Issue 6, 2016-2017 by The Lancer

the

LANCER

Volume LV, Issue 6 » Feb. 15, 2017 » Thousand Oaks High School » 2323 N. Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 » www.tohsthelancer.org » thelancer.tohs@gmail.com » Circulation 2,304

Teachers and celebrities face off in a basketball game fundraiser hosted by ASB and band. pg. 04

PHOTO » BLAKE SAARI » THE LANCER GRAPHIC » CLARISSA KANO » THE LANCER

SANTA CLARITA DIET

SURF’S UP

GOAL IN MIND

Netflix’s new original starring Drew Barrymore doesn’t live up to the hype.

Freshman Emma Mobley competes and uses surfing as a way to express herself.

Varsity boys soccer prepares for their first playoff game on Friday.

pg. 08

pg. 17

pg. 22

EDITORIAL

STAFF EDITORIAL

Hits and Misses

Liberty and service for all

What’s Up and Down with The Lancer Miss: Club Penguin is turning into a mobile app. Did you know penguins can walk faster than humans?

Hit: Bill Nye is launching his own television series on Netflix. Science and chill?

Miss: A Cheeto shaped like Harambe sells for nearly $100,000 on ebay. Legends never die.

GRAPHIC » REBECCA HEINZEL » THE LANCER

Should the United States allow undocumented immigrants to join the military in order to gain legal status as a citizen? EDITORIAL BOARD

yes

abstain

Despite our patriotic superego, America is still a desirable place to live. So, it’s no wonder our country has among the highest number (more than 120,000 according to the Department of Homeland Security) of people seeking citizenship in the world. What people constantly forget to recognize is just how many who seek citizenship actually live in the United States already. Thousands travel into the country undocumented and continue to reside seeking an easier path to gain their citizenship. In December, the United States Department of Immigration declared any person who wants to gain legal status as a citizen can do so by serving under the United States military for an amount of time determined by each branch. Many are outraged by the policy, as they deem it a cheap way to gain citizenship and suggest it could cause an uncontrollable influx of immigrants, but those claims have no base. First, describing the path to citizenship through the military as “cheap” is not only insulting to the thousands of men and women so selflessly enlisted, but also ignorant. The military should be taken as a serious commitment and not, under any circumstances, passed off as an excuse. And, although those who oppose using the military as an incentive to gain legal citizenship may feel the system rewards entering the country illegally, many fail to realize the extensive complications involved with gaining citizenship in the first place. Becoming a citizen in the United States is more than

stepping off the boat or over the border, answering a few simple questions and — voila! — becoming a citizen. Often the wait takes months before one can even apply for a green card, which, in turn, takes a minimum of 90 days to be delivered. The process for many is an unnecessary, incomprehensible series of forms and legal documents that somebody immigrating to the United States may not even understand. Now, the process for immigration is speciﬁcally set to hinder those who do not speak English and don’t know enough about America or American politics. If we stop allowing people to gain service through military service, we cut out a majority of legitimate personnel that could prove an asset to American society. If we stop making America seem like an appealing place to live, few will seek citizenship. And while that might seem ﬁne and dandy to those in the mindset of American supremacy, the truth is America is great because of our tolerance for those seeking refuge. After all, the purpose of moving to a place like America is to be accepted, irrespective of your background. Why should we not be as accepting as possible if the people coming here come here for a better lifestyle? According to the Department of Homeland Security, as many as 12 million undocumented immigrants may already live in the United States. So, it’s not an issue of America reaching its maximum occupancy. It’s an issue of America declining viable military assistance because we thought our ego could be compromised by employing undocumented immigrants that are already here.

Hit: An Atlanta Zoo names a cockroach after Tom Brady. Salty?

Miss: Michael Flynn, the national security adviser, resigned after muddled communication with the Russian ambassador. He’s Russian to the unemployment office .

Hit: Boys and girls basketball and boys soccer made it into playoffs. Finally, a good football team.

Miss: The Oroville Dam is about to crack. First we have a drought, now our dams are overflowing... Make up your mind, California.

THE LANCER STAFF 2016-2017 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Lee Jessi Soporito

Shraya Blaisdell Sebastian Maya

Cameron King Allison Medley Paul Moon

Carissa Lo Quincey Smithers

MANAGING EDITOR

OPINION

Sam Kallen

Andrew Chau Gavin P. Norton Sierra Waters

BUSINESS MANAGER Cameron Neel

NEWS Natalie Pagan Nate Swanson

IN-FOCUS Joyce Huchin Hannah Mercer

FEATURES Clarissa Kano Kylie Patterson

STAFF WRITERS Abbey Austin-Wood Emma Caudill Austin Gregory Sam Hwang Abby Kawaii April Sanchez Samantha Shapiro

ARTIST Rebecca Heinzel

WEBSITE EDITORS Blake Saari Cate Valinote

ADVISER Tasha Beaudoin

The Lancer is the official school publication of Thousand Oaks High School, created and produced by students in Advanced Journalism. This publication as well as additional stories can be found online at tohsthelancer. org. The Lancer reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed inappropriate for high school publication. Guest editorials and “Letters to the Editor” are welcome, but must be signed and are subject to editing for length, libel, obscenity and grammar. They can be sent to thelancer.tohs@gmail.com. The Lancer is a member of the Journalism Education Association (JEA), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

NEWS

The Asia/Oceania market makes up 15 percent of all chocolate consumption

A 1oz bar of milk chocolate contains only 5-6mg of caffeine

66 percent

of chocolate is consumed between meals

22 percent of chocolate is consumed between 8pm and midnight

The United States accounts for

20 percent of the world’s chocolate consumption

CHOCOLATE

A staple of Valentine’s Day, chocolate has been one of the mostloved sweets around the world since the Aztecs invented it. The largest chocolate bar ever made weighed over

5,000 pounds 50 percent of the world’s chocolate retail sales occur on the European continent

5 percent of the industry’s total sales is from Valentine’s Day

38 percent of people in their twenties achieve their resolution each year

U.S. chocolate manufacturers use

3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to make chocolate

Nearly $400 million of chocolate is purchased around the world on Valentine’s Day each year

The average American eats

10-12 pounds of chocolate a year, while the average Swiss eats

21 pounds a year

Top Chocolate Companies: SOURCE » WWW.TINYPRINTS.COM

1st Place:

2nd Place:

3rd Place:

Mars Inc.

Mondelez International Inc.

Nestlè

PHOTO » CREATIVE COMMONS » WITH PERMISSION

SOURCE » WWW.BRANDONGAILLE.COM SOURCE » WWW.HISTORY.COM

BY » ABBEY AUSTIN-WOOD AND NATALIE PAGAN

NEWS

Welcome to the jam The TOHS teachers and staff compete against the Hollywood Knights celebrity basketball team on Feb. 11 during Hoop It Up, a fundraiser for ASB and band. NATALIE PAGAN

COME ON AND SLAM—(Above) Melissa Wood-Glusac writes plays for the TOHS faculty team before the game begins. (Below) YouTuber Alex Wassabi runs into the gym as he is introduced with the Hollywood Knights before the game.

News Editor

Walking into the gym on Saturday night felt more like a Justin Beiber concert than a basketball game. Fans young and old screaming, music blaring, and the Hoop It Up basketball game underway. The game and halftime show, put on by ASB and band, were ways to celebrate TOHS’ playoff bound varsity boys and girls basketball teams. The celebrity basketball team, Hollywood Knights, featured YouTuber Alex Wassabi, actor Jake Short and singer MacKenzie Bourg. They played a team made up of TOHS teachers and staff. The faculty team was coached by English teacher Melissa Wood-Glusac, who has been coaching basketball since her sophomore year of high school. “There’s nothing quite like playing a sport you love. I played basketball since I was eight and by high school and college it was a huge part of who I was,” Glusac said. “When you coach, it’s more like teaching. Now you see with so much broader of a lens. You focus on getting everyone as ready as you can and you celebrate progress and passion as much as wins.” Many teachers were reluctant to join the team at ﬁrst, but after encouragement from students and other faculty, everyone who joined was glad they did. “I had to help recruit our team. Some took more persuading than others, but everyone that agreed to play was extremely dedicated and wanted to make TOHS proud,” Glusac said. “To get up in front of their students and to have fun and be goofy with a bunch of conditioned athletes takes courage and a lot of heart.” Many of the faculty agreed to play in order to show support for ASB and band, despite their lack of skill on the court. “I had zero prior basketball experience. We ‘practiced’ one time on Friday and that’s not saying much,” English teacher Brinden Wohlstattar said. “I love the sport but had no idea there were so many rules.” At ﬁrst the Hollywood Knights were winning by a

large margin, but then some of the players from both teams, such as Japanese teacher Kristin Benioff, MacKenzie Bourg and actor Luke Benward, switched teams to make it more even beginning in the second quarter. “We got off to a pretty arrogant lead, so we hopped on with the teachers and they were magical out there. They were just amazing,” actor and Hollywood Knights player Daniel Curtis Lee said, who has been playing with the team for almost ten years. Throughout the game, many celebrities and teachers switched teams and played for each other. In the end, it was the TOHS faculty who won 123-88. “The experience at the game playing with our staff and Hollywood Knights was electrifying. It was so fun I keep telling myself the more I get involved here at TOHS, the more memorable my teaching years will be,” English teacher Heather Austin said. “A very wise man once said, ‘Live out of your comfort zone.’ I think I am trying to do that here at TOHS.” Every player from both TOHS and Hollywood Knights enjoyed their time on the court and the enthusiasm and support that came from the crowd. The audience, comprised of students and community members, were yelling in the stands and dancing to the music provided by 102.7 KIIS FM. “The best part about the game was dancing on the sidelines, cheering and my students yelling behind me,” Austin said. “The hardest part of the game was the next morning. The soreness I felt and feel to this very moment is really the worst thing ever.” Hoop It Up showcased how school spirit isn’t just for students. It is just as important for teachers and faculty to be spirited as it is for students. The game served as an opportunity to restore spirit among the TOHS faculty and students. “‘Bleed green’ isn’t just a catchy phrase,” Glusac said. “The teachers at TO, like the students, have spirit, and I commend them on their energy, their camaraderie, and their willingness to be a part of it all. I was proud and honored to be their coach.”

NEWS

A PEER PRODUCTION Four Advanced Theater students cast and direct short one-act plays. The students will take the stage in mid-March at the PAC to perform their shows. NATE SWANSON

News Editor

There are usually two main productions in the theater program, a musical and a play put on by all of the classes, including an open audition for anyone on campus that might want to act. In between the two major productions, the advanced theater class creates student-directed one-act plays. “Well I was the musical director for the play this year, but this is my ﬁrst time actually directing a real production,” Junior Megan Ragone said. Ragone is directing the play “Bob Works” written by Leslie Caveny, but adding her own twist to it by keeping almost all of the setting black and white, with all the important parts, anything from a piece of the set to a costume or even a piece of the costume, in color. “I have been emailing [Caveny] back and forth because I am adding and modifying a lot of the show,” Ragone said. Ragone is one of four other directors all in the advanced theater class and one of the two juniors directing a production. Katie Hendrickson is the other junior director, but only with a slight delay in her decision. “I started a little bit farther behind the other directors, but I was real excited to do [a production] because I had always been the actor and never been the one trying to put the show together,” junior Katie Hendrickson said. The play Hendrickson is directing is titled “The Eskimos Have Landed”, a comedy written by Tim Kelly. The play is about a group of people who take nostalgia to the next level by not allowing buildings or streets to be replaced by the newer buildings because of the history surrounding the city. The characters still dress in 18th century period clothing, although they live in an era of cellphones and limitless technology. Matt Lebowitz is the only director in this group to be directing their own written work. He wrote and shared his different pieces to theater teacher Joe Donia mainly just to gather constructive criticism on his work. Lebowitz’s play is titled, “Tragic and Absurd” and is about the clichés of medieval fairy tales.

“I have submitted work to [Donia] to proofread, but having the ability to produce my own show on stage, that is an opportunity I would not like to pass up,” Lebowitz said. Senior Cole Whiteman is the other senior director, in charge of the one act play Loitering Within the Tent. “[The play] is definitely a comedy. It is very random and does not have much of a plot,” Whiteman said. These one act shows are taking place of a usual field trip for the elementary school kids who would come to the Performing Arts Center to watch the four year theater students put on a show. The productions this year are free admission with no determined date, but estimated to be sometime around the middle of March. “There is no other thrill like acting on stage in front of people,” Lebowitz said. Instead of acting, Lebowitz is directing this time around. But Katie Hendrickson is actually doing both in this set of performances. She is acting in Lebowitz’s show as well as directing her own, although she is still reading through the lines of her play. “Read throughs are when you are just working straight with your lines. So usually everyone is sitting down putting some modulation their voice to try and become their character, but you are not really moving around at all,” Hendrickson said. Once the director and actors are more comfortable with their lines, they begin blocking which is acting out their lines with very restricted movements and motions. The range of motion could be anything from waving their hand as they say their line, stepping forward or walking across the stage.. With no set date for when the shows are being performed, the directors are all going through their own methods and styles with slight urgency just to put on their first directed play. With Lebowitz and Whiteman both being seniors, they could be putting in the most possible effort to try and seal their legacy, while the juniors Ragone and Hendrickson could be eager to prove themselves and make their mark as well.

1 GIVING DIRECTION — 1. Senior Cole Whiteman reads through the script with his cast in the PAC lobby. 2. Senior Matt Lebowitz talks about the script he wrote with his cast. 3. Junior Megan Ragone leans back and watches her cast block their script out on the stage. 4. Junior Katie Hendrickson works with her cast during second period advanced theater.

PLAYBILL 1. Cole Whiteman » “Loitering Within the Tent” 2. Matt Lebowitz » “Tragic and Absurd” 3. Megan Ragone » “Bob Works” 4. Katie Hendrickson » “The Eskimos Have Landed” 4

ALL PHOTOS » APRIL SANCHEZ » THE LANCER

” x 2” 06

Clark P Neel, AAMS® Financial Advisor

ADVERTISEMENTS

Clark P Neel,PAAMS® Clark Neel, AAMS® 484 E LosFinancial Angeles Ave Advisor Advisor Financial Suite 207 484484 E Los EAngeles Los Ave Angeles Ave 207 Moorpark,Suite CASuite 93021 207 Moorpark, CA 93021CA 93021 Moorpark, 805-529-2545 .

805-529-2545 805-529-2545

ACCESS Ackerman College Counseling and Educational Support Services Helps Students: Develop Extra Curricular Activities Resume Compose and Edit Outstanding Admissions Essays Navigate Financial Aid Create an Appropriate list of Schools at which to Apply

For more information, contact Bill Ackerman (818).371.4956 accesscollegecounseling@gmail.com

Since 2001, ACCESS students have been admitted to: Princeton Harvard Stanford Chicago MIT Penn Cornell Washington University in St. Louis Notre Dame Georgetown UCLA Claremont McKenna Wesleyan Virginia Illinois UCSD and many, many more

Last year, his students were admitted to: Brandeis Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Carnegie Mellon Case Western Reserve Clark College The Cooper Union George Washington Georgia Tech Hofstra Indiana University

Juniata Loyola Marymount Loyola University of Chicago Macalester College Michigan Rice UC Irvine USC University of Washington Tufts

ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTO » HOLLYN » OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

TS:

ESEN IAN PR

BK CHICKEN FRIES

Hollyn’s debut album, “One-Way Conversations” is a promising start to her career. The calming and positive album combines three music genres. SHRAYA BLAISDELLEntertainment Editor One of the greatest aspects of music is the exploration involved in it. First, you hear a song. Then, you search further on Spotify, Google, etc. You delve deeply into the genre and find more songs like the original. Suddenly, you’re hooked. The bands, artists and musicians appeal to your emotions and tastes, and you want to share them with others. Similarly, it’s very difficult to separate yourself from that perfect genre once you’ve found it. It becomes a chore to step outside your comfort zone and listen to something new. The genres of music that Hollyn combines in her album — Pop, R&B and Christian music — aren’t ones I like to listen to frequently. I suspected it might be overly preachy or gospel-like. After my first listen of Hollyn’s debut album, I was okay with it. Yet, I grew to like Hollyn’s vocals and melodies throughout her songs when I listened to it more. Hollyn’s voice is a little like Ariana Grande’s — minus all those whistle tones. Surprisingly, my favorite song was the fifth song of the album, “In Awe,” which focused primarily on God. What I like most about the song, however, isn’t its focus, but its rhythm and melody. Her voice reaches the audience most in the slower songs of her album. It seems the most potent in those songs, rather than repeating meaningless phrases. Another song in which Hollyn’s voice really took charge was in “Waiting For.” The ethereal-sounding undertones of the song were so compelling. The lyrics in the song, like “Took me to a place, I wasn’t ready for/ Showed me things I needed, I

“It sounds like a lot of the music we listen to on the radio. I feel like we need something new.” -Leah Beastrom, 9

just can’t ignore/ Everything about us, was a perfect storm,” seemed a bit cliche, but worked well in the song and were sung nicely by Hollyn. Lyrics in her other songs were equally cliche and lacked real meaning. On her next album, I’ll look forward to more deep lyrics. If one thing stood out, it was Hollyn’s relaxed tunes. Her album lended to a laidback listening experience that I really enjoyed. Some of her songs were cheery, but they weren’t overpoweringly so. The positive feel made me happy, but I didn’t feel like the album was artificially upbeat. I think Hollyn played it safe in her first album, and I’d be interested in seeing her future songs where she focuses mainly on R&B. While the album’s songs were good, she was just scratching the surface of soundscapes, lyrics, and melodies. There were a few seconds in some of her songs where I would think to myself, “That! I want to hear more of that!” but the song usually drifted back into its simplistic tone. I wish Hollyn had added more depth to a few of her songs, like “Can’t Live Without” and “Love With Your Life” that just felt like fillers. I loved Hollyn’s voice. It almost sounded celestial in her slower songs, but was still well-suited for her faster paced songs. Hollyn’s debut album hasn’t made me fall in love with any of her musical genres just yet, but it promises a versatile future in music for Hollyn. I’m interested in seeing how she approaches her next album and what changes she’ll make from the first. I found myself liking her more R&B style songs, and less inclined to like her more pop style songs that sounded over-manufactured and produced.

“It was so upbeat! It literally made me dance. I’d definitley listen to it if I’m feeling down.” -Kea Turqueza, 10

TOHS

Students

React

“It’s really mellow, and her voice is pretty smooth. The verses are really nice, and the synth and drum pair nicely. The chorus is a little wack, but her voice makes it a little better.” -Zion Wang, 11

Let’s talk about change. I’m not talking about pennies, nickels or quarters (or dimes). I’m talking about the kind of change that shouldn’t happen but somehow happens anyways, like whenever the McRib gets put back on the menu or that time when Snoop Dogg became Snoop Lion to pursue his reggae ambitions. I bring this up because in the last few weeks, I’ve realized that too many times, people have tried to fix what was not broken. I used to enjoy scrolling through my Instagram explore feed everyday, but it went from a surfeit of funny videos, memes and basketball highlights — enjoyable things — to quirky Pinterest videos, food/cooking clips and those weird slime videos. I have a post school method, or at least I had one. I used to come home from school everyday, sit on the toilet, and look at my feed for an hour. I would never actually need to sit on the toilet for that long, but it was a safe space for me, and it was relaxing, but Instagram took that away from me. They replaced my solace with trash in the form of DIY videos. The food videos are pointless. No one in their right mind would ever use a 30-second video as an instructional reference and all they really accomplish is establishing more unrealistic food standards. Like grilled cheese was an easy enough to make dish, but you’re saying I have to make it look like that now? Then there are the DIY videos. Each project takes a lot more effort and resources than what the net gain is worth, yet people are still making them. I watched one video where the person took an extra large box of matches and jerry-rigged it into a candle by melting another candle onto it. Does that make sense? No. No it does not, but apparently Instagram thought it was more important than my memes. I don’t care how cute anyone thinks DIY videos are, they need to stop. While we’re on the topic of Instagram, why did they change the order of posts we see from chronological order to whatever it is now. It was perfect before, it made sense and it was systematic. I could look at Instagram and see older posts or new posts and I would be able to tell which was which. Now, I look at it and for some reason, a post from 40 hours ago is the very first picture I see. And I realize that there is the whole concept of how change brings innovation and that moves everything forward like how DVDs completely phased out VHS, but that isn’t always the case. Look at caterpillars for example. They eventually start metamorphosis and turn into these beautiful creatures that pretty much everyone adores. But I doubt that every caterpillar looks forward to turning into a butterfly. They forgo a life of leisure and the sole purpose of eating leaves, to take on the burden of pollinating the world’s flowers with the benefit of flight. I mean I’m no caterpillar, but that does not sound worth it to me. Not every change is bad, or else this world would suck. A lot. Remember when Burger King took their chicken fries off the menu? I do. My life was thrown in turmoil, well kind of, actually not at all, but I was pretty disappointed to find out they had been discontinued. Then miraculously, Burger King brought them back in 2015 and placed it on its permanent menu. Burger King got the change thing right. Change can be good, it helps us move forward, except when people change things that don’t need changing. So the moral of this story is, I am an elderly man who hates change and leave my memes alone. —Brian Lee

ENTERTAINMENT

FROZEN FOOD— Stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant carry a cooler covered in blood and filled with a human body inside. PHOTO » OFFICAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Staff Reviews

Released on Feb. 3, the “Santa Clarita Diet” is a new take on zombie-horror genre TV shows. Drifting from the usual plague-ridden apocalyptic zombie setting, “Santa Clarita Diet” places zombies in a suburban Californian town. SEBASTIAN MAYA

“Despite all of the confusing aspects of it, I liked the show. It was funny and relatable to families in real life, while still having the fantasy plotline.” —In-Focus Editor HANNAH MERCER

“The acting? Wack. The writing? Wack. The entire plot premise? Wack. This show is straight wack.” —Editor in Cheif BRIAN LEE

“ I give it zero stars, two thumbs down, and one poor career choice on Drew Barrymore’s part.” —Staff Writer ABBY KAWAI

GRAPHICS » REBECCA HEINZEL » THE LANCER

Entertainment Editor

Step One: kill your neighbor. Step two: place various body parts in a blender. Step three: blend. Then, enjoy the delicious smoothie made from guts and blood. Keep the freshly killed body in a freezer to preserve freshness for your next smoothie. In Netflix’s newly released “Santa Clarita Diet,” Timothy Olyphant and Drew Barrymore star as husband and wife, Joel and Sheila Hammond in the guilty-pleasure, horror-comedy tv show. The new show placed in the wealthy suburbs of Santa Clarita, California features a family whose lives get turned upside down when the mother becomes a zombie. Trust me, the show is even cheesier than that last sentence. The show dives through crazy situations from killing their next door neighbor to Sheila’s new found confidence after ‘dying’ and becoming a zombie, while trying to be a normal family in an abnormal situation. The message the show delivers finding yourself and living your life, pretty deep for a zombie tv show. “The whole show is about living life to the fullest before you die,” said In-Focus Editor Hannah Mercer, “Once Sheila dies, she becomes a totally different person, one who is daring, bold, and outgoing, and she brutally speaks her mind.” The arc of the plot is different your average zombie show. In contrast to the ‘survive the plague’ cliche, the “Santa Clarita Diet” shifts the perspective to being a zombie, and fitting into the human world as such. The new concept really makes me appreciate the creators and the leap of faith they took with the new angle. “Santa Clarita Diet” begins with realtor partners and family, the Hammonds, when they first find strange and bizarre occurrences when Sheila heaves copious amounts of vomit, starts eating raw meat and her heart stops beating. Abby (Liv Hewson), the popular, rebellious daughter, has the ingenious idea to take her mother to the town nerd, Eric Bemis (Skyler Gisondo) who also coincidentally has a crush on Abby. Together, the family and Eric try to discover a cure for the ‘illness’ before the zombie inside takes over Sheila. As always with zombie shows, gruesome clips of eating different body parts are included, and “Santa Clarita Diet” goes full out. In the first episode the end-

ing shows Sheila eating the flesh off of a fellow realtor. Guts out, stomach open, the works. Following episodes only get worse from there. I’m a relatively squeamish person, but for this show I didn’t have that many problems. The gore is definitely capitalized within the show but I could handle it just fine. Just a precaution, for squeamish people make sure to close your eyes, or just keep a bucket around. Viewer discretion is advised. Viewers should also be advised of the bad acting and cringy dialogue between characters and in different situations. “Santa Clarita Diet” shines in moments so bad and awkward you just have to look away and shake your head. Barrymore, the mother turned zombie, plays the most unconvincing, poorly executed caring mother I have ever seen. Her dialogue and the way she presents her character makes her seem like the stupid, ditzy mother who is completely oblivious of everything. Barrymore delivers the dialogue way to over the top, like she was in a play where the audience needed some heavily queuing in. “The acting was uncomfortably bad, especially from Drew Barrymore,” said staff writer Abby Kawai, “Her over-the-top facial expressions and awkwardly stiff body movements were cringe-worthy and exposed the terrible dialogue.” Unfortunately, this extends to all the actors in “Santa Clarita Diet” except for Timothy Olyphant who still does exaggerated acting but somehow you get attached to his character and believe in his character. By the end of the series, the “Santa Clarita Diet” grows into itself. The cringy dialogue becomes bearable, sometimes even turning into witty remarks and funny moments. The cast aren’t aliens to their characters anymore. Plot lines twist, turn, and become unexpected. Barrymore still delivers her acting on stage, over the top, acting, but you get used to it. The “Santa Clarita Diet” is by no means a revolutionary show or a show that someone watches for the cinematography or technical skill. It’s a show to watch when you have nothing to do. If you’re looking for a binge-watchable tv show with gore and laughable cringy moments, well then the “Santa Clarita Diet” is just for you. Again, the show is even cheesier than that last sentence.

ENTERTAINMENT

A highly overlooked area of media, podcasts are diverse in their subject matter and length, and they can appeal to students with different interests. for the students who love spooky stories

for the students going off to college

Welcome to Nightvale Hosted by: Cecil Baldwin In the town of Nightvale, supernatural is the norm and the listener is introduced to strange characters and events as if they are listening to a local radio show. The host’s voice is low and steady, and his almost hypnotic tone is relaxing even though the news he delivers is often slightly scary. He speaks at a steady pace, and his point-of-view adds a lot to each story and segment.

Practical Defense Hosted by: Alex Haddox This podcast is the epitome of “stuff you wish your parents would tell you,” specifically about personal security and awareness. It goes over how to protect yourself in worst-case-scenario situations like being robbed, internet troubles, kidnapping and hit-and-runs. It deals with serious situtations, yet the host’s voice is easy to listen and kick back to.

Entertainment, Storytelliing Favorite episode: “Fashion Week”

Training Favorite episode: “Throw Away Wallet”

for the science-loving students

for the mystery-loving students

60-Second of Science Hosted by: Various hosts This is a great podcast to listen to while walking to class or in short car rides. The segments are only one to two minutes and the hosts explain each topic clearly. The podcast covers sicencerelated topics from attraction to pesticide. It offers interesting information in a digestible format, and it is a great way to grasp more of the world.

Swords and Scales Hosted by: Mike Boudet Sword and Scales covers thrilling criminal activity and news stories relating to trials, murders and missing persons cases. Even if you usually don’t tune into news cases, Boudet brings all listener into the “scene of the crime.” He makes the topics more compelling than scary in hourlong episodes. Any student will be drawn to this podcast.

Education, Natural Sciences Favorite episode: “Ants Use Celestial Cue to Travel in Reverse”

Social Sciences Favorite episode: “Episode 78/ The Craigslist Killer”

PHOTO » SEBASTIAN MAYA » THE LANCER

OPINION

Income

reputation S PHOTO » PUBLICDOMAINPICTURES.NET

On Feb. 7, the CVUSD board voted to pass Board Policy 1230, which elaborated on the previously established Administrative Regulation on the presence of alcohol at school functions. The Board voted in favor of banning the sales of alcohol at all school ran events and fundraisers except for silent auctions, where sealed and bottled alcohol is allowed so long as it is not accessible by the students. Although the majority supported the choice, the policy has raised eyebrows in the community. Should the district enforce the new policy restricting alcohol sales to silent auctions?

YES

Alcohol’s presence at fundraisers helps to enhance events

By publicly displaying alcohol, we put our reputation at risk

SIERRA WATERS

Opinion Editor

Now more than ever, there are many restrictions on the way school-run programs are allowed to raise funds. Programs can no longer do car washes or bake sales during school. Without many alternative fundraising options and an overall lack of general funds, student organizations have had to be creative. One of those ways has been to have silent auction gift basket events, but even this has recently come under public scrutiny. These auctions tend to be geared towards adults to promote a positive social atmosphere for a good cause. However, in order to get parents to attend the event, it needs to make them feel like the event is about them. It makes the auction more personal, and the legal ability to consume alcohol is one of the biggest factors that separates the students from the adults. Alcohol in silent auction gift baskets never comes in contact with students. Having alcohol in the silent gift baskets is completely appropriate so long as it isn’t opened on campus. Alcohol cannot be sold unless the district approves it beforehand with proper permits. This district policy ensures that every step of the process is legal and safe for all parties involved, including the students. The main concern people have about having silent auctions or general fundraisers with alcohol is that the PTA offers loopholes around district policy but that is false. The district policy about alcohol at fundraisers coincides with the PTA policy, and no organization is trying to fundraise without meeting the proper requirements. Alcohol is kept away from students, as few students attend such events. Alcohol at events does not mean the school or program is promoting underage drinking. No one is going around and making sure that adults know that alcohol is going to be present at the event by posting it on websites, posters, or at school campuses. With the proper permits, the organization holding the fundraiser is only trying to promote itself — not the drinking. Even if a fundraising event with alcohol does have students presents, they will not consume any. All the alcohol at the functions are contained inside the baskets. Plus, buying a basket with alcohol in it does not guarantee that the purchaser is going to consume it. If alcohol is served for consumption at an event, however, it is through people who are approved and insured by the district. To make sure programs meet the right codes, the district has resources and people they recommend the programs use so that the fundraising event can uphold district standards. These resources include caterers, people, and places that the school organizations can hire through the district. Banning alcohol at fundraising events only hurts students. When parents don’t enjoy these fundraisers, they stop attending and our programs lose money. Silent auctions and similar events are necessary for our programs to thrive. The district policy is a good plan that will provide good fundraising opportunities for extracurricular activities on campus, and set good examples for students. The district policy is an apt and adequate plan that will provide ample fundraising opportunities for extracurricular activities on school campuses upholding the district’s integrity.

GAVIN P. NORTON

Opinion Editor

Alcohol has no place on any public school campus. The only place alcohol might be allowed on a school campus is if a private school needed to allocate time for a religious ceremony involving wine (and even then, grape juice works just as well). One would think it should go without saying that alcohol on a school campus, at a school event, is a bad idea. However, the school board recently developed the topic to account for the removal of alcohol from all school settings except for silent auctions. This should not have even hit the debate floor, as any legitimate argument for the alcohol on school campuses can be negated by simply acknowledging that a gift card or a coupon or a voucher for a bottle of wine works just as well in the actual bottle’s place. If our school district was suffering from a legitimate deficit of funds, then there could be an argument for the inclusion of any item at a silent auction. But the simple truth is that our district is not only award-winning, but sitting comfortably as far as finances are concerned. If, as a district, we were legitimately struggling and scrambling for funds, why would we stop at alcohol sales at school events? Why would we not expand our fundraising endeavors to alcohol at any school function? Why not sell tickets and tokens for cigarettes or marijuana? Such discrepancies prove an illegitimacy in the argument for alcohol. Yes, alcohol is a selling point and can generate some form of revenue, which is indubitably beneficial. However, by offering wine or gin at school functions, our district endangers our reputation which is infinitely more important than our already posh financial status. By allowing alcohol to be sold, we allow it to be seen. When we allow any object to be seen, whether it be by parents or their children, we subject the individuals to take an opinion on whatever is put in front of them. This newspaper, for example, is a student-run publication. So we, as students, decide what material is put into this paper. This paper, then, is distributed among the student body to digest however it seems fit. Even if a student makes the bold decision to not read this fantastic publication in its entirety, just by seeing the cover we were successfully able to influence something about their life. If we put an intricate cheese dish on the cover, people would have a different opinion of us than if we put a bottle of wine on the cover, even if they don’t read our paper. If we put an intricate cheese dish in a silent auction basket, people who know next to nothing about our district would have a different opinion of our district than if we had a wine bottle in a silent auction basket. As much as we wish it was not true, the simplest of protocol (like offering wine at school events) gives us a reputation, whether good or bad. It is in our best interests, assuming we wish to send out an air of competence as a school district, to remove alcohol from our repertoire.

OPINION

The other side Even after the election, far left and right media outlets continue to grow. It’s easier than ever to be educated on politics, but these websites encourage a form of discrimination. It’s not racism or sexism, but rather, partisanism — people are biased against those with opposing political views.

Democrats:

Republicans:

Democratic attitudes towards Republicans

59% Unfavorable 17%

Republican attitudes towards Democrats

86%

For both major parties,

55%

of the other party has roughly tripled in the past 20 years.

74%

extreme dislike

Very Unfavorable

1994

91%

2016

58%

Unfavorable 21%

Very Unfavorable

1994

2016

51% say a major reason for voting Democrat is because Republican policies harm the country. Only 34% vote Democrat because they

agree with Democratic policies. 55% of Democrats say that Republicans make them afraid.

55% say a major reason for voting Republican is because Democratic policies harm the country. Only 30% vote Republican because they

agree with Republican policies.

57% of Republicans say that Democrats make them frustrated.

70% of

46% of

Democrats think Republicans are more

Republicans think Democrats are lazier than other Americans.

closed-minded than other Americans.

RA PH IC

» AN

DREW

CHAU » TH

E LANCER

E SOURCE » P

W RES

EN HC A RC

Seas The Day “You are a sad, strange little man and you have my pity.” —Buzz Lightyear, “Toy Story” Hello, friends, family and fellow readers. I have an announcement to make: I am stressed. Yes, the rumors are true, but don’t act so surprised like stress is such a bad thing. In fact, I bet at least 87.375% of the people reading this are just as stressed as I am, and that’s because stress is a part of life that we have to deal with. But have no fear — Sierra is here! Today I’m going to tell you the best ways to relieve your stress, because I am the stress expert (self-proclaimed, of course). The fact of the matter is you can’t really avoid stress, but you can cope with it. So read on, you angsty teens! First thing’s first, make a playlist with four songs that you listen to in a particular order. The first song should make you cry. Everyone needs a good cry once in a while. The second song is a song that you know all the lyrics to so you can scream at the top of your lungs — you’re literally screaming your stress away. The third song is calmer than the second but more upbeat than the first. It’s emotional with a good beat. It slows your heart rate from all the adrenaline you get from screaming. The last song has to be upbeat and hopeful to get you back on your feet. It’s got to make you smile again; you sing along, and it makes you happy and assured that everything’s going to be okay. My playlist consists of “Life” by Sleeping at Last, “Sing Sing” by Mariana’s Trench, “Capsize” by Frenship, and “You Can’t Stop The Beat” by the Hairspray Cast — the movie version, obviously. Feel free to use these. If you’re really feeling spunky, then you can add in another song to cry to after the first song, because sometimes 4:28 isn’t enough crying time. DISCLAIMER: I wouldn’t recommend doing this in public. I would suggest literally anywhere else. But if you can’t get away, then listening to your third song by itself can tide you over until you can. My next stress tip for you is much cooler than it sounds: crafting. Yes, crafting. Craft whatever you want. Paint trees, draw the trash you feel you are, crochet blankets, glue together next year’s Halloween costume, etc. I personally like to make greeting cards (hit me up if you forgot your mom’s birthday next week). Sometimes I’ll lock myself in my room for hours making birthday, thank you, Christmas, and other seasonal cards. And spoiler alert, I feel so much better because I was productive but it was so mindless. Even shopping for crafting supplies has the same effect. The old ladies who shop at Jo-Anns are so sweet, except during sales. Nobody talks on a door buster deal — it’s every man for himself. Sometimes it’s good to be by yourself when you’re stressed, but other times it’s good to be with friends who will always lift you up. In some instances, you should be with a friend who is in a much more stable mindset than you are so they can snap you back into reality with some tough love. Other times, you need to be with people who are just as stressed as you are so you can be hot messes together. If this is the case, then go out to lunch and yell at bad drivers. And don’t go to a nice restaurant — McDonald’s and get two milkshakes and three number fours, then ask what your friend wants. On the way back, continue to scream at bad drivers, or for no reason at all, and rock out to Avril Lavigne while stuffing pink slime down your throat. It should make you feel horrible, but there’s nothing better than going through a tough time and having a good friend go through it with you. So yeah, I’m stressed. But you know what? I’ll get through it because I’m amazing. And if you try and hold me down I’m gonna spit in your eye and say you can’t stop the beat. — Sierra Waters

IN-FOCUS

4 6 n

o i t i os CTS

Despite drug prevention efforts like Red Ribbon Week, marijuana is increasingly present in high schools.

p T FA o r P S

veral e s d e ablish ng: t s e o i s t it al e the follow 000 u b , 1 weed ns includ hin er. d t i e z i w l o i na h cent rds lega e restrict a 4 u 6 j t i a ition ns. Thos mar or you d tow s o e p o k o Pr tio re irecte of o sm y-ca d regula

e e lt da enc UI. ega hool, nnot b u l l l i f n sc aD ei ca t is r th ilar to up to • I et of a ents e. e d n c m sm fe erti audien iving u alty, si receive r hour v d r n • A young ught d e a pe d will d a fou v a n OM a i ee c MES.C se ece ith w or atte r o » LATI E a h C R w n SOU • T arijua aught seling . m n c m a u r s o inor rs of c n prog M u tio • o 10 h -educa g dru

PHOTO » » CARISSA CARISSA LO LO » » THE THE LANCER PHOTO LANCER

IN-FOCUS

High exposure HANNAH MERCER

In-Focus Editor

Since elementary school, students have participated in programs such as Red Ribbon Week, which are intended to educate today’s youth on the consequences of drug use. Phrases such as “Choose to Refuse” and “Pugs Not Drugs” were supposed to stick to the inside of kids’ brains, reminding them not to use drugs. However, marijuana is unavoidable in high school; it’s everywhere, and exposure to it takes different forms. In 1994, California became the first state to pass a law permitting the use of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is only available through doctor recommendation, meaning it is, in theory, strictly intended for medical treatment purposes. Plant cannabinoids exert a variety of medical benefits when they bind to the body’s natural endocannabinoid receptors, including pain relief, inflammation, insomnia, and anxiety/depression. “I started medical marijuana treatment last Aug., so I’ve been on it for almost six months,” sophomore Raymond Webster said. In April, 2014, Webster was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his knee, and after trying several different forms of treatment, his oncologist confidently suggested he try medical marijuana. “It comes as an oil and I put that in a pill and swallow it,” Webster said. “I get it delivered from a company called Cannakids, and they know the doses I need. My parents order it, and they ship to my house.” Cannakids is a reliable, consistent source for parents to acquire organic, kid-friendly medical cannabis oil. “I’ve gone through so much, but I stay positive because there’s always new options for treatment available,” Webster said. “You have to have hope that it can be successful.” However, medical marijuana isn’t only for kids. In fact, countless parents use prescribed cannabis too. “My mom started using CBD oil, which is non-psychoactive. It helped with her hip pains,” senior Steve Fieri* said. “I already knew she was open to marijuana. She was a hippie when she was younger, so it wasn’t that shocking. It didn’t change my opinion of her because she was using it be more healthy.” Although medical needs are popular reasons for adults and parents to smoke, many do it for other reasons, such as long-term dependence on the drug. “My father has smoked pot, among other things, for the majority of his life,” sophomore Violet Johnson* said. “I kind of resent him for it. He always has to be high. He gets stoned as soon as he comes home from work. Half way through most conversations I try to have with him his eyes glaze over.” In many cases, students get involved with marijuana because of its accessibility. “It’s really easy to get pot,” Johnson said. “There are drug dealers all over the place. Some of them are in high school, some are older and some just don’t care

about age.” Among other sources, students typically get marijuana from friends or dealers their friends use. “It was pretty easy to get,” sophomore Loren Roberts* said. “We talked over Snapchat and then I went to go get it from them. The only problem was I didn’t know the person I got it from very well since I knew them through a friend, but asking my friend for the information wasn’t hard at all. The weed actually wasn’t for me, it was for somebody else. I never even intended to smoke it.” If marijuana is already inside the home, many teenagers obtain it directly from their parents. “The first time I smoked was with my dad,” Johnson said. “I was really open and honest with my parents and told them I was curious as to what it felt like to be high. They appreciated my honesty, and my dad told me that he still smoked and that if I wanted to try it, he would rather I try it at home because it’s a much safer environment.” On the other hand, most teens buy and sell out in the real world. This exchange can even happen on campus. “We knew it was a bad idea to do it at school, but there wasn’t another way,” Roberts said. “I guess someone turned us in or the school found it, but we did it at school because we knew we couldn’t do it outside.” Illegally getting involved with marijuana both on and off campus has major consequences, whether using, buying or selling. “I got suspended for five days and I have to go to court next week,” Roberts said. “I was called into the office. They called my parents, talked to me about the consequences and had me write everything down. I was in there waiting the whole time, so I was sitting there for three hours just waiting. Be responsible, don’t mess around, don’t hurt other people.” Marijuana is classified as a stimulant, sedative, tranquilizer, and hallucinogen. Common side effects include paranoia, memory problems, dizziness, psychosis, fatigue and lethargy. “I don’t think weed is bad compared to more serious drugs out there, but I’d still rather not smoke,” Fieri said. “The idea of not having full control over my body freaks me out. I want to be in control of my body and my actions, and being under the influence of marijuana won’t let me do that, and that’s a scary thought.” In the 2016 election, California voters passed Proposition 64, legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. If Colorado statistics are any indication, according to the Center for Disease Control’s survey in 2013, teen usage should remain flat, rather than increase despite this new law. *Steve Fieri, Violet Johnson and Loren Roberts are pseudonyms for three TOHS students who wish to remain anonymous.

IN-FOCUS

BY THE NUMBERS out of 200 students polled

25%

smoke marijuana at least once or twice a month for non-medical purposes.

55%

are most likely to get high with one or two close friends.

72% have never consumed

61% were introduced

marijuana edibles that are for non-medical purposes.

to marijuana when a friend offered it to them.

8% have a medical

marijuana prescription.

9% buy or sell

marijuana at school several times a week.

55%

of voters in California is the fifth state to Ventura County voted in legalize recreational marijuana. favor of Proposition 64, which SOURCE » NYTIMES.COM legalized recreational weed. SOURCE » TIME.COM

“I started medical marijuana treatment last August, so I’ve been on it for almost six months. It comes as an oil, and I put that in a pill and swallow it. I get it delivered from a company called Cannakids. They know the doses I need. My parents order it, and they ship to my house.”

“My mom started using CBD oil, which is non-psychoactive. It helped with her hip pains. I already knew she was open to marijuana. She was a hippie when she was younger, so it wasn’t shocking. It didn’t change my opinion of her because she was using it to help her be more healthy.”

“My father has smoked pot, among other things, for the majority of his life. I kind of resent him for it. He always has to be high. He gets stoned as soon as he comes home from work. Half way through most conversations I try to have with him, his eyes glaze over.”

— Sophomore Raymond Webster

— Senior Steve Fieri

— Sophomore Violet Johnson

PHOTO » CARISSA LO » THE LANCER

FEATURES

MASTERS OF MUSIC The Lancer interviews students and faculty involved with band and gets an in-depth look at the role of the Master Class program implemented by band director Marty Martone. Over the last three years, players divided into individual sections by instrument to improve camaradarie and musical technique. Features Editor

Students in the band program have the unique opportunity to hone their musical skills through band’s one-of-a-kind master class. Though it is a mandatory part of band, it has been instrumental in students’ growth for the last 3 years. “Master Class is a way for us to get with our sections and learn our instruments from professionals in the field and be able to play in a setting where we’re featured and not just the entire band,” senior Katy Levine said. Master class was first implemented in the band program at the start of 2014-2015 school year. This being their third successful year with the class. “It was weird the first year it happened because it was hard for everyone to get in the swing of it,” Levine said. “But by now we’re used to it and it’s a normal thing for us every year.” One of the ways this program is helpful is how it helps pinpoint the weakness within each section of the band, allowing professionals to assist students in learning from their mistakes. “With the master class it’s cool because we can see throughout the section what people need to work on and how they play their instruments,” freshman Jackson Waters said. Master class consists of professionals coming in and teaching their respective instruments three days a week. Students show their growth at scheduled master class concerts, where they also get to see the improvement of their peers. “I know from sitting in the audience that it was really cool to see different groups and different periods perform. With each group it’s like I see people I didn’t know could play that well,” Levine said. “It’s awesome to see the other classes because it’s not often you get to see the other classes or how they perform.” Every one of the professional’s scheduled days to come teach allows the students to have one-on-one time and work closely with someone who has mastered their instrument of choice. “It’s more of a one on one experience,” Junior Josh Chuck said. “There’s still other people, but the professionals are focusing more on your specifics and on what you need to work on, or what that person needs to work on and just brings it all together.” Each student’s passion for music is what allows this program to be truly successful. The ability to watch their own improvement, as well as their peers, perpetuates the goals band director Marty Martone had in mind when starting the master class. “When you first start on a piece and you’re looking through it, you barely know it,” Sophomore Katelyn Allen said. “But you just keep going and you can hear yourself getting better with every run through and with every time you rehearse it. “ This way of going about teaching students band is a very different approach than what is taken in the district’s middle schools, this path allowing students and their talents to be addressed individually instead of focusing on the band as a whole.

“Having the master class is something that is really more individualized and it’s really nice to see what you don’t know and what you’re doing wrong,” Levine said. “Now there are professionals there with me, talking with me and giving me advice.” Much of the students’ enjoyment of band is derived from the reaction that they are able to produce from the audience at their concerts. “Performing a piece in front of an audience is really satisfying to me,” Levine said. “The emotions evolve to other people when they hear it.” The heart that students of the band program carry throughout campus is what makes them unique to other activities offered here at TOHS.

PHOTO » TOHS BAND » WITH PERMISSION

KYLIE PATTERSON

“Every time I practice or perform, everything else, like homework or problems at home, just kind of goes away and I’m focusing all my mind to this,” Waters said. “It’s really rewarding and it just kind of brings me joy when I do it.”

Come support TOHS Band at their Spring Concert on March 28th at 7pm in the Performing Arts Center.

THE PAYOFF OF MASTER CLASS— Symphonic band performs on Dec. 7 during one of band’s Winter Holiday Concerts.

FEATURES

HANG TEN

Surfing brings out the best in freshman Emma Mobley. She finds the sport most fun when she doesn’t worry and just enjoys her time on the water. KYLIE PATTERSON

Features Editor

Being a freshman in high school and trying to find your place can sometimes prove to be a difficult task. Luckily, freshman Emma Mobley has had a comfortable place in the ocean since the age of 10. After discovering surfing and learning the basics through a family friend, Mobley was determined to learn how to balance on a board, even if it meant that she had to teach herself. I had a family member teach me, but for the most part I totally learned on my own,” Mobley said. “I just picked it up and went with it.” With the amount of time she spends in the water, improvement is inevitable, but Mobley doesn’t surf for the fame or to place in competitions. She surfs because she genuinely loves it. “I’ve gotten better than I was because I wasn’t anything special,” Mobley said. “I just do it because it’s fun. I do compete some, but nothing really serious.” Mobley could view the time it takes to pack her gear and get to the beach as a hassle, but it doesn’t phase her because she feels it’s completely worth the reward. “I don’t consider it a burden to go out there and take the time to put my wet suit on and drive out to the beach,” Mobley said. “I really just love being out in the water.” With the prominent surf culture in California, Mobley feels a strong sense of community among other surfers. She has formed valuable friendships with people through the common ground surfing offers. “It’s like a community, when you’re out in the water you can just talk to people. Definitely sometimes there’s some rude people out there, but for the most part, if you’re being respectful of other people’s waves, you’re gonna have friends out in the water,” Mobley said. “I’ve made a lot of friends while surfing.” Mobley’s love for the water extends to the TOHS pool, where she plays on the girl’s JV water polo team. “This is my first year playing water polo. It’s the funnest sport I’ve ever done, but it’s really intense,” Mobley said. “I’ve gotten a bunch of black eyes from it. But I still love playing.” Due to the amount of time she spends out at the beach, Mobley has had many run ins with the ocean’s

CATCH THE WAVES—(Top) Mobley surfs a wave. (Bottom) Mobley rides in from a previous set.

wildlife, further adding to her affinity towards surfing. “We see dolphins all the time. One time I was out with my friend and we were paddling out because a set was coming, so we had to go under, and this dolphin came right at us,” Mobley said. “It was inches from us, it was absurd. It honestly was the biggest dolphin I’ve ever seen.” Surfing isn’t a very costly sport, but taking care of your board and wetsuit is important to make sure it doesn’t become one. “You definitely wanna be careful with them. They’re going to get dinged, you’re going to hit rocks and stuff like that,” Mobley said. “I buy a lot of my boards used. Because they’re perfectly good boards, they’re just a lot cheaper.” Along with the physical endurance needed to stay out in the water long enough to catch a wave, surfing is unique in a way that the playing field is ever-changing, making it a dynamic sport. “If you’re playing a sport like baseball, during the game, the field is always there and it doesn’t change. With surfing, it all depends on the waves,” Mobley said. “It’s hard to predict what it’s going to be like, it’s always constantly changing. You never know what’s going to happen.” Because of the capricious personality of the ocean, Mobley’s competitions are almost never considered “fair” across the board. “It sucks when there’s a lull in a set because there aren’t many waves. Where there aren’t any waves, then you’re screwed,” Mobley said. “If you’re in a different spot than someone and they get a wave that isn’t near you, they have automatically the advantage.” Though she’s tried other board-oriented sports, Mobley always goes back to surfing, finding it to be the one she’s most comfortable with. “I tried snowboarding, and I was horrible at it. I was not good, I did not like it,” Mobley said. “I’ve never been a huge fan of the snow.” After all her years riding waves, the most valuable lesson Mobley has taken away from surfing is one of determination and persistence. “It just taught me to not stop just because something is hard, or because you’re not doing the best at it,” Mobley said. “It taught me how to keep going.”

PHOTOS » EMMA MOBLEY » WITH PERMISSION

FEATURES

Digital Portfolio SOUND QUALITY The new Honors Digital Media class uses teacher George Gabriel’s years of experience in the tech field to instruct students such as senior Denver Simmons.

KYLIE PATTERSON

Features Editor

New to classes offered here at Thousand Oaks High School is Honors Digital Media, allowing students to explore careers in technology and create a professional digital presence. “The class is basically about creating a digital image of yourself,” Digital Media teacher George Gabriel said. “So learning how to make a website and do all this yourself, record video, and understand photoshop. That’s our thing.” As technology progresses and further integrates itself into society, so does the importance of students to stake their claim in the online world. “It’s all about digital media and your digital media footprint,” Gabriel said. “Basically, I’m showing students how to improve their image online.” This being the class’s first year, the attendance is small with only nine students enrolled. One of them is senior Denver Simmons, who stumbled upon the class after hearing a unique announcement over the school’s loudspeaker at the beginning of the school year. “It was this loud, crazy announcement, asking people to come to the class,” Simmons said. “And then I showed up and I was the only person that came.” Gabriel covers each area in the class and then allows students to go in depth with the topic that ends up interesting them the most. “He goes over each topic, we all do the same topics, but then we each have projects,” Simmons said. “With

EXPLORATION IN MEDIA CLASS— 1. Gabriel gets interviewd by an editor from the Lancer in room B3. 2. Senior Nick Marino operates the camera during 5th period. 3. Gabriel instructs Marino on using the camera. 4. Simmons edits a galaxy image on Photoshop. 5. Freshman Mason Friedman tests the microphones’ strength on the new DSLR camera.

our individual projects we do pretty much whatever we want as long as long as it’s in the same topic.” Simmons, whose present concentration in the class is music, is currently in the process of creating a YouTube video specialized to his area of interest. “It’s going to be a sound design tutorial for music,” Simmons said. “So I can kind of blend my interest in music making with the class.” Gabriel liked Simmons’ work so much, he invited him to be his intern at his home studio. He works on composing for various channels such as Nickelodeon and Disney, as well as doing commercials and creating soundtracks for companies that hire him. “I think Denver is fantastic. He’s very knowledgeable,” Gabriel said. “He’s a bit geeky, which is perfect in a very cerebral kind of way. He’s very creative in a quiet kind of analytical way.” With all his success through creating scores and composing for all kind of entertainment, one of which includes the Kim Possible theme song, Gabriel feels drawn to his teaching as his way to pay it forward and pass on his knowledge. “Teaching is very little of what I do, so I came here to kind of pay it back to the students,” Gabriel said. As a senior, Simmons plans to take his passion for music and use it in a practical way going into college. “My major, I think, is going to be Computer Science. So I’m going to develop software for making music,” Simmons said. “So I can still be kind of music industry but through computer science.”

“It’s how to present yourself digitally and professionally — from Photoshop to Illustrator to video production to motion graphics to web design. ” —teacher GEORGE GABRIEL

5 PHOTOS » QUINCEY SMITHERS » THE LANCER