Issue 2

PAGE 7 Vampire Craze
R o n a l d
W .
PAGE 2 School Security
R e a g a n / D o r a l
Volume IV Issue II
S r .
H i g h
S c h o o l
8600 N.W. 107 Avenue, Doral, Florida
Features
Check out the center
spread to learn about
unique scholarships.
– page 04
Editorials
Phone: 305-805-1900x2109
Fax: 305-805-1901
Sports
Entertainment
The Advocate has searched for the Featuring Kid Cudi’s debut
key reasons for miscommunication album, with hilights including
his innovative beats and
at Reagan.
lyrics.
– page 06
– page 07
Read to find out which
countries qualified for the
World Cup 2010.
– page 08
Ninth
grade center controv e r s y stalls
construction
By: Vanessa Redmond
Varsity
football team
makesstrong
come back
“
“Two years ago it
seemed like there was
no light at the end of
the tunnel. We were
getting beat 85-0, and a
season like this wasn’t
even imaginable.
-John Lopez
head varsity coach
”
By: Natalie Avellanet
Courtesy of Foxmar
- S p o r t s E d i t o r
The varsity football team has had to overcome obstacles common
to a budding athletic program. This season they’ve gone against
the odds, proving that hard work pays off.
“Two years ago it seemed like there was no light at the end of
the tunnel,” said head varsity coach John Lopez. “We were getting
beat 85-0, and a season like this wasn’t even imaginable.”
Lopez reflects on their previous statistics of 0-10 and compares
them to their general winning streak this year. “You have to work
hard, and keep the same goal in mind. That’s how you build a
program.” Lopez said.
The initial years for the Bison served as a taste of humility. It
showed the team that one won’t achieve greatness without incentive, and that it takes a level of commitment to get to where they
want to go.
“The coaches have taught me a valuable lesson by giving
me the opportunity to play football. I learned to not take it for
granted,” said junior running back Shelton Reyes. Although the
team’s progress is undeniable, it didn’t come without effort. The
players have had to adjust their mindsets to be compatible with
the competitive athletic environment.
“We are a lot more focused, practices are more competitive, and
we’ve been pushing ourselves harder than last year,” said senior
cornerback Yannick Kemmache, “It’s still a work in progress, and
you can never really perfect anything without practice, but this
year the team has more heart. It’s like it finally became important.
It finally started to matter.”
With a renewed sense of team work, the football team’s
successes
Continue on pg. 8
- C o - N e w s E d i t o r
The city of Doral
ranks 51st in the top
places to live and launch
a business in the United
States according to CNN,
and yet economic issues
have impacted the school
district, including the
construction of the ninth
grade annex for RDHS. City Councilman
Pete Cabrera wants to
grant money to the Miami–Dade Public School
Board, however, Mayor
Juan Carlos Bermudez
and other council members disagree.
Across the street
from RDHS the school
board possesses eight
acres intended for the creation of the ninth grade
center. The dollars for this
construction will come
from MDCPS. The predicted cost is $17.5 million according to the five
year capital plan.
MDCPS does not
have the money needed to
proceed with this future
plan yet. Because of the
many budget cuts and the
current economic crisis, it
may take months before
they are able to obtain the
funds. MDPCS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho
said he is doing his job
diligently to come up with
the money.
Some parents aim
to take the issue into
Continue on pg. 2
RDHS
students
keep
their
culture
alive
By: Alejandro Rodriguez
- S t a f f W r i te r
he United States of America for the
most part always has been a nationof
immigrants from all over the world.
People have come to America to start a better life. Some have adapted to American
traditions such as Thanksgiving and the
4th of July, others don’t pay too much attention to the traditions and culture of their
new country, and others combine them.
The reasons for either keeping
one’s culture alive. forgetting it completely,
or mixing the old and the new vary. Some
T
do not apply the traditions from their country’s culture in their everyday life in an attempt to focus on America’s culture, causing the unfortunate eventual loss of that
language and way of life.
Others believe that losing their
roots is the result of being ignorant, while
others believe it’s something completely
normal that one shouldn’t worry about.
Augusto Aguilera, freshman, says, “I think
that people have lost their roots in America, but in Miami less than anywhere else.”
Continued on pg. 4
Photo Courtesy of Oriana Gonzalez
STUDENTS SHOW pride in their hispanic culture.
News
2
November 2009
The Reagan Advocate
News Briefs Tragedy prompts second look at security
Friends feed a family
Starting on November 9th, the
senior club will be sponsoring
“Friends Feed a Family” where
you and your
friends can
get together
to prepare a
full meal for
low income
families. The
meal consists
of two main dishes, two side
dishes and one dessert.
AT&T losing iPhone?
The iPhone might be coming to
your phone carrier. With their
contract due for renewal next
year and customers complaining
about dropped
calls and the
inability to
connect to the
3G network,
AT&T might lose
the iPhone. In
terms of overall customer
satisfaction for
smartphones, AT&T scored 69 out
of 100 among users, while companies like Verizon had a customer satisfaction of 79 out of 100
among users.
Juggling increases brain
power
According to scientists at Oxford
University, complex tasks such as juggling produce significant changes to the
structure of the
brain. In a study,
24 adults were
trained to juggle;
there was a 5%
increase in white
matter in a rear
section of the brain shown in an MRI. In
the long term it could aid treatments for
diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Front Page Photo Credits
Header: Ambar Mejia
Security Guard Jorge Lastres and Assistant Principal Tony Ullivarri monitor the hallways at Reagan.
By: Natalie Avellanet
- S p o r t s
E d i t o r
In the days after student Juan Carlos Rivera’s
death at Coral Gables Senior High, six students around
the county were arrested for bringing weapons to school,
including loaded guns, knives, and a taser.
“Even though the school district is working
through the worst financial period in recent memory,
we have maintained our commitment to protecting our
children by keeping the allocation of security monitors to
schools constant, by not laying off school police officers…”
said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, “Yet, despite the
best efforts of this school district, these acts may still occur.”
Carvalho recently tasked Miami-Dade Schools
Police Chief Charles Hurley with assigning an additional
5 percent of the police department to schools. In addition, high schools across Miami-Dade County have been
equipped with other methods of student protection.
Security guards, surveillance cameras, and metal
detectors outfit a majority of high schools in Florida.
High school security guards monitor school premises, direct student traffic, report any disturbances to administration, and determine the presence of outsiders on
school grounds.
To be a security guard at Reagan, it’s necessary to
pass a series of examinations. “We try to put them [security guard hopefuls] into different scenarios and see how
they’ll react to the situation,” said Assistant Principal
and head of Security Tony Ullivarri.
Along with the qualifying tests, security guards
must also undergo restraint training, teaching them how
to pull students apart from each other if the need arises.
Schools are allotted security guards based on student enrollment. Budgetary restraints determine a lot of
the security resources provided to schools.
There are 5 DVR’s and 79 fully functioning cameras in Reagan’s interior and exterior that can record and
save footage for up to a month.
“Every single hallway, including the exterior of
the school is being monitored either in the control room,
on my computer, or on Mr. Bentolilla’s computer,” said
Ullivarri. “We try to monitor [the cameras] as much as
possible, but we don’t have someone in the control room
monitoring throughout the school day.”
The Miami Dade school police also have a presence on Reagan grounds. The officer assigned here serves
other schools in the Doral area but focuses mostly on high
school enforcement.
Although the police department has a significant
role in diffusing potentially dangerous situations, it is
ultimately the school administration that has the final
word.
“For an outside police agency to search [a student] they need probable cause. We [administration] just
need reasonable suspicion,” said Ullivarri.
Although violence in schools has gone down 7
percent since last year, parents, students, and administration still regard the situation with caution.
“Our job here is to promote a safe learning environment for everyone,” said Ullivarri, “With no order, we
can’t have that.”
Photo Courtesy of: Oriana Gonzalez
Ninth grade center
Continued from front page
their hands. Many of them
appeared at the City Council meeting
held on September 9, each sharing
their opinions about the student population at RDHS expected to increase
in the following years, and how they
believe that the building is the way
to go. The parents’ way to solve this
situation is to have the city give the
school board 19 million dollars.
Councilman Cabrera stands
on the parents’ side. He says that “although the city is not directly responsible for the schools, and it will continue to work closely with our local
School Board Member, I believe it is
our responsibility to take a proactive
role in finding solutions.”
“I think that they should give
the money because education pays off
in the long run,” sophomore Sandra
Guerrero says. “The school is really
crowded already. People should do
things in spite of what you’re going to
get back.”
On the contrary, parent Sandra Sosa says, “I don’t see a point to
build a ninth grade center! The architecture of the school was not thought
out. It should have been planned
better, and now they are just placing bandages as if it is going to stop
the issue. The problem is the fact
that they don’t plan things from the
start.”
Some council members and
Bermudez hesitate to loan government money. They believe that Doral
is not held responsible for building a
new school – the school system is. “I
share your concerns, but I don’t want
to rush into giving our tax dollars to
someone else to build a school,” said
Bermudez to Cabrera. He said “that
it is a misuse of taxpayers’ money.”
Senior Grace Barrera says,
“Since the school isn’t crowded
enough, they should have enough
time to find the money. Donating the
money should be the last resort.”
In an interview with Vice
Mayor Michael DiPietro, he explained
how the city is doing their part to repair this situation. He said, “The city
is looking into several options, including the addition of over 800 student
stations at Doral Academy Charter
High School. This decision is yet to
be made by the city council pending
a proposal/presentation of what the
city would potentially invest.”
Principal Jacques Bentolila
says, “It is up to the city to make
that decision; it’s up to parents and
elected officials to see how they spend
their tax dollars.”
No contruction of the new
building will begin until funds are
available.
News
November 2009
Clubs intensify activities
By: Ambar Mejia
- E d i t o r
i n
C h i e f
Budget cuts have taken an- bel Plana, sophomore, believing that
other toll in regards to students, re- the new conditions possibly prosulting in what seemed like clubs cut duced a sense of faux-school spirit.
Nonetheless, the “forced spirin the beginning of the ‘09-‘10 school it”
could
take a turn for the best.
year. Despite the negative connotaOn
the
week
leading up to the Octotion affiliated with these “cuts,” they
ber
3,
homecoming
dance, club memmay have produced more active clubs.
bers
were
seen
through
the hallways
In the beginning of the curcovered
in
paint
and
glitter
and with
rent school year, the school was forced
brushes
in
hand.
“I
think
some
clubs
to make a decision as to which clubs
will
start
to
work
harder.
There
are
could keep their club status and which
so
few
clubs
remaining
that
they
are
couldn’t. Activities Director Eddie
doing
the
work
to
make
up
for
all
the
Morales said that none of the clubs
were truly “cut,” instead, those who clubs that are no longer in existence,”
said Amanda Borges, junior.
could function through a class Borges’s ideas were
room were taken out in
“I
emphasized by Moorder to abide with
think
some
rales. He suga
county-wide
gests that the
budget cut in reclubs will start to work
clubs
that
gards to school
harder.
There
are
so
few
r
e
m
a
i
n
ed
clubs.
Such
clubs
remaining
that
they
are
will
act
as
was the case
a
way
for
with many artdoing the work to make up for
students
to
oriented clubs,
all
the
clubs
that
are
no
do
communisuch as photogty service and
raphy. Those who
longer in existence”
promote
school
didn’t have a club or
spirit
and
may
thus
were part of a charter,
attract
students
with
simisuch as National Honor Society
and Family Career and Community lar goals. Morales also stated that
leaders of America, remained as clubs. he is trying to be strict on the clubs
On September 16, 2009, re- this year by checking up on the
maining clubs sent four representa- binders where they are to record
tives each to a club workshop. Senior their activity and noting whether
Michelle Goico said, “They talked clubs participate in school events.
Still the question as to whetha lot about how doing events would er
club
activity will increase due to
earn you points and without earnthe
idea
of being cut remains. On this
ing points you would be cut. Basinote
Morales
said, “Some kids think
cally we’re being forced into doing
they
live
through
a movie. Reality is
these events.” Others came across
getting
up
on
a
Sunday
morning to put
with a similar feeling. “The clubs
up
decorations.
They
don’t
realize the
that are still left are just doing all
hard
work,
they
don’t
think
it’s ‘cool’.”
the activities to avoid getting cut.
Everything is done half-heartedly
because they can get cut,” said Isa-
The Reagan Advocate
Editor in Chief
Ambar Mejia
Managing Editor
Manuel Jaquez
Copy Editor
Camille Spencer
Advisor
Lourdes Montiel
Principal
Jacques Bentolila
Press Affiliations
The Reagan Advocate staff pledges to: Publish articles that will not disparage any individual and
will not interfere with rights of privacy. We publish this newspaper for the student body, faculty,
and community members. No articles will convey
bias or be based on personal motives. All articles
will have well supported and developed arguments.
We will not take credit for the work and publication
of others. We agree to support school spirit by attending and reporting on school events. All material included in The Reagan Advocate is intended to
inform, entertain and communicate to the public.
The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily
those of the faculty and administration but rather those of the author or
the newspaper staff and its editors. The Advocate welcomes letters to
the editor on topics of interest to RDHS and its surrounding community.
Letters must be signed; however, names may be withheld upon request
and with the concurrence of the editorial board.
The editorial board reserves the right to reject, edit, or shorten
letters. We also welcome contributions from writers not associated with
the newspaper staff. All freelance material should be submitted to the
journalism room or sent to [email protected]. All submissions must bear the author’s name.
The Reagan Advocate Now Online:
http://my.highschooljournalism.org/fl/doral/rdhs/
Awards:
2006 & 2007 FSPA District 3rd place News Writing
2007 FSPA State 2nd place News Writing
2008 FSPA District 2nd place News Writing
2009 FSPA State 1st place Editorial Writing
2009 FSPA State 1st place Carry-in-layout
2009 FSPA District 3rd place on-the-spot layout
News Editor
Maria Echeverri
Editorials Editor
Micaela Di Julio
Entertainment Editor
Manuel Jaquez
Features Editor
Yrady Olmeta
Sports Editor
Natalie Avellanet
Graphics Editor
Oriana Gonzalez
Business Manager
Tabatha Spencer
Layout Editor
Ambar Mejia
Online Editor
Melissa Del Burgo
3
Features
The Reagan Advocate
Staying true to your culture
By: Alejandro Rodriguez
-S t a f f
W r i t er
This is mostly because people in Miami come from all over the
world and keep their native cultures.
They eat the same foods as
in their country of origin because
there are so many different kinds
of restaurants in Miami, such as
the Venezuelan restaurant El Arepazo and the Cuban restaurant La
Carreta.
Many people believe it’s
extremely important to never lose
your native culture because that’s
what makes you different from a
lot of people. Gia Garcia, freshman,
says, “It’s really important because
it’s where you’re from and the kind
of things you do, like dance or eat a
certain food. I’m from Puerto Rico
and I would never lose my roots,
even if I move somewhere that I’m
the only Puerto Rican.”
Something most people
Anil Baksh
Security guard
don’t celebrate in their new country
is the special holidays that each
country has, such as Venezuelan
Independence Day July 5, or Three
Kings Day January 6, Christmas
day for most Hispanic countries.
Miami is a mixture of different flavors, colors, and accents,
making it one of the most diverse
cities in the U.S. There are Colombians, Cubans, Russians , and many
others. Apart from being filled with
all these different types of people,
there are also various that can
“take one back” home. Some of
these are restaurants, dance clubs,
and even neighborhoods.
With all these different
foods, languages and music, it’s
easy for cultues to mix and new
dishes and music or celebrations
emerge. It is also easier for people
to be true to their native culture
while infusing American traditions
Nester Fuentes
Sophomore
into their daily lives.
Regardless,
immigrants
continue to find success and in
their new country. Whether in the
business or entertainment world,
they make their mark. Others are
successful in government, like Austrian born Arnold Schwarzenegger
who became a famous Hollywood
actor and then governor of California or New Mexico Governor Bill
Richardson, who is of MexicanSpanish descent.
Many people come to the
United States to start a better life.
That’s why they call it the country
of opportunity. Although many have
found this opportunity, sometimes
they have lost their roots and cultures in the process, and still others manage to adapt to U.S. culture
and still keep their own traditions.
Jorge Fernandez
Sophomore
November 2009
Bizarre
4
little
scholarships
Tall Clubs International Scholarship
Requirements:
Each tall student who is under the age
of 21 is given $ 1,000
Women must be 5’10
Men must be 6’2
To apply you must contact a TCI club
closest to your sponsorship
American Apple Pie Contest Scholarship
Requirements:
Culinary Institute of America
Person with the best recipe wins
$25,000, 2nd wins $15,000, and 3rd
wins $10,000
Call 1-800-CULINARY for more information
The National Organization for the Reform
of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Scholarship
Requirements:
$650 scholarship to the student who
writes the best essay outlining a more
“sensible” drug policy for the United
States.
The Patrick Kerr Skateboard
Scholarship
I
believe that people have
lost their roots and traditions when they come
from another country. Some
people have a hard life in
their old country but when
they come here, everything
changes for them. Also if you
come from a richer country,
they may become more used to
the environment in the United States after being here for
a long time. Eventually, some
traits are vanished.
I
think that in Miami, people
lose their roots less than any
other place. Mainly because
there are so many people from
the same place, it feels like home
to them. Just because they come
to America, does not mean they
completely lose their country’s
traits, they just forget about some
of them. I have seen a mix of cultures here, but people never lose
their roots 100%.
I
have not lost my roots a
single bit. I still eat food
from my country and listen
to music from it as well. I know a
lot of people who have lost their
roots but I have never known
someone who just forgets where
they’re from. It’s something that
makes you different than a lot of
people in your environment. I’m
from Cuba and that is not the
case for me here because there
are so many Cubans in Miami.
Footprints of astronauts who
landed on the moon should
last at least 10 million years
since the moon has no atmosphere.
Conception occurs more in
December than in any other
month.
If you were to spell out numbers, you wouldn’t find the
letter “A” until you reach “one
thousand.”
Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs
Bunny) was allergic to carrots.
It is impossible to lick your
own elbow.
At least 75% of all people who
read the previous random
fact will try to lick their elbow
after doing so.
Coca Cola
green.
was
originally
Every day more money is
printed for monopoly than
the US Treasury.
The word “lethologica” describes the state of not being
able to remember the word
you want.
The first product to have a
bar code scanned was Wrigley’s gum.
Most lipsticks have fish scales
Walt Disney was afraid of
mice.
Eco-friendly Reagan
By: Augusto Aguilera
-S t a f f W r i t e r
For the past few years
the world has been
dramatically changing. More greenhouse
gases have appeared
in the ozone, and the
icebergs in Antarctica
and the North Pole
have begun to melt,
which has started to
affect everyone.
Temperatures
get higher every day
while the weather
gets wilder, shocking
many people. Leading companies to star
making their products
more eco-friendly.
RDHS
is
doing
its
part
to help
make
t h e
world
a bet-
Requirements:
Student information such as gpa, address, etc. Name of college you plan to
attend and a paragraph on your financial need for the award
$1000 for the winning participants
Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the
Year (SAMMY) Award
Requirements:
Maintains good academic standing,
demonstrate leadership skills, perform
community service and distinguish
themselves athletically
Winner receives $7,500, a designated
place in the Disney Wide World of
Sports Complex and a role in a USA
Today Milk Mustache special.
ter
place.
Teachers now
ask students
to write material from
handouts on a separate
piece of paper given
during class in order to
recycle and reuse the
handouts.
The
Ecology
club is also working
on saving the earth.
They’ve sent out various recycling cartons to
collect any kind of paper. Members say that
this is great because a
large quantity of paper
is wasted every day, and
this will save a huge
amount of
trees
from being destroyed.
“The
ecology
club doesn’t only recycle paper,” says Camille Ciriano, the club’s
sponsor. “We also do
some planting on an organic vegetable garden,
get involved in community national areas
restoration, and do special projects around the
year that are involved
in making the ecosystem a cleaner environment.”
Although
it
may seem difficult to
recycle and reuse, it’s
really not. Something
everyone cando to recycle is to bring a water
bottle and refill it once
in a while in the school’s
water fountains instead
of throwing it out and
buying another.
September 2009
w
t
t
a
o
a
it
e
always g
5
r
Not
The Reagan Advocate
features
the best four years, so it’s up to with everyone. you to make them worthwhile. For the money
The time is coming around The traditional view of high issue, try savfor homecoming or prom. You school is to enjoy every year of ing up or looking for dances
think about attending or not it, not only senior year.
Leaving everything for the that are free.
going, but you can’t decide. So
usually you resolve, “No, I’ll go last year is going to make you T h e r e a r e
regret not doing anything the many places
next year or something.”
In the end, we all procrastinate previous years. Even though selling cheap
senior year is the prom dresses
and leave
year where you or tuxes, and
things for
are supposed to radio stations
the follow“Students shouldn’t “own it,” there is like Power
ing chance
we get. It wait till senior year still room for re- 96 occasion- a little to late? These bison, while supporting the football team, do
gret if one leaves ally do give- not bother with leaving memorable school events until the last minute.
shouldn’t
be like that. because when you wait all schoolspirited
Ta k e t h e
chance now till the last minute events for
a n d s h o w nothing is done well. the last
making every day enjoyable
year.
some school
for you and your fellow classT h e
spirit. It can Take your time and
mates. Joining many clubs
majority
be fun if you
can encourage other students
join more y o u ’ l l g e t b e t t e r o f s t u to join and promote school
dents,
clubs and go
spirit.
results”.
w h e n
to the school
Not all students think
-Amanda Mastrapa asked if
events. Evthat
waiting is bad. “Prom
they’re
ery grade
should
be only for seniors,
g o i n g
should be
not
for
the underclassmen.
to the
a blast, not
We
get
our turn when we
something you can’t even re- school dances, say maybecome
seniors,”
said Gianmember because it was such a be because their friends
franco
Ciriaci,
sophomore.
On
boring year. When asked about aren’t going. Everybody
the
other
hand,
sophomore
her opinion on waiting, Andrea has different reasons
Amanda Mastrapa thinks
Pulido says, “Why should we for why they aren’t gothat “students shouldn’t wait
Proud
to
be
a
Junior
During
the
second
pep
rally,
juniors
wait? We should enjoy all of ing to the school events.
till senior year because when
For some, it’s because show their school pride by wearing spirited shirts.
our years in high school.”
you wait till the last minute
It really is confusing: of the money; others
nothing is done well. Take
cause
they
wished
they
would
everyone thinks all the fun is say that most events
your time and you’ll get better
have
done
more
things.
High
only for the seniors, but it’s are mostly for seniors or that aways.
results.” Sitting there thinkschool
only
lasts
four
years;
Those things shouldn’t stop
not! School dances are not only they don’t have a date. If you
ing it’s all cool and waiting
if
you
keep
leaving
things
for
for upperclassmen. They are don’t have a date, then just go one from not attending events.
for “the year” will make you
the
last
minute
you’ll
end
up
meant for the whole school to with your friends – you’ll still High school is a once in a liferegret not fully enjoying your
not
doing
anything
at
all.
It’s
attend and have a good time. have a lot of fun, and either time experience. Most seniors
high school experience.
all
about
experiencing
it
and
High school is supposed to be way you will end up dancing regret their freshman year be-
By: Charlene Villalba
-S t a f f
W r i t er
Military battles college:
By: Leon Velazquez
Mad House will take place
November
19. Support your club and join the fun.
The second Coffeehouse of the year will take
place on November 20. Drink coffee and
watch your friends perform.
Jean Day! Show off your favorite jeans on November 20 and December
18.
Ride The Hulk and scream your lungs out
with your friends on the field trip to Islands
of Adventure on November
a different path after high school
-S t a f f W r i t e r
Beginning with World
War I through the Vietnam
War, young men have been
drafted to fight for the U.S.
rather than completing college with a full education.
When the Vietnam War ended
in 1975, the idea of
forcing citizens
to serve in the
military
was
altered with an
A l l - Vo l u n teer registra-
21.
Book fair at Barnes and Noble
on Miracle Mile November 21
tion,
where people had the
right to choose
whether they
wanted
to
fight or not.
Approximately
140,000 high school students
a year decide to join one of the
five branches of the military.
In joining, students are open
to many new opportunities,
such as tuition support, world
travel, discounts with certain
expenses, and career preparation. College obviously helps
with a career, but students
that might want to do something a little more physical
can sometimes decide to register for one of the military
branches.
Since the military can provide
tuition support that may
help make life easier for
those with budget issues, it opens doors for
those who can’t afford
to go to college. Tuition
assistance programs can
cover up to 100% of expenses. These benefits may vary
depending on the amount of
active duty a soldier participates in.
The most difficult part
of deciding whether to apply
for the military may be telling
the parents. About 75% of parents disagree with high school
graduates leaving to attempt
dangerous tasks that require
dedication and stamina. All
over the U.S., parents have
been fighting to change the
law that public schools are required to allow military personnel to visit and talk about
the possibility of enlisting.
Other students are
choosing the military over
college because it guarantees
employment after graduation. Considering the present
economic situation it is an alluring motivation for enlistment.
6
Speak
OUT
Do you think there is
a lack of communication between students
and staff?
Editorials
November 2009
The Reagan Advocate
What should be the real meaning behind
community service?
By: Ambar Mejia
Self
Service
Community
service
- E d i to r - i n- C h i e f
By: Maria Arisigueta
- J u n i o r C o p y
E d i t o r
Selflessness
is
dying,
and Forced community service isn’t community service. It’s self
society’s about to pull the plug on it. service. Animals don’t stop suffering and people don’t stop
Completing community service has become nothing more needing food after you’ve made sure your college application
than a requirement one must fulfill. It is said that its value is overflowing with your oh-so-very ‘charitable’ work, which
has been lost, and it’s not; it has simply been displaced. if you’re going to do sloppily, you shouldn’t do at all.
Community service should come from the heart to
The idea that doing well merits a reward has been instilled from a very young age. If you benefit someone other than the person staring back at you
in the mirror. Junior Raul Herrera
didn’t steal anyone’s crayons during
nap time, your parents would take S t u d e n t s n e e d a b e t t e r agrees, “Why should we be forced to
serve our community? It’s supposed to
you out to the park. The fault does
not fall on the student but on the understanding of why they are come out of the kindness of our hearts,
society that has nurtured the behavior. required to do community service. not to get hours for college.”
“I’m going over my community these are experiences that you Yet that’s not the case. We wake up
service requirement because I want take with you everywhere. The thinking “what do I need?” not “what
colleges to see that I go beyond what is experience here is a seed for the can I give?”
Do we even get that feeling of selfrequired of me,” said Laura Morcate,
future, It creates philanthropists,
satisfaction anymore? But of course,
senior. Teachers have even resorted to
getting Reagan students to participate it’s something done for humanity, as long as we get a reward in return
in collections by giving them community i t ’s p e o p l e’s co n n e c t i o n o f we’ll do it. It has to be a thing, not a
feeling, not a thought. But something
service hours per bag of candy, for example. giving.”
we can point at, whether it’s money or
Service in essence becomes obsolete,
-Teacher Teresa Sarduy
a piece of paper listing the number of
it’s just a way to their reward. This ideology correlates with the district’s hours we’ve “volunteered.”
On the contrary, Fernando Velasquez and Eduardo
requirement for community service hours. How many kids actually work beyond the requirement because Punyed, both juniors, are examples of what real service
they want to and not just because it’ll look good for should be. They have both already collected at least more
college? Not many. Why? Because they have embraced than 200 and 600 hours respectively. “I always want to
the American dream and capitalism more than their make a difference but there are very little ways for me to do
predecessors. One does not have time to worry about it,” says Punyed, “but with this I’m able to do as much and
those less fortunate in today’s free competitive markets; feel great about it.”
Wake up. It’s not all about you. Just so you know
one needs to make a profit. Life is a competition, and community service is a stepping stone to the top. If there are nearly 7 billion other people out there. And, some
it takes killing selflessness to get there, so be it. of those people need you,. You should help them and expect
no tangible reward.
“
administrative
Assisstant
“I think a student
suggestion box would really
help, so the students get
to question things in their
school and how they’re done
by the staff”
-Calvin edward
buchanan
Lack of communication causes frustration
Student
“Most teachers, not all,
do the minimum in their
power to inform students.
They only do what they
need to do, but they
never get out of their way
to help us out. “
-Freshman Enrique
Gonzales
Student
“There is a lack of
communication. I was
never aware that the
UF presentation was
cancelled, and I strongly
depended on it. UF is my
number one school.”. “
-senior , Mariana
Suarez
Photo Courtesy of Micaela Di Julio
By: Manuel Jaquez and Camille Spencer
- M a na g i ng
E d i t or
a nd
S e ni o r
C o p y
E d i t o r
If
good
PowerPoint presentation in
communication is the key to
the main office and library,
a successful relationship, Dr.
maybe in front of the art
Phil probably has a few words
rooms.” This presentation will
for RDHS’s administration,
include pertinent information
staff, and student body.
regarding deadlines and events,
Principal
Jacques
and it is currently a work in
Bentolila is aware that
progress.
there is a gap in what is
The senior newsletter
communicated
between
and numerous banners and
faculty and students, he says
flyers are posted around
that “this is due largely as a
the school. The morning
result of Reagan’s newness
announcements run daily. The
as a school.” He enforces
activities office with its annual
that it’s partially a matter of
calendar is nearly always
establishing reliable means
open to students. In addition,
of communication through
RDHS has invested in district
years of experience.
e-mails for students, that way;
“It is our priority
students have a @dadeschools.
at every meeting to make Communication between administration, stu- net e-mail account to share
choices that will affect the dents, and teachers is sometimes like a bad game correspondence with teachers.
of telephone.
student body as minimally
The materials are there; yet
as possible.”
it’s the student body’s duty to
The student body was
make an effort as well. Students
occasionally not well communicated,
first affected during the first four leading to major confusion across must keep their ears open and pay
weeks of school; members of once the board. If the administration is attention when announcements are
thriving clubs were busy making trying to send us a message, why made.
plans for the 2009-2010 school year. aren’t we receiving it?
It’s obvious that an attempt
Little did these students know that
“It wasn’t so much the fact is being made by both parties in
their clubs were about to be quietly that the club was ‘cut’, we can still this relationship to make sure
removed. After the fact, students meet and all that, it was just the that there is communication and
were left puzzled and in need of way that the news was delivered,” understanding.
Whether
these
clarification.
said Sebastiam Eyzaguirre, junior attempts are successful is a different
“What we tried to do with and member of the drama and story. Both the student and faculty
both athletics and activities was to photography clubs; both of which have to make the effort.
‘trim the fat’ and not cut anything were “cut.”
that the students would feel.” saids
There have been many
Bentolila.
attempts for information to reach
Frankly, though, despite students. “Right now,” says Bentolila, Photo Courtesy of Oriana Gonzalez
these attempts, crucial information is “we’re working on setting up a looping
November 2009
Entertainment
The Reagan Advocate
It’s all here; take your pick
- S t a f f
W r i t e r
By: Brianna Diaz
In the new lineup for fall TV,
many shows have been introduced.
About 24 new shows have
made the list for this fall season.
These programs cover a wide horizon of topics and it’s no wonder
viewers are jumping through
hoops to watch them. ABC is in the lead with
nine new shows, bringing a balance of comedies and dramas.
They also claimed 1/3 of tvguide.
com’s editors picks, with shows
such as FlashForward, Cougar Town, and Modern Family.
FlashForward captures
most people’s attention with the
action packed commercial. The
whole world sees six months
into their future while losing
consciousness, and people start
to panic due to what they saw.
Filled with mystery, it’ll most
likely keep viewers guessing and
grasping for the remote control.
Modern Family includes Ed
O’Neill, from Married with Children,
and is pretty much a “mockumentary”
of the current generation; this show
brings together a traditional stay-athome mom, a gay couple with an adopted Asian baby, and an older man
married to a much younger woman.
Doing a little bit of her own
cub hunting is Courtney Cox in Cougar Town, as a 40-something divorcee
from Florida trying to get back into
the dating scene and at the same time
living with her 17-year-old gay son.
Photo Courtesy of ew.com
FOX’s ‘Glee’ has become a run-away
hit, and one of the hottest new
shows this season.
Glee, on FOX, is already
a crowd favorite, with Mary McNamara from the Los Angeles Times writing that Glee is a:
“full-throttle,
no-guilty-pleasure-
rationalizations-necessary
fun.”
The Vampire Diaries pushes
the vampire craze for more vampire fever, with Stefan (Paul Wesley) as a vampire, and Elena (Nina
Dobrev) as his lost love from 130
years ago (even though
they don’t know it yet).
CBS took another
route with fewer shows.
House fans are in luck
with the premier of another medical drama.
Three Rivers is set at
the top transplant hospital in the country and
tells stories from three
perspectives: the donor,
recipient, and surgeons.
Accidentally on Purpose features Jenna Elfman, from Dharma and
Greg, as a film critic
who’s having a baby from a onenight stand with a younger man.
From seeing transplants at different point of views to discovering
that aliens truly are kinder than
you think, this fall has had one of
the most impressive lineups of the
year, giving audiences the chance
to see anything their hearts desire.
How
Edward
Cullen
changed
the
nation
By: Melissa Berrios
- S t a f f
W r i t e r
A long time ago when television was in black and white, a prophetic symbol was sent from somewhere in the smoke filled studios of
Hollywood. Bela Lugosi starred in
the very first Dracula movie. Is it just
a coincidence that his name is similar to the now popular Bella Swan?
Not! Twilight has become the biggest fanfare since Harry
Potter. Their faces are
plastered in magazines
across the nation, but
what really ignited this
popular vampire craze?
Stephanie Meyer the author of this epic
novel never expected her
dream to get this big.
In 2005, when the book
was published, no one
knew this book even existed. Twilight opened
the eyes of millions to a
new world – one in which
every girl wishes to be
Bella and to find their Edward. Walking into
book stores, the first things a person sees are vampires; tables filled
with different vampire books, from
Manga to full length novels. Books
such as Vampire Diaries, Evernight,
Vampire Academy, Vampire Kisses,
The House of Night series, and the
Chronicles of Vladimir Todd are a
few of the many vampire based books
that rose from the literary graves.
Companies have been sucking the
benefits from the crazed twi-fans.
Coming up with t-shirts, costumes,
pins, toys, and accessories, everything and anything imaginable has
been “Twilightized.” Twilight for some is con-
sidered a religion; TV shows like
Vampire Diaries and HBO’s True
Blood are also on the rise. Businesses wasted no time and capitalized on True Blood’s Southern
vamps charm. True Blood potion
is now available for purchase for
all itching for a taste of blood.
Student Jenny Williams shows
her love for Twilight.
The
drink consists of an ordinary orange
soda disguised to look like blood.
Some students are growing tired of
hearing about Twilight and vampires. Freshman Daniel Verdura,
says, “I’m getting pretty tired of
“I’m getting very
tired of all this
chaos about Edward and Bella.”
all this chaos about Edward and
Bella”. However, there are those
students who believe the vampire
craze is anything but boring, such
as sophomore Daniela Cabrera
commenting, “I think it’s awesome.
I love it. It’s the best book ever!”
Why is it that vampires are
so appealing to the teenage population? Most say that it’s
because think they are
invincible and believe
that nothing can stand
in their way. Teenagers
never want to see themselves age; the thought
of looking in the mirror
and finding a shriveled
raisin terrifies most of
them. Immortality is
the key ingredient that
has made vampires so
tempting. Every time
a readers pick up a
vampire book they find
themselves in a trance.
They start to believe that being a
vampire and living forever is the
coolest thing imaginable. Vampire
books such as The Chronicles of
Vladimir Todd cover a topic close
to all of humanity, finding where a
place to belong. Vampires, just like
humans, have a hard time fitting in.
The fact that the authors give human qualities to their blood suckers
makes them all the more relatable.
All around Twilight completely changed the face of the
Earth and the entertainment industry. It has left the world in a
complete state of vampire blackout. Who knows soon enough a
new wave will emerge, maybe being bigger or worse than Twilight.
7
‘Man on the Moon:
in it’s own orbit
By: Eduardo Echeverri
- S t a f f W r i t e r
On September 15, 2009,
Cudi released his debut album titled
Man on the Moon: End of Day. Cudi
isn’t the typical hip-hop artist; he
is considered an indie-rap phenomenon who is bringing something
new and exciting to the music scene.
The album is organized into
five acts. Within the acts are a mix
of fresh songs that portray different
moods within the record. The single
“Pursuit of Happiness” provides a
perfect example of how Cudi is different. He teamed up with dancepop duos MGMT and Ratatat and
made a brilliant song that will most
likely gain more and more attention
as the weeks go by. On the track, an
amazing, spacey beat plays behind
Cudi’s almost majestic voice. “Soundtrack 2 My Life” also showcases Kid
Cudi’s true lyrical prowess with its
amazing flow and ridiculous timing and rhyming, something pretty
hard to come by in just one song.
Those who liked 808’s and
Heartbreak (of which Cudi wrote
many songs, including “Heartless”) by Cudi’s mentor Kanye West,
then will love Man on the Moon.
La ‘Fuerza Natural’
de Gustavo Cerati
Photo Courtesy of rumberos.net
By: Micaela DiJulio
- E d i t o r i a l s E d i t o r
Fuerza Natural se inauguró
en Argentina el primero de septiembre de 2009, y pocas semanas después
se convirtió en un Disco Platino en ese
país suramericano, llegando a ocupar
el número uno en ventas en Latinoamérica. La música tiene un sentido
alternativo, y “new wave” moderno,
pero también rasgos del rock nacional
de Soda Stereo. Este álbum no entra
en un género o un estilo de música,
es distintivo, una mezcla de folklore,
blues, y rock.
El fondo instrumental coincide en todas las canciones, y complementa la originalidad de la letra.
La primera canción es “Fuerza Natural” tiene una letra extraña
y genera misterio, frases como: “Sé
que Dios es bipolar.” y “Voy pisando Fósiles , no me dejarán caer, un
mundo microscópico me sostiene de
los pies” pueden ser interpretadas de
manera diferente por cada persona.
Puede haber diferentes interpretaciones, pero las intenciones
de Cerati fueron crear un disco y
una historia.
Sports
November 2009
8
The Reagan Advocate
Varsity football exceeds expectations
New generation
of soccer players
to join team
Photo courtesy of Foxmar
Bison soccer team drives ball toward the goal.
By: Alejandro Rodriguez
- S t a f f
W r i t e r
The varsity football team takes a knee before going out to play after half
time.
By: Natalie Avellanet
- S p o r t s
E d i t o r
...
have turned into the fuel for school
spirit.
“More kids are going to the
games, having a good time, and
it’s starting to feel like a real high
school,” said Lopez, “More people are
starting to say ‘we’ rather than ‘you’.”
The turn around the football
team has undergone this year doesn’t
end on the field. Spectators at varsity
games share the enthusiasm and
optimism, and although the team
has 65 players on the gridiron, their
teammates extend to the sidelines.
“I’m real close to the football
team. The players are some of my best
friends, and I have good standing relationships with the coaches,” said junior Danielle Kelly. “It feels more like
I’m a part of the team, rather than
just watching from the sidelines.”
Junior Maria Gabriela Jime-
nez also relates to Kelly’s claim of football camaraderie.
“When you give so much of
yourself to the team, it’s hard not to get
attached. I’ve been involved with Bison football since my freshman year,”
said Jimenez. “I’m a junior now, and
the changes are huge, but the players,
and the coaching, and the drive are
still the same. I guess it’s just great to
see the progress of the team through
the years, and say I was there to witness it.”
Jimenez looks back at the efforts she put in as a Bison football fan
and laughs at her own proud memories.
“I remember that for the Varela game we lost, the teams hopes were
really down. It killed me to see them
like that, so me and my best friend decided to buy the boys cupcakes after
the game and give them to them,” said
Jimenez. “ It wasn’t a big deal or anything, but you can never give too
Photo courtesy of Foxmar.
much support. It just doesn’t get more
committed than that.”
Their hard work and dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. From their
progress on the field, to the enthusiasm they provoke in the stands, the
varsity players have not only exceeded
expectation but have also proved that
nothing is impossible.
“I’m very proud of their accomplishments. Although everyone
in the school community and county
had doubted them, they’ve overcome
adversity and given it all they have,”
said Assistant Coach Javier Nora.
“What they’ve done this year
can never be taken away,” said Kelly,
“They’ve worked hard and kept their
heads up through even the most devastating losses, and that doesn’t only
show how strong they’ve become as a
team, but as individuals. I don’t think
it’s possible for me to be any more
proud of them.”
With
an
overwhelming
amount of freshman interested in the
soccer team, changes are expected for
the 2009-2010 season.
Last year’s soccer team made
it to the regional’s semi-finals. They
also won all but one game last year
in regionals, putting them in second
place.
With only 32 spaces available,
the majority of the students going out
for the team won’t make it.
“There are lots of freshmen
trying out this year. I hope I make it
on the team and that the coach looks
at freshmen too…” said freshman Luis
Regalado.
A
large
underclassmen
presence on the team has its positive
aspects, but some think it may bring
negative consequences.
“I play soccer for a club, and I
don’t plan on leaving it to play for my
high school team. I think it’s a waste
of time because the freshman trying
out will have to do so much more work
than they usually do, that most of them
will not have the physical endurance
needed to make it on the team,” said
freshman Guillermo Ruiz, “I also think
that it would change the team a lot if
freshman get accepted into the team
and that they will not go as far as they
did last year.”
By: Francisco Abad and
Augusto Aguilera
- S t a f f W r i te r s
Although the FIFA World
Cup is a little less than a year
away, teams across the world
are competing for qualification.
The Brazilian and Paraguayan
soccer teams have qualified into the
2010 FIFA world cup. Brazil is in the
lead with 33 points, and Paraguay
reigns in second place with 30 points.
Chile and Ecuador follow
close behind in third and fourth
place. Chile, with 27 points, is
eligible to qualify with one more
victory, making it their first World
Cup since 1998. Ecuador falls into
forth place with 23 points.
The team with the biggest
spark in controversy is Argentina.
What was once considered one of
the greatest teams in the world is
currently not qualified. Argentina
will need to win its upcoming games
Photo courtesy of www.chinadaily.com.cn
Qualifying teams established for 2010 world cup
against Peru and
Uruguay, and and
Ecuador will have
to lose once to give
Argentina access into
the qualifiers.
B r a z i l ,
Paraguay,
Chile,
and Argentina are
the
four
official
South
American
qualifiers for the 2010
FIFA World Cup.
Argentina has
made a comeback
from almost being
eliminated, to going
straight to the World
Cup without having
to go to playoffs.
In Europe, Denmark
has a sure chance
to qualify, since the
team is in first place
in
their
division.
Valencia forward David Villa successfully com- Switzerland, Slovakia,
pletes a passing header to a fellow team mate. Germany, Serbia, and
Italy are as well. The European
teams that already have a pass
to the 2010 World Cup are Spain,
England, and the Netherlands.
France
is
another
soccer powerhouse who doesn’t
have a guaranteed spot in the
qualifiers. The Czech Republic
is also facing a similar situation.
The first to qualify for North
America is Mexico playing against El
Salvador in Mexico City. They won
4-1, gaining a place in South Africa
after their last 6 undefeated games.
The U.S has gained a place
in South Africa after defeating
Honduras 3-2, and Honduras
qualified after defeating El Salvador
1-0. Costa Rica will have to play the
2 leg playoff against Uruguay for
the forth place qualifying position.
The World Cup starts
in June 2010, and all the teams
will be competing for the gold.