Montage 2008 - The Elections

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PEAcE SullivAN/JAMES ANSiN HiGH ScHOOl WOrkSHOP iN JOurNAliSM ANd NEW MEdiA

U n i v E R S i t y o f M i a M i S U M M E R | 2 0 0 8

Red,White & you

WArPEd TOurMusicians are urging young

concert-goers to head to polls 12SElEcTivE SErvicEMillions of young Americans are unwittingly

being registered for the Selective Service 24

Cyan Magenta Yell Black ( Hurr2 )

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table of contents

the economy

politics

Miami Montage thanks its sponsors: James Ansin, vice president and station manager, WSVN Channel 7; Peace Sullivan, philantropist; Jean Bellamy Fund; Dade Community Foundation; Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Inc.; Lennar Foundation Inc.; Office of the Provost, University of Miami; School of Communication, University of Miami; The Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel and St. Petersburg Times

Workshop DirectorYves Colon, University of Miami

associate DirectorFred Blevens, Florida International University

assistant Directors Jacqueline Charles, The Miami Herald; Alex de Carvalho, web design; Elizabeth Hanly, Florida International University; Omar Vega, photography; Kristian Rodriguez and Felipe Lobon, design; Albert Siegel, video

Housing DirectorsSophia FunkMupalia Wakhisi, University of Miami

Housing assistantsRudy Tomarchio, Brittnay Starks, Kelsey Pinault, University of Miami

Workshop PresentersUniversity of Miami: Chris Delboni, Brandon Gross, Shajena Erazo, Jazmane Morgan, Claudia Medina, Sam Terilli, Steve Yavner, the Miami Herald: Rich Bard, Erika Beras, Jay Ducassi, Ronnie Greene, Anders Gyllenhaal, Rick Hirsch, Jeff Kleinman, Suzanne Levinson, Beth Reinhard, Dave WilsonWPLG 10: Calvin Hughes, others: Miami-Dade Democratic Party, 4-H Club of Miami-Dade County, Miguel Lorenzo, Jorge Luis Lopez

Special thanksUniversity of MiamiDonna Shalala, President

UM School of Communicationadministrators: Sam Grogg, dean; Robert Hosmon, vice dean for advancement and external affairs; Bruce Garrison, professor and workshop founder; Blyth Daylong, assistant dean, scheduling events and production; Sig Splichal, program director, journalism; Tonya Sautier, assistant dean of administration and finance; Tsitsi Wakhisi, associate professor/managing editor University of Miami Miami News ServiceStaff: Walyce Almeida, Todd Landess, Tom Ortiz, Luis Rodriguez, Melissa Rubi, Ethan Time, Marisela Sanchez, staff of Hecht Residential College

the Miami HeraldDavid Landsberg, publisher; Anders Gyllenhaal, senior vice president/executive editor; Gus Perez, production manager; Pat Germaine, executive assistant

from the South florida Sun-Sentinel newsroomGail Bulfin, Seth Liss, Mary Helen, Kathy Pellegrino, Khari Williams

from the Miami Herald newsroomElinor J. Brecher, Amy Driscoll, Natasha King, Stuart McMeeking, Matthew Pinzur, Javier Ruiz, Terence Shepherd, Jim Varsallone

WSvn Channel 7Dave Kartunen, Lily Pardo

and also:Nancy Mendoza, workshop administrator; Reiter and Associates, LLC: Robin Reiter-Faragalli, principal

Miami Montage is written, edited and designed by high school students attending the Peace Sullivan/James Ansin High School Workshop in Journalism and New Media hosted by the School of Communication at the University of Miami. The newspaper is printed by The Miami Herald. For information go to www.miami.edu/com/workshop or call 305-284-6943.

lifestyles

leadership

think globally, date locally 7

warped tour 12

sluggish economy 2

two-wheel deal 6

survey says 5

vote swing 14

third time’s the charm 18

keeping it kosher 8

parent talk 10

hurricane brandon 21

4h club 4

Teens and retirees compete for limited part-time jobs in a bad economy.

As pump prices rise, teens find more ef-ficiency means of transportation.

Montage survey shows strong interest in 2008 election by area youth.

2008 may be the year when young people actually rock the vote.

Jewish youth and their elders try to bridge the generations on politics.

Teens and their parents are talking more and agreeing less about politics in 2008.

UM student leader won his first election in grade school and hasn’t looked back.

Youth group grooms the next generation of lawmakers, lobbyists and politicians.

cOvEr: Kelsey Pinault, art direction by

Omar Vega, design by Kristian Rodriguez,

photo curtesy of The Miami Heald

In November, Florida election officials hope to avoid yet another national embarrassment with a new generation of voting machines.

An important intersection of art and politics occurs every four years when musicians join the effort to get potential voters to register. In Miami, a number of bands used their music to influence youth at a Warped Tour extravaganza in Bicentennial Park.

Escalating gas prices are pressuring teens to adjust to tremendous tension on their relationships with friends and family.

PEACE SULLIVAN/JAMES ANSIN HIGH SCHOOL WORKSHOP IN JOURNALISM AND NEW MEDIA

EMiLy toRRES/MontaGE Staff

SUMMER | 2008

com.miami.edu/workshop/2008/for videos, blogs and more

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HOW tHE MINIMUM WAGE CHANGE IS AffECtING

JOb AVAILAbILIty fOR yOUtH

Sluggish economy, struggling teenagers

Write a resume be Prepared Dress to impress be Persistent follow Up1 2 3 4 5

RaviKa RaMESHWaR/MontaGE Staff

Highlight your past work experience.

Do some research about what the job entails.

Keep applying even if you aren’t hired at the first place you applied.

Employers love to see that you’re intersted enough in the job to make a follow-up call.

Shows that you’re serious about the job.

RaviKa RaMESHWaR & StEPHEn SHEEHan/MontaGE Staff

by RaviKa RaMESHWaR

Coral Springs High

Amanda Thornton, a 17-year-old Archbishop McCarthy High School student, will be car-less for the rest of the summer.

“My mom made a deal that if I got a job, then I could get a car,” Amanda said. “But I didn’t get a job, so I guess I’m not getting a car.”

Amanda is just one of many teenagers who are struggling to find work due to the slumping economy, the growing pool of retirees seeking jobs and, according to some, because of fewer jobs due to the rising minimum wage.

At first glance, implementing a higher minimum wage seems beneficial for all. However many business owners are re-luctant, fearing that the weak economy and wage increases will put them out of business.

In 2007, Congress raised the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an hour, with a top rate of $7.24 by July 2009. The cur-rent rate is $6.55.

Florida has a separate minimum wage standard, rising each year. Currently, the minimum wage in Florida is $6.79, but in 2009 the federal requirements will force it to be raised to $7.24.

With wages increasing next year, some owners say they do not have as much money to hire additional people.

“I still need the same amount [of workers], but in the future, because business is getting slower, we may have to cut back on the number of employ-ees,” said Joe Mazzola, owner of Maz-zola’s West Italian Restaurant in Davie.

He said that the minimum age re-quirement to work at his restaurant is 15, but even then he only gives them a few

hours.As the amount of available jobs

decreases, teenagers such as Hannah Cardenas are struggling to find work.

“I applied at 10 different places and not one called me back,” said the 17-year-old from Naples High School. “Not even one little call.”

Paul Lebuffe, an attorney specializing in labor law, said retiring Baby Boomers sometimes seek part-time jobs because “it gives them a little bit of money on the side to supplement their social security.”

“This is the part of the country that per capita has a lot of elderly people,” said Lebuffe, noting that this movement of elderly and youth looking for jobs at the same time allows the employers to control the market.

This competition is squeezing people like Nicolle Soto, a former American Eagle employee.

“When I first started working there, I was working Friday, Saturday, and Sun-day because I couldn’t work during the week because of school,” said Soto, 18. “Then a couple months later, I started seeing that they were hiring more people, but I was only getting to work on Saturdays.”

Hollister Co. employee Krystal Lo-pez, 17, had a similar experience.

“I worked about five times a week, more or less,” said Krystal. Now, she’s “only been working probably once or twice a week.”

With the national elections just months away, the issue is critical. Sena-tors and presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama differ in their views on increasing the minimum wage.

McCain originally voted “Yes” on the

last increase. Later, he voted to filibuster the minimum wage hike in an attempt to delay the raise.

Obama would like to raise the mini-mum wage to the living wage, the hourly wage needed to obtain a healthy stan-dard of living.

His plan is geared to benefit single-income households, putting them above the poverty line.

To compensate for the increase, he proposes providing tax relief for small

businesses. As politicians and economists debate

raising the minimum wage, some teen-agers say they just want a job, regardless of the pay.

“I’m fine starting off with a little min-imum wage and then working my way up,” Amanda, the Archbishop McCarthy student, said.

“At least I could get the chance to get the job.”

FivE STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A JOB


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LOCAL LEADERSHIP GROUP INtRODUCES yOUNGStERS tO LAW AND GOVERNMENt EARLy ON

by KoRtnEy SMitH

Miami Northwestern High

There was silence as the speaker stood at the lectern, banged his gavel and told the legislators they would continue passing or rejecting bills.

But there was something peculiar about this legislative session: the speaker was a 19-year-old, and the legislators were a group of high school students hosting a mock legislative session with a South Florida 4-H club.

“Even though youth are not allowed to vote, they still have a voice because they will eventually be voters,” said Ardee B. Coolidge III, who was leading the session.

“Even if young people are not old enough to vote,” he said,

“they can still effect change.” “We can influence those

around us who are old enough to vote,” he added.

The 4-H club was started in 1902 for rural students to incorporate farm experimentation into their studies. Today, it has expanded to making good citizens out of its students. Among its most famous alumni is former Florida Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.

“We have a picture of Bob Graham judging the quality of a beef cow in the mid-40s,” 4-H program advisor Teresa L. Schroder said between laughs.

With clubs in every one of Florida’s 67 counties – including approximately 9,000 members in Miami-

Youth program grooms America’s future leaders

MELiSSa CaCERES/ MontaGE Staff

MoCK MEEtinG: South Florida 4-H club members teach students how the legislative system works.

to the state capitol and national conferences in Washington, D.C.

One of the highlights of 4-H, members say, is its annual five-day trip to Tallahassee for the Florida legislative session.

On the first day, students are assigned the roles of reporters, lobbyists, senators or representatives. Lobbyists come up with mock bills and strategize on how to get them passed. Often the bills are issues students would like to see become law.

Rebekah Diaz, 15, was a lobbyist during a recent trip.

“Being a lobbyist taught me the importance of appreciating what they actually do,” she said. “It was a lot of work because we had to research our bill, but it was fun.”

On days two and three, the teens tour the Supreme Court and the House and Senate chambers.

Day four is when the

Dade County – 4-H remains popular, with its emphasis on promoting knowledge in government among adolescents.

While the organization is non-partisan and doesn’t tell youngsters how to vote, members say it does promote political involvement.

4-H is not the only club encouraging youth to get involved, but Schroder said it is the largest youth development organization in the world.

The four H’s in 4-H stand for head, heart, hands and health. A club can be started with as few as five students and one adult.

“What causes them to standout is that it is a youth-led, youth-directed program,” Schroder said.

One way 4-H teaches leadership is by exposing youngsters to government through activities like mock legislative sessions, trips

actual “mock leg” takes place. The teen politicians present their bills to their fellow teen representatives and senators, while teen reporters are taking notes on the unfolding scene.

“Mock legislative sessions have helped me to participate in talking about politics,” Diaz said.

Coolidge has been in the club for 10 years, and he has been involved with almost every form of politics that the club offers such as the state and national executive offices and legislatures.

Although he does not see himself running for office in the future, he does plan to be involved.

“I plan on continuing to work and volunteer at polling places,” he said.

“My goal is to work in international missions, but as long as I’m here in the states, it’s my duty to be involved in my government.”

MELiSSa CaCERES/MontaGE Staff

tEEn taLK: From left to right, 4-H club members Ardee B. Coolidge III, Lynette Herbert, Rebekah Diaz

and Dante Arce.

‘What causes them to stand out is that it is a youth-led, youth-directed program.’

—tERESa L. SHRoEDER, 4- H Program Advisor


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30.4%

29.3%

Republican Other

A POLL CONDUCtED by tHE MIAMI MONtAGE SHOWS StUDENtS’ VIEW ON tHE 2008 ELECtIONS

Survey says...the future of the country, and they like the fact that these candidates are talking about change and a promising future,” Marc said.

Immigration is another issue that teens felt should be a priority of the next administration. Forty-six percent of teens felt strongly that immigration reforms are needed. Forty percent were neutral on the issue.

“I only have a visa so I don’t have a permit to work. I don’t have a job, and I can’t pay for college,” said Juan Erazo, 18, a freshman at Florida International University. “My dad is the one who works and he is giving me most of the money. We have to figure out how to get that money without stopping to pay for something else like cable TV.”

Of the teens polled, 64 percent were Hispanic, 21 percent were non-Hispanic white, 13 percent were African American and 2 percent were Asian.

Students reported that 85 percent of their classmates were interested in the election. Political activity among family members is also high with 74 percent of teens saying that their parents, grandparents and siblings are active to some degree.

“Technology is involving people more, and teens are being more exposed to politics – Internet, computers, iPhones, anything that can connect to the news,” said Victor Levi, 17, a senior at William H. Turner Technical Arts High School.

“More sources, more information.”

17.3%

25.5%

your views?

your parents’views?

by aLySHa KHan

South Planation High

The biggest issue teens would like to see addressed by the next president is the downward spiral of the economy, according to a poll on the upcoming election conducted by the Miami Montage.

Thirty percent of teens ranked the economy as their first and foremost concern, followed by healthcare at 15 percent and education at 13 percent.

“This country is in a lot of trouble,” said Steven Lerner, 17, a senior at Coral Springs Charter High School, who is having trouble finding a summer job. “I have to dip into money I am trying to save for college. That’s the only way to get about.”

The results came from a recent poll that asked high school and college students about their political opinions and those of their classmates. Using e-mail, in-school surveys and social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, the staff of the Miami Montage polled 400 teens.

Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami and a former Health and Human Services Secretary in the Clinton administration, echoes Steven’s sentiments.

“The No. 1 issue is the economy and inside that is healthcare,” Shalala said, reflecting the results of the Montage poll. “We have got to give people more confidence (in the economy).”

The poll also revealed that although Hillary Clinton bowed out of the presidential race, she is more popular than presumptive Republican nominee John McCain among teens in the poll. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, continues to dominate the youth opinion.

If the presidential election were

held today, 47 percent of teens would vote for Obama, 28 percent would support Clinton and 19 percent would back McCain. Overall, the poll showed an overwhelming support for the Democratic Party.

Steven says teens feel Republicans are less trustworthy due to George W. Bush’s presidency, and the poll supports his contention.

Teens were asked to rate the performance of the president, Congress,

the Supreme Court and the media. The media ranked first with 34 percent of teens feeling they had the best performance; Congress was second at 27 percent; the Supreme Court ranked third at 23 percent and the president came in last at 16 percent.

Marc Rodriguez, 17, a senior at Archbishop McCarthy High School and a McCain supporter, understands why teens are drawn to the Democrats’ ideas.

“I guess that kids are worried about

SaM anGaRita/MontaGE Staff

MonEy taLK: A teenager, concerned about the economy, worries about how much money she has to spend.

Which political party best reflects...

52.3%

45.2%

Democrat

The top issues for teens are • economy (30 percent), health care (15 percent), education (13 percent), global warming (12 percent), Iraq/Afghanistan war (8 percent), housing crisis, abortion and war on terror (5 percent), immigration (4 percent) and gun rights (3 percent).


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Cristina Hall, a rising college freshman, used to roll her eyes whenever a motor scooter zoomed by.

While her stepfather José jokingly praised these vehicles she considered “dorky,” Cristina stood her ground and never questioned her solid pro-automobile mindset.

Two years and a $1.15 increase in gas prices later, Cristina has decided that scooters are actually a convenient way to keep money in her pocket and minimize her carbon footprint

Young consumers such as Cristina are reacting to $4.16 per gallon gasoline and environmental problems by spending money on scooters and bicycles. Some are turning to this year’s presidential election for leadership in green transportation issues.

Cristina, 17, looks forward to owning her own scooter just in time to attend the University of Miami this fall.

“The decision I made to buy a scooter wasn’t a revelation; to me, it just seemed reasonable,” she said. “Everything comes together and then you realize, ‘that’s what I should do.’”

ScOOTErS

tEENS CONCERNED AbOUt HIGH GAS PRICES

AND tHE ENVIRONMENt StARt A NEW tREND

Two-wheel deal

Cristina says she will now be able to drive around the Coral Gables campus and make frequent three-mile trips to her job at Jamba Juice at a rate of 110 mpg.

New motor scooters start at $1,500 and sales have skyrocketed at Vespa Miami, which claims to be the largest

HYBridS

SMArT cArS

scooter emporium in North America.Dante Maragni, manager of the

facility, says that although Vespa scooters have been in Italy since 1946, it was not until early 2001 that they were introduced to the United States. The company opened its doors to South Florida four years ago.

In 2006, a “good year for scooters,” sales suddenly rose after the devastation in Florida from hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita. Maragni said that since spring of last year, there has been a 70 percent increase in walk-ins and a 50 percent increase in total sales.

“At first the buyers were mainly adults,” Maragni said. “But the trend in the past year now includes more of the younger generation.”

Most are students from the nearby University of Miami, Florida International University and Miami International Institute of Art & Design.

Cristina said that while the high price of gas is enough to prompt the purchase a scooter, there are other benefits.

“With taking care of a car, lots of things go wrong,” she said. “Besides, now I would never have trouble finding a place to park.”

Even though Cristina’s stepfather has a Toyota Prius, owning a hybrid automobile is not part of her agenda as a young consumer.

Ninety percent of the Toytota Prius sales are from “more mature” consumers in their 40s, 50s and 60s, said Peter Bartou, a salesman at Kendall Toyota. A typical buyer of the $21,000 Prius is a more affluent professional such as a lawyer, professor or doctor.

“Because of this demographic, marketing has been geared completely toward the older generation,” said Renee Demya, who works at Toyota of South Florida.

Another reason many teenagers are not buying the fuel-efficient hybrids may be found directly in the words of a teenager.

“Hybrids do save gas, but their battery has to be changed every eight years, and these cannot be disposed of without being toxic to the environment,” Hall said.


CHanGinG tREnDS: Vespa Miami owner Dante Maragni reflects on the growing popularity of scooters.

The Options

CoMPiLED by iSabEL LEon/MontaGE StaffPHoto CURtESy of DaiMLER CHRySLER aG anDtoyota MotoR SaLES, U.S.a., inC.


PoPULaR RiDES: Scooters are often spotted along South Beach streets.

by iSabEL LEon

College Academy at BCC

Vespa ET4: 65 mpgOliver City CPI: 75mpg2008 Honda Metropolitan: 80-100mpg2008 Yamaha Vino: 80-100 mpg

2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe: 33-41 mpg2008 Smart Fortwo Pure Coupe: 33-41 mpg2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Cabriolet: 33-41 mpg

Chevrolet Malibu: 24-32 mpgFord Escape: 30-34 mpgHonda Civic: 40-45 mpgToyota Prius: 48 mpg

TWO-WHEEL DEAL CONTINUED ON PAGE 22


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ScOOTErS

HYBridS

SMArT cArS

The Options

CoMPiLED by iSabEL LEon/MontaGE StaffPHoto CURtESy of DaiMLER CHRySLER aG anDtoyota MotoR SaLES, U.S.a., inC.

by DaniELLa Cioffi

Miami Killian High

A cup with a smiley face on the outside jiggles with coins as Shajena Erazo steers her gas guzzling SUV, a 2004 Lincoln Aviator, through traffic.

“I have a cup that I offer to my friends to add donations,” the University of Miami student government treasurer said.

Esther Louis hasn’t gone that far – yet. Louis, who graduated from the UM this year, wants to drive friends around, she said, “but sometimes I restrain.”

Erazo and Louis are among thousands of South Florida youth whose social relationships are being heavily affected by the rapidly increasing price of gasoline. It’s a phenomenon that is sweeping across the country as the average price of regular unleaded gas spikes beyond $4 a gallon and as politicians scramble to find a solution in this presidential election year.

Javier Mantilla, who attends Broward Community College and resides in Palm Springs North, has been having a hard time hanging out with friends scattered throughout South Florida. It takes a lot of gas to hang out these days, he said.

“Some of them live in Hialeah, and I have other friends that live on Pembroke Road,” Manilla, 19, said of the South Florida neighborhoods crossing Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Think globally, date locally

DaniELLa Cioffi/MontaGE Staff

PERfECt SoLUtion: Daniel Baretto, a senior at Miami Killian High School, takes the Metrorail in order to avoid any conflicts with his family or friends. In taking the Metrorail, Daniel’s parents are able to save money on gas, and he is able to see his friends.

RISING GAS PRICES AffECtING yOUNG ADULtS’ SOCIAL LIVES


‘Sometimes it may be cheaper to get public transportation instead of a ride, though it is not always desirable, It takes longer to take you to this place or that place, and I feel like our public transportation system could be improved. ’

—SHaJEna ERaZo, 21 University of Miami

Government Treasurer

THINK GLOBALLY CONTIWNUED ON PAGE 22


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MELiSSa CaCERES/MontaGE Staff

oLD vS. nEW: Max Imberman, 16, and his grandfather Leo Imberman may disagree politically, but they still listen to each other’s point of view.

kosherKeeping it

JEWISH tEENS

AND tHEIR

GRANDPARENtS

HAVE DIffERENt VIEWS

AbOUt tHE ELECtIONby Savanna Stiff School for Advanced Studies

Ryan Leibowitz supports Barack Obama. His grandparents aren’t so sure.

The 15-year old sophomore at MAST Academy can’t vote, but thinks he knows what his country needs: “new blood and a younger generation.”

His grandparents, Al and Beth Krieff, are lifelong democrats, but Ryan said they feel a little hesitant about voting for Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic candidate against Republican John McCain.

Traditionally, American Jews have overwhelmingly supported the Democratic presidential candidate. In fact, they have done so in every race since 1916, except in 1920, when Jews helped elect Republican Warren G. Harding.

This election may be different. Some Jewish families like Ryan’s are

experiencing generational divisions over support of Barack Obama. As in most groups of American voters, Obama is generally more popular with younger rather than older Jewish voters. Lingering questions about Obama’s support for Israel further complicate the issue.

Ryan Leibowitz says he is less concerned with the issues that are crucial to his elders: Israel and anti-Semitism. What he wants, he says, is change.

Miami Beach Senior High

School student Joshua Dermer, son of former Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer, disagrees. “Israel plays a big role in my life,” said Joshua, 16.

He and his grandmother support McCain. While Joshua cites inexperience as one of the reasons he doesn’t support Obama, he thinks McCain will be stronger on Israel.

To some teens, the issue matters but shouldn’t play a critical role.

“I acknowledge that Israel is an important place for my culture,’’ said Max Imberman, 16, a senior at School for Advanced Studies, “but I don’t think it’s different from any other ally and shouldn’t be the basis of any American’s voting choice.”

Max’s grandfather, Leo Imberman,

a holocaust survivor, was passionate about the upcoming election.

Imberman has lived through the administrations of men he considers giants, such as John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt. When he compares these historic leaders to senators Obama and McCain, he said, “these people are not superior types of candidates.”

Still, for Imberman, the choice is simple: McCain.

“Obama wants to talk soft to everybody,” Imberman said.

“He knows nothing about what’s going on. He says things that don’t have any meat in them, but he says them well.”

Imberman feels that Obama doesn’t represent the same kind of experience

and Americanism that McCain offers as a war veteran.

McCain, a pilot in the Vietnam War, was held captive for five and a half years after his plane was shot down.

Imberman also has a darker fear. “My friends and I -- we’re seniors --

are very concerned about some kind of assassination,” he said “We can’t close our eyes to that.”

Part of his disquiet comes from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama’s former pastor has stirred up concern with many older Jews by reprinting a column in his church bulletin by a Hamas leader and praising Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has publicly made anti-Semitic remarks.

Imberman called Wright “a racist and a socialist,” and said Obama has socialist tendencies.

Initially, Obama attempted only to distance himself from Wright. As Wright continued to add to the controversy, Obama publicly repudiated him, saying that he was outraged by the reverend’s comments. Obama then resigned from the church in late May.

Obama has attempted to combat concerns about his commitment to American Jews by enlisting the support of Congressman Robert Wexler, D-Fla.

“Older Jewish voters may have a different worldview than today’s young people,” said Ashley Mushnick, Wexler’s deputy press secretary

Wexler hopes to persuade Jewish voters in South Florida that Barack Obama, above all other candidates, is the strongest friend of Israel and best suited to address the issues most important to them.

Max needs no persuasion. “Our country has been on a bad path

in the last eight years, and we need someone with a new perspective and way of getting things done in order for our country to get out of the crisis we currently are in,” he said.

Religion


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by MoREMi aKinDE

Homeschool Student

At a glance, Farah Dosani is your typical 20-year-old American: full-time student at the University of Miami and a hospital volunteer. She enjoys hanging out with friends and studying for her journalism degree.

But Dosani isn’t your “typical” American.

She’s Muslim. For her, that means a unique take on this year’s presidential election.

“I definitely don’t think either candidate is going out of their way to reach the Muslim vote,” she said. “Muslims are a significant voting bloc. They should want our vote. We’re so relevant.”

This year’s presidential election has been “very spicy,” said 21-year-old Muhammad Khan, president of the Muslim Student Association at Florida International University. But reaching out to America’s 7.4 million Muslims has been particularly controversial and difficult.

The likely Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, is being attacked with rumors of having an affiliation with Islamic terrorists. Some people have made false ties to Sadaam Hussein because of Obama’s middle name, Hussein, and there have been malicious theories about his plans to destroy America from the inside out.

“I think Barack Obama has such a great opportunity to address the issue that people are using being Muslim as tarnish,” Dosani said. “He should say ‘Yeah, I’m not Muslim, but what’s wrong with being Muslim?’ ”

Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, hasn’t extended his hand to the Muslim community either, according to 20-year-old Syed Hashmi. He said it wouldn’t matter if McCain reached out to the Muslim communities because “Muslims don’t trust Republicans after Bush. McCain is old and seems like another Bush.”

Although the Muslim population in Florida is not as large as in some other states, Florida is poised to play a critical role in choosing the next president of

the United States. As a result, some South Florida Muslim youth are doing everything they can to make sure their vote counts.

“It is a responsibility and a privilege for all Americans to vote in each and every election,” said Omer Subhani, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a not-for-profit organization whose aim is to increase understanding and cultural acceptance between non-Muslim Americans and Muslim Americans.

The organization is very active in

the political arena. In order to get more Muslims to participate in the election, they sponsor voter registration drives all around the country.

In the fall, Samiya Mirza, 22 , plans to pass out fliers in her community to encourage people to vote. She also recognizes CAIR’s efforts.

“CAIR really does a good job of getting Muslims to vote,” she said.

Mahriah Khan, a 20-year-old FIU student, says she knows why candidates aren’t reaching out to Muslims.

“We’re not organized,” Khan said. “We’re not strong and united. We don’t go out and vote. We’re not a strong voting block, compared to Hispanics who are very much in the spotlight. It’s something that really bothers me because we should be unified, so we could have a stronger voting influence.”

Mariah’s sister, Mahreen, 20, says “Obama is going out of his way to prove he’s not Muslim, but none of the candidates are going out of the way to get the Muslim vote.”

Obama’s campaign has devoted a Web site, www.fightthesmears.com, to invalidate any rumors that come up during the campaign about both him and his wife.

“I think if [McCain] were elected, there would be havoc,” Mirza said. “You can tell he has such an aggressive personality so if he wins he’s going to attack Muslims in this country.

“If history could repeat itself with Japanese internment camps, after the Holocaust happened, then the same could happen to Muslims. That’s what scares me.”

Some Muslims in South Florida feel isolated by their government. Some feel that there needs to be more Muslim government officials, so that their issues are addressed, Mirza said.

“Muslim people care about the same things other Americans care about because we’re all in the same country,” Mirza said. “Healthcare issues, the cost of living… political issues… the war.

“We’re Americans too.”

MoREMi aKinDE & EMiLy toRRES/MontaGE Staff

SMEaR taCtiCS: Some South Florida Muslims feel that Obama’s recently launched website www.fightthesmears.com portrays the word Muslim as a smear. Others feel that their voices won’t be heard in the upcoming election.

Religion PoliticsyOUNG MUSLIM AMERICANS SPEAK OUt ON ISSUES

‘I think Barack Obama has such a great opportunity to address the issue that people are using being Muslim as tarnish.’

— faRaH DoSani, 20 Student at the University of Miami


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Florida are saying that these elections will definitely change their futures. And some parents, like Stephanie Lopez’s mom, agree.

“We’re constantly arguing but she’s influencing me more than what I thought,” Marinela Lopez said about Stephanie. “I’m a Republican, but I don’t like McCain, so I might be going for Barack Obama. Stephanie will be very pleased. I’m so impressed with how much she knows politically.”

Stephanie Lopez, 16, is a rising junior at Miami Lakes

influence his mom to vote for Obama.

“At one point we’ve agreed and at another point we’ve disagreed,’’ Jonathan said. “After the long talks and discussions there’s nothing to really talk about. It’s all the same. Now it’s picking one of the two evils, Obama or John McCain. But my dad will never change his mind [about McCain].”

A poll conducted by the 2008 Miami Montage staff showed that not all families have different views. Of 400 South Florida high school and college students, 45 percent think that their parents vote Democratic while 52 percent of those same teens vote Democratic.

“Since my mom and I are rooting for Obama she’s super excited for me to vote,” Jonathan said. “The fact that [I will be voting] is incredible. I’ve been waiting for this for a pretty long time.”

“Even though it’s kind of fun to argue with Jonathan and my husband, Frank, I love that Jonathan has gotten into politics,” Julie Dorville said. “And it’s not only him; other kids have gotten into politics. He opens my eyes and tells me all the good things about the candidates. He’s taught me things.”

Jonathan’s father, Frank Marotto, is delighted that teens are using their “tech-savviness” to be better informed.

“The news, the technology, the Internet, they are all more involved with it,’’ Marotto said.

“They’re more outgoing now and they sort of have to be.”

by EMiLy toRRES

Miami Lakes Educational Center

Since eighth grade, Alejandro Capote has been interested in politics.

He is vice president of his junior class at Miami Lakes Educational Center and will be running for student government president in his senior year. He also has participated in political groups like Project Citizen, a club that engages young people in legislative issues.

Many teens like Alejandro are becoming active in politics. Not only are they politically aware, they’re trying to influence their parents on the presidential candidates.

“My parents always say that they’re not going to vote because politicians are all the same,” Alejandro said. “They say they’re corrupt. I tell them not all politicians are the same. I do believe that some people do make a difference.”

According to a poll recently conducted by Time Magazine on teens and their political enthusiasm, 70 percent of young people say they are paying attention to the upcoming elections in November.

“Young Hispanics are influencing their parents,’’ said Luis Cerros, a national field manager in Democracia U.S.A.’s Miami office. “The first generation of Hispanics doesn’t really understand what’s going on so the second generation of Hispanics, who are the younger ones, are more informed and tend to know more about politics.”

Many teens in South

‘I tell them not all politicians are the same. I do believe that some people do make a difference.’

—aLEJanDRo CaPotE,16 Miami Lakes Educational Center

COULD tHE yOUtH bE tHE REAL VOICE DRIVING tHIS ELECtION?

Teens talk

Educational Center, and according to her mom, politically astute. She argues constantly with her parents about the latest issues involving the presidential candidates.

“I defend and talk about him so much that I feel like I’m working for him sometimes,” she said of Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee. “Being big on politics and being able to talk to my parents about it makes me feel older, intelligent.”

Abel Iraola looks for information everywhere he can find it. He cares about education reform, he’s into leadership conferences, he supports Obama, and he’s only 16. When it comes to the political campaigns, Abel and his aunt usually “debate” both candidates’ positions on Cuban and immigration issues.

“It’s like a daily thing.

She’s a Republican and I’m a Democrat,” Abel said. “My entire family is Republican, so I’m the oddball and we always argue.”

Like Abel, Jonathan Marotto, 17, also at Miami Lakes Educational Center, discusses politics with his father and mother. He says his father, a Republican, never listens to him. When Hillary Clinton withdrew from the primary race, Jonathan tried hard to

‘My entire family is Republican so I’m the oddball and we always argue.’

—abEL iRaoLa, 16 Hialeah High School

PHoto iLLUStRation SaM anGaRita/MontaGE Staff

CLoSE UP on PoLitiCS: Two generations squabble about politics and the upcoming 2008 U.S. presidential election.


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AMENDMENt 5 COULD MEAN MORE bUDGEt CUtS fOR fLORIDA’S PUbLIC SCHOOLS

Lower taxes, higher prices


REaCHinG oUt: David Lawrence,chairman of the Children’s trust, talks to a high school journalism class.

Trust puts children firstby DaniEL fERnanDEZ

Felix Varela High

Six years ago, when the Florida economy was flying high, voters agreed to tax themselves in order to improve services for local children.

Now their creation, the Children’s Trust, looks to become permanent with another election this summer. But it faces a very different landscape: the sagging financial landscape has created fierce new demand for services, but left homeowners scrutinizing every line of their tax bills.

“Out of the 550,000 people 18 and under in Miami-Dade, more than half live in poverty or are near poverty,” said David Lawrence, chairman of The

Children’sTrust.“We better care about this or we will

all be lost,” he added. The Children’s Trust funds an

abundance of children’s projects. They include after-school and summer programs, foster-care, violence reduction and safety, healthcare in public schools, as well as help-lines for parents.

This year the trust worked with a budget of $160 million, which comes from a small addition to property-tax bills. On a typical home, it costs about $61 a year.

The Children’s Trust was born in 2002 when Miami-Dade County voted to fund the initiative, but it will expire this year unless it wins an Aug. 26 election to

become permanent. The Miami Rescue Mission is one of

the trust’s projects. Donna Matthews, spokeswoman for

the mission, underlines the importance of the trust. She sees a dramatic increase of the number of hungry people coming to the mission. Since the beginning of the year, the mission has served between 1,500 and 3,000 more meals per month than they had last year, she said.

As of now there is no organized opposition to the funding, but Lawrence said he does not take anything for granted. He is planning a multi-lingual media campaign for the trust’s initiative.

“It is crucial for children to grow up right,” Lawrence said.

by MELiSSa CaCERES

Felix Varela High

Funding for Florida’s public schools, a number of officials say, is about to go from bad to worse.

With fewer teachers in the classroom, fewer office supplies and financial pressure on expensive programs such as music and art, the budget cuts that will take effect this fall have hurt both students and teachers alike.

Public schools, like Miramar High School in Broward County, have had to cut programs such as driver’s education because of a lack of funds – even though students are required to have the credit in order to graduate.

“It’s really sad,” said Alyson Townsel, who used to attend Miramar High and is now a junior at the School for Advanced Studies North. “It’s saying that those who want to [take electives] like drama, dance and step team can’t do them anymore.”

Meanwhile, the Legislature has put school funding on the chopping block by proposing a different method of financial support.

Sponsored by Republican and former Senate President John McKay, an amendment to the Florida Constitution will be on the November ballot, proposing that funding for education through property taxes be

eliminated. Instead, education would be financed through a one-cent sales tax. If at least 60 percent of voters approve the amendment, it will take effect in 2010.

Among the biggest supporters of the amendment is the Florida Association of Realtors or FAR. McKay, a Bradenton real estate broker and former Senate president who is now working with FAR has created a media campaign called ‘Yes for Five,’ to rally voters and show

the benefits of the “tax swap,” as it is called by the media.

“Several people will benefit from this, including property taxpayers and businesses,” said Florida State Rep. David Rivera, a Republican from Miami.

Top legislative leaders expect the bill to pass but the opposition claims that

the amendment’s negatives significantly overshadow the positives.

In a statement made on his campaign’s official Web site, Sen. Mike Haridopolos, a Melbourne Republican, says that the amendment will “impose the largest tax increase in Florida history” because it is “lowering one tax in favor of raising countless others.”

The amendment has created tension among supporters and opponents over the fact that, if the measure passes, the Legislature will be assuming more control over public school financing.

“Personally I’m not inclined to support it because the worst thing about that amendment is that it doesn’t answer the question of where the money’s going to come from,” said Jorge Luis Lopez, the Republican candidate for Miami House District 107 .

Haridolopolos has launched an anti-amendment campaign called, “Protect Florida’s Future.”

The opposition has filed a lawsuit against the amendment, claiming that it is “misleading” and “reckless.”

Filed on June 3, a coalition of organizations, including business owners and members of the Legislature, have hired lawyer Barry Richards, the attorney for George W. Bush during the 2000 election recount, to represent them in attempting to remove the bill from the ballot.

“If it has to reduce taxes, then in this environment, it is more likely to pass,” said Bret Berlin, chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party.

“[But] if it says it will reduce taxes and hold education harmless, it lies to you.”

While the conflict involving state funds for education has become an important topic in Florida, it is not likely an issue for presidential candidates Barack Obama, the Democrat, and John McCain, the Republican.

While the federal branches of government can create programs and laws that affect education, like the No Child Left Behind and the Dream Act, there is very little that can be done on the federal level about local school funding. The responsibility rests primarily on state and county governments.

As the state awaits news on the lawsuit and the position of Amendment 5 on Florida ballots, schools continue to struggle through the budget cuts.

“Our drama department had to be cut because they had no money to buy their wardrobe,” said Shanteeana Perez, a sophomore at Mater Academy in Miami-Dade County, a secondary charter school.

“If they keep taking money away from students, how can we survive?”

‘Our drama department had to be cut because they had no money to buy their wardrobe.’

—SHatEEana PEREZ, Sophomore, Mater Academy

LOCAL ORGANIzAtION SEEKS tO MAKE fUNDING PERMANENt


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Hair-Raising Activism by aSHLiE HanDy

MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH PHOTOS BY EMiLy toRRES

fan baSE: Young music lovers show their appreciation for performances by rock bands, such as The Academy Is..., Jacobs Ladder and Evergreen Terrace, during this year’s Warped Tour '08 in Bicentenial Park in downtown Miami. Many teens there wore clothes and accessories that promoted environmental and political activism.

SOUtH fLORIDA ALtERNAtIVE-ROCK fANS DANCED AND GOt A

DOSE Of POLItICAL EDUCAtION At tHE SAME tIMEHiGH notES: Andrew Carey of Evergreen Terrace, gets the crowd going at the concert.


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During the week, she is a regular 16-year-old junior at Miami Beach Senior High School. But Allison also is one of many local teens working to encourage youth voting through the music scene in South Florida. “My dad was the mayor of Surfside,” Allison said. “I grew up in a very political and music-oriented family; this is something I know works.” 1308 Productions, named after her address, is a non-profit organization run out of Allison’s home. “My brother started 1308 when he went to high school and played in the rock concerts too,” Allison said. “After he left for college and I got into high school, I picked it back up and added Rock the Vote into it.” Miami Beach local band Jacobs Ladder has performed “Rock the Vote” concerts under the management of Allison Novack. “Our main goal is to prove to politicians that the youth vote is as important as every other demographic,” said Oren Ezer, 23, lead singer. “As long as people even know that it will make a difference, more and more kids will turn out to vote, I think.” Allison’s production company promotes concerts for young people in the Miami Beach area. The series of live “Rock the Vote” shows is promoted, presented and produced by volunteers under the age of 18. At each show guests 18 and older can register to vote, and younger fans can get pre-registration and election information. Miami’s 2008 “Rock the Vote” tour, led by 1308 Productions, ended last month. This year’s lineup included three South Florida bands: And Then There Was You, The Bront and The Beach High Rock Ensemble, with Jacobs Ladder headlining the event. “The audience really likes [Jacobs Ladder] and we use them to attract a lot of viewers,” Allison said. Since the early 1990s, “Rock the Vote” has worked to engage youth in the political process by incorporating the entertainment community and youth culture into its activities.

MaKinG a DiffEREnCE: These friends at Bicentenial Park during Warped Tour '08 say teens like them listen to music for inspiration and use songs as an outlet for their passions, whether it is about global warming or a presidential candidate.

As the producer of 1308 Productions,

Allison Novack spends her weekends

scrambling to book locations, venders,

sponsors and bands for upcoming venues while

organizing “Rock the Vote” concerts.

‘Our main goal is to prove to politicians that the youth vote is as important as every other demographic. As long as people even know that it will make a difference, more and more kids will turn out to vote, I think.’

—oREn EZER, 23 lead singer of Jacobs Ladder

ACTIVISM CONTINUED ON PAGE 22


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by SaMUEL anGaRita

Miami Lakes Educational Center

In 2008, young Floridians may actually rock the vote.

In fact, they may just rock it in favor of Sen. Barack Obama, if youth voter turnouts in the presidential elections track a recent poll and reported results of youth votes during the primary elections earlier this year.

Florida is among the few states nationally with tripled voter turnouts, rising from 4 percent in the 2000 elections to 13 percent – a total of 286,000 voters under the age of 30 – who voted in the primary elections of 2008.

Youth votes in the previous national election (as well as voter registrations) are so rapidly on the rise that a strong youth vote turnout can influence Florida’s party swing, specifically if Florida’s youth-vote momentum continues.

“We just know this is going to be the largest voter turnout in American history due to the fact that the number of young voters has increased in every state,” said Stephanie Young, media relations associate of the non-partisan pop-culture effort Rock the Vote.

“It can only be expected the numbers continue to rise,” Young said.

Youth voters make up about 17 percent of the voting population in Florida, according to the Center of Information and Research for Civic Learning and Education. In 2004, Florida voters were about 49 percent – both nationwide and in Florida of the total voter population.

According to “Rock the Vote,”

Florida’s Democratic voter turnout in the 2008 primaries was 157,493, while the Republican youth voter turnout was 136,465.

Nationally, the youth voter turnout was Democratic by 4,963,587 and Republican by 1,769,213 votes.

A poll by Miami Montage showed a preference for a Democratic presidential candidate over a Republican one by an overwhelming 75 percent, while the remaining 25 percent represented Republican and other-party candidates.

Correlating reports by the South FloridaSun-Sentinel said that voter registrations in Florida are showing a “huge swing toward Democrats.” “Rock the Vote” polls taken earlier this year, show that youth voter’s

party identification was 47 percent Democrat, 28 percent Republican and a 16 percent Independent.

“Historically, when young people [under 25] vote, they are predominantly Democrat,” said Bret Berlin, chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party.

A Democrat victory, however, is still dependent not only on a strong youth turnout, but also on strong no-party-affiliation votes swaying to the Democratic candidate. Even with a full youth voter turnout in Florida, about half of voters are older.

“I don’t think we should assume,” said CIRCLE Director Peter Levine. “Some young people are still making up their minds.”

And indeed numbers and outcomes shouldn’t be presumed.

Carlos Curbelo, spokesman for Miami Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s campaign, said that in the face of this seemingly overwhelming Democratic turnout, “there is a simple answer.”

“The campaign hasn’t really begun yet,” Curbelo said. “We’re four months away.”

Curbelo said that while it doesn’t surprise him that the strong turnouts have been favorably Democrat, the Republican Party is not worried about the trends, which he referred to as “cyclical.”

“The way people register is not what’s going to decide this election. The way people vote is what’s going to decide this election,” Curbelo said.

But one thing is certain:“This year will be different,” Young

said. “It’s gonna be in your face.”

6%Other

24.4%Independent

Democratic

What political party best reflects your views? A Miami Montage poll asked a total of 400 teenagers between ages 14 and 19 to vote for their political affiliations. Polls showed a greater preference for the Democratic Party and Indepedent Party, while a lower percentage identifies best with the Republican Party as well as others. Youth voter party affiliations can be a result of personal identification with the parties’ concerns, or a strong influence from parents and family values.

Potential youth voters couldsway presidential election

‘I don’t think we should assume. Some young people are still making up their minds.’

—PEtER LEvinE,

CIRCLE DIRECTOR.


CLoSE UP on PoLitiCS: Bret Berlin, chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic party, speaks to a group of young students at the University of Miami.

Republican

17.3%

52.3%CoMPiLED by aURa aLtaMiRanDa/MontaGE Staff


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by StEvE PiERRE

Miami Edison High

The Internet has become a boxing ring to gain the youth vote in the 2008 election campaign and both candidates want a knockout.

Round one: On the popular blog site Twitter, the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has 1,288 followers. Democratic rival Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has 45,874 followers.

Round two: On Facebook, Obama has 1,135,756 friends to McCain’s 165,794.

As Barack Obama continues collecting supporters on the Internet through popular social networking sites, McCain’s camp looks to catch up.

The McCain campaign is hopping onto the World Wide Web wagon that Obama has dominated since furious campaigning began. McCain has not used the Internet effectively to reach young voters, but some believe it might be more than an oversight.

“It all depends on how important he thinks that is,” said Jay Ducassi, political editor for The Miami Herald.

Charlie Smith, chairman of the College Republican National Committee, based in Washington, D.C., said the McCain campaign views the Internet as “incredibly important,” and that “all campaigns

are starting to recognize the power of the Internet.”

McCain’s campaign members have created a number of social media Web sites across the World Wide Web in a digital sprint to the November election.

One site, a MySpace mock-up dubbed McCainSpace, provides information and allows followers to donate to the campaign. Another site, www.whereisthered.com, is a blog site featuring the College Republican National Committee and its nationwide youth vote campaign.

In order to pull votes from Obama, the GOP has also created www.meetbarackobama.com and www.canweask.com, Web sites created to reveal the “truth” about Obama’s

views on important issues.

“I think Sen. McCain’s use of the Internet has been somewhat of a success,” said Jordan Tygh, a

student from Laguna Beach, Calif. and an avid McCain supporter who is a member of a MySpace young Republicans group. “It has really been a great way to reach out to the younger generation.”

Smith says there has been “huge amounts of increased involvement” in the campaign since they’ve placed more content onto the Internet.

Mary Ellen Miller, chairperson of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, described McCain’s use of the Internet as “extremely effective.” Mario Diaz, the southeast regional communications director for the McCain campaign, said, “we are seeing a daily increase in the number of e-mails and phone calls from students who want to assist in spreading Sen. McCain’s message.”

Even with the increased work put in by the McCain campaign, many are still skeptical and critical of what

McCain is trying to do.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, when McCain was questioned about

his Internet usage, he responded: “They

[campaign aides] go on for me. I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don’t expect to be a great communicator.”

“The Internet is the worst thing that has happened to John McCain,” said Michael Froomkin, a University of Miami professor of law. “McCain just doesn’t get it. McCain’s age and his general ignorance of the Internet are why he has both failed to take advantage of it.”

“He hasn’t focused his efforts as much,” Alex de Carvalho, a

recognized social media expert said about McCain. “Obama’s staff has really personalized their efforts.”

Obama has pages spread across the Internet on high-profile sites such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube. Additional pages on ethnic-oriented sites such as AsianAve, BlackPlanet and MiGente have only increased his exposure amongst cultural and ethnic groups. Obama even has his own social media site, my.BarackObama.com, where voters can meet new people, join groups, blog and sponsor fundraisers.

While the Internet can be a haven for a candidate to reach the younger audience, it has also created a boomerang effect for Obama. During the 2008 campaign, rumors regarding Obama’s religion and patriotism arose through Internet gossip and videos. Obama’s campaign immediately fought back with a site, www.fightthesmears.com, in which he addressed the false rumors.

Although he is not as popular on the Internet, McCain’s supporters still believe that the Internet still gives him the platform to compete for the youth vote.

“Our party statewide has always been in a state of outreach for youthful voters,” Miller said. “We appreciate the opportunity to converse with the youth.”

49,591fOLLOWING

TWITTER.COM/BARACKOBAMA

1,135,756SUPPORtERS

FACEBOOK.COM/

BARACKOBAMA

7,343 SUbSCRIbERS

YOUTUBE.COM/

JOHNMCCAIN

59,199 fRIENDS

MYSPACE.COM/

JOHNMCCAIN

423,877 fRIENDS

MYSPACE.COM/BARACKOBAMA

62,910 SUbSCRIbERS

YOUTUBE.COM/

BARACKOBAMA

169,955 SUPPORtERS

FACEBOOK.COM/

JOHNMCCAIN

1,316fOLLOWING

TWITTER.COM/

JOHNMCCAIN2008

MCCAIN, ObAMA SPAR fOR yOUtH VOtE ONLINE

Cyberspace battle

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McCain


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by JaSon SoRiano

Miami Country Day

Steven Dikowitz says he’s not yet ready to vote, even though he’s only a few months away from the official voting age of 18.

“To be completely honest, no, I don’t believe the age should be lowered,” said the intern in the campaign office for Coral Springs Mayor Scott J. Brook.

“If anything the age should be raised even if that means raising the age to enlist, and smoke, to 21. I know at 16 I wasn’t mature enough to fight in a war and I know that when I’m 18 I won’t be either.”

In a recent poll conducted by the Peace Sullivan/James Ansin High School Workshop in Journalism and New Media at the University of Miami, a majority of high school students surveyed said 18 should remain the minimal voting age in this year’s general election.

The presumptive Democratic nominee, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, 46, will face the likely Republican nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, 71.

The 26th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in the early 1970s, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The change was made following protests that young Americans were being forced to fight the Vietnam War but couldn’t vote.

In the workshop survey, 400 high school through college-age teens were asked their opinions on a variety of issues. Only 27 percent said the voting age should be lowered to 17 or younger. The majority, 67 percent, said the voting age should remain at 18 years.

Abel Iraola, 16, is one of the many young South Floridians who feels he is ready to vote.

“We watch the news, we know what’s going on in society, and plus so many of us go on the Internet everyday,” said Iraola Abel, who attends Hialeah High School.

“Rock the Vote, an organization that strives to engage youth in politics by integrating entertainment and popular forms of culture into its activities, has reported that 2008 is going to be another record turnout

among young voters.The number of 18- to-29-year-

old voters increased in every state’s primary or caucus, many of which saw double and triple the numbers of young voters.

Overall, this age group increased 103 percent when compared to the last primary elections in 2004.

“Eighteen is okay,” said Jorge Luis Lopez, the Republican candidate for District 107 in the Florida Legislature. “It’s all about personal responsibility. If young people want to get involved, heck yeah, it’s their world as well.”

Youth should have an impact on

this election, said Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami.

“The more young people we can get to vote, the better off we are,” said Shalala, a former Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Clinton administration. “I think this is a very unusual election for a variety of reasons. There are interesting differences such as age.”

Although many teens want to exercise their voting privilege, not all

feel that they are ready to make that step.

“At 18, most teenagers aren’t mature enough to make such an educated and researched decision, and won’t truly understand the importance that such a vote casts,” Dikowitz said.

Some local party officials, like Bret Berlin, agree with Dikowitz but still feel that younger people should have a way to express their feelings publicly.

“I would say that they don’t feel like their voice is being heard,” said Berlin, chair of the Miami-Dade

Democratic Party. “The only reason [16 year olds want to vote] is because no one is listening to them.”

Dustin Ram, 16, of Miami Country Day School, disagrees.

“Our voice is being heard, but we can’t vote yet,” Ram said. “Actually, 16 year olds have as much knowledge and they contribute as much even though society might consider them as minors.”

Patricia Pratt-Perez supports Ram’s view.

“I support us 16-year-olds, because we have enough experience understanding how society works,” Perez said.

Some teenagers, though, feel that the privilege of voting is being wasted by those who can.

“I strongly disagree with the current minimum voting age,” said Rebecca Astorga, 15, of G. Holmes Braddock High School. “I have friends in college who

are registered and everything, but they didn’t even vote in the 2004

election. I want to vote at 16.”The San Francisco Chronicle

recently reported about two state Assembly bills designed to bring more young people into the voting booths. One piece of legislature would permit 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register; the other measure would let 17-year-olds vote in the primary election if they will turn 18 by the date of the next general election.

On a federal level, such a change would require a difficult constitutional amendment, Shalala said.

“Amending the Constitution once again to lower the voting age to 16 would be a difficult – if not impossible – task,” Shalala said. “Voting is controlled by older people. And the last thing they want to see is a young vote; the youth element can make a big difference.”

One for the ages

UPCOMING ELECtION

SPURS DEbAtE: IS 18

tOO OLD, tOO yOUNG OR

JUSt RIGHt tO VOtE?

25%

67%

6%17 & under

Raise to 19

Remain at 18

Compiled by Shani Swanston


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ever,” Cerros said. “It’s got to do with the fact that some candidates appeal to them more than others, because youth want change.”

But registering young Hispanics presents some unique challenges.

“Most Hispanic youth don’t go to a traditional college or college at all,” said Rudi Navarro, 30, also a national field manager.

According to a Pew Hispanic Center report on education in the United States

by SHANI SWANStON

Dr. Michael M. Krop High

In a swing state like Florida, where shifting political loyalties could help decide the next president of the United States, one Miami organization is doing its part to get out the vote among a key demographic group.

“Hispanic youth tend to influence their parents a lot, especially if they are first generation,” said Luis Cerros, 36, a national field manager of Democracia U.S.A. “If we motivate youth, they will motivate their parents at the same time.”

A non-partisan organization founded in Miami four years ago, Democracia U.S.A. registers Hispanics to vote and educates new immigrants about the political process.

Volunteers and paid staffers go door-to-door through Hispanic neighborhoods in South Florida, rallying people to vote and become politically active.

They are finding that Hispanic youth, like their peers, are enthusiastic about the election.

“They are more motivated than


yoUtH EMPHaSiS: Democracia U.S.A. field managers Rudi Navarro, left, and Luis Cerros discuss efforts to reach out to the youth in the Hispanic community.

LOCAL ORGANIzAtION GALVANIzES HISPANIC yOUtH

Pulling in the votesDemocracia U.S.A.305-573-7329www.democraciausa.org

Voter registration drives and educates immigrants about politics.

Generation Engage954-303-5585generationengage.org

Engages youth activists to help their local communities.

florida Immigrant Coalition305-571-7254floridaimmigrant.orgDefends immigrant rights and helps them adjust to American culture.

Hispanic Unity954-964-8884hispanicunity.orgProvides immigrants withassistance for housing, learning English,employment and more.

Hispanic Outreach

published in 2005, 4.6 million Hispanics attended some college, while 2.8 million graduated from college in 2003.

As a result, Democracia U.S.A. says it needs to get creative if it hopes to reach its goal of 110,000 new Hispanic registered voters in South Florida.

Among the ideas it is exploring is reaching youth through text messages; when Election Day arrives, they want to send messages to the voters, reminding them to head to the polls.

Democracia U.S.A. also has teamed up with several local and national groups, many of them working to target minority youth.

Locally, they’ve joined with the Florida Immigrant Coalition and Hispanic Unity.

Together, they are planning a calendar of events focused on political and community involvement among Hispanic youth prior to the presidential election.

Nationally, they’ve partnered with the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic activist organization in the nation, as well as Univision Communications Inc., and the We Are

America Alliance, a coalition of local, state and regional immigrant outreach groups for the “Ya es Hora ¡Ciudadania!” (“Now is the Time”) campaign.

“We’ve found that Hispanic youth get motivated by different issues than older Hispanics,” said Navarro, who has been tasked with the job of seeing what other groups are doing to reach youth on behalf of Democracia U.S.A.

In South Florida, for example, the organization Generation Engage has been mobilizing Hispanic and Haitian youth through conferences and Internet chats with political leaders like former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

“One thing I’ve learned is that the true change you want to create in the nation must start locally,” said Binsen Gonzalez, 19, a Democracia U.S.A. intern who also volunteers with Generation Engage.

“So many young people get cynical and think they can’t do anything. They don’t believe in politicians,” Gonzalez said.

“The key to making change in our country and in our communities is getting involved.”

‘So many young people get cynical and think they can’t do anything. They don’t believe in politicians. The key to making change in our country and in our communities is getting involved.’

—binSEn GonZaLEZ, 19 Democracia U.S.A. intern


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by StEPHEn SHEEHan

Everlades High

After failing twice with punch ballot and touch-screen voting systems, Florida counties are down to their last strike in their attempt to provide a reliable voting system.

State lawmakers, taking a cue from the 2000 presidential election fiasco, banned punch ballot systems, forcing all Florida counties to find an alternative.

This year, 15 counties will use an optical-scan system, beginning with the Aug. 26 primaries.

The optical-scan system requires voters to fill out a paper ballot and submit it through a scanning device. If the ballot is filled out correctly, it will be stored inside a locked container. Voters will be given the option to correct their ballot if it is not completed properly. This scanning technology is the same used for the SAT college-entrance exam.

“I believe it blends the best of both worlds,” said Lester Sola, supervisor of elections in Miami-Dade County.

Sola said the cost of converting to an optical-scan system in Miami-Dade County is $10 million, with $5 million coming from the state and the rest

OffICIALS SAy NEW VOtING MACHINES ARE tRUStWORtHy, bUt SOME WONDER

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM?

oMaR vEGa

optical-scan: Beginning with the August election, voters will use an optical-scan machine which combines a paper ballot system with a scanning device.

‘ To invest in a new system when we already have an existing system almost doesn’t make sense.’

— ELviS bELLo JR., 20 Student, Broward Community College

1898-1960 gear and lever voting machine 2004 Touch screen voting machine

coming from the county.Two optical-scan machines will be

placed at each polling site, in addition to one touch-screen unit for elderly or disabled voters. To ensure voter confidence, Sola said that anyone having contact with the voting equipment will have to follow a set of security guidelines.

“Every person goes through a background check,” Sola said. “Everything is inventoried and bar-coded.”

Jorge Luis Lopez, the Republican candidate for District 107, thinks the benefits of the system are worth the cost.

“The good news is that the cost is shared with the state and local governments. The real return is with confidence in the system,” Lopez said.

While touch-screen poll workers had to undergo three hours of training in the past, this year those same poll workers will have to complete four or five times that much.

Miami-Dade poll workers are also tested before Election Day.

Although Sola acknowledges that problems could arise, many precautions will be taken in order to create a nearly trouble-freee voting environment, he said.

On Election Day, Sola said, the county will “have 150 people in cars to be troubleshooters. There will also be 40 trucks with everything necessary to fix any problems with the machines.”

Kaye Johnson, community outreach supervisor for Miami-Dade County’s election department, hosts more than 100 events per month at businesses, universities, high schools and churches in an effort to educate voters and

demonstrate the new optical-scan machines.

“Last month we hosted 174 events,” Johnson said.

While Sola remains optimistic about the new voting system, Joseph Uscinksi, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Miami, questions its reliability.

“With paper ballots, people can steal them, but with an electronic system, there’s electronic piracy or glitches in the system where votes could go missing forever,” said Uscinski. “No matter what system, there will be about 3-to-10 percent margin of error.”

Bret Berlin, chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, also raises concerns about the new system.

“They will be a disaster,” he said of

the machines. “Florida is going to make national news again.”

Berlin described the machine as, “a really big garbage can with a scanner on top.”

Elvis Bello Jr., 20, who attends Broward Community College, says he doesn’t see the rationale in changing systems.

“I think it’s almost a downgrade to go from a touch-screen,” Bello said, “to invest in a new system when we already have an existing system almost doesn’t make sense.”

For anyone who wishes to avoid the machines altogether, Miami-Dade County offers an alternative: absentee balloting. Eligible registered voters can request an absentee ballot, which can be returned in person or by mail.

1960s Votomatic punch card machine


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by CURStEn tayLoR

Stranahan High

At 16, Elijah Shanks of William H. Turner Technical Arts High School is one of the many teens who consider Barack Obama a role model.

Raised in a single parent household, he grew up seeing his mother and grandmother struggle to support both himself and his little brother.

“If Obama can make it this far, then I can be whatever I want to be,” said Elijah, who is black. “Even though I didn’t have a father in my life, I’m still blessed.”

Elijah isn’t alone. The possibility of a black president has sparked interest among young African Americans, many of whom believe the United States is ready to begin a new chapter in its history. And with black youth under 35 representing nearly 50 percent of the African-American

electorate, according to the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, there’s potential to make a difference at the polls in November.

On a cool July evening, scores of young people gathered at New Birth Baptist Church Cathedral of Faith International in North Dade to attend a week-long youth conference focusing on Christian values and civic activism. Amid the music and food, politics was a hot topic. There was hope for the future and excitement about the possibility of a black president, though some still had lingering doubts.

“I don’t think America is mature enough for a black president,” said Shelton Douthett, 19, a student at Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. “I’m afraid that this is going to turn into a black against white thing again.”

Mark Russell, 18, and a recent graduate of Northwestern High School, disagreed. “Before it was always a white male in office. But for a black man to be close means that Americans are ready for a change.”

Electing Obama would mean that “America is headed in a new direction,” Russell said.

“This is historic. In history, African Americans have tried

to get their voice heard. If he becomes president, then good for him. But just the fact that he has come this far is amazing,” said Alyson Townsel, an 11th grader at the School for Advanced Studies.

With the unprecedented participation of young black voters in this year’s campaign, some are concerned about the effects of a possible Obama loss.

“If Obama doesn’t win, the concept of the American Dream is tarnished,” Douthett said.

Travon Petit, a graduate of Michael Krop High School, is working to convince his friends that “their opinion matters and their vote is going to count.” Petit, 18, worries that if Obama loses, his and others’ push for change won’t matter. He adds that he would be very disappointed because everyone has united to support their beliefs.

Though most of the people interviewed for this story supported Obama, there were different views on the candidate of choice.

“What’s important is change,” said Dominique Taylor, 18. “I would vote for McCain if McCain would change things. I will vote for whoever is willing to help everyone.”

tEENS GAtHER At CHRIStIAN yOUtH CONfERENCE tO DISCUSS fAItH, POLItICS

Obamarama‘This is historic. In history, African Americans have tried to get their voice heard. If he becomes president, then good for him. But just the fact that he has come this far is amazing.’

—aLySon toWnSEL,SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

SaM anGaRita MontaGE Staff

WoRDS of HoPE: from left to right Janay Faison, 16, of Southridge High; Gabriella Whittaker, 15, of Carol City High; and Grear Liggines talk about Barack Obama.


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Close to a year after immigration agents arrested Juan and Alex Gomez and their parents at their Southwest Miami-Dade County home, their story continues to be at the heart of the national immigration debate.

While their parents were deported and remain in Colombia, the Gomez brothers, thanks to a grassroots campaign, received a reprieve from Congress and are attending college in the United States.

The case of the Gomez brothers, both honors students at Miami Killian High School before their 2007 arrest for overstaying a visa, raised many questions: Should the Gomezes, and other children of undocumented immigrants, have the same educational opportunities as American citizens? Should the DREAM Act, which would allow teens like the Gomezes to attend college in the United States, be adopted to include others like the Gomez brothers?

The Gomezes are anything but alone. There are still 65,000 minors struggling under similar circumstances.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, has said yes. Obama has expressed support for the bill, saying that creating equal opportunities for immigrant minors is essential.

“It could really depend on the Congressional elections as well, not just presidential elections,” Juan Gomez said. “The DREAM Act likely won’t be passed until 2012. But if

Barack is elected, it could be as soon as 2010 or 2009.”

On the other hand, Obama’s likely rival in the November elections, Republican John McCain, strictly opposes the bill and abstained from voting on it in 2007.

Scott Elfenbein, a former Killian High student and a close friend of the Gomezes, said, “McCain has supported the DREAM Act before but because of his political party, he can’t really be an advocate for it.’’

South Florida teens have strong opinions on the issue.

“The Gomez brothers shouldn’t have to lose everything to go back to a place they can’t call home,” Juan Erazo, 18, said. “I can relate to them because my family and I moved to the U.S. from Ecuador about four years ago, and I’ve already built my life here too.”

Erazo is currently living in the United States on a visa. He applied for residency about a year ago and is still awaiting approval.

The Gomez family was arrested the morning of July 25, 2007 and held for a week in separate detention facilities. His father was taken to Krome Detention Center.

Meanwhile, he and his brother were taken to the men’s section of the Broward Transitional Detention Center. Their mother was taken to the women’s section.

Once Juan Gomez called their friends, a massive campaign led by Elfenbein was organized. The DREAM Act received massive support from teenagers nationwide. Thanks to the social networking site Facebook, the case attracted more than 3,000 supporters.

“You have to feel blessed to know that you have friends like that and honored that they would do something like that for you to stay in this country,” Juan Gomez said.

The students contacted U.S. Reps. and Miami Republicans Lincoln Diaz- Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who ultimately took the issue to Congress. At the time, the DREAM Act bill was eight votes shy of becoming law.

“I will continue to work tirelessly with my congressional colleagues to support the DREAM Act so that young children accomplish their dream of attending college,” Ros-Lehtinen said.

“It was one of the craziest things we’ve ever done. It was actually a chance to make a huge difference,” Elfenbein, 19, said.

Because the bill didn’t pass, the students successfully pitched a second, private bill that applied only to the two boys. The brothers received temporary work permits, effective until March 2009.

If by that time the bill is not passed, the pair will be sent

DREAM ACT

debacleThe Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors [DREAM] Act aims to change the lives of tens of thousands of immigrant minors.

In order to earn a temporary, or even permanent, residency in the United States, an individual would have to enter the country before the age of 16, live here a minimum of five years with a clean record and be committed to attending two years of college or serving in the military.

What is the DREaM act?

IMMIGRANtS’ EDUCAtIONAL OPPORtUNItIES StILL SUbJECt tO DEbAtEby aURa aLtaMiRanDa

Miami Sunset High

back to Colombia.“It’s amazing that these

teens could come together to support one cause and actually make a difference, not only in their friends’ lives, but in others, too. With the elections coming up, we can hope for more support for the cause,” Erazo added.

Alex is currently working and attending Miami Dade College. Juan, also attending

MDC, has been awarded a $42,000 scholarship to attend Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and is awaiting the fall term. He is working three jobs to maintain a steady income and pay for college tuition.

“I felt it was a duty of mine to continue what they [his friends] did after I was released,” Gomez said.


foLLoWinG a DREaM: Juan Gomez, 19, stands in front of his former high school. Gomez and his brother Alex made national headlines for their DREAM Act campaign.

RoDoLfo toMaRCHio

fRiEnD in nEED: Scott Elfenbein, 19, worked to help the Gomez brothers with their campaign.


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Brandon Gross was only 10 years old when he stepped into the political spotlight of his fifth-grade class. He was campaigning to become the vice president of his elementary school.

Gross won that election.He has been campaigning ever since.In August, Gross, now 21, takes office

as the president of the student body at the University of Miami, which has an enrollment of 10,000 undergraduates.

Gross is interested in how to bring about change. He believes that young people, whether in student government, in community activities or in national political campaigns, can effect change.

“I hate it when people just complain about things and don’t fix them,” Gross says.

And so he has, whether it was reversing the decision to cancel a high-school homecoming parade or making rental cars more accessible for college freshman.

Gross’ involvement in student

government at UM began when he was a freshman. Gross knew he would focus his studies on communication. Representing the school as senator in the university’s student government was an obvious first choice.

Gross’ political star continued to rise. He was elected speaker pro tempore

of the student senate. By his junior year, Gross was speaker of the senate.

Gross went on to run for president of the UM student body. The campaigning was far from easy. It was so stressful that Gross says, “I can’t imagine [Barack]Obama and [John] McCain doing this on

a grander scale.”Gross ran on a “Committed to U”

ticket, with a concrete platform. He focused on more flexibility within majors; promised to increase shuttle services and overall transportation; and provide more structures to ease freshmen into a collegiate life.

Through it all, Gross campaigned on “change.”

“Obama stole the word ‘change’ from us,” he says.

UM faculty members and administrators are well aware of Gross’ work ethic.

“Brandon has always been a doer,’’ said Richard Walker, the assistant vice president of student affairs at UM. “His main focus has always been how to make the university a better place.”

Gross has chosen to put his energy into student affairs rather than national elections. “I’m not attached to one campaign right now,” says Gross, the politician.

He is excited by the increase in political activism that he sees all

around him on the campus. “I think on the college scene it’s become bigger and bigger. Especially in the last three years,” says Gross, who didn’t expect so much to happen so quickly. “Politicians sometimes don’t realize just how much energy youth are willing to give for what they believe in.”

Gross has been campaigning for a decade. Still, Gross isn’t imagining a political career for himself -- at least not yet.

Gross loves sports as much as he loves campaigning. He would like to pursue a career in sports public relations.

Over the course of nearly a decade of campaigning, he has learned some valuable lessons, some of which would benefit young candidates.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned came after a hard defeat when I was running for the eighth-grade president,’’ he said, smiling. “When the returns came in, I was devastated. But I didn’t quit. The next year I was running again.”

UNIVERSIty Of MIAMI StUDENt GOVERNMENt PRESIDENt MAKES LANDfALL

Hurricane Brandon

CoMMitED to U: From left to right, University of Miami Student Government Vice-President Claudia Medina, President Brandon Gross and Treasurer Shajena Erazo speak to students about life in the political spotlight.

‘I can’t imagine Obama and McCain doing this on a grander scale.’

—bRanDon GRoSS, 21 UM Student Government president

by MaRina GonZaLEZ

West Boca High



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Rebekah Diaz is facing the same predicament. “Now with gas prices it sort of stinks because it’s summer and now I can’t see them,” said the 15-year-old home schooled student from Westchester.

To cope, some young drivers are now relying more on public transportation than they used to.

For some, however, public transportation is the only choice.

“My mom drives me to the Metro station at Dadeland North, and I take it to my job everyday,” said Daniel Barreto, 17, who volunteers during the summer at the Miami Museum of Science in South Miami.

The Miami Killian High School senior said the high price of gas is preventing him from driving. His parents are both remarried, with his father living in Sweetwater and mother in the Kendall region further south. They drive a Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Sequoia, respectively.

“There are times when my dad doesn’t want to drive me places,” Daniel said. “He’s not as willing to give me rides anymore because of gas.

“Since gas has gotten so high I’m usually stuck at home and it weakens some friendships.”.

Like Daniel, many young drivers are in constant conflicts with family members.

“I hardly drive at all actually,” Andrew Corey, 15, said. “I have family in Boca, South Miami, North Miami and even some in Sarasota, and I really don’t think that at least $50 of gas would be worth it to go up there.”

Samantha Blanco from Archbishop McCarthy High School lives in Broward and works in the Miami area. She said her parents pay for her gas, which bothers her.

“I feel badly because it’s almost $70 for every time I fill up,” said Samantha, who drives a Buick Rendezvous.

Gas price stress is even affecting romantic relationships.

For instance, Manilla and his

girlfriend are close neighbors. Before gas prices increased, he would just cruise over to her house in his 2003 Saturn Ion; now he walks to her house.

“We can’t hang out as often as we used to and sometimes she and I don’t agree on it,” Manilla said.

Some couples now meet at a mutual place instead of driving to see each other.

“I’ve had friends that have broken up because of it -- because of the distance,” Lynette Herbert, 15, said.

Aaron Cuenca, who attends the University of Florida, said he gets “money from my family for college and I spend most of it on gas. It’s very hard.”

So what else are young drivers and organizations doing about this problem?

“Carpooling is a great thing,” said Juanita Herbert, who drives her daughter Lynette to her 4H club meetings in Miami.

Added Lynette: “It has brought a lot of people closer together and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a good experience.”

Scooters, bikes becoming alternative to cars

Music meets politics, 2008 Warped Tour

Rising gas prices strain wallets and relationships

“So while they are intended to help the environment, they are going to end up killing the planet.’”

The University of Miami environmental party, Green U, has taken advantage of this new demand for alternative transportation, successfully pushing forward an on-campus bicycling program. This program, called “U Bike,” is expected to gain popularity next fall.

“[U Bike] is a recently installed program that I’m sure will be a success,” Wendy Smith, manager of the UM bookstore said, adding that high gas prices is a contributing factor.

Any UM student may purchase a bicycle either at the bookstore or online for $59, receiving a free lock with the bike. They may ride on newly fortified bike-friendly paths on campus and may park right outside their dormitories.

Environmental issues are important to Michael Megro, a senior at Cypress Bay High School and a frequent biker. Even though Michael has been noticing that more young people are concerned with “living green,” he says the vast majority of Americans will continue driving cars and negatively impacting the environment unless “something dramatic happens.”

The environment will be a factor in Michael’s vote this November. He wants to see a president who will continue advocating for the environment even after being elected.

What are the presidential candidates driving?

According to www.Caranddriver.com, Sen. Barack Obama switched to a Ford Escape Hybrid soon after the press revealed that he owned a Chrysler 300C, very much at odds with this Democratic candidate’s message of fuel efficiency.

Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, the Web site reports, drives a 255-hp, 3.6-liter 2006 Cadillac CTS, which swerves from his environmental conservation policies.

“Whether or not Obama is being superficial for having owned a Chrysler, he actually did something about it,” Michael said. “Unlike McCain, who is all words when it comes to helping the planet.”

Michael, 17, does not affiliate himself with any political party but said that he believes that the Democratic side is the “lesser of two evils.”

“The sad part is that the green issue is the last thing on the candidates’ minds,” he said. “To make a difference you have to have the money and the resources. I think Obama is putting the most money into the environment.”

tHINK GLObALLyCONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

tWO-WHEEL DEALCONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

With the support of MTV, Rock the Vote created “Vote or Die” for the 2004 election and has been able to reach mass audiences through all-star lineups and celebrity testimonials. This year, MTV has created the “Choose or Lose” campaign deploying a “street team” of 51 citizen journalists around the country. As the election draws near, more and more local bands are getting involved in this youth-driven movement, sharing the same drive as Allison. Spanish-punk band Guajiro does more than rock out in the garage. The Hialeah band also promotes youth voting during its performances. “We stress the importance of voting at all our shows and most of all, we wrote a thinly veiled pro-Obama song,” said Willy Lopez, 30, lead singer/guitarist for Guajiro. Both Allison and Guajiro use the media and music industry to promote youth involvement in political elections. “No matter the outcome, we would like to see the kids come out to participate,” said Lopez. “Kids need to put the PlayStation 3 down, stop texting their best friends and make their voices heard.” Music and media have proven to be a huge part of everyday life and in the world of youth voting, music is

where art meets politics. The influence music has on youth is nothing unfamiliar. People have used music to convey ideals and beliefs throughout time. During the 1960s, protest music was a key part of anti-Vietnam war demonstrations. By mixing the music and politics on a local and national level, the demographic emphasis has changed. At this year’s Warp Tour, a yearly event held at Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami, Allison could be seen among the audience as just another fan. More than 70 bands, musicians, DJs and performers participated in this 12-hour event of all ages. The music never stopped as international ska, rock, punk and metal

bands filled the stages. While young people were attracted by their favorite bands, some used the attention-grabbing tour to encourage youth registration. “Declare yourself” posters decorated a vibrating tent while volunteers ran voter registration tables alongside booming amplifiers and beaming stage lights. “Register at Warp Tour!” said Jeff Irizarry, 22, while leaving the registration table, which was run by volunteers and stocked with fliers, buttons and T-shirts. “I want to break 500” registrations, said Medmode Inajriando, 15, a volunteer, as she handed out registration applications on clipboards to a group of Converse-wearing, spiked-hair young people.

ACtIVISMCONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

LIVE AND LEt ROCK:Warped Tour '08 revolved around social and political awareness.

EMILy tORRES/MONtAGE StAff


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by DaniELLa Cioffi

Miami Killian High

The brightly lit room at the University of Miami had a unique symphony. The repeated tick and tack was a melody of work, determination and passion shared by 20 students glued to individual computer screens.

These teenagers were part of the Peace Sullivan/James Ansin High School Workshop in Journalism and New Media. The newly renamed workshop is held annually at the School of Communication. For three weeks, July 6 to July 26, the students from throughout South Florida breathed various types of journalism.

Both Peace Sullivan and James Ansin are major contributors to the workshop, along with the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. Together they sponsored the University of Miami scholarship that one workshop participant will be awarded to attend UM.

Peace Sullivan is a former United Press International journalist and James Ansin is the general manager of WSVN-Channel 7, the Fox affiliate in Miami.

By the end of the workshop, now in it’s 24th year, participants published a newspaper, Miami Montage, along with a broadcast, blogs and a Web page.

“It’s like a crash course in journalism,” said Savanna Stiff, senior at School for Advanced Studies MDC Wolfson campus. “I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

The 2008 workshop was headed by Yves Colon, a UM lecturer who has a background of reporting and editing at The Miami Herald, the Associated Press and the Voice of America.

“The main goal is for students to learn, to be inspired and to keep them excited about journalism,” Colon said. “It is important to have fun, too.”

Cursten Taylor of Stranahan High School in Ft. Lauderdale, considered it as three weeks of learning and enrichment.

“It sharpens skills in all areas, so no matter what you specialize in you’re going to learn a lot,” said Cursten.

This year’s theme for staffers was November’s U.S. presidential elections; the focus was on teens and the vote in South Florida. Article ideas came easily for some workshop attendees, but some had trouble narrowing their topics.

“I thought I was going to lose [my article],” said Isabel Leon, senior at the College Academy at Broward Community College. “When I finally got the lead that I needed, I was like ‘Yes, I get to keep my baby.’ ”

Jacqueline Charles, a Miami Herald reporter and workshop alum who returns to edit each year, said: “What you write makes a difference in people’s lives. Go out there and get it. The story is only going to be as good as your reporting.”

Getting sources, however, for a story is not always as easy as it looks.

“Getting my sources was definitely the hardest thing,” said Steve “S.P.” Pierre, a senior at Miami Edison High School.

“I thought it was going to be an easy ride, and that was definitely not the case.”

It didn’t help the stress level when Ronnie Greene, an editor at The Herald, came to give a few pointers.

“When you are working on a story, your story needs to be bullet proof. Reporting is really basic work.,’’ Greene said. “It’s about going there, finding if records exist…it’s never about sitting at your desk and just going on a computer.”

Many workshop participants had to play a game of phone tag with their sources to get the scoop.

“It gets frustrating after a while because when you are on a deadline, things have to get done in a fast pace, and when people that you need to get information on aren’t at the same pace as you are,” said Melissa Caceres, a senior at Felix Varela High School.

Nonetheless, the workshop was not always serious.

When students retired to the dorms, it gave them an opportunity to relax, talk and have fun at the same time.

“Initially everyone was kind of hanging out in their own groups and cliques, but now a couple of bonding experiences have brought us together,” Sheehan said.

Ravika Rameshwar, a senior at Coral Springs High School, said that she thinks it’s really cool how the girls banded together instantly.

“I feel like if you can bond with a person in only a few days, then imagine how much you can bond with someone in a long time,” she said. “It truly feels like a family.”

Dorm life is also an excellent opportunity that workshop participants had for their futures in college. They shared a room with a roommate, woke up early and used community bathrooms.

“I didn’t expect community bathrooms. I thought we were all going to have our own bathrooms with our roommates in our room,” Christina DeVarona, senior at Archbishop McCarthy High School, said. A major germaphobe, DeVarona shared one of her worst dorm moments.

“Someone came into my room and took my pillow without asking. When I got it back I [disinfected it] with Clorox wipes and turned my pillow case inside out,” she said.

The reason as to why these 20 teens are so united is because they have a common purpose: The love for journalism and to do the best that they can to produce a top-of-the-line publication.

“In the profession, you have to have passion,” Charles said. “You have to be mindful; to be focused.”

Start the press, rock the vote


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Auto Enrollment

History of the Draft:

2.6 million1917 WORLD WAR I

10 million1940 WORLD WAR II

1.7 million1950-1953 K0REAN WAR

1.8 million1950-1973 VIETNAM WAR

1975 “DEEP STANDBY”The Armed Forces no longer depended on the Selective Service System. Instead, they depended strictly on volunteers.

1980 RESUMPTION Of REGISTRATIONPresident Carter resumed the regis-tration requirement for the Selective Service, but no draft goes into effect.

by CHRiStina DEvaRona

Archbishop McCarthy High

When Roberto Guzman turned 18 in April he chose not to register for the Selective Service System because he was “terrified” of going into the Army.

Guzman didn’t know he was already registered.

When he got his driver’s license at 17, the state of Florida automatically entered him into the system. Thirty days prior to his 18th birthday, he was given a registration number.

“We tend to regard that as a convenience because it is done for them,” said Dan Amon, a public affairs specialist for the Selective Service.

Guzman didn’t see it that way.“Wow, hey, that sucks,” he said. “I

guess the government cheats their way into it. They don’t even inform you about it.”

The Military Selective Service Act requires that males register for eligibility to serve when they turn 18. If Congress were to ever reinstate the draft, that list would be used.

In Florida and 39 other states and U.S. territories, registration information comes from driver license applications. If a boy applies for a license at 16, his information is used for registration when he turns 18.

While women are fulfilling combat roles, they are not covered by the mandatory-registration law.

For young men, however, it is against the law to not register.

“Officially, there are penalties including a jail term of five years and/or a $250,000 fine,” Amon said. “However, no one is enforcing that.”

He said the Selective Service does send the Justice Department the names of those who don’t register, but there is little interest in punishment.

The Selective Training and Service Act, which created the first “peacetime draft,” was created in 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Selective Service is touted as a “backup system to provide manpower to the United States Armed Forces.”

Florida’s law went into effect in 2001 and requires the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to notify male applicants that their information will be forwarded to the Selective Service System once a license is issued. Applicants agree to having their information forwarded by signing the receipt for the license.

“Most people don’t look at the

fine print if they are issued a license here,” said a supervisor for the DMV who declined to give her name. “You get no license without registering for Selective Service.”

“We don’t ask any questions concerning Selective Service,” said Nestor Tobar Perea, a DMV employee in Coral Gables. “I would know because I was in the Army for 25 years.”

Alfred Stein, 19, didn’t register because he didn’t want to fight in a war. He reacted with a moment of silence when he learned that he had inadvertently registered when he applied for his driver’s license.

“It’s very, very disheartening that that would happen,” he said. “It’s kind of low.”

Not every state thinks Selective Service registration with a driver’s license application is a good idea. In California, a bill similar to Florida’s has been defeated three times.

“The driver’s license (registration process) was created because Selective Service wanted a higher compliance than what it was getting,” said Rick Jahnkow, program director of California-based Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities.

The non-profit organization alerts teenagers in California about job and academic opportunities other than enlistment in the armed forces.

“Selective Service has a serious problem in that many people don’t register when they turn 18,” Jahnkow said.

The Selective Service has a 99 percent compliance rate in Florida registration, Amon said.

But that doesn’t mean that young men and their families know about it.

“If I have to get drafted I will go to Canada. I’m definitely going to do anything I can to not get drafted,” said Oscar Bode, 18, who starts classes at the University of Florida this fall.

His mother, Estela Bode, 45, of Pembroke Pines, believes that the war is a “waste of manpower,” and said she would do “anything possible” to help Oscar avoid the draft.

She was shocked to learn he was already registered.

“I don’t think it’s right that we are not informed,” she said. “They got you one way or another.”

Her dog began to bark.“Even my dog disagrees with this

whole thing,” she said.But she quickly found a silver lining.“The positive side of this is that the

pool is bigger,” she said. GRaPHiCS by CHRiStina DEvaRona/MontaGE Staff

Montage 2008 - The Elections

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