January/February Issue by Lightning Strike

LightningStrike Taking Miami-Dade by Storm

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

www.lightningstrikenews.com February 10, 2017 • Issue 3 • Volume 19

Trump issues ban hindering immigration President’s act brings tension and protests in a move considered prejudiced by many Hilly Yehoshua co-entertainment editor Following a promise made throughout his presidential campaign, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order hindering travel to the United States from seven nations. Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Yemen, the countries listed under the travel ban, were noted by Obama in a previous attempt to control immigration. In a White House statement, Trump cited legislation signed by former president Obama in 2011 which issued a six month ban on Iraqi refugee visas and labeled all seven nations as “countries of concern” for terrorism as reasons for issuing the order. While both presidents’ orders forbade refugees from entering the United States, Obama’s act was longer and more lenient. Under Obama’s 2011 act, refugee admissions were slowed, but

under Trump, Syrian refugees are banned. Although Obama released his executive order in response to an Iraqi terrorist attempt on American soil, Trump’s order was not a defensive policy. Out of over 40 Muslim majority nations, Trump excluded larger ones that are involved in his personal business and many say pose a greater threat to the U.S. Many critics even point to the fact that none of the countries have ever personally attacked the U.S. Trump’s executive order halted all refugee admissions for four months and banned U.S. entry from citizens of the seven countries for 90 days. The suspension extended the lengthy process of vetting, which usually takes 18-24 months. The order prioritizes entry of people of minority religions residing in the listed nations, allowing Christians into the U.S. before Muslims. Additionally, the De-

partment of Homeland Security announced that “legal permanent residents” can enter the U.S. on a case-by-case basis. All seven countries under the order have experienced human rights abuse, conﬂict and destitution, especially Syria, Yemen and Sudan. Over 400,000 Syrians have been killed in the civil conﬂict for political authority. Nearby lies Yemen, where it’s “forgotten war” has left millions malnourished, uneducated and caught in a multi-front war. In Sudan, an oppressive government has created severe corruption and ethnic tensions. While these three nations are deemed by experts as currently experiencing civil wars, the other countries in the ban have their own share of instability. Ever since former dictator Saddam Hussein was ousted in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, it’s been a worn-torn, divided country. Libya wreaks havoc with

militias and extremist groups controlling vast areas. Aside from being one of the poorest countries on the list, Somalia’s internal government structure crumbled following its dictator’s expulsion in 1991. While the order received positive feedback from supporters who claimed it would aid national security, it sparked outrage in others. National protests in states like California, Massachusetts and New York as well as abroad in England and Scotland featured thousands gathering. “We cannot let our fear of being persecuted allow us to undeservedly and inhumanely persecute an entire group of people” junior Christina James said. “There is no greater safety than comes with tolerance, love and acceptance.” Commotion ﬁlled airports on Saturday as passengers were detained by TSA, and government ofﬁcials struggled to de-

cide who could or couldn’t pass security. A federal judge from Seattle issued a restraining order in a U.S. District Court on Feb. 3 that halted Trump’s immigration order nationwide. Everyday citizens weren’t the only ones protesting the ban. Politicians like Charlie Dent and John McCain are speaking out against the ban, and CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg are doing the same. “We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusing on people who actually pose a threat,” Zuckerberg said. “We should also keep our doors open to refugees and those who need help. That’s who we are.” In response to the criticism, Trump ﬁrmly stood with his decision. “America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those feeling oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border,” he said.

RUMORS

Don’t believe everything you hear The truth behind what really happened on campus Nathaniel Manor feature editor Today, rumors aren’t just names of Adele songs or Fleetwood Mac albums. Whether it’s chatting with your friend about the latest cheating scandal or fake news insinuating lies about our politicians, the spread of rumors is a never-ending cycle of hate that landed on Krop’s doorstep last month. Since December, rumors about the safety and integrity of the school have spread like wildﬁre. Local newscasts and parent complaints forced administrative ofﬁces to deal with a stressful two months, garnering much Kaysser Kayyali

Araixa Ruiz

More inside:

to debunk. But the stories you might have heard were most likely passed down the grapevine and proven highly inaccurate. To clear up the myths and mysteries about the school’s last few months, here are the facts. Dec. 14 marked the beginning of the whirlwind of rumors for the marred two weeks. The off-campus ﬁght among a group of students made headlines on ABC’s Local 10 News as reporters were sent the footage. Before long, parents were calling administration fearing reports of severe injuries and lack of disciplinary punishments, all of which were false. “It was a situation that all parties knew was brewing, yet they

did not seek assistance or report any issues,” Principal Allison Harley said. The brawl was instigated by verbal arguments in school, but occurred off-campus and after 2:20 p.m. in the Ives Estates area outside of the gate by the bus lane. The ﬁght create a blurry gray area for administrative action since the event did not occur under school supervision. Rumors of arrests and even charges of murder spread online and throughout the halls the next day, when, in reality, the situation was already taken care of. “Before the video went viral, the administrative team had identiﬁed every student involved and

issued the highest disciplinary action allowed by school board rules,” Harley said. In the same week, Krop saw an arson-induced ﬁre in the bathroom by the auditorium from a roll of toilet paper set on ﬁre, along with a special delivery of feces on a teacher’s desk. To ease the worries of the week’s insecurities and rampant rumors, two additional security guards are being hired for an extra set of eyes, according to Harley. But that isn’t the primary way to stop these school outbursts. “The reality is that it has to start with the kids,” Harley said. “Make a difference and ask for assistance instead of standing by,

LIFE after KROP

• The biggest issue facing today’s feminists- page 4 • Students experience FLL airport shooting- page 7 • Celebrity opinions in politics - page 12 • Is the membership worth the price- page 15 • Future of the World Cup in question- page 18

as well as being cautious on social media.” Speaking of social media, the latest, and arguably most upsetting, issue at Krop is the vacancy in Room 2-239 — AP and Honors English teacher and department chair Elton Lewis. On Dec. 22, only a day before Winter Break, Lewis’ now-infamous seven-minute video rant was leaked to the student body. Although it was swiftly removed from YouTube after an hour of Lewis ﬁnding out, the damage was already done. By the next morning, the video had reached administration and action was taken immediately.

continued on page 2 Brandon Ramsey

Pages 10 - 11

The perfect gift for every occasion!

• Fake news has real consequences- page 5 • Remedios embraces gender identity- page 8 • Films to look out for in 2017- page 13 • The science behind taking “ugly selﬁes”- page 16 • Lightning go on to district championship- page 19

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News

Page 2 Compiled by Mikaela Mendez

tops KROP’S

Seniors Sabrina Dillon and Molly Shacter received “Gold Key” distinctions for their photography portofolios, and Gabriella Cano, Jonathan Cohen and Skyler Lecoq recieved “Silver Key” distinctions in photography and painting at the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Competition. Senior Jonathan Cohen earned 1st place in Graphics at the BEAUX ART competition for his drawing. Students Nazla Lara, Alexis Fried, Aaron Abeid, Dominique Hardy and Sydney Warsing received an Honor Rating of First Class with a Marks of Distinction for Writing and Editing for Ink Magazine. Sophomore Jaqueline Hatch semi-finaled and students Lara Soysal, Nathaniel Manor, Christina James, Tomas Korn and Dylan Hopen quarter-finaled at the Sunvitational Speech and Debate Tournament. Senior Tomas Korn and Junior Dylan Hopen octo-finaled at the Barkley Forum for High Schools Tournament at Emory University. Senior Sara Blake was awarded with a full scholarship to Tufts University through the Questbridge Program. Seniors Angel Wallace, Caitlen Mackenzie and Junior Pierre were accepted into the Berklee College of Music. Compiled by Mila Sicorsky

The Lightning September 2008 The LightningStrike Strike • •January/February 2017

From local to global:

What’s going on around the world?

PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck west of Papua New Guinea. The quake was 153 kilometers deep and centered 40 kilometers west of the town of Panguna.

WASHINGTON, D.C: Mexican ofﬁcials are to visit next week to speak with senior ofﬁcials in the Trump administration. Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray and Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo are expected to arrive next Thursday and Friday, respectively.

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN: Delegates are arriving in Kazakhstan for peace talks on Syria. These latest peace talks are efforts led by Russia and Turkey after Syrian rebels suffered a major defeat in December of last year when they lost control of districts in eastern Aleppo.

RABAT, MOROCCO: Morocco received its ﬁrst high speed train. The two billion dollar project has been in development for a decade with the help of funding from the governments of Morocco, France, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE.

TOKYO, JAPAN: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. announced on Monday that it doesn’t expect to deliver the ﬁrst plane until mid-2020 which is two years later than the previous schedule. This is the ﬁfth time in less than eight years that the company pushes back the delivery plan for their Mitsubishi Regional Jet.

BERLIN, GERMANY: The European country becomes the latest to legalize medical marijuana. The vote was unanimous in favor of the new bill.

sources: CNN The Miami Herald

Compiled by Mercedes Hipolito

POLITICS

Policies needed to battle worsening U.S. education system Jacob Singer online managing editor

President Donald Trump wants to “Make America Great Again,” but where does he start? The U.S. ranks as the 39th ranked country in math, 25th in science and 24th in reading. According to the most recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test results, we are not the “great” educational powerhouse we once were. Barry McGaw, a former director of the OECD, the organization that administers the PISA tests, says that as recently as 30 years ago, the United States ranked ﬁrst in both high school and college graduation rates. A recent European Commission report looked at the graduation rates of 14 countries in the European Union, and only Hungary and Sweden ranked lower than the United States. The problem with U.S. education is not a lack of resources. Only four countries in the world spend more per capita on education than the United States does. The investments the country has made in education show little success. In 2002, President George W

Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law. Backed by overwhelming bipartisan support, NCLB increased federal education spending by nearly 60 percent over its first two years with a goal of achieving 100 percent student proficiency by the 2013-2014 school year. Currently, no state has yet reached 100 percent proficiency. NCLB hoped to accomplish this goal by tracking “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) through high-stakes testing. If a school missed their target AYP for two or more consecutive years, they were subject to severe sanctions. These sanctions included allowing students to transfer to higherperforming schools, loss of funding and in some cases, shutting down the school. Critics believe that the cause of NCLB’s failure was the development of the expression “teaching to the test” throughout classrooms all over the country. Because these test results could determine whether teachers kept or lost their jobs, for some it no longer mattered if students actually learned the material as long as they performed successfully on the test. After failing to achieve its goals, NCLB received a large

amount of bipartisan criticism, and in 2015, the national features of NCLB were stripped away. In 2009, President Obama announced the $4.35 billion Race to the Top grant that incentivized states to adopt the Common Core, a philosophy that has objectively failed in improving U.S. education thus far. Supporters of Common Core hoped that a one-size-fits-all curriculum would be effective but failed to realize that the curriculum is just the medium for producing proficient students, and different curriculums and methods can accomplish the same goal. A standard curriculum also gives way to standardized testing, which reopens the “teaching to the test” rabbit hole that fails to adequately measure the quality of student that schools churn out. To many, President Trump’s Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos does not offer the solution to the country’s ailing education system. DeVos comes from a family of billionaires, who have made millions in campaign contributions over the years. At DeVos’s confirmation hearing, Senator Bernie Sanders asked her if she thought she would have been nominated for the position

if not for her family background. The question of her competence stretches beyond her family’s wealth. Neither she nor her children have ever attended any public school, let alone one in a low-income area, so many fear that DeVos is out of touch with the lower class. Devos’s platform revolves around the concept of “school choice.” This enables students to attend schools outside of their zip code when the school they are zoned for is not performing adequately. While this seems like a good solution, it has not yielded results. According to Measure of America, the correlation between one’s socioeconomic situation and educational success is as strong as ever. This means that even with continually increasing schooling options for students in low-income neighborhoods, those students’ performance are not improving. Whether or not DeVos is the answer remains to be seen, but if Trump truly wants to “Make America Great Again,” he will need to tackle the problems with the country’s education. In the next issue, the Lightning Strike will look at why Finland’s education system is a model for the world.

Don’t believe everything... (continued) Within the first hour of the day, Lewis was brought down to Harley’s office for an administrative meeting that followed district protocol. By the end of the day, Lewis was no longer in class, and Harley notified district personnel, where the matters were taken downtown. “Lewis is currently under investigation and has the right to due process,” Harley said. Only three weeks later, James Ewart, a former MDC English professor,

was hired to teach Lewis’ students in his absence. “Unfortunately, it’s actions like these that reflect on the school, which questions the integrity of the teachers and students,” Harley said. What most of us fail to realize is that when false rumors make their way through the community, though unverified information, it reflects on all 2,700 students in the building. Whether directly or not, a bad word about Krop is a bad word about all of us.

Despite the events of December, we continued to excel. College acceptances, scholarship winners and tournament placers paraded the halls throughout December, as well. But unfortunately, our nationally-recognized Speech & Debate team nor our championing NJROTC battalion, as well as the rest of our acclaimed clubs and organizations, rarely make the news. Krop has a legacy of excellence that’s been maintained

since its opening, so when the one percent of students that chooses to act up does so, it’s so rare that it makes the news. However, that’s why the more negative incidents are considered media hot topics— it doesn’t happen often, if ever, at Krop. So the next time your friend tries to tell you that a freshman was killed in a brawl or a feces ﬁght was triggered in the cafeteria, you now have the facts, and it is up to you to maintain them.

News Page 3

TheLightning LightningStrike Strike• •September January/February The 2012 2017 POLITICS

The Obama Years

PROTESTS

Recapping a groundbreaking administration and the man who led it for eight years

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW YORK TIMES

Jonah Muchnick bussiness manager With the recent change in administration in the U.S., many people are looking towards the future with excitement, indifference or fear. However, with change must come reflection on what’s changed with President Barack Obama. Senator Barack Obama broke barriers by becoming the first African American to win the nomination of a major party in a U.S. presidential election. That November, he became the first African American to be elected President of the United States of America. Obama took the reins of the nation during the worst economic downfall since the Great Depression. According to NPR, when Obama took office in January 2009, unemployment rates were at a staggering 7.8 percent, and the percentage of citizens without health care was 10.4 percent. Under the Obama Administration, the unemployment rate dropped by 3.1 percent, and 5 percent more citizens had health care. The Affordable Care Act, nicknamed “Obamacare,” was a major piece of legislation passed during Obama’s term. While still controversial and under threat of being rolled back, Obamacare has seen the largest reduction in the uninsured in four decades. Since the passage of the act in 2010, an estimated 20 million people have gained health coverage. Additionally, the Obama Administration coordinated the assassination of the leader of Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for the attacks on

TAKING A STAND: Women gather in Washington D.C. to march for women’s rights. Millions of people marched around the U.S. in the largest protest in American history.

Millions march for women’s rights

Kevin Bauernfeind video editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIIRADIO

FINAL GOODBYE: Former President Barrack Obama gives his last foreign press conference in Lima, Peru. Obama’s presidency ended after eight years that shaped the U.S. in both foreign and domestic policy.

September 11, 2001. On May 2, 2011, a covert operations team, under Obama’s leadership, raided a terrorist compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, killing Osama bin Laden. In his inaugural address in 2009, Obama promised the American people he would invest millions of dollars into renewable energy sources in an effort to stimulate job growth and save the environment, and he kept his promise. Since 2009, the use of every kind of renewable energy has substantially increased. Wind energy saw the most dramatic increase, as it has quintupled since 2007. During Obama’s second term, on June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that statelevel bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. This meant that for the ﬁrst time, samesex marriage was legal in all 50 states. Along with Obama’s accomplishments came much criti-

cism. According to the Gallup Poll, Obama had an average approval rating throughout his term of 47.9 percent. This rating is lower than both Bill Clinton’s and George W. Bush’s, who had average approval ratings of 55.1 percent and 49.4 percent respectively. Political views aside, the past eight years with President Obama have been a time of change. The United States has become a more progressive, stable, protected and prosperous society, and President Obama must receive some of the credit. Whatever your outlook is on Donald Trump, his ideas or his administration, a look back on Obama’s accomplishments will remind you that no matter what happens, America will prosper and change will come. As Obama said in his last press conference as President with CNN, “At my core I think we’re going to be OK. We just have to ﬁght for it, work for it, and not take it for granted.”

Over three million people across the country took to the streets on Jan. 21 to march for women’s rights. It was the biggest protest in American history. The day after President Trump’s inauguration, marches took place in every state in the U.S. and beyond its borders. People came out to voice their opinion for the protection of reproductive rights, health care, women’s rights, climate change and their concern for Trump’s presidency. Crowd sizes varied, ranging from 1,000,000 people to a single person in Grants Pass, Oregon. The largest protests were held in Washington D.C., ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 marchers. Prominent celebrities came to March in D.C., including actresses Scarlett Johansson and Ashley Judd, musical artist Madonna and documentary ﬁlmmaker Michael Moore. Each of them gave speeches to the crowd on issues ranging from women’s rights to Trump’s cabinet picks. “We are here to vow to end the Trump carnage!” Michael Moore said. He gave information on how to contact representatives and how to keep being activists after the protest.

Madonna spoke out about protecting women in this “new age of tyranny.” She received backlash from the president after stating that she has thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House, but she said that she knows that won’t change anything. In Miami, over 10,000 marched. The marchers met at Bayfront Park with signs reading “Make America THINK Again” and “Bridges Over Walls.” Miami protesters listened to speaker Tracy Wilson Mourning, wife of Miami heat star Alonzo Mourning and watched a live feed of the protests at the D.C. rally. Students like sophomore Fiona Leiman went to voice their opinion. “What motivated me to go to the march was seeing all the big crowds of people all over the world stand up for women’s rights,” sophomore Fiona Leiman said. “It was so amazing and beautiful seeing people support each other.” President Trump tweeted about the protests as they ensued. “Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.” Trump tweeted. Hours later, he followed up with a tweet saying, “Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

NEWS BRIEF

Trump ﬁres acting attorney general In a highly criticized move by Republicans and Democrats alike, President Donald J. Trump fired Sally Yates, his attorney general, on Jan. 30. Trump’s action came after Yates voiced her concern over the new president’s recent travel ban, which hinders immigration to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim nations. In a statement to lawyers at the Justice Department, she expressed skepticism at both the effectiveness and constitutionality of the executive order. Only a few hours passed before Yates received a letter at her office calling for an end to her career as the nation’s highest law enforcement officer. A White House statement released shortly after her firing said, “Ms. Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.” -Mila Sicorsky

Editorial Page 4

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

POLITICS

The biggest problem facing today’s “feminists” IN MY OPINION naela foureau

opinion editor

“I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the Negro and not the woman.” Susan B. Anthony is one of American history’s most notorious pioneers in the woman’s suffrage movement. A movement that continues to influence modern feminism crusades including the recent 2017 Women’s March on Washington— where Americans across the nation rallied to protect women’s rights as well as other human rights causes in the largest single-day demonstration in U.S. history. Susan B. Anthony is also the voice behind the very words vowing to dismember and mutilate her own body before supporting the voting rights of African Americans during the 15th amendment debates almost 150 years ago. Although the plight of voting rights for women and ethnic minorities was resolved with the passage of the 15th and 19th Amendments (granting African American men and all American women the rights to vote, respectively,) the ageold dilemma of lacking representation for women of color in the feminist community persists today. The topic of intersectionality—the overlapping nature of social movements as they apply to individual categories such as race and class, has received a fair amount of backlash from critics such as New York Post writer Karol Markowicz, who believes that its cause is actually

counterproductive in reducing women to a pool of labels or “monolithic race groups.” Such critics, like celebrated actress and white feminist Shirley Maclaine, liken its focus to victimization. While others like South Carolina wedding minister Jennifer Willis, who according to the New York Times, cancelled her appearance in the Women’s March after reading event organizer Shishi Rose’s post on the March’s Facebook page calling for “white allies” to “listen more and talk less”— share convictions that intersectionality creates an unwelcoming environment by shaming white feminists and creating division among a movement meant to unify. Willis questions the deviation of the march’s focus from a general consensus of support for modern feminist agendas like equal pay, marriage and adoption to its current controversy surrounding intersectionality— or “white women [who] don’t understand black women,” as she eloquently puts it. Therein lies the crux of the problem: equal pay, marriage and adoption is not one of the first topics you’ll find on a woman of color’s “list of social justice issues to combat.” For the Mexican-American woman, “mass deportation” may come first. For the black woman living in Flint, you probably wouldn’t find “paid family leave” until the next page. The gender wage gap certainly isn’t a list-topper for the Iranian-born woman attempting to return home after a visit to her birth country. Willis, Marcowicz and Maclaine’s sentiments are common among feminists who criticize the emphasis of intersectionality,

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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.

defending their dismissive ideology with mantras like “We should all be women first. But how is it possible to be a woman first when as a black woman, I am three times more likely to be incarcerated than a white woman (americanprogress.org)? How is it possible to be a woman first when as a black woman, I am almost four times more likely to contract HIV than white women (cdc.gov)? How is it possible to be a woman first when as a black woman, I am almost twice as likely to live below the poverty level than a white woman (U.S Census Bureau)? How is it possible to be a woman first when according to U.S census data, white women make more than African American women regardless of what degrees they’ve earned? These statistics and several others suggest an issue much more dynamic than gender inequality alone. Institutions of racial privilege promoting systemic disenfranchisement is an issue ethnic minorities face daily. Asking us to cast our race aside in the name of unity is not o n l y unfair, it undermines the essential goal of feminism which is to advo-

cate women’s rights on the basis of gender equality for all, regardless of race, sexual identity or sexual preference. In order to progress the modern feminist movement, white feminists need to recognize and accept their privilege. Bringing awareness to the hardships ethnic women face does not invalidate the experiences of white women. The fact is that black, Latina and women of other ethnicities and nationalities have it harder than white women in America. We as a movement need not talk over women of color by dismissing their experiences and accusing divisiveness. Instead, them of allow women of colwe must or the opportunity to express their experiences and let their voices be heard. B u t that involves listening more and talking less.

LETTERS Left behind a progressing society

Unnecessary strictness

The time for subject selection is upon us, and as I look at my course sheet I am struck by a very particular and unsettling circumstance—a concerning and very apparent lack of computer science courses offered at this school, a subject that I should not even need to justify including in our curriculum. Is the school board unaware that jobs in computer science will be the fastest growing ﬁeld of employment, as well as some of the highest paying? Are they unaware that as technology become more heavily integrated into society it becomes necessary for people to be able to interact with it on a level higher than simple consumerism? I have difﬁculty believing this is the case, yet this only makes the absence of computer science classes at Krop only more incomprehensible. Our school’s Computer Science Club is a step in the right direction, but this club should be a supplement to something already present in the curriculum. If we want to avoid leaving our students behind in this ever-expanding world, computer science must be offered in our classrooms. Eli Navarro Grade 11

As a CSI aide, my duty is issue tardies, ID’s and the dreaded dresscode violations. Dress code violations are taken seriously at this school. But since it’s implementation students continue wearing ripped jeans, cozy sweatpants and jackets. I believe that the administrations should be more lenient towards uniform violations. Most kids wear jackets because some classrooms are extremely cold. This past week has touched below 60 degrees and students are still prohibited from wearing comfortable outerwear to keep themselves warm. We issue hundreds of uniform violations daily that build up to eventually result in harsher consequences such as indoor and outdoor suspensions. A simple sweater or colored jeans does not affect student performance. Natalie Guignard Grade 12

Opinion

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Page 5

POLITICS

Anti-Semitism is not an issue of the past IN MY OPINION alan imar

online editor

“In a short time, a large number of Jews are going to be slaughtered. Their heads are going to be blown off from the shrapnel. There’s going to be a bloodbath that’s going to take place in a short time. I think I told you enough. I must go,” an anonymous phone call to a Jewish institution on Jan. 18 said. More than 16 years ago, my parents fled raging anti-Semitism in Argentina after two terrorist attacks killed hundreds. I grew up thinking America was supposed to be a new opportunity to live safely. But as we flipped our calendars to 2017, the phones at more than 60 Jewish institutions

rang with bomb threats. As my mother evacuated hundreds of children, from twomonth-old babies to four-yearold toddlers from the Dave & Mary Alper Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kendall, I prayed for the best but could only picture the worst. Why would someone want to hurt my mother? Why would someone want to murder innocent children who have yet to learn the difference between right and wrong? On Jan. 9th, we returned from winter break, but more than a Jewish schools across the country were evacuated. As we sat through fourth period, Jewish students sat on the street. We ate lunch, they swallowed their pride. We high-fived our friends, they hugged their loved ones— worried they would never see

them again. Community leaders, such as JCC spokesman David Posner, are troubled by the motive behind the calls. “We are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats. While the bombs in question were hoaxes, the calls are not,” Posner said. These threatening calls were not isolated to Miami let alone this country, they were rampant worldwide. On January 9th, Jan. 18th and Feb. 1st, Jewish schools, community centers and synagogues across the globe were sent bomb threats. Paul Goldenberg, national director of the Secure Community Network, told Reuters that a connection between the two threats made in January is being investigated but noted that the amount of threats

is unprecedented. Even after this unparalleled amount of calls, I see no outcry, no protest, and no change. Progressive movements rally in support of women’s rights and against immigration bans, which are fair causes --yet I see no support for my people. Do progressives turn a blind eye to threats against us just because we are Jewish? Are there individuals willing to march with me to make sure that the children being evacuated have a future without hate? Junior Elianna Lustgarten, who attends the Michael-Ann Russel JCC three times a week, feels safe despite threats made to Miami-Dade County JCCs. “It’s really scary to know people would cause such harm to innocent people that are part of our community,” Lustgarten

said. “But it’s important to come together as a community and combat those threats.” It is the resilience of people like Lustgarten that keep the persevering Jewish mentality alive for generations. It is that same attitude persecuted people throughout history have shared during perilous times ranging from the African American mantra “We Shall Overcome” during the civil rights era, to the continued fight against Islamophobia among our Muslim brethren. No matter where we are threatened, we will continue to be strong in the face of anti-Semitism. The cowardly calls that our communities receive should only bring us closer together, determined to succeed as we bring awareness to the underlying anti-Semitic sentiment which still exists today.

GUN CONTROL

STAFF EDITORIAL

Fake news has real Safety comes ﬁrst when it comes to the second amendment consequences Three million nine hundred and forty thousand. And counting. That’s how many views the top three fake news stories of 2016 have received, according to Buzzfeed. Their headlines read: “Obama Signs Executive Order Banning the Pledge of Allegiance In Schools Nationwide,” “Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses Donald Trump for President, Releases Statement” and “Trump Offering Free One-Way Tickets to Africa & Mexico for Those Who Wanna Leave.” Let’s set this straight: fake news is not satire; it’s not a mockery of real news like what you see on Saturday Night Live. Fake news instead seeks to replace actual news by spreading outlandish stories, often with phony characters and fabricated settings. It’s your typical fairy tale, except

And yet we at The Lightning Strike struggle to sell the $800 worth of ads we need each month in order to deliver the paper to you. Yet we still do it. We do it because it’s your right to know what’s going on – what’s truly going on – in your school and your country. We do it because we care about what’s going on, and we do so in the hopes that you do too (or that we can convince you to). But we can’t convince you to care about the truth – we can only tell you how hard it is to find. We rack our brains for hours trying to find stories you’ll want to read, then spend just as long finding the right sources and even longer interviewing them. Add in another few hours to write the story, and another few for editing and re-editing, and then re-editing again. All so we can deliver it to your fingertips in the simplest, most accessible way possible. We may not have stories about people dying in meth labs after they light their farts on fire, as thevalleyreport.com falsely reported (and got 670,000 views on), but we have stories about students at this very school who’ve survived cancer at 15, come from Germany to study at Krop and even held their own Ted Talk.. If that isn’t enough for you, check out a book from the library (we’re fairly sure our school still has one). But on behalf of The Lightning Strike and the massive, unrecognized and unappreciated effort our staff invests in making this paper available to you each month, be selective with what you read and what you believe, because your beliefs become your reality.

Fake news is not

satire; it’s not a mockery of real news like what you see on Saturday Night Live.” it doesn’t always have a happy ending – it often criticizes someone (usually politicians) or accuses them of something, which is why it spreads like wildﬁre. I repeat: three million nine hundred and forty thousand. And counting. And yet most clubs struggle to get ten students to attend a meeting, and we at The Lightning Strike can’t even get half the student body to pick up the paper. An anonymous source interviewed by NPR makes between $10,000 and $30,000 a month from ad trafﬁc on his website by hiring people to write fake news stories and promote them on Facebook.

IN MY OPINION megan orlanski

megan orlanski michael katz

lifestyle editor

It’s amazing how so twenty-seven words can cause such immense debate in this country. Those twenty seven words are those of the 2nd Amendment. They read: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The problem, however, with the 2nd Amendment is that the conditions that it was written under were used to push America forwards in a time where we were still a struggling nation that had ﬁnally split from Great Britain. Centuries later, we’re not that struggling nation anymore and so many things have changed since 1787. For one, we went from having no established military to the largest and most expensive army in the world. That’s the premise of our 2nd Amendment. It was created to establish informal militias of civilians who had the ability to ﬁght if needed, and take on any potential threats facing the new nation. According to Nelson Lund at the National Constitution Center, it allowed simple f a r m ers and businessmen to take up arms and protect t h e ideals of liberty they had fought

so hard for. Until 70s, the Second Amendment wasn’t even a topic up for debate. The Supreme Court and local courts agreed that the right to bear arms was reserved for state militias and didn’t even recognize those of the individual. But in the 1977 everything changed with the revolutionizing of the National Rifle Association (NRA). A new conservative order went into effect, transforming the NRA from a nonpolitical organization to one that strongly advocated for the strict interpretation of the Constitution, through allowing individuals to own guns. In fifty years, we went from a clear interpretation to one that was challenged by Conservatives that mocked advocates of a ‘living Constitution’. These advocates wanted the document to adapt with changing times. But if we maintained this strict interpretation of the Constitution we would continue to see African Americans treated only as three-fifths of a person which was fortunately repealed later on. We know today that every life is of equal value and every one is crucial to the progress of our nation. We must also recognize the historical context in which the Constitution was written under and how we ’ v e progressed s i n c e then.

Our Founding Fathers wrote the 2nd Amendment under the impression that we would still need a militia to carry weapons and protect us from tyranny. But our massive army has more than enough weapons to defend us. Yet there are 357 million weapons in this country, compared to our population of 317 million. That’s more than one gun for every man, woman and child residing in America. I’m not proposing a change to the 2nd Amendment, but rather a re-evaluation. We must examine the purpose it was intended to serve and the context of those historical wartime conditions. We must acknowledge that even though people will continue to own and buy guns, something can be done to regulate who is allowed to own them and how many are sold. Other nations like Canada allow semi-automatic weapons for self-defense purposes, but impose restrictions to ensure their use is controlled. First one must pass a safety test and display that they know how to properly aim and shoot the weapon. After passing this exam, one can then apply for a license which they must carry with them at all times when possessing the weapon. Although restrictions like these might seem extreme to gun advocates, it is the only way to successfully control gun violence in this country. Gun control is not “gun conﬁscation” as the NRA likes to call it, it is the one solution to simultaneously providing 2nd Amendment Rights while keeping weapons from getting into the wrong hands. With the exponential increase in gun violence in this country over the past decade, we must limit 2nd Amendment Rights to protect the future of life and the pursuit of happiness.

Fun & Games Page 6

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Ken Ken

Every square in this grid will contain one of the numbers 1, 2, or 3 (or however many rows). A number cannot be repeated within any row or column. The heavily-outlined areas are called “cages.” The small number in the upper-left corner of each cage is our “target number.” The math symbol next to the target number tells us which operation we’ll be using in that cage. Visit http://www.kenkenpuzzle. com/howto/simple for more information and answers.

#1, 2, 3

#1, 2, 3, 4, 5

#1, 2, 3, 4

Sudoku Football Word Search

Hangman

C I T Designed by Alan Imar

TAC

E O

Feature

Page 7

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Faden, more than your average teacher

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Blending into the crowd of students with his youthful appearance, SPED teacher Eric Faden walks the halls with a jug of a pink energy drink and a distinct haircut of dreadlocks on his head. Eric Faden is the social studies teacher working in the special education department. Much like a student, he’s ready to learn every day of the week. Previously, Faden worked here as a substitute and this is his ﬁrst year as a full-time teacher. Faden assists ﬁve teachers throughout the day, so he doesn’t have his own classroom or gradebook. Teachers including Mr. Diskin refer to him as “the nomad.” “I grew up wanting to be a governor or president,” said Faden. “But while I was in college I became a substitute to help pay for school, and I really liked the job and I gravitated toward the students.” Faden attended MiamiDade College and FIU, where he graduated third in his class with a major in political science and a minor in education. He really enjoys the subject area and spends his past time learning more about political science and economics. But Faden says he loved teaching it more. “I worked as a substitute

PUPPY PALS: Families at the Help Overcome Pet Euthanasia (H.O.P.E.) Dog Walk bring their dogs together to play with each other. The sixth-annual walk was hosted on Jan. 22 to raise awareness money for the Humane Society.

FACULTY

Nicolas Chmielewski spread editor

COURTESY OF MARLEY KATZ

NICOLAS CHMIELEWSKI / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

H.O.P.E. Dog Walk led by Morton twins, Katz, Herman

ASSISTANCE: Teacher Eric Faden helps his student Brenda Saint-Paul in her English 1 class. Faden began his ﬁrst job as a full-time teacher at Krop this year, but has worked as a substitute in past years.

Libby Szlaifer staff writer

in all grades from elementary to high” Faden said. “High school was always my favorite because you could hold a real conversation with kids. I don’t need to use what I call the ‘Barney voice’ for toddlers.” Aside from his interesting looks, he also has unusual interests as a teacher. Faden is heavily inspired by the rebellious crust punk scene of the 80s, inﬂuencing his dreadlocks and other attributes of his lifestyle. Faden is straight edge, a popularized term of the 80s, preferring to keep a healthy lifestyle and abstaining from clouding his mind with different types of drugs. He’s a sucker for being healthy. After stumbling across a nutrition textbook in college,

The Humane Society brings in thousands of unwanted dogs and cats to be adopted. Help Overcome Pet Euthanasia, also known as H.O.P.E., is a movement to promote awareness for animals that are euthanized in shelters every year. Students Eliza Morton, Stephanie Morton, Ilana Herman and Marley Katz have taken this issue to heart and worked to raise money for the Humane Society. They hosted their sixth-annual H.O.P.E. Dog Walk to spread awareness of the beneﬁts of pet ownership. “In sixth grade, we learned about the H.O.P.E. project from our English teacher and since we were all dog lovers, we knew that we wanted to participate,” junior and sponsor of the H.O.P.E. walk Eliza Morton said. “So they brought neighbors and their dogs together for the cause.”

he discovered the life beneﬁts of being a vegan, and has been vegan ever since. Aside from working out regularly, he plays professional rugby for the Miami Rugby Football Club. As a side job, Faden puts on events and throws hip-hop, punk rock and Miami bass music concerts. “I book acts, run the events and promote people to get out there” Faden said. He has put on shows for popular artists such as Trick Daddy, Dead Prez and DJ Otto von Schirach. He also does real estate when he gets the chance. With ﬁve classrooms on his schedule and a variety of interests and jobs, Faden continues to keep his days busy, to say the least.

Marley Katz’s inspiration came from a close-to-home relation. “What inspired me was my own dogs who I adopted from the Humane Society when I was really young,” junior and sponsor of the H.O.P.E. walk Marley Katz said. “They are the sweetest dogs in the world, and they inspired me to help out that organization in any way possible, because what they do is absolutely amazing.” Over 220 people attended the walk, which was held at Highland Oaks Park on Jan. 22. The theme for this year was Preventing and Reporting Animal Cruelty. The walk raised $1,500, and is still collecting donations from others who were unable to attend. All proceeds will be donated to the Humane Society of Greater Miami. “Every year when we visit the Humane Society, we realize why we are hosting this walk,” Morton said. “To help those sheltered pets ﬁnd homes.”

10 Things About Mr. James Ewart

1. Windy City Origins

Ewart grew up in the suburbs of Chicago where he loved to swim in his grandmother’s pool and play football in high school, even though it later led to a back/neck injury when it coupled with a car accident.

6. #MarathonChallenge

Following his passion for exercise and running, he competed in the annual Chicago Marathon in his hometown in 1995 and 1996 as a challenge. He came in at four hours and just under three hours, respectively.

2. Education Connection

7. Smells Like ‘Teen’ Spirit

3. English in Korea

8. Rave All Day

Ewart has written three novels and two screenplays (and a half of one he never ﬁnished). He is currently working on a new ‘tween novella,’ something he’s never done before. It is expected to be completed in a month or two.

He went to DePaul University where he majored in physics but switched to psychology to follow his love of helping others. He studied abroad in Paris for six months before changing his career path again to become a teacher.

In 2014, Ewart went to the Ultra Music Festival in Miami with a group of his friends. He enjoys EDM-style music, among other genres, but went to the festival mainly for the experience over the music.

In 1999, he moved to South Korea, where he ﬁrst began teaching ESL to teacher trainees. He was given a textbook and told to teach it, without instruction.

4. Miami Move

9. Forever Young

Ewart moved to Miami in 2005 when his ex-wife received an internship. He loved the beaches and environment, so he chose to settle down south, as opposed to big cities like New York and Boston. Ewart and his ex-wife arrived in Miami two weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit.

Ewart loves to exercise. He frequently takes yoga classes because he feels it is the best full-body workout and prevents him from aging. “It strengthens your core and spine and it keeps me young,” he says. He also used to mountain bike frequently, while living in Colorado

5. Classical Connoisseur

He loves to listen to classical music, but enjoys a wide variety of music ranging from classical and jazz music of Beethoven and Miles Davis to rock and rap music of Nirvana and Kanye West. “To me, Kanye is a musical genius for his depth and variety.”

10. Under the Sea NAOMI LITWAK / THE RENAISSANCE YEARBOOK

STRUCTURE: James Ewart teaches sentence structure to his fourth period English II Honors class. Ewart began teaching at Krop on Feb. 1, replacing the previous English teacher Elton Lewis.

Some of his hobbies include long boarding and scuba diving, ever since he moved down to Miami. He recently became a freelance instructor and takes students on trips to the Keys and local beaches. Compiled by Nathaniel Manor

Feature

Page 8

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

EXPERIENCES

Students experience FLL airport shooting

HISTORY

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Tamia Streeter staff writer When 13 people were shot and five killed in a shooting at Fort Lauderdale-International Airport on Jan. 6, the airport was evacuated, all incoming flights delayed and passengers that already landed couldn’t leave their planes. Junior Jared Keil was one of those passengers. “I was on the plane for about seven hours.” Keil said. “I flew alone, so I was surrounded by strangers as we watched the news.” It wasn’t long before Keil’s phone flooded with text messages from anxious relatives. “I wasn’t afraid but my family was,” Keil said. “Once I told my family that I was safe, they calmed down.” Seven hours after landing, Keil walked into the terminal and saw abandoned bags scattered across the floor. Freshman Nicole Goldman’s plane was minutes away from landing before their arrival time was delayed. Her brother then realized the plane had been circling for an hour. “The flight attendant said there was a shooting in the airport and we’d have to wait for more information before we land,” Goldman said. “Two hours later, we landed at

Senior Widdly Moreau

“I am proud to be black because black people are powerful and independent, I could never be ashamed of who I am. I look up to Malcolm X because he was a ﬁghter and he stood up for what he said; he stood up, fought and worked hard.” TAKEN FROM FOX6NOW.COM

TERROR ON THE TARMAC: Families at Fort Lauderdale International Airport reunite on the tarmac. Travelers were forced to evacuate outside when a shooter opened ﬁre on Jan. 6, 2017.

Miami International Airport.” Since Goldman was with her mother and brother, her father was especially worried about their well-being. “My dad texted me asking if I was okay, and I began to cry,” Goldman said. On his way to Philadelphia, freshman Arturo Jenna was in terminal three when he and his family overheard people talking about what was happening in terminal two. “After hearing about it, I was scared. I didn’t know what would happen next,” Jenna said. After hearing the news, her family evacuated the airport and stood on the tarmac for the next ﬁve hours. Sophomore Hera Soysal and

her sister were in Portland, Oregon when they heard the news. Since they were traveling alone, they were scared and didn’t know what they should do next. “Since we’re minors, we couldn’t stay in a hotel, so we needed the soonest ﬂight,” Soysal said. After three canceled and delayed ﬂights, Soysal landed at the airport. “When we landed in Fort Lauderdale it felt so eerie,” Soysal said. “Everyone was nervous and wanted to get out as quickly as possible.” Although some were more unfortunate, as 13 were left injured or killed, all four students left unharmed and were able to safely reunite with their families.

ALUMNI

Krop alumnus opens restaurant Jacob Singer online managing editor

Everyone has dreams. Some aspire to be football players, actors or even the President of the United States. Local chef, restaurateur and Krop alumnus Danny Serfer dreamed of being a criminal defense attorney. While studying for his LSAT at FSU, Serfer longed for the delicious food he grew up on in Miami. In order to eat well, Serfer had to be resourceful and learn to cook. He soon realized that he enjoyed cooking more than studying, and after not receiving the LSAT score he wanted, Serfer enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary school. “I had always wanted to defend criminals in Miami,” Serfer said. “But cooking just snuck up on me.” Serfer’s first kitchen job was as a stage, or unpaid intern, at Chef Allen’s and worked his way the executive chef position. In 2012, he opened up his first restaurant, the acclaimed Blue Collar, in downtown Miami, and followed with the 2014 opening of Mignonette. Serfer recently opened up his first North Miami Beach restaurant, Mignonette Uptown. Growing up in the area, he is excited to feed his neighbors. Mignonette Uptown is a

Senior Mahani Augustin “I am proud to be black because god gave me my beautiful skin. Being black is awesome.”

Freshman Antonia Bethel “When you’re black, everyone judges you for your skin color. I’ve had people come up to me begging me not to take their money or shoot them but I’m proud to be black because not a lot of black kids make it out here and I’m going to make it.”

Junior Jaron Glover “I’m proud to be black because I was taught by my sisters that black is beautiful at a young age. Black people have to bring more to the table, because even though we have the same qualiﬁcations, we are expected to do better so we can stand out. My advice to other black kids is to be true to them and to do what they feel is right.

Freshman Ashard Allen “Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks are my idols because their accomplishment impacted the future of black people.”

Junior Melanie Harris

COURTESY OF DANNY SERFER

LISTEN UP: Danny Serfer gives his employees a pre-meal brieﬁng at his newly opened restaurant Mignonette Uptown in North Miami Beach. Serfer opened the restaurant on Jan. 6, following the success of Mignonette.

seafood and oyster bar and its silver-plated structure was formerly the “Gourmet Diner.” An avid debater in high school, Serfer hoped to use his debate skills as an attorney, but even after his career plans changed, his experience proved valuable. “Organization and planning are crucial in both debate and cooking,” Serfer said. “The importance of preparation for debate has lent itself well in the kitchen.” Success in the kitchen didn’t come without obstacles. In 2007, after leaving rehab, Serfer questioned whether he wanted to keep

cooking. He spoke to Dr. Michael Fass, his former teacher, about becoming a one himself, but ultimately decided to return to the kitchen. He warns about pursuing a career in cooking, saying it is not for everyone. “Spend a week in a restaurant before deciding on becoming a chef,” Serfer said, “It’s a very high stress environment, and being a chef deﬁnitely isn’t easy.” But even with the difﬁcult hours and stress of the restaurant business, Serfer says he loves what he does. “I think I enjoy cooking so much because I really love making people happy.”

“My advice to other black kids is that anything is possible and it doesn’t matter your skin color or where you come from, just go for it. My role model is Barack Obama because he shows poise and respect to everybody no matter what. It’s really empowering when we go against stereotypes.”

Sophomore Jacques Ketant “The hardest thing African Americans face in today’s society is racial discrimination. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks inspire me because their accomplishments impacted the future of black people.”

Senior Zaria Drummonds “The hardest thing Black people face is that there is a stereotype that all black girls are loud, ghetto and that we will get a pregnant at a young age. But I am proud to be a black woman because we are very diverse.” Compiled by Tamia Streeter, Amaya Strange, Jonathan Guignard, Sophie Muchnick and Nathaniel Manor

Feature

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Page 9

HONORS

Thompkins awarded Teacher of the Year Isaac Grossman staff writer

Todd Thompkins, physics and physical science teacher, was recently awarded Krop’s Teacher of the Year award. The seeds of Thompkins’s love for mathematics and science were first planted throughout his teenage years in high school. “School kind of came to me naturally,” Thompkins said. “I was always interested in higher level classes because I would grow bored really quickly if something about the material was too easy for me.” Thompkins attended Florida State University, where he worked as an algebra and calculus tutor for the Care Program for low-income students on the side. He drew his inspiration to continue teaching from the positive impact that he made by tutoring kids in need and watching them progress throughout college. Today, Thompkins still impacts students by creating an interactive classroom environment. He provides organized lec-

Udi Manor

NAOMI LITWAK / THE RENAISSANCE YEARBOOK

CONNECTING: Todd Thompkins helps his AP Physics C student Paola Valinski with angular rotation. Thompkins was selected for the Teacher of the Year award during his ﬁfteenth year teaching at Krop.

tures with pre-written notes, followed by labs that incorporate the lesson at hand and group problem-solving assignments, known among his students as “whiteboarding.” “Whiteboarding allows me to interact with other students in the classroom,” said physics student Niv Landau. “Various people understand concepts dif-

ferently, and exchanging those ideas to help others benefits not only me, but whoever needs assistance, as well.” Thompkins refuses to use a textbook and assign, what he calls, “plug and chug” work. “He is very personal with his teaching, to the point where he feels like more of a tutor than a teacher,” said sophomore Kevin Cam, who’s in Thompkins’ Physics 1 class. In 2015, Thompkins’s AP Physics C course earned a 100% pass rate for the first time in Krop’s history. Thompkins mentions that when he first began teaching, the passing rate ranged from 67% to 70%, and slowly but surely, he increased it by “learning from the mistakes of past students and finding new ways to engage kids in the material.” Beyond teaching in the classroom, Thompkins competes in academic tournaments with his students. Every April, a group of his students compete in the annual Chemistry & Physics Tournament at Barry University. In 2015, his students won first place in all physics events, defeating private schools such as Pine Crest and American Heritage. Thompkins celebrates his fifteenth year working at Krop this month. He says writing his acceptance essays for the award allowed him to reflect on his time at the school and reminded him of his love for teaching.

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DIVERSITY

Remedios embraces gender identity Maria Menezes guest writer Accepting yourself is a big challenge. Discovering your own self may be even more difﬁcult if being who you are is considered wrong by society. Haiden Remedios is trying to love and accept himself, not only as a transgender, but also as a person. His relationships with himself and his family have always been difﬁcult. Only two aunts and his mother know he’s transgender, and although his mother is open-minded, she freaked out when he told her of his gender identity. The situation is more complicated with his father. “My father knows I’m not straight, but he does not know I’m trans,” Remedios said “Things are tense with him.” Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Gender identity is a self-construction and a social phenomenon, independent of the sex. Sexuality refers to affective-sexual feelings. Transgender people are those whose biological sex does not agree with the psychological gender. A year ago Remedios discov-

ered that he does not identify himself as a woman while he was participating in Gay-Straight Alliance. He uses his experience as an activist in the LGBTQ community. “I do “Living Rainbow” which helps to educate people about our community and what many of us go through,” Remedios said. Remedios ﬁghts for people like himself: “Those are bullied or who have been killed, kicked out of homes, abandoned because of who they are even though who they are is not wrong,” he said. Because he has had to deal with stress and social anxiety, he believes it is healing to talk to people. Remedios hopes to achieve greater mental and emotional stability and wants to start his transition from female to male, which includes hormonal changes of testosterone and removing his breasts. Expressing yourself and your sexuality is good for everyone’s mental health. Finding himself so early as a transgender may have shaken Remedios’ life, but he remains optimistic. “Love is the most natural thing we have next to nature itself, so how could it be wrong?” he says.

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Page 10

LIFE afte The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Kaysser Kayyali

Graduated: MKHS - 2010

In October 2015, CAP Advisor Robert Roddy and junior Megan Orlanski created a survey for alumni. 2 student seeked out their own form of success. Whether it was attending an ivy lea

Arrive to cla ss a s th eb

get signed out early - gain $5

Receive donuts from Dr. Fass - earn $2

ake

ee t

Fence is ope

ne w roo - earn

if s pin Ask s is h omeo n ighe r tha e to prom n 5 - ad d person to car

lo s

team etball b as k the arn $12 -e

Cr clu eate b - inte ga res in $2 t 0

Get caught skipping class - pay $5

Miss bus - lose $2

odbye to y go , sa 5 IA $1 f M lose t o ds en

Mo ve o fri u

colurses in start co arn $10 lege - e

Graduate from Krop - earn $20

Catch senioritis - lose $5

p r derclas i ally - ga

m $7 mates

Attend prom - lose $25

Lose ID - pay $5

n $ men 10

Lose ID pay $5

perfect attendance gain $15

o Bo t pe

into colleg Get accepted - win $20

ﬁrst in lunch line - earn $2

Prank freshmen - earn $2

Be co m se e s ni ec or on -w d in sem $1 es 0 ter

S sk enio ip r - l day os tur e n

Drop jamaican patty - lose $2

Fill out FAFSA - collect $10

pay student obligations lose $20

teacher forgets to collect homework - gain $3

buy ticket to after party/ prom - pay $20

What is one thing you miss about high school? “I honestly miss waking up early and going to my different classes. When I was there of course I hated it but after you realize you have the decision to wake up n not do anything with your life or wake up and be productive, it’s really life changing. I miss going to class.” What is the best lesson you learned in high school? “Don’t make the time pass by. Take in each moment as if it was your last because once you graduate, their will be no better experience then your high school experience.”

Pop quiz - lose $5

vote in your ﬁrst presidential election earn $3

In-school suspension - lose turn

Graduated: MKHS - 2015 Washington U. 2015 - present

Prank teacher on senior fools gain $3

caught cheating on test - lose $10

Graduated: MKHS - 2014 Howard U. 2015 - present

Katelyn Clarke

Apply to college - lose $5 Teacher shows movie in class - earn $2

Brandon Ramsey

What is one thing you miss about high school? “Seeing all the young faces. I don’t know how to explain it. There is something unique to high school that is in its atmosphere. The worries of high school life have nothing to do with the real world. The crushes I had on girls I knew I would never speak to... that type of high school stuff. In one word: high school worries (weird, I know.)” What is the best lesson you learned in high school? “Fail forward, do not allow your failures to hold you back nor should you doubt yourself because you might fail. Once you lose your fear and can learn from your failures and keep moving forward, you have a large part of the formula to success down.”

$2 earn

Unexpected substitute gain $5

in lr

Teacher and class invited to pep rally - earn $5

ID se $5 Lo ose l

What do you plan to do after college/graduate school? “I dropped out of Miami Dade college to pursue my career as a software engineer.” What is the best lesson you learned in high school? “Don’t fall for the traps that society tries to force you into, follow your dream job and never let anyone stop you.” Who taught you the most in high school? “By far my favorite teacher was Mr. Diskin. His hard love and passion for his work taught me a valuable lesson, you don’t have to fulﬁll the stereotypes to be a master of your passion.”

Fail AP Exam - lose $20

rpe a p ilet No to

er KROP

Page 11

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Araixa Ruiz

Graduated: MKHS - 2008 UF - 2011

234 alumnus responded to questions varying from their Krop experience to their life after college. Each ague or supporting a family, each student had taken a unique pathway to success.

goo d

Complete 9th grade - gain $5

Re ce i ve

on 15 indlose $

Join Art Magnet gain $15

al -

e to sch L at - pay $10

Study all da y - l os

te 10th ple ain $5 om e - G ad

ct $

lose turn all

ns fe

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Get clothes stolen from PE lockers - lose $15

Join a squad add people to car

scor AT earn e on PS $3

Get caught during hall sweep - lose turn

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late pR

ade overriden Get gr -c

cod - lo e violation se $ 10

m cla ake ss - a new dd fri pe end op le s in to car

Complete 11th grade collect $5

Dr ess

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ewspa in narn $ per o J -e 20

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Join honor society - collect $3

Incoming Fr

Run the mile on time - earn $5

Incoming Tra

Get lost in hallway - lose $2

Make new friends - earn $5

Ethan Addicott

Graduated: MKHS - 2010 Harvard U. 2014

What did you major in? “Environmental Science and Public Policy with a minor in Global Health and Health Policy.” What is your biggest accomplishment since you graduated from high school? “This past year, I had the amazing opportunity to teach math at Harvard. After graduating I secured an apartment near the university and got to wake up every morning and teach material that I actually learned at Krop (essentially BC calculus) as part of a calculus teaching team. Every day, I would stand up at the chalkboard and think ‘They’re really letting me teach?’”

Fin job d new - ea rn $ 5

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ud ff st ent loa o ay lose $20 n

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Discover major - earn $5

Complete undergraduate degree - earn $10

Begin graduate degree - lose $10

Get drunk at college party - lose $5

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Pass seme ste ﬁnals r earn $15

Tiffany Clare

Graduated: MDCPS - 2014 New York Film Academy 2015 - present

Unsuscribe to Mr. Roddy’s emails earn $15

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What did you major in? “Marketing/Advertising/” What do you plan to do after college/graduate school? “Straight out of College I moved to Madrid, Spain where I got my MBA specializing in online advertising.” What is the best lesson you learned in high school? “My counselor, Mrs. Manfredi, was always there for me. She was my outlet my release and she gave me hope when I felt I had none. Don’t let stress and anxiety get to you. Do your best on everything that you do and life will always work out.”

What do you plan to do after college/graduate school? “I plan to work I on making ﬁlms and being in ﬁlms that send out positive messages to the world. As well as act in plays and television.” What is the best lesson you learned in high school? “The assignments given to you aren’t so the teachers can just give you work. The homework is actually for you. It helps you with the lesson it helps the lesson imbed itself into your memory. By not doing homework, we as students only hurt ourselves and stunt our own growth.”

er KROP

Page 11

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Araixa Ruiz

Graduated: MKHS - 2008 UF - 2011

234 alumnus responded to questions varying from their Krop experience to their life after college. Each ague or supporting a family, each student had taken a unique pathway to success.

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Ethan Addicott

Graduated: MKHS - 2010 Harvard U. 2014

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Tiffany Clare

Graduated: MDCPS - 2014 New York Film Academy 2015 - present

Unsuscribe to Mr. Roddy’s emails earn $15

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Entertainment Page 12

POLITICS

Concerts are for music, not political discourse IN MY

OPINION ariel hartzy

staff writer

This October I attended a Sia concert. As I awaited for Sia to begin her performance, the artist performing the opening act encouraged the crowd to chant in unison, “F@#% Trump!” Despite my political views, a concert is not the place for celebrities to display their frustrations with a political candidate. It’s not unusual to see celebrities on stage accepting an award. They thank their friends, family, producers, or their cast and crew. Recently, celebrities like Meryl Streep have been using the spotlight to call for action on their political agendas. As Streep was called to accept her Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement award, instead of thanking her friends and family, she chose to denounce Trump’s campaign. 10th grader Temprest Toombs said, “I don’t think that was an appropriate time. Political debates are meant for political settings and it was pretty disrespectful for her to not focus on saying thank you to the people who awarded and supported her.”Celebrities should stick to their talents when performing in front of thousands of fans instead of voicing their political opinions at concerts and award ceremonies. Although Meryl Streep is a famous example of celebrity involvement in politics, she wasn’t the ﬁrst. In 1956, Chuck Berry discussed the

world’s racial inequality in his song “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man”, and in the year 1970 John Lennon’s music heavily focused on the political world declaring 1970, “Year One After Peace.” Celebrities are known as leaders. People imitate the clothes they wear, the way they style their hair and their political opinions when they share them in front of thousands of fans. In 2013, Jennifer Lopez’s style of makeup set a new highlighting trend that later spread across the globe, so why is that any different than a political opinion shared in front of 20 million fans during the Golden Globes. The news and social media buzzed with discussion on Meryl Streep’s views during the Golden Globes. Some congratulated her on her courage while others believed her actions were a childish display of anger at a wrong time. President Donald Trump responded by tweeting, “Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn’t know me but attacked me last night at the Golden Globes. She is a…..” Although celebrities share the same rights as any other person, their views offer a “shortcut” to fans who may be politically ignorant. And although Streep is a renowned actress, it does not give her more political insight than the average person. When listening to her speech, it was clear that her frustration was emotional rather than political making Streep’s information invalid to make a political decision with. In her speech Streep said, “I still can’t get it out of

my head because it wasn’t in a movie. It was real life.And this instinct to humiliate, when it’s modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody’s life…..” Although Most may agree with what Streep has to say, some may use this to base their opinion on Trump ignoring his political agenda. Tenth grader Michelle Poreh said, “Although I agree with some of the things celebrities say about politics, I think because they have so much influence on their fans it’s not smart to strongly voice their opinion.” Concerts and award ceremonies are places to focus on an artist’s talent, but celebrities have been using their time on stage to share their political views and dissatisfaction with political candidates. The influence celebrities hold can take a huge toll on society when fans chose to trust their unsupported political opinion. Soon after Meryl Streep discussed Trump at the Golden Globes, model Vale Genta with around 859,000 followers posted a picture with the caption “What Meryl Streep said,” and over 200 comments praising Genta were posted. These fans later associate Meryl Streep’s views with Vale Genta and adopt her views similarly to how they may adopt her style. While every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and is allowed to have their own opinion, a celebrity that holds such influence over their fans should hold restraint when addressing their impressionable fans.

STREAMING

Apple Music vs. Spotify: Which gives more bang for your buck Alan Imar online editor While guessing between A, B and C, and choosing between the raisin and plain bagels might be hard decisions, deciding whether to subscribe to Apple Music or Spotify Premium may be harder. These two leading music subscription services constantly compete for the same customer base. At its latest release, Spotify boasted almost 40 million paid users, which more than doubled Apple Music’s 17 million. Both grew membership by 30 percent in nearly the same amount of time, according to CNet. But when those two minute advertisements every 30 minutes get annoying and you want to upgrade to a paid service, do you buy Apple Music or Spotify Premium? Let’s narrow the features by categories. Price Unlike Apple Music, Spotify offers a free plan with limited features like Shufﬂe Play and limited

skips. If you want to upgrade to Spotify Premium, you will pay the same as an individual Apple Music subscription: a grand total of $9.99 a month. But before you decide to go with Apple Music, there is a three month free trial, which Spotify does not offer. Winner: Draw Platforms Both services offer software for Mac, PC, iPhone and Android. Spotify extends its reach by offering applications on the Amazon Kindle and Echo. Basically, you will be able to stream both Spotify and Apple Music on all your devices. However, Apple Music integrates with your current iTunes library, so all your songs are in one place, a feature Spotify can’t compete with. Winner: Draw Songs Spotify claims to offer over 30 million songs, but Apple Music is home to more than 40 million, which should be more than enough for your ears. Combine

Apple’s superior number and the exclusive artists, like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, featured on Apple Music and you have a clear winner. Winner: Apple Music Social Spotify, regardless of the plan you select, has the ability to connect with your Facebook friends to see what they’re listening to in real time. Spotify also gives you the option to listen to custom playlists created by your friends. If that’s not convincing enough, Spotify also offers Discovery Weekly, a continuously updated personalized playlist every Monday. These features outdo Apple Music’s weak social media integration, so if you end up choosing Apple’s streaming service, you’re on your own. Winner: Spotify Regardless of which subscription you purchase in the end, both will have you binge-listening, and the two remain the leading premium music streaming services.

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017 MOVIES

When we go through loss, we grieve. We go through a process where we let our emotions get the better of us; it’s what makes us human. Demolition is a film where a man loses his wife in a car crash and, to cope with his loss, he vents his frustration in complaint letters to a vending machine company. It is this grief that sells the movie, as it allows you to experience the man’s journey from start to finish. Demolition centers around Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhall), an investment banker in New York. It isn’t Gyllenhall’s best role, but he plays it to full effect. The film follows him as he deals with his wife’s death, something that happens in a variety of ways. He fiZachary nds solace in a customer service representative, Karen Moreno Corbin Bolies Weinberger (Naomi Watts), the woman who reads his letters. The movie’s entertainment editor co-entertainment editor premise seems to point to a romance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, the supporting characters play a part in Davis’ journey. We witness his stages of grief, from his attempts to continue M. Night Shyamalan’s cal horror heroine his daily life to the intentional “demolition” of what that lifewho once latest directorial effort, is perceived as perwas. Through interactions with his late wife’s father (Chris Coo“Split,” might be the fect; you hertransition flaws per) and Karen’s son (Judah Lewis), Chris, you see see the comeback film that fans as the fi lm unravels Davis goes to from the moment his wife dies to the weeksand and wantedlater. andIn that he where need-movies her likecharacter becomes months a world to play up death as the ed. Current and focus ever-more complex.Demoliclimactic momenthorror without much on its aftereffects, suspense movies are filled But, the other two teention shows us the path, not the with clichés like jumpage girls played by Haley endgame. scares unoriginal sto-to itsLu Richardson JesThe fiand lm owes its strengths script. When you aand movie fories, but Shyamalan brings sica Sula are one-dimencuses on death, it’s easy to write the characters as, well, characters. an original here. Their feelingsstory and motivations aresional written and to suitover-the-top. the story, with The film is about three It seems theyDemolition are thereis the humanity suffering as a result. What works with teenage girls whoaren’t get kidjust astocharacters; argue with that these characters just written they’reCahunapped by Kevin (James sey about how to escape mans. In scenes between Davis and Chris, you believe that these McAvoy), a man who from Kevin. are two actual people talking, not ones made up for the screen. suffers from Dissociative with Unfortunately, the film’s weakest Also, point isfor its people ending. While Identity Disorwe do see progress (DID) inder Davis, there isand no has 23 payoff to hisdifferent journey. Inpersonalities. one specific monmust tage,They you are leadesto cape from him if believe that Davis they want to surseemingly reverts vive. Meanwhile, back to his life beKevin’s psycholfore his wife’s death. ogist, Dr. Karen This could have been Fletcher (Betty explained through a Buckley), simple scene, is buttrythe ing to figure out movie mistakenly what he’s hiding. decides to take the By far the easy way out. best This part to of confusion the film leads is ultimately the dramatic and weaktour force by ens itsdemessage. James DespiteMcAvoy. these roles flThe aws,various Demolition of compulsive is an important fimaintenance lm. It capturesman the DID it, in thea Dennis,of playful gravity a topic such knowledge as grief and of delivers nine-year old Hedwig, fi lm stays true at some human way, something many films seem to forget to do. It the the proper andyouBritish offbe the isn’t best film may see points, this year,but butgoes it may the Patricia, plus exuberant, rails when Kevin is exmost personal.

Corbin’s Critique Split

fashion guru Barry, show how versatile of an actor McAvoy is. We also see him in his daily sessions with Dr. Fletcher, where we get a greater understanding of Kevin’s mental state. Anya Taylor-Joy who plays Casey Cooke is another stand-out performance. The ﬁlm uses the “show don’t tell” method of developing her character, which goes in depth of why she is quiet and reserved. She’s not the typi-

pected to develop a 24th personality with superhuman abilities. If you can get past the mediocre acting from the other two actresses and the inaccurate portrayal of DID, you can have a great time watching “Split” at the movies. The positive outweighs the negative by an incredible margin. No spoilers, but if you’re a fan of Shyamalan’s past ﬁlms, expect an ending that I never saw coming. Hopefully Dr. Fass approves of this ﬂick!

Rating:

Entertainment Page 13

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017 MOVIES

Films to look out for in 2017 Zachary Weinberger co-entertainment editor Whether it be a blockbuster superhero movie or a hard hitting war drama, 2017 is jam packed with films that suit every genre. Let’s take a look at a few: Wonder Woman The latest film coming from DC’s cinematic universe (DCEU) stars the female superhero Wonder Woman in action for the first time in her own solo film. She made an appearance in last years “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” which was met with unenthusiastic reviews from critics. But one of the shining points of the film, according to fans and critics, was Gal Gadot’s portrayal of the character. This would be the first superhero movie starring a female since “Supergirl” in 1984, and the first blockbuster superhero film directed by a female. Wonder Woman will appear again in

TAKEN FROM IMDB.COM

EXCITING FILMS: “Wonder Woman” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” are two of the most anticipated movies of 2017. They will be released leading into the summer.

November’s “Justice League” where she will team up with the likes of Batman, The Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg and Superman. “Wonder Woman” comes out on June 2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Marvel Studios next ﬁlm brings us back with the rag tag team of mercenaries turned heroes from the last ﬁlm and

puts them on an intergalactic adventure. The first film was met with praise from fans and critics alike, and it brought in a huge amount of money at the box office. Even though Marvel Studios has “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Thor: Ragnarok” coming out in 2017 as well, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.

POP CULTURE

Student artists conquer Soundcloud Tiffany Schram staff writer

For(Mula)

For(Mula), a rap duo, have their mind set on the formula for success. With over 2.5 million views on their Soundcloud, Thai Guapo and Vell Mula are on the right path to broadening their music careers. Their most viewed song on Soundcloud is “Jugging & Finessing,” which has over 2 million views. Thai Guapo, a 2016 Krop alumni, and Vell Mula, who attended Krop until his junior year, have been friends since the sixth grade. At first they started rapping separately, until their eleventh grade year when they partnered to form For(Mula). “We started out rapping on cheap microphones to having our own executive producer and studio time whenever we need it,” Guapo said. Last December For(Mula) had two back to back performances, Trap Voices and Push St(art) Basel, an art event for Art Basel. Around May they will have their first group project. It will be available on all digital outlets; Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify, Spinrilla, etc. For(Mula) is hoping to have merchandise for their fans by the end of the year, and in the meantime they will keep developing their craft to

become the best they can be. “Music has helped me discover a creative side of me that I thought I never had,” Guapo said. “It has introduced me to some amazing people and unforgettable opportunities.”

Loaded Ambition

Starting in middle school as a shy, anti-social student, Loaded Ambition, formerly known as Joshua Altenor, has blossomed into one of Krop’s most well-known artists. Just by his name you can see how much music has changed him from being reserved and timid to having an immense desire to achieve success. The beginning of his career started when Altenor involuntarily went to the studio with his outgoing older brother, Fresha. At first he just sat and listened, but after some convincing, he got into the booth and did a short freestyle. “Going into the booth that day changed everything,” Altenor said. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today without that experience because it has given me a chance to share who I am with the world.” Now in his junior year, Altenor has performed at the 2016 Krop Globe Awards, 2016 Open Mic Night, Norland High School, multiple parties and an Open Mic Night in Atlanta, Georgia. A record label by the name of RockBoxRecords has offered him a record deal and

Altenor has sold two of his songs to them. So far, Altenor has a total of over 50,000 views on his Soundcloud and is continuing to make himself become known beyond his community. “Music truly changed my life,” Altenor said. “It helped me come out of my shell and allowed me to take risks.”

MAYO

Originally from Nigeria, Oluwamayowa Adewunmi, more commonly known as Mayo, is beginning to make a name for himself. He was first inspired at the age of seven by four-time Grammy award winner Lil Wayne. Mayo then started to practice and recorded his first song at twelve years old. Mayo has collaborated with other well-known artists, such as Ski Mask The Slump God, a rapper who also got his start on Soundcloud and now is on tour in Florida. He’s also worked with rapper Fat Nick, who is part of the group Buffet Boys, which rose to fame via YouTube and the Florida underground rap scene. Mayo has performed in Miami and Orlando, Santa Ana, California and Lagos, Nigeria. “When I’m performing I feel as if the world just stops, and I’m in control,” Mayo said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”

2” has fans talking about it on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” will be released on May 5. Beauty and the Beast On Mar. 17, “Beauty and the Beast” is the latest live action retelling of Disney’s animated classics along with “Cinderella,” “Maleficent,” “Pete’s Dragon” and “The Jungle Book.” It stars Emma Watson as the bright and independent Belle and Dan Stevens as the subtle and hideous beast. The trailer for the film has reached over 25 million views beating out most of Disney’s releases this year including “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” and “Cars 3.” The Fate of the Furious The eighth film in the “Fast and Furious” franchise comes out on Apr. 14, and stars the recurring cast from the past films plus newcomers like Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren. Due to the change of the title, peo-

ple are speculating that the film will not only include the high octane action that it promises, but also a dramatic tone dealing with Vin Diesel’s character betraying the team. The last film, “Furious 7,” grossed over 1.5 billion dollars, making it the sixth highest grossing film worldwide. According to box office analysts, “The Fate of the Furious” is projected to make about the same as the last film or more. Dunkirk From visionary storyteller Christopher Nolan, who directed “Inception” and “The Dark Knight,” comes a war film set in 1940 at the beaches of Dunkirk. It stars Aneurin Barnard, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and member of “One Direction” Harry Styles. Nolan is known for his mesmerizing movies from each genre, and fans are excited to see him tackle a war epic. It will be released on July 21.

MUSIC

Albums to start off 2017 Culture

“Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert, landed Migos with their first number 1 hit on Billboard’s top 100. Success from that single and their debut album “YRN: Tha Album” led to Migos’s album “Culture” that dropped Jan. 27. There are 13 tracks in total that features guest appearances from Lil Uzi Vert, DJ Khaled, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz and Gucci Mane.

I Decided

Rapper Big Sean’s upcoming fourth studio album, “I Decided” was released on Feb. 3 by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. Big Sean’s third album “Dark Sky Paradise”, which was released in February of last year, was his most popular release. The album’s lead single, “I Don’t F*** with You,” hit number one on the Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

SweetSexySavage

Kehlani’s “SweetSexySavage” was released on Jan. 27. She dropped her debut album “Cloud 19” when she was 19 and followed it up with her Grammy nominated “You Should be Here” in April of 2015. She scored her first Hot 100 hit with “Gangsta” that was used as the Suicide Squad soundtrack.

GTTM: Goin Thru the Motions

PnB Rock released his major-label debut studio album “GTTM: Goin Thru the Motions” on Jan. 13. PnB Rock broke the surface of his career back in 2015 when he dropped his RnB 3 mixtape. He released a few singles after, including “Fleek,” but be came more known in 2016 with his popular song “Selfish.”

Compiled by Alexis Sanford

Uncle Jake wants YOU to know that the Lightning Strike has entered the 21st Century! Visit LightningStrikeNews.com to check out the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online coverage of everything you want and need to know!

Here is a preview of the website! Visit daily for new content including polls, political updates and school tips posted regularly.

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Health & Science Page 15

FITNESS

Is the membership worth the price? Comparing Aventura’s three most popular gyms and their amenities Naela Foureau opinion editor In pursuit of the best work environment Aventura has to offer, I tried out three of the most popular gyms in the area three times over the course of one month. These are my results: 1.“Equinox”: $151.00 m/o one gym; $185.00 m/o full state access Falling a little on the pricey side, luxury gym “Equinox” located in Aventura Mall is perfect if you want more bang for your buck—if you can afford it. A fullmembership comes with access to strength, cardio, cycling, barre, pilates, precision running and even “best butt ever” classes— a class “strategically engineered to shape

your hottest asset,” according to the gym’s website. My Equinox membership also gives me full on access to the gym’s locker rooms, supplied with Kiehl's toiletries and eucalyptus towels. This shaves at least three pounds off my gym bag. The gym is never crowded, allowing me to tour the French Alps on their interactive treadmills in peace. Equinox isn’t limited to their snazzy machines and on-call trainers either. Both members and nonmembers can grab a bite off one of the pita wraps at their Juice and Java Cafe or get a facial at their spa, where you can schedule anything from a Brazilian bikini wax ($70) to a post-workout performance massage ($76).

2. “L.A Fitness” Aventura: $19.99 m/o one gym; $29.99 m/o multiclub, multi-state access With a 14-day guest pass I was able to get from a friend who had a membership, I accessed all the equipment and classes the gym had to offer. This gym is suitable for those who strictly go for the workout and can do without the amenities. However, the gym still offers many classes like Yoga and Zumba Fitness and has a wider range of weight machines than Equinox. It is also offers a basketball court and racquetball room, as well as an indoor pool and sauna. Overall, members get what they pay for. The gym is usually packed after rush hour, but not to the point where members are waiting for a

machine. L.A ﬁtness offers so many options when it comes to their smith machines that everyone is constantly in motion. The locker room isn’t to die for like Equinox’s and it looks like it saw its last renovation in the 70s, but they’re good at ensuring non-members like me don’t overstay their welcome. 3. “Planet Fitness” Ives Dairy: $10.00 m/o one gym; $19.99 m/o universal locations This gym offers a tremendous amount of machinery and square footing to come with it. Unfortunately however, that is the only good thing about this establishment. Planet Fitness is almost always overcrowded and the locker rooms are often dirty. The parking space is routinely limited since the gym shares parking with other stores located in

the California Club strip mall. Even the “Black Card Membership” for $19.99 a month offers laughable amenities with its “exclusive” access to a massage chair, massage bed and tanning bed for an extra $10 a month. The gym is saturated with cardio equipment and lacks a variety in their smith machine selection. Patrons of this gym routinely hog the machines when they're not being scolded for breathing too hard during a workout. Yes— members of planet ﬁtness are threatened with membership revocation for dropping weights or grunting during a workout, and to ensure compliance with their nogrunting policy, a blaring “lunk alarm” is sounded anytime someone makes a noise remotely close to a grunt.

INNOVATIONS

(App)ly these tips to improve fitness New smartphone applications monitor ﬁtness from excercise to heart rate

Alexis Sanford staff writer

The desire for self-improvement is a hobby shared nationwide, according to Forbes, and is the reason why the top New Year’s Resolution for 2017 was to lose weight or eat healthier. Today, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be challenging. Everyone is busy working or studying and with the average monthly cost of a gym membership being $58 according to CheatSheet, these resolutions can be expensive and unattainable. But thousands of smartphone applications offer ways to improve and maintain a healthy life without the use of a gym or having to spend money. These apps can monitor physical activity, keep track of blood pressure, plan healthier meals and encourage daily exercise routines that fit your schedule and resources. Time management is a necessary skill needed to balance school, work and leisure activities, and it can be improved through the use of apps. Smartphone applications like Remember the Milk, ATracker, Timely and Toggl help users manage their time wisely by sending reminders and alerts throughout the day. The “Official 7 Minute Workout” by Johnson and Johnson is the simple, fast, science-based way to work out anytime, anywhere. The app is different from other seven minute workout apps because it adjusts its level of difficulty based on the user’s current fitness level, has workouts that are longer than seven minutes for days when more time is available and doesn’t require anything more than a chair. The gym is always available

through fitness apps that are programmed with short, at-home workouts containing instructional videos and pictures to assure the correct movements and intensity level. Free apps like Vitogo and Nike Training Club provide plenty of workout ideas based on the user’s current fitness levels and their preferred workout intensities. The best motivation is knowing you are improving: updated charts and graphs provide visualized details on a user’s health progress. Data boosts the user’s motivation and confidence. This can be achieved by inputting daily activity and food consumption into health apps like Lifesum, FoodPrint and Foodzy. When you sign up for Lifesum, the app asks you general questions like your gender, age, height, weight and goal weight. Once the

system processes all the information, it tracks your daily calories, offers recipes and suggests daily water consumption. Visualizing personal growth and progress allows users to better understand their progress and where more effort and time is needed. Some of the apps allow users to count calories, log workouts and collect statistics about bike rides, walks and runs to see how you’re improving over time. These apps can also put you in contact with a nutritionist or trainer who will check in with you. Some apps, like MyFitnessPal, have an option to share achievements on social media to compare and compete with other people. According to Pew Research Center, about two-thirds of Americans own smartphones. This means

that today, more people have the ability to manage and monitor their health as they go. Mobile health market trends

have predicted that by the end of 2018 more than 3.4 billion smartphone users worldwide will be using some sort of health care application .

MOBILE HEALTH CARE: BY THE NUMBERS

2/3

of Americans favor digital health management.

72%

of physicians access drug related information digitally. www.publix.com, Michelle Russell Compiled by Alexis Sanford

52%

of Americans use their smartphones to monitor their health.

$14

billion dollars is the expected revenue for digital health services. SOURCES: forbes.com, hitconsultant.net

Health & Science Page 16

HEALTH

Antibiotics:treatments and toxins Jonah Muchnick business manager

Science fiction movies like Contagion that depict worldwide pandemics causing the near extinction of the human race seem, to many, far out of reach. However, with the increased use of antibiotics in foods, this fantasy may become a reality. Antibiotics are drugs that are used to treat bacterial infections like the flu, the common cold, and hundred of other common illnesses that afflict thousands on a daily basis. And since the 1940s, antibiotics have been given to farm animals like cows, pigs and poultry in order to treat infections or prevent an illness from spreading and promote growth. And if more antibiotics are used in our food, more antibiotics will be consumed into our bodies. While keeping farm animals alive and helping them grow may seem simple enough, using antibiotics as commonly as they are used today can have serious effects. Bacteria are living microorgan-

isms that exist in our body, and some cause illness and infection. Because bacteria are living creatures, they go through the process of natural selection to reproduce with speciﬁc genetic qualities just as other animals do. Since antibiotics’ job is essentially to kill bacteria, any bacteria that mutates a gene that makes it resistant to the threat of an antibiotic will be more likely to produce more offspring. After many iterations of these mutations, the end result could be a bacteria that is impervious to any antibiotic we use to treat them, creating something called a “superbug.” Minor superbugs have occurred many times. For example, certain strains of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli exist that are already resistant to some forms of antibiotics. However, if a certain bacteria mutates enough to resist all of or the majority of known antibiotics, the bacteria would essentially become unstoppable. A bacteria resistant to

antibiotics would be able to spread without being treated, and if its side effects are deadly, could lead to the deaths of millions. The solution is quite simple. We, as a society, have to cut back on the use antibiotics as a whole. Antibiotics are a spectacular feat of human innovation that fight bacteria that would otherwise kill every human they came in contact with. Without antibiotics, getting a cold would be a death sentence. Although antibiotics have revolutionized the field of medicine, the careless use by the human race of such a miraculous innovation is being done with little thought. The more we use antibiotics, the more likely it is antibiotics won’t work anymore, so antibiotics should be reserved for use by the seriously ill. While science fiction movies like Contagion may be a reality in our future, a simple change in the frequency antibiotics are used can prevent such drastic effects, and if the human race values its existence, they’ll make it.

UNCOVERED

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

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Decrease drag

Drive at the speed limit. Driving fast with open windows increases drag, that force that opposes an object. An excessive amount of drag acting against your car will cause poor gas mileage.

New age taxi services such as Uber and Lyft allow you to find a ride via your cell phone. Apps like AAA Triptik or Gasbuddy helps you find the cheapest gas in your area. You can also use apps like Mapquest and Google Maps that allow you to check traffic before you leave the house to avoid getting lost and ultimately using more gas.

Don’t carry a lot of stuff in your car

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that drivers who avoid having too much stuff in their car can save up to 63 cent per gallon. So avoid piling up old CDs and last week’s gym clothes in the backseat.

4 MEGAN ORLANSKI

The reason we look different in the mirror than in photos Sophie Muchnick managing editor Yes, we all say it, “I swear I don’t actually look like that” after we scroll through our cringe-worthy camera roll. Or, we all know the satirical cartoons that pop up on our Instagram feeds depicting how great we look in the mirror but, when photos are taken moments later, we look almost unrecognizable. But don’t worry, it’s not your fault. Blame the most complex organ in your body, the brain. Our perception of ourselves changes based on what we observe in the mirror, how we interpret our attractiveness and the angle of the camera. There’s no doubt we look better on Snapchat than we do when we take pictures on iMessage. This

is because photos taken on Snapchat document how we appear in the mirror, but iMessage photos and others ﬂip the photo to depict how others see you. This reality can be quite shocking. This initial shock is because of our asymmetrical faces. To your mirrored self, both the left and right sides of your face don’t look different, but in reality, they are two very different halves that make a whole. If you were to take the left side of your face, or vice versa, and ﬂip it and replace it with your right side, the new physiognomy, or facial features, are completely different. But where does the mirror play in here? Based on the MereExposure Hypothesis, people favor familiarity, which is the image presented in the mirror and what we prefer to see. The University of Wisconsin

discovered in their 1977 experiment that when participants were told to choose between a photo of their true image and their mirrored image, participants favored their mirrored image, but friends of participants preferred favored photos of their true image. But the most urgent question that needs to be answered here is “how do I make myself look better in person?” The answer is simple, make sure to ﬁnd the perfect lighting, be distinctly different from your background, take photos from every possible angle, especially from higher ones, and don’t forget to make good use of those Snapchat ﬁlters—they’re there for a reason. With this recently established information, the Magic Mirror’s infamous quote “Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” is not so reliable.

Plan visits to the gas station

Gas is cooler in the day and more dense so therefore you get less of it when you pump. To avoid getting less gas, pump your gas earlier in the day. Also try buying gas earlier in the week because prices typically rise between Wednesday and Saturday. Avoid gas stations near the highway that tend to be more expensive than others.

Inﬂate your tires

Under-inﬂation causes tires to wear out faster and wastes gas. Properly inﬂated tires reduce friction and therefore provides better gas mileage.

Don’t wait until your tank is completely empty

If you wait until your tank is completely empty to reﬁll, you will most likely be stuck paying for whatever gas is nearby and won’t be able to search for a cheaper option.

Between maintaining your car and monthly insurance the cost could quickly add up. With these tips you can avoid spending extra money on gas.

Compiled by Tamia Streeter

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Health & Science Page 17

HEALTH

Neurotransmitters: the messengers of mood Eating speciﬁc foods can trigger chemical signals in the brain that affect emotions Hannah Bregman staff writer Do you ever want your day to end as soon as possible? Sometimes one bite of your favorite, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate can make the day brighter. Our bodies are a world of their own, with trillions of chemical reactions occurring simultaneously unbeknownst to us. Food affects our state of mind through neurotransmitters in the brain that help regulate our mood. For instance, the brain produces the neurotransmitter serotonin from tryptophan, an amino acid found mostly in protein sources such as meat, ﬁsh and eggs. Serotonin regulates sleep, impulse control, and appetite. Increased amounts of serotonin are connected to an elevation in mood and a cheerful mentality. While foods rich in protein typically have tryptophan, the best way to get more tryptophan in your body is by also eating a healthy serving of carbohydrates. Be careful in choosing the type of carbohydrates you eat, as some are healthier and

provide essential nutrients, such as fruits and whole grains. Carbohydrates such as white bread and white rice have little nutritional value. Caffeine is a stimulant that can help you stay awake and focused in class with a positive mood, but it can also increase anxiety or worsen depression for certain individuals. If you consume too much caffeine late at night and it prevents you from sleeping, that can also have an negative effect on your mood the next day. Chocolate is also linked to a boost in mood and a decrease in stress because the cacao it contains raises brain serotonin levels. The best chocolate to consume for your health is one that contains at least 80 percent cacao. “When I’m studying for a test and am very stressed, in order to provide myself with motivation and feel better, I reward myself with chocolate,” said freshman Samira Umpierre. A lack of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood, which can primarily be found in ﬁsh, is linked to pessimism and depression.

Some researchers say eating more omega-3 fatty acids might protect against depression and lift your mood. It’s worth the effort to eat ﬁsh the recommended two to three servings a week as it provides numerous other health beneﬁts. Other foods that can also make you happy are bananas, which can increase the dopamine in your brain, along with blueberries and blackberries, which contain the purple pigment anthocyanin that is good for your heart and also a mood lifter. Foods that can worsen your mood are sugar and processed foods. Sweets like cookies and

Tyrosine Michelle Russell ww

Dopamine

IPhone users often come across pop-up screens that mention the lack of storage on their device while attempting to download an app or a song. This lack of storage also disables the user from taking pictures or videos. Storage is the consumption of retrievable data on an electric device. “It’s usually photos that take up the most storage whenever I’m running out,” senior Mia Uzcategui said. “So I’ll delete photos that have cluttered up and I don’t need anymore.” Pictures from your Photo Stream (where you are able to view images taken from your other devices, such as an iPad or an iPod) also use a lot of space on your iPhone. You can deselect this feature, by going Settings > Photos & Camera > turning off My Photo Stream. The storage space is also occupied by unnecessary things like unused apps, songs that are seldom played, and videos that just get watched once.

w.publix.

Foods like cheese make chemical compounds such as tyrosine

with older iPhone versions, to obtain space, they must delete whatever is clogging up the storage. People will find that storage is consumed by files and downloads backed up on the cellphone that are meaningless. Text messages on iMessage, as well as the app WhatsApp and other messaging apps use a lot of data and should be deleted if you need storage. This is why it is important to back up your iPhone on another device,

like a computer, so that important information or memories (such as photographs that had to be deleted from your camera roll in order to make space) aren’t lost. Then, you must clear your cell-phone of the unneeded data that is accumulated within the apps in order to free up extra space.

mood

com,

These chemical compounds make neurotransmitters like dopamine

neurotransmmitters that release chemical signals to the brain Compiled by Megan Orlanski

Compiled by Hannah Bregman

Space is used by hundreds of songs on apps such as Spotify and the iTunes music app that download onto your cellphone along with the app.” age & iCloud > click on Manage Storage, under the label STORAGE. Once you reach this setting, you will be able to view which apps use up your storage and delete the extra data each app utilizes. With every new iPhone released, more storage space is given to users. For those

Nerve Receptor dopamine

What’s really eating up your iPhone’s storage Space is used by hundreds of songs on apps such as Spotify and the iTunes music app that download onto your cellphone along with the app. But these can be listened to if you have service or Wi-Fi without having to be downloaded. Apps contain some transferred data that people are always unaware of. To check and manage what uses the space on the cellphone, open the settings app > click on General > press Stor-

to do it, as it often leads to poor food choices for the next meal because starvation tends to cloud judgment. Eating the foods above may not bring you instant happiness, but can overall help to elevate your mood. More and more research suggests that the foods we eat inﬂuence our mood. A diet that leads to happiness should include foods that are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. These ingredients and others are needed to make the neurotransmitters that help us feel good in both mind, and body.

HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR MOOD

TECHNOLOGY

Libby Szlaifer staff writer

candy cause a spike in your blood sugar. These ﬂuctuations cause mood swings and a drop in energy. Processed foods can lead to irritability because of the additives, speciﬁcally Trans fats, they contain. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, is not healthy, and is associated with anxiety and fatigue. It is important to eat a balanced breakfast every day, according to research, to provide you with the energy you will need for the day, calmness, enhanced memory and elevated mood. Even if you want to reduce your calorie intake, skipping meals is not the right way

CUISINE

The impossibly good veggie burger

TAKEN FROM SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

‘LETTUCE’ MAKE MONEY: Investors hope to make big proﬁts off of innovative foods like the meaty vegeatrian options like the “Impossible Burger” made entirely from plant products. Chinese tycoon Li Ka-shing (left) tries the “Impossible Burger” with molecular biologist Patrick Brown (right).

Michael Katz editor-in-chief If you’re a vegetarian that misses the taste of a genuine, juicy burger, then you probably know that most conventional veggie burgers don’t satisfy your desires. Lucky for you, the creators of The Impossible Burger have just the solution for you. Their veggie burger, made from all-natural ingredients that include wheat, coconut oil and potatoes, combined with heme, an organic, vegan compound that makes meat smell, sizzle and bleed gives their veggie burger an all-too-real taste. It took Impossible Foods re-

searchers almost ﬁve years to design the burger, which requires 95 percent less land and 74 percent less water to create than traditional burgers. The process creates 87 percent less greenhouse emissions than raising cows for traditional burgers, making it much more environmentally sustainable and friendly. So far, the burger is only available at three restaurants in California and one in New York, but as demand grows rapidly and they begin mass production, they will be able to grow their reach. Keep an eye out for the Impossible Burger at restaurants and grocery stores near you – it won’t be long before it reaches Miami.

Sports Page 18

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Future of the World Watching sports on a budget Cup in question OPINION

- ON A BUDGET

IN MY OPINION federico waldman

staff writer

The literal “billion dollar” question is being put to the ultimate test as small countries may be eliminated from hosting the world’s most viewed sporting event. The supersized soccer competition, known to the world as the FIFA World Cup, expanded its ﬁeld from 32 to 48 teams which could pose an issue for smaller countries hosting the tournament. The reasons behind this decision are still questioned around the world due to issues with economics and preparation. For every tournament played, host countries spend about 11 billion dollars on stadiums, referees and hotels while only making 3 billion dollars in tourism consumption.

Countries like the United States, Canada and Russia (who is hosting the World Cup in 2018) have the capacity to hold an expanded field. But what about smaller countries who can barely hold 32 teams? Qatar, who won the bid to host the World Cup in 2022, aligns directly with a small country that should not be hosting this event. The country lacks an internal soccer league which means there are no stadiums and they have a climate that reaches 120 degree weather, which makes playing difficult. Instead of the event being hosted in a country with all the amenities already prepared, Qatar and other small countries that put in bids are just not capable of hosting the event. Though Qatar seems unfit to host the World Cup, what they do provide is a completely different and exciting setting that can draw more attention to

the tournament. This attention can bring people to parts of the world they have never visited and provide them with a better experience for all viewers. But with the changes being made, countries like Qatar won’t be able to host the world cup and this can lead to repetition in small countries hosting the event. An expanded field may also lead to more injuries to players as more games will be played in less time. This causes problems for the host countries because the playing fields will not have as much time to be maintenanced between games, which will make host countries to look unprepared. Along with an increased risk to players getting injured, the bidding prices will drop significantly due to a lack of competition and most large countries won’t want the World Cup because of the shortage of economic benefits.

TRAINING

Pushing it to the limit everyday How student athletes train for competition Hannah Bregman staff writer Professional athletes push themselves past their limits day after day to be the best at their sport. LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams and Usain Bolt did not become great in one day. They became great through training, something Krop athletes do on a daily basis. In every sport offered, from baseball to water polo, athletes dedicate endless hours to get into their best physical shape to compete in their sport. Wrestlers train for two hours and thirty minutes, six days of the week, in preparation for their matches. To enhance strength, the team lifts weights three times a week, focusing on the bench press. In each match, wrestlers push their bodies to the extreme. To prepare, they train by running up and down stairs, stretching, wall squats, intricate footwork and ﬂipping tires. Because of high intensity practices, wrestlers can lose two to ﬁve pounds per day. But the most grueling training wrestlers endure is the practice matches that go on for ten minutes without stopping. This prepares them for competitive matches that last two minutes. “After practice I feel tired and accomplished because I’m working hard and going to be

COMEBACK

Miami FC Soccer is growing at one of the highest rates of all sports in the United States with teams such as the New York City FC and LA Galaxy signing huge names from Europe like David Beckham, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo. Miami, which is new to professional soccer has acquired a new team called Miami FC that has some of the cheapest pricing for live sports in the area with tickets as low as 20 dollars. Cheap tickets and the new set up to the league allows spectators in the area to be able to see professional players at a fraction of what it costs around other areas. The average MLS ticket is 46.22 dollars.

FIU Panthers Football could be the most popular sport in the country which means going to watch it live can be a pain for wallets. But look one level lower than the NFL, to the Division 1 FIU panthers. Prices for games are as low as six dollars, as spectators can gather information o n colleges they many attend in the future. With the money spent on an average NFL game (84.43 dollars), spectators can afford as many as 14 games.

Miami Hurricanes One of the most competitive and most viewed sports in the nation is basketball because of its versatility, athleticism and variety of superstars. Yet it is one of the most expensive sports to watch live at the professional level. The average cost of tickets at $96.57. College basketball can serve as a good and cheap replacement. The University of Miami has a Division 1 basketball team that competes with some of the best colleges in the nation as for games can get as little as ﬁve dollars.

Miami Marlins

COURTESY OF FOX MAR

PINNED DOWN: Freshman Isaac Joseph ﬁnishes off his opponent, pinning him down to the ground in a match against Hialeah Gardens. Joseph, along with his teammates and other school athletes, train as they push themselves to the limit to achieve ultimate success.

better, stronger and faster,” junior Abraham Betancourt said. Since August, the baseball team has trained for the upcoming season, practicing on the ﬁeld every day of the school week for two hours. During ‘hell week’ players focused on running and were expected to run a mile under seven minutes and thirty seconds. “One of the most intense parts of training is the Indian Run,” sophomore Adam Singer, second baseman and pitcher, said. Players run in a single ﬁle line, with the last person sprinting up to the front every few seconds. Outside of school practices, players continue to train on their

own. Some players go to private facilities or have batting cages in their backyards. Water polo players also go through intense training to get game-ready. The team treads water for two hours straight Monday through Friday and three hours on Saturday. They also swim seven minute sprints with thirty second rests, four times in a row and twenty laps with a weighted ball. Finally, the team scrimmages to improve their skill. “After practice I feel worn out and tired, but the training pays off because I’m hyped and not dying in the middle of games,” sophomore Jazmine Curls said.

Baseball is viewed and played around the nation as America’s pastime. Though many may think that watching MLB games live is very expensive with average regular season ticket bargain good for $41.41. The Miami Marlins sell tickets in the lower level seating areas for as low as $20 dollars throughout the regular season. With a roster full of talent and a stadium just four years old, fans can enjoy a great experience with little to no pain on their wallets.

Florida Panthers Ice hockey is one of the most intense, hard hitting sports in the world and attending live games can be exhilarating, and it’s not expensive. The NHL average ticket cost is 62.18 dollars, the Florida Panthers sell tickets for as little as 20 dollars throughout the regular season. Additionally, the team has improved in the last few years and has been recognized as potential playoff contenders. Playoff tickets can cost around one hundred dollars, which is still signiﬁcantly less than the rest of the nation. -Federico Waldman Sources: www.miamifc.com, www.stubhub.com, www.ticketmaster.com

Sports

The Lightning Strike • January/February 2017

Page 19

ACCOMPLISHMENT

Lightning caps off season with run at District Championship Tiffany Schram staff writer From individuals, to a team, to a family – with seventeen players and two coaches, the girls soccer team has completed another memorable season. Not only have the girls improved as a team, but more importantly, they have formed a friendship with one another that will live much longer than the season. “Being able to lead the team and just watch everyone grow all season was truly an honorable experience,” senior and team captain Lauren Solomiany said. “I can’t wait to see the girls continue to advance and become as successful as I know they are capable of.” With the majority of the team playing as seniors this was a bittersweet season. The team played sixteen regular season games, three district games, and one regional game en route to a District Championship appearance. “Seeing the girls bond and come together as a team was amazing,” Head Coach Rosie

Lopez said. The first two games of the post season were filled with emotion and toughness for the team. The Lightning tied the game in the closing minutes of their first round match against Everglades and went on to win in overtime. The team then went on to defeat Hialeah Gardens in the District Semifinals. “I love to see the girls complete hard for something they really want, they never gave up,” Lopez said. Going on next season there will be many changes as six of their key players will be in college. The team will be on the lookout for players to recruit and for incoming freshmen; they need to understand the commitment of joining the team. To balance school, soccer and other activities is not easy, but it is worth the experience. This is the second year in a row where the team ended their season as district runner-ups and getting knocked out in the first round of the re-

COURTESY OF FOX MAR

SHOOT THE BALL: Sophomore Priscilla Cortez shoots the ball in the district playoffs. The bonds she formed this year on the team lead to the team’s success and will add to next year’s accomplishments.

gional playoffs. They look to get over that hump next year and years to follow. The returning players will need to return to the ﬁeld with clear and realistic expecta-

COMMITMENT

Baseball team hires new head coach Ethan Curtis sports editor

The phrase “Take me out to the ball game” won’t just be used by people heading to a pro baseball game. With a new coach and plan in place, students might just be using the phrase as they head to see the Lightning baseball team play. Last year’s team made a late season push to propel them into the district playoffs only to get knocked out in the ﬁrst round. This year, they look to build on that momentum. It starts at the top with new coach Paul Barrios who was the coach at Miami Country Day since 2012. During the interview process, Barrios saw that new Athletic Director Danac Lebrun and the athletic staff were serious and committed to grow the baseball program and wanted to be a part of the accomplishments that come with it. “I saw an opportunity to build a program that I think has potential and has not had a consistent head coach leading the program in the last four years,” Barrios said. A successful team has strong leadership from not only its coach, but also its players. The Lightning will be led by four seniors and ﬁve juniors who look to lead the team to prominence this year and build a winning foundation. “I’m going to work my butt off like crazy and make sure everyone around me is doing the same,” junior Manuel Santana said.

tions. The team is looking forward to getting back on the ﬁeld to get another appearnce in the district title game, they can just hope for a different result than that of the last EXPECTATIONS

Water polo looks to build on past success Jacob Singer online managing editor

COURTESY OF FOX MAR

THROW HIM OUT: Senior Lenny Bates goes down to ﬁeld a blunt and throw the runner out at ﬁrst. His leadership, along with the other upperclassmen, will be one of the keys to the team’s success this year

This year, the team has emphasized speed through conditioning drills and defense. To start off practice, the players do individual defensive drills that relate to their position such as ground balls and pop ﬂy’s. “As a coaching staff we want to do all we can to speed up player’s learning of tactical skills rather than wait for them to learn by experience,” Barrios said. “The best way to do this is by exposing them to information and experiences that will enhance their decision-making capabilities.” Along with his knowledge of the game, Barrios offers something that teams in the district would dream

about – his private batting facility. “Having his facility helps a lot because we can go in at basically anytime and work on hitting that really no other team can do,” senior Jason Girardi said. “He prioritizes our interests.” The team looks more poised and ready for the season than it has been in recent years. “We would like to compete in our district and hopefully win a district championship,” Barrios said. “Krop has not won a district championship since 2007 and if we stay healthy and keep improving as a team, hopefully we can end our ten year drought.”

two years. “In the end I don’t want the girls to think they are doing this for me, I want them to do it for them and their team,” Lopez said.

In 2015, a strong senior class led the Boys’ Lightning Water Polo team to States. The following year, a team relying heavily on its underclassmen lost a close game in the district championship to the rival ATM Sharks. Last year’s players, now a year more experienced and matured, are looking to improve on last year’s results. “We expect to make it to States this year,” Senior Hamza Alsabbaghe said. “I want to prove that [the 2015 season] wasn’t a one-time thing.” The star of the 2015 team was Alsabbage’s brother, Mohammed, but after leading the team in his junior year, Hamza believes he has already shown that he is more than capable of ﬁlling his brother’s shoes. “I look up to my brother,” he said. “But I think I can show that I am just as good, if not better.” One advantage this team has over their predecessors is the quality of their experience. 2015 was the ﬁrst states appear-

ance for the Lightning, so, unlike before, this year’s seniors know what it’s like to step up on the big stage. “When we went to states, it was the first time anyone from Krop had stepped into a pool when the stakes were that high” Senior Eli Salk said. “Now we know what it takes to play at that level. That experience will really help us this time around.” Senior Andres Sabo is still somewhat hesitant that the team will be able to make it to states. He is positive that the team is better than they were last year, however, noting that with the same lineup still intact, the chemistry is greater than ever. The team is also rife with talented younger players, including two sophomore goalies that are itching at the chance to show what they are made of. “At this point, I don’t think we’re at the same level we were two years ago,” Sabo said, “but with an entire season to grow as a team and find younger players that can really contribute, we can definitely get there and show that Krop is a water polo powerhouse.”