18 minute read
Racial Justice
STUDENTS FIGHT AGAINST RACIAL INEQUITY
Prasheetha Karthikeyan/Prowler Prasheetha Karthikeyan Sports Editor McGlauthon Fleming IV Staff Writer Anna Johnson Entertainment Editor Hayden Meixner Staff Writer
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!e death of George Floyd on May 25 sparked national outrage against police brutality while Black Lives Matter protests became prevalent across the country. !is response also sparked conversations of racial inequity of BIPOC in everyday life. Ventura County is no exception to this, and with Generation Z becoming increasingly more involved in these kinds of discussions, many local student organizations addressing racism at a community level have been established.
Diversify Our Narrative
Diversify Our Narrative (DON) is a student led campaign started in June by two Stanford University students. !e initiative branched out into several smaller community organizations, including a chapter in CVUSD.
DON aims to include more anti-racist texts into the curriculum, aiding the $ght for racial inclusivity in our schools.
Catherine Xu, junior at Westlake High School, currently serves as DON’s Director of Communication for California and is the district lead for CVUSD.
“!e reason why we push for anti-racist texts isn’t because the texts we have right now like ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ are bad books, we hope to add more books that are diverse so that the students are able to connect with stories in the books and the experiences,” Xu said.
A#er tackling English classes, Xu wants to help bring to light diversity issues in history classes as, “there are a lot of subjects in history like war on drugs and the missions in fourth grade that are very glori$ed or not talked about.”
Montana Woods, senior at Newbury Park High School, works under Xu in the student life committee, where she helps to promote diversity and inclusivity.
“I think that our goal is to just push this message of antiracism and help people feel more safe and included at our schools and get the message out to our admin that this isn’t just one-o"s or things that are not happening in our areas but it needs to be looked at and they need to have a more involved role in stopping racism at our schools.”
Both Woods and Xu agree that joining DON would be a good way to help support people of color who face adversity in our schools.
“I mean we have kind of a bubble here in Newbury Park, and I think that just taking a look around you and what you are privileged to and how that a"ects your lens of what’s going on in the world [is important],” Woods said.
Social media helps $ght this complex of living in a bubble by helping to spread DON’s message and story. !e main thing that they do on our social media is that they post people’s stories about racism they experience in our area. I think that it helps to push this message of ‘ok well here’s what’s going on and here’s ways you can help,’” Woods said. !rough school, DON hopes to get their message across: racism stops now. Justice in the Classroom
Similar to Diversify our Narrative, Justice in the Classroom is a student-led organization that aims to diversify the curriculum in Ventura County schools.
Annika Kanugo, junior at Newbury Park High School, is the head of the research committee at this organization. She and her team work together to gather data on how they achieve the six main goals of Justice in the Classroom. !ese goals are curriculum change, the release of public records, diversity and inclusion, adding more educators of color, equity training and disciplinary practices.
“So far, we have been able to contact teachers and put together a teacher advisory board to help us with curriculum changes. We also worked on researching current policies which helped us amend them to $t our proposals, and our new board resolution recently got passed for CVUSD. We’re currently working on a journal submission for the CSUCI Anti-Racism journal and creating surveys to send out to students.” Kanugo said of their recent achievements.
CVUSD is not alone in this $ght, Kanugo acknowledged that, “so far, Justice In !e Classroom has established chapters across 6 chapters, ran 3 campaigns, including raising around $1000 to donate to United Farm Workers, and much more. We have made progress in all 6 of our proposals.”
Neha Davaluri, senior at Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley who works as co-Operations lead, also notes accomplishments that the organization has made outside of the educational sector. “We have created partnerships with Friday Night Live and !e !erapist not Cops campaign in the city of Ventura,” Davaluri said. “We recently spoke on a panel in front of the Ventura County O&ce of Education, talking on their diversity and inclusion forum. And subsequent to that panel, we were able to establish a ethnic studies subcommittee.”
Benecia Jude, a senior from Oak Park High School, spoke on how the organization has also tried to aid those of whom the pandemic is negatively a"ecting. “We are working on a campaign called ‘Remote Relief ’ because especially in the pandemic a lot of equities are being disposed for those who don’t have access to technology and di"erent resources so we’re really trying to make those resources more accessible for people in need,” Jude said.
Davaluri maintains that Justice in the Classroom has had a bene$cial e"ect on the community. “Altogether, we have been able to just start the conversation about how much there is lacking of diversity and inclusion in the school system and just in the curriculum in general... just making the community aware of the problems in our school system and what needs to be next.”
Student District Advisory Committee
!e Student District Advisory Committee (SDAC) serves as a representative voice of the student opinion to the board of education and other district sta". A#er that, the Educational Equity subcommittee was created. Addie Craig, senior at Westlake High School, is a chairperson for SDAC. Craig mentioned that the committee was created over the summer and is a priority for SDAC this year. “Our goal is to establish a welcoming learning environment across the district, free from any form of discrimination by reforming our curriculum, altering district policies, and by creating a platform for students to share their experiences in a safe environment.”
Xu, who is also the vice chair of SDAC, explains the direction SDAC is taking in the $ght for education equity. “So far, we are working on surveys and collecting data and information from student experiences so we can then work toward our goals better and meet the student needs,” Xu said. “Something that we want to focus on is creating di"erent channels for reporting racially in%icted incidents so everyone is held accountable and also trying our best to address and $nding solutions to address inequities with technology in the district.”
- Addie Craig
Craig believes that although the national concerns regarding racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equality movements have had a strong in%uence on the creation of the Educational Equity committee, there is also a deeper local necessity SDAC is addressing. “!e need to address discrimination within CVUSD has been a pressing issue for several years,” Craig said. “For too long our students have experienced racist, sexist, and other prejudiced comments not only from other students, but teachers, and it is our duty as students to demand change within our education system.”
Protest - A group of protestors hold up signs for cars to see at the intersection of Hillcrest Dr. and Lynn Rd. in Thousand Oaks. “If you don’t belong to a group that is facing a certain adversity, you can and should still care,” Sia Joshi, junior, said. “Staying silent only allows these injustices to continue.” Reese Kelem/Prowler
Protestors
Outside of organizations, students in the community are trying to help in any way they can. Some are attending protests to support members of the Black community. Roshnee Moorthy, senior, attended four Black Lives Matter protests over the summer and donated art to Dark Matter Collective for an art auction. “I felt extremely passionate about the subject of the protests. I felt that when there’s one group of our community su"ering, it’s our obligation to come together to support them and amplify their voices,” Moorthy said.
Moorthy has expressed her distaste towards how Black Americans have been treated and wants to put her best foot forward to help and correct it. “It’s not a matter of why for me personally. I felt that as another human being, when there’s a systemic problem we must come together as a community to support those who are being a"ected by the systemic problem. In this particular instance, it was the Black community who has been subject to just years of systemic oppression and I de$nitely felt that this was something that I had to do, to support the Black community and be able to be there for members of our community.” said Moorthy.
Emma Sasala, sophomore, has also been showing her support for the $ght against racial injustices. “During the times of the protests, I have been driving by in support and doing my best to educate myself on what’s currently going in the world. I feel it’s important for me to join in the protests because I don’t think the discrimination BIPOC face day to day is acceptable and it’s important for their voices to be heard,” Sasala said.
Sia Joshi, junior, attended four protests over the summer and has joined Justice in the Classroom. “I will also start an organization to spread awareness about and combat injustice. For the organization, I would want it to be through a school club.”
Black Lives Matter - Alex Hahn, senior, and Ashley Washington, senior at Westlake High School, protested in June at the intersection of Hillcrest Dr. and Lynn Rd. in Thousand Oaks. Protests began in the wake of the death of George Floyd in late May throughout the United States, sparking many within Ventura County. “It’s up to us to create change in society when it comes to any injustice so that we can make the world a better place for everyone,” Sia Joshi, junior, said. Reese Kelem/Prowler
Panther Prowler • Sept. 18, 2020
Drama adapts to COVID-19 restrictions
Parker Bohl Staff Writer
NPHS’s drama department has found ways to brilliantly use the current social distancing orders to their advantage. On Sept. 12, they held 24 Hour, an event formally known as 18 Hour, in which students have a day to write and perform an original play or skit.
Stephanie Zager, senior and the director of the 24 hour event, said, “[24 hour has] kinda helped people like dip their feet into theater, so I’m hoping that a lot more people... will try it out.” !is year, 24 hour was held as a Zoom meeting broadcast to YouTube.
Gus Gress, senior, is the president of Drama Club at NPHS. “!eater is [something] where [it’s] really only itself when it’s live,” Gress said. “We’re really trying to "nd ways that make the most of the situation. Drama club is kind of our daytime connection to our theater department, which usually rehearses a#er school.”
Gress believes that taking a drama class in high school is a valuable experience. “I think it’s really important that everyone take a theater class at NPHS. Well, for one, Mrs. Strange is an amazing teacher,” he said. “Her class is so much fun, and everyone needs that in their day, to kind of be in a class like that, where you can really learn how to express yourself, not just as an artist, but as a person.”
Nikki Charles, junior, had her own reasons for joining the Drama Club. “I joined because I wanted to improve my con"dence in myself and experience the perspective of an actor to further help my development in technical theatre. I aim for one of my majors to be in the entertainment business and I thought these classes would give me the best experience,” Charles said.
Charles believes that there is some silver-lining to having online theater events. “For the adapted events, I feel that they are much easier online since it takes o$ the stress of being physically at the PAC, especially for 24 hour,” Charles said. !e drama department of NPHS is very important to many people, and it continues to grow and thrive under challenging circumstances. It seems 24 hour was just the beginning. For more information, check out @nphstheatre_ on Instagram.
Let’s Act- Drama Club members prepare to perform their skits on the 24 hour Zoom. “We’re trying to continue to have our regular events, such as the 24-hour theater festival,” said Gress. Leslie Blanco/With Permission
Students experience shows from their cars
Nandini Patro Staff Writer
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For all music and movie lovers, do not lose hope yet: there’s still a way you can experience this magic, COVID-19 style. Multiple places, including the Ventura Fairgrounds, have made some adjustments to make events as enjoyable as possible while taking the proper safety precautions.
Kevin Campos, senior, recently experienced the closest thing you can get to a concert from the band Fitz and Tantrums at the Ventura Fairgrounds. “You basically park at the designated parking spot and just set up, and listen to the nice music and dance,” Campos said. “I believe they did an amazing job for them to recreate that moment for people.”
Bryce Ferguson, junior, also went to a drive-in concert at the Ventura Fairgrounds. “It was Metallica, and it was a pre-recorded video played on a few screens,” Ferguson said. Campos and Ferguson both agree that the Fairgrounds tried hard to keep it as safe while recreating the concert experience. “People are allowed to go outside of their cars as long as they’re staying 6 feet away from other people and wearing a mask,” Ferguson continued.
Both Campos and Ferguson saw this as an unique experience, but was de"nitely on the costly side. “It was $130 per car depending on the range you wanted to watch the concert from,” Campos said. Ferguson believed it was not worth it in the end. “It was a cool experience, but not being able to see the actual band for how much it cost wasn’t worth it,” Ferguson said. “Most people today can just go on YouTube and watch a livestream for free. I would recommend it if it was cheaper.”
Drive-in movies have proven to be quite popular as well. Kylie Lewus, freshman, recently went to two drive-in movies, including the WestWind drive-in theater to see “Beauty and the Beast.”
“!ere was a ticket booth stand and we bought tickets for everyone in the car, the price was around $10 and they told us to park behind the "rst row,” Lewus said. “!e workers told us the radio station to go to to be able to hear the movie.” In terms of safety, Lewus recognizes they made e$orts to be precautious as well. “!e cars were 6-10 feet apart and you had to wear a mask when you le# your car area.” Lewus also believes that the price was worth it for the quality of her experience, rating it a “10 out of 10.”.
While these times continue to change and lead us with uncertainty, there’s no reason not to enjoy them while still saying safe. !ough this may not be exactly what we are used to, it’s still something we can appreciate with the closest taste of normal we can get.
Gwen Buchanan
Back Cover Editor
with 11
Tiana Hoang
Tiana Hoang/With Permission Tiana Hoang, junior, is coping with quarantine and online school just like the rest of us. Check out this Tea Time to see her personal experience from summer and in starting school this year!
How are you feeling about quarantine and school starting online this year? At !rst it was kind of hard, because usually in the fall I really look forward to looking at my classes and !nding all the rooms and especially football season, that’s my favorite time of year, so I was super disappointed. But I also think it has a good side, I’m really able to focus on school. I guess there are ups and downs.
What has been your biggest zoom distraction in class this year? Well, both of my parents are working from home, so my mom and dad will always come in during class, and I will have to shoo them away. But other than that, most of my family is downstairs and I’m upstairs, so there aren’t a lot of problems with it. My biggest problem is probably just internet connection and my computer crashing, or my teachers computer crashing.
What have you been watching on Net!ix lately that you would recommend? I would de!nitely recommend Avatar the Last Airbender. Personally, I didn’t watch it a lot growing up like I know a lot of people did, so it kind of has that nostalgia factor, but even watching it for the !rst time, I really really liked it. Even though some people view it as a kids show, I would de!nitely recommend it to everyone. Other than that, I haven’t had time to watch tons of movies like I did during the summer.
What is your view on pineapple on pizza? I don’t think it’s the best pizza topping, but I also think that a lot of people don’t like it just because the internet tells them not to like it. Other people have just made it into this horrible horrible thing that ruins pizza and is not authentically italian, but honestly a lot of pizza in America isn’t authentically italian, so I don’t think that you can really make that claim. I also think it’s not that bad.
What hobbies have you picked up in quarantine? Well right now I am pretty focused on school, but I’ve de!nitely picked up painting again. I didn’t really get to go on a school supplies trip or anything this year, so I just took some of my old school supplies and painted over it so that it would feel newer, so that’s been pretty fun. I’ve also gotten back into reading. For awhile I didn’t have any time to read, because I would just read for school and I would read all of these really serious novels, but recently I’ve started picking up old books that I just read for fun like Percy Jackson, and things like that.
Photography reinvents their curriculum
Adalia Luo DPS Editor
As everyone braves the transition to online learning, the NPHS photography program has had to reinvent itself.
“Normally we’re shooting with !lm, working in the dark room, also shooting with DSLR cameras, as well as the SLR !lm cameras,” said Eric Lindroth, head of the photography program. “I don’t have enough cameras for [Photo 1/Photo 2 students], so most of them are using their phones.”
Without !lm and being able to access the dark room, a major part of the curriculum, Lindroth has had to redesign the program. “I’ve had to reinvent about 70% of my curriculum, so in a way, it’s interesting because I’m having to come up with new ways to teach photography,” said Lindroth. “But, it’ll be an adventure, a challenge.”
Moving online has provided a surprising bright side. “I think it can become more "uid, the photography in this situation,” Lindroth said. “I think what we should do is try and make photography more a part of your everyday experience... as you walk around your world, you’re thinking about these photoshoots, and what it does is makes [photography] more integrated into your life.” Lindroth even plans to incorporate these lessons into his future curriculums. “I think there’s a silver lining there… my goal is to make them see the world as a photographer.”
Tiana Hoang, junior and IB Photography student, agrees. “I’m just really excited to have a class that forces me to get out of my house and work on school, but also have a break from my computer and traditional assignments. It’s really easy to stay in my room all day, so this forces me to be creative,” Hoang said. #at being said, the transfer online has been wearisome. “I think [taking Photo] is harder because you don’t have the in-person setting,” Brady Craven, sophomore and AP photography student, said. “Mr. Lindroth is always very helpful and it was just nice to have him [in-person], to give you tips and help out.”
Despite these challenges, photography continues to be an enriching experience for all of the students lucky enough to be a part of the program. “It’s a really good class, even virtually, and I think that more people should take it,” Hoang said.
Snap- (QTQPGQHVJGſTUVCUUKIPOGPVUVJKU[GCTUVWFGPVUYGTGCUUGUUGFQPVJGKTVGEJPKECNUMKNNNGXGNő9GJCFVQVWTPKPUQOGKOCIGUVJCVTGRTGUGPVGFVJGTWNGQHVJKTFUUQOGYKVJDCNCPEGGVEŒ*QCPIUCKFő+FGEKFGFVQIQQWVVQ5CVYKYCUQVJCV+YQWNFJCXGOQTGQRVKQPUQPYJCV+YCPVGFVQRJQVQITCRJŒ Tiana Hoang/With Permission
