Volume 60 Number 1

PANTHER

the

V 60 N 1

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156

Friday October 13, 2017

POWER STRUGGLE

02 Contents

octobER

contents

13

FEATURE

04

NEWS Helping Hands The Panther discusses the influx of Venezuelan students and their experiences.

24

Irma Unchained Though the greater Miami area anticipated a category 4 hurricane, were we even prepared for a category 1?

08 LIFE

On The Rise A look into the factors that contribute to increasing numbers of disingenuous ADD and ADHD diagnoses.

OPINION

19

SPORTS

7 Best Stretches The most effective stretches for student athletes to improve performance and overall comfort.

Snapchat Maps Is the new Snapchat feature, unveiled over the summer, an innovtive form of tracking or invasive of users’ privacy?

03 Review

On

THE COVER

$ 20%

ROUND-UP IN EXPECTED DAMAGES after hurricane irma.

Following Hurricane Irma, residents of the greater Miami area began to assess the damages left behind by the category 1 storm. Citizens and corporations alike found that South Florida fell short in respect to preparations and had to face power outages, road blocks and enless gas lines in Irma’s aftermath.

of FLorida keys homes are “not liveable” as of right now.

INFORMATION COURTESY OF ABC NEWS AND THE MIAMI HERALD

$19 BILLION

BRIEFING KING TIDES REIGN OVER MIAMI

PRAYERS FOR VEGAS

FINDING THE LIGHT

As South Florida recovers from the flooding and never ending debris caused by Hurricane Irma, the seasonal King Tides are expected to impact the greater Miami area starting on Oct. 6, and are supposed to last several days.

The King Tides rise each year from September through November when the sun and moon align to create a stronger gravitational pull on the ocean. October’s tides are traditionally the highest of the year and can prove disastrous flooding for Miami that was just hit by category 1 force winds. As the tides rose twice a day for three days towards the end of September, the risk of currents forming due to the tides has increased.

On Sunday night of Oct. 1, Stephen Paddock opened fire on thousands of people attending a country music festival, 32 feet below his hotel room.

During the shooting, 59 people were killed and 489 people were injured. The attack has been named the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Paddock’s body was later discovered by police in his hotel room, along with 23 guns and detailed plans. The gun used in the shooting was a semi automatic weapon made to function as an automatic weapon with a bump stock, which is attached to the trigger. This tragedy has caused widespread controversy surrounding the restrictions and regulations of guns.

Since Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, all previous ways of life were stopped or significantly altered because of the destruction.

Without power until next year, Puerto Ricans must decide whether to leave their home and head elsewhere or stay behind amid the debris. Only 9 percent of the island have power and 45 percent have clean drinking water. The few schools that are open have also provided shelter and donated food to the general public. Earlier last week, President Trump paid a visit to the island but was criticized on social media for saying Maria was “not a real catastrophe” and for throwing rolls of paper towel into the crowd.

04 News

GENDER X

A NEW FORM OF SELF IDENTIFICATION Whether it is an individual’s ethnic profile, racial identity or sexual orientation, identity expression choices in the U.S. have steadily expanded. Consequently, in 2017, a new opportunity has arisen.

The new gender option, Gender X, serves as an alternative to male and female designations. Gender X has been added as another gender option on official documents. The option has been added to driver license applications in California, and on birth certificates in Washington state. In Canada, Gender X will soon be available on passports.

These regions believe that the third gender option shows growth of expression and diversity for gender identity, according to Time Magazine.

Today, a U.S population of around 300,000 people would rather not identify themselves as either gender option according to a transgender study performed in 2015 by the National Center of Transgender Equality.

Gender X responds to the lack of identification this community has felt.

“Well, it’s huge for these people,” the head of the Alliance club, Dr. Larry Schwarz, said. “It offers them a chance to identify themselves as they really feel and not have to feel the inner turmoil of what do I fit into when I don’t really fit into any categories of male or female.”

As Gender X slowly

spreads, people wonder if the option will soon be available in Florida as well. For many this would add a new opportunity for self-identification.

“I’m all for it,” junior Sophie Walters said. “I think it’s going to have a positive impact on our community, because it will make people more open and really know who they are and everything so I think it’s going to be great.”

Within the non-binary community, many teens feel the lack of identification at school. In a school, non-binary students are faced with the conflicts of separate male and female bathrooms, sport teams, locker rooms and more.

“It remains to be seen how the school system is going to protect those people, just how they protect everyone,” Schwarz said. “School safety is the most important thing at this school and we have to make sure those people have access to education just like everybody else.”

The lack of self identification with the term “X,” however, has not been completely accepted by the non-binary community. The term itself is very generic, and does not give people the freedom of expression they need.

“Some people said they didn’t want to be ‘X’ed” out,” sexologist Dr. Marilyn Volker said. “People have felt that the term ‘X’ does not give them the freedom of choosing their own identity.”

While some are skeptical of the name of the new gender option, the creation of Gender X holds promise for more opportunities in the future for the nonbinary community.

“X invites. X is not the ending,” Volker said. “X is an exit to open to look for the other options.”

Gemma Torras Design Editor

g.torras.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA SOLOMON AND ALLISON STRASIUS

05 News

TRACKING CELL PHONE SURVEILLANCE

u

se of cell phone tracking by phone applications, government agencies and police departments has declined in recent years.

Mobile phone applications such as Uber and Lyft often track where users are when using their services. Until earlier this year, iPhone users did not have the option to turn off these apps’ location services when not using the app.

The introduction of iOS11 last month, the latest update to iPhone technology, allows users to control the extent of the tracking.

When consumers buy applications, they can decide whether to turn on location services.

If they choose to keep their location services on, iPhone and Android users can potentially compromise their privacy.

On Sep. 15, the Washington D.C. Court of Appeals ruled the use of cell phone surveillance devices unconstitutional, citing Fourth Amendment rights and perhaps implicating law enforcement’s use of cell-site simulators.

At least 25 police departments in major U.S. cities admit to using the StingRay, a cell phone surveillance device posing as a cellphone tower.

Another 36 other agencies neither confirmed nor denied using the simulator device, according to a USA Today article.

University of Miami computer science professor Dr. Victor Milenkovic said he believes iPhones remain a safe domain for commercial customers since they have made recent efforts to scale back on security concerns. “iPhone users probably have better protection available to them because Apple is providing strong security, frequently updates their software and is willing to fight unpopular fights,” Dr. Milenkovic said.

The benefits of location tracking in emergency situations and for transportation route guidance do not correlate with its use under government authority.

Senior Louis Moon said he believes phone

tracking, while a flawed concept, can monitor potential harms to society.

“The same forces that drive mass surveillance have afforded us with modern day conveniences that I personally enjoy, making it a worthwhile tradeoff, and a necessary one in the context of domestic and foreign security threats like terrorism, with 9/11 being the most prominent example,” Moon said.

“Modern day life warrants the government to exercise their power as they currently do.”

The iOS update and the recent court decision in Washington shed light on a greater issue: the infiltration of private cyberspace domains.

The leakage of government war logs and private email servers over the last few years, for example, became national controversies through WikiLeaks and during Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Today, Apple dominates the phone industry, reaping 92 percent of worldwide profits, according to the Wall Street Journal. Uber can stand to lose money because of recent court decisions on data intrusiveness.

“Companies as big as Uber can afford to sacrifice data, considering it’ll only be used to squeeze a little bit more profit at the cost of our personal privacy,” Moon said.

While government use of location tracking may continue to pick up in the years that follow, restrictions of commercial usage now apply.

“The government can have you followed in public without a warrant and you cannot expect the address you write on a letter to be private,” Dr. Milenkovic said. “Tracking and meta-data are like things the government can already do.

We have to focus on protecting the privacy of our voice and data.”

Thomas Martinez Online Editor inChief

t.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com GRAPHIC BY ALEXANDRA PEDROSO

06 News

Palmetto Lends a Hand

PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA SOLOMON

The current socioeconomic crisis in Venezuela has caused an influx of Venezuelan transfer students who have enrolled at various Miami-Dade County Public Schools, including Miami Palmetto Senior High.

In 2012, the death of President Hugo Chávez prompted an election narrowly won by Nicolas Maduro, sparking protests within the nation. Months following the transition, economic troubles resulting from inflation and budget cuts left many Venezuelan citizens unable to care for their families. Over this period, thousands of Venezuelans fled to the U.S. from political persecution.

Sophomore Sofia Aguirre moved to the U.S. two years ago after living in Venezuela all her life.

“My family is super separated now,” Aguirre said. “I never see them. When my mom was little she lived with all her cousins and could see each other all the time, and I don’t have that.”

With political tensions increasing, Aguirre’s family packed their bags for a new life like many others. Not all citizens can leave so easily, however, because of restrictions enacted by the current Venezuelan administration.

“Although I arrived, unfortunately lots of my family was left behind,” Senior

Freddy Blanco, who emigrated from Venezuela about a year ago, said. “There are some people that were able to travel over. They were the lucky ones.”

Sophomore Silvana Ollarves emigrated from Venezuela much earlier than Aguirre and Blanco.

“I’ve been here for a while now - eight

“My family is super separated now and I never see them.

When my mom was little she lived with all her cousins, and could see each other all the time I don’t have that.”

SOFIA AGUIRRE (10)

years. I was born [in Venezuela] and I came here when I was eight. Looking back at [Venezuela] now, compared to how it was before, is a really sad thing to

see,” Ollarves said. “Back then, things that were considered bad for me is nothing to compared to how things are now.”

President Trump’s recently announced that he is adding Venezuela to his travel ban due to increasing tensions within the nation. The travel ban will take effect on October 18, restricting all access to the U.S. from Venezuela.

According to a proclamation signed by President Trump, Venezuela was added to the list because its government officials failed to share public-safety and terrorismrelated information adequately.

“My grandmother was planning to come back [to the U.S.] in a few months,” Ollarves said. “It’s really unfair because she has family in both places and she had to choose, and now it sounds like she can’t come back.”

Starting over requires people to leave everything they have ever known behind for a new life. ”[We] started over twice,” Aguirre said.

“It’s not that simple.”

Olivia Solomon Staff Writer

o.solomon.thepanther@gmail.com

Allison Strasius Staff Writer

a.strasius.thepanther@gmail.com

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08 Life

PRESERVING

WORLD LANGUAGES At Miami Palmetto Senior High, students have the opportunity to preserve world languages by taking foreign language courses.

In other countries, however, small groups of locals are struggling to keep their native languages alive. One language in particular, N|uu, has been identified by the UN as critically endangered: this is the last degree of endangerment before the language becomes officially extinct. Katrina Esau, one of the few fluent speakers of N|uu, lives near Upington, South Africa.

Esau is fighting to conserve the purity of the language she grew up speaking.

Lila de Puch-Marsee, Spanish teacher and World Languages Department Chair, has taken note of Esau’s situation.

“It is very telling that [Esau] is trying to keep the language alive because it is her past. It is her culture. It is her roots,” Marsee said. “The language is on its way to disappear, so in a way, but not as severe, that is what is happening with the bastardization of Spanish.”

Marsee says that some people communicate in Spanish, but they do not preserve the purity of the language. She stresses that many countries alter the language by using colloquialisms, which can cause confusion. The colloquial term “guagua,” for example, means baby in Chile but means bus in Cuba.

“We all know that people are going to speak the way they speak at home with their group, or with what I call their tribe,” Marsee said. “But when [teaching] the language people must realize that there is just one format for everybody because

that’s what holds us together in Spanish or else it would be called Cuban or Mexican or Venezuelan.”

Marsee says it is hard to

“In my classes, I help students communicate with each other but my goal is to be able to help them communicate well, respectfully and at a professional level.”

LILA DE PUCH-MARSEE, AP Spanish Teacher

unteach words that some of her students have grown up with, but she thinks it is a battle that must be fought. She aims to prepare her students for future international or business-related situations by having them engage in casual conversations while also reading and analyzing passages in Spanish.

“In my classes, I help students communicate with each other, but my goal is to be able to help them communicate well, respectfully, and at professional level,” Marsee said.

Senior Evan Resende is a second year student with Marsee, and he is excited to learn more in his Spanish IV Honors class in the coming months.

“Last year we read a lot of different stories and went over a lot of different scenarios. I think that helped,” Resende said. “And we did a lot of group discussions and went over real life situations.

It wasn’t like a standard lecture; it really helped strengthen my knowledge in Spanish.”

While on a trip to Peru over the summer, Resende was able to put his Spanish to the test as he conversed with locals.

“Taking Spanish really helped my skills in communicating with the people there. I definitely felt like I was diversifying myself,” Resende said.

Senior Marco Dal Pezzo, who recently took AP Italian, also feels like he gained a lot of knowledge. Though he learned Italian as his first language, Dal Pezzo learned new information from his lessons in class.

“I learned some historic things about Italy that I didn’t know before. I also learned about landmarks and important people,” Dal Pezzo said. “It’s been helpful in making me appreciate cultures more by having studied more about my own.”

Other available language classes include French, Japanese and Chinese.

“If it were up to me, I would have even more languages taught at the school,” Marsee said.

With the rise of globalization, she emphasizes that knowing multiple languages benefit students for careers in any field.

“Globalization is not going to change. It’s going to continue because we depend on each other in the world,” Marsee said.

“We cannot isolate ourselves. So the more languages that you are able to have under your belt, the more doors will open up to you.”

Sabrina Catalan Copy Editor

s.catalan.thepanther@gmail.com

i

PHOTO BY MIA ZALDIVAR

t happens to the best of us - sitting in class, sitting in the passenger seat, sitting at home and then the inevitable: daydreaming. As a symptom closely related to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), it seems common nowadays for people to diagnose themselves with the disorder, as the lack of focus associated with daydreaming suggests attention problems. In the U.S. alone, only 11 percent of adolescents from the ages of four to 17 have been properly diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or ADD by mental health professionals. So why exactly are stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin on the rise?

The brain is one of the most complex and unique organs in the human body. After all, everyone’s brain is wired differently and no one retains, thinks or interprets information exactly the same. Research, tests and questionnaires point out that the attention span of someone with ADD/ ADHD is limited and the constant need to stay in motion remains abnormally high.

“Research studies have shown that real ADHD is an actual chemical imbalance, as demonstrated by SPECT scans,” Neurology Pediatric Physician’s assistant Nike Sitzman said.

According to the US National Library of Medicine of National Institutions and Health, the rise in ADD and ADHD among Americans has gone up 4.1 percent since 1997, meaning about 6.5 million adolescents live with these disorders today.

Simultaneously, the

number of prescriptions for these disorders remains at an all-time high, sometimes when drugs are not necessary. Because of this issue, neurologists and psychiatrists use the Connors’ Rating Scale, the MMAT Quotient Test or the Vanderbilt Questionnaire to weed out those who do not need the prescriptions.

The tests look for and evaluate cognitive domains such as intellect, achievement, attention, memory, personality, language functioning and executive functioning.

“The inability to function optimally makes one feel anxious or down, which can cause low self-esteem,” Wellspring Counseling trauma counselor Victoria Gray said.

Because of this, the purpose of neurological and psychological assessments is not only to diagnose patients who need treatment such as brain exercises or prescriptions, but also to determine whether these cognitive disorders can cause those with ADD/ADHD to develop anxiety and depression.

On the other hand, it is no surprise that students take certain stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin to help keep them focused during classes, and to stay awake and attentive throughout the day.

For years, college campuses have dealt with students using stimulants,

ON THE RISE

09 Life

colloquially known as the “smart drug,” to perform better in their academic careers or to stay alert during study hours. This epidemic of students using ADD/ADHD stimulants serves as a saving grace when it comes to studying or staying alert during school hours. According to the University of Rochester’s Medical Center, the general student population tends to take these drugs without diagnosis of these mental disorders for the sole purpose of excelling in school.

“Students who aren’t prescribed Adderall will most likely know someone who is; it’s not hard to find,” senior Alejandro Licor, who takes prescription Adderall for ADD, said. “[Adderall] keeps you focused the same way, even if someone doesn’t have ADD.” The rise in these so-called smart drugs is largely because they help students stay alert and focused and while this may help, it is not the ticket to getting into an Ivy League and it is not the gateway to success in life.

These prescribed drugs are meant for those who psychologically need help staying focused and staying still for prolonged periods of time. Because it is human nature to get distracted and daydream, this is not a sign that one has a mental disorder or need the pills to push through.

Brianne Guanaga News Editor

b.guanaga.thepanther@gmail.com

10 Life

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA BOONE

FINDING THE FINE LINE BETWEEN POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO STRESS A high school student sleeps in his bed, hidden away from all of his problems under his big blanket. As he lifts the sheets off of his body, reality begins to creep in. He remembers his biology, statistics, psychology and environmental science projects— assignments that are due tomorrow. Overwhelmed, the boy throws his pillow back over his head; he needs another nap. This solution to stress, which feels most instinctive to him, provides him with a temporary answer to his problems: sleeping.

But they’re still there when he wakes up in the morning.

It does not have to be this way.

Stress, which the American Psychological Association defines as the feeling that occurs when people realize that responsibilities exceed the ability to cope, causes people to resort to their instincts. Though one may think his or her instincts are the best way to counteract this feeling, they often lead to more monumental problems in the future. The lack of knowledge about coping mechanisms holds people back from reaching their full potential—but there are ways to fix it.

According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 13- to 17-yearolds experience stress levels higher than they consider to be healthy. The APA identified school as the top source of stress for teens, followed by the pressure of getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school.

“Homework and other responsibilities typically stress me out,” junior Humberto Garcia said. “I do things like going to the gym, working and playing basketball as ways to get my mind off of stressful things.”

Coping mechanisms are how someone responds to difficult situations.

“You need to eat well, get plenty of sleep, engage in enjoyable leisure activities, work on time management, and relaxation techniques like meditation or exercising,” Advanced Placement psychology teacher Gwendolyn Schoolar said. “When you are in the middle of feeling stressed, you neglect yourself and you neglect those things. People resort to the poor coping mechanisms like escapism, binge watching TV, drinking too much alcohol, or taking medications [and] drugs to try and alleviate the stress, but it never really tackles the problem that stress is creating.”

As stated by the APA, the five best ways to cope with stress include taking a break, exercising, smiling and laughing, seeking social support and meditating. In order to cope effectively, people need to understand some of the most significant ways their bodies respond to stress: mentally, emotionally and behaviorally.

Positive mental reactions to stress an include optimistic attitudes in troubling situations, while negative reactions, such as self-degradation, demonstrate lack of confidence in oneself. Optimists look at each hardship as an experience to learn and grow from, leading to an eager rather than an anxious approach to problem solving.

Typically, teens focus more on handling the emotions that come with stress rather than the problem itself. In a positive manner, one would let their confidence drive them to a feeling of serenity—they will not have their emotions stand in the way of the problem, and have the composure necessary to tackle

the problem. On the contrary, one can be angered, saddened or frightened by the situation and allow their emotions to get the best of them.

Behavioral responses — physical indicators of how people react to environmental stimuli—display the way people act when stressed. For example, sometimes people can be inclined to physically and verbally attack someone out of instinct. Thankfully, destructive behavior can be channeled and turned into positive stress. Exercising for a short amount of time per day or using words and reactions in a productive manner, teenagers can improve themselves and avoid further stress.

“I cope with stress through good time management,” junior Cameron Hammersmith said. “I try to limit the amount of stress I put on my body by not procrastinating and keeping up with all my work earlier rather than later.”

Hammersmith represents a healthy way of coping with stress; however, getting to where he is takes persistence.

Schoolar offers advice on how to change coping habits for the better.

“Perhaps you start small. Perhaps you make sure that you always find time for some exercise, perhaps you make sure to get enough sleep, perhaps you talk to someone,” she said. “It’s something people always neglect, but it’s important to develop a social network. If you can’t do it on your own, find someone to help you.”

Blake Rubenstein

Print Managing Editor

b.rubenstein.thepanther@gmail.com

IS THE FUTURE

NOW? As natural disasters and high death tolls have occurred at an alarming rate in the past few months, some have theorized that the events detailed in the Book of Revelations, the closing book from the Bible, are upon us. Recently, social media platforms such as Twitter have posted excerpts from the Book of Revelations, suggesting that the scriptures may be connected to the recent catastrophes and may lead, in their opinion, to the end of the world.

“Eclipse was on the 21st, harvey began on the 25th, flood started on the 26th. If you google ‘21 25 26’, this comes up,” a tweet by user @juleedao_ read.

Attached to the tweet, screenshots of scripture from the Book of Luke read, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.”

The tweet goes on to point out several coincidences among the scriptures, their number and meaning; however, some believe these are simply accidental happenings, and no real connection exists between these excerpts and the events unfolding in the world.

“The Bible does not say specifically that an event such as an earthquake will be a sign of Revelations. No one will know, it could happen coincidentally, but we don’t know,” senior Alyssa Sanchez said.

Sanchez, daughter of a Christian pastor and active member of the Christian community, strongly believes they are merely coincidences.

“There is no correlation with Luke - they just pulled that book out of the Bible and the 21 and 25 has nothing to do with it, whoever came up with that is just trying to start things and blow things out of proportion,” she said.

Although Chapter 21 of the Book of Luke mentions the second forthcoming of Christ, the Book of Revelations goes more into depth about how revelations will ultimately occur. Sanchez pointed out how, although the excerpt may have sounded like a sign of Revelations, there is no real correlation. She suggests that people may have shared those tweets for attention.

The Book of Revelations in the Bible, written by the apostle John in 95 AD, details God’s plan for the future. Given that it discusses God’s creation of a new heaven and earth, this book has served as the primary source of speculation for those who believe in a correlation between the text and the modern world.

The book begins with chapters 2 and 3 of Revelations, discussing the time where Jesus wrote seven letters to seven different churches signifying different sins the church is dealing with. This, skeptics say, correlates with present day society. The period of Tribulation, consisting of seven years on Earth where the church no longer exists, anticipates horrendous natural disasters and religious persecution. Supposedly, the Battle of Armageddon will then occur, in which Satan would be defeated followed by the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Due to the misinterpretation of the Book of Revelations, people have pulled excerpts from the Bible, out of context, and connected them to current events to spark people’s interest. No true parallels have been found between what the Bible explicitly states and rumors on the internet attempting to predict such a revelation in the future.

Mia Zaldivar Design Editor

m.zaldivar.thepanther@gmail.com

11 Life PHOTO BY MIA ZALDIVAR

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Feature 13

BLAME GAME

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIAMI PALMETTO STUDENTS

“If my house was destroyed from only a category 1-2 storm, I can’t imagine what Miami would look like after a direct hit from a 4 or a 5.”

E VA N G O L I N S K Y ( 1 0 )

the residents. But how can municipalities reconcile the promotion of a canopy with guaranteeing the security of our power lines?

“It [the canopy] is important,” Paz said.

“But at the same time, we really need to be careful doing that because of the amount of hurricanes we get.”

The options the neighborhoods have for alternative ways of directing power to its residents are few. Florida Power and Light, the state-approved monopoly on power in Florida, has already begun one of these options in the suburbs: the hardening program. In this program, FPL replaces older wooden power poles with concrete poles that are less likely to collapse during a storm.

However, according to Pinecrest Village Council Meeting minutes from May 5, 2015, residents opposed the installation

26 %

DID NOT HAVE POWER

ON MONDAY SEPT. 18.

24 %

OF STUDENTS

DID NOT ATTEND

SCHOOL

OUT OF 306 STUDENTS,

60 %

DID NOT EVACUATE.

43 %

OF

Coral Gables, has been deemed a “Tree City U.S.A.” by the Arbor Day Foundation and places its tree canopy in high regard.

“We pride ourselves on a wonderful tree canopy,” Pinecrest Mayor Joseph Corradino said. In fact, municipalities like Pinecrest that are trying to establish a canopy have strict rules regarding how residents maintain the trees on their property that ensure little to no canopy loss will occur in the village. In Pinecrest’s Rules for Cutting, Pruning, and Removing Trees, the Village establishes a detailed process for removing a tree that requires a property owner files for a permit to cut down the tree and replace the canopy lost by cutting the tree by planting trees that will cover a wider canopy area.

The aesthetic beauty of our neighborhoods ranks high in importance to

OF STUDENTS

A

s Irma neared and models shifted west, Miami-Dade County breathed a sigh of relief at the idea that it would be spared the worst of the storm. But, despite Dade receiving only category 1 force winds when it was forecasted as category 4 force winds, many residents of the county sustained significant damage to their homes and lost power for well over a week, especially in the suburbs south of Downtown Miami like Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Coral Gables. In the aftermath of Irma, while the dead foliage of fallen branches still lines the streets of our neighborhoods, many residents have begun to ask themselves critical questions.

Were we prepared for Irma? If not, who is to blame?

Dade residents all prepared for the storm the traditional way:; they put up shutters, moved patio furniture inside, stocked up on canned food and charged their devices.

Locals wiped out grocery stores of bottled water and other necessities. Many homes also upgraded to hurricane glass or impact windows and built stronger homes in response to storms like Andrew in 1992 and Wilma in 2005, which strengthened building codes.

However, even after all the typical preparation, people had to brace themselves for the power outages that ensued as the storm began. Some, like senior and Pinecrest resident, Audrey Paz, even lost their power before the storm hit on Saturday. Paz claims her house lost power on the Friday before Irma made impact. However, to her and others in her neighborhood, this is a regular occurrence.

“Whenever it gets stormy here, we always lose power right away,” Paz said.

“For everyone in the neighborhood, that’s just how it is. We lose power constantly.”

Paz says the proliferance of trees in her neighborhood causes proneness to power outages. She echoes the frustration at foliage many residents of Pinecrest felt during and after the storm as tree branches landed on and knocked down power lines, cutting off some residents’ power for over a week.

Pinecrest is not unique in this regard.

The village, as well as Palmetto Bay and

OUT OF 305 STUDENTS

14 Feature

STUDENTS DO NOT THINK MIAMI WOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR

A STRONGER STORM. of these new poles because of their size and expressed concern regarding further installation in the future. According to Corradino, the hardening program has covered “a decent percentage [of the Village] but [is] certainly not a complete project.”

Another option that has come up recently is burying the power lines underground. Residents seem to see this option as favorable because it protects lines from tree interference and allows them to maintain the canopy without sacrificing security. However, the proposal does come with significant cons. When lines are buried they are more susceptible to damage from flooding and when they do experience a disruption (although they do much less frequently than above-ground lines), the damage is harder to locate and restore, thereby delaying power restoration to houses on those lines.

Pinecrest is still looking into line burial as an option, but has not made much progress on the matter over the past few years.

“We’ve been fighting with FPL for close to a decade to make undergrounding an

Feature 15 option as it would seem practical in a community like ours that does have so many large trees and that’s a source of pride for us,” Corradino said. “But it’s just not an option.”

According to FPL, line burial costs roughly $1 million f o r every mile of line buried.

Because of these high costs that would fall to the residents to pay, FPL has not made the option available to many neighborhoods, though buried lines exist in various areas in Miami.

Solar panels have been the most controversial option due to FPL’s historic stance against their installation in the Sunshine State. Under current FPL regulations, residents with solar panels cannot disconnect them from the FPL grid.

During a power outage, residents with solar panels are also not allowed to run their panels d u e t o dangerous backfeed along the lines that could harm workers restoring lines.

But, because FPL does not allow disconnection from the grid, which would eliminate the threat of backfeed, solar panels are rendered effectively useless during power outages.

FPL also attempted to rally the public around Amendment 1, a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that used misleading language to deceive

voters into thinking the amendment would promote solar expansion when it would really allow FPL to raise fees against solar panel usage and limit expansion. The proposal was killed when it did not receive the required 60 percent vote when it was on the ballot in November 2016.

Throughout the aftermath of Irma, FPL received more backlash than usual.

This backlash is usually not directed at the individual workers. In fact, most residents seem to be appreciative of the out-of-state workers that came to help with the recovery effort.

“I can’t complain because obviously there were so many homes without power,” Paz said. “They helped everyone, I think everybody got their power back at a decent time. It’s hard to imagine only a couple workers fixing millions of homes so I think they did well.”

However, many did criticize the company at the corporate level for inadequate preparation, mostly regarding the delayed mobilization of workers into areas of South Florida.

The city of Coral Gables is in the process of filing a lawsuit against FPL. They claim that the company was not prepared for the storm and that they were delayed in removing fallen trees from roads that had power lines tangled in them, which only FPL are allowed to remove. Coral Gables is also known for its large canopy of trees and the city saw many of these fallen trees throughout their neighborhood.

Other neighborhoods have expressed their dissatisfaction with FPL’s response.

“We were a little upset to see that the power trucks were not in the neighborhood early on,” Corradino said.

Despite this sentiment, Pinecrest has not committed to joining the lawsuit with Coral Gables or filing their own lawsuit.

“We’re keeping all of our legal options open at this point in time,” Corradino said.

“We need better relationships with FPL and we’ll help them wherever they need help.”

16 Feature However, some residents are still angry at FPL’s response to the storm and called upon their local municipal governments to fight against the company and demand a better response.

“There’s a concept in economics called economy of scale, which is that there are some things that are so large that if you have more than one company providing competitive service, the industry can get confused,” AP United States Government and politics teacher Mr. Spiegelman said. “[the government] provides sort of a regulated monopoly, and FPL is not the only [power company], there are power companies in other parts of the state, but FPL is the biggest.They can provide a continuity of service.”

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Palmetto Bay residents urged Mayor Eugene Flinn to negotiate a faster response with FPL on their behalf and keep them in the loop.

Communication in today’s world is instant-gratification based and welcomes little room for delays.

Flinn’s blog, Eugene Flinn - South Dade Updates, runs on a platform called Blogspot, and he writes, “My best method for keeping everyone up to date on important matters affecting our community.” But, with loss of power, internet and cell service, many residents were unable to get online and search for his blog, preventing them from receiving any critical updates.

Some residents did not take this well.

“He was very rude to one of my social

media posts. He asked his fellow Palmetto Bay residents to stay informed by following his Facebook page and blog, however, no one had power or phone signal,” Melissa Cabrera, Palmetto Bay resident, said. “I found it very unprofessional for him to ask his community to seek information rather than provide a status in another forum outside of social media.”

Cabrera took to Facebook to express her discontent with Flinn’s after-Irma protocol.

She posted a Miami Herald article that said South Dade residents will not have power back for longer than expected, and she wrote, “Nowhere in this article is he [Flinn] taking a stand for the rest of us left in the dark. I guarantee he is up and running at home!”

Flinn responded, “Seriously? I am through this village ever since the storm.

Follow my posts on my blog. I have stayed in town for the storm and afterwards to assist and participate in the recovery.”

Flinn later said in the interview that, per the communications issues, he will explore alternative options, including radio.

While most of us continue to play the blame game, some believe what happened in the aftermath of Irma was best-casescenario, given the circumstances.

“No one is to blame for how long the power was out,” senior and Coral Gables resident Elizabeth Seckinger said. “It is the hurricane’s fault and FPL restored power as best as they could and brought people from all over the country to help.”

Granted, Irma was a storm of

unprecedented size that affected nearly the entire state of Florida and stretched some resources thin. But, Miami was preparing for a direct hit from a category 3 or 4 hurricane based on the Irma models we saw about a week before the storm. If this is what category 4 preparation looks like under category 1 conditions, what will happen to our communities if a category 4 eventually does hit us? Will we be prepared?

The damage we have seen from Irma’s category one forces has been devastating in some parts of Miami. Evan Golinksi, a sophomore and Coconut Grove resident, evacuated to Atlanta with his family for the duration of the storm. When he returned, the state of his neighborhood served as a chilling reminder of what could have happened to more inland neighborhoods in a stronger storm.

“The Grove is known for its foliage, and downed trees made roads impassable and accessing power lines impossible,” Golinski said. “We had about a foot of water in our whole house and this water seeped up the walls while we were away.

All our furniture, finishes, walls and floors were all ruined. You could say we suffered a total loss.”

The house requires nearly complete restoration. Stronger storms could have pushed storm surge all the way into neighborhoods like Pinecrest, Coral Gables and Palmetto Bay. This kind of destruction under less than forecasted conditions begs residents to ask the question: would we be prepared for a stronger storm with our

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current level of preparation?

“I don’t think anybody’s prepared for a category 4 or 5 hurricane,” Corradino said.

While this may be true due to the severely intense nature of these storms, it does not acknowledge the fact that hurricanes of this intensity have become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. As ocean waters get warmer, hurricanes intensify.

Combined with rising sea levels, increased precipitation a n d rising global temperatures, it can all lead to extreme flooding as seen in Houston after Hurricane Harvey and along the coast from Jacksonville, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina that saw extreme flooding from Irma’s storm surge.

As we have seen from Hurricane Maria’s devastating impact on Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, we do not want to take the risk of weathering a category 4 or 5

storm.

Y e t as global warming continues to contribute to stronger, more frequent storms, companies like FPL have repeatedly blocked efforts to turn to sustainable resources like solar power and pushed resources like natural gas and nuclear energy (which does not contribute to carbon dioxide emissions but does harm the environment in other forms).

On the other hand, local communities have made efforts to reduce their environmental impact. For example, Pinecrest’s Green Action Plan outlines village actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and managing sustainable growth. Palmetto Bay’s Guiding Principles for a Sustainable Village direct the village to increasing community and government involvement in sustainable practices.

“I would like to see our government recognize the effects that climate change has on the intensity of hurricanes to make changes to policy regarding the environment,” Golinski said. “If my house was destroyed from only a category 1-2 storm, I can’t imagine what Miami would look like after a direct hit from a 4 or a 5.”

Jack Cruz-Alvarez

Online Managing Editor

j.cruzalvarez.thepanther@gmail.com

Morgan Elmslie Senior Copy Editor

m.elmslie.thepanther@gmail.com

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19 Sports

GETTING A SCHOLARSHIP* the right way

Many times, when people hear that an athlete is signed or committed to a college, he or she thinks about the athlete’s talent.

But what about the work behind the skill leading up to the scholarship?

Nowadays, students receive medals for participation. Kids continually drop in and out of sports, and parents coach their kids to victory. These situations can only get a dedicated athlete so far, much less to college with an athletic scholarship.

The best strategy to gain a commitment is communication between the player and the college coach (and not just by email).

Students should be sure that the college they are committing to is what works best for them. The athlete should also make a skills video to send to coaches on email and should attend camps hosted and visited by desired coaches.

Softball player and senior Summer Perantoni is currently committed to Lander University, a Division II college located in South Carolina.

“Building a relationship with a coach is extremely important. It helps you understand if you like the college or not,” Perantoni said.

Athletic Scholarships mentions that students knowing what type of college they are looking for is one of the most important parts of the committing process. It helps athletes get attached to the college rather than just the coach.

A skills video is a good way to keep college coaches connected and interested when they can’t travel to a game.

According to Athletic Scholarships, the average college coach only watches about 20-40 seconds of a skills video. Therefore, athletes should put their best footage first,

GRAPHIC BY CHLOE GALLIVAN

while remembering to keep it short and simple. There is no need for music or over the top transition slides, according to Stack.

Athletes can get exposure by attending college camps and clinics allowing a one on one experience with coaches and players.

Prospective college athletes can understand how the school works with their sport and form an idea of what the environment is like. During the camp, athletes should ask questions about the team, the school and any other concerns they may have.

Some camps last a day, and some last

“Building a relationship with a coach is extremely important.”

SUMMER PERANTONI(12)

a week. Sometimes, they allow students to stay on campus and hang out with the team. Exposure and experience through camps and clinics are extremely important in receiving the best shot at getting an offer.

Nowadays, people hear about the allstar 8th grader verbally committing to colleges. The chances of an athlete keeping the same coach from 8th grade to freshman year in college is slim.

Athletic Scholarships stated that 41 percent of National Collegiate Athletic Association football players would not attend a school if there were to be a coach change. To avoid this, it is recommended to take an interest in the entire school, not just

the coach.

Athletes also need to make sure that they are willing to commit to their sport everyday for the next four years of their life. They need to find a division, a major and a team that fits them in order to have the best college experience.

After an athlete earns an offer, money is the next topic to cover. So, when it comes to being recruited, athletes must keep an eye out for their finances.

Schools are limited to divisions, which hold different amounts of money that limit the number of scholarships they are allowed to give out. Football also has multiple divisions with a range of scholarships.

NCAA are the top divisions and have the most money to give out. For other sports, the Divisions are I, II, and III with the addition to junior colleges. Division III schools and junior colleges only allow academic scholarships.

If they are looking for a full scholarship in sports like baseball or softball, it’s harder to look into Division ll colleges because only 7.2 scholarships are offered, as opposed to Division I schools; they have 12 scholarships to offer, according to Scholarships Stats. On the other hand, level 1 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision gives no partial scholarships; all other divisions offer partial or academic scholarships.

After all the hard work and research, an athlete may finally attend his or her dream school, but the best piece of advice is to enjoy the sport while he or she can because going professional is harder than it looks.

Chloe Gallivan Design Editor

c.gallivan.thepanther@gmail.com

XYour name here

20 Sports

JUSTICE FOR (B)ALL The world of sports is changing from a place where you just watch a good game to a place where players are displaying their political opinions.

Some players are now kneeling for the national anthem. This phenomena was started by a football player named Colin Kaepernick, and kneeling during the anthem quickly coined the term “Kaepernicking”. Kaepernick is now out of a job, and is speculated to stay unemployed because no NFL owner wants to deal with the media issues that signing Kaepernick could bring them. However, as the president of the United States constantly stirs controversy among the public, more athletes have began to protest, as well.

Some football teams have gone to the extreme of not leaving the locker room for the anthem. NFL owners have taken the field and stood with their players to show signs of unity among the players and owners.

Regarding Palmetto students protesting for the anthem, none of the Palmetto football players have kneeled during the anthem.

“The kids wanted to stay unified as one team,” head coach Mike Manasco said.

When asked what he would do if one of his players approached him regarding kneeling during the anthem, Manasco responded with the

GRAPHIC BY CHLOE GALLIVAN

following: “I would want to know what their reasons are for kneeling but if they truly felt that passionate on the matter, I would understand them kneeling.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to stay in the locker room for the anthem and then took to the field after the anthem. However, Steeler Alejandro Villanueva, a former army ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan decided to stand at the edge of the tunnel and salute the flag.

Palmetto football players also exert opinions on the matter of kneeling for the anthem.

“I don’t see the reason for kneeling and would not kneel myself, but people have the right to do what they choose,” junior Cairiq Rackley said.

Despite differing views on the matter of kneeling, there is no doubt that kneeling during the anthem is spreading. It has evolved from a couple of players in the NFL to entire teams and has even attracted attention from the president who called Kaepernick a son of a b*tch. The first MLB player has even kneeled during the anthem.

The topic of kneeling is controversial but does need to be addressed.

Benjamin Spiegelman Sports Editor

b.spiegelman.thepanther@gmail.com

21 Sports

Dedunking sports

superstitions

Delaney Richman steps up to the lane as the tournament comes to a close.

She nervously eyes the close score as she firmly grips onto her marbled bowling ball. The senior takes a deep breath as she comes to the realization that a strike could win the game.

She takes her position, her mind swirling with possibilities. And almost effortlessly, the ball leaves her fingertips and glides gracefully down the lane.

The crowd is alive and vibrant as the pins begin to topple over. But almost immediately, the crowd falls silent — there is one pin still standing. Richman looks down at her worn-out bowling shoes and lets out a sigh. If only she had worn her lucky teal slotted socks.

“I wear my socks to anything that is relatively important to me, like interviews, tests and obviously for bowling,” Richman said.

She believes that this superstition helps her avoid bad luck. And like many athletes, Richman is not the only one with this mentality.

“People are generally inclined to attribute success to their skills and abilities, and to attribute failure to external circumstances,” psychologist Paul Van Lange of Free University said. “The enactment of superstitious rituals serves [the] function of reducing psychological tension.”

A superstition is a widely held and

GRAPHIC BY CHLOE GALLIVAN

unjustified belief, yet most athletes still hold such rituals in high regard and look to them for explanations to the outcome of their performances. The end result of a game cannot be known until the seconds are run down and the stopwatch hits zero. But by wearing a lucky trinket or performing a certain ritual, this helps the athlete feel like they have some control over the situation and in turn boosts their confidence and overall performance.

Superstitions can be discovered in almost any sport Palmetto offers, including girl’s varsity basketball.

“Before a game or when I end a practice, I have to swish a couple of shots so I feel like I start a game or leave a practice on a good note,” captain Shannon Faradji said. “It helps me play better and gets me in the right mindset.”

However, some athletes disagree with the belief system of superstitions.

Instead, these athletes choose to rely on skill and preparation.

“Personally, I don’t believe in superstitions,” Ryan Kraus, the center back for the boy’s soccer team said.

“Playing well means putting everything into practice and working hard, not whether or not I do a ritual before the game or wear a specific article of clothing.”

Despite this attitude, one cannot discount the

psychological effect a superstition can have on the confidence of an athlete.

The bottom line is that debunking these “lucky charms” is impossible if the athlete wholeheartedly believes wearing special socks or an unwashed jersey will enhance their performance.

Donnie Martin — the coach of the girl’s basketball, football and track and field teams — is always sporting his lucky wristbands. He believes in three things in regard to sports.

“Practice hard, play hard and believe in yourself,” he said.

Virginia Boone

Multimedia Team v.boone.thepanther@gmail.com

22 Sports

T SI X S T R E T CH ES O P

FOR ATHELETES

1

4

PIGEON POSE

To stretch out the hips, glutes and lower back, do the pigeon pose. Before a jog, runners can cross one knee in front of their leg at a 90 degree angle while keeping the other leg straight behind them. Then, as they feel more comfortable, athletes may start to lower themselves and place their elbows on the ground. The pigeon stretch mainly benefits the hip flexors, which are commonly used in sports.

2

BRIDGE

This stretch might be a little harder for some people, but it never hurts to try. Doing the bridge stretches out the back and shoulders. To do this stretch, athletes lay on their back, bend their knees, put their hands behind their head and then lift their hips up. This stretch definitely assists the shoulders, which usually receive strain from many sports.

3

SLEEPER STRETCH

The sleeper stretch aids in stretching out the shoulders. To do this stretch athletes simply have to lie on one side on the floor in a position that is similar to sleeping. Then, they place their right arm directly under their elbow bent at 90 degrees and pointing upwards. Using their other arm, one pushes down his or hers hand towards their feet. This stretch works really well for swimmers.

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA BOONE GRAPHICS BY CHLOE GALLIVAN

Leviator stretch

This exercise focuses specifically on the neck. To start off the stretch, athletes stand with their back on a wall and lean their head to the right with their right hand while raising their left arm. This position is repeated five times. Athletes then switch to the other side, leaning to the left and raising their right arm.

5

TWISTING REVERSE LUNGE

The twisting reverse lunge stretch helps out hip flexors and tight abdominal muscles. The stretch will also challenge balance. To do this stretch one first needs to take a step back with their left foot and drop down into a lunge. Then, they twist and extend over their right leg. After doing a few reps of this, one later switches to his or her other leg.

6

INCHWORM

When sitting down, muscles may start to grow stiff. This stretch targets the back and helps with those stiff muscles. In order to do this stretch, one starts off in a downward dog position and walks his or her hands as far out as possible until a plank position is reached. Then, they walk themselves back into the downward dog position and repeat the stretch.

Alexandra Pedroso Design Editor

a.pedroso.thepanther@gmail.com

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24 Opinion

Face Off

SNAPCHAT MAPS

Innovative

In this modern world, technology develops at an increasingly rapid pace, and, as a result, companies try to introduce new features that keep their products relevant and in demand.

Earlier this year, Snapchat updated its app with a new feature that enables users to view their friends’ locations at any time, with optional privacy settings available. Yet, the feature received backlash claiming it was an invasion of their privacy.

The benefits that Snap Map provides outweigh the problems associated with the location sharing, especially in a time where most people get around using ride sharing apps like Uber. The feature allows friends to visually confirm someone arrived home safely on the map.

The app can also serve useful at large social venues like music festivals allowing separated parties to quickly open up the app and instantly see each other’s locations when it’s too loud to talk on the phone, for instance. The app provides a sense of safety by providing users with the knowledge that they are under the protective watch of those close to them.

The Our Story feature, where users can see live events happening all over the world through the eyes of the people posting, also has some unexpected benefits. This component of Snap Map lets users visually see the news take place from a first person point of view rather than from a second-hand source, changing the way we consume news and making our world that much smaller.

Snap Map is helping more than it is hurting; it’s providing many with access to what life is like in places drastically different than our own while simultaneously granting an extra layer of safety in an increasingly dangerous world. Snapchat didn’t take a step too far with this feature, they’re changing the way people interact with our world.

Invasive

Over the summer of 2017, Snapchat released a new feature called Snap Map, which allows users to share their location while also having access to their friends’ locations. Snapchat claims that the new addition to its interface will grant users the ability to connect more with their environment and encourage them to go on adventures with friends.

However, the recent integration of locationtracking into social media poses an increasing threat to the security and safety of children, teenagers and young adults.

Snap Map marks the location of users with high accuracy, pinpointing the exact site of their homes, school or workplace. Without even so much as a notification, people can obtain valuable information about a person’s whereabouts through a picture-messaging app on their phone. The feature invites risk, enabling dangerous situations to form under the oblivion of Snapchat users.

Although Snap Map can be disabled in the app’s settings, social media networks should not have these features as a part of their users’ experience.

Not only does it create privacy issues, it promotes further intrusion on personal information, leaving users with their gaurd down.

Many supporters argue that knowing the location of friends or loved ones could help in compromised circumstances where people have been separated from their group. But other tools, like iPhone application Find my Friends, already have the ability to locate individuals with their given consent beforehand. If safety concerns underlie the motives of these supporters, then perhaps they should look into software specifically designed for those causes.

Snapchat does not hold the key to a more integrated social life but rather a breech in the security and safety of young adults. In a world of constant online communication, Snap Map may have taken a step too far by allowing so many people access to a user’s location.

Garrett Livingston

Anastasiya Dudaryk

glivingston.thepanther@gmail.com

a.dudaryk.thepanther@gmail.com

Opinion Editor

Copy Editor

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Opinion 25

THE UNSPOKEN PRICE OF COLLEGE ADMISSION

O

pening college acceptance letters is among the most exciting and rewarding parts of senior year, along with with finally walking across that stage and receiving a ticket to freedom in the form of a diploma.

But the road to get there is a long and stressful one, with costs that often have worse repercussions than people realize.

The expectations high school students face when it comes to getting into college have become excessively demanding, even for state schools and community colleges.

On top of excelling in the rigorous classes many of them take, students are tasked with hours of nightly homework, endless SAT practice and extracurriculars that take up more time than there is in a day.

Unfortunately, these unnecessarily demanding schedules mean that students are often forced to sacrifice either a social life or sleep - or both. Because even the most academic kids can still want to have fun, they can naturally be inclined to prioritize spending time with their friends.

This could potentially breed unhealthy sleep patterns that foster deeply detrimental effects on their health.

A study conducted at the University of Oxford found that lack of sleep can cause depression, anxiety and paranoia, all of which could be managed far better if individuals slept for adequate periods of time - approximately 9 hours, according to the study. It seems absurd that this is something teenagers must worry about, but the pressure they feel—which originates from a yearning for perfection, parental

1 in 3

pressure and competition—is enough to keep anyone up at night.

For students who long to stand out, the unhealthy headache that comes with the college application process begins as early as middle school, where they take high school level courses to get ahead and take college level classes in high school.

At a mere 11 to 13 years old, kids should be worrying about how they will convince their parents to buy them that Abercrombie & Fitch shirt all the cool kids are wearing, not about how they will get into college.

Childhood is fleeting, and to watch it get cut even shorter by the pressures of college is disheartening.

Despite through-the-roof stress levels— considering how much students actually have to do to succeed academically, and how little time they have to do it—this screeching halt in youth presents yet another negative implication. Shortened childhoods can cause students to begin to feel excessive levels of stress earlier and therefore deal with them for longer periods of time than is healthy.

In a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 1 in 3 teenagers reported that high levels of primarily school-related stress drove them to sadness or depression. Even more alarming, 52 percent of these teenagers underestimate the impact of stress on their mental health, leading to a lack of self care that can have serious and lasting effects on mental health that can follow them into adulthood, especially when the stress follows them for such prolonged periods of time; the effects

add up.

Sadly, because they live in a world where academic achievement is greatly admired while mental health is highly stigmatized, students often find it difficult to put their well-being before their academic interests.

Despite having the harmful effects of stress on their mental health presented to them, many refrain from admitting that there is a problem with the way stress makes them feel. It is hard not to feel as if sadness and anxiety are a cause for shame when even college counselors advise students to keep any mood disorders well away from college applications, so as not to deter universities from accepting them.

The sacrifice of mental health is not a price anyone should willingly pay to get into college. No college acceptance letter, no matter how prestigious the university, will erase the damage left behind if one wears out his or her mental health to the point of a depression or anxiety disorder.

If students feel overwhelmed, they should make it a point to take mental health days, even if it means missing a day or two of class and getting one bad grade on an assignment. In the long run, having a healthy mind will be worth far more than an extra A on a test they probably will not remember taking in adulthood.

Alexis Garcia-Ruiz Copy Editor

a.garciaruiz.thepanther@gmail.com

INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION INFOGRAPHIC BY GEMMA TORRAS

teenagers reported that high levels of primarily schoolrelated stress drove them to sadness or depression.

52%

of these teenagers underestimate the impact of stress on their mental health, leading to a lack of self care that can have lasting effects in adulthood.

A Farewell to... STAFF PASSING NOTES Not long ago, adolescents spent their time in the classroom trying to find windows of opportunity to pass notes without getting caught. From hot gossip overheard in the hallways to confessions too private to share out loud, these folded pieces of paper held both intimate and trivial social interactions between many classmates.

Though at times students used note passing to torment others, this seemingly mischievous activity mostly acted as a nuisance to teachers. As commonly portrayed in teen movies set in high schools, if a teacher caught a student passing a note, she often forced the student to read it aloud.

This only added incentive for students to master the art of innocent deception.

Despite the potential threat of being caught, the beauty of note passing lied in that once friends exchanged their secrets with one another, the evidence could be disposed of. Though the risk of another student intercepting a note still existed, it merely added to the thrill. In contrast, as texting in class replaces the paper form of communication, the messages students may have kept private on paper could come back to haunt them if it becomes permanently attached to their names online.

Text messaging gives an illusion of privacy because it appears as if the messages will only be seen by the students in the conversation, when really anyone can screenshot the messages and share them with third parties. Though this parallels an intercepted paper note, the stark difference lays in that the delete button does not get rid of the evidence the same way that shredding paper does.

As classmates bid goodbye to the handwritten note and welcome texting into their social circle, they must remember the new responsibility that comes with it.

Otherwise, the death of passing notes could very well lead to a screeching halt in a student’s future.

Alexis Garcia-Ruiz Copy Editor

a.garciaruiz.thepanther@gmail.com

Editorial

STARING DOWN THE BARREL

The day to day routines of thousands of Americans have been altered in ways no one has ever imagined.

A young couple in Aurora, Colorado headed out for a date night at the movies to then be shot. Innocent elementary schoolers grabbed their lunches and left for school on a seemingly ordinary day, until tragedy struck at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. Friends went out to a nightclub in Orlando, Florida eager for fun, until they were attacked. Country music lovers danced to Jason Aldean in Las Vegas, Nevada until a shower of bullets rained down on them.

These victims, whose lives were lost or forever changed, were not out looking for trouble. The trouble, the terror, the hate and the evil found them.

Understanding mass shootings and the complex roots of the madness behind them is not only borderline impossible, but frightening. These tragedies occurred in public settings without any warning. Our cultural havens somehow turned into battlegrounds, leaving behind a trail of despair, national grievance and citizens ready to power into action.

It is a sad truth we must face that these attacks will likely continue, unless the next generation of Americans take a firm stance against these heinous acts of terror. In the past 1,735 days, there have been 1,516 mass shootings in America.

In 2017 so far, at least 346 people have perished because of these horrors. To deny such atrocities is a crime within itself, but living with the notion that every event attended and every corner turned may lead to tragedy is not living; it’s imprisonment. We cannot be prisoners of our own fear; we must acknowledge our duty to initiate change by using our voices and participating in civic opportunities.

Call your representative, make a petition, attend a protest. We have the chance to create a safer environment and lay the blueprints for the future we want.

We must not let the evil win.

submitted may be edited for LETTERS *Letters length, grammar and clarity. Letters TO the can be submitted to Room 911B or Editor thepanthermpsh@gmail.com

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

The Panther should include an article helping students to know what classes would be best to take. Depending on what people want to do with their future, the student could know what classes would be best to take, and if they don’t have a plan, what classes would impress most colleges.

Palmetto’s newspaper is great and covers very intriguing stories, but I believe The Panther should cover more things in the Life section having to do with stress in classrooms. Teachers often send home work that doesn’t allow students time to relax or get proper hours of sleep every night.

SINCERELY

SINCERELY

Andrea Riquezes (10)

Lexi Roldan (9)

The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about school-wide, local, national, and international news. The Panther’s content aims to represent the student body. Editorials feature the opinions of staffers. Features of other students, teachers and clubs further promote the spirit, culture and personality of Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

Editor in Chief

MARLOWE STARLING

Print Editor in Chief

EDITORIAL POLICY

OLYMPIA RODRIGUEZ

The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7460 S.W. 118th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 2337. The views expressed are solely those of The Panther staff. Students who wish to respond to an article in this publication or discuss another issue may write letters to the editor and submit them to room 911B or e-mail us at thepanthermpsh@gmail.com. The Panther has professional membership in NSPA and CSPA. The Panther prints 3,000 copies per issue for distribution. The Panther is distributed for free to all students in school. Subscriptions (for cost) are also available. Please visit our paper online at thepalmettopanther.com.

Online Editor in Chief THOMAS MARTINEZ

Print Managing Editor BLAKE RUBENSTEIN

Online Managing Editor JACK CRUZ-ALVAREZ

Senior Copy Editor

BYLINE POLICY:

MORGAN ELMSLIE

All creative work (such as illustrations, graphics, photos and writing) excluding staff editorials and staff member pictures will include byline credits.

CORRECTION POLICY:

Any errors in print will be acknowledged in the next print issue in a correction box. Any errors online will be acknowledged immediately. Errors include facts, figures, misquoting and name misspellings.

Ads will be designed by the advertiser and include all information the advertiser wants included. If the advertiser asks the staff to design the ad, the individual who sold the ad will design the ad or the Ads Manager will. Ads will be approved by EICs, the Advisor and the Ads Manager. If an ad produced is illegible, contains false information, or the advertiser does not like it, they will receive a free ad in the next issue. If you would like to advertise, please contact us.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

KATHARINE HSIAO

Feature Editor

ALLESSANDRA INZINNA

News Editor

FACEBOOK

Life Editor

CAMILA MEYERS

Sports Editor

BENJAMIN SPIEGELMAN

Opinion Editor

GARRETT LIVINGSTON

The School Board shall comply with all Federal Laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education.

The Board will enforce its prohibition against discrimination/harassment based on sex, race, color, ethnic, or national origin, religion, marital status, disability, age, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, social and family background, linguistic preference, pregnancy and any other basis prohibited by law. The Board shall maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of discrimination/harassment, which includes Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct such as unwelcome touching, graphic verbal comments, sexual jokes, slurs, gestures or pictures. All students, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of prohibited discrimination or harassment against students by employees, other students and their parents or guardians, or third parties. This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment at all School District operations, programs, and activities on school property, or at another location if it occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.

INSTAGRAM

Business Manager

BRIANNE GUANAGA

ADVERTISING POLICY:

TWITTER

PANTHER Staff

the

MISSION STATEMENT

website

Copy Team

NATALIE ASKOWITZ SABRINA CATALAN ANASTASIYA DUDARYK ALEXIS GARCIA RUIZ

Design Team

JENNA BONDY CHLOE GALLIVAN ALEXANDRA PEDROSO GEMMA TORRAS MIA ZALDIVAR

Multimedia Team VIRGINIA BOONE ANNETTE GONZALEZ

Staff Writers

OLIVIA SOLOMON ALLISON STRASIUS @thepantherpaper

@THEPANTHERPAPER

THE PANTHER NEWSPAPER

THEPALMETTOPANTHER.COM

Adviser

LAURA AVILES

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