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Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High • 1410 Countyline Road • Miami, Florida 33179
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November 30, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 14 STUDENT INTEGRITY
HONOR
EACHER OF
THE YEAR By Blake Mars staff writer
The soft sounds of piano keys and a chorus of voices resonate through the chorus room 3120 as students rehearse under the guidance of magnet choral director and Krop Teacher of the Year Gary Keating. After a twenty-year hiatus, Keating returned to teaching public school six years ago. Despite his break, he never lost touch with his passion for music, charity and above all, his students. “I hope it’s my enthusiasm for my kids and the fact I try to go above and beyond in everything I do that really got me recognized,” said Keating. With years of teaching experience in public school and college, Keating has dedicated himself to people both inside and outside the classroom. Keating has organized successful events for the Design Center of the Americas and the Miami AIDS Walk, which raised over one million dollars in 2006. “Last year we held our choral district competitions at school, and he ran the entire program,” choral magnet sophomore Renee Bastian said. “He did so much extra work and put in so much effort and it’s finally time that he got some credit.”
As a teacher, Keating believes he is obligated to provide an environment for students where they can ask for help, find answers and feel safe. “Being an openly gay man, I accept my students no matter what may make them different,” Keating said. “They need to know that they are welcome in my room, where nobody is judged,
De Yurre believes Keating’s students are his first priority, as he will do whatever it takes to make sure they are all content. Keating, who recently earned a doctorate in music from the University of Miami, emphasizes the importance of music beyond performance and strives to teach his students how it can be implemented in their futures. With experience in concert halls, opera companies and renowned symphonies, he shows his students how their love for music can be transferred into I hope it’s my a profession enthusiasm for that may lead my kids and the to success and fact I try to go happiness. above and beyond K e a t i n g ’s in everything I do passion for that really got me music has recognized. extended to a selection of his students who have pursued music beyond high school. Some of -Gary Keating his former students have chosen to major in music, business and music therapy, and everyone is safe.” while recent graduate Natalie For hours after the 2:20 bell, Sulca plans to tour with Jose Keating’s room is filled with Feliciano and John Legend. students and he takes pride in Still others have performed in telling them to go to their “other national tours of Broadway homes” when it becomes too late. shows, and three of his students “A lot of us in chorus view even made it to the Top 12 on Keating as not only a teacher, but this year’s “X-Factor.” also a parent away from home,” “I am so grateful for him,” Bastian said. said De Yurre. “He is the best Choral magnet senior Arianne teacher I have had thus far.”
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SHOULD LIBERAL ARTS FUNDING BE REDUCED? page 5
Virtual classrooms: a study in deception By Sharon Sabbagh managing editor
Sophomore Joanne Smith* spends about six hours a week on Florida Virtual School (FLVS) taking two different courses. However, according to FLVS’s records, Smith is not enrolled in any online classes. “I would never hire someone to take a class for me,” Smith said. “But I have no problem if someone else is willing to pay me to take a class of theirs.” Senior Stacy Parker* pays Smith $50 a semester to take her online class. She says that although it may not be cheap, its worth it. “I was missing credits and afraid I would not graduate,” Parker said. “Plus with 3 APs and college applications, I really have no time to take a silly PE class online.” Although there is no way to know just how widespread this kind of cheating is, many students feel that paying someone to take an online class is not uncommon. “You see it on Facebook
all the time,” senior Victoria Vargas said. “People are always putting up statuses offering money to whoever messages them first that is willing to take their FLVS class.” Florida Senator Oscar Braynon acknowledges this problem and says that he would not support making FLVS mandatory unless it included ways to weed out cheating. However, Dade County now requires students beginning with the class of 2015 to take one online class before graduation. No new solutions were included to ensure student integrity is not compromised. Data Based Assessments, or oral assignments, must be completed over the phone and are integrated into every FLVS class as a way to hinder students from cheating. Although this initially presented a problem for Smith, she now describes the assignments only as an “extra nuisance” to deal with.
►turn to Virtal classrooms on spread page 11
POLITICS
Protesters occupy Ft. Lauderdale
”
The revival of the graphic novel
JAVIER STORCH
CORPORATE GREED: Protesters sit on the steps of city hall in the midst of the Occupy Ft. Lauderdale movement. Inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, their mission is to address the problems faced by the 99% and generate solutions by raising awareness and educating the rest of the community. Flyers, bumper stickers, press releases and education pamphlets are distributed at large to the public to assist the 99% with the challenges created by the 1%. They invite other organizations, associations and labor unions to participate in their movement. Their message is also spread through the use of social media, Twitter and even flash mobs. For more information visit www.occupyfortlauderdale.org.
.. .
More Inside: iDoser has similar affects to drugs, page 12
Breaking Dawn Part 1 Review, page 8
page 7
Schiffy’s 5k race, page 17
News
tops From local to global: Page 2
KROP’S
Junior Jeffrey Tait won second place in the Pancreatic Cancer Walkathon. The event was designed to raise awareness The following students are Silver Knight Nominees for the year 2011-2012: Social SciencesAubrey Steiger English LiteratureGina Rossman JournalismLeigh Markowitz New MediaPrateek Sachdeva BusinessRyan Breslow SpeechRyan Wolis MathKirlos Haroun ScienceMarc Vernick VocationalJamie Henschel MusicAston Steele DramaHailey Fliegelman AthleticsStaci Marbin General ScholarshipJonathan Ludmir The award is given by the Miami Herald the Awards, to high school students who demonstrate leadership, community service and academic achievement. Compiled by Ariana Rogers
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
What’s going on around the world?
IRAN: Iranian students stormed the British Embassy in Tehran breaking down the door, throwing around papers and replacing the British flag with an Iranian one.
AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan’s president asked Pakistan to reconsider its decision to boycott an upcoming conference on the future of Afghanistan.
CAIRO, EGPYT: Egyptians host elections in a post-Hosni Mubarak era during a second day of parliamentary elections Tuesday, but nightfall brought another round of clashes in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
TUNIS, TUNISIA: The first military tribunal for former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and 22 of his top associates has begun. He fled to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14 after an uprising and has since been tried in a civilian court.
KUWAIT: The emir of Kuwait has accepted the resignation of the Cabinet and the prime minister and has asked them to stay as a caretaker government until a new government is formed.
BAGHDAD: Police officals said at least 13 people were killed Monday when a suicide bomber drove his vehicle into a security checkpoint at a prison in the Taji district of Baghdad.
AFRICA: Hundreds of African refugees have been released from captivity in the Sinai Peninsula and have been allowed to cross from Egypt into Israel, shortly after a CNN documentary aired detailing the horrendous conditions the migrants face.
UNITED NATIONS: Rival revolutionary brigades remain almost entirely responsible for security in Libya, posing the country’s most pressing challenge, according to the top United Nations envoy in Libya and a new UN report. sources: CNN.com MSNBC.com Compiled by Ariana Rogers
TOURNAMENT
School hosts debate competition By Javier Storch photo editor
Hundreds of students from more than 20 schools across South Florida gathered in the media center and classrooms for a South Florida Catholic Forensic League (SFCFL) tournament hosted by the school’s speech and debate team on Nov. 12. SFCFL and the National Forensic League (NFL) tournaments are hosted by alternating schools across the United States. Debate coach Audrey Silverman hosted Krop’s tournament for the first time
since she became coach last school year By hosting the event Silverman got her biggest reward seeing students who had never competed before experience a tournament by hosting the event. Debate students from the team and classes assisted with snack sales, distribution of lunch and the organization of different speech and debate events ballots. Speech and debate team president Ryan Wolis credited the tournament’s success to the help of parents, team members and Ms. Silverman. The tournament ended
around 6 PM with an awards ceremony. During the ceremony, first through sixth ranked winners were awarded recognition in each
category. First place winners received trophies while second through sixth place winners received a plaque or certificate.
JESSICA FERNANDEZ
UP FOR DEBATE: Debate students pose for a picture outside of the school auditorium after their competition. Krop has hosted other debate tournaments like this one in the past as well.
CULTIVATION
Cooking class plants garden
JAVIER STORCH
GREEN THUMB: James Lubin plants herbs for his cooking classes for the first time at the school. The grant that he received from Slow Foods Miami also helps fund schools elementary through high school in Miami-Dade County.
By Sebastian Elejalde opinion editor Two plant beds now lay behind the classroom of chef instructor James Lubin. A tall,
black owl impaled on a pole keeps birds away from the 20 various herbs that thrive in the sun. Lubin’s students planted the herbs on Oct. 21 and now
use the products to prepare and season the dishes they cook. The garden is expected to become a permanent and essential part of his culinary arts course.
“We use a lot of the ironrich vegetables, some that are good for the digestive system,” Lubin said. “Everything will be used in a culinary form. Nothing here is for embellishment purposes.” The organic garden came to fruition after Lubin applied for a grant from Slow Foods Miami, an all-volunteer organization aimed at supporting local growers and artisan food makers. Wendy Levitz a ,representative from the organization, showed Lubin’s fourth period class how to plant, prune and sustain the multitude herbs. Senior Natalie Ton said the demonstration Levitz gave them was effective, and that the garden itself will be beneficial in the long run. “It’s convenient and it’s economic because we don’t
have to spend money on herbs that we can now just walk outside and pick,” Ton said. There are 64 available spots on the plant beds. Lubin expects two more beds to be placed next school year and will reach out to PTSA members and staff for donations since the grant will only last for two years. Another aim is to provide some herbs to the cafeteria for a fresher supply of vegetation. This supports Lubin’s objective to embrace home-cooked meals and to give students the experience of food preparation that establishes a connection with the community and environment. “They take pride in growing the herbs, and they take pride in knowing that they’re going to use them in the future,” Lubin said.
News Page 3
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
News Briefs
School district gathers to discuss issues
LEGISLATION
Obama cracks down on Internet piracy By Courtney Goodstein staff writer
JAVIER STORCH
MEET AND GREET: Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho discusses budget cuts and school policies with other school boards from across Florida at Krop during the Bi- County School Board Meeting . Maimi-Dade is the fourth largest school district in the nation according to pta.org.
ECONOMY
As the economy continues to deteriorate, finding jobs has become increasingly difficult for teenagers.
Illustrated by Michael Behfar
With Internet piracy at an all time high, President Obama hopes a new legislative bill will help crack down on Internet piracy. The E-Parasites Act enforces or protects American rights against sites for theft and exploitation, would require internet providers worldwide to block sites that violate copyright laws, which include illegal downloads of music, games and movies. “Intellectual property is one of America’s chief job creators and competitive advantages in the global marketplace, yet American inventors, authors and entrepreneurs have been forced to stand by and watch as their works are stolen by foreign infringers beyond the reach of current U.S. laws,” IP Chairman Bob Goodlatte during a House of Representative meeting last month said. “The bill will also protect consumers from dangerous counterfeit products, such as fake drugs, automobile parts and infant formula.” Copyright is the given right to use unoriginal versions of movies, music and images in an original piece of work. “I make a lot of YouTube videos, but I was not aware of all the rules you had to follow when making these videos,” junior Reesa Sharpe said. She believes if people were aware
of these copyright rules, less infractions would occur. Internet piracy has significantly affected the sales of music and movies as internet users’ world-wide can post links virtually anywhere allowing free downloads of these items. For example, users can watch YouTube videos and then go to 2conv.com and download either the music or movie for free. According to the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (FIPI), in 2010-2011, 95 percent of music downloaded was illegal. Due to illegal downloads, global music revenues dropped by seven percent. In 2010 Limewire, a popular downloading site, was shut down by the government because it had over one million illegal files available. “I was a frequent user of Limewire, but I felt that it was smart for the government to shut it down,” said sophomore Vanessa Forero. “I think it is unfair for artists to spend hours working to create their music for us to download it for free.” Media sites such as YouTube are happy that new ways are being developed to help stop Internet piracy, but they have ways of their own. For example, when a video has been flagged or marked inappropriate, the owner of the video must watch a four minute video on copyright rules and at the end of the video take a multiple choice quiz. If
the person passes the violation is removed, but if they fail, the government then takes over. Since the bill has been passes it has stirred much controversy among politicians and Internet users world-wide. “No American wants to be told what website they’re allowed to go on,” said cofounder of the Fight for the Future digital advocacy group Holmes Wilson. “If this passes you could go to the Drop box in the morning and find a message from the government saying it was blocked.” If the law is violated, the person could be charged with a felony and can serve up to a year in prison or pay a fine. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has contributed to the ongoing copyright crackdown by suing over 18,000 users who have violated copyright laws, and has sued over 3,000 students.
Corrections from last issue News sectionIn the article “Enlistment falls among public schools” it was stated that Sara Alvarez wrote the story when it was actually co-copy editor Clarissa Buch. In Krops Tops it was stated that Luis Biondolillo was a senior when he is actually a junior.
Editorial Page 4
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
LEGISLATURE
Wet-foot, dry-foot policy gives unfair advantages to Cubans IN MY OPINION jared schermer
staff writer
Supposedly, America is the land of equal opportunity. But in 1966, a law entitled “The Cuban Adjustment Act” was established to allow Cuban refugees to become citizens of the United States after safe arrival in the country and oneyear residence. But the act established to help Cuban refugees is actually hurting them, is detrimental to the American job market and is unfair to people from other countries that want to gain citizenship in the United States. Cuban citizens face many hardships in their everyday lives because of the island’s communist government, which leads them to flee from the country and escape oppression, but the success rate of reaching the United States is very low. In 1994 a wave of 33,000 Cubans attempted to leave Cuba and of those people 31,000 were detained at Guantanamo Bay, according to
USImmigrationSupport.org. The Cubans that do reach the United States and gain citizenship are forced to compete for lower-end jobs against many other unemployed Americans in search of work. We should first stabilize the job market for current Americanb o r n citizens then allow immigrants to come here and find work, rather than force the refugees into a job hunt filled with millions of unemployed Americans. As Cuban refugees are continually given citizenship, people in other countries wonder why they do not have a similar policy. How helpful would it have been if after the Haitian earthquake in 2010, Haitians were able to come to the United States and start a new life? We can only wonder, because as Haiti’s people were and still are struggling to support themselves, Cuba’s people who safely land on U.S. soil are protected under the “Wet-foot, Dry-foot” policy. So much for being the land of equal opportunity.
“...the act established to help Cuban refugees is actually hurting them...”
THE LIGHTNING STRIKE Visit us online at thelightningstrike.com
Eric eIdelstein, Editor-in-Chief SHARON SABBAGH, Managing Editor
ARIANA ROGERS News Editor SEBASTIAN ELEJALDE Opinion Editor TAYLOR SILVER Entertainment Editor CHRIS DOUGNAC MICHAEL BEHFAR Spread Editors LEIGH MARKOWITZ Feature Editor MADELINE gARFINKLE Science & Health Editor
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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. 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.
MICHAEL BEHFAR
Letters Work detail and CSI may help budget crisis The CSI room is one of the most adored and beloved rooms in Krop. It is not only where students are nonsensically forced to buy I.D.’s, but it is also where students are given the privilege of picking up trash left by other students. To increase recruitment for the work detail program, I am proposing to change its name to the Scavenger Society (SS) to make it more intriguing. Krop will be able to solve the current budget crisis by enslaving the students in the “SS,” since they will be able to work hour upon hour without pay. The logical thing to do at that point would be to fire all our janitors. The “SS” could also provide a good learning environment for prospective sanitation engineers. In fact, with such policies, Krop can become the premier school for future garbagemen! Aleksey Klintsevich Grade 12
To whomever locks the stairwell doors in the morning
I’m getting sick of you keeping the building two stairwell doors locked during school hours! It’s 7:19 and all I want to do is get to my homeroom to avoid being late AGAIN, but as soon as I grab and turn the handle for this particular door, my tardiness is inevitable. You
know why? Because it’s still locked, that’s why. So of course, I’m forced to make the walk of shame all the way around the CSI building - past the long line of the ne’er-do-wells – until I lock eyes with Mr. Garnica, readily guarding the entryway of the north stairwell. He then utters the last four words in the English language that I want to hear: “Go get a pass!” The line is endless, and I’d be lucky to get to the end of it before I graduate. As if that weren’t enough, some days, upon approaching the gateway that seems to spawn my neuroticism, there just might be those kids who are convinced that banging on the doors as hard as they possibly can will transport them to their class. At 7:20 a.m. these seemingly explosive “knocks” can get to a person. They certainly have gotten to the larger, stronger members of the student body, who can often be seen yanking the doors open, eventually busting the lock. And we pull and pull, but you people come back and repair the door, keeping us locked out. We can pull harder, or you can just unlock the door and make all of our lives easier. That’d be pretty rad, because some of our shoulders are getting sore.
Jared Cove Grade 10
Tired eyes and a burnt out mind High school students are sleep deprived. Schools should be aware
that students perform poorly in school, and are drowsy and even depressed because of sleep deprivation. Students get homework from each of their six teachers almost every day. On top of homework and tests, teens use phones and the internet which is a distraction from sleeping earlier. Teens should sleep nine hours every night, but that’s impossible when teachers push them to their limits and challenge their time management skills. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens average seven hours of sleep a night which causes sleep deprivation over a period of time. Researchers at Stanford University found that teenagers require one to two hours more sleep than a younger child. This contradicts parents, since they tend to give later curfews to children as they get older. To wake up feeling refreshed, students need to decrease their technological distractions and teachers should decrease the homework load and co-ordinate the numbers of tests per week. Parents should also take responsibility for their children’s curfew. Working for the benefits of students’ sleep has to be a mutual effort.
Sapir Cohen Grade 10
If you are interested in writing a letter, send it to selejalde@yahoo.com.
Opinion Page 5
The Lightning Strike • November 2011 CURRICULUM
Dissection must be cut from science classes IN MY OPINION leigh markowitz
feature editor
Animal cruelty in the form of dissection has been endorsed by the education system for too long. Although public school students in Florida and other states such as California, Illinois and New York can refuse dissection, peers and teachers pressure them through mockery and by giving poor grades or alternate but more difficult assignments. If dissection is to remain as part of the curriculum, it should be an optional, ungraded assignment so that students interested in biology and anatomy can participate for the
learning value, while those who do not wish to harm animals do not feel pressured to partake. The aim of dissection is to teach students about the inner workings of the body’s systems; however, every animal dissected has been killed in order to be used in the classroom. According to the Humane Society of the United States, most animals used in dissection are taken from the wild. Out of 14 major dissection catalogues surveyed, they found only one that took its animals from “farm-raised” sources. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has documented cases in which animals like cats and rabbits are gassed and injected with formaldehyde before being checked for signs of life. In
one case, PETA investigators caught footage of a rabbit still alive after being gassed, trying to escape from a wheel barrow filled with water and dead rabbits. Although the animals students dissect are already dead, using that animal is stating that it is alright to destroy a life for use as a mere instrument. In fact, a 1997 study of seventh graders by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, found a positive association between fetal pig dissections and insensitivity toward animals. Dissection is also impractical at the high school level. Despite the argument that dissection is essential for a high school student to learn anatomy, in reality, not all high
school students want to pursue a medical degree, and those that do will receive all of the hands-on instruction they need in regards to the workings of the body at the postsecondary level. Furthermore, there is no excuse for an animal to suffer when the developments made in computer technology to simulate dissection provide the same educational value without the killing. “This year my anatomy class is going to try a virtual dissection program that allows you to move the organs around,” anatomy teacher Lincing Hernandez said. “I think that if they can improve on a program like that then that could replace the actual animal dissection.” Digital Frog, another
computer alternative, costs $884 and calculates the total cost of a science class dissection lab, from the specimens to the tools, to total up to $6,850. According to PETA, more than 90 percent of United States medical schools use computer programs instead of animals in their standard curriculum. If medical schools have cut down on their use of physical animals in dissection, there is no need for high schools to implement a curriculum that involves such activities. The next time a teacher assigns an experiment that involves dissection it would be wise to consider that the animals, in order to serve as a mere tool, have been mutilated and altered with chemicals and colored dye.
EDUCATION
Should Governor Rick Scott reduce funding of liberal arts programs in public colleges? IN MY OPINION jared schermer
staff writer
YES
By definition, liberal arts studies in colleges are intended to provide general knowledge as well as increased intellectual capacity, while vocational schools target particular skills. Within this definition, the difference between liberal arts studies and vocational studies is distinguished because liberal arts studies does not provide the necessary skills that can lead to a skillful career, but it provides extraneous knowledge that may or may not increase intellectual capacity. So, Governor Rick Scott’s plan to cut funds for liberal arts studies in Florida colleges and apply the money to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) studies would be beneficial for job growth. A degree in liberal arts provides few jobs, which is detrimental to American citizens with a said degree. I entered “liberal arts” under job requirements on monster. com and the only jobs that appeared were those involving the teaching of liberal arts in colleges and universities. In a time of economic turmoil and mass unemployment in our
country, the last thing we need is for bright young minds to waste educational time and money on what will not provide immediate jobs with decent salaries. President of Colorado College Jill Tiefenthaler argued in The Denver Post that the study of liberal arts provides young minds with beneficial skills that can be used in a variety of professional areas and its study should be protected. Tiefenthaler is correct to an extent about liberal arts, as they provides students with skills such as cultural diversity, but the devotion of large amounts of money each year for a liberal arts program that provides very few jobs outside of colleges and universities is wasteful, as it sets people up for low-income jobs. Rather than eliminate liberal arts studies completely, the Florida government should incorporate only the beneficial aspects of liberal arts into other fields of college studies. According to a recent study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, with a degree in liberal arts one can expect to have a starting annual salary of $31,000 to $35,000, which means that a degree in liberal arts provides American citizens with a job that offers a salary below the average of $46,000. In the midst of the worst economic decline since the Great Depression, we need to focus on providing jobs that will get America’s economy back on track. Unfortunately, this can not occur if we continue to fund liberal arts programs.
IN MY OPINION taylor silver
entertainment editor
NO
The other day in my Advanced Placement English Literature class, we were reading Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. My teacher Michael Kelly explained the implications of denying one’s nature, as protagonist Willy Loman was unable to be a successful salesman because it was just not in his nature to be one. This led me to think of Governor Rick Scott’s recent initiatives to cut funds from liberal arts programs in public Florida universities as an “incentive” for students to major in the mathematics and science subjects. Why should someone interested in liberal arts have no choice but to major in areas in which they are not proficient? The “STEM disciplines,” as Scott refers to the plan, are comprised of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. I do agree with an emphasis on these areas, but not at the expense of liberal arts programs. “Is it a vital interest of the state to have more anthropologists? I don’t
think so. We don’t need them here,” Scott told the media in October. The governor, whose daughter majored in anthropology, fails to see the value of the subject as it can be applied to a wide range of careers. Some of the most gifted minds have majored in anthropology – from Kurt Vonnegut to Margaret Mead to Jane Goodall. Clearly, it should not be lumped into the same category as underwater basket weaving. Unlike other types of education, liberal arts is the most wide-ranging and versatile. For example, someone with a law degree is not confined to law as a profession, while someone who majored in biochemical engineering doesn’t have many options career-wise. Their job availabilities might be plentiful, but the narrow scope of education they received only applies to one specialized profession. A survey by Duke and
Harvard University reviewed 502 technological companies and showed that only 37 percent of the companies’ CEOs and heads of product engineering held degrees in computer technology or engineering. In short, a diploma does not dictate a career. Mr. Scott, if you feel the need to make budget cuts, please get your priorities straight first. In 2009, the combined amount of money spent on football in Florida’s top six public colleges was $270,745,022. The amount spent on anthropology was $25,787,755. Your intention to make cuts in education before sports programs is just illogical. I have accepted that I will never be an accountant or an aerospace engineer or a biochemist – I’m not going to be like Willy Loman and deny my nature. My degree should have intrinsic value, and my decision to take the road less traveled will make all the difference.
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
Teens COMIC BOOKS
By Danielle Mackson business & ad editor
Teens marvel at the adventurous lives of superheroes and villains that live in comic books and graphic novels. What started in England in the late 1800s has now become an American phenomenon. The real success of the comic book medium began in 1937 with the publication of Detective Comics. Action Comics followed a year later with the introduction of Superman, the first comic book superhero. Graphic novels, longer versions of comic books, have attracted devoted readers over the years. Manga, one of the most popular comic forms, are complex Japanese comics that are often about fantasies or superheroes. “Manga” means “whimsical pictures” in Japanese. The Krop Media Center offers comic book fans a wide selection of reading material. “We have just over 1,000 books, which include manga, comics and graphic novels, as well as books about cartoons
and drawing cartoons,” librarian Jorge Lazo said. “I first added manga and comics to my library collection years ago after attending a workshop about graphic novels and teaching reading. Since then, I have seen it become increasingly popular.” Lazo said that in addition to being fun, off-beat stories, these novels combine pictures with text which adds a visual dimension to reading. Studies have shown that more parts of the brain are used when reading comics than when reading only text. Sophomore Sebastian Noblecilla is an avid fan of comics. “My favorite type of comics is manga, the Japanese stories. I am not really into the stereotypical American comics like Superman and Spiderman.” Noblecilla likes the welldeveloped plotlines that manga offers. He said that when a new chapter is released, manga readers can have a clever constructive debate on what will happen next. He also enjoys the artwork.
Entertainment at new graphic novels Page 7
“The art makes the novel a whole lot more interesting to see how the characters look and feel. It gives the reader a connection to those characters,” Noblecilla said. Students enjoy the availability of comics at school. According to Lazo, circulation for manga is particularly huge, including titles like Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Bleach. “They are also quick reads, so many students will check out as many as six a day. So far this school year, there have been 173 more checkouts of graphic novels than of regular fiction books,” Lazo said. “I read comics because they are interesting and easy to read,” sophomore Marcelo Valencia said. “However, more comics are absolutely needed. They need to finish certain series. I’m angry the public library doesn’t have them whenever I go to check. Recently, DC Comics, a leading comic book publisher, made a significant change to its series. It reintroduced all of their heroes as if they were appearing
JAVIER STORCH
A NOVEL IDEA: Senior Richard Leal enjoys an X-Men comic in the library. The X-Men series have been adapted into video games, a television show, and a film series.
for the first time. Ever since the change has been introduced, the sales of some series doubled in the first five weeks. Anthony Ruiz, salesman at Tate’s Comics in Lauderhill, agrees. With the relaunch of DC Comics, he said that there has been a rise in popularity
and sales of Justice League and Superman Comics. “Comics have definitely gotten more popular over the years. Movies and cartoons have also helped. A lot of people are coming in the store curious about all of the new releases,” Ruiz said.
Art magnet puts ‘Bodies’ on display
CULTURE
By Chris Dougnac co-spread editor
The S.T.A.R. Magnet Art program held a reception on Nov. 5th at the Hollywood Art and Culture Center for a student exhibit entitled “Bodies.” A paneled jury composed of art teachers Ernesto Montes, William Kidd, Mirtha Funcia and Julie Shaker judged the student submissions. For three years, the art magnet asked to use the center for shows, but after last year’s successful “Portrait” exhibit, the magnet students were invited back. “We decided on ‘Bodies’ as a concept because the human form is a universal subject that is appealing for both artists and the masses,” Montes explained. Located on 1650 Harrison Street, the Art and Culture Center has been a valuable member of the Miami art scene since its dedication in 1975. The funeral home-turned-art venue showcases contemporary artists from across the nation to present innovative ideas. This year’s magnet show breaks boundaries with its depictions of the human body. With the understandable
taboo toward nude figure drawing in schools, students created nude pieces on their own time. The Art and Culture Center was open to all pieces, controversial or not. “It’s hard for the new generation’s voice to be heard sometimes, but thanks to the Art and Culture Center, we’re able to get some kind of public exposure,” said junior Sabrina Yagman whose artwork is on display in the exhibit. Gallery observers admired photographer Shawn Adam Sagen’s pieces comprised of ghostly shots of junior Chandler Jaffe, who collaborated on the series with Sagen. Clothed by darkness, Jaffe’s face is never seen, lending mystery to the collection. Oil paint studies of the human body done by twin sisters, Maria Jose and Maria Del Mar Rincon, juniors, also attracted attention. Taking a different approach to an unusual subject, Maria Del Mar’s close up of an overweight female, bonded by her undergarments, exposed the beauty of an anatomy not normally admired. Maria Jose’s earthy washes emphasized a nude female form, captured in an emotional stance.
Although the show ended on December 1, students can catch the magnet artists at work once again at the S.T.A.R. Magnet
Academy Visions Holiday Performance Showcase on Thursday December 8th at 7 pm. The performance
will showcase all strands of the magnet. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $5 or for $8 the night of the show.
Entertainment Page 8
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
Apple applications
TECHNOLOGY
By Blake Mars staff writer
In the midst of a competitive smartphone war, it is evident that what sets Apple apart from Google and HP’s webOS is the App Store. The App Store is home to over 500,000 applications, all designed to enhance iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads. Here are some apps users might find entertaining and useful.
Gorillacam allows iPhone users to become more creative with their photos. The app adds features to the built-in camera such as self-timer and digital zoom. Additionally, Gorillacam prevents pictures from blurring due to motion and makes sure pictures are aligned with the “Antishake” and “Bubble Level” features. “Unlimited Rapid Fire” allows several photographs to be taken at fast speeds, while “Press Anywhere” turns the whole screen into the shutter button. Gorillacam is packed with features and free to download.
Akinator, also known as the “App that reads your mind,” is a genie who escapes his lamp to challenge users to a test of knowledge. A user begins by thinking of a real or fictional character, and similar to 20 Questions, Akinator will guess the individual the user is thinking of by asking a series of questions. Try to stump the genie by choosing someone Akinator would not expect and be amazed by the results. Akinator, which costs $1.99, will leave you trying to fool him time and time again.
TED combines technology and entertainment with a goal of sharing “ideas worth spreading.” The app contains over 800 TEDTalk videos from some of the world’s most fascinating people including Al Gore, author Malcom Gladwell and even the late Steve Jobs. By tapping the “Inspire Me” button and answering a few questions, the app presents a customized playlist of videos based on themes, talks and tags. TED is a free way to explore, watch and save inspirational videos.
For some, Chipotle Mexican Grill has become a necessary food group. The free Chipotle Ordering app gives these diners an opportunity to satisfy their cravings without standing in line. The app allows users to create their order, place it at the Chipotle location of their choice and pay with credit through their device. Users are also given the option of saving orders “As a Favorite” in order to make future orders more convenient. When you arrive at Chipotle, simply walk to the front of the line, pick up your order and be on your way.
MOVIE REVIEW
Twilight: Breaking December Playlist Dawn Part 1 bites IN MY OPINION
sebastian elejalde
opinion editor
Academy Awards, you may have to add a new category: Most Ridiculous Picture of the year. You will laugh while watching The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1. This should be enough of a hint that the franchise either does not take itself seriously, or is full of actors so awkward and untalented that you cannot help but chuckle. In the first of a two-part conclusion to what the Twilight DVD calls “the most epic romance since Titanic,” human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) are married at last. We are made privy to their ceremony – and Jacob Black’s (Taylor Lautner)
abs – within five seconds after the title is shown. At the wedding there is animosity between sworn enemies, the werewolf Quileute tribe and the vampires, as the volatile and poorly acted Jacob continues to instigate the newlyweds. Edward and Bella venture to the Brazilian coast for their honeymoon, and the highly anticipated sex scene that follows is anti-climactic – no pun intended. In fact, the sexual tension between the couple has misled the audience since the saga’s first installment in 2008. Stewart’s constant lip-biting and Pattinson’s monotone and blank looks translate to pure lust, but have been misconstrued as true love. Their story could be compared to Romeo and Juliet if it weren’t for the fact that Edward and Bella show little interest in their relationship. I’ve watched the previous films, so the effects of their lovemaking were expected when Bella became pregnant with a vampire baby. After both the vampires and werewolves get wind of the blood-sucking bun in the oven, Dawn takes a turn for the worse. The Cullens inspect the baby’s rapid growth in the womb while Bella becomes weak and fragile. Meanwhile, the disgruntled Quileute pack gathers to talk
about the cross-breeding in a scene that consists of unconvincing special effects, weak dialogue and telepathic communication. There are shots in Dawn which may seem odd to those who haven’t drooled over the novels. For example, in almost every scene a character stares at another from afar in a voyeuristic way. It feels like the movies are filmed to mock the books. The Twilight craze has baffled moviegoers like me, yet it remains the quintessential love story for obsessive teenage girls. But it presents some important questions: If Jacob’s clothes are ripped off when he transforms into a wolf, why is he wearing shorts when he turns human again? Why does Bella drink blood from a cup like it’s a Sonic smoothie? How come Edward’s sperm is so potent after over a hundred years? These are the questions that keep me awake at night. Although Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is flawed, it has enough accidental humor to make it an unintentional masterpiece. I recommend that audiences watch both parts to understand what a true love story, even a fantasy, is not supposed to be. If films of this nature are copied and released long after Twilight has gone, let’s be glad we’re mortal.
Songs Weighty Ghost by Wintersleep Welcome To The Night Sky
Over My Dead Body by Drake Take Care
Christmas Time Again by Amely ‘Tis The Season To Be Fearless
Let’s Move Back To Front by Zulu Winter Never Leave
Mind Your Manners by Chiddy Bang Breakfast
Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album
Christmas in Hollis by Run-D.M.C. A Very Special Christmas
Holidays by Miami Horror Illumination
Make My by The Roots Undun
Winter Winds by Mumford & Sons Sigh No More
Compiled by Clarissa Buch and Taylor Silver Graphic by Sharon Sabbagh
JOIN YOUR
Parent Benefits: Information about important issues affecting your child Volunteer opportunities Invitation to all PTSA meetings Assistance from experienced parent-members
Student Benefits: Annual Student Lunch One free practice SAT or ACT test Volunteer opportunities Representation at PTSA meetings Opportunity to apply to PTSA scholarships Student prizes
Teacher Benefits: Departmental and teacher’s grant “Welcome Back” breakfast Teacher prizes Holiday Lunch FCAT breakfast “Teacher Appreciation” lunch Special price membership fee
SAVE THE DATE
Dec. 8: Color Me Mine Pottery fund raiser in Aventura Mall Dec 15: PTSA Holiday Lunch in honor of Krop’s teachers and staff Dec 17-18, and 22: Learning Express 10% sales back to Krop and gift wrapping April 26: 5th Annual Silent Auction Gala at Newport Beachside Resort Carnival Cruise drawing 10 dollar tickets Winner announced at silent auction $50 per space and keep your profit For more information please contact: Zena Gruda: (305) 215 9137 Anny Vainstein: (305) 788 0721
Page 10
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
Cheating Strikes
The Underbelly of Educ
H AV E
K R O P By Madeline Garfinkle science & health editor
What do the underachiever and the overachiever have in common? They've both cheated at some point, but for different reasons. New studies show that rates among middle school and high school students that cheat have increased over the past 60 years. The difference between then and now is that students not only cheat to pass, but they cheat to get ahead. Some students feel if they want to get into college, their only option is to cheat. "Cheating is bad but there are certain times where cheating is the only choice left," said freshman Tyra Neversun. Neversun isn't the only one with this mentality. Over the years, the act of cheating has become more common and fewer punishments are being enforced. In one case, a student was caught cheating with the answers to a test but the teacher let her off with a warning because it was her first offense and she was a senior. In the 1940s, the students who were most likely suspected to cheat were the students who struggled or the ones who rebelled, but in today’s society, it is the aboveaverage students who are more likely to cheat. According to the poll of Who's Who Among American High School Students, conducted in 1998, 80% of the country's best students cheated in order to get a spot at the top of their class. Kids seem to be focused more on
physical grades rather than getting a good education. As teenagers make the transition from middle school to high school, cheating rates increase because of the sudden importance put on grades and college. Not only have students cheated to get ahead, but some students go to extreme measures in order to cheat. One student had cheating methods which included taking pictures of someone else's test and even purposely dropping his pencil across the room so he can walk around and see everyone's paper. These results show just how competitive today's students are, and the extent they will go to get ahead. It makes many ponder whether or not the students who cheat, are more likely to commit other unethical or possibly illegal acts in order to achieve more in life. “I could never write a letter of recommendation for a student who cheated because I consider a cheating incident a smack in the face and I take it very personally,” science teacher Gary Feilich said, who caught a student cheating a few years ago. He caught one of his students with the answers to a test. He said he would never associate with a teacher or student who didn’t think cheating was a big deal. Feilich also made the student who cheated tell his parents and brought him to the office. Although it was a dramatic experience, Feilich said it served as an example for other students on what happens when they cheat.
CHE
Academic SUPPLEMENT S
By Gabriela McKenzie co-sports editor
Students have adopted innovative methods to get ahead academically: drugs. Adderall and marijuana are showing up more frequently in schools as study aids. Adderall is a pill prescribed to treat ADHD by helping the brain to focus its energy and elevate concentration. These effects are also desirable for students wanting to boost test scores. “One pill usually goes for 5 to 10 dollars, so it doesn’t break the bank.” senior Chad Rogers* said. “I don’t take it every time I have an exam, only for the big ones like a final or before the SAT.” Rogers’s case is not out of the ordinary. One in four college students misuse ADHD medications, according to a nationwide survey reported in the journal Addiction. “You can’t grow it in your backyard so it is hard to get unless you know someone with a prescription,” Rogers said. “But
since you only need one pill, people are usually willing to sell it to you.” Students also use marijuana before an exam because they are under the impression that it improves their focus. However, the average symptoms of this drug are loss of coordination, audio or visual disorientation, and feelings of euphoria, joy, or paranoia— none of which facilitate studying. “I always heard my friends talk about how their scores on the SAT increased when they smoked so I decided to try it,” senior Ashley Marsh* said. In Marsh’s case, her SAT scores dropped by 40 points. “You’d be surprised by the amount of smart students that have taken the drug,” Witley said. “It’s really hard to stop when you can buy it for so cheap, and it really works.” There is a downfall to this modern form of cheating. Both drugs can be addictive and cause serious medical problems to the heart and lungs. *names witheld
compiled by Javier Storch
A recent online surv shocking facts abou
Would you chea the SAT/ACT
Do you con ch
The Lightning Strike November 2011
Page 11
cation Revealed
E YOU EVER
EATED?
h
vey taken by 100 Krop students reveals some ut cheating in high school...
Why do students decide to cheat?
at on T?
nsider Sparknotes heating?
flvs.net
VIRTUAL VENGEANCE: Above is a list of punishments and consequences dealt to those who cheat in the virtual realm.
Florida Virtual School
CHEATING
►Virtual Classrooms from front page “I figured that the teachers would never be able to tell the difference between my voice and that of the girls I take the course for,” Smith said. “At first I would get together with the client and just use their phone. Eventually, I realized I could just text her when an oral assignment is due and have her set up a three-way call.” Other forms of cheating on FLVS include copy-pasting answers from the Internet and
opening up another browser during an exam to search for answers. In order to prevent this, FLVS utilizes turnitin.com, a website that checks submitted documents against all other works on its database and on the internet. Punishment for cheating on FLVS varies based on the number and type of offense (see graph). FLVS keeps track of all student integrity violations in a private database. They also hire teachers with extensive
classroom experience who will be able to judge the academic level or originality of a student’s work. Additionally, instructors are able to schedule proctored exams for a student if they feel it is necessary. FLVS encourages community members, guidance counselors, parents, and students to report any academic integrity-related issue anonymously by calling 407-513-3341 or 866-9433050 (toll free) or by emailing academicintegrity@flvs.net. *names witheld
Feature
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
Page 12
Students get hairy for “No Shave November” CANCER AWARENESS
By Alexis Frankel co-copy editor
When the month of November comes along most students think about stuffed turkey and cranberry sauce, however some associate it with hairy faces, legs and armpits because of No Shave November. No Shave November started as a project in the United Kingdom to “change the face” of prostate and testicular cancer awareness. Now, men change their faces with moustaches and beards to promote the cause across the globe. Senior Mitchell Feigeles has
LEIGH MARKOWITZ
BEARD: Senior Michael Konigsberg tries out a new look. He chose not to shave during the month of November as part of the movement to raise awareness for prostate cancer.
abandoned his shaving cream for this reason. “I heard about [No Shave November] from a friend that sent me a video,” Feigeles said. “I do it because it’s for a great cause and an excuse not to shave. I’m always looking for an excuse not to shave.” Guys are not the only ones
who participate; girls do too. Students like junior Carolina Gutierrez will refrain from shaving her legs and armpits for a month. “I’m glad because for a month I don’t have to mutilate myself for social approval,” Gutierrez said. Some follow along without
knowing why. “I like the scruffy look, so it’s an excuse to do it,” junior Jon Millan said. “It’s nice to know that my beard is actually meaningful.” However, not all students think everyone should partake in No Shave November. “I don’t know how girls
participating in No Shave November will bring the same amount of awareness as a man doing it would,” junior Laura Salinas said. “I know a lot of girls, including myself, who won’t participate because not shaving is neither comfortable nor classy.” Regardless of haters of the hairy, the official No Shave November site, http:// us.movember.com, has shown that about one million people have participated in the event as of 2010. To officially join the ranks of the Mo Bros and Mo Sistas (titles given to those involved), students can sign up on the website and promote male cancer awareness.
Beards to try for “No Shave November” Ducktail
Super Mario
Mutton Chops
Soul Patch
Balbo
Chin Curtain
Source: http://www.no-shave-november.com/
ALL STYLES WELCOME If you’re thinking about colleges, think about this: one of the most exhilarating, inspiring, and international colleges in the country is right here in South Florida. (Lynn students come from 77 countries and 44 states.)
http://www.facebook.com/lynnuniversity http://twitter.com/lynnuniversity
23 majors and 10 specializations, including: Business Management Psychology Communication, Media and Politics Biology
To see Lynn for yourself, come to one of our Open House events or schedule a personalized visit when it’s more convenient. You’ll find all the details online.
Sports and Recreation Management
If you’d like to speak to someone in admission, call 561.237.7545. We’d love to talk to you!
Fashion Marketing
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Elementary Education International Business
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Lynn University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability and/or age in administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and /or other schooladministered programs. Lynn University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; phone number: 404-679-4500) for questions about the accreditation of Lynn University.
Feature Page 13
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
The evolution of electronica music POP CULTURE
By Alexis Frankel co-copy editor
Electronica had seeped its way into our culture through rock and hip-hop before mega fests like Ultra. Now a force to be reckoned with, it is hard to find a song that has not incorporated it in some way. It is no surprise that electronica was first introduced through rock bands and hip-hop. Artists from the 70s such as Pink Floyd paved the way for artists like the 80s band Depeche Mode; both featured electronic beats in their music. The 80s hip-hop artists Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash pioneered the use of synthesizers and drum machines in their music. Senior Roberto Beltran, self-professed DJ, draws his influence from the genre jungle which sprung up from hip-hop influence in the early 90s. “My influence started with breakbeats [fast rhythms featured in electronica] from old school jungle,” Beltran said. “Old school jungle is basically old school hiphop with beat box vibes.” What began as just background beats, emerged as a phenomenon
in the 90s with the advancements of music technology. DJs like Technotronic and Robin S. in London created poppy dance beats that knocked the charts. The rave culture went viral then and started the careers of veteran DJs like Paul van Dyk and Digweed. “What makes electronica so great is that it keeps evolving,” junior Thomas Caprara said.
LEIGH MARKOWITZ
IN A TRANCE: Senior Roberto Beltran sits at lunch with his headphones blasting electronica. Beltran can sometimes be seen dancing around school to this genre of music.
“[Electronica] keeps expanding and evolving because computers are too and the genre depends solely on computer generated sounds.”
While raves and DJs were taking over the nocturnal underground, other genres started to experiment with electronic tools. Soon, everyone and their mothers were experimenting. In 1993 Billy Idol released Cyber Punk, followed by David Bowie’s Earthling. All over the musical map, new genres were born like jamtronica and electrofunk. Today, electronica is everywhere. Some use it minimally, like Radiohead; others indulge in it, like Phoenix. In the hardcore electronic scene, multidimensional robot-like sounds are used by artists like Bassnectar and Skrillex. “Even though electronica comes from a computer, it originally comes from the mind of an artist,” junior Natasha Rumbos said. “It gets everybody in the same state of mind—to party. I think it’s crazy in a good way.” For the future of electronica, expect the unexpected. New genres like dubstep feature overwhelming bass lines, while livetronica appeals to original ravers. As long as there are DJs to spin and dancers to rave, electronica is not going anywhere.
AWARD
Frazier named Rookie Teacher of the Year
By Ariana Rogers news editor Her car is often the last to leave the teacher parking lot and she spends hours on end grading papers and juggling her six English classes. This dedication is what has earned Farrah Fraizer the title of Rookie Teacher of the Year. “I was flattered that I was even considered for the position,” Frazier said. “I didn’t even know there was a Rookie Teacher of the Year.” Fraizer received her associate degree in high school and majored in English and psychology at the University of Florida. Although she had the opportunity to graduate from college in two years, she stayed for four because she loved learning in the college atmosphere. Frazier is now in her second year teaching at Krop. Frazier has wanted to be a teacher since she was in ninth grade, when her love for learning transferred into a love for teaching. Frazier was required to write a short statement about herself after being nominated for the position. Her statement
JAVIER STORCH
HONOREE: Rookie Teacher of the Year Farrah Frazier teaches her sixth period English class. She was surprised to be chosen for such an award.
included the goals she has for her students this year. “I would love for one of the novels that we read in class this year to show up under their “favorite books” sections on Facebook,” Frazier said. Fraizer hopes her students will learn to love English as much as she did at their age. “Years from now, I want them to be able to look back on their high school language arts experiences as fondly as I still do,” Fraizer said.
Students show some style
FASHION
My style is...
My style is... ...inspired by Madonna, Lady Gaga and Lil B
I shop at... ...thrift stores, Out of the Closet, American Apparel, Urban Outfitters
“
I’m an artsy person so what I wear reflects my artistic personality and ability.
Mary-Kate Bruce, 9
”
My style is...
...dark colors, cut offs, rolled up shorts, shirts with the sleeves cut off
I shop at...
...flats, shorts, dresses and blouses
I shop at... ...Forever 21 and Macy’s
...H&M, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Club Monacco, Top Man, Goodwill
“
I dress depending on my mood.
”
Benjamin Chiminelli, 11
“
I feel like the way you dress in school represents how you work and who you are.
Predencia Sajous, 12
”
compiled by Madeline Garfinkle
Feature Lubin cooks up a positive classroom experience
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
Page 14
PROFILE
By Leigh Markowitz feature editor
The smell of garlic fills the classroom of cooking teacher James Lubin in the third building hallway; a layer of flour coats the table tops as students cook ravioli from scratch. Lubin has loved to cook since he was eight years old, the same age that he burned his kitchen down. “After that my mom realized I had a knack for cooking and began to teach me a bit,” Lubin said. He attended high school at Miami Senior, a magnet school for teaching, before attending college at Florida International University. While in college Lubin worked in a full service dining hall at the Tides Hotel, where he said he gained most of his cooking experience, and is now a professional caterer in addition to being a teacher. Lubin has a genuine concern for his students’ well-being and builds rapport through forming relationships with them.
“He loves getting involved in the personal social lives of his students more than anything and talking to them about life not related to school. He is more of a psychology teacher than anything else,” senior Alex Smoler, three year student of Lubin, said. Students enjoy Lubin’s class
because of the unique qualities he brings to the classroom. “He brings in many professional chefs that graduated from famous culinary schools to come show us real demonstrations of expert dishes,” Smoler said. “But his sense of humor is definitely what makes his class interesting, and
he has a lot of famous sayings that are hilarious.” Among these sayings are “Oh, my stars,” or “Clean up your stations or I’ll be giving out F’s like hotcakes,” and “We’re cooking up some spicy goodness.” In order to instill interpersonal skills in his
JAVIER STORCH
TEACHING MOMENT: Cooking teacher James Lubin demonstrates to his students the importance of hygiene in the kitchen. He sang “Happy Birthday” to show students how long they should wash their hands for.
students, Lubin uses teaching techniques such as the “flavor of the month.” The class is split into groups to demonstrate a meal that is made in another country, teach the class to make the meal and then write a report on that country. Lubin also inspires his students to set goals for their futures. “He was one of my main influences in my decision to pursue a college major in business management and hospitality,” Smoler said. For the first time this year Lubin will get students industry-certified so that they have documented credentials in cooking. “This will get them extra foot in the door when they are applying for a job in food service,” Lubin said. He wants his students to be able to leave his class with knowledge in proper, safe and sanitary cooking. “They are not all chefs; they’re not all going to be chefs, but when I see the students engaged and working, that is the highlight of my day,” Lubin said.
Science & Health
The Lightning Strike •November 2011
Page 15
PSYCHOLOGY
Washing the “mean” off
How showering helps reduce stress level By Ariana Rogers news editor There’s more to a shower than just a quick lather, wash, and rinse. According to research, a good scrub not only has the ability to wash away dirt but ones troubles as well. On average, people spend between 5-10 minutes in the shower per day. Studies show this time can be significant in helping reduce ones stress level. However, the secret isn’t just in the water as most would assume. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Elisha Goldstein explains in her blog psychcentral.com that
in order to reduce stress one should focus on nothing else but the relaxing sensations received from the shower. The idea is that by concentrating solely on the activity at hand, bathers will be able to clear their mind and actually enjoy it. Goldstein insists this exercise will also work while doing other simple tasks such as folding clothes or taking a walk. Goldstein bases his conclusion on ten years of research and qualitative data derived from hundreds of other people’s personal experiences. “Bringing a nonjudgmental awareness to your five senses
while being in the shower not only reduces stress but trains your mind to be more present in your life in general,” Goldstein said. “This steps you into a new world of choice, possibility, and opportunity.” Additionally, Cameronmoll. com mentions showers as a great opportunity to think creatively. There is little room for distractions in the shower and requires little to no complex thinking which leaves the mind free to think of other matters. It also creates a “white noise” effect which blocks out any distracting sounds. This allows bathers to better focus on whatever’s on their mind.
TECHNOLOGY
Siri: The latest addition to the iphone By Dean Kaire staff writer “Text my mom telling her I’ll be late today,” a student says softly to his phone. Within the next second, the message is delivered. On Oct. 4, Apple amazed the world yet again, this time introducing the most hightech voice recognition system ever created: Siri. Siri is an incredible feature only available for iPhone 4S users, which is what primarily sets apart the newest iPhone from any other Apple phone created.
Siri went on sale Oct. 14 alongside the iPhone 4S. iPhone fans have wondered as to whether or not they should spend the money to upgrade from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S because it has a lot of the same features. On the outside, it may look the same, but on the inside, it has multiple new changes. “It’s kind of like having the unpaid intern of my dreams at my beck and call, organizing my life for me,” said Brian Chen, a critic of the leading technology news website, Wired. Siri can do almost
thingsthatsirisays.com
anything you command it to do. People have the ability to let it text their friends, schedule meetings in their calendar, and it can even help them find homework answers. Siri is programmed with clever responses to numerous questions. For instance, if someone were to tell Siri to “talk to them dirty,” they may get a response saying, “Do you talk to all your phones like that?” The iPhone 4S is built with a Dual-Core A5 chip, which enables the phone to run almost two times faster and load graphics seven times faster. The camera was also improved on the newest iPhone with an eightmigapixel camera on the phone, which is one of the best cameras on any mobile phone. People who still question whether or not to upgrade may have good reason to. Apple releases a new phone so often, each with extraordinary new features so why not wait for the next one to be released with even more new features, programmed in it? People are also thinking that the recent death of CEO Steve Jobs will also play a factor in future products. Not to mention Apple keeps their products under tabs better than any other corporation around, so if people are waiting until the next iPhone is released, they are just going to have to have faith that Apple will release the phone soon. As for now, the iPhone 4S can be bought from from three different networks on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. The cheapest iPhone is priced at $199 with 16 GB and a new contract. The most expensive one starts at $399 with a new contract and with 64 GB of space.
Some confess that taking showers is the only time they have to themselves. “I love taking showers, it’s one of the best parts of my day because I actually get time to myself rather than constantly thinking about other things I have to do,” senior Ziad Nasir said. According to American Cancer Society, hydrotherapy is another use of water as a medical treatment and can be used as an excellent way to relieve stress. Throughout history people have found relief in hydrotherapy as a way to treat injuries and lower anxiety. For example, Greeks used mineral
water as a healing agent in the past. Also, Roman and Turkish baths are still a popular tourist attraction today. Debbie Mandel stress management specialist and author of Addicted to Stress recommends that during a shower one should massage their muscles to increase circulation to the skin and release toxins, relax the mind and only think about their own personal wellbeing. Among other things, showers also increases blood flow and capillary action near the surface of the skin, provide treatment for injuries or sore spots on the body and help free the mind.
MEDITATION
Hypnosis entrances Krop
By Gabriela McKenzie co-sports editor “The hypnotist told us to concentrate, keep our eyes closed and listen to his instructions,” junior Sabrina Yagman said. Yagman is one of the students who volunteered as a subject for the hypnosis experiment that took place at the United Way Pep rally last month. SGA hired hypnotist Rich Alexander, a board certified hypnotist, to perform. Alexander created a show after he became certified in 1995, designed to become the ultimate entertainment for assemblies, fundraisers, proms and project graduation. During Alexander’s show, he hypnotizes students to fall asleep at the snap of his finger and play in hypnotic skits that amuse audiences. “It didn’t work on me because I am easily distracted and it was nearly impossible to meditate in front of a crowd of rowdy teenagers,” Yagman said. Franz Mesmer, the father of modern hypnosis, who is also a physician, defines hypnosis as “a heightened state
BLAKE MARS
FOLLOW THE LEADER: Hypnotist Rich Alexander instructs hypnotized students to follow a monkey’s movement. The students followed the hypnotist’s instruction.
of suggestibility where the suggestions given are accepted as being true.” The scientific concept of hypnotism wasn’t created until the late 1700s when people believed hypnosis to be a mystical force flowing from the hypnotist into the subject. “Hypnosis can be important in therapy and in life,” senior Anastasia Ferguson, another participant at the pep rally said. “It can reveal something important that you or a therapist may need to know in order to heal.”
Science & Health Page 16
ASTRONOMY
DNA building blocks found in meteorites By Dean Kaire staff writer One of the most stunning and famous movies during the 1980s, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial convinced some that life beyond Earth could be possible. But after a recent discovery, the movie may not be too far from reality. In Antarctica, a group of NASA scientists found a key component of DNA, the building blocks of life, in a meteorite. Scientists have known for several years that forms of amino acids were located inside meteorites, but with a recent discovery of another set of molecules, scientists believe that extraterrestrial meteorites played a major role in creating the earliest forms of life.
After numerous tests and examination run on the meteorite, scientists concluded that these meteorites were not from Earth’s surrounding area. Jim Cleaves, a chemist at the Carnegie Institution believes that the meteor find may actually support the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Not only did scientists find DNA compounds, they also found forms of nucleobase that are involved in every day biological processes such as respiration.
T h e evidence suggests that the meteorite may have had an impact on the creation of human life on Earth. Once the meteorites fell to Earth, scientists believe DNA compounds inside sparked the creation of a life form. If Earth is just one planet, in one galaxy of millions, what’s to say that meteorites just like those haven’t already hit other planets with the capabilities to sustain life forms? Until our scientific knowledge and abilities go beyond that our own galaxy, there is no evidence to conclude that humans are the only species out there.
INFLATION
Dramatic changes in food packaging By Fenica Pierre staff writer Have you noticed the underground effect of food packages? According to an article in the New York Times, companies face an increase in the materials needed to produce some foods. Key items like corn, wheat, sugar, and cocoa are considered
commodities high in demand. Energy is also an important factor, as it is used to package, distribute, and store supplies. •Doritos and Tostitos bags have shrunk by 20 percent. •Hersheys announced a 9.7 percent price increase in products. •Kraft’s Nabisco Premium “Fresh Stacks,” contains 15
percent less than original boxes. •Chicken of the Sea albacore tuna decreased by an ounce. •Tropicana orange juice containers contain five ounces less. •Hagen Daze ice cream containers were reduced by two fluid ounces. •Heinz ketchup size was cutback by 11 percent.
The Lightning Strike • November 2011 FITNESS
Let’s get physical
Benefits of exercising and being active By Maddie Garfinkle science and health editor
Decrease your risk of cancer Regular exercise can indirectly lower ones risk of cancer because it keeps off excess weight and reduces exposure of tissues to insulin. Studies have shown that those who exercise are at less risk than those who aren’t active at all. The American Cancer Society recommends 30 minutes of moderate-tovigorous exercise at least five days a week.
Boot insulin activity Insulin is a hormone that allows blood sugar to enter the body’s cells, where it is stored as fuel. When weight is put on, the body doesn’t react to insulin as well as it would if weight was regulated. The body becomes almost resistant to the insulin. This resistance can lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that exercise improves insulin sensitivity and resistance within months.
cells
Prevent visceral fat gain Visceral fat is accumulated over time, around the organs deep inside the stomach. Unlike subcutaneous fat, which is close to the skin, visceral fat can lead to insulin resistance, heart disease, and diabetes. In 2005, Cris Slentz, an exercise physiologist at Duke University Medical Center, reported that those who did a 30-minute walk six times a week for eight months, stopped gaining visceral fat.
Create new brain
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, stimulates the growth of new brain cells, and new capillaries to distribute blood and its nutrients. Aerobic exercise increases the amount of brainderived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which protects brain neurons, promotes the growth of new nerve cells, and is essential to memory, specifically relational memory. This allows us to make logical connections. Physical activity also boosts executive function that allows us to make decisions, correct errors, or react to new situations.
-Nutrition Action Health Letter 2009
Sports Page 17
The Lightning Strike • November 2011 FITNESS EVENT
5K: Fit to finish By Nathalie Prieto co-sports editor
“Every student can run a 5K; all they need is a positive mindset,” physical education and cross-country coach Caron Schiffman said. To encourage fitness in the school, coach Schiffman has organized the school’s first 3.5 mile run that will take place on Dec. 14th after school. Schiffman hopes to have all physical education classes, other students, teachers and even families take part. Participants will be able to either run or walk the 3.5 miles. In order to prepare for the event, Schiffman is following a 10 week calendar from Competitor.com that counts down to the walk. The calendar plans everyday exercises from running a track field to aerobic training. The workouts increase in intensity
each week. Schiffman also follows the calendar in her classes. During her one-hour periods, her students do the “Schiffy quickie” where they perform abdominal, cardiovascular and stretching exercises. By telling students about the people she encounters at marathons, such as a 75-yearold person, Schiffman tries to inspire all students to join the run Physical education teacher, Krista Latessa will also participate in the walk. “It will show students they have the potential to be a great runners, and maybe encourage them to join a sport,” Latessa who is participating in the walk said. Junior Melesia Mitchell will be part of the 5K and looks forward to the sense of accomplishment it will bring. “I’ve always wanted to be fit
and this is a good way to start,” Mitchell said. Aside from one-mile runs in previous physical education classes, Mitchell has never completed a 5K run. To prepare, she works outs as part of Schiffman’s aerobics class and cycles outside of school. Mitchell is also looking to improve her eating lifestyle because of Schiffman’s influence. “I try to eat less unhealthy food and eat more vegetables,” Mitchell said. Training for the 5K also takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays after school. Clubs like Invisible Children and Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND) are sponsoring runners to raise money for Uganda and Darfur. If any student is interested in participating in the walk, contact coach Schiffman for more information.
Athletes of the month
VARSITY
Kevona Gay 9th grade
As a freshman, Gay is part of the girls’ varsity basketball team. Because of her exceeding performance, Gay was chosen as athlete of the month by head coach Ray Thompson. Gay sees her determination and hard work as the reason why she was chosen as athlete of the month. “No matter what I support my team all the time,” Gay said.
NATHALIE PRIETO
REGIONALS
Cross country team wins first place
NATHALIE PRIETO
PRACTICE: The boys cross country team practices after school to prepare for the upcoming regionals. Their training included two 800 yard runs.
By Michael Behfar co-spread editor Junior Jeffrey Tait was the first to cross the finish line after a 5000 kilometer race to give Krop a tight win in the Cross Country District Championships on November. The other four runners crossed the line within three minutes. When the five fastest times were taken, Krop outscored Doral Senior High by 36 to 40. The other three teams
that competed, North Miami, American and Miami Beach High fell far behind with 83, 87, and 89 points respectively. Points are calculated by adding the finishing positions of the five fastest runners on a team. On the girls cross country team, seniors Ebony and Akeeba Rose came in first and second place. They lost by just four points to Miami Beach High. Cross country coach Caron Schiffman expressed pride in her runners, saying that they
deserved the win because of how hard they trained. She attributed the teams success to the help of the new assistant coach Moe. The new coach, a seasoned runner from Oklahoma State, helped the team with workouts. Schiffman said coach Moe, being a professional runner, set a good example for the team. He instructed the team through long distance runs, and speed drills on the track. To prepare for districts, runners jogged three to six miles every day and seven to ten miles on weekends. Two freshmen showed dedication in the race this season. Andres Canizales went to every practice, improving his 5000 kilometer time by over ten minutes, while Kenny Merced came in 19th place as a brand new runner. Schiffman says both runners show promise and are an inspiration to the team. The cross country team went on to win ninth place in the regional championships on Nov. 9th.
Boys Cross Country Regional Results 3rd place: senior Jonathan Amsili
19th place: freshman Kenny Merced
8th place: sophomore Evan Gruda
24th place:junior Miguel Rodriguez
11th place: sophomore Alberto Bendjouia
37th place: freshman Andres Canizales
Ogechi Anyagaligbo 9th grade
NATHALIE PRIETO
Anyagaligbo is also a freshman on the girls’ varsity basketball team. In her fist year in high school, she was able to surpass the junior varsity team. “She is a ninth grader that will be something big in the future,” head coach Ray Thompson said. Anyagaligbo considers her hard work in the game and her dedication for maintaining her grades. “I try my best to be at every practice, and I love that I come together with my team to win,” Anyagaligbo said.
Compiled by Gabriela McKenzie and Nathalie Prieto
Student athletes are nominated by their coaches. If you would like to nominate an athlete please email n.prietor@gmail.com
SPORTS NEWS
New Sports Club: Physical education coaches, Caron Schiffman and Elizabeth Morgan created the Healthier Generation club. The club strives to make a healthier school, community and generation. The coaches promote physical activity, importance of well nutrition and disease prevention. Activities done by the club include a preparation for a 5K (1.3) mile walk that will take place in the school in Dec. Schiffman also sponsors her “Shape up with Schiffy” in which students, parents, and faculty take part. They also strive to have students participate in local races.
Girls Basketball team’s honorary coach: Girls basketball coach Ray Thompson is inviting teachers to take part in home games by being honorary coaches. The teachers will sit on the bench and prepare the athletes for the upcoming game. They will also be able to talk to captains and cheer them up for the game. “It really is just a way of having teachers come out and get involved. This is how I became involved in coaching girls’ basketball,” Thompson said.
Students athletes receive college scholarships: -Dylan Karrel, University of Central Florida -Shea Brodsky, Binghamton University -Tyrone Haughton, University of South Carolina Compiled by: Nathalie Prieto
Sports
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
Page 18
STUDENT ATHLETE
Cassie Pough: rising star Student excels both academically and athletically
Cassie Pough
By Courtney Goodstein staff writer When most students are worried about picking out their
outfits for school, Cassie Pough is worried about balancing her school life and tennis career. Cassie began playing tennis when she was eight years old; after her family agreed that because of her height and strength she would make a good tennis player. “Since I am so tall, I would always get asked if I played basketball, so when I began playing tennis it was something no one expected,” Pough said. “The day I touched my first racket, I knew I would like the sport.” Training as a semiprofessional tennis star has put a lot of pressure on Cassie on
and off the court. She trains five hours after school and then goes home to complete homework for her two advanced placement classes. “It is difficult to balance
“The day I touched my first racket, I knew I would like the sport.” - Cassie Pough school life,” Pough said. “But I make it work because tennis will not last forever, and I don’t want to be known as a dumb jock.”
RECRUITS
Though Cassie wants to go pro, she also wants to major in Biochemistry and become a dermatologist. Pough believes she is a different person when she steps onto the tennis court. “I am more confident on the tennis court than in school and I feel I can do anything and be anything on the court and not get judged for it,” Pough said. “I try to keep to myself humble because I never know whose watching and judging.” The hard work over the years has paid off for Cassie. She is ranked third in the state of Florida and tenth in the United States.
SPEAK OUT
Q: What’s the
hardest part about being a student athlete?
“Trying to make sure you get all your work done on time because your at school until 6:30 p.m.” -Samantha Goodstein, 11th, girls soccer
Student receives tennis scholarship
Shea Brodsky
By Danielle Mackson business and ad editor Talent and determination have paid off for tennis player Shea Brodsky, who is the only female athlete this year to receive a full athletic college
scholarship. In the fall all of her college expenses, including room, board and books will be covered by Binghamton University, a school in upstate New York. The recruiting process started in March of Brodsky’s junior year. “The recruiting process for Division I athletics is a long, drawn out process involving contacting coaches by email and telephone, visiting schools on unofficial and official visits and meeting coaches,” Brodsky said. According to collegesportsscholarships.com, coaches will not recruit an athlete for an athletic scholarship unless they know about the applicant. It is a student’s responsibility to get
the coaches’ attention by contacting them or by joining online recruiting networks. “For anyone looking to obtain a sport scholarship, the best advice I have is to start early and contact as many coaches as possible,” Brodsky said. “You never know what opportunities will fall within your reach.” Brodsky has been a devoted tennis player since she was 10-years-old and has spent endless hours on the court over the years. She won the United States Tennis Association and high school state tournaments and also received the Miami Herald All-Dade Athletic Award twice. Athletic Director Michael Kypriss said that Brodsky is a great player with a tremendous
attitude who never quits. “I am so proud of her,” Kypriss said. “It keeps our tradition going that our girls who are seniors can further their education on full scholarships.” Kypriss has high hopes for Brodsky as a college tennis player. “She will get better every year. I think with good coaching, she may have a chance to progress to the top of her team ladder,” Kypriss said. Brodsky offered additional advice to other students who would like to follow in her footsteps. “Don’t get discouraged if you get some rejections,” she said. “Stay positive, there is a coach out there that is looking for someone like you.”
“ Having the right amount of dedication, hard work, discipline and integrity.” -Ryan Heisler, 12th, Varsity baseball
“Training because I do a lot of running during practice and I get tired during school.” -Sebastian Theodore, 10th, Varsity football
UPDATE
FHSAA reconsiders basketball fine By Eric Eidelstein editor-in-chief After fining Krop over $53,000 for falsifying the eligibility documents of several basketball players for the 2010-2011 season, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) reduced the charges at the November Board of Directors meeting. In addition to a $53,000 fine given on September 12, the basketball team cannot participate in state playoffs for a year and are on a three-year probation. The entire athletic department was also put on a one-year probation period.
Former principal Matthew Welker was transferred and coach Marcos “Shakey” Rodriguez resigned as a result of the ordeal. The FHSAA took this into account as well as the cooperation of MiamiDade Public Schools when they reevaluated the fines and probations. Earlier this year, Principal Dawn Baglos told a reporter for the Lightning Strike that she would not let this incident overshadow all of the schools achievements and planned to file an appeal. Baglos appealed in September and met with the FHSAA at the board meeting in Gainesville in an attempt
to lessen the fines and probations. The fine was originally $331,000, then $53,000, and after the board deliberated, it was finally reduced to $23,300. Krop has already paid $9,000 to cover the cost of the investigation. The probations levied on the basketball team and athletic department in general were not revoked. However, FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing said that if Krop commits no further violations this season, the probation period may be reduced. According to Baglos, the fines must be paid over a two year period with the
first payment due in February 2012, and the remaining due in February 2013. Former Coach Rodriguez was not satisfied with the results of the appeal and has filed his own appeal to remove his name from the scandal. As of the Nov. 21 meeting date, the board rejected his appeal. However, athletics director Michael Kypriss has stayed optimistic since the November meeting. “The Krop athletic department is moving forward and we will continue to abide by the FHSAA regulations.” Source: The Miami Herald
“It’s not really hard because badminton is shorter than other sports and we basically have fun when we train.” -Jiali Lei, 12th, badminton
“Maintaining your grades is hard because you have to practice, study and do extra credit.” -Shimron Larose, 11th, wrestler Compiled by Gabriela Mckenzie and Nathalie Prieto.
Fun and Games Page 19
The Lightning Strike • November 2011
HOLIDAY
. . .
WORD SEARCH
CHRIS DOUGNAC
These are laws that are still in effect or have once been in effect in the past.
•In Gary, Indiana, it is illegal to attend the theater within four hours of eating garlic.
CANDLES CHRISTMAS DREIDEL EGGNOG FAITH
FAMILY GINGERBREAD HANUKKAH JESUS KINARA
KWANZAA LATKAH MENORAH MISTLETOE WREATH
The Vending Machines are Under New Management. . .
•In Miami, it is illegal for a man to wear any kind of strapless gown. •In Florida, Unmarried women who parachute on Sundays may be jailed. •In Globe, Arizona, it is illegal to play cards in the street with a Native American. •In Georgia, it is illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless the shades are down. •In Minnesota, women may face up to 30 days in jail if they impersonate Santa Claus. •In Arkansas, It is illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas.
CHRIS DOUGNAC
•In Los Angeles, a man is legally entitled to beat his wife with a leather belt or strap, but the belt can't be wider than 2 inches, unless he has his wife's consent to beat her with a wider strap. •In Florida, it is against the law to put livestock on a school bus.
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Contact us Room 2233 (305) 652 6808 ext.238 MICHAEL BEHFAR
KROP:
Through the lens
Special events in November
JAVIER STORCH
JAVIER STORCH
TALK BACK: (from left to right) Senator Oscar Braynon, Representatives Daphne Cambell and Barbara VOCALS: Choral Director Gary Keating conducts magnet students singing during the Bi-County School Board Watson answer questions from parents and teachers at the Miami-Dade Town hall meeting. Topics meeting hosted by Krop. The students performed for school board members including Superintendent Alberto included the controversial construction of casinos and funding for education. M. Carvalho.
SP T THE DIFFERENCE Can you find all SIX differences between the photos below?
ANSWERS: Extra blue pattern on dunk tank, Mr. Keating’s hair, color of Coach Morgan’s bandana, missing cloud, Mr. Garnica’s hat, no door above Garnica’s shoulder
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