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PG. 16Miami Art in Public Places beautifies sites around the city for locals

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PG. 7Will the world end tomorrow? Is doomsday imminent?

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PG. 13Former Cavaliers return to Woodward Field for alumni game

Principal Adolfo Costa and Mr. Coral Gables pageant winner Anthony Soto roam the halls

as champions in their respective fields - running the school and running the stage.

CROWNED CAVS

TEAM LEADER

Principal Adolfo Costa is Miami-Dade County’s Central Region Principal of the Year. Costa, along with other principals of schools in the region, was first nominated for Principal of the Year in late November.

After being nominated, every principal was required

to create a packet showcasing why he or she should be the Central Region Principal of the Year. Costa’s packet included letters of recommendation from various people (the President and Executive Director of the Council for Educational Change, school academy leaders, members on the board of the Parent Teacher Student Association, student council, and more). The packet also included overviews and pictures of Costa’s awards and the school’s accomplishments, such as Bridge for Peace.

The Regional Principal of the Year Committee, consisting of eight people, reviewed the principals’ packets and chose semi-finalists. The Committee visited each

semi-finalists’ school, including Gables on Dec. 6. After being greeted with breakfast, the members of the Committee interviewed teachers and staff about Costa and the school in general. They then toured the school and observed classes of their choice. On the day of the visit, mandatory Data Chats (one on one discussions between teachers and students about standardized test scores) were being conducted. Club picture

day was originally scheduled for Dec. 6, but was postponed until Dec. 19.

The other three regions, North, South and Education Transformation Office (F graded schools), underwent this same process to choose their Principal of the Year. Of the four regions, the Central Region chose its

winner first: Costa. “It’s an honor to even be nominated by my fellow peers.

It’s a very impressive group of schools and principals, and the whole thing is a humbling experience. It highlights the school,” said Costa.

Costa and the three other regional winners are now in the running for District Principal of the Year. A District Principal of the Year Committee will conduct visits, similar to the regional visits, to the four schools. The Committee will visit Gables sometime in the last week of January. Soon after

‘ The whole thing is a humbling experience.Adolfo Costa,Principal

‘

By Brooke DonnerHEAD NEWS WRITER

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Costa named Central Region Principal of the Year

CROWD PLEASERBy Maggie RiversTHE SCENE EDITOR

The fifth annual Mr. Coral Gables took place Dec. 13 in the auditorium. As usual, the highly anticipated pageant allowed male students the opportunity to strut their stuff and represent their respective clubs in a chance to be crowned as Gables’ best.

This year, the event was centered around a firefighter theme. Contestants were able to embody their inner fireman by being strong, selfless, and sizzling – attributes of the perfect Mr. Coral Gables.

Decked out in suspenders and fireman hats, the Mr. Coral Gables hopefuls started off

the show by showcasing weeks of hard work in a hot dance routine choreographed by Gablettes & Co. seniors Elizabeth Harley, Camille Palmer, and Natalie Shafer.

Afterwards, the boys to took to the swimsuit portion to represent their clubs. The top 10 contestants who

feat

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acquired the most support from the crowd during the swimsuit category were able to continue on to the talent portion. However, because of the crowd’s chanting and encouragement, the judges decided to include Mr. Gablettes & Co., Ryan Francis, creating a top 11.

The boys brought a variety of talent to the show, but the night’s most memorable acts included Angelo Pis-Dudot’s (Mr. IBHS) Napoleon Dynamite impersonation, Nabi Ferra’s (Mr. Key Club) “Yes” dance, and of course, Anthony Soto’s (Mr. Swimming) electroluminescent routine.

Once all the contestants displayed their talents, a top six was chosen. The top six then completed a question and answer round in order to determine who would be crowned the winner.

Before Mr. Coral Gables was revealed, Raul Flores (Mr. TV Production) was awarded Mr. Congeniality, as voted by the other participants.

In the end, it was Mr. Swimming, Anthony Soto, who came out victorious. With a charming smile and a creative talent act, he successfully doused the other contestants’ fire.

CG

Soto wins Mr. CG

these visits, a banquet will be held to announce the District Principal of the Year. The winner will go on the represent Miami-Dade County in the state Principal of the Year competition. Costa hopes being named Regional Principal of the Year will bring the school “much needed good publicity,” and said it “highlights the different programs and awards the school has achieved.”

“It’s a reciprocal relationship: Costa reflects everything the schools has accomplished, but we’ve accomplished it because of him,” said International Baccalaureate co-coordinator Diana Van-Wyk.

45 0 B i r d R o a d , C o r a l G a b l e s , F L 3314 6 I s s u e 4 , Decemb er 2012, V o l . 53

More Mr. Coral Gables on page 2.

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CHIEF: Principal Costa, named Miami-Dade County’s Central Region Principal of the Year, works in his office.

NTHE END IS NEAR

highlightsDecember 2012 2news

EN VOGUE: Mr. Gables Earth, senior Israel Zagales, blew the crowd away as he strutted down the catwalk during the swimsuit competition, while waving branches to show his love for Mother Nature.

NO GRENADES HERE: Mr. TV Production, Raul Flores, makes the girls swoon with his best Bruno Mars impersonation as he recreates all of the pop crooner’s most popular music videos- dancing monkeys and all.

THE NEW REIGN: Senior Anthony Soto gives the crowd a shining smile as he is crowned the 2012 Mr. Coral Gables on Thursday Dec 13. He participated in the pageant as Mr. Swimming, as he is the captain of the school swimming team.

MR. TREE HUGGER MR. CORAL GABLES

PSEUDO-BRUNO

Academy Night

ADVERTISING ACADEMIES: (top left) A student speaks with the parent answering questions about the school. (top right) Senior Sofia Monestier working the tv production booth. (bottom) Parents tour the CAF&DM booth.

On Dec. 12, the school hosted the second annual Academy Night, which gave students and parents the opportunity to see all the electives offered at the school.

Since Gables has an eight-period day, there is space for students to take electives that may not be on the academic “path” for their academies.

In the past, Academy Night was known as International Baccalaureate (IB) Night, where the IB students would come and look at all the other electives offered by the other academies. Recently, it has opened up, allowing all the other academies to participate.

Students escorted a number of parents to the different rooms the academies were showcasing their curriculums.

“It is kind of a way for students to see what we offer at our school,” said Julio Garcia, in charge of Academy

Night this year, who is also the academy leader of the Health Science, Public Service, and Law (HSPS&L) academy.

Academies had innovative ways to attract students; two students dressed up as Batman and Robin to advertise the student-made short film, “The Dark Dark Knight” as part of the film department pathway.

“I think it is one of the best evenings we have here because everybody is out showing off the best of the school. Anyone who has the opportunity to come out should come to see what all the programs are like,” said IB Coordinator Diana Van Wyk.

It is a night not only for our current students, but for incoming and prospective students as well.

“What really drew my attention was the creative writing,” said eighth-grader Emma Falcon, who was looking at the Communication Arts, Film, and Digital Media (CAF&DM) academy.

‘ I think it is one of the best evenings we have here because everybody is showing off the best of the school,Diana Van Wyk,IB Co-Coordinator

‘

In December and January of this school year, the Junior Class Board, along with Activities Director Ana Suarez, will be in charge of the Pro Chats, which literally mean “chats with professionals”.

In these sessions, juniors and seniors get to take part in 30-45 minute presentations with a professional regarding his or her career field.This event was started last year by senior Jake Mekin.

This year, the official coordinator of these “chats” is sophomore Alexa Alcalay. According to Junior Class Secretary Edward Torgas, last year’s Pro Chats gave him a first-hand perspective of different careers that he had in mind. Torgas also said that the feedback last year was almost completely positive. In fact, almost every session was filled with fifteen students ― the maximum amount of students allowed.

“I’m really looking forward to this years Pro Chat because last years was definitely a great experience and opened my eyes to the possible careers I may choose in the future,” said Torgas.

Assistant-Vice Principal Joseph Evans said he was left impressed after last year. In most of these types of presentations, people only talk

Chatting with Professionalsabout the positive aspects of their job. However, during these conversations, intimate questions were posed and students get the opportunity to truly find what interests them.

The committee in charge of this event asks juniors and seniors each year what careers they’re interested in, which lead to e-mails and phone calls to professionals in Miami who work in the desired career fields.

Many of these volunteers are former alumni of the school as well. Last years presenters ranged from a zoo coordinator to a government intelligence agent. This years speakers will include an NFL writer, a judge, an aeronautical engineer, the head of security at Marlins stadium, a CIA agent, and a Navy Seal.

Last year’s took place in the library but it was tightly packed so Suarez has been emptying and cleaning out library conference room to have more space available.

“By the time Pro Chat starts again in late December, the room will be painted and the atmosphere will be a lot calmer and more intimate,” said senior Jake Mekin.

With all of this in mind, hopes are high for this years event as January inches closer and closer.

“I hope that the Pro Chats provide an enlightening opportunity for our student base. We’d like to provide each child that participates with a path that they’ll be truly interested in,” said Evans.

CONGRATSSeniors of Distinction!

Yanet Del CampoRyan FrancisRoberto AlfonsoRaul FloresNilseen AguilarMonica SimonMarshawn RussLorenzo BabboniAlexandra StackLilibeth AlbuerneKevin PradoKatherine CastellanosJake MekinGema HernandezGabriella GonzalezEric PonceElizabeth HarleyDaniella YepesCarson MorrisBrooke NelsonBrian SabaAngelo Pis-DudotAlexandra Cina

Rachel English/highlights

THE ROYAL CORONATION

Maggie Rivers/highlights

By Jordan PayneSTAFF WRITER

By Gaby MartinezSTAFF WRITER

Lukas Georgatos/highlights

highlightsDecember 2012 3

The International Baccalaureate (IB) junior class was officially inducted into the program with a ceremony on Nov 27. The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) ran the entire program to create a memorable night for the students.

The guest speaker was the president and publisher of the Miami Herald Media Co., David Landsberg, who is a Gables alumn and has children in the program.

“Cav runs deep in my family, this is home to us,” said Landsberg.

IB Coordinators, Sylvie Cuesta and Diana Van Wyk, had students walk across the auditorium stage and presented them with pins embossed with the IB logo to officially commemorate their entrance into the program.

IB Pinning Ceremony

NEWSBRIEFS

Marijuana legalization

On Election Day, Colorado and Washington became trailblazers when voters approved a law decriminalizing the use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21.

Although Colorado has not set final details for the law, Washington law stipulates users are legally allowed to posses up to one ounce of marijuana but must use the drug within the privacy of their own homes.

The State Liquor Board will establish the impairment levels of marijuana for the application of Driving Under the Influence laws.

Colorado’s governor reminds users that marijuana is still illegal under federal law, leaving many obstacles ahead before marijuana can become fully legal.

The school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) has a new Senior Army Instructor, Major Vidal Chavez, who is a Gables alum of the class of 1989.

Before becoming a staff member at the school, Chavez was an Air Defense Officer in the Army. He worked with the Patriots Missiles System and with the operations officers of the United States Military Acad-emy in New York.

“I want to use my army experience in leading, coaching, and training to help the students in Coral Gables Senior High to succeed in life,” said Chavez.

He has worked in different countries such as Panama and Korea, and “wishes to bring that diversity into the school.”

“[Major Chavez] is a man you can trust and a good example to follow,” said freshman Vasty Valle.

Victorious Voices Cavalier singers win All State

Seniors Lorrelle Jock-Fernandez and Monica Larrea were selected to participate in Florida Music Educator’s Association’s (FMEA) All State- Woman’s Choir to take place in January 2013 in Tampa, Florida.

FMEA was created to promote music education to students throughout Florida. FMEA reaches out to several music branches, such as: band, orchestra, chorus and guitar.

Jock and Larrea were chosen to participate in the event where the best students from all around Florida are

asked to join. Jock and Larrea are in assigned choirs, along with about 190 other students, in which they will perform eight songs at a four-day music convention.

“I trained a lot being in choir, and taking music theory has helped too, but a ton of the training has been on my own,” said Larrea.

They will compete in a rigorous two- round audition process. The first round is a written musicianship test and an oral sight-reading test. Students will advance to the second round of they gain 10 points. Contestants must learn sixteen songs, and a test will be on a random part of any three.

National YoungArts winner

Junior Isabella Maldonado has received an award known as the Merit Award, given to her by the National YoungArts Foundation, for the vocal category. Since she is affiliated with the school, it will receive recognition.

This foundation was established to identify and support the next generation of artists of the nation by investing in the artistic development of talented young artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts.

“I can’t really see myself doing anything that’s not music related,

whether it’s the business of it or performing, It’s something I’ve always done,” said Maldonado.

Maldonado will be placed into a national adjudication, meaning she will be placed in a pot of nationally recognized winners. In the spring, she will receive information on the regional program she will attend to receive her award. If she is able to rank in the top twenty finalists, she will perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

“She has a lot of motivation, she is an extremely talented young woman, and I see really good things happening for her in the future,” said chorus teacher Mary Morrow.

New JROTC InstructorFlorida Secession PetitionFollowing President Barack

Obama’s re-election, the state of Texas created a petition to secede from the union. All 50 states have since created petitions.

The petitions were made on We The People: a government-

run website that provides United States citizens

the opportunity to petition

the Obama Administration. According to the website, the Administration will respond to a petition if it receives 25,000 signatures in 30 days.

Texas, Florida and five other states gained the necessary support to warrant a response from the White House. According to the New York Times, a government official confirmed that the petitions would be responded to, but did not specify when.

As of Dec. 17, Florida’s

petition has 35,434 signatures, and Texas’s has 120,273.

“The petitions are absolutely ridiculous,” said social studies teacher Fernando Fernandez.

“

“

I trained a lot being in choir and taking music theory has helped too. -senior Monica Larrea

““

I can’t really see myself doing anything that’s not music related, - junior Isa Maldonado

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By Gaby MartinezSTAFF WRITER

By Mia TolpinSTAFF WRITER

By Phillip AitkenSTAFF WRITER

By Christina ParodiSTAFF WRITER

By Francis PerezSTAFF WRITER

Mia Tolpin/highlights

By Brooke DonnerHEAD NEWS WRITER

highlightsDecember 2012 4news

Five of the school’s top science and engineering students win at the first Miami VEX robotics competition hosted Starbot.Inc. Raving Robotics:

By Casey BreznickCOPY EDITOR

Three weeks ago, the school’s Robotics Team placed 2nd out of 17 teams in the first round of competition of the First Annual Miami 305 Consortium Vex Robotics League. The five-member team consisted of junior Alexander Baazi, Jesus Spindola, Manfred Wiltz, and Cristian Rivero, and David Pujol who are sponsored by computer science teacher Michael Van Dyk.

There were eight competitions in total, culminating in a Finals Event pitting the most successful public and private Miami-Dade county schools against each other. The competitions consisted of robots assembled and designed by the students performing various tasks and matches in attempt to outmaneuver other robots and obtain the most points possible.

The robots are built using Vex, a robotics design system, that involves both physical assembly from a standard set of parts provided

by the league to each team and programming the robots. At the competitions, one member of the team is designated as the driver, who uses a remote control to operate the robot.

“We make blueprints of the models that we would like to implement for the competition, then we select the best model based on the productivity and efficiency for the task,” said Bazzi.

Bazzi, Spindola, and Rivero handle the physical part of building the robots, which essentially making the physical calculations to understand the capabilities and limits of the robot. Wiltz and Pujol are tasked with the software portion of

robot. They have meetings on Wednesdays and

Thursdays afterschool to plan and then meet on Fridays to actually build their prototype.

“I felt like our hard work paid off since it was our first competition and we managed to get second place,” said Rivero.

THE BOT BOYS: Team members Alexander Bazzi, Jesus Spindola, David Pujol, and Cristian Rivero (missing Manfred Wiltz) are assembling the different parts of a robot to continue building more robots to compete in more competitions. The members are enthusiastic about entering more competitions and win more.

‘ We make blueprints of the models that we would like to implement for the competition and then we select the best model based on the productivity and efficiency for the task.Alexander Bazzi, junior

‘

your independent, locally owned bookstore

www.booksandbooks.comTed Sanchez

2515 S.W. 27th Avenue. Miami, Fl 33133(305) 859-7979

www.silverbluffanimalclinic.com

Expires January 25th, 2013

*Coupon must be presented at time of purchase*Students Only

*Not Valid with any other coupons, not redeemable for cash, non transferable

NOT APPLICABLE TO SPECIAL ORDERSRachel English/highlights

highlightsDecember 2012 5opinion

Commentary by Orso Raymo HEAD OPINION WRITER

VIEWSTWO

To legalize or not to legalize?

Since the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana and the “abnormal” recreational drugs associated with it have been illegal in this country. However, this past election, marijuana was legalized in Washington and Colorado, leading some to question the reasoning behind the decisions of the voters of these two states.

Firstly, I’d just like to point out that marijuana was declared illegal for several reasons, the most prominent among them being the fact that it is a psychologically addictive drug which has been described right alongside opium and its derivatives. Marijuana is illegal because of the inherent health risks, its addictiveness, its potential to disrupt society, and because it is a gateway drug, meaning that the inhibitions of its users are diminished to the point at which they are likely to try other, more dangerous drugs. It has remained illegal because the American people have deemed it so. Almost every year, a referendum to legalize the drug appears on a state ballot, and every year except this one of course, these referendums have

been shot down in the voting booths of every other state in the union. Obviously, the majority of the American people don’t feel comfortable with allowing marijuana to be decriminalized.

Marijuana supporters have been claiming that the laws that regulate marijuana are too strict, and are leading to the gross overpopulation of prisons. The jail time served for possession is lower than three months, and combined with the possibility for parole and time off for good behavior, offenders end up serving a little over a month. Facts are that the people that are causing prison overpopulation aren’t the ones

smoking marijuana.Finally, marijuana shouldn’t have been legalized because condoning it is going to turn it into

a type of cigarette. When you decriminalize something, you are making it socially acceptable to have it. The voters in states where the legalization of marijuana will be proposed should ask themselves whether or not they believe in having people smoke marijuana in the same way that people smoke cigarettes. Voters should take the surely ensuing referendum with a grain of salt, and ought to consider their own feelings toward cigarettes, and then decide whether or not they would be in favor of marijuana taking up a place next to legal, although harmful, substances like cigarettes and alcohol.

The debate over marijuana legalization has met its point of greatest national exposure and importance in light of the recent legalization of the substance in Colorado and Washington.

The push to make the drug illegal didn’t start until the 1930s when Henry Anslinger, backed by a paper industry that was fealing the heat from the growing hemp paper sector, saw a golden opportunity to create the Federal

Narcotics Department (and discredit hemp) by waging one of the greatest fear-mongering campaigns in the history of the country. By means of yellow journalism, racism, scare tactics and outright lies Anslinger convinced Congress in 1937 that “marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing,” and “you smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother,” and subsequently made marijuana illegal by the Marijuana Tax Act. In doing so, Anslinger not only secured himself a spot as commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics for 32 years, but he made his friends in the paper industry very happy.

History aside, the simple fact of the matter is that the government shouldn’t have a say in the legal status of marijuana for adults. There are freedoms and limits we’ve established as a society and the consensus is that a free thinking individual should in his best judgment, which entirely subjective, make his own decisions as long as they don’t harm anybody else. In sum, the government should have no say in what adults can and cannot put into their bodies. With these sound principles in mind the government enacted the Bill of Rights, and set the gold standard for democracy and person freedoms globally, yet they have been sacrificed in making a simple, harmless, plant with thousands of applications illegal for all the wrong reasons.

In the 1920’s the government tried to impose its will on the populous by prohibiting the use of alcohol, and in essence the two issues are different sides of the same coin. The prohibition of alcohol, like the government’s attempts to keep pot off the streets, was largely a failure. In the process, however, they’ve created a counter culture of disregarding the law that extends past pot itself. In other words, because people feel safe disobeying a few nonsensical laws, they can justify breaking all laws, and that’s a problem.

Like all things, marijuana can be – and often is – abused. However, this alone does not warrant its current stigma because the same can be said for numerous legal substances.

Commentary by Stephan ChamberlinSTAFF WRITER

The recent legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado has lead some to question whether or not the nation should follow.

Legalize it Follow legal precedent

The wheels on the bus don’t go ‘round for magnet students

Commentary by Laura Acosta & Francis PérezSTAFF WRITERS

Just like any other designated public school, Gables provides students with free bus transportation, making sure all students are able to attend their classes. The school also offers the International

Baccalaureate (IB) magnet program to those who are interested and qualify. However, because students do not have to live within the school’s boundaries to be in IB, there is no guarantee that students in this program will be provided a spot on a public school bus.

Being in the IB program is a privilege that is offered to students as long as they meet all the requirements, which, as in any other program, include keeping absences and tardies at a minimum. Not having a free public school bus means that the students’ only other routes to school are walking to and from school, having their parents possibly miss work to give them a ride, paying to use public transportation, or paying for a

private bus. Despite their best efforts, students without a stable ride to school every morning are at the mercy of Miami traffic and – even worse – the city’s public transportation system, both notorious causes of tardiness. Public transportation can cost up to two dollars each ride if the student does not have their own K-12 EASY card, and private buses can charge fifteen dollars per week or more.

If IB students who are not provided public school busses cannot adjust to any of the alternatives, then they will have no way of getting to Gables and will be forced to attend their designated home schools.

According to Athletic Director Louis Romero, Miami Dade County Public Schools has removed school provided transportation for all magnet students in recent years.

“When parents sign to transfer students, it says they are not eligible [for school transportation]”, said Romero.

Students who live very far from school find themselves extremely inconvenienced by now having a school bus.

“I want a bus, that way I don’t have to ride the metro every day,” said sophomore Logan Morris.

While it may not make logistical sense to extend school bus routes to pick up every magnet student at their door, it is unfair for Miami-Dade County to make no effort to help these students get to school. Motivated students should be encouraged to enroll

in magnet programs, not dissuaded by the cost and inconvenience of transportation. At the very least, the county should provide students who live outside of designated transportation service zones with a voucher to cover the cost of getting to school every morning. The money that isn’t being spent on getting them bus

service should still be spent on getting them to school.It is true that all students who enrolled in a magnet program

made a choice to take on a few responsibilities, including attending a school that isn’t necessarily their home school; however, the county made a choice of its own when it decided to cut bus service to these students. It is irresponsible to let the burden fall squarely on these children and their families.

‘ I want a bus, that way I don’t have to ride the metro every day.

Logan Morris,Sophomore

‘

Bailey Kling/Contributor

When we first started high school, we were constantly told that joining clubs is an important aspect of getting into colleges because club membership shows school and community involvement. But when does this process of joining club after club get out of hand? Many students join clubs for the sake of listing their membership on their college applications, but their commitment is minimal.

Clubs exist in high school for the sole purpose of sharing common interests, helping fellow students, or volunteering in the community. When students realize that they haven’t met the high extracurricular demand of many colleges, they go on a desperate frenzy, joining as many clubs as they can to fill their application. This defeats the purpose of being in a club, and consequently, teachers and club sponsors are annoyed by the increase of absences and lack of commitment.

Students should get involved in their high school by joining more than one club, showing diversity in their extracurricular background and ability to handle

highlightsDecember 2012

EditorialSTAFF

highlightsADVISORY BOARD:

SECTION EDITORS:

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFAli Stack

INSIGHTDeanna Breiter, Audrey Fernandez

NEWSScarlett Perez

FEATURESYaremy Fuentes

SPORTSGene Liu,Lukas Georgatos

THE SCENEMaggie Rivers

BUSINESS MANAGERAJ Ziv

ADVISERMelissa Nieves

COPY EDITORCasey Breznick

highlights is the official publication of Coral Gables Senior High, 450 Bird Rd.,Coral Gables, FL 33146.

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highlights accepts all legal advertisements. If a mistake occurs, the ad will be reprinted, free of charge, in the following

issue. Subscriptions are available for $15 annually.Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily

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Contributors: Thalia Herrera, Bailey Kling, Angel Nieves

6

OPINIONNicolas Rivero

Illegal stimulant drug use on the rise

Commentary by Rachel EnglishSTAFF WRITER

Commentary by Maggie RiversSCENE EDITOR

The recent presidential election between Republican candidate Mitt Romney and Democratic candidate Barack Obama was an election fueled by political vitriol and all-American patriotism. This year’s election in particular brought out the best of American democracy: our scummy competiveness and failure to work together,

especially in the state of Florida.As a swing state, Florida is heavily divided. In light of President

Obama’s victory, however, many Republicans in Florida (along with those in many other states) were outraged. So much so, in fact, that someone created a petition for Florida to secede from the United States of America. The petition has already garnered about 35,000 signatures, including signatures from both Floridians and other angry out-of-state citizens (apparently they don’t want us either) who are so strongly opposed to the current president that they decided to sign a petition in a futile effort to stick it to the man.

Florida secessionists are disregarding that Obama was democratically and rightfully elected as President of the United States of America and are childishly getting angry about him being in office. One petition goes so far to suggest that Obama should be impeached, yet he has not abused power or done anything to deserve impeachment. However, what these petitioners fail to realize is they can’t just exercise their right as citizens by voting in the election and decide to back out of the country when the results don’t come out in their favor.

Even if Florida was able to successfully secede from the union, how long do we really expect the state to last on its own? It took Florida four days just to count its votes, a feat other states accomplished in hours. Until we get counting down, how can we be expected to successfully run on our own?

Other petitions have suggested that those who had signed a petition asking for state secession have them stripped of their citizenship or deported. While this may seem like an easy fix and an admirable goal, Florida should probably take a page from the petition “keep the United States united.” America is based on democracy and compromise, and whining about election results is unproductive. Florida’s Republicans need to realize Obama is our president and learn to work together in a responsible, bipartisan manner and move forward.

In recent years, more and more high school and college students turn to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drugs, such as Adderall, as an academic booster. The common misconception is that these drugs will turn a student into some sort of genius in the six hours

it will last. However, they merely compensate for the lack in discipline and concentration good students should already have, making it possible for the unprepared, procrastinating International Baccalaureate (IB) senior to finish their Extended Essay in a night or for an easily distracted student to become immune to the lures of social networking sites.

The biggest issue presents itself in testing. Students, especially juniors and seniors, often face the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) tests, which can last up to six hours. As a survivor of the AP World History exam, I can tell you that after two hours of the multiple choice portion, you barely have it in you to write three hours’ worth of essays, but it is possible. After fully preparing with a year of learning and practicing for the AP or SAT exams, students should have the willpower to get through these tests without the illegal help of a pill. Self-discipline and the ability to stay focused should be already acquired skills for students in rigorous programs such as AP or IB. Not being able to work through a period of six hours that will determine part of your future is an extreme sign of weakness. If this is the case you’re not cut out for

the type of rigor these educational programs demand and you should not be taking part in them in the first place.

Popping these pills is also an issue of fairness. Students with the advantage of an Adderall crutch are jeopardizing the validity of standardized tests by inflating their scores. When some students have this advantage over others, test results don’t give an accurate portrayal of their academic ability in comparison to the student body as a whole. This becomes a problem when college admissions officers look at test scores to help them decide who to accept and who to reject.

What most students don’t consider is the affect taking too much of the un-prescribed drug will do to your body. According to Dr. Diane M. Baker L.C.S.W., Ph.D., when taking stimulant drugs such as Adderall without a prescription, you are risking becoming habitually dependent on it. Dermatoses, insomnia,

agitation, personality changes, increase in blood pressure, various heart conditions, and physical and

mental hyperactivity are all long-term effects stimulant drugs have on the un-prescribed

user. Another thing to keep in mind is that ADD and ADHD medications

like Adderall, Ritalin, Vyanase, and Focalin are class 2 controlled substances (the same as cocaine and morphine).

They are classified the same as these illicit drugs due to their addictiveness.

“[By taking the medications] you’re really getting high,” said Baker. The repercussions for consuming stimulant drugs will be the same as well.

Unprescribed users of these drugs are not only cheating themselves and their classmates, they are committing a felony and risking their own health in the process.

Floridian Secession

Thalia Herrera/Contributor

the commitments in addition to retaining high academic caliber, which impresses their college of choice. However, students should pick clubs based on what they are most interested in because if they are genuinely enthusiastic and loyal to a particular set of clubs, colleges will see the devotion and leadership they have contributed to those organizations. In fact,

college admissions view excessive club membership negatively because generally, when applicants participate in many clubs their intentions are not completely genuine.

Many clubs have basic requirements, and as long as students meet them, they’re in. However, the school’s clubs should consider implementing new policies to ensure that members are truly committed. First, before a club inducts new members, they should make the potential members write why they want to join the particular club, or if they are genuinely interested in the club. Second, have clubs record the attendance of members during meetings or activities.

Colleges know how to see genuine participation, and when students randomly join clubs in an effort to impress, it hurts their resume more than it helps. Our advice is to be deeply involved in a club you actually care about; real passion shines brighter than false commitment.

-Sebastien Courty, junior

““

As long as students are paying for their clubs, I don’t see a problem--it’s their money anyway. “

-Jose Zambrano, sophomore

“

Students are joing a lot of clubs lately just so they can brag about them.

Joining clubs for

insight highlightsDecember 2012 7

W A R N I N G :The end may or may not be

near. But what is more important is not the proximity of end-time, but how individuals and societies deal with the idea of finiteness and the coming of the end.

The great unifying factors of all societies and civilizations are, whether in science, faith or some combination thereof, the notion of a beginning and that of an end. Finality and obsession over it permeate throughout mankind’s existence, from great civilizations like the Mayans to modern doomsday cults like Heaven’s Gate.

I will only mention Dec. 21, 2012 once, not because of its minimal truth potential as the world’s ends date, but because it embodies the 2012 phenomenon. This phenomenon describes the sudden popular

interest and belief in a major world change to occur in 2012.

But, is the 2012 phenomenon really one born out of fear of end-time? A significant portion of the end-of-the-world craze owes itself to a surplus of cynics and misanthropes. Yet, the idea of end-time, associated with 2012 or not, has become a part of popular culture.

Societies that have mastered their environments with mind and steel have finally come to recognize the reality of threats to such progress and that success can be, or in fact is, fleeting. This observation is not a condemnation of technological society – I sincerely believe man has the ability to overcome all obstacles – but rather the only explanation of the recent surge in paranoia and genuine interest in Eschatology, the study of the

final events of humanity. Fear paralyzes, but, more

importantly, it motivates. Whereas man’s desire to preserve his life and improve his standard of living acts as the motor of the world, fear is the ignition source. For example, the very fear of man’s ability to self-destroy come the very actions that form man’s only avenue of self-preservation. Likewise, to thwart man’s ultimate fear of death, man strives for peace, advances in medical research, etc.

However, it is the all-encompassing end of the world that presents to us what breeds the greatest of fears. Most likely, this great fear will be used by societies not as an excuse to give up, but to inspire a sense of unity regarding the idea of one, universal...

DOOMSDAY.-Casey Breznick

insight highlightsDecember 2012 8

LOCATION: AFRICAIf the current trends of soil degradation in Africa continue to increase, the continent will only be able to feed 25% of its population by 2025. Source: UNU’s Ghana-based Institute for Natural Resources in Africa

First of all, I would like to wish everybody a happy new b’ak’tun (\bäk-‘tün\, a period of 144,000 days on the Mayan Long Count calendar). Thirteen b’ak’tuns have passed since this

world was created according to the Mayan calendar, which, of course, means that the cycle of creation has been fulfilled and tomorrow, December 21st, the winged serpent god Quetzalcoatl will return from the east and bring about the end of days. (Quetzalcoatl, for those who don’t know, is the Mayan god of speech impediments.)

Despite the fact that the Mayans never actually predicted the end of the world, for some people, evidence pointing to the impending apocalypse is undeniable. Many internet theorists and amateur astronomers cite an upcoming solar flare, a galactic alignment of the planets, or a collision with the mysterious dwarf planet Nibiru as the cause of humanity’s inevitable demise.

They are unconvinced by the fact that the largest solar flare in recorded history actually occurred on Nov. 4, 2003 (the historic day that no one noticed or cared) and the flare that is due for this year won’t be anywhere near as large. Doomsday

theorists also refuse to be silenced by NASA scientists who tell them that there actually won’t be any kind

of planetary alignment any time soon (although if it did happen, the planets are so far away that the gravitational impact on the Earth would be virtually zero) and that the planet Nibiru doesn’t exist outside of photoshopped images in the dark recesses of the Internet.

Other theories have everything from avian bird flu to worldwide economic collapse causing human civilization’s imminent destruction. Most appear to be excuses to dress up in fatigues and drag the family to the shooting range rather than rational predictions about the future, but to each his own.

Regardless, hundreds of people continue to dutifully prepare for the end of the world. Dubbed “doomsday preppers,” they have recently entered popular culture through the much-advertised Discovery Channel series by the same name. The show spotlights preppers and showcases their meticulously planned escape routes, abundantly supplied bunkers, and extravagant arsenals of ammunition and guns – lots and lots of guns.

“I think every American household should have a gun. You can never have enough guns, never have enough ammo,” said doomsday prepper Tim Ralston, shortly before accidentally shooting his own thumb off on the show.

Online forums are full of imaginative preppers sharing their innovative preparations for the apocalypse. One man is readying himself for a world-ending solar flare by losing 90 pounds. Another woman hopes to prepare for a nuclear missile strike by storing “several thousands” of pounds of food under her king-sized mattress. Finally, one prepper, concerned about rising sea levels, is storing his own sewage for later use as emergency garden fertilizer. Night soil, (as it is called, because apparently the practice is common enough to have a name) does carry the risk of contaminating anything that grows in it with cholera, dysentery, and parasitic infection, so I would caution you, dear reader, against trying this at home.

While it may seem uncharacteristically optimistic of the preppers to think that losing weight or storing their own feces will do them any good when the actual catastrophe they fear strikes, it is important to understand that they are not, strictly speaking, a group of fanatical pessimists. Their motto is “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

Unfortunately for a prepper, even in the best-case scenario they are still a crazy person in camouflage. In fact, the scariest thought of all is that if disaster does strike and humanity is nearly wiped out, these guys will be the only ones left to repopulate the planet.

Commentary by Nicolas RiveroOPINION EDITOR

PREPARATION PLANS

20percent

the average amount of income preppers set aside in anticipation for doomsday

99percent

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the end of the world

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TRACKINGhighlights traces possible doomsday scenarios around the world.

Source: Bugoutnutrition.com, squido.com/doomsday-prepping, theeconomiccollapseblog.com

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highlightsDecember 2012 9

LOCATION: AFRICAIf the current trends of soil degradation in Africa continue to increase, the continent will only be able to feed 25% of its population by 2025. Source: UNU’s Ghana-based Institute for Natural Resources in Africa

Compiled by Audrey Fernandez, Deanna Breiter & Gene Liu4before theworld ends

things to do

highlights’ offers four ways to spend your few remaining hours alive before it all

hits the fan.

LOCATION: MEXICOThe Mayan calendar predicts that the world will end December 21, 2012, as it is the last day on the calendar. Some believe that this prediction, in combination with some of the solar-flare theories produced by NASA for 2012, indicates that the world is meeting its end. Although some believe this day will be uneventful, one thing remains certain: the Mayans have been correct with their calendar predictions thus far.Source: MayanCalendar.com

LOCATION: UNITED STATES OF AMERICAImagine a volcanic eruption on steroids. This doomsday scenario would pump enough ash and sulfuric acid into the atmosphere to bring about another ice age. One of these super-volcanoes once plunged the Earth into a decade-long volcanic winter, reducing the human population to less than 10,000. One of them is right in our backyard, at Yellowstone National Park. Scientists have discovered that this particular hot spot erupts every 600,000 years, and it’s been 630,000 years since it last did... We’re just a little overdue. Source: TruTv.com

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NAME: ROBERT SEITTERGRADE: 11

“AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!”

NTRACKINGTHE END

highlights traces possible doomsday scenarios around the world.

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LOCATION: ASIAThe Himalayan glaciers that are the sources of Asia’s biggest rivers could disappear by 2350, as temperatures rise. Approximately half of the current human population lives in the drainage basin of these rivers. These basins could experience floods followed by droughts in the coming decades. The west coast of North America gets much of its water from mountain ranges as well and could experience the same effects.Source: UN Climate Report

-DELETE YOUR FACEBOOKTHE LAST THING YOU WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT IS HOW LONELY YOU ARE. SOON, ALL THAT WILL BE IN THE PAST.

-FINISH WATCHING THE WALKING DEADTO BRUSH UP ON LAST MINUTE SURVIVAL SKILLS PLUS, EVERYONE IN THE AFTERLIFE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT.

-BRING SEXY BACKTHAT UNNECESSARILY TIGHT PLAID SHIRT YOU OWN BUT NEVERHAD THE COURAGE TO DON? WEAR IT.

-EAT ITDON’T WORRY ABOUT THE WEIGHT YOU’LL GAIN AS A CONSEQUENCE. EVERYONE WILL END UP LOOKING THE SAME: DEAD.

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features highlightsDecember 201210

HEY THERE SANTA BABY: Tri-M members junior Chelsy Fraga and senior Nina Olivia auditioned for a spot as serenaders with a little help from junior Euginio.

Caroling

By Araceli SanchezSTAFF WRITER

In the midst of the holiday season The Music Honor Society (Tri-M) has once again decided to show their holiday spirit by advertising their yearly holiday serenades. Members of Tri-M will be selling holiday serenades to people who would like to get into the holiday vibe by surprising their loved ones with the gift of music. Each serenade is a unique and one of a kind present to help kick off the winter break with a great mood.

Holiday serenades are vocal and instrumental vignettes that Tri-M members perform throughout the day on Friday, Dec. 21. During both lunches this week, Tri-M members have been selling tickets for five dollars each to students who want to buy a serenade for their loved ones. Tomorrow, the Tri-M members who were selected by Mary Morrow, Visual & Performing Arts Academy leader and chorus director, though special audition will go around the classrooms to surprise people with a special holiday song. There are several selections to choose from since each group or solo performer are singing different holiday songs.

This year will be the honor society’s fourth year hosting the holiday jingles. Morrow stated that the performances bring in a “substantial” amount of money to the chorus

department each year, about 200-500 dollars.Members of the music honor society auditioned for a spot

to serenade students on Dec. 14th by singing a song, alone or in groups of vocalists and instrumentalists. They prepared songs that, if picked, they would perform to other students. The selection process began when students applied to the honor society in November, and final decisions were made last week.

Thirteen carolers will be sharing their holiday music selections with the rest of the students. Serenades aren’t random: the buyer is allowed to pick which song the performers will sing to their loved one. The voices of the students participating in the holiday serenades will be heard all through-out the school on Friday bringing a little more joy to the final day before winter break.

HALLtalkThe highlights staff records what

students are talking about in the hallways during passing

between periods.

>>

BLOCK 1

BLOCK 2

“I should start memorizing my parents credit card numbers.”

“All I want for Christmas is an attractive math boy.”

“Stop Rome-ing around.”“If the world ends does that mean we break up?”“I took a two hour nap and woke up regretting my life.”

LUNCH“If you look for the word gullible in the dictionary, it won’t be there.”

“I feel like I’m socially accepted when I play that type of music.”

Araceli Sanchez/highlights

Winter Wonderland

New Year’s plan to fail

I want to learn Chinese and Russian, I want to lose fifteen pounds, I want to learn how to play the piano and the flute, I want to climb Mount Everest, and I want to write a book by Dec. 31 of next year. Realistically, these things are not going to happen. Every year, without fail, Dec. 31 rolls around and

the harsh reality of bad eating habits and laziness come with it. The last day of a mostly wasted year makes almost everyone rethink his or her lives and to make themselves seem like they care, and they make fake promises on the last day of the year we like to call New Year’s resolutions (the most common being losing weight, getting a job, doing better in school, being nicer, etc.). Come Feb. 1 and the month spent trying to kick the old habits to make room for improvement is disregarded because “it was too hard, I could never have accomplished that.”

“They’re really just something you say but never really put work into,” said junior Arlet Alegre.

Some failures can be called self-sabotage. If you are trying to lose weight, having a candy stash in your room is not going to help.

Those who opt out of New Year’s resolutions simply do not think they need to change anything in their lives or do not believe that they are able to accomplish what they really want.

“I like the way that I am now, but maybe by New Year’s I’ll find something about myself that I don’t like so much

and I’ll have some resolutions by then,” said sophomore Jose Zambrano.

The reasons New Year’s resolutions tend to fail are the simple facts that people set unrealistic goals. Instead of trying to accomplish small resolutions people love to exaggerate and try to go beyond their comfort zone, setting themselves up for failure. On top of setting these goals, many have the expectations of actually accomplishing all of these things. Just because you say you are going to eat healthy or stop smoking does not mean that magically on Jan. 1st all of your goals will be accomplished. Trying to better yourself takes time and work, that is why it is a New YEAR’S resolution. These goals are meant to be accomplished throughout the following year. Setting expectations too high leads way for future disappointment when the resolution is not achieved.

The temperature is slowly dropping and students are wrapping themselves in cozy sweaters preparing for the wonderful chilly season known as winter. Features has decided to warm up the holiday season with humourous stories about overdone

New Year’s resolutions and ridiculous things heard in the school’s hallways.

“There’s nothing funnier than going through someone’s Google searches.”

Thalia Herrera/contributor

throughthe halls

Commentary by Raquel BraunSTAFF WRITER

features highlightsDecember 201211

By Mia TolpinSTAFF WRITER

Ever drive by the school at 9 PM on a Friday night wondering why the lights are on? If you have, it is because Coral Gables Senior High comes to life again at night. The school starts its day at 7:15 a.m and doesn’t end until around 11 p.m. when the last of the night school teachers flip off the lights.

Around 3 PM, a few changes are made. The school turns into Coral Gables Adult Education Center, and Principal Adolfo Costa hands over the halls to Dr. Hawkins, a principal of four different night schools around the city.

The same classes found in day school are also offered at night school. Students can take courses from the basics like Algebra and American Government, to electives such as Painting and even Team Sports.

During the day, Carlos de la Camara is a science teacher. After 2:20 p.m., de la Camara leaves, and returns four hours later to teach English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to adults.

Why not just attend regular school? It’s because the night school students either dropped out of the Miami Dade County school system and enrolled for night school, or they are currently in school, but did not pass a course required to graduate. The majority of students are 16 to 17, but there are also adults. Adults in night school most likely work during the day, and are looking to get a General Equivalency Degree (GED).

Senior Nelson Delgado sometimes stays on campus until 5 pm, waiting for his Algebra 2 class to begin. “Night school is great because you get to go at your own pace,” said Delgado. “Unfortunately, I wanted to get a job, but since I don’t leave until around 7, it’s pretty much impossible,” said Delgado. For some, not having to wake up at the crack of dawn sounds great, but night school does have its pros and cons.

By Yaremy FuentesFEATURES EDITOR

The alumni of our school’s very own Troupe 476 are preparing to put on a show made up of individual scenes open to everyone on Jan. 9.

Most of the former Troupe 476 members and presidents have been rigorously practicing for months to put on a wonderful night of scenes ranging from comedies to dramas to some that are going to be so strange they can not be categorized. This night is guaranteed to fill the audience and past Troupe members with the nostalgia of being on stage in the little theatre once again.

“All the talent that’s come here before… I missed them and wanted them on stage,” said drama teacher Tracey Barrow, reminiscing about her past Troupe members.

Last year’s graduate and Troupe member, Gabriela Torres, is going to be performing a scene from the play A Tall Order by Sheri Wilner with former 2012 Troupe member Kevin Obregon. In the scene, Torres plays a nervous woman who is about to go on a first date, the date played by Obregon. While she is obsessing over what to wear, eat and say, she magically manages to freeze time in order to perfect the date.

DRAMA ALUMNI

SHOWCASE

‘ It’s like a high school reunion, but better, because nothing has changed with our acting chemistry we have on stage. The only change there is, is that the acting chemistry has turned into a bond.

Gabriela Torres,2012 graduate

‘

Torres and Obregon have worked together before while they were both members of Troupe 476 last year. Their last time working together was the 2012 Final Showcase that Troupe has every year to commemorate the year in which she played his concerned mother.

“It’s like a high school reunion, but better, because nothing has changed with our acting chemistry we have on stage. The only change there is is that the acting chemistry has turned into a bond,” said Torres.

This will not be the debut of the Alumni Showcase. She hosted the first showcase two years ago but did not host one last year and for that she is sorry. The show is expected to be full of surprises because there have been rumors that unexpected alumni are going to surprise the audience and Barrow with spontaneous performances.

There is going to be only one audition/rehearsal process the day

before the actual show on Jan. 8. Barrow knows the capacity and talent of her past actor’s and can not wait to see what they all have been planning to perform. She is also happy to see how many of her past students have contacted her about interest in the show.

GablesAFTER HOURS

The 100 hall The bathrooms in the 100 hall have recently been remodeled,

and prove to be the one of the best options for students to use in the entire school. While all bathrooms can be cleaned, filth accumulates over time and new toilets and sinks will always provide a cleaner bathroom environment. The newly installed hand dryers also help with the unavoidable lack of paper towels in any bathroom. A complaint with this bathroom is the lack of dividers between urinals, making most users prefer to search for a stall.

New Building-F300: Most regard the third floor as the best choice in the new building. Both toilets

are fully functioning, as well as the one urinal, and the entire bathroom is usually cleaned. The only negative aspect of the third floor bathroom is the unbearably cold air conditioning making it necessary to wear a sweater just to go to the bathroom.

-F100: The first floor bathroom remains a bearable option during classes, as few classrooms surround it. This bathroom should be avoided at all costs at the beginning and ending of lunch when all the boys decide to freshen up before going to class. After lunch, the bathroom becomes a mess, making the first floor of the building a better choice for the first half of the school day.

-F200: Although this building is the most recent addition to the school, its bathrooms are used with extreme frequency. With respect to the male facilities, the second floor proves to be the worst offender among the three floors with only one stall available to users. The only other stands completely empty with no toilet. This bathroom has now become a waiting room, the line stretching out of bathroom and spilling into the hallway after both lunches, as a result of only having one working toilet. Granted, there is a urinal, but seeing as how the divider wall between it and the neighboring sinks is gone from the wall and all that remains of it are fragments of black plastic nailed to the wall, the large stall remains the only option. The next time you try to swing by the boy’s bathroom on the second floor of the new building, remember to take a magazine, or rather a novel, because you are going to be waiting in a long line full of guys about to burst.

The 300 hallAll the traffic that comes through this hall makes it one of the most frequented

bathrooms in the school. Although it has gone through construction, the amount of users to the bathroom has quickly deteriorated its quality and cleanliness. Nonetheless, it still features the new hand dryers.

By Laura Acosta & Maggie RiversSTAFF WRITER & THE SCENE EDITOR

The 100 hall Once regarded as one of the worst bathrooms in the school, the 100 hall

bathroom’s recent renovations have bumped up this bathroom to the top spot. The new bathroom features all the toilets in working condition (except for one), new tile, and trash cans in every stall. Trash on the floor is sparse and lines usually aren’t long. Toilet paper is almost always stocked. This bathroom’s best feature is its hand dryers and working sinks, allowing students the luxury of clean hands after every visit.

New Building-F200: As one of the bathrooms in the new building, the F200 hall bathrooms already has a better

reputation among students. The bathroom is generally clean and while the long waiting times and clouded mirrors may be off-putting to some, this bathroom’s saving grace is its stall locks. While a lot of bathrooms in the new building have missing locks on stall doors, this bathroom has the most locks available in the building, providing students with privacy and security.

-F300: The F300 hall bathroom offers many of the amenities that the F200 hall bathroom offers such as being clean for the most part and having trash cans in every stall. The bathroom’s main attraction is the drawn on directions to the “Ministry of Magic” above one of the toilets, alluding to the popular Harry Potter book/movie series. What bumped this bathroom down to the third spot was its insufficient amount of locks on stall doors.

-F100: If this bathroom’s pungent smell wasn’t enough to deter you, its lack of working stall doors and toilets probably will. Having one of the three toilets out of order and only a few of the doors working this bathroom is not worthy of use by more than one person at a time. Often, bathroom users will have to request the help of another person in queue for the bathroom to hold the door for them. There is rarely any toilet paper anyways, so instead go upstairs to the second floor for a bathroom that is probably more sufficiently stocked.

750 Hall This bathroom has earned the title of “Worst Bathroom” due to its ability to fit perfectly in a blood-

filled horror movie. Besides not having working sinks, paper towels, or toilet paper, this bathroom is worthy of nightmares. Immense amounts of trash litter the floor, lights flicker, and pipes gurgle overhead permanently. The toilets themselves are worth avoiding this bathroom entirely. Instead, take a field trip to the new building or the 600 hall which offers much better bathrooms.

600 HallWhile this bathroom is definitely not that bad, it is old. In comparison to other bad bathrooms it is pretty mediocre. Most stalls work and amenities such as toilet paper and paper towels are usually available. It does occasionally smell, however. The years have taken a toll on the bathroom and all it really needs is an upgrade.

THE BEST AND THE WORST: To the left is the girls 100 hall bathroom which is deemed the best amongst all bathrooms since its recent renovations this summer. The middle bathroom along with the one on the right is considered the worst girls bathroom due to its missing lock on the first stall and the constant trash found on the floor.

BATHROOM RATING GUIDE

Laura Acosta/highlights

12features highlightsDecember 2012

By Elenor BauwensSTAFF WRITER

BIKES & CARS YOU CAN RENT!: The Car2Go and Deco Bike companies are trying to improve the traffic situation in Miami by efficiently setting up stations where people can rent these cars and bikes at an affordable price.

From London to Paris, Long Island to Miami, and China to Russia, bike rental companies, like Miami’s Deco Bikes, are spreading a green way of urban transportation.

Each bike is equipped with an automatic rental terminal and bikes are located at special stations along city streets. The system varies in every country, some are cheaper than others.

The Deco Bike system in Miami Beach requires riders to pay a monthly subscription of $15 a month for an unlimited number of 30 minute rides or you can purchase a subscription of $25 a month for unlimited 60 minute rides. If the bike is checked out longer than the time frame then additional fees are applied. Visitors to Miami can also rent the bikes on the spot. Users are charged per hour and can return bikes to any Deco Bike station.

“I think that this is a great way to get people to get up and moving, I hope more and more people start using this as a way of transportation instead of cars,” said

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sophomore Jade Higgins. Green transportation is the way to go

these days so Miami recently added Car2Go to its streets. Car2Go is a cheap and easy way to transport two people around the city of Miami.

The company uses Smart Cars since they are small, agile and fit in every parking spot. Not only is it cost effective but the cars have low-emissions, making them eco-friendly.

The driver does not have to pay subscription or rental-fees; they only pay when the car is needed. It is $0.38 every minute used, $13.99 for an hour and $72.99 plus tax for one day.

Tourists love the cars thanks to their GPS system that makes getting around the city easier, and those frequent to Miami Beach are extremely thankful for the bike racks along the boardwalk that are always stocked.

These innovative modes of transportation are revolutionizing the transportation in the city of Miami.

&Deco Bikes Car2Go’s

Janu

ary

MARK THE DATE to support our athletic teams and cheer them on!

Basketballvs. Miami Springs

Wed. at 5:00 p.m.at Miami Springs

Senior High9Girls Varsity

Basketballvs. Braddock

Thurs. at 6:00 p.m.at Coral Gables

Senior High3Boys Varsity

Soccervs. Coral Park

Fri. at 3:30 p.m.at Coral Gables

Senior High11Boys Varsity

WrestlingCavalier Quad II

Wed. at 4:00 p.m.at Coral Gables

Senior High23Varsity / Junior Varsity

CAVALIERSTAT BOX

Girls SoccerLeague Record 9 - 2

NOV 16 Cavaliers@ Amelia Earhart 6 - 0 W

Americanvs

NOV 19 Cavaliers@ Ferguson 0 - 1 L

Fergusonvs

NOV 21 Cavaliers@ Doral 3 - 2 W

Doral Academyvs

NOV 26 Braddock@ CGHS 2 - 8 W

Cavaliersvs

Boys BasketballLeague Record 2 - 3

NOV 17 Cavaliers@ Gulliver 49 - 63 L

Gulliver Prepvs

NOV 20 Reagan@ CGHS 41 - 48 W

Cavaliersvs

NOV 27 Miami High@ CGHS 75 - 45 L

Cavaliersvs

NOV 29 Cavaliers@ Miami Beach 40 - 44 L

Miami Beachvs

sports highlightsDecember 2012 13

season previewsWINTER SPORTS

Back on track:After much confusion following the replacement of

coaches last season and the sudden change in practice routines, the track and field team is ready for the upcoming season.

Last year, due to a shortage of people on the team, the team’s chances of becoming district champions were sabotaged, despite the high quality of its athletes, all of whom made it to the regional championships. This year, the team has nearly tripled in size

and these runners hope to take the title of Class 3A District Champions.

“I think more of us will make it to the state championships this year. [Our coach’s] workouts just force

us to improve,” said senior captain Kevin Prado.

Senior Noelcy Amador shares these high hopes and faith in head coach Hajji Ingrahm’s methods that have, thus far, shown team improvement.

“Ingrahm is having us build up our cardio before training for our individual events,” said Amador, who added that she cannot wait to get back on the track with a vengeance.

After a successful season last year, the boys and girls varsity tennis teams have high hopes and expectations for the upcoming season.

“This season we are going to go out there and give it our all and make it to states,” said sophomore girls varsity team player Alexa Alcalay.

The boys varsity tennis team said that they want to win and finish top three at states this season. The girls varsity tennis team said that they want to “hopefully have a shot” at the district championship.

“I want to go out there, have fun and play well. We always expect to do well,” said boys and girls varsity head coach David Weiner.

These expectations are not surprising since the boys varsity tennis team finished last season as district champions and second place in the state. The girls varsity tennis team, however, did not make it past district the championship last year.

“I thought the team performed very well last year with the circumstances that we had, due to the fact that the line-up was switched in states competition,” said senior captain Sebastian Gazzolo.

Besides winning, both teams are preparing this season rigorously before the season starts. Most players from both teams are ranked and a part of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and compete at several of the USTA tournaments before, during, and after the tennis season starts.

Laying up new expectationsThe boys varsity basketball team has high expectations for

the upcoming season, even with a new coach. The new coach, Gaston Rodriguez, who is in his twenty-fourth year as a coach in the Miami-Dade Public Schools system, expects the boys varsity basketball team to be district champions.

“My biggest goal is for [the players] to build self-confidence. I believe that they will believe that they can play more than just basketball,” said head coach Rodriguez.

With a new coach, comes new strategy for the boys varsity basketball team. This season, Rodriguez is focusing on making basketball plays faster and having a mix of both offense and defense in the team game play.

By Andrea BiondiSTAFF WRITER

Accompanying the new coach, many new boys varsity players joined the team this season. There are seven new players that have moved up from last year’s undefeated boys junior varsity team.

The fear of weakness still exists due to lack of varsity game experience, but Rodriguez said that he believes that this group of players “works really hard and will strengthen by mid-season.” He also said that the team strength comes from the speed, depth, and versatility of the players.

“My expectations for the team are to progressively improve and reach our potential by districts,” said senior team captain Michael Kirkpatrick.

As far as team goals, Rodriguez said that he would like the varsity team to “play together, defend together, and score together.”

By Lukas GeorgatosHEAD SPORTS WRITER

Dec. 15 brought a treat for Gables residents – the school hosted an alumni baseball game that included

some former professional baseball players like Juan Alvarez, Eli Marrero, and even former Florida Marlin and World Series champion Mike Lowell.

“It’s pretty exciting to see him come back and actually play,” said sophomore

varsity baseball player Elih Marrero, son of former Cav Eli Marrero.

This event was put together by varsity baseball head coach Phillip

Wisser to honor Harold Cole for his 35 years of service as a former Athletic Director.

“I’m very honored,” said

Cole. “It’s great to see these guys again. Just watching them is better than any win.”

Entrance into the game cost five dollars and all proceeds will go to the school’s baseball program.

“It is great for our kids to have the opportunity to see someone who succeeded after graduating from Coral Gables,” said current athletic director Louis Romero about the former professional players.

The game had past players from the 1990-1994 graduating years’ baseball teams. The current Gables baseball team did not take part in the game, but attended to watch and learn from these former Cavaliers.

“They are definitely passionate about the Gables baseball program,” said Wisser when asked about the past players returning to play at the school.

Following the game, there was a 30-minute autograph session, where students were able to meet the three former professional baseball players.

Serving up a new seasonBy Cyrus ZeledonSTAFF WRITER

By Cyrus ZeledonSTAFF WRITER

Alumni ball game

‘ I think more of us will make it to the State Championships this year. [Our coach’s] workouts force us to improve,Kevin Prado,senior track and field captain

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School’s track and field team looks forward to upcoming season.

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sports highlightsDecember 2012 14

Focused Workouts

Rationalizing has long since been an enemy of could-be athletes. Why should I bother even considering a workout if I don’t have the appropriate equipment? It is at this point that the Kool-Aid man should bust through your walls and yell “Oh no!”

The beauty of working out is not in the equipment, but rather in the versatility of exercising. What resembles a science textbook could easily become a dumbbell. Monkey bars at your local park could be used for pull ups. Surely, these ideas have occurred to you at least once, yet their simplistic nature must not have been appealing enough. If you think such exercises are beneath you, I ask that you reconsider and that you attempt to complete the unconventional yet effective exercises listed below. I guarantee that none of these exercises will require any sort of equipment that you cannot find in your house.

Towel Shoulder PressRoll up a medium sized towel and while pulling each end of the towel

outwards as hard as you can, perform as shoulder press.

>WORKING OUTWITHOUT GEAR

The exercises described were compiled by Andrea Biondi. These exercises may not be appropriate for everyone; please consult a professional before attempting them.

By Andrea BiondiSTAFF WRITER

There isn’t a more wretched creature in the wide world of sports than a devoted Marlins fan.

Scratch that. There is, and his name is Giancarlo Stanton. He is the sole survivor of the cast of stars at the core of the Miami Marlins’ 2011-2012 lineup, which debuted

last year along with a new and largely taxpayer-funded ballpark and lofty promises from the team’s ownership about investing in expanding its infamously frugal payroll.

On Nov. 13, the Marlins announced that the last of the big name players who had come to Miami just months earlier to begin a winning tradition in the new Marlins Park would be packing their bags and heading to Toronto to play for the Blue Jays.

Stanton’s tweet that night captured the mood of thousands of scorned Marlins fans: “Alright, I’m pissed off!!! Plain & Simple.”

Although the blockbuster deal may not turn out to be such a terrible thing from a strictly strategic perspective (the new, expensive lineup ended their season in last place, and the Blue Jays will be sending some of their best prospects to Florida), it is a public relations nightmare – just another Marlins fire sale.

The trade does nothing to alleviate the team’s biggest problem. Marlins fans have a bad habit of not showing up to games, maybe because the two times the team has won the World Series and had a chance at lasting success, its owners have decided to trade away players en masse rather than pay out the rest of their contracts.

It ain't easy being a Miami Marlins fan

Commentary by Nicolas RiveroOPINION EDITOR

”“Jeffrey Loria cheated everyone, both the players and the fans; it’s time Major League Baseball (MLB) did something about him. -Sergio Morales, junior

The twelfth annual Special Olympics was held at the school’s gymnasium on Dec. 3. Schools from all over the county compete at Gables and the student athletes display their athletic ability as they get ready for the state championships in Cocoa Beach.

Each year 300 to 500 Special Olympic athletes show their basketball abilities.

“One of the greatest things about the event is to see our Coral Gables High students working so well with the athletes and the way [the students] interact with them and help gain awareness for student with disabilities,” said Laly Albalate, head coordinator for the Special Olympics.

The event was created by Albalate and has been held at Gables since its founding.

Special Olympicsheld at school

By Cyrus ZeledonSTAFF WRITER

SHOOTING AWAY: Junior Brent Webber hands over the basketball to Special Olympic athlete Christian Williams.

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On Dec. 14, Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) player and community servant Ruth Riley came to Gables to speak with the numerous members of Gables’s female student athlete population. Some in attendance said they could easily identify the guest speaker even before she was introduced, the giveaway being Riley “towering” over every person sitting in the Gables gym.

Many assumed, due to her obvious tall stature and tendency to play with “the boys”, that Riley should be a good basketball player. However, this Macy, Indiana native admitted to being terrible at basketball when she first developed an interest in the sport. Riley often felt shy because of the compounding of expectations she felt incapable of accomplishing, as well ridicule aimed at her lanky height. Fortunately, her skills and coordination developed as she grew older and spent countless hours practicing both on the court and outside her house.

“I got a lot of good advice for something I’ll hopefully be doing in the future and maybe even following in her footsteps,” said freshman girls varsity basketball player Jessica Landsberg.

Riley’s self-driven personality and compassion for the game of basketball soon got her the starting position on her high school team. She attended North Miami High school, where she earned exemplary grades. According to Riley,

this opened doors for a bright future. Riley was accepted to the University of

Notre Dame and played on the girl’s collegiate team. At the beginning of the season, Riley was benched the majority of the time and was the last person to come into the game. In college, basketball inhibited her social life, but Riley does not regret this choice. Her senior year, the team won a national championship which she attributes to hard work.

The “fairy tale” ending to her amateur basketball career marked the beginning of future successes. This country girl was chosen fifth in the 2001 WNBA draft and was sent off to play in South Beach, Florida. Riley has just ended her twelfth year with the WNBA and attended the 2004 Olympics where she won a gold medal on her twenty-fifth birthday. Recently, she was inducted into the Athletic All-American Hall of Fame.

Riley is defined by more than just her accomplishments in basketball; she insists on giving back both community-wise and globally in her daily life. For example, Riley is a United Nations (UN) spokesperson, spending much of her time in South Africa.

“Working with the UN has been great. I’ve seen a lot of different

things that happen around the world,” said Riley.

She is also involved in a community outreach program

that instills healthy habits amongst impoverished children. Ruth Riley, a female with a single mother upbringing in a rural location without many extravagancies, wishes to inspire other females to pursue their dreams.

Jeffrey Loria, the Marlins owner who presided over one of those sell-offs, promised fans, city officials, and incoming players alike that it wouldn’t happen again.

After the city provided 80 percent of the $634 million required to build the new stadium, and after Loria looked several free agents in the eye and gave them his word that they would not be traded, the team abandoned its short-lived experiment in the terrible aftermath of one disappointing season. This, of course, begs the question: if we can’t trust you after giving you $506 million, when can we trust you?

There’s an old saying I once heard – and I may not be remembering it correctly – but I believe it goes something like this: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times…what is wrong with you and why do you own a sports franchise?”

Ultimately, what the Marlins gave up on last month was trying to be something they are not. They will never be able to compete with big-market teams like the Red Sox and the Yankees in acquiring big-name free agents and buying a winning team. They will always rely on a savvy front office to put the pieces together to have a shot at a miracle season on a shoestring budget. That is the nature of professional baseball in South Florida.

There is no shame in investing in lesser-known prospects or taking risks on big trades to build for the future. There is, however, a lasting disgrace in team ownership which continually lies to its fans and its players and gives every indication of being a business first and a baseball team second.

So, Jeffrey Loria, you’ve managed to sell everything but season tickets. Do us all a favor and sell the team to someone who cares.

Nico Speaks:

SPEAK UP!Miami Marlins management

under fire >>

By Rachel EllisSTAFF WRITER

Girl power:Professional basketball player Ruth Riley visits school

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highlightsDecember 2012 15the scene

Miami goes strawberry pickin’By Rachel EnglishSTAFF WRITER

Despite the warm weather, December marks the beginning of the holiday season for Floridians, as it does for everyone else. Up until May of 2013, people can go pick their own farm fresh strawberries and at their local U-picks (fields where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables) along with many other fruits and vegetables.

“Strawberry picking was always my favorite thing to do. The best thing about picking them yourself is that they’re always juicy and ripe,” said sophomore Gabriela Diaz.

highlights has located and reviewed U-picks all across Miami- Dade County that will be sure to satisfy your berry cravings.

Strawberry Fields of Kendall

Strawberry Fields of Kendall has entire acres available for the strawberry enthusiast to select their own red berries, vegetables and flowers. In addition to Strawberries, the U-pick grows tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, flora and many more freshly grown, healthy eats. If you don’t feel like picking you can also purchase pre-picked produce in the stands near the front of the property. All of the pre-picked produce is picked the same morning to guarantee quality freshness.

Knaus Berry FarmOpened over 50 years ago by the Knaus brothers,

Knaus Barry Farm is a family run U-pick in Homestead. They offer the delectable ripe strawberries and tomatoes for you to pick at your discretion. In addition to the vegetable and fruit fields, Knaus Berry Farm has an on-site café where they feature various baked goods such as bread, pies, and milkshakes made from their farm fresh strawberries and other ingredients. Their sticky buns have been purported to be the best in the county. Knaus Berry Farm is also open until early May of next year.

Burr’s Berry FarmCharlie Burr was born on Burr

Road into a family of farmers in 1922. As a child, Burr had the idea to make treats out of the fruits his family sold in their fields such as strawberry milkshakes and other baked goods such as key lime pie and various jams. They were such a hit – the lines grew larger and larger to get into the stands and thus a legend was born. The Strawberry King, Charlie

Burr’s stand, has remained well-known through the years. Burr’s Berry Farm is known to have the creamiest and thickest strawberry shakes in South Florida. Unlike most shakes, the flavor comes from fresh fruit instead of syrup and other unnatural additives. Currently only strawberries are available to pick yourself, but there are various fruits and vegetables for sale in stands in the property. Burr’s Berry Farm is open until May of next year.

‘ Strawberry picking was always my favorite thing to do. The best thing about picking them yourself is that they’re always juicy and ripe.”

Gabriela Diaz, sophomore

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Knaus Berry Farm 15980 SW 248 Street

Burr’s Berry Farm12741 Southwest 216th Street

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the scene highlightsDecember 2012 16

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By Raquel BraunSTAFF WRITER

Miami made:

By Maggie Rivers

THE SCENE EDITOR

With the ever-growing art scene gaining more popularity and more recognition, Miami has been distinguished as a city of the arts. Thanks to the Miami Art in Public Places program, art is finding its way out of its designated district, Wynwood, and into the lives of locals. Featured in the places locals visit often in their daily lives, such as Metrorail stations, libraries, parks, and schools, the program helps make everyday places more interesting and attractive.

“These works really help make Miami a better place by improving it and helping motivate locals to go wherever they need to go,” said sophomore Oliver Robles.

The program has been well received not only because it brightens up dull and generally unpleasant spaces like Metrorail stations, but also because the program commissions small and local artists to complete some of these projects. The program has brought work and recognition to artists such as Ivan Toth Depeña and Maria Martinez-Canas both of whom have called Miami home, as well as over a hundred others by placing their work in the most visible and public places.

If nothing else, the works are thought provoking and inspiring. The works each convey their own message about Miami, its rich culture, or an issue that affects our city, such as preserving local natural environment like the Everglades.

One of the works under the program is Toth Depeña’s “Reflect,” which is an interactive installation at the Steven P. Clark Government Center Metrorail Station. The installation includes light panels that change as people walk. The name itself has multiple meanings, where the

work both reflects the busy commuters and encourages them to reflect on

their hectic lives. In fact, almost every Metrorail station has a piece of art to call its own, like Douglas Station’s bending arches and Coconut Grove Station’s iridescent solar panel.

With a current collection of over 600 works, the county’s public art collection is expected

to grow and enhance Miami, along with its art scene, for years to come.

To pass the time and appreciate the winter that Miami is able to host, many families spend their winter nights driving through the neighborhoods and parks that pride themselves on their festive holiday decorations. Despite Miami’s tropical winter season, many still aim to please spectators with impressive home decorations. Without snowball fights and snow angels, Miamians choose to decorate their houses with lights and yard displays of Santa Claus and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Holiday Fantasy of Lights (HFOL) consists of three miles of impressive Christmas displays and trees covered in lights. Located in Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Christmas enthusiasts are able to see firsthand the “most popular and amazing light display in South Florida.” Cars line up every night to experience Christmas Miami-style. This

drive through winter wonderland is open from Nov. 16 until Jan. 5 and tickets are thirteen dollars per car and thirty five dollars for buses. HFOL is open

nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. Cars are only ten dollars each on Mondays and Tuesdays. This year, HFOL expects up to 150,000

visitors of all ages. In addition, HFOL donates a percentage of all proceeds to the Alzheimers

Family Center.The Enchanted Place, a

community park located on NE 16th

Avenue

and 137th Terrace, consists of a neighborhood and park completely lit and decorated with twinkling Christmas displays. Although it is impossible to host a white Christmas in southern Florida, otherwise green lawns are covered in fake snow and the residents dress up as Mister and Miss Santa Claus, handing out peppermint candy canes to the expectant children in the cars. At the end of the street, neighbors wave goodbye to the departing cars and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The neighborhood and park volunteers and workers invite families to come again next year and to spread the work to their friends in order to appreciate the hard work they put into making their “Enchanted Forest” beautiful. During the last leg of the drive through, guests are encouraged to give a donation of any amount. All proceeds go to foundations hoping to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.

Not only do these attractions provide a way to enjoy the season, they also provide a way to give back to the community and get in to the holiday spirit.

Seasonal shows spotlight giving

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EREllie Goulding January 16th, 8:30 p.m.Ticket price: $28.00

The xxFebruary 5th, 8:30 p.m.Ticket price: $29.50

Located on

Washington Avenue, the

Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason

Theater has always provided high quality entertainment from a

variety of artists, offering Miami an affordable way to enjoy a broad

variety of music.While the Fillmore has gained recent

fame, it has always been an iconic Miami venue. In the 1950s, the theater gained worldwide attention,

with massive stars such as Frank Sinatra merely sitting in the audience to watch. The 1960s also proved to be a great age for the Fillmore, with many television shows

being filmed

on its stage, such

as the Jackie Gleason Show from

which the building gained its name. The

theater also hosted a multitude of Broadway shows and theatrical

performances until, in 2007, the Fillmore was purchased by Live Nation

and transformed into a venue dedicated to entertainment through musical performances,

even a filming of the X Factor’s boot camp episode.“I love [the Fillmore]. It’s my favorite venue by far,”

said senior Jennifer Torna, who has been to multiple concerts at the Fillmore including Rusko, Odd Future and Flux Pavilion.

The Fillmore hosts an extremely wide variety of artists, such as rappers 2 Chainz and A$AP Rocky, hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, and singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. Upcoming concerts include The xx and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, appealing to a wide variety of Miami music fans.

“[I think] it’s the variety of different performances that has attracted all of its audience and fans. You really don’t see that elsewhere,” said senior Luisa Umaña, who agrees that the Fillmore is one of Miami’s more unique venues.

While the Fillmore has always been an iconic part of Miami Beach, it has recently gained massive popularity. With such a wide variety of concerts and performances held at the Fillmore for around $30, it becomes a great entertainment opportunity for all kinds of music fans around Miami.

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‘ These works really help make Miami a better place but improving it and helping motivate locals to go wherever they need to go.

Oliver Robles, sophomore

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Grant for public art

brightens urban spots