75:02 Nov. 18, 2022

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Annual Ventura Area College Fair provides students

The annual Ventura Area College Fair occurred from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Main Street Gym. The event featured 59 domestic colleges and universities, two British universities and five branches of the U.S. military. Among the participating institutions were Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California State University Channel Islands, Santa Barbara City College, UC Santa Barbara, the University of Glasgow, the U.S. Army and USC.

Despite being hosted at Ventura High School, the Ventura Area College Fair was intended to provide college information to students from throughout the Ventura Unified School District and non-VUSD local high school students. College representatives were stationed at tables that displayed information for their respective colleges.

College & Career Counselor Patricia Roberts,

who helped organize the Ventura Area College Fair, said, “The colleges [that participated in the Ventura Area College Fair] initially registered with an organization called TDCN. They coordinate college fairs throughout the state. TDCN does the initial promotion for the college fairs and registration process. The colleges go on a ‘college fair tour’ throughout the country, so they schedule to go to the fairs that work with their schedule. Most of the colleges reached out to us.”

The Ventura Area College Fair offered breakout sessions on various collegerelated topics, including a guide on building a college list, financial aid and finding the ideal college. Counselor Teri Dath led the college list breakout session, Ventura College Financial Aid Officer Alma Rodriguez led the financial aid session and college admissions expert Gary Bednorz led the ideal college session.

Emily Sehati ’24 said, “I haven’t been able to tour any colleges, so [the Ventura Area College Fair] is my way of exposing myself to colleges

and asking admissions officers any questions I have. I think it’s a great opportunity to be exposed to different colleges and for those who can’t afford to tour colleges.”

Kathryn Salazar ’23 said, “I came to the college fair to have a better idea of what colleges have to offer. The UCs and USC have caught my attention. I like how many schools they have here.”

Cal Poly Humboldt Southern California Admissions Counselor Rickiyah McGrady, who represented her university at

the Ventura Area College Fair, said, “I think the purpose [of college fairs] is to get students knowledgeable about what there is out there. I think a lot of students have an idea of what colleges they want to go to, but when you have a college fair, it opens up their minds to many different opportunities, schools and areas. Even just getting to know more about costs, out-ofstate versus instate and what you want to do.”

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What’s

Looking West releases their debut single “I See a Man”

The Venturabased band Looking West, comprised of El Camino High School students Dylan Brehm ’23 (lead vocalist and guitarist), Owen Neth ’23 (backup vocalist and bass guitarist) and Ventura High School student Evan Brehm ’24 (drummer), independently released their debut single “I See a Man” at midnight on Oct. 21. The song is three minutes and 24 seconds long and is available on several streaming platforms, including Amazon Music,

Apple Music, YouTube Music and Spotify, as well as the social media platforms Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok.

Emilee Lasala ’24 said, “I heard about their song when Evan talked about it in class. I loved the song. The beat and lyrics are catchy, and it has an upbeat vibe. [I’m] so proud of Evan [and] the band. [I] can’t wait to hear more.”

Looking West recorded “I See a Man” at the private studio Table 17 Studios, which Neth’s father owns. The song’s official recording sessions took place

between June and September 2022. Looking West recorded, mixed and fine-tuned “I See a Man” during these sessions for official release.

Looking West minimally edited “I See a Man” to foster a “live” listening experience. The song has limited overdubs, which are additional recordings added to a recording postproduction to enhance it.

Dylan Brehm said, “[‘I See a Man’] has a raw production. We wanted to make it the best representation of how we sound live. It has a lot of significance for us. That’s why [we chose to release the song as our debut single]. It was one of the first songs where we came into our own sound and style.”

Corey Muhlitner ’25 said, “I like the guitar solo in [‘I See a Man’]. The drums are super sick too. I started listening [to Looking West] a couple [of] weeks ago after the drummer Evan showed me their band. I heard that they had their first single coming out last week.”

According to Looking West, the man referenced in “I See a Man” is Evan Brehm. According to Dylan Brehm,

the song’s lyrics “tries to go through his own hand to see if he is feeling” are in reference to Evan Brehm’s experiences with lucid dreaming.

Dylan Brehm said, “The idea for the song was first conceived on a walk with Evan during the summer [of] 2021. I was inspired by Evan, so I wrote some lyrics and fledged it out when we got home. The song took me about 20 minutes to write fully. I [wrote] about Evan and [the] personal journeys he was going through. The song lists some of those qualities [and] journeys. I think I was trying to be supportive of him and be like, even though you are struggling to find yourself, I see a man in front of me.”

Evan Brehm said, “The response [to ‘I See a Man’] has been really cool. All our friends and our other fans seem excited about it. People have been congratulating me on the single, which is cool, but otherwise, not much about my school life has changed.”

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Colleges and universities from throughout the U.S. participated in the event

The Ventura Area College Fair, which was hosted by Ventura High School in the Main Street Gym, provided college information to local high school students. Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Looking West’s song “I See a Man” was in progress for over a year until it was released at midnight on Oct. 21. Photo by: Alejandro Hernandez

Alejandro Hernandez

inside?

Photo by: Ella Montano

Hold the music

Winter sports start in full force after fall break

Opinion: The student section isn’t as fun as it used to be

Photo by: Avery Cameron

Photo by: Vinhanh Nguyen

KatieNameRundle

Jocelyn Wood

Adi De Clerck

Local band Looking West releases their new single across several streaming platforms

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

- Marcus Aurelius

VHS celebrates Día de los Muertos with annual festivities

VHS students walk out to protest teacher salaries

period four (12:10 p.m.).

Adi De Clerck

Ventura High School students walked out of their period four classes at 10:41 a.m. Oct. 21, 11 minutes after the beginning of the period. They walked out to a preplanned student protest in support of increasing VHS teachers’ salaries. Students gathered near the Atoms for Peace statue but moved to Main Street in front of the Main Street gym at 10:42 a.m. The protest continued until 11:50 a.m., though its organizers initially planned it to last through the end of

The protest was organized by Mateo Navarro ’23, Sinthia Cardenas ’23, Jaden Elizondo ’23 and Caylin Mobley ’23. Navarro uploaded information surrounding the protest on his Instagram (@beached_ tater), where he instructed students to wear red Oct. 21 to support the protest. He first publicly announced the protest in an Instagram post posted Oct. 17.

Ventura Police Department officers, VHS administrative officials and campus supervisors supervised the protest. In addition, VHS teachers were prohibited from participating in or

Editors

commenting on the protest due to their district contract.

Navarro said, “I decided to plan the protest as a way to unify our student body under a pressing matter: spreading awareness of the teacher salaries that have been brought upon by [the Ventura Unified School District]. With only a three percent increase in their pay, we are fighting to make it an 11.5 percent increase, so they can sustain living in Ventura while still giving us a healthy teaching environment.”

Several students spoke during the protest by using a megaphone. Students also chanted, “Raise the pay!” and “Hey,

hey, ho, ho, where did all the money go?” All four principal organizers gave speeches during the protest.

Protester Nick DeGeorge ’24 said, “[I wanted to protest] to support

fair pay for teachers. They haven’t been receiving enough for how much they work for us.

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Isabel Andrade

Jane Armstrong Weston Blackburn

Samantha Castañeda

Leslie Castro

Adi De Clerck

Kendall Garcia

Halle Gentry

Jayden Gentry

Santiago Gonzales

Belen Hibbler

Annika Lange

Ruby Laques

Julian Martinez

Angelica Matehuala Kinda Mehael

Ava Mohror

Avery Cameron

Sophia Nacu

Editor-in-Chief Print Social Media

Brody Daw

Assistant EIC

Alejandro Hernandez

Managing Editor

StaffElla Montano

Christian Montecino

Christopher Morrison

Hugh Murphy

Miles Newman

Emily Nguyen

Savanna Nustad-Franzen

Ace Rico

Katie Rundle

Alexis Segovia Soraya Stegall Nicklaus Shelton

Travis Rinehart

Hannah Wiggins Summer Williams

Jocelyn Wood

Students joined a protest by walking out during period four on Oct. 21

In his speech at the protest, Navarro said, “Teachers know that we, the students, are the future. They prioritize us, make us feel special and put us first. So I have to ask, how can the district expect to put students first if [they] keep putting teachers last?” Photo by: Adi De Clerck

Sophia Denzler

Assistant ME

Isabella Fierros

Online

Lourdes Almalab

On Nov. 1, VHS held an event in the counselors courtyard to celebrate Día de los Muertos and showcase the ofrendas made by this year’s Spanish 1 and 2 students. Photo by: Travis Rinehart

Spanish teacher Grace Elberg said “[We] have some small shoe box altars that were made by Spanish 1 and 2 students [and] some bigger, life sized altars that were made by Spanish 2 [along with some] Two Way Immersion (TWI) students.” Photo by: Leslie Castro

Students created handmade “ofrendas,” or altars to commemorate and honor dead relatives, pets or favorite celebrities. They include their favorite things and pictures of said people. Photo by: Travis Rinehart

Alana Martinez ‘25 (right) said, “[The face painting station] was really interesting [because] [the face painter] did it by [memory]; she didn’t have to [reference] anything, it always looked good.” Photo by: Leslie Castro

The calavera making station was popular among younger children who attended the event with siblings from VHS and their families. Photo by: Angelica Matehuala

The Aztec dancers paid respects to the dead as they chanted, “Que vivan nuestros muertos,” which means “long live the dead.” Photo by: Angelica Matehuala

JocelynNameWood

Name

AlejandroNameHernandez

VHS hires students to work at the snack bar

Over 2,000 students are enrolled at Ventura High School. Every single day, VHS students are provided two meals, breakfast and lunch. VHS must prepare in order to provide over 2,000 students with two meals every day. VHS hires people to work the cafeteria to provide students with food. VHS has recently hired a few of its students to work the snack bar and to help the cafeteria staff.

There are many jobs that snack bar workers are paid to do. Snack bar workers handle any job they are tasked with, ranging from manning the cash register to helping cafeteria staff make the food VHS students, and even some teachers will later eat.

VHS staff snack bar manager Danna Klein said, “[Students] work the registers selling snacks and serving slushies, pizza, chips [or] whatever there is to sell. Sometimes we have them work on the line [outside the snackbar] or help make sandwiches. [They do] any little task that needs done.”

The

snack bar is open

Snack bar worker Augustin Ibarra ‘25 said, “When you think about it from the outside, you think they just pass out food and there’s not a lot of huge work, but there’s a lot of preparation that goes behind the [snack bar]. But [the cafeteria staff] were really nice and they gave me a tour of everything.”

Working at the VHS snack bar requires its workers to give up most of their nutrition and lunch breaks to do their job at the snack bar. They are paid 15 dollars an hour and spend around an hour a day working.

Snack bar worker Sophia Soza ‘25 said, “You

“Puffs” leads take Stage

New leads take their places for the upcoming show “Puffs”

The Ventura High School Drama Department’s play “Puffs” opened Nov. 10.

Cast members new to drama performances include Adam Hibberd ‘24, Caydon Thomas ‘24, Sinthia Cardenas ‘23 and Mya Shernana ‘23, who have their own stories and thoughts about “Puffs.”

Hibberd, who played

Good Man, Charlie Brown,” plays the lead role in “Puffs,” Wayne Hopkins.

Hibberd said, “Last year [‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’] was double casted and the other person who played Charlie Brown was someone much more experienced than I was. [He was] someone who certainly knew much more of what he was doing, but this year I think

get to meet new people [while working the cash register]. You can sort of build a relationship with all the people like the regulars and stuff.”

Kezhiah Mabanta ‘26, “I would generally [work at the snack bar] anyway because my mom and everyone else taught me to help people that need help, so when it said ‘looking for students’ I didn’t even know there was money.”

Brie Cheatham ‘26 said, “[Working at the snack bar] is really fun because I’ve never been able to talk to the cafeteria people before and they’re really nice people.”

Local band Looking West jams forward

Who are Looking West?

Looking West is a Venturabased band founded in 2017. Looking West band members include El Camino High School students Dylan Brehm ’23 (lead vocals and guitar) and Owen Neth ’23 (bass guitar and backup vocals) and Ventura High School student Evan Brehm ’24 (drums). The band is independent as they are not under any record label.

According to Looking West’s website, “Looking West is a trio of young musicians born and raised in Ventura County, California. Their original music is a unique blend of rock styles and genres. When not playing a live gig or at the studio, you can find them all hanging out at the beach.”

The name “Looking West” was first introduced in 2019, with them having no name prior. Dylan Brehm said, “Looking West to my recollection came because my dad always talks about the direction of the front of [Evan Brehm and I’s] house [and] the way it faces. We’re so close to the beach and the beach

is supposedly straight west and we face west. I believe that the name probably came from us talking about how our house is looking west. Then I remember after that I really liked the name but I got a lot of pushback from these two guys [Evan Brehm and Neth].”

Evan Brehm said, “We all remember [the origins of Looking West], [around] preschool or pre-K. There was this place called First Five that [had] music in an open classroom, and we were all there together. It was technically a music class. We didn’t really play [instruments] but like we were all introduced to that early. All of our parents enjoyed the same music so we were very influenced by rock. That was our childhood. All that together started some influence [for Looking West]. The first person out of us who started legitimately playing an instrument was Dylan.”

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I’m maybe a bit more ready to like know what is coming next maybe or prepare for the future.”

Cardenas, who played Lucy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and is now playing Megan Jones in “Puffs,” said, “I think it’s really just my love for the [drama] department that made me want to audition. Ms. Rossiter could be doing anything and I will be willing and wanting to be a part of it.”

Thomas, who plays Oliver Rivers, said, “I have never done any other shows before. I [auditioned] cause I want to get more out of my high school experiences. I have never done any sort of drama thing before.”

throughout the year.”

Cardenas said, “I think it really exciting and nostalgic at the same time because my first play. I was in a musical my freshman year, but it got shut down because of [COVID-19], so my first like production was on Zoom.”

Thomas said, “Well, my role is more of like a funny sort of person. He’s like also pretty like nerdy too, so I’m trying to bring out the best aspects of like how to perceive the character and how to make it enjoyable.”

know wherever she’s going to do is gonna be like really well done.”

Cardenas ‘23 said, “I know a lot of people in the drama department so [‘Puffs’] was really just like a fun little hangout with my friends.”

Shernana, who plays the narrator, said, “It’s like bittersweet. I’m excited to kinda be a mentor to a freshmen like the seniors were to me when I was a freshman, and I’m excited to just share everything I’ve learned

Hibberd said, “[Auditions are] nerve racking. There were like a lot of very talented people all coming together and like you really had no idea who was going to get what and it was a little chaotic, but a lot of fun.”

Shernana said, “I’m not a Harry Potter fanatic to be honest, but I mean I have done every production and I just trust Ms. Rossister a lot and I trust her creative ideas, so I

The “Puffs” play began Nov. 10 and will end Nov. 19, meaning it will be shown for six nights. Adam Hibberd ‘24 said, “[‘Puffs’] really is a big ensemble show and everyone so far is doing amazing. I’m just really excited as I think a lot of people are to see it all put together.”

The Cougar Press is a completely student-run, public forum of the Ventura High School community. We strive to present all sides of an issue fairly and without bias while being as resourceful to our readers as possible. From time to time, we make an error. When this happens, we try to correct it as soon as possible. Students and community members are encouraged to write for The Cougar Press and to submit photos and videos. We welcome all submissions but may edit them for clarity and brevity. This public forum is only as good as the community support it receives.

VHS

during nutrition breaks and lunch. Photo by: Weston Blackburn

Weston Blackburn

Alejandro Hernandez

Isabel Andrade

Photo by: Charlie Ruff

VHS pays students to help prepare food and handle orders at the snack bar

Photo by: VHS Drama Department

On Campus

Opinion: Menstrual products should be more accessible on campus

Students with periods, have you ever gone to the bathroom during your period with no other choice but to line your underwear with

or tampons, and if not, your only hope is the health office or the women’s locker room.

Delaney Poulos ‘23 said, “ I have never gotten period products from the health office because it’s

which was super annoying.”

Pads can be extremely uncomfortable to wear all day. They are super bulky and can irritate the skin. It is also super difficult to exercise comfortably in them, but this is just some people’s preference. The next place you could go to is the women’s locker room, where you can purchase period products for 50 cents, which is outrageous.

Poulos said, “In school, I think menstrual products should be provided just like how toilet paper is provided freely. Period products are a necessity, not a choice.”

toilet paper and hope for the best? Sadly, this kind of thing happens a lot. It seems almost impossible to find any menstrual products anywhere. Having a period is something no one can control when or where it happens, so why isn’t it easily accessible?

Getting your period during class can be extremely nerve-wracking, especially when you have forgotten a menstrual product. The next step is to ask every one of your friends if they have any pads

inconvenient and almost embarrassing. I would rather just ask a friend or someone in the bathroom.”

Having to ask your teacher if you can go to the health office for a period product can be very embarrassing, and lately, the health office only gives out pads.

Clover Higgins ‘23 said, “The last time I needed a tampon, I went to the health office and they said that they do not have them anymore,

This is too much of a hassle for students just trying not to bleed through their pants. To help make it easier and faster, pad and tampon dispensers should be installed in all women’s bathrooms. While some students may be irresponsible and take advantage of the free products, the students who actually need them will overrule them. If toilet paper, hand soap and paper towels are available and provided for students free of cost, why can’t menstrual products be too?

Opinion: Edgar nation stand up!

controversial, laughed at or even taken as a compliment.

The rise of social media has brought rise to various trends and microtrends. From mini-skirts to low-rise jeans, social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and most of all TikTok, have made sure to have trends

“[Having a] certain hairstyle. It’s puffy, and they run their hands through their hair, they have that white powder stuff that they put in their hair,” said Nathan Riner ‘26.

The white powdery stuff Riner described is a hair styling powder that is commonly seen in Latino

‘23 has been called an “Edgar” before but does not take offense to the label. “I don’t know, [I would describe them as] regular Mexican kid. Hats, pro clubs (a popular brand of sweats) and jeans,” he said.

“They’re pretty funny, they walk around funny, some sag, some don’t … and they’re wannabes,” said Eddie Ramirez ‘23.

Ramirez later said that he’s been referred to as an “Edgar” many times throughout all his four years of high school.

The walk Ramirez mentioned is a prominent characteristic in social media posts about the “Edgar” phenomenon. The image social media has created leaves many teens identifying “Edgars” as the stereotypical Mexican kid, just like GarciaAndreas described himself. The issue of whether or not the term is offensive arises when trends such as this one are highlighted in pop culture.

known and seen. Many, if not most, know the term “Edgar” when they hear it. Along with this comes various opinions on whether or not the term is

around

schools for added protection

Possible safety measures for the VHS campus are being considered; what do students think?

Kinda Mehael

Sophia Denzler

The Ventura Unified School District began placing metal fences around VUSD elementary schools during the 2022 fall break. This raises the question of whether or not the same thing will happen to other schools in the district, including Ventura High School.

Isabelle Rivera ‘22 said, “I don’t agree with having fences because this school already feels like a prison in my opinion, so I feel like even more we would be trapped.”

Brynn Gray ‘25 said, “I mean they’d just be unlocking the fences wouldn’t they? I don’t think it would help a whole lot with intruders.”

Both Gray and Rivera said they would not feel safer if fences were installed.

Rivera said, “No, I mean it could and it couldn’t [prevent intruders from entering the VHS campus] just depends on the situation. I mean if it was like a guy like last year coming into our

school, that would make me feel unsafe, but I don’t think it [fences] would necessarily fix the problem.”

According to a 2013 research report by Hanover Research, poorly chosen fencing may pose threats to students’ safety in many ways, such as, “Limiting surveillance of school grounds, attracting graffiti and other vandalism that diminishes the respect accorded to school property and restricting access so much that students must take more hazardous routes to and from school.”

In contrast, Hanover Research also concluded that properly placed fences have safety benefits such as, “Designating the school grounds as a well‐defined, carefully maintained space that deserves respect, limiting access to areas that are not highly visible,” as well as, “Enabling surveillance by school staff and law enforcement and limiting access to areas that are not highly visible.

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culture. This is when the controversial question arises; is the term “Edgar” targeted towards Hispanic culture?

When making an effort to answer the question of whether or not there is an underlying issue with stereotypes and the media, a new inquiry arises. Did the “Edgar” movement spawn a large social media response, or has social media created the “Edgar” phenomenon?

Not all feel that the

term “Edgar” is a term to use when making fun of someone or describing a wannabe. A wannabe would mean being someone who wants to fit in and oftentimes, forms a personality around a certain trend to fit characteristics of the people they want to be around.

Victor Lopez ‘23 said, “I would describe myself like an Edgar honestly.”

This opinion varies

on social media platforms. The term is labeled and can be argued as controversial for some while others have the same perspective as Lopez.

Ultimately, the term “Edgar” can be offensive from individual to individual.

Many people see it as a compliment, while others see it as a person who wants to fit into the stereotypical “Edgar” phenomenon.

Josh Garcia-Andreas

Adding dispensers would help students in need to have quick accessibility to period products. Graphic by: Ella Montano

Christopher Rea 26’ (center-left) and Joseph Ramirez 26’ (center-right) wearing the stereotypical “Edgar” outfit. Photo by: Alexis Segovia

Ella Montano

There is a clear absence of easily accessible menstrual products at VHS, and we need to do something about it

The term“Edgar” has been coined as a joke, but is it more than that to the people that it is targeted at? Alexis Segovia

Follow this graphic if you want to master the “Edgar” look. The gathered evidence proves most people are categorized as “Edgars” when wearing these six items. Graphic by: Alex Hoskins

Alex Hoskins

VUSD introduces the possibil ity of installing fences

Julian Martinez

Sports

Winter Sports start in full force after fall break

Winter sports will take over sports at Ventura High School for around the next four months. Winter sports include

boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls and boys wrestling and girls water polo. As fall sports come to a close or prepare for CIF, winter sports are beginning to prepare for their season to begin.

Kaya Fraser ‘24

plays a forward position on the varsity girls soccer team. Fraser said, “I am a little nervous, but I’m excited [for the season].”

The varsity girls soccer team has begun practice every day after school for two hours in preparation for their season. Fraser shared that her goal for the season was to make the playoffs and CIF.

“I really liked Soccer Sisters (a team bonding type of activity that several sports have). It’s always fun. We like to bring each other candy and write notes,” Fraser said. Jasmine Moore ‘25 plays power forward on the girls basketball team.

Moore said, “My biggest goal for the season is to just overall get better. I don’t have a specific goal, but I think just overall better playing and better focus on the game.”

The girls basketball team started official practices Oct. 31. They practice Monday through Saturday every week. “I just transferred [to VHS] this year so playing with a new team is what I’m most excited for,” said Moore.

Isabella Coleman ‘25 said, “My practice schedule is at least five times a week and we have morning practice and afternoon practice. What stops

me from burnout is probably just hanging out with my friends on the weekend and taking occasional breaks. But I love water polo, so it’s fine.”

Coleman’s goal for this season is for her team to make it to at least round two of CIF, as well as work on improving her skill over the course of the season.

Boys basketball has also just begun their practices to prepare for their first home game on Dec. 5 against Pacifica High School.

Jake Auster ‘24, the point guard on the varsity boys basketball team, said,

“I am really looking forward to this season and having our fans be able to see me and my teammates’ hard work pay off on the court.”

Auster said, “My biggest goal this season is to beat Buena and put Ventura back on top for sports.”

After the winter sports season, there is a transition into spring sports. As the first quarter ends, along with fall sports, there is a large athletic transition into winter sports, which makes for new athletic events for students to attend.

Opinion: The student section isn’t as fun as it used to be

recent years it seems the student section has been lacking in some areas.

The Ventura High School student section has been a great way to keep up the morale of sports players on the field and in turn help students socialize with their peers with fun themes, chants and overall loud and good spirits. However, over

“As the years have gone on, the student section has kinda gone down a little bit in terms of just overall student participation and energy,” said Scott Vreeland ‘24.

On Sept. 23, not many people showed up in the student section to support our varsity

football team at home against Pacifica High School, which led to a crushing 49-0 loss.

The themes seem forced and uninspired (i.e. barbeque dads vs. soccer moms). It’s hard to think of good themes for football games or volleyball games, especially if sometimes themes might be labeled as cliché by the students or would be considered as copying by other schools.

Another

reason some might be disinterested is that the chants have gotten bland. Obviously, you’re going to have the classic chant, “Whose house? … V-HOUSE.” But other than that, there haven’t been many fun and exciting chants.

A possible way to fix the monotony of the student section is to possibly synergise more with the band. Sometimes the band can play a song, and then the student section would join and combine to make an awesome chant. It’s the

little things like a new idea every now and then that can change a whole experience. Something even better would be getting the cheer team involved. Combine the

student section with the Super Fan Club.

Jack Rose ‘23 said, “Super Fan Club meeting[s are] on Wednesday. We don’t like the student section right

band and cheer team and choreograph a new segment that could get the student section even more hype.

Picture the student section as vanilla ice cream. Tried and true never fails, but sometimes vanilla gets boring; maybe spice things up and go for some other new flavors.

ASB has been working on improving the

now, so the purpose of the club is trying to amp it up, get chants, themes and just overall engagement and excitement.”

That means if you want to help revive the student section, join the Super Fan Club and add some of your ideas into the hat. Let’s reinvigorate the Cougar spirit into our sports teams and show them our Cougar pride.

Jake Auster ‘24 (center), the point guard on the varsity boys basketball team, said, “This season, I am most excited about having packed crowds and student sections because a loud student section can affect a game a lot more than people realize.” Photo by: Vinhanh Nguyen

Isabella Coleman ‘25 (center) said, “I’m nervous, but I am really excited for the competition with the new channel league and all the Santa Barbara schools.” Photo by: Lourdes Almalab

Jack Rose ‘23 (left) and Jake Auster ‘24 (right) in the student section at the homecoming game. Photo by: Ella Montano

Ava Mohror

The transition from fall to winter sports spoken on by VHS athletes

How can we make it better?

Christian Montecino

Cougie Camp performs at the halftime show at the VHS versus San Marcos High School game. Photo by: Ella Montano

Lourdes Almalab

Travis Rinehart

For and Against: Community college vs. four-year universities

College before I transferred to [a] Cal State.”

Community college: by Jocelyn Wood

Community college is something accessible to

Community colleges have the perk of being affordable and at a lower price where you can still get the same experiences as a four year. The only negative of it is

in there and get you what you need in order to transfer.”

Community college can even be a great place to start before going to a fouryear university right away. Community colleges can help with getting into a four-year, and there’s even a chance that you could get ahead of your peers.

Community colleges are a great option for everyone and more people should consider attending one. It can offer great education opportunities and can help students get into the colleges of their dreams.

Four-year universities: by Katie Rundle

everyone, and that’s one of the best things about it. It’s available for all people, and there are plenty of ways to get to go for free, depending on your area. Some people may see community college as a backup plan and not a number one option, but it’s definitely a great option.

College & Career Counselor Patricia Roberts said, “I’m a huge fan of community college. I’m a product of community college; I went to Santa Barbara City

that you’ll miss out on living in the dorms in your freshman year. Even with going to a community college, you will still get to meet new people and learn new things. A lot of times, there will still be great opportunities for one to try and excel in the future.

Roberts said, “The state has put in place a lot of things to help students finish in just two years and then transfer to meet their goals. There’s now a lot of incentive for the community colleges to get you

Opinion: Hold the music

Over the past years, school dances have come and gone. Themes have changed as well as venues, but one thing remains the same; the music, and not in a good way. Songs such as “Fergalicious”, “Young, Wild, and Free” and “Party in the USA” seem to have a chokehold on the DJs of these sweaty high school dances. Don’t get us wrong, timeless classics are great, but it would be nice to hear some newer and different bangers thrown in the mix as well. Artists and songs have continuously risen to popularity and a place on the playlists of many teens. When was the last time a Playboi Carti song was played at a VHS dance? We the youth, demand better, more diverse musical representation!

If we are being completely honest, there is no bigger vibe killer than arriving at a school dance in your best attire and shoes, heels or sneakers, only to stand around in an awkwardly lit “mosh pit” staring into the eyes of your peers along with some faces you’ve never seen before as you all collectively anticipate the moment when that one song comes on that you can finally get hyped to.

With the excitement

of Homecoming at its end, we found it was the perfect chance to reach out to the students of VHS and ask them how they felt about the music played at the annual homecoming dance that occurred Oct. 1.

Cece Perez ‘23 said, “At one point there was random techno music. It was really weird, and it was like not okay. It was actually awful. There was no good music in my opinion.”

Up until now, we never knew that there was such a thing as a “Love Sosa-techno” remix, and we’re not sure if we want to hear such a monstrosity ever again.

Carolina Bucio ‘23 said, “It kinda sounded like Kidz Bop music.”

Harsh feelings aside, we acknowledge that there are rules, guidelines and procedures that come with culminating a school dance playlist. Explicitness and length are a few factors that have to be taken into account, so we talked to ASB to get a behind-the-scenes scoop on the whole debacle.

ASB Student Affairs President Cailyn Mobley ‘23 said, “We discussed how he [the DJ] would pause music, [and] basically how he did not play half of our requested songs.”

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

Although going to a four-year university can get you different experiences from going to a community college, you’ll still end up making memories, learning and getting that degree. Community college is a great option for anyone who is unsure of what they want to do. Why waste money on a fouryear university when you’re not even sure what you want to major in? As I stated earlier, it’s way more affordable than a four-year as well. You can choose whether or not you stay with your parents, which could help you with saving money, and a plus is still getting to have home-cooked meals.

Esja Moore ‘23 said, “I think that community college is great for some people. It’s definitely less costly or free and so it’s a great way to start your college experience because you don’t have to worry about money as much as going to a four-year.”

Universities are costly. Tuition often ranges from a low of thirteen thousand dollars a year to a high of sixty or seventy thousand dollars, with big-name schools such as USC and NYU boasting a price tag that promises student debt and large loans.

Despite this knowledge, Ivy League universities such as Yale and Harvard still receive thousands of applications from hopeful scholars every year, as do private institutions like the ones previously mentioned. If the promise of financial burden is not enough to deter students from attending these schools, then what are the appeals that make such a bleak outcome worthwhile?

Jasmine Bruns ‘23 said, “[A community college] is not a four-year, so you may not get the same opportunities you would get if you went to a four-year. The pros [of going to a university right out of high school] are moving away, making new experiences,

meeting new people and that you can major in something and take it more seriously.” Bruns mentioned something crucial — opportunity and new experiences. Attending a community college close to home can be viewed as both a positive and a negative, as one is closer to family/friends but is often surrounded by the same people they went to high school with or at least recognize. As a result, one is not thrust into the anxiety-filled yet prospective environment that defines freshman year at a four-year university. Additionally, one might miss out on making connections by going to a community college since they will only have two years to network at whatever university they transfer to. Although one still has the opportunity to network at a community college, universities are more likely to provide significant internships and experiences aiding in one’s development of their career.

The differences between the quarter and semester systems must also be taken into account.

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

For and against: Dirty chais vs. chai lattes

Dirty chais : by Summer Williams

Dirty chai lattes may be similar in concept to a regular, boring old chai, but they are so much more than that. A dirty chai has one major key difference compared to the plain, overdone chai latte-espresso. The smooth one or two shots of espresso are what makes the dirty chai “dirty.”

Regarding the two beverage’s prices, Lily Carnaghe ‘24 said, “I think there’s a slight price difference because a shot of espresso is like 50 cents.”

The Copper Coffee Pot Cafe, a local coffee shop which sells both the dirty chai latte and the regular chai latte, charges $4.90 for the regular chai latte, while the dirty chai costs $5.40.

In my opinion, 50 cents is such a miniscule difference in price for such an exquisite drink.

Carnaghe said, “[I prefer making] iced chai because I don’t have to pull a shot of espresso.”

While it may have the extra step of adding espresso, this step is so worth it for a dirty chai. The espresso brings special bitterness to the spiced tea that makes the experience of drinking it unmatched.

Both chai tea and

espresso have long histories, with each carrying cultural significance. Chai is speculated to have originated in India from an ancient king for a traditional medicinal practice where spices and herbs are used for healing purposes.

drink and we both agree that we will finish anything with the word “chai” in it. We love the cinnamon and clove as it accentuates the creaminess of the milk and tea. Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or not, you can always give dirty

Both drinks are incredibly delicious that we both have to drink them until they are empty. Photo by: Summer Williams

Espresso originated in Venice, Italy, where businessman Luigi Bezzera, who was experimenting with coffee to see how he could make his brew faster, came up with an espresso.

To this day both chai tea and espresso are big parts of the culture they originate from, creating lasting impacts all over the world. Having both these exquisite drinks mixed into one is truly the best of both worlds in my opinion. In the end, both drinks are incredibly enjoyable to

chai a chance. Chai lattes: by Alexis Segovia Chai lattes are a work of art. In simple terms, chai lattes describe steamed milk with black tea infused with spices such as clove and cinnamon. However, those are just the basics of the drink. What is unseen is the experience of drinking a simple yet elegant chai latte. It first starts with the drink being served to you.

Pennants of various colleges and universities can be seen inside the College & Career Center. These pennants include both in-state schools and out-of-state schools. Photo by: Katie Rundle

Jocelyn Wood

A debate on whether going to a community college or a four-year right away is the better option

The battle between these iced beverages begins

The school dance music is tired and outdated

Soraya Stegall Alexis Segovia

Ace Rico

Summer Williams

Katie Rundle

Book Reviews

Book Review: “The Dharma Bums”

and Japhy Ryder. Smith acts as a stand-in for Kerouac himself while Ryder is based on Gary Snyder, a poet from the Beat Generation. In the novel, Ryder embraces the Buddhist way of

“The Dharma Bums” is an embellished memoir written by Jack Kerouac and published in 1958. It was released a year after Kerouac’s novel “On the Road,” a nationwide phenomenon that inspired the Beat Generation, a literary and cultural movement that would inspire the hippie and counterculture wave of the 1960s onward. The book tells the story of Ray Smith

life and mentors Smith in the methods of Zen Buddhism. In the first few chapters, Kerouac describes revelations of train hopping along the southern coast of California. Ray ends up in Santa Barbara and has adventures of sleeping on the beach, discussing religion with a fellow train hopper and performing in a slam poetry session in a local bar. Kerouac

details the taste of the wine and the textures of clothes to convey every thought and feeling to the reader. The rest of the novella sees the pair continuing on these sorts of adventures: backpacking up Matterhorn Peak in the Sierra Nevadas of California, working as fire lookouts in North Cascades National Park in Washington and three-day party binges, all the while learning about themselves and their relationship with the world.

This book resonated with us from the first page and the copy passed from person to person, each with our own interpretations and takeaways but a shared appreciation for the masterful writing and captivating philosophy. It was our introduction to the Beat movement, a cultural and literary movement focused on spontaneity and freedom, as well as the salacious and honest monologue style that Kerouac is known for. “The Dharma Bums” was our first real encounter with Buddhism and eastern philosophy as a whole, expanding our minds beyond the western ideologies so ingrained within our society. The book also pushed us to question the authority in our lives along with social norms.

Book Review: “Looking for Alaska”

If you’re a fan of the hit novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” then look no further. “Looking for Alaska’’ is John Green’s debut young adult novel. Green also wrote the award-winning book, “The Fault in Our Stars,” and many other popular young adult novels that can be seen on shelves almost everywhere. Over time, “Looking for Alaska” has sold around 45 million copies. The book was published in 2005, yet now

leave home. Miles decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and attend Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama. He is obsessed with the journey and destination of “the great perhaps.” The concept of “the great perhaps” originates from the poet François Rabelais’ last words. During Halter’s journey at Culver Creek, he meets a mysterious but captivating girl named Alaska Young, who, coincidentally, also has an obsession with a poet’s last words.

English teacher Elizabeth Mainz said, “I did like the character of Alaska. I just felt

know more about her point of view.”

Alaska is obsessed with the words spoken by poet Simón Bolívar about “the labyrinth of suffering” and how to escape it. Alaska believes that these words sum up her universe, and she uses them to describe her personal perspective on life to others. She immediately steals Halter’s heart with her recklessness and cleverness. In turn, she drags Halter down a rabbit hole of adventure, regret, growth and mystery.

This story can really resonate with young adults because it illustrates life so well. It also touches on many heavy topics such as mental illness, alcohol abuse, dealing with loss and so much more that high schoolers should read and know about in this day and age.

Kaya Frasier ‘24 said, “I would definitely recommend this book. I thought it was good because it talks about a lot of relevant things like alcohol abuse and stuff like that.”

This is when the question arises of whether or not these topics should be included in high school reading curriculums at all.

Jack Gordon ‘23 said, “The book has made me rethink how materialistic the consumerist society we live in can be and the simple life that Ray Smith and Japhy Ryder both live is something that I aspire to work towards.”

English teacher Greg Raney said, “It definitely made me question existence and my existence. I felt like somebody understood me … that was pretty impactful, that encouraged me to continue [questioning society and what one has been told] and realizing that I wasn’t crazy and I wasn’t alone, so that was nice to see.”

We would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to delve into counterculture, eastern philosophy and adventurous or exploratory writing.

Raney said, “[I’d recommend this book] for anybody who has questioned their parents, questioned their family, questioned the things they have been told for the majority of their life.

Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

more than ever, it is being banned in numerous counties and schools due to some parents believing the book to be sexually explicit. The story follows Miles “Pudge” Halter, a high school junior from Orlando, Fla., looking to

like I would rather have the book focus on her instead of on the boy, because as far as I was concerned, she’s the one that’s interesting in the story. With what she was going through and the kind of history she had, I would have liked to

Mainz said, “I don’t think there’s any reason those topics shouldn’t be talked about. I mean it’s like with any book, if you don’t wish to read about that kind of thing you don’t have to read the book.

Even at school, I do try to work with kids who are like ‘I really don’t want to read about this’ and I figure out something else to fulfill the assignment instead, but I think it’s good to not shy away from hard things because we as teachers do

you’re watching as a spectator as Halter’s story unfolds right before your eyes.

Frasier said, “I really liked it, it was a good read and I liked the ideas John Green gave.” The book is not only a great piece of literature because of

have kids in our classes, even in ninth grade, who have like dealt with those things already. It’s a part of real life and it’s not just fiction in a book for some students.”

Green transports you to a new world and it feels as though

the story it develops into, but it can also encourage people to be aware of topics such as mental illness, alcohol abuse and dealing with loss. Continued on. . . thecougarpress.org

The copy of “The Dharma Bums” that has been passed around among Hugh Murphy, Buck Balling and Miles Newman. A classic of contemporary American literature, “The Dharma Bums” is praised for its unique stream-of-consciousness style and moving spirituality. The novel has moved and changed each of us in very different ways and permanently altered the trajectory of our lives. Photo by: Hugh Murphy

Raney (center) said, “[‘The Dharma Bums’] definitely made me question existence and my existence. I felt like somebody understood me.” Photo by: Buck Balling

Jack Gallo ‘23 (center) said, “I’ve read [“Looking for Alaska”] enough to enjoy it and know it’s worth the read.” Photo by: Alex Hoskins

A spiritual rollercoaster through 1950s America by Jack Kerouac

A look into the minds of troubled teens when it comes to love, loss and life Alex Hoskins

Miles Halter is introduced in the book as the nerdy, shy and awkward outsider at Culver Creek Boarding School. Later in the story, he meets characters such as Alaska Young, Chip Martin, Takumi Hikohito and Lara Buterskaya, who all have a strong influence on his development.

Photo by: Alex Hoskins

Hugh Murphy

Miles Newman

Buck Balling

Christian Montecino

Distractions

Cougar Catnips

What’s up with the fact that we can’t enjoy our lunch outside under the beautiful palm trees even with an offcampus pass?? I was sitting outside trying to enjoy my lunch when a campus security person came up to me and said I have to go inside. When I told him I had an off-campus pass, he told me I still had to go inside. What is the point of having an off-campus pass if we can’t be outside? I’d much rather have my lunch outside in peace where I can be alone, especially with classrooms being closed at lunch.

Give us new water fountains please

Carrying a water bottle around all day is a pain. I would love to be able to not carry one but considering the water fountains at Ventura High School taste like they have been soaking in pure copper for years, this is just not possible. I’m surprised that fish and other things don’t fly out of it when you turn it on. I do not think it’s safe to be digesting this copper tasting water. Hydration is so advertised to students, but how are we supposed to hydrate when the taste of the water is unbearable to drink?

Kinda Mehael

Why can’t we eat lunch outside, even with an offcampus pass??

Halle Gentry

Graphic by: Ava Mohror

Graphic by: Ava Mohror

Graphic by: Ava Mohror

Graphic by: Summer Williams