2015-2016 Issue 3 (December 18 2015)

PANTHER PROWLER Friday December 18, 2015

Issue IIl

Newbury Park High School

456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320

Finding Peace of Mind

FictionalDeaths6

Mental Health in High School

PTV10

NPBA14

2

table of contents Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

3 5 7 9 11 13 15

Visual Delays

Paintball

Editorial: Voting

Fictional Deaths

DPS: Mental Health

Senioritis Tristan Montes/With Permission

DPS: Mental Health

Woods Dominate Links

Star Wars

Know Your Rights Twilight Fans

NPBA

Athletic Trainers Skylar Wood/With Permission

Retired Numbers

4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Transgender Athletics

table of contents.

Photo Essay: Winter Shows

Photo Essay

Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Cheyenne Carroll/Pawprint

Kianna Coolidge/Pawprint

News Brief: New mayor in Thousand Oaks On December 1, the Thousand Oaks City Council appointed councilman Joel Price to serve as city’s 35th mayor. The announcement was made following the annual State of the City Address given by outgoing mayor Al Adams. The appointment was expected, as the city rotates the mayoral post between council members every year.

Price hopes to focus on developing and revamping downtown Thousand Oaks.

“It is also important that we become creative and find new funding sources for our aging infrastructure,” Price said. “Thousand Oaks is truly the “gem” of Ventura County and it is the Council’s responsibility to make certain that we remain a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

news Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

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Athletic amendment addresses transgender students Nevnit Gill Entertainment Designer Nelson Kappas Cover Designer Due to a recent athletic amendment, transgender students in all CVUSD schools are now allowed to compete on the sports team of the gender which they identify with.

“If somebody feels comfortable with who they are, and can go out for the team of a (sport) they love, and they can make friends with their team mates and have that social support, then they’re less likely to feel depressive due to who they are,” said Alex*, a genderfluid senior who wishes to remain anonymous.

However, Jorge Ostrovsky, boys varsity volleyball coach, worries that such a system would be unfair to other competing athletes and teams.

“Would that be fair to all the naturally born women who are playing on the team who no longer have a position because they have been replaced by a six foot four or six foot five (biological) male … (who) is playing now on a seven foot tall net as opposed to a normally eight foot tall (boys net)?” Ostrovsky asked.

Ostrovsky further explained how transgender athletes could be an issue in higher level athletics. He used the example of male olympic athlete turned female Caitlin Jenner.

Had she competed as a woman, “(she) would have been the Olympic record holder for every event she competed in,” Ostrovsky said.

Alex disagrees with this idea, believing that at the high school level it is more beneficial for transgender students to participate on the team of the gender they identify as.

“I know that there can be some additional physiological concerns for sports, but at the high school level, I think that it’s just basically a personal affair, and the school shouldn’t stop anyone from pursuing their own dreams … that’s the point of school, we’re supposed to grow,” Alex said.

Athletics director Kelly Welch, explained that CIF policy

already allows for transgender students to compete on the team of their gender identity, and that the change in district policy is aligning the school with CIF. She continued to describe other changes in the school, such as remodeling the locker rooms in order to accommodate the wishes of more students. “(These new locker spaces) provide privacy changing areas for students, for any student that wishes regardless of what gender they identify with … They kind of look like department store dressing rooms, they will be off to the side in both of the locker rooms.”

Emmett Vanderwier, a transgender junior, supports the addition of more accommodations for transgender students and stresses its importance.

“Putting a trans kid who, like myself, identifies as male, who is FTM (female to male), … in the girls locker room is pretty much the equivalent of putting a boy in the girls locker room.”

Vanderwier said.

Despite his concerns about the athletic fairness of transgender athletes, Ostrovsky would accommodate a transgender athlete who tries out for the boys volleyball team.

“Ultimately it is, can he make the team, can he compete, and are you as good as the top 12 guys on the team,” Ostrovsky said.

Welch is confident the school will be able to respect the gender identities of all students.

“We want to meet the needs of the student wherever that student may be to the best of our ability, and if the rules are allowing that student to participate on a female or a male team depending on their gender identity, then we will honor that,” Welch said.

Student Involvement- Emmett Vanderwier, junior and vice president of the Gay Straight Alliance, has identified as transgender throughout his high school career. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Brownley votes to increase refugee security checks Victoria Juan Features Designer Connor Keep Staff Writer On Nov. 19, Congresswoman Julia Brownley from California (D-CA) crossed party lines to vote for House of Representatives bill 4038 that would increase certifications to ensure that admitted refugees from Syria and Iraq will not be a security threat.

The bill, called the American SAFE Act of 2015 and sponsored by Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), passed 289-137 with 47 Democratic votes and all but two Republican votes.

It was proposed partially in response to President Obama’s desire to increase the United States’ current refugee intake from 70,000 to 85,000, with 10,000 of the extra refugees exclusively from the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

“I think the President sees...that it is our duty as a country,” Steve Johnson, US history teacher, said. “He sees that our European allies are letting in far more than we are and he would make the argument that since the vetting process takes between 18 and 24 months, that it would be very difficult for a potential terrorist to ‘sneak in,’ which is the fear that the Congress has.”

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are almost 4.5 million Syrian refugees that have escaped the threats of the Syrian Civil War and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) scattered in nearby nations. If passed, Bill 4038 may greatly stop the influx of these refugees to the US. “The bill would require the three agencies who reviewed the applications to certify that the applicant would pose no threat to the American people,” Brownley said. “It was passed out of the House. The Senate has not passed legislation at this time.”

After the Nov. 13 Paris attacks by ISIS extremists and the Dec. 2 San Bernardino shooting, Islamophobia and the fear of terrorist entrance into the US under the guise of the refugee crisis have increased.

“Given recent attacks around the world, and instability in Syria and Iraq, I believe the American people would like additional assurances that the vetting process is airtight…,” Brownley said.

“While my first priority must be to protect the American people, I firmly believe we can strengthen our national security while holding true to our values.”

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders back the president’s plan to bring more Syrian immigrants into the country, while Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz propose to allow only Christian refugees. All other candidates oppose allowing Syrian refugees.

“What Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are proposing is that we bring to this country tens of thousands of Syrian Muslim refugees. I have to say, particularly in light of what happened in Paris, that’s nothing short of lunacy,” Cruz said.

Brownley has represented California in the House of Representatives since 2012 for the 26th District of California, which includes the cities of Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village, among others.

“The way I would explain it is that since the vote wasn’t close, it was better for Brownley to vote against it as she’s going to be running for reelection in a district that has a very close democrat/ republican registration….That way, people who are maybe undecided on whether to vote for her or not wouldn’t be swayed by thinking that she’s somehow supporting terrorism,” Johnson said. “As a constituent of hers, I am not in favor of that vote….but I also understand it as a person who studies politics.”

Although the bill was mostly backed by Republicans, Brownley was not the only democrat to vote for the bill to be passed. “The bill does not halt refugees from entering the country and it received bipartisan support,” Brownley said. “There are many conversations happening between the President and both houses of Congress, (so) no definitive approach has yet been agreed to.” The bill still has to go through to the Senate and President, who could potentially veto it.

“The other thing that people may not be considering is that it’s much easier for potential terrorists to enter the US on a tourist visa and a student visa than as a refugee,” Johnson said. “So that would be a path that wouldn’t take 18-24 months of background checks and medical checks and all those kind of things. I don’t know that the refugee avenue, by closing that down, is keeping us any safer.”

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news Panther Prowler •Dec. 18, 2015

Portrait delays resolved by new contract Victoria Juan Features Designer Connor Keep Staff Writer On Nov. 1, the Pawprint Yearbook and Visual Photography officially terminated their contract after a multitude of issues such as incorrectly printed or lost ID cards, 368 missing underclassmen photos, 86 missing faculty photos, and missed deadlines set by the yearbook staff. In addition, Visual failed to submit a CD with the complete and properly edited compilation of senior photos.

Of the 643 seniors, 46 were missing their photos, and the contact sheet with students’ names was not included. Many of the photos had also been improperly photoshopped.

“There were a lot of pictures where people’s head and necks - as far as the editing goes - were lighter, but Visual Photography forgot to lighten their shoulders and so their shoulder would be dark,” said Grace Kovalick, senior and Pawprint staff member, “and they overly blurred people’s hair to try to make it look smooth.”

Other editing problems included issues with excessively lightened skin; blurred cheekbone, collarbone and jaw line shapes; and improper cropping of girls’ pictures, according to Pawprint adviser Michelle Saremi. Visual also did not donate the sit-in and production fees of $10 per student back to the senior class as specified in the contract, and had limited communication with customers, resulting in a “random selection” of final pictures.

“We just had a lot of problems with the fact that they didn’t let a lot of people pick their pictures,” Camila Wise, senior and Pawprint Co-Editor-inChief, said.

Wise added that the photos that the seniors selected to put in the yearbook were not the same as the pictures sent in by Visual.

As a result, after the contract was terminated, the Pawprint began a new contract with Monarch Photography, a Ventura-based professional photo studio, though they are moving to Camarillo next month. This marks the end of a decades-long collaboration between Visual and NPHS. “When it affects so many facets of the school, how can you continue a working relationship with the company?” Saremi said. “(The) original owner, Debbie O’Connor, was so wonderful, so this is very sad...because when a working relationship that has existed for so long, when that dies, it’s almost bittersweet. They were so phenomenal, and to see the business deteriorate that quickly because Debbie is no longer with us is pretty devastating. I really loved working with her.”

Monarch re-edited the senior photos provided

by Visual by lowering the levels, removing the bunched fabric on many of the girls, and cropping the pictures as best as possible. Additionally, seniors were given the chance to retake their pictures if they were dissatisfied with them because many of them never got a call to proof their photos. Around 70 photos, including those that were missing, were then scheduled to be retaken on Nov. 17, 18 and 19

by Monarch photographers for no extra cost. “(Visual) had lightened my skin a considerate amount to the point that it looked like I was missing bones,” Kovalick said. “I got a reedited version back

Under Pressure - Yearbook chiefs Camila Wise and Michael Hellard look over proofs for the first yearbook deadline. Cheyenne Carroll/With Permission

(from Monarch) where they tried to fix the editing; they made it so that I wasn’t as white blobbiness, and they gave me my bones back. I was more pleased with that, so I decided not to retake my picture.”

However, senior Cate Saylors decided to take advantage of the picture retake and was rephotographed by Monarch on Nov. 18.

“I was really excited and relieved to retake my pictures because I didn’t like the original ones (from Visual),” Saylors said. “They were very zoomed in and there weren’t many pictures to choose from. In the end, Monarch Photography was a much better service because they were much nicer and less rushed.”

Visual Photography was contacted numerous times but could not be reached for comment.

The yearbook staff submitted the senior pages by their Dec. 14 deadline, and Monarch will remain as the Pawprint’s portrait supplier for the foreseeable future.

“We’re very confident that we’re going to be in good hands for the years to come,” Wise said.

HOCO 2.No: Limited interest affects senior class funds

Bruce Lee weather predicted to break El Niño records

Harsh Karia Online Managerr

Lexi Foultz Copy Editor

Following homecoming, the senior class planned a “HOCO 2.0” dance, but it was cancelled due to a lack of student interest. The dance was intended to be a fundraiser for the senior class, which is low on funds.

Only 13 people bought tickets to the dance, which had a goal of raising over $3000.

“I think there wasn’t enough notice and people just didn’t want to set aside the time this year,” said Madeline Tomlinson, senior and ASG president.

This raises the question of whether the senior class has enough money to finance its activities, which include the senior picnic and grad night.

“The senior class has already sold senior t-shirts and sweatshirts as our first fundraiser,” said Molly Irelan, senior class president. “We currently only have about half the funds to cover our senior activities.”

According to Irelan, part of the reasons for the low funds this year is a lack of proceeds from last year’s prom.

“To many people’s surprise, prom is actually planned by the junior class for the seniors. So last year we planned prom at Universal Studios. That’s why we have such low funds,” Irelan said.

In addition, Visual Photography did not return the 50 percent of the $22 senior sitting fee that they donate to the senior class every year. Unfortunately, this loss will have an effect on the pricing of senior activities this year, as the class cannot subsidize upfront costs.

Tomlinson and Irelan both emphasize that fundraisers

The 2015-2016 El Niño, nicknamed Bruce Lee, is scheduled to hit southern California sometime in December and last until March of next year. According to predictions made by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the 20152016 El Niño is likely to be the largest in history.

“There is an approximately 95% chance that El Niño will continue through Northern Hemisphere winter 2015-16, gradually weakening through spring 2016,” according to the NOAA. The El Niño season will bring weather anomalies including above average temperatures and above average rainfall in southern California, though precipitation levels are not expected to end the current drought.

Like the martial artist and movie actor, Bruce Lee, El Niños do have a history of becoming violent.

According to the Los Angeles

Drawing Attention - Announcements were made to promote HOCO 2.0 but interest in the event turned out to be lackluster. Molly Ireland/Twitter

such as restaurant nights, such as the guacamole squashing night held at Sharky’s last Wednesday, are crucial to having better senior activities.

“As long as we keep a positive mindset and work efficiently I think we can raise our funds to be able to have a great senior picnic,” Irelan said. “The more money we raise, the cheaper our senior picnic will be. So it’s super important to come out and support the class of 2016.”

Times, storms from the 1997-1998 El Niño created more than 550 million dollars in damage and led to 17 deaths in California. Already, the abnormally warm Pacific coastal waters have led marine life, including great white sharks, closer inland. This year, several of these apex predators have been spotted in San Francisco Bay at times which are atypical for the migration patterns of the species.

Action has been taken to prepare for the El Niño season. According to the Thousand Oaks city website, the flood control channels and storm drain inlets have been cleared, locations which are prone to flooding have been mapped, and city officials have also coordinated storm preparation, and planned meetings with the Police and Fire Departments, the American Red Cross and the Park District.

As it says on the TO city’s website, “It is everyone’s responsibility to be safe, prepared, and not scared,” of this Bruce Lee winter weather.

staff editorial Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

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Take back your voice, take back your vote Youth need to participate in politics When General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown to the Americans in 1783, he marked the end of the Revolutionary War and the beginning of a new age of democracy. With that democracy came the opportunity for people to take part in the government and have their opinion heard.

Today, this privilege is being taken for granted.

According to the United States Election Project, only 36.4 percent of the eligible voting public cast their votes in the last general election in November 2014; the rate has not been this low since 1942.

In 1942, voting was secondary to the war effort. In 2016, there is no excuse. When the founding fathers and thousands of others worked for the American people to have the right to vote, never would they have imagined this rapid decline of faith in their government.

These days, it is up to the older generation to cast in their ballots due to the lack of voting from the younger population,. The US News reports that “61 percent of citizens age 65 and older voted in the November 2010 election, the best turnout of any age group.” If young people want to see their beliefs turned into action, they need to vote.

There are about 90 million millennials - individuals ranging from the ages of 18 to 33 - that make up 40% of the eligible voters in the United States. These millennials have the potential to sway the vote one way or the other, yet they have the lowest voting percentage.

While the disillusionment with voting is understandable due to the electoral college, it is important to remember that the electorate is responsible for representing the votes of the people. Popular vote

does matter. The 2000 presidential election between George Bush (Republican) and Al Gore (Democrat) required a recount in Florida that would decide the presidency. In that case, a small number of popular votes led Bush to win the election over Gore.

Both political apathy and political criticism are infectious, but there is a certain amount of hypocrisy in criticizing the government without voting to change it. While political discussion online does shed light on important issues and encourages discourse, in the end, for political opinions to truly matter, voting is a necessity. A thousand retweets do not make a law.

Voting is a right for every US citizen over the age of 18 - it is a right of passage, a symbol of liberty, and an opportunity to have a say in the world you live in. While advertising our gratitude for freedom and sharing our opinions on social media is a viable and a positive option, if you want to truly take advantage of the freedom available here in the United States, take it from the screen to reality and vote.

Official Ballot Consolidated General Election

36.4%

of the voting population voted in 2014

40%

of the eligible voting population are millenials, but they have the lowest voting percentage

YOU

can participate in politics now

Michael Hellard/Prowler

PANTHER PROWLER 2015-2016 staff Editors-in-Chief Shreya Chattopadhyay Adrianna Robakowski Entertainment Designer Nevnit Gill Alyssa Boedigheimer Copy Editors Alyssa Boedigheimer Lexi Foultz Features Designer Victoria Juan

News Designer Lindsay Filgas Opinion Designer Kellie Levine Angela Swartz Photographer Chief / Samantha Meyer Caitlin Henderson Connor Keep Ad Manager Rachna Deshpande

Online Editors Victoria Juan Harsh Karia Rachna Deshpande Sports Editor Kyle Popok Sports Designer Bella Robakowski

DPS Designer Victoria Juan

Staff Writers Nina Chiuchiarelli Caitlin Henderson Connor Keep Nikita Prokhorov Kate Foultz

Graphic Artist Cover Designers Chief / Michael Hellard Nelson Kappas Alyssa Boedigheimer Kyle Popok

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 American Foothill 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

Adviser Michelle Saremi

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opinion Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

Fictional deaths destroy real lives Bella Robakowski Sports Designer As eight year old me sat in the plush, red, velvet seat with a box of Buncha Crunch in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other I could hardly contain my excitement as I waited to view Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for the first time.

Prior to walking into the movie theater I bragged to my mother and sister about how I had never shed a tear while watching a movie. I told them they were babies for getting so attached to fictional characters.

Little did I know I would leave the theater with a blotchy face and red eyes trying to hide the fact that I just sobbed, because of the death of a character, for the first time.

Ever since the death of Dumbledore, I have shed many tears for the killed off characters in books, movies, and TV shows.

However, this was the first time I felt the sadness that overcame me when one of my favorite characters died.

Seven years later, I still remember the day that Dumbledore died because it was the first time I realized how much books, movies, or TV shows have an effect on me. My favorite fictional characters have sadly left me on many occasions, but each time they’ve made their mark on me and left me with something to think about.

More recently, I was hit with the death of Derek Shepherd on one of my favorite TV shows, Grey’s Anatomy. Although I feel that TV shows have excessively played out the whole “car crash ending,” I wasn’t bothered by this horrible cliche. Instead I was angry. Derek had finally made some good choices and was getting his life back on track, when BAM, they just killed him off.

After this I realized that this same thing could totally happen to me. Not the getting plowed by an 18-wheeler part- that’s a

little unlikely- but I’m trying to prove that once an opportunity is missed it can be hard to get that chance again.

I’m not saying that immediately after I saw this episode I reevaluated my life and made some huge, dramatic changes, but I do think that subconsciously a little part of me will always remember the death of Derek Shepherd when I need a little shot of courage.

After losing a main character, it’s necessary to take time to mourn, and some people don’t understand this. These people may be faces on a television screen but we see these faces weekly. I looked forward to seeing Derek every Thursday, and one week he was gone. Characters become apart of us, or even on some level our friends. I can say with certainty that there have been weekends where I’ve seen the characters on Grey’s Anatomy more than my own family.

I’ve always felt an unspoken bond between an author and myself when it comes to taking care of my favorite characters. I read and enjoy their books, and they ensure a safe yet suspenseful journey for the character throughout the novel.

The books we read, shows we watch, and movies we view build our own character and help us discover who we are. If I can’t learn at least one thing from a fictional character dying then honestly, my Netflix binges have been an utter waste of time.

At least if I find some inspiration from TV shows and movies I can come up with a few excuses for my extensive “recently watched by Bella” list on Netflix, right?

Choose your own adventure

Graphic: Michael Hellard/Prowler

Lindsay Filgas News Designer Too many students sacrifice taking the classes they really want to take in order to take the classes they believe they should be taking. Many people seem to forget that the standard set of classes is not the best option for everyone.

Whenever there is a new opportunity at school, whether it is a class, a club, or an event, students are always being persuaded to join with the phrase, “it looks good on college applications.” I know with every academic decision I make, that phrase is present in the back of my mind.

Having the most prestigious list of achievements possible is a goal that many students hold onto throughout high school.

Students tend to get so caught up with figuring out which classes will make them look the best, or taking the classes that everyone takes, that they forget to ask themselves what they really want to take.

When choosing our schedules, we are shown a list of classes that many students may take and it seems easiest to just stick to the model. I have no interest whatsoever in taking AP Human Geography, yet I thought it would be a good idea to sign up for it because it seemed to be what other people were doing.

High school is full of opportunities that are designed to allow students to try something new or to pursue what they’re interested in. The point of having such a wide variety of classes is for students to be able to focus on learning things that are of interest to them.

However, when all students follow the same path that is supposed to lead to academic greatness, we lose the individuality that high school offers.

People fall into the same trap with Visual or Performing Arts (VPA). Students are most interested in finding the easiest way to earn their VPA credits and don’t consider whether or not the class is actually something they care about.

Taking a class because it’s an “easy A” wastes the opportunity to do something you’re really interested in. I have seen students sign up for electives knowing nothing about the class itself, just that it is rumored to be easy to pass. But what makes a VPA an ‘easy class’ is an actual interest in the subject and a desire to learn about it. Choosing something you’re curious about or have always wanted to try is a better use of your time than taking Photography because everyone else is.

I like to think of high school as an edition in the book series “Choose Your Own Adventure.” Each new page has options and you get to decide how the story unfolds. It is important to recognize that a certain class might not be the best option for every student.

Classes that allow you to pursue your own interests are just as important as every other class and taking all IB and AP classes in order to get into the best college does not necessarily guarantee success.

For the record...

The date written on the front cover was listed as “Friday September 25, 2015,” when it should have been “Friday October 23, 2015.” In “Gay Straight Alliance club conducts a drive” on page 4, Dani Kascle’s name was incorrectly spelled “Dani Castle.” On the “Student VS Teacher” on page 7, the answer for question 2 is written incorrectly. Rather than President Franklin Roosevelt, the correct answer for the President on the $20 bill is Andrew Jackson. In the article “The impact of skipping grades” on page 10, Andy Reddy is misattributed in a quote as “q.”

The Panther Prowler deeply regrets and apologizes for any errors we have made. If you spot any errors we have missed, help us correct them by sending mistakes to: prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

Finstagram (n) a private Instagram account made under a variation of one’s name that promote anonymity, shared only with trusted friends synonyms: fake Instagram, private, P.I.

Kellie Levine Opinion Designer If you are one of the 300 million Instagram users, chances are you have been followed by, or asked to follow, someone’s private account. For people who are not familiar with the phenomena, these private accounts rose to popularity in Newbury Park during the summer of 2015, and have become a regular source of both entertainment and drama. But why do teenagers feel the need to create yet another social media account on the same platform? Well, that’s a loaded question.

First of all, being a teenager these days, it’s common practice to be warned about the dangers of the Internet and social media. We’ve all heard the tale of the person who lost out on a job or didn’t get into college because of some scandalous picture or Twitter rant. With all the pressure to preserve the purity of our names on the Internet, some teenagers have found a loophole. Rather than just avoiding putting those things into the world, attach them to a name that can’t be tied back to you.

While this line of thinking may be flawed in that most things can still be traced back to you, it represents a bigger problem being faced by teenagers in a time when we are being forced into the role of trailblazers, experimenting with how something as new as social media can affect upbringing. In an age where everything is shared, teenagers don’t feel like they can be themselves.

It’s not a groundbreaking notion that adolescents are insecure. It’s a well known fact that many teenagers feel the need to split their personalities in two. There is the public persona that is projected to the world in order to paint oneself in the best light, and then there is the private, often buried self that is shared with only close friends. With the introduction of private Instagram accounts, this duality is now transferring online.

On a public Instagram, there is pressure to have a good follower to following ratio, a feed that matches, clever captions, coordinating colors, consistent framing, and a number of likes that is tied to your worth. But on private Instagrams, followers are restricted to close friends who can be trusted, removing the pressure to follow the unwritten rules of Instagram, and bringing social media back to the basic idea it started as: a platform to be social. The comment section of a public account is almost entirely an exchange of kiss up comments and heart emojis, while on privates, it’s a conversation. The posts show true personality, and reflect the images the user actually wants to share, rather than the image that will be the most popular.

Private Instagrams aren’t all liberation and freedom.

Having another anonymous platform in the hands of teenagers inherently lends itself to drama, but teenagers are dramatic beings, and with or without private Instagrams, this drama would occur. While I have yet to join in the private Instagram fun, I can understand the appeal, and following the finstas of others has given me an inside look at the unguarded versions of my peers. Perhaps this is just a stepping stone in the path to make social media more genuine and social, and as always, teens are leading the way. So, you finsta fanatics, don’t let the naysayers get you down. Use your finsta for good rather than evil, and follow my public Instagram @kellie.levine.

features

STUDENT Allen Luo/Junior language has the most 1 What words?

Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

VS

TEACHER Maya Wright/Physics and Chemistry

Rachna Deshpande Ad Manager

WRIGHT WINS!

Luo: What the heck? Mandarin?

Wright: I have no idea. Most words… let’s go with English.

Answer: English

Luo: Wait let me count on my fingers. 64!

Wright: 64.

Answer: 64

many fingers did Anne 7 How Boleyn have?

is the result of a 2 Scurvy deficiency in which vitamin?

Luo: Oh I know this, vitamin C. Wright: Vitamin C.

Luo: This is weird. I’m gonna go with 8.

Wright: Is she known for having fewer fingers? 10?

Answer: 11

5-3

Answer: Vitamin C

Anne Boleyn also had a projecting tooth under her upper lip, traits that characterized her as a witch at the time. The score stands at 4-2. son/P rowle

r

Indeed you did know this, Luo. But unfortunately, so did Wright. Each player earns a point and the score advances to 2-1 with Wright in the lead.

Who sang, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”?

Caitl

in He nder

Luo: Uh… who sang? Is it Elton John?

Wright: Oh jeez… let’s go with Frank Sinatra.

Answer: Bing Crosby.

Those are both good guesses but not quite…

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” was sung by Bing Crosby in 1945. The score stands at 2-1.

many squares are there 8 How on a chessboard?

Ending with a bang! … even if you had to count on your fingers, Luo. Both players earn a point, advancing the score to 5-3. It was a good effort Luo, but victory to Wright!

Looks like Wright’s guessing game is on today. English does indeed have the most words. Don’t worry Luo, you still have plenty of time to turn this one around. Wright leads the score with 1-0.

3

7

is the smallest bone in Which is the only mammal that 5 Where 4 can’t the body? jump?

Luo: Elephant.

Wright: A whale?

Answer: Elephant

Luo: Uh...wait...nose?

Wright: Your ear.

Answer: Ear

While whales are indeed mammals, they are actually avid jumpers out of the water… sorry Wright. Luo scores a point, bringing the score to a tie of 2-2.

While nose is a good guess, the stapes bone of the ear is actually the smallest.

Looks like Wright’s science knowledge is coming in handy. Wright takes back the lead with a score of 3-2.

are the Sun, the 6 What Independent and the Guardian?

Luo: What even? Gods?

Wright: Newspapers.

Answer: Newspapers I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing but… I guess the Guardian sounds godly?

Don’t worry, Luo, I’m sure these newspapers would take this as a compliment.

Wright earns a point, bringing the score to 4-2.

Senioritis bites the dust: students choose to graduate early Nikita Prokhorov Staff Writer High School seems to be all about deadlines, but certain select students at NPHS have decided to push the most important deadline just a few month before its due - graduation.

Graduating early can help students that wish to pursue goals outside of high school or those that have a desire to take a break between their university and high school careers.

While students who graduate early are able to start their adult lives sooner, they miss out on staples of the high school experience such as prom, the June graduation ceremony, and the senior picnic. On January 22nd, these students will finish high school after the first semester of their senior year and will have the opportunity to pursue other interests or goals.

Claire Monro, senior, has decided to graduate early in order to prepare for college and spend time with her family before moving away. “I’m looking forward to leaving high school and starting my life. I want to start saving up and preparing for college life.”

While graduating high school early was not initially part of her plan, she was able to do so

because she had doubled up in certain subjects her freshman year and continued her studies from there.

Robert Geoffrion, a senior on the football team, has also decided to graduate from NPHS early.

While he has decided to start university in spring he says that he will visit NPHS before the year is over. “I definitely plan on coming back for prom, Walk for Hope, and graduation to see my friends,” Geoffrion said.

According to counselor Rik Napora, the process of graduating early is relatively simple if the student plans for it. “All you have to do is talk to your counselor and make sure that you have the required credits. Graduating early may not be the best choice for competitive universities but if a student wants to pursue work opportunities, join college earlier, or join the military it may be the correct choice.”

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s 1 5 FINDING c 3 p Y t 4 pe 5 6 u g3 6 j fd1 u t ur 3 5 g ig

finding peace of mind Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

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IS FAST-PACED: filled with schoolwork, social media, volunteering, friends, jobs, and more. With so much simultaneously Caitlin Henderson going on, many high schoolers struggle with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Staff Writer Kelly Welch, the assistant principal of athletics, recognizes the Rachna Deshpande difficulty students have in maintaining a balance.

Ad Manager “I think that over the years that I’ve been an administrator Angela Swartz here, we’ve seen an increase in the number of students (who have Opinion Designer mental health issues),” Welch said. “There’s a lot of things that go on in society that students see through social media or in their peer

groups, and just don’t know how to handle it and it becomes very stressful.”

To keep up with the copious amount of schoolwork and to keep their grades afloat, students often have to stay up late. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, teenagers on average get about seven and a half hours of sleep nightly, when they should be getting at least 10. Lack of sleep combined with the stress from school causes many students to have a higher probability of developing several mental illnesses.

“I feel like I stay up super late every day because I have a lot of schoolwork, especially with the harder classes that I take,” Emily Adams, sophomore, said.

In addition, students may feel obligated to succeed in school because of pressure from the people around them.

“If the student is in a lot of academically rigorous classes that they don’t feel prepared for, or they don’t feel that it’s what they want, (then it can become stressful),” Welch said. “Maybe they’re getting pressure from another place. Maybe it’s parents, maybe it’s an older sibling, to (the point) where they feel they have to do it.”

While these factors increase stress in students, mental illness has distinct causes despite similar yet more severe symptoms.

“I feel like sh*t everyday and people just think I am really rude because I am depressed,” Abby*, a student at NPHS who struggles with a diagnosed mental illness, said. “My teachers are actually really chill about it. If I say that an assignment is going to be way too much stress on me, they’ll modify it.”

The school staff tries to help those who are having a hard time coping with mental issues especially with rise of stress and mental health issues among teens. However, it’s not always easy for people if they don’t know the person is struggling.

“Mental illness is not a thing you can just see,” Jessica*, sophomore, said. “You just look exactly like healthy people, so I think people just don’t understand you hurt on the inside.” She has been struggling with depression and anxiety since sixth grade.

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finding peace of mind Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

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OF MIND

Setting the facts straight about mental illness.

Jessica also said she doesn’t like to share with people around her because “people don’t know how to act around people with depression and anxiety and stuff.”

Even though it may be difficult to share with others about personal problems concerning mental illness, it is important to reach out to sources for help.

“Because there’s been an increase (in poor mental health), there’s also an increase in available resources that we can try to provide a student with,” Welch said. “A lot of our teachers are also a great first resource for students. Sometimes that’s how we find out about a lot is that students tell teachers, and then the teachers help the student get help. So, ask. Ask for help. Seek the help.”

STRESS IN REALITY

Rachna Deshpande Ad Manager

OWADAYS, depression and anxiety have become banal terms, used by the majority of high school students to describe how they are coping with the seemingly endless homework and extracurricular activities. But for some, these increasingly mainstream feelings are a bigger issue than others may think.

For sophomore Jessica*, mental illness has been an ongoing struggle. “I was sent to the ER after trying to kill myself for the second time and then I went to a psychiatric ward for a week where they diagnosed me,” Jessica said. “I didn’t think I had anything wrong with me. I thought everyone was sad and had suicidal thoughts.”

This distress became visible when Jessica’s academic performance began to decline. “My teachers have high expectations for me and I feel really bad because I can’t live up to them. Sometimes I get extensions and I can’t even turn it in by that date and I just feel like sh*t because the other kids will ask why I have not done any of the assignments and I just don’t know what to say.”

Other students suffering from mental illness can relate to Jessica’s

challenge of maintaining the balance of school and mental health.

“There have been times when I have missed a lot of school, being in a mental hospital,” sophomore Abby* said. “I just can’t focus and I just don’t feel motivated.”

When coping with the effects of mental illness gets especially difficult, students often need to take a break from school. This can be uncomfortable, however, especially when people do not understand their need to escape.

“The first time I missed a few of days of school doing that, I said I took a mental illness day. But people, mostly peers, said a lot of (stuff ) about me. So now I just say I’m sick,” Abby said.

Many students with mental illness, like Abby, can relate to the challenge of being open about these feelings and the hesitation in disclosing experiences out of fear of being treated differently.

“After I came back from the hospital, I just said I got really sick and had a viral infection,” Jessica said. “I just think people don’t know how to act around people with depression and anxiety.”

STIGMA

Angela Swartz Opinion Designer

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exposure to the stigma surrounding mental illness.

“When you use that word mental illness, it sounds really weird, like there is something wrong with you,” Henderson said.

Mental illness, defined by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as “a condition that impacts a person’s thinking, feeling, or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis,” this affects a large number of adolescents.

“A lot of people with these problems experience them in high school. This is a time for big change, a time when you are exposed to different experiences. Drugs are available, alcohol is available, relationships with your peers, achievement issues, relationships with your parents (can all be factors),” Henderson said.

These problems are caused by a combination of brain chemistry, past trauma, family history, and environmental factors.

“Some mental illnesses have been linked to abnormal functioning of nerve cell circuits or pathways that connect particular brain regions. Nerve cells within these brain circuits communicate through chemicals called neurotransmitters. Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness include: severe psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent, neglect, and poor ability to relate to others. Certain stressors can trigger an illness in a person who is susceptible to mental illness,” according to WebMD. “A lot of people think it’s just a thing that you can turn on and off whenever you want, when that is not true. It’s not just a state of mind,” Camila Wise, senior, said.

The rise of social media has also negatively affected those vulnerable to or already with mental illnesses.

“A study of 162 people with a family member afflicted by a mental illness revealed that 83 percent experienced at least one psychological factor of associative stigma,” according to CMHANL, “Of the group affected by stigma, 20 percent reported suicidal thoughts versus only three percent of the non affected group.”

“A lot of (people say bad things about me) on Instagram, like comments, DMs, people just being generally annoying,” Abby*, a sophomore struggling with depression and anxiety, said.

The effect of social media on mental illness is not limited to mean comments.

“Some people say things like ‘I’m so depressed because all of this homework!’ and they don’t really grasp the full concept of what it actually means to be mentally ill which can be hard with those who actually have a problem,” Wise said.

Jessica*, a sophomore who suffers from depression, believes that the intangibility of mental illness can lead to misconception.

“I think it is just a topic that is commonly avoided in school and stuff and everywhere else so when you encounter someone with a mental illness you Contact the following don’t know how to respond,” Jessica numbers if you said. *names have been changed for privacy

or a friend needs someone to talk to:

Hopeline

VEN THOUGH one in four adults in the United States suffer from mental health issues, there remains 800-442-HOPE (4673) ambiguity as to what having a mental illness means.

“Individuals with mental illness are stereotyped as dangerous, unpredictable, and as weak­willed,” according to Canada Mental Health Association (CMHA800-969-NMHA (6642) NL). These categorizations are still acknowledged today due to a lack of information promoted by the misportrayal in the media.

800-950-NAMI (6264) Jackie Henderson, who has been a marriage and family therapist for over 50 years, has had her fair 800-273-TALK (8255) share of

Mental Health America

National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

10 Tuning into the news features

Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

Every Wednesday and Friday during third period, teachers turn only three editors and we had to edit in addition to film, and now their televisions to channel six and await the newest episode of this year we have separate people,” Steven Owens, junior, said.

Panther TV (PTV). This year, students were greeted with a whole Owens worked as a PTV editor last year and although he is no new set of smiling faces, eager to present the weekly news. longer a part of the class, he still helps in the process of producing PTV, previously produced by students in Associated Student each new episode. “We have four people that are solely editors and Government (ASG), is a weekly show that brings students the latest then we have other people that work the cameras.” news on campus. Now a fifth period class taught by Derek Grimes, In addition to using new equipment, the students have focused PTV has taken on a whole new style since last year. The class itself on creating a variety of new segments. While some of the segments has a much larger budget to work with compared to previous years, won’t be aired as often, it leaves open spaces for a wider variety of which has improved by a “few segments to be shown, such as sports, thousand dollars,” according to “Off Campus Hot Spots,” and “other principal Mr. Joshua Eby. packages that come in depending on “Mrs. Halpert (ASG advisor) the week,” said Andie Huff, an editor was at a point where she was of PTV. “Next semester we’ll also have ready to hand it off,” Grimes Focus on NP.” said. “With the equipment that Grimes explained that although he they had, last year’s PTV did monitors what is being produced and fantastic. It was on a shoestring aired, most of the work and teaching is budget … What I wanted to do done by students. was take it up a notch and put a “Some of the reporters are starting professionalism to it.” to do some of the editing as well.

Grimes explained that he is They’re learning from our editors. It’s Big screen ready - Seniors Brooke Best and Cami Fraser, working to expand the school’s kind of a neat thing because students two of Panther TV’s anchors, discuss their lines before shooting video production program, and a holiday edition of a Wednesday PTV broadcast. are teaching students,” Grimes said.

Samantha taking over PTV is one step in “Over time I start letting them take Meyer/Prowler that process. After discussing over and we’re about to get to the point it with principal Joshua Eby, a to where the show is totally done by new budget was decided upon for the Panther TV class. With this, students, from start to finish.”

Grimes was able to purchase new equipment such as the editing Mikey Netka, senior, explained that although his main job is software necessary to create a professional show each week, also working as an anchor, he has been able to learn about filmmaking known as a tricaster. and how to use a camera in the PTV class. “(Grimes) more or less proposed to me what he needed in order “If we do our own package (Mr. Grimes) wants us to learn how to have good production value and then he kind of selected from to edit,” Netka said. “I like that we get to do whatever we want with there what were the first steps in that,” Eby said. “It’s probably going the show. It’s kind of our show.” to be about a three-year process to really get everything that we As students explore these new aspects of the class, the video want.” production program is growing and PTV is becoming a more This year, the class has been focusing on learning how to properly prominent part of the campus. use the new equipment and create fun segments that still have a “Each episode that you see has a lot of effort put into it,” Owens sophisticated feel. said, “I definitely say that it all comes out great on Fridays, so the “This year has changed from last year because there was effort is definitely worth the outcome.”

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Nevnit Gill Entertainment Designer Samantha Meyer Chief Photographer In California, there are several educational codes that help protect student rights and freedoms that are often overlooked due to a lack of knowledge.

Many students aren’t aware that there are many laws and California education codes created to protect them. By educating themselves on their rights, students have more power to make choices that are right for them. Some of these prominent laws and education codes include:

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things

Lindsay Filgas News Editor Caitlin Henderson Staff Writer

y ou did not k now a bout

Joe Calaba // US History Caitlin Henderson/Prowler

Rachna Deshpande Ad Manager

1

Playing video games and working on his remote-control car are two of his favorite hobbies.

2

He chose the name Theodore Ritchie for his son partly because it has multiple nicknames including TR, in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt.

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His worst nightmare is the destabilization of the United States and chaos in general.

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One of his quirky talents is whistling while smiling.

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He credits his ability to own up to embarrassing moments to fifth grade when a paper toilet seat cover got stuck to him, and he simply laughed along with his classmates.

Law SB543

AB1266

Equal Access Act

Students aged twelve to seventeen are able to consent to their own mental health treatment or counseling when they feel that it is necessary. Because of this law, students do not have to risk their safety in order to get help. In other words, no parental consent is needed.

Transgender students can choose which locker room they want to use, and people who don’t fit into the gender binary or don’t feel comfortable can use a separate place to change.

Students have the rights to have whatever club they want on campus and all clubs have the same privileges.

California Education Code 48907 Students speech is protected with the exception of being obscene, using bullying words, or doing something that substantially disrupts the school day. This law applies to verbal and written speech.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Transgender students have the right to be referred to by the name and gender they identify with on all non-legal documents in the school system, and they can do this without parental consent.

California Education Code 48900 A pupil shall not be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has willfully used force or violence upon the person of another, except in self-defense. There are many other causes for expulsion or suspension, however, this code states that self-defense is acceptable.

entertainment Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

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STAR WARS: the battle continues Michael Hellard Graphic Artist Kyle Popok Sports Editor Nelson Kappas Cover Designer Alyssa Boedigheimer Copy Editor

Prequels The fourth installment in the Star Wars series took the audience back to the beginning and began a new prequel trilogy.

“Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” follows the story of a 9-year-old boy, Anakin Skywalker, after he is rescued from slavery by Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

New characters were introduced into this universe along with returning characters playing key roles as well.

Jar-Jar Binks, the new comedic character, acted exceptionally idiotic, but falls short in trying to replace Han Solo’s classic comedic dialogue.

The special effects in this series switched to CGI instead of the practical effects used in the first

They return to her home planet, Naboo, and fall in love, while the Senate, a major political force, was being threatened by an unknown army. The plot line was mostly defined by the love interest between Anakin and Amidala, which, while it was not butchered like Jar-Jar’s script, felt a bit like it was recycling themes from the original series.

The darker tone found in “Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith” was uncharacteristic of the series. The movie’s depiction of the descent of Anakin Skywalker into his new form as Darth Vader is a very gloomy journey, but it turns out to be the best of the prequel trilogy.

This movie is successful by pulling out of some of the tropes that held back the other two prequels. The CGI was more effective and less jarring than Episode I and II, and there seemed to be more of an emphasis on actual actors, objects, and practical effects. It avoided the bad attempts at comedy that came with Jar-Jar Binks and other similar characters and events that occurred in episodes I and II. This episode offered some awesome scenes such as the execution of Order 66 and the battles between Yoda and Darth Sidious, along with the fateful duel of Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi. “Revenge of the Sith” proves to be the best installment of the prequel trilogy.

However, as a whole the new series was limited by having to fit the already told storyline of the original series

Original Series

trilogy, which allowed for improved fight scenes, such as the lightsaber duel between Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn.

Darth Maul’s horns and dual bladed lightsaber were a definite highlight. However, the switch to CGI downplayed the sense of realism and style found in the original trilogy.

“Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” features all the drab traits of a never ending soap opera. Anakin is reunited with his childhood love, Queen Amidala, who he has to protect from an assassin.

“Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” originally known simply as “Star Wars,” was the movie that started the craze.

It launched the Star Wars universe into the center of popular culture, where it has stayed for decades, and it is not hard to see why.

Moments such as the Death Star trench run or even scenes as simple as a stormtrooper bumping his head on a door in the background of a scene are ingrained in viewers’ memories and have become objects of pop culture. There is no wonder that this film introduced a universe that has lasted the test of time for almost 40 years.

In addition, the deep storytelling, epic battles and great use of practical effects all helped this film become the icon it is today.

“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” is one of the rare cases when a sequel is better than its predecessor. From the ice of Hoth, the swamps of Dagobah, to the clouds of Bespin,

“The Empire Strikes Back” has proven time and again why it reigns supreme. Luke Skywalker meets Yoda, beginning his formal training as a Jedi. Meanwhile, Han and the rest of the crew are being chased by the Empire across the galaxy.

This episode is arguably the best of the series with its cinematic fight scenes, and amazing practical effects that still hold up well today. It culminates in an epic showdown between Luke and Vader, and this scene is the first with lots of stunts and lightsaber effects, and it ends in the one of the most famous Hollywood lines ever: with Vader saying, “Luke, I am your father.”

“Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” is the ending of the battle between the Rebels and the Empire. It is a great movie, and delivers with action duels between Luke and Vader for the fate of the galaxy, epic space battles around the Death Star, and on the planet Endor with Han and Leia against the stormtroopers.

This movie is a cinematic classic. From the Sarlacc pit to the speeder chase the movie delivers amazing scenes. The epic climax comes when Vader saves Luke by killing the Emperor and ending the Empire. “The Return of the Jedi” provides an awesome ending to a great franchise.

Episode VII and Beyond!

The future of the Star Wars franchise is a bright one! On October 30, 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm, the company behind Star Wars, to mixed reactions. Some felt that the studio known for their animated films and theme parks would lessen the quality and depth of the franchise, while others felt that they would breath new life into an old property. After the trailers and Disney’s focus on it in the recent years, however, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens in theaters today as one of the most anticipated film of the year. This is the first time that audiences have seen Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the entire original Star Wars crew share the silver screen in a new adventure since 1983, making this exciting and new for both original fans and the upcoming generations alike. Disney has also chosen to go back to Star Wars’ roots by using as many practical effects as possible, including puppets and models, to give the series a feeling of contingency.

However, this is not the only film that is in the franchise’s future. Disney is planning to continue with a complete new trilogy including episode VIII in 2017 and episode IX after that. In addition, the films are to be accompanied by a series of anthology films. The first, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, will take place between Episodes III and IV and will tell the story of a group of rebels and will set the stage for the events of episode IV. This will be released in 2016, while a second anthology film, focusing on a young Han Solo, will be released in 2018.

Totally tubular talking: how slang has changed over time Caitlin Henderson Staff Writer Each decade brings in a new wave of pop culture including new styles of music, television, movies, and… the way we talk? In the last 40 years, parties have changed from being “radical!” to “lit!”

The Californian 80’s saw the rise of the valley girl and the surfer boy. Immortalized in movies, the valley girl is famous for her phrases such as, “Oh my God!” and the frequent use of “like” and “totally,” while most surfer boys were depicted using phrases like, “gnarly.” Social media wasn’t around, and pop culture consisted

of movies and MTV. Although some young people today are accused of being a valley girl, (which is totally bogus!), the modern valley girl speaks differently.

While the original valley girl stands out with her uptalk, or speaking in questions, the modern valley girl is known for a phenomenon called, “vocal fry,” (keep in mind that men do this as well). Vocal fry involves lowering the voice at the end of a sentence, or as described

by Faith Saile, “the way a Kardashian speaks.”

Words such as “like” still stay around, but

expressions such as, “stoked!” and “barf me out!” have, for the most part, gone away.

Today brings a variety of new slang terms that make words like “rad” and “gnarly” seem tame. Phrases like “get rekt” and “fam” definitely make parents confused, and let’s not forget the ever-present, “bae.” The internet makes slang travel around much quicker, so much that words such as “hella”, and “chill” have made their way back into a group conversation. Vines, Tumblr, and even Instagram or Facebook often begin this

cycling of vernacular, or create new words or phrases entirely. Earlier this year, a popular vine depicting a man yelling “deez nuts!” made its way around the Internet, so that we could all reply, “got em!” From highly regrettable word choices such as “on fleek” to describing someone who was insulted as “roasted”, the modern era looks to be no different in its generation-specific words.

Yet, as ridiculous as modern slang looks, it’s hard to forget that at some point, people regularly used the term “tubular.”

entertainment Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

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genderbent twilight is worthy of attention Samantha Meyer Chief Photographer There’s no point in denying it; as soon as I tore through the Twilight series in junior high, I was the ultimate Twihard.

For those who are less knowledgeable of the darker sides of preteen woe, a Twihard is someone who is obsessed with Twilight. After reading all of the books multiple times (I would be lying if I said I haven’t spent one or two of my more lonely high school nights tearing up over them), I never expected this: a genderbent version of one of the most judged, hated and shamed books to grace shelves everywhere.

In Stephenie Meyer’s Life After Death, a twisted version of Twilight, all of the original character’s genders, no matter how seemingly insignificant their role in the book is, are reversed to prove Meyer’s long-argued point that the first-love obsession between Bella and Edward doesn’t have anything to do with their respective genders. To better work with this point, Meyer uses almost exactly the same manuscript from the original book, only switching the genders, names and occasional small details, with one massive exception. I was skeptical from the start, but my suspicions shifted into a mixture of awe and nostalgia as I, once again, tore through the pages.

A few key points stuck out to me. Firstly, whether or not it had anything to do with their genders, Edythe and Beau (aka Edward and Bella) had some interesting character changes that made them both more likeable yet more naive than in the original Twilight series. As for Beau’s personality, in Life After Death he was sweeter, less angsty, and better at making friends, whereas Edythe was less mysterious and cold and

more outgoing, spunky, emotional and almost served as a manic pixie dream girl type figure. (Manic pixie dream girl: a woman love-interest in a book or movie that is solely there to teach a man to embrace life’s mysteries and adventures.)

Having her come off this way wasn’t as off-putting as I expected, mostly because while I thought it would mix badly with her vampire-traits and personality, it was easy to forget she was a vampire. In fact, it was easy to forget they were in a supernatural relationship at all, as Beau had less of interest in Edythe’s vampire life and more of an interest in actually getting to know her, while Edythe seemed to fall more for Beau as an equal rather than the relationship feeling unequal.

It read more like obsessed, naive teenagers experiencing the craziness of first love than a story of a vampire and human entering into a dangerous, unpredictable realm of romance.

Although there were several small changes detailed that seemed gender-related, they weren’t done in a way that made me want to light my book on fire, but actually helped carry the new design of the story along more fluently. For example, Beau seems way more infatuated with Edythe’s beauty than Bella was with Edward’s, and whether Meyer meant this as a poke at stereotypes of how males view females, it worked with the idea of young, teenage love taking over all the hormones, and made the story slightly more believable. A lot of gender stereotypes, especially about female strength and boys making the first move, were challenged by Meyer’s will to keep the same story points, meaning that girls were asking out Beau left and right while Edythe was throwing around cars and

crushing bad guys. It was refreshing, except for when Meyer would shine a huge spotlight on these situations to specifically show that it was a reverse of gender roles and virtually give herself a pat on the back for intentionally writing it that way.

We love the more dynamic, less-stereotyped roles, but by pointing out these shifts whenever they happen, it discredits the characters and instead just focuses on the modernizing of it all, therefore circling it back to being about gender roles rather than the meanings behind their actions.

Towards the end of Twilight, there is one specific choice that is made in a specifically stressful scene (Twihards will get me) that is reversed completely in Life After Death, bringing us to an alternative ending from the original story that is both better and worse. I won’t give anything else away, but Life After Death is without a doubt an intriguing, heartfelt read that will make you see the Twilight saga in a new light.

It’s also an excuse to be obsessed with Twilight again for a little bit, which is definitely a bonus for those of us who have remained in the Twilight closet since 6th grade.

Athletic,smart,and basic: what other schools think of NP Caitlin Henderson Staff Writer Nelson Kappas Cover Designer

Thousand Oaks

Adolfo Camarillo

“

When I think of a Newbury student I think of very athletic kids.”

-Lucas Ogg, junior

Moorpark

”

“

La Reina

“

I think they are always very smart and social we hear about their football games a lot and how they are always very school spirited. Not really a negative thing would come to mind.

-Sabrina Hamor, sophomore

”

Everybody works together as a unit. In order to have good school spirit, participation is really important and showing up to events. Everybody does that, which is really cool, and there’s a lot of cool events that go on.

”

-Alex Gabriel, sophomore

“

Hmm… I’ll be honest I don’t really know any stereotypes. All my friends that I know at NPHS are great people. So I would generalize NPHS to have good people.

A stereotypical NPHS kid? To me it would be…. I always think of a girl with Uggs and leggings and a big hoodie.

-Kate Gullet, junior

“

Everyone has their own opinion about Newbury Park High School from admiring the IB program to criticizing us. Here’s what some students from other schools in our area are saying about us.

” “

Oak Park

-Cole Supple, sophomore

Well, I don’t know a lot of kids that go to NP but most of them are in honors classes, so I’d say pretty smart...I’d say it’s a pretty good school. I mean, you guys have a pretty good volleyball team, since you went to CIF, but Oak Park is probably better.

-Daniel Grogan, junior

”

Buena

“

”

The school the Cameron Rising picked over Buena.

-Robert Stratton, junior

”

sports Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

Behind the lines

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Athletic Trainers treat and prevent injuries Victoria Juan DPS Designer

Here to HelpHelp Posing or a quick picture during their fifth period class, Toni Felix, sophomore, Sydney Clark, junior, Natalie Amantia, junior, Aby Aranda, junior, and Chelsea Ruggiero, sophomore are only a small group from the growing athletic training program. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

On the sidelines of the football field, players shift restlessly in their jerseys. Coaches in polo shirts pace in front of the players and cheerleaders in stiff skirts pump up the crowd behind them. Other people in white shirts and khakis mill around on the sidelines, observing the game, refilling water bottles, or stretching players’ legs.

These are the students of the athletic training program.

The program provides student athletes with injury prevention and treatment while also giving participants surface exposure to the sports medicine field. Since the late 1990s, athletic trainers at NPHS have provided aid for football, soccer, basketball, track and field, softball, and baseball teams, as well as any individual athlete requiring evaluation and treatment. “(Students) learn about injury prevention, taping techniques and how to evaluate some of those injuries and treat them,” said Chris Soury, head athletic trainer, football coach and physical education teacher. “So if an athlete sprains his ankle, (we teach) the next steps to do so they can quicken the recovery process to get them back on the field sooner.”

Trainer Lindsey Dickerson, junior, explains that trainers split the work based on the

amount of experience of each individual in the program.

“How many years you’ve been in the program kind of determines what team you get to work and what you can do. The longer you’ve been in, you’ll work with the higher teams just because you have more knowledge about the craft and what you can help the players with,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson joined the program as a freshman after being encouraged by a close friend’s sister.

Since then, the program has expanded and just started implementing an application process for trainers this year that includes an interview and an assessment of student’s GPAs, which must remain at least a 2.0.

“There’s been a higher number of students that want to participate in it, and unfortunately we can’t just have everybody,” Soury said. “Then it’s too many people and not as much to do … that’s why we introduced the application and the interview process similar to how ASG does theirs.”

In addition to the after school training program, the separate sports medicine class offers even greater in-depth exploration of the sports medicine field by applying more advanced anatomy principles to the practice. “(The class) encompasses anatomy; it encompasses injury detection, evaluation of injuries, special tests you need to do to differentiate what part of the body is injured, a little bit of rehabilitation techniques, taping, bracing, and splinting,” said Lorena Caulfield, sports medicine teacher.

The class is open to juniors and seniors as a block class in both spring and fall semesters. While it isn’t a requirement for participation in the athletic training program, Caulfield said that taking the class will be especially helpful if a student is “going to study anything sports medicine related in college.”

“The athletic training class is coverage of the athletic practices in the athletic context. Those students are also doing game management, so they’re setting up water bottles, they’re making sure people are taped,” Caulfield said. “They are not necessarily going to be doing evaluations on everybody. My students go in depth into the anatomy whereas the student athletic trainers do not get that much detail.”

Newbury Park High School’s athletic training opportunities are rare since many schools do not have the proper personnel to lead such a program.

“What’s unique about it is that a lot of schools don’t have certified athletic trainers like myself and Mrs. Caulfield in staff at their school,” Soury said. “So they don’t really have classes...where students can learn these skills.”

The athletic training program at NPHS offers both students and student athletes opportunities to advance their interests, whether it be in sports or sports medicine.

“It’s taught me a lot about the field and all of what sports medicine has to offer career wise,” Dickerson said. “It’s also taught me a lot about working with other people and getting to know my peers. It definitely helps me with problem solving and figuring out how to work with different teamwork.”

Paintball brings on the pain Victoria Juan DPS Designer Ping-pong sized bruises, offensive-defensive lines, and hard helmets; much like other traditional in-school sports, paintballing and airsofting incorporate basic elements of friendly competition, exercise and teamwork. What makes the difference for these extreme sports is that they involve a shooting aspect, often with very realistic equipment in a combative environment.

“It’s adrenaline pumping….It’s almost like a brotherhood,” Tristan Montes, junior, said. “It’s teamoriented but it’s also individual skill, so I think that all mixes together to make this one adrenaline-pumping sport.” “(In) other sports you don’t just go out and shoot someone ... It’s more intense than other sports,” Brock Barton, senior, said.

Paintball exists in both regional and divisional forms for teams of varying skill. The National Professional Paintball League hosts weekend tournaments for five different divisions, ranging from the most amateur division, D5, to the professional division, D1.

“I was first introduced about two and a half years ago... and I just kinda fell in love with it,” Montes said. “About two years ago I started competitive (paintballing). That’s when I started entering tournaments, started meeting new people, started getting connections, and then started playing

in divisional tournaments.”

For Barton, paintball is a recreational activity, called “scenario ball”, which he enjoys playing with friends in his free time at local parks, such as Stryker Park in Santa Paula or Ambush in Moorpark.

“I was just young and my friends told me about (paintballing),” Barton said. “So we went out to ranges to play with other people. It was fun.”

Montes believes paintball requires certain mental and physical skills, such as a sense of aim and depth perception.

The game also involves different strategies and positions, including front players who make the moves, middle players who cover the front, and back players who cover the middle.

“Paintball is usually referred to like a chess game, especially on an airball field, because you have to make your decisions wisely and play off of the other players,” Montes said. “You have to know what they’re gonna do almost before they know what they’re going to do.”

“You also need to be physically fit because you do lose a lot of energy driving the rounds,” Barton said.

Compared to airsofting, paintball’s cousin in extreme sports, the game is not as similar to real warfare, but getting hit by paintballs often results in bruises or welts that hurt more than airsoft pellets because of the sheer force of the burst of

a paintball.

“Airsofting is more realistic because the guns are spot on to military weapons and all that, but paintballing…hurts more so you’re more afraid of getting shot, as (opposed to) like an airsoft gun,” Barton said. “Paintballing you’re actually more afraid of getting shot because you know when it hits you it’s gonna make you bleed or leave a huge bruise, so it’s more fun.”

Hiding from the Enemy - Ready to unleash fire upon his opponent, Tristan Montes, junior, frequently participates in the pastime of paintball. Tristan Montes/With Permission

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sports Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

The NPBA season begins Connor Keep Staff Writer Nikita Prokhorov Staff Writer “Are you ready to get destroyed tonight, son?” Yaser Khokhar, senior, taunted one of his friends. The subject of his banter is the popular and ever-growing sports group nicknamed NPBA, the Newbury Park Basketball Association.

Newbury Park Basketball Association is a recreational league that gives all high school students a chance to play basketball in an organized fashion. After tryouts on Nov. 17th, the players began to hone their skills in preparation for the upcoming season.

Sam Ellison, senior, plays football for the school, but also participates in NPBA. “I don’t really have the talent to play with the high school, so I thought it was a great opportunity to play in a rec league with all my friends,” Ellison said.

With less competition, NPBA allows students to focus more on school. The league is not as competitive and teams do not practice as much as the high school team does.

“They let us focus a lot more on school because there’s only one practice a week, so it’s not a huge commitment. (It’s) just for fun, just so you can come out and stay competitive and be able to play if you really want to,” Ellison said.

Another member of NPBA, senior Bharat Rai, disagrees slightly with Ellison’s point of view.

“I think that NPBA gives me the ability to participate in intense and high level basketball with less practice,” Rai said.

Since NPBA has fewer practices it allows for students to “spend more time on other activities” such as additional sports or clubs.

The league also presents an opportunity for high school players like Erich Wuesthoff, senior, to coach their peers in the recreational environment.

“I think NPBA is a good opportunity. Obviously it’s not as competitive and the talent probably isn’t the same as high

Palming the pass - Beginning his first game of his third season of NPBA, Ben Gogan, sophomore, is on team Bojorquez this year.

Daniel Foldes/With Permission

school, but it’s a good place to make friends, (and) good place to have a good time with the friends you already have,” Wuesthoff said.

Students that enjoy watching high quality basketball games featuring their friends and foes can come spectate and cheer during upcoming NPBA games.

“Everyone is hyped - the players, the fans. It’s going to be a blast,” Rai said.

Sinking the shot - Cole Peterson, sophomore, scores his first lay-up of the game. Peterson’s team, Beley, is working hard and are determined to win the championship. Bella Robakowski/Prowler

The Woods take the green Kate Foultz Social Media Editor

The Perfect Pair - During a golf tournament, the Wood sisters take a moment to exchange a smile. Each year, the sisters have excelled in their sport, leading the team to constant success. Skyler Wood/With Permission

Madison and Skyler Wood eat, sleep and breathe golf. The two juniors have been playing golf for roughly half their lives and the sport has become their true passion.

After playing tennis for a brief period, the Wood twins stepped onto the grass to give golf a try. “We played tennis for a long time because my mom was a big tennis player, and then my dad introduced us to golf,” Madison said. The two sisters fell in love with the sport and haven’t looked back since.

Madison and Skyler joined the Newbury Park High School girls’ varsity golf team as freshmen in 2013, and that year they led the team to its first ever Marmonte League championship and an undefeated season.

In their junior year season, the sisters’ main goal for the team was to increase team spirit.

As co-captains of the varsity squad, the girls looked to bring the team closer together through bonding activities. “This year we made team shirts and bows together and after rounds we always get french fries together,” Skyler said.

Under these sisters’ leadership, the girl’s golf team is excelling. “They definitely bring good scores to the team which we need against Oaks Christians and Westlake,” said their teammate, Sonia Patel, junior. “They were captains this year and did a really good job of bringing the whole team together.”

Whereas rivalry is common among most siblings, Skyler and Madison are always cheering each other on. “I feel like one of the reasons why we’ve gotten so far in golf is because we have each other to keep us motivated,” Skyler said.

Madison also understands the value of having her sister by her side to support her. “I played a match against Calabasas and (Skyler) was sick that day and I played really bad and I honestly believe if she was there I would have done better,” Madison said. “If I play badly she helps pick me up because golf is all mental so if you’re not in the right mental state that day it’s hard to play well.”

Over the years, the Wood sisters have realized how much golf has positively impacted their lives.

Along with helping her believe in herself, Madison feels that golf has taught her the valuable skill of time management. While sitting in buses and cars for hours and hours driving to golf tournaments, Madison not only has to focus on imagining her swing, but on all her homework and classwork that she has to make up.

“The past two weeks I went to three hotels and I only went to five days of school,” Madison said.

As for Skyler, golf has taught her to persevere. “Golf is one of the sports where it’s not over till it’s over. You could honestly win a tournament on the last shot of the last round,” Skyler said.

This season, the twins continued their strong performance. Skyler reached the CIF-Southern Section Girls Golf Individuals and Madison advanced to the next round, reaching the CIFWSCGA Foundation Southern California Girls Golf Championship.

The sisters maintain high hopes for their future in the golfing profession. “Our goal is to get on a college team with a scholarship and try to make it to the pro tour,” Skyler said. As for college, the twins haven’t yet figured out where they would like to go, but they do know one thing: they are a package deal and will not be separated. “I’d rather not go to the number one school and instead go (to school) with Skyler,” Madison said.

With the ambition of going pro in mind, Madison and Skyler understand the sacrifices that have to be made to achieve their goal.

“Over the summer we have no time, everyday is golf,” Madison said. “People think we’re crazy,” Skyler said, but Madison defends her and her sister’s intense golf regimen. “It’s fun! We have so many friends who golf, so it doesn’t feel like I’m going to work, it feels like I’m going to spend time with friends and to get better,” Madison said. “A lot of people ask me if I ever get bored with (the sport) and I don’t because I surround myself with people who enjoy it as much as me.”

Skyler wholeheartedly agrees with her sister’s statement. “If it’s something you love, you don’t get bored of it,” Skyler said.

sports Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

15

Honoring our athletes Kyle Popok Sports Editor Inside the Miami Dolphins stadium, there is the Hall of Glory. Lining this hall are busts of players, signed footballs, and blown up pictures of great moments. The room rises far above your head, every inch of space covered. But the most impressive part of the room is the jerseys.

Lining one of the massive walls are jerseys in green, orange and white. All of them are signed, all of them are framed. They are the jerseys of past great players who have had their number retired. This scene is not exclusive to the Miami Dolphins, or even to football. Almost every team has a room full of numbers that are no longer used.

Numbers that are retired will never be used again by the team that retires them - it is a final honor to a player’s great career.

“It is one of the biggest honors you can get at the high school level,” Luke Wuesthoff, senior, said. “Not much else can be done above getting your number retired.”

This honor is heightened because some players develop a bond with their number through the years. Senior Shane Sipes is no exception.

“My number is 6, and I was born on March 6. It’s . . . a family thing where all of my family

member’s favorite number is the day they were born. It wasn’t just like any old number that you’re wearing, it actually had meaning,” Sipes said.

The bond between player and number only makes getting your number retired even better. Keith Smith played football, baseball, and basketball in high school. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball. In high school, he was quarterback of the football team during Newbury Park’s 1993 CIF championship in football, going 14-0 that season. His jersey, number 12, now hangs, framed, inside the football locker room.

Now a coach at the school, the honor of having his number retired still stays with him.

“Being able to see my jersey in the locker room and in the stadium is super cool. (As) a coach at NPHS now, I always make sure and take a glance at the jersey every time I enter Panther Stadium. It keeps me motivated and helps me put all my efforts into the kids I coach at Newbury Park,” Smith said.

It is no small feat for an athlete to get their number retired. According to Wuesthoff, It is an honor saved for the best athletes to ever

Players Remembered - In the Boys’ Football Locker Room, the retired football jerseys hang as a way to inspire and remind current athletes of the great players of the past. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

attend the school.

“Most of the numbers that have been retired are from the one (football) CIF championship we have had,” Wuesthoff said. “They were also record holders.”

Today, Smith still remembers the bond he had with his number, solidified when it was retired.

“Put it this way,” Smith said. “I didn’t feel right on the field if that number 12 wasn’t on my jersey.”

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Photo Essay Panther Prowler • Dec. 18, 2015

The fantastic four - Nick Nagamoto, junior, Austin Pena, na, freshman, Alex Yin, freshman, and Peter Cismaru, freshman, man play their instruments in unison during their winter concert. Cheyenne Carroll/Pawprint

New skills - Beginner Dance Class demonstrates their moves during their A Season to Give performance. e. Sa Samantha ha M Meyer/Prowler

All together now - At their winter concert performance, ce, Women’s Ensemble fills the house with a mix of classical and and modern pieces. Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Shows to Remember NPHS Winter Performances

In sync - During their winter performance, the Chamber Singers’ Singe enticing rendition of “Silver Bells” captivates the audience. e Samantha Meyer/Prowler

Throughout this holiday season, the NPHS performing arts groups have had the opportunity to share their talent and showcase the work they have been doing since school has been back in session.

Working his cello - Alec Proudfit, junior, plays with Strings during the winter choir performance on December 16th. Kianna Coolidge/ Pawprint

In the spotlight - Margo Pennington, sophomore, sings gs a solo s to “I Saw S Three Ships” with Advanced Women’s Ensemble. Samantha an Meyer/ er/ Prowler

Starting off strong- Dance Team performs their opening ng number, nu ber, entitled “Feelings”, at the A Season to Give concert. Samantha man Meyer/Prowler

Good Vibrations - The Strings program showcases theirir talent, talen precision, and timing during their performance. Kianna Cool Coolidge/ Pawprint

The dynamic duo - Carly Ramer, senior, and Jeremy Stein, sophomore, homo perform a duet during the winter band concert. Cheyenne eC Carroll/ Pawprint