October/November Issue by Lightning Strike

LightningStrike Taking Miami-Dade by Storm

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

MDCPS switches to e-books, workbooks Mila Sicorsky news editor In a time where anything from restaurant menus to shopping stores are just a few taps away, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) has made textbooks available in the same way. Through a series of changes to class curriculums and learning materials, the district replaced physical textbooks with online ones for many classes. Besides Krop, high schools like Alonzo Tracy Mourning Senior High and North Miami Senior High have also partaken in the transition. Although MDCPS has allowed students to choose between physical and digital textbook versions for years, students no longer have a choice. The switch from physical to e-textbooks came when the district changed textbook publishing companies from Pearson to Houghton Mifﬂin. Unlike Pearson, which allows students to access both physical and online versions of their textbooks, Houghton Mifﬂin

only allows students to read from e-textbooks. Assistant principal Humberto Brito claims that, compared to Pearson, the Houghton Mifflin textbook series reaps more benefits — both in cost and quality. “[The transition] could’ve been because the series is cheaper [or] because it’s legitimately a better resource,” Brito said. “Houghton Mifflin and the books that it has are up to date with Florida standards.” Although MDCPS stripped its schools of hardcover books, it complemented the loss with workbooks for core mathematics and English courses. Classes like Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II and English I, II, III and IV are now able to write in these workbooks and substitute them for the hardcover textbooks they used in previous years. Unlike hardcover books, students keep workbooks at the end of the school year. As part of the transition, mathematics courses Algebra I, geometry and Algebra II adopted workbooks known as “consumables.” Mathematics teacher Mark Butler says

November 7, 2016 • Issue 2 • Volume 19

that,since consumables are supposed to be written in, they engage students far more than hardcover books did. “It’s easier because now they don’t have to do as much writing and can focus more on learning the concept,” Butler said. Additionally, Houghton Mifflin math e-textbooks allow students to get extra help through the publisher’s “Personal Math Trainer.” This software serves as a tutor for students who, while using their online books, can practice what they’ve read and learned. Just as some math courses received consumables, English I, II, III and IV classes adopted Houghton Mifflin’s Collections textbooks. According to Houghton Mifflin, the series presents students with literary works that “lead to mastery” of Florida Common Core standards. But many criticize to the transition from physical to digital textbooks. Some teachers, like Butler, claim that the learning approaches taken by Houghton Mifflin books are unlike those taken by Pearson textbooks. Specifically, Butler says that the new textbooks don’t place a big-enough emphasis on students practicing what they’ve learned. “Traditionally, I teach a concept and you practice, practice, practice, and once it looks like my

students have it mastered, I move on,” Butler said. “Now they’re just saying ‘Hey, we’re just going to teach you how to add but we’re not going to practice until later.’” Others, like language arts teacher Audrey Silverman, argue that the shift to online books offers an inferior learning curriculum for students. She explains that she prefers the older, ﬁctional works she has taught throughout her career to the modern, non-ﬁction ones offered in Collections. “We in English are representing a lot that has to do with the past,” Silverman said. “I want to have a collection of wisdom from the years, and I don’t think it should be erased.” In protest to the textbook change, Silverman drafted a petition calling for choice between physical and digital textbooks. She plans to send the petition, which has teachers’ signatures from schools across the district, to United Teachers of Dade, the district’s teacher’s union where she represents Krop. Although she sees faults in the new transition, mathematics teacher Rosa Martinez sees potential in its future at Krop. “It’s human that we’re resistant to change, but we need to make the system more reliable for transitions to be easier,” Martinez said.

FINANCIAL AID

FAFSA changes aid application process Sophie Muchnick print managing editor Applying to college is the epitome of stress inducement for seniors, but the 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has now made this process easier. College-bound students seeking monetary aid must ﬁll out the FAFSA application to be considered for Federal Pell Grants, student loans, workstudy opportunities and, for the majority of public and private

schools, eligibility for scholarships and nonfederal sources of aid. The federal government has implemented two major changes to this application process. Beginning with the 2017-2018 application, FAFSA will be available as early as Oct. 1, instead of Jan. 1 like in previous years, and will gather tax information from two years prior rather than just one. These changes make the FAFSA deadlines coincide more accurately with the col-

lege application process and allow students to be informed of how much money the government and universities will provide at an earlier date. This gives students for time to decide on their future and which college is most affordable. Also, students and their parents won’t have to estimate income information. But the changes don’t mean colleges will change their ﬁnancial aid processing timelines. Each university has a different deadline for giving out grants

and loans, so it’s important to research this information for each college ﬁrst. FAFSA changes every year and eligibility for student aid does not carry over from one year to the next. Students ﬁlling out this application still have to renew information and reapply each year. The new FAFSA requires applicants to report tax and income information from two years prior to the application year. So, this year, students and parents must report 2015 infor-

mation. The 2015 tax ﬁling information was due on Apr. 15, so FAFSA applicants would already have their tax information submitted before October 1, making it available for application submission. “The new changes really help me with my application process,” senior Kevin Acks said. “Now I can get everything done as soon as possible, and my college options will be available a lot sooner. I’ll have more time to decide with my family.”

why i’m voting for...

pages 10-11

More inside: • Sitting for the right purpose- page 5 • Foreign transfer student tales- page 7 • “Moonlight” shines in Miami- page 12 • Earth surpasses its carbon limit- page 15 • Hopen, Rub start Sports Nation Foundation- page 18

The perfect gift for every occasion!

• Dissatisfaction with candidates- page 5 • 10 things about Mr. William Taillon- page 8 • Marvel vs. DC- page 13 • Fasting for health, not just religion- page 16 • Golf team to regionals- page 19

Fresh Fruit Smoothies, Froyo Fruit Blends, and Fruit Treats Now Available! 18280 West Dixie Hwy

305-766-7715

Always Online:

Edible.com

News

Page 2 Compiled by Mikaela Mendez

tops KROP’S

Seniors Molly Shacter (Art), Lauren Solomiany (Athletics), Chase Feldman (Business), Jessica Schlaen (Drama), Sabrina Dillon (English & Literature), Benjamin Manley (General Scholarship), Michael Katz (Journalism), Brian Plotnik (Mathematics), Delanie Ludmir (Music), Jordan Gottlieb (New Media), Maya Levy (Science), Kevin Acks (Social Studies), Tomas Korn (Speech), Jordan Weiner (VocationalTechnical) and Johanna Mouyal (World Languages) received Silver Knight nominations. In its first official orienteering competition, the NJROTC team qualified for state level competition. Senior Maya Levy recieved a perfect score on her AP Research project on the development of a contact lens to measure the amount of sugar in tears. Freshman Ethan Levy met President Obama after winning the Broadcom Masters competition. Superintendent for the Great Cities Educational Conference invited the Starlight Singers to sing at the Intercontinental Hotel. The Star Chorus was invited to perform at the Florida Memorial University Choral Festival. Compiled by Mila Sicorsky

The Lightning • September 2008 The Lightning Strike Strike • October/November 2016

From local to global:

What’s going on around the world?

Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil: Elephant Sanctuary in Brazil was established as the ﬁrst sanctuary in Latin America for elephants that were once in captivity. Founded by U.S.-based nonproﬁt organization Global Sanctuary for Elephants, the sanctuary will house 50 elephants.

Calais, France: More than 2,000 people left the “Jungle” refugee camp on Oct. 24 as the country prepares to raise wasteland where thousands made temporary homes. An old building in the port city of Calais is changing into a process center from 6,000 to 10,000 migrants.

Kyoto, Japan: Kyoto was named Conde Nast Traveler Magazine readers’ second favorite city in Japan. Though it was topped by Tokyo, the former country’s capital is home to thousands of architectural wonders and thriving music and art.

Atlanta Georgia: Reuben Nsemoh, 16, suffered a concussion during his soccer game and ended up in a coma. When he woke up, Nsemoh was speaking ﬂuent Spanish. The occurrence came from a rare condition called foreign accent syndrome which changes a person’s speech pattern after a brain injury.

Nairobi, Kenya: Mosques have been changed from traditional green facades to yellow for a project called “Color in Fait,” which seeks to bring Kenya’s religious communities together.

Sydney, Australia: Australia’s Murdoch University teamed up with World Wide Fund Australia in using drones to check the health of southern right whales that are near extinction. Sources: CNN

Compiled by Mercedes Hipolito

RELIGION

UN sparks outrage with Temple Mount resolution Alan Imar online editor

In 960 BCE, King Solomon built the first Jewish temple in Jerusalem, Israel, and nearly 900 years later, Jesus was crucified outside the city’s walls. But now, on Oct. 13, UNESCO introduced draft resolution “Occupied Palestine,” which names the Temple Mount, a sacred spot in Jerusalem, solely a Muslim holy site. The Temple Mount consists of the al-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock and Western Wall. The three sites are said to be holy to the three major monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. After UNESCO decided on the resolution on Oct. 14, the Israeli government cut diplomatic ties with the United Nations Educational, Scientific

and Religious Organization (UNESCO) as it claims that the resolution is another example of the UN’s long-standing bias against Israel. The United States also condemned the resolution and called it “inﬂammatory.” “Following the shameful decision by UNESCO members to deny history and ignore thousands of years of Jewish ties to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, I have notiﬁed the Israel National Commission for UNESCO to suspend all professional activities with the international organization,” Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett told Newsweek. UN Watch, a Geneva-based non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to monitor the UN, condemned UNESCO’s action and called it historical revisionism, even

reporting that the resolution was drafted by the Palestinian delegation to advance its anti-Israel agenda. Sudan, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman and Qatar, which have predominantly Muslim populations, submitted “Occupied Palestine.” Throughout the Jewish community, the resolution has sparked outrage. With history in mind, Jewish students like junior Gael Abitbol feel offended. “The Jews were dispersed in the diaspora, and the land was then reconquered,” Abitbol said. “Our priests would sacriﬁce animals on the holiest days on the spot that has just been declared solely a Muslim site.” But Jewish students weren’t the only ones offended by the resolution. UNESCO actions also angered Christian

students, like junior Nataliya Dupree, who see Jerusalem as deeply rooted in the New Testament. “I think they should not pass a resolution that cuts these ties,” Dupree said. “The last supper happened in Jerusalem. Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. Jesus was a Jew so Jerusalem is holy for Christians and Jews as well.” Even Muslim students like junior Mahdi Yemmas disagree with the UNESCO resolution endorsed by the Muslim block, citing that the action does not represent Islam. “We all should inhabit together, but we are fighting a war that our ancestors started and never finished,” Yemmas said. “I feel that it’s wrong to negate Christian and Jewish ties and respect others’ beliefs and religious ties to the Temple Mount.”

POLITICS

Colombians reject controversial peace deal with rebel group Hilly Yehoshua staff writer Between peace and justice, voters chose justice and crushed any hope for a peace agreement between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a left-wing Marxist rebel group, and the Colombian government. FARC began in 1964 as a small guerrilla force whose original goal was to redistribute Colombia’s wealth. Half a century later, funded by a cocaine trafﬁcking network, FARC uses violence, kidnapping and extortion to promote their ideals.

Since 1978, the drug cartel and the Colombian government participated in an ongoing war that divided Colombia for decades. But on Sept. 26 the two entities signed a historic peace deal in Cartagena. Joined by Mexico, Uruguay, Cuba, El Salvador and the United States, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño signed the treaty. The rebels voted unanimously on a treaty that required FARC to surrender all weapons and begin a reintegration program into Colombian society. Before its implementation, voters needed

to ratify the agreement, which would ultimately lead to the FARC’s establishment as a leftwing political party within the government. The deal established a method to address the causes of the war and set a path for reconciliation and justice. But the deal was met with stark criticism from many Colombian voters. The peace agreement was rejected in a referendum on Oct. 30 when 50.2 percent percent of voters opposed the deal and 49.8 percent voted in favor. Many Colombians voted against the deal because they felt it gave FARC undeserved amnesty. People claimed that a

more appropriate, just agreement could be negotiated. “If ‘no’ wins, we won’t have peace, but at least we won’t give the country away to the guerillas. We need better negotiations,” Colombian music teacher Rooselvelt Pulgarin said in an interview published in the New York Times. The referendum halted the rebels’ plans to leave their battle camps and cede all weapons to the United Nations. In the end, four years of government negotiations didn’t end a 52-year-old Colombian war that has left 220,000 dead and seven million homeless.

News Page 3

TheLightning LightningStrike Strike• •September October/November 2016 The 2012 TECHNOLOGY

Samsung issues recall on Galaxy Note 7 phones

Hilly Yehoshua staff writer “OMG! My phone is blowing up” took a whole new literal meaning when Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone batteries caught fire, bringing worldwide attention to the company. When Samsung released the Galaxy Note 7, equipped with an iris scanner, heart rate sensor and wireless charging, they expected it to shake the cellphone market. However, its release on Aug. 19 had a different reaction from customers. Soon after the Galaxy Note 7’s release, Samsung received over 90 reports of overheating, 26 of burns and 55 of property damage. Customers awoke to their rooms in flames, their cars leaking smoke or their hands blistered because of the phones’ malfunction. On Sept. 6 the Port St. Lucie Police Department received a call that a car was engulfed in flames in a South Floridian neighborhood. The unharmed driver claimed he was just charging his Samsung

Note 7 when it burst into ﬂames.

Floridian Jonathan Strobel filed a lawsuit against Samsung when his Note 7 caught fire while in his pocket, leaving second degree burns on his right thigh, showing further evidence that the minor error in manufacturing poses major hazards to buyers. The Samsung Note 7 is more prone to battery fires because of its thinner battery pack, which has a slight excess pressure on it that causes the negative and positive poles to touch and spark. The battery has a thin plastic coating separating it from the lithium liquid surrounding it. When the coating breaks, there is an electric flow into the flammable lithium liquid surrounding the battery, which then ignites. In early September, Samsung stopped selling the Galaxy Note 7 phones due to over ninety reports and several lawsuits. Soon after, the company issued a recall for the 2.5 million phones

sold prior to Sept. 19, which had the manufacturing error. The Samsung phones, valuing $800 each were recalled from 10 global markets. On October 9th, Samsung stopped exchanging recalled Note 7 phones due to reports that the replaced “safe” phones were catching ﬁre. Samsung advised all Galaxy Note 7 users to shut the phone off and return it. “Taking our customer’s safety as our highest priority, we have decided to halt sales and production of the Galaxy Note 7,” the company said in an ofﬁcial statement. Samsung worked with carriers such as TMobile, AT&T and Verizon to provide refunds. The defect affected less than 0.01% of all the Galaxy Note 7 phones, but Samsung claimed that safety takes priority over sales. The discontinuation and recall of Samsung’s jewel caused the company to lose 5.3 billion dollars and its credibility.

CLUBS

Biomedical Exploration Club raises Alzheimer’s awareness through walk, presentations Libby Szalifer staff writer With the observance of Alzheimer’s month this November, members of the school’s Biomedical Exploration Club participated in a walk to raise money and promote the cause. Around 20 members of the club met up at the Hollywood Boardwalk on Saturday, Oct. 22 and completed the 2.5-mile walk along with other clubs and organizations. “We found out about the walk last year and we decided

to participate,” club president senior Lucas Nudel said. “We liked the event a lot, so we came back this year.” Alzheimer’s is a progressive mental deterioration that usually develops in middle-aged or older people. Symptoms of this disease, like difﬁculty reading or writing and delusions, appear slowly and worsen over time. The disease does not yet have a cure, but there are treatments that can slow its development, and research continues as awareness for the disease continues to increase. Since this illness doesn’t

directly affect many students, schools do not speak about it often, and some students may not even be aware of the disease. Although it is the most common form of dementia, it is not a normal part of aging. Biomedical Exploration Club has also started a new initiative, where the main focus will be to raise awareness and money for an Alzheimer’s cure. For those who wish to participate, the club will begin presentations during the month of November, and the club will also be selling donuts to raise money for awareness and cures for this disease.

NEWS BRIEFS Hurricane Matthew devastates Western Atlantic Hurricane Matthew, the first category five Atlantic hurricane since 2007, struck Haiti on Oct. 4, directly hitting the southern coast. Matthew was a category four storm when it struck, destroying crops and sweeping away most of the livestock. Almost one thousand people were killed, and their water and sanitation infrastructure was damaged, increasing the risk for disease. Students in Krop wanted to help Haiti after their disaster. Bracelets saying “Hope for Haiti” were sold for a donation of $1-5 in Activity Director Michelle Russell’s room and around the school by other concerned students. Matthew made its way up the coast of Florida on Friday, Oct. 7. It was a category two storm with sustained winds of over 110 mph. Five deaths occurred and over one million homes lost power. Matthew stayed far enough offshore to prevent a direct hit, but still caused wind damage and flooding. Matthew also affected Dominican Republic, Cuba, Bahamas and Jamaica, and South Carolina was hit by Matthew as a category one storm.

-Alexis Sanford

SGA raises funds, awareness for breast cancer According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, a malignant tumor developed from cells in the breast. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and its purpose is to increase awareness of the disease which is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Deaths attributed to breast cancer have been declining since 1990 because of early detection, better screening, new treatment options and increased awareness. The Student Government Association sold $1 wristbands and $15-17 tee-shirts and held a breast cancer walk. Posters were placed around the school to raise awareness and funds, which went directly towards breast cancer research and prevention. “Our goal out of the breast cancer activities was to promote and show how many people are diagnosed with this very sad illness as well as to increase awareness,” SGA public relations chair Hera Soysal said.

-Alexis Sanford

Twitter to shut down Vine The app that became the highlight of 2013, Vine, is on its way to app heaven. Twitter announced on Oct. 27 that it plans to shut down Vine, a popular video-making app. Vine became a new step in the evolution of film and comedy. Based in New York, the app was established in Florida in 2012 and bought by Twitter that same year for $30 million. The app allows users to post videos up to six seconds in length that loop until the viewer scrolls down to another. Through endless loops and shares, Vine Stars would rose together with the app. Through vine, stars like King Bach and Jerome Jarre have been able to open doors to negotiations with larger companies and videos. Vine Star Logan Paul, for example, has recently released a new film made in association with Youtube Red, a YouTube subscription service. Decades ago, few would have thought that six second loop videos would be enough to entertain people for an entire day. But Vine, which makes this cheap entertainment possible, became so popular that it made people go viral when “viral” was still a word used for sexually transmitted diseases. For this reason, market analysts grew astonished at just how fast a technology start-up can go from trending to dying, adding that Vine’s shut down is another example of a short-lived Internet sensation. While in 2013 Twitter declared Vine among its “foundational acquisitions,” the company years later began to see competition in another social media companies, like Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. While Vine’s shut down is news to many, several famous Viners have already started the process of leaving the app which granted them their popularity in the first place. These actors and actresses are beginning to resort to other social media platforms to showcase their talents and humour. Among these Vine stars stands Elton Castee, who has 1.2 million Vine followers. Seeing a Vine nearing its death, Castee announced an increase in his Facebook video posts, even posting about it in capital letters on his Vine account. Vine’s decreasing popularity is also evidenced in market numbers. Financing videos is difficult since video is an expensive medium, and Twitter’s stock prices are plummeting. Although the app is being taken down, the website will still be up and running, which means Vine-fans’ favorite “fail” and “dab” clips won’t be going anywhere.

-Nicolas Chmielewski

Editorial Page 4

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

ELECTIONS

VOTING

Why 17-year-olds should have the right to vote

should be a holiday

Old enough to know better Why election day IN MY OPINION michael katz

editor-in-chief

17-year-olds can drive to work and join the military but they can’t vote. They pay taxes to support their country -- which they can die ﬁghting for -- but they have no say in choosing who represents it. 17-year-olds should have the right to vote. The average student spends over 32 hours in school each week and, according to Business Insider, carries a workload that’s as stressful, if not more, than most adults’. From the moment students set foot in high school, they face decisions that inﬂuence their success in school and in life. Every decision THEY make, from joining an honor society to refusing to study for a test has an impact on their future; decisions cannot be taken lightly. Maturity is not an option, but a necessity a fact that many Americans, like political theorist John Brennan, overlook when claiming that “seventeen-year-olds are too ignorant to vote.” Not only are 17-year-olds mature; some are even more politically inclined than the average adult. Model United Nations and the Debate program are just two of the many

ways students are exposed to politics, and they’re two of the largest programs in our school. Not to mention, the average teen spends nine hours a day consuming social media (The Washington Post), which we know is often sprinkled with political posts. 31.7 million political tweets were made during the 2012 election, and numbers have grown drastically since, making avoiding political coverage on social media almost impossible. In addition, most 17-yearolds are still in school and are either learning about or surrounded by some form of political discourse, making

them much more informed than the average American, which according to a survey conducted by thesocietypages.com is twice as likely to know the names of the three stooges than they are the names of the three branches of government. Not only will lowering the voting age result in a more informed voting body, it will also result in a better voter turnout. Habits are formed at young ages, and allowing younger citizens to vote will immediately raise voter turnout from its’ meager 57.5 percent (bipartisanpolicy.org) while also raising the chances that young, involved citizens will continue to vote.

LIKEM BONEY

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

MICHAEL KATZ, Editor-in-Chief SOPHIE MUCHNICK, Print Managing Editor JACOB SINGER, Online Managing Editor ETHAN CURTIS MILA SICORSKY Sports Editor News Editor MEGAN ORLANSKI NAELA FOUREAU Lifestyle Editor Opinion Editor Online Video Editor NICOLAS CHMIELEWSKI Spread Editor ALAN IMAR Online Editor NATHANIEL MANOR Feature Editor MARY K. SULLIVAN Adviser CORBIN BOLIES Entertainment Editor SUN COAST PRINTER Printer STAFF WRITERS FEDERICO WALDMAN, MERCEDES HIPOLITO, JONAH MUCHNICK, ARIEL HARTZY, LIKEM BONEY, HANNAH BREGMAN, HILLY YEHOSHUA, ALEXIS SANFORD, TAMIA STREETER, KEVIN BAUERNFEIND, TIFFANY SCHRAM, LIBBY SZLAIFER, ZACHARY WEINBERGER AD POLICY

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

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Lightning Strike is the student newspaper of Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School: 1410 Countyline Road, Miami, FL 33179; (305) 652-6808 Ext. 238. Opinions expressed in the editorial section do not reﬂect the viewpoints or ofﬁcial policies of the school. The Lightning Strike welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. However, we will NOT print anonymous letters. Please keep letters under 150 words and saved to a computer if possible. The editor reserves the right to reject, edit and condense letters. All letters should be turned in to Room 2-233.

IN MY OPINION kevin bauernfeind online video editor

“I didn’t have the time.” Behold, the most common excuse people use when they don’t vote. Sadly, this is a valid one because election day always falls on a Tuesday, which is in the middle of the week. The solution to this problem is rather simple: make election day a national holiday. This change allows

time is over 30 minutes in 60 percent of Florida precincts. That’s longer than the break time of almost half the American workforce, which means they miss out on voting. In an interview with the student newspaper at Rutgers University, President Obama said that the United States is the only advanced democracy that deliberately makes it difficult for people to vote, and by not addressing this issue, we are only contributing to it. With voter turnout at only at 60 percent, according to fairvote.org. Making election day a National holiday could promote a more representative democracy. With voters feeling less confident in the political process, it is important that the government shows its appreciation and respect for the people’s vote, and making Election day a national holiday is the first step in doing so. No matter your party affiliation or who you support, it’s important for every person to have a chance to fulfill their civic duty without the stress of missing work or something important to them.

The United States is the only advanced country that makes it difﬁcult to vote.” voters time to fulﬁll their civic duties. People with heavy work schedules have the problem of accommodating voting into their schedule, which disproportionately affects low income Americans who work multiple jobs. This change also frees up spaces like schools and other public buildings. Another issue with voting during the week is the wait

LETTERS This school’s spirit needs more lightning

Vegans are students too

Our student body is immense and vastly diverse. Students are always beaming with energy, yet our school still lacks in spirit when it should be blowing the roof off at pep rallies, football games and other activities. We should be more involved-actually participating in school activities SGA and Class of 2017 creates. Clubs always promote meetings to discuss ideas, sometimes with inadequate attendance. Yet, students complain when those clubs plan activities. Students should come to meetings and express their original ideas and concerns. Clubs have ears, they will listen! School spirit is crucial in achieving “the high school experience.” Looking back in 20 years, you won’t remember your class size, the seats you sat or lunch you ate. You’ll remember how LOUD our pep rallies were, how goofy the class clowns were, painting their faces for football games. You’ll remember how everyone gathered and made everlasting memories. Nobody should be left behind and we all should participate and make these four years the best years of our lives.

The food at this school is edible. However, as a vegan it is really difficult to find lunch that will fill me for the day. The cafeteria usually offers veggie burgers which seems great, but they always come with a slab of cheese which I cannot eat. The only vegan product our school’s vending machines carry is kettle corn. The Nature’s Valley granola bars could’ve sufficed if it weren’t for the honey it contains, as vegans can’t consume honey. Although the lunch lines have salads from time to time that taste amazing, they’re portions are extremely small and the spinach is never fresh. This leaves me little to choose from, and I often go without food most of the school day which is frustrating. It would be nice to see a change in the school’s lunch menu that takes into consideration not only the diet of our schools vegetarians, but our vegans too.

Natalie Guignard Grade 12

Skyler Cartwright Grade 12

Opinion Page 5

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016 LETTERS

Sitting for the right purpose A response to last issue’s“Sitting for the wrong purpose” by Ethan Curtis

IN MY OPINION zariah bell

guest writer

In the most recent edition of The Lightning Strike, Sports Editor Ethan Curtis claimed “It’s second nature for most people to stand during the national anthem and pay respect to the military.” The history of the racist, genocidal, discriminatory policies and practices of the “United” States of America against an entire group of people due to the color of their skin is history some tend to forget when critisizing Kaepernick’s actions.

For those not aware, Kaepernick’s protest is nothing new for athletes. Consider Muhammed Ali’s defiance during Vietnam or the Black Power Salute at the 1968 Olympics. Would you have suggested they go about their protests another way as well? First and foremost, the act of NFL players standing on the field during the national anthem wasn’t even an established practice until 2009. Before that, they were usually in the locker room preparing for the game. In fact, between 2011 and 2014, the department of defense paid $5.4 million to NFL tea to stage onfield patriotic ceremonies, while the National Guard paid $6.7 million for the same from 2013-2015. Curtis claims the reason “Kaeper-

ELECTIONS

nick is conducting these actions is understood, but many people feel that the national anthem is a time to honor the military.” Most people today recognize that our military personnel ﬁghts for the rights of all Americans of protest, as Kapernick is doing. To dismiss his right implies your indifference towards the line in the anthem that states “No refuge could save the hireling and slave,” a clear acknowledment that slaves in America were not respected. While the injustices towards people of color continue in 2016, why should Blacks respect an anthem that never respected them? Why should Blacks feel obligated to pledge allegiance to a country that once considered

them property? I was one in four black students in an Advanced Placement Calculus class of 35 kids. Once, a White boy and a group of his friends sang loudly a song that had the word “nigger” in it. I was sitting in close proximity to their group when I told them it was very offensive and asked them to stop. They ignored me and continued singing the song aloud without apologizing. Thus, I sit rather than stand for the pledge because there are still people who dismiss me because of my skin color. I sit because my little brother is scared to wear his hoodie when walking to the store. I sit because although the pledge of allegiance says “liberty and justice for all” I am well aware of the lie it wants

me to repeat. I sit because the national anthem which bellows “the home of the brave” only applies to those ﬁghting overseas, not the brave unarmed black man that ﬁghts against discrimination and prejudice from law enforcement and society. I sit because Black Lives Matter. I sit because there are too many people who disregard the lines “land of the free” and “liberty and justice for all” condemning those who protest injustice. During the civil rights movement there were many who believed as you when people who protested by silently sitting at a lunch counter. Your opinion will show just like them you are on the wrong side of history and justice. In my opinion.

The right way to My dissatisfaction with donate the candidates ELECTIONS

IN MY OPINION naela foureau

opinion editor

13 billion dollars in relief aid was raised in response to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed nearly 220,000 Haitians in 2010. As of 2015, a total of six permanent homes were built with that money. Both the American Red Cross (AMC) and the Clinton Foundation were scrutinized after they were found to have mismanaged charity funds that could have been used to reconstruct the developing country. The American Red Cross’s original plan was to build 700 homes with living rooms and bathrooms. But after taking their administrative cut, the charity allocated money to other hands-on third-party organizations which resulted in additional fees, then claimed to have been unable to acquire land rights to build those 700 homes. Although the housing project received double the funds than other sectors, Haitians on its site live in makeshift tents funded by top Clinton campaign donor Clayton Homes—tents riddled with toxic formaldehyde and with no running water. Now, instead of letting international organizations control relief efforts, Haitian-Americans took to more local community groups to aid with post-Hurricane Matthew reconstruction. Nationwide, Haitian-Americans are leading in relief efforts to assist the rehabilitation of those 1.4 million in need of humanitarian aid. Donors should be wiser this time around as well, and take time choosing an organization they can trust with their money. “I think it would be wise for those wanting to help Haiti to do their homework and ﬁnd local organizations to donate to,” chemistry teacher and Haitian native Dr. Bluncher Menelas said. “It would

be a disservice if the people of Haiti don’t receive the money you donate,” Menelas nathaniel said. manor One of those local organizations is a coalition called the Haitian American Hurricane Matthew Relief Effort. In a joint-effort to assist Haitians, the Man Dodo Foundation and the Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA) joined forces to collect and deliver medical supplies on a medical mission to Haiti’s hardest-hit areas. “Smaller organizations have a more immediate impact on the areas we serve,” relief coordinator, Sandy Dorsainvil said. “These organizations are more culturally sensitive, meaning they provide services in a way that people receiving the effort feel more at home and comfortable with,” Dorsainvil said. These organizations are comprised of Haitian-Americans that are familiar with Haitian culture and able to give their peers that native dish of hot cornmeal and codﬁsh with a kiss on the cheek, instead of shoving them in an unsafe tent with can of “Chef Boyardee” and calling it. A personal touch can make a world of a difference in making service feel less like charity and more like genuine, heartfelt assistance. “Taking a red cross volunteer from Montana and sticking them in Jacmel would never be as effective as using a Haitian-American who knows Jacmel and how to get a r ound Jacmel well,” Dorsainvil said. The humanitarian concern in Haiti is not due to natural disaster, but political instability and ineffective international outreach—outreach that can be made effective by taking the time to research charity organizations, investing in more local non-proﬁt organizations and understanding the perspective and culture of Haitians. “You have to deliver service to these people in a way that their dignity remains intact,” Dorsainvil said.

IN MY OPINION nathaniel manor

feature editor

Whether it’s Kanye West vs Taylor Swift, or the iPhone 7 vs the Galaxy S7, this nation seems to be divided on every topic possible. However, in 2016, the American public can’t settle on one side of the two-headed dragon, otherwise known as this year’s presidential election. According to a recent Gallup poll, 25 percent of Americans are dissatisﬁed with the two nominees, making Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton the most unpopular candidates in 20 years. The losing candidate is also projected to become the most hated in history, surpassing Barry Goldwater’s landslide of a loss in 1964. While both candidates have the potential to become our next leader this Tuesday, both have had their fair share of disappointing moments in the eyes of the American public. From Trump’s blatantly sexist comments to Clinton’s undeletable email scandal, neither nominee has proven why they deserve our votes. My biggest disappointment in this election is not the substandard choices we’re left with, but rather the candidates’ wasted potential. Both individuals are strong, intelligent powerhouses with extensive experience in their respective ﬁelds, yet both portray themselves as ignorant, shady liars with secret agendas. Since his announcement to

run for the presidency in June of 2015, Donald Trump has barraged minorities with insults and discriminatory sentiments proving his lack of political knowledge throughout the debates. While his no-filter attitude and political incorrectness has attracted many, it may cost him the White House. Abstaining from political correctness is fine — so long as you know what you’re talking about. With well over a year since his announcement, Trump has had more than enough time to educate himself on foreign affairs and domestic policy. Instead, he’s spent it making nicknames for his opponents, inviting Vladimir Putin to hack into Clinton’s email server, inciting violence at rallies and poking fun at poor Rosie O’Donnell. If Trump had only locked himself in his room for a weekend and studied up on American politics as most of us students do to pass a test, he would’ve had this election in the bag. With the proper knowledge, his defense to Clinton’s questions would have been stronger, and he could’ve proven his seriousness. Unfortunately, the GOP is instead left with a clown, whose haphazard remarks could run the U.S. straight into the mouth of a third World War. On the other hand, from her 37 years of experience in the political sphere, to the cease fires and peace treaties she’s negotiated with countries all over the globe, Hillary Clinton looks fantastic on paper. But even before her announcement, the Clinton

campaign has been plagued with one scandal after another, from her emails to the alleged Benghazi cover-up and the paid Wall Street speeches. Had she only stuck to the truth and led an honest life, Clinton would’ve annihilated Trump. But unfortunately for her, exposing a Clinton scandal is just as common as asking your friend for the math homework. With the decades of experience she continues to flaunt, many overlook what she actually has done in that time — or lack thereof. Her supporters may say that Clinton has amounted to a life of fighting for children and women’s rights, as well as brokering peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Unfortunately, while she may fight for a cause, she fails to show what tangible successes resulted from her efforts. She was unable to significantly change any ‘rights for women’ nor mediate substantial peace in the Middle East. With the rise of ISIS and fall of Libya under her belt, she hasn’t acquired the type of experience we’re looking for during the next four years. Clinton didn’t spend her 35 plus years of experience benefitting this nation, but instead making herself look busy in the eyes of the American voter. On Nov. 8, the American public will have a tough decision to make. Elect a clown or elect a crook — the choice is pretty bleak. This Election Day, think how we got to this point. Or better yet, what did we do to deserve this madness?

Editorial Page 6

The Lightning Strike • October/NovemberPage 20165

VOTING

Electoral college does not represent voter opinion Naela Foreau opinion editor

In a country where 20 percent of surveyed elected officials believe the Electoral College is a special school for “training those aspiring for higher political office,” our nation’s voting process can easily go down as one of the most highly misconstrued institutions of our government. Back when interstate equality was a topic of heated debate, the framers of the constitution set up the

Trumpism turns election into a joke

‘‘

A major concern I have with this year’s election is the demagoguery displayed by Donald Trump. According to Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary, a demagogue is a political leader who tries to get support by making false claims and promises, using arguments based on emotion rather than reason. Trump uses emotion and fear to gain support rather than creating a genuine concern for the wellbeing of all. Demagoguery was strongly projected by Donald Trump in the recent debates. Due to this behavior the presidential election has turned into a joke and an insult to people who rely on debates to make a voting decision. The debate formats must become more formal. There should be a panel of certiﬁed debate judges in order to score the candidates, microphones should be turned off when information doesn’t pertain to the question asked and candidates should not receive credit unless facts are provided to answer the question. Trump is reﬂecting poorly on the entire Republican party and my fear is that this may lead to a schism in the Republican Party that has danger written all over it. Trumpism, which combines nationalism, racism, corporatism, misogyny, fascism, narcissism and militarism, will not go away with ease. Trump supporters have been threatening his opponent Hilary Clinton’s life if she wins the election; America’s entire democratic process can be demolished by these people. These people claim that the election is “rigged,” and claim they will not abide by its results. Donald Trump and his supporters are a threat to our system of government and the future of this country. Eric Hafter Social Studies Teacher

Electoral College as a voting process that ensured small states had the same amount of influence larger and more populous states to vote in elections. Although every vote counts, the candidate that receives the most votes throughout the nation doesn’t necessarily become president. America witnessed this in 2000, when President George Bush Jr. won the election with 284 electoral votes— votes that represent the state— although his opponent Al

Gore led with about 540,000 more popular votes— a collection of votes cast by each individual. Here’s how the Electoral College works: in November, all registered voters across the nation cast a “ticket”, or their vote for a presidential and vice-presidential candidate. Each state has the same amount of electors as they have both senators and members in the House of Representatives, adding up to 538 electors from all 50 states. These electors then go

to their state capitals in December where they cast their ballot for president and vice president. Electors do not have to vote in corroboration with the state’s popular vote unless they’re from one of the 27 states that have laws against “faithless electors.” No elector has ever been punished for not voting with their state’s popular vote. In January, Congress will open and count every vote during a certified joint-session. Members of the House of Representatives and Sen-

ate meet at the House Chamber to officially tally all of the votes. A majority of 270 electorate votes is required to win a Presidential election. As president of the Senate, the vice president then declares the official winners of the election. Although electoral votes are very important in a presidential election, so are individual votes. Electors cast a vote depending on the candidate that was chosen by the state’s majority, so every vote should count.

SATIRE

Clash of the Candidates: come watch Clinton and Trump battle it out IN MY OPINION jonah muchnick

business manager

Tune in Thursday night to watch the two most nationally anticipated fighters battle one last time as they go for the gold in an intense, heated battle of wits and fists. No, this isn’t your average MMA fight— this is the presidential debate. In one corner, we have Donald Trump: businessman, entrepreneur and spray-tan

enthusiast. His abrupt and outrageous personality is everything this country wants in a political candidate. Trump doesn’t like answering questions, so he’s become a master at dodging and weaving his way out of them. Trump has a background in animal control, where he is famous for grabbing a record number of cats with his bare hands. In the opposite corner is Hillary Clinton: senator, secretary of state and tech guru. Her smile strikes fear into the hearts of millions. Clinton loves answering questions, as

‘‘ ‘‘

long as they’re the ones she rehearsed. Clinton has a background with Google, where she was famous for the improvements she pioneered to the email format, like the delete button. So be prepared for a battle of wits, where these two infamous candidates can finally answer long-asked questions about their plans and policies. And then be prepared to be utterly disappointed when this battle of wits turns into a middle-school diss battle. Fear not! While the debate’s chaos may not be what

Social media proves Let’s mimick online dating critical in election sites to side with candidates

‘‘

you were looking, you can find solace in the fact that you’ve found your new passion, Kenneth Bone. Ken Bone’s cute red sweater and receding hairline will surely strike love into the hearts of women everywhere. Or he’ll become an internet meme, it could go either way. So get ready for the three hour television event that can either leave you trembling, crying or laughing. America’s future may not be entertaining, but the catfight that comes prior to it sure is.

Trump presidency would spark terror, revolution

Social media has been a major determining factor in the 2016 presidential election. Twitter is the number one platform for this communication. With each tweet, hundreds upon thousands of people are informed with information pertaining to the candidate’s intentions for the election. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have millions of followers each. Social media has provided a rapid system of communication from the delegates to the people. Furthermore, Trump has been caught in the act of tweeting controversial claims about a multitude of groups. He has faced major conflict with these tweets. Hillary, on the other hand, often has tweets that have less radical language. Twitter also provided the candidates with a medium to debate trending issues within the United States. Alternatively, many Facebook videos have been in circulation showing what goes on in each candidate’s presidential rallies.

As I was waiting in line for over an hour, getting wet on a rainy day for early voting, still not knowing who I was going to vote for, I began thinking about the following: There are so many issues to consider for each candidate, some good points and some bad points for each. Why don’t we turn our elections in to something that online dating services have been doing so successfully over the years? With more than 75 percent of all marriages today coming from online dating services, they must be doing something right. Dating services ask for a current picture and then ask you to complete an online survey and then a computer matches you with a compatible mate. The elections board could do the same, all at the convenience in your (dry) home, on my computer or smart phone: Post pictures of each candidate and then give a multiple choice survey on relevant issues such as immigration, health care, individual rights, character, and the economy. Based on the results of the survey, a computer algorithm would calculate my score for one candidate or the other. Before you would be allowed to submit it, you would be informed of who you voted for, and then asked to confirm the selection. On the other hand, 85 percent of online marriages end in divorce.

Here it is the week before the general election of 2016, and I am losing more sleep than the mother of a newborn with a toothache. I have fears that I will awaken on November 9 to find out that the leader of my beloved country is a pathological bully, liar, misogynist manchild. Never before have we seen the likes of this maniac: every word, movement or action that emanates from him stems from a place of fear and loathing. I try to envision our country’s leader tweeting, at his usual 1:30 a.m. timeslot, to the various leaders of the congress, or for that matter the world, about some trivial comment that somehow hurt his feelings, and so now he must wreak revenge through his adolescent taunting. I’ve said this before: I do not care what Hillary has allegedly perpetrated in the secret emails; I do not care if some amount of dollars was funneled from her campaign into the Clinton Foundation (which happens to do excellent work), and I do not care that she did not leave her husband after he cheated. I would vote for Hillary over Donald if she did any of those things or worse. Trump is a detestable moron who will be a terrible, horrible role model for our kids, and an even worse President. His election would lead to either cultural mutiny, violent revolution or worldwide obliteration.

Clinton Jules Grade 12

David Buncher Science Department Chair

Audrey Silverman English Teacher

Feature

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

Page 7

STUDENT LIFE

LaMonica, GSA create safe haven for LGBT students Tamia Streeter staff writer When Gabriele Cano was 14 years old, they* were kicked out of their mother’s house after opening up about their pansexulaism. Cano then moved into her father’s home in Miami and transferred to Krop for their freshman year. “My counselor was busy, so LaMonica registered me, and I had never seen so much rainbow before I walked into to her office,” Cano said. “I was vulnerable because when you can’t be who you are, it feels like the world is moving on without you.” That was when Lisa LaMonica told them about GayStraight Alliance and Living Rainbow — two organizations which she’s sponsored since Krop’s opening. They joined immediately. LaMonica first became involved in 1992 after attending a Student Services Depart-

KEVIN BAUERNFEIND/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

CONNECTING: Lisa LaMonica speaks with a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance in front of the club’s Homecoming door. GSA has been a part of Krop activities since the school’s opening.

ment meeting about supporting LGBT youth. The announcement immediately interested her because she had worked with LGBT students in the past. “When I was a counselor at Miami Jackson Senior High, there was a boy who refused to go to class. I later found out it was because he was gay and he didn’t want to face his classmates who made fun of the way he walked and

talked,” LaMonica said. “After that, I worked with him and his parents and made sure he wanted to come to school because many LGBT students begin to lose interest when they feel unsafe.” LaMonica then joined the Sexual Minority Network, where she learned how to create and manage safe spaces for LGBT students. With around 40 members, GSA gives LGBT youth and

straight allies the opportunity to advocate for gay rights. GSA members don’t only prepare for events like Transgender Day of Remembrance and Day of Silence, but they also learn how to be tolerant of other people, the difference between gender and sexuality and how to respectfully handle the sensitive issues that face the LGBT community. Living Rainbow, a performance group organized by LaMonica, depicts the issues that LGBT youth face, like harassment and homelessness, through sociodramas. Living Rainbow has performed at rallies, vigils, churches and poetry slams. “I performed at the candlelight vigil celebrating Leelah Alcorn, a 17 year old trans girl who, we as a community, lost to suicide. As a nonbinary person, I was struck by the power of the Living Rainbow performance in such a sacred space,” Cano said. “Without

LaMonica I would have never gotten that experience.” Some of LaMonica’s students even see her as a second mother. “Ms. LaMonica is like Superwoman to me; she does so much and only wants to see a change in return. If you’re looking for comfort, support, even lunch, on occasion, she’s always there and willing to help,” sophomore and GSA officer Precious Darling said. “She’s kind of like another parent and it’s good to know that I have her.” 20 years later, LaMonica is still on her quest to help students find themselves. Through GSA, Living Rainbow and the Sexual Minority Network, La Monica works hard to ensure that LGBT students will have a comfortable and safe high school experience. *Cano is referred to as “they” because Cano does not identify as either gender.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Foreign transfer students share first experiences at Krop Hannah Bregman staff writer While transitioning schools is difﬁcult for any student, transfer students experience a new form of difﬁculty in transitioning to Krop. Here are two transfer students from different countries that arrived at school this year. Myriam Romain Sophomore Myriam Romain knows what it’s like to constantly be on the move and she loves it. While originally from Haiti, she’s lived in France, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and all over the United States. So it comes as no surprise that she also speaks French, Creole and English. Romain moved to Florida six years ago from Haiti with her mom, dad and sister. Having had to deal with uprooting her life so many times, Romain says moving has gotten easier, and now she is used to it. Her biggest challenge however, has been mastering the English language. “I speak it at home,” Romain said. “My mom told me to never speak Creole, just English, and eventually it helped.” Although learning languag-

COURTESY OF CHARBEL DAOUD

NOTHIN’ BUT NET: Sophomore Charbel “Charles” Daoud plays basketball in his local sports league. Daoud has always dreamt of becoming a professional basketball player.

es was challenging, Romain also believed it was one of the best parts of moving, along with meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. Changing schools every few years was also difﬁcult for Romain, having to adjust to new rules and uniform policies and, recently, using tablets instead of textbooks. Romain keeps in touch with her family members, most of which live in Haiti, and visits them every summer.

Charbel Daoud Sophomore Charbel Daoud, or “Charles” as his friends call him, has a burning passion for basketball so deep that it motivated him to move from Lebanon to the United States. Every summer since Daoud was four years old, he visited his two brothers in the United States. After one of Daoud’s brothers offered an invitation for Daoud to come live with him in Florida, he accepted and moved this past July, so he could explore his fu-

ture in basketball. “In Lebanon they don’t care about sports, just education,” Daoud said. When Daoud was little, he played soccer but didn’t really like it. His dad pushed him to play basketball, since it was a sport he enjoyed himself, and Daoud instantly fell in love. He’s been playing basketball for 10 years, and this will be his ﬁrst year on the school’s team. “In Lebanon I used to practice three times a week, but here

I practice six to seven times a week,” Daoud said. “Basketball is my life, and it means everything to me.” For Daoud, the biggest difference between living in Lebanon and the United States are the laws. “There are rules here. In Lebanon, there are no rules and no president,” Daoud said. “People here are just really nice and friendly. They talk to everybody.” His first few weeks at Krop proved hard for him, but he quickly made new friends. “Right now everybody is my friend,” Daoud said. But he still misses home – especially his family, friends and old basketball teammates. Whenever Daoud gets homesick, he thinks about his plans for the future, which includes success and a career as a basketball player. His advice to others is to not follow one’s dreams, but instead to follow one’s goals. Daoud believes that the difference between dreams and goals is that you only think about dreams, while goals are objectives you go out in life and fight for. “I don’t dream – I fight.” Daoud said.

Feature

Page 8

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

SCIENCE

Levy researches cure for coronary heart disease Hilly Yehoshua staff writer When scientists and medical engineers couldn’t find a cure for heart disease, freshman Ethan Levy took it upon himself to look for one. Since 2013, Levy has researched coronary heart disease1, the number one cause of death in the United States. He won national awards and has published his research in the Journal of Emerging Investigators. From Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, Levy will be travelling to Washington, D.C. as one of the thirty finalists of Broadcom Masters2. There, he will meet President Barack Obama, compete in challenges and present his project to distinguished scientists and engineers for the grand prize of $25,000. Coronary heart disease is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries, which leads to a heart attack. When Levy realized the severity of the heart disease, he wanted to help. The current solution is the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)3, which uses a healthy artery from the body that is connected to the blocked coronary artery. Ethan investigated whether using hand sutures4 or staples5 in the procedure provides a higher blood flow. He built an artificial heart made of Lego NXT6 and found that using suture anastomosis7 resulted in a higher

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Students create Community Service groups at Krop Tamia Streeter staff writer

COURTESY OF ETHAN LEVY

PRESENTATION: Freshman Ethan Levy presents his research project at the 2016 South Florida Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Levy’s project deals with ﬁnding a cure for coronary heart disease.

flow than that of the staple. Levy completed his first experiment on anastomosis, but continued to expand his research on the effect of stent geometry8. The treatment for plaque accumulation in the arteries is by placing a stent within the artery and delivering preventive drug medication. Levy tested square and circular cross-sections9 and found that the 12-strut round cross section has a higher blood flow rate for an artificial heart. For the past four years, Ethan has been working towards a cure for coronary heart disease. He wants to continue his work and ultimately find a definitive cure for the disease. If he wins the competition, he will use the money to fund future research. Coronary Heart Disease: Narrowing of the arteries because of plaque buildup (cholesterol lining) which decreases the blood

ﬂow to your heart. Broadcom Masters: science and engineering competition. 3 Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): a procedure in which a healthy artery from the body is connected to the blocked coronary artery 4 Hand sutures: joining the ends of a wound by stitching. 5 Staples: Surgical staples are specialized staples used in surgery in place of sutures to close skin wounds 6 Lego NXT: Kits that contain software and hardware to create programmable robots. 7 Anastomosis: Connection made surgically between adjacent blood vessels 8 Stent geometry: A narrow metal or plastic tube in mesh inserted into a blood vessel to keep a blocked artery opened. 9 Cross-sections: A given surface that is exposed to make a straight cut through something. 2

Between college applications and the pressure to maintain good grades, it’s easy for seniors to become self-obsessed and forget about giving back to others, but seniors Thais Jimenez, Juan Hurtado, Carlos Solis and Delanie Ludmir deﬁed the norm. ESOL Transition Program Jimenez, Hurtado and Solis are organizing an “ESOL Transition Program,” designed to pair ESOL students with mentors who speak both their ﬁrst language and English. The program will support ESOL students through high school and prepare them for college. The program also aims to increase ESOL student participation in school activities. Updates will be sent to participants through Remind in Spanish, French, Creole and Portuguese regarding school activities such as tutoring and rallies to ensure involvement. “I was an ESOL student for two years, so I know that there are a lot of activities that ESOL students miss, since the language barrier doesn’t help,” Solis said. Jimenez began the program to help students in the same predicament she was once in. “Since I was an ESOL student for my sophomore year, so it was not about the urge to have a project with my name on it, but instead to help peo-

ple who have been in my shoes,” Jimenez said. Music Therapy Senior Delaine Ludmir opened a music therapy program to help foster kids cope with neglect and abuse. Ludmir raised nearly $1,000 through Gofundme and was able to buy pianos and therapeutic Mozart CD’s for the foster children she works with. Once a week, Ludmir gives the foster children piano lessons and helps them write their own songs. “The children have songbooks full of music they’ve written about their experiences of abuse and neglect,” Ludmir said. “It’s really helped them be more open about their past.” Ludmir created the program after she saw the effect music had on her own life. “When my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, I started writing music a lot and it helped me to open up, so I wanted to do the same with those children,” Ludmir said. While all four students juggle both the tough obstacles of senior year and their respective projects, they are able to ﬁnd the time to thrive in both areas of academics and community service. They might have different areas of specialty, but they can all agree on one thing – helping others has been an integral part of their high school careers, and they intend to continue to do so throughout college and adulthood.

10 Things About Mr. William Taillon

1. Inspiration

In the ‘50s there were almost no male elementary school teachers. In his fourth grade class, his first male teacher walked in, which immediately made him want to teach.

2. Building Blocks

Taillon is an adult LEGO enthusiast. As a way to get his mind off of his stress, he enjoys building large LEGO sets. As a child, he used to play with American Bricks and Lincoln Logs, too.

6. Foot in the Door

Taillon has taught in three schools and has been at Krop since 2002, but had trouble finding a teaching job at first. He eventually got a call from a friend and subbed for a while before getting a full-time teaching job. He maintains his friendships with past co-teachers.

7. Raging Republican

His entire family was staunchly Democratic, but he got involved with the Young Republicans group in college and voted Republican in the 1980 Reagan vs. Carter election.

3. P.L.U.R.

8. College Conqueror

When he was in high school, Taillon wanted to go to Woodstock but his father shot him down immediately. Taillon never let him forget it, though.

Taillon was the first in his family to go to college. He attended Rhode Island College for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

4. Green Thumb

9. Night as a Milkman

He had an avid green thumb. In the first house he owned, in Johnston, Rhode Island, he wanted to beautify the run-down home. He fixed the lawn and began to plant. He ran with the passion and would garden every weekend.

When he was in eleventh grade, he told his parents he wanted to drop out of school. His mother threw a fit, but his father said it was fine. His father then told him to accompany him to his job, where his father worked as a truck driver for milk deliveries. Taillon worked all night long, and the next morning his father asked if he still wanted to drop out and live a life like his own. He said no, and gladly went back to school.

5. Music Man

Taillon used to play both the piano and clarinet when he was younger. In elementary school, he was involved in a music camp and his mother encouraged him to pursue music, as she loved to sing. Although he doesn’t remember how to play, he loves listening to classical music, along with Cher and Pink Floyd.

10. Idols NATHANIEL MANOR / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

A CALCULATED LOOK: William Taillon watches his student complete an algebraic equation in preparation for thier upcoming test. Taillon encourages his students to go up in front of the class to test their knowledge.

His biggest role models are John F. Kennedy and his father. JFK was “as big as it can get” for him, as a teenager. He always admired his father’s unique purpose and cherished their close relationship.

Compiled by Nathaniel Manor

Calendar Page 9

November

MONDAY

TUESDAY

7 National Men Cook Dinner Day

14 National Spicy Guacamole Day

Election Day No school

Cap and Gown sales, Mix It Up Day

National Adoption National Go For a Ride Day Day

28 Cyber Monday

5 Walt Disney’s Birthday

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

29 National Day of Giving

WEDNESDAY

9 United Way Pep Rally

Edda’s Bundt Bake sale begins (Class of 2017)

Thanksgiving break begins, no school

THURSDAY

Krop Talk during 1st and 2nd lunch

17 International Students’ day

FRIDAY

Vetran’s Day No school

18 Mickey Mouse’s Birthday

Thanksgiving Day No School

No school, Black Friday

Cities for Life Day

World AIDS Day

Special Education Day

National Pearl Harbor National Gazpacho Remembrance Day Day

National Brownie Day

International Anti-Corruption Day

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENT MEMBERS!!! FREE SAT & ACT PREP!!! FREE MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON!!! Membership applications can be found in the main ofﬁce or on kropseniorhigh.org in the PTSA tab.

Page 10

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

why i’m vo

Hillary Clinton IN MY OPINION mila sicorsky

news editor

Working in my AP Statistics class one day, I heard students talking about the upcoming election. I decided against jumping into their conversation until I heard what one had to say: “It’s like choosing the lesser of two evils.” It was pretty hard for me to focus on linear regression after that. Typically, that cliché is used when you’re forced to choose between eating spinach or brussel sprouts, but American citizens have started to adopt the saying to describe our presidential candidates. According to many, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are politics gone wrong — a cold hearted liar and a racist misogynist running against each other. There’s no denying that both the Democratic and Republican nominees have faults in their respective campaigns. Yet there’s a huge difference between the two — Hillary reaps many more benefits than drawbacks. Let me name a few: Clinton boasts a laundry list of previous positions, accomplishments and jobs that detail her experience. Topping the list are her eight years as New York senator and First Lady along with four years as Secretary of State. Clinton also graduated with honors from Yale University only four years after the school began admitting women, which brings me to my next point: There’s something huge (no, Trump, not your hands) separating Hillary from both her opponent and every other presidential nominee in history — her gender. Making headlines as the first female presidential nominee, Hillary makes sure to champion women’s rights just as much as she does her other progressive causes. It’s both heartwarming and reassuring to know that someone who’s experienced misogyny, gender discrimination and sexism could inhabit the White House. And, no, I couldn’t say the same about Trump, who’s only experienced groping firsthand — but I digress. Of course, there are those who undermine Hillary’s abilities, claiming that she plays the “woman card” and wouldn’t be doing nearly as well in the polls if she were a man. But that’s only a sad excuse for a man trailing by 33 percentage points in female supporters, according to The Atlantic. Also, Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders, two of America’s most left-wing politicians, have praised Clinton for her progressive agenda. As president, Clinton plans to tighten gun control regulations, repair economic inequality, reform the criminal justice system and improve the lives of minorities in America. So, in a few years, when people who weren’t able to follow the 2016 election ask how you helped save the White House from a racist, sexist, orange man, don’t shrug and say you weren’t convinced of either. Like her campaign slogan reads, a vote for Clinton is a vote for change.

Candidat years that Clinton has worked in politics

$687.1M raised

april 12, 2015 Hillary Clinton enters the presidential election.

june 16, 2015 Donald Trump enters the presidential election.

march 16, 2016 Marco Rubio drops out after losing in Florida.

may 3, 2016 Ted Cruz drops out of presidential race leaving Donald Trump as the last major republican presidential nominee.

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

oting for...

Page 11

Donald Trump

There was a time, not too long ago, where a man garnered enthusiastic support because he went against the establishment and represented a change to Washington. That man was Bernie Sanders. Here we are several months later and Sanders is gone. But there is still a candidate who goes against the establishment and represents a change to politics. His name is Donald J. Trump. online managing editor jake singer Last year, Trump entered the political arena and brought with him strong stances on important issues, passionate patriotism and business acumen. One of the most important issues facing our country today is the threat to our national security. Trump understands that radical Islamic terrorism is a grave concern, and ISIS is growing larger by the second. Trump wants to bolster the country’s defense and increase border security so that we are prepared to face any and all threats to our safety. Thousands of ISIS jihadis have already infiltrated Syrian refugee camps all over the world in order to wreak havoc and destruction. While there has been a call to increase the Syrian refugee immigration by 550 percent, Trump realizes the danger this poses and has called for increased vetting of immigrants. I’ll be the first to admit that Trump possesses some character flaws. He is far from politically correct and has a tendency to use language that offends people. However, when making a decision think to yourself, “does this truly impair his ability to do his job as the President of the United States?” What Donald Trump lacks in decorum and grace, he more than makes up for in his ability to fulfill the office of president. If Donald Trump’s character flaws were that detrimental to his leadership aptitude, then he would have been thrust out of the business world years ago. But while we are on the subject of presidential fitness, let us look at his opponent on the left. Hillary Rodham Clinton represents everything society hates about the political establishment. Wikileaks has shown us that her pockets are lined with contributions from the elite, the views she holds in public are different than the views she expresses in private to her donors and the “objective” media has done everything possible to make sure she wins. James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas recently released a series of videos that expose the corruption of Clinton’s campaign, which allegedly hired mentally ill people to incite violence at Trump rallies and admitted to widespread voter fraud. Come Election Day, think about what really matters when choosing the leader of the free world. Do we want someone who pledges her allegiance to her donors and has no regard for the sanctity of the political process, or do we want someone firm in his beliefs and backed only by himself and the American people? Vote to keep this country safe, revitalize our economic prosperity and to make America great again. Vote Donald J. Trump.

IN MY OPINION

tes BY THE NUMBERS: years that Trump has worked in business

$250.0M raised

drawings courtesy of Jonathan Cohen

june 6, 2016 Hillary Clinton wins the democratic nomination ending Bernie sanders campaign.

july 21, 2016 Donald Trump accepts republican nomination.

september 26, october 9 and october 19, 2016 All presidential debates televised live.

october 24, 2016 Early voting starts in Florida.

Entertainment Page 12

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016 MOVIES

LOCAL FILMS

When we go through loss, we grieve. We go through a process where we let our emotions get the better of us; it’s what makes us human. Demolition is a film where a man loses his wife in a car crash and, to cope with his loss, he vents his frustration in complaint letters to a vending machine company. It is this grief that sells the movie, as it allows you to experience the man’s journey from start to finish. Demolition centers around Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhall), an investment banker in New York. It isn’t Gyllenhall’s best role, but he plays it to full effect. The film follows him as he deals with his wife’s death, something that happens in a variety of ways. He fiCorbin nds solace in a customer service representative, Karen Moreno Bolies (Naomi Watts), the woman who reads his letters. The movie’s entertainment editor premise seems to point to a romance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, the supporting characters play a part in Davis’ journey. We witness his stages of grief, from his attempts to continue his daily life to the intentional “demolition” of what that life once is anwith in- hisand elevating was.“Doctor ThroughStrange” interactions lateSwinton wife’s father (Chris each Cooteresting film. Yes, the film scene to its highest level with per) and Karen’s son (Judah Lewis), Chris, you see the transition contains eye-popping visual their acting. Davis goes to from the moment his wife dies to the weeks and effects and more explosions That elevation also months later. In a world where movies like to play up death as the than most films this year – the comes down to the writing. climactic moment without much focus on its aftereffects, Demolistandards of most Marvel Stu- There is no question – “Doction shows us the path, not the dios movies. But what makes tor Strange” has the best endgame. “Doctor Strange” interest- writing of any MCU film. film its strengths script.humorous When youscenes a moviebefoingThe isn’t itsowes clichés – it’s theto its From cuses it’s easy to write thetween characters as, well, depthonofdeath, its story. Strange and characters. Wong to TheirAsfeelings and motivations are written to suit story, with the fourteenth en- Strange’s own the witty quips, the humanity suffering as a result. What works with Demolition try in the Marvel Cinematic the screenplay, written by C.is that these characters just written characters; huUniverse (MCU), aren’t “Doctor Robertas Cargill, Jonthey’re Spaihts mans. In scenes Davis youScott believe that these Strange” detailsbetween the story of and andChris, director Derrickson, are two actual people (Benedict talking, not ones madeout upthe forhumor the screen. Stephen Strange balances within Unfortunately, atheneurosurfilm’s weakest point is its ending. While Cumberbatch), the drama. geon we do inseeManhattan progress after a freak inwho, Davis, there is no car accident, travpayoff to his journey. els to a sanctuary in In one specific monNepal to regain the tage, you are lead to use of his hands. In believe that Davis his quest, he learns seemingly reverts the mystical artsbeof back to his life magic in the hopes fore his wife’s death. of defeating KaeThis could have been cilius (Mads Mikexplained through a kelsen), a minion of simple scene, but the “the darkness.” movie It’s a mistakenly lot to cram decides take the into ato two-hour easy way out. film. The first This half leads confusion of theto film tells and ultimately weakStrange’s origin ens message. story,its transitioning Despite multiple these between fllocations aws, Demolition in a rather isshort anspanimportant of time. works the in film.ItIt captures that it of introduces depth,it in thea gravity a topic such asBesides grief anditsdelivers the film’s cast of characters, film’s effects are superb. human way, something many films seem to forget to do. It mainly themay pages of isn’t the Dr. bestChristine film youPalmer may seeDrawing this year,from but it be the (Rachael McAdams), the Anthe original comic, “Docmost personal. cient One (Tilda Swinton) and tor Strange” offers the most Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), mind-boggling effects since but its swiftness results in a 2010’s “Inception.” In an earform of exhaustion – by the ly sequence in Nepal, Strange third magic lesson, I was still goes on an adventure in the trying to remember the name “multiverse” that shows how of the sanctuary’s librarian, Marvel Studios has pushed Wong (Benedict Wong). technology to its limit for the But the pacing doesn’t film. By doing this, it helps drag the story’s depth down. differentiate the film from its While Iron Man was known previous efforts and opens for being a “genius, billion- up the capabilities for its aire, playboy, philanthropist” future movies. and Thor as a noble Viking, With its deep story, spec“Doctor Strange” excels in tacular cast and transcendent having a three-dimensional effects, “Doctor Strange” character right off the bat. continues to prove why MarScenes between Strange and vel Studios is still at the top of the Ancient One bring out their game. the humanity in the characters, with Cumberbatch Rating:

Corbin’s Critique

COURTESY OF A24

GROWING UP IN THE CITY: Juan (Mahershala Ali) teaches a young Chiron (Alex Hibbert) how to ﬂoat. “Moonlight” focuses on Chiron in three stages of his life.

“Moonlight” shines in Miami Corbin Bolies entertainment editor In an age where New York City is the backdrop to blockbusters, “Moonlight” aims to shine its own light on Miami. “Moonlight,” directed by Barry Jenkins, tells the story of Chiron, a black man growing up in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Miami – Liberty City. The story hit close to home for Jenkins, a Miami native who grew up blocks away from the film’s setting. “When I first read [the original play by Tarell Alvin McCraney], I was struck by how much of my childhood stoked up so well with his,” Jenkins said at an Oct. 15 panel for the film, hosted by the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center. “We were trying to find ways to root the film in the place

that birthed it.” In order to set the film’s production in the city, the director had to overcome hurdles such as the lack of tax incentives and location availability. However, the drawbacks were minor when compared to the benefits, especially the ability to stay true to the story. “There are a lot of films that have been made here that didn’t get the story right,” Jenkins said. It was that story that connected McCraney and Jenkins. The original play was written by McCraney in 2003, shortly after his mother died from AIDS. After being tossed around for a number of years, the play landed in Jenkins’ hands, who sought to complement McCraney’s piece with his own experiences. “It became really important for me because, when I first read it, I could see all of these [scenar-

ios],” Jenkins said. “It was like [McCraney] had taken a memory of my memory and made it his fever dream.” The most important part of the film, at least for McCraney, was talking about the people who live in Miami and portraying them in their true light. “It’s disingenuous to talk about Miami without talking about the people that actually live in Miami,” McCraney said. “Within a community like Liberty City, known for its crime, there’s also hope, love and intimacy.” English teacher Elton Lewis, a Liberty City natuve, made it his mission to see the film. To him, the film wasn’t just a movie - it was a reflection of the city he grew up in. “With the kids [in the first section], I heard the Miami vernacular,” Lewis said. “I was waxing nostalgia.”

CONCERTS

Artists bring their music to South Florida Libby Szlaifer staff writer Fans often dream to see their favorite musician’s live. With the release of multiple new albums, many singers have come to Miami to perform, bringing A-rated talent with them. Here are some artists that have put on the best shows this year. Kanye West Kanye West’s new album and era of music, filled with meaningful lyrics and a church chorus, took flight with his Saint Pablo tour. In his concerts on Sept. 14 and 16, he stood on a flying stage to sing to his massive audience below. “I definitely thought I wasn’t going to enjoy being on the floor because of all the people,” senior Brooke Studnik said. “But I wasn’t shoved, and I was able to enjoy dancing and singing with him 20 feet away.” For those who missed out on this experience, there will be a repeat of his tour on Dec. 4, 2016 at the BB&T center in Sunrise, Florida.

TAKEN FROM SOUTHFLORIDA.COM

ROLLING IN THE 305: Adele sings at the American Airlines Arena on Oct. 26. The singer is currently on a world tour to support her most recent album, “25.”

Drake Joined by fellow rapper and friend Future, Drake rocked the audience with his live rendition of multiple singles like “Hotline Bling.” He spent two hours complementing the lively crowd (he often raps about his love for the city) with his new album, Views on August 30th and 31st at the American Airlines Arena. “Drake himself was so amazing and he emits so much passion when he performs,” senior Amanda Berman said. “Then Lil Wayne and Rihanna came out, and everyone in the crowd, including me,

was screaming so loud. We were so pumped, and I literally cried of happiness.” Adele Adele captivated her audience for two hours, performing her hit songs at her concert on Oct. 25 at the American Airlines Arena. Throughout the concert, she held a sort of conversation with her audience, relating especially to the women who have faced heartbreak, which she has said has helped her through stage fright. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was one of the fans in the sold out audience for Adele’s concert.

Doctor Strange

Entertainment Page 13

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016 COMICS

Zachary Weinberger staff writer For as long as they have existed, people have debated whether DC or Marvel Comics has the better arsenal of entertainment. Here’s what they offer: Movies Marvel’s film division, Marvel Studios, started their Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2008 with the release of “Iron Man.” Since then, the MCU has released a total of thirteen films, with its fourteenth, “Doctor Strange,” coming out in November. Almost every MCU film has been met with favorable reviews and grossed over 10 billion dollars at the box

office. Marvel, through Fox, also produced the commercially successful X-Men series, which began in 2000 and has maintained its ever since with its 2016 release of “Deadpool” and “X-Men: Apocalypse.” After releasing a sporadic number of films throughout the decades, DC has recently begun to expand their own cinematic universe (DCEU). Beginning with “Man of Steel” in 2013, the DCEU ramped up their efforts this year with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad.” Though met with unenthusiastic reviews, the fans showed their appreciation of the films through box office numbers and social media reactions. The DCEU films

will continue until 2020 and will continue with the release of “Wonder Woman” and “Justice League” in 2017. Television Right now, DC has their own separate universe on the CW, which consist of shows like “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Legends of Tomorrow” and “Supergirl.” Another DC show is “Gotham” which airs on Fox and tells the origin of the character “Batman” and his hometown. Marvel’s television shows connect to their cinematic universe with ABC’s “Agents of Shield” and Netﬂix shows like “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones” and “Luke Cage,” which lead up to the upcoming shows “Iron

Fist” and “The Defenders.” Comics In the summer of 2011, DC restarted their monthly comic universe and called it “the New 52” which revamped all of its characters. The project met with a lot of opposition, which was shown by the poor sales and reception from fans and critics. So in May of this year, DC published “Rebirth,” a comic which didn’t restart the universe, but relaunched it the way fans were asking for 5 years ago. According to Diamond Comic Distributors, DC Rebirth has dominated sales, appearing at the top ﬁve comics since its release in May. On the other hand, Marvel is still popular when it comes to

comics. They also relaunched their universe in 2012, titled “Marvel NOW!”. Their big comic event, “Civil War II,” a sequel to 2006’s “Civil War,” began in June of this year and leads into “Marvel NOW! 2.0,” which adds more comics to the universe. Sales have been promising for Marvel, and though their competition is hitting hard they still come up with big numbers, appearing in the top ﬁve or ten comics of each month. Though bittersweet enemies, DC and Marvel have given fans and newcomers more ways to experience their innovative stories through ﬁlm, television and comics - and fans can’t get enough.

MUSIC

FUN FACTS ABOUT BOB DYLAN dropped out of college 1. Dylan and traveled to New York to

meet his idol, Woody Guthrie. He then started performing on the folk scene in Greenwich Village.

2. Dylan has written, directed and TAKEN FROM THE TIMES OF ISREAL

A LIVING LEGEND: Bob Dylan performing at the Kezar Stadium in 1975. Bob Dylan has achieved multiple milestones in his career, including 10 Grammys, one Academy Award, a Pulitizer Prize and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize for Literature Zachary Weinberger staff writer For 50 years, Bob Dylan made music that shocked and awed people with his unique mix of folk music and his revolutionary songwriting. Selling millions of records and constantly breaking barriers, Dylan made history in the music industry. He’s inﬂuenced the genre of folk music by mixing a range of political, social, literary and philosophical aspects within his symbolic lyrics. Throughout his extensive career, Bob Dylan released albums such as “Highway 61 Revisited,” “Blood on the Coals,” “Blonde on Blonde” and many others. His accolades include 18 Grammys, a Golden Globe and even an Oscar. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in

1988, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his profound impact on popular music and American Culture. In October, Dylan became the ﬁrst musician to be awarded with the Nobel Prize in Literature, starting a debate about whether song lyrics should have the same value as novels or poetry. The Swedish Academy, who awards the prize, says they chose Dylan for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition during a press release in early October. “He’s a great poet in the English tradition,” said Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy. Dylan was silent for two weeks following the news, creating controversy within the Academy. The

Academy refused to contact Dylan until he communicated with them. Two weeks after the news, on the 29th of October, Dylan said in an interview with The Telegraph that he is planning to attend the awards ceremony in Stockholm to receive the award. “I’m speechless. I appreciate the honor so much,” Dylan said to the Academy about the Nobel Prize. “Dylan has the status of an icon,” said The Swedish Academy. “His influence on contemporary music is profound, and he is the object of a steady stream of secondary literature.” By accepting the Nobel Prize, he will follow the footsteps of George Bernard Shaw, TS Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, William Faulkner and many other influential figures and writers.

starred in a number of ﬁlms including “Renaldo and Clara” and “Masked and Anonymous.”

Elvis Presley’s death 3. After in 1977, Dylan didn’t speak to anyone for a week.

living in Greenwich 4. While Village, Dylan was an avid chess player.

has released almost 5. Dylan 50 albums, receiving 12

Grammy Awards for them. Compiled by Kevin Bauernﬁend and Federico Waldman

Fun & Games Page 14

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

Mazes

Government Word Search

Sudoku

Hangman

Who said it? “Who is going to ﬁnd out? These women are trash. Nobody’s going to believe them.” A. Donald Trump B. Hillary Clinton C. Gary Johnson D. Jill Stein

“Nuclear power plants are weapons of mass destruction waiting to be detonated.” A. Donald Trump B. Hillary Clinton C. Gary Johnson D. Jill Stein

“What is Aleppo?”

A. Donald Trump B. Hillary Clinton C. Gary Johnson D. Jill Stein

“The worst thing a man can do is go bald. Never let yourself go bald.” A. Donald Trump B. Hillary Clinton C. Gary Johnson D. Jill Stein

Answers: B, D, C, A

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

Health & Science Page 15

CLIMATE

Earth surpasses its carbon limit Megan Orlanski health & science editor As teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, students know plenty about pushing limits. But what isn’t another coming of age story is that earth has surpassed its carbon limit, meaning that now there’s no turning back on climate change. According to the Time For Change environmental organization, the carbon footprint is the impact humans make on carbon emissions. Similar to when you walk on the beach and leave imprints in the sand, increased carbon emissions leave a mark on the earth, however the waves aren’t going to wash the effects away this time. Although the consequences of our massive carbon footprint are universal, the local impacts could be fatal. Rising water levels, increased storm frequency and a decrease in clean air are just some of the effects that could hit Florida

directly in the next decades. The simple truth is that over the past decades people have produced more carbon emissions than throughout the entirety of earth’s history. This surpassing of earth’s tipping point signals that earth’s rollercoaster of clean air supply only goes downhill from here. These rising carbon emissions are getting trapped in our atmosphere, making our climate both warmer and replacing oxygen, which is necessary for life, in the air surrounding us. This is especially important since Miami is only six feet above sea level, a little above the height of the average man. So even if sea levels only rise marginally, portions of Miami will be completely underwater, and at this rate sea levels are rising faster than we can say “carbon”. Advanced Placement teacher Maria Martin, is worried that carbon emissions could cause sea level rise in Miami that could deprive mil-

TECHNOLOGY

lions of homes. “Since students are going to be there for the next twenty to thirty years, they’re really going to see the full spectrum of the effects,” Martin said. “I’m hoping we can do something before it’s too late.” Although not much can be done to reverse the effects of climate change, there are methods that should be implemented to further prevent the release of more emissions. It’s small acts of conservation like carpooling and turning the water off while you brush your teeth that add up and prevent the furthering of climate change. This can make a large impact on saving our world. Unfortunately, our earth is beyond the point of total repair. It’s well being and ours is dangling by a string, and now is not the time to sit tight and wait for the storm to pass. The storm is coming, and we must be ready to do everything in our power to combat climate change and the serious consequences it brings.

NUTRITION

MDCPS introduses new lunch menu and Asia. Finger foods like burgers, individual pizzas and BBQ wings will continue to The answer to the question be offered, just not as often. “Yo, what’s for lunch today?” Students can also prehas taken a spin this year with view lunches through MiKrop’s incorporation of a new, ami Dade Public schools healthier menu. app. The changes to school These changes, which lunch efﬁciency and qualwere mandated by the dis- ity have proven to be beneﬁtrict, include the addition of cial for sales, which have inThe MyPlate Concept, a nutri- creased by an average of 100 tion guide written by Dr. Wil- lunches per day. bur Olin Atwater backed by “Normally, in the first few the USDA. months of school sales The MyPlate Conare slow, but cept is a menu that this year includes 10 perKrop is cent fruits, 40 seepercent veging sales we etables, 30 expected in the percent grains second quarter and 20 percent are taking place protein or dairy now,” food service in the form of a manager and lead glass of milk or yoof kitchen staff WilUSDA.GOV gurt. Krop’s new menu liams said. follows these recommendaAlthough there is still room tions, offering diversity in for improvement, Krop’s new both nutrients and cuisine. menu has benefitted students The new menu includes a with a healthier and more apvariety of cuisines from places petizing lunch, and the school like Europe, South America with increased sales.

Federico Waldman staff writer

LIFESTYLE

Robotic lifeguard Take a stand for better health introduced to beaches Studies show extended periods of sitting are detrimental to health Hannah Bregman staff writer

TAKEN FROM TECHIE TONICS

ROBOT RESCUER: Lifeguard robot, called EMILY, is tested in Dubai. The Dubai municipality plans to implement the robot in several of its beaches.

Michael Katz editor-in-chief She’s been 15 years in the making, and she’s worth all the wait. EMILY, or the Emergency Integrated Lifeguard Lanyard, isn’t your typical Baywatch lifeguard, but a four foot long, 25 pound remote-controlled buoy that can slice through 30-foot waves and carry up to eight swimmers at a time. She’s powered by a jet engine system, like a mini jet ski, which allows her to cruise at a speedy 22 miles per hour -- faster than any human lifeguard. Her bright orange, red and yellow circular frame is equipped with two-way communication radios, a video camera that

can live stream to smartphones and lights for night rescues. Rocks and reefs don’t scare her -- she’s made of the same material as airplanes, making her virtually indestructible. In some rescues, EMILY’s have been thrown off bridges or helicopters and then driven to whoever needs to be rescued. Recently, EMILY devices were used to rescue nearly 300 Syrian migrants from drowning in the waters off the Greek island of Lesbos. She’s becoming more and more popular, and inventor Tom Mulligan hopes that one day every lifeguard will be equipped with one. But it seems like she’ll never be able to put lifeguards out of a job -- she can only save people who are still conscious.

Students spend most of their lives sitting. They sit in the bus on their way to school, they sit during class and they sit while doing homework or watching T.V. at home. Recent studies show that sitting for extended periods of time can lead to problems such as a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and death. But this is part of a bigger problem: lack of movement, which according to research done by Dr. Richard Pulsford of the University of Exeter could be the source of these negative health impacts. Reducing sitting time is only half the solution to a healthier lifestyle. Any movement from walking to spending a few hours at the gym every week is essential to being healthy and lowering the risks of prolonged sitting. For instance, every minute you spend standing instead of sitting you burn 30 percent more calories. On top of periodic movement, or stand-

ing at least every two hours for a few minutes to break up long periods of sitting, you should get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity every day, according to doctors. Sophomore Valerie Val is aware of the concerns of oversitting and makes an effort to exercise for about 45 minutes every day. She follows a program laid out by an app on her phone called “30 Day Fitness Challenges.” “Students sit down for hours every day, and I think we should take into account the possible effects it has on our futures,” Val said. Researchers do not under-

stand all aspects of sedentary time, such as the exact process of how this time results in different health issues. There is also little data that says exactly how much time spent sitting is bad for you. The best advice researchers give is to move more and sit less, which will equate to an overall healthier lifestyle. The biggest issue with sitting is the amount of time people spend in the same position. Be conscious of how many hours you are seated every day and reduce that time in any way possible. Every time you have a choice between sitting and standing, take a stand for your health and pass on the chair.

THE EFFECTS OF SITTING: BY THE NUMBERS

7.7

decrease in metabolisn after sitaverage ting for 30 hours spent minutes sitting daily

90%

www.publix.com, Michelle Russell SOURCES: juststand.org, Washington Post

31%

thousand annual deaths of Americans as a result of go to the gym inactivity

300

Health & Science

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

Page 16

NUTRITION

Fasting for health, not just religion Jonah Muchnick staff writer The practice of fasting, or the willing abstinence of food and sometimes water, stems from ceremonies practiced by the earliest religions. Today, a majority of denominations of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism have elements of fasting infused into their religious texts. Other than religious reasons, fasting today is used by many as a form of dieting. Eating shortens life. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, “A diet that cuts food intake by up to 40 percent, known as calorie restriction, increases longevity in a variety of organisms and forestalls cancer, heart disease, and other late-life illnesses.”

While studies over short periods suggest that calorie restriction provides metabolic benefits for people, there is no long-term study that proves that calorie restriction increases human life-span. Although calorie restriction has shown quantifiable benefits to the human body, many feel that the willpower needed to maintain this kind of diet is too much. “Dieting is effective, but it can be hard sometimes,” junior Alara Guvenli said, “It’s really easy to give in and break your diet.” Because people find the normal style of dieting too difficult, many are turning to the prospect of minimal temporary fasting as their main way to stay healthy. “I’ve tried fasting and it’s hard, but it works,” sophomore Bar Ben-Amram said, “I used to fast once week, and I always felt refreshed.”

The beneﬁts of fasting remain unknown. However, a study done by Valter Longo at the University of Los Angeles has shown that partial fasting of rats, where he reduced their calorie intake to less than one third of the recommended, had beneﬁcial effects. According to the study, during this “fasting,” the rats saw a 40 percent decrease in blood sugar, shed fat, and were 45 percent less likely to fall victim to cancer. However, the rats also saw a 90 percent decrease in insulin levels, which shows fasting could be a problem for diabetics. Although some aspects of fasting remain unknown, there is evidence to support that fasting in moderation can be a healthy way to control your food intake and reduce the amount of calories you consume daily and eventually on a long term basis.

PSYCHOLOGY

ADVICE

How to...

Motivate yourself As students get used to the regular routine of the school year, self motivation becomes an obstacle preventing proper time management and success. Here are four tips to make this school year pass by smoothly.

Self-Conﬁdence

Being highly self-assured means you will set challenging goals for yourself. Having self-confidence can also be a beneficial factor for when you encounter setbacks. According to a study done by Stage of Life, 54.5 percent of students report to normally have “high” self-esteem. “I stay confident of keeping a mindset that all people are equal. Know nobody is better than anybody, everyone should focus on doing the best for themselves and staying as positive as they can.” -Josh Granovsky, 11.

2 Get Positive Peer Pressure

Having someone push you to strive towards a goal can help you accomplish it Getting positive peer pressure can determine what other people see as your strengths and key capabilities, this way you set a reasonable accomplishment for yourself. Seek out mentors and other people who model the competencies, skills, and attributes you desire. According to Stage Of Life, 92.2 percent of teenagers say they are motivated by competition.

LIKEM BONEY

“I love getting better so if I know that there’s someone more skilled than me, then engaging with them in competition will motivate me to become better and surpass them.” -Sarah Aponte, 11. -

The brains behind ballot boxes 3 There’s a lot more that goes into who you vote for than just policy

Megan Orlanski health & science editor When a stranger walks into a room, you subconsciously begin to analyze their physical appearance. Whether it’s the way they walk, smell, dress or a variety of other factors, you have already developed a judgement about the individual before they even have the chance to speak. Your initial opinion on them can change once they’ve spoken, but either way, that first impression has a defining impact on how your views. What goes unnoticed is how your brain registers tone, clothing, stature and aligns them with characteristics specific to your preferences. If your brain has already decided how reactive you are to external factors like race or

ethnicity. When you see the candidates step out onto the debate stage your vote is swayed by a lot more than policy, according to Zaria Gorvett at the British Broadcasting Channel. Professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, Yoel Inbar, studied a test group that rated disgusting statements, like wearing the same underwear for a week. He concluded that those who were more disgusted tended to vote for conservative candidates. This means that based on involuntary reactions there are correlations to voting patterns just based on how your brain is wired. Also, physical attractiveness has a strong role in favorability among candidates. When debates were ﬁrst televised in the 60s with the Nixon - Kennedy debates, attractiveness was a huge deciding factor amongst voters. Face

structure, clothing and speaking mannerisms. Although you may not be attracted to Trump’s pout or Clinton’s rock solid updo, your brain is determining who is better to serve this nation partly on these qualities. But, as much as everyone likes to think they judge the candidates based on their policy, we must recognize that there are some things we just can’t change about how our mind works. Many of these reactions are involuntary and the only thing that can be done to control this is to look closer at your decision-making process. Just remember, before you cast your vote this upcoming week that there are so many factors affecting your decision, extending beyond the reach of stimulus packages and foreign policy, that dictate what name you drop in the ballot box.

Set Goals

It is important to set deadlines for your accomplishments in order to achieve them at a reasonable time. Accomplishing your goal doesn’t come in one step, is it a process which contains levels to reach your end goal. 75.4 percent of students set goals for themselves, according to Stage of Life. “I believe it is important to set goals when trying to accomplish something because it keeps you focused and on the right path to your success.” - Lauren Ruiz, 12.

Reward Yourself

After setting your goal, monitor the progress you’re making and celebrate each small victory. After completing something on your to-do-list make sure to treat yourself. Take yourself out to eat or go shopping. Keep yourself motivated to accomplish your next goal. “Getting a reward for something you have accomplished gives more incentive to do better and keep doing more.” - Molly Kaufman, 9. Compiled by Tiffany Schram

POLLING STATIONS NEAR YOU Aventura Public Library: 2930 Northeast 199th Street Highland Oaks Elementary: 20500 NE 24 Ave North Dade Regional Library: 2455 NW 183rd St HondaOfAventura.com

2017 Honda

CIVIC 2017 Honda

ACCORD

Nobody Walks

2150 NE 163rd Street North Miami Beach, FL 33162

855.755.6519

9/26/16 HAV091615P-FootballAd-BC 4x4 • BW

“Where every bite is a vacation!”

Com e v us: isi t

1500 walk, N Board3301 Hollywood 9 , FL H

o >Sund urs: A.m.- ay to Thur 10 P. sday: M. 11 >Frida y 11 A.m to Satur da .- 11 954 P.M. y: -921 -400

Sports Page 18

tops

KROP’S SPORTS

The boys and girls swim teams both finished fifth place at the district swim meet. Junior Alara Guenti qualified to regionals in 100 meter backstroke. Sophomore Jazmine Curls qualified to regionals in 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle. Sophomore Aron Mishkin qualified to regionals in 200 meter freestyle and 400 meter freestyle. Senior Luis Parra qualified to regionals in the 200 meter medley, 50 meter freestyle and 200 meter freestyle relay. Sophomore Joshua Block qualified to regionals in 100 meter freestyle, 200 meter freestyle relay and 200 yard freestyle. Sophomore Matteo Marcato qualified to regionals in 100 yard freestyle and 400 meter relay. The varsity girls volleyball team were District Champions and made it to the regional semi-finals. Senior Malik Watson is the school’s Wendy’s High School Heisman Winner. The boys and girls golf teams both qualified to regionals. The boys and girls bowling team qualified to play in the GMAC Championship Tournament.

Compiled by Hilly Yehoshua and Ethan Curtis

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

AWARENESS

Hopen, Rub start Sports Nation Foundation Ethan Curtis sports editor Juniors Dylan Hopen and Joshua Rub combined their passion for sports and desire to encourage health through physical activity by creating the Sports Nation Foundation. Together, they will partner with several national organizations to promote health through fitness and donations. Each month, Hopen and Rub pick a different health issue to support and, this month, they highlighted breast cancer. “We wanted to find a way to promote health through sports because we’ve always been so interested in them,” Hopen said. “So what we’re doing is combining our passion for sports and desire to help people.” On Oct. 29, Hopen and Rub organized a flag football tournament at Ives Estates Park. A total of 60 students from all around the county showed up , and over $300 were raised and donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The tournament promoted health by means and by

ends. Playing flag football shows that people promoting health through physical exercise while donating money will support a health organization chosen by the Sports Nation Foundation. In between each game, Hopen and Rub led discussions about the effects breast cancer has and the importance of coming together to raise awareness. “We hope that those who participated in the event saw their abilities to play a sport they love while supporting a greater cause,” Rub said. “We succeeded in that the tournament demonstrated how one small event can create a huge impact on the community.” Those who attended felt they were a part of something bigger, making a difference while doing something they love— playing football. “It feels great to know that I applied my free time to a charitable event and contributed to raising awareness about breast cancer,” junior Ariel Golan said. They hope to build on what they achieved this month as

COURTESY OF DYLAN HOPEN

GOING DEEP: Junior Alex Alberquerque drops back for a pass with senior Eli Salk rushing and sophomore Alejandro Sabo back in coverage. The ﬂag football tournament brought students of all ages together for one common goal.

their foundation gains recognition around the community. Sports Nation Foundation will continue to raise awareness to fulfill their mission of encouraging health through several

sporting events. “We were looking to use our passion of sports to help people, something that I think we achieved and hope to do so moving forward,” Hopen said.

FEATURE

Fairley shines on and off the court Senior Tyra Fairley has faced several challenges throughout her life and found a way to overcome them by doing what she does best — playing tennis. Megan Orlanski health & science editor Receiving the American Tennis Association Constellation Award seems like a feat, but not for Tyra Fairley, who can master tennis and advocating for anti-bullying causes simultaneously. Fairley grew up in a house with two autistic brothers and a father who played in the NBA. She says that she turned to tennis as a way to relieve stress and show athleticism. “My dad decided that tennis was the calm and wealthy kind of sport he wanted his daughter to be affiliated with,” Fairley said. Fairley started playing tennis at eight years old and was homeschooled to make time for daily three hour tennis sessions. She returned to regular schooling this past year to join a team. Fairley’s parents had noticed she was isolated and

COURTESY OF TYRA FAIRLEY

GOING DEEP: Senior Tyra Fairley practices her backhand in practice in preparation for future matches. Her hardwork and deducation has motivated her to overcome the challenges she has faced in her life.

wanted her to interact more with other people her age. “Homeschooling wasn’t an enjoyable experience, but I did also like it because it let me focus on tennis, ” Fairley said. “But the most important thing for me is being able to

compete.”. Fairley sustained multiple shoulder and knee injuries over the past years that forced her to put competitions on hold. Meanwhile, she created the foundation “For Autism Against Bullying” when she

was 15. Fairley’s two brothers inspired her to advocate for a cause that was personal to her. “It was something close to my heart that I could do off the court.” Fairley said. “During this time, I immersed myself in anti-bullying causes and learning about autism to better understand my brothers.” Fairley has now recovered from her injuries and hopes to compete in big tournaments this year, including a few professional circuit International Tennis Federation competitions. “Taking a break from tennis was really hard,” Fairley said. “I had to do physical therapy and stay off the court and come back when I felt better.” Even though Fairley has faced obstacles over her lifetime, she knows that tennis will always play a big part in her life. She believes that with effort she can become a professional player.

Sports

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

Page 19

ACCOMPLISHMENT

HISTORY

Tiffany Schram staff writer

in historic way

Golf team to regionals Historic season ends

Krop’s golf team has always been a hidden success, with physically and academically prospering players. Their success continues to grow this year with the help of a new coach, Rob Serra. The golf team hired a new coach after the retirement of Michael Kypris. Serra started playing golf at 16 years old in New York after an injury forced him to stop playing baseball and became the captain of his high school golf team by his senior year. Serra came down to Miami to play golf at Johnson and Wales University, where he will be graduating from next May. He took lessons from Eric Kaplan, a Krop alumni, who mentored Serra in teaching golf and in playing competitively. His coaching has led the entire golf team to qualify for districts and regionals this season. “He’s a great teacher and is really working with us to practice together as a team in between seasons,” junior Emily Palmeiro said. Serra has taken this season to focus on bringing the team together off the course. He worked with the players to practice as a team in between seasons. Serra took the team to private courses to practice on their putting and driving ranges. Serra has taken the players individually to help improve their swings. He has made the team more united and has enjoyed seeing them grow together. “His inﬂuence led the team

Ethan Curtis sports editor With the retirement of one of the greatest hitters of all-time, the death of an iconic pitcher and the greatest World Series ever, this past MLB season will go down in history books as one of the most memorable to ever be played The Fall Classic featured two

ter and a two run home run by Rajai Davis. And to the madness, the game went into extra innings. Before extra innings started, a 17-minute rain delay occurred, giving both teams a chance to regroup. Cubs right ﬁelder Jason Heyward and showed his leadership skills, giving a speech in the clubhouse that gave the team the motivation they needed. Heyward

On Nov. 2, baseball

fans around the country were glued to their T.V.’s for a seventh and ﬁnal game.”

COURTESY OF FOX MAR

FOLLOWING THROUGH: Junior Emily Palmeior practices her swing in the rough in preparation for regionals and future matches. These practices were held at private courses that the new coach took the team to in order to achieve future success.

to have a more positive attitude,” sophomore Adam Singer said. Practices are held two days a week for about two and a half hours. They start out practice on the putting green, where they practice short range shots. Then they move to the chipping green where they hit the ball out of a rough area, usually sand. Finally, they go the driving range, which is where players perfect their swinging technique.

Sometimes the team goes out on the course and plays several rounds in preparation for matches. The team did not get past regionals this season, but Serra was still pleased with the team’s performance. “The players have been great, and I enjoyed seeing the camaraderie amongst them grow as they put in the work at practice and kept improving their game,” Serra said.

teams that had the two longest World Series drought appearances— the Cleveland Indians who weren’t even expected to win the American League and the Chicago Cubs who were the early season favorites. The Cubs were losing the series three games to one and it looked like the Indians were going to capture their first World Series win since 1948 until the Cubs won back-to-back games and tie the series. On Nov. 2, baseball fans around the country were glued to their T.V.s for a seventh and final game. Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler started the game with a leadoff homerun initiating the Cubs early five-one lead. Later in game, the Indians tied the game on wild pitch by Jon Les-

told his teammates they had everything they needed to win the game and there was a reason they were the best team in baseball. Ben Zobrist, a double in the top of the 10th inning, scoring the goahead run to give them a seven to six lead. They would add to their lead with a single by catcher Willson Contreras, leaving the Cubs three outs from winning the game. Davis hit an RBI single to move the Indians within one run, but that’s all they would get. Second baseman Michael Martinez would groundout, making the Cubs the 2016 World Champions. This was their ﬁrst World Series win in 108 years. After years of disappointment and waiting, the Cubs were ﬁnally back on top. This season will be remembered for a long time, but this game will never be forgotten.

RECRUITMENT

The art of recruiting high school athletes Ethan Curtis sports editor For high school athletes who hope to take the next step in their athletic careers, there is one challenge they must face— recruitment. The high school recruiting process can occur in many ways, whether it’s through recruiting coordinators, personal conferences with colleges or even social media. The use of recruiting coordinators is an asset that helps athletes get recognized on the college circuit. These coordinators make footage videos, send them out to colleges and serve as a liaison between colleges and athletes. Senior Jason Girardi used these services in an attempt to play baseball at the collegiate level. “If a school has serious interest in me, they might want a private workout just to make sure I’m still performing as what is expected on the videos sent out and also to talk about scholarships,” Girardi said. High school athletes also have personal conferences with coaches

when they want to play collegiate sports. It’s unusual, but is seen for those athletes who play Division III sports (colleges and universities that choose not to offer athletic scholarship to their student-athletes). Senior Brooke Studnik is going through this process now. Studnik sends out emails to colleges with a biography, school grades, softball stats and a highlight video. Now she’s in contact with 14 schools. From this point, she narrowed down her top choices and scheduled fall visits to Occidental College and Gettysburg College. Studnik has meetings with the coaches during unofﬁcial visits regarding her likeness to play on these college’s softball teams. This happens because Studnik does not have the opportunity to pursue an athletic scholarship because of her desire to play Division III sports. This leads to meetings with the coaches ensuring a spot on the softball team. “The coaches persuade me to go to their school by saying that they could see me having a lead-

ership role,” Studnik said. “I think this whole process is kind of unreal to me.” Social media is another way for high school athletes to put their names out there. Senior Timothy O’Conner ﬁrst got into contact with colleges when he was in 11th grade and did so when he was messaged on Twitter after posting highlight videos. O’Conner started his recruit-

ment process early in the summer, playing in summer league teams where strictly college scouts were present. Now he’s in contact with Northern Arizona University via Twitter. “Now it’s all about committing and ﬁnding the right school for me,” O’Conner said. These are all different scenarios in which athletes get drafted, but there are some students who are of-

RECRUITMENT 7%

PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ATHLETES THAT GO TO COLLEGE TO PLAY BASEBALL ON SOME FORM OF ATHLETIC OR ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

72,788

AMOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ATHLETES THJAT GO TO COLLEGE TO PLAY FOOTBALL ON AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP OUT OF OVER 1 MILLION PARTICIPANTS Source: ncaa.org

fered full athletic scholarships. Senior Randall St. Felix has committed to play football at the University of South Florida (USF). He got the offer by attending a training camp hosted by USF and its coaching staff. “I did what I had to do in order to get the offer,” St. Felix said. “I approached the USF coaching staff after the drills, and we were able to come to an agreement.”

BY THE NUMBERS: 3.5%

PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ATHLETES THAT GO TO COLLEGE TO PLAY BASKETBALL ON SOME FORM OF ATHLETIC OR ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

5.2%

PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL ATHLETES THAT GO TO COLLEGE TO PLAY SOFTBALL ON SOME FORM OF ATHLETIC OR ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP Compiled by Ethan Curtis

Through the Lens Page 20

The Lightning Strike • October/November 2016

NICOLE AMSELLEM

(Clockwise from top left): NICOLE AMSELLEM

PREDATOR AND PREY: Juniors Alyssa Guzman (left) and Manami Maehama (right) dance to “The Lion King” theme song on “Hakuna Matata Monday.” T-BIRDS: (left to right) Carlos Solis, Pedro Figueiredo, Kevin Acks and Javier Cortes show off their inner John Travoltas for “You’re the One the Want Wednesday.” DANIELLE SHARABI

NICOLE AMSELLEM

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN: Students play bean bag toss during lunch to win a slice of apple pie on Hamilton Day. JERSEY BOYS: Seniors Alejandro Sira (left) and Jonathan Coppens (right) laugh it out in their 1950’s leather jackets during lunch. CHEETAH GIRLS: Juniors Mildrene Louisjuste (right) and Kayleigh Granzeer (left) sport their twinning cheetah onesies. COUNTRY PRIDE: Juniors Yanisa Larson and Natasha Blondet show their red, white and blue while posing for a picture.

NICOLE AMSELLEM