feed, more than half of the students registered for the writing portion of the FSA finished it by 3 p.m. on the day testing resumed.

Test Chairperson Xandra Lilavois hoped that the technological woes were over and was confident that testing would be completed before the two-week window closed on March 13.

Mar. 5’s test administration proved to be more successful.

Freshman Devin Pryor ex-

pressed minor concern for the schedule alterations.

“I just wanted to get the test over with,” he said. “And I still have to take it now.”

This year, there won’t be a separate writing and reading score. Instead, one score will be composed of the writing and reading portions of the FSA. The FSA will be used as a tool for school evaluations and a graduation requirement for sophomores.

Editorial Page 4

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

HEALTH

Your best shot is to get vaccinated IN MY OPINION lina zuluaga

managing editor

My mother grew up in a generation where people got their news from cable TV. Experts were featured and, as it tends to happen in cable news, sometimes they got things right and sometimes they didn’t. This is how my mom first came to believe that vaccines caused autism, but it is also how she learned that her belief was wrong.

How the myth was born: In 1998 the Lancet, a UK medical journal, published a study that linked the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine to autism. This one study became the basis for a vicious myth, one that promoted the idea that vaccines caused autism.

Twelve years later, The Guardian reported that the Lancet retracted the study. “It was utterly clear, without any ambiguity at all, that the statements in the paper were utterly false,” Richard Horton editor

Courtesy of CDC.gov

of the Lancet said.

The Center for Disease Control completely rejects the claim that vaccinations can cause autism. Yet, in 2015 with an outbreak of measles in California affecting over 60 people, enough people believe in the myth that they have suspended vaccinating their children.

paign led by WHO, smallpox was entirely eradicated.

Similarly, in 1988 the World Health Assembly (WHA) launched an immunization campaign to end polio. As of today, only three countries in the world remain infected (Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan).

Why vaccinations matter: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the early 1950s an estimated 50 million cases of smallpox occurred in the world each year.

The numbers fell to around 10 million by 1967 because of vaccinations. In 1980, after a global immunization cam-

Reasons not to get vaccinated: It is true that a number of people shouldn’t get vaccines. If someone has a weak immune system, or if it goes against cultural/religious values vaccines may not be the best option.

Thankfully, in the world of vaccinations, herd immunity exists. So

THE LIGHTNING STRIKE An NSPA All-American publication Winner of George H. Gallup Award NSPA Pacemaker Finalist An FSPA All-Florida publication Like us on Facebook Visit us online at www.lightningstrikenews.com

DAN SICORSKY, Editor-in-Chief LINA ZULUAGA, Managing Editor ALEC EIDELSTEIN News Editor DANIELA MICHANIE Opinion Editor JACOB SINGER Sports Editor SHOSHANA SOMMER Entertainment Editor MIKAELA MENDEZ Spread Editor MACKENZIE DUFFY Feature Editor

MAYAN DERHY Lifestyle Editor SOPHIE MUCHNICK Copy Editor STEPHANIA SALAVERRIA Photo Editor ERICK COHEN Business Manager MARYKAY SULLIVAN Adviser SUN COAST PRINTER Printer

STAFF WRITERS CORBIN BOLIES, JUAN BORQUEZ, FRANCESA BOZZA, ETHAN CURTIS, MICHAEL KATZ, DEVIN LEE, CHELSEA LEWIS, SAIGE RAYMOND, MILA SICORSKY AD POLICY

The Lightning Strike solicits advertising but reserves the right to reject any material deemed libelous, disruptive, obscene or otherwise inappropriate.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Lightning Strike is the student newspaper of Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School: 1410 Countyline Road, Miami, FL 33179; (305) 652-6808 Ext. 238.

Opinions expressed in the editorial section do not reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school. The Lightning Strike welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. However, we will NOT print anonymous letters. Please keep letters under 150 words and saved to a computer if possible. The editor reserves the right to reject, edit and condense letters. All letters should be turned in to room 2-233.

STORY POLICY

Questions or comments about the fairness or accuracy of stories should be directed to Dan Sicorsky, Editor-in-chief, at dsicorskythestrike@gmail.com.

the population that is vaccinated can serve as a buffer for those who are not when threat of an outbreak occurs.

Herd immunity is the reason outbreaks of whooping cough, polio, and (up until recently) measles, remained contained in the United States.

But herd immunity is only effective when more than 90 percent of the population is vaccinated.

Once the number dips below this, the buffer collapses and vaccinated people become at risk as well. No vaccination is 100 percent effective, meaning that even a vaccinated population can be subject to outbreak. Studies by the CDC indicate

that vaccinated populations fare much better than unvaccinated populations because of herd immunity.

In short, get vaccinated In the United States we’re a lucky bunch. We don’t walk through the streets seeing young children gasping their last breath of air at the hands of a vicious disease like tuberculosis. We don’t see old people limping because of their infections with polio -- although we used to in the 1960s, but then polio was eliminated in our country after massive vaccination campaigns were waged.

What happened in California earlier in January is proof that people need to remain educated.

Watch the news, read the studies, and listen to scientists, because, I promise they know better. Get your vaccinations. Some countries don’t have the access that we do. Some families are destroyed by diseases we have eradicated in our country.

Be responsible. Make sure to get your vaccinations. And for a single $1, you can save five children from contracting polio by donating to END POLIO NOW! Here’s the link:http://www.endpolio.org/donate

RESOLUTIONS

New year, new failed resolutions IN MY OPINION daniela michanie

opinion editor

Back in January, I was tempted to write an article about how New Years’ resolutions are typically failures. Instead, I allowed time to make that argument for me.

around each year, it is natural for us to look at the upcoming year as a clean slate—a possibility to set goals for growth and change. The problem lies in the magnitude of these goals.

According Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist at Harvard, we set goals that are typically unattainable, and more often then not, fail.

WE

MAKE PROMISES TO CHANGE HABITS, WITHOUT BEING READY TO DO SO. ONCE WE FAIL, THE MOTIVATION IS GONE AND OUR HABITS CAN BECOME EVEN WORSE AS HELPLESSNESS KICKS IN.” As I store away the sweaters I needed to get through Miami’s harsh winter and begin spring-cleaning, I come across the list I made in January, and realize that for some odd reason, I have not been able to meet my resolutions.

Maybe it’s the busy scholarship season in January or the growing lure of senioritis that kept me from meeting my New Year goals.

Or perhaps, it is the fact that New Years’ Resolutions simply fail—time after time (or year after year to be more precise).

When the New Year comes

Among students, popular resolutions include “losing weight,” and “raising grades.”

But the two weeks of waking up at noon are over and schools comes back into full force, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture, and harder to make time for the gym, or for extra hours of studying.

By failing to meet out goals, researchers say our motivation is severely wounded.

Timothy Pychyl, a psychology professor at Carleton University termed New Year’s Resolutions “cultural procrastination.”

We make promises to

change habits, without being ready to do so. Once we fail, the motivation is gone and our habits can become even worse as helplessness kicks in.

It’s not wrong to want to change our lifetstyles—but it takes more than empty promises to reverse bad habits or promote good ones.

There’s no need to wait for the New Year to roll around to set goals.

Here are some tips to follow through with resolutions whether you set them at the start of the year, season, or random day in March: 1.) Set goals that you can actually meet: if you have always been a “C” student, don’t expect to get straight A’s on your upcoming report card.

2.) Start small: If you’re trying to lose weight, don’t swear off all your favorite foods—maybe give up donuts only?

3.) Hold yourself accountable: get a group of friends together and help one another meet goals. Set a time to meet and discuss your progress and help each other.

4.) Remember that good habits take time to form: If you’ve been procrastinating on homework your entire life, don’t expect to be able to sit and study for five hours straight every night. If you do an extra 20 minutes of studying, for example, you will start to see progress.

Opinion

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Page 5

SCHOOL POLICY

Oklahoma makes history by censoring APUSH IN MY OPINION dan sicorsky

editor-in-chief

Oklahoma’s state representatives are lawyers, economists and doctors, but now they want to be authors too – of history textbooks.

In mid-February, an education committee in Oklahoma’s legislature passed a bill to stop funding Advanced Placement U.S. History (unofficially, APUSH). The bill’s author, State Rep. Dan Fisher (R), argues this year’s new APUSH curriculum emphasizes too much of “what is bad about America” and too little of “American exceptionalism.”

The bill proposes an alternative curriculum that includes well-known American speeches, documents and literature. But it doesn’t mention the United States’ exploitation of Native Americans, nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, cover-up of the Watergate scandal, invasion of Iraq, internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2 or other dark points in America’s centuries-long history that are covered in the AP course.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time officials have tried to censor the

New U.S. History Curriculum under

Oklahoma Exceptionalism LINA ZULUAGA

APUSH curriculum. Since the start of the school year, Georgia’s senate, a Colorado county school board and the Republican National Committee have all denounced the course for its negative portrayal of American history.

And each time, students and educators spoke out against the proposed changes. In Colorado, students protested with signs telling lawmakers, “Don’t censor my right to learn,” and in Oklahoma, a student started an online petition with over 28,500 signatures (as of Mar. 3) to stop the signing of the bill into law.

Facing harsh criticism from

POPULAR APPS

Trivia cracks into classroom time IN MY OPINION

shoshana sommer micaha

entertainment editor

After failing my test I automatically knew the reason why. I was feeding my addiction of Trivia Crack while my teacher was lecturing.

Trivia Crack is the hottest mobile quiz game with over 130 million downloads. The game allows users to complete against each other by answering questions in categories such as science, sports, history, art, entertainment and COURTESY OF apkdad.com geography.

Compared to other trending games like Candy Crush, were students mindlessly swipe their fingers to collect candy; Trivia Crack serves as a way to test knowledge and awaken the mind. The only flaw with Trivia Crack is that students play during class rather than listening to instruction.

How could the game benefit students’ education if they play when they are supposedly learning the answers to the questions

being asked?

If students play Trivia Crack during biology, they wouldn’t be able to answer the question, “What is a Lipid?”

At times l get three notifications during class that my opponent has lost. Not only am I distracted in class, but I know that there are at least three other kids that aren’t paying attention.

According to Deb Norton, a technology integration specialist at Appleton East High School in Wisconsin said the app is wildly popular with the school's students.

East High found a way to take advantage of that popularity by hosting battles between classes.

Yes, the app can help create a more enjoyable classroom experience when used effectively by teachers who host battles, but this is not the case at our school. As of now students play under their desks or while the teacher isn’t looking, which is a disadvantage to the learning process.

Until teachers catch onto the trend and have planned challenges or battles to test students in a creative way, students need to put down their phones and actually learn something. As of now Trivia Crack will just serve as a distraction and will hinder education rather than help it.

students and educators nationwide, Fisher said he would revise the bill because it was “misunderstood.”

Your bill might have been misunderstood, Mr. Fisher, but this wasn’t: Elected officials in the 21st century want to omit some parts of America’s history because they aren’t all that pretty.

Perhaps because he was Irish and not American, Edmund Burke, an 18th century philosopher, was also left out of Fisher’s proposed U.S. history curriculum, as was one of his most famous quotes: “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”

Something tells me that Fisher and his pals weren’t shown this quote when they were in school, because if they were, they would have remembered it when they drafted their legislation.

By smudging out certain “ugly” parts of history, legislators are slowly transforming Burke’s warning into reality.

The forced, deadly relocation of Native Americans in the 1830s known as the Trail of Tears might not be as pleasant to learn about as, say, the Space Race, but both topics are still crucial to our nation’s history. Omitting America’s dark times from textbooks is the first step in ensuring they

are forgotten – and repeated – by future generations.

Our history – all of it – has shaped this nation into the haven of freedom and democracy that it is today. But censoring history curricula to omit the “bad” moments that shaped this country isn’t a sign of democracy. It’s a sign of ignorance and bigotry.

Fisher’s bill warned that unless a change is made in the U.S. history framework, “an emergency is hereby declared to exist.”

But the “emergency” isn’t that students will learn America’s true story.

At a time where more than three-fifths of state legislatures and both houses of Congress are Republican-controlled, the only “emergency” is that other politicians want to tell America’s history instead of letting it speak for itself.

In Venezuela, Russia, China and dozens of other countries, history belongs to governments that threaten the media and censor educational institutions. The “emergency” is that U.S. politicians are taking baby steps toward making America one of these nations.

Although Fisher’s bill isn’t expected to become law, the day politicians voted to censor history is sure to go down in the books. Good luck censoring that, Mr. Fisher.

LEGISLATION

Without a gun, you can’t pull the trigger IN MY OPINION michael katz

staff writer

I failed because my teacher sucks. I don’t have a job because the economy sucks. People don’t kill people, guns do that. All our lives, we’re taught to blame things on others, and no one wants to take responsibility for the consequences.

Nobody thinks anything is their fault, so nobody does anything to stop it. But the spread of gun violence is something we must take responsibility for, and

Country with the loosest gun control laws in the developed world

something we must stop.

We must realize that we can’t blame violence on guns. Guns can’t pull their own triggers. They are tools, just like cars or knives, and they can’t do any damage unless there’s a person involved.

Unlike cars and knives, however, guns are created to harm, whether it be in defense or offense. Research shows that if a gun is near when an argument escalates, one is more likely to be killed if than if there were another weapon. And while we can’t control how people use guns, we can only control how accessible they are.

The United States has a population of 316.1 million, and there

Country with the highest gun-related homicides in the developed world

Design and information from The Atlantic’s website

are roughly 300 million firearms legally owned by civilians in the United States. That’s an average of about one gun per man, woman and child – and that doesn’t count the thousands more that are illegally rotating throughout the nation.

The solution is clearly gun control. Higher penalties for criminal gun use and greater regulation of gun acquisition are both the easiest and most logical path towards peace. Have you ever seen a drive-by shooting with a knife?

Odds are you haven’t, but drive-by shootings are something people all around the world deal with on a daily basis. Liberty City is only 30 minutes away from our school, and shootings there are just as natural as the sunset.

Imagine falling asleep to gunshots – or worse, imagine having one of your loved ones shot.

Tracey Wright doesn’t have to. Her daughter was shot while walking to the local ice cream store in Liberty City. She will never know why.

Guns may not be killing people, but they sure make it easier.

If we want the killing to stop, we know where to start.

Editorial Page 6

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015 Page 5

BODY IMAGE

Don’t call me big, call me beautiful IN MY OPINION chelsea lewis

staff writer

When a plus sized girl looks in the mirror what they want to see is perfection, but what they usually see is imperfection.

Women are bombarded with society’s view of the “perfect body’’ yet neglect to embrace what’s theirs. Different forms of evidence show that weight and weight gain are tied to genetics.

Sometimes, being a “big girl” is not a sin, but a part of one’s designated DNA. So what if you were gifted with ample curves and plumper

assets? Different types of female body images are increasingly accepted, as seen in campaigns such as the “Dove Campaign for Real Beauty” that promotes real women of all sizes and ages with fearless plus sized models.

“Everyone was born different and being plus sized isn’t a big problem unless you’re uncomfortable with the way you look,” said junior Catiuska Trinidad, who is plus sized herself. “I don’t think just because your bigger that means you’re less attractive; being plus sized is just as beautiful, if not more.”

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve seen plenty of girls, including one of my sisters, struggle with weight. Her body image was

something she was never fond of and did not accept.

While growing up she faced neglect from family members and school peers who treated her wrong, calling her names and consistently picking on the way she looked. It caused her to become more unsocial and depressed.

She also tended to feel the most excluded out of her siblings because they were always slim, something she wanted for herself.

However, she says that her past life experiences taught her how to develop a strong self-esteem, regardless of how others see her.

“Whenever I look in the mirror I call myself beautiful because that’s what I am and that’s how I want to be accepted.” she said.

Take the new “20 beautiful woman” challenge as an example.

The trending hashtag encourages women to love themselves and challenges girls to post a selfie of a moment they felt beautiful inside.

Then tag 20 other woman to encourage them to do the same. Its purpose is to promote confidence and a strong sense of beauty inside and out.

Junior Jasmine Johnson who participated in the challenge said, “It gave me a chance to compliment other girls, giving them the reminder that they’re beautiful.”

As girls, I don’t think we do that enough, and it’s probably because society tells us that we must compete against one another,” Johnson said.

80%

BODY IMAGE

BY THE NUMBERS:

On the other hand, discrimination is still out there. Others argue a nod to plus sized women is a nod to obesity.

The majority of society is always going to say that “slimmer is better” or the new modern version of what is a socially acceptable body shape. Remember, as time goes on, the ideal shape changes/ Despite these changing views, girls everywhere who deal with this same discrimination need to keep their heads up and waver their minds past all of that.

They need to accept themselves, encourage others around them to do the same, and remember that society’s definition of “beautiful” should include all body types.

of women say that the images of women on television and in movies, fashion magazines, and advertising makes them feel insecure.

42%

of girls first through third grade want to be thinner

95%

of people with eating disorders, as a result of negative body image, are between the ages of 12-25

-Federico Psevoznik and Daniela Michanie

SOURCES

1. dosomething.org, 2. teen-beauty-tips.com

A PERSONAL ESSAY IN SPANISH

No soy supermodelo, pero si soy colombiana EN MI OPINIÓN camille cano

guest writer

Paulina Vega fue coronada como Miss Universo 2014 el 25 de enero de 2015 en Doral y se ha convertido en la mujer mas hermosa, no solo para Donald Trump, sino también para Colombia, Latino America y el mundo.

Aunque muchos se alegraron al saber de su coronación, yo, una adolecente colombiana, estaba disgustada. Mi cultura y mi identidad como colombiana no tienen relación ninguna con ella y no me siento representada como colombiana. Por el contrario, veo un concepto distorcionado de lo que es la feminidad y la real belleza.

Veo como la imagen de las colombianas que siguen siendo conceptuadas como íconos sexuales y con cuerpo lleno de protuverantes curvas. La coronación de Vega no ha hecho mas que aumentar la incorrecta representación de la mujer colombiana.

Durante toda mi vida, la mayoría por no decir todos los títulos dados a la mujer colombiana han sido que son sensuales, sexys, modelos, estrellas de cine para adultos, novias exóticas y en general mujeres exóticas. Pero doctoras, científicas, madres, maestras y otras

inteligentes, trabajadoras y mujeres luchadoras son raramente reconocidas. Estos falsos estereotipos estan motivando a las jovenes mujeres colombianas a convertirse en unas muñecas Barbie y le restan importancia a hacer parte en la política,

reales como por ejemplo Adriana Ocampo, gerente del programa de ciencias en la NASA y ganadora del premio a la mujer del año en la categoría de ciencias en 1992. Otro ejemplo para mi sería una mujer como mi propia madre, una mujer

EN VEZ DE GLORIFICAR SUPERMODELOS

Y DE TILDARLAS DE PROTOTIPO COLOMBIANO, PORQUE NO NOS DETENEMOS Y NOS ENFOCAMOS EN MUJERES COLOMBIANAS AUTÉNTICAS Y REALES?” civismo y proyectos “STEM”. Por esta razón, Colombia esta también llena de mujeres que carecen de auto estima y sienten que no pueden alcanzar esos estandares creados y asi no representan a la mencionada mujer colombiana.

Estos estereotipos han sido de cierta forma parte tambien de mi experiencia personal, por ejemplo el sentirme presionada al no tener una talla de busto mayor por lo cual son conocidas las mujeres colombianas.

En vez de glorificar a las supermodelos y de tildarlas de prototipo colombiano, porque no nos detenemos y nos enfocamos en mujeres Colombianas auténticas y

colombiana nacida en un hogar humilde y que con su fuerte esfuerzo logro ingresar a la prestigiosa Universidad Nacional de Colombia no solamente a la corta edad de 16 años sino con unos de los mejores niveles academicos. Yo soy muy orgullosa de ser colombiana, sin embargo no me siento orgullosa de los estereotipos creados alrededor de ello.

Es hora de cambiar la historia, romper barreras y motivar a las mujeres colombianas a convertirse en mujeres que muestren al mundo sus aportes, su total potencial y ser reconocidas por ser emprendedoras y valientes, mujeres que podemos mejorar el mundo.

Translation:

Paulina Vega was recently crowned as Miss Universe of 2014 on Jan. 25 in Doral, becoming the “it” girl for Donald Trump, Colombia, Latin America, and even the world. Although many rejoiced upon hearing the news of her coronation, I, a Colombian girl was angered. Many people tell me to be proud of my culture and identity as a Colombian woman so I should praise her, however this is nonsense to me. I do not look at her and see myself, I see a distorted concept of womanhood and beauty. I see a negative body image being carried on with the notion that colombianas are all tan, curvy sex icons.

Vega’s victory has accomplished nothing but added more fuel to the fire in inaccurately representing a Colombian woman.

All throughout my life, the only titles I have heard of used to describe Colombian women are – sexy, porn stars, models, exotic brides, and exotic women. But doctors, scientists, mothers, teachers and other intelligent, hardworking and inspirational colombianas are hardly ever mentioned. These false stereotypes are molding young Colombian women into walking Barbie dolls and are discouraging them from taking part in politics, activism, and STEM projects. In my country there are many young women filled with low self-esteem,

young women that doubt they can live up to anything because they are constantly being shown that they have to represent Colombia in such a heartbreaking manner. These young women represent how I used to feel when I was so convinced I needed a certain breast size in order to prove my social standing as a Colombian woman.

Instead of glorifying supermodels and branding them as the essential Colombian women, let’s take a second to focus on real Colombian women. Adriana Ocampo, science program manager at NASA headquarters and winner of the Woman of the Year Award in the science category for 1992 by the Comision Feminil. Another example of an inspirational Colombian woman is my own mother. She was born into a household filled with domestic abuse and poverty, yet she dedicated herself to studying each and every day, then enrolling herself in La Universidad Nacional in Bogota, being only 16 years old when entering. I’m proud to be a Colombian woman, however, I am not proud of all the stereotypes that are being tossed around globally. It is time to break these clichés and encourage colombianas not to receive the title of being the fairest of them all, but to contribute to the world, live up to their potential, and be known as the lionhearted women that change the world.

Lifestyle

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Page 8

STUDENT LIFE

Lunch line confessions More than meets the eye

Students share their strange lunch line experiences

Gabriela Flores, junior

“I was waiting inside the cafeteria in line and some guy that I didn’t know turned around and told me not to eat the oranges that they give me. I asked him why and he told me that he read on tumblr that schools are injecting their oranges with HIV.”

I guess I didn’t notice that my book bag was open. Someone behind me unzipped my bag even more and took out my math composition book. I don’t know why they wanted it but I hope they enjoyed it… My math teacher didn’t.”

Keleque Smith, junior

“I bought a cookie once from the lunch lady and she didn’t notice that she accidently gave me two. I was so happy and walked off, but a bit later someone came up to me, whispered ‘I know what you did’ and walked away.”

Juan Hurtado, sophomore

“I was almost at the front of Daniel Rodriguez, senior “I was waiting in line and a the line and then this kid skipped in front of me, and I told him that he had to wait in line. He didn’t listen to me so I said it even louder, and I turned around and told my friend that I hate people who cut. I guess the kid heard me and got really mad so he gave me a threatening face, and I got so scared that I ran off.”

random kid was starring me down with a dirty look. I didn’t know what to do, so I guess I decided to just keep staring back at him.

We had a weird stare contest for a full three minutes until he finally got his lunch and left. It was definitely one of the most awkward moments I’ve had.”

Veronika Bonderanko, junior

Dzidula Boney, junior

“In my freshman year I was

waiting in the chicken line and

“My friend and I were in the lunch line and I said something mean to him. He picked up the

loaf of bread from the lunch lady’s sandwich tray and pretended to hit me with it as a joke, which she didn’t find very funny. She got so mad she kicked him out of the cafeteria.”

Brian Litvinoff, junior

“My friend and I just got lunch and we were trying to get out of the crowd of people. He offered to throw my milk away for me, since I didn’t want it, and in the rumble of people it spilled all over my khaki shorts.

I was lucky enough to have my gym shorts on me so I quickly changed. That stain would have been awkward to walk around with all day.”

Laura Gantiva*, sophomore

“There was a guy standing behind me who grabbed my butt and thighs, so obviously I turned around and told him off.

He laughed with his friends and told me to calm down. He said he didn’t get why I got mad, but that’s the problem: He didn’t understand why I even got mad.”

*This is one of many stories of harassment in the lunch line.

Compiled by Mayan Derhy, Mikaela Mendez

HEALTH

Binge-watching syndrome

Binge-watching (excessively watching television) is more detrimental to health than previously thought Mila Sicorsky staff writer Are you sleepy, have blurry vision or experience lack of focus? If your answer is ‘yes’ to at least two of these, you have been diagnosed with bingewatching syndrome.

Binge-watching is viewing multiple videos, like television series, at a time or over a short span of time. What this definition does not describe, however, are its potential consequences.

According to the Nurses’ Health Study, weight-correlated diseases are more prone to occur due to excess television-watching.

Television viewers forget that there is a whole world outside the one shown on their 15inch screen. As a result, they remain for hours on end watching their actual life fade away.

Additionally, mental health is at risk from

binge-watching.

Just like one can be addicted to drugs or chocolate, it is possible to have this same relationship with a Netflix account.

Based on a Netflix survey, 61 percent of viewers admit that they are regular binge-watchers.

Psychologists suggest that binge-watching is a type of hedonic adaptation, or how exciting things eventually turn dull. This has probably happened to you toward the middle of Season 8 of One

Tree Hill, and you realize you suddenly became tired of this new show.

Not all effects of bingewatching are negative.

Some experts claim that this “addiction” gives viewers a sense of power and even an escape from reality.

According to a poll conducted by Netflix, 73 percent of viewers saw binge-watching as a positive habit.

However, we all know that eventually there will be no more Breaking Bad and our heads will need to jump down from the clouds.

Seeing as there are other activities that don’t include staring blankly at a screen, they should be popularized as well.

Has anyone ever heard of binge-soccer playing or bingesinging?

Let’s make them new trends.

MAYAN DERHY

COURTESY OF GABRIEL SHLAIN

The school lunch line might seem like any ordinary line on the outside, but these hilarious and touching personal stories are evidence of the lunch line being an experience within itself.

CELEBRATE: Gabriel Shlain and math teacher Maria Marino celebrate Shlain’s Florida Scholar STEM award at a banquet in Orlando with other representatives from numerous Florida counties.

Student’s love for math and science pays off with top award

by Ethan Curtis Receiving awards isn’t an everyday event, but for junior Gabriel Shlain it is.

When he was four years old, he moved to the United States from Argentina. He gravitated towards math and science because they were structured subjects that he could excel at without knowing English well.

“When I got home from school, I would always do my math homework first,” Shlain said. “It came easily to me and I genuinely enjoyed it.”

By the time he was in seventh grade, Shlain was taking advanced classes including Algebra 1 and Physical Science, two classes normally offered at a high school level. Believing he could use his skills to help others, Shlain dedicated his time to tutoring elementary school students.

Shlain’s first “Math Counts” competition was in seventh grade, and though he didn’t do well. He used his loss as a helpful experience for the future.

“We didn’t come prepared at all,” Shlain said. “We pretty much went for fun, but it helped me realize where I need to be in terms of math.”

In ninth grade, Shlain participated and placed in two competitions. The first was held at Florida Gulf Coast University and out of more than 50 teams, Shlain placed eighth in a geometry competition. Later that year, competing against the top schools in Miami-Dade County, he earned third place at Barry University for a Chemistry Olympiad.

Shlain recently represented Krop for a Florida Scholar STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) award, which represents Florida students who in excel in STEM subjects. One student from every high school is selected by their teachers, and only one student is finally chosen to represent their county; Shlain was only the second student ever to be chosen for this award from Krop.

“It was that moment when you’re just extremely proud of your accomplishments,” Shlain said. “Like ‘Wow, I’m pretty good at this.’”

Lifestyle

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015 TRENDS

Bath bombs become a bursting trend Juan Borquez co-web editor No, they’re not lethal. The only dangerous part about handling these bombs is a burst of fresh smells and colors.

A bath bomb is a hardpacked mixture of chemicals that react with a fizz when in contact with water. They leave one’s bath with an explosion of scented and colorful bubbles.

They are a cool and fun way to add essential oils, scents and colors to ordinary bathwater. There are hundreds of types of different fragrances and colors available out there to make your bathing experience unique and, most importantly, relaxing.

Bathing is healthy for the body and skin in many ways.

They open up all of the pores in the body that release harmful toxins, and then the bombs come into play. Exposed to oils, detergents and perfumes, the body, skin and mind feel better within minutes.

Baths have shown signs of lowering blood pressure and giving students’ muscles a chance to rest from a long week of carrying a 20-pound book bag. Adding to all these bath benefits, bath bombs have been

proven to relax the body and mind. This is essential for the stressful life of a high school student.

The secret behind the awesomeness of these bombs is aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy has been practiced for over 2,000 years.

This form of therapy can alter one’s mood, treat chapped, cracked or aging skin and help relieve muscle fatigue or even stress in the body and mind.

The fragrances found in these bombs may range from Chamomile, Ginger and Jasmine to Myrrh, Orange and Ylang Ylang, each offering a unique experience.

Chamomile, Ginger and Jasmine help treat depression, relieve headaches, calm the nerves, stimulate the appetite and treat depression or insomnia.

The essential oils found in Myrrh, Orange and Ylang Ylang can help with aged or cracked skin and relaxation for high blood pressure.

These non-lethal bombs can be found in a variety of places ranging from Lush to Target, with prices from $3 to $30. Whatever the case may be, there’s a bomb ready to explode and make a bath experience as pleasurable as possible.

FEDERICO PSEVOZNIK, JUANA ARGIRO

Page 9

ADVICE

Study, memorization hacks

Helpful techniques psychologically proven to aid students

Mayan Derhy lifestyle editor Studying effectively is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of getting to know yourself and what works best for you.

There are a number of different ways people learn, including learning in logical, visual, social, verbal or aural ways. While everyone has their own way of studying, here are some of the more popular and effective methods.

Pre-study jog Before cracking

open that textbook, go for a light jog or do an easy pre-study workout. It’s been proven that exercise can boost your memory and brainpower.

Research conducted by Dr. Chuck Hillman of the University of Illinois provides evidence that about 20 minutes of exercise before an exam can improve performance.

It turns out exercising will not only improve your health, but your grades too.

Anchoring sense A teacher’s kryptonite and a student’s best friend might help to raise test scores: gum. Anchoring certain information to a unique sense, such as the taste of papayaflavored gum, can help one better recall information if the same sense is triggered while testing. The same can be said about a distinct smell in the form of perfume.

Rhyme method If Miley

Rewards

are more inclined to remember information if it was part of a conversation or an interesting lecture rather than a textbook.

For those who need to “talk it out” in order to learn, create a study group where each person talks about the material and explains it to each other. If getting together with a group seems distracting, try watching video tutorials on Crash Course to get another perspective other than your teacher’s.

system

Many students find it helpful to keep a positive attitude while studying, and so before hitting those books make sure to keep a snack by your side and devise a schedule for when you can have a snack break. According to B.F. Skinner’s theory of positive reinforcement, a behavior that is reinforced is increased, and so something as simple as leaving a trail of gummy bears or M&Ms at the end of each paragraph as a reward for reading can help one memorize the information and encourage him or her to keep reading.

Cyrus singing the 206 types of bones in the human body seemed fun, then the rhyming method might be your ideal learning style. When trying to memorize large amounts of information, try to make an acronym or even a rap to a favorite song that includes important names, facts or dates in the chapter.

Talk it out Some students

Every student studies differently – it’s all a matter of finding the right method for you.

NUTRITION

The facts behind a gluten-free diet Francesca Boza staff writer The aisles are filled with gluten-free snacks, yet you ask yourself, “What does gluten-free even mean?” It sounds healthy – but is it?

Gluten is the protein found within wheat that helps food maintain its shape, and so for those who depend on gluten as their source of protein, going on a gluten-free diet might not be the best choice.

Proteins are the main building blocks of the body used to make enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters and various tiny molecules that serve important functions. According to AuthorityNutrition.org, one should have 0.36 grams per pound, or 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. In order to maintain a healthy level of protein while on a gluten-free diet, try to gravitate towards lean meats and poultry which are gluten-free yet high in protein.

Contrary to popular belief, gluten-free doesn’t mean guiltfree. Many gluten-free products are also high in calories, such as potato chips, which are essentially gluten-free. A careful gluten-free diet can help one lose weight, but gluten is not the sole

factor for weight loss. Weight is determined by how many calories one eats.

There are many known health benefits to a gluten-free diet, especially in alleviating celiac disease, which is a disorder that happens when the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. The body reacts to gluten as though it is poison.

The only cure for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. When gluten is not in one’s diet, the small intestine is able to heal and may return to being fully healthy.

The same goes for people who are gluten intolerant. Following a gluten-free diet may help reverse the damage and inflammation to the intestinal tract.

When people are introduced to a gluten-free diet, they are exposed to less processed food and more natural foods. One will pick gluten-free whole grain pasta instead of floured pasta and an apple instead of a cookie. This is how one can lose weight and get more energy in the glutenfree diet.

But, there are many alternatives to lose weight or get energy.

Before going on this trending diet, make sure to get all the facts and see if gluten-free is best for you.

GLUTEN-FREE

BY THE NUMBERS

1 in 3

U.S. adults want to reduce or eliminate gluten from their diet.

$4.2 billion

estimated value of all annual gluten-free food sales

200% increase in demand for glutenfree foods since 2009

5th place in the list of 2014 restaurant trends

sources

1. celiaccentral.org, 2. glutenfree.com -Mayan Derhy

Page 10

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Page 11

When UMF comes to town, teenagers ask the ultimate question:

Is Ultra really worth it?

Mikaela Mendez spread editor Spring break for many high schoolers consists of traveling, going to the beach, and spending time with friends. But with Ultra in town from Mar. 2729, the hype is real.

Ultra Music Festival (UMF) first arrived to Miami in 1999. Back then, it was called “Ultra Beach Music Festival” and featured DJ’s ranging from Armand van Helden to Hardwell.

Over the years, Ultra has gained a negative reputation through the assaults, arrests, and drug use. But sophomore Joey Block who attended Ultra in 2014 said, “People see it as a drug filled environment, but it’s not. There are some people who get wild but it’s not dangerous if you go with a group of friends you’re comfortable with.”

According to a federally funded study, if you ask 100 audience mem-

bers to pee in a cup in exchange for a $20 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card, 80 just might test positive for drugs.

In comparison to the 160,000 people who attended in 2014, 100 people are miniscule in number and no valid conclusions can be drawn from the study. Also, the goal of the study was not to find out how many people at Ultra are on drugs, but to know the newly emerging and potentially dangerous drugs at festivals.

Before last year, anybody ages 13 and up could attend Ultra, but last year a new policy was implemented: starting 2015 Ultra was for ravers 18 and up. Junior Nataly Wittels attended Ultra as a sophomore, but will be unable to attend as a junior because she’s 17.

Senior Sherlinka Israel agrees that Ultra did the right thing by implementing the 18+ policy because “there’s a certain age limit where you’re allowed to do certain things, and at 18 you’re still at your youth, but you could handle yourself responsibly.”

But senior Rachel Bentley does not agree with Ultra’s 18+ policy she said if they’re wor-

Sophie Muchnik staff writer

ried about minors doing drugs they should realize it’s not just minors doing drugs, adults are too.

In 2013, Ultra brought in more than $30 million in tickets sales alone, not including corporate sponsors, food, drink sales and merchandise. The City of Miami takes about $1.2 million to cover 208 police officers, paramedics, and the rental of Bayfront Park. Ultra owns the park for 38 days between setup and breakdown according to CBS Miami.

For some, $495.95 for a three-day weekend with over 100 DJ’s may seem expensive, but in comparison to individual concert tickets—it’s worth it. In a cultural and youth-filled city where electronic dance music is common, tickets to see one DJ cost around $30-50 depending on how well known they are.

If one event is $30 just to see one DJ, imagine seeing five DJ’s for three days in a row the cost would be around $450 for just tickets.

Raves were invented so people of all ages, genders, race and religion could come together to share their love for the one thing they had in common: music.

Anyone with ears knows Ultra Music Festival is a fun place to be. This Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival is a crazy parade with famous people, provocative clothing and loud up-beat music amid an LED landscape with fireworks, lasers and confetti, what isn’t fun about that?

“The only thing bad Ultra is that people go way overboard with drugs.” Sophomore Maria Pineda said.

“This festival is supposed to be about the music and positive energy, but everyone just makes it about kind of drugs you’re on.”

Drugs aren’t the only thing that can be found at Ultra.

Underage drinking, theft, and even death have happened at this popular EDM festival.

After last year’s festival, researchers from the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education found that out of 145 voluntary participants, 72 percent admitted to having consumed marijuana, cocaine, molly or ecstasy during

Students confess their weird, crazy and hilarious stories that happened to them while attending Ultra Stephania Salaverria spread editor

“I was with my friends

at the front of the crowd until this guy started tripping out and we started pushing each other back Dante Wilson, 12 and forth. Then he started at me in his lan“Last year at Ultra yelling guage, and I moved away I got into a group of 25 from him. Next thing I people and jumped the know I was in the middle fence to get in. A few of the crowd and I couldn’t people got caught but find my friends I was origthankfully I made it in. inally with. But I found my But this year I bought other friends so I stayed my ticket.” with them until I found Clarisa Bigott, 12 my other friends.”

Stephanie Rodriguez, 12 “I

tried using my fake ticket from 2013 to get into last year’s Ultra, and at the gate the security guard asked me if I had anything else for him, noticing it wasn’t this year’s ticket. So, I slid $20 under the fake ticket and he let me in. But after I got in, he yelled security so I ran and blended into the crowd.”

Peyton Freeman, 12

“At Ultra 2013, while in

blood everywhere. Then I had my ticket snatched out of my hand before even entering the festival. I left and came back the next day.”

line my friends and I met a guy who was in a wheelchair whose friend were using him to get to the front of the line. We stayed with them and skipped the line. Sean Portmann, 12 “Last year at Ultra someHe offered us molly water but we said ‘no.’ Later on body peed on my friend that day we saw him crowd while we were standing in the crowd.” surfing.”

Kaenny Agrizzi, 11

Amit Swissa, 10

“Last year on the Satur- “I was featured on some-

day Ultra started, I fell and body’s shoulders in the 2014 skinned my knee, there was Ultra aftermovie.”

Kaila Jones guest writer Music fans and partygoers flock to the Ultra Music Festival every spring, but this year anyone under eighteen is barred from attending the event.

Sneaking into the festival isn’t as hard as it sounds; you just have to barge into it.

A student, who for obvious reasons will not be named, said that he did it in 2013. After attending

the first weekend, he wanted to see if he could get in with friend so he joined a group of other people preparing to ram through a fence.

He awaited the final countdown in the rain. Once the countdown hit zero, they stormed the gate and a security guard fled from the approaching crowd.

His feat came just a year before Ultra security guard Erika Mack was trampled by an intruding mob.

Although she survived, the Miami Herald reported that she sustained severe brain hemorrhaging. The tragedy

marked the establishment of stricter rules and threatened the endurance of the three day affair.

According to the University of Florida’s Ultimate Guide to the Ultra Music Festival, more than 150,000 electronic dance music fans ripple through Bayfront Park when the festivities are in session.

Since its 1999 launch in Miami, the festival and its influence has become one of Miami’s signatures. Tickets for a three day pass started at 299.95 dollars on its site for those who pre-registered for

that week. Last year, more than 60 people were injured from suspected drug overdoses.

Miami city officials were calling for the end to the music festival after last year’s events. Police reported a number of drug-related arrests and the injury of a security guard who was trampled on by fans trying to enter the premises without a ticket. However, Ultra is still scheduled for this March, but officials will enforce the 18 years or older rule, which will be implemented this year.

“Ultra is so much fun, but it’s just so crowded. “sophomore Christian Acosta said, “I just want to listen to good music but that’s hard to do when I’m frozen in a crowd of people.”

Although Ultra Music Festival is looked upon as the place to be by many young adolescents, it presents many risks to the well-being of the community and to the families of the young adults who make poor decisions.

the 2015 event.

Another student also rushed the gate in 2014 after being tipped off about gatecrashers who were waiting around Bayside, but he doesn’t recall seeing a security guard nearby.

“It was pretty fun but I wouldn’t try it again,” he admitted. “I actually bought two tickets for the festival this year.”

Underage students can also enjoy Ultra’s festivities in a free YouTube streaming of the event, ‘ULTRA LIVE.’

71 total arrests at Ultra in 2014

167

total arrests at Ultra in 2013

18+ minimum

age to attend Ultra in 2015

13+ minimum age to attend Ultra prior to 2015

$1,149.95 VIP ticket for Ultra 2015

$449.95 general admission ticket for Ultra 2015

Feature Page 12

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

RECOGNITION

The Knights in shining armor Meet the nominees: Part 3 Corbin Bolies, co-web editor

People come from all different places and cultures, with some influencing what they hope to do, not just now, but in the future. Take a look at the third installment of our Silver Knight nominees, featuring people who use their experiences to make a difference.

Daniela Michanie

Charity Waweru

Parker Yagman

English

Music

Speech

“I always find that after getting to know them and hearing their story, there’s so much more to them...”

“I love the reward I get from seeing people learn and grow from something I developed.”

- Parker Yagman

- Daniela Michanie

Some aim towards ending world hunger or ending terrorism, but English nominee Daniela Michanie works for something students know well – ending racism and hate.

Michanie works with Krop’s PeaceJam committee, a local branch of an international organization that pairs students with Nobel Peace Prize winners.

“After a slow start our first year, I was named the chair of the committee and completely revamped the program,” Michanie said. “We are still very busy, always planning more events to reach our goals.”

Michanie knows about the topic all too well – coming from Buenos Aries, Argentina at five-years-old, it was a scary experience.

“When I moved to the U. S., I was an outsider because I spoke no English, even though Miami has such a large Hispanic population,” she said.

“And of course, as an Israeli Jew, I know what it’s like to be hated for my beliefs and culture.”

But, through her project, Michanie has learned that it doesn’t matter what people look or sound like.

“I feel like you can really use music to be passionate about issues that are really serious. There’s terrorism going on in Africa that not a lot of people here know about,” - Charity Waweru

Politics is a term that frightens a number of people, though one student embraces the topic with open arms – Speech nominee Parker Yagman. Coming from an un-political family, Yagman has had political aspirations for years.

“I read many books about American History,” Yagman said. “I just always found the democratic experiment extremely intriguing.”

To pursue his intriguing interests, Yagman worked with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for three years before starting his service project: Conversation About Politics (CAPs).

“I began to notice that America’s posterity needs to be informed about its role in democratic processes,” he said. “I founded CAPs in order to ensure that America will have a group of citizens that will be willing to show interest in active civic engagement.”

As a Jewish-American, Yagman hopes to eventually run for political office and, if antiSemitism abates, the highest office.

Not many students can say they come from a musical background, though music nominee Charity Waweru is different – music has been in her family since before she was born.

“My dad plays guitar, piano, accordion and was really involved with music at [our] church in Kenya,” she said. “My mom also sings.”

Charity is the music director at her church’s youth group, enabling her to do what she loves best: sharing her love of music with others by teaching them. She’s hoping to major in music education at the University of Miami.

Waweru also has plans to use her talents for a good cause – raising awareness about world issues, primarily in her home continent of Africa.

“I feel like you can really use music to be passionate about issues that are really serious. There’s terrorism going on in Africa that not a lot of people here know about,” she said.

In the end, Charity has her goals set.

“I hope to use music to move people to do something.”

Editor’s note: Until Silver Knights and Honorable Mentions are announced at an awards ceremony in May 2015, the Strike will feature each of the Krop nominees and their selfless community service projects.

FINANCES

The reasons behind excessive senior obligations Saige Raymond staff writer An obligation is a piece of paper from the school that informs students that money is owed.

One of the easiest ways for students to accumulate obligations and neglect them is constantly getting new IDs. “Most kids usually have the five bucks for an ID but they rather buy lunch or something with that money,” CSI instructor Jacquelyne Torano said. “I issue about 70 ID obligations every day.”

Students with obligations may

Tips to avoid obligations from a senior*: How to prevent excessive obligations • Pay off obligations as soon as you receive them. They will not become an issue if you do not let them add up.

• Always have five dollars on you just in case you need to buy an ID. Just don’t blow it on the chicken line.

• Pay off your lab fee when your teacher assigns it.

Dissecting a frog is probably worth those $8.

• Buy an extra ID at the beginning of the year and keep it in your favorite teacher’s classroom so you don’t lose it. *Saige Raymond be under the impression that the school forgets about the money they owe.

“Freshman year obligations

were the least of my worries,” senior Amber Simi said. “I never really thought about paying them but now I owe $175.”

Underclassmen new to the responsibility of obligations must understand that IDs are not free and $5 can become $175 before it is realized.

The Krop creditors are serious about getting their money from students. To graduate, students must pay back every cent of obligations owed to the school.

This is a shocker to some as they approach senior activities and face potentially missing events like senior breakfast or grad bash, activities they cannot attend without paying off all obligations.

Assistant Principal Daniel Ponkey speaks with students who owe money. He tries to warn

students early so it doesn’t stand in the way of their graduation.

Students may let obligations add up because they aren’t the ones who have to pay them. “The saddest part is that most times they assume their parents will bail them out in the end,” Ponkey said. “The highest I’ve seen is $500. Most teenagers don’t have that much money.”

In the end, someone is left paying off the outrageous obligation. To attend prom, transfer schools or graduate from high school, obligations cannot be overlooked. So get them paid before they become an expensive issue.

Feature Page 13

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015 SPEAKING OUT

Sophomore uses TED to emphasize service Mackenzie Duffy feature editor

Lights, camera, TED Talk.

With his shirt ironed, hair combed and teeth brushed, sophomore Benjamin Manley waited behind the curtain for his turn to give his TED Talk in front of hundreds of people and an Internet live-stream.

Manley was one of sixteen chosen out of numerous applications to speak at TEDxYouth Miami on Feb. 19 at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The point of the event is for people from six to twenty-five years old to share their “TED Talk-like” experiences in order to enlighten others.

Flashback to the age of eight: Manley would run around his

COURTESY OF DESTINY CORBO

COURTESY OF BENJAMIN MANLEY

GENTLE GIANT: Benjamin Manley speaks at TEDxYouth Miami about putting passion in service. He’s used his love of film to give back to the community.

living room, video camera in hand, making mini-movies with his friends to pass the time. This childhood hobby, which has spread among his family, transitioned into a passion as Manley became a teen.

“I’ve loved film for a really long time,” Manley said. “I mean both my sister and I love it. She still runs around the house with her friends and makes little movies.”

Now, as a high school student, Manley was told a graduation requirement is to complete an hour of community service.

Students often go beyond this requirement to gain more hours in hopes of increasing their chances of acceptance. However, Manley wasn’t too fond of the idea of just completing these hours.

At the beginning of his talk, Manley had a bold-font statement projected on the screen, one that he has said too often.

“I realized that I was saying it myself, the quote projected on the screen behind me, ‘Well, it’ll look

good on your college application,’ and I decided that, as I say in my talk, it makes me feel dishonest,” he said. “I wasn’t helping the world because I wanted to, I was helping because I needed hours on a sheet.”

His solution to this problem, incorporate your passion, his being film, into the completion of service projects. Manley titled his talk “What Makes Your Time Stand Still,” where he discussesd the importance of the integration of passion and service.

“I refer to your passion as the thing you get lost in, the thing that makes your time stand still,” he said.

Manley began the meshing of passion and service when he made a promotional video for

the non-profit texting service for the Miami-Dade Public Transit System, which tells people who can’t afford smartphones about bus schedules and delays.

“If the service is your passion, you do the hours, fulfill a requirement and you will probably seek to go further in helping the community,” Manley said.

In relaying his experience to the audience, Manley’s goal was to encourage people to follow suit and incorporate their interests, like writing or sports, with their completion of community service hours.

“We should find passions and work off of them to see what we can do to help the community, help the world and do what we love at the same time,” he said.

PERFORMING

Inspired by rappers, seniors make own music Stephania Salaverria photo editor Rap is a type of art, a form of poetry and a way of expressing yourself. It goes beyond its stereotypes and inspires its audience. Artists such as Kid Cudi and Kendrick Lamar have caused Krop seniors Stefen Supplice, Kyle Washington and Sebastian Zuniga to find passion for rapping.

“I get to know myself better,” Supplice said. “And if I’m going through something, rapping helps me get through it.”

Supplice, who also goes by his stage name Esper Beats, grew up learning to play the guitar, switched to drums, then in 6th grade wrote his first rap. Since then, he’s listened to Kid Cudi for his emotional connection to his audience, Childish Gambino

for his personal connection and Lupe Fiasco for his life lessons.

Recently, he says, he began looking at the universe for his inspiration, like clearing his mind to write fresh lyrics while facing a sunset in the horizon. But lyrics are only the start to producing a rap worth sending out.

“When I find a beat I like, I contact the producers with a brief introduction and compliment,” Supplice said. “Then if I’m successful I can lease the beat.”

Unlike Supplice, Washington, who goes by the stage name Kayo, doesn’t always go to producers for beats but attempts to make them himself. Senior Devin Parker, otherwise known as his stage name Top Dog, also makes beats and helps out Washington with his songs. Normally leasing beats cost around $20-25. And if you want exclusive rights to the beat it can

COURTESY OF STEFAN SUPPLICE

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC: Senior Stefen Supplice performs his rap songs at the Twerkfest event in downtown Miami. Like other students, Supplice writes his own music and creates his own beats with Kid Cudi as his inspiration.

cost around $300.

“Learning to make beats is really difficult but pays off at the end with a more original song,” Washington said.

Washington began singing at his church choir in second grade, and continued to do so for two years. Then in seventh grade he transitioned from choir to writing

his own raps, following in his brother’s footsteps. Now in high school, 90s hip hop and rapper Kendrick Lamar inspires him to further develop his rapping career.

Washington writes his own songs and records in his room.

“It wasn’t easy,” Washington said. “It took me about four years to perfect.”

Zuniga, who goes by his stage name Seth Bay, records either in his room, at Supplice’s home studio, or at Critical Recording Studio. When he was 13, he watched his uncle perform playing the guitar. Having fallen in love, he asked his uncle to show him how to play. Then in ninth grade, in band class, Zuniga participated in freestyle rapping for fun with other classmates. Among the other classmates was Supplice.

“If anyone influenced me, it would be Stefen,” Zuniga said.

“He pushed me to rap publically in class.”

Since then Zuniga plays lead guitar in the band Hands Held High and frequently perform at Churchill’s Pub. He also continues to rap and makes it original by sometimes adding guitar at the beginning and making his own beats to match the feeling his song is trying to convey.

Top 10 things you didn’t know about Ms. ‘Bibi’

1. Where Bibi started

Bibi’s real name is Zorina Kalamadeen, but everyone calls her Bibi, although most don’t know the reason. In the Muslim religion, when a baby girl is born it’s popular to refer to her as Bibi, meaning “miss.”

2. Family

6. Hardships

After her marriage dissolved, she used the experience to help her to become a stronger, more independent person, leading to her career as an entrepreneur.

When she has free time on her hands, she enjoys partying with friends and dancing to her favorite music, including reggae, country and western and soul. “That’s just me,” she said. “I’m very outgoing.”

3. Home cook

Kalamadeen says even though she can just about cook the basic American meals, what she loves whipping up the most is an all West Indies spicy meal and sharing it with others.

9. Career woman

Before coming to America, Bibi ran her own business named after herself, Zorina Kalamadeen, where she distributed goods from Canada to her home country, Guyana. When she came to America she worked in retail and she entered the MDCPS system in 2005.

4. Pet peeve

When asked what her biggest pet peeve is, the answer wasn’t a surprise. “I hate when there is any delay in my work,” Kalamadeen says. “If there’s something I need to get done, I get it done.”

When describing her teenage self, Kalamadeen was always a hardworking, busy woman. Not only was she a hair dresser, but she also helped run her parents family business, KalaSupermarket.

Always thinking about those in need or what she can do to help others, Kalamadeen makes an effort to get involved in charity work by joining group charity projects with her church. She helps pack items for her home country, orphanages and the elderly.

8. Having some fun

Kalamadeen was born in Guyana, South America and grew up with five sisters and three brothers. She currently has two sons in their 30s.

5. Younger days

7. Serivce comes first

10. Hobbies STEPHANIA SALAVERRIA

WITH A SMILE: Zorina “Bibi” Kalamadeen smiles as she makes copies for faculty. She helps to copy tests and worksheets for all Krop teachers.

Right by her office there are several flower pots, which isn’t a surprise because Bibi loves gardening. “I love tending to my little garden at least once every day,” she said. “I plant my own herbs, veggies and fruit.”.

Compiled by Chelsea Lewis

Entertainment Adidas 750 Yeezys are the new hype Page 14

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

RELEASE

Devin Lee staff writer

Kanye West has once again changed the fashion world and the sneaker heads within it.

Adidas and West have finally released the highly anticipated Adidas Yeezy 750 boost. The sneaker is Kanye West’s first signature shoe with Adidas after leaving Nike.

Inspired by the high fashion sneaker “The Visvism.” The shoe features a high quality gray suede with a mid-sole crafted using Adidas boost technology, a material made of memory foam designed to propel the foot forward and use as little energy as possible when walking. The shoe comes with a cream colored set of laces along with a replacement pair of 3m laces that light up when exposed to artificial light, like a camera.

The shoes sold out in less than five seconds online, and a

few days later, were posted on popular resell sites for upwards of $2000. With about 12 pairs per store, chances are many West fans and common sneaker enthusiast alike went home empty handed. The shoes are a hot commodity; riots and fist fights resulted due to their release.

The reason for all the chaos was due to the manner in which the shoes were released. The sneakers are not sold at chain sneaker stores like Footlocker or Champs, but at small privately owned boutiques. For example, Addict on South Beach is the only store in all of Florida that sells these shoes. Besides the exclusiveness of where these shoes are sold, many of these boutiques raffled off the sneakers. A portion of those who lost the raffle returned to the stores complaining about the unfairness. In some cases, police had to be called to disperse the an-

gry mobs.

“People are robbed and killed over their sneakers everyday,” said sophomore Edwin Phillips. Phillips believes that all the chaos around the sneakers is no surprise.

“I have family members who have tried to camp out for the shoes and got caught in the middle of riots before and friends who’ve been robbed for their sneakers. The Adidas shoes are no different,” said Phillips. Phillips, who is a fan of West, says he will try to get a pair of the sneakers but isn’t going to risk his life over the shoes. “I think the shoes are a nice and very original design, but aren’t worth my life or my safety. If I can’t buy them online then it’s no big deal to me. I just won’t have the kicks.

People such as sophomore Joshua Basin think the violence is Wests’s fault. “He should make his product more available

COURTESY OF SOLE COLLECTOR

SHOE GAME: Kanye West released his shoes, the Addidas 750 Yeezys, on Feb.14. These sneakers are chic and in high demand.

to people. We shouldn’t have to fight for his shoes.” Said Basin. “ I love Kanye West’s music but its ridiculous how he makes these rants about expanding his products and then goes out and only gives 12 pairs of a shoe to each store. He’s crazy if he thinks that works.”

Regardless of what people think, West is most likely going to continue to release his

products in limited quantity since that seems to be working for him. People want the sneakers even more knowing that sneakers are so limited. Jealousy among the haves and the have nots of the sneaker likely to increase as time goes by, you can be sure that these sneakers will continue you to make news headlines long after their release date.

OPINION

How ‘Fashion Police’ has changed since Joan Rivers Shoshana Sommer entertainment editor I don’t know which Friday night tradition I followed more religiously, Shabbat dinner or watching the new episode of fashion police.

The show must go on- Fashion Police came back on the air in time for the award season and New York Fashion week with comedian Kathy Griffin as the host in place of the late Joan Rivers.

The new season of fashion police has altered my tradition.

Without Rivers and celebrity stylist George Kotsiopoulos, replaced

by Brad Joresky, the chemistry seems to have disappeared.

Sure, Griffin can make me chuckle here and there, but I no longer “belly laugh” like I used to after one of Rivers famous outrageous remarks.

With only two of the original cast members, Kelly Osbourne and Giuliana Rancic remaining, I feel as if my dysfunctional family had been split up.

A key difference between Rivers and Griffin was that Rivers liked fashion and knew about it while it seems as if Griffin isn’t and only cares about fashion to laugh at when someone wears something outlandish. The elaborate jokes told by Rivers have

been replaced by meaningless jabs by Griffin, too often with an overly sexual connotation.

I miss Rivers’ famous line,“now that is a movie star” which would only be said the epitome of elegance was recognized, which Griffin fails to do.

Without Joan’s lively presence, the episodes are filled with awkward silences and tension which is obvious to the audience.

Another disappointing change to this fashion police season is that my Friday night ritual wills no longer be in existence. Fashion police will only be aired after award shows and major events such as fashion week.

Not having a weekly update on the latest fashion is like missing one my “dysfunctional family’s” reunions, instead of hearing about the drama of my Uncle Billy’s ex-wife, I am missing out on finding out “who wore it best.”

Joan Rivers was the matriarch of Fashion Police, and without her, the show is tearing at the seams.

I will continue to watch the show in honor my love for fashion, but I will always be a faithful Joan “Ranger”. * Editors note since the story was wrtten, Kelly Obsborn is no longer apart of The Fashion Police Cast.

What’s trending at

New York’s Fashion Week 1. For the prima ballerina: Tulle skirts leap off the dance floor and onto the runway during the 2015 Fall/Winter Fashion Week in February. The large-bodied skirts add a girly touch to the overall military tones of Fashion Week.

2. For the conventional fashionista: Throw your five inch heel and Band-Aids away. Designers like Miu Miu, Prada and Chanel have followed classic shoe designers like Converse and Vans by coming out with their own comfortable, yet fashionable, footwear.

3. For the Picasso enthusiast: Designers have always used their clothes as works of art to express their creativity, but for the Fall/Winter season, a major trend amongst the runways was abstract patterns. The designers paired clashing patterned pieces together in runway looks, seen in Marc Jacob’s show.

4. For the free spirit in you: For those who want to lift weight off their shoulders, short hairstyles are a large trend amongst celebrities and Fashion Week runways. Actresses like Lily Collins and Emma Stone are known for their shoulder-length hair.

-Mackenzie Duffy

Entertainment

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Page 15

SATIRE

The great dress debate of 2015 differently Why we

see the dress

Mayan Derhy lifestyle editor There hasn’t been a controversy this big since team Edward vs. team Jacob, except this is bigger than simply vampires and werewolves.

The dress debate has managed to bring out people’s true colors and divide the nation in a matter of 24 hours.

Let’s get something straightthe dress is white and gold, and the blinded ignorance of those on team black and blue has left me in utter shock and disbelief.

I guess you never truly know a person until you get their point of view on the dress.

The moment the dress became famous, deeper issues were also brought out to the limelight, such as how far people will go to prove a point (even if they’re completely wrong.)

Using statistical analysis and Photoshop enhancements, numerous experts proved the

COURTESY OF MACKENZIE DUFFY

dress is white and gold. But team B&B was so outraged that they fired back with their own experts, also “proving” that the original is indeed black and blue. I, however, believe in facts, not conspiracy theories, and the misconception that the original dress is anything other than white and gold just shows how easily people are misguided.

You read about ignorance

Obscure facts about your favorite artists 1. Tupac Tupac Amaru Shakur was named after an Incan Indian Chief. In Arabic, “Shakur” means “thankful to God” and “Tupac Amaru” means “shining serpent.” In the late 90’s, Madonna and Tupac dated, but he left her because he was getting backlash from his “hood” for dating a “white girl.” Around 1989, Tupac studied drama, dance, and ballet at Baltimore School of Arts. He auditioned for the part of Bubba in the 1994 movie, “Forest Gump.”

After he passed away in 1996, more of his music has been released then when he was alive. 10 albums have been released and all have gone platinum.

2. Sam Smith English songwriter, Samuel Frederick (Sam Smith) is a relatable celebrity. Like the average Krop student, Smith was thrown into detention, not for being late, but for skipping to go to a Lady Gaga concert. His favorite thing to do is sleep.

He wishes that one day he’ll be able to stop the problem of biting his nails. He considers himself as a “self-conscious” person and suffers stage freight. He is planning to eventually go back to school in New York to study film and directing.

3. Sia What is really underneath the brown bag that Sia Kate Isabelle Furler a covers her face with? Sia dislikes the fact of being famous since its being “stereotypical highly opinionated.” Sia is a singer and a songwriter. She has written songs in a matter of minutes for other famous celebrities such as “Diamonds” by Rihanna, which was written by Sia in only 14 minutes. She has also written songs for Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and more top artists. Through her beautiful voice, Sia admitted on Twitter that she has Graves’ disease. This is an autoimmune disease that harms the thyroid. It enlarges the thyroid twice its actual size and causes problems towards the muscle and heart such as weakness, irritability, and lethargy.

-Francesca Bozza

and see it in the news, but the real shock is when you find out it’s so close to home. I recently discovered that several of my closest friends and family members saw black and blue, and even after several hours of explanations and heated debates, they were blind to the truth.

Suffice it to say that I will never be able to look at them the same way.

The controversy of the dress

has gone so viral it has further split an already polarized United States congress. On Feb. 26, Connecticut Rep. Chris Murphy tweeted, “I know three things: 1) the ACA works 2) climate change is real 3) that dress is gold and white.”

Less than an hour later, California Rep. Mark Takano fired back with his tweet, “Just asked my Legislative Director at 10:30 pm to draft a House resolution tomorrow about the dress being black and blue. AMA.” (All of the above is true, folks) Despite numerous efforts to bring us down, team white and gold has not given up. More and more celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Ellen Degeneres and even Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, have come out and declared their seeing white and gold.

Even so, irreparable damage has been done. Families have split, friendships were broken and we may never see the world the same.

Theory #1: Our perception of color depends on interpreting the amount of light in a room or scene. When cues about the ambient light are missing, people may perceive the same color in different ways Theory #2: It may be because of variations in the number of photoreceptors called cones in the retina that perceive the color blue. The human eye has about six million cones that are sensitive to green, red or blue.

Signals from the cones go to the brain, which interprets them as color. We have the fewest number of blue cones.

Theory #3:The light hits

the retina in the back of the eye where pigments fire up neural connections to the visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes those signals into an image.

-Stephanina Salaverria

ON AIR

A podcast called in from prison Stephania Salaverria photo editor What were you doing for 21 minutes after school last month?

This same question was asked to Adnan Syed, a 17 year old boy, in February 1999, a month after the day his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, went missing. Six weeks after Hae’s disappearance he was woken up in his room by police. Adnan was arrested outside his home for murder. He’s been sitting in jail ever since with a life sentence. But, did he do it?

This is the basis of Serial, a podcast from the creators of This American Life, hosted by Sarah Koegin, an ex-reporter for the Baltimore Sun. Serial tells one true story over the span of a season, a new episode every week. Last seasons was based on the true story of Adnan Syed and Hae Min Lee. It was a Shakespearean mashu: two teenagers in love from different backgrounds, who kept their relationship a secret, and it ended in a final

act of murderous revenge. The case was brought to Koegin’s attention over a year ago and has since been from the very beginning to end with detail.

Koegin not only tells the story, but tries to answer the underlying question if Syed really was responsible for the crime.

Here’s the breakdown: it’s Baltimore, Jan. 21, 1999. Popular high school senior, Hae Min Lee disappeared. Six weeks later, her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed was arrested for her murder.

Within a year, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The case against him was largely based off of the story of a witness and Adnans friend, Jay. Adnan till this day has kept his story and swears he had nothing to do with Hae’s death.

Every point of view, evidence and circumstance is debated on Serial. Episodes add to the story with phone calls of Koegin to Syed, now 32 years old having spent almost half his life in jail. The podcast as well as trial testimony, police interrogations, legal documents and

investigator notes, plus talking to everyone Koegin could find that remembers what happened 15 years ago.

Koegin soon finds out how intricate and complicated the story really is. How so many peoples stories don’t line up, so many facts seem far-fetched, and most importantly how, Syed sticks to what he said 15 year’s ago and how believable and genuine he sounds, even today.

Every week the podcast goes deeper into the story. New details and information are added and patched together with those of previous episodes and the facts from 15 years ago. Each episode ranges from 30 minutes to-- an hour. And are available for free on iTunes Podcast or online at serialpodcast.org.

The story of Syed and Lee has ended in 12 episodes and a new season of Serial will be coming sometime later in 2015.

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Sports Page 16

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Kypriss nominated for coach of the year

Jacob Singer sports editor

Movies like Friday Night Lights and Hoosiers have long exemplified the strong culture dedicated to high school football and basketball, but in the more obscure world of high school tennis, Coach Michael Kypriss has gained recognition.

Because of Kypriss’s success, he has been recognized with the NHFS United States High School Coach of the Year award for girls’ tennis in 2006, and the USPTR High School Coach of the Year award in 2009.

Now, he is a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Coach of the Year award for boys’ tennis.

Kypriss was carefully chosen for this nomination based on his “longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years and winning percentage.” He will attend a banquet in June in Minneapolis, Minnesota where NHSACA will announce the winner.

At Krop since its opening in 1999, Kypriss has won nine state championships during this span. He has achieved this success through a coaching philosophy he modeled after Coach John Wooden, a college basketball legend who is widely considered one of the greatest coaches of all time.

A modified version of Wooden’s pyramid method is Kypriss’s best tool. In this method, Kypriss

COURTESY OF FOXMAR

MENTORING: Kypriss sits with junior Zachary Bien at the tennis courts. Bien, a member of the tennis team, soaked up advice from his coach.

makes his players follow a rigid structure that prioritizes faith, followed by family, academics, athletics and lastly social life.

“My job is to make sure that my players live by these guidelines and that social life doesn’t take priority over any of the other four,” Kypriss

said.

This coaching philosophy has been a model for success on and off the tennis court. What makes

Kypriss the proudest isn’t his state championships, but that his team has always been top ten in the state for academics, and over 50 of his players have received full scholarships for college.

“If you’re not getting it done in the classroom, you’re not getting it done on the court,” Kypriss said.

This proves true because of the nine all-Americans he has coached at Krop, but also former Killian student, Jean Julien Roger who, according to ATP, is ranked 10th in doubles’ tennis in the world.

Kypriss attributes his successful attitude to playing football from childhood into the college level.

He played quarterback at the University of Kentucky, a member of the SEC (Southeastern Conference), one of the most competitive and accomplished athletic conferences in all of college sports.

“The best lessons I ever learned came through athletics,” Kypriss said. “[Athletics] taught me discipline and the importance of hard work.”

While Kypriss hadn’t been an extremely avid tennis player growing up, he used the playing styles of tennis greats, John McEnroe and Chris Evert, to assist in coaching his players.

Kypriss does not need another award to take up shelf space, but the award represents that Kypriss continues to achieve what he set out to 34 years ago.

WARNING: Students may go ‘mad’ for college basketball MARCH MADNESS BY THE NUMBERS $1.2 billion 69.7 million THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT EMPLOYERS LOST LAST YEAR DUE TO THE DISTRACTION OF MARCH MADNESS

THE NUMBER OF LIVE VIDEO STREAMS OF LAST YEAR’S MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT, AN ALL-TIME HIGH

0

1976

THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT A #16 SEED HAS UPSET #1 SEED IN 120 ATTEMPTS. #15 SEEDS HAVE UPSET #2 SEEDS ON 7 OUT OF 120 ATTEMPTS

THE YEAR THAT THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY HOOSIERS BASKETBALL TEAM WENT UNDEFEATED, THE LAST TEAM TO DO SO. AS OF MAR. 6, THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILDCATS ARE STILL UNDEFEATED.

SOURCES

1. Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc, 2. engadget, 3. About.com

Courtesy of Getty Images

WINNERS: The University of Connecticut Huskies celebrate after winning the 2014 College Basketball National Championship. This year, 64 teams will battle again.

Devin Lee staff writer It’s that time of year again. The time for basketball ball fans across the nation to tune in and grip the edges of their seats with anticipation. The time for sports analysts and common fans alike to predict their perfect playoff brackets. The time to yell at your little brother or sister for crossing in front of the television. Yes, I am talking about this year’s March Madness.

There are a total of 32 divisions and 68 teams in this year’s tourna-

ment. The teams who are chosen to participate have qualified in a number of criteria. 31 teams receive automatic bids (placement) into the tournament’s bracket based on their performance in their conference’s championship. After this, the selection committee selects 36 teams to play in the tournament which is known as an at large-bid.

A team’s place in the beginning of the tournament is then decided by a process known as seeding. Finally, the selection committee creates the bracket and places each team in its proper region along with proper

-Jacob Singer

seed. From then on, the teams battle throughout the month of March in hopes of being able to play for the national championship in early April.

Even those who aren’t sport enthusiasts or analysts can still play their part in March Madness.

Every year those from around the nation cast their tournament predictions in the March Madness Bracket Challenge. In this challenge, fans fill out their own tournament bracket and predict which teams will advance through the rounds and ultimately predict the

winner of the National Championship. Warren Buffett and the Quicken Loans Company have teamed up to award the winner of the perfect bracket challenge. Anyone who predicts a perfect bracket – a total of 63 games – will win $1 billion. While the offer may seem enticing, there is a 1 in 9 quintillion chance that someone will win the challenge. This means the contest could run for 290 million years, and there’d still be a 99 percent chance that no one had ever won.

Despite these odds, sophomore Edwin Phillips still enters the an-

nual contest. “Every year I try to enter the contest to win the prize money,” Phillips said. “Last year I spent hours trying to put my bracket together, but it’s worth it if you win.”

One doesn’t have to know a lot about sports or even play basketball to get caught up in the March Madness frenzy. Players and fans alike wait throughout the month of March in hopes that their team will come away with a national championship. To those involved in the madness, may the odds be ever in your favor.

Sports

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Page 17

Polo team is brotherhood of traveling Speedos

COURTESY OF FOXMAR

Members of the boys’ water polo team know that they can be successful, and it’s not because of a single player – it’s a team effort.

Sophomore Andres Sabo values the lunches after every Saturday practice and knows how important their friendships with their teammates are.

“We have come together like one big family,” Sabo said. “We have a lot more chemistry this year and I

feel comfortable talking with anyone.”

Sabo also appreciates that the seniors on the team aren’t intimidating to approach. If he needs advice, Sabo is not afraid to ask.

Senior and captain Anthony Leon realizes that mentoring the underclassmen is the key to success.

“As a captain, I have been able to teach the younger guys about the importance of discipline,” Leon said.

Discipline and hard work have enabled Leon to improve his performance and his confidence in the pool.

He believes that dedication has worked wonders for him and hopes that it can do the same for his teammates.

The leading goal scorer, senior Mohammed Alsabbaghe has played as great a role in the team’s success as anyone.

Alsabbaghe’s passion for the game plus hard work has helped him in his quest for the school record for most goals in a season and a spot on the All-Dade County first team.

While Alsabbaghe may garner these achievements, he is humble and cares much

more about the team than personal accolades.

“I would sit on the bench if that meant a win for the team,” Alsabbaghe said.

Expectations are another characteristic that distinguishes this team from most.

“When we get in the pool, we always expect to win,” Sabo said. “I guess that makes us cocky, but I would rather be cocky than scared.”

Sophomore David Alter believes that in their recent loss to Hialeah, their cockiness got the best of them.

“We could’ve and should’ve easily beaten them,

Coachman is a superstar Boys’ basketball team for softball team exceeds expectations

Ethan Curtis staff writer

According to Top End Sports, Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman, and Stacey Nuveman are some of the greatest softball players of all time. One day, junior Taylor Coachman could be added to this list.

Coachman ranks in the top five, in five out of six of the major hitting categories, throughout the country.

She has the second highest national batting average, with an average of .818 compared to the national average of .340.

She has a slugging percentage of 1.575, against the national average of .420, placing her third nationally. The national average for runs batted in (RBI) is 2.5; Coachman has 36 giving her the most in the country. The national average of runs scored is three, but she ranks number one with a total of 26. Plus, Coachman has the second highest on-base percentage with a total of 850. The national average is 400.

Coachman’s personal success doesn't come without hard work. She practices five days a week with the team and she does additional work with her own personal hitting coach showing that the extra hitting practice has payed off.

Even after practicing with her team and her hitting coach, she takes time out of her weekends to continue improving her game.

“I wake up on Saturdays at about 8:00 a.m. to go to the field, take grounders and hit with my dad,” Coachman said.

“The biggest impact to my game is that I just have fun with it.”

SLUGGER: Taylor Coachman prepares to hit a ball coming her way.

Coachman’s performance of late has even been impressive on a national level.

Coachman’s teammates are proud to be on a team with her as she does everything needed and everything asked for.

“She hits when needed, makes a big play when needed, and she holds the team up,” sophomore outfielder Emilee Tennen said.

Saige Raymond staff writer

After suffering two losing seasons with a record of 2 wins and 45 losses, the boys’ basketball team switched their game up this winter season and finished with a record of 19 and 6.

“The way the team turned around was truly remarkable,” history teacher and champion tennis coach Michael Kypriss said.

The boys practiced six days of week, sometimes at five in the morning before school and Saturday afternoons. Coach Chris Garcia says he remade the boy’s concept of team defense.

“Their biggest improvement was on every aspect of their playing skills, but the team improved especially defensively,” Garcia said.

Seven players are graduating seniors like Kyle Washington who averages 12 points per game and Austin Jackson who averages 11 points. These players have already received offers from various colleges around the nation seeking their talents.

During and even after the winter season, these players are members of the Ives Estates Thunder travel league.

Washington and Jackson have both been invited to All-star games where they will play with

COURTESY OF FOXMAR

TAKING IT UP: Junior Carl Jeanty goes up for the basket against North Miami Beach. The Lightning won 67-57.

the best from all around Florida.

Although the team will lose some vital players after graduation, Coach Garcia has planned the successors for the graduating seniors. The three junior players Abraham Aracena, scoring 8.5 points per game, Carl Jeantry, scoring 14.2 and Felipe Souza scoring 6 will carry the flame on to next year. Coach Garcia believes “The Big Three” are the nucleus of the team.

This year the team lost their first game of districts 53 to 52, nonetheless their outstanding turn around made this winter season one of the best in Krop basketball history.

On Mar. 10, Ath. Dir. Elizabeth Morgan announced that Coach Garcia is Krop’s 2015 nominee for Coach of the Year.

but we didn’t take them seriously enough,” Alter said. “It was a wake-up call.”

Despite their loss, Leon is still confident that the team can easily make it to the state championships.

“We’ve gotten better since last year,” Leon said.

“We barely lost to Belen in regionals last season, so getting to states shouldn’t be hard.”

While predicting an appearance in the state championships is bold, the confidence and chemistry the team possesses should assist them in attaining their goal.

Answers to Crossword Puzzle on page 19 “Fun & Games”

Answers to Spot the Difference on page 20 “Through the Lens”

Library: Second book on far left table, girl in front table switched seats, girl in far back moved to the right, chair gone from bottom left corner table, chair added to far right table

Jacob Singer sports editor

BROTHERHOOD: The water polo team poses for a funny picture. Sophomore Andres Sabo posted this picture to his Instagram account and captioned it, “Discipline is for teams... But we’re a family.”

Across: 1. modernism 5. OprahWinfrey 6. JoanOfArc 8. DollarCoin 11. PrideAndPrejudice 16. Amelia Earhart 17. Armada 18. nineteenth Down: 2. Eleanorroosevelt 3. BetsyRoss 4. Physics 7. MargaretThatcher 9. Evita 10. Space 12. EmmaWatson 13. RosaParks 14. Malala 15. Jazz

NICE SHOT: Sophomore David Alter winds up to throw the ball. Alter believes that his team will continue to get better as they gain more experience.

COURTESY OF ANDRES SABO

Advertisements The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Page 18

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Fun & Games

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

Page 19

Crossword Puzzle: Women’s History Month Women's History Month Complete the crossword below 1

2

3

4

5

6 7 8

9 10 11

13

12

14

15 16

17

18

Created on TheTeachersCorner.net Crossword Maker

Across

Down

1. Georgia O'Keeffe is recognized as 'the mother of American __________' 5. First female African American billionaire 6. Nicknamed 'the Maid of Orleans' 8. Sacagawea is currently on what form of US Currency 11. Jane Austen is most famous for writing ________ 16. First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean 17. Queen Elizabeth I famously defeated the Spanish ________ 18. Amendment that states, 'The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.'

2. First Lady who famously advocated for increased Women's rights 3. Designed the original American Flag 4. Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in _________ 7. Nicknamed 'The Iron Lady' 9. Play about a famous Argentinian women's rights activist 10. Sally Ride is the first American women to go to __________ 12. Famous actress from the Harry Potter movies who is also currently advocating for gender equality 13. Nicknamed 'the first lady of civil rights' 14. Most recent Nobel Peace Prize winner 15. Ella Fitzgerald is often referred to as 'the Queen of ________'

*Answers to crossword puzzle can be found in page 17 in the Sports section.

CARTOONS

The Evolution of Krop Uniforms

MACKENZIE DUFFY

MACKENZIE DUFFY

Through the Lens Page 20

1

The Lightning Strike • February/March 2015

2 1-4:

Teachers, students and administrators dance on the North Patio on Feb. 23 as part of a flash mob.

Music blasted from a speaker system as the dancers performed songs as a celebration of Black History Month. Songs performed included the Electric Slide, the Cha Cha Slide and the Cupid Shuffle.

YANNINA MACAGNO

3

4

YANNINA MACAGNO

YANNINA MACAGNO

YANNINA MACAGNO

5

5-6: Dance and Music magnet students perform music compositions and choreographies centered around a celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 27.

7: David Buncher and students perfom ‘magic tricks’ with liquid nitrogen while reporter Ari Odzer from NBC 6 News covers the school as part of the ‘Brag About Your School’ program on Feb. 23.

FEDERICO PSEVOZNIK

7

SOPHIE MUCHNICK

SPOT THE DIFFERENCES: The pictures of the library have a total of

found on the bottom of page 17.)

STEPHANIA SALAVERRIA

6

FEDERICO PSEVOZNIK

5 differences. (Answers can be

STEPHANIA SALAVERRIA