2019-2020 Issue 3 (Nov. 8, 2019) by NPHS Panther Prowler

PANTHER

PROWLER Friday Nov. 8, 2019 • Issue I I I • Newbury Park High School 456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

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Sex Ed Theater

Trump

Wildfires

PPP

CInderella

Sean Nicholson

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8-9

Freddy v. Jason Water Polo

Borderline

Marching Band

staff editorial Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

An open letter to the community: November 7. A date burned into the minds of everyone in Thousand Oaks. When the shooting ended, the lives of 12 innocent victims were taken, many more people were injured and the community was reeling. Over night, we were plunged into chaos and confusion. As the news spread, the only words to describe the state of the Thousand Oaks community were utter shock. It was so hard to comprehend; we had all seen the long list of mass shootings in America, but now we were on it. We all seemed to be asking the same question: How could this have happened? Thousand Oaks was no longer the small city that nobody had ever heard of. We were now the home of the Borderline shooting, where 12 innocent lives were taken from us without a moment’s warning. As the weeks went by, the tragic shooting remained in the forefront of our minds. Everytime the school went under lockdown, we would freeze and question if it was more than just a drill. Everytime we heard sirens blasting down the street, we would get a feeling of dread in the pit of our stomachs. But the feelings of shock and horror are fading. Perhaps this is a product of the society we are living in, with what

seems like a shooting every other week. Perhaps we are immune. Perhaps time passing allows us to push it to the back of our minds. And we cannot let this happen. We cannot become numb. The shock we felt on the first night may have dimmed as we adjusted to our new reality, but we can never let our memories fade or our fierce feelings of unity unravel. The community came together like never before, and for the most part has stayed together. But we are beginning to see cracks. Partisan lines are being drawn again, shields have been going back up. It is imperative that we remember what brought us together in the first place, and it is imperative that it keeps us together. November 7 is a day that will live in infamy in the minds and hearts of the Thousand Oaks people. Long after the news channels have stopped covering us and the rest of the country forgets our name, we will remember what happened that night. We must. It is our duty as the ones left behind to remember the names of the people who lost their lives, to remember their families, to remember what it means to come together as a community, to be Thousand Oaks Strong. Because if we don’t, who will? Remembering the 12 - The photos of the twelve Borderline victims are on display at the memorial located at the former bar and grill. The original crosses from the memorial on the corner of the street last year are also on display. Even as the shooting becomes a more distant memory, it remains important to remember the tragic day that marks Thousand Oaks’ history. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

PANTHER PROWLER 2019-2020 staff Editors-in-Chief Emily Nagamoto Aditya Vunnum

Entertainment Editor Manas Khatore Copy Editors Emily Augustine Carter Castillo Prasheetha Karthikeyan Manas Khatore

Cover Editor Emily Augustine

DPS Editor Jessica Zhou

Features Editor Prasheetha Karthikeyan

Online Carter Castillo Rahul D’Souza Prasheetha Karthikeyan Jessica Zhou

Sports Editor Clarissa Shin Opinion Editor Carter Castillo News Editors Sarena Kabir Emma Schoors

Photographers Chief// Rahul D’Souza Reese Kelem Jacob Malone Jessica Zhou

Graphic Artists Emily Augustine Clarissa Shin

Staff Writers Abby Gorman Adalia Luo Adviser Michelle Saremi

The Panther Prowler is the official publication of Newbury Park High School, and is created and produced by the Advanced Journalism students. The newspaper is funded by advertisements from local companies. The Panther Prowler staff makes all final decisions on information published in its newspaper, its website and its publishing in other social medias. While Mrs. Michelle Saremi advises the Advanced Journalism students, the staff is solely responsible for what is printed. The Panther Prowler is published every four weeks throughout the school year by Valley Press Publishing Co. For advertisement information, visit www.pantherprowler.org. The Panther Prowler is accepting letters to the editor. To submit your feedback, please provide your full name, email and a letter about 300 words in length. Letters are subject to discretion and editing for taste, length and libel. Letters can be submitted to the email posted below.

Newbury Park High School 456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320 (805) 498-3676 x 1110 prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

news Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

First responders work to ﬁght ﬁres Abby Gorman Staff Writer First responders first received notice of a developing brush fire early morning on Oct. 30. Beginning in Northern Simi Valley, it had spread into Moorpark within a few hours. At its peak,

more than 7,000 structures were threatened, including the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The following evening, the Maria fire began atop South Mountain in Santa Paula, a mere 12 miles

Smoky - The ashes from the fire rise and surround the freeway. Vehicles driving by can only see the smoke rising from the mountains, behind the trees. “The hard part right now is that you used to be able to rely on your iPhone, your television, things like that,” said Deforges. “We always tell people to go to vcfd.org. It’s easy to find lots of great information and it’s all bundled up.” First responders work hard behind the scenes to contain the quickly spreading fires, but the unpredictability of the winds make them difficult to track and control. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

away. 10,000 acres of land were burned over the course of its activity. Due to a shift in the winds and the effort of the first responders, VCFD (Ventura County Fire Department) Public Information Officer Mike Deforges expected that the task was nearing its end correctly, as the fires are both completely contained as of Nov. 7. Assistant Principal Kelly Welch was one of 30,000 people ordered to evacuate for the Easy Fire Wednesday afternoon. “When I woke up in the morning and saw the fire on the news, and saw the direction...how fast it was going with the winds, I anticipated that I was going to get evacuated,” Welch said. Welch was confident that the fire department had it under control. “We knew that they were gonna get a good handle on it,” she said. It was the combined efforts of the VCFD and the NWS (National Weather Service) have aided in reducing what could have led to catastrophic aftermath. NWS Forecaster Ryan Kittell has spent these past weeks monitoring the status of fires with the aid of weather satellites. “Fires from these satellite sensors show up as ‘Hot spots’ which allows us to detect new fires and monitor the growth of established fire,” Kittell said. “This information helps firefighters anticipate how and where a fire

will grow and spread.” The primary cause of these disasters, as well as the Camp and Woolsey fires last year, can be derived from the dry, off-shore gusts known as Santa Ana winds. As air is pressurized from within the Great Basin, this forms compressed warm, dry winds that can reach 100 mph and results in extremely low humidity, which is the ideal atmosphere for wildfires to spread quickly. With both fires entirely contained, the fire department’s focus is to restore the area back to its prior condition. “Crews are up there chopping those trees so that they don’t fall and injure a firefighter or a citizen returning home,” Deforges said. “Just kind of controlling for general hotspots, pieces of smouldering material that might still be left over.” Although it is a harsh reality, the likelihood of there being more fires in the recent future is high, meaning it is crucial to be aware. “Definitely stay in the know,” Deforges said. Deforges encourages taking advantage of the emergency resources available through the fire department, including the Pulse Point app. “Download it, and select Ventura County Regional Dispatch. You’ll be able to see all of the calls. . .for brush fries in particular,” Deforges said. “You’ll get a notification if that kind of call comes up.”

Two proposed apartments face community opposition Carter Castillo Opinion Editor The Thousand Oaks City Council voted unanimously to approve the proposal of building new apartment buildings on 1872 Newbury Road, the same location as the local historic Timber School. The school will not be torn down, rather the proposed apartments would coexist with the now vacant building. The timber school is a historical icon in the city of Thousand Oaks, having been in place since 1889, or 130 years ago. City council members Claudia Bill-de-la-Peña, Bob Engler, Rob McCoy, Al Adam, and Ed Jones voted unanimously to approve the proposal of building new apartments on the same location as the old school. The California state assembly and senate have recently passed new bills and amendments that mandate the allowance of more affordable housing. One of these bills is the Senate bill number 330, authored by CA Sen. Nancy Skinner, “prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households or an emergency shelter unless the local agency makes specified written findings based on a preponderance of the evidence in the record.” The bill also gives certain criteria for when a city council could disprove or substantially limit the building of affordable housing, saying, “the housing development project or emergency shelter is inconsistent with both the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinance and general plan land use designation as specified in any element of the general

plan as it existed on the date the application was deemed complete, and the jurisdiction has adopted a revised housing element in accordance with specified law.” The city council also voted unanimously to continue the planning and pre-screening process of a proposed apartment complex located on 3801 Maurice Dr. behind Albertsons. Mark Towne, community development director, said “The very low income units would help to meet part of the city’s outstanding need in this category dictated by the state.” The city council has been attempting to gain community input towards the project, as Rob McCoy, the mayor of Thousand Oaks, said, “We’re really lookin’ for some insight from y’all we’re glad you’re (at the council meeting) … this is a long process and it is not the final situation for the city.” Some residents have voiced their opposition towards the building of the complex, such as Jared Freilick, “This project still doesn’t work for the neighborhood … at the end of the day the people that are going to be dealing with that traffic and that additional density in that neighborhood is us” Freilick said. The low-income housing proposed to be located behind the Albertsons will be scaled back significantly after mounting opposition towards the projects. The area for the proposed apartment will need to be redesignated from a commercial zone to a medium density residential zone. As Towne said “(The property) is no longer

Landmark - The historical Timber School building, located on Newbury Road near Kohls, is just one of the locations that is being proposed for the construction of new high-density housing. While the school building will not be torn down, the majority of the nearly 10-acre lot will be used for new apartments if approved. Jacob Malone/ Prowler

proposed to be high density … and obviously that matches the adjacent land use.” The lot will also contain townhouses, a common pool, playground areas, and parking. The townhouses will range from two to three stories, and the three story houses will stand at 32 feet. Council member Bill-de-la-Peña summed up her thoughts on the situation, “It is extremely frustrating having to plead with our state legislators to ask for a veto. We have consistently lobbied the governor and legislature to not pass certain bills such as SB 330” however Bill-de-la-Peña also noted that “We need housing for kindergarten teachers...elementary school teachers...deputies for ventura county fire department, that is the kind of housing that we need.”

news Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Dia de los Muertos meets Conejo Valley Manas Khatore Entertainment Editor Several events in the Conejo Valley put their own twist on Día de los Muertos. Translating to Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos is a holiday dedicated to honoring family members who have passed away. Julieta Rodriguez- Martinez, Spanish teacher, states that Día de los Muertos is a significant holiday in central and southern Mexico. Families set up altars in order to remember their family members. “The altar is a way for families to honor their loved ones and provide them what they need on their journey,” RodriguezMartinez said. From Oct. 28 to Nov. 6, California Lutheran University’s (CLU) Center for Equality and Justice (CEJ) hosted the second annual Social Justice Altars. Instead of family members, the altars were dedicated to memorializing those who have died as a result of social issues, including racism and homophobia. The altars were put together by student clubs and classes on campus. Cynthia Duarte, director of the CEJ, came up with the idea for the altars after being inspired by the Chicano Movement of the 1960’s. “(The movement) used the religious holiday as a way to discuss certain issues that were happening in the community, such as the Vietnam

War and education,” she said. Duarte modified this idea to showcase problems that affect today’s society and has received positive feedback. “The diversity represented is really great,” Duarte said. On Nov. 2, the Newbury Park library hosted an afternoon event for Día de los Muertos. The day featured craft-making, a bilingual storytime and a performance from the CLU mariachi band. Rocio Marron, director of the CLU mariachi class, helped organize the mariachi performance at the library event. “We performed last year… people enjoyed it so much that they asked if we could come back again,” she said. Marron states that the mariachi program at CLU helps to create a sense of belonging for students of Mexican heritage. “(We) try to recruit Latino students and… help Latinos feel like they have a place at the university,” Marron said. The Día de los Muertos events in Conejo Valley gained positive reception. By having public displays and activities, Día de los Muertos is becoming more accessible to communities who would not typically celebrate it. “I think the (cultural roots) are there and everybody really enjoys it,” Duarte said.

Ofrenda - A poster stands to add to the festive vibe of Día de los Muertos. Día de los Muertos is a day in Mexican culture to celebrate ancestors who have died. An important part of the celebration is to put pictures of ancestors on the ofrenda, such as the homemade one as pictured. Manas Khatore/Prowler

Greta Thunberg strikes in Los Angeles Emily Nagamoto Editor-in-Chief As part of her American continent tour, Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist, stopped in Los Angeles at the Youth Climate Strike on Friday, Nov. 1. Thousands of people of all ages and from across California stood in front of City Hall, walking through the streets of LA chanting and applauding for speakers like Thunberg. Selma Ruiz, senior, has been following the climate movement and Thunberg for two years. After changing her own habits to become more environmentally friendly, she says she jumped on the opportunity to see Thunberg speak live. “(I) never thought I’d get the chance to see her in person. It’s not like she’ll hop on an airplane to come to LA again,” Ruiz said. The theme of the strike was “Governor Newsom It’s your last chance to choose: our future or fossil fuels.” It aimed at pushing political leaders from all levels, especially Newsom, to pursue more environmentally friendly policies and protect communities from fossil fuels. Activists from junior high to college spoke at the event, sharing their firsthand accounts of how climate change and fossil fuels have affected them.

Skolstrejk for klimatet- Greta Thunberg, climate activist from Sweden, stands with her famous “Striking for Climate” sign next to the organizers of the LA Youth Climate Strike. The event brought thousands of people to downtown Los Angeles, marching through the streets and ending up in front of City Hall. Selma Ruiz, senior, heard that Thunberg was going to be attending, and made the trek to LA to see her. “Greta is the embodiment of hope, she started as a single girl in Sweden and has grown to 7 million,” Ruiz said. “The fact that a small girl with Aspergers can shake up world leaders is inspirational. If she can change the world, so can we.” Emily Nagamoto/ Prowler

Although Mikkel Nagorsen, senior, heard about the event at 11:00 p.m. the night before, he says he was glad he went. “A lot of the speeches were very good. I like how heavily organized it was by young people too,” Nagorsen said. “l (learned) the effects of it on communities that I didn’t know before.” Ruiz did wish some things were done differently, including having “more male speaker.” “I’ve noticed in general the environmental movement is largely female and I wish we could find a way to include more men into the conversation. We need to work together to create new change, that means including everyone,” Ruiz said. However, both Ruiz and Nagorsen agree that the event motivated them to advocate for the environment even more, and might spark change in the future. “I think the message was heard, it’s hard to ignore thousands of people outside the LA City Hall,” Ruiz said. “The strike wasn’t made to change legislation overnight, it helped spread a clear message to our leaders. It’s not just about the strike on Friday, it’s about taking the initiative to change yourself and pressure politicians to change with you.”

news Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

PPP raises community discussion Reese Kelem Photographer Clarissa Shin Graphic Designer The district is in the process of adopting new health curriculum to meet the updated state guidelines, which is bringing multiple community members to the recent CVUSD school board meetings to express their support and concerns. No curriculum has been adopted at this time, but the district recognizes the need to include curriculum that covers gender identity and awareness of transgender and LGBTQ+ students to not only meet the state standards but to meet the community’s needs as well. At the recent school board meeting on Nov. 5, multiple community members expressed concern regarding new health curriculum options that the school board may choose from, one of them being Positive Prevention Plus (PPP). Several parents encouraged the board to add awareness and inclusion of LGBTQ+ children in elementary classes. Megan Goebel is a mother of a transgender elementary age student in the CVUSD district and is passionate about the inclusion of LGBTQ+ in schools. “My transgender child isn’t the first, nor the only and most definitely will not be the last to come through our elementery schools. Therefore, the earlier we start educating our kids about all differences, including this one, the better chance we have at normalizing this topic and get back to just letting kids be kids,” Goebel said. While Goebel was one of many parents sharing personal experiences with loved ones who are transgender, they were met with opposition from religious persons who felt incorporating gender identity, LGBTQ+, and transgender awareness went against their personal beliefs and should be left out of the classroom. Public speakers in opposition of sexual education in the district quoted pages from Positive Prevention Plus and other curriculum even though CVUSD has not reviewed any material yet. Peggy Rosenburg, a concerned grandmother who cited curriculum specifically from PPP in public comments stated the content is graphic and goes against her religion. “Positive Prevention Plus teaches minors how to develop sexuality before maturity, [teaches] minors that sex is primarily self-gratifying without citing the legal ramifications of sex with minors, and using graphic illustrations that would be considered pornographic elsewhere…

There’s no pedagogical reason to support the teaching of Positive Prevention Plus that are in opposition to the practices to the protected class of religion,” Rosenburg said. Another speaker who only gave her first name, Charlene, described herself as a “God fearing person” who accepts everyone. She feels “education does not belong in an elementary school because the kids don’t know the difference. When you open up that difference to them, they’ll have a bucket of why should I and shouldn’t I. Leave it alone and let them just be kids,” she said. Positive Prevention Plus was a curriculum proposed by the Ventura County Board of Education to teach sexual health, teen pregnancy prevention and HIV and STD prevention. This curriculum includes education on LGBTQ+ and teaches gender identity in grades K-5. Many health teachers in the district have been trained to teach PPP. Surrounding districts have considered the curriculum’s integration and while it has not yet been reviewed by

CVUSD, it might be as well as several other curriculums to fit the new mandated state framework. According to the district’s website, “CVUSD administration and teachers will be reviewing the new requirements passed by AB 329 and the recently approved CA Health Education Framework to identify appropriate supplemental materials to be approved by the board of education.” Over the months the board has mentioned their consideration of Positive Prevention Plus. During the Aug. 20 meeting, Dr. Mark McLaughlin, superintendent, said that the curriculum is open to change but has not changed as of yet. “We have not brought any (K-5) curriculum such as presented at the podium right here to be approved by our board of education at this time,” McLaughlin said. Up until August 2019, the CVUSD Health Education website page stated, “CVUSD has no plans to adopt K-6 gender diversity materials. These K-6 materials are not mandated under AB 329.” On Oct. 24, the response was

New Curriculum- Community members respond to the mention of the new health curriculum “Positive Prevention Plus” as an alternative. The new curriculum has been brought up at the board meetings as early as Aug. 20 all the way to the Nov. 5 meeting. “We have not brought any (K-5) curriculum such as presented at the podium right here to be approved by our board of education at this time,” Mark McLaughlin, superintendent, said. As of now, the curriculum is open to change but no change has been made yet.

updated to: “However, since the 2019-2020 school year has been in session, the district has recognized a growing need to provide support to transgender students, their parents/ guardians, and school staff. Therefore, district staff is currently researching best practices to ensure all students have a safe and supportive learning environment.” Currently, the curriculum used by CVUSD is from the Glencoe Health textbook, integrated in 2004 and published in 2005. Sexual education unit is included in three chapters of the book and is about 20 pages long. According to Lynn Baum, health teacher, the health course teaches reproduction, love, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and birth control. “We cover the reproductive system, the stages that the fetus goes through, the stages of labor, the development of the fetus and then we also talk about what a healthy relationship looks like. We talk about STDs, or STIs as they’re called. And we talk about birth control that you would protect yourself with. We talked about abstinence being the best choice for teens at this point in their life,” Baum said. The staff was trained in PPP three years ago, but the curriculum has yet to be integrated into the heath course. “It has to be voted on by the family life committee and voted on the school board. So that’s going through the school board right now, on what they’re going to adopt or what they’re not, but we all the health teachers got together last year and worked on the curriculum, what we want to include, and now it’s up to the district to approve it or not,” Baum said. The board also addressed the new 2019 Health Education Framework for California Public Schools, the health curriculum guideline released by the California Department of Education, which included new lessons on LGBT and gender identity issues. School board president Betsy Connolly stated the school board is trying to keep up with the law. “I think we need to wait to have a comprehensive discussion rather than accept suggestions from community members who want to insert clauses into our policies one by one or nibble at our policies bit by bit,” Connolly said.

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opinion Panther Prowler • Nov. 8 2019

Carter Castillo/Prowler

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President Donald Trump has a dangerously close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and it has already had major consequences for journalism in the US. Before the 2016 election, most US politicians agreed that Putin was a destructive dictator, but that is not the case anymore. Members of the Trump White House have an indifference, or even admiration for him and his dictatorship. While talking to Putin about “fake news” in the U.S., Trump said “You don’t have this problem in Russia, but we do.” This longing look towards a country where journalism is deadly and truth-telling is discouraged is entirely telling of Trump’s preferred leading style. The reason Russia lacks the problem of “fake news”, or press coverage that the leader happens to not like, is because being imprisoned and murdered is often the consequence for being critical of Putin. 26 journalists have died under brutal circumstances since Putin became president. Many of these murders never ended in jail sentences. Journalism in Russia is a job where you never know whether you will be violently slaughtered for your work, even if it is completely accurate; in no democracy would this occur. What Putin calls his democracy is actually a deadly dictatorship on a tightrope of fear mongering, and the blood is on his hands. This trail of journalistic oppression runs through the US, too, just not on a life-or-death basis. Jim Acosta’s White House press pass was suspended when he asked Trump heated questions about immigration. New rules have barred many of the press corps from

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Emma Schoors News Editor

Stop talking to brick walls Emily Augustine Cover Editor getting full access to the White House for press briefings and interviews. Trump has blocked countless critics on Twitter like a child on a never ending temper tantrum; a tantrum that violates the Constitution and undermines his oath of office. In 2015, Trump fittingly said “I think I’d get along very well with Vladimir Putin.” One thing that could be a topic of conversation between the two would be their crippling fear of being ridiculed. With no freedom of the press, citizens of any given country are vulnerable to all sorts of manipulation by their leader. Trump has completely obliterated the United States’ trust in his ability to uphold the basic Constitutional right to shine a light on the truth.

Adalia Luo Staff Writer If you haven’t seen or heard of this viral video yet, don’t look for it. Video 1444 is a graphic 17-second clip that depicts a Russian man shooting himself on camera. Initially live-streamed on VKontakte (VK), it was soon made available to regularly watch on YouTube for a full 16 hours. As an avid-enough user of social media, I was lucky enough to get a warning for the video before I was exposed to it. Regardless, most people were not so lucky, and should not have to depend on luck to guarantee never seeing this video. The case of video 1444 does nothing to extend the limits of what human nature enjoys viewing; there is no denying that some enjoy viewing content just as gory as what was depicted. The deep injustice in this situation is that for most people regularly scrolling, viewing was not optional. The hypocrisy of these social media platforms lies in the fact that they allow these kinds of videos to be up for long enough to cause drastic harm, yet immediately mark any videos remotely considered as LGBTQ+ content as “sensitive.”

Every day, content creators who upload pro-LGBTQ+ content, are LGBTQ+ or even whisper hints of anything LGBTQ+ have to go through fears of demonetization and censorship everytime they upload non-graphic content to their channels. It is no secret that platforms such as Youtube, Twitter and Instagram have biased and anti-LGBTQ+ “sensitive content” policies. However, the sheer hypocrisy demonstrated in the flagrant blind-eye turned toward videos like this versus the thorough “content guidelines” screening “diverse” creators have to go through just to upload, it is clear that the standard is ridiculously prejudicial. Too often, things like this are let slide. This viral video should be seen as a turning point for the standards that YouTube hold and are held to. The fact is, this video is a blatant demonstration of what YouTube is willing to compromise their “zerotolerance” policy for, and it isn’t looking too pretty.

Emily Augustine/Prowler

Political stances are like a belief system to some Americans. While certain people keep their beliefs to themselves, others seem to shove it down people’s throats with flags, stickers, and other propaganda that are intended to shock those who see it. A car by our campus was seen with a sticker that displayed the acronym “LGBT” in a distasteful way. Instead of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, this sticker included pictures above it that displayed its intended meaning: liberty, guns, beer, and Trump. Some of the shirts for sale online with this message also have a phrase underneath that states, “make liberals cry again.” Why do people with strong opinions publicize hate to purposefully offend others? The answer is simple: people like the shock factor of their opinions because they find it entertaining when they can get a reaction out of someone. It can be seen in the classroom on a small scale. Sometimes, a student or group would purposefully tells an offensive joke to a sensitive student just to laugh when he or she freaks out about it. At the sensitive student’s expense, the other students get a chuckle. While the perpetrators are obviously the bad guys in this situation, they are not the only ones who should be held accountable. The best way to shut off the perpetrator’s fun is to act unbothered by their comments or beliefs. It will disappoint them and discourage them from acting out again. We have to remember that the United States grants freedom of speech, and the ones who use it for offensive opinions are not breaking the law until it becomes a threat against another person or group. It is also important to know when to engage, because nine times out of ten, it is not worth it. As previously stated, political stances can be treated like a belief system, like a faith. This means that it is highly unlikely that the person taking a controversial stance will be open to other people’s opinions. Fighting fire with fire would just add more fire, so try to be polite and get out of that conversation. Lastly, do not get so sucked up in politics that you turn on your friend. Between all of the endless unproductive political debates among peers and brewing resentment from lack of agreement, it is best to agree to disagree, then move on. Having opinions is acceptable, but oversharing is a dangerous road. With that being said, there is nothing wrong with engaging in politics. Stay informed, acquire knowledge and have those political discussions if it is okay with those involved, but please don’t use politics as a way to torment someone else.

opinion

Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Emma Schoors News Editor back to kill campers as a morbid testament to her. Freddy’s iconic striped Christmas sweater and fedora add a comedic element to his otherwise murderous character. Not to mention his hilarious one-liners, such as “Why are you screaming? I haven’t even caught you yet.” Jason’s outfits and demeanor throughout the Friday the 13th series are, at the risk of completely missing the main thing wrong with him, boring. Speaking of boring, Friday the 13th relies on shock value to entertain and only made Jason ‘immortal’ to keep the money coming in since that eliminates the trouble of having to eventually kill him. Jason’s astounding 146 kills topple Freddy’s 35. This comes as no surprise because Jason kills nearly everyone he sees, but it makes him predictable.

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Freddy Vs Jason might have been a fun film where two horror icons battled it out, but Freddy Krueger and the A Nightmare on Elm Street films are far more interesting and entertaining than Jason Voorhees’ famed Friday the 13th franchise has ever been. When it comes to motive, Freddy and Jason have equally iron-clad cases; that is if supernatural serial killers have rationality at all to them. After being hunted down by a mob of angry parents in a boiler room and drenched in gasoline, Freddy is left burned to death and covered in peeling and melting skin. His main motive for killing is revenge, which he achieves in the form of haunting and violently killing people in their dreams. Jason, on the other hand, witnessed his mother get beheaded at Camp Crystal Lake as a little boy, and comes

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Freddy has a set number of people that he is driven to kill, and those people are the kids of the parents who set him on fire. Jason goes to the killing buffet, slaughtering all sorts of random people for no apparent reason. On-screen gore is supposed to be horrifying; it is the horror genre, after all. But overdoing it can be tacky beyond belief. With countless stupid sequels and a couple of redeemable ones between the two, including their crossover, both horror franchises have gone to great lengths to resurrect themselves. A Nightmare on Elm Street has an impressive nine films to its name, while Friday the 13th has 11. While the two horror characters are equally popular among horror fans, Freddy Krueger’s character development and clear-cut (no pun intended) motive give him an edge up on Jason Voorhees.

Emily Augustine Front Cover Editor Recently I’ve heard seniors utter the phrase “we worked for four years” to reference their right to attend senior activities and wear the sweatshirt. A sophomore has been harassed on social media for wearing her boyfriend’s senior sweatshirt, and a nonPanther was harassed for attending the Senior Sunrise (which was poorly attended by Panthers). I have to ask myself, is this what we worked for? To wear a sweatshirt and have the power to harass others? As I do every morning, I walked up to my friends outside to talk to them before class started. Since it was a particularly cold morning, the non-senior was wearing her boyfriend’s senior sweatshirt. To me, this was an adorable gesture to keep her warm, but the senior elitists did not think the same way. The underclassman who wore the senior sweatshirt was anonymously heckled on social media because the seniors “worked for four years” to wear that jacket. Tragedy also struck for the seniors when a student from another school attended the senior sunrise. The crying could be heard from anywhere on the football bleachers as they confronted the non-Panther, also using the ridiculous sentiment

that the NPHS seniors “worked for four years” to watch the sunrise together. As a senior, I understand that there are certain traditions that seem important. The last year of high school is when students start to get sentimental, and this is why they act out on people who are “messing with the tradition” of Senior activities. It is a sensitive time for the class of 2020. However, I don’t agree with the vilification of all non-Panther Seniors. The road to superiority starts junior year of high school. To those who have not experienced junior year, it comes with a high risk of cockiness because you are not at the bottom of the high school hierarchy anymore. When I began my junior year, I noticed that some younger students were intimidated by me. I will fully admit that seeing how uncomfortable they were made me glad that I had already spent two years in high school. It made me grateful for not only my level of comfort, but also my status as an upperclassman. If junior year gets in your head, then senior year will be even worse. On top of the previously explained rise of sentimentality among seniors, they also know they are at the top of the high school food chain, and some act accordingly. When cockiness

and nostalgia mix, it becomes entitlement, which in turn causes unreasonably aggressive behavior. Seniors, I get it. I understand it is a crazy time in our lives not knowing exactly what to expect after our imminent departure, and we want control of something. But please just take a step back and realize that the significance of senior year is not found from a sweatshirt or a sunrise. Rather, it is found through the time you spend with the people you care about and making memories before childhood vanishes before your eyes. For the sake of Nice People High School, don’t be unkind to people due to your Emily Augustine/Prowler senior stress.

Rahul D’Souza Chief Photographer For decades there has been this huge debate about climate change, entailing its impact on the world and even if it’s real or not. Allow me to clarify: climate change isn’t a problem. It’s very real, indeed but it isn’t a problem. All we’re doing is making the Earth eventually uninhabitable for humans, which, when you think about it, might actually be a good thing. Now, this article isn’t actually about climate change, I’m really trying to say that the human race sucks. Humans demonstrate characteristics that are strikingly similar to parasites. The biological definition of a parasite is an organism that derives benefit at the expense of another host organism. In that case, global warming is just a fever, a defense mechanism that’s meant

to get rid of us. If Earth loses a couple icebergs along the way, it’s a small price to pay. Every other species on the planet has evolved in such a way as not to disrupt the natural flow of their ecosystems. Humans, on the other hand, d i g their arrogant hands wherever they are not supposed to, causing problems as they go along. Even mosquitoes have a valuable place in the biosphere; they may be a nuisance, but spiders and other creatures up the food chain rely on them. The only animals that rely on humans are the ones that we have domesticated to our liking.

Carter Castillo/Prowler

In the grand scheme of things, humans have had no positive impact on the environment, contributing nothing to the ecosystem, because we believe we are above it for some odd reason. Honestly, why start now then? Just let the climate change, let our parasitic species go extinct, and let the Earth evolve again.

Borderline Memorial

Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Sarena Kabir News Editor

Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Emma Schoors News Editor

Abby Gorman Staff Writer

Prasheetha Karthikeyan Features Editor

The Borderline 12- The crosses from the original Borderline memorial stand in front of the bar and grill, a quiet place for community members to remember the fallen. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Healing- This plaque welcomes visitors into the healing garden, erected in memoriam for the victims of the Borderline shooting one year ago. The plaque is one of many ways the community has come together to rally behind the victims of the Borderline shooting and enshrine its memory in history. Emma Schoors/Prowler

Thursday, Nov. 7 marked the one year anniversary of the shooting that occurred at Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks. At around 11:20 p.m., an armed individual entered the building and shot twelve people, in addition to injuring 10 to 12 others. The tragedy left a large impact on the community of Thousand Oaks, leading to a building sense of communal support and fueling the nationwide call for stricter gun control. As a result of the recent anniversary, community members are coming together to remember the lives lost last November in several ways.

The Conejo Parks & Recreation created a monument in remembrance of the Borderline shooting at the Conejo Creek North park in Thousand Oaks. The Healing Garden was created to be a serene space for the entire community to destress, unwind and, as the name suggests, heal. Andrew Mooney, project manager of the Healing Garden, felt that the idea of something incorporating nature resonated the strongest with the committee. “With the business of all our lives, cell-phones, TVs, we get disconnected,” Mooney said. “This space provides a retreat.” The Borderline 12 are signified throughout the memorial: 12 vertical fountain jets in the center of the preexisting lake, 12 boulders alongside the shoreline and 12 granite benches. There is also an oak tree overlooking the water and various drought tolerant plants. Another notable feature of the memorial is the 248 concrete pavers placed alongside the Healing Garden, each representing a survivor of the tragedy. “We had survivors, victims families, as well as first

responders invited to a private event so that they could be able to write a message (on a paver) and install it into the plaza,” Mooney said. “It really anchors and promotes the space as a community space.” Yesterday, the anniversary of the shooting, hundreds of Conejo Valley citizens gathered at Conejo Creek North for the Healing Garden’s unveiling. Jazzmine Mendez, Eileen Rodriguez and Aubree Hurtado, were among the crowds at the dedication ceremony. “My friends and I are survivors, so we thought it’d be nice to pay our respects, and to have a place to come and reflect, and really be grateful that we’re still here and able to spend time together,” Mendez said. The three can all recall how the community came together to support each other, from the moments after the shooting until now. “Whether you were there or not, you’re a part of the community, and so it’s really great that everyone’s coming together to be happy,” Rodriguez said. “It really shows how we’re dealing with something together as a community, it’s really great,” Hurtado added.

To help provide support for the community, Banyan Elementary has held two fundraisers in the past year, donating their proceedings to Give an Hour. The school’s PTA sold decals, shirts, sweatshirts and mugs with designs created by Brynn Hutchison, a fifth grade teacher at Banyan. The design of the emblem was made with the victims of the tragedy in mind. “The design is an oak tree with twelve dangling hearts representing the 12 lives lost in the Borderline shooting,” Hutchison said.

USA- An Honor guard member holds an American ﬂag while walking down to the main stage at the Healing Garden event. The event featured elected ofﬁcials, but focused on the families and survivors of the tragedy. Emma Schoors/Prowler

Hutchison came up with the idea last year.“I was sitting around watching the news and feeling horrible about all of the things that were happening to our community,” Hutchison said. “I started doodling an oak tree on my iPad to distract myself and then decided to keep working on it and make it a tribute to those we lost in the Borderline tragedy.” Lauren Shaffer, previous PTA President at Banyan Elementary, launched the fundraiser last year when she learned of Hutchison’s design. “[Hutchison] is so creative and posted it on social media,” Shaffer said. “I thought it could be a great way for Banyan to help. Everything fell into place and it worked out beautifully. People still tell me it is their favorite TO Strong design.” Hutchinson believes mental health to be an extremely important element in helping the families and survivors, and that belief translates to her work. “My hope in selecting this charity was to provide our community with access to mental health services to help heal from this event and hopefully prevent other tragic events in the future,” Hutchison said. The money went to Give an Hour is a non-profit organization that started back in 2005. They help families and survivors of mass shootings. The money raised is used to provide free mental health care to those in need after traumatic events. Shaffer says that between the two fundraisers, “we all have raised nearly $2,000.” To buy a shirt, sweatshirt, or a zip-up hoodie from Banyan, visit this website! http://totalbranddelivery.com/ banyanbobcats/ Sgt. Ron Helus, who lost his life in the Borderline tragedy, was honored this past Wednesday Nov. 6 with a special dedication. The sergeant, who spent 29 years within law enforcement, was one of the first responders to the Borderline following the initial call that night. To commemorate Helus’ acts of bravery, the 3.4 mile stretch

In memoriam- On Sunday, November 3, an event commemorating the twelve victims of Borderline was held in downtown L.A.. Noah Reich and David Maldonado were the presenters of the project that they had worked on. “We had about 20 folks of all gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation come through to help with this new project for this year,” Maldonado said.The project involved painting custom hats, one for each of the victims. “We’ll be placing them throughout the city over the next few days, along with a wooden “I hope u know how loved u are” heart as part of our street art compassion campaign,” he said. David Maldonado/With Permission

of the 101 Highway was dedicated in his honor. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin proposed this idea at a Thousand Oaks City Council Meeting in January 2019. “Although this is a small gesture, I hope that by dedicating a stretch of a highway traveled by so many in the region, we can continue to be reminded of Ron’s legacy of service and sacrifice to our community,” Irwin said in a statement at the meeting. The selflessness displayed by Helus that night will always be remembered by the community as a whole. “He’s a warrior, definitely a hero in our minds,” Ventura County’s Sgt. Greg Webb said in an interview with ABC7 at the dedication service on Wednesday. “The community has really been there to support Ron and his endeavors and what he meant that night.” On Sunday, Nov. 3, Noah Reich, 30, and David Maldonado, 31, held an event to honor Borderline victims at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in West Hollywood. This event was presented by Classroom of Compassion, a project the pair have been working on since June of 2018. Classroom of Compassion started after the 2-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting and has since extended to help other communities around the country who have faced similar devastation. “When the second anniversary of shooting came around in June, we really wanted to honor everyone who had been lost,” Maldonado said. “Ever since then, we’ve dedicated our craft to trying to hold space for folks that need it, and just trying to remind everyone how more connected we are than we think.” Reich and Maldonado, who are from Encino, California, travel across the United States in hopes of providing compassion as a public service to those who need it most. “We travel the country with the mantra of ‘I hope u know how loved u are’ to help provide any type of healing spaces ranging from workshops, like the one we did this past weekend, to street art

Still strong- At the Borderline memorial, a neon sign saying “Borderline Strong” glows bright, right above the crosses and photos remembering the victims. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

installations, and public memorial sites,” they said. The event held on Sunday involved 20 individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations remembering the victims of the Borderline shooting through an art display. “We all created custom cowboy hats, one in honor of everyone lost. Individuals had the opportunity to tell the story of those lost, to create something beautiful in their honor or to tell their message of compassion to the city of TO,” Reich said. The group also installed a banner with the pair’s mantra of “I hope u know how loved u are,” created by resident Gracie Lee, on the 101 N Freeway overpass over Lynn Road. From the time Reich and Maldonado have been in Thousand Oaks, they said they observed how unique the community is. “We’ve seen the community of Thousand Oaks and the Country Strong community really come together to create a supportive system of hope,” Maldonado said. “During these times, a sense of community is incredibly important for not only for those affected directly, but for all of us who feel like we want to help make a change.”

Dawn Megli, a reporter for the Thousand Oaks Acorn, has spent the past 12 months supporting members of the community during this tragedy. She has told their stories and shared their pain. “There has obviously been just 12 months of heartbreak, 12 months of weeping, 12 months of mourning, but I think that it has also made us all aware of what’s important in life,” Megli said. Despite the devastation, Megli believes that good has come

out from the darkness.“I think this has brought us down to basics and made us focus on things like family and kids and neighbors and just checking in with each other in a way that we didn’t do before, and I think it’s made us very intentional about the way that we connect with others and our community.” She believes that it is the little things that the community does to show their support that go a long way. “You know, the fact that you drive around town and see Borderline strong and TOstrong bumper stickers, I think that means a lot,” Megli said. “I was interviewing Gladys Manrique, who lost her brother Dan in the shooting, and she said that she doesn’t think people understand the impact of those stickers and the Thousand Oaks strong shirts, and that she feels really supported when she sees stuff like that.” Listening to the stories of those who faced tough times is an important factor of bringing the community together. Established earlier this year, Thousand Oaks Remember is an organization using storytelling to preserve the memory of the lives lost last November. On Nov. 8th, the group is hosting an event at the Civic Arts Plaza to share the stories of five people affected by the shooting, as well as a reception where additional stories and artwork will be available to view. “It is our hope that when people share stories with one another they will see each other with more compassion, and they connect with and look for the humanity in one another,” Savage-Howie said. The goal behind the event was to give the community a space to reflect. “I think for many people there is a deeper shared sense of community than before. In some ways we feel a little more like we belong to each other,” Savage-Howie said.

Borderline Memorial

Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Sarena Kabir News Editor

Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Emma Schoors News Editor

Abby Gorman Staff Writer

Prasheetha Karthikeyan Features Editor

The Borderline 12- The crosses from the original Borderline memorial stand in front of the bar and grill, a quiet place for community members to remember the fallen. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Still strong- At the Borderline memorial, a neon sign saying “Borderline Strong” glows bright, right above the crosses and photos remembering the victims. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

features Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Kylie and Travis visit for Halloween Emily Augustine Front Cover Editor Prepare the paparazzi. Wait, false alarm. It is not Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner; it is actually seniors Pranati Denduluri and Aminah Ghanem. For Halloween, Denduluri and Ghanem are going to sport the Astro World apparel and overdrawn lips as they emulate the styles of the famous duo, Travis and Kylie. “Can’t Say featuring Don Toliver. Look him up. Oh my god. That song is so good,” Denduluri said. Travis Scott is a rap artist who has an on again off again relationship with Kylie Jenner. When Denduluri expressed her interest in dressing as Travis for Halloween, her friend, Ghanem, agreed to join her by dressing up as Kylie Jenner. “This is a struggle because they just broke up, like, come on get back together so our costume will work!” Denduluri said. For Ghanem’s Kylie Jenner costume, she wore a windbreaker, bulky black shoes, an oversized shirt, and bulky earrings. To top off her costume, Ghanem said, “I am going to hold Stormi. I’m going to get a fake baby.” Stormi Webster is Kylie Jenner’s 1-year-old who she had with Travis Scott. “I have an Astro World shirt that I am going to wear, and then army green sweats, then I have shoes with the album on them, drawn on,” Denduluri said. “And maybe grills or chains, but we are going all out.” Archana Mohandas, senior, painted Travis Scott’s album cover for Astro World on Denduluri’s shoes for the costume.

Iconic-Pranati Denduluri, left, and Aminah Ghanem, right, pose in their Halloween costumes in front of the car belonging to their friend Esha Gupta, senior. “One day I will go to (Travis Scott’s) concert too. Maybe I will be actually in the front but I probably won’t be,” Denduluri said. Despite Denduluri’s dream of being in the front row, she fears the “six foot built bodybuilders up there” that might block her view. Pranati Denduluri/With permission

“On my birthday we were doing DIY’s and stuff and we bought clothes from the thrift store,” Mohandas said. “She just had these old Vans and... she wanted me to make her shoes.” Denduluri had been planning to dress as Travis Scott since Mohandas’ birthday party in June. “(Denduluri) wants to trick or treat but that’s so dumb. We’re in 12th grade,” Ghanem said. In response, Denduluri said, “You know what? Candy is candy, okay?” Instead of trick or treating, their friend group had other plans. “We are planning on going to Reign of Terror and then hang out at my house after and watch scary movies,” Denduluri said. Despite the breakout of fires, Denduluri and Ghanem still went through with their original plans for Halloween. “So they weren’t really surprised because I embody (Travis Scott) everyday. It’s a lifestyle. Embody it everyday. So, someone’s gotta dress up as Travis Scott, right?” Denduluri said, referring to her friends. She has urged Ghanem to watch Travis Scott’s documentary “Look Mom I Can Fly” on Netflix. “It was terrible,” Ghanem said about the film much to Denduluri’s dismay. According to IMDB, the documentary is rated six and three tenths out of ten from 2,273 contributions to the rating. “(Travis Scott) is not just an artist. He is a lifestyle,” Denduluri said. Ghanem’s final sentiment was as follows: “Trick or treat.”

Theater starts a month of care Jessica Zhao DPS Editor

On Point- Charlotte Weymer, junior, performs ballet to the song “Entr’acte” from Broadway show “An American in Paris” at the Broadway Cabaret. “I really enjoyed getting to meet all of the different performers from all over the community. It was very unifying,” Weymer said. Weymer has been participating in theater events since Freshman year and is now secretary of Drama Club. Jessica Zhao/Prowler

Many students on campus have used different methods to help raise money and contribute efforts to help organizations support those who are in need, whether it’s from clubs, volunteering or raising awareness. For the theater department, they decided to use their talents and organized theater events to raise over thousands of dollars for charity organizations and events.

Broadway Cares is a national organization that raises money for people suffering from various diseases such as HIV, AIDS as well as breast and ovarian cancer who can’t afford treatment for themselves. Gus Gress, junior, is the drama club president and one of the main organizers behind the show that helps the theater department raise money for Broadway Cares. “It is a great organization that unites the theater community in order to work towards a great common cause and it is something that is done in theaters around the country,” Gress said. “I thought it would be a really important and a great event for us to have at NPHS because why not have us be one of those high schools doing something great and giving back to the community that we are part of and being able to unit our school and local community in doing so.” Starting from the last few shows of the last school year, the theater department has been raising money for Broadway Cares by asking for donations during intermission. However, Gress was able to coordinate a cabaret that was held in the NPHS PAC. There were no ticket fees at the door, but donations were accepted, all of which would go to the national organization. The cabaret raised over $1200. Many students from NPHS performed in this event such as Stephanie Zager, Maya Galipeau and Charlotte Weymer. But to expand the audience and cast size, Gress also reached out to many outside sources. “We had a musical theater from Thousand Oaks High School and Westlake High School, which was awesome. We also had an act from Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley. I also reached out to lots of dance studios and other Performing Arts studios which I know often have musical theatre Broadway themes dances so we had representation from Thrive Dance Center, Aspire Dance and Born to Perform Studio,” Gress said. Another cabaret - A Night of Broadway - was also organized by the theater department and took place in Ojai on October

12th. The performers for this cabaret sang upbeat Broadway songs at Camp Keepsake, which was an annual getaway camp for adult survivors of cancer. Aspen Roose’s dad, owner of Camp Keepsake, had invited the theater department to come perform at the camp after seeing their performance in the previous spring play, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Maya Galipeau, senior, was the main organizer for A Night of Broadway. Galipeau had run the auditions for this cabaret and made sure every performance was uplifting and positive, while also planning the show order and clothing arrangements. “Everything went smoother than I could possibly imagine. The audience loved it so much that everyone was smiling,” Galipeau said. “Better than I could have expected.” As Broadway songs were the main hit of the show, Aspen Roose, sophomore, performed “I just want to be a star” from “Nunsense” and partnered with Kenny Kremer, senior, to sing a duet from “Anything you can do” from “Annie get your gun”. While Aspen has been an active member of the school’s theater events, this is her first time participating in an event similar to this. “I participated because I love to sing and act and if there is a chance to explore my passion while helping others, I’m happy to do it,” Aspen said. October has been a busy month for the theater students as they arranged two major cabarets and prepared for the fall musical. Nevertheless, they aim to hold more similar events and continue their efforts for community service in the future years to come. “My favorite part about NPHS theater department is we believe that the audience is our biggest director and everything we do is for them. I hope we continue to keep the month of October as our community outreach to let the community know that we’re here for them,” Galipeau said.

features Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Aditya Vunnum Editor-in-Chief

Dean Magnante is a celebrity on campus. A standout at the Borchard All American Game, Magnante is known for his big heart and charismatic smile. I had a chance to sit down with Dean to get to know him a little bit better. Who’s a better rapper: Kendrick or Drake?

What are some of your hobbies/ activities that you love the most?

Kendrick is a better rapper, Drake is a better singer and song maker though. My favorite Kendrick Lamar song is “i” and my favorite Drake song is “Headlines.” My favorite rapper though is Travis Scott and my favorite song by him is “Butterfly Effect.”

Some of my favorite activities are basketball, volleyball, surfing, and skateboarding. I love to play sports, and have played sports my entire life because I love playing competitively, especially against my friends, and find it fun to be active and do these sports. I have been skateboarding for a while now, and I think it’s a fun way to relieve stress and relax. Surfing is also very stress relieving and fun, so that’s sick too.

What’s the greatest movie of all time?

The greatest movie of all time is Superbad because it is hilarious. I love the movie because it is just a bunch of high school kids trying to have a good time, and the characters are really funny, and I dig that Jonah hill is one of the main characters.

What’s your favorite video game and why?

My favorite video game is fortnite cause it’s the only game I’m kind of good at. I’ve been playing fortnite for about two years, and I started playing because a lot of my friends were. I don’t play as much now due to a busier schedule, but I definitely still try to play when I can.

What’s going on in your life right now?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

If I could go anywhere in the world right now, I would go to Hanalei Bay, Kauai because the water is warm and the waves are nice. I also dig the island vibes. The last time I went to Hanalei Bay was the summer of 2016, and we surfed everyday we were there and ate a lot of shaved ice. We had just had a big family reunion on Oahu, but my family has always liked Kauai because it’s not crowded and has beautiful scenery, as well as awesome beaches.

Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

In my life right now, I’m just having fun in senior year, playing some volleyball and getting ready for the NPBA season you know.. I’m excited for volleyball because I believe we have the potential to be a really good team this year and it’s a great group of guys, so it’s always a fun and enjoyable experience. Being that it is senior is also really cool and just makes me even more excited. I’m excited for NPBA because I get to play with a lot of my friends and can just play some chill basketball with a bunch of different people.

All rise for President Carter

Carter Castillo Opinion Editor

With his iconic sense of humor and his larger than life attitude, Carter Kawaguchi, sophomore, will brighten any room that he walks into. Kawaguchi is an active student on campus: he currently serves as the Key Club Vice President, Secretary of the Asian Culture Club, Secretary of No Knit Blankets and sophomore Vice President. Kawaguchi’s favorite way to serve in his community is his dedication to Key Club and Kiwanis, an international organization dedicated towards community service. “PTP (pediatric trauma program) money (is) raised to help children who suffered from accidents,” Kawaguchi said, providing examples of what Key Club does. “We also work with UNICEF to help eliminate neonatal tetanus, and we recently just eliminated it in a country.” The associated student government would not be complete without the work of Kawaguchi. As fellow ASG member and friend of Kawaguchi Thea Duc, sophomore, said, “He’s a very good leader. I always feel confident whenever I’m in a group with him.” Duc also reiterated how personable Kawaguchi can be, “Carter is a super fun guy. Whenever I go next to him we always fist bump.” One of his favorite ways of expressing himself is through K-pop. Kawaguchi is drawn to the music because “the Asians that were in it helped to give me the recognition

Active Leader- Carter Kawaguchi, sophomore, works to assemble a box used to collect donations for UNICEF. Kawaguchi is a part of Key Club, a club on campus that focuses on service to others. “I was raised with my brother who was very active in key club and it drove me to join as he toowk me to some of his events and I found it very interesting and I met a lot of people that I had similar interests in,” Kawaguchi said. Jacob Malone/Prowler

that I did not receive. In America, you don’t really see that many Asians in like music or in TV and k-pop is just completely filled with those types of people,” he said. Many know of Kawaguchi, but few know about his hidden lifestyle. Occasionally Carter can be seen riding his penny board up Wendy Drive to get to his house. Though he does not skateboard everyday, “on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I am a skater boy” Kawaguchi said. Skateboarding is not the only thing Kawguchi does to stay active, as Duc says, “ he’s on the swim team and he makes that a lot more fun.” Kawaguchi truly works to make his school a better place by encouraging fellow students to participate in helping their community. “I want students to be aware of what they can do in their community and the power that they have to take action and help improve things by joining different organizations such as Key Club.” Active Leader: Carter Kawaguchi, sophomore, works to assemble a box used to collect donations for UNICEF. Kawaguchi is a part of Key Club, a club on campus that focuses on service to others. “I was raised with my brother who was very active in key club and it drove me to join as he took me to some of his events and I found it very interesting and I met a lot of people that I had similar interests in,” Kawaguchi said.

entertainment Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Reese Kelem Staff Writer The NPHS student production “Cinderella” premieres tonight at 7:00 p.m. In preparation for this event, the actors, producers, technicians and singers are working every day to perfect the show. The Prowler was fortunate to see what daily rehearsals are like. Rehearsals happen every day after school for about three hours, starting two months ago. They begin with vocal and dance warm-ups to get the performers’ blood flowing and bring up the energy. Hailey Couture, senior, has taken on the role of Little Bo Peep; she believes that her fourth year, this year, has been the best because of the people she’s surrounded by. “It’s taken up most of my time but it’s honestly so worth it,” said Couture. As the event draws closer, some actors are becoming a bit worried about the work that must still be done. “It’s been pretty stressful (because) a lot of things don’t seem like they are ready and so it’s like you don’t see everything come together until it finally does,” said Couture. Kenny Kremer, senior, is playing one of the main roles, Prince Charming. “(Getting the role) was pretty exciting; I’ve been building this up ever since freshman year. I’ve been

Clarissa Shin Graphic Designer

getting some pretty good roles, but now that I’m getting this big role I really get to show what I can really do with my talent” said Kremer. There has also been some challenges of the production itself. “There’s a lot of dancing and music involved in this so it’s not your everyday (performance). It’s not regular dialogue out of nowhere there’s a random song,” said Kremer. One of the light technicians, Emilio Carreon, sophomore, explains that managing the behind-the-scenes requires a lot of time too. Tech-week, which happened this past week, is where the technicians of the production work at the school from 2:15 p.m. to around 10:00 p.m. “(Most don’t realize) the amount of time that we put in for lighting and making sure that where people will be standing is correct and every little thing every little adjustment. For me, being a spotter, I sort of have some free creativity but most of the time it’s all on a sheet of paper that I need to follow,” said Carreon With Cinderella coming to public audiences tonight, the actors, technicians and all the theater staff are ready to shine on the stage.

Spotlight- Mckenna Keiser, freshman, is being carried by Gia Saputo, junior, Jenna Pennywit, senior and Camden DeRuyeter, sophomore, during a rehearsal for Cinderella. Reese Kelem/Prowler

Sarena Kabir News Editor

With fog rising, lights flashing and darkness blanketing every room, Reign of Terror is a walkthrough haunted house experience that can’t be matched. Reign of Terror was an incredibly scary experience because of the various sound effects, lighting changes and costumes used. The actors popped out, scaring people who walked through the house from all corners of the room and wore costumes of their designated attraction theme. The waiting line, before the haunted house, was very long. Depending on the day, it ranged from 40 minutes to an hour and a half. Even though the walkthrough had not officially started, screams could be heard from the waiting rooms and outside. Some people who worked at the attraction walking around outside, bringing fright to kids of all ages, and a few adults as well. In total, there were nine attractions and

115 rooms. The walkthrough lasted about 20 minutes and did a great job of keeping us on our toes. For each corner we turned, our hearts were beating faster. Although we knew someone was going to jump out and scare us, it was always unexpected, especially for those who are easily scared. The tour started in a foggy room with a putrid smell, along with a bridge that dropped as you walked down it. Right off the bat, our adrenaline was rushing and the tour only got better from there. The details of the rooms were incredibly intricate and realistic. On the walls of each room were handprints of fake blood, tattered pictures, and creepy objects which gave the attractions an intimidating atmosphere. One of their best rooms was the inflated room. You had to find your way through… We loved the texture of the blow-up mattress used to coat the walls of the room, and it gave us the

fearful feeling of claustrophobia. Another room that gave off a hypnotic sensation was the room with a rotating tunnel. As we walked on a platform across the room, an entire cylinder rotated in a circle around us making it extremely hard to walk in. This room added an unexpected twist to the haunted house as a whole, because it diverted from the jump scares and brought us a new level of fear and discomfort. The haunted house was thrilling and although it has ended, should be visited in the future by people looking for a spooky, interactive experience. There were many strobe lights, so people who are prone to seizures should not attend in the future. Overall, Reign of Terror provided us with scary, unforgettable haunted house attractions and although you will probably lose your voice from screaming, it is a visit you won’t regret.

Boo- Reign of Terror actors frighten both kids and adults alike while waiting in the lines before the house. Those who wish to enter will soon have to endure more fear. Reese Kelem/Prowler

Dear Bully... Jacob Malone Back Cover Editor “Dear Bully” is definitely not your stereotypical book about childhood bullying. With Unity Day, a day in which bullying awareness is placed in the spotlight, having taken place on Oct. 23, the NPHS Library offered a selection of books on the topic of bullying. While viewing the catalog, I became intrigued by a book called “Dear Bully,” which is an anthology of anecdotal stories from 70 different authors about childhood bullying. Needless to say, I became absorbed in it almost immediately. The main reason that “Dear Bully” excels at capturing the reader’s attention is because of its layout. Each of the 70 authors featured share their own personal experiences, allowing each story to be covered in such detail that would not have been

possible as a fictional story written by a single author. Every story is different, which keeps things entertaining for the reader. Additionally, since each author has a different writing style, I never got bored while reading this book. Some authors chose to go for a more humorous spin on, while others were extremely serious, going so far as to call out their childhood bullies and say where they are now. Some authors even used poetry for their short story. The broad range of stylistic choices highlighted the different factors of their experiences. However, the most important part of “Dear Bully” is its informational value. The book offers perspectives on bullying not just from the ones being bullied, but also from the bullies themselves. It really opened my eyes to hear about the horrific

experiences that some of the authors had with bullying, making me realize that there must be so many more people that are keeping their stories to themselves. A common realization for many of the authors featured in this collection of stories was that they were not alone. They saw that they were many others just like themselves, and only when they became close with those people did the bullying stop. Overall, “Dear Bully” is an extremely rewarding book that is worth the read. It offers rarely seen perspectives on bullying in a way that keeps it interesting for readers throughout the entire book. Carter Castillo/Prowler

entertainment Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Adalia Luo Staff Writer

Prasheetha Karthikeyan Features Editor

Fall: the season of spooky decorations and relentless allergies, dropping temperatures and leaves of orange and gold fluttering through the air. As the weather cools and fall comes into full swing, many of us want to curl up on the couch with a sweet treat, binge whatever old favorite show is on the television and create a meal perfect for the blistery season. Located on our very own Tiffani Coull’s blog, this quick and tasty recipe for Black Bottom Pumpkin Muffins is guaranteed to entertain and delight any audience. As she juggles three different classes, Coull’s nights often get hectic. Her blog is her collection of all her travelling experiences, pictures (where she religiously uses portrait mode on her iPhone) and most importantly, her recipes. Similar to the others on her blog, this recipe is “for people who like to be adventurous in their cooking, but also like to have a life,” Coull said. After all, in the words of the Crowned Cook herself, “They definitely aren’t gourmet, but they’re fun!”

Black Bottom Pumpkin Muffins

Yum- With the coming of the new season, a new array of simple recipes has been published on Tiffani Coull’s blog, www.rightturnahead.home. blog. Tiffani Coull/With Permission

Ingredients: • Trader Joe’s pumpkin muffin mix • 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature) • 1 egg • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1 cup of mini chocolate chips Directions: • Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners and preheat the oven to 350 degrees • Prepare the muffin mix as directed • Combine the rest of the ingredients in a mixer and blend until the consistency is creamy and fluff y • Pour muffin mix into pan • Put a generous amount of cream cheese filling on top of the uncooked muffins and bake for 20 minutes

Jacob Malone Back Cover Editor After hearing rave reviews from others about IKEA, I felt that it was necessary to visit it myself in order to determine what all the fuss was about. I embarked on my journey to IKEA with the sole purpose of discovering whether it was worthy of the praise. The drive to IKEA, which is located in Burbank, was a little bit arduous, but upon arriving, I realized that it was completely worth it. Walking through the front door was definitely one of the most memorable events of the entire trip. Everything hits you at once. There were massive displays of furniture, shelves upon shelves of food and even a little supervised “Småland” where parents can leave their children under constant supervision while they shop. That was when I realized that IKEA was not just a furniture store, but a consumer-oriented shoppers’ paradise. The first thing I noticed was that the store was not arranged like a normal furniture store. Instead of having all items on display at once, IKEA is laid out along one central walkway that zigzags through the store. All items are located close to the walkway so that, as you go through the store, you can see everything you could possibly need. Throughout the store, several rooms are set up so as to provide inspiration and showcase furniture. Now, here is where the magic happens. Each piece of furniture has a tag attached to it that has its price and warehouse location. At the end of the walkway is a warehouse that contains boxes of

all of the furniture in the store. All you have to do is take a picture of the tag of the furniture you want and then simply find the corresponding location in the warehouse. This makes it so that instead of lugging huge boxes of furniture throughout the store, you only have to pull the cart from the checkout to your car. After walking throughout the store I was feeling a little bit peckish. Luckily, IKEA just happens to have its own cafeteria that serves - get this - authentic Swedish cuisine. I was able to enjoy a hearty lunch of Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes while not even having to leave the place I was shopping. Now, if that is not ingenuity then I do not know what is. However, there is one thing that is truly frustrating about IKEA. While the layout of the store is very efficient and great for shoppers that are willing to spend the whole day there, it is definitely not the best for shoppers that just want to grab one thing and go. The long walkway serves as a maze of sorts, and unless you stick to the winding path, you will get lost in the seemingly endless labyrinth. This makes it quite a lengthy endeavor to just leave the store. Overall, IKEA is truly the one-stop shop for all of one’s home decor and foodstuffs alike. Their winning formula makes it so that shopping is converted into an extremely enjoyable experience. In addition, the cafeteria is capable of whipping up some solid Swedish cuisine that can satisfy your hunger while

Delish- The Veggie “Meatballs” from the IKEA Cafe cost $4.99 and comes with a side of steamed vegetables. It is a spin on the classic Swedish Meatballs geared towards those who do not eat meat. Jacob Malone/Prowler

Emily Augustine/Prowler

Adalia Luo Staff Writer Presented by the Young Artist Ensemble of Hillcrest Center for the Arts, “The Addams Family” opened this past Friday, Nov. 1, bringing this classic Halloween tale to life. With a young cast of only 10-19 year old performers, full ensemble performances such as the opening number “When You’re an Addams,” were rich and masterful, along with “Full Disclosure” and “One Normal Night.” Wednesday Addams, played by Abby Holland, 18-years-old, displayed her impressive range with her reprisation of “Pulled.” Not to be outshined, Gomez Addams, played by Marcello Simeone, Newbury Park High School alumni, was also a crowd favorite, with comedic performances of “Not Today” and

you shop. Although the one-directional layout of the store can result in a long trek to the exit, it succeeds in streamlining the consumer experience and creates an environment in which shopping is bearable.

“Trapped.” Morticia Addams, played by Lacey Tuell, junior at Thousand Oaks High School, belted “Secrets” and “Death Is Just Around The Corner,” hitting every new octave right on pitch. Outside of the Addams family themselves, this talented cast also included a heart-wrenching performance of “Waiting” by Alice Beineke, played by Kalea Rose, a senior at Moorpark High School and intricate costume and makeup work by Anna Jacobson, 18-years-old, that truly brought the characters from this classic to life. The Addams Family will run every Friday and Saturday night as well as a matinee performance every Saturday and Sunday at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts through Nov. 17.

sports

14 Sean Nicholson scooters his way to success Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Reese Kelem Photographer As he scooters around the skate park at borchard park, he builds up more and more speed until finally he arrives at the top of the ramp and boom! He does a flip over two of his friends and gets a perfect landing. His friends and the videographer go wild. Sean Nicholson, senior, has a passion for scootering and amazes all his friends will his talent. Nicholson began his scootering career when he was in sixth grade. He practices six days a week for about one to two hours alone or four to five hours with friends. “Well, (I) have to warm up with some easy stuff, a couple of flips to get my adrenaline going, and then it just depends on what I’m feeling like that day,” Nicholson said. “Usually I just try to push myself and do something new or get better at something so that I can actually progress every time I ride.” According to his friends, Nicholson has progressed over the years by practicing, becoming more comfortable with his tricks and rapidly increasing the level of difficulty in his skills. “I just like the variety. I can put my own style on my own tricks and just do stuff that makes my riding unique to other people,” Nicholson said. Nicholson has also participated in several

competitions and events over the years throughout California. In September, Nicholson placed first in a scooter competition at A-Town Park in Atascadero. “He used to do little events here in Newbury Park, little scooter events at Borchard and I went to I think two of them and he got second place in one of them and first in the other… He’s been to other competitions in Los Angeles and Santa Barbra,” Kyle Kurdelak, senior and close friend of Nicholson, said. Although Nicholson is typically independent when practicing, his friends, like Kurdelak, are supportive of his career. “Scootering at itself is very looked down upon,but athletes like Sean, they have a career, in say X-Games or Nitro Circus. I see Sean being in that,” Kurdelak said. “Even when people were saying he’ll never be anything it just motivated him to keep trying harder and where he is today is outstanding.” Casto Merlo, senior, has spent a lot of time watching Sean grow in his career despite not scootering himself. “I am very impressed by Sean’s scootering career and the way he has developed his skills,” Merlo said.“I believe his future has already started.”

Flip- Sean Nicholson, senior, f lips on a scooter over his two friends. “Usually I try to push myself and do something new and get better at something so I can actually progress every time I ride,” Nicholson said. He has been scootering since the beginning of middle school and hopes to make a career out of it. Reese Kelem/Prowler

Boys’ wrestling prepares for upcoming season Abby Gorman Staff Writer This November marks the start of sophomore Ryan Augustine’s second season of boy’s wrestling, and the team has already begun their rigorous training. “The preseason has helped me a lot in getting stronger, and improving my stamina and wrestling skills,” Augustine said. During the season, wrestling practice occurs every day after

school. “We go to the weight room and run and workout,” Augustine said. “Then we go to the wrestling room at around 5:30, and start wrestling and working on technique.” For returners and new athletes alike, going to practice everyday is crucial. “We are hoping to help new wrestlers and freshmen get better and more comfortable over the season so they can come back next year with experience and do even better.” Augustine said. Team captain Brett Philbrook, senior, is also looking to what the future will hold. “As a team we are always focused on improving each other,” Philbrook said. “Varsity is focused on winning CIF this year. We are working harder than ever at practice.” The pressures of competition can lead to frustration, but coach Chris Kilbane

sees that facing these adversities pays off in the end. “Wrestling builds character and skills that student-athletes carry with them throughout their life,” Kilbane said. “Ability to succeed with grace and fail with dignity, and an understanding that success comes from doing your best and never quitting.” Kilbane, an alumnus of the wrestling team himself, began coaching in 2016 with the intention to give back to the program, especially by working with the students-athletes to help them develop important life skills. “(I hope) that the wrestlers gain a deeper understanding of themselves,” Kilbane said. “They are capable of much more than they think.” Philbrook also recognizes the importance of practicing for the mental aspects of the sport. “Most of us have to prepare mentally individually,” Philbrook said. “Mindset is everything.” Determined to make his impact last, “I want to create a legacy,” said Augustine, hoping that with his preparation, this season will be his best.

Swole- Ryan Augustine, sophomore, racks up his warm up set while his partner sets up to spot him. The wrestling team is coming out of an intense preseason to prepare for their regular matches. “I am preparing for the season by ﬁguring out what weight class I need to be in to ﬁt my team the best,” Augustine said. With the team looking at a CIF run this year, they have been working as hard as they can. Rahul D’Souza/Prowler

sports Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Waterpolo pools talent Manas Khatore Entertainment Editor After months of practicing in the pool, boys’ water polo ended their season with a 17-10 overall record. The team qualified for CIF playoffs and placed third in the Marmonte League, edging out Westlake and Calabasas. As the season comes to a close, the boys reflect positively on their experience playing as a team. David Smith, senior, has been playing water polo for four years. He believes that a large challenge with every season is building camaraderie between team members, which can also affect performance in the long run. “Our different grade levels make it really tough for our team to have that chemistry,” Smith said. However, as the season progressed, Smith says the team was able to build the connectedness needed for success. “I definitely feel more connected with my team than at the beginning of the season… they really made the season fun,” Smith said. Chris Pellegrin, junior, states that much of the team’s success boils down to experience playing the sport. “We have a lot of individual skill on our team. Most of us have been playing club water polo at South Coast Aquatics since middle school,” he said. Despite this skill, Pellegrin believes that there is always room for improvement. “We definitely need to work on

playing more as a team… we lose those opportunities to score because of selfish shots,” Pellegrin said. Dave Gleisberg, water polo coach, believes that the team accomplished much throughout the season. “(Some highlights included) winning close games against some of the other teams

in our league,” he said. Having coached for the past decade, Gleisberg is familiar with the challenges that come with each season and hopes to increase the team’s performance in years to come. “(We need to) just get better and better at everything, physically and in game situations,” Gleisberg said. While seniors like Smith are leaving water polo behind, returning members look forward to next year’s season. “I am super excited to learn everyone’s strengths and weaknesses after a year goes by,” Pellegrin said.

Score Jonathan Gough, 17, throws the ball during Scoreone of the Waterpolo team’s games. The NPHS ended their season with 17-10. His teammate, Chris Pellegrin, junior, believes that there have been challenges for the team throughout the season, which they readily faced head on. “We deﬁnitely need to work on playing more as a team. We also need a lot of work on our 6 of 5’s because those should be a guaranteed goal, however usually we lose those opportunities to score because of selﬁsh shots,” he said. Reese Kelem/Prowler

Seniors begin their last season at soccer tryouts Jessica Zhou DPS Editor As seniors are going through their last year of high school, many athletes are aiming to make their last memories on the team as memorable as possible. For boys’ and girls’ soccer, their season launches off as tryouts take place from Oct. 21 to 28 for both new and returning players. Bradley Magnussen, senior, is participating in his last high school soccer team tryouts. Playing soccer since he was three, Magnussen played on the varsity team for his sophomore and junior year, sharing the title of being undefeated league champions for both years. “Tryouts basically consist of various fitness tests and scrimmages and that cycle of running and playing just continues itself until the teams are made then practices start,” Magnussen said, “The tryouts were affected by the fires. We only had tryouts on Monday and Tuesday and the tryouts for the rest of the week were canceled so they will probably continue this week.” Holding high expectations for this season, Kody Landon, senior, is also entering his fourth year on the school’s soccer team. While Landon enjoys the fun and inside jokes on the team, his goal this year is to “win league undefeated for the third year in a row and win CIF.” In addition to the boys’ tryouts, girls’ soccer tryouts were held simultaneously. For Mya Amor, senior, this is her second time trying out for the girls’ soccer team. While she played for the high school team when she was a freshman, Amor had to take a two year break due to two torn ACLs.

In the first week of tryouts, Amor attended three of practices intended for new players. The tryouts consisted of scrimmages as well as drills such as “Randos,” which display and develops the player’s ability to effectively pass the soccer ball. Amor is looking forward to returning to the field and many of the team bonding activities. “I am really looking forward to Secret Sisters. Either every home game or every away game, in a group chat you text like your favorite drink or your favorite candy or chips and every away game you bring a bag with your name on it. It is like Secret Santa, you don’t want them to know who it is so at the end of the year you can guess,” Amor said.

Even though the season hasn’t officially started, hopes and expectations are high for this year’s soccer season. “I’m also hoping to just make my last year memorable with the team and give the young lads some quality time to remember,” Magnussen said. “Hopefully we can lure more attention to the soccer program this year and really get some crowds going because we are the best program at the school hands down,” Magnussen said.

Dribble Players of all grades pass the ball across the ﬁeld in an attempt Dribbleto demonstrate their skills to the coaches. This will be the ﬁrst chance all the players, new and returning, have to stun and impress for a coveted spot on a higher level team. Rahul D’Souza/Prowler

Pinballed Sprinting across the ﬁeld, players are equally excited Pinballedand nervous to join the close and driven team. “Our schools soccer team is 100% the best program at Newbury Park we don’t lose we love to have fun but we are competitive when it’s needed,” Magnussen said. Many players are ready to seize their moment to shine. Rahul D’Souza/Prowler

sports Panther Prowler • Nov. 8, 2019

Jessica Zhou Photographer

Emily Nagamoto Editor-In-Chief

Dazzling-The Marching Band performs at Sounds of Conejo along with other high school programs from across the district. At the end of the event all 10 marching bands came together to play “America the Beautiful.” “Ever since I started in band and marching band, I just tried to work hard, try to be a good example, try not to mess around. Take band seriously. Just show a great deal of maturity, and care for other people,” Steven Choi, senior and drum major, said. Marching band is in the midst of competition season, where they have tournaments every weekend..” Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

In formation-Drumline advances onto the field for their pre-football game performance. In addition to tournaments, the marching band is always practicing for these Friday night performances. “It's just like any other competitive team sport,” Emilie Hooker, senior and assistant drum major, said. “We work together to put out the best show possible.” These performances occur with the marching band season, which runs from shortly before school begins in August all the way through late November. Emily Nagamoto/Prowler

Tuba Time-Kasra Memarzia, senior, and Max Lagerquist, sophomore, practice marching with their tubas on the grass field behind the NPHS football stadium. “A normal day of practice consists of moving the band to the practice field, stretching, then we go over small chunks of the show in repetition.” Leo McDonough, assistant drum major, said. Marching band can be seen out of the field three days during the week, including an extended practice from 2 to 9pm every Friday. Every practice is used as an opportunity to find something to improve upon, through the guidance of their peers and director. Jessica Zhou/Prowler

Practice Makes PerfectJames McDonough, senior, practices his trumpet on the field in order to make sure that he is prepared for the band's next performance. Jessica Zhou/ Prowler