The Panther 2015-2016 Issue 6: April 2016

PANTHER

the

V 58 N 6

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156

Thursday 28 April 2016

/ PALMETTO, 1958

6 1 20

CONTENTS 2

6

HUMANS FOR SALE

Human trafficking poses a local problem.

13 15

21 27

VEGAN REVOLUTION

PALMETTO, THEN AND NOW

A E(UNIQUE) FORCE

What would happen if the entire world went vegan?

The renovation of the school allows us to relate the upcoming changes to our bistroy.

A look into the only female Are artists shamed out of wrestler at Palmetto. pursuing their passion?

ART: THE SHAME GAME

THE

COVER

ON T

he year is 1958. The doors of the newly minted Miami Palmetto Senior High School have just opened, ushering in its first graduating class.

Classic 1950s Chevrolets and Cadillacs are parked out front, awaiting their poodle skirt and bowtie clad owners. In the almost six decades since then, our school has evolved with the rest of the world in every sense of the word.

The front of our school stood on 118th Street in 1961, four years after it first opened its doors.

The first graduating class prepares to wear their cap and gown as they prepare to step into adulthood. The sixties have just begun.

The 100 building has the same shell as when the school opened, yet the students that make up the population and what lies within the walls are constantly changing. With a renovation set to begin, these grounds will retain the memories that have shaped our history.

COVER PHOTO BY ANNABEL SANZ

W E I ReV THE

$6M

ROUND-UP

AMOUNT OF MONEY CLEVELAND MUST PAY TO TAMIR RICE’S FAMILY.

REVIEW3

BRIEFING EARTHQUAKE IN ECUADOR

On April 16 in Ecuador, civilians felt the tremors of an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8. The death toll rose to over 600 people mostly from coastal cities, Manta, Portoviejo and Pedernales. Ecuador’s Risk Management Agency reported more than 12,000 were injured. The earthquake caused over 26,000 civilians to be displaced from their homes and put in emergency shelters. This is the deadliest earthquake to has hit Ecuador since 1987 which killed 1,000 people. The president, Rafael Correa announced there would be a tax increase for reconstruction and recovery. A one-time tax measure will be placed along as increased sales tax for one year.

INFORMATION COURTESY OF CNN

HISTORY

“

MUSIC LEGEND, PRINCE DIES AT AGE 57 Now, after his death, I really want to listen to his discography to fully experience Prince.”

VAUGHN BROWN (12)

FACE OFF FACE-OFF

in the making

1

st Time SCIENTISTS HAVE imaged the brain

TO SEE EFFECTS OF LSD.

INFORMATION COURTESY OF SCIENCEALERT

DO YOU THINK ANDREW JACKSON SHOULD BE REPLACED ON THE $20?

DOLLAR BILL UPDATES The national treasury announced that the $5, $10 and $20 are due for renewal in design and expected to be released in 2020. The main faces will remain on the front of the bill with Abraham Lincoln on the $5 and Alexander Hamilton on the $10. The back of the $10 will show the five Women’s Suffrage leaders in replacement of the Treasury building. The $5 bill will feature both Martin Luther King Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt on the back replacing the Lincoln Memorial. African-American abolitionist Harriet Tubman is planned to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. Critics say that Jackson should not be represented on the bill due to once being a prominent slaveholder and no longer representing the United States in the new era.

FIU VS. THE YOUTH FAIR

“

People say that he shouldn’t be on the bill because he isn’t a President when there are two other bills that don’t have Presidents on them.”

JOY RAMIREZ (10)

INFORMATION COMPILED BY KATHARINE HSIAO

“

Yes he should be removed. He was a racist and a terrible person. He violently perpetuated the downfall of the Native Americans.

NICHOLAS CHEVALLIER (12)

Florida International University plans to extend their campus grounds, interfering with rental space at Tamiami Park for The Fair. Tension rose when FIU denied this year’s rented parking spaces to The Fair and roads near the FIU campus. The university proposes to move The Fair to Homestead, but The Fair fears a drop in sales after the move and hopes to continue sharing fairgrounds with FIU instead. The Fair still has an ongoing lease contract with Miami-Dade from 1995 until 2085. If the location were moved, the county would have to pay for the expenses of relocation.. This way, FIU claims that taxpayer money would not be spent on the relocation.

ADS4

FORMER PALMETTO TEACHER, PATRICK HUGHES With over 30 years experience in teaching and administration, Patrick Hughes M.S. Ed., has provided guidance to a broad range of students, helping them create successful high school plans leading to rewarding college placements.

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REPORT 5

SAVE THE WHALES VOICES FINALLY HEARD AFTER YEARS OF PROTEST.

Since its opening in 1964, SeaWorld continues to make headlines. The park began receiving nationwide notoriety after 30 years and three deaths in part to SeaWorld’s first captured and inhabited whale, Shamu.

On Mar. 19, SeaWorld announced that the park would end all orca breeding and entertainment shows with killer whales and also decided to launch new partnerships with Humane Society of the United States to protect oceans and marine animals. The killer whales currently in their care will exist as the last generation of killer whales at SeaWorld. The current population of orcas at SeaWorld—including Takara, who became pregnant last year—will live out the duration of their lives in the park’s habitats.

Although SeaWorld has contributed to this widespread movement, Miami Seaquarium has yet to follow in the same footsteps. The aquarium has confined Lolita in conditions that violate the Animal Welfare Act for as long as 45 years. On Jan. 17, 2015, Miami protesters all over Key Biscayne created a silent march in honor of Lolita and demanded for her release. The animal advocates hoped for the release of the whale but no word of an upcoming release has surfaced since the march.

“After all the petitioning against breeding/ training, protesting, spreading awareness and educating others on the inhumane acts of SeaWorld, it’s heartwarming to hear that they will officially stop breeding and the live Orca shows in California,” sophomore Isabella Peschiera said. “This is the end of premature deaths, the end of unnecessary

PHOTO BY BY LUISA HAYS

and preventable trainer deaths and protesters won’t stop until all the marine mammals are living at ease in each and every SeaWorld across the nation.”

A major cause of these events lead to a 2013 documentary by the name of Blackfish.

The film tells the story of Tilikum, a performing killer whale who killed several people while in captivity located in Orlando, Florida. Director-producer, Gabriela Cowperthwaite compiled emotional footage and interviews along Tilikum’s journey to explore the whale’s nature, cruel treatment in captivity, the lost lives of the trainers and pressures brought onto the multi-billion dollar industry.

“Blackfish makes me cry every single time. It’s a straight up documentary on the wrong-doings that SeaWorld has done over the years since its opening,” senior Hailey Rosa said. “It really puts SeaWorld in perspective and shows how major companies hide the truth from the public to keep money flowing to their pockets. Every person on this planet should be entitled to know the truth about SeaWorld and families don’t realize that it is not a normal family attraction to go watch a whale flop around in a tank that is smaller than the actual whales themselves.”

SeaWorld’s new orca experience will eventually introduce a natural orca encounter, rather than the theatrical killer whale shows that became a major appeal at the park over the years. Everything will reflect a natural world and focus on research, education and care for the animals to appeal to a widespread wish for a better life for the

whales. The transformation will start in the San Diego park next year, followed by San Antonio in 2018 and Orlando in 2019.

“It’s very odious and repulsive to capture wild animals in the first place for the sake of just displaying them for people to see how sorrowful they look,” sophomore Emmanuel Rodriguez said. “It would be a bad thing for business for sure if they were to make that drastic change to release the whales.”

SeaWorld and the Humane Society of the United States have announced their partnership focused on the health of the oceans and the animals that call it home.

The HSUS is the nation’s largest animal protection organization. It seeks a more humane world for animals in captivity at SeaWorld, through transformational change.

Together, SeaWorld and HSUS will actively partner in efforts against the commercial killing of whales, protect coral reefs and serve sustainable seafood to the animals at the parks.

“After all this commotion about SeaWorld’s new promise, protests are now demanding for the release of the whales already in captivity,” junior Attila Dossantos said. “I think it is amazing that SeaWorld is going to stop the breeding of whales and the live shows but people don’t think; if SeaWorld were to release the animals already in captivity, they wouldn’t survive in the wild because they’ve already adapted to the artificial environment.”

Chrystal Peterson Design Editor

c.peterson.thepanther@gmail.com

REPORT 6

Nearly

FEMALES

( 3,810)

MALES

400

cases are reported in Florida every year. rd

3 1%

South Florida is the

( 197 )

largest hub for sex trafficking.

ADULTS

( 2,611 )

Approximately

MINOR

( 1,396)

OUT OF 4,007 CASES IN THE US IN 2015

of sex trafficking victims are identified.

STATES WITH MOST SEX TRAFFICKING CASES

CALIFORNIA (781 ) TEXAS (337)

FLORIDA (302)

OHIO (233) NEW ( 217 ) YORK

OUT OF 4,007 CASES IN THE US IN 2015 INFOGRAPHIC BY ROBERTA NICASTRO PHOTO BY BY ROBERTA NICASTRO

NO AREA IS IMMUNE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING A 13-year-old girl was involved in stripping at Club Madonna and prostitution in 2014. Two brothers in Southwest Miami Dade forced a 16-year-old girl into having sex with at least 24 men per day for a month. Last year, two women earned $600 from the sexual services of a 14-year-old runaway seeking shelter at the Crossway Motel in nearby Hialeah.

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center states that Florida has the third-most sex trafficking cases in the United States, with South Florida and Miami largely responsible for the rate. The Florida National Organization for Women claims that Florida’s booming tourism industry and close location to Latin America create a funnel for internationally trafficked victims for sex or labor. Miami International Airport is a major entry point.

“We have a very active transient male population here, where guys come and go,” Detective Kurtis Luek of the Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD) Special Victims Bureau said. “If they are here for sporting events, for example, a lot of these victims are used, so to

FOR THE FULL STORY, VISIT THEPALMETTOPANTHER.COM

HUMANS FOR SALE

speak, to service them.”

Indicators of child sex trafficking described by the MDPD include sexual abuse, dysfunctional home life, learning or mental disability, emotional or financial distress, isolation and drug use.

“I have never known anyone involved in sex trafficking,” freshman Liam Reed said. “I don’t talk about it much, but when it comes up, the stories that you hear about it are inhumane and things like this should never happen.”

The Women’s Fund is the lead partner of the state attorney’s office in spreading awareness of human trafficking to students like Reed.

The organization has worked to train businesses and airline personnel open 24/7 to identify victims within the community. Consultant Mary Andrews of The Women’s Fund states that many in Miami know of the problem, but do not recognize that Miami is the third highest geographic region for sex trafficking.

“It is difficult to understand the problem for many in the public when it does not seem to directly affect their everyday lives,” Andrews said. “It is a social problem that is affecting the vulnerable at risk youth in our community and the lower income families.”

After encountering human trafficking cases in Pinecrest in Palmetto Bay, Luek asserts that even children living in safer neighborhoods are vulnerable.

“No area is immune to human trafficking,” Luek said. “Safer neighborhoods are no different from any other neighborhood. Any child could get involved in human trafficking.”

Carmella Jimenez Copy Editor

c.jimenez.thepanther@gmail.com

REPORT 7 Butterflies serve as a symbol of hope and change because of their metamorphosis process.

Just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, people envision that unfavorable times will produce something beautiful.

Some compare Obama’s visit to Cuba with the transformation of a butterfly.

OBAMA IN CUBA

On Mar. 22, President Obama became the first American president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge did so in 1928. Obama encouraged travelers, students and missionaries to travel to Cuba to provide opportunities for visiting family members and for new learning experiences.

In 2014, Obama announced that he intended to ease relations between the neighboring countries and weaken the embargo that dates back to the 1961 Cuban Missile Crisis. Obama visited Cuba in the hopes of making progress in this endeavor, along with cutting restrictions placed on individuals hoping to visit Cuba.

Following the reign of Cuban leaders Fulgencio Batista and Fidel Castro, Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy imposed an embargo with Cuba, disallowing trade and travel. Kennedy’s vision for this embargo included reducing the “threat posed by its alignment with the communist powers,” as stated in Proclamation 3447. For the duration of the embargo, the United States and Cuba engaged in minimal interaction.

Standing beside Cuba’s President Raul Castro, Obama spoke about the nation’s long-lost partnership and emphasized his desire to eliminate the remnants of the Cold War. He emphasized how the United States and Cuba share many similarities and how they should work cohesively to improve not only economic and diplomatic relations, but also other world issues such as educational exchanges, the Zika virus and Colombian narco-trafficking.

The Obama family sat next to Castro during an exhibition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National baseball team on Mar. 23. The Tampa Bay Rays were the first American professional sports team to visit the communist island since 1999, and President Obama intended for the game to serve as a milestone for diplomacy. President Obama and Castro participated in “the wave” and seemed at ease together, which caught the attention of many young Americans, and symbolized the newfound friendship between the two nations.

“People are making a bigger deal out of this than it really is,”

FOR THE FULL STORY, VISIT THEPALMETTOPANTHER.COM

freshman Joseph Kravetz said. “He is just showing support for Cuba, not necessarily communism.”

President Obama, however, received disapproval after lifting the ban, especially from Cuban-born citizens in Miami. Opponents believe that Cuba should meet the conditions stated in Kennedy’s 1962 proclamation, including allowing people to voice their political opinions, releasing all political prisoners, committing to free and fair elections in the transition to representative democracy and respecting internationally recognized human rights.

“The day Obama announced normalization of relations with Cuba, I was in Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s office with a group of mothers whose children were still being held as political prisoners in Cuba,” senior Gabriela Aklepi said. “Both they and the Congresswoman cried and she said ‘I’m sorry. I failed you.’”

Other than the fact that president Obama took a visit to this communist country, many oppose the idea of him posing for a photograph with a mural of Argentine Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara, as a backdrop.

“I think it’s shameful that the president of the United States would stand beside a picture of Che Guevara,” senior Angelo Boggio said.

Palmetto’s AP Art History teacher, Margarita Falagan,was born in Cuba and feels strongly about issues regarding the nation.

“One word-- disrespect,” Cuban-American AP art history teacher Margarita Falagan said.

On the day of President Obama’s arrival, residents of Little Havana, a community with heavy Cuban influence, protested against this visit. Residents held signs in Miami Dade College’s Interamerican Campus and television reporters interviewed customers of Cafe Versailles, a well-known Cuban restaurant on the historic eighth street, otherwise known as Calle Ocho.

Megan Martinez

Business Manager

m.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com

ADS 8

LIFE 9

J A P A N E S E

BLOWING THEIR FANS AWAY What began as a card game between some friends eventually turned into an ardent interest that senior Christopher Hanna would carry throughout his high school career. The Japanese Honor Society provides students with a comfortable environment while exposing them to different cultural traditions.

Former Japanese teacher Mr. Juan Carlos founded and led JHS in 1998 until Ms. Mieko Avello took over as the sponsor in 2005. As Palmetto’s only Japanese language teacher, Avello hopes to promote her heritage amongst those around her.

“This club is dedicated to spreading the Japanese heritage in as many ways as possible,” Avello said.

“We focus on the traditional culture while still having fun.”

The group performed at inschool events for the first time this year and at events outside of school for about seven years, such as the Children’s Festival at Ichimura Japanese Garden which will be held on May 8, 2016. These events typically feature hands-on activities such as tea ceremonies and martial arts. Junior Sara Mirabal enjoys being co-captain of the dance team more than any other JHS activity.

“It’s amazing to learn about the culture and perform in the dances,” Mirabal said. “The Japanese food we get to try during the club meetings has to take a close second for me though. Japan just makes the best candy and sweets.”

Aside from the serious cultural

celebrations, they also host occasional movie sessions after school where they play Studio Ghibli movies such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo, allowing students to bond over a common interest. “[The club] is not isolated towards one specific group even though the name seems like it would,” Hanna said. “It provides a safe environment for people with different likes and dislikes.”

Roberta Nicastro Design Editor r.nicastro.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTO BY ROBERTA NICASTRO

LIFE 10

5

Students FOR

CHANGE

In an age with increasing competition, whether through the college admission process or through job openings, standing out takes more than academic excellence. Walking the hallways and sitting at weathered desks each day, young minds are already on the road to making positive impacts on the world.

INFORMATION COMPILED BY MARLOWE STARLING AND MORGAN ELMSLIE PHOTOS BY MARLOWE STARLING

FERNANDO BARROS Unlike the average movie lover, senior Fernando Barros does more than sit on the couch with a bucket of greasy popcorn and binge-watch Netflix every Friday. He spends hours in the library reading books on screenwriting, directing and anything else he can get his hands on.

Barros developed a passion for movies at a young age after his father introduced him to the classics.

“I see movies as my chance to tell new stories that take people to new places, make them feel emotions they have long forgotten about, and express

Film-making Grade: 12

myself.” Barros said.

Film studies teacher, Mr. Talas, inspires him.

After college, he intends to start involving himself in independent films before working his way up.

“I’ll have stories that have never been seen before,” Barros said. “Ones that will live on longer than me, that will one day be classics.”

His wit, passion and creativity give him the potential to bring a new twist to Hollywood as soon as Barros steps behind the camera.

ANNA MARCHUS The biomedical engineering field is made up of thousands of scientists working to combat and fight fatal diseases.

Individuals who survived life altering accidents or were born without a limb need prosthetics. They are not only held back by their physical disability, but the price that comes with it.

Sophomore Anna Marchus wants to change that. After a family friend lost his leg in an accident, Marchus has been determined to make affordable, reliable and durable prosthetics.

“I want to help people who are hindered everyday by their inability to

Biomedical Engineering Grade: 10

live a normal life,” Marchus said. “Their physical ailments and the price tag on prosthetics puts them at a disadvantage.”

Marchus recently won the state Odyssey of the Mind engineering competition with her team of six peers from Palmetto.

This is the team’s fifth year competing at world competition. Together they have mastered tasks such as building a magnet powered and air pressured car. The most rewarding part?

“When I’m finally successful,” Marchus said.

She plans to continue building the future, bettering the lives of those in need.

GARRETT MURRAY Six generations of family in the local fashion industry molded senior Garrett Murray into the designer he emulates today.

Murray gains experience in designing and observes the handiwork that goes into cutting and sewing fabric at his family’s warehouse in Wynwood.

He will study at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York this summer to learn how to produce a fashion line independently. He hopes to sell a mixture of streetwear and high-end luxury clothing while combining contemporary looks with vintage vibes.

JASMINE TAYLOR Junior Jasmine Taylor found her passion in Michelle Benz’s Athletic Trainers club and classes as a freshman.

She had little interest in sports medicine and physical therapy when her older brother persuaded her to join in order to qualify for a scholarship.

A schedule change into Benz’s two-hour athletic training block as a freshman jump-started Taylor’s passion for sports medicine, and she is now a head officer of Athletic Trainers. Taylor enjoys working hands-on with student athletes both inside and outside of Palmetto to eventually open her own

Fashion Designing Grade: 12

“You wake up every day, and you need to wear clothes; nobody walks around naked,” Murray said. “I think it’s important to have fashion because it allows people to express themselves through clothing.”

His most admired fashion idols include James Dean, teenage fashion icon Luka Sabbat and rapper A$AP Rocky.

For Murray, fashion is more than just a statement: it is a lifestyle.

“What you wear can show your differences--that you’re unique or special,” Murray said. “It allows you to be yourself.”

Physical Training Grade: 11

physical therapist clinic.

Through her experiences with injured students, she wishes to instill in them a sense of confidence and self-worth, such as when she helped stabilized a middle school wrestling student’s head to prevent damage to the spine until an ambulance arrived.

“As time went on, I [thought] okay, if something does happen [to someone], I can help them. I’m not just going to stand there,” Taylor said. “I’m comfortable because I know I can handle any situation that could possibly be thrown at me. I like this. I like it here.”

AVA LEMOS Behind the glow of a computer screen, freshman Ava Lemos learns to code in order to create a website. When completed, she will share her passion for intersectional feminism - a feminist movement that advocates for racial equality alongside gender equality - by using blogs to spread her feminist and liberal ideology.

“It’s something I would have wanted to follow as my twelve-year-old self,” Lemos said. “I would want to know that in some way I have helped influence somebody’s life, whether that be through performance or writing. I want to help

Blogging Grade: 9

people.”

Lemos dedicates her time to theatre and communications in addition to spreading her political message. She began performing at the age of five and recently piqued interest in investigative journalism. Combining her interests, she performed in the student-run Holocaust Impact Theatre productions to raise awareness of modern social injustices.

“A lot of the time you’ll see these stories being told, and they seem so farfetched, but Impact really tries to make it relatable and accessible to people,” Lemos said.

LIFE 12

PHOTO BY VICTORIA ARGUELLES

“

STUDENTS TAKE WHAT THEY LEARN AND CAN USE IT IN NOT ONLY CLASSES THEY TAKE IN COLLEGE, BUT LATER IN LIFE.

“

John Hayduk (AP Human Geography Teacher)

Whether it is 45 minutes into a listless lecture or 15 pages into note-taking, most students will admit to questioning why they take certain courses. Sometimes, though, a class teaches more than its curriculum entails, including skills and knowledge that help students better understand the world.

Advanced Placement environmental science “Enviro” explores the natural world to study ecosystems and problems in the environment.

Students learn the sources of these problems and how to resolve them. Pamela Shlachtman teaches the course and prides herself on providing opportunities for her students to apply the knowledge acquired in the class.

Shlachtman believes material taught in the course can be applied to countless careers.

Topics covered in enviro like climate change and sustainability can be later applied to preserving the Earth.

Senior Kenza Benhalima took enviro last year and is currently in Ms. Shlachtman’s honors solar energy class, which requires having previously taken and passed the AP exam.

“Taking enviro made me want to go into environmental engineering,” Benhalima said.

“As an engineer I have to be aware of the impact people have on the world. Enviro taught me this.”

Journalism 1 Many students that take Journalism 1 move on to join one of Palmetto’s highly competitive journalistic publications, either The Panther newspaper, The Palm Echo yearbook or Television

Production (TVP). Along with teaching the fundamentals of the yearbook and newspaper programs, teacher Mr. Kurt Panton keeps students up to date on current events with weekly quizzes on assigned articles and often conducting discussions over prevalent events in society. “[Journalism 1] has helped me distinguish my opinion from the masses,” freshman Samuel Stone said. “It’s helped me think for myself instead of going with the flow.”

Advanced Placement human geography Under the instruction of Ms. Peggy Kratz or Mr. John Hayduk, students that take AP human geography are taught ‘the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface,’ according to apstudent. collegeboard.org. What students learn, however, transcends the guidelines set forth by the College Board. Like AP environmental science, AP human geography explains worldly concepts that students may encounter for the rest of their lives.

“Students take what they learn in [human geography], and can use it in not only classes they take in college, but later in life,” Hayduk said. “[The class] crosses many social science courses, and it helps you understand how the world works, whether it’s from a political or historical standpoint.”

Victoria Arguelles Online Managing Editor v.arguelles.thepanther@gmail.com

LIFE 13

ES

WENT

IF THE

WORLD VEGAN

Imagine a world where no one consumed meat or used animal products: no steak, no eggs, no honey, no chicken, no leather bags. Junior Yuwei Jiang, a vegan, pledges not to consume anything from a creature with a nervous system.

“It’s very controversial.

Oftentimes, people don’t understand why you’re vegan so sometimes it has a bad rep,” Jiang said, “but vegans spread their views for equality, animal rights, sustainability and health.”

If the world went vegan, some scientists believe it would help reduce the effects of climate change. Livestock production is responsible for about 15 percent of greenhouse gases, causing more harm to the environment than all planes, trains and automobiles combined, according to The Gaurdian .

If the world went vegan, less carbon dioxide (CO2) would be released into the atmosphere.

Since trees hold CO2, when they are burnt down for land set aside for livestock, they release carbon

PHOTO BY SOFIA BRAND INFOGRAPHIC BY KATHARINE HSIAO INFORMATION COURTESY OF COWSPIRACY DOCUMENTARY

dioxide, which then builds up in who rummage through trash to the atmosphere. find a decent meal.

In a 1.5 acre farm, 375 pounds A recent study done by the of meat are produced; however, University of Oxford observed if plant-based the connection ONE PERSON CAN SAVE foods are that diet, cultivated, health and the 1.5 acres can environment GALLONS OF WATER BY GIVING UP BURGERS, produce 37,000 have. pounds of food, Researchers ANNUALLY. according to evaluated a the Cowspiracy variety of diets.

THE LAND documentary.

The study NEEDED TO Food production concluded that FEED ONE companies a vegan diet is OMNIVORE already produce most beneficial FOR ONE enough food not only for the TAKING MEAT YEAR IS for everyone in earth but also OFF YOUR the world, but for people’s PLATE CAN CUT thousands of health. If YOUR CARBON acres of land the majority TIMES THAT FOOTPRINT IN used are only of people OF A VEGAN. HALF. to feed animals, switched to a which provide vegan diet, it BILLION PEOPLE. would prevent less food than plants. If the about eight world went million deaths vegan, instead of by 2050, the crops going reducing some to the animals, they would go to concerns with world hunger and the large population of people saving one trillion dollars each

162,486

18

1.4

year in health care costs.

“If the world did go vegan there would be a tremendous amount of re-education that would have to go on to teach people what they need to eat to get a balanced diet,” AP environmental science teacher Ms. Schlachtman said.

Even though a vegan diet benefits the world and human health, many nutritionists have become concerned with younger children not getting enough nutrients needed for their growth.

Dr. Akabas, an associate director for education initiatives at Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition, clarified the issue when a pre-school in New Jersey prohibited the consumption of meat, dairy and eggs on their premises. Dr. Akabas mentioned that as long as parents make sure their child consumes the vitamins needed, they should have normal growth.

Sofia Brand Staff Writer s.brand.thepanther@gmail.com

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2013

THEN

&

A

ny graduating senior knows that we all leave things behind.

When Palmetto first opened its doors, each incoming Panther had a clean slate to establish the traditions we cherish today. We now stand, 58 years later, before a major renovation set to propel Palmetto into a new era. In leaving behind our rusting buildings filled with decades of history classes, pep rallies and concerts, we step into the next set of traditions, the next set of memories and the destiny to be greater than the legacy we leave behind.

NOW PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PALM ECHO

FEATURE 16

PANTHERS THRO 1985

grades

7-12

2016 2700 2543 grades

students

$

by $3,400 raised selling

1961

magazines

9-12

students

$

by $13,500 raised selling

2016

magazines PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PALM ECHO AND REMY FARKAS

FEATURE 17

ROUGH HISTORY Many technological and logistical changes have shaped how our school functions. The dusty keyboards we type on today were once revolutionary for past students. As our schools prepares for a multi-million dollar renovation, we think of the memories future Panthers will make in the new, glossy buildings, alongside all we have left behind.

1961

2015

1966 2016

FEATURE 18

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PALM ECHO AND PAST PALMETTO STUDENTS

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE MIAMI PALMETTO SENIOR HIGH: 1958 AND BEYOND

This summer, our school will undergo the early stages of a renovation tentatively planned to be completed for the 20192020 school year. In anticipation of the upcoming changes, let us look back at the past, recognize the present and prepare for the future. Palmetto opened its doors in September of 1958. On Oct. 9, 1959, the first edition of The Panther Prowler (now known as The Panther) provided optimism for the future.

“This is only the second year of Palmetto’s young life and as yet we haven’t even begun to stand on our own feet...

We are the students who will start our

school’s traditions...The entire student body has to back up Palmetto and make this goal possible...Pride and enthusiasm can make Palmetto the best high school in Dade County,” the first editorial of The Prowler stated.

The school also had to overcome an obstacle predating its existence.

Martin Luther King Jr. was just gaining prominence in his fight for civil rights in the school’s early years. Due to his impact, desegregation reached Palmetto in 1963.

“In the very early years of Palmetto, prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act, most students welcomed the chance to become an integrated school and did not consider it an issue,” first Editor-in-Chief of “The Prowler,” Douglass Greist said. “58 years later, with Palmetto’s diverse ethnic population, it seems as if the school has adapted well to society’s changes over the

years when it comes to race relations.”

That same year, the school seal was placed at the entrance of the school where it remains today. The library increased dramatically in size and the school housed military troops who anticipated nuclear war with the neighboring Cuban regime during Hurricane Flora. The Library & Science Building, the 900 building, was added in 1964, and the 970s building served as the school’s gymnasium until the $5 million Mckinney Court was completed in 2005.

Our school’s next renovation will cost $39 million and will overhaul the infrastructure of a school that hopes to equally accommodate every academic area.

A new three-story building will take the place of the portables and will serve as the main building for the new campus, which will change its address to 7200 SW. This structure will hold administrative offices,

“

FEATURE 19

“It’s amazing how we keep high level students coming in and going out.

The main difference has been the advancement of technology. Students have much better technology than when I got here. In fact, the only technology we had when I got here was a 100 pound computer.” - Cullen Bullock

“

“

“When I first came here, we did not have many trees, class sizes were smaller and students did not have as many distractions. We all watched the same television programs and listened to the same music, so students and teachers had more in common.” -Lynn Evans

“impacted his experience at the school and his relationship with students.

“It’s amazing how we keep high level students coming in and going out.

The main difference has been the advancement of technology,” Bullock said. “Students have much better technology than when I got here. In fact, the only technology we had when I got here was a 100 pound computer.”

“

Most of the people in these photos are still part of my daily life. The best thing I took from Palmetto was clearly life long friendships. Since I graduated in 1979 I have had three kids attend [Palmetto], the halls and walls have remained the same. -Julie Paikowsky

“

classrooms and computer labs.

The 100 and 500 buildings will be demolished and the 100 wing will be reconstructed into an a suite that will house the arts. The land that the 500 building currently sits upon will be converted into a courtyard that will be built around a black box theater. This versatile performance space will hold club meetings and small performances that do not necessarily need the scope of the auditorium. All preexisting buildings will, whether in the form of paint jobs or up-to-date technology, be renovated as well.

“It is not uncommon to hear students complain about facilities, so I think the renovations will provide a new sense of pride as a result of the students being content with their learning environment,” junior and student council president Jonathan Roth said.

Thomas Martinez Copy Editor t.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com

Palmetto Senior High just has a way of allowing old friends to pick up right where they left off in catching up with their lives and telling old stories of our Palmetto High School days.

- Whitney Schiffer

Whitney Harrison Schiffer, a Palmetto graduate from 1982, spent her years at Palmetto actively participating in clubs and sports. Schiffer, who was a varsity cheerleader, treasures the lifelong friendships she made here. When Schiffer celebrated 50 years, she and several old Palmetto classmates went on a trip together to celebrate years of friendship and their birthdays. Schiffer attends Palmetto reunions and connects with old friends. One of daughters, Brittany Schiffer, graduated from Palmetto in 2013. Her other daughter, Chelsea Schiffer, is a current junior at Palmetto and anticipates graduating in 2017.

Mr. Cullen Bullock has taught biology at Palmetto since 1980. During his tenure, he has helped improve the landscaping at the school and has also coached for the swimming team. He believes that technology has most profoundly

Julie Paikowsky, a 1979 Palmetto graduate, has had her three sons also attend Palmetto. Ben Paikowsky in 2010, Josh Paikowsky in 2012 and Ethan Paikowsky, a current junior at Palmetto. She left Miami after she graduated and lived in multiple cities, but she knew she would come back.

She treasures her lifelong friendships she made at Palmetto and continues to see old classmates everyday.

Since 1985, anatomy teacher Lynn Evans, has watched the school transform into what it is today. “When I first came here, we did not have many trees, class sizes were smaller and students did not have as many distractions,” Evans said. “We all watched the same television programs and listened to the same music, so students and teachers had more in common.” Now in 2016, Evans feels a greater disconnect with her students.

“Everyone now has distraction in the palm of their hands and the focus isn’t where it should be.” Evans said.

Although the classroom has fell victim to external influences, Evans recognizes the greater academic freedom that accompanies the new access to information.

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“

It’s very fatiguing. You have to be willing to wrestle and go hard for six minutes. You have to pace yourself. It’s like a war zone.”

“

Eunique Davis (10)

Davis uses the discipline she learns on the mat and applies it to her everyday life.

Working at publix, participating in athletics as well as maintaining her grades. Wrestling exists as a platform for her to achieve even more.

An active participant many school activities, specifically the athletic training program, Davis rounds off an ever expanding resume. In addition to wrestling, she hopes to bring her athletic ability and desire to compete to Palmetto’s volleyball, soccer and lacrosse team.

Davis ultimately hopes to enlist in the Army or the Navy and continue her passion for science, aspiring to earn a degree in forensic science with a minor in business.

Ultimately, Davis would like to start her own business making gift baskets for various holidays.

With hopes of enlisting in the Army or Navy, Davis also hopes to continue her passion for science. With ultimate goals of pursuing a degree in forensic science with a minor in business, Davis plans on achieving great things throughout her life.

“I don’t ever want to be one of those people scraping by,” Davis said.

SPORTS 21

EUNIQUE DAVIS DAVIS SHINES AS THE SOLE GIRL ON PALMETTO’S VARSITY WRESTLING TEAM.

“

WHEN I WRESTLE AGAINST BOYS, THEY DONT EXPECT ME TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE AS HARD AS THEY CAN. WHEN I COMPETED IN SOUTHRIDGE, HE UNDERESTIMATED HOW STRONG I REALLY WAS. I MADE HIM WORK FOR IT FOR TWO TO THREE ROUNDS. Eunique Davis, (10)

“

Sophomore Eunique Davis takes adversity head on. As the sole female member on the wrestling team, Davis has emerged as a fierce competitor on the mat. She started wrestling at Palmetto Middle School three years ago and has been training on her own ever since.

“I always grew up with the boys on my block.” Davis said. “I grew up with some tough kids and I guess it just got me into it.”

A fierce competitor, Davis trains year round, spending hours in the gym, working out and listening to music.

“She was good to have on the team,” Former wrestling coach Charles Singleton said. “Always a hard worker, Eunique never badmouthed a challenger” Davis has placed in both district and county tournaments while competing with the boys team, in addition to finishing second in the Greater Miami Athletic Conference allgirls tournament.

Brian Morrison Copy Editor b.morrison.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTO BY CHRYSTAL PETERSON

THE END OF A JOURNEY As the 2015-2016 school year reaches its conclusion, many senior athletes are forced to say farewell to the sport that shaped their childhood. Although there are a number of athletes that will take their talents to the collegiate level, most play their last competitive game at the end of their season. After representing the Panthers for their entire high school career, Lauren Phillips and Brandon Brookins reflect on the impact that high schools sports will have on them when they begin the next chapter in their life this fall.

“

as competitive. I was one of the more experienced people on the team so I was basically coaching the new kids.”

The girls volleyball team has consistently been a winning program, always making it to the district and GMAC tournaments. Coming up short the past couple of years, Phillips hoped this past season would be the year that the team would break through.

“The team has always gone far but always come up short at the end,” Phillips said. This year, I switched from outside hitter to libero and the game seemed to change for the team.

We played our rival Killian in districts this year and ended up with a win.”

While playing volleyball in high school, Phillips has learned several lessons.

“Volleyball taught me how to balance my social life, school life, and personal

This year I switched from outside hitter to libero and the game seemed to change for the team.

We played our rival Killian in districs and ended up with a win.

Lauren Phillips Volleyball

PHOTO BY CHRYSTAL PETERSON PHOTO BY THE PALM ECHO AND FRANKIE BROOKINS

“

Lauren Phillips ends her high school career as a four year letterwinner on the girls volleyball team, serving as the team captain her senior year. Introduced to the sport at the age of 11, Phillips looks back on her athletic journey.

“I have been playing volleyball for about seven to eight years,” Phillips said.

“I remember always wanting to play a sport when I was young. My dad’s friend used to play, which inspired me to start.”

Before Phillips began playing volleyball for Palmetto, she played for the club team Miami Select and her middle school, Southwood.

“While playing for my travel team, I played against competitive teams and learned basic volleyball skills,” Phillips said. “At Southwood, it was never really

life,” Phillips said. “After years of playing, I realized that if you don’t step up and take charge or don’t say anything, then no one will.”

Phillips will continue her academic career at the University of Central Florida this summer, although she is still undecided on a major.

“I’ve always wanted to go into the health field,” Phillips said. “I’m going to start off with nursing but I think my mind has been swayed to physicians assistant.”

SPORTS 23

“

Out of my five years with the program, my most memorable moment has to be hitting a two RBI single against Killian my junior year.

Brandon Brookins Baseball

Senior varsity baseball player Brandon Brookins was first introduced to baseball when he was six years old. Since then, he has been hooked on the sport. As his final campaign draws to a close, Brookins reminisces on his memories of baseball.

“My dad had always wanted me to play a sport,” Brookins said. “He would always play catch with me and shoot hoops with me. He put me in a league with his friends’ kids and the rest is history. Baseball definitely stuck with me.”

Before Brookins began his baseball career at Palmetto, he played on several travel teams including Miami Pro Instruction (MPI) and La Ley. In Myrtle Beach, NC, Brookins hit his first home run at age 12, earning MVP honors in the tournament.

“It was a pretty cool feeling when I saw

the ball go over,” Brookins said. “I was so excited that I sprinted around the bases in seconds, forgetting to soak the moment in.”

Playing in his fifth season with the Palmetto baseball team and third season on varsity under head coach Danny Smith, Brookins has primarily played catcher and first base.

“Out of my five years with the program, my most memorable moment has to be hitting a two RBI single against Killian my junior year,” Brookins said. “It put us up 5-3 in the sixth inning against one of our biggest rivals.

The game essentially defined our season and made everyone fear Palmetto Panther baseball.”

Not only has baseball served as a passion and pastime for Brookins, but it has also taught him valuable life lessons.

“Baseball has taught me how to be a man and how to be responsible,” Brookins said.

“I have learned that if you’re on time, you’re late. Most importantly, it has taught me how to take constructive criticism and use it in a positive way.”

Brookins will begin the next stage in his life shortly when he attends Santa Fe Community College next fall to study business, with the hopes of eventually transferring to the University of Florida.

“It was always difficult to balance baseball with school,” Brookins said. “I will not be continuing my athletic career in college because I want to try and focus on what’s best for me and pursue a professional career.”

Alec Lanzas Sports Editor a.lanzas.thepanther@gmail.com

WHY IT’S EASY

Hillary Clinton

The Democratic Candidate The Democratic National Convention nomination is going to go to either Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders or former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The former Secretary of State - as many pundits have pointed out - has paid her dues to the establishment and deserves the presidency.

Or, in simpler terms, she has refused to die and remains marginally relevant on the political scene; meaning she is a worthy candidate for the White House in this presidential election.

Her most important position so far has been as Secretary of State. Being handed such an honor on a silver platter, regardless of any real qualifications, shows just how ready she is to take office.

Most importantly, Hillary can be seen less as a presidential candidate and more as a quirky girlfriend who will do anything to please you. She holds your hand and tells you, “Oh, I’ll be anything you want me to be” and you do not think much of it because that sounds nice. She knows that you have changing opinions, and so does she. It just so happens that every opinion she has comes in the wake of a swing in public opinion - whether it is immigration, gun control and even if we should have invaded Iraq.

And best of all, you have no need to fear her going through your phone. She supports the Patriot Act, which means that she does not need your password to get into your phone and read your texts because she

already has copies of the messages you sent that girl in English.

Clinton is even great with kids. She connects so well with them; one look at her Twitter account shows that she knows all about Snapchat, Vine and can even tell you what an Emoji is. These important facts show that she is best for the youth of America. The world is a better place now that she asked teenagers to express their feelings toward student loan debt in “three Emojis or less.”

She is sensitive too. That mean, old Bernie Sanders called out her previous stances on LGBT issues and how she did not support gay marriage until 2012; and now she does not want to debate him until his attitude improves. Her campaign ran nothing but positive ads back in 2008 when she fought for the nomination against Barack Obama. Shame on Sanders for pointing out inconsistencies in her politics. Hillary understands gender roles (as evidenced by her stance against gay marriage until 2012) and knows that the old man cannot bully the defenseless woman.

Yeah, Clinton has her downsides.

Maybe her interventionist attitudes led to the unnecessary destabilization of Libya.

Maybe she has the charisma of a cardboard box. Maybe she depends on her husband’s status as former president to secure government positions. Maybe she has no actual qualifications for the presidency. But hey, at least she is not Donald Trump.

TO VOTE FOR

Donald Trump

The Republican Candidate

The Republican National Convention will occur from July 18-21 and will most likely come down to two candidates Senator Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump (sorry John Kasich). Trump brings something unique to the table.

Trump is allegedly one of the wealthiest businesspeople in America and has been a household name since he called Rosie O’Donnell a “real loser” on national television. He may have declared bankruptcy four times, but fortunately he can only serve two terms as president.

He connects with the middle and working class because he embodies the American Dream. Many people have trouble reconciling the fact that the establishment actively works against them.

Trump, like the general public, remains an outsider in Washington. He pulled himself up from poverty. All he needed was a small loan of one million dollars and look at him now.

The infamous wall, which Mexico will most certainly pay for, also shows what a resourceful leader he is. Sure the $10 to $12 billion it will cost can go to better things, but at least the wall can stop Mexicans from immigrating.

Critics seem to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the wall. Ten to $12 billion constitutes only 0.3 percent of the budget, so obviously it means nothing in the grand scheme of things and could not go toward any meaningful project.

Keith Richards Report Editor k.richards.thepanther@gmail.com

GRAPHIC BY SUNGHO SON

Such executive actions and initiatives show that Trump truly deserves to take the reigns as a conservative president worthy to be likened to conservative role model Ronald Reagan.

Trump furthermore seems to understand the intricate issues of race relations in America. He clearly sympathizes with Mexicans-- he even loves them. Sure, he may call them “rapists” but he definitely convinced everyone by saying he was “sure some were good people.” Such powerful rhetoric truly shows that he is above all compassionate for his fellow man and not a fascist feeding on racism that has fermented over the past century.

His policy as a whole truly shows a mastery of the political process. He dismisses all criticism and says “I’ll get it done,” perhaps just as expertly as career politicians. He remains resolute in his efforts to declare everything yet say absolutely nothing. It surely warms the heart to see an outsider so quickly adapt to conservative rhetoric that shows no real desire to provide an outline for legislation outside of making a registry of Muslims and spying on their activity in Mosques.

Trump certainly has his downsides. He might be horribly crass for the appeal to every bigot in the United States. He may represent everything wrong with corporate America. He may even lean toward a bit of sexism himself. But hey, at least he is not Hillary Clinton.

INSIGHT 26

ROLES REVERSED DESREVER

You look down at your phone to see an alert that says your parent tagged you in another post. You open your Facebook profile and see that cute, naked picture of yourself in the bathtub with shaving cream all over your body circa 2002, that the entire world now has the pleasure of seeing.

Many parents are known to caution their children about the impact and effects of social media. The message of “watch what you post online or else it might come back to haunt you” has been reversed in recent years. It is ironic how just years ago concerned parents shunned and condemned social media and now embrace the concept of sharing, often too much.

In a study done by professors at the

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University of Michigan and the University of Washington, kids were twice as likely to express concern about adults over-sharing their information than their parents.

Many parents were first introduced to social media by their children. Once the children gained a presence on social media, parents felt that they, too, should join the bandwagon in order to monitor their children and ensure that their children use it safely. With their parents watching, children are less likely to post something inappropriate in order to avoid their parents’ wrath.

Parents typically post pictures and share information about their children out of love and pride. Every adorable baby picture, awkward family photo or unexpected vacation picture captures the key moments in a child’s life and a family’s relationship.

The pictures come from a place of nostalgia and most importantly love. It is critical to remember that most parents who share their family’s photos do not do so maliciously, rather they simply look to boast about family milestones.

Children spend only a few years in the arms of their parents and comfort of their homes. Photographs cultivate and maintain an important connection between a parent and child. While obsessively oversharing, parents enjoy and immerse themselves in past moments, which outweighs a temporary embarrassment for the child about a photo that can be deleted later.

These pictures may even become accepted and part of a family’s digital history.

As parents began to use social media, they started to catch up with friends; as this increase continued, so did their sharing.

Turning what was first meant to be a form of protection transformed parents into posting addicts often sharing the most intimate details of their lives and their children’s lives for the world to see.

Remy Farkas Feature Editor r.farkas.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTO BY SUSAN AGHEDO

Kids Worry about Parents on Social Media

INSIGHT 27

THE SHAME GAME STRUGGLING ARCHETYPE “ THE IS SO REGULARLY RECOGNIZED IN SOCIETY, YET THE TRUTH BEHIND THE CONCEPT IS NO LONGER UNDERSTOOD.

“

PHOTO BY OLYMPIA RODRIGUEZ

My childhood memories smell of acrylic and come in different shades of reds and blues and yellows. I was and remain an artist. From the carefree days of being a toddler to young adulthood, my stature has grown, my mind has developed and my hands continue to be speckled with paint. For a while, criticism remained at bay, from family, friends and peers regarding my infatuation with the visual arts. If I wanted to grow up and become an artist, it seemed as though the world would pat me on the back and provide me with a reassuring smile. Yet, time passed and the reality of college majors and future career paths slowly set in.

When artists approach adulthood, we find our dreams met with a sense of stifled criticism. Aspiring engineers

and doctors gain validity in their hopes, as painters, musicians and graphic artists alike are told that perhaps our skills are fit as hobbies. The struggling artist archetype is so entrenched in society, yet the truth behind the concept is no longer understood. Mainstream media portrays artists as caricatures of financiallystruggling individuals, whose tribulations are merely an effect of their free spirit lifestyle.

Indeed, artists can struggle to make ends meet - but it is not for lack of skill or competence.

Recently, artist-shaming presented itself in the form of an Old Navy t-shirt. The article of clothing sported a phrase saying “Aspiring Artist,” with “Artist” crossed out and replaced with “astronaut” and “president.” While the shirt suggests that dreaming to

pursue art proves an impossible feat, studies show that the odds of becoming an astronaut are, quite literally, out of this world. An article by USA Today reveals that out of 4,000 to 8,000 NASA applicants, a mere eight to 35 are selected.

These statistics do not belittle prospective astronauts; rather, they exemplify the difficulty that comes with following one’s passion, as seen with artists themselves. Old Navy decided to shame an entire profession in order to allegedly empower young girls, yet did not take into account that in order to sell the shirt, an artist had to design it. The irony speaks for itself.

It is time for artistry to be regarded on the same level as STEM-oriented fields. In 2012, President Obama called for millions of dollars of funding to be placed into math and science

programs, stating that these programs act as an imperative aspect of the American education system according to NBC. Yet in the face of budget cuts, art programs are typically the first to hit the chopping block. In a society where creativity attributes to everything we see and do, the stigmatization of art as a serious career path, along with the diluted support art programs receive, must end. In reality, the amount of organization, dedication and resilience that comes with being a working artist can match that of any lawyer, engineer or stockbroker – with the only difference being the number of figures on the paycheck.

Claudia Vera Online Editor-in-Chief c.vera.thepanther@gmail.com

INSIGHT 28

DO SCHOOL CURRICULUMS LIMIT CREATIVITY?

YES

NO

Students, although told to think outside the box, are penalized if they do not stay within the ironic bounds of creativity that are created in the classroom. Educators, unintentionally or deliberately, promote a sense of mediocrity in their students; we are taught to think and speak one dimensionally while the world around us transforms multidimensionally. Group activities, intriguing discussions and hands-on experience are replaced by endless multiple choice exams. These cookie-cutter lesson plans hinder the growth and development in the student’s of today’s world.

Not all students think the same way, but “teaching to the test” functions upon the assumption that they do. People learn in many different ways, varying from verbally to visually to physically. Teaching TH should be individualized and adjusted for each learner, however, students and teachers alike are under immense pressure to produce successful results on standardized tests. Teachers choose to gravitate towards black LOSE and white teaching styles, BETWEEN instead of inspiring creativity and intellectual discussions.

Intelligence has come to be determined by one factor: academic OF ability. The school system conditions young minds to blindly take this assumption as truth. Minimal classes are offered that promote creative thinking, and the ones that do are frequently neglected because they do not offer AP or honors credit. The overwhelming importance of having a high GPA translates into omitting creativity from the classroom. An ideal school system is one which nurtures creativity in order to promote a more holistic intelligence, rather than one that undermines it.

Upon dull classroom walls desperate for a second coat of paint, lies a poster, emblazoned with the phrase, “think outside the box.” Chances are exceedingly high that almost every student in America has seen some variation of this poster at some point throughout their 12 years of sitting in classrooms such as this one. Yet, that often overlooked message can struggle to resonate.

Education is not black and white. Every school, every curriculum, every teacher is different. But to generalize that school destroys a student’s sense of creativity is naive and ironically demonstrates a lack of creative thinking.

If public school truly destroyed creativity, we would all have identical schedules, comprised of basic subjects. Electives would be a virtually unknown word. Obviously, that is not the case. School is so much more than scantrons and research papers; for many, including myself, it is the birthplace of newfound creativity. Just because I have spent a AS significant portion of my years in grade school taking standardized tests and being taught to think in black and white does not mean that school itself has PROVED altogether destroyed my TO HAVE sense of creativity.

Before I joined THAN Palmetto’s newspaper staff, I saw creativity as a paintbrush on a canvas. The word elicited images of artists, wearing paint-stained smocks but newspaper introduced me to a new form of creativity I did not know I posess. Had it not been through school, where I discovered my passion, I may have gone through life, never labeling myself as creative, forcing myself into a career that simply does not fit who I am.

Maybe other schools have the brute power to forcefully murder a students’ creativity, but Palmetto seems to lack it.

Sophia Carrillo

Annabel Sanz

Design Editor

Print Editor-in-Chief

s.caririllo.thepanther@gmail.com

a.sanz.thepanther@gmail.com

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EDITORIAL 30

STAFF

FAST FORWARD EDITORIAL ON APRIL 21ST, 1865 T After Abraham Lincoln’s devastating assassination, his funeral train left the Washington station for its final destination and Lincoln’s final resting place in Springfield, Illinois. Shock flooded not only the young nation in the midst of a Civil War, but also the world. As the first presidential assassination in history, Lincoln set the precedent for succession. Throughout the chaos, fellow world leaders expressed condolences and sorrow; with Ecuadorian president, and British foreign minister among the most notable. Civilians grieved and fondly remembered their beloved president who is commonly held responsible for executing the abolition of slavery. Although several assassinations and deaths of presidents to come would follow, the first aroused an expansive and emotional response.

151 YEARS LATER...

Samantha Ganter & Emma Seckinger

Senior Copy Editor & Print Managing Editor s.ganter.thepanther@gmail.com & e.seckinger.thepanther@ gmail.com

he stress-addled AP student stares at their bedroom clock at 10:37 p.m., with an eight page research paper due to turnitin.com before midnight without a word written on a blank Microsoft word document. The sophomore in honors chemistry considers starting the 3-D model of an atom at 2:37 a.m. the day it is due. The senior in English IV reads Hamlet on SparkNotes during lunch before the upcoming quiz.

Contrary to the advice of teachers and parents, students of all classes and grades can procrastinate-- including the organized and the disorganized.

Lack of self-motivation or organization are not the sole perpetrators in leaving a task for the last minute. Social functions, extracurricular activities, sleeping, eating and breathing all demand a student’s time that is not spent on schoolwork. For the student taking four AP classes or the dancer who gets home after dark, procrastination is the only option they have if they want adequate amounts of sleep, healthy relationships with family or friends.

There will always be the student who watches Netflix for hours as soon as they get home when they put off doing their homework; however, to label all procrastinators as ‘disorganized’ can undermine the valuable pursuits of each student during the time spent not doing their homework.

‘Disorganization’ may be the empathetic student who forfeits studying for their history exam until late at night to listen to the three hour mental breakdown of their best friend. ‘Disorganization’ may be the student who cleans their entire house for the stressed out single parent raising them, instead of completing their math homework as soon as they get home.

‘Disorganization’ may not be a sign of procrastination.

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR

On April 21, 2016, Prince Rogers Nelson was found unresponsive in an elevator at his home and recording studio, Paisley Park, in Chanhassen, Minnesota. After a 911 call by one of his staff members, paramedics unsuccessfully to revive Prince and pronounced him dead at 10:07 a.m. Although an autopsy was conducted, a cause of death has yet to be announced. Prince’s sudden death stunned the world. Famous figures including Barack Obama and Paul McCartney expressed their grief and shock at his passing and fans gathered outside of his house, leaving behind flowers, balloons, and other gifts in honor of Prince.

Both of these legendary public figures elicited a response of similar magnitude from the public. In their respective and entirely separate spheres, the world mourned the loss of major influences. In politics, Lincoln was a pioneer, equality was a novel idea and a life without racial segregation seemed unthinkable.

Prince was also a social pioneer. In 1993, he changed his name to a symbol that resembled the male and female astrological symbols, making a bold statement about embracing gender fluidity. Despite the death of these two innovative personalities, their influences and actions will and have remained for generations to come.

To do (later): Procrastinate

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

DEAR EDITOR,

DEAR EDITOR,

I found the sleeping article very interesting. As a student who gets less than six hourrs of sleep a night, I too find it hard to focus during class and stay awake and alert throughout the day. After reading this article and seeing that over half of high school students do not get enough sleep, mostly because of the amount of homework we get, I see that this problm is widespread and should be addressed.

I think The Panther should include an article or other facts about climate change and global warming. It is a very big issue right now globally and people should be aware of it. Everyone should know the real facts now that the world is beginning to become worse and worse every day.

SINCERELY,

SINCERELY,

ALICE CARDET (12)

TSEYANG SILLANPAA (12)

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.

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Isabelle Carbajales

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Annabel Sanz Claudia Vera

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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.

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