VHS Journalism
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December 21, 2018
“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” - Vince Lombardi Photo by: Archer Herring
Want to see who came out on top in the Cardboard Boat Race? Take a look at page 4.
Volume 71 Edition 04
Illustratiom by: Summer Yovanno
What does Summer Yovanno think of “Mid90s?” Look at her review on page 5.
Photo by: Archer Herring
VHS’s fall play, “Nightwatch,” closed last month--read all about it on page 2.
Despite absence, Creswell looms over VUSD meeting “We have to ask ourselves [in] what kind of society do we want to live in?” said retiring board member Mary Haffner. Sam Coats Micah Wilcox “Schools are a microcosm of our society, and societal responses to actions and words that signal bigotry tend to determine the acceptability of discrimination.” Despite Superintendent David Creswell’s absence at Tuesday, Dec. 11’s Ventura Unified School District board meeting, his resignation over his controversial remarks given in a 2016 sermon hung over the meeting. Acknowledging that the days surrounding the Creswell resignation have been “difficult for everyone.” Haffner asked everyone to look at the incident “in a broader context of public education.” “We do not discriminate in public education,” said Haffner. “We meet each child at the
door of our schools and we do all we can to support them, to believe in them, and to celebrate them for who they are.” “Every school in every public school district must be safe and affirming for all students,” said Haffner. Haffner was the sole board member to call for Creswell’s resignation, speaking to the Ventura County Star and at Diversity Collective’s meeting on Nov. 27. After the reception, the board began the period of public comment. During this session, the focus was mainly on Creswell. Some speakers took sympathetic positions to Creswell, with many even calling for him to rescind his resignation. One supportive speaker was Brent Hisayasu, Creswell’s pastor. “Dave Creswell is, first and
foremost, a follower of Jesus Christ, and he was a great superintendent because of this,” said Hisayasu, a preacher at Harvest Bible Chapel. “His passion was to provide an education for all students in safe and healthy, high-performing school districts, and he was relentlessly for the future of every student.” Hisayasu also spoke out in defense of Ventura’s Christian community. “On behalf of our church, and of Christians around Ventura, I want you to know that we are not your enemy, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is not the problem,” he added. “Our Savior came to seek and save that which was lost, I foremost, and David Creswell included. The gospel of Jesus Christ is our only hope and we, like Dave, want nothing but a safe, healthy high-performing school district.”
“An injustice against any is an injustice against all.” said Haffner of the controversy in her final speech as a VUSD trustee. Photo by: Micah Wilcox
Other public comments centered on the actions taken by Mary Haffner. “I have been employed with Ventura Unified School District for 16 years, and I was very proud of that association until a few weeks ago when I saw, sadly, how poorly treated Mr. Creswell was,” said Kay Miller, one speaker. “Instead of calling for his resignation, I
VHS remembers Borderline Shooting victims On Friday, Dec. 7, Ventura High School held a memorial event commemorating the tragedy. The Borderline Shooting is the United States’ 307th mass shooting of 2018, according to USA Today. Gavin Cross The one thing we do know is that the shooting and the twelve lost lives, including the suspect and Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus, will never be forgotten. Friday, Dec. 7, Ventura High School is holding a memorial event commemorating the tragic happening.
This memorial had multiple speakers, which each talked about the life of a different victim of the shooting. The speakers represented the NASAGV Club (National Association of Students Against Gun Violence). The first speaker was Grace Mansfield. She spoke about Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus, who proposed to
(From left to right) Froelich, Sandi, Gallegos, and DeClerck listen to Pederson giving her memorial speech about Housley. Photo by: Gavin Cross
his wife three decades earlier on the same location before Borderline was built there. Helus was set to retire in 2019, but his family and friends said, “He died doing what he loved.” Senior Micah Wilcox was their next speaker. Wilcox spoke for fallen Cody Coffman, who many have seen playing on the Camarillo High School football stadium. The next speaker was junior Lindsey Froelich, who remembered Alaina Housley. “[She] was a freshman at Pepperdine University.” Jesse Sandi spoke for Cal Lutheran University graduate Justin Meek. “[Meek] could be found on Pepperdine’s hockey field or in the pool for water polo.” Giselle Gallegos spoke for Daniel Manrique, which worked with a non profit organization who helped Veterans transition from war life to civil life.
One of VHS’s French teachers, Sebastien Declerck, mentioned Noel Sparks, who majored in Art at Moorpark College. Sammy Pederson, a senior at VHS, spoke about Jake Dunham, who was a Newbury Park resident. He reportedly died protecting his friends because he was dedicated to his family and friends. The last speaker was junior India Hill, who spoke of Markey Meza, a 20-year-old Old Moorpark high graduate and resident. The Borderline Shooting is the United States’ 307th mass shooting of 2018, according to USA Today. Also mentioned in the memorial was a counseling service in the VHS office for anyone who would like to come in. The NASAGV Club is held on Wednesdays in Declerck’s Classroom. continued on... thecougarpress.org
believe the board should ask Mrs. Haffner to apologize, not only to Mr. Creswell, but to the LGBT community… I would further ask that they not accept Mr. Creswell’s resignation, but stand with him to show that the mean-spirited rhetoric and actions of Mrs. Haffner will not be tolerated.” continued on... thecougarpress.org
Creswell resignation accepted: update to “Despite absence, Creswell looms over VUSD meeting” Micah Wilcox
Ventura Unified School District has selected Dr. Jeff Davis, current Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources as the interim superintendent to succeed resigning Superintendent David Creswell according to a letter signed by the VUSD Board of Education. Per the letter, Creswell’s resignation was accepted by the Board and he will continue as superintendent until Dec. 21, 2018. Readers can find the letter on thecougarpress.org This is a breaking story and will be updated.