March-April Issue 2012 by Lightning Strike

THE

lightningstr ke Taking Miami-Dade by Storm

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

April 04, 2012 • Issue 6 • Volume 14

JUSTICE

Sharon Sabbagh managing editor About 2,700 students charge through Krop’s hallways on any given day. But one student will never push through those halls again. The tragedy of Trayvon Martin’s death may eventually fade from the front pages of newspapers, but his memory remains forever in the hearts of those who knew him best. On Feb. 26, an unarmed Trayvon was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Trayvon was visiting his father in Sanford, Florida while serving out a ten-day suspension at the time. The Florida Grand Jury will meet Apr. 10 for the ﬁrst time to discuss the details of the case. The week of Trayvon’s passing, his parents contacted Principal Dawn Baglos and requested privacy regarding the matter. From the moment the news broke, Baglos was hounded by the media for information regarding Trayvon. She received daily emails pressing her for information that could only be gleaned from school records. Because Trayvon was a minor, his records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). All requests for information that Baglos received were forwarded to Miami-Dade County’s chief communications ofﬁcer, John Schuster. “I am not a jury,” Baglos said. “Whether or not he was suspended doesn’t change the fact that he is a 17-year-old kid, a high schooler who was still growing.” Eventually the records were subpoenaed and released to the public. Although teachers were instructed not ►turn to “Rememberance” on page 2

Remembrance

krop’s moments of

MIRTHA FUNCIA

JAVIER STORCH

Top photo: Krop students and parents gather in the school courtyard to participate in a candle light ceremony. Bottom Left: Students plant a tree in honor of Trayvon’s memory. Bottom Right: Photos of Trayvon were put on display along with a bouquet of ﬂowers, a candle from the candle light ceremony and a chain with a cross. Students wrote encouraging words to Trayvon and his family on a slip of paper which was then adjoined into a chain during lunch.

INTEGRITY

Teachers take a stand against cheating

Sharon Sabbagh managing editor

“Cheaters, cheaters, cheaters,” were the three words Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB teacher Virginia Olwell used to address her third period class the morning of March 22. The three AP Calculus AB classes taught by Debra Stein, Maria Marino and Olwell were caught sharing answers on an exam that was given to all three classes at different times. Marino’s class took the test ﬁrst and allegedly gave information from the exam to the other two classes. Since the test was a released AP exam, students

INDEX: OPINION 4-5

could ﬁnd the test online and were thought to have looked the answers up on their phones. Assistant Principal Francisco Garnica spoke to the three classes separately, reprimanding them on their work ethic and behavior. “Is this how you want to be known?” Garnica asked Olwell’s class, “People without integrity, moral or character?” Garnica promised that if any class is suspected of cheating again, he will ensure that every student in the class receives an “F.” This is not the ﬁrst case of widespread cheating among students. Two years ago, AP Biology classes were caught buying exams online and texting each other

ENTERTAINMENT 7-8

answers. AP Biology teacher Gary Feilich had to reformat his tests. “If the exams are online or sold on E-bay, anyone can ﬁnd them, and there is little I can do,” Feilich said. “The intensity of [AP] classes is so great, the need to succeed overwhelms honesty.” Although cheating is not limited to AP students, a survey by The Lightning Strike reports that 43 percent of those who admitted to cheating have an un-weighted GPA of 3.5-4.0. Ellen Elias teaches AP Human Geography, AP Microeconomics and AP Government. She believes that cheating is more prominent in AP courses in comparison to nonAP classes.

FEATURE 12-13

“It has become a new culture where cheating is socially acceptable,” Elias said. To combat cheating in her classroom Elias has multiple forms of her exams and makes sure no two classes receive the same questions. AP English teacher Jessica Fishbein suspected cheating in her classroom when there was a discrepancy between student scores and performance. Students who did not regularly get “A’s” began getting close to perfect scores. When they were retested, many were not able to duplicate the same results. “The only person I blame is myself for not going to the lengths to make sure cheating doesn’t

SCIENCE & HEALTH 15-16

occur,” Fishbein said. Social Studies teacher Mary Lee has also confronted students cheating in her AP European History class. “We [teachers] are going based on an honor system and when you violate that trust we take it personally,” Lee said. “We put our heart and soul into this. Our livelihood is to ensure that you all succeed, and then you cheat?” Those caught cheating in Lee’s class had to serve two days of indoor suspension. Teachers also have the right to issue an automatic “F” in conduct to students caught cheating. In some cases students may also face removal from the AP program.

SPORTS 17-18

APRILFOOLS 19-20

News Page 2

JUSTICE

School celebrates the life of fellow student ►“Rememberance” from front page to speak to the media about Trayvon, various news outlets waited at the gates of the school, filming for weeks after his death. Reporters tried to contact students for interviews as soon as they left campus. When a reporter stopped freshman Cedrick Thomas, he was asked several questions. Did he know Trayvon? Was Trayvon a good kid? Was he violent? Thomas used to play street ball with Trayvon but ignored the reporters questions and just walked past the cameras. Baglos addressed Trayvon’s passing over the loud speaker for the first time one month after his death. She said that she respected the family’s wish for privacy, but once Trayvon’s death became national news, their request no longer applied. “There is a delicate balance between meeting the needs of the family and the needs of our kids,” Baglos said. Activities director Michelle Russell met with a group of about thirty students who knew Trayvon and were affected by his passing. Together, they brainstormed ways students could work through their grief. The school has since sponsored multiple events for students including a candle lighting vigil, a tree planting in Trayvon’s memory, creating a chain of messages for Trayvon’s parents and rallying after school in support of justice for Trayvon. They also plan to sell bracelets with the word “peace” written on them (Photos of these events can be found on spread pages 10 and 11). Additionally, a grief counselor is available to meet with students who ask for help. “The important thing is that you guys are OK, that we are meeting your needs in terms of healing and growing,” Baglos said about the student body. “We are moving forward one step at a time. There are over 2,700 of you, and that is my responsibility.”

From local to global:

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

An inside look at gun violence

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: Gunman One Goh shot and killed seven students at his former school, Oikos University after being expelled for previous incidents in early April.

MIAMI, FLORIDA: An anonymous man has yet to be caught after killing two mourners at a funeral in early April.

AFGANISTAN: U.S. Army Sergeant Robert Bales killed 16 Afghan civilians in mid-March.

HOUSTON, TEXAS: An anonymous man shot a four-year-old boy in the head in early April. The child survived the shooting.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Two mall robbers open ﬁred and threw a grenade killing a security guard and injuring several other people in late March.

FRANCE: Three students and a teacher were shot and killed in a Jewish school in France in late March.

CALIFORNIA: Unarmed college student Kenneth McDade was wrongfully killed by Pasadena police ofﬁcers in California after they thought he made a motion to his waistband.

MISSISSIPPI: Two students at Mississippi State University, Mason Perry Jones and Dontae Harvey, shot and killed one person and wounded several others in late March.

sources: CNN.com MSNBC.com compiled by Dean Kaire and Jared Schermer

TEEN DRIVERS

SADD hosts events about driving safety Sharon Sabbagh managing editor

It was a sunny afternoon when sixteen-year-old Helen Marie Witty, a sophomore at Palmetto Senior High School, put on her rollerskates. Her mom sat on the porch reading Bible versus and blew her daughter a kiss before Helen took off for her regular route. A few blocks down, eighteenyear-old Carla Wagner sat in her room with two friends taking tequila shots and smoking marijuana. Carla and her inebriated friends then jumped into her new Audi and sped down the street. Carla lost control of the vehicle. Her car spun off the road, entered the bicycle lane and hit a tree. Helen Marie’s body went ﬂying into the air. Her skull was cracked from ear to ear.

“My only comfort was that she was killed instantly. At the scene of the crime, someone closed her eyes for her, something I should have been there to do.” Helen Witty, Helen Marrie’s mother said. “I don’t want this to happen to any of you.” Witty is a member of Mothers Against Drinking and Driving (MADD) and spoke on March 5 at an assembly held by SADD Students Against Destructive Decisions. Ten-thousand DUI related deaths occur every year. MADD’s mission is a three fold: eliminate drunk driving, underage drinking and help victims. “I am here on behalf of MADD, on behalf of my daughter and on behalf of you guys.” Witty said. Also at the presentation was

Stu Flacks, who suffered severe brain trauma when he was sixteen after operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Due to damage in the left hemisphere of his brain, his speech is difﬁcult to understand and the right side of his body shakes uncontrollably. He urged students not to fall victims of peer pressure and to think before they get into a vehicle with a drunk driver. “When you follow the herd you will die quickly,” Flacks said. “Be an individual.” Witty and Flacks’s presence in the auditorium correlates with SADD’s goal for the semester: raise awareness of faulty driving decisions. They also tackled the issue of wearing a seatbelt while in the car. Two police ofﬁcers from the highway patrol were invited to the school on March 4 to demonstrate

the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt by using dummies to simulate the victims of a car accident. “Not many people know how terrible this issue is until they see it happen in front of them,” Lauren Silk, the president of SADD said. “I hope it woke up students and made the consequences of irresponsible driving more realistic.” Seatbelts can reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about 50 percent. Between wearing seatbelts and refraining from drinking and driving, more responsible driving decisions can save thousands of lives every year. “If my daughter were here right now, she would ask us to please learn about self-awareness,” Witty said. “This is not about rights and responsibility; it is about public heath and safety.”

Corrections from last issue Entertainment sectionIn the article “Music Therapy crescendos in popularity” it was stated that Michael Behfar wrote the story when it was actually co-copy editor Alexis Frankel.

LAUREN SILK

SEATBELT SAFETY: Two ofﬁcers came to the student parking lot to demonstrate the serious consequences of not wearing a seatbelt while driving. In the photo above, the dummy is placed upside down in a simulated accident while wearing a seatbelt.

News Page 3

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

NEWS BRIEFS

PROTEST

Teachers and students cooperate to revamp class schedule

Rumor has it that there is a new class schedule for next year. Select students will be chosen from regular, honors and AP classes to develop sample schedules. A committee of voluntary teachers will vote on these sample ideas presented by the students. Possible options range from a one to six period schedule each day, a block schedule or a modiﬁed block schedule similar to what it currently is. However, an eight class schedule will not occur next year. The decision will take effect for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. Further updates will be announced and students will be informed once a ﬁnal decision has been reached. -Clarissa Buch

Grading policy takes a new turn With the school board passing new grading criteria, it may be harder for Miami-Dade and Broward County schools to maintain an “A” average. The new grading policy would give a school an automatic “F” grade if 25 percent of students do not read at grade level. The present grading scheme was unacceptable because it is possible to get an “A” even though three out of four students cannot read on grade level, according to Education Commissioner Gerald Robinson, who believes this tougher grading scale will help Florida schools compete on a global level. Under the new grading policy schools in Miami-Dade with an “F” average could jump from ﬁve to 50 according to state education ofﬁcials. The new grading policy was passed by the State Board of Education and will be put into effect next school year. -Courtney Goodstein

WORKSHOP

Students attend Journalism Day

JAVIER STORCH

SEMINAR: An audience of students and teachers got a chance to question a panel of extraordinary journalists at the annual student journalism forum. Students from all around the district come to this event.

Michael Behfar co-spread editor Superintendent Alberto Carvalho held the most wellattended student journalism forum recorded at the school board administration building on Mar. 5th. Carvalho grouped four successful journalists in order to create an environment for students to learn about and discuss journalism with experienced people from every type of media. As the journalists were introduced, CBS4 reporter Jim DeFede arrived late, explaining that he was called to investigate a plane traveling one way to Venezuela. The mood was casual and humorous as the panelists told anecdotes of the beginning of their careers; accompanied by remarks by the ever-sarcastic DeFede. DeFede told about his irresponsible college years, and the turn of events that led to him to write

for the college newspaper. Diario Las Americas editor Helen Aguirre talked about how she ﬁlled in for her brother as a guest speaker at a journalism event, and those connections led to her becoming a broadcaster. Radio personality Herntz Phanord emphasized the importance of knowing another language, telling about how he became a sportscaster for a Creole radio station. The last and youngest speaker was an NPR broadcaster named Sarah Gonzalez who gave the attendees tips about how to get started in journalism. She wrote for her college newspaper and reported on interesting news in the community around the college campus. After she left college she had reporting experience and connections In the end, the journalism students left with some insight about beginning in the world of journalism, and an idea of what each branch of journalism involves.

People of all kinds rally at three different counties to raise awareness and take a stand against sexual violence. Alexis Frankel co-copy editor “I’ve been told I’m not supposed to say this – however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” so said Constable Michael Sanguinetti. This idea expressed by Sanguinetti, a Toronto police ofﬁcer, is what ignited the protest march, “SlutWalk.” These walks have appeared across the world from U.S. to India. Co-founders Sonya Barnett and Heather Jarvis wanted to stop the blaming of victims affected by sexual assault and instead blame the rapists. Ultimately, they want to take a step toward the end of sexual violence as a whole. Now, South Florida is fed up too. Lindsey Hansen and Jessica Levinson have begun to organize three walks in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach in midApril. Together they have found that there were 9,885 forcible sex offenses reported to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, including 5,369 forcible rape offenses and 3,343 forcible fondling offenses as of 2010. In an attempt to reduce these numbers they felt there must be SlutWalks in South Florida. Students like junior Elona Belokon feel that the SlutWalk is beneﬁcial for the status of women.

“I think the concept of the walk is a good idea,” Belokon said. “[Constable Michael Sanguinetti] essentially gives rapists an excuse for what they do. The name [SlutWalk] might contradict the concept, but the walk itself is a necessary statement.” Although the word “slut” is controversial, SlutWalk South Florida’s official website states they use the word to mean more than an insult. In doing so, they challenge the double-standard about the acceptance of sexually promiscuous men, but not women and the use of shame as a way to make women feel less about themselves. “SlutWalk is important,” junior Gabriel Guevara said. “Women should not be raped just for showing skin. Many beautiful girls like to portray their beauty by showing skin; that doesn’t automatically mean they’re sluts.” Those who would like to attend SlutWalk South Florida are encouraged to wear clothes they feel comfortable in, even if it is a corset and pajama pants, but must keep in mind that there are still laws in place for public indecency. To learn more about the SlutWalk, you can like SlutWalk South Florida on Facebook or visit the official website http:// slutwalksfl.wordpress.com. So join the movement and support our sluts.

by the

1,109

forcible sex offenses in Miami Dade County in 2010.

17.7

million

American women have been victims of rape in their lifetime.

12%

of girls in grades 9-12 said they had been sexually abused.

93%

of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker.

compiled by Sharon Sabbagh

Editorial Page 4

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

And the winner of The Lightning Strike’s first “Create your own caption” contest is... 1st PLACE

“No no no, that piggy is supposed to go to the market and the other one runs all the way home!!!!

-Krop alumnus ADAM JOHNSON

Honorable mention

“What are you doing? That one paid taxes this year.” - Senior JUSTIN LIEBMAN CHRIS DOUGNAC

THE LIGHTNING STRIKE Visit us online at thelightningstrike.com

ERIC EIDELSTEIN, Editor-in-Chief SHARON SABBAGH, Managing Editor

ARIANA ROGERS News Editor

DANIELLE MACKSON Business & Ad Editor

SEBASTIAN ELEJALDE Opinion Editor

GABRIELA MCKENZIE NATHALIE PRIETO Sports Editors

TAYLOR SILVER Entertainment Editor CHRIS DOUGNAC MICHAEL BEHFAR Spread Editors LEIGH MARKOWITZ Feature Editor MADELINE GARFINKLE Science & Health Editor

ALEXIS FRANKEL CLARISSA BUCH Copy Editors JAVIER STORCH Photo & Web Editor MARYKAY SULLIVAN Advisor SUN COAST PRINTER Printer

LETTERS

Dealing with Trayvon’s death responsibly

Monday, April 1 marked one month since Trayvon Martin was killed and taken away from our school family. Trayvon wasn’t just a student who attended our school, but he was a friend, a brother and a student. Although I am infuriated by the injustice, we must remember to be obedient to the orders that are given to us. If we are going to ﬁght for justice let’s do it the right way, which means no walkouts during school or skipping class. Instead, let’s sacriﬁce our time after school to protest for justice. Seeking justice is better when you do it the right way. Keturah Fudge Grade 12

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. Student editors make all content decisions. 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 disk if possible. The editors reserve the right to reject, edit and condense letters. All letters should be turned in to room 2-233. AD POLICY The Lightning Strike solicits advertising but reserves the right to reject any material deemed libelous, disruptive, obscene or otherwise inappropriate.

Krop should have mentioned tragedy early on It took the school a month to acknowledge Trayvon Martin’s murder. We realize it is a controversial subject, but many of my classmates sat there in school waiting for the administration to at least acknowledge what happened to Trayvon. Trayvon should’ve had a moment of silence shortly after his death, just like they’ve done for other students who have passed away. It seems ridiculous

If you are interested in writing a letter, send it to selejalde@yahoo.com.

to me that this young man’s passing has been talked about all around the country but not to Krop students. I have a great respect for the school’s administration, but I expected more from them on this subject. Michael Gulliksen Grade 12

Unorthodox teaching practices at work One teaching method that I find extremely unfair and downright dim-witted is not returning students’ assignments. This means the students will remain at the same level of knowledge on the topic as before they were tested. Since their wrong answers are not corrected to them directly, they will never know which questions they got wrong. Instead, the students are taught to accept their grades. This not only defies the purpose of teaching but also takes away motivation from the students. Teachers argue that going over the grades with the students may be time consuming. Or they pass out graded work at the end of the marking period so we can file the work ourselves, not so we can go over graded work. I simply ask that teachers keep this in mind: you are in control of the future generation. Succeeding will be very difficult without proper teaching methods. Shawn Sagen Grade 12

Bathrooms are a mess

From time to time, every student has to use the restroom to relieve themselves. And almost EVERY TIME the boys’ bathroom is left in complete and utter disgust! Toilets not flushed and left with filth all around; paper towels thrown in toilets and in the sinks causing clogging; piles of wet paper towels on the floor instead of in the big garbage can in the corner people need to clean up after themselves and have respect for the bathroom facilities! Janser Llerena Grade 12

Birds threaten lunch eaters During my second lunch I have to literally duck and dodge pigeons and seagulls and avoid their little gifts that they drop from the sky like Santa Claus. They fly low, trying to get the leftover bread buns and pizza crust that my fellow students leave behind. I have heard of multiple accounts of where kids have literally been chased by these birds. The only solution I can think of is to either clean up your scraps or take ornithology, because these rats with wings are going to be around for a long time scavenging for free food. Chaz Dunn Grade 12

Opinion Page 5

The Lightning Strike • March 2012 CLASS

Stand Your Ground: a license to kill IN MY OPINION editor-in-chief

eric eidelstein

After a man stole his car radio, Greyson Garcia chased him for two blocks, cornered him in a dark alley and ﬁnally stabbed him to death—all in the name of self-defense. A judge dismissed the case, and Garcia was cleared of homicide charges. Sounds fair? Probably not. After the recent senseless killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, revisiting the 2005 Stand Your Ground law, which also applied to the Garcia case, is in order. The medieval stand-your-ground law, which states that a person

has a right to defend themselves with deadly force if threatened, has become a hot topic among Floridians since Trayvon was shot dead in Sanford, Florida by 28-yearold George Zimmerman. Zimmerman, who appointed himself captain of a Sanford community neighborhood watch, ﬁrst followed and then shot Martin after feeling “threatened.” Although the details of the case are often jumbled and ever-changing, Zimmerman was questioned and then released. Only now is the federal government investigating the murder. Still sounds fair? Being armed and standing your ground may be a popular topic of debate; but in her April 1 column in The Miami Herald, “Mama Sass”

addressed the real culprit—guncontrol. Gun control was ﬁrst addressed after the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Michael Luther King Jr. With the administration of George W. Bush, who promoted relaxed gun control policies, the issue reemerged. The death of Trayvon, however, is now bringing the issue to national attention once again. According to Reuters, the United States has 90 guns for every 100 citizens. Wondering if I could be part of the 90%, I called Big Al’s Gun and Pawn shop, in Hallandale and spoke to a gentleman for a good two minutes. I was informed that as an 18-year-old I could purchase a

rifle or shotgun, as long as I present identification. I asked if there were any other restrictions—there weren’t. But I wondered what I would do with my “hypothetical rifle.” Would I shoot squirrels? Would I hang it above my bed? In a country full of crazies, such a lax policy is plain scary. And Stand Your Ground is at the forefront of the gun control idiocy. In the Martin case, Zimmerman possessed a semiautomatic handgun and for whatever reason, decided to shoot Martin. As Mama Sass rightfully pointed out, Trayvon did not die because he was wearing a hoodie, but because 843,463 people are licensed to carry a weapon in Florida alone.

Yet, a chance for change in guncontrol legislation seems unlikely. Despite Washington’s small success in requiring background checks and creating no-gun zones around members of Congress (following the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords), little progress has been made to tighten control. A New York Times article stated that in 2008 the Supreme Court, in a 5 to 4 ruling, defended the idea that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to own a gun for personal use, including the right to keep a loaded handgun at home for self-defense. Despite the ruling, I ﬁnd a law that allows anyone, especially an 18-year-old, to possess a gun under such lenient conditions ridiculous and dangerous.

SOCIAL ISSUES

School violence threatens learning environment IN MY OPINION javier storch

photo & web editor

As a student sits on top of another student, she clenches her hand into a fist and pounds her classmate against the rocky ground. Like spectators in a gladiator game, surrounding students cheer on and record videos on their phones. This year, I have witnessed three fights at Krop, one in person and two through video. Among these fights, I have seen hair pulled out, a student’s face dragged through dust and another student’s face left red and swollen. Violence is a serious threat to schools across the country, including ours, and must be stopped. Every bit of violence disturbs our safety and learning environment. If students, teachers and administration

Violence is often started over gossip, power challenges, or looking at someone the wrong way. Any level of violence can create a chain of serious repercussions. One day it may be the push of a student, but the next it could be the pull of a trigger. Evidence proves that perpetrators of school shootings are more than twice as likely to have been bullied by peers. If those perpetrators would not have been bullied, maybe those shootings could have been avoided. Students who start a ﬁght are usually placed in indoor or outdoor

work together to modify policies and behavior, violence can be prevented. It has been over 10 years since Columbine, yet similar catastrophes still exist as made evident by the recent Ohio school shooting that took the lives of three students. Each year, nearly 400,000 students fall victim to school violence. When bystanders fail to assist victims, more and more students become physically and psychologically affected by the violence. Stompoutbullying.com reports that as many as 160,000 students miss school on any given day because they are afraid of being bullied.

suspension. This means that they either do not go to class and spend their time picking up garbage or don’t even go to school and stay at home. That does not seem like a fair consequence for causing physical harm to another student. Students who initiate violence should instead be educated on the consequences of their actions via a mandatory workshop. The cooperation of bystanders will also help ﬁx the problem. Next time there’s a ﬁght, think of how you would feel if you were being pummeled while the rest of the school was laughing and uploading the videos on Facebook. Whenever you witness or know violence might occur, report it to a security guard, teacher or administrator as soon as possible. Together, we can prevent future incidents and make sure that our education and safety are not disturbed by senseless violence.

FUTURE GENERATION

Adolescents struggle to be acknowledged

IN MY OPINION blake mars

staff writer

At a recent encounter in a local pizzeria, a friend of mine accidentally dropped his glass of water on a middle-aged man. The man immediately became irritated and complained, “young people can’t do anything right.” Young people are often forced to subordinate themselves to adults and teachers. They are underestimated by society and expected to adhere to their inferior status until “ready” for

the real world. According to a 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center, three out of four Americans believe that today’s youth are less respectable and diligent than their elders. Adults must acknowledge that the young people have the potential to beneﬁt the world. It was young people who launched the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement, which captured world headlines and forged change. In March, I attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference (AIPAC) in Washington D.C.,

that was attended by more than 1,500 students – all of whom were passionate about Israel and America’s relationship and ready to take a stand to defend these nations. “This image of the kid who goes off and skis in Colorado, I don’t think that’s the correct image,” Carl Von Horn, a labor economist at Rutgers University said in an interview with the New York Times. “Today’s young people are very focused on trying to work hard and get ahead.” While college students still get ﬁnancial help from their parents, 44 percent of students

say that work or personal savings helped ﬁnance their college education, according to a Rutgers University survey. In a study conducted by the University of Kentucky, sociology professor Joanna Badagliacco supported the role of youth in society. “This country really needs to see children as a public asset; a group we should nurture and assist. Not everyone is willing to do this,” Badagliacco said. In order to achieve Badagliacco’s goal, the attitude of adults must change. Students should not be viewed as inferior, nor should they be subordinated

by the education system, their teachers or their advisors. Students are individuals with great potential, capable of changing the world and if the goal of the education system is to encourage their future success, then young people should be treated with the respect they deserve. More importantly, the attitudes of students themselves must change. Instead of getting caught up in the school routine, we must begin to see school as an outlet to an education providing skills for us to perform our future jobs and experiences with great care, quality and efﬁciency.

Entertainment

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Page 7

MOVIE REVIEW

ruins of North America. The film begins with a voiceover explaining how 74 years ago, Panem was once composed of REVIEW editor-in-chief eric eidelstein 13 districts and a Capitol. The districts rebelled against the tyAs the success of the Twi- rannical Capitol, and district 13 light Saga and Harry Potter was destroyed in the process. As films dwindle, a new tween punishment for their rebellion, sensation, and an additional the Capitol created the annual opportunity for Hollywood to Hunger Games, a to-the-death cash in, comes in the form of televised competition where a The Hunger Games—a film boy and a girl between the ages containing perfect levels of pol- of 12-18 are chosen, by lottery, to represent their respective disitics, gore and sap. Although I was initially tricts. As one can presume, Katskeptical of another big-budget book adaptation, I could not re- niss is the girl tribute from sist watching the first film of district 12 and must leave her young sister and absent-minded the trilogy. The film adaptation directed mother to fight for her life. But by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit), with Katniss is no damsel in distress. the screenplay by the author She has been forced to hunt for Suzanne Collins stars Jennifer food and provide for her family Lawrence, who was nominated after her father was killed in a for an Oscar in 2010 for her coal mining accident. She also gritty performance in indie- leaves behind hunting partner Gale (Liam Hemsworth), as no flick Winter’s Bone. Lawrence plays Katniss teenage novel can exist without Everdeen, a 16 year-old girl liv- a possible love interest. ing in the post-apocalyptic na- Revision 1Peeta Mellark Revision 2 (Josh HutchRevision 3 erson), the male chosen from tion Panem, formed out of Creative the Proofer 1: AS Proofer 1: Creative Proofer 2:

district 12, also vies for Kat- e x c e s s i v e l y made-up resiniss’s affection. At this point I probably lost dents. I love readers who have no interest in a good class another love triangle that they struggle. Halfway presume parallels Twilight. Too through the bad for them. when Katniss does not spend the film, duration of the film picking my popcorn sunflower petals deciding which and Bunch-Awas boy to make her lover. She is Crunch busy—forced into an area with long gone, I made a con23 blood-hungry teenagers. Although the first half of nection. The the film introduces the charac- Hunger Games is a metaphor ters, including a Ryan Secreast- for high school—a competilike TV host (Stanley Tucci), a tive game where teenagers “kill thoughtful stylist (Lenny Krav- one another” to get to the top. itz) and an inebriated mentor In fact, The Hunger Games is (Woody Harrelson), the last half a metaphor for a society where the government imbues their is suspenseful and intense. I will not spoil the action in children with a capitalistic and the arena, but I will credit Ross Darwinist mentality. But I am for cleverly shifting between getting too political—on to the the Games and the Capitol con- sap. Unless I am in Guantanamo trol center—where the arena is and have to choose between manipulated. Insertion water-boarding or reading TwiKatniss and Peeta areDate: first March light, I would never read Twitaken from their homes, Client: where Keiser-FTL Job Number: 231-1316-DMKHS-Grow-HS-10x8BW light. I will acknowledge that electricity is a luxury and baths Product/Pub: Dr. Michael Krop High School are unheard Revision 4 of, to the Capitol, x 7.5Hunger Games and Twilight Size: 10 The a metropolis with tattooed and JMplot focus on a love triangle, Production:

AS Proofer 2:

Work Date: 2/14

but the love story in The Hunger Games always centers on the Capitol. Why would anyone want to bring children who may have to participate in a bloodbath into the world? How can one think of love when they are starving and oppressed? In the film, unlike the book, the romance is not in full swing, as Katniss, Peeta and Gale still have their families and their lives to worry about. The Hunger Games, which had the third-largest box office weekend opening ever, achieves a rare feat. It is racking in profit and is a great film with a cliffhanger—stay tuned.

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Entertainment

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Page 8

MOVIE

Bully movie receives ridiculous rating IN MY OPINION danielle mackson

business & ad editor

Eighteen-year-old Tyler Clementi took his life September 2010 as a result of antigay bullying. Fourteen-year-old Kameron Jacobsen killed himself last year after being taunted on Facebook. Last September, fourteen-yearold Rhianna Morawitz committed suicide after being threatened by her classmates. Bully, a new documentary, allows audiences to witness, not just read about, this tragic epidemic. It is unfortunate that Bully, which was given no rating, is not PG13 and accessible to kids in the age group where bullying is most prevalent. Bully follows how ﬁve kids and their families cope with constant bullying during the course of a year. It also illustrates how school administrators and teachers deal with this difﬁcult problem. Lee Hirsch, the director of Bully, was tormented by other kids as a child, which inspired

him to direct the film. The new documentary opened in New York and Los Angeles on March 30, but has not yet reached Miami. Controversy has surrounded the film because of the movie’s original “R” rating determined by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) that prevents a child from viewing the movie without a parent. The “R” rating was given by the MPAA due to profanity. The Weinstein Company, which produced Bully, lost an appeal to have the “R” rating removed and decided to release the film as “unrated.” This allows each theater company to make its own decision about whether to allow children under 17 to view the movie without an adult. AMC Theaters has decided to allow minors to see the film as long as they have written permission from a parent or guardian. Regal Cinemas and Carmike Cinemas, however, will treat the film as if it were rated “R,” and require a parent or guardian to accompany children under 17, EW.com reports. The country’s third largest theater chain, Cin-

emark, has chosen not to show the movie at all because of its policy against showing unrated movies. The U.S. should have followed Canada’s lead in giving the movie a PG-13 rating. Hirsch is upset with the MPAA, especially because it gave a PG-13 rating to The Hunger Games, which involves the killing of teenagers in a futuristic world. Hirsch did not want to clean up the language in Bully to gain a PG-13 rating because this would have made the movie less realistic. “Unfortunately, bullying is about language. It’s about how people are insulted. It’s about what’s said. And to clean all that up, our movie would look like the poster, which is PG-approved, which has words like `loser’ and `dork.’ That’s not how kids are bullied. They’re bullied with profanity,” Hirsch stated in an interview for Canada.com. According to Thebullyproject.com, 13 million kids will be bullied this year. Why is such an important ﬁlm that tackles this widespread injustice limited to selected audiences?

PROFILE

Student promotes school spirit The April Playlist By Danielle Mackson business & ad editor

“I say ‘senior,’ you say ‘swag!,’” senior Edward Roberson calls out as he MCs a pep rally. Roberson, Student Government Spirit Chair, transferred from Hallandale High in the middle of his junior year and has since made Krop his home. “At first I was not excited about transferring because I didn’t know anyone, but I learned to adjust and meet new people and get involved,” Roberson said. The ﬁrst thing Roberson noticed his junior year was the lack of school spirit, so he wanted to make a change. He went to Activities Director, Michelle Russell’s ofﬁce everyday for two weeks and told her about his ideas. It was at this time that the committees were being formed for Homecoming, and because most of the ideas he had pitched to Russell had been for the Homecoming pep rally, Roberson was appointed spirit chair. “I’ve heard people say that there is no school spirit, but those same people are the ones that are not trying to make a difference or are not involved in any activities,” Roberson said. In addition to pep rallies,

Songs I Fink U Freeky by Die Antwoord Ten$Ion

Hit Me Up by Sean Bones Hit Me Up - Single

Bag of Money by Wale Ft. Rick Ross, Meek Mill, & T-Pain Self-Made Vol. 2

Bavarian #1 (Say You Will) by Miike Snow Happy To You

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen Curiosity

Heart Attack by Trey Songz Chapter 5 JAVIER STORCH

UNITY: Spirit Chair Edward Roberson pumps up a crowd of students at a pep rally. He considers school spirit vital to the high school experience.

Roberson has helped with events to promote school spirit such as the upcoming Dancing with the Staff and a fashion show he has planned from the ground up. “It’s going to promote school spirit and the idea of being true to yourself,” Roberson said. “We gave the ‘models’ a theme and based on that theme they will incorporate their own style and creativity in their clothing. It’s all about expressing yourself.” For pep rallies, Roberson

takes music requests from any student who comes up to him with suggestions. Roberson’s hard work has earned him the respect of his peers. “I wish I was brave enough to put myself out there like that,” sophomore Netali Shkori said. “He’s trying his hardest to increase school spirit and I really think it’s working. His personality and enthusiasm is contagious and has a positive impact on our school.”

Everybody Talks by Neon Trees Picture Show

88 by Cadence Weapon Ft. Grimes 88 - Single

No Way Out by Gotye Making Mirrors

Bottoms Up by Nickelback Here and Now

Compiled by Clarissa Buch and Taylor Silver

Page 10

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Students spent lunch signing a banner in honor of Trayvon.

The Starlight Lightning Chorus sings Maria by Charles Gounod on the south

REMEMBERIN TRAYVON MARTI Krop deals with the loss of a family mem

Friends of Trayvon speak out. Compiled by Christian Dougnac Photos by Javier Storch

Ilna Charleston Junior

“

Janae White Junior

“

Trayvon was a great

We grew up together.

person. He was fun

I’ve known Trayvon

to be around, always

since we were 5

made jokes. My best

years old. He was like

memories are the park

a brother to me. He

days in Miramar. He

called me his little

worked there, [when] I

sister.

was a coach.

“

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Page 11 PHOTOS BY JAVIER STORCH

s Ave h patio.

NG IN mber.

Students designed posters to protest at an organized rally after school lead by Principle Dawn Baglos and Assistant Principle Francisco Garnica.

Stand your GROUND LAW

John Emanuel Junior

Edward Roberson plants a tree in the south patio in memory of Trayvon Martin at a special ceremony where the STAR Lightning Chorus performed.

“

If it was me walking in Sanford, I could have been shot, and that’s scary.

“

A person who is following the law and is attacked in any place where they have a right to be, may not retreat and has the right to stand their ground and meet force with force, including deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm to one’s self or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

Passed by Florida Legislature in 2005

Students mourn the loss of Trayvon at the candlelight vigil on March 26. 400 students attended.

Feature

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Page 12

TRAVEL

Thomas Lander Mongolia/China

a e T

v a e r l t t s h r e e wo h c

History teacher Thomas Lander was chosen by the organization Civic Voices to travel to Mongolia this March, a trip he extended with a visit to China. Civic Voices interviewed his students about democracy and because of their responses Lander was chosen to take this trip where he taught three classes about democracy.

Q& NATIVE: A nomadic woman named Jejema in the Mongolian countryside.

rl d

India

Chemistry teacher Carlos Montero, as a member of the Quantum School of Zen (international school that teaches Zen meditation and Zen Buddhism), took a trip to India this past October for a world wide conference.

A LANDMARK: Montero spent a night sleeping under the trees found behind the Maha Bodhi Temple.

JOURNEY: Montero in front of the Great Buddha statue in Bodhgaya, India.

TOURIST: Lander in front of a Buddhist Monastery in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia.

Q: What were China and Mongolia like? How were theydifferent from Miami? A: Both places are very highly-structured. The students there would clean and decorate

the classroom at the end of they day without being asked. When they would ask a question or when their teacher walked in they would stand up. Also, the students there see leisure time differently. After school they either go to tutoring or to study; some would participate in an after-school sport. In China there’s not a lot of freedom. Religious organizations would be able to talk about their organization, but not the actual religion.

Q: Which experience had the greatest impact on you? A: When I went to China, everywhere I went there were huge buildings. What the

government is planning to do is move 300 million of its citizens, which is about the population of the United States, into them. It made me see that we are in such competition with the rest of the world. It’s also amazing how American culture is wherever you go in that you could see Western inﬂuences all over. In China couples would stop me and ask to take pictures with their babies; they were so happy I was American and in their country.

Q: What was India like? How was it different from Miami? A:Everything is different in India; it’s a whole different culture. India is a place that has

different standards of what is considered sanitary and there’s a lot of trash. Animals and people pretty much live together, so it’s considered normal when you’re out in the street and cows are walking around and there is cow poop everywhere. Also, in India people drive on the opposite side of the street. It’s a very poor country, so I experienced a lot of poverty there.

Q: Which experience had the greatest impact on you? A: Seeing the amount of poverty. Everywhere you go you see people begging to

the point where beggars are like professionals. There are a lot of crippled blind people and people with no arms or legs that just go around and beg. Another experience was when I was on a boat on the Ganges River, considered holy, that ﬂows from the Himalayas all the way down to the Indian Ocean. While I was on this boat, the sun was rising, and I just felt the calling of the river. Right then and there, I took my clothes off, jumped in and swam across to the other shore of the river, which was like half a mile. In Buddhism, there is this idea of crossing to the other shore as being a spiritual transformation, so I ﬁgured I might as well take matters in my own hands and swim there.

LEFT: A group of male students in School Number Six, in Ulan Bator, sit studying democratic concepts. RIGHT: Lander teaches a class about Patricia Ireland, the president of the National Organization of Woman.

Q: What was your funniest experience? A: When I was walking along in the poorer side of Mongolia, I heard someone shout,

“Hello are you lost?” I was looking around and didn’t see anyone so I kept walking. Once again I heard the same thing, but closer. Then the voice shouted, “Down here!” I looked down and there was a man living underground peaking up at me who wanted to give me directions. They don’t get a lot of European-looking people around there so he must have assumed I was lost.

Q: Would you ever go back to China or Mongolia? A: For sure, there’s no doubt. If I have the money and the time I would do it all again. If I could I would like to take some students with me (especially the ones who did the interviews for Civic Voices) the next time I go up there, maybe during spring break if I can get permission.

Q: Do you have any advice for anyone going to China or Mongolia? A: If you’re going in the winter dress warm! And you have to enjoy yourself, but that’s important anywhere you travel.

Compiled by Alexis Frankel and Blake Mars. Photos on left side of the page courtesy of Thomas Lander. Photos on right side of the page courtesy of Carlos Montero.

Carlos Montero

LEFT: In the Ganges River, at the foot of the Western Ghats, Islamic people undergo a spiritual cleansing called an ablution. RIGHT: Montero and a friend in front of the Western Ghats in Varanasi, India.

Q: What was your funniest experience? A: When I was there it was the time of Diwali, the Hindu new year. On the night of

New Years, three friends and I decided to go out and party like they do in India., so we all crammed into a tuk-tuk. There was obviously no more room, but the driver was like, "I still have to pick up my friend." Somehow the friend managed to sit right next to me and pretty much held on to me since half his body was Tuk-tuk outside of the tuk-tuk. The driver was going so fast and he had cranked up some type of Indian techno; it was crazy. Also, our tour guide would say, "We’re going to have many toilety stops." Many of our drives were like 10 hours long, so he would say things like, "If you’re feeling very toilety, let us know."

Would you ever go back to India?

A: Oh sure, yeah! There was a lot of India I didn’t get to explore, and I would love to go back and see that.

Q: Do you have any advice for anyone going to India? A: Leave your Western and American minds at home and have an open mind to whatever crazy things you'll encounter there.

Feature Page 13

The Lightning Strike • March 2012 ANIMAL ABUSE

Greyhounds face abuse on the track

EXTRA-CURRICULARS

By Leigh Markowitz feature editor

Tall in stature and dark in appearance, Casio was groomed to be a champion. However, a knee broken in training altered his future forever, an incident that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Casio is a greyhound. He was adopted after his injury and now works as a therapy dog at Baptist Hospital. Other greyhounds, however, are not as fortunate. The puppies without promise are often killed and those who are not become victim to the abuses of the race tracks. However, greyhound racing no longer makes a significant profit. Between 2004 and 2010 the total amount gambled on parimutual greyhound racing in Florida declined 35 percent. Despite the decrease in profit, seven states, including Florida, continue to race dogs like Casio. The dogs are still forced to run because of a law passed in 1931 in Florida that says gambling centers cannot function unless they include full schedules of live racing. Advocates are working to pass a Decoupling Bill which will enable businesses to offer gambling centers without race tracks in order to save the lives of these animals. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation doesn’t control the conditions within the greyhounds’ kennels. State records show cages no more than 3-ft cubed that offer little room for the movement of an adult greyhound who can be as tall as 28 inches. In addition to confinement,

NATHALIE PRIETO

NIGHT SCHOOL: Ceramics teacher Marita Greskamp instructs her students on a Tuesday evening. Night school classes like this one attract people with all interests.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREY2K USA

TRAPPED: Greyhounds such as the one above face up to 23 hours a day in kennels. They receive little to no human contact.

CAPTIVE: Crates line the walls of greyhound kennels.

greyhounds also experience injuries on and off the track. At the Flagler racetrack, between June 4 and July 24, at least 15 greyhounds were found with broken legs, one with a broken back, and one, Fuzzys San Jose, died on the track after a heart attack. Businesses try to spend little on the dogs themselves but make as much money as possible on racing. At the Florida Kennel Compound Greyhounds were dipped in barrels of water and Malathion, an insecticide meant for crops, instead of given medicine to eliminate ticks and ﬂeas in order to save money. In an incident in 2005, a ﬁre at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track left over 60 dogs trapped for hours in a kennel whose air conditioning unit was

on fire. Ten dogs died and 54 were rushed to veterinarians. After an inspection was done at the Ebro Greyhound Park kennel Oct. 29, 2010, 37 greyhounds were found dead, five emaciated, and several with duct tape wrapped around their necks. It was later determined by a necropsy that they had died either from starvation or dehydration. Lobbyists, like those for the Florida Greyhound Association (representing greyhound breeders), work to prevent laws that will require race tracks to report injuries. However, a piece of humane legislation passed in 2002 requires all those with greyhound racing permits to have an adoption booth. When a greyhound is retired from racing it either goes directly to an adoption group or is rehabilitated and transitioned into home life. Greyhound owner and advocate Mary Martin explained that her rescued greyhound, Stanly, came right from a track to a rescue group. Therefore, he did not understand things as simple as sliding glass doors, and slammed into them multiple times a day for the first few weeks that she had him.

Students study in the ‘darndest’ places “On the ﬁeld at the JCC” - Luli Mosner, freshman “On the basketball court.” - Donvoan Vazquez, sophomore “Taco Bell” - Alexandra Delarosa, sophomore “On my balcony” - Tal Harel, sophomore “On my roof” - Fernanda Mamane, junior “In my bathtub” - Daniela Esquenazi, senior

“The stairs” - Maria Diaz, junior “In the closet.” -Aaron Camon, sophomore “In the garage.” - Serenity Roscoe, sophomore “At work.” - Shannon Castaneda, senior “In the car.” - Jessica Fernandez, sophomore

Compiled by Madeline Garﬁnkle

Krop after hours

Krop’s classrooms are host to multiple activities for students and neighbors to participate in after classes end for the day. By Gabriela McKenzie co-sports editor In the afternoon, long after Krop students and administration have gone home, local Miami residents and students are welcomed to attend a wide variety of engaging classes. Courses include everything from Aerobics to Scrap Booking and are taken for 8 weeks, ranging in cost from 20 to 35 dollars, with no previous skills required. Since the opening of the school in 1998, personal improvement classes have been offered by Krop’s community school for those 3 years old and up. Night classes usually last for 1 hour and are taught by neighborhood volunteers who have backgrounds in each subject. To become a teacher for the night program, a person needs to be approved by David Rodriguez, the community school assistant principal. While some classes are under attended, others do not have instructors such as the guitar and Spanish classes. Community school specialist Joy Jackson encourages residents to become teachers; teachers are paid by each student that takes their class. In the current winter term, ADVERTISMENT

yoga, painting, ceramics, ballet/ jazz, judo and Expression Thru Movement are in session, and will end on Apr. 30. Basketball lessons are also taught at Madie Ives Elementary Care Program on Fridays from 3:30 to 4:30, the second session beginning Apr. 27. Each of the classes is meant to provide a relaxing atmosphere with no pressure to complete home assignments. In ceramics, music is played for the full class period and the 15 students ranging from young to old all create their artwork on their own, and gain pointers from their teacher, Marita Greskamp. “I’ve been doing ceramics for 30 years, and started teaching in night education about 10 years ago,” Greskamp said. “My favorite thing about teaching night school is that everything is unexpected; it’s like Christmas. When my students complete their art, I never know what’s going to come out of the kiln because they have so much free will with their assignments.” Night school ceramics students only have one complaint. “The only thing I wished was different is that the classes were longer,” ceramics student and personal trainer Tom Yiend said. “Maybe a 2 hour class that is longer than 8 weeks.” ADVERTISMENT

Science & Health The truth about sugar The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Page 15

HEALTH

Harmless delicacy or deadly addiction? By Clarissa Buch co-copy editor What drug is pure, white, widely consumed and possibly deadly? The answer is sugar. The average teen consumes 34 teaspoons of sugar a day as opposed to the recommended 6 to 9. It should come to no surprise that the average American eats their weight in sugar every year. However, if one is asked if he or she feels addicted to sugar, the common answer is, “no.” Researchers disagree. A drug is deﬁned as, “a substance that has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.” For example, heroin or cocaine are classiﬁed drugs because when consumed, they change the body and alter the mind. But sugar does that as well. According to the researchers at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, sugar results in similar brain changes one would receive with alcohol or drugs. In addition, sugar rots teeth and

contributes to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. “I believe that sugar may please one’s senses but is not as addictive as a drug such as cocaine,” sophomore Diego Salas said. “I do not think I am addicted to sugar because I do not go out of my way to eat sugary candy or sweets.” But Americans like Salas are so hooked on sugar that they will deny their addictions just like a drug addict would. When someone does not have their sugar in each meal, they endure withdrawal symptoms such as moodiness, depression and decreased energy. Therefore, recent studies to conclude that sugar too should be classiﬁed as a drug. On the other hand, science teacher Gary Feilich does not consider sugar a drug or an addictive substance. Feilich had to alter his diet and switch from sugar to sugar substitutes due to his diabetes. “I am living proof of this. I had to go from regular CocaCola to Diet Coke or Coke Zero and I am just fine!” Feilich

SCIENTIFIC STUDY

Racist or racial paralysis?

By Ariana Rogers news editor

People are afraid. They are afraid of being called racist, afraid that they will be seen as judgmental or discriminatory, afraid that if they say what they really feel others may misinterpret it. So afraid that they would rather avoid making any decisions where race is a factor altogether to avoid potential conﬂict. There is a name for this: racial paralysis. According to the study published by Oxford University Press, racial paralysis is the “tendency to opt out of decisions involving members of different races.” To test this theory, individuals were asked to judge which one of the two persons presented in photos was more associated with a speciﬁc trait. They found that participants of the experiment were more willing to make judgments based on individuals of the same rather than different race. This was particularly true when comparing the photos between a black and white person.For example, when told to pick whether the black or white person seemed more

intelligent, participants chose to opt out of choosing a person and selected “I have no gut feeling” instead. Participants chose to pick one person over another 79 percent of the time when the faces were both white and 86 percent of the time when they were both black. However, when comparing a white and black person the percentage dropped to 46 percent. The authors of the experiment reasoned that the participants reacted this way to avoid bias toward one specific race. When people did answer they did so in a way that they felt was socially acceptable. The researchers concluded that people wanted to avoid potential conflict by appearing neutral on making a decision. Lead author of the study Michael Norton from Harvard Business School found that one way to become unaffected by racial paralysis is if people do not make decisions based on social norms of that specific race. “I think as norms change people will feel more comfortable making these choices because there won’t be a stigma attached to a specific race that will make them reluctant to make decisions,” Norton said.

Hostess Ho Ho’s - 8.4 teaspoons

M&M’s - 6.4 teaspoons

Pop Tarts - 4.4 teaspoons

Heinz Ketchup - 4.7 teaspoons It is recommended that only 6 to 9 teaspoons of sugar should be consumed daily. Don’t waste them all on one meal. SLEEP

After too many Z’s you might not sleep so well By Nathalie Prieto co-sports editor Sleepy eyes, exhaustion and an overwhelming desire to go to bed often characterize students’ midday. After naps boost their energy for a while, the after effects of long naps may not be as inviting. It is more difficult for the brain to wake up after long naps, where we experience the stage five of sleep, known as REM (rapid eye movement), according to Greatist.com, a health and fitness web site. Sleep inertia, the grogginess and disoriented feelings experienced after waking up, is also present after more than one hour long naps during REM, contributing to the difficulty of remaining asleep during t h e

night. On the contrary, 10 to 20 minute naps are easier to awake from because the body is trained to wake after a certain amount of time. Also, avoid napping close to bedtimes which may interfere with night sleep. It is suggested to leave at least 4 hours between nap time and bedtime to keep sleep disruption to a minimum. This is doubly true for insomniacs. Senior Kathreen Morcos frequently naps every day after school for about 5 hours. “The exhaustion from a long day at school is the reason for my long naps. Although I do find it very hard to try to sleep at night after a long nap,” Morcos said. A short afternoon nap of 20 minutes improves concentration, alertness and brightens mood. It also reduces stress and increases cognitive functioning. In a study done by the Department of Psychology

and Neuroscience Program, Allegheny College, daytime sleep offers benefits in the form of greater cardiovascular recovery from psychological stress. They used healthy young adults and randomly placed them in a 60-minute polysomnographicallymonitored sleep condition or to a no-sleep condition. Subjects later filled a standard mental stress reactivity task. Other students also frequently nap during weekdays to make up for the sleep lost the night before from staying up late doing homework or studying for tests. Unlike Morcos, senior Shayda Riahi does take short naps everyday and ﬁnds they do not interfere with her sleep time. “I make up for the sleep lost from doing homework or work, but my naps never stop me from sleeping like a baby when I actually go to sleep at night,” Riahi said. English teacher Kenrick Simon occasionally stumbles upon sleeping students in his class. Simon hears from his students that their overwhelmed schedules of extracurricular activities drives them to dozing off in class.

Science & Health Page 16

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

TEENAGE SPEECH

Vocal fry tones become common in teen dialect By Sebastian Elejalde opinion editorial There is a speech phenomenon in America that is twice as common in young women than in men. It is known as the vocal fry tone, heard in phrases like “I don’t know what to dooo” or “Oh, my Goood” and in the voices of notable celebrities like the Kardashian sisters, Britney Spears and Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. The low, croaking sound appears primarily at the end of sentences and has become an unnoticed linguistic fad in the last decade. It is the lowest of three vocal registers, just below falsetto and modal (normal speaking tone). “Sometimes I find my friends [speaking in vocal fry], and I point it out to them and we laugh about it together,” senior Sharon Barzily said. Made by exhaling slowly and dropping one’s voice as low as it can get, creaky voice is common, but is often used involuntarily. The pattern shows when a person whines or drags out words.

Psychology teacher Michael Fass believes that vocal fry is being spread through a social learning perspective, which says that one can learn by observing the behavior of others. “Adolescent females possibly like the sounds of their friend’s use of vocal fry, or witness their friends or others obtaining positive feedback when vocal fry is being used,” Fass said. A recent study published in the Journal of Voice illustrates the vocal fry trend as being noticeable in two-thirds of American females between the ages of 18-25. Vocal fry has been prevalent in common language since as far back as 1964 and has been used by teenage girls with growing popularity for close to ten years. Despite the trendiness of creakiness, some believe that frequent use of vocal fry damages one’s vocal cords. However, research indicates that occasional use only causes temporary harm, and that the voice will bounce back to normal.

Common phrases used by teenage girls “Stooooop”

“You’re kidding, right?” “It’s whatever.” “I’m crying!”

“Can you not?”

“K.”

“But like the thing is...”

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Sports

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Athletes of the month

RECOGNITION

Lightning teams strike big Boys’ Track n’ Field

TOURNAMENT: Track and ﬁeld athletes, (left) junior Thomas Gaskings, junior Victor Montreur, senior Max Doruilier, and junior Nicholus Grant (right).

Athletes from the boys’ track and ﬁeld team show off their medals and team trophy. At the 2012 Varela Vipers Track and ﬁeld classic, the boys brought home second place.

Senior Benjamin Mandowsky is one of volleyball’s athlete of the month by head coach Caron Schiffman. Mandowsky is one of the boys’ volleyball captains and plays outside hitter. He was chosen based on his dedication to the sport and his sportsmanship. “ I’ve really felt like I’ve shown my skills this year as a player and teammate,” Mandowsky said. “And I really appreciate being recognized.”

Girls’ tennis team

PRISCILLA MALDONADO

JAVIER STORCH

WINNERS: The undefeated girls’ tennis team

poses for a group shot after school at the Krop tennis

The girls’ tennis team won the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) championship. With wins over Coral Gables High School and Palmetto High School on March 28th. The team also won Districts on April 4th.

JAVIER STORCH

Benjamin Mandowsky 12th grade

FEATURE

Student trainers help athletes succeed

NATHALIE PRIETO

TREATMENT: Student trainer junior Samantha Goodstein helps an athlete stretch his leg after a cramp.

By Courtney Goodstein staff writer

It’s the homecoming football game, the band is playing and the students are cheering, when senior Ismaeel Davis is on the ground grabbing his leg. As worry has struck the stands, Julie Edwards and her student athletic trainers rush onto the ﬁeld. The student athletic training program is run by Julie Edwards, who graduated from Barry University with a degree in Sports Medicine and has been

in charge of the athletic program for the last seven years. Under Julie’s watch, the athletic trainers learn ﬁrst aid and how to tape and ice injuries. “My favorite part of being a trainer is learning about sports injuries and then learning how to treat the injuries up close,” said junior Darlene Desmangles, who has been a trainer for three years. When athletes and trainers walk in the training room, the atmosphere resembles a family; there is always laughter and

joking around. “There are always pranks happening,” said junior Samantha Goodstein. “My favorite prank was when one of the athletes fell asleep while getting treatment, and he got taped down to the training table.” Although the trainers are usually behind the scenes, they keep the athletes at the top of their game both physically and emotionally. “You always have to keep the athletes motivated and when they have a bad game always encourage them and during their therapy sympathize and support them,” said Desmangles. Helping athletes recover from their injuries is the main job of a student trainer and some of the injuries the trainers see stay with them for the rest of their lives. For example, while training a wrestling match, Yana Magnizova saw a boy cut his nose open and then break it. Although she admits it was a traumatizing experience, it helped her get over her fear and taught her to treat injuries without fear. In order to become an athletic trainer you must maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

POST-GRADUATION

Former star taunted during March Madness By Dean Kaire staff writer

Former Krop student, Angel Rodriguez, who now plays basketball for Kansas State University was greeted to his ﬁrst March Madness National Tournament with abusive chants saying “Where’s your green card?” by his opposing team’s band. Rodriguez, who graduated in 2011, was a vital asset to the school’s basketball team, which at one point last year, was ranked number one in the state of Florida. In his senior year, Rodriguez

posted outstanding stats, averaging 23 points per game along with six assists at starting point guard. Because of his skills on the court, he was recruited by some of the top basketball schools across the nation. On April 26th, he committed to Kansas State University and ofﬁcially became a Wildcat. Rodriguez ﬁnished his freshman season at Kansas State averaging 8.3 points per game and scoring 13 points in his debut game against Southern Mississippi in the March Madness Tournament, which determines the nation’s champion.

In the second round game of the tournament, Rodriguez stepped up to the line to shoot two free throws against Southern Mississippi. Members of the Southern Mississippi band chanted “Where’s your green card? In an attempt to mock and distract Rodriguez by referring to the dilemma that occurred last year with the school’s basketball team. As a result of their actions, Southern Mississippi revoked the scholarships of ﬁve members of the band and they are taking a twohour cultural sensitivity meeting. Rodriguez and the Wildcats lost in the tournament the next round to number one ranked Syracuse.

Page 17

GABRIELA MCKENZIE

Donovan Vasquez 10th grade

Sophomore Donovan Vasquez is also recognized as volleyball’s athlete of the month. Vasquez plays outside or right side, and was chosen based upon his team attitude and hard work. Volleyball is Vasquez’s only high school sport and he is glad to be nominated. “It’s good to see hard work pay off,” Vasquez said. “It shows that you don’t need to be an upperclassmen to get rewarded.” Student athletes are nominated by their coaches.

Compiled by Gabriela Mckenzie and Nathalie Prieto.

Wrestling Districts District 14-3A results: • Weight class:106 1st place: Terrance Gary, 12th grade • Weight class:132 4th place: Raul Gomez, 12th grade • Weight class:138 4th place Miguel Rodriguez, 11th grade • Weight class:152 4th place: Mark Hernandez, 10th grade • Weight class: 195 4th place: Sebastian Theodore, 10th grade • Weight class:285 4th place: Robert Maerovitz, 9th grade Compiled by Courtney Goodstein ADVERTISEMENT

Sports Page 18

The Lightning Strike • March 2012 NEW TREND

PROFILE

COACH THOMPSON: A look behind the CrossFit: The latest quick driving force of the girls’ basketball team and effective workout By Elisa Schonfeld guest writer

When he was in high school, just driving his hip car with his sound system was enough happiness for Ray Thompson. Working at Wendy’s and like the rest of his family, he had no plans for college, yet one of his teachers had hope for him. “In high school, I was on the football and track and field team,” Thompson said. Although he wanted to stay away from school, his athletic achievements gave one of his determined teachers a glimpse of his potential. She helped him get into college, going so far as to purchase Thompson’s plane ticket for Ohio, where his college was located. The first time, Thompson missed the plane on purpose and stayed home. But the next time, the teacher watched Thompson pack his bags and enter the doors of the plane that would take him to Ohio. When he got off the plane, football players were waiting for his arrival. He attended Heidelberg College, a small liberal arts school in Tiffany , Ohio.

JAVIER STORCH

Thompson majored in computer sciences. Although his passion was football, Thompson loved the game of basketball and went on to become a coach. While coaching a boys’ junior high varsity basketball team, he went through a terrible experience. “I called off practice for the day, and two of my players went home and played with a gun,” Thompson said. “One of them pulled the trigger, and the bullet hit the other in the face.” When he realized what he had done, the boy ran away

and shot himself. “It turned out that the one who was shot ended up surviving,” Thompson said. Thompson attended the funeral believing it could have been prevented, if only he hadn’t called off practice. Since then, his 12 years of coaching the girls’ varsity team have been filled with as many practices as possible. Thompson also has a rule for tryouts. “I never cut off any players who try out, if one participates, they deserve to play.” Coach Thompson doesn’t think that winning or losing is everything. “I believe in enjoying life because you never know what comes next.” Along with his relationship to the team, the connection with his own children is strong. “My daughters’ are willing to defend me with any offense,” Thompson said. Thompson’s job brings him much happiness. “At the end of the day, the satisfaction that my players can go off to play in the WNBA’s and still remember to text me at the end of a game asking how they performed makes all experiences of coaching worthwhile.”

By Dean Kaire staff writer A new craze has settled in South Florida and has the potential to stay. CrossFit uses unique exercises for an efficient workout and trainers have opened gyms specialized for this new fitness style. The workouts include exercises like handstand push-ups, hanging from a pull up bar and lifting their toes up to the bar and different forms of squatting. CrossFit typically is an hour-long class with several phases in the workout, including a warm up, a lifting portion, the workout of the day and cool down time. The purpose of the separate CrossFit gyms is to give participants who are working out more space than in a typical gym, the correct equipment and several trainers to assist clients. A normal class size is typically between 12 and 15 people, so

overcrowding is never an issue and clients get individual attention. Junior Christie Fiallos began CrossFit when she heard people talking about it in the gym. “It’s a short amount of time, which I like, and it’s really effective, fun and social.” CrossFit allows people with the same fitness goals to workout together and thus meet new people. CrossFit’s rigorous workouts became popular to help train law enforcement agents and military recruits and the phenomenon has recently reached close to 2,000 members nationwide. “CrossFit is a community, working out as a social phenomenon instead of the lone wolf workout with headphones running on a treadmill,” CrossFit trainer Bryan Kieffer told The Herald at Arkansas State University. The new phenomenon provides a new way to workout that is both social and convenient, but more importantly effective.

TEAMWORK

Girls’ water polo strive for championship By Courtney Goodstein staff writer

Ten Seconds. That’s all it took for the dreams of reaching the state playoffs to be taken away from the 2011 girls water polo team. “It was hurtful to lose such a close game,” junior Luciana Rodriguez said. “It was disappointing because our seniors left without reaching states.” But the team is determined to not let history repeat itself this year. The girls practice ﬁve days a week for three hours at the Jewish Community Center. They do workouts such as twenty minutes of abs, an hour of timed swimming and an hour and a half playing water polo. “Doing these rigorous workouts contribute to our success,” sophomore Alana Mantel said. “During the game you cannot push off a wall, so doing ab exercises helps us elevate in the water.” During a water polo game, a

player can swim up to a mile and can throw a ball at a speed of up to sixty miles an hour. Under the rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations, if a player’s foot touches the bottom of the pool or if a player touches the ball with two hands the team receives a foul and the player can be ejected from the game. The girls have made many improvements to their game.

“...When you see Lightning, get out of the water...” “We work more as a team and communicate better,” Rodriguez said. “We also learned to pass the ball more to create more opportunities.” The girls have a record of 17-2, and are ranked ﬁrst in their

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER KAIRE

MEET: The girls’ water polo team pose after their win in the 2012 Mast Academy Tournament.

district. They are prepared to contend for a state championship. “We remember those ten seconds,” Captain Katherine D’Amato said. She wants other teams to know “When you see Lightning, get out of the water.”

Date Feb.29 Mar. 5 Mar. 7 Mar. 21 Mar. 23 Mar. 26 Mar. 28 Mar. 29 Mar. 31 Apr. 2

Opponent Barbara Goleman High Hialeah Gardens High Alonzo Mourning High North Miami Beach High Miami Country Day High Barbara Goleman High Hialeah Gardens High Miami Sunset High Cooper City High Alonzo Mourning High

Result 14-8 win 11-6 win 15-3 win 20-3 win 14-9 win 13-2 win 15-2 win 23-2 win 7-8 lose 14-2 win

Editor’s Note- Because the April Fools section of The Lightning Strike was ready at the time, in order to honor the memory of Trayvon Martin The Lightning Strike has moved its traditional April Fools pages to the back of the paper.

April Fools

Page 19

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

SPEAK-OUT

FEATURE

An inside look at Krop’s most Roddy is a snob and must be stopped exclusive clique By Eric Eidelstein editor-in-chief With the confidence of an eagle, math department co-chair Virginia Olwell soars through the hallways every morning. Behind her, in a “V” formation, follow fellow math teachers including Rosanne Mishan, Debra Stein, and Adriana Diaz-Berges. Cliques are common to the high school experience. But very few people can join a group so gifted that they can derive even the most complex equation before their coffee cools. They are “The Parabolas.” “We wanted to choose a name that defines us a group,” Olwell said. “The parabolic function, one of the basic and most important, is an analogy for our group—we help the school function.” The Parabolas are behind much of the social reform in school, especially those that benefit all. In January, they took on their latest project. They came together, calculators in hand, and went to work on a major issue that for a

long time, had perturbed students. “We often hear students from the first floor complaining about the length of second lunch. So we took matters into our own hands,” Mishan said. With determination, and razor-sharp calculation the group solved an equation that has stumped them for the whole year— how to increase their lunch time by five full minutes while not changing the 24 hour day. “By giving first lunch to the second floor and second lunch to the first floor we were able to solve the problem,” Carol Sprinkle said. “It was easy as pi!” The Parabolas are known for their philanthropy as well. They are advocates of equality. “If I give one student a “F” for not highlighting their answers on homework, I make sure all students who don’t highlight receive a “F” too,” Mishan said.

Rick Sanitorium recently stated that Obama is an “elite snob” for wanting everyone to go to college. CAP advisor, Robert Roddy’s encouragements for all Krop students to strive for higher education was bashed by CACA. Fellow Educators:

With dissent and angst being common in high school, a group with such a clear understanding of fairness is rare. “I love how we are so close,” department co-chair Maria Marino said. “It’s great that our teachers and students are always on the same page.”

REGULATIONS

FHSAA fines

It has come to my attention that Mr. Roddy (aka Peace Corps Boy) is trying to turn our students into Marxists by having them attend COLLEGE. My sources have told me this has been going on for several years. Rumor has it that he has even invited college representatives who have already gone through the “transformation” back to Krop to persuade seniors to enroll in specific colleges and universities including Faber College (the bastion of liberalism). Recent studies in the Journal of College Students Journal have revealed through brain scan images that after attending only five college classes, a student’s Alinsky lobe grows by 7 percent. How can you help? Stress to your students the importance of NOT attending college. Stop writing letters of recommendation for seniors or write only negative ones. Dummy down your lectures so none of your students can pass the SAT or ACT, (I’ve been doing this one for years). Sincerely, Citizens Against College Admission (CACA)

GAMES

Can you navigate through the trafﬁc and get to school on time?

Recent controversies surrounding Krop’s sports teams and Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) standards have left the athletic department on “shakey” ground. In addition to the $53,000 fines imposed as a result of falsifying information to allow ineligible students to play basketball, the school will be fined an additional $100 trillion for falsifying documents for a member of the varsity soccer team. Using the pseudonym Lionel Mesostein, FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was recruited and enrolled as a student to lead the soccer team to victory. FHSAA seized athletic records in a routine examination and discovered Argentinian-born Messi’s green card. “We discovered a green piece of construction paper and written in blue crayon was ‘I am citizen’,” FHSAA representa-

IVES DAIRY ROAD

By Taylor Silver entertainment editor

“MESSI” BUSINESS: Lionel Mesostein practices on the field after school.

tive Buzz K. Ill said. Messi was incognito during his short time at Krop, and often disguised himself in a moustache and Manchester United jersey. Senior varsity soccer player Diego Bertisch did not recognize Messi, who is often regarded as the best soccer player right now.

“Now that I think about it, the moustache was kind of sketchy,” Bertisch said. “I just assumed he was an ironic hipster or something.” Principal Dawn Baglos refused to comment on the issue and told reporters, “No hablo ingles.”

Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School

Krop . . . again

Page 20

April Fools

The Lightning Strike • March 2012

Buncher goes on tour

MUSIC

By Chris Dougnac co-spread editor

In the usually too-cool for comfort science hallway, it is not uncommon to hear pop music pumping from under the door of room 2252… the classroom of science department head, Dr. David Buncher. Whether it be Brittany Spears, Christina Aguilera, or Hannah Montana playing, students of Buncher are familiar with their teacher’s hi-tech entertainment system that can be heard at the beginning of every class. But recently new sounds of music have been pouring from under Buncher’s door: good ole’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. Before Buncher was ever a doctor he was a rocker. Aside from the school’s Alma Mater “Black and Silver,” written by Buncher when the school ﬁrst opened, students have little idea of their teacher’s talents outside of the lab. “I’ve decided to reunite the old band from graduate school. We’re back together under the old name, ‘Equilibrium.’ It’s the life for me. At the beginning of the year, after I cut my hair, I felt I needed more excitement in my life. The power of the rock was

POLICY

calling and it needed to break free!” Buncher said. Junior Gabi Hasson describes Buncher’s lifestyle change: “He started dressing differently and bought a clip-on pony tail for starters. One day when we entered class. Dr. fBuncher was nowhere to be seen. There was a drumset in the corner with a large bearded man passed out behind it. We saw empty cans of Diet Mountain Dew all over the floor and tried to wake him, but Dr. Buncher beat us to it when he rose from the fume hood as smoke filled the room. ‘She Blinded Me With Science’ started to play as Dr. Buncher made his way to the white board that he now calls ‘The Stage.’” Buncher has been very busy planning two tours and changing his name legally. “I insist that my students now call me Doctor Rocker but if they don’t like that one they can go with The Doctor formerly known as Buncher or Sucker Bunch,” Buncher said, “We’re planning a North East tour to get the bandblood-flowing before summer when we want to head to Columbia for our South American ‘Come Back Tour.’”

Sweatpants

DR. ROCKER: David Buncher on stage performing live in front of thousands of his South American fans.

CULTURE

Teens engage in Diplo-rable behavior

from dress-code By Jared Schermer staff writer Following an epidemic of students sleeping in class, plummeting grades, and complete disregard for the headphone rule, Krop administrators connected the dots. The cause of the of the chaos? The prevalence of sweatpants. “Frankly,” said Assistant Principal Pam Clappier, “sweatpants inspire too much comfort.” The last straw for administration came when sophomore Harry Ariton, while sporting his black with white striped Adidas sweatpants, was heard snoring through his practice Advanced Placement European History test. Sweatpants are now banned throughout the school campus. Asked about the ban, Ariton responded, “I love wearing sweatpants! They’re great! But now I’m going to be cranky because we cannot wear comfortable pants.” Chronic sleepers are espe-

cially upset. “I can’t believe that Ariton’s poor classroom habits had to ruin it for the rest of us,” said Mary Lamb who has a closetful of soft, cozy sweatsuits. “Sweatpants are so comfortable, I guess now I’m going to have to come to school naked.” But the administration has backed their actions by science. According to an article in Tried and True Surveys, wearing clothes that replicate sleep outfits slows brain waves from the wakeful Beta to deeply Delta in no time. Delta waves induce dream states that students must be shocked out of . “Since Tasers presently have no room in our curriculum , Officer Dunn agreed that simply banning sweat pants was the more merciful solution. “Hopefully, we can pioneer a ‘zero toleration for sweatpants’ movement and influence other schools to do the same,” Dunn said. “That way we can avoid the expense of bringing in the tasers.”

IN MY OPINION taylor silver

entertainment editor

When I hear the word “teenager,” I cringe. Semantically-speaking, yes I am 17 and that does qualify me as a teenager. However, I refuse to associate myself with such a hedonistic group of degenerate primates. Teenagers stay out past 10 o’clock. Teenagers smoke drug cigarettes. Teenagers engage in premarital sexing. I, on the other hand, prefer needlepoint to needles. It’s not all your fault, youths. You have been brainwashed by the music festivals and the media to engage in this deplorable behavior. In March, I experienced firsthand (on Facebook) the dangerous elements my peers

were subjected to at the Ultra Music Festival. I saw scantilyclad young ladies with exposed brassieres. They were huddled in packs and swaying to likes of Skilletz and Steve Karaoke and other disc jockeys that probably worship Satan. Even worse is the excessive amounts of fornicating and kidnapping that occur at Ultra and similar festivals. I kept seeing references to a young woman named “Molly,” as youngsters would continually pose the question “Have you seen Molly?” Who is Molly? Where is Molly now? And who is Mary Jane? Did anyone think to issue an Amber Alert for these poor young girls? On a more positive note, I did take some comfort in seeing familiar faces with lollipops and pacifiers in their mouths, though. Kids should be kids.

Moreover, raves are corrupting the youths. Raves are parties with copious amounts of strobe lights and music that sounds like an infernal hybrid of a failed dial-up connection and the crunching of potato chips. According to RickSantorumFans.net, there were 6,669 cases of infants conceived at raves in 2011. I know this statistic is true because I read it on the Internet. Herein lies my proposition, adolescents: Take a look at yourselves. Take a look beyond your neon-colored American Apparel spandex bicycle shorts, beyond the layers upon layers of beaded bracelets, beyond your bandanas and backwards hats. Do you really care to spend the best years of your life under the influence? Live above it! Live high above it! Perhaps the youth should just roll themselves on down to their nearest place of worship so they can pray for their salvation. As for me, I’ll be selling a 3-day pass to the pearly white gates.