2016-2017 Issue 6 (January 27, 2017)

PANTHER

PROWLER Friday January 27, 2017 • Issue VI • Newbury Park High School 456 N. Reino Rd., Newbury Park, CA 91320 • pantherprowler.org

IN THIS ISSUE: 3 Women’s March 6

@npprowler Mariah Carey

8-9 Darrin Carr 16

NPBA

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staff editorial Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

Ring in the New Year with these resolutions Happy New Year from the Panther Prowler staff. Here are some resolution suggestions to kickstart 2017.

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BEE more productive- Just as Barry Benson in “The Bee Movie” strives to make a difference and not just be any other bee, try to do more this year. Although it is probably not a good idea to sue the entire human race and effectively rid all honey production, it’s the thought that counts. Don’t shy away from the opportunities that come your way!

Explore!- Newbury Park isn’t exactly known for its hustle and bustle, but that shouldn’t stop you. Our small suburban bubble is not too far from Malibu, Santa Monica, or even Los Angeles where there are endless activities, and more importantly, the opportunities to take artsy photos for the Gram. If you have some free time, visit somewhere new! The world is your oyster.

Get up on time-

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Get more sleep- Pulling all nighters to study is not helpful, regardless of what you’ve been told. All those extra hours pouring over notes will go to waste as you are left unable to think coherently for that big exam. Teens need nine and a half hours of sleep per night. Although it sounds incredibly unrealistic to get that many hours of sleep, aim for at least four hours a night and drop the all nighters.

Morning alarms are the devil. As the school year progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to pull yourself out of bed everyday, especially if you have a first period. This year, don’t settle for rushing through your morning routine and throwing on dirty clothes; try to get up on time. Don’t get too attached to the snooze button; it is not your friend.

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Shoutout to Seana Mekari, English teacher, for educating students on improving their bad speaking habits. Cut the “uh” and “ums” not only from your oral presentations, but also from your everyday speech. Be precise: don’t keep beating around the bush and get your ideas across.

High school doesn’t last forever and soon you and your friends will be attending colleges all across the country.

So, treasure these last few years of being able to see them on a daily basis or drive a few miles to get together. Go out more often with your friends and don’t forget to take photos!

Spend less time on your phone- Doing homework becomes difficult when your phone is right next to you, especially when it’s constantly flashing with new notifications. If you can’t stay away from your mobile device for long, try to turn it off while working on homework and take breaks every hour to check up on what’s new.

Take the time to be grateful-

Movie Marathon-

Don’t worry- It is stressful to live up to the immense expectations

If you haven’t already, throw a movie marathon with your friends! Tackle all eight Harry Potter movies or the Lord of the Rings series, even if only for the bragging right. Grab some snacks and find a comfortable spot on your couch, because you are going to be there for a while.

table of contents.

2 Editorial: 2017 Resolutions 3 Women’s March 4 Trump’s Inauguration 5 School Board Meeting 6 Mariah Carey Performance

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Speak eloquently-

Spend time with friends-

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Don’t just say your obligatory spiel of thanks during Thanksgiving. Be conscious of what is being handed to you; don’t just take things for granted, especially in a first world environment. Tell your friends and family you appreciate them the next time you see them.

society places on students, but what may appear difficult now will probably be miniscule later in life. Keep your goals realistic.Similarly, New Year’s resolutions are just suggestions; don’t feel obligated to complete this list: just try your best this year.

7 Keeping your grades personal In Loving 8-9 DPS: Memory of Mr. Carr 10 Martin Luther King Jr. 11 Student vs. Teacher

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Rock and Roll Music Hidden Figures Cronies Sports Grill Sports Column NPBA

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news Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2016

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Women make history again Rahul D’souza Staff Writer Aditya Vunnum Staff Writer Sarah Lu Photographer They may have been separated by distance, but all across the world, men, women and children united in their fight for equal rights as they marched in unison to voices that chanted, “Equality is not a privilege, equality is a right.”

Over five million people worldwide peacefully protested in the “Women’s March” on Jan. 21. Marches were set up in all major cities, including Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C., as well as local cities such as Ventura and Santa Barbara.

The marchers’ purpose was to promote the protection of women’s rights, as well as their health, safety, and families. They also wanted to help the world see the positive effects of diversity in all aspects.

In the United States, many marched against the new president Donald Trump, who had been inaugurated the day before. He had previously made a statement saying, “Grab (women) by the p**sy, you can do anything,” and called Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman” during a debate. Many protesters held signs with the motto “The P**sy Grabs Back” and worn pink beanies with horns to condemn the misogyny these words represented.

Willa Stonecipher, sophomore, attended the march in Santa Barbara. “This is the man who has said derogatory things to basically all minorities, and yet, America still voted him into office,” Stonecipher said on President Trump.

“But, this march gave me hope.”

Stonecipher decided to join the march

because “this past election has been really devastating to me, and I’m still not fully recovered, and this really helped send the message that you are not alone.

Your views are not alone, and the message of unity (still exists).”

However, not everyone was marching against Trump. Some were marching for immigration, and others were marching just to be heard, advocating to keep the democracy alive in America.

One of these people was Robin Lilly, English teacher. She went to the march in Ventura with 2000 to 3000 other protestors, as she “wanted to add her name to a set of values, which is inclusive of all communities, of immigrants, women, minorities of religions and ethnicity.”

To Lilly, the march “was more (to show that) these are values that we as Americans have, and these are values that I support, and they include things like equal rights of all communities.”

“I think it felt empowering, it felt like you were part of a community,” she added.

“It was very positive, so even though there were a few critical signs or negative signs, for the most part it was a positive experience and uplifting and unifying rather than dividing and hateful.”

Although it was called the “Women’s March”, females were not the only people who attended the protests. Sam Church, sophomore, participated in the march in Los Angeles, which attracted around 750,000 people.

“Considering how pivotal right now is when it comes to global warming and protecting our ecosystems, I think it is very scary that Trump says that he doesn’t believe in global warming and is going to reverse all the steps we have taken to protect our planet so far,” Church said.

To Church, the march was also “a good way to vocalize my concerns, and I believe that peaceful protest is an important part of our democracy.”

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!

Setting differences aside- On Jan. 21, thousands gather together in Washington D.C. to protest for universal equlaity. Mandy Lu/With Permission

Lilly also agrees. “It’s important for people to stand up for the values that they hold and what they believe in. It’s dangerous for us to just sit back and let things happen, especially when we don’t necessarily like what’s happening,” she said. “The ability to speak out when you see injustice happen, is important to reinforce, so participating in the marching, that was very positive, is also saying hey, this is who we are, this is democracy.”

Lilly, Stonecipher and Church all agree that the Women’s March will go down in history as a significant event. “It was a great experience and it felt good to be surrounded by like minded people who all seemed to really care about one another. And considering the massive turnout, it felt like an important part of history,” Church said.

Stonecipher was amazed by the size of the crowds in Santa Barbara. “The number of people that were there, it was incredible. They blocked off the streets, and if you looked back, you could see a massive sea of people marching,” Stonecipher said. “Overall, it was just incredible to be part of something that will go down in history, something that’s way bigger than myself or any one person.”

Although marchers worldwide were separated by entire continents, they were all unified. They all wanted their voices heard. It seems they made even more an impact than they imagined. It was a day that will be remembered forever.

Fight (for rights) like a girl- Andie Huff, junior, and Evelyn Zhai, junior, pose with their signs advocating for women’s rights. Andie Huff/With Permission

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news Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

Inauguration draws both criticism and praise as presidency ushers in new conservatve era Nidhi Satyagal Staff Writer Millions of Americans watched with bated breath as the nation inaugurated our 45th president, Donald Trump, on Jan. 20, 2017 and said goodbye to the longstanding Obama political era. Trump’s campaign was built on a platform of change in the political order of our country, and the one thing every American, regardless of political beliefs, can agree on is that a Trump presidency will bring on a time of massive shift in the country’s direction.

Few political candidates, and definitely no president, has been the object of such unadulterated of people have a positive reaction disapproval and scrutiny. His comments about to inauguration women, Muslims, and people with disabilities, have sparked the angst of many Americans who view this country as one of progress and acceptance.

Veronica Seixas, sophomore, feels of people have a of people have a negative reaction to neutral reaction to very anxious about the upcoming the inauguration the inauguration presidency. “It’s scary knowing that our country’s president doesn’t believe that everybody is equal and he could reverse so much of the progress that has been made,” she said.

Seixas found that his remarks in his inaugural address directed towards other politicians were particularly startling. She notes his comments about politicians prospering at the expense of the general population. “(Trump’s comments directed at politicians) upset me because he was completely ignoring all the progress we have made and all the work different people have put forth during the years,” Seixas continued.

Julia Brownley, congresswoman of California’s 26th district including the Newbury Park area, is amongst a group of over 60 prominent Democrats in California who did not attend Trump’s inauguration. Many of the representatives expressed to Los Angeles Times on Jan. 18, 2017 that their decision to boycott the inauguration stems from the offensive comments made by Trump directed at their constituents. Many of these representatives feel that it is their duty to honor the wishes and beliefs of the majority Democratic state.

On the other hand, many Americans had a vastly different and supportive outlook on the inauguration, including Derek Henry, junior. Henry was a supporter of Trump and is eager to see what he will do in his presidency. He believes that

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The mesentary reclassified as the 79th organ Clare Wang News Designer

Trump is “really going to impress people with what he is going to do in the next four years.”

Henry believes that the media’s impression of Trump will now become more positive as he makes executive decisions regarding the security of America’s borders and the creation of jobs.

Henry was very impressed with the inauguration itself, which he called an “interesting, but overwhelming experience.”

When asked about the speech, Henry offers nothing but praise for the new president. “I think that the fact that he was able to speak to his base and still try and unite at the same time (was the Derek Henry/With Permission most effective part of his speech),” he said, referencing Trump’s inaugural address where he refers to Americans as “red-blooded patriots” who all “see the same sun”.In the first week of presidency, Trump has signed a multitude of executive orders including easing the implementation of Obamacare, initializing the plans for the wall, defunding of people watched sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal the inauguration immigration authorities. Additionally, he has withdrawn from the Trans Pacific Partnership and allowed the construction of Dakota Access Pipeline and Keystone XL. With so much occurring in just the first week of presidency, it is probably an indication of the administrative changes we will see in the future.

Overall, Trump’s inauguration has brought on an onslaught of both naysayers and well wishers. His supporters of people did not watch and opposers alike hope that this presidency will bring good the inauguration things for the ordinary American citizens.

People know Leonardo Da Vinci as a painter whose most famous piece of work is “Mona Lisa.” A lesser-known fact is that he was also greatly fascinated by the human body and spent years studying anatomy.

Da Vinci’s sketches reveal one of the earliest depictions of the mesentery as a continuous structure, which supports its recent classification as an organ by Dr. J. Calvin Coffey, foundation chair of surgery at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Coffey’s research has already led to the well-known medical textbook “Gray’s Anatomy” to describe the mesentery as an organ.

The mesentery, by definition, is a fold of the abdominal membrane that attaches the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, spleen and other organs to the back wall of the abdomen. Another of its functions is carrying blood and lymphatic fluid to and from the intestine to other parts of the body.

According to CNN, Coffey stated, “It is unlikely that [the intestine] would be able to contract and relax along its entire length if it were directly in contact [with the abdomen]. It maintains the intestine in a particular conformation, ‘hitched up,’ so that when you stand up or walk about, it doesn’t collapse into the pelvis and not function.”

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From a survey of 120 students.

Researchers already know the mesentery has an important part in the intestinal, vascular, endocrine, cardiovascular and immunological systems; however, more research is needed in order to ascertain their exact roles.

The mesentery was not previously classified as an organ due to it being misunderstood as appearing in fragments within multiple parts of the body. Its spiral formation can only be seen at a specific viewpoint, which scientists were not able to discover for several years. This led to the belief that the mesentery was a complex structure with various sections.

The new understanding of the mesentery allows scientists to also possess a different perspective on the other organs in the abdomen.

With more research into the mesentery, scientists will be able to determine how it acts abnormally and which diseases may cause it to react negatively.

In the future, mesenteric science may even become its own medical field, similar to neurology. In correlation with more knowledge about the mesentery, surgeries can be done with fewer complications, less invasive techniques, reduced patient recovery time and lower costs.

news Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

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Fights for inclusive history and CVHS occur at January board meetings Emily Nagamoto Photographer The audience and school board members bowed their heads.

The room was silent. At the start of the school board meeting on Jan. 3, 2017, Superintendent Ann Bonitatibus called for a moment of quiet remembrance of Darrin Carr, an NPHS English teacher who passed away during winter break.

However, the silence was soon replaced with tension by the 12 people who made public comments, seven discussing their opinion about the Conejo Valley High School’s (CVHS) move to Thousand Oaks High School’s (TOHS) empty classrooms.

In October, the school board rejected moving the continuation school to TOHS, but before the end of the year, they reversed their position; CVHS will now temporarily transfer to TOHS before the fall of 2017.

Most attendees were in protest, saying CVHS was created for students who did not succeed on traditional campuses like TOHS, so putting them back in this setting would defeat CVHS’s initial purpose. They said they felt the board had given up on the school and the CVHS students.

On the contrary, many residents of Waverly Heights, another proposed site for CVHS, argued traffic in the Waverly neighborhood was already too excessive. They felt CVHS should either remain where it is and continue paying rent, or move to TOHS. The other commenters expressed their anxiety about the the vote to replace the history curriculum policy to align it with the new standards set by the state in the FAIR Education Act and the framework. The Act passed in 2011 and the framework adopted last year attempt to rectify the state history curriculum to more equally and impartially represent historical successes from all groups, including women, minorities, LGBT people, and people with disabilities. In December, CVUSD board clerk Sandee Everett requested the vote be postponed so she could

read it thoroughly and try to better understand it.

Resident Shirley Corning, a transgender woman who transitioned five years ago, was one of seven commenters in the discussion of replacing the policy. Explaining that she just wanted acceptance, she expressed support for the change, and what LGBT members will do if the change is rejected.

“We are still going to be here, we were here all along. It’s just if we have to hide under a rock or not,” Corning said.

The board met again on Jan. 17 in a room packed with people flooding into the reception area and hallways, most feeling anxious about the history policy vote to come. However, before they could speak to the board, former president Patricia Phelps informed the public of what happened in their closed session, specifically regarding the superintendent’s evaluation.

“What we decided to do is actually set aside a special meeting where we can just devote the time to the superintendent’s evaluation. . . so you will be seeing another superintendent’s evaluation, but please don’t think that that reflects in any way on her performance,” Phelps said. The separate meeting was held on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Continuing the Jan. 17 meeting, over 15 people spoke in the public comments, with many again criticizing CVHS’s move. A band of seven TOHS teachers conveyed outrage, confusion and empathy for both CVHS and TOHS students. This included English teacher David Sheraton, who referred specifically to last year, when the move was deemed “least preferable”.

“How did the least preferable choice become what happened?” Sheraton asked the board. He also referenced the CVUSD motto of being “exceptional without exception” and asked, “Who is this (plan) exceptional for?”

The other teachers, Sarah Burns, Heather Farrell, Jason Loose, Kristin Benioff, Tasha Beaudoin and Joe Donia, described

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the situation as an “unnecessary disruption” and “fiscally not responsible,” saying the students were treated as “collateral damage,” and citing research from similar events showing drops in enrollment and test scores.

Directly prior to the history policy vote, 47 people spoke, their comments ranging from voicing support to arguing for topics touching on LGBT people to be taught at home. Commenter Steve Simons argued that it was the parents’ duty to teach their children.

“What I don’t understand, is why we as a group are so dependent on others to teach our children what is right or wrong.

This responsibility falls on parents primarily. This does not make a religious bigot, simply accountable,” Simons said.

Several addressed board President Mike Dunn and his recent email in which he put his faith above his school board duties.

They called for the separation of church and state, with some, like protester Joan Edwards, asking if Dunn was the right choice for his position.

“The quote is, ‘Where I spend eternity is far more important to me than being a school board trustee.’ I think if that’s true, perhaps you should resign,” Edwards said, met with applause.

Next, Clerk Sandee Everett proposed an amendment to give more flexibility for determining age appropriateness or material and requiring progress reports of the implementation from the superintendent. When put to a vote, the motion of replacing the history policy with the newly amended one passed 5-0.

Bonitatibus thought the board made the right decision, saying, “I commend the board for working on language that follows the law and gives the flexibility that we need.”

Read more about the FAIR Education Act on pantherprowler.org

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opinion Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

Caitlin Henderson/Prowler

Mariah Carey takes a turn within her career Kessa Chavez News Designer Gianna Longo Cover Designer Olivia Luby Staff Writer This New Year’s Eve in Time Square, Mariah Carey’s performance failed miserably as she refused to continue singing as a result of her faulty earpiece and lack of preparation for the largely broadcasted event.

After the performance, Carey’s public relations team did some damage control. They told ABC News that, “...the singer was dealing with many technical difficulties,” after Carey expressed concern for the earpiece’s ability to work. “They told her (the earpiece) would be fine once she was onstage.”

After realizing that the earpiece would not work, the stage managers chose to go live rather than attempting to fix Carey’s earpiece.

Carey planned to lip sync.

However, her microphone was accidentally left on, so many heard her singing along.

Once the high notes of the song came up, she decided to not sing or move her lips at all, giving her lip syncing away.

She displayed her infamous diva attitude when she stormed off the stage ending with “It just can’t get any better,” casting a questionable sarcastic tone towards her performance.

While technical difficulties are bound to happen during a musician’s career, especially one as long as Carey’s, she should be able to handle them professionally rather than blaming the failed performance on the production team. The pop icon’s malfunction was seen as either an accident or on purpose, but either way, it showed the world Carey’s inability to sing, as seen in her 2014 Christmas special performance of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in which she failed to

hit multiple notes in the song. As she grows older, Carey’s voice has definitely changed and has lost the talent that shocked the world years ago. While Carey will always be an icon, it is clear that she is losing relevance in the music industry.

Immediately after Carey’s performance, her image filled the internet along with many opinions of those who watched, making her the first meme of 2017.

Accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook made sure to let the world know of Carey’s lip sync embarrassment and many joked about her singing career being over.

Initially, after the performance, Carey played the blame game, accusing Dick Clark and his production company of sabotaging her song. She claimed that,“ They foiled [her],” and she, “Turned it into an opportunity to humiliate (her).” Clark’s representatives denied allegations stating that they would never “intentionally compromise the success of any artist.”

Angela Swartz/Prowler Although the accusations have been retracted, and Clark’s representatives “want to be clear that we have the utmost respect for Ms. Carey as an artist and acknowledge her tremendous accomplishments in the industry,” it is undeniable that Carey was deserving of being this year’s first meme. From the earpiece failure and lip syncing complications to the drama afterwards, Carey was right in saying, “S**t happens. Have a happy, healthy New Year everybody! Here’s to making more headlines in 2017!”

Lingerie loser; no more push-up bras for me Caitlin Henderson Chief Photographer “You’re probably a…32A,” the Pink retail worker said, and she handed me two push-up bras. I stood uncomfortably in a dressing room, a measuring tape awkwardly around my chest.

When I tried the bras on, they lifted my boobs to another dimension, as if this is what I was supposed to look like. We bought them, but I never wore these push-up bras--I gave them away.

I’d rather wear comfortable sports bras or bralettes, because bras should be that- comfortable. They shouldn’t dig into your chest and make deep red marks when you take them off. They shouldn’t make your boobs scream, “Please objectify me!” Push-up bras give us an impossible standard of what our boobs look like, which only invites shame and perpetual discomfort. People don’t have perky, perfectly round boobs.

It’s not how life works.

I’m all for people being as sexy as they want to be, but there’s a difference between expressing your sexuality and being sexualized. It’s one thing to wear a push-up bra because it makes you feel good, but it’s another when you feel like you can’t take it off. If wearing a push-up bra is an expression of your sexuality, go for it, but do it for yourself, not because it’s expected of you.

We should be creating products that make us feel

comfortable, not ashamed. Victoria’s Secret makes millions by showing us photoshopped models, telling us that the fake image is the definition of sex appeal, and tricking us into thinking that a bra with extra padding will solve our insecurity issues. The catch is, since those models are photoshopped, we’ll never look like them in real life, but we’ll keep buying their products, thinking that someday we can. It’s an endless cycle of wrecked self esteem and wallets. Don’t fall for it.

Alyssa Boedigheimer/Prowler

Well, that’s life...

Bella Robakowski DPS Designer In this upcoming year, my personal resolution is to not fight life.

Instead, I’m teaming up with life and seeing where it takes me.

I know it’s a weird resolution, but I have come to the conclusion that my eternal cycle of exhaustion and anxiety must be broken, and that this resolution is the way to do it.

No longer will I challenge the inevitable, or try to swim against the tide. Instead I will choose to trust that everything will work out as it should if I just do my best and then let it all go.

For the first seven years of my life, I grew up in an area pretty similar to Newbury Park, a close knit community, where I went to a K-8 school. I was going to graduate with the kids I had gone to kindergarten with. Well, at least that was the plan, but this was my first experience realizing that life does not always go as planned.

At the ripe old age of 7 years old, I discovered I was moving to Sydney, Australia, and although there was absolutely nothing I could do, I tried with all my heart to delay my family’s move. However try as I might, life kept rolling on and despite my best efforts, that coming February, my room was packed, my goodbyes were said, and off I went Down Under.

Going into this experience, I was angry: How dare my life plans be ruined and I frequently asked the dramatic question “Why me?!?!”

But as I continued, with my family by my side, I embarked on the greatest adventure of my life. I got the opportunity to be exposed to a whole new culture and explore a completely different hemisphere.

After spending four brilliant years in Australia, I left with not only an accent, but a whole new perspective on the world and a heart full of gratitude for the wonderful life we have here in the United States, full of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, free drink refills and a great school system. The move I had dreaded and fought against turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.

That experience should have taught me the lesson that sometimes, life pushes us in what feels like the wrong direction for actually the right reasons, and things just might work out better than we could ever have imagined. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Here I am over four years later, still battling against the world and what is in store for me.

Still thinking I know just how my life is supposed to go and stomping my feet when it doesn’t go my way.

Still trying to make a boy “relationship material” even though he obviously isn’t, still giving all my effort to things that just don’t pay off, just because that’s the way I planned it so it MUST happen.

So often in today’s society we find ourselves absorbed by insanely advanced planning. Five year plans… ten year plans… we all act like we know how our lives are going to be, myself in particular. I will always plan ahead it’s part of who I am but my resolution is meant to help me accept the fact that sometimes, life doesn’t go according to our plans.

This New Year, my social media was littered with posts about how terrible 2016 was, but in reality, it’s not the year that was terrible, it was our reaction to it. So in 2017 join me in a year full of going with the flow and taking what life hands out with a smile- because let’s be real, we can’t stop the world from throwing us curveballs, but we can learn to hit one and choose to embrace what we’re given and make it a homerun.

Of course I’m still going to have my five year plan and my ten year plan and whatnot, but I’m also going to remind myself that my plans are tentative and easily subject to change because, well, that’s life.

opinion Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

New year, same me

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Kavita Rai DPS Designer Maya Chari Staff Writer As 2016 washed by, so did everyone’s goals and resolutions they set out to accomplish over the year. Now people create new goals and have a new determined mindset as 2017 begins. This yearly repetition of making a promising New Year’s resolution, breaking it, and subsequently Angela Swartz/Prowler forgetting what you were hoping to achieve is a cycle that never seems to make any progress.

From my own experience, making New Year’s resolutions are just a way to convince yourself you are starting fresh. As the clock strikes twelve on Dec. 31, people go from a gloomy attitude about life, to a new optimistic view of the world. “New Year, New me,” cry the masses. I can’t fathom how people can change their attitudes in a span of a minute.

Often, New Year’s resolutions are too vague to actually be accomplished. According to a 2016 survey concerning this year’s top resolutions by nielsen.com, 28 percent of the population chooses a resolution along the lines of “Enjoy life to the fullest,” which we all know is a rather difficult idea to quantitate.

Resolutions also restrict change to a few weeks of the year, so are a bit counterproductive. People get stuck in the rut of the current year, waiting for the new year to come around and save them by presenting new, exciting opportunities. In reality, New Year’s day is not going to magically change anything in life and it shouldn’t be expected to.

The argument that the new year ignites a “fresh start” is not true. Problems from the previous year don’t just disappear. People don’t have to wait until the new year to make a meaningful resolution. Changes can be made at any time; they don’t need

to start at the beginning of the year for them to work. Making a resolution is a growing process, and it doesn’t have a definite start or definite finish. The resolutions that we make give us an incentive that we can stop doing whatever we’re doing as soon as the next year arrives, creating an unhelpful environment for people who need drastic change but don’t have the will to keep going strong. It feels almost as an obligation to make new year’s resolution, that you owe something to the world to be a better person. When the new year strides in, we push our problems or feelings aside that reside from the previous year just to please our new optimistic mindsets.

We should stop conforming to this implied norm of making a resolution on the first day of the new year and start making resolutions every day. Deciding to be a better person and to better society isn’t a goal that should just be forgotten, it should be worked toward throughout a lifetime.

Keep your grades to yourself Lindsay Filgas Entertainment Designer I sit at my desk, anxiously tapping my foot. The teacher calls my name and I do my best to calmly walk to the front of the classroom. The teacher hands me the paper and I use all of the restraint I have not to look at it. I return to my seat and finally allow myself to glance down at the paper in my hands. Before I even have the chance to read the red number written at the top of the page, I hear from my table partner: “What did you get on the test?”

Whatever it is that compels us to ask people what their grades are needs to be silenced. Really, there is no practical reason for asking this question. The information is in no way useful to the asker. All this question serves to do is make the answerer feel uncomfortable and breed academic competitiveness.

This academic competitiveness is entirely unhealthy.

If you did better than your peers on a test, then knowing their grades will only inflate your ego. If you did worse than your peers, knowing their grades will only make you feel dumb and embarrassed.

Sharing test scores helps only to polarize a classroom. It turns a group of classmates into the smart and the stupid.

There is no point in knowing someone’s score. You can’t do anything with that information. It’s not going to change how you did. We should not be forcing people to reveal their grades so that we can compare ourselves to them. What we should be doing is comparing ourselves to ourselves. Look at your grade in comparison to your past scores and see how you have improved.

Let us return to our elementary school habits, when grades were a secret that we so dearly kept. When the teacher would hand back papers and you would hide them away in your folder, because you had been taught not to share your grades with anyone. Let us go back to when tests were not a competition Alyssa Boedigheimer/Prowler of you against your classmates, but rather a competition of your brain against the questions, to see if you can beat that test.

For the record...

In Issue V: Jaycen Sussman was also a page designer for the DPS. Page 2, Michelle Obama’s project is named “Let Girls Learn.”

Page 4, the plastic bag was drawn by Alyssa Boedigheimer.

Page 9, the definition of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Page 11, the Student vs. Teacher score was misreported as 4-3. The score was 4-4, resulting in a tie.

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

PANTHER PROWLER

2016-2017 staff

Editors-in-Chief Nina Chiuchiarelli Victoria Juan Entertainment Designer Lindsay Filgas Copy Editors Rachna Deshpande Connor Keep John MacMillen Clare Wang Isabella Robakowski Cover Designer Gianna Longo

Ad Manager Megan Joshi Opinion Designer Angela Swartz Photographer Chief / Caitlin Henderson Sarah Lu Emily Nagamoto Farhaan Pathan Megan Vlietstra News Designer Kessa Chavez Clare Wang

Online Lindsay Filgas Nelson Kappas

Sports Designer Alyssa Boedigheimer Graphic Artist Alyssa Boedigheimer

DPS Designers Kavita Rai Isabella Robakowski Features Designer Nelson Kappas

Staff Writers Daria Azizad Maya Chari Rahul D’Souza Olivia Luby Nidhi Satyagal Jaycen Sussman Aditya Vunnum Broadcast Lindsay Filgas Caitlin Henderson Connor Keep Jaycen Sussman Angela Swartz

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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Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

s’ is girl h h t i Carr w all team softb 2006 5 0 20

Carr t aught at nph f ro m s 2002 -2016

The accident that changed it all Emily Nagamoto Photographer Piercing kind blue eyes, a dazzling smile and the apparent desire to connect with each and every student that crossed his path. This was the face of beloved English teacher Darrin Carr. Tragically, Darrin was killed in a car accident near Baker, CA on Dec. 30, 2016.

The crash occurred while Darrin was en route home from

The story behind the star Sarah Lu Photographer Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1962, Darrin Alan Carr always lived his life to the fullest. He moved to California when he was young, where much of his extended family lived.

While there, Darrin spent most of his time with his family. They all “routinely gathered at my Aunt Ruth’s house, where it seemed to be the center of all activity and fun,” Tia Lefkovitz, his cousin, said. Darrin also grew up practicing two religions: Christianity and Judaism.

Lefkovitz recalled Darrin’s childhood and family life as “sometimes a little challenging.” However, those same challenges created an unbreakable bond between Darrin and his younger brother, Scott, and a “deep deep bond of friendship that went far beyond that of just brothers.” This was a common theme with Darrin, where “family became friends, and friends became family.”

The early years of Scott’s life with Darrin were filled with adventures. During long and hot summers, they would go

IN

one of his favorite places, Las Vegas. He had been driving south on Interstate-15 near Baker. At 6:25 a.m. near Zzyzx Road, he drifted towards the right guardrail and the collision propelled his car to hit the concrete channel on the side of the road. When authorities arrived, Darrin was pronounced dead on site and they later ruled out any foul play.

to their grandfather’s house, where they bonded through learning to shoot skeet and trap.

“We were only a year and a half apart, he was a year and a half older than I was, so we were about as close to twins as you could get,” Scott said.

Not only did Darrin have a kind heart, he was also a talented and successful individual in all of his ventures. After shooting with his brother, they eventually became skilled enough to compete in the Maccabiah games, the Jewish version of the Olympics, in Israel where he became an All American and gold medal winner.

For college, Darrin attended the University of Oregon, where he joined a fraternity, and again friends became family.

From there, he got his master’s degree in education from California State University of Northridge. In 2002, after teaching at El Camino High School, Darrin started teaching at Newbury Park High School, where he taught English for 15 years and coached girl’s softball for many of those years.

Even though he stopped coaching, he never left the game.

Darrin worked the scoreboard at every basketball game and attended all the high school games. He was a friend, a teacher, a mentor to his colleagues and students alike, a coach and a family member. Darrin touched the lives of everyone he met.

When you laugh, you footing

Megan Vlieststra Phot

Olivia Luby Staff Write

Emily Nagamoto Photo

Dean Magnante, a studen English class, felt he went beyon “[Darrin] was really dedic for his students. He always tr from the lessons and not havin said. “He helped us so much w friend.”

The comforting and person for his students strongly and Despite graduating in 2012, keep in touch with the teach there were people out there th help you regardless of where y

Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

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nt in his ninth grade honors nd simply teaching his students. cated and he wanted the best ried to help them get the best ng him now is a loss,” Magnante with our school work and was a

nal environment that he created d positively influenced them.

Francheska Usares wanted to her who “gave [her] hope that hat are genuinely nice and will you came from or the color of

your skin.”

When Usares first moved to California from the Philippines, she “remembered being anxious and scared going to school everyday. But in Darrin’s class, it was like a safe place.”

For Secilia Kalvelage, a graduate from the class of 2015, she discovered that although Darrin seemed harsh at times, “it really meant that he actually cared about every single one of his students and wanted them to succeed.”

Darrin’s concern for his students’ success was also apparent to the teachers and staff around him.

“He would do anything he could to help a student be successful in his class, provide extra time. But I think at the same time, he would hold students to a high standard,” Joshua Eby, principal, said.

The lives of the people he interacted with at NPHS were not the only ones who Darrin left a lasting impression on. His brother, Scott Carr, considered Darrin to be more than just his family, but his friend.

“We couldn’t be any closer. It was one of those relationships where he was my brother, he was my best friend, he was my son, he was my everything,” Scott said.

He also emphasized what kind of person Darrin was in general by saying that “he would always have a smile for everyone, he’d be the first to offer money that he didn’t have (and) he’d be the first to offer you the shirt off his back. He

“He re and ally w a wat he r ea s ther e, l c ly hin said sco g ove was r tt c seei a r r u s ,“ ng aft th rain e doub er le bow

was the guy that never realized how many people’s lives he touched, every single day.”

While working at El Camino, Darrin met Richard Urias, director of the Ventura County Office of Education, who soon became one of Darrin’s closest friends.

“We forged one of the greatest friendships . . . because there was so much support and therapy and friendship and frustration that he shared and being there for one another to get through it,” Urias recounted. “He was kind. He was generous. He was reliable and trustworthy. He always was. He always showed up with his best self.”

Because of Darrin’s involvement in his students’ work, “It is difficult for someone to fill his place” Roger Fachini, junior, said.

Everyone around Darrin would agree with Fachini: They knew what an incredible effect Darrin had on people.

“He wanted to be significant. He wanted to have a legacy.

He wanted to influence and Darrin was a good influence” Urias said.

At Darrin’s memorial on Jan. 8, his friends, colleagues, and family members commemorated his life by sharing stories about him, bringing many to tears of both sorrow and laughter. While many of his friends, like Urias, recounted their experiences with Darrin, one of the moments his brother recounted was after the fatal accident.

“Saturday morning after (his passing), for the first time in my life I saw a double rainbow, and you don’t see those things very often,” said Scott. “I really got this sense of comfort, this sense of relief in seeing that happen. He really was there, and he really was watching over us.”

Scott shared several of Darrin’s favorite quotes in closure at the service. One that hangs on the wall by his front door from the U.S. Navy Seals embodies one of Darrin’s greatest character strengths because while he always gave his best, he never sought recognition. “I do not advertise the nature of my work nor do I seek recognition for my actions.” The other two were from Darrin’s favorite book, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”.

Although Darrin’s favorite of the three was “But at least I tried,” that was not the one that stuck with Scott the most.

“The last one, which means the most to me is, ‘Man, when you lose your laugh, you lose your footing,’” Scott said. “My brother never lost his laugh, and until the day he passed, he never lost his footing.”

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features Panther Prowler • Jan. 27 2017

MLK Day reminds us to fight for The Dream Daria Azizad Staff Writer Sarah Lu Photographer

The Dream - Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to his supporters in Washington D.C. Labled for reuse by Google

Forbes honors the young and successfull Clare Wang News Designer The notion that wisdom comes with age often holds true, but that is not to say that youth cannot also possess it. Forbes magazine’s annual “30 Under 30” program perfectly embodies this idea.

Each year, the magazine selects 30 people under the age of 30 in 20 categories to honor as the most deserving of recognition.

These categories include art and style, finance, consumer tech, sports, hollywood and entertainment, retail and commerce, education, music, games, venture capital, media, social entrepreneurs, science, energy, law and policy, food and drink and enterprise tech.

A few of the most identifiable honorees this year include 28year-old plus-size model and designer Ashley Graham, 27-yearold Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, 18-yearold Olympic gold-medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky, 19-year-old actor and singer Zendaya, 17-year-old musician Shawn Mendes, 23-year-old musician Selena Gomez and 26-year-old musician Jason Derulo.

While the 30 Under 30 program aims to provide acknowledgement for the honorees, many people have not even heard of this program. Those who have heard of it usually only recognize the names from the more “showy” industries, such as art and style, Hollywood and entertainment, sports and music.

Junior Annie Sun, 16, said, “I’ve heard of people in the 30 under 30 this year…(however,) the majority of them are in the

Hollywood category.”

Across all 20 categories, there is a wide coverage of possible recipients of the recognition. However, some industries included in the vague categories may not receive a just amount of acknowledgement.

“A new category could be actual authors that write and publish books… Literary should be a new category,” said Sun. Sophomore Lana Tan, 15, believes all the honorees deserve the commendation because they “have each in their own unique way… had a positive and influential impact on our society.”

However, 15-year-old junior Ayla Dvoretsky is slightly more suspicious of all the honorees’ validity.

“I am wondering about Lilly Singh,” she said. “I would just like to look at what she’s done because I’ve never heard anything about her outside of her comedic field, but if she’s been doing more serious social movements, then I would be interested in learning about it.”

However, many agree that all of the honorees have done great things in their respective fields. All of them have to possess certain traits to have achieved so much at such a young age, and many are inspirations to those who have yet to reach their age. “(Honorees) need to have changed or impacted society in a positive way, and should set good examples for kids and adults alike,” Tan said. “They should inspire others to change the world and improve their communities in whatever way they can, and to work hard to achieve their goals.”

said. “It’s not perfect, but nothing is truly perfect.”

Johnson also agrees with the Washingtons, believing that many events on the news and in courtrooms still depict racism.

“I think we still have work to do. I think that the dream is maybe more in reach than it was in 1963, when it really was a dream that a lot of people thought would ever happen,” Johnson said. “I think people still need to heed his lessons as we keep working for it. I don’t think you can stop and be satisfied.”

The ways to achieve King’s goal of equality are many. Roche gives the advice to “focus on what people have accomplished and what their actions are, not just where they come from and who they are.”

Johnson also believes that people should reach beyond their personal boundaries. “When we get out of our comfort zone and interact with people that may not have a shared experience, we realize that we are all Americans, we are all members of the human race, we have so much more in common than we realize,” he said. “And by learning from the experiences of other people, I think we grow ourselves and become more tolerant and more accepting and more inclusive as individuals.”

He also advises us not to forget the dream. “If we remember that his lessons apply to lots of the issues we see confronting us today, then the dream doesn’t die, and we can come closer to realizing it.”

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things

The timeless words of Martin Luther King Jr. are not to be forgotten: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

August 28, 1963 was a memorable day for African Americans and other minorities alike. This was the day that Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech which changed the course of history by uniting us all.

King’s speech, “I Have A Dream,” has echoed in the hearts of minority communities throughout the years. Starting in 1983, to commemorate his unifying act, president Ronald Reagan created Martin Luther King Day, celebrated officially on the third Monday of January each year. This year, MLK Day fell on Jan. 16, but unofficially, African Americans celebrate Martin

Luther King Day every day. It is because of King that they no longer have to use segregated bathrooms and schools based on the color of their skin.

To be able to witness the day that “little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” was King’s hope.

Thanks to the progress that he and other activists inspired, the laws separating blacks and whites gradually came to an end, and now, no state is allowed to “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws,” as stated by the 14th Amendment.

The evidence pointing in the direction of positive change is vast. “We’ve had an African American president, for instance.

The outward racism that once existed in our country is gone, at least by law,” Steve Johnson, history teacher, said.

However, some have not honored all of what King did to bring two seemingly different worlds together. In his speech, King said, “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.” Despite the change and progress we have made in the past half-century, blacks in some areas are still facing systematic racism and undue prejudice.

Kyle Reusch, sophomore, believes that King’s message to judge others based on content rather than the color of skin needs more emphasis in today’s society. “We need to stop paying attention to race as much,” Reusch said. “We should focus on what people have accomplished and what their actions are.”

Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to see a world of equality; with the current problems of police brutality, xenophobia, and an uproar of racist rhetoric, the dispute of whether MLK’s dream was truly achieved or not comes into perspective.

Audrey Washington, sophomore, believes King’s dream has been “sort of ’ achieved. “There’s a Black Lives Matter movement, so it’s not completely fulfilled, but I’d say it’s definitely better than how it was during [King’s] time,” she said.

Hailey Washington, sophomore, agrees with her twin Audrey on this matter. “A lot of [the dream] has been achieved,” Hailey

you di d not know a bo u t

Caitlin Henderson/Prowler

Robin Lilly // English and Philosophy Nelson Kappas Online Editor

1

She wanted to be an oceanographer before realizing she was afraid of the ocean and didn’t like college biology classes.

2

She attended 13 different elementary schools because her parents had split up and were always moving.

3

She worked in sales and marketing for 15 years after college.

4

She has been teaching at NPHS for 13 years.

5

She has two children. One is in 1st grade and one is in 11th grade.

features

STUDENT Sara Layton/Senior

1

What day this month was Trump sworn in as president?

VS

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Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

TEACHER

Nelson Kappas Online Editor

3-3 Its a Tie!

Layton - 27...6...26!

Erickson - Is it today or yesterday? Ahh.. it can’t be yesterday.

No, I think it’s the 15th of January. Mr. Johnson would be totally disappointed in me.

Answer - January 20th Some say the 20th was a day to be remembered.

But for some, it seems it was never known. A slow start: 0-0.

Sorry Layton, as much as some people also would like to erase the Cold War, it’s simply not possible.

The score remains 0-0.

many people have actually 7 How walked on the moon?

Layton - 3PM Mr. Erickson -That’s 3 o’clock PM. Answer - 3PM I wonder if they are also both ready for morning PT. 2-2.

Emily Nagamoto/ Prowler

Who won the super bowl last year in 2016?

does 15:00 in military time 4 What mean in normal time?

Layton - Gates? Bill Gates. Boom.

Erickson - It’s a Middle Eastern guy I believe, and I have no idea his name.

Answer - Bill Gates Maybe Erickson was thinking of Bill Gates as well, and simply got where he lives wrong. Haha JK, he had no idea. Layton takes the lead 3-2.

Layton - Umm… about 12.5 million ... I was thinking like, before the Gold Rush.

Erickson -I’m going to say three million people live in California.

Answer - About 40 million There aren’t that many undocumented people in California. And, by the way, nice try Layton. 3-2.

Layton - Aren’t they still…(looks at my face) no, no. I’ll say the 50s, 40s, I’m probably off.

Erickson - It was during the Reagan administration wasn’t it? ‘Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall!’ I’m going to say ‘83.

Answer - 1991

Layton - Broncos!

Erickson - That was the Denver Broncos.

Answer - Broncos Basically free points. 1-1!

is the wealthiest person in 5 Who the world today?

many people live in 6 How California?

what year did the Soviet Union 2 Incease to exist?

3

Darin Erickson/Science

Layton - 22?

Erickson - Can I do some math in my head? … I’m going to say 10 people.

Answer - 12 Erickson’s mental math almost added up.

Almost. The score remains with Layton’s lead at 3-2.

was the the last issue of the 8 What Panther Prowler’s cover story about?

Layton - Something about students probably.

Erickson - It was on celebrating holiday diversity and there was a Menorah on the cover.

Answer - Holidays/religion I’m tempted to give Erickson bonus points for being such a faithful fan. However, the rules wouldn’t permit it. We end with a tie at 3-3!

CBPTV creators dwell on what could have been Nidhi Satyagal Staff Writer When Anderson Hill and Patrick Harley, seniors, did not get their desired position as PTV sports anchors, they decided to spin their rejection into their own unique Youtube channel, CBPTV, or “Could Have Been Panther TV,” Hill and Harley began filming CBPTV in October 2016.

Hill says that he and Harley started CBPTV when they tried out to be PTV sports anchors but did not make it.

Both of them are interested in pursuing careers in the film and media industry, and felt that showing off their talents using an outlet like CBPTV was in their best interest, in addition to being a great way to have fun.

CBPTV centers around their focus of sports. Their videos address NPHS sports teams’ successes and failures with their trademark sense of humor. Hill and Harley do not shy away from self deprecation, even starting their videos with a disclaimer that pokes fun at their lack of a social life.

Both Harley and Hill agree that CBPTV is centered around having a good time. Harley stated that they “liked the idea of not being attached to the school and being able to take some of the jokes a bit further than PTV would like.” He stressed that they

appeal to a “PG-13 audience” specifically.

Matt Grabow, senior, was included in the project by Harley and Hill. He described CBPTV as “a way for my friends and I to be ourselves and show everybody what we’re like as people.”

All three of them seem to agree that CBPTV is a representation of how much fun it is to film with friends. Hill said, “Our best work comes from spontaneity.”

The majority of their videos are filmed either at Hill’s house or at NPHS with help from a camera crew, which includes Ryan Hampton and Spencer Hill III. The crew captures the footage on 50 millimeter film and physically edit it by cutting and taping the film. They use a projector and film the footage from the projector using a digital camera. The videos are then uploaded to Youtube.

When asked about the reactions they have received from CBPTV, Harley says that they have garnered a mix of positive and negative reactions. And while the positive responses are welcome, he does not pay much attention to the negative ones.

“We place the importance on having fun, not making everyone happy. If people enjoy what we enjoy making, that is just a plus,”

he said, echoing the common element of fun so evident in CBPTV. As can be predicted from their enthusiasm, the friends do not plan on stopping CBPTV any time soon. “There’s a new episode coming out very soon!” Grabow proclaims excitedly. Their latest video, Episode 6, was posted on Jan. 17 and can be found on their Twitter, @CouldBePTV.

Dynamic Duo - Patrick Harley and Anderson Hill act as the show’s energetic anchors. Partrick Harley/With Permission.

entertainment

12 Rock and Roll is dying out Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

Maya Chari Staff Writer I am 16 years old and I wish I was 55.

Knowing that I am stuck living, confined, in the 21st century sucks. I look back to the age of bellbottom jeans and psychedelic design and shrooming on rooftops and of pure, unadulterated rock and roll with sad reminiscence. I want to follow grateful dead in a rusted Volkswagen bus with its pale leather seats and shining window frames. I want to laugh with a crowd of thousands as Mick Jagger dances across the stage with colorful antics. I want to experience the intense intimacy of Zeppelin’s piercing electric guitar bursting into an explosive flurry of drums and harmonica and bass.

At night after school, after work, after the artificial life that I have been burdened to live... for a fleeting instant, under the shine of the stars and the brilliant moonlight I listen to three songs. And I feel alive. No other moment in time feels the same as when Jimmy Page plays the climactic solo in the second minute through of Zeppelin’s Tangerine. No other time can I taste pure elation so powerful that it is tangible than in Bowie’s “Is There Life on Mars”. Never do I truly feel the world and the people and the hatred and untamed emotion as when hearing George Harrison Crying “I don’t know,… I. don’t. know”.

Rock and Roll outsteps all societal boundaries. It creates a black hole that sucks you in and sends you free falling into a fourth dimension. Modern popular music no longer showcases musical talent or a life message, it is simply a contest as to which artist loves sex

The age of Rock and Roll- Bob Dylan performs live during the Gospel Tour, which lasted from 1979 to 1980.

Xavier Badosa/with permission

the most. I have watched Coldplay evolve from “Yellow” on one of their earliest albums, to “Sky Full of Stars” released in 2015 and it is painful to see the whimsical acoustic talent wasted on a repeating techno beat just to cater to society’s new love of all things artificial.

Popular music is no longer affiliated with statements about equality and life and human rights like Cat Stevens “Peace Train”; Instead the modern generation is fixated on music that is demeaning and repetitive. The funky dance

music that was fun and light and exciting has evolved from “Brick House” to “This is what you came for”; from boogieing to grinding. In 1966 the top song was “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles and in 2016 songs at the top were “Work” and “Cheap Thrills”. Pop may create a fleeting excitement but classic rock gives you an unalloyed high no ecstasy can instigate.

Reminiscing upon the good old tie-dye, patched jean, long haired days; the 60’s and the birth of rock and roll, the 70’s and its curation

Up next in Space Celestial events appearing in 2017 Alyssa Boedigheimer Sports Designer This year, the night sky is going to be full of spectacular events. Although many of these events are annual, some are much more rare, their appearances spread decades apart. You do not want to miss the celestial events this year, so remember to look up.

Solar Eclipse On Aug. 21, the moon will pass in front of the sun, almost completely blocking it from view from certain parts of the US. If you are in the band of the US stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, you will see a once in a lifetime event. The last total solar eclipse visible from the continental US happened in 1976 and the next one will not happen until 2024. If you aren’t traveling at this time, then a partial solar eclipse will be visible from most of North America.

Lunar Eclipse Many of the lunar eclipses this year are not visible from the US. However, this does not keep them from being beautiful events. On Feb. 11, there is a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, when the moon will darken slightly but not completely. This will be visible from the Eastern US to Western Europe.

On Aug. 7, there is another Partial Lunar Eclipse, unfortunately for us, only visible in the Eastern Hemisphere.

and the 80’s and its slow transformation creates a nostalgia so powerful it’s depressing. I never really understood rock and roll’s imminent death until one of its icons, David Bowie, passed away. I remember I was a freshman when I heard the news. It was sad because it made everything so real. Because I had always imagined experiencing his music in its live glory and now the opportunity was lost to me forever. I went to school with a curated tribute to David Bowie playlist to play for my Physical Education class. On the second song, one of the boys paused “Heroes” in its prime and tuned the radio to a scratchy recording of “Fight song”. Everyone sang along. Everyone but me.

It’s not this generation’s fault that Classic rock is dying. It’s simply evolution taking its course; music has evolved from instrumental to technical, just as our earth has in the past few decades. It is painful but inevitable. We lost so many acclaimed artists in 2016 alone.

David Bowie. Glenn Frey. Paul Kanter. Maurice White. Keith Emerson. Prince. Leonard Cohen. George Michael. The dwindling death of the most famous movement of all times.

And all we do is watch as these artists never recognised by the teens and young adults slowly fade away until nothing is left but soulless CD’s and remastered recordings of days gone by. We simply don’t have the ability to keep the era going; our mindset as a unit has changed too much. All we can do is preserve the beaten old Hendrix records and Beach boys albums and hope that 2016 was not the year that the music died.

Venus and Jupiter On Nov. 13, Venus and Jupiter will appear to be very close, separated in the night sky by only a few degrees. It should be visible from Earth just before sunrise.

Meteor Showers

April 22 and 23 are the best time to view the Lyrids Meteor Shower, which usually produces about 20 meteors an hour. There is a crescent moon at this time, so the shower will be very visible.

The Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower will appear May 6 and 7 and produce up to 60 meteors an hour, though in the northern hemisphere, it may appear closer to 30. There will be a waxing gibbous moon at the time, but the brightest meteors will still be visible. The Perseids Meteor Shower can also produce up to 60 meteors an hour and is famous for its bright meteors. Viewing for all meteor showers will be best in a dark place, typically after midnight.

Supermoon There will be only one supermoon this year, taking place on Dec. 3. The moon will appear very bright and close, as it is directly across from the sun and is fully illuminated.

The moon’s orbit is also at its closest to Earth, making it appear larger.

Alyssa Boedigheimer/ Graphic artists

entertainment

“Hidden Figures” promotes representation in the film industry Lindsay Filgas Entertainment Designer Turning a dramatic story of American history into a fun and family friendly movie, while still bringing to light major social issues in America then and now, “Hidden Figures” deservedly rose to the top of the box office on Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend.

The movie tells the long unknown story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji Henson), Mary Jackson ( Janelle Monae), and Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), three AfricanAmerican women who worked for NASA during the Space Race. The women fight against racism and sexism in the workplace, dedicated to using their talents to help put a man into orbit around the earth.

I could go on for hours about the bright and beautiful cinematography, the incredible acting of all three women, the upbeat music that makes you want to dance in your seat, or the wonderful integration of humor into the otherwise serious film, but this is not a review.

This is why “Hidden Figures” matters.

“Hidden Figures” beautifully and fiercely attacked the racist and sexist beliefs that restricted America just 50 years ago. However, the timing of the films release could not have been better, as it is impossible to watch “Hidden Figures” without realizing how these xenophobic ideologies and practices are not a thing of the past, but in fact still persist today.

In addition to addressing racism and sexism, “Hidden Figures” does the unthinkable and shows women who are mathematicians and engineers. The stigma that women can not study and be successful in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is one

that has held back brilliant and talented women throughout history. While now more women are finding careers in STEM, normalizing the idea of female engineers and scientists is still incredibly necessary. In order to fight sexism that continues to make women hesitant about pursuing STEM, we must have movies like “Hidden Figures” that show women dominating these fields.

Everyone has heard the line from the trailer, when Jackson is asked if she would wish to be an engineer if she were a white man, and she says “I wouldn’t have to, I’d already be one.” However, the entire film is peppered with gems like this that highlight the extreme racism and sexism these women faced. For example, when Johnson is forced to explain to her coworkers that she has to run half a mile every time she has to go to the bathroom, since there are no bathrooms she can use in the building, or when, at the end of the movie, Vivian Mitchell (Kirsten Dunst) says “Mrs. Vaughan,” after having had called her colleague “Dorothy” for the majority of the film. The list goes on and on, but the writers did an excellent job of working in lines that blatantly called out the mistreatment that these women faced.

The emotional and personal stories told in the movie made these issues seem even more real. An entire two hours were focused on a situation that might have gotten a paragraph in a history textbook. Furthermore, “Hidden Figures” shines light on the fact that we all too often ignore these kinds of people in history entirely (and when I say “these kinds of people,” I mean those who are not straight white men).

Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017 It is important that the movie wasn’t too sad or dramatic. It was a fun movie to watch, which will make it popular and bring even more attention to the issues it addresses.

Additionally, this is a movie that can act as a role model for anyone, at any age, of any race, and any gender. Children can watch it and enjoy it, but they will also learn from it.

This leads to the absolute most important aspect of “Hidden Figures”: representation. It gives representation to black girls everywhere.

It gives them a role model. It shows them that they are capable of achieving what Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Vaughan achieved. And why does representation in the media matter? As Jackson pointed out in the film, it is hard to be the first. It is daunting to

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Representation validates people’s dreams.

It reassures them that what they dream of is possible. And in some cases, it opens up their eyes to a brand new dream that they originally thought was too crazy to even consider.

But representation is important beyond the demographic that is being represented. It is important for men and white people to see these black women achieving success and be reminded of the fact that it’s not only white people who achieve things. It is important to remind society that we are, and have always been, diverse. And in order to move towards equality in the future, we have to normalize diversity. The first step to doing that is showing it in the media.

If you want to do something that will have

Untold stories- Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), Katherine Johnson (Taraji Henson) and Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) dance on their day off from working at NASA. “Hidden Figures” features the often ignored contributions of these women, as well as other female mathmaticians, engineers, and programmers, to launching an astronaut into orbit around Earth. Twentieth Century Fox Film/with permission

go into something, not knowing if it has ever been done before. When young girls across the country see these women achieving incredible success in STEM careers, they realize that they are capable of doing just the same thing. They learn that they don’t have to be the first. They learn about the possibilities and opportunities in their future and are encouraged to become just like these women on the screen.

a positive impact, go see “Hidden Figures.” You will learn from the movie, and the money you spend on your ticket will go to the people who worked to bring much needed representation to the big screen. I can not stress enough the importance of creating and supporting movies like “Hidden Figures.” Do your part, and go see it.

Amazon Drones the key to the future Rahul D’Souza Staff Writer Aditya Vunnum Staff Writer A future with floating warehouses and drones flying around the neighborhood may not be that far away. Amazon has already filed for patents for floating airships and their Amazon Drones.

A few years from now, drone delivery might become a reality, and seeing drones flying around will not be any different than seeing a mailman.

Amazon’s new drone delivery system will be called Amazon Prime Air. Amazon’s vision is to deliver packages weighing 5 pounds or less to people around the world in 30 minutes or less.

The company has been testing multiple designs and have released videos of the drones in action on their website. Some look almost like a box, and some are the standard quadcopter design.

Some are larger than a human while some barely reach your knees. The on-board camera gives an amazing view of what the drone sees. The drones also have sensors to avoid objects like trees and

buildings. When it reaches the destination, it hovers just above the ground, releases the package, and flies back to the warehouse.

So far, Amazon has made developments in the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria and Israel to test the designs.Their top priority is safety and they continue to gather information so that they can expand their reach. Currently, the drones are allowed to fly during daylight hours with low wind, but not during rain, high wind, or snow.

The concept is promising but still needs refinement before it can be implemented on a wide scale. Once Amazon can ensure performance, reliability and safety, then it may be a great addition to today’s delivery system.

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sports Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

Cronies’ Contributes to Panthers Olivia Luby Staff Writer

Money Shot- Jack Sampson, junior, shoots the ball to win a prize of $25. This event is a custom of the Cronies halftime show at every home basketball game. Emily Nagamoto/ Prowler

Cronies Sports Grill is given that banners, posters and a scoreboard can be found with the family friendly restaurant’s name plastered on them. This is due to the fact that Cronies is NPHS’s biggest sports sponsor.

Whether it be football, basketball, or baseball, the Cronies Sports Grill logo is a constant. Cronies is NPHS’s biggest sports sponsor and their name can be found on posters and scoreboards all around campus.

Dave Foldes, one of the co-owners of Cronies, moved the restaurant to its Newbury Park location five years ago and has been sponsoring the baseball, football, basketball, etc, ever since. Other locations include Agoura, Simi Valley, Camarillo, and the sports grill’s original location, Ventura. Dave said this is because they like to “get close to high schools. We like to support them because we’re family people and those are some of the best customers.”

Dave emphasizes the fact that Cronies is a “family place and what better place to advertise [the restaurant] than at a high school.” where hundreds of families are involved. Cronies becomes familiar to anyone who visits the school or plays sports.

The sports grill sponsors all different sports at NPHS, with the baseball team being the first that they supported.

“Five years ago, our first team to sponsor was

baseball because no one else stepped up to sponsor them and we were really happy to do so,” Dave said.

Christine Foldes, Dave Foldes’ wife, believes sponsorships are important for the community and schools.

“So many times I think the school gets no for an answer. With us we build relationships and we make it easier to ask [for sponsorship],” Christine said.

Dave also made the point that “money isn’t [in school sports] like it used to be and we’re happy to help.” Their sponsorship aids the community while also making good business. For Cronies and NPHS sports, it’s a win win for both parties.

Cristine added that “we are building good will toward Cronies. That’s why it works,” said Christine.

Over the five years NPHS has been sponsored by Cronies, she believes that the school has changed for the better.

JJ Hanestad, freshman, stated that, if it were not for Cronies, “I don’t think our fields would be quite as nice, and we wouldn’t have the best practice equipment that we have today.”

“I feel more of a sense of community. Especially when we host the honor roll lunch. Other businesses want to do the same thing and that is only good for the school.”

Clemson Takes Surprise Victory Connor Keep Sports Editior What a game! The heavy favorite, Alabama, was taken down by Clemson.

The game was an instant classic as Clemson scored a touchdown in the final two seconds of the game to take the lead and win the national championship.

This win is Alabama coach Nick Saban’s first loss in a national championship game. Last year, Clemson lost to Alabama 45-40. The reigning champions were dethroned for the first time since September 19th, 2015. This was Clemson’s first win against Alabama since 1905.

In the semi final game, the Clemson Tigers stumped the number 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes by winning 31-0. In the new College Football Playoff system, the BIG 10 conference has not scored a point in the two years since the system has been in place.

The Tigers overmatched the Buckeyes in every aspect of the game. Even in the end, Clemson put their second string players and came into the championship game looking strong.

In the other semi final game, the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Washington Huskies 24-7, and handled them with ease. The Crimson Tide started the game with a rough start and did not turn it around until the end of the second quarter when Alabama’s linebacker, Ryan Anderson, intercepted Washington quarterback, Jake Browning, and returned it for a touchdown. That gave Alabama a 10 point lead and momentum going into the second half.

The Huskies’ offense could not get anything going the rest of the game. The only weakness Alabama showed was that Jalen Hurts, the Alabama quarterback, was sacked three times and completed only seven of his fourteen pass attempts for 57 yards.

The championship game posed Alabama, who was ranked as the number 1 team in the country, and favored by 6.5 points, versus Clemson. The two teams battled for the first half in a low scoring affair. Going into the 3rd quarter, the score was 14-7.

The Tigers made their comeback in the 4th quarter scoring 21 points and

Eyes On the Prize- Deshaun Watson, Clemson Tigers, kisses the CFP National Championship Trophy after an intense game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. ESPN/press release

demolishing the defense of Alabama. Heisman Trophy Award runner-up, Deshaun Watson of Clemson, took over.

He threw for 420 yards and four touchdowns (three throwing and one running) against, what people thought to be, the nation’s best defense.

In the last two minutes of the game, Watson took his team from down three to throwing the national championship winning touchdown. Clemson’s head coach, Dabo Swinney, knew that they would win the game because they “love each other.”

sports Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2017

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Matt Solomon Caitlin e Hend

Sweeps the Court

r Prowle rson/

Climbing an Endless Mountain Jaycen Sussman Staff Writer

Shooting Hoops - Matt Solomon, sophomore, plays in a home game versus San Bernadino. Matt Solomon/with permission

Connor Keep Sports Editor Jaycen Sussman Staff Writerr The ball bounces up and down on the hardwood as he dribbles up the court. Solomon takes the ball to the rim and is contested. He makes the shot and the crowd goes wild.

Matt Solomon is one of the many star players on Newbury Park High School’s basketball team. He is talented in shooting, dribbling, passing and defense and he’s only a sophomore.

Solomon started playing basketball when he was 5 years old. The first travel team he played for was the Ventura Heat in fourth grade. Now he plays for the Kings Basketball Academy.

The club team he plays on has helped because the practices translate to the game. “(The practices) give me a bunch of confidence,” Solomon said.

Solomon has been the only underclassman to make the varsity team for two years in a row. “I

don’t really think of being the only sophomore, I just try to go out and play my game,” Solomon said.

Being young has not affected Solomon’s play on the court. In his second year of high school basketball, Solomon averages 13.3 points per game which is the most on the team. He is an offensive powerhouse and his teammate, Brandon Smith, junior acknowledges that.

“Offensively, I don’t think there’s a player in the league that can guard him. He’s a threat to anyone on the floor. He can score well and defensively he’s been starting to pick it up,” Smith said.

It has been Solomons’ goal to take his talents to the next level.

Growing up he idealized players like Allen Iverson from the Philadelphia 76ers. Solomon has tried to mimic some of Iverson’s dribbling moves and this makes him almost

unguardable.

Solomon’s teammates and coaches think of him very highly.

The varsity basketball head coach, Mike DuLaney thinks his talents are limitless.

“He has grown so much from last season. He is one of our many team leaders. I look forward to his progress from game to game! He has a bright future. He has qualities and abilities that can take him very far in life and basketball,“ DuLaney said.

Solomon’s worked on his skills on the court since he was a young kid, but as he progressed at the sport it has raised many eyebrows.

His teammates and coaches believe that his talents can take him as far as he wants.

His goal for his basketball career is to, “play (in) college and hopefully play basketball for a living,” Solomon said.

There are 32 teams in the NFL and each have the same goal: to be a champion, a Super Bowl champion.

Winning does not come easy. Players across the country put in endless amounts of work throughout the year so they can hoist the Lombardi Trophy. However, in the end, only one team can do so.

This year the two teams left are the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, both are well deserving, yet no Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

I have been a die-hard Steelers fan since I was a little kid; you might say I have a heart of black and gold at this point! I’ve been through it all--the good, the bad and my team always pulls through in the end… except for this year.

After a hard fought season, my boys lost to the Patriots 36-17 in the Conference Final, and if you don’t know football, that’s the last game before the Super Bowl.

Needless to say I was a mess that weekend. Being only one game away from the promise land, you would think my team would play their best game all year… well you would be wrong about that, my friend. The Steelers not only played horrifically but ceased to be the powerhouse they’ve been all year.

Yes, I know there’s always next year, but as a fan you feel every high and low as if you were on the team. So when your team is that close to achieving the ultimate goal, yet fails, you can’t help to think: What else can we possibly do?

You won’t always be successful, as much as it sucks; that’s reality. If you were to climb a mountain, you would start at the bottom, put in as much time, energy and effort that you could muster and work your way up.

The Steelers are still climbing that mountain. They want to be successful but they haven’t reached the peak quite yet. Trust me, it’s not fun watching them lose the way they did, but they will learn from their mistakes and climb the mountain again next year.

Now, only one team can reach the peak each year, so it’s only fair to congratulate the Falcons and Patriots.

When the Super Bowl comes around, instead of pouting and reminiscing about the Steelers season, maybe I’ll stop and watch the game to appreciate what these teams have been through to get to this point.

But the Patriots better lose… Go Steelers!

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NPBA Panther Prowler • Jan. 27, 2016

A new season of NPBA Daria Azizad Staff Writer Farhaan Pathan Photographer

Going for the shotshot Caden Cope, freshman, jumps to block a shot by Matt Unlu, junior, during a game on Jan. 14. Megan Vlietstra/Prowler

The Newbury Park Basketball Association, or NPBA, is a league where students can play, or coach, basketball for fun without the pressure of high school level competition. The league provides students with a stress-free way to play basketball without school conflict. This year, the season began in December and from that point on, games between the teams are held on Saturday.

In the end, every team makes the playoffs and has a chance of making it to the championships and winning the league.

Due to the fact that NPBA games usually occur on Saturdays, this makes it easier for members of the community to attend and watch without having the stress of going to work or school the day after.

Jubal Rancourt, junior, is playing in NPBA for his first time this year. He decided to join because, “for me, I’m busy with my job, school, family, so playing on the weekends is a really fun way to release some stress.”

He has also made new connections through NPBA, “I’ve met one of my best friends,

and met so many new people,” Rancourt said. Like the players, young coaches such as Andrew Noble, senior, enjoy spending their weekend being productive.“I began coaching as just something to do on the weekends to stay busy. I thought it would be fun coaching my friends, and it is!”

Noble said.

Matthew Grabow started playing basketball in third grade.

He has stuck with this sport because “basketball has just been a passion of (his),” and playing in NPBA is “a way for me to go out and enjoy the game I love”.

He would “without a doubt recommend (NPBA) to others” because it is “a great way to make memories with your friends and meet new people,” Grabow said.

NPBA is a great place to play basketball in a non competitive league without the pressure of the other factors that play a role in high school basketball. Many people have enjoyed playing and will continue to love the game in this league. This year, playoffs will take place on February 11, be sure to go out, join the fun and support your fellow Panthers.

Fat blockblock Ian Albaeck, junior, and Jack Sampson, junior, rise up to block Jake Cecena, junior, as Chris Brooks, senior, watches it play out. Megan Vlietstra/Prowler

Lock down defensedefense On the right, Ian Albaeck, junior, puts full pressure on the ball carrier while number 43, Jake Cecena, junior, waits for the pass.

Megan Vlietstra/ Prowler

Explosive fast break breakRyan Matlock, senior, looks to Patrick Kilkell, junior, for the easy lay up. On the right, Matt Unlu, junior, prepares to get the rebound.

Megan Vlietstra/ Prowler

Eagle eyes eyes- Matt Unlu, junior, looks for a pass in the paint as he sprints across the court in a game on Jan. 14. Megan Vlietstra/Prowler