Mar - Coral Reef High School

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Did you miss the FCAT rally?
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Get Ho ked
March 2008 Volume 11 Issue 4
10101 SW 152 Street Miami, FL 33157
to bend & not break
PG. 6
Generation
to Generation
PG. 8
Do you know your Black
History?
PG. 7
FlooD of Crimson
PG. 7
“We may have different religions, different languages,
different colored skin, but we all belong to one human
race.”
-- Kofi Annan
2
News
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
Once the First Lady, Soon the First Lady President
Voting age seniors need to know the facts about Senator Clinton
Looking Towards the Future Clinton gleams with pride as the undulating flag is fixed in the background. A powerful shot of our female presidential candidate.
MICHELLE PORTER
Staff Writer
A
s
knows,
everybody now
former president,
Bill
Clinton’s
wife,
Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton is running in the
2008 presidential election
- the first female to run
for presidential office, by
the way. But what some
people are unaware of is
her views and what she
stands for. For you seniors
who are looking forward
to voting in this election,
it is important that you
know the facts about each
candidate and what he/she
will do if he/she becomes
our next president.
Senator Clinton’s
highest priorities include:
ending the war in Iraq,
health care reform and
strengthening the middle
class. Her platform strongly
supports abortion, because
she believes in pro-choice it is a woman’s right. Other
points that she supports
are more federal funding
for health coverage, sexual
orientation protected by
civil rights laws, absolute
right to gun ownership,
spend resources to stop
global warming, continue
foreign aid to Russia, Israel,
and others, support and
expand free trade, require
companies to hire more
women and minorities, as
well as capital punishment.
If Senator Clinton does
win the election, her views
will become legislation, and
as students it is important
to understand her views on
education. Clinton stated
that if elected, she would
reform the No Child Left
Behind Act. She supports
the expansion of access to
after-school programs and
has suggested a national
pre-kindergarten initiative
that would provide funding
to states to start preschool
programs,
provided
that states make quality
programs available to all
4-year-olds, and at no cost
to low-income and limitedEnglish homes.
Clinton also pledges
to recruit more teachers,
increase teacher salaries
and to take steps to
reduce the cost of higher
education, including a
$3,500 tuition tax credit
- this would simplify the
financial aid process and
provide financial incentives
for students who pursue
public service. Also, she
would like to reduce the
minority dropout rate in
half by intiating more than
$1 billion in programs that
identify and support atrisk youth, provide early
intervention, fund small
schools with intensive
personalized instruction,
and recruit and train
teachers and principals in
hard-to-serve areas.
How will Senator Clinton
save our planet Earth?
Well, Clinton has promised
to establish a green and
efficient economy that will
“create as many as 5 million
new jobs.” She plans to set
up a cap and trade system
for carbon emissions, has
pledged an 80 percent
pollution reduction by the
year 2050 and has proposed
creation of a Strategic
Energy Fund that would
invest $50 billion into
research, development and
deployment of renewable
energy, energy efficiency,
clean coal technology,
ethanol
and
other
homegrown bio fuels.
Oil companies would
have the choice between
investing in renewable
energy or paying into the
Senior
Breakfast:
To go or not to go,
THAT is the question.
BRIAN HEBERT
Staff Writer
A blanket of silence
always seems to spread
amongst classrooms when
the question is popped,
who is going to senior
breakfast? This year seems
to mark a record-low turn
out for seniors purchasing
senior breakfast tickets.
So what is the cause for
such a bad turn out? The
first reason seems to be
the expense; it costs thirty
dollars for a ticket, which
to most students seems
to be a little pricey. What
most people seem to forget
is that the cost of senior
breakfast supplements the
cost of prom. The lack
of attendance at senior
breakfast will force the
price of prom to be $85 or
more.
This then begs the question:
will everyone turn down
prom because of the price?
Senior Outrage Senior Natalie Feldman shows her disgust at
breakfast prices and requirements.
T h e
second reason people are
not attending is a direct
result of the first reason.
Since a lot of students are
not attending, others are not
going to senior breakfast
because their friends are
not going.
Lastly, senior
obligations and community
service
requirements
prevent a big chunk of
students from attending.
Senior Natalie Feldman
fund. She has also promised
to require power companies
to obtain 20 percent of their
energy from renewable
sources by 2020. She would
require all federal buildings
to increase the use of green
design principles and energy
efficient
technologies.
By 2030, all new federal
buildings and renovations
would be carbon-neutral.
She plans to protect our
planet well into the future.
Now that we know
some of the facts on one of
our democratic candidates,
it is up to you to go out and
research the others. Get
informed, and if you are
not old enough to vote in
this election, inform your
parents and your friends
of the VPA academy is
included in this bundle of
people. “Honestly, if I don’t
have thirty dollars to pay
for my obligations, how
am I going to pay for senior
breakfast?”
Feldman,
among many other seniors,
feels that there was little
notice that both community
service
projects
and
obligations had to be paid
prior to buying a ticket. “The lack of attendance
also makes it seem like
the class of 2008 has no
class pride,” says Enisha
Montegomery of the Legal
academy. “This really isn’t
the case at all; while we still
rarely show our pride, there
are more important things
that need to be attended
to.”
So what are seniors doing
instead of senior breakfast?
Well the obvious rumor of
going to a less expensive
restaurant has risen, but
due to pressure from our
News
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
Bring It On FCAT!
BY MICHELLE PORTER
Staff Writer
Students Ready To Shine
Back to High School Coral Reef Teachers imitate their students for a skit to
motivate the underclassmen that will soon be taking the FCAT.
Reef’s Job Fair
BY ELYSE MERCADO
Editor-In-Chief
As you might have noticed from the numerous e-mails
being sent to the student body, Coral Reef will be hosting
a Career Fair on March 11th and 12th.
“What we are trying to do is to provide a decent alternative
to the juniors and seniors on those FCAT days. We did
something that was actually very difficult to do,” says
Career Specialist Jose Sardon.
There will be approximately 50 companies ranging from
State Farm to Walgreen’s and Miami Children’s Theatre to
Abercrombie and Fitch. Booths will also be set up by the
US Navy, Marines, Army and Air force.
The event is scheduled to take place during the first two
blocks of each day, lasting from approximately 8am to
11am. Each day students will be divided into two groups,
each taking a turn in the field and the gym.
“We tried to bring something for everyone. If you’re
in legal we have places including law enforcement and
the Department of Juvenile Justice. If you’re in business
we have banks,” Mr. Sardon said. Medical students have
hospitals and Agriscience students can enjoy the USDA/
Agricultural Research Service.
Outside activities include obstacle courses and rock
climbing in the field. Hummers and vehicles used with in
certain professions, such the Army and the Marines, will
be on the field as well. Firefighters will be coming in with
their truck for students to see and enjoy.
As for the dress code, unfortunately shorts and a tank top
won’t suffice.
“I wouldn’t come dressed for success but I would dress
nice,” said Mr. Sardon. “There will be companies that will
be looking to hire so don’t wear your ripped jeans. Instead
you might want to come prepared with a resume.”
“
We did
something
that
w a s
actually
very
difficult
to do
Brains and skill
H
ey underclass Cudas! It’s that
special time of year again when we break
out the number 2 pencils and the standard
four-function calculators. That’s right, I’m
talking about the FCAT. Every year the
teachers and administrators try to get the
students excited about taking the FCAT,
and this year is no different - well maybe
just a little different.
The old ways of having your teachers
just tell you how much better it will be
when you pass the FCAT are gone because
on Monday, February 25, the teachers and
administrators teamed up in an exciting
and entertaining effort to show the
underclassmen how awesome it is!
The stars of the show were: our
awesome Assistant Principals, Mr. Mejia,
Mr. Evans, Ms. Pereira, and Ms. Valdez;
our inimitable counselor, Mr. Zucker;
and our talented teachers, Mr. Mateo,
Ms. Porter, and Ms. Granberry - I hope I
didn’t forget anyone. They mimicked the
student behaviors that irk them. There
were desks arranged on the auditorium
stage as if it were a classroom, and when
the teachers strolled onto the stage dressed
3
in outrageous clothing, they definitely got
the attention of the students, perhaps more
so than they get in the classroom!
The students’ eyes were glued to the
stage as the teachers acted as the students
teachers were transformed into the students.
Mr. Zucker won’t be returning to the
classroom for a long time after the ‘class’
that he had! Look out Tom Cruise, Halle
Berry and Denzel Washington! You’ve got
stiff competition! The roaring cheer of the
student audience was living proof of a job
well done.
Not to be outdone, the Greeks stepped
and stomped to thunderous applause. There
was not one student left unimpressed. Our
dancers showed us how to relax and destress, using positive energy to rise above
FCAT worries.
One more week till the big CAT roars
into town, and thanks to our teachers, we
are ready! We have tough Coral Reef armor
that has prepared us for the task ahead. It
is said that ‘there are many ways to skin
a cat,’ and I believe Coral Reef students
have been taught all the ways, so, BRING
IT ON! In the words of Assistant Principle
Ms. Pereira, “Lets “trapear” [or mop up]
the FCAT!” Good luck little Cudas!
Cudettes win Nationals
Orlando challenge nets win
BY CHIEDOZIE OKAFOR
Guest Writer
Stylish in their silver
jackets,
Coral
Reef’s
Cudettes returned to the
tank as U.D.A. (United
Dance
Association)
national champions. This
year’s team consisted of
thirteen seniors and four
juniors from the magnetdance academy.
The team’s captain Lauren
Decker can walk around
with pride, knowing that
she led her team to a State
Championship.
“It’s pretty difficult,
because we’re all friends,
but you have to learn to
enforce rules and keep
everyone focused,” says
Captain, Lauren Decker.
Since the beginning
of the school year, the
Cudette dancers have
been practicing non-stop
to achieve their goals. Of
course, this wasn’t an easy
task. At times, frustration
got the best of the team and
arguments would occur.
Perfecting choreography
was not an easy task.
Along with learning new
dances, the team had an
intense training, which
included running to build
endurance.
Branden Bryant, VPA
graduate
of
2007,
choreographed the entire
hip-hop routine, and Ricky
Ruiz choreographed the
Jazz. Of course Ms. Santolo
had a big influence on the
entire performance.
“We’ve been practicing
since the summer, usually
from 8 am till 2 pm. In
between we were running,
and it was intense because
our jazz choreographer,
Ricky Ruiz, was only in
town for a week, so we had
a limited amount of time
to learn the dance,” says
Senior Henry Rivera.
“There were a lot of
arguments about everything
but, in the end, we came
together as a team,” says
Senior, Karla Watkins.
The team definitely
pulled together, leaving the
tank on February 31, 2008,
the Cudettes headed for
Orlando, focused and ready
to excel. The Cudettes are
well known at U.D.A. for
their style and creativity.
“Every year people expect
new and better material
from us,” says the team’s
Captain Lauren Decker
The
competition
is scored based on
technique,
performance,
energy, formation and
choreography. The Reef’s
Cudettes did as much as
possible to perfect all the
requirements.
Not only was the team
focused on keeping their
reputation as one of the best,
they also had unfinished
business with some of the
other schools.
According to an insider,
the Cudettes have had a
small rivalry with WestMoore. After last year’s
competition the Cudettes
came in 1st for Hip-Hop,
but were beaten by WestMoore in Jazz, who came
in 1st place.
Who said Coral Reef didn’t have athletes?
TYRELL HALL
Staff Writter
T
hree champions sit at the table
adorned with assorted collegiate sports
paraphernalia; they grip their pens with
the same intensity that they have used to
grip footballs and baseball bats during four
years of strenuous preparation for this epic
moment…they are ready. They all sign at
the same time. And we are all inspired.
Recently, on February 6, three of our
very own accepted one of the highest
honors accorded to high school athletesthe glorious full-ride. Each received a
full athletic scholarship to his/her school
of choice: Kristy Bigenho to Bevard
Community College, Malcolm Munroe
to Georgia Tech, and Eliezer Sandaifer to
North Carolina Central University.
“[I was] excited [about the offer]; I
jumped around the house for half an hour,”
said Sandaifer about his scholarship offer.
Sandaifer was influenced to choose North
Carolina Central after a full-paid weekend
visit to the school. When asked about it took
for him to climb to his current position,
Eliezer responded, “Patience, hard work,
more hard work.”
Malcolm Munroe responded in similar
fashion. He summed up his principles
in a sentence, “Work hard,
stay focused, and you got
to believe.” Munroe chose
Georgia Tech with several
considerations in mind.
“Georgia Tech was a total
package: academics, chance
of playing, and my parents
thought it was the best choice.
I’m really excited about the
city of Atlanta,” he said.
Kristy Bigenho said, “ Just
practice.” She decided to
attend Bevard Community
College after participating in a
Signing Day Kristy Bigenho looks on as
Malcolm Munroe and Eliezer Sandaifer sign
their letters of intent
showcase
where, in her words, “they watched me,
and they liked me.”
4
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
Why YOUth should vote
Editorial
Have a helping hand in the decision that affects all of our futures
Every four years Americans are faced with our country. Along with this privilege, we also our first four years of college. There are also the
the important decision of voting, and many
adults take the time to decipher the hard choice
of electing someone who is sufficient enough to
hold the title, or a complete idiot who will only
live to disappoint us for the next four years.
However, for the American youth the word
voting doesn’t seem to strike too much attention.
We’re automatically bored by political debates,
political talks, and political propaganda.
Anything regarding the world politics can only
bring us to a quick nap and a flip of the channel.
Clearly not all teenagers fall in this category, but
a good handful do.
It was reported in the 2004 election that only
48.75% of voters ages 18-24 registered and out
of that small percentage, only 30.2% voted.
Here in America we have a democracy
and that means that we get a say in who runs
get a say about how our country is run. We are
given this opportunity, a freedom that several
generations have fought for, yet so little of us of
use it to our advantage and the advantage of our
country. It is very easy to take a “whatever, who
cares” kind of attitude about our right to vote but
we shouldn’t be brushing this great honor off so
quickly. In some countries people are literally
dying to be able to have a small say and make a
difference.
There is no reason why we as young people,
the future generation, should let this opportunity
pass us by. Whoever gets elected will be
responsible for how our country is run for the
next four years. Past decisions have proved to
be important to young people in America. Think
about it. The war in Iraq: young soldiers are the
ones dying. Post-secondary education funding:
BAITLINE2007-2008 Staff
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Elyse Mercado
Jennifer Rowe
Opinions Editor
Elyse Mercado
News Editors
Fabienne Elie
Annie Quintana
Jennifer Rowe
Submerge Yourself
Editor
Elyse Mercado
A&E Editor
Tatiana McInnis
Sports Editor
Sheila Stanley
Spotlight Editor
Alexa Watts
Cuda Culture Editor
Andrea Rodriguez
High Tide Editor
Tatiana McInnis
Staff Writers
Janee Brown
Sheldon Dearr
Fabienne Elie
Diego Fernandez
Bryan Herbert
Samantha Heskey
Anya Kaplan
Cody Lorich
Tatiana McInnis
Elyse Mercado
Michelle Porter
Annie Quintana
Andrea Rodriguez
Raziela Rodriguez
Jennifer Rowe
Sheila Stanley
Elizabet Torrents
Anthony Torres
Alexa Watts
Guest Writers
Chiedozie Okafor
Graphic Designers
Marienne Figueroa
Emily Hanson
Cody Lorich
Elyse Mercado
Advisor
Cheri MitchellSantiago
Principal
Adrianne Leal
employment and job training programs: how we
will be supporting ourselves for the first time
ever. Those are just a few of the current hot topics
that directly affect the quality of our life RIGHT
NOW. This is the future we will one day inherit.
Now we have to add environmental concerns,
fossil fuel consumption, farming and livestock
funding and the list just gets longer.
One of the great things about being a teenager
is that so little is expected of us. Election year
after election year the percentage of eligible
youth who actually register and vote is small
when compared with other demographics but this
doesn’t mean we should fall into the stereotype
being put on by party analysts. Clearly there is
only one way to solve this problem. Do what
every teenager does best, be rebellious and prove
them wrong; get out and vote.
Baitline strives to provide quality student-led publications
to the student body providing the school community with
an open forum of public expression. In the publications
class, students will make all editorial decisions including,
but not limited to: generating story ideas, writing copy,
editing copy, laying out copy, taking photographs, and
handling all aspects of running the business end of a
school publication. Because of this, any comments or
concerns should be addressed to the editorial staff.
It should be understood that the newspaper is not a
professional publication; therefore, students will make
mistakes during the learning process. As a staff, we will
make every effort to learn from these mistakes and
continually improve the publication.
While our primary goal is to inform and entertain the
school community, we also strive to maintain high
journalistic standards. All opinions expressed in the
publications are the students’ or the individual sources,
and not the staff’s as a whole, the advisor, or school
officials.
Letters to the editor are appreciated and can be delivered
to room 305 or e-mailed to
baitline@coralreef.dadeschools.net. All letters submitted
may be condensed or edited for grammar and spelling.
Libelous material will not be printed.
Information about submitting ads can be obtained by
e-mailing baitline@coralreef.dadeschools.net.
Past issues can be viewed at http://crhs.dadeschools.
net.
Opinions
Running with colors
Can Obama take it?
BY FABIENNE ELIE
News Editor
I
am fairly certain that I’m
not the only follower of the
phenomenon that is Barack Obama
and yet I ask myself the question:
the question of whether race will
trump gender as America looks
toward election 2008?
It’s hard to deny that the
Clinton-Obama stand-off has been
more than well-covered -- and in
an overly simplistic, insubstantial,
annoyingly celebritized way.
Surely most of us were waiting
for the discussion to get serious
earlier in 2007 and, at last, it has.
We’re just beginning to throw
around the tough questions; now
we want to know where is the
money coming from? And what
about the inconsistencies in the
positions? Where is this interest
really coming from?
All much more important than
why he doesn’t wear a tie.
My hopes for Obama are as high as
anyone else’s, but what person so
young in public life could survive
being shot from the planet’s
biggest cannon at this velocity?
And what, exactly, qualifies him
to be the most powerful man in the
world? Hopefully, he will mature
into a truly viable leader, but I’m
of the camp that says he isn’t quite soup yet.
Officials like Jim Clyburn and others who came
up through the Democratic ranks won’t quickly allow an
upstart to upset the apple cart of allegiances won, favors
traded and known quantities like Hillary Clinton and John
Edwards.
No one can deny the value of Obama’s humble
experience in Illinois before becoming a US senator.
God spare us another narcissist millionaire buying
his way into office from nowhere but his offshore accounts.
Now he’s learned the tedious ins and outs of governing,
legislating and milling one’s way through the thicket of
interest-group politics on a small but crucial scale. These
are important dues that any good politician should pay.
Now, he’s ready to apply those lessons learned to the
massive scale of national politics, but we’re not giving
him the time to do that.
His mixed descent is a popular topic of debate. Not
descended from West African slaves brought to America,
he steps into the benefits of black progress (like Harvard
Law School) without having borne any of the burdens,
and he gives the white folks plausible deniability of their
unwillingness to embrace blacks in public life. None of
Obama’s doing, of course, but inevitable count against
him.
However, the issue was always framed as a battle
between gender and race. Should we vote for a woman
who must’ve already played some unseen role in a previous
administration, or a superficially black man who appears
unaffected by the poisons of politics? My intention
is to point out the continuing significance of the slave
experience to the white American psyche. Lumping us all
together erases the significance of slavery and continuing
racism while giving the appearance of progress. Though
actually, it is a kind of progress. And that’s why I break
my silence: Obama, with his assumed roots, is doing us
all a favor.
Since he had no part in our racial history, he is free
of it. And once he’s opened the door to even an awkward
embrace of candidates of color for the highest offices, the
door will stay open; a side door, but an open door. Yet until
Obama survives the scourging he’s about to receive, no
candidate of color will ever be taken seriously. Clinton
isn’t about to leave the stage in the name of racial progress,
but still, this is progress. Maybe he’s a non-black, but more
importantly he’s a non-white. And he may get what all
non-whites have asked for: to be judged on his merits.
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
What is “love”?
5
BY SAMANTHA HESKEY
Staff Writer
W
hat is love? Love is any of a number of
emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong
affection or profound oneness. Love can have a wide
variety of intended meanings. Today everyone uses
the word love, and say, “I love you” but many don’t
really mean it, or say it because someone says it
to them and they feel the need to say it back. So the question is this is it love or lust? Students
especially today say I love you to someone that
has been dating for three months. It’s emotionally
impossible for someone to truly love a person in a
matter of 3 months. I feel if just because you are in a
relationship and your partner says I love you to you,
you don’t need to say those precious words back.
I love you are strong words that should be really
meant when said. Many people may not know but
there are many different kinds of love, it can be
impersonal love which is when someone may say
that they love a country, principle, or goal if they
value it greatly and are deeply committed to it.
People can also ‘love’ material objects, which they
feel it identifies with them in a certain way. .
“Love,” as many people may call it, can and will
differ from person to person based on emotional
maturity. To know true love you not only must love
in such a way that you would give your own life at the
drop of a hat to save him/her, but you must be loved
in return. Love is hard to find and painful to lose, can
be the best thing that happens to you or the worst, can
drive you crazy or keep you sane, can destroy lives
or save them, can stop wars or start them, can clarify
or confuse, pushes and pulls people away. Although
real love is often accompanied by strong feelings,
love does not equate with the sense of floating on
clouds.
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
6
SUBMERGE
Writing that means more than just the words on the page
Students at the Reef show their feelings through diction and rhyme
TO BEND & NOT BREAK
BY TATIANA MCINNIS
It’s difficult, isn’t it?
To bend & not break
Through oppression
Displacement, persecution
Abuse
Who could see past the blood &
tears?
The bigotry & fears
It’s difficult, isn’t
it?
To make out the distant
songs of hope and
praise
Through the clanking of
chains, the roaring of
waves
It’s difficult, isn’t
it?
To be a prisoner of
your skin
To endure
treatment
plagued
with
sin
Surely,
it was
difficult
To live in
the land of
the “free”
When there are
five, but counted
three
It’s difficult, isn’t
it?
To bend & not break.
“
At the end of the day, you are
not only what you know, but
what you endeavor to learn.
TATIANA MCINNIS, LEGAL SENIOR
7
YOURSELF
Flood of
Crimson
Do You Know Your Black History?
BY ELISABET TORRENTS
Staff Writer
1. Black History Month originated in
1926 by __________ as Negro History
Week. The month of February was
chosen in honor of Frederick Douglass
and Abraham Lincoln, who were born
in that month.
a. Carter Godwin Woodson
b. Martin Luther King Jr.
c. B.T. Washington
d. Ben Carson
2. Track and Field star, _________
__ broke many records at the 1936
Olympic games in Berlin, including
becoming the first athlete to win four
gold medals in one Olympaid.
a. Jesse Owens
b. Arthur Ashe
c. Ben Carson
d. Lee Elder
5. Who said “our lives begin to end the
day we become silent about the things that
matter.”
a. Malcolm X
b. Martin Luther King Jr.
c. Oprah Winfrey
6. Which of the following statements is true?
a. an estimates 5,000 black soldiers fought in
the American Army in the Revolution war.
b. an estimates 1,000 black soldiers fought in
the American Army in the Revolution war.
c. there were no black soldiers in the American
Army in the Revolutionary War.
7. The first black woman to receive a major
government appointment in the U.S. was?
a. Shirley Chisholm
b. Mary Mcleod Bethune
c. Mary Church Terrell
8. The first black judge was?
3. ____________ was the first African
American to be honored on a U.S.
stamp, in 1940.
a. William Hastie
b. Jonathan Jasper Wright
c. Thurgood Marshall
9. Who was the first African American to win
an Academy Award?
a. Lee Elder
b. Jesse Owens
c. Arthur Ashe
d. B.T. Washington
a. Sidney Poitier
b. Hattie McDaniel
c. Ethel Waters
10. Who said “People always say that I didn’t
give up my seat because I was tired… the
only thing I was tired of was, was tired of
giving up”?
a. Tiger Woods
b. Michael Jordan
c. Michael Jackson
a. Ethel Waters
b. Oprah Winfrey
c. Rosa Parks
BY ALIX MONTES
BY TYRELL HALL
Two little dark circles
On a little dark face
Stare into the blackness
Where a demon awaits
A devil’s disciple
His rifle in the moonlight
Spots another victim
In its line of sight
A saltwater stream seeps
through the dark circles
They whisper to each other
“This man is hurtful,
He’s another vicious militia up
in the village
Any innocent creature he sees,
he will kill it,”
The little face hid in a hut made
of straw
But the gun huffed and puffed
and blew down the walls,
The two little pupils
On the little brown face
Couldn’t see the murderer
Who had sealed their fate,
They couldn’t see the killer
Too blurred was their vision
Blinded by a flood from the
forehead above
---of crimson.
Nigga, Nigga
The meaning has not changed no matter how many years from today it was used to discriminate
Even if you replace the “er” with an “a”
The meaning is still the same
It was used to call ignorant something so magnificent
The Negro race
Call a brother nigga and you slap him in the face.
Call a brother nigga and you at a racist white man’s pace
When you are way ahead of him
Call a brother nigger and you justify his thinking by insulting your kin
A brother calls you nigga, he’s a member of your clan
Caucasian friend calls you nigga, and you ready to punch a white man
That, right there, strengthens the Klu Klux Klan
Dr. King is dead, so we try to keep the dream alive.
Nigga, nigga, nigga, the dream is taking a dive
X is dead, but you hold your fist up proud.
Now Chico’s and Asians say Nigga, your voice is no longer loud
We get mad at the white man for following our example
We start to turn racist when we want to turn his body into a morgue sample.
None of us have really experienced true hate
Yet, this word teaches us to discriminate
Say nigga to image look hardcore
Once again, you prove nothing but ignorance at the core.
Man, I can’t say it enough, “ your nonexistent image is pimping you like a whore.”
We stronger than that...to need to say a word to lift your self-esteem off the floor.
Don’t try convince me that you say nigga as a way to call out any, not forcibly, a black man.
If so, then why do mixed dudes call themselves niggaricans.
Why all this hype? Nigga is just a word.
This ain’t no essay as you can see, but like a picture, it’s meaning is worth a thousand words.
Answers
1. A 2.A 3.D 4.A 5.B 6.A 7.B 8.B 9.C 10. C
Just a word
4. ______ is the youngest person and
the first African American to win the
Masters Tournament. He was also the
highest paid athlete in 2005, earning an
estimated $87 million dollars.
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
8
Cuda Culture
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
Black History from Generation to Generation
Evolving thoughts through time
JANEE’ BROWN
Staff Writer
“B
lack history is the education of the
African – American heritage and culture
so African Americans as a people could
know their past in order to preserve their
future,” said Visual and Performing Arts
senior, Artesian Madison.
As time has evolved, so has a significant
contrast between each generation.
Compared to the past, today’s generation
has more opportunities because of those
who lived and made history.
“The current generation has more chances
to experience black history for examples
black television such as the Cosby Show
and Oprah, community gatherings such as
the MLK parades and Goombay festivals,
or radio stations for example Tom Joyner
Morning Show,” said African American
Studies teacher, Mr. D. Bullard.
Those who lived in the past fought
for things as such to be allowed. Unlike
previous generation today’s generation is
living black history through their actions.
For example: there are more black movies,
more black students entering colleges,
etc. Therefore, black history had more
relevance because those individuals helped
shape black history.
“The present generation have an attitude
of superiority because they feel they have
overcame the struggle thus have forgotten
their past and are ignorant of the hardship
rooted inside their history,” says Madison.
“Also in contrast there is less participation
from the youth of the community in voting,
concerns with the government, and overall
knowledge of worldly issues because in the
past it meant more to those individuals.”
Both generations have a contrasting belief
of the “struggle.”
“The struggle was how to change the
perception of African Americans to other
races the current struggle is to improve
the perception of African Americans to
themselves it has become an internal
issue,” said Bullard.
As a representation for the current
generation Madison states “the struggle
used to be about being accepted as equals,
as human, but now is to be equal in status
such as education, politics, and etc.”
In order to end the struggle one must
return back to the roots and find the problem.
Yet over generations and generations the
concern for improvement has decreased.
Madison would conclude that education is
the key because a fraction of the problem
is his generation is unaware of the struggle
due to choice or circumstance.
“Most of my generation don’t know
what the struggle is because they don’t
understand the hardship behind it. A
majority of youth feel superior because
they feel they have overcome the struggle,
yet the struggle will never be over because
with life comes struggles.”
The African- American youth being
ignorant is a crucial problem because it’s
hard to push for a goal without everyone
agreeing. However, it is
factual because of issues
with race, discrimination, or
anything that was foundation
of black history tends to
have less of an importance.
“The issue of race becomes
less and less important to
each generation,” says Mr.
Bullard.
Black history is what
describes the legacy and the
back bone of the African
American culture. Black
history is what unifies the
race and motivates African
Americans to continue to
better themselves. Black
history isn’t just a long story
about being enslaved, being
economically unstable, or
Coral Reef embraces Black History
being darker complected
faces The work of Tiffany Cooper, VPA
than someone. Black history
senior adorns the doors in the social studies
is the good and the bad that
wing during the Black History month hall
illustrates to others race and
decorating contest.
descendents of the African
American race the pathway
to a better place.
Through each generation its value may
depreciate or significance may become
less relevant. However, no matter how it
is interpreted it would always be BLACK
HISTORY and if one doesn’t learn from it,
they allow it to repeat.
Fort WILDerness - Bringing all of IB together
IB releases all their stress in one BIG BLOWOUT!
ALEXA WATTS
Staff Writer
F
riday morning,
January 18th was the
much anticipated day for
the IB seniors of 2008.
Fort Wilderness, our class
trip, was finally here.
After the Extended Essay,
two
World
Literature
papers, the Math Internal
Assessment and History
Internal Assessment, Fort
Wilderness was our time to
indulge in a non-stressful
environment.
Not
to
mention the English orals
that awaited us back at
school.
Ft. Wilderness would be
more than just a fieldtrip; it
was a time of unity for all
to enjoy.
Fort Wilderness was
the topic of every IB
conversation ending with a
“I’M SO EXCITED!!”
Thanks to IB seniors
Sarah Jones and Annie
Quintana, the rooming
arrangements and bus seats
were quickly organized into
IB Just Waiting Around IB seniors eagerly
wait for their bus to the happiest place on
earth, Fort Wilderness.
the individual grouping of
friends. After the cabin faux
pas and an overflowing
grocery list, the trip was
fast approaching.
The zombies entered
the auditorium on Friday
morning were restored to
their superhuman state
after the last disciplinary
speech.
The bus ride was all
pictures, gossip and ipods.
At the first rest stop,
everyone was set free in
Wal-Mart to buy as much
junk as possible, or at least
to compact into shopping
carts. We bought meat
for the grill, as well as
pasta, chips, cookies and
uncrustables. We loaded
all of our stuff onto the bus
and were back on the road.
Finally, we dispersed
into our respective groups,
put away our groceries
and spent the rest of the
day
“cabin-hopping.”
The weekend consisted of
exploring the campgrounds,
various games, and sleeping
in. We went to Downtown
Disney on Saturday night,
which was another exciting
attraction. Even though
students, but came home as
sisters.” Victoire Desvigne
claimed that, “Living in an
environment with others
“THIS iS NOT
A BODEGA!”
-Marcus ADelMan
we spent half our night
drenched from the rain, we
enjoyed our stay; watching
movies, eating at Planet
Hollywood, and detouring
to Pleasure Island. After a
long night, the chaperones
they woke us up at the crack
of dawn - Magic Kingdom
and Space Mountain was
next on the stop.
Brittany Morgan states,
“In terms of the girls
cabins, we began the trip as
taught us to share chores
like cooking and cleaning
which
we
wouldn’t
normally do.” And, well, if
you ask Marcus Adelman
the whole trip “was not
a bodega.” More than
anything else, after the
seemingly insignificant fun
and games, Ft. Wilderness
was probably one of the
most valuable bonding
experience we have yet to
encounter.
Cuda Culture
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
Left foot stomp, clap, clap again
9
Black History Month teacher/staff luncheon an inspirational success!
TATIANA MCINNIS, ELYSE MERADO
Staff Writers
O
n February 21, 2008, the teachers
had their annual African American History
Luncheon. The teachers were graced by
some of the Reef’s very own performers,
including the Sigma Beta step team. The
team consists of Shane Sumbu, Shatone
Gray, Matthew Hall, Michael Davis,
James Brown, Gerald Grant, Tavarus
Andrews, and Craig Cleveland. After their
outstanding performance at the Gospel
Explosion show, the team was asked to
perform for the teachers at the luncheon.
“It was a great honor to be asked to
step for the teachers,” said Matthew
Hall, a senior in the Business Academy.
“It was great because it’s not like we had to
ask to perform, they came to us and it shows
that they were impressed by our performance
at the Gospel Explosion,” said Tavarus
Andrews, a junior in the IB Academy.
The team has been performing for
almost a year now and recently had a show
at Robert Morgan Educational Center.
They are very dedicated to their craft
and devote countless hours to perfecting
their routines before every performance.
“If we have an upcoming performance,
we all go over to Matt’s house everyday
and practice for two hours, but when there’s
no performance around, we still manage to
get together like two or three times a week
to practice; performances are random
so it’s always good to be prepared,” said
Gerald Grant, Business Academy junior.
Sigma Beta was established in
1950 on the premise of providing
young, educated, African- American
men a strong institution that prevents
involvement
in
negative
activity.
“The group is based on four important
elements; culture, education, socialization
and
athleticism,”
said
Tavarus.
Community service is also high on
their list of things to do. The team
recently performed at Frank C. Martin
Elementary and taught a group of third
graders a couple of steps. The easiest of
steps? Stomp with your left foot, clap,
now clap again and you’re on your way.
If you are a fan of the Sigma Beta steppers
or if you’ve never seen them perform before
but would like to, they have an upcoming
show at Richmond Park, March 14-15.
Legal senior Jason Culmer was also
asked to perform at the luncheon. For
those of you who don’t already know,
Jason is an incredible preacher. He
attributes his inspiration from various
sources, including religion and morality.
However, things he sees in his own
community seem to influence him the most.
“I see a lot of things in the African
American community that bother me, you
know, and I think people lose sight of what
is, in fact, the African American culture. I’m
lucky enough to go to a school that allows
me to express myself, so why not talk about
it, and try to inspire change?” says Culmer.
All teachers staff members that attended
were grateful for the opportunity to attend.
“I enjoyed it. The food was great. I
went for the ribs. Thanks to Joe Evans
and everyone who put
it together,”
said Art teacher Mr. Scott Mckinley.
Overall, not only was the food
amazing, but also the performances
and the inspiration behind it all.
“The performances were incredible,”
says AP Psychology teacher Mrs. Kathryn
Sullivan. “It was obvious how much
pride and effort the students put into their
performances. In my opinion, the one that
was most captivating was Jason Culmer.”
In the end, there was only positive things to
say about the lunch and entertainment. The
event turned out even better than expected.
Traditional Dress Mrs. Washington proudly supports the occasion
with authentic apparel.
Eat up! Math teacher Mrs. Harrison loads up on the rice while others
wait in line.
Sigma Beta- They are as tight as a family. They even go to church together every Sunday.
10
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
A&E
So
many
movies,
so
little
time
A brief review and rating on the latest blockbusters and flops
BY CODY LORICH
Graphic Designer
On Meet the Spartans...
From the makers of Scary Movie and Date Movie comes this funny parody of the
sword-and-sandal epics. Starring Carmen Electra, Sean Maguire and Ken Davitian.
The Critics give it 1.5 out of 5 stars
The Reef gives it 3 out of stars
“The movie is okay. It would have been so much better if they didn’t explain it to you. Example they show the
fat guy from Borat and then they tell you that ‘it’s the fat guy from Borat’ instead of letting you figure out the joke.
See it only if you have a free ticket or your friend is paying.”
Marc Valme (IB 12)
On Cloverfield...
The story of a powerful destructive force that descends upon New York City, and the
four desperate survivors who put their lives on the line for a hazardous rescue mission.
The Critics give it 4 out of 5 stars
The Reef gives it 2.5 out of 5 stars
“The movie had the potential to set the new bar for monster flicks. The chaotic atmosphere and shaky camera do
pull the viewers in, but within a few minutes you’re thrown back out whether it is because of the nausea or the
stupidity of the characters.”
Cheryl Upshaw (IB 12)
On P.S. I Love You...
Holly Kennedy seems to have it all. She is beautiful, smart, and married to the love of
her life. But then Gerry’s (he husband) life is taken by an illness that also seems to take
the life out of Holly. In the weeks and months that follow, letters from Gerry
are delivered in creative ways, each sending her on a new adventure to help
The Critics give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Reef gives it 4 out of 5 stars
“It was a great movie! I don’t think there was a single dry eye in the audience. I loved the
storyline and Gerard Butler was incredibly cute and romantic.”
Lauren Rodriguez ( Legal 12)
On Juno...
A teenage girl is faced with an unexpected pregnancy; her best friend helps
her in finding a suitable home for the unborn child.
The Critics give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Reef gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars
“I loved this movie! The humor was brilliantly witty and unique and the subject matter was
delivered in a very classy way. It was funny, clever and heartwarming and I would defiantly
see it more than once, in fact, I already did.”
Heather Dean (VPA 12)
Sports
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
The 42nd Super Sunday
The Biggest Showdown in NFL History
BY SHEILA STANLEY
Sports Editor
M
illions tuned in on
February 3rd to watch the
epic battle between the
New England Patriots and
the New York Giants in
Superbowl XLII.
The Massachusetts-based
Patriots were blitzing their
way to the top, as they went
18 games undefeated.
“After the first win, I
knew for sure that they were
going to the Superbowl,”
said Engineering senior
Brian Boyd.
And while their appearance
at the 42nd Superbowl, held
in Glendale, Arizona, was
almost a certain thing right
off the bat, their opponent
wasn’t.
After the much anticipated
– and expected – Pats’
defeat over the San Diego
Chargers in the AFC
Championship Game, New
England was guaranteed a
spot at the next Superbowl.
All the speculation was
put to rest when the NFC
Championship
Game
revealed that the New York
Giants had made it as well.
“It’s about time they go to
the Superbowl,” said Legal
senior Maria Velapoldi.
“It’s been ten years.”
Many sided with the perfect
Patriots; after all, they only
managed to slaughter 18
other NFL teams to ensure
their rightful title as the
only team to do so, while
the Giants’ record was 136.
Nonetheless, there were
many Giants fans as well.
“I don’t like the Patriots.
They’re the division rivals
of the Dolphins,” said
Business senior Mark
Brzuska.
And that’s reason enough
for any Miamian to not root
for the Patriots. Back in
1972, the Miami Dolphins
were the only NFL team to
have a perfect undefeated
season and win the
5:01 left in the first quarter,
nothing of much importance
was accomplished by the
Patriots.
Within three seconds
of the second quarter,
Laurence Maroney scored
the Patriots first touchdown,
making the score 7-3.
When the Giants had
possession
again,
Eli
Manning made an amazing
Defensive End.
If people don’t watch the
Superbowl for the great
million-dollar Ads played,
they usually watch to see
the halftime show. A current
artist, or at least a popular
one, is featured. Typically,
at least. However, this
year’s special guest was not
the case.
“Who is Tom Petty
Give me a G, Give me an I... Students show who they rooted for.
Superbowl.
At the start of the game,
the Giants won the coin toss
and received the ball. The
Giants, in 16 plays, covered
63 yards and consumed 9
minutes and 59 seconds
— the most plays and the
longest time in possession
on an opening drive of a
Super Bowl.
This was crucial, as giving
the ball to Tom Brady,
New England’s acclaimed
quarterback, was like
signing a death warrant.
So, before allowing the
Patriots possession, the
Giants scored the game’s
first points – a 32-yard field
goal kicked by Lawrence
Tynes.
Finally, the Patriots got the
ball, but to no avail. With
major-yardage pass to Wide
Receiver (WR) Amani
Toomer. On the next play,
however, a pass to WR
Steve Smith proved fatal –
New England’s Ellis Hobbs
intercepted it.
New York’s defense was
viewed as one of the best, if
not the best, in the league.
In fact, this season, their
D-Line led the NFL with
the most sacks. And Tom
Brady was no exception. In
the second quarter, Brady
was sacked 3 times, twice
back-to-back. The first
two times, Brady kept the
ball and it only counted
as another down. The last
time, however, the ball
came loose and the fumble
was recovered by Osi
Umenyiora, New York’s
“We Break Bones!”
and the Heartbreakers?”
asked Aeon Duncan, an
Engineering
freshman.
“I’ve never heard of them
in my life.”
In the third quarter, as the
Patriots were punting the
ball, a penalty was called
– there were 12 men on the
field as the snap was made.
Rather than the ball going
to the Giants, the Pats were
given an automatic first
down.
However, the Patriots
began to get cocky and
gambled on 4th and 13.
Brady threw an incomplete
pass to WR Jabar Gaffney,
who was in the end zone.
The Giants had possession
again; Manning threw a
5-yard touchdown pass to
WR David Tyree with 11:05
Lacrosse season up and running
BY ANDREA RODRIGUEZ
Cuda Culture Editor
Two years ago Coral
Reef Athletics added a new
team to their roster. Not
just any sport but one that
causes more injury than
any other. To play Lacrosse
you need to have heart,
drive, and a high tolerance
for pain - all the qualities of
our Cuda Lacrosse Team.
The teams’ original
goal was just to play one
game; they played six. The
following year their goal
was to win at least one
game; they won eight and
went on to the playoffs.
Not only that but they were
second in the district and
eleventh in the state, almost
impossible for a second
year team. So what can we
expect from Lacrosse this
year?
“This year we’re going
all the way to states,” said
Michael “Mikey Math”
Matthiesen.
“Then
to
Disney.”
The first match was
February 13th against the
Western High Wildcats, a
match our Cuda Lacrosse
Team won.
“Our team has a lot of
promise,” said Joseph
Bellando “If you want to
see the best team around,
and you want to watch a
full action, full contact
sport…..We break bones!”
left in the final quarter.
The score was now 10-7,
Giants.
With their undefeated
record at stake, the Patriots
now had to put on their Agame. And with WR’s like
Wes Welker (a former Fin
who holds the NFL record
of 112 receptions) and
Randy Moss (who holds
the record of 23 touchdown
catches), Tom Brady (who
hold the record for 50
touchdown passes in this
season) should’ve felt like
a kid at a candy shop with a
dollar in his pocket.
With 2:42 remaining
on the clock, Brady
threw
a
6-yard
touchdown pass to
Moss, regaining the
lead. Brady did what
he had to do, and
now it was up to the
Patriots’ defensive
linemen to do what
they had to do – stop
that ball.
The Giants had 83 yards
to go in 2 minutes, 39
seconds. In addition to
the approaching 2-minute
warning, they still had all 3
timeouts left. Again, like a
kid at a candy shop.
The pressure was on Eli
Manning to move his team
downfield, any way he
could. And if no receiver
was open, he ran the ball
himself, something he
seldom does.
With 1:15 on the clock,
as the ball was snapped, the
Patriots defense attempted
to pass rush Eli Manning.
Ironic thing is they had him
by the back of his jersey,
and he still managed to
break free of the 3 wouldbe sacks.
Amazingly, Eli escaped
and
with
rapid-fire
accuracy, he pitched the
ball to WR David Tyree,
seemingly without even
seeing him. Perhaps what’s
even more amazing is that
Tyree caught it, using his
helmet to keep the ball in his
possession and not Strong
Safety Rodney Harrison’s,
who was covering him.
With the Giants in a
position to actually win the
game and 39 seconds left
on the clock, Eli pitched
the ball once more to a
wide-open Plaxico Burress
(WR) who just so happened
to be in the end zone. The
score was now 17-14, with
the Giants in the lead.
Of course, the faith was
kept alive by die-hard
Patriots fans. Thirty-five
seconds and three timeouts.
Once again, a kid in a
candy store. Or so everyone
seemed to think.
With reality sinking in,
the Patriots offense seemed
to no longer have it in them:
Brady was sacked for the
fourth time, which hasn’t
happened since December
10, 2006 at Miami. One final
play was all New England
had left in them, and they
were on their own 16 yard
line. So, Brady attempted
to throw it far down the
field to Randy Moss, who
was near the 20. The pass
fared as incomplete, thus
making the New York
Giants the Superbowl XLII
Champions.
And with that, the
Patriots’ perfect season was
undone by a perfect pass.
Every Miamian should
be thanking Eli Manning
and the Giants for keeping
the Dolphins the only
undefeated season alive!
GMAC Champions!
Our Lady Cudas are on FIRE!
BY ANDREA RODRIGUEZ
Cuda Culture Editor
Down by almost the entire
For the love of the game Ryan
Bower and Chris “Hot Head” Crant
display just how aggressive you
have to be to play Lacrosse.
11
their greatest challenge, South Ridge,
ending the season 20-5.
“I feel happy my teammates and I
accomplished some thing that many
people didn’t think was possible,” said
Williams. “Knowing just that fact puts
a smile on my face.”
game, the Barracuda Girl’s
Basketball team was able to rise
to the challenge and take the
championship title. They
won the game by only three
points, against Krop High
School after a complete
upset the first half of the
game. During halftime our
lady ‘Cudas were down
by 12, coming back for a
tremendous second half.
Leading this great team
are co-captains Trianna
Williams, Bianca Phillips,
Teamwork makes champions The
and Jasmine Calin.
Girl’s Basketball team makes a pretty
They beat out Varela,
picture after winning the GMAC
Palmetto,
Homestead,
championships.
South Dade, Killian and,
12
High Tide
African American Entertainers
Coral Reef Sr. High
March 2008
Bill Cosby
Actor, Comedian & Activist
TYRELL HALL
Staff Writer
With an influence
that spans television,
films, literature, and
philanthropy,
Bill
Cosby has etched
a lasting mark on
modern society. As a
young black man in
the 1960s, he began
his career as a stand-
up comic, which
led to his television
debut as co-star on I
Spy, a hit series at the
time. Bill continued
in television with the
Cosby Show, which
aired in 1969. In the
past four decades,
Cosby has produced
numerous TV seriesincluding Little Bill
and Kids Say the
Darndest Things produced a motion
picture, written four
New York Times
Bestsellers, recorded
ten comedy albums(
all of which have
been certified gold
or platinum), and
has participated in
a myriad of projects
that have caused
the
betterment
of
communities
worldwide. Contrary
to the perceptions
of nostalgic Cosby
Show
viewers,
there is more to Dr.
Huxtable than meets
the eye.
Will Smith
Actor, Rapper & Fresh Prince
DIEGO FERNANDEZ
Staff Writer
Being the second of
four children, Willard
Christopher Smith
Jr. grew up in West
Philadelphia. In his
early ages Will was
dubbed “Prince” for
his charming ways,
frequently
getting
him out of trouble.
While pursuing his
career in music, he
met Jeff Townes at
a party and soon
began
performing
together as DJ Jazzy
Jeff and the Fresh
Prince. Soon enough
his popularity spread
and money began
to pour in. He was
living the good life,
spending money on
cars, jewelry, and his
house. Unfortunately,
he forgot to pay his
taxes, and the IRS
stripped him clean. In
1989 he jumped back
with the debut of
“The Fresh Prince of
Bel-Air.” The sitcom
brought him into
plain view for many
movie
producers.
He eventually began
starring in movies
such as Six Degrees
of Separation, Bad
Boys, Independence
Day and most recently
I am Legend.
Oprah Winfrey
Actress, Entrepeneur & Philanthropist
ANNIE QUINTANA
News Editor
Oprah
Winfrey
began her career
at 19 as the first
Black woman to
anchor the news at
Nashville’s WTVFTV. After years of
hopping from show
to show she became
a morning show talk
host on AM Chicago.
After just one year,
the show expanded
to one hour and was
renamed The Oprah
Winfrey
Show.
Soon it became the
highest-rated
talk
show of all time.
Oprah soon started
her own production
company
called
Harpo production.
The Oprah Winfrey
show has remained
the number one talk
show on television
for 21 consecutive
seasons. Oprah has
also expanded her
company to include
the magazine O,
which was introduced
in 2000 as well as O
At Home which she
introduced in 2004.
She also has a film
company
which
includes the movies
The Great Debaters,
Tuesdays with Morrie
and Their Eyes Were
Watching God. Oprah
also played a role in
the Color Purple for
which she received
Academy Award
and Golden Globe
nominations. Oprah
is also known
for her book
club
which
includes over
one million
members.
She is also
k n o w n
for
her
philanthropy,
which
includes Oprah Angel
Network as well as her
Leadership Academy for
Girls in South Africa.
Despite her troubled
childhood, Oprah has
been able to achieve
unprecedented
success in all areas of
the entertainment
industry, without
ever forgetting
where she came
from.