The Harbinger Empowering young minds through information Miami Lakes Educational Center May/June 2020 ~ Vol. XXI No. 7 5780 NW 158th St Miami Lakes, FL #MLECClassElections: The Virtual Campaign From there, it was up to them have had no choice but to push normalcy to students as well as could be seen waiting anx- By Aileen Delgado to vote on their preferred candi- through, and continue to get make them feel more connected iously in front of their screens @aileenedu date… The posters online this this message out to their peers. with voting and supporting their for winners to be announced. On May 11th, dozens of year not only helped to spread Along with the chal- friends,” said Xiomara Campos, “Government doesn’t digital flyers and speech videos the word, because while scrolling lenge of making sure everyone MLEC junior in Engineering. stop. Leadership doesn’t stop. We resurfaced on MLEC class social through your feed you were re- was notified of this decision was As the voting peri- did this because voting needs to media accounts. Student candi- minded of the election, but I think also the challenge of making od came to an end, and results take place. These kids worked dates officially announced the it was also a lot simpler to view ev- sure no one was excluded from rolled in, Mr. Moffi scheduled hard, and they want to campaign continuation of their campaigns erything at once,” she continued. participation. This ultimately a Zoom video call meeting and be in office,” added Mr. Moffi. for this year’s class elections. De- Nonetheless, this new called for a last minute 1-day with fellow SGA officers and “I’m excited about my new offi- spite the event being postponed digital voting system still posed extension of student voting. student candidates. Students cers, regardless of who they are.” numerous times throughout the concerns for fellow students and “I believe that this pro- year, jaguars were still given the candidates. Scrolling through cess will work, but only if each SGA opportunity to make their voice online posters, viewing speech and every student of MLEC puts heard through virtual elections. recordings, and filling out google the effort to go and vote. The sys- Candidates, as well as forms will never be the same as tem is safe, the votes will be fair, MLEC’s Student Government passing by colorful flyers hung but the major problem with these Association (SGA) officers, took up on several halls, filling in bub- online elections is the participa- to social media to make sure ev- bles nervously on the paper bal- tion of students. They don’t fully C/O 2021 eryone knew: elections would lots, or witnessing an emotional understand the power they have occur from 8 A.M-12 P.M. on connection between a candidate’s in these elections. They are the May 12th and May 13th. In- words and their live audience. ones that elect us, and we need formational graphics and help- “Campaigning digi- them to help us make their voices ful tutorials on how to get to tally is hard. It’s more because be heard,” said Karen Laverde, the online voting ballot were we weren’t really prepared for Class of 2021 Vice President. made accessible to all students. this… I think that as a student, But, despite the self- C/O 2022 “We used all of the one has the right to look a can- doubt that many of these can- social media platforms to get didate in the eye in person. It’s didates have faced in going the word across and asked oth- all about the trust between that forth with this new system, ers to share the word too. I can student and candidate,” said Mr. MLEC’s student body still man- only hope that the majority of Moffi, SGA Sponsor. “We didn’t aged to do their part and en- the student body was aware get to have the elections like we sure a worthwhile campaign that we were still holding elec- wanted to, and we didn’t get to for each and every one of them. C/O 2023 tions,” said Valentina Serrano, have the campaigning or speech- “I understand that elec- Class of 2022 Vice President. es either. But, this could be the tions were something that the can- “Each class was able to new normal, and I think we didates spent a lot of time prepar- hear the candidate proposals and need to get comfortable with it.” ing for, so I empathize with them. recognize their face and name. Officers and candidates It’s always nice to try and bring Businesses During Police Brutality and Protests — A Quarantine Nation In Upheaval macist of Rubio Pharmacy. By Ajmaanie Andre By Carla Rubio “Although we have been @ajmaanieandre @ carlaaarubio working with closed doors, limit- While the majority of ing front end sales, our sales have citizens have been quarantined increased, specifically vitamins, By Khimmoy Hudson inside of their homes distanc- minerals, and supplements as well @hudson_khimmoy ing themselves from the world, as the urge to refill and stock up others have stayed working to on prescriptions,” she continued. George Floyed was keep their “essential” business- Not only are pharmacies or oth- a brother, a son and a victim of es open, but this has, nonethe- er healthcare facilities benefit- police brutality. He took his final less, impacted our economy. ting, but so are home-improve- breath on Monday, May 25, 2020. Across the globe, ment stores, which have also And the world watched. As the nations mourns over the loss of yet another black life at the hands of police, many come to pay their respects at a mural painted in honor of George Floyd. these include grocery stores, seen a drastic rise in customers. For the eight minutes Times Yang/NY Caroline pharmacies, to-go restaurants, The Costco Whole- and forty six seconds, Officer nationwide, reinvigorating a — is well documented on social food banks, and transportation. sale Corporation has even seen Derek Chauvin pressed his knee movement that precipitated pro- media and the evening news. The specific essentials sales rise by more than $1.5 bil- on Floyd’s neck, and bystanders tests, riots and social unrest: The But, for the relentless, this is just needed vary per country due to lion since the pandemic spread. urged the officer to get off. They Black Lives Matter Movement. a small price to pay for change. their various regulations, but none- From Home Depot to Tar- asked him, and the three other po- In the wake of Floyd’s “I am just tired of this: theless they all have been navigat- get, people turn to many well- lice officers there, to check for a murder, followed by the ruth- I’m tired of everytime I turn on the ing through similar experiences. known retail stores to help ful- pulse. The officer did not move. less killings of other innocent news another one of my brothers These businesses are fill their newfound home tasks. Now, latest clips and African Americans by police, is dying,” said Dominic Dunois, a growing busier by the day. Sur- Whether this is for surveillance footage reveal protestors and activists have 20 year old citizen, who protest- prisingly, no matter the size— buying groceries or develop- the encounter, from the mo- gathered in large spaces to bring ed in the Fort Lauderdale area. “I whether they are a large company ing a project, anything that ment Floyd exited his vehi- about change regarding the treat- have sisters, they could be next. or a local shop—these locations requires time and supplies cle in police handcuffs to him ment of African Americans. I need to be doing something.” are seeing a greater surge of sends thousands to the stores. lying on the floor uttering: But, the road to Some have pointed customers than ever before. Delivery and pickup “Please, please, please. I change is paved with chaos. out that some of these citizens “Independent phar- businesses have also been of can’t breathe. My stomach hurts. Pictures of protestors are not protestors at all, as po- macies have been recognized great use during this pandemic. My neck hurts. Please,” he con- and journalists enduring pepper lice officer Jacob Pederson of as one of the many front line Whether one wants to shop on- tinued before going silent. Para- spray, footage of citizens pour- St. Paul was recorded smashing warriors, providing much-need- line, buy something new on Am- medics later arrived at the scene, ing milk on their faces to elimi- windows near protests as mem- ed services during the coro- azon, or order a bite to eat, deliv- and Floyd was placed on a stretch- nate the harsh effects of tear gas, bers of the community tried to navirus pandemic,” said Dr. ery/pickup services are the go-to. er. Floyd was declared dead at and bloody — images of injuries stop him. The St. Paul police... Lerycka Fonte, owner and phar- Continued on A2 the hospital — uproar sparked caused by “non-lethal weapons” Continued on A2 NEWS Pgs. A1-A2 Feature Pgs. A3-C6 Editorials Pgs. D7-D8 Online Exclusives mlecharbinger.com A2 May/June, 2020 The Harbinger The Harbinger May/June, 2020 A3 NEWS FEATURE of senioritis or as this is called, Businesses During Quarentine Police Brutality and Protests A Recap of Our 2019- virtual senioritis, especially since this is all brand new to us. Continued from A1 May 18th, the Town of trol the unemployment rates as “No one would have Many businesses have Miami Lakes will be reopen- more towns in the county be- — A Nation In Upheaval 2020 School Year thought it’d come to this, it also turned to these services to ing businesses, occurring about gin to set these strict guides.