February 15 2017 by Seattle Preparatory School

Celebrating 125 years of Seattle Preparatory High School

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER Cover Art by Sidney Kemp â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17

February 15, 2017

www.seapreppanther.org

THE ARTS ISSUE

Volume 72 No. 5

Twitter: @seapreppanther Instagram: @seapreppanthers

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

EDITORIAL EDITOR: MIKAELA FRIGILLANA ‘17

Panther Staff N CHAN

Editors-in-Chief Mimi Jurion ‘17 & George Kent ‘17

Online Editors Mikaela Frigillana ‘17 Jeffrey Pelayo ‘17 Sports Editor Paul Winebrenner ‘17 Panther Staff Maggie Kerner ‘17 Olivia Smith ‘17 Annika Bjornson ‘18 Sophie Freeman ‘18 Kellen Kavanagh ‘18 Alex Arce-Torres ‘19 Abby Arthur ‘19 Danny Bowers ‘19 Katarina Conces ‘19 Emma Connell ‘19 Mia Griff ‘19 Owen Hendricks ‘19 Gabi Jeakle ‘19 Allison Kearney ‘19 Moses Kent ‘19 Kate Leahy ‘19 Quinn Losse ‘19 Mark McClean ‘19 Myles Nowak ‘19 Mimi Parent ‘19 Sophie Piacentini ‘19 Noah Pingul ‘19 Chloe Saharic ‘19 Lilly Thompson ‘19 Isabella Yuson ‘19 Lauren Day ‘20 Joe Robinson ‘20 Walid Vanegas ‘20 Grace Weiand ‘20

“A

nd this... is American Idol.” Though dreams don’t always come true, or meet our expectations, that Reminiscing the dreams doesn’t mean they are worthless. Some kerI had as a child, the second I turned 16 I nel of insight can still be garnered, even if wanted to hear Ryan Seacrest speak those we didn’t follow the track exactly. Our viinfamous words and audition to be the nasions are largely symbolic of our character tion’s next superstar. I also fantasized own- and talents, and tapping back into a more ing a red Ferrari convertinnocent mindset serves ible and having my own as a reminder of aspects of “Isn’t there a way ourselves we have forgotcooking show. When we’re to combine prac- ten, leading toward further young, anything seems identifying and pursuing our ticality with the passions. possible, so we dream big. If asked why today, most wonder and excite- For one, I know I’m not people probably wouldn’t American Idol, but makment that comes an have a real reason for ing that a goal of mine in the with dreaming?” first place signifies a sort of setting such ridiculous goals in the first place. If creative energy, even if that it sounded cool, we were means finding an alternate stage to express convinced it could happen. Self-limiting myself on. Wanting a car may represent beliefs were simply not an issue. Comindependence and the need for me to move ing as close to even thinking about doing in a certain direction in life. the same things now, we would gather up Realizing just how valuable a million excuses to talk ourselves out of the childhood imagination is teaches us them. Judgement from others, self-doubt to cherish and protect it. It also calls on and the cutoff between what’s realistic and individuals to practice reading between what isn’t suddenly become deterring facthe lines and finding the deeper meaning. tors. Isn’t there a way to combine practical- As we grow up, our powers for fantasy are ity with the wonder and excitement that replaced with more adult forms of imagicomes with dreaming? It’s important to nation, trading dream jobs and creative acknowledge the perseverant ambition that thoughts for facts and what the world says once defined us - the little kid that never is achievable. Our surroundings may put us took no for an answer - and use that as mo- in a position where we feel forced to grow tivation to reach whatever goals we have up, but we can keep the inspired part of our today. minds that we felt as children alive.

Cartoon

by MOSES KENT ‘19

Moderator Micah Richardson

Editorial Policy The Seattle Prep Panther is a student created, student-run journalism program which provides the Seattle Prep community with accurate, informative articles and media while practicing the components of a professional newspaper. The staff aims to create an informative newspaper and website which focus on issues important to our high school community.

Mission Statement The Seattle Prep Panther is a forum for student work and the editorial board makes final decisions regarding publication. The editorial board’s responsibility is not only to present one viewpoint, but to reveal multiple perspectives. The views represented in the Panther or in online publications do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, the school, or the administration as a whole.

THE ART OF THE FINSTA

MIKAELA FRIGILLANA ‘17 Online Editor

Managing Editor Emma Cooney ‘18 Photo Editor Mariella Saludares ‘17

EL YOUR INNER CHILD

Editorial Note:

The Seattle Prep Panther chose to do an arts issue for the month of February not only to step outside the paper’s traditional content and design, but also to showcase

the many artistic talents and opportunities at Prep. This unique compilation of articles and images includes the different ways students express themselves, from taking

MIMI JURION ‘17 Editor-in-Chief

“F

insta” or “Finstagram”: noun; a fake (or second) Instagram where people post whatever they want to a select few followers and unspoken Instagram rules no longer apply. Kids are free to post “ugly selfies”, silly videos, extensive rants, throw “shade” or share a joke with their closest friends. The funny posts and captions ultimately accentuate each “finsta” user’s unfiltered personalities. Lily Dowling ‘17 shared her use of her second Instagram: “It’s just me being myself and it’s fun to have a place to post whatever I want and not have random people see it!” I personally love that I can post as many times as I want at whatever time, my caption can be obnoxiously long and my posts can be completely random. It is the most creative and interactive social media platform that I

“It’s just me being myself and it’s fun to have a place to post whatever I want and not have random people see it!” use and it’s fun to cultivate an alter-ego which exercises my ability to laugh at myself.” The “finsta” sensation is taking over as one of the most popular social media platforms, and it is very often that Prep students will have multiple Instagram accounts. Kate Ramsay ‘17 shared her perspective on her personal “finsta:” “@KateRamsayMusic gives me a creative outlet to post silly photos and videos from the perspective of my alter-ego. I love logging on to KRM and being able to share that side of me with my friends,” said Ramsay. The other day, as I explained to my mom for the hundredth time what a “finsta” was, I finally understood the perplexed expression on her face. I reiterated to her that “finsta” allows true personalities to shine through and is a judgement free zone. Still confused, she asked me, “Why is it fake then?” She made a good point. When did our personalities, appearance and lifestyle become filtered and edited? Social media put us in a compromising position... Our “real” Instagrams aren’t real at all in comparison to our “fake” Instagrams- is that why we need two ways to express ourselves to our peers? pictures in AP Studio Art to performing in the upcoming musical, and what art means to them.

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

PREP LIFE

EDITORS: SOPHIE PIACENTINI ’19 KAT CONCES ‘19 MARK MCCLEAN ‘19

Mrs. Gillis’ Big Break

Teacher Leaves Seattle Prep for Art Commission

ISABELLA YUSON ‘19 Staff Writer

fter four and a half years of working at Prep, Mrs. Gillis will be leaving to embark on a new journey in the world of art. She will be teaming up with Alexandria, a real estate company that builds biotech buildings, to create fantastic pieces of art for a building called Juno Therapeutics Inc. Gillis says that the work involves science and math and has large scale works in the lobby. With her new job, she will be working full time in her studio to create masterpieces to showcase to all.

Ms. Gillis has been a practicing artist and went to graduate school for the arts. She says that being in the studio puts her in her “zen mode” and makes her feel happy. She believes that art is a great way for her to express her ideas. Her work varies from large-scale, large installation, painting, and drawing. When she creates her art, she pays attention to detail and makes them tell their own stories and hopes that view-

ers will acknowledge the work she puts into each piece. She also mentions that she does not have a favorite art medium. Instead, she uses “a combination of media as my ideas change and develop constantly. I’m always looking to experiment with materials in order to fully investigate my ideas throughout the studio process.” The transition from Prep to her new job is challenging. She mentions that it is hard to leave teaching because she loves

“...it is a once in a life time opportunity to pursue work in the professional work” -Mrs. Gillis

it. But then she adds that it is an “opportunity in my own professional life. It does not happen to all and it is a once in a life time opportunity to pursue work in the professional work.” She states that she will miss the students the most and that she had worked with such a talented and dedicated group of students. She also is going to miss her colleagues and says that she is “lucky to work at and institution where everyone is kind, dedicated, and supportive of the arts.” Juno is located in South Lake Union at 307 Westlake Ave N #300, Seattle, WA 98109. Come check out her work sometime!

From Scotland to Montlake: Window Art Class Opens Doors Prepster Pursues Piping Passion For Aspiring Artists DANNY BOWERS ‘19 & WALID VANEGAS ‘20 Staff Writers

hat do you think of when you hear the word ‘bagpipe’? Celebrations? Scotland? Funerals? It often seems as if bag piping, as a hobby, is often unrelated to the United States. Surprisingly, there is actually a bagpiper in the Seattle Prep community; Gerry Anderson ‘19. Gerry gave some personal insight on playing ‘the pipes.’ The bagpipe is an instrument originating from Scotland, that uses air reserves in a bag to generate sound as it is blown through a pipe. Most bagpipes are played by blowing into the instrument, while using your hands to to change notes. Bagpipes also have at least one drone: a pipe that maintains a constant harmonizing note while the pipes are played.

When asked about his introduction to bag piping, Anderson responded “I started playing in fourth grade, I started playing because I was inspired by my great uncle who also plays”. He also stated that bag piping is important to his heritage because his family originated from Scotland. Anderson detailed his practice schedule of “band practices twice a week” and “personal lessons twice a month.” Anderson claims that the work is worth it because he likes the aspect of working hard. He claims that practicing leads to much better music and a satisfying feeling. He works during the school year to perform his bag piping in the summer. Anderson describes that “There are both solo and band events” where they perform in front of a judge who evaluates them. Anderson is just one example of the true meaning of art: expressing ones self through a variety of forms of passion.

PHOTOS: ALEX ARCE-TORRES ’19

Each B Day during window period, students gather for Window Art Period class. Taught by Mrs. Dold, this class gives students the opportunity to pursue their artistic passions outside of traditional art classes.

“I was inspired by my great uncle who also plays” -Gerry Anderson ‘19

Getting to the Heart of JEFFREY PELAYO ‘17 Online Editor in Chief This five letter word will get any Prep student excited. It will pause an anatomy teacher’s lesson in order to allow their students to chant this word. It will even motivate courageous students to dance in front of the whole school. What is this word? PULSE. The hip hop dance team, Pulse, is typically something most students look forward to at assemblies and games. Pulse captain Sophia Saturnino ‘18 even states that “one of my classmates asked me if Pulse was going to perform at the giving tree assembly back in December.” Despite how effortless Pulse looks on the dance floor, there is a lot of preparation that takes place before each performance. “[The] hardest thing is probably

practicing and preparing for 3 months and only living in the glory for 5 minutes. Also, the school probably doesn’t know that since leaders teach, choreograph, perfect and make formations. It’s really hard to make time to be a good leader while also focusing on extra activities and school,” says Ashley Mah ‘18, one of the Pulse captains. Though today, the hip hop dance team’s hard work receives a lot of support from the Prep community, this was not always the case during the early stages of the team. Team manager Mrs. Bernal says that at first, “the student body didn’t know how to respond to the team. They were used to the cheerleaders as the main performance at assemblies. Pulse’s line up were always not what you would hear on the radio. The members of the team were also nonstereotypical Prep students. The first year

PULSE we started, it was scary and exciting. I didn’t know any of the students and they didn’t know me. The interest meeting only had a handful of students and I knew they’ve been in the previous dance teams. At that meeting, I promised that I wasn’t going to quit on them. I promised I was going to help them be successful.” To this day Mrs. Bernal has kept her promise as the team is still thriving and more successful than ever. Pulse is the largest it has ever been consisting of 29 students, standing as one of the most diverse clubs at Seattle Prep. Prep alum Clarize ‘09 has even been with Pulse through it all as one of the team coaches ever since she founded the club in 2007. Pulse has definitely changed a lot since then. Though at first, the main focus was to perform well in front of the

school, Mah states that “Pulse is reaching new heights this year. We are closer than we have ever been. We are making things happen, like designing merchandise and team outfits, organizing team bonding sessions, and performing at Winterfest, cultural events outside of Prep, sports games, and even Disneyland.” Pulse has been able to accomplish its goals this year all because of the coaches and students on the team and the student body that supports them. The loving spirit that Pulse embodies has definitely contributed the spirit and community of the school. Those looking for more information about the Pulse program can follow the team’s Instagram account @seapreppulse and its Youtube account @preppulse.

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

SOPHIE PIACENTINI ‘19 KAT CONCES ‘19 & MARK MCCLEAN ‘19 Staff Writers

“W

AGA Films is a gateway into a bigger professional film production service,” said Will Gardner, one of the two creators behind WAGA Films. Adam Ambuske ‘19 and Will Gardner ‘19 started the film production company, WAGA Films, their freshman year at Seattle Prep. Gardner and Ambuske started the company when they learned they shared a common interest in film production. The pair realized that their complementary

talents and approach could combine for a stronger creative process. They have done multiple videos for school sports teams such as Seattle Prep Swim and Football, but WAGA Films extends much wider than just the Seattle Prep community. The group has worked on Real Estate promotional videos and lifestyle

films as well. They have also contracted work with Franz Bakery. It can take the partners anywhere from two hours to two weeks to make a video. Much of the work that goes towards the project takes place after the filming

WAGA

Get Jiggy With It: Irish Dancers at Prep

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Lulu Dawson: Aspiring Photographer

N ‘18

& ISA

BELL

MIA GRIFF ‘19 Staff Writer

ulu Dawson is an aspiring photographer and sophomore at Seattle Prep. Despite her talent, Lulu only started her interest in photography this past year. Dawson became involved when she decided she wanted to start looking for jobs as a concert reviewer, but soon realized that most jobs require both photography and writing skills. She decided to try it out and soon discovered she loved it! Currently, she is working to pursue her photography career by shooting concerts and reviewing them for two separate online publications. Dawson is also starting to get involved in more freelance work, doing photoshoots and adding her new shots to albums in her up-and-coming website. When asked if she would be interested in making her photography a career, Dawson said, “Abso-

is done. Everyone knows that filmmaking is a creative process, but editing is often overlooked as one of the most artistic parts of production. Editing is a big part of the creative process as well as the content of the films. WAGA Films does both filming and editing, ensuring that the quality of the films are consistent. Their favorite video together is their “Best of 2016” video because “it was the first video we did together that highlighted our individual skills.” When asked, Gardner and Ambuske agree if they could film anywhere in the world they would want to film Bali showing a perspective of Bali that people don’t see. The video production company of WAGA Films truly embodies both the artistic process and exceptional collaboration of students here at Seattle Prep. To support the Seattle Prep sophomores go to their Youtube channel @WAGAFilms.

lutely, yeah. I would like to do concert reviews and photography on a bigger scale.” Dawson has attended a countless number of concerts in the Seattle area, shooting for a wide variety of different music artists and genres. She says her favorite photo she has ever taken, from 107.7 The End’s Summer Camp, features Big Data artist Lizy Ryan smiling in awe as she looks out into the crowd. Finally, when asked what the funniest thing she has ever caught on camera was, she giggled and said “I get a lot of derpy concert face… a lot of in between shots that are just really funny.” Lulu continues to work on her photography skills at concerts and as a freelancer for the yearbook staff. She is also applying for a photography contest. The winner gets the prize of $1,500. You can vote for her at: ultimatemusicmoment.com

A YUS

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ANNIKA BJORNSON ‘18 Staff Writer

hink Pulse is the only group of dancers on campus? Think again! Shannon Curtin ‘19, Cameron Lambert ‘19, and Jasmine Lee ‘18 are competitive Irish dancers with a lot of passion for their form of art. The dance style has it’s roots in a traditional Irish practice and is characterized by a stiff upper body and precise leg movements. Hard shoes, which make sound, and soft shoes, which do not, are both used in the modernday sport. Lambert, who dances at Comerford School of Irish Dance and has placed fourth in world Irish dancing competitions,

said, “I like that it combines a sport and art together...There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it.” Curtin shared that she really loves releasing negative energy through dance. Though some may enjoy the performing aspect of the sport, she prefers being surrounded by friends while rehearsing in the dance studio. She and Lee dance at Tara Academy of Irish Dance at the open championship level. Lee has stayed with the sport through various fractures, twists, and sprains because of the amazing community she has experienced. “My feet are dying, but I still love it,” she says playfully. Though injuries are common due to all the jumping and high-impact aspects, these three Irish dancers have a lot of love and respect for their passion.

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

Designing Aidan Curtin ‘17 loves design. The senior, attending Pratt Institute next year with a focus in architecture, has been drawing buildings since 8th grade. He described his interest as growing from an image of a facade he drew in class one day: “I was just like ‘oh I can keep doing this’ and so I drew a few more, and that’s how I got into it,” said Curtin. Curtin has a passion for any type of artistic design whether it’s a piece of furniture to adorn a room, a set of armor for a character, or an entire character itself (he frequently draws sci-fi images of a bunny character partially based on Judy Hopps from Zootopia). His art style is informed by his love for architecture, and his designs are tight and precise. “I use Art Studio,” said Curtin, holding up his iPad to demonstrate a detailed image of a sci-fi scene, “it’s five bucks, but it’s worth it.” Curtin also uses SketchUp, a program used by professional architecture firms. “I’m kind of self-taught,” said Curtin, laughing. “I just got on and started messing around.” To Curtin, architecture is about the people that will be experiencing the

EDITORS: EMMA COONEY‘18 GEORGE KENT ‘17

Freedom Through Art

AR T

Lifestyle

things he’s designing. “It’s about affecting people in some way. . . If I become an architect I can build structures that people can interact with, and if I go into animation I can emotionally affect people.” Whether he uses it directly or not, Curtin’s passion for architecture will guide his creations into the future.

“It’s about affecting people in some way.”

What happens when you merge physical art and 2D design into one class? Seattle Prep’s AP Studio Art class! Members of the class Tom Kelly ’17 and Claire Benjamin ’17 described how the school year began with all students choosing a theme for their concentration art piece concept. Once everyone picked a topic, they needed to create 12 different art pieces that related to that topic by the end of the semester. Instead of a more structured environment like most classes at Prep, Tom Kelly stated, “There isn’t a strict schedule in this class. Mrs. Dold tells us what we need to complete by the end of the semester and lets us work on our art.”

DIO

Kelly chose to make his art pieces through physical art, or art that concretely exists in physical reality. One of the art pieces Kelly completed is a black and white self-portrait, and through the process he says he never realized how many details there are in a human face. Kelly likes to mix together different objects in his drawings of things that would never seem to go well together.

Claire Benjamin, on the other hand, chose to focus her art on the transformation from girlhood to womanhood. Much of her art reflects the importance of a girl’s journey through early life and into maturity. She explained how AP Studio Art enabled her to be free to express what she wants.

STU

Because of the freedom of the class, students like Benjamin feel as though they have a chance to truly express something meaningful to them, as opposed to following the strict, outlined structure of most other classes. The students in this class seem to prosper as individuals as they work to better express what matters to them through their art.

Art on

Thoughts

To some, art is simply a hobby, but to senior, painter, and AP studio art student Bailey Flinn, “art is a way to express the world to people in ways they could or would not see it. Art is capable of expressing ideas, emotions, and different views of the mundane world.” Flinn sees art as a necessity; a way to release and communicate emotion: “A huge number of depressed artists created great art because they felt so much, and that ability to express themselves made them love art. I don’t think people have to start with a love of art to make art. All you have to start with is a need to relieve stress.” Though many artists are considered perfectionists, Flinn has her own opinion about the practice of perfectionism in art. She said, “I think perfectionism has to evolve. You should strive to create something perfectly beautiful, disturb-

ing, etc., but you are never going to perfectly capture the idea you started with. The main thing I have learned is that you have to know when to stop. Perfectionism can both hurt and help your piece of art.” Flinn also emphasized the importance of connecting her art to the real world: “It is impossible to make meaningful art without outside influence. ‘Stopping power,’ or the power to make someone take more than thirty seconds to look at your piece of art, can only express ideas or provoke emotions through being on common ground with people. If there is no connection to real life, people will not be able to connect to it. Art with roots in reality is more significant.”

“Art is a way to express the world”

EMMA COONEY ‘18 Managing Editor OWEN HENDRICKS ‘19 Staff Writer GEORGE KENT ‘17 Editor-in-Chief

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

FASHION EDITOR: JEFFREY PELAYO ‘17

JEFFREY PELAYO ‘17 Online Editor-in-Chief

rises and daisies aren’t the only things blooming this spring. As the temperature begins to heat up again, it seems that the fashion is following suit (no pun intended). This year, fashion enthusiasts should “bewear” of the many trends strutting into the fashion world, including brighter colors, florals, and even reappearances of pieces from the early 2000s. “Florals in the spring? Groundbreaking.” Though there is some sarcasm in this iconic quote spoken by Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) in “The Devil Wears Prada,” fashion critics can argue that floral is discretely beginning to find its way into 2017’s spring fashion. This is evident through the growing fame of embroidered jeans, one-shouldered tops, and garments with ruffles or frills. These pieces allude to the flowers soon to be blossoming as they reflect the wearer’s internal search for lightness and break-through. Last spring, off-

shoulder tops were very popular, but this spring it’s all about keeping one shoulder modest and the other bare. Fringe has also been a recurring spring trend, but tassels have proven to become the offspring of it. Tassels have been integrated into multiple accessories as they could possibly replace the iconic puff ball earrings, shoes, and keychains that defined 2016 fashion. After a long and cold winter filled with dark and gloomy colors, it is no surprise that pops of color will also become a recurring motif in everybody’s closets. More earthy and neutral colors were very common in 2016, so it is exhilarating to see some change in the clothing color palettes.

Colors that will be prominent in most garments this spring are shades of yellow, pink, green, and even iridescence because they can add the element of excitement to any ensemble. Shoppers looking for inspiration for the upcoming trends can resort to garments worn in the early 2000s since bold prints and colors were very in style at the time. Familiar textures such as sheer, fish net, and velour are making a comeback, even through socks. It is evident that brands such as Juicy Couture, Champion, and Puma have evolved into everyday styles as well. Along with Puma Creepers and other flatform shoes, loafers are an ex-

“Shoppers looking for inspiration for the upcoming trends can resort to garments worn in the early 2000s”

ample of shoe showstoppers that have literally stepped back onto the scene. Rihanna has been an icon in modern fashion through her line of Creepers and the Haus of Rihanna. Her country-inspired line has brought back bedazzled belts which have become a statement piece necessary in every girl’s closet. The sassy and sporty styles that were thriving at the beginning of the century have clearly found a way to integrate into modern fashion. The multiple fashion trends this spring exemplify society’s nostalgia towards fashion in the past. These timeless pieces truly prove that history does repeat itself. Luckily, consumers have the convenience of Zara, Urban Outfitters, and most importantly, thrift stores to make sure they never miss out on these latest trends.

Yale Bonnet ‘20

Mikaela Frigillana ‘17 Anya Lewis ‘17 Chinwe Ezeonu ‘17

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Ruby Fulmore ‘17

Yves Saint Laurent: Fashion Fades, Style is Eternal WHO is YSL?

Other than the mispronunciation of his name, french designer Yves Saint Laurent is famous for being the successor of Mr. Dior and for his creative outlook on style throughout the eras. His iconic color blocking dress, white doves and statement pink bows are symbolic of his work, and allows admirers to be stunned by his creativity and originality. He is often quoted, for his words continue to inspire the fashion world: “Fashion fades, style is eternal”.

MIMI JURION ‘17 Editor-in-Chief WHAT is the SAM exhibit? WHY is YSL relevant today?

The YSL exhibit, “The Perfection of Style”, attracted fashion lovers and artists to the Seattle Art Museum from October 11January 8. The artfully constructed exhibit contains over 100 pieces of haute couture on display- from bold dresses, Chinese style garments to pea coats and large hats. Original drawings, sketches and photographs from 1936-2002 also cover the walls, while capturing trends from each era’s style. Film clips, paper dolls and other multimedia items allow an interactive experience for museum visitors. Delving deeper into the exhibit, a long hallway of YSL’s fabric selections are displayed in glass doors, which is like walking through a rainbow of colorful swatches. Prep student Anya Lewis ‘17 shares her experience of her visit to the SAM: “

The answer is simple- Hillary Clinton would not be wearing her iconic pantsuit without St. Laurent’s design of “Le Smoking”. He changed fashion history by designing the controversial pantsuit: “When I introduced the pantsuit to the working woman, it caused quite a stir in America. In New York’s famous 21 Club, a woman wearing a pantsuit and a tunic was turned away. To be admitted to the dining room, she had to check her pants into the coat room and wear just a tunic- leaving her, in essence, in a mini dress”. Put in greater perspective, YSL played a crucial role in the art the long battle of telling women what they can and cannot wear. Clinton’s pantsuit has been called “unflattering” and “unfeminine” and is discriminatory to women by criticism of their appearance. St. Laurent challenged society’s traditional gender roles through his innovative designs in the 1960s.

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

EDITORS: LAUREN DAY ‘20, MIMI PARENT ‘19, JOE ROBINSON ‘20, AND GRACE WEIAND ‘20

T Ignite Goes Online

Photo Credit: Ignite An advertisement from last year’s Ignite publication.

MIMI PARENT ‘20 Staff Writer

eattle Prep’s literary and visual arts publication, Ignite, has made changes to their design and format. Ignite has brought their publication online and will now be accepting a wider variety of mediums. This change will make content easier to access and will allow people outside of the Prep community to enjoy their work. Ms. Dotsey, the moderator of Ignite, believes that the online format will, “create flexibility because we are now able to do a lot more with different genres. Now, we are able to do a feature film, a recording of a monologue, or an animation. It’s nice that we are able to feature things like this because we offer courses here at Prep that contain that content.” This will create more opportunities for students to share their talents and interests because they are now less constrained. Additionally, the online formate will create a wider audience of viewers and allow Prep students to access content

at any time. Sidney Kemp, the editor-inchief of Ignite who created and designed the website believes, “This change will be much more convenient for people to access and unlike the original physical copies, the online version will be extremely easy and quick to access. In the past, students could only read Ignite during Olympic week and homecoming week. Now, students can read Ignite anytime!” If you are interested in submitting a piece Ignite is accepting drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, comics, short films, poems, short fiction/nonfiction (1200 words max). Submissions are due by 3/3 at 3 p.m. to ignite@seaprep.org Writing: send as a Word document Drawings, Paintings, Etc: send as PDF Adviser: Ms. Dotsey, jdotsey@seaprep.org

Modern Art Movement Embraces Individuality

odern art has influenced our culture and lifestyle immensely and was the reigning art style for over a century. Hundreds have portrayed their emotions, views, or ideals through the obscure shapes and shooting lines. Modern art is an umbrella term for a plethora of other styles—cubism, futurism, and expressionism to name a few—and has gone through many trends, fads, and changes as the decades carried on. Modern art has its roots in the mid to late 19th century with the creation of works by Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and other impressionists. The entire purpose of modern art was to dis-

pel and rebel against the traditional form of art that had been instilled in the art world and create new, innovative ways of painting. Ms. Dold, the visual art teacher here at Prep, says “The turn of the century is when everything really changed, when work moved from commission work to being about individuality and experience.” Thus began the first sub-movement, impressionism, largely defined by light and condensed brush strokes, then to

“It’s self expression at its core”

SAM Offers Something for Everyone

symbolism and then to more abstract styles like fauvism and cubism, modern art quickly transformed the artistic landscape into a place for individualism and self-expression. While the movement is considered to be done and has now been replaced by contemporary art and other styles of that nature, its impact will forever last. Modern art and its subsequent styles is ubiquitous and found not only in museums and art galleries, but in public

JOE ROBINSON ‘20 Staff Writer

works, graffiti, and even in art displayed in the halls of Seattle Prep, made by our own student body. It can be found in works like the SLU Sculpture Park or the Seattle Center. Ms. Dold continues “Modern art speaks to the individual. It is ideas and intents instead of commission. It’s self-expression at its core, and really encompasses everything since all art is just abstractions of reality.” As you walk the halls of Prep or the streets of Seattle, observe the art you see, and discover what resonates to you.

GRACE WEIAND ‘20 Staff Writer

ver the past few months, it seemed that everyone was talking about the incredible Yves Saint Laurent exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. Now that it is closed, the focus is shifting to all of the other artwork found at SAM. The new spotlight exhibit is a collection of work done by Jacob Lawrence. Anyone who has been in Ms. Dold’s freshman art class will be familiar with his strikingly unique pieces. Lawrence lived in Seattle for a portion of his life, and SAM is celebrating the 100 year anniversary of his birth. This exhibit will be on display until April 23. Ms. Dold is also planning on taking some of her second se-

mester art students to see this exhibit, and the rich history behind Jacob Lawrence’s work. Another, lesser known part of the Seattle Art Museum is the Sculpture Park. Located directly next to Pike Place Market, it is a great way to see art for free. There are dozens of individual sculptures overlooking the Puget Sound. Finally, the permanent exhibits at SAM are great to better understand art from different cultures and time periods throughout history. From contemporary art to Ancient American art, there is something for everyone.

Photo Credit: Grace Weiand A permanent exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum.

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15 , 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

IN THEATERS EDITORS: NOAH PINGUL & ‘19 ABBY ARTHUR ‘19

Behind the Scenes of “Anything Goes”

“L

a la land” follows two young artist trying to make their dreams come true in the city of stars. Mia (Emma Stone) is an aspiring actress and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is trying to renew the spark and excitement for jazz that wonders like ABBY ARTHUR ‘19 & QUINN LOSSE ‘19 Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis once brought. Staff Writers Through their trials and errors, the audience is given an insight into the struggles that one must face to “make it big” Directed by Damien Chazelle, t’s that time of year again for Seattle Prep’s musical production, and this year’s musi“La la land” is a love letter to the great movies that brought together exciting cal is “Anything Goes.” The show is set in the 1930s and takes place on a cruise ship music, intricate dance, romantic stories, and vivid color to the big screen form sailing from New York to England. It follows the story of a nightclub performer, a the golden age of film all the way to psychedelic block busters of the swinging hopelessly romantic love triangle, and the ship’s crew and passengers who are along for the ride. Over the course of nine weeks, the cast works on every aspect of the show to bring it as sixties. Chazelle romanticizes certain aspects of Los Angeles while still keepclose to perfection as one can. The person to thank for this near perfection would be the director, ing the realities of the grit prominent. The film begins with a grand musical Mr. Othman. When discussing how Mr. Othman runs his show, Joseph Sneifer ‘19 said, “He is number in the midst of a typical L.A. traffic jam. The moonlit scenes of love and really good with allowing us to develop our character and really make it our own.” freedom are intertwined with classical style songs written by Chazelle’s Harvard Othman attributes much of his success to everyone else involved because although he class mate, Justin Hurwitz. The songs are both diegetic and non-diegetic, meaning has a vision, “our final product is something much greater due to allowing everyone to share that, while possessing a glamorized realism, their creative ideas”. Abby Malzewski ‘19 also looks very highly upon Othman’s directing techniques and the film has a whimsical spirit like those that it says he “does a really good job of incorporating everyone in the show and making sure that it is paying homage to. The film was not an easy venture. comes together.” Do to the notable lack of action and adventure, Sneifer was in three of Seattle Prep’s shows his freshmen year and two during his sophomore year. In which can be easily dubbed and sold to hundreds of different countries, “La la land” uses comparison to other plays/musicals, he said that the thoughtful design, eloquent dialogue, and nostal[tap] dancing is a lot different. As this is Malzewski’s first time participating, she said “it’s been a really gic tunes to capture the attention of the audience. The project was put on a back burner by company good experience and everyone’s really inclusive.” One aspect of the show that stands out to after company because Chazelle refused to change what was at heart of the movie. Malzewski is the music: “The different songs are re Producers suggested changing Sebastian to an ally fun and I think the audience will enjoy watching aspiring rock star, saying that a more contemporary album to accompany the film would the performances.” be more popular and make more money. Lionsgate finally took the risk of picking up This musical is unlike any other that Seattle Prep has put on in the past. “People should see the musi- the film, with hopes that it would be successful. The film received a record seven golden cal because it is a super fun story and I know that it globes, and is a serious contender for a handful of Oscar wins. Needless to say, this film is enchanting. It is a brilliantly executed modern twist will be a good show” said Malzewski, “I think the cast will do a great job”. Sneifer described the musical by saying it is “a great comical relief with hu- on a classic style and idea. Perhaps this will renew a societal love of grand variety musicals and golden age jazz. Or maybe it’s just a one hit wonder, that warmed the hearts of so mor that stands to this day and an entertaining score.” many. Either way, it was a wonderful way to wrap up a year of amazing films. To see this song-and-dance show with incredible talents and tap numbers, come to the Healy Theater. “Anything Goes” will be performed on February 24th, 25th, and March 3rd at 7:00 PM. There will also be shows February 26th and March 5th at 2:00 PM. This is definitely a musical that should not be missed, as Othman says it is “one of the greatest musicals of it’s time. To those who have never seen a Seattle Prep musical, take a risk and come see why our program is award-winning and one of the best around.”

“The film has a whimsical spirit like those that it is paying homage to.”

“A nightclub performer, a romantic love triangle, and the ship’s crew... along for the ride.”

“La La Land”:A Golden Film for the Modern Age

Want more “Anything Goes?” Go to seapreppanther.org and check out the “Anything Goes” featured podcast with Emma Connell ‘19

GABI JEAKLE ‘19 Staff Writer

Films to Watch Out for in 2017

NOAH PINGUL ‘19 Staff Writer

he year 2017 returns many iconic characters and returns audiences to many beloved franchises. This year also brings audiences to some new stories and subsequently new characters. This is a list of the top 5 most anticipated movies of 2017.

1: Star Wars the Last Jedi The seventh movie in the iconic franchise left audiences on a cliffhanger for the next installment. Although there is no trailer yet, the eighth Star Wars movie returns many popular characters. John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac all reprise their roles as Finn, Ray, and Poe respectively, while Mark Hamill and the late Carrie Fisher play Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa. Star Wars the Last Jedi will be released on December 15. 2: Justice league Justice League is a very important movie for Warner Brothers and the DC universe. After five years audiences finally get to see DC’s response to Marvels “The Avengers” (2012). After two disappointing movies for DC, the studio is hoping to rebound with one of their biggest movies yet. “Justice League” will be released on November 17. 3: Dunkirk One of the best director of this generation, Christopher Nolan, directs his first war film “Dunkirk.” “Dunkirk” focuses on a group of Allied soldier during the battle of Dunkirk in World War II. Christopher Nolan has nine movies on his directing resume, movies like “The Dark Knight,” “Inception,” “Memento,” and “Interstellar.” “Dunkirk” will be released on July 21. 4: Wonder Woman “Wonder Woman” is the first major female led superhero movie since Halle Berry’s “Catwoman” (2004). Gal Gadot will reprise her role as the Amazonian warrior and Chris Pine will play Steve Trevor a US soldier. The film is set primarily during World War I and will be directed by Patty Jenkins. “Wonder Woman” will be released on June 2. 5: Kong Skull Island “Kong Skull Island” is the first time in over a decade that audiences get to see Kong on the big screen. The cast features well known actors, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, and academy award winning actress Brie Larson. This movie could serve as a precursor to a possible King Kong VS Godzilla movie. “Kong Skull Island” will be released on March 10.

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

MUSIC

EDITORS: SOPHIE FREEMAN ‘18 AND MIMI JURION ‘17

A Controversial Win for a Controversial Musician civi l rights, which were the most popular during the 20th century. Compared to authors such as Toni Morrison or Pablo Neruda, Dylan’s work has had trouble proving it deserves this prestigious award, opposed to the literary works of these two authors. Dylan was not an author. He was a song writer and a musician who expressed himself and many of the world’s issues in his folk-rock tracks. His music was controversial, but memorable. He sang about is-

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he annual Festival of Catholic High School Choirs took place on Monday, January 30 at Benaroya Hall. The Seattle Prep choir, conducted and directed by Dr. Huntley Beyer, along with ten other Catholic high school choirs in Washington state gathered at this event to showcase their natural born talented voices. The festival always invites a guest conductor to conduct the entire concert, in which this year’s guest conductor was Vijay Singh, from Central Washington University. Every high school choir spent Sunday and Monday preparing and rehearsing with Singh in order to make the night of the concert perfect. A typical day of preparing for the concert at Benaroya Hall consists of numerous rehearsals and run through for each high school choir and then all the choirs combined. At the actual event, each of the

ten high school choirs had the chance to perform one song for the first half of the concert. Prep’s choir performed Dr. Beyer’ original arrangement called, “Down In the River to Pray.” The piece included solos by Lily Dowling, Rosa Carter, and Quinn Floyd, in which Dr. Beyer commented on the piece as “Magnificent. I was so proud of the incredible sound and expressiveness of our choir.” During the second half of the concert, around five-hundred girls from all ten schools sang three songs and all the boys sang three songs. Many of the songs that were sung were arranged originally by the guest conductor Vijay Singh, and Dr. Beyer even played the recorder to accompany the boys’ performance. For the finale, every choir combined for a total of seven hundred performers to sing Singh’s new composition named, “Adoramus Te,” which was written just for the concert. There were so many performers, some of the girls stood in the aisle ways, creating a surround sound for part of the audience.

Mr. Beyer’s choir sings their hearts out in “Adoramus Te”.

No Treble here! Choir Performs at Benaroya Hall MARIELLA SALUDARES ‘17 Photo Editor

sues that w e r e not openly discussed during his time. Dylan had a way of telling a story through his music, which is most likely the reason why he won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Many, however, disagree and believe that he is redefining the boundaries of literature by being the first musician to ever win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

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n October 13, 2016, performer, Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature. The announcement came as a shock, as many believe an artist such as Dylan is not deserving of this award because he does not follow in the footsteps of winners from the past. His song writing and iconic tracks seem to stray from what the Nobel Prize in Literature really means: an outstanding piece of literature, working in an ideal direction. Many people disagree with the selection of Dylan because they do not consider his poetic gift an outstanding work of literature; therefore, pointing out that the boundaries of literature are being redefined. The musician is well-known for his songs about social issues such as war and

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SOPHIE FREEMAN ‘18 Staff Writer

Past winners of this award all have something in common: they wrote about an important issue in history and told a powerful story to teach their readers a lesson. Dylan, on the other hand, told his stories through music and song writing, which is why many believe it is unusual for him to be awarded an honor such as this one. Despite the negative reactions of others, there are a good amount of people who are supportive of Dylan. Out of his many congratulators, fellow musician, Bruce Springsteen, and former president of the United States, Barack Obama, congratulated Dylan on his amazing accomplishment. Dylan’s art will continue to be appreciated and will hopefully continue to open up opportunities for more artists to be recipients of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Photo:Alberto Cabello courtesy Creative Commons

Prep’s new Pep Band poses for a photo during a practice.

Prep’s First Pep Band: You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet Folks!

scene at Prep. Though the Pep Band activities may be over for the 2016-2017 school year, Pep Band will return fall 2017 for students who enjoy playing instruments (especially eattle Prep’s new Pep Band has brass), need a little more practice, or even finished out their opening season just want to “hit stuff with in style, maksticks.” ing “ten (or twelve) Sophomore Joseph Snestudents feel like one ifer played the bass drum hundred.” for Pep Band this year, Though small, and though he had never Pep Band held their played before, he loved the own at football and charged atmosphere of the basketball home games football games and being during first semester. a unique part of the Prep Sarah Bost, the band’s community. Prep is known conductor, fondly for its talented, dedicated called the students students. Twelve of those “early innovators” students are looking forward to another due to their dedication to paving the way great year of Pep Band. for the future of a more significant music

EMMA COONEY ‘18 Managing Editor

“Dedication to paving the way to the future of a more significant music scene.”

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS: CHLOE SAHARIC ‘19, LILLY THOMPSON ‘19 & KATE LEAHY ‘19

3. 4.

6. 5. Photos: 1. MOHAI Museum by Dennis Bratland, 2. Bellevue Arts Museum by FHKE, 3. Richard Hugo House by Joe Mabel, 4. Kreielsheimer Promenade at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall by Adbar, 5. Harvard Exit by Joe Mabel, 6. MoPOP by FHKE, all courtesy of Creative Commons.

Artistic Opportunities for Seattle Teens LILLY THOMPSON ‘19 Staff Writer

eattle is largely thought of as a city of quirky artists and innovators with coffee-addled brains. While this is largely a generalization, the art community in Seattle is ripe with opportunities for young artists to discover their style and talents. Whether this is visual art of creative writing, there is are many opportunities for Seattle teens to get involved with the arts scene. Teentix is a service that provides teens ages 13-18 with a pass that gives them $5 day-of-show tickets to movies, museums, expositions and plays in

the Seattle area. Teentix is a great way to take advantage of deals for students at 64 regional institutions- places like SIFF, MOHAI, PNB, Museum of Pop Culture, SAM, Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle Repertory Theater and more. Teentix’s aim is to empower young people to take an active role in the Seattle arts community by making it easy for anyone to get involved. Teen Art Studios (TAS) is a free, year-round, studio art program for teens aged 13 to 18 that provides teens with quality art training, gives exhibition and portfo-

lio building opportunities and encourages positive social engagement. TAS runs Friday evenings (6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) on Capitol Hill and Fridays (4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) at the Bellevue Arts Museum. Beginners are encouraged to come, refreshments and art supplies are provided. In February, teens will practice collaborative cartooning and storytelling, explore an array of zines, comics and graphic novels on Capitol Hill, whereas in Bellevue teens will explore new approaches to sculpture and folding and discover helpful techniques.

“Young people are empowered to take an active role in the Seattle arts community.”

For young people who prefer to write and are looking for a creative outlet, Hugo House in downtown Seattle offers two free options for teens to improve their skills and share their art. Write Time is a free weekly session held by poet, spoken word artist, and young-adult novelist, Karen Finneyfrock. It is an opportunity to get inspired and work on all kinds of creative writing. Stage Fright is a open mic session for, about, and lead by teens at Hugo House. This is a chance for young writers to showcase their talents and surround themselves with inspirational writing and writers.

Artists at Prep Share their Best Tips and Tricks CHLOE SAHARIC ‘19 AND KATE LEAHY ‘19 Staff Writers

rom painters, to photographers, to printmakers, the visual art community at Seattle Prep has many talents and gives advice on how they create their best pieces. Over time, students have developed many tips and tricks from their art classes they can use to create their best pieces. Sophomore Laurel Gary said “when painting, I like to use a flat tipped

brush to get straight lines.” Making new pieces can be overwhelming, so to help keep focus Gary also says to “use a grid. It lets you focus on smaller portions of the picture so you can make your designs more precise.” Rory Belcher, a junior at Prep, takes digital photography and recommends “when taking photos, watch for contrasting colors that will make the picture pop more.”

“Keep painting, don’t give up.” -Ms. Dold

Sophomore Jacob Le, who enjoys drawing, says that the most valuable trick he has learned is “referencing a real photo or object to perfect realistic drawings.” For many artists, something in their life inspired them to pursue their passion for art and keeps their drive going. For art teacher Ms. Dold, when she attended the University of Washington, she had an art professor

freshman year that “showed a new way of drawing and that’s when [she] learned to love it.” Dold also added that the best advice she received was “keep painting, don’t give up.” For Gary, she says “I like doing nature and landscape paintings a lot. And my dog Gus helps to inspire me.” After a short number of years making art, Gary says that she has grown a lot and learned to “spend more time on [her] work” and she does not “try and rush [her] pieces.”

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

SPORTS

EDITORS: PAUL WINEBRENNER ‘17 & KELLEN KAVANAGH ‘18

Bend It Like Hendy: The Art of Futbol with Mr. Hendricks

PAUL WINEBRENNER ‘17 Sports Editor

hough it’s out of season at least at the high school level, the sport of soccer is never far from the front of Mr. Hendricks’ mind. When not involved with in depth analysis of socioeconomic development of 18th century France, Mr. Hendricks enjoys the odd soccer discussion, a rare opportunity The Panther took advantage of. In the spirit of the arts issue, the questions posed concerned the artful tactical preparations involved in Prep Varsity

Soccer. Mr. Hendricks explained, “soccer is a free flowing game, it’s not like the coach calls a play, watches it unfold for 7 seconds and sends in another”. In essence, there are no soccer plays, it’s not football, it’s futbol (so much for all the questions The Panther had lined up). With that said, there are aspects of the game that can be manipulated to one’s advantage, one such area? Practice, yes we’re talking about practice. The main key to the Prep Girls team dominance of late is confidence on the ball, something that the coaches install in new varsity players the first day of practice

according to Mr. Hendricks. Given that high school soccer is such a high-pressure game, maximizing possession and working as a team within the base 4-2-3-1 formation, are key aspects trained in practice. On the boy’s side, the same training applies but in a different formation, a base 4-1-4-1 which numbers both in attack and in defense. Despite the distinction in formation, the importance of confidence on the ball in combination with crisp passing is key to both Prep sides. Aside from the more technical side of the game, the intellectually stimulating uncertainty of the game appeals greatly to

Mr. Hendricks. “The beauty of the game really comes in the uncertainty of it”. The possibility of any allotment of extra time means everyone has to play whistle to whistle with no lapse in mindset and concentration. Clearly soccer is not simply a game of brute physicality, but one that challenges the mind as well. Evidently, there is a fine art to the balance of formations, attack, defense, and preparation, but the beauty of it all, is the opportunity for anything to happen.

The below play was devised by Mr. Hendricks as a scheme to be run in the 90th minute to go win the game.

Noah White Midfield White runs forward and plays in a cross to Roberts or Capeloto Win Todd Defense Todd boots the ball up to Conn from the halfback position

Mars Conn Forward Conn heads the ball to White

Laura Roberts Midfield

Ben Capeloto Midfield Capeloto and Roberts make runs into the box to head White’s cross

Play design courtesy of Mr. Hendricks

The Art of the Touchdown Celebration

KELLEN KAVANAGH ‘18 Staff Writer

he touchdown celebration started off rather innocuously. Homer ‘Rhino’ Jones, a wide receiver for the New York ‘Football’ Giants, observed some of his teammates and league stars throw the ball into the stands. As he got ready for the 1965 season, a fine was added for doing this. Jones didn’t make that much, so he found a loophole. After scoring an 89 yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jones swung his arm back, and spiked the ball down into the turf. It was the first recognized on field celebration in NFL history. Since that ball hit the turf, thousands of other players have added their own variation to the classic ‘Touchdown Spike.’ However, many players have found the spike too limiting, and have sought to express their joy of scoring in other ways. Six years after Jones, Chiefs WR Elmo Wright danced after he scored a touchdown, which some believe was the first true end zone dance in NFL history. Celebrations progressed as the years went on, but it wasn’t until the Wash-

ington Redskins 1980s offensive unit started to practice group celebrations that the art of the touchdown celebration took another leap. These celebrations were so popular that the group earned the nickname ‘The Fun Bunch.’ Players would repeat their own celebrations every time they scored, stamping a trademark on their ability. LaDamian Tomlinson’s traditional ball-flip became a defining part of his career. Ickey Woods popularized his own dance, known as the Ickey Shuffle, while players like Kelley Washington’s ‘squirrel,’ Johnnie Morton’s ‘worm,’ and Merton Hanks’ ‘funky chicken’ became fan favorites. Soon, things started to get out of hand. A familiar corps of receivers was typically at fault for the offenses: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Chad Ochocinco (Johnson). Moss’ most famous celebration came when he fake mooned the crowd at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, leading to a 10,000 dollar fine and one of the commentators to label the celebration as “a disgusting act.” After scoring against the Seahawks in 2002, Terrell Owens, then playing for the

49ers, removed a Sharpie from his sock, took it out, signed the ball, and gave it to a fan. Despite receiving a fine for using a prop, this wasn’t Owens most offensive celebration. His most offensive celebration came when he posed in the middle of the Cowboy’s field, disrespecting their logo, the iconic 5-point star. After the star was reclaimed by Emmitt Smith in a subsequent touchdown, Owens returned to the star only to be violently hit by Smith for this act of disrespect. For a brief time, Owens and his famous counterpart, Chad Johnson, were teammates in Cincinnati. Johnson once received a hefty fine for scoring, then removing the pylon, and then putting the football with the pylon, culminating the celebration with a Tiger Woods-esque fist pump. His most famous moment came when he proposed to a Bengals cheerleader, formerly Miss Iowa, after scoring a long touchdown in 2005. After numerous incidents like these, the NFL has cracked down on celebrations in recent years. This doesn’t stop a few of the league’s bigger names from cel-

ebrating anyway. In 2010, Stevie Johnson pretended to shoot himself after scoring to make fun of ex-Giants WR Plaxico Burress, who had shot himself in the leg at a nightclub, landing him some jail time. Because of these fines, the future of the touchdown celebration seems to be in jeopardy. The league flagged players for excessive celebration as many times as it did in 2015 by Week 4 this season. Really, that’s too bad. Even though in some instances they do get out of hand, celebrations make the game exciting to watch. And unlike many other things in football, a celebration doesn’t hurt anyone. Just think, if the celebration really does fade away, a rich aspect of NFL history spanning decades will be lost. The Lambeau Leap, the most iconic celebration of all, could also be destroyed by a league front office with far larger problems to deal with, namely concussions. It would be a real shame to lose the touchdown celebration. Unfortunately, even Homer Jones, the man who started it all, thinks that it has gone too far.

THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG

THE

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