REDRED && BLACKBLACKHillsborough High School • 5000 N. Central Ave. • Tampa, Fla. 33603 • Volume 112, No. 6 • April 2012

THE

THE Florida’s fi rst high school newspaper

high schoolMarijuana and its connection to the student body

-Special Reportpages 7-9 (staff photo)

News April 20122

Skipping Class

Tardiness

Truancy (all day)

Alcohol/Drugs

Bus Violation

Criminal Activity

Fighting

Other

Personal Conduct

Sexual Offense

Minor Violation

MALE

FEMALETrouble by the numbers

Ever wonder just how many behavioral and disciplinary incidents there are in a school

year? Last year, it totaled to 3,512.The Red & Black researched every ac-

count of fi ghting, tardiness, truancy (skipping school) and other referral-causing events from the fi rst three grading periods of this year and compiled it into one representation of the sheer magnitude of how unruly the students really were last year.

To follow the graph, a color responds to a different type of incident that required disciplinary action. The section of the graph that is devoted to the color represents the percentage of total incidents of that type.

-Fabio DeSousa

NewsApril 2012 3

By Nico Tavella & Jenn Travis Opinion Editor & Staff Writer

Back in 2008, a federal grant was given to the Hillsborough County public school district to encourage students to become teachers by promising to cover the full costs of college: tuition, books and fees, if in return they agree to teach for three years in an inner-city school.

They would get these scholarships by having the district and school staffs work with students to secure any scholarship they are eligible for.

Now however, the fi rst group of 31 students graduates from the Middleton, Hillsborough and King magnet programs who are entitled to this promise (13 from HHS alone) have come to discover that only $17,000 has been raised.

Students are now stressed about the future of the program. “This [program] is the only reason why I came here” says senior Cynthia Curbelo, who was zoned for Sickles High originally. “It really benefi ted me with experience.”

Senior Jessica Palfi also raves about how the program “helped a lot with experience in the fi eld” getting her “a step ahead for college” by being able to practice by going to Memo-rial and tutoring students. She is also now worried about what the future will entail.

Principal William Orr thinks called the creation of this program is a great idea, stating that “we certainly have a need for teachers in inner city schools” but is disappointed in the program’s inability to raise funds, saying that due to the un-

predictable economy, “this is not a good time to raise money.” The program’s reliance on the education foundation also helped prevent its ability to raise funds.

Spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said the district still indends to fulfi ll the promise of raising this scholarship money for the UTA students.

Fundraisers such as the Celebrity Spelling Bee have at-tempted to raise funds, but did not raise a signifi cant amount.

Cobbe says that she doesn’t base the success of the pro-gram off of how much money it has raised.

“I look at how many students may become teachers in this district” Cobbe said, “and that they have had meaningful experiences to enhance their education. [The students] have received excellent training to prepare them for success in col-lege and in the classroom.”

UTA’s funding a concern for seniors

Cynthia Curbelo and Jessica Palfi are required to teach mock classes in the Urban Teaching Academy. (Photo by Nico Tavella)

English department diminishes teacher count By Jake Gagne & Kristine Lee

News Editor & Life Editor

The school has seen English teacher after English teacher leave this year, each one of the fi ve that left embarked on a different journey. Their departures have simultaneously created a new endeavor for their students and their replacements.

The most common complaint from the teachers is the time void necessary to com-plete the lesson plans and become comfort-able with their students.

“It’s very challenging,” said Jesse Lockley, who took over for Jon Jordan at the beginning of March. “Teachers have less time to get to know the students… [and] we have just as much to do, but less time to do it.”

Samantha Caldwell, who re-placed Cindy Spence in Novem-ber, said “It was very hard at the beginning; we didn’t have time to plan.”

Lou Rowland, the department head for English, has been distraught over the teach-

ers leaving. “It’s put a lot more stress on me, especially

when they leave in the middle of exams,” Rowland said.

Students have been ad-versely affected as well. “It’s always tough, but it’s toughest on the kids,” Assistant Princi-pal for Curriculum Stephanie

Davis said. “It’s always hard to say goodbye to one of your favorite teachers.”

Despite the initial obstacles, the teachers

have been supportive and mostly adapted and caught up.

Rowland said that he helps the teachers all the time with teaching strategies and materials. “All teachers have been great and supportive, and Ms. Davis has been very helpful,” said Mechelle Marchant.

All the new teachers said that the changes would not affect the students’ test scores. “We’ve had enough time to catch up, I don’t think their test scores will change,” Marchant said.

“Teachers have less time to get to know the students ... we have just as much to do and less time to do it.” -Jesse Lockley

Opinion April 20124

Volume 111 No. 6Editor in Chief

Samantha Matras

News EditorsJacob Gagne

Chrissy GeshelElizabeth Gwilt

Life EditorsNick Bennett

Roksana BorzoueiBrittany Valencic

Kristine Lee

Calendar EditorAlex Rosendo

Sports EditorsKatie LuttonLuke Votzke Kellen Yent

Opinion EditorsNico TavellaNikki Ferrera

Photo EditorJimmy Herd-Bond

Staff WritersFabio DeSousaNadiya FakharAmanda Glenz

Holly SchroederJenn Travis

Zachary WrightKimberly Rampersad

Adam Godbey

AdviserJoe Humphrey, MJE

PrincipalDr. William T. Orr Jr.

www.hhsredblack.com

The Red & Black belongs to the Florida Scholastic and National Scholastic (All-American, 2011) press associations. The newspaper considers itself an open forum for student expression and decisions about content are made by student editors. However, the paper is subject to prior review by the school’s administrative staff. The staff editorial refl ects the view of student editors and columns represent the viewpoints of their authors. The R&B welcomes letters from students, teachers and members of the Hillsborough community. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity, and should be submitted to Room 506 or to The Red & Black, 5000 N. Central Ave., Tampa FL 33603. Advertising content is subject to approval of the editorial board. The Red & Black is printed in partnership with The Tampa Tribune. This newspaper includes content from the MCT Campus wire service. Phone: (813) 276-5620 • Fax: (813) 276-5629 e-mail: joseph.humphrey@sdhc.k12.fl .us

These past few weeks, people have been buzzing about the re-showing of James Cameron’s Titanic in theaters. Before that, there was an earful of rave about George Lucas’s Star Wars: Episode I and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast being brought back in 3D. I see this rereleasing of countless mov-ies as more a ploy for companies to make more money than as a blessing.

I’m finding that as movie companies focus more on profi t, the amount of movies based on original ideas is shrinking.

The based-on-a-book and based-on-a-true-story movies have been around for decades, but now movies are being based on past movies; Snow White and the Hunts-man and Mirror Mirror, coming later this year, are planned to be little more than the 1937 Disney classic, and The Amazing Spiderman is nothing but a recap of what American moviegoers learned over the past decade.

This merry-go-round style of movie making might make monetary sense to the big cats in Hollywood, but not to everyday people like me. Unfortunately, all we can do is hope that the cycle of movie ideas comes to an end.

Americans need movies, not repeats

Nico TavellaComentary

Slacktivism, a combination of the words slacker and activism, means exactly what it sounds like: low-effort advocacy of those who want to seem passionate for a cause without spending enough time to make a change.

Imagine the perfect slacktiv-ist. He is the person who blames you for the famine in Africa because you threw away your lunch and he criticizes you for taking a shower lasting more than five minutes. Yet, he is frequently updating statuses for causes on one of many products manufactured by Apple, which has been accused of harsh labor conditions in its Chinese factories.

Hypocrisy is his middle name. He will ask you to buy a KONY2012 action kit for $30, when Invisible Children, the organization responsible for KONY2012, spends 80.5 percent of their money on vaguely defi ned program expenses.

Furthermore, money donated through text messages cannot au-tomatically do anything u n l e s s there are volunteers t h e r e t o t ransform the money into help. The Huffi ngton Post reported in 2010 that the American Red Cross raised $20 million for the earthquake in Haiti through text donations. That money would not have helped Haitians if Red Cross volunteers had not traveled to Haiti to provide aid.

True activism involves one person helping another, face to face, with substantial commit-ment. Project HOPE is one organization that sends volunteers to distraught regions of the world with provisions, medical supplies and medical professionals. Also reported by the Huffi ngton Post, in comparison to the Red

Cross, Project HOPE volunteers delivered more than $60 million in medical supplies.

So we can make signs that say “I am Trayvon” and “We want Justice,” but we can only raise awareness so lawyers, congres-sional representatives and policymakers can

make the c h a n g e we ask of them. The benefit of slacktivism is raising awareness on a mass

scale, not seeking a solution.The trick is to not get caught in the web

of social networking slacktivism. The internet gives us the gift to communicate on a global scale, but the step after slacktivism, real help to others, is proven to have a tangible effect on our society.

Become involved with a cause beyond a like or a tweet. Fight back against KONY hipsters who claim to have known all about the war in Uganda, because knowing about it is not enough. We need to become involved.

Stop the spread of ‘slacktivism’

Photo Credit: www.titanicmovie.com

Our View

Cartoon by Luke Votzke

“Slacktivism ... the low-effort advocacy of those who want to seem passionate for a cause without spending enough

time to make a change.”

OpinionApril 2012 5

For $75, the price of prom is heavily concentrated in the price of the hotel venue, the service charge, the gifts and the variety of food. I’m not buying it. Literally, there’s no way I’m buying a ticket for my senior prom. Whenever I say that, people give me a response by the lines of “but it’s a once in a lifetime chance!” Yeah, well so is getting kidnapped. Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of prom. I want to wrap up my senior year with a night with my friends, dancing and taking pictures. It sounds awesome. But it’s making my pockets bleed tears. On top of my estimated $500+ dress, I have to pay over $70 to attend too? No, thanks; I’m working on making the Class of 2013’s prom cheaper.

A national survey by Visa Inc. fi nds that families across the nation are willing to spend an average of $1,078 for their kids to have the envisioned prom night-of-your-life experience. That could buy me something slightly more important; let’s say the car insurance that I had to get an extra job to afford?

Personally, having at it somewhere like the Marshall Student Center at USF, with a few minor cuts on food, and maybe the oh-so special “gifts”, is by all means still a fairy tale to me. If doing that could the cut the price to by almost $30 or $40, then by all means, may the sweat be brought on by the dancing fanatics.

Below are the changes that I would make to lower the price of prom.

Nadiya FakharCommentary

One issue that I think should be ad-dressed is the absence of a turning signal on Central and Hillsborough. Every morning during my daily commute to school I spend approximately 10-15 minutes waiting to turn on to Central Avenue to get to school. It’s ridiculous that there is not a turn signal when there is a high school in the area. I was al-most even hit on the passenger side, which is where I sit, when my mom crossed over to turn onto Central from Hillsborough and a car sped up to make the light. It’s dangerous to not have a light at that intersection.

-Faith Hendrix, sophomore

Comment Corner

Relay for Life can really change people’s lives, because so many people have cancer. I think that everyone should know what a big deal Relay is. People who join Relay just to get service hours or play with their friends and stuff like that don’t realize how hard it is for the people who have to live with this disease. So, I think Relay for Life is a real life changer for many people.

-Jedi Hernandez, senior

New prom? New priceStudents offer th

eir views on various issues of the day

If you would like to submit an opinion to be considered for next month’s Com-ment Corner, bring your submission to Room 506 or go to hhsredblack.com.

(Photos by Brittany Valencic and Nikki Ferrera)

$30,000 Price of this year’s prom - $450 fewer fi nger sandwiches

- $100 less shrimp

- $1125 no empanadas

- $235 fewer chicken fi ngers

- $650 fewer fruit platters

- $3150 no senior gifts

- $4520 new venue: Marshall Student Center at USF

- $6240 the venue eliminates extra costs for security, service charges and taxes

$13,530 / 400 people = $34

News April 20126By Nikki Ferrera • Opinion Editor

Students longing for a chance to shine on stage and share their talent with their peers will get the oppor-tunity come May. After an initial date change, the SGA-sponsored talent show is scheduled for Friday, May 11 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. The show has 17 acts ranging from musical groups to special handshakes. Feature guest performances are from the Slins and the HHS Drum Line. Ticket funds will go towards prom for the junior class, as well as other senior activities. Tickets are available for $5 in advance and $6 at the door.

TALENT SHOW P R E V I E WBrassholes bring the beats

The Brassholes are every bit as interesting as their name.

The nine-person music group features seniors Delmonte Bent, Justin Corrao and Michael Rodriguez, juniors Ben Bucholtz, Joe Goldthorp, Evan Metziere and Pablito Torres and sophomores Shawn Joseph and Robert King.

All members of the Big Red Band, The Brassholes came together at last year’s CARE Concert. “They asked us, ‘Do you guys want to play something?’ and told us to put something together,” Bucholtz said.

“We decided that we would be idiots for it and be like, ‘Oh Brassholes! That’s funny right?’ and then it ended up sticking,” Corrao said.

Although all of its members are in band, The Brass-holes are an entirely separate group. In addition to their regular band practices, they come together about twice

a month to hold their own practice sessions. Their ses-sions are long, sometimes even fi ve hours, so that the group “can get the job done,” Corrao said.

However, the fi ve-hour practices are not all work. “We have a lot of jokes. We like having fun,” Joseph said. After they go through the music, The Brassholes usually play Xbox. “We do things like go over certain measures that we’re having trouble on, and then we play Call of Duty,” Corrao said.

Having played at USF and this year’s CARE Con-cert, Corrao makes sure that the group doesn’t “play at places to get recognition or to win anything. We just play because we like to jam.” Although they may not want recognition, it wouldn’t be entirely true to say The Brassholes are purely on a quest for music.

“We like the ladies,” Joseph said. With inside jokes involving electronic fl y swatters,

and a seemingly ubiquitous love for snacks, The Brass-holes are clearly a close group. “I like spending time together,” Bent said, “They’re a cool group of guys.”

The Brassholes hold an impromptu jam session in the barn. (Photo by Brittany Valencic)

Vinny Ruia plays guitar accompaniment as Valeria Rigobon sings as practice for the talent show. (Photo by Jimmy Herd-Bond)

Freshmen make the cutFreshmen Valeria Rigobon and

Vinny Ruia know that the best way to show people your talent is to put yourself out there.

Rigobon approached Ruia about performing with her. “Not a lot of people know that I sing and not a lot of people know that Vinny plays guitar, and we’re pretty good friends so I asked him if he wanted to play guitar with me.”

Both Ruia and Rigobon have a history playing music. Ruia has been playing the guitar since fi fth grade, when his little brother wanted to take lessons and Ruia’s mom forced him to go along. Now Ruia plays guitar, preferring rock or jazz styles.

Ruia can also play violin, drums,

bass and ukulele. “I can play a lot of string instruments,” he said. Rigobon has taken up piano les-sons, plays the clarinet and, like Ruia, plays the guitar and ukulele.

Rigobon began singing at age 4, and at 8, she became a member of her church’s choir. “I just like singing.”

Ruia and Rigobon will be per-forming “We Are Young” by Fun at the talent show. The song choice did not come easily to the duo. They spent two hours at Rigobon’s house going through songs until they decided on it. “It’s a song that a lot of people know but it’s still kind of classy,” Rigobon said.

Both are excited for the upcom-ing show and for people to see them perform. Ruia, “I like perform-ing. I like playing guitar, and here I’m doing both.”

Special Report: High SchoolApril 2012 7

By Samantha MatrasEditor in Chief

It’s everywhere. It’s in the bathrooms, the hallways, the parking lots and the cars in the parking lots. The infamous smell of marijuana has stained the school and like the stench of smoke left on a jacket, it can’t be washed out.

In a recent Red & Black poll distributed randomly to more than 200 students, almost 70 percent of the students admit to seeing other students use marijuana on campus before.

“I live with my decisions. I know that if I get caught, I will be punished,” said one junior, who understands the consequences of using marijuana very well, yet is still a regular user.

Although 16 states and the District of Columbia have taken a progressive approach to marijuana legalizing medical marijuana, Florida is concrete in its law declaring the possession of any kind of marijuana illegal.

But, people do not always obey the law.

Tampa Police Offi cer Frank Noel, assigned to HHS, said he has disciplined one repeat offender 20 times in a year.

Despite the fact that marijuana is illegal, some students decide that the benefits outweigh the consequences. But why is the percentage so high if marijuana is illegal?

Noel blames it on a change in society mixed with a glitch in the system.

“It’s a societal ill. [The use of marijuana] is

not as frowned upon as it once was. Societal norms are changing,” he said.

Yet the fact remains that the use of marijuana is illegal and students are somehow eluding major consequences. Noel explained, “The system itself is broken.”

Students caught with possession of mari-juana automatically receive 10 days of sus-pension, according to the student handbook.

See MARIJUANA, page 8

Welcome to high school

More than 4 times (43.9%)

1-3 times (15.9%)

Once (9.8%)

Never seen 30.4%

Student sightings of marijuana smoking on campus

Illustration by Jake Gagne and Samantha MatrasSurvey of 214 students; compiled by Nikki Ferrera

Special Report: High School 98

MARIJUANA, from page 7

On top of that, if a student is suspected to possess more than just a personal use amount of marijuana, indicating the student may be selling it, a student could go to court, be placed in the Juvenile Assessment Center or be placed on probation.

But that still doesn’t stop some from repeating the crime.

“Kids that have actually been [in JAC] see it’s a joke,” Noel said.

Noel explained that the problem is a bit out of the school’s control.

“It’s not confi ned to this school, he said, adding that some view it as an acceptable form of entertainment.

Because Noel is a police offi cer from the Tampa Police Department, not the school, his ability to search students is limited.

Noel can only search a student under probable cause. This means that there has to be evidence that a student has marijuana.

For example, if Noel walks into a bath-

room and there is marijuana smoke, he has the right to search the student, but if a student simply reports that another student has marijuana, Noel is unable to take action.

School security offi cer E. Johnsen and other administrators can search students under probable suspicion, thus they can search someone based off of a report by another student.

But since Offi cer Noel, who deals with drug arrest on campus, cannot search un-der probable suspicion, he rarely catches students in the act.

It’s actually reports from students, or other faculty members that lead to the majority of searches.

Nonetheless, a fair amount of marijuana abuse is reported. Noel said that he has to address marijuana issues about three to four times a month.

Another reason why there seems to be a high use of marijuana amoung high schoolers can be found in the severity of the

consequences.The majority of high schoolers are minors,

students under 18 years of age. This means consequences are not as high for students as they are for adults.

Principal William Orr said, “Because the penalties are less, they don’t think it’s that big of a deal. But it’s different when they are 21 years old, especially when they’re employed.”

Assistant Principal Darryl Givens suggest that students’ disregard for the law can be blamed on their perspective of marijuana. “A lot of people look at ‘illegal’ in degrees. People may not think driking alcohol and smoking cigarettes underaged is that bad. But it’s like speeding, when they pull you over it’s a little too late.”

Despite the effort put in to prevent stu-dents from using marijuana, smoking on campus still persists.

One senior said that the element of breaking the law is one reason why she uses marijuana.

“It wouldn’t be as fun if we couldn’t sneak it,” she said.

According to her, smoking on campus can be tricky feat. “If you’re just standing outside the hall, nine times out of 10, you’re going to get caught.”

But there are some things that make it usuing marijuana very doable. “If you got a car, it’s easy,” she said.

For one junior, the consequences are impactful. “There are many fears. I have to stay one step ahead,” he said. “I try to think about where they [administation] wouldn’t check and that’s where I go.”

“I’m not going to give you all my spots,” he said, when asked for his secret smoke spots.

Even students who smoke know the negative effects of marijuana.

“You’ve got your good and you’ve got your bad. I mean right now my lips are dry and my eyes are lazy,” the junior said. “I mean, I’ll be honest -- it kind of did [have a negative effect on me]. The people I was with and the stuff

we did got tied up with school. I would miss school. That was the main thing...I want to learn -- that’s the point in coming to school.”

It’s not only the administrators who are concerned about the students’ future. Some students do actually recognize that they need to be more careful once they turn 18.

“This year might be the last year I smoke,” the junior said. “I’ve got to get my lungs back and I’ve got to get my grades up.”

When people discuss the legalization of marijuana, a confl ict that often arises is the negative effects it has on a person compared to the negative effects of other drugs or even cigarettes.

One student explained that the reason why he doesn’t think marijuana is harmful is because it is not addictive like other drugs. “Weed is not a drug that will take over you, it just affects you,” the junior said.

Sports Editor Luke Votzke contrib-uted to this report.

Medicinal Marijuana legalized

Medicinal Marijuana legalization pending

Marijuana not legalized

N e v e r used

63.1%

Used once13.6%

Regular user

12.6%Used more than once

10.7%

Illustration by Jake Gagne

Percentage of students who report using marijuana

Strongly Agree

27.1%

Agree

26.6%

No Opinion

28.5%

Disagree

8.9%

Strongly Disagree

8.9%

Strongly Agree

16.4%

Agree

20.1%

No Opinion

30.8% 15.4% 17.3%

Disagree Strongly Disagree

Illustration by Jake Gagne and Brittany Valencic; survey of 214 students compiled by Nikki Ferrera

Medicinal marijuana should be legalized

Recreationalmarijuana should be legalized

2012

Illustration by Zack Wright

6.3%

5.7%

20.3%

14.5%

Percentage of students who report using marijuana regularly

Freshmen

Sophomores

Juniors

Seniors

Illustration by Jake Gagne and Samantha Matras

The Red & Black April 201210

LifeApril 2012 11

When I meet someone new for the fi rst time I

remember their:

a) faceb) name

I prefer teachers who use:

a) charts and diagramsb) lectures and discussions c) fi eld trips and labs

START

I would rather be:

a) talking on the phoneb) texting When it comes to sports, I

would rather be:

a) in the standsb) on the fi eld

When studying, I remember material best when:

a) I see a pictureb) I make a rhyme or jingle

When I am not sure how to spell a word I:

a) sound it out in my headb) write it out

I remember directions best when:

a) I’m given verbal directionsb) I’ve been taken through the route

When putting something together I:

a) read the directions fi rstb) fi gure it out on my own

I would rather be:

a) watching TV b) listening to an iPod

SLUT

You are an auditory learner! This means you learn best

by listening. Class discussions and lec-tures are the most effi cient ways for you to

pick up information. As an auditory learner, when it comes to studying for an AP exam, you will benefi t most from going to after school review sessions with your teacher as they review their lectures. You may also fi nd it helpful to listen to podcasts or a recorded textbook on the material. Group study sessions

are also helpful for auditory learners. “Study sessions are key to passing the AP exam,”

senior Jennifer Casanas said.

Visual, auditory and kinesthetic are the three main types of learning styles. We utilize one of our senses more than the others. Take our quiz to fi nd out what kind of learner you are and then use this info to effectively study for your upcoming exams. -Holly Schroeder & Brittany Valencic

You are a visual learner! You learn best when

you can see the information. When studying for your upcoming AP exam,

make fl ashcards and PowerPoints to allow you to see the information. Furthermore, color-

coding your study tools helps you to pay attention to the fi nished product. Also, try looking at pictures and videos relating to your topic of study. To pass her AP exam, senior Jeanette Cruz read an AP review book and “even watched chemistry spe-

cials on The Discovery Channel,” she said.

You are a kinesthetic learner! The best way for you to

obtain new information is to participate in hands-on activities, move around and

stay active. When it comes to studying for your AP exam, it will be most helpful to create fl ow-

charts and graphs that help display the information you must learn. Write out notes and lectures. “Take as many practice exams as possible,” AP Human Geography teacher Jason Rogowski said. Also, try walking while reciting your notes and study

guides aloud. As silly as it sounds, any kind of movement will help you to focus on

the activity at hand.

LEARNING TO LEARN

Life April 201212

Survivor Story: Wilson wins the fi ghtBy Nico TavellaOpinion Editor

The phrase “you have cancer” is certainly scary, but Linda Wilson is proud to say it didn’t scare her.

“I just kept telling myself that I gotta get through this,” says Wilson, who was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma in October of 2005.

Wilson claims most of the reason why she wasn’t scared was because “so many people came to help.

Students, teachers and parents all came to help so much that I really wasn’t given much of a reason to be scared.”

After being diagnosed, Wilson went to chemotherapy sessions every three weeks. “That was a big production,” explains Wilson, “because I had to get blood work done be-forehand to make sure I was healthy enough for the therapy…then I had to go through the actual therapy…then I had to get shots; I was very tired.”

Wilson also lost all her hair, but claims “that wasn’t too diffi cult because a lot of students and parents brought [her] wigs.” Despite all this, Wilson still came to work as often as she possibly could; “I was praying that I’d make it though this to continue teaching, so why would

I take a break if I didn’t have to?”Wilson was informed last year that she had

beaten her cancer, and as a result is now one more member of the iconic Survivors’ Walk at the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life event. “Relay for Life is great,” Wilson says, “It raises money to support the very research and technology that made my experience with cancer tolerable. When I go to Relay for Life, I walk for myself as well as the other people have gone through cancer and made it, because it’s a diffi cult thing to do.”

Q: When did you fi nd out you had cancer and what kind was it?

A: October 2005 and Non-hodgkin’s lymphoma

Q: What was it like fi nding out you had cancer?

A: I don’t think I was scared, but I wasn’t happy either. I just kept thinking ‘ok I gotta do this’ so I guess my reaction was acceptance. Plus people told me it was a treatable kind of cancer so I really wasn’t too worried. A lot of people helped me through it though; teachers, students and parents were always bringing me things and helping me out in the classroom. The same substitute actually came to my class every time I was doing chemotherapy so that

the classes would stay on track, and that was really nice.

Q: Did it affect your job as a teacher?

A: Well I was tired a lot because of the chemotherapy. I kept going to work though be-cause that’s what I was praying to keep doing. I didn’t want to stay home.

Q: What was chemo-therapy like for you?

A: It was a major production because I had to get blood work done beforehand to make sure I was staying healthy throughout the treatment, and after each session I would have to get shots. I lost all my hair, but people brought me lots of wigs so it was fi ne. One parent actu-ally came to visit me whenever I had chemotherapy.

Q: So what was beating cancer like for you?

A: I found out last year from the doctors, and it was really just such a relief.

Q: How is Relay for Life for you?

A: Well I relay for myself because I’m a survivor. I love it though because the kind of research that the American Cancer Society funds was a great deal of what made my experience with cancer tolerable.

“I couldn’t beat my students as much as usual. But I still burned their butts don’t worry” joked Linda Wilson. (Photo by Nico Tavella)

Left: Seniors Giselle Ponce, Nicole Mowat and Brittany Dupree quietly refl ect at a luminaria to honor loved ones. Top middle-left: HOPE is spelled out with luminaria on the stadium bleachers. Bottom middle-left: Sophomore Shawn Joseph, senior Justin Corrao, junior Kevin Stephens, sophomore Anthony Pasetti, freshman Dorian Vasile and senior Quinn Pruitt run for the Miss Relay pageant and had to strut their stuff for a vote from the crowd.Top left: Senior Antonio Brooks bends to try and stay in the limbo competition. Bottom left: HOPE is changed to CURE when the luminaria ceremony started. Right: Seniors Kendall Melendi and Delmonte Bent dance to the YMCA.(All photos by Jimmy Herd-Bond)

Community raises $42,000 at Relay for Life

LifeApril 2012 13

That’s what’s up [May]Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

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By Jennifer TravisStaff Writer

Walt Disney World is not the only amusement park making colossal expansions at heavy costs. Universal Studios is also upping its game to entice even more thrill seekers and theme park surveyors.

Universal’s classic Jaws ride closed this year after being a famed landmark in the park for nearly 20 years.

Although the closing of this famous ride is melancholy, Harry Potter fans should be excited for rumored expansions in the previous Amity/Jaws area.

Although Universal has not confi rmed anything yet, leaked information states that an entire new Gringotts bank area and ride with Victorian style vehicles may be added to the Harry

Potter mix including a winding walk through of the bank (similar to that of Hogwarts Castle), along with a brand new 8,900 square foot restaurant.

It is also suggested that there is a possibility of a Hogwarts Express train conjoining the Gringotts and Hogwarts Castle, since they are at either sides of the park.

Plans seem somewhat muddled at this point, but every Potter fan should be eager for these new developments.

Some students however, have their own bright ideas on new attractions to boost ticket sales and bring in new guests. Such as freshman Alexandra Hayes and sophomore Jeremy Gardener, Hayes wanting a Spongebob Squarepants water ride “like an underwater adventure with a 3D effect” and Gardener

who wants to experience a “crazy” roller coaster based of the popular movie Avatar where he said “I want to jump off one part of the track onto another.”

Avatar is actually the subject of an expansion at Disney's Hollywood Studios, as both parks compete for business.

Harry Potter expansions are not the only new developments at Universal Studios though!

The old and outdated Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast ride, which is more of a blast to the past ride; featuring all Nickelodeon cartoons from the late '90s (such as Hey Arnold, the Wild Thornberrys, and other antiquated classics) is going to be replaced by a brand new interactive 3-D Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride.

Students suggest replacements for closed Jaws ride

Graphic by Alex Rosendo

30Rise Against/A Day to Remember @

Green Iguana

1The Devil's Blood @ The Orpheum

2Tampa's Only Open Mic Hip Hop Night@ Crowbar

4The Mighty Mighty Bosstones @

The Ritz Ybor

5Creed @ Ruth Eck-erd Hall, Set It Off @ The Orpheum

6All-AmericanRejects @ Down-

town St. Pete

8Overkill, God Forbid, Diamond Plate @ The Orpheum

9Patel Conservatory Jazz Jam @Teco Theater

10Sensory Overload @ State Theatre

11Darius Rucker & Lady Antebellum@

1-800-Ask-Gary

12Chris Cornell @ Tampa Theatre

14Wilco @ Morsani Hall

15Heartless Bastards @ The Orpheum

16Allen Stone @ The Orpheum

17Rusko @ The Hawaiian Village

19Jane's Addiction @ Ruth Eckerd Hall

20Disney On Ice @ Tampa Bay Times

21Seniors Last Day!!!!

23Timothy B. Schmit@Ruth Eckerd Hall

24Jobsite Theater presents Race @

25Steve Kimock @ The Ritz Ybor

26Van Wilson @ State Theatre

Sports April 201214

By Nick BennettLife Editor

Junior Jorian Ordway doesn’t trash talk. “I do my talking on the track,” she says.

Joined in that resolve is her friend and men-tor, senior Ciara Hawkins, who together are two of the fastest runners in Hillsborough County.

Ordway fi rst ran track as a freshman. She says that she’s developed as a runner a lot since then, seeing improvements in her form especially. Ordway enjoys competitions most of all, saying that she enjoys the opportunity to “get out there and show what I can do.”

Ordway runs the 200 meter, 400 meter, and 4 x 400 meter relay. She identifi es the 400 meter as her best event, in which she achieved a new personal record this season of 55.81. In the 200 meter event, a half-lap sprint, her personal record is 25.52. She wants to drop time in that event, however, so she’s working on her starts off the block.

Hawkins has been running track since she was a sixth grader at Sligh Middle School. Since then, she’s shuffl ed events and running styles, going from a sprinter in her formative years to a middle-distance runner today. The events she currently runs

are the 800 meter and the 4 x 400 meter and 4 x 800 meter relays.

In running relays, “you have to depend on teammates,” Hawkins says. When running the 4 x 400 meter relay with Ordway, the two know they can depend on each other to be their best.

“We both look out for each other,” Or-dway said.

Hawkins was recently sidelined because of a quad injury. The injury happened at a meet on the same day as prom. Hawkins is still recovering, making sure to stretch and ice her legs to accelerate the healing process as much as possible. But she’s optimistic, hoping to be ready to run again for districts.

Ordway and Hawkins both practice over the summer with AAU teams, in order to keep pushing themselves to maintain their edge. In eighth grade, Hawkins went to nationals with an AAU team.

Her ultimate goal, though, is much greater. Someday, Hawkins wants to com-pete in the Olympics. With a year still left in high school, Ordway hopes to see herself as the state champion. Having placed fourth last year, she sees it as a very real possibility. The two hope to remain both friends and winners.

By Kimmy RampersandStaff Writer

In the words of junior Manash Ramana-than, the girls’ tennis team “made history” this season. The team advanced to Regionals for the second year in a row, last year being the fi rst time it had advanced that far.

Unlike the girls, the boys’ tennis team did not make it to Regionals and placed third in the district, despite success in past years.

Although the girls’ team was eliminated dur-ing the regional competition and did not make it to states, Ramanathan, the No. 1 ranked player in the district, said, “We were all very proud and happy to advance to Regionals as we had a great season and district matches.”

Last season the team placed fi rst in dis-

tricts, holding the title of district champion. This year the team made second place, but the top two teams from each district move on.

Junior Suvetha Ravichandran said the team did better this year than last year be-cause they grew closer and were more in sync. “Getting to know each other better has helped us work better as a team,” she said.

Last year, teammates disagreed on issues and had problems working well together. But this year was different, and building a “stron-ger team” has helped them play better, said Ramanathan.

The girls won almost every match in the season, losing only one to King High School. “They were our biggest competition because they’re at the same level we are,” Ravichan-dran said.

The boys’ tennis team did not make it to states this year like they did last year. Sopho-more Ben Muschol said, “This year, we lost three of our top four players from last year. That could be why we didn’t perform as well this year.

Those players had played in district tourna-ments and district matches before, while a lot of our players this year hadn’t.”

Muschol also said, “Next year we aren’t going to have too many people graduate, so hopefully we can win since our team will only be getting older and better.”

“I believe we did quite well throughout our season, winning eight games out of 12,” freshman Phil Nguyen said. “In many of our matches and games, we stood alongside the fences cheering each other on, winning

or losing.”Both the boys and girls plan on practicing

individually and possibly together during the off-season to improve their skill. They have weekly practices and play matches for fun. On top of friendly sessions, a lot of them also train locally.

Nguyen said, “My team has given me a great season this year and I hope to play again next year.”

“When the season fi rst started we weren’t sure what to expect. Each school team changes drastically every year so we never know what we’re up against. But I’m happy with our season this year,” Ravichandran said.

With a successful season under their belts, the girls’ and boys’ tennis teams have high goals and expectations for next year.

Tennis squad advances to Regionals and ‘makes history’

Senior Ciara Hawkins, left, and junior Jorian Ordway run laps during practice. Both atheletes are highly ambitious, Hawkins with her sights set on the Olympics one day and Ordway with state champion aspira-tions. The two credit their friendship as a source of inspiration. (Photo by Nick Bennett)

Friends driven to success

SportsApril 2012 15

By Kellen YentSports Editor

Starting off the season with close to 40 players, the fl ag football team looked forward to the upcoming season. Now, as the season is winding down, there are 16 left on the team and there hasn’t been a game won.

Head coach Michael Patrick, also the head coach of the wrestling team, took charge of fl ag football when news spread of coach Dean Eychner’s new job as head football coach at Brandon High School.

According to Patrick, there might not have been a fl ag football team if no one stepped up. “He tried,” says sophomore Ashley Ortega, “and I admire him for stepping up because we would not have had a season.”

After the last JV game, he says he is glad that he stepped up for the position, even if he is unsure about next year. “I would like helping, and I enjoy the girls, but it is just too hard to be the head coach of two sports. Especially two sports back to back,” Patrick comments. “By being a wrestling coach, I can’t do preconditioning with fl ag football.”

He then commented that having the preconditioning before the season starts would have made the season smoother be-cause he would have more time for the girls to get to know him.

“I had to start over with the basics all season,” he says when talking about having almost 24 girls quit mid season.

After a fi ght broke out during the second game of the season, where the “refs were letting the game get too rough,” Coach Patrick had to discipline a player because of their involvement, he says.

“My No. 1 is sportsmanship. I’m teaching them a life skill: to turn a cheek and walk away,” Patrick explains.

“The girls had short tempers, and he didn’t deal with that, which I respect,” Ortega adds.

Since then, more and more girls kept on quitting. “A lot of people were tired of playing, and tired of losing,” comments junior Angel Santiago.

Patrick tried to stay optimistic with the loss of players and athletic ability. Most of the fi rst string was gone by the middle of the season. “It affected our athletic ability. But it also made us better because everyone had playing time,” the coach says.

In the Chamberlain game, the JV girls were able to hold off most of the touchdowns that their rivals were working hard to score. The game ended at 6-0, and varsity fi nished with a score of 39-0. Both times, Chamberlain won; this was expected because they are one of the top teams in the state, according to Patrick.

Assistant coach Elizabeth Ward comments, “We can’t complain about [losing to a top team], we have to cherish the small victories.”

Moving on to the latter part of the season, a game against Gaither High School showed that the team was improving. “We have really started to move the ball in the past two weeks,”

Patrick said. But everyone does agree that the start was rough.A new head coach, who coaches wrestling primarily, and

having many girls quit right at the start up did not make Patrick’s job any easier. He states that he only had one day to switch from wresting to fl ag football.

Senior Rebecca Jones stated, “[Having a wrestling coach] helped the players because it made us understand more, too. We had to learn with him.”

Patrick then stated that coaching two sports was diffi cult, but they are not all that unlike. “I didn’t treat them any different with my expectations for them, but I am more abrasive with

the guys.” He then adds, “I wouldn’t let them get away with something I wouldn’t let the guys get away with.”

Overall, the experiences for both the team and the coaches have been mixed.

Ortega remarks that the season was more of a team involve-ment than anything. “On fl ag football we did everything together. It made us more of a team, even if we lost.”

Ortega then notes, “[The season] was something to adjust to, whoever stayed in the end really wanted to play, no matter what.”

Clockwise from top: Varsity member Destany Mackey runs for a fi rst down when opponent from Chamberlain grabs her fl ag; Ortega gains a fi rst down in the fourth quarter against Chamberlain; JV player Artecia Brown throws during warm-up drills. (Photos by Kellen Yent)

Team celebrates small victories despite adversity

Sports April 201216

By Adam GodbeyStaff Writer

Orlando Goodwin has replaced Stephanie Crawford as the head coach of the boys’ basketball team.

Goodwin inherits a 2-18 boys’ bas-ketball program after working as both a teacher at Hillsborough and an assis-tant on the team for the past six years.

Goodwin had been offered the head coaching job on two separate occasions, but had rejected the offer both times. He said he wanted to “help younger coaches develop.”

As senior guard Melique Hill said, “Coach Goodwin is our second daddy-- he takes care of all of us.”

Goodwin, however, is looking to seize his opportunity after taking the head-coaching job for the 2012-13 season. Known for his exhaustive con-ditioning exercises as assistant coach, Goodwin wants to condition both the bodies and the minds of his players.

Goodwin said he plans to “use this summer to get everything straight, whether it be running on the track or learning how to read defenses and of-

fenses.” On the court,

Goodwin will fo-cus on two basic offenses: the drib-ble drive, which

spreads the of-fense in order to create driving

and passing lanes, and the triangle offense, a triangle between the center, a forward and guard, with the other guard at the top of the key. The triangle offense allows for spacing, isolation, and quick cuts.

Both offenses entail more of a read and react style of play, and require quick minds able to understand weaknesses in defenses.

Sophomore Diamond Johnson is looking forward to the offensive freedom of Goodwin’s system. Because the of-fense relies more upon reaction than set plays, Johnson said that they will be able “to do a lot more on the court.”

During the summer, Goodwin said he will present his players with a bar-rage of defensive styles and reaction drills in order to increase the “basketball IQ” of his players. He said these drills will help his players quickly “get the offensive process down.”

Similarly, Goodwin will have a more open and IQ-based defensive strategy. He said that one of the large problems of last year was the lack of defensive fl exibility; players were not experienced with running different defensive styles.

Goodwin said the solution is to “learn everything on defense: zone, man to man, and…[playing] whatever [is] best at depending on the situation.”

After a 2-18 season, he is confi dent with his position change as well as the team’s strategic change. This summer, he will “change more of the commitment

and get a feel for who is serious.” He will also “make sure that every-one is conditioned and make sure

that every person knows what he is doing on the court.”

Assistant takes charge

13 Number of foreign nations to which Goodwin has been deployed

3 Number of univerity degrees Goodwin has earned (from University of Kentucky, University of Central Michi-gan, and the Royla Military College of Canada.)

10 Age at which Goodwin started playing basketball

5a.m. Time Goodwin wakes up every morning to come to school

3 Number of kids Good-win has. Goodwin also has 3 grandchildren.

23.5 Years Goodwin served in the Army

By the numbersSix stats you probably didn’t know about Orlando Goodwin

By Katie LuttonSports Editor

The season ended Tuesday with a 6-3 loss to Riverview in the district tourna-ment at Brandon.

Hillsborough, 12-10 during the regular season, beat Riverview twice already this year, 9-3 and 8-4. The Terriers, however, could not pull out a victory in the game.

Throughout the season, the Terriers were led offensively by John Safe.The senior first baseman and sometimes-pitcher led his team in batting average, runs batted in and on base, slugging and fi elding percentages.

As of April 20, the senior also was fi fth in all of Hillsborough County in batting average and RBIs.

At one point in the season, Safe was ranked among the top 10 baseball players in the state for batting average.

Safe said that his impressive statistics this year are the result of his increased focus on baseball.

Safe’s Stats

Source: maxpreps.com

Batting average

.462

On base percentage

.519

Slugging percentage

.600

Fielding percentage

.948

Runs 15RBIs 23

Baseball wraps up season in districts

Orlando Goodwin observes a game during the 2011-2012

basketball season. (Photo by Han-nah Gagne)

-Adam Godbey