10.06.18

the

Arrow 100 Lakeview Canyon Rd. Westlake Village, CA 91362 Volume XLI | Issue 1 | October 4, 2018

o u r FIrsTever iss u e

PAGEs 10-11

Celebrating

40 0

Midterm elections Spider–Man on Nov. 6 swings onto PS4 Page 5

Page 13

years

NBA off–season effects Page 19

2

EDITORIAL

the

Arrow staff

editors-in-chief caelyn pender & milla wu

managing editor megan king

web masters-in-chief sona bhargava & connie shi

web managing editor prarthana kaygee

news section editor sydney schlesinger

news editors brittney nial, avery pak & lauren pak

feature section editors marc andrew choi & jamie lee

the need for

STUDENT VOICES Students need more opportunities for their voices to be heard in the school district.

By allowing students to vote at age 17 in school board elections, adding a student advisory board member and creating a student advisory council, CVUSD will better represent the needs of the students.

STAFF POLL

FOR:

27

Against:

2

ABSTAIN:

4

Compiled by Megan King, Caelyn Pender & Milla Wu

feature editors angel lee, amber parrish, sophie robson, lindsey romano & abby thompson

arts & entertainment section editor katie reul

arts & entertainment editors thomas brickman, songhee lee & faith yellin

opinion section editor alex li

opinion editors jeff mendoza & quinn moss

featured columnist amanda ju

sports section editors akhil gutta & melanie zhang

sports editors peter beer, kyra berg, taylor chen & bob xia

business manager & photo editor michelle hang

graphics editor elliot kim

adviser karie lynch The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP classes at Westlake High School. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Westlake High School administration, faculty or student body. We welcome feedback. Letters must be signed by the writer.

www.westlakearrow.net westlakearrow@gmail.com @westlakearrow 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225

Cover photo by Caelyn Pender

Currently, the Conejo Valley Unified School District faces a contentious school board election season. Eight candidates are running for three seats on the board, each with his or her own ideas about what the school district needs to be successful. The Arrow editor team recently interviewed seven of the eight candidates, with the exception of Mike Dunn who was unable to participate.

As we heard each candidate explain his or her positions and ideas, we noticed a common desire among the candidates to actively listen to the student voice.

Over the past year, school board meetings have not adequately included or represented the student voice.

Frequently, the board disregards student concerns.

However, the student perspective is invaluable in the policy–making process since many of the issues directly affect them. Students should be both able to and encouraged to provide their opinions on board policies, such as last year’s core literature policy, budgets and new programs.

Ultimately, in order to actually put the students first, the board needs to provide more opportunities for students to give their opinions. While teachers and parents provide valuable input from an administrative and guardian perspective, only students can bring their unique experiences regarding student life at school.

There are many possible solutions to ensure that students have ample input on their education.

One way of helping student voices be more represented is allowing 17–year–olds to vote for school board elections.

In 2016, a measure was passed in Berkeley, California that gave 16– and 17–year–olds who would be otherwise eligible to vote when they turned 18 the ability to vote for the School Director of the Berkeley Unified School District Board of Directors; the caveat was that it could not increase election costs for the city and no city funds were to be used for facilitating the change.

All seniors at WHS are required to take a government class, yet not all of these students are able to vote. In our government classes, students learn the importance of being politically aware and active. In fact, during election seasons, WHS seniors have a scavenger hunt project where they engage in many aspects of local, state and federal government, such as writing letters to the editors, meeting with local candidates and going to forums/debates.

Additionally, the opinions and intellect of 17–year– olds do not change extensively in the few months before they turn 18. In fact, being allowed to vote for a local office would encourage 17–year–olds to make a habit of voting later in life.

We understand the concern that students might vote to make life easier for themselves, or that they will be uninformed and make poor choices when they vote.

However, for the most part, only teens who are passionate will put in the effort to vote; these students are more inclined to do research and make sure they are well–informed before voting.

Another method for representing the student perspective is allowing a student advisory member on the board. Los Angeles Unified School District has a student member on its board who represents the needs of the students. The representative for the 2017–2018 school year was Ben Holtzman.

“My responsibility was to represent the student voice no matter what part of the district that voice came from,” said Holtzman to The Arrow. “Other board members don’t have that privilege for they represent individual districts, yet the job of the student member of the board is to represent all 664,000 students in Los Angeles Unified School District.”

Holtzman was elected by “student government leaders from across the district that voted during a meeting where candidates gave speeches.”

There have been multiple occasions where Holtzman felt he had brought a different perspective to the meetings that would have otherwise been overlooked.

“The importance of having a student member of the board cannot be quantified. Students are affected everyday by the legislation set forth and approved by the Board of Education,” continued Holtzman. “Multiple times on the board I found that I brought a different perspective necessary to discussion on policy affecting students … The student provides a different perspective not often seen by board members that have been done being students quite a while ago.”

LAUSD has elected a new student representative for the 2018–2019 school year: Tyler Okeke.

LAUSD also has a student advisory council which meets six times a year with the district’s superintendent. The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council gives advice, provides “feedback and present[s] viable solutions on District initiatives and programs.”

The SSAC is made up of high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who “act as [liaisons] between the Superintendent, Student Board Member and LAUSD students.”

With a student council like that of LAUSD, CVUSD would be able to stay updated about student issues and opinions. The council would not attend board meetings like the student board member, but it would provide another avenue for the district to hear student voices in a simple, yet effective way.

3

NEWS

In brief Dancing with the Warrior Stars

5–Star StudentS app

Club rush

WHS dance team is hosting its fourth annual Dancing with the Warrior Stars on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in the gym. Team members will guide their partners into the world of dance.

This year, dancers will work with their male partners to help them gain more dance experience and learn new moves.

This event is open to the public. Tickets for all ages cost $15 at the door. Presale tickets are available for purchase from any dance team member for $10.

WHS has expanded its technological boundaries with the new 5–Star Students app. This app allows students to receive the latest updates on school events. With updates on athletics, clubs and dances as well as voting polls, students have all the latest WHS information in the palms of their hands.

Students can also check into events and receive rewards through their use of the app. The 5–Star Students app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Club Rush will be held on Oct. 4 during lunch in the quad.

Participating clubs set up tables advertising activities, meetings and fundraisers. Club rush allows WHS students to learn about the various clubs the school has to offer and to sign up for a club.

Not all clubs choose to participate in club rush, but many do. Some clubs, such as Mock Trial and National Honors Society are already closed to new members because they have an application process.

Homecoming events

CVUSD school board election

PSAT testing

Homecoming is right around the corner and WHS prepares to have a week full of spirited festivities. The week begins with a homecoming rally on Mon., Oct. 15 in the gym, followed by the homecoming varsity football game on Fri., Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. against Newbury Park High School.

The Arrow is hosting a restaurant night at BJ’s after the game from 8–11 p.m. The week ends with the homecoming dance on Sat., Oct. 20 from 7–10:30 p.m. in the gym.

The dance admission price increases each week, reaching $60 the week of the dance. Students must provide their ID numbers to reserve spots on the dance list when they purchase admission, then give their names to enter the dance.

Patrissha Rose Booker, Dr. Amy Chen, Mike Dunn, Cindy Goldberg, Bill Gorback, Jenny Fitzgerald, Angie Simpson and Marlon Delano Williams will be on the ballot for the CVUSD school board election on Nov. 6. The Arrow, The Panther Prowler and The Lancer conducted interviews at TOHS to give this year’s CVUSD school board candidates a chance to discuss their goals as potential future members. A Q & A from the interviews is on The Arrow website.

The Arrow conducted video interviews with five of the eight candidates, posted on The Arrow website. Additionally, reporters wrote articles about the Sept. 15 Conejo Council PTA Forum and the Sept. 27 THRIVE Conejo Forum. Both of these articles, plus more, are on The Arrow website, westlakearrow.net.

The PSAT will be administered at WHS on Oct. 10. Students must pre–register in order to take the test and are required to be in their designated testing rooms by 7:45 a.m.

Students must bring a photo ID and No. 2 pencils with erasers. It is advised that students also bring an approved graphing or scientific calculator. Items that are restricted from testing rooms include cell phones, watches with alarms, extra paper and books.

Scores are typically available six to eight weeks after the exam is taken, which would be sometime in December.

Students take the PSAT to prepare for the SAT, and they can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program as a junior if they score high enough.

Compiled by Sydney Schlesinger & Faith Yellin

4

NEWS

FBLA and HOSA make modifications would like to see occupations “dealing with children, [and] different doctors dealing with different demographics and also focusing on different parts of the body, like a cardiologist one day and a urologist [another].”

At the end of the last school year, Career Technical In addition to inviting guest speakers, HCA leaders Education’s new requirements led to changes in two clubs plan on organizing simulations during club meetings. on campus: Health Occupation Students of America and “We want to do some fun activities and lab Future Business Leaders of America. Both are national workshops,” said HCA president May Li ‘20. “In the student organizations. HOSA helps students navigate the HOSA conference, there’s different workshops like the medical field, and FBLA focuses on the business realm.

‘Stop the Bleed’ workshop, so we want to recreate that HOSA ended last year as a nationally–affiliated [and] educate people on how to deal with emergency club on campus due to its lack situations better.” of an adviser who met the new HCA won’t be competing CA will have a with clubs around the nation, CTE credential requirements, which are difficult and lengthy its officers are hopeful of bigger focus on but to obtain. possible collaborations with healthcare as a local schools.

HOSA restarted this year and now centers its activities whole, and we’re going to have “If we had the resources, more on WHS students and local since I think Newbury [High more events that are local to School’s] and Thousand Oaks events rather than competitions.

HOSA’s new title is our school rather than HOSA, [High School’s] HOSA clubs Health Careers of America, also got shut down, maybe we and meetings are held every which is a nationally–affiliated could reach out to them and Friday in room 43F. The club if they’d be okay with ... a club.” see remains centered on exploring three–school competition,” –Gideon Tong said Li. “Basically, we just want healthcare and medical– related occupations, just not to inspire people, get people in a national aspect, and the adviser is still science interested and have fun.” teacher Jennifer Rogstad.

FBLA, however, still remains a club, competing “HCA will have a bigger focus on healthcare nationally with only a few modifications in regards to as a whole, and we’re going to have more events that teacher requirements and competition regulations. are local to our school rather than HOSA, which is a Even with new additions, FBLA continues to focus nationally affiliated club,” said HCA treasurer Gideon on leadership development through academic Tong ‘19. “[In] HOSA, you would have a bigger focus competitions and educational programs. The club on competitions and placing in competitions.” meets twice a month on Mondays in room 42P. A main component of HOSA is its annual “FBLA activities include section and state competitions and State Leadership Conference. Typically, conferences,” said FBLA President Katelin Zhou ’19. competitions entail self–studying tests, presentations and “There are approximately 200 of these competitions, projects related to healthcare and medicine. and [they include] written tests for topics such as Because HCA is no longer nationally affiliated, business law [and] healthcare administration, or there are no plans to participate in competitions. taking a production event such as graphic design, Instead, the HCA officers hope to invite guests to videography project, math/accounting, etc.” speak about their experiences in the medical field.

As of this year, FBLA advisers must have a CTE “We [will] bring in people to talk about different credential to have students participate at competitions. careers or different occupations and what field they’re in,” “Mr. Tyler had that credential, so he was helping said HCA secretary Matthew Zilberman ‘21. Zilberman out with FBLA last year,” said Dr. Laurie Looker, FBLA

by songhee lee & avery pak arts & ent editor & news editor

PHOTO BY AVERY PAK

“H

HAPPY FOR HCA: HCA president May Li leads the first meeting and discusses ideas for the year.

HCA changed from HOSA, a nationally–affiliated club that centers on medical occupations, to HCA, a campus club. FBLA is another nationally–affiliated club that focuses on business–related careers; Dr. Laurie Looker obtained the necessary credential, allowing FBLA to remain a nationally–affiliated club at WHS. advisor and Career Education coordinator. “He told his students last year was his last year, so I went ahead and took the courses necessary to get a CTE credential.”

Regarding competitions, students wanting to become a state officer must take a business course.

“Within California, they have six sections, and [WHS] is in what’s known as the Gold Coast section,” said Dr. Looker. “Each section has its own officer team, so if a [WHS] student wanted to be a Gold Coast officer, they would need to take a business class.”

However, students can compete this year without being enrolled in a business class. Any student in FBLA that has a recognized chapter and has paid the membership contribution can participate in an event.

While members continue to participate in competitions and conferences, FBLA has implemented

minor changes in its club system this year.

“This year has a bigger officer team [that] is more active,” said Zhou. “The group of sophomores that I work with [are really] energetic and enthusiastic, and so hopefully that energy will translate to more people caring about the club.”

FBLA is now working toward some new goals with the start of a new year, such as community service projects, touring city halls and recruiting guest speakers from businesses.

“We really want more people involved in general,” said Zhou. “We are going to try to push to get more people to try different types of competitive events. We want to get more people into the more creative [aspects], so we have diversity in terms of where our skill sets are.”

WHS implements AVID as new college prep. elective by avery pak news editor

PHOTO BY AMBER PARRISH

Advancement Via Individual Determination is a new elective program at WHS. AVID is a nationwide organization that centers on college readiness and has been implemented in 47 states throughout the United States. It strives to educate students in grades K–12 about achieving success.

The program targets students who have goals of attending college and possess academic potential but might not have the resources or guidance to achieve those goals independently. About three–quarters of AVID students come from a low socioeconomic status background and even more are underrepresented students, according to avid.org.

Despite these statistics, ninety percent of AVID students who apply to college are accepted into four–year colleges, according to avid.org. Eighty–five percent of AVID students continue into their second year of college in comparison to seventy–eight percent of students in the United States.

The Conejo Valley Unified School District introduced AVID last year at the high school level, but the program at WHS struggled to make a start due to lack of support from administration and the district. This year, AVID returned with full administrative and district support and is now one of WHS’s elective options during periods six and seven for grades nine and ten.

“It’s just a good program to have that we know has been effective, not just at [WHS], but I know is growing district–wide as well,” said Assistant Principal of Attendance Ricardo Araiza. “It’s one of those programs that has been known to be very successful with high school students.”

TEACHING IS LEARNING: During sixth period AVID, Kaile Yung participates in a tutorial in which college tutors and other students mentor students with questions to clarify confusing topics from any class. AVID is a district–wide college preparation elective newly introduced to WHS. It currently targets freshmen and sophomores. “The benefits of tutorials are [they explain] what you’re learning about,” said Yung. “Sometimes just explaining it helps you learn it better.”

The elective course meets the G requirement (two semesters of college preparatory coursework) for the UC and CSU A–G admission requirements.

Students can choose to take the elective or are referred to the program by teachers or counselors.

Students are then evaluated in terms of grades, attendance, discipline and test scores in order to be accepted into AVID, according to AVID teacher and coordinator Karie Lynch.

“So [for] kids who really want to go to college [but]… don’t know how to prepare [for it] ... this AVID program helps you with taking notes and get[ting] ready for college,” said AVID student Kevin Sanchez ‘22.

During class, students enhance their skills in note–taking, time management and effective studying.

“AVID has helped me take better notes and learn basic necessities [for] life,” said Kaile Yung ‘22. “Those skills that you learn in AVID you can use for the rest

of your life.”

In order to prepare students for success during and after high school, AVID focuses on honing a variety of academic strategies that will help pave the way to college.

“We focus on academic strategies in the areas of collaboration, inquiry, organization, writing and reading that will help students be successful in high school, college and beyond,” said Lynch.

Activities are not limited to note–taking and group work. Students are able to gain direct college preparation and guidance with college tutors and trips outside of school.

“We will have college tutors that visit the AVID class twice a week to work with students in the areas where students feel they have needs,” said Lynch.

“We take field trips to colleges to explore what they have to offer and educate the students about college expectations and opportunities.”

AVID’s primary objective is to prepare students for four–year colleges or universities after completing high school. Students form individual plans, whether it be admission into a two–year or four–year college or university, as well as plan out future career opportunities.

For the remainder of the school year, AVID is only open to freshmen and sophomores; however, there is hope that the program will eventually expand to all grades.

“The goal is that AVID will continue to grow each year, expanding to juniors and seniors in the next couple of years [and] providing students with support throughout their high school careers,” said Lynch. “I’m most looking forward to watching the students grow as they challenge themselves and discover their abilities and celebrating their achievements along the way.”

5

NEWS

Midterm elections approach on Nov. 6 by sydney schlesinger news section editor Midterm elections will take place on Nov. 6, 2018, but they are not as widespread in participation as presidential elections.

“For every 10 adults eligible to vote, only about four cast a ballot in the 2010 and 2014 midterm elections,” stated National Public Radio.

However, according to Pew Research Center, the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives counted about 136.8 million votes in the 2016 presidential election, which was about eighty–seven percent of the eligible voters.

In order to register to vote, one has to be 18 years old and a U.S. citizen; however, 16– and 17–year–olds can pre–register if they are a U.S. citizen. Both of these options can be completed online.

The deadline for registering is always 15 days before election day, so Oct. 22 is the last day to register this year. Pre–registering can be done at any time since 16– and 17–year–olds are not eligible to actually vote in the election.

Midterms determine new congressional seats — both representatives and senators — as well as governors. Looking at past trends, midterms tend to shift away from the political party that currently has the majority representation.

Since the Republican Party has a majority of congressional seats, a popular prediction is that Democrats could gain more representation than they have had in the previous two years.

“It’s just broadly viewed as an election where one party does particularly well to the

point where they flip control of a chamber of Congress and also win a sizable number of seats that the other party held,” said Geoffrey Skelley of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

However, these are just predictions based on midterm election trends in the past. There are others that believe this year will break these trends.

“Republicans are doing well with the Senate Midterms,” tweeted President Donald Trump.

“Races that we were not even thinking about winning are now very close, or even leading.

Election night will be very interesting indeed.”

For District 26, which includes most of the Ventura County, there are two candidates for the House of Representatives: Julia Brownley (Democrat) and Antonio Sabato, Jr. (Republican). Brownley is the current representative for the district.

Aside from the House of Representatives, California has one Senate seat available.

Democrat Dianne Feinstein is up for re–election against Kevin de León, who is a Democrat as well.

“I think we can all agree that, although we are all Democrats, we’re also different, too,” said de León. “We’re many shapes. Some of us are dreamers, progressives. Others are pragmatists.

I think we can all agree that these are very dangerous times in our country.”

Based on recent election trends, it is more likely for the incumbent to win the election.

Governor Jerry Brown cannot run again for re–election since it would be his third consecutive term. John H. Cox (Republican) and Gavin Newsom (Democrat) are running for Brown’s seat.

National elections have been an

overwhelming factor in the political scene, but local elections are taking place as well on Nov. 6.

Thousand Oaks’ City Council is holding elections for three seats and 11 nominees are running for the positions. The city council exercises legislative powers for the city government.

The school board elections will re–elect or elect Conejo Valley Unified School District board members. John Anderson and Pat Phelps decided to not run again for re–election. Mike Dunn is up for re–election, so three seats are available for the school board.

Eight candidates are running. The candidates are Patrissha Booker, Dr. Amy Chen, Mike Dunn, Jenny Fitzgerald, Cindy Goldberg, Bill Gorback, Angie Simpson and Marlon Delano Williams.

Although these elections aren’t on a national scale of importance, they are still significant in the community’s everyday lives. Even though most of the student body cannot vote yet, it is essential for everyone to stay informed and create political opinions of their own.

Elected senators and representatives are officially inaugurated into Congress on Jan. 3, 2019. However, the elected school board members are officially inaugurated the first meeting held after election certification.

“We can’t vote right now, but as high schoolers, we are approaching the age of 18, which is when we can vote and become civically engaged,” said Junior State of America member Katelin Zhou ‘19. “I think we reached a point in our lives maturity–wise where we should start... to [focus] on the world around us and how that impacts us.”

Source: npr.org

GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY SCHLESINGER

California to eliminate cash bail in October 2019 by quinn moss opinion editor On Aug. 28, 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 10 into law, which will abolish cash bail throughout the state. While other states such as Kentucky and New Jersey have begun to move away from the bail system as well, California is the first state to completely rid itself of the system. The new bill aims to level the economic playing field for those awaiting trial.

“Today, California reforms its bail system so that rich and poor alike are treated fairly,” said Brown in an official statement.

The bill will replace the current system of cash bail with one in which an algorithm is used to give individuals a “risk assessment” based on their likelihood to appear in court and their estimated risk to public safety.

People awaiting trial will be deemed either “low–risk,” “medium–risk” or “high– risk” by Pretrial Assessment Services, and their terms of release will correspond to their risk assessment. Those charged with certain misdemeanors will automatically be released within 12 hours of arrest while people charged with long lists of violent or sex crimes will be kept in jail automatically.

“Reform is long overdue and SB10 is a crucial step forward,” said Erwin Chemerinsky of The Sacramento Bee. Some critics oppose the bill because of its negative effect on the two billion dollar California bail bond industry. Bail bonds services will secure the remainder of the bail in the form of a collateral once defendants pay them a small portion of the bail. If the defendant does not appear in court, the collateral is used to pay the remainder of the

Sources: sacbee.com, lacourt.org & sfchronicle.com

bail, thus creating an incentive to appear. The state of California holds nearly a quarter of the bail bonds market and it is estimated by National Public Radio that over 7,000 jobs will be lost as a result of SB10.

Bail lobbying and crime victims groups, such as the American Bail Coalition, have three months to submit to the state the estimated 366,000 signatures needed to qualify the referendum for the November 2020 ballot, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“We’re gone,” said Topo Padilla, President

GRAPHIC BY QUINN MOSS

of the Golden State Bail Agents Association.

“We’re done. As of today, the bail industry will start shuttering their doors.”

The cash bail system itself has long been subject to controversy, with many arguing that it punishes the poor while allowing the wealthy to buy their freedom. The system further impacts the poor by often causing them to lose their jobs, homes and perhaps even their children depending on how long they are held in jail if they cannot make bail.

“This wealth–based incarceration

disproportionately punishes and targets black people and other people of color as well as people from economically disadvantaged communities,” said Udi Ofer of the American Civil Liberties Union.

In wake of the recent decision of the California Court of Appeals in In Re Humphrey, which stated that the California bail system is unconstitutional, finding a replacement seems unavoidable. The court held this decision because of the Eighth Amendment.

“If the court concludes that an amount of bail the defendant is unable to pay is required to ensure his or her future court appearances, it may impose that amount only upon a determination by clear and convincing evidence that no less restrictive alternatives will satisfy that purpose,” wrote Justice J. Anthony Klein in the court’s 3–0 opinion.

However, even some advocates of bail reform argue that SB10 specifically gives too much power to judges, allowing already existing racial biases to become more prevalent in the California justice system. Essentially, many see the bill as the wrong answer to the right problem. For instance, the ACLU, an original co–sponsor of the bill, pulled its support after changes were made increasing judges’ discretion in deciding who remains in detention and who does not.

“We are concerned that the system that’s being put into place by this bill is too heavily weighted toward detention and does not have sufficient safeguards to ensure that racial justice is provided in the new system,” said Natasha Minsker of the ACLU in a statement.

Despite protests from various sides of the political spectrum, SB10 will go into effect in October 2019.

6

FEATURE

Student Blogs

JA NE ZH ANG

OF S

Y

E RT OU PHOTO C

What do you blog about?

“I try to pull technology and some social aspects and see how they can resolve social development [in my articles]. That's very different than most articles you read.”

Ethan Elasky: ethanelasky.com

When did you start blogging, and why?

“I started blogging sometime last year when I wrote a one–shot satire. My first article was on a whim sometime in November after I saw news that the House Ways and Means Committee had passed the proposed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and published it the same day. After, I realized that I wanted to [write more satire when time permitted.]”

NE

LASK Y

What inspires your blog posts?

“I realized that today’s political climate has many ironies and even more things to make fun of, which makes writing satire pretty enjoyable. I write satire for a couple of reasons.

First, it helps me contextualize the contingent political happenings of today with [the] broader ideological goals ... each party is ‘after’ in our society. Second, it’s relaxing to sit down with nothing but ideas in my head and put them out into a finished product that I can O SY be proud of that others will comment [on]. Third, I think it helps me integrate some of my TE R U CO ‘policy workingness’ into something readable by others.”

PHOTO What specifically do you blog about?

“I usually blog about controversial issues that I anticipate in the future. So far, I’ve focused on satirizing events that are near some resolution and distorting that resolution to conclude in something else. For example, I wrote an article preceding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination on how Trump had nominated himself for the seat and released it on the day of actual nomination.”

Gideon Tong: gideontong.com

What is your blog about?

“My blog showcases the projects I do. I enjoy programming, building computers and drones and running my own servers. I like to document my progress through pictures, write–ups and explanations on my website, so I can go back later and show people what I have done.”

LE E

What made you start blogging? “[My website] started as a write–up on Minecraft servers when I was in sixth grade. Then in seventh and eighth grade, I started writing about technology in general. After high school started, I started using it to document projects. My current status of my website comes from after high school started.”

B PHOTO

YJ

IE AM

What is the audience of your blog?

“I think it’s for other high school and college students that are also interested in the same kinds of ‘neurology’ that I am into.”

Amari Huang: amarihuangg.weebly.com

What made you start blogging?

“One of my really good friends started blogging and then I thought it was really cool. I have a lot of friends that blog, so being around them made me start blogging too. Also, I did Journalism CP for a year but could not do it the next year, so I wanted to use the skills I learned and write because I enjoy it.”

G

I’m no expert in the field of childhood. Being 17 years old, I don’t nearly have as much experience as my parents or elders who talk about their “distant memories.”

Disney Channel made up the bulk of my elementary school life. I’d come home and watch Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Wizards of Waverly Place.

The only debates I actively participated in were choosing between Jake or Jesse and deciding whether Zack or Cody was the better twin. Let’s also not forget the High School Musical trilogy. Nearly everyone I’ve talked to has watched and fallen in love with young Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens’ love story.

It’s a story where popular jocks fall in love with nerdy braniacs and students find their passions for things they’d never expect.

It gave me a completely false perspective of what high school is like, but I couldn’t help but hope that I would find “the one” at a high school party while singing karaoke songs.

Overall, Disney Channel gave me an optimistic view of life and allowed me to look forward to the future. I’ll always miss the childhood happiness and entertainment that Disney Channel provided. I genuinely loved it, and I hope that the shows now will have the same impact on young kids as they had on me.

I constantly yearn for the days when we had recess and nap time. In second grade, as soon as the bell rang, I remember running straight to the monkey bars. They were my specialty. I had my routine perfectly down and wooed all the elementary boys with my spectacular monkey bar skills. Now that I’m in high school, I’ve realized that nutrition is just a sorry excuse for recess, and, without my monkey bars, I find myself just walking back and forth on campus with my friends waiting for the bell to ring. What’s the fun in that?

Out of all of these memories, the one thing I miss the most is playing with other kids in the park playground. When I was playing on that playground and other kids I’ve never met asked to join, I automatically said yes. As a kid, it didn’t matter to me who they were, what they looked like or where they came from. I just wanted to play with other kids my age.

Today it’s the complete opposite. I find in high school, I’m always on my phone. I never go outside anymore because I’m always studying, doing homework or watching Queer Eye. Now, with smartphones and social media, there are so many unrealistic standards that people try so hard to meet. My entire life seems like it revolves around this contraption of glass and aluminum, and, sometimes, I wish it didn’t exist.

Nevertheless, I’m thankful for the benefits my phone provides. It connects me to the world in ways that the childhood me wouldn’t be able to understand, and I’m glad for that.

Even though I miss all these aspects of my childhood, I’m happy to be where I am now. Of course, there have definitely been better days, and high school is not the most fun, considering all the rigor and hard work that goes into trying your best. But really, I’m looking forward to what the future has in store for me.

I’ll be going to college next year, and I can’t believe it.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was walking into first grade with my high pigtails, my striped dress and my teal monogrammed lunch box. I’ll always miss those days, and to be honest, if someone offered me a chance to go back in time in a time machine, I’d probably say yes in a heartbeat, but I’m excited for the new opportunities, activities and memories that adulthood will throw my way.

Why do you like to blog?

“I like to connect pieces of technology to the real world; it’s kind of what I like to do because it’s like historical analysis. I also talk about my own projects. In particular, I’m really interested in documenting how to be an entrepreneur, so I believe that every high school student should have the opportunity to create a company or a project.”

ET HA

co–feature section editor

HUA N

by jamie lee

What prompted you to start blogging?

“I started blogging sophomore year, strictly on reviewing technology. My first article was about Snapchat spectacles, and I just found it really interesting researching what’s new in the world and finding each piece of technology and seeing what the future could be. Later down the line, as I kept writing, I started to develop a [wider] variety of topics.”

F

Woe is lee!

Jane Zhang: innovationfangirl.com

RI

IE AN

AM A

EL YM PHOTO B

What do you blog about and why?

“I feel like it’s a lot of personal reflection, and I also have three vlogs about when I travel, so people can see what I'm doing. I also write poems when I usually feel like it. [I] keep up with feminism, [but mainly write about my] personal reflections.”

O

F

ZH A

NG

Jane Zhang ’19, Ethan Elasky ’20, Amari Huang ’19 and Gideon Tong ’19 all have one thing in common: they write blogs. These four students cover a variety of topics from their interests, ranging from personal reflection to politics to even technology.

SY TE UR O C PHOTO

Compiled by Angel Lee & Songhee Lee

FEATURE

Source: crocs.com

Buying from the ‘gram

by angel lee & lauren pak feature editor & arts & ent editors If online shopping and thrifting were combined, Instagram clothing accounts would be their offspring.

As of 2018, countless WHS students have created personal closet accounts on Instagram in an attempt to find and sell desirable used clothing. These Instagram closets open the world of business to high school students, resulting in success for several accounts.

“My main motivation for selling and purchasing clothing is that it is much more efficient in saving money and an easier way to find items that are usually out of stock,” said Ashley Gonzalez ‘20.

Efficiency and frugality are huge factors in closet accounts. Since a multitude of students from WHS run closet accounts, a single click of the follow button allows one to easily find the lowest prices for the trendiest brands. With some popular brands including one–size–fits– all clothing, efficiency is very accomplishable.

“Brandy Melville is definitely the best– selling brand because most people know the brand and trust it,” said Quinn Muscatel ‘20.

“Also, Brandy items are usually basic tank tops or shirts that come in one size, so people know they will like them.”

Selling clothes that are quality brand names and in good condition increases the productivity of closet accounts. Despite the benefit of buying trendy clothes from brands like Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters at a low price, the process of picking out and selling clothes can be difficult.

“The biggest struggle with maintaining my shopping account is finding the time to sell and

ship out more clothes,” said seller Ava Perrino ‘21.

Difficulties in selling clothes do not always anger customers, but in some cases, shipping and pricing can cause problems. These interactions educate sellers about business and how to deal with troubling situations.

“I deal with rough customers by sticking to my policies of the shop,” said Perrino. “If they do not abide by my policies, then I simply don’t sell the product to them.”

Another obstacle is untrustworthy sellers who make false claims. These claims can include lying about the condition of clothing.

“Big red flags are when a brand is advertised but they don’t show the tag on the inside,” said shopper Seth Cullen ‘21. “Another thing [that deters me from buying items] are suspiciously low prices that seem too good to be true.”

A buyer’s red flag often corresponds with his or her preferences — often including a reasonable price, clothing in good condition and trustworthy labels.

“When I am looking at potential items to buy, I make sure it is in style,” said shopper Brooke Flemming ‘20. “Something that annoys me is when I receive old clothes with balled up lint and stains; it’s very disappointing.”

When in luck, most people will be able to find and buy the clothes they are in search of, which is beneficial for both sides. Being one of the successful Instagram closets filled with trendy clothing has its upsides, but it also has downsides.

“The negatives are that I have to carry heavy bags with clothes for my customers and sometimes, I get overwhelmed trying to meet up with them, especially when they flake on me,” said Gianna Harris ‘21. “The benefit with maintaining an account is that I make money.”

7

GRAPHIC BY PRARTHANA KAYGEE

8

FEATURE

WHS introduces new faces to staff

Photos and descriptions in order from top left to bottom right

Jason Huang

Emily Nelson

Joshua Eby

Allison Jarman

Ricardo Araiza

Algebra 1 CP and Geometry CP teacher

Counselor for last names Has–Marl

AP Psychology teacher

Algebra 1 CP and Geometry CP teacher and field hockey coach

Assistant Principal of Attendance

What are your hobbies/ passions outside of teaching?

“I play this video game called Hearthstone. I play basketball and watch basketball. I’ve been watching Attack on Titan, but I’m open to recommendations.”

If you could change one thing about the school system, what would it be?

What do you like about working with high school students?

“I think high school students have the ability to think deeper, but ... they need guidance and support for their next steps. It’s exciting to be a part of that.”

Who was your inspiration in high school?

“My biggest inspiration in high school was my uncle who’s a teacher. [He] made me realize you can travel and experience other cultures while you [teach].”

Who is your biggest inspiration?

Mary Ann Moore

Morgan Hochberg

“I wish there was more imbedded mental health support. The amount of scrutiny ... [students have] is unlike any other time.”

Jeff Harris

Elisa Griffin

“Superintendent Alfonso Gamino [because] he really models how a good leader should be at the school setting and community.

He’s one that is very supportive.”

Jeff McCann

Assistant Principal of Activities

English 9H and ELD (English Learning Development)

Algebra 1B CP and Algebra 2 CP teacher

Theater teacher, play director and drama club advisor

World History and CP U.S. History teacher

Who was your inspiration in high school?

What are your hobbies/ passions outside of teaching?

If you won the lottery today, what would you do?

If you could live in the world of any play, which one would you choose and why?

What was your own high school experience like?

“My father. He wasn’t someone who always had the answers, but if you asked him, he’d always find them. He would be someone I didn’t want to disappoint.”

“I grew up on rock and heavy metal music, so I love going to concerts when I have time ... The music you grow up with, you always have an attachment to.”

“Travel the world. I enjoy teaching. If I could do it more part time, maybe I could still travel or teach in different countries that I visited.”

“I would say, probably A “I came from a very small town Midsummer Night’s Dream if in Washington that was very I had to pick a specific one. community oriented, ... so it was That’s one of my favorite really a very fun experience.”

Shakespeare plays.”

Compiled by Brittney Nial & Lindsey Romano

Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

1655 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

co–feature section editor & arts & ent section editor When it comes to movies that define your childhood, anime film studio Studio Ghibli classics such as My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away are animated staples that transcend international barriers.

The brainchild of Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, the Studio Ghibli film studio was founded in June 1985 in Tokyo, Japan. The trio teamed up after seeing the success of the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a film in which Miyazaki directed and Takahata produced.

“The name Ghibli refers to the Arabic name for the sirocco, also known as the ‘Mediterranean Wind’ or ‘Hot Sahara Wind,’” wrote The Film Magazine. “The studio’s intention was to ‘blow new wind through the anime industry.’”

In an attempt to make this intention a reality, the studio began utilizing mystical elements while subtlely implementing darker, more gruesome facets of war—a pairing that appealed to a broader range of audiences than other Japanese anime films at the time. Miyazaki incorporated his other passions in his films as well, such as his love for Italian culture and his interest in aircrafts.

The coined term “anime” itself specifically refers to a style of animation originated from Japanese roots. However, anime has quickly

creators, he has repeatedly taken steps back from the spotlight, announcing his retirement on six different occasions. His most recent retirement announcement was in 2013, after releasing The Wind Rises.

Miyazaki’s most recent comeback reportedly serves to leave behind a feature film dedicated to his grandson, according to IndieWire magazine. Miyazaki teamed up with his son, film director Goro Miyazaki, and the father–son duo is currently making a movie allegedly based off of Boro the Caterpillar, a story about a newly hatched caterpillar’s journey.

Major film corporations GKIDS and Fathom Events partnered up in March 2018 to re–release nine selected Studio Ghibli films in U.S. theaters for a wider viewership.

Fathom Events reports that theaters will give the option of “both dubbed and subbed versions” of each film to compensate for those who enjoy the authenticity of the original film as well as those who prefer to listen to the dialogue in English.

Although seven of the nine movies have run their course, Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky remain in the queue and will play at local theaters such as AMC 14, located in the The Oaks mall.

Spirited Away will be in theaters from Oct. 28–30, and Castle in the Sky will be projected from Nov. 18–20, putting an end to the festivities.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

Heading towards Hollywood

WHS student filmmakers utilize their creativity to make short films inspired by directors they admire. They hope to gain experience and potentially join the film industry in the future.

Josh Karasik ‘19 Sam Smart ‘19 brings a new meaning to the term showrunner.

As a director, producer and avid scriptwriter, Smart’s well–rounded approach to filmmaking as well as her unique artistry distinguishes her from other students.

“I like to do surrealist styles, and that’s usually influenced by Stanley Kubrick [and] David Lynch,” said Smart. Smart also draws from The Twilight Zone in addition to her own personal experiences to add darker elements to her films.

Smart sees herself creating

Josh Karasik ‘19 creates short films that are focused on engaging his audience of teenage viewers.

Taking inspiration from critically acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, Karasik enjoys “thriller films and psychological things because it makes [viewers] wonder and think [more],” said Karasik.

His interest in film started at the age of nine due to his sister Tracie Karasik, who is the President of TLK Multimedia and

focuses on photography.

Karasik took initiative with his interests this past summer, creating a short film called “Panic.” It is a psychological thriller that incorporates lots of commotion.

“Panic” is about “kids [that get] together, and they think there’s something called an EMP, which is an electromagnetic pulse, and it ends up being that.”

Karasik and his writing partner, Thousand Oaks High

rather than acting in films because, “from the technological side, there are more opportunities,” and she has “always liked the arts.”

Her first film, “Duplicity,” follows a murder with two characters who have the same name, and viewers are left with an ambiguous ending.

One of her most recent films, entitled “Articulate,” is about a girl who cannot express how she feels to her boyfriend.

“It was a dinner table [setting], but it was surreal,” said Smart. “The girl was eating

things that represented what she wanted to say, so she ate a key which was supposed to be the key to her heart.”

In another recent film called “Riley is Real,” students may empathize with the relevant message.

“It’s pretty literal,” said Smart.

“It’s about this kid who walks in school and wrote in pencil on the school, ‘Riley is real.’ It’s just to remind himself everyday when he Sam Smart ‘19 walks in that he’s just a human, not [a] superhuman, so he can only do Compiled by Kyra Berg & Michelle Hang so much.”

School student Gordon Horowitz, take time to create ideas for their films. Their goal is to raise questions for their audience and make them ponder the answers.

“Josh and I compliment each other very well,” said Horowitz.

“We both like all the parts of filmmaking, so we tend to write, direct [and] edit together.”

Karasik wants to start publishing his work on YouTube and getting his name out so he can break into the film industry.

IE

by marc andrew choi & katie reul

grown popular in North America for its unique artistry and incorporation of Japanese culture. Many anime viewers have come to love Miyazaki’s traditional, hand drawn art style. Studio Ghibli has produced some of the highest grossing anime films of all time, the most successful being Spirited Away.

According to The Verge, Spirited Away became the “first film to gross over $200 million worldwide and made about $275 million when they opened the film to North America … It was also the only anime film to ever win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the only non–English language film to ever do so.”

Miyazaki’s financial and creative success proves to be an inspiration to filmmakers around the world. For instance, John Lasseter, Chief Creator Officer of Pixar, attributes Miyazaki as Pixar’s creative muse.

“At Pixar, when we have a problem and we can’t seem to solve it, we often take one of Mr. Miyazaki’s films and look at a scene in our screening room for a shot of inspiration,” said Lasseter. “We come away amazed and inspired. Toy Story owes a huge debt of gratitude to the films of Mr. Miyazaki.”

Although Miyazaki is arguably one of the most influential anime

ZH AN G

The Reul Reel

YM PHOTO B

EL

AN

I’ll keep it simple by katie reul arts & ent section editor In Paul Feig’s newest film, A Simple Favor, comedy meets thriller with a powerful cast of female leads. At times even laughing out loud at the subtle implementation of humor, I was thoroughly surprised by the comedic elements in combination with a Gone Girl–esque murder mystery, all brought together by a chic French soundtrack.

The film follows the story of a suburban blogger mom, Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), who befriends enigmatic and borderline– alcoholic Emily (Blake Lively), the mother of one of Stephanie’s son’s friends. Things go from better to worse when Emily suddenly disappears and Stephanie makes it her prerogative to solve the mystery.

One of the distinguishing facets of the film is the wardrobe of the female leads. Kendrick’s modest, almost childish clothing serves as stark contrast to Lively’s bolder looks. Lively sports a plethora of vintage Ralph Lauren suits with a variety of accessories to combine elements of femininity and masculinity.

This complete negation of traditional female stereotypes is encompassed through Emily’s personality as well. The calm fluidity in her manner of speaking, her role as a domestic provider as opposed to her ex– author husband and her stubborn refusal to apologize all push the film in a feminist direction. In contrast to Stephanie and her blog following of other diehard moms, Emily embodies the idea that motherhood does not define being a woman. Yet this idea does not impede Emily from genuinely loving her son and wanting to do whatever it takes to give him the best life possible.

The polar opposite nature of the two female leads truly is what makes their banter so successful. The lighthearted approach to Stephanie and Emily’s relationship is also realized throughout the entire plot, using humor to lighten the darker areas of the film.

That being said, the film still managed to keep the tension high, incorporating a few surprises here and there (namely the closet scene which left me quite literally quaking), validating its classification in the thriller genre. That is, until the end.

My immense praise for the film drew to a close in the last 15 minutes of the movie as I felt as though the underlying, brooding aspect of the film was thrown to the wayside, and the genre flipped to full–blown comedy.

The film seemed to wrap up every detail, whereas I would have preferred more ambiguity, allowing for a more noteworthy ending. That being said, the film was definitely worth the watch and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the blending of genres.

10

CEN

This school year marks the 40th anniversary of WHS. As we celebrate 40 years of Warriors, we can reflect upon the evolution of the school. WHS has grown not only in student body population but in its academic rigor and physical campus too.

More than 40 years ago, crowding at Newbury Park High School and Thousand Oaks High School prompted the local community to take action. It voted “to unify Timber Elementary School District, Valley Oaks School District and Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks high schools, which were then part of Oxnard Union School District,” according to the first ever issue of The Arrow. The community held a vote, and the measure passed in 1974.

Thus began the four–year process of building a new high school. Students from TOHS and NPHS formed a committee to choose the new school’s mascot and colors. They narrowed down the selections to either the Buccaneers or Warriors for mascot and blue–maroon–white or blue–orange–white for color scheme, and the selections they made are still in place today.

The yearbook was named Wah’ Kon–Tah, the Native American Osage tribe word for the Great Spirit, by the yearbook class.

The class offerings at WHS have changed and evolved greatly over the past four decades. “[Originally,] we had college prep, standard classes, basic classes, had a little bit of honors, but that was pretty much it,” said Advanced Anatomy teacher Nancy Bowman, who has taught at WHS since it opened. “It literally took us, I would say, a good decade before we started moving in the direction of increasing the number of honors selections…, introducing AP classes [and] building the AP program overall.”

It was not until the 1990s that WHS saw “an explosion” of AP classes, first science classes such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Physics, and later more diverse AP classes, according to Bowman.

Though WHS currently offers a wide range of electives, including art media, journalism, yoga P.E. and environmental field studies as well as new classes like comparative religions and contemporary world issues, to its students, the school offered an even broader range of elective options when it opened 40 years ago.

In the final issue of The Arrow from the 1978–1979 school year, WHS announced a variety of classes coming in the fall of 1979.

During the following years, WHS students enjoyed music classes such as music reading, music theory and folk guitar, a “course featuring instruction in learning and performing traditional and modern

The numbe Despite a hockey, track year: track (bo baseball, soft Accord “first year i … two Fro captured by Forty in is In the 1 “That’s k new Anatomy s ‘92 was a long Bowman. “I walk flags, and you kno Since 1978, WH of gymnastics) — volleyball a sports

folk music.”

Students c o u l d also take four years of Spanish, French and German as well as a Russian class. To prepare students for life after high school or college, business communications, business office skills and service, home economics and marriage and family were all classes offered at WHS. Additionally, the school used to offer more vocational classes, such as woodshop, metal shop and architecture. “[These were] classes that were more trade–oriented, where you could actually learn an employable skill so that once you graduated…, you were prepared to enter that type of [technical school],” said Bowman. “I always thought that’s the one thing we never should have cut, but we did.”

1986: Students given 1987: Bowman performs 1982: Annual 1985: Lip teacher auction sync contest referral for harassing “Sisters are Doing it For Themselves” for lip sync Korshavn’s iguana begins begins 1978: WHS opens at NPHS

1979: WHS opens at Westlake campus; Theater finished

1991: Bowman teaches first Anatomy class

11

NTER Like the rest of the country, WHS was enthralled with the fads of each decade.

The first issue of The Arrow, published in January 1979, featured a word search entitled, “Disco craze hits nation and ‘bumps’ WHS.” “The disco craze is sweeping across the nation,” read the introduction to the word search. “Every weekend, people put on their satin and glitter and head for the nearest discotheque, where they dance nonstop into the small hours of the morning. How up–to–date on this latest fad are you?”

Other papers from the 70s feature an article about 70s singers Donny and Marie Osmond, a review on the 1978 movie Superman, and an ad for a music store selling records and tapes, as well as interviews with people such as actor Robert Blake.

As the school ventured into the 80s, so did the trends of the country.

Flipping through the pages of The Arrow issues from this time reveals large hairstyles, baggy sweaters and plenty of other 80s fashion tropes.

2001: WHS pool is constructed 1992: Football stadium is constructed

1997: Mural painted by ampitheater

1998: Titanic movie mania

2001: McLean graduates

&O OW LD ISS UES OF THE ARR

BO OK

AR

The school finished constructing a theater in 1979, making WHS the only school in the district to have a permanent theater.

The theater was updated in 2010 with the help of funds from musician Richard Carpenter and his wife Mary Carpenter; that’s when it was named the Carpenter Family Theatre.

In addition to a lack of stadium and pool, in the early years of the school, classrooms did not have doors.

“There was this new philosophy ... that we should have this openness, so when they built us, there were no doors,” said Bowman. “This was doomed to failure … Teachers were in an uproar, … [and] the next year we ended up with doors that actually closed.”

Additionally, when Building 2 was initially built, it was not sectioned off into classrooms. “[Building 2] didn’t have any interior walls between classrooms,” said math teacher Matthew McLean, who graduated WHS in 2001. “Ferns [and] bookshelves divided classes back then.”

YE

When WHS opened in 1978, the school campus was not yet finished, so students and teachers attended the first semester of classes at Newbury Park High School. WHS students would attend classes in the afternoon while NPHS students would attend their classes in the morning.

By early 1979, students and staff were able to move into the still unfinished school to complete their second semester of the 1978–1979 school year. Although students could attend class at the WHS campus, the school still lacked many elements.

WHS spent many years without a football stadium or a pool. Water polo players and swimmers had to take buses to NPHS for every practice. Football practices and home games took place at the TOHS stadium. NPHS also did not have a football stadium, so TOHS hosted the football games and teams for both WHS and NPHS.

When WHS first opened, it offered several dances and events for students to enjoy. For instance, there was a junior prom since there were no seniors to hold a junior–senior prom with; it was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Additionally, there was a Sweetheart Dance and a Spring Dance.

In 1979, ASB hosted Beatlemania, a performance by the Chicago cast of the musical.

The following year, they hosted “Rock the World,” a concert featuring songs by The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles sung by artist impersonator.

Starting in 1982, WHS held an annual teacher auction. The highest bidder received a free lunch with the teacher at a restaurant of the teacher’s choice.

“I would usually go to dinner with my students at a pizza place or the old Lupe’s Mexican restaurant since that was affordable for me,” said math teacher Greg Korshavn. “Teachers paid for the dinners out out of their own pocket. It was a fun way to get to know a couple of students a little better.”

Starting in 1985, WHS hosted a lip sync contest. Twenty to twenty–five groups — some comprised of students and others comprised of teachers — were selected after two weeks of tryouts. The winners of the contest, in categories such as uniqueness, most original costume and best lip sync, could receive cash prizes of up to $100.

Bowman performed “Sisters are Doing it For Themselves” in the 1987 lip sync contest with former WHS science teachers Helen Kota and Kelly Lochlar.

“It was quite a powerful experience,” said Bowman.

“This was back in the day when there was no Senior Showcase and Anatomy was just a vision on paper. Anatomy had yet to see its birthday... Mrs. Helen Kota and Mrs. Kelly Lochlar [and I] were the only three teachers, that I recall, that were crazy enough to get on stage and have a boatload of fun while trying to make a point.”

H W

S

er of sports WHS offers has grown tremendously over the past 40 years. lack of a pool and a football stadium, which today hosts football, soccer, lacrosse, field and marching band, WHS athletes competed in 12 different sports in the school’s first oys and girls), soccer, volleyball, swimming (boys and girls), wrestling, football, ftball, basketball (boys and girls), golf, gymnastics and tennis (boys and girls). ding to a June 12, 1979 article in The Arrow, although WHS’s in athletic competition may not have been abundant in wins, ontier league championships and a CIF Championship were y WHS’s girls tennis and cross country teams” that year. years later, winning CIF Championships still a huge accomplishment for WHS. 1980s, Bowman coached the girls’ varsity basketball team. kind of like the hidden little secret that, unless I tell my students and parents, you know, nobody knows, because time ago, and my teams were very successful,” said in the gym, and I look up there at the championship ow there are five of my teams that are up there.”

HS has added six new sports (with the elimination — lacrosse, field hockey, competitive cheer, sand and softball — bringing the total number of to 14 sports offered to girls and 13 to boys.

“We have way more sports [now], especially athletics for girls.

When I first started, essentially it was tennis, volleyball, basketball, and softball and track for girls,” said math teacher Gregory Korshavn, who has taught at WHS since 1981, adding that now there are “just way more other options. There’s more to be involved in.”

SC PHOTO

9 F1 YO S E T OU R

80

2003: Branham begins teaching at WHS 2010: Carpenter 2015: Branham Family Theater becomes updated principal Complied by Megan King, Caelyn Pender & Lindsey Romano

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Lace up your tap shoes and start practicing those steps, because it’s theater season! While seeing the new Fantastic Beasts movie might be the first thing on everyone’s mind right now, there’s nothing like experiencing a story live in the theater. Both the LA and local theaters are bursting with options in every genre and price range!

Wicked is composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz’s electric reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, retold from the Wicked Witch of the West’s perspective. The show is now a classic, and it just celebrated its 15th year on Broadway. The Pantages Theatre is pricey, but it’s cheaper than Broadway.

Especially with a long–running tour like Wicked, you’re basically getting a Broadway– caliber show.

Listen to before the show: “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good” Dates: Nov. 28, 2018 – Jan. 27, 2019 Where: Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles

Socially anxious 17–year–old Evan Hansen is told to write letters to himself, starting each letter in the same way: “Dear Evan Hansen, today is going to be a good day, and here’s why…” Songwriting duo Benji Pasek and Justin Paul’s smash hit is an exploration of mental health, family, friends and love in high school. It won the Tony for Best Musical in 2017 and is embarking on its first national tour this year.

Listen to before the show: “Waving through a Window” and “For Forever” Dates: Oct. 17 – Nov. 25, 2018 Where: Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles

After the Twin Towers fell, all planes in U.S. airspace were diverted to the small airport town of Gander, Canada. The town’s population doubled overnight, and the community stopped what they were doing for five days and gave up their city to house the “come–from–aways.” A hilarious and moving show, Come From Away is one–and–a–half hours of innovative storytelling accompanied by a killer Celtic rock score.

Listen to before the show: “Welcome to the Rock” Dates: Nov. 28, 2018 – Jan. 6, 2019 Where: Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles

Modern opera composer Philip Glass is famous for disregarding established musical conventions to create an “aural tapestry” that “immerse[s] a listener in a sonic weather that twists, turns, surrounds [and] develops,” according to philipglass.com. Following the life of Gandhi, Satyagraha is visually stunning, featuring sets and costumes that envelop the stage in a desert oasis of color, and it has avant– garde puppets that tower over the audience.

Listen to before the show: “Evening Song” Dates: Oct. 20 – Nov. 11, 2018 Where: LA Opera House, Los Angeles

Often called the “perfectly written musical,” She Loves Me premiered on Broadway in 1963. Set in the 1930s, the story follows two salespeople at a parfumerie who hate each other at work but don’t know that they’re each other’s anonymous pen pals at a Lonely Hearts Club. Legendary musical theatre composer and lyricist duo Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s dazzling confection of a musical is perfect for a date night.

Pippin is Stephen Schwartz and Bob Fosse’s musical and visual firework of a Broadway standard, equal parts hilarious coming–of–age story and biting commentary on the nature of show business. The show follows Pippin, a young prince, who tries to find his purpose in life with a traveling troupe of actors. With an infectious score and show–stopping choreography, Pippin has received a total of eight Tony Awards.

W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were a British writing duo during the Victorian era that set the foundation of modern musical theatre with their comic operettas.

The Pirates of Penzance follows a young man who was abducted from his noble family and raised as a pirate who stumbles upon an island inhabited by many eligible young women. Pirates is a great show to be your first opera if you haven’t seen one before.

Fairy tale worlds collide in Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece of musical theatre.

Into the Woods combines the stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and more. While the first act is entertaining, in the second act, the fairy tale characters turn into a dark allegory for life and death, leaving the audience with a poignant exploration of love, loss and the true meaning of family.

Listen to before the show: “Vanilla Ice Cream” and “She Loves Me” Dates: Sept. 22 – Oct. 14, 2018 Where: Morgan–Wixon Theatre, Santa Monica

Listen to before the show: “Magic to Do” and “Corner of the Sky” Dates: Dec. 6 – 9, 2018 Where: Moorpark College Forum Theater, Moorpark

Listen to before the show: “Poor Wand’ring One” Dates: Oct. 5 – 21, 2018 Where: Hillcrest Center for the Arts, Thousand Oaks

Listen to before the show: “Prologue” and “No One is Alone” Dates: Oct. 19 – Nov. 18, 2018 Where: Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, Camarillo

Compiled by Michelle Hang, Amanda Ju & Songhee Lee

WHS alumna Ho sings “Yellow” in Crazy Rich Asians by kyra berg & michelle hang sports editor & business manager

Pic coming soon

PHOTO BY TORY STOLPER PHOTOGRAPHY

WHS alumna Katherine Ho ‘17 is thriving as she sings in the climactic song of the new movie Crazy Rich Asians.

During high school, Ho was involved with an a capella program outside of school.

“After I graduated high school, I continued through a caroling group that I joined called Snowfall, and it was founded and managed by Ben Bram, one of the founders of A Capella Academy, [a program I attended],” said Ho. Ho views Bram as one of her mentors.

Since he is a Grammy–winning producer for Pentatonix and one of the founders of A Capella Academy, this connection ultimately helped Ho get the opportunity to audition for Crazy Rich Asians.

Ho’s demo, “Yellow,” is sung in Mandarin, so her Mandarin background helped her perfect the song. Ho’s dad played an important role in her success of performing well in her audition.

“My dad was on the phone with me really late at night, coaching me on the pronunciation and just talking about the nuanced vocabulary

of the song,” said Ho. Ho says that singing is how she releases her emotions without restraint.

“I’m pretty awkward in real life, but once I’m locked behind the studio doors I can really set my emotions free,” said Ho. She describes her role in the movie as a “really good experience.”

In addition to performing and singing in her free time, Ho attends the University of Southern California and studies biology. WHS biology teacher Sophie State greatly influenced her decision to study biology.

“On top of being the nicest person and [a] really good friend, [Ho] was a tutor in the Science Center during her time here,” said State.

“She was our Tutor of the Year because she would just come in at lunch, and she loved tutoring other people and making them comfortable.”

Ho explained that the main reason she chose to pursue biology was because of State’s presentation of the subject material in a “fascinating, engaging way [so] that I fell in love with the subject.”

Additionally, Ho was in choir for all four years and in various clubs at WHS. Other than being involved in extracurriculars, she

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Alumna Katherine Ho participates in a performance with A Capella Academy.

Ho also sings on the soundtrack of recently released movie Crazy Rich Asians.

maintained good grades as a student.

“I had some of my best years in high school,” said Ho. “I made my lifelong friends, [and] I was pretty academically involved at [WHS].”

She also participated in the Bazooka Music Club, which performs at senior citizen homes.

“I think [Bazooka Music Club] is what catalyzed my interest in healthcare because I thought

it was really cool to use music as a form of healing,” said Ho. “I think that club led me to healthcare in general, and now I’m majoring in biology.”

Julianna Gin ‘19, a close friend of hers, is proud of what Ho has accomplished.

“She’s really talented, works hard and loves what she does,” said Gin. “I’m happy she got a gig like that and that she’s being recognized.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

review by thomas brickman arts & ent editor For many years, there has been a constant struggle to create a good superhero video game, and often, the attempts have resulted in disaster.

However, that all changed in August 2009 with Rocksteady Studios’ Batman: Arkham Asylum.

This game and its sequels are some of the best action–adventure games released in the last decade. No other series could compete.

The closest competitor was Spider–Man, but none of the games ever reached the same level of quality until now, with Marvel’s Spider–Man. The story is deceptively simple but features subtle complexities that elevate it to a new level of quality. Eight years after Peter Parker became Spider–Man, a power vacuum opens up on the streets of New York following the defeat of the mob boss Kingpin.

As a result, Martin Li, a philanthropist exposed to Darkforce energy who gained superpowers and an evil persona called Mr. Negative as a result of an accident, is attempting to take control of the underworld by force.

Mr. Negative is truly what adds complexity to the story. Li

is a legitimately kind person who wants to aid the people of New York, but he is a prisoner trapped in his own body due to a freak accident.

Another strength of the story is the reimagination of classic characters. Long time love interest Mary Jane Watson is no longer a damsel in distress, but rather an investigative journalist with ambition. J. Jonah Jameson has gone from a loud–mouthed editor of the Daily Bugle to a host of a satirical podcast.

However, despite having numerous changes, the writers did an excellent job of making the characters feel the same as their comic counterparts through clever writing. The gameplay, surprisingly, manages to maintain the same level of cleverness as the writing as well.

The combat on the surface is based on the free–flow combat system from the Batman: Arkham series. If players just keep pressing the attack button, they will get mulched, so gamers need to rely on Spider–Man’s spider sense in order to press the counter button and successfully evade an attack. It’s a system that requires a lot of skill, especially when enemies with shields or melee weapons are introduced, which require different approaches to take down.

Throughout the game, you’ll unlock more gadgets and abilities that will give you an even g r e a t e r advantage against Mr. Negative’s forces.

It’s a game that constantly gives the player the feeling of getting stronger.

13

Unfortunately, the game does not give the player the opportunity to use his or her newfound strength against tougher foes. Occasionally, a boss fight with a supervillain will liven things up, but these encounters are few and far between.

To alleviate the occasionally poor combat quality is the most unique aspect of the game: web swinging. Once you acquire the skill, it becomes like aerial ballet. All the activities around New York are built around this system as well, so players will quickly be able to perform complex swings with ease. The activities themselves are a bit generic though, such as activating radio towers and stopping random crimes.

With the rhythmic pressing of the right trigger and a tap of the “X” button, the simplicity of the controls are satisfying for players. While the gameplay is generally fun, it wouldn’t seal the deal of a superhero experience without proper presentation, which Marvel’s Spider– Man has.

Graphically, the game looks great. The city always looks beautiful, and during sunsets, downright gorgeous. The way Spider–Man and other characters move is also extremely natural and never stilted.

The game even incorporates buildings from the Marvel Universe into the landscape alongside real New York landmarks, providing a sense of both familiarity and exploration.

Marvel’s Spider–Man is a true joy for superhero fanatics and gamers alike. The story adds enough originality to keep veterans entertained and entice newcomers. The gameplay, while lacking in some originality, refines its strengths to a near perfect level, and the presentation is top notch for this generation of games.

With some new downloadable content coming soon in the form of Marvel’s Spider–Man: The City that Never Sleeps, there is no better time to get in on the wall crawler’s latest adventure.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INSOMNIAC GAMES

K–pop seeps into mainstream music by sona bhargava & alex li co–web master–in–chief & opinion section editor After debuting in 2013, Korean pop group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) started its meteoric rise to fame. It wasn’t until recently, however, that the world began to take note.

BTS includes seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J–Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, all hailing from South Korea. RM, the group’s leader, is the only fluent English speaker of the seven.

After first gaining popularity in Korea, the group finally broke into Western pop–culture after becoming the first Korean group to win a Billboard Music Award in 2017 for Top Social Artist. The following year, BTS won the same award again.

In 2018 alone, the group had two albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200.

Recently, BTS’s new music video for their latest hit “Idol” became the most viewed music video within 24 hours with 45 million views, superseding Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.” BTS appeals to worldwide audiences due to its edgy, yet soft appearance. Rather than take the pop approach to boy bands, BTS dabbles in ballads, hip–hop, R&B and electronic. What captures the hearts of their fans, however, are their powerful lyrics and fiery dance routines,

best witnessed live in concert.

“A lot of people were really hyped up about them,” said Hayley Kang ‘20, who went to a BTS concert in LA. “Even people who didn’t speak Korean were singing to the lyrics better than me. The influence of Asian culture blending with Western culture is pretty cool to see compared to what happened in the past.”

Unlike the factory–fresh groups of modern K–pop culture, BTS has defied the industry since the beginning. Foreign critics often describe K–pop as a “plastic” genre with groups sharing many similarities.

The members of BTS, however, have been vital to the creative process, writing their own lyrics and choreographing original performances since the start. Their lyrics regularly level criticism against society, venting about a structure seemingly against the younger generation.

“Honestly, from our standpoint, every day is stressful for our generation,” said RM in an interview with Billboard. “It’s hard to get a job; it’s harder to attend college now more than ever.”

The group is not interested in fitting into a mold. BTS is neither a traditional K–pop boy group nor is it an American hip–hop ensemble.

From humble beginnings with a young entertainment company, BigHit Entertainment, the group was always more concerned with being themselves and relating to their own generation.

“This isn't just Korea, but the rest of the

world,” said Suga in the same Billboard interview.

“The reason why our music resonates with people around the world who are in their teens, 20s and 30s is because of [society’s] issues.”

Even WHS students can relate to BTS songs, as the lyrics tackle mental health and self love.

“The topics they sing about aren’t normally talked about in Asian culture, specifically things that are thrown under the rug,” said K–pop fan Taylor Jones ‘19. “I think it’s cool that they’re branching out and being bold about their lyrics.

It’s really cool that it’s original and it’s their own sound coming over to America.”

In 2017, BTS partnered with UNICEF for the anti–violence “Love Myself” campaign, and most recently, on Sept. 24, BTS became the first K–pop group to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

“We have learned to love ourselves,” said RM in his speech. “No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin color, gender identity: speak yourself.”

Guinness World Records revealed that BTS had the most Twitter engagements for a music group. On this global platform, BTS connects with their fans. Fans don’t idolize BTS; rather, they identify with the group through their genuine personalities and non–abrasive social commentary.

“If we don’t talk about these issues, who will?” said Suga. “Our parents? Adults? So isn't it up to us?”

Compiled by Elliot Kim & Jeff Mendoza

14

OPINION

Self–driving conundrum

by jeff mendoza

opinion editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

Self–driving cars have jumped from the comic books to the streets. Technology has continued to attempt to outpace itself; however, the tech has hit a roadblock and, unfortunately, a handful of people.

More and more car manufacturers are unveiling plans for their version of driverless vehicles, but there are serious concerns with regards to these vehicles. Until the tech catches up to the roads outside of the testing facility, trusting lives with a computer–run car should be gravely concerning.

The first person who died using autopilot was Joshua Brown, whose Tesla Model S crashed into a truck turning across his path in Florida in May 2016. This incident brought up the first problem with self–driving vehicles: real–world implementation.

The ideal situation for self–driving cars is one hundred percent of “drivers” being transported from point A to point B in their fully autonomous vehicles. This way, cars could communicate with each other, and there is no chance of having to account for error–prone, human drivers.

However, one hundred percent commitment carries a series of problems, the most serious of which is cost. According to an interview by Quartz Magazine with Oliver Cameron, the leader of Udacity, a Silicon Valley–based self–driving car company, the

base cost of all the equipment and a basic car (for instance, a $50,000 Volvo XC90) would be $300,000. With the U.S. Census Bureau reporting the median family income as $59,039, this asking price is the first inhibitor of implementation. It would not be feasible for everyone to afford such a hefty price tag.

This also does not take into account car enthusiasts who enjoy driving. Trusting one’s own judgement outweighs the unproven safety and time benefits that self–driving cars offer.

Aside from total implementation not being possible and safety being rooted in that necessity, there is an ethical problem that surrounds self–driving cars; how to decide what to do in the presence of an imminent accident.

Say a car is boxed in on all four sides and an accident is imminent. There is a motorcycle on one side, a minivan on the other and two sedans in front and behind. The car has to decide how to maneuver. Does it divert to the motorcycle and minimize damage to the car’s passengers? Does it go to the minivan with consistently high safety ratings? Or does it hit one of the sedans? And who is to blame?

The ethical Pandora’s Box that unfolds is a question of fault and whether it lies with the car manufacturer who chooses the software and sensors, the software developers who choose the car’s action or the sensor producer whose data can change the outcome of an accident.

Answering these questions is nearly impossible.

These unaddressed questions also raise problems for transportation companies such as

DRIVERLESS FAIL: Uber began testing prototypes in 2018, but after failing to detect a pedestrian and hitting the woman in March 2018, Uber suspended its tests.

Uber who are testing autonomous vehicles.

They received their answer in the form of an accident in March 2018. When testing their system, a Volvo XC–90 armed with fully autonomous driving struck a civilian who unfortunately died. Uber has since suspended their self–driving tests.

Companies like Uber, however, testing the new technology signals to a possible end to the transportation sector of the workforce, not only with ride sharing companies such as Uber, but with truck drivers for commercial stores.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the transportation workforce makes

up 3.2 percent of the total American workforce as of 2016. A large amount of Americans could be put out of work by these cars.

Combined with the grave consequences of the testing, it is clear that autonomous vehicles are not ready to be implemented.

With the unproven speculation of reduced crashes and safer roads and the sky–high price of these cars, these vehicles should not be on the road until the still unanswered and unprepared– for problems are met with reasonable solutions.

After all, would you be willing to lose your life because a computer did not see the truck turning in front of you?

Drive (back) into the 80s by milla wu co–editor–in–chief Every year when high school football season ends, my Friday nights become pitifully boring. I know I’m not alone in this sentiment; I hear my friends complaining about how boring it is here all the time. There’s nothing to do in Thousand Oaks.

It’s time to bring back drive–in theaters.

Maybe my nostalgia goggles are blinding me, but there are several reasons why bringing drive–in theaters back would be a great idea.

First, they would provide an alternative to the limited hang–out spots in T.O. Whereas watching a movie in a traditional movie theater isn’t very social, drive–in theaters are built for socializing.

“When I got my driver’s license, I started going regularly — every weekend that I could,” said Mike Mallow, owner of the famous Warner’s Drive–In in West Virginia, as reported by uproxx.com. “It’s almost like a cookout or a lawn party, where you go and talk with friends and you get to watch a movie when it gets dark.”

It’s a happy medium between the convenience of watching Netflix by yourself at your house and going out with your friends.

Next, drive–in theaters are usually cheaper than regular movie theaters or eating out, which is perfect for broke high school students trying to save up for college. Compare that to traditional movie theaters, which exacerbate already–high ticket prices by upcharging on concessions.

Research done by the Stanford Graduate School of Business and UC Santa Cruz show that theaters do this to sell tickets for cheaper and “wisely make up the margin … by transferring it to the person willing to buy the

$5 popcorn bucket,” said Wesley Hartmann, associate professor of marketing at Stanford GSB. Imagine how much money one could save by going to drive–in theaters and opting for the 99 cent bags of grocery store popcorn instead.

There’s also less costs for the owner of a drive–in theater, since there’s no need to pay for things such as building maintenance or seating, so tickets are often cheaper. Customers would be supporting small businesses too; more than three–quarters of the drive–in theaters in the U.S. are privately owned small businesses, according to the National Association of Theater Owners.

In a New York Times article about Mission Tiki, a Polynesian–themed drive–in, reporter Brooks Barnes wrote that, despite declining drive–in theaters nationwide, “some survivors, like Mission Tiki, appear to be chugging along just fine … as a more affordable option to the multiplex, where ticket prices in a big city can run $12.50 or more for adults.”

In contrast, “Mission Tiki, reflecting prices at drive–ins nationwide, charges $7 for adults and $1 for children ages 5 to 9,” continued Barnes. “Younger children are admitted free.”

If I can watch a movie for less than what a medium bowl would cost me at Ubatuba ($9, by the way), I’d much rather spend my weekends at a drive–in theater. Sure, there are some barriers, like having access to a car, but most high school students know at least one or two people that drive.

Drive–in theaters disappeared because the falling number of customers couldn’t compete with the price of land, according to Smithsonian Magazine. If we want to reopen a drive–in in T.O., we need to prove that we’ll support it with our dollars. I refuse to let such a nostalgic and great cultural icon die out without a fight.

15

OPINION

NI E

ZH A

NG

Amandatory Reading

P

Y OB HOT

LA ME

Why opera is badass by amanda ju featured columnist

Sources: businessinsider.org , collegeboard.org, edweek.org, nytimes.com, usnews.com &washingtonpost.com

GRAPHIC BY QUINN MOSS

Truth behind College Board by elliot kim graphics editor Most high schoolers are familiar with the SAT, a grueling, three to four hour test administered by the College Board which examines a student’s reading, writing and mathematics abilities.

The SAT is supposed to give colleges an idea of a student’s academic skills.

While offering standardized tests for colleges to analyze the academic levels of students is great in theory, College Board has recently run into many problems regarding the way they have handled their tests, leading many to question their methods and the organization as a whole.

In the June 2018 SAT, College Board made the test far too easy, resulting in an overly harsh scale. For example, missing a total of one question out of 58 across both math sections subtracted 30 points from a student’s math score, which is out of 800 points.

In comparison, on the May 2018 SAT, students could miss three questions and only lose 30 points on their math scores.

While an easier test should logically call for a harder curve, many students were punished because the College Board did not account for the fact that no matter how prepared a student may be, he or she will always have the possibility of making mistakes.

Additionally, students who ran out of time on a section, and as a result had to omit a couple of questions, were punished harsher than usual.

On the August 2018 SAT, more questions were raised when the exams College Board gave to students in the United States were identical to the international SAT exam given in October 2017.

The discovery of this fact led to numerous sources leaking

the PDFs of the exams to students through social media, mainly in China and South Korea. Many students even flew to the United States to take the exam in hopes of using their prior knowledge to gain an unfair advantage on the exam.

This was not the first time College Board has run into cheating issues on their tests. Though the College Board has promised to raise test security and confidentiality in the past, problems continue to arise, especially in international exams given in Asia.

Another major gripe many students have is with College Board’s excessive exam fees.

The regular registration fee for the SAT is $47.50, but if a student wants to take the SAT with the essay, which many colleges require, that fee gets bumped up to $64.50.

However, these fees are only for the actual exam and the score the student receives. To see which questions they missed on the exam, students must pay an additional $18, and if a student does not have access to the College Board website and must call their phone number to check their score, it costs that student $15.

Because the average student takes the SAT two to three times, the cost of these fees can be oppressive, especially considering this test is required by practically every university in the United States.

Where is all this money going? In 2014, College Board paid its CEO David Coleman a total of $734,192. For a tax–exempt, “not for profit” organization whose goal is to give more students access to higher education, the College Board’s fees are way too high.

If College Board is truly a not–for–profit organization that cares about making higher education more attainable for all students, it needs to stop charging exorbitant amounts of money to take its exams, especially when virtually every university in the United States requires the tests.

“When the orgy of slashing closed the first act, I damned nearly threw up all over the chap sitting in front of me.”

That is an actual quote from an actual news review. It was written in 1985 by a crusty British man named Rodney Milnes, and believe it or not, it was for a Tchaikovsky opera at the London Coliseum. And it was LIT. Mazeppa, the opera in question, is pretty wild by itself.

The thing about opera, though, is that it’s pretty much all in the public domain, so anyone can alter it however they want.

So what visionary director David Alden did was add bodies hanging on meat hooks, buckets of blood and a chainsaw massacre, effectively turning Tchaikovsky’s 1884 masterpiece into the ninth Saw movie and gloriously increasing the hemorrhage rate in the crotchety British music critic community by five hundred percent.

I think this pretty much summarizes why opera is badass.

And not just because of weird productions, although those are pretty great. My personal favorite is Verdi’s Rigoletto, which has been set in literally everything from a Vegas casino in the 60s, to the Kennedy White House, to the actual Planet of the Apes.

If you’re in the majority, your opera exposure has probably been limited to Looney Toons and that one fat lady with the Viking horns wailing her brains out.

Let me just put that last one into perspective. That’s the finale of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, which is basically the opera version of Lord of the Rings, except for it’s really loud, about Vikings and also over 15 hours long.

In that scene, Brünnhilde (the horned lady) brings a cursed ring to the Rhine River, where she sets up her lover’s funeral pyre, orders her maidens to pluck the ring from her ashes and rides into the flames on her majestic white stallion.

Two words: heavy metal.

What’s more, opera is severely under–appreciated for being one of the hardest art forms to master. First off, you don’t get a mic, so your technique has to be so perfect that your voice carries over a full orchestra and through the whole audience without straining for the entire opera. Which can be up to four hours long, in a 4,000–seat opera house.

Plus, you have to be an amazing actor, and you have to speak Italian, French and German because most operas aren’t in English. Oh, and Russian if you want to do Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Shostakovich or Dvorak.

Heavy. Metal.

Here’s the best part: contrary to stereotypes of opera as this hoity–toity, inaccessible thing, it’s achieved a standard of diversity that really blows every other kind of media out of the water.

Since everyone has to sing in the same language, any given opera stages will probably be shared by American, European, Asian, Latinx and African singers all in one place, sharing the same goal and speaking the same artistic language.

Plus, gender is fluid in opera — male characters are often cast as pants roles, in which a woman cross–dresses in order to sing in the higher vocal range of a young boy. And those young boys usually have love interests, so, in opera, you see homosexual couples on stage almost as much as heterosexual couples.

Or those pants roles can be played by a countertenor — a male with a mezzo or soprano voice, another welcome subversion of the gender norm, this time musical.

Not to mention that most operas are performed with projected subs at every performance, which makes them more accessible to deaf and hearing–impaired audiences.

So I really encourage you guys to give opera a chance — the Metropolitan Opera does monthly livestreams to movie theaters everywhere, including Thousand Oaks! If you want to attend one, you can visit metopera.org for info.

And if you see a burning white stallion parked outside the theater, that one’s mine.

16

OPINION

Your MonthLi Dose

HA

NG

In–store

PHOTO B

Y

LA ME

E NI

Z

AP Naptime by alex li opinion section editor Everyone has vices. Dante even listed the seven deadliest vices. I, however, merely have one. It’s not greed, nor lust. Naps are my vice, and this is my story.

It was the dawn of freshman year, and I was an enthusiastic neophyte. Hopeful.

Bright. I had heard stories of students falling asleep in class, but I could never understand.

Until AP Human Geography.

Sitting in a warm room after a fulfilling lunch, darkness enveloped us as we watched yet another video. The plague hit each of us one by one. At first, it was only one kid, but that’s all a contagious disease requires. I, too, contracted the disease. I had fallen asleep in class. Little did I know, it was merely the beginning.

AP Human Geography turned into regularly scheduled naps. I can’t tell you about any of the movies we watched in AP European History either, because I was literally asleep, face down, the entire time. I even fell asleep during movies in journalism, but here I am as a section editor for The Arrow, so there’s hope for all of us. I never imagined, however, that naps would become a regular occurence at home as well.

Afternoon siestas became a staple part of my day. Coming home after a long day of partial fractions and lectures to a pillowy haven, I’d collapse, yet again, into my mound of blankets. Never would I set an alarm, and never would I think about all the homework that had to be done. All that concerned me was the slight repose that naps offered me.

At first my afternoon snoozes were only an hour long. Slowly, I’d reach two hours, then three and, at my worst, I would nap for six hours. Once, I even slept until the next morning. I quickly learned that doing homework and studying the morning before school doesn’t produce the best results. Shout out to my D on that one physics test.

As a nap connoisseur, I’ve learned that shuteye is only effective if it’s shorter than half an hour. Even then, naps can induce a more fatigued state after you wake up. Relaxation, increased mood and increased alertness are all benefits to napping, but once you exceed an hour, these catnaps begin to hinder your productivity and ruin your entire day. I speak from experience.

Now into my senior year, I only take short naps twice a week, having learned my lesson from years past. Friends of The Arrow: don’t take naps. Resist the fatal disease. But if you have to, I’ll allow you 30 minutes. It’s just being efficient with your time, and we’re all about efficiency here at The Arrow.

by abby thompson feature editor The racks of clothing are organized in neat lines, coordinated by color, their fabrics soft to the touch. The surrounding air smells fresh and new, its fragrance radiating from the never–before–used products. The sound of shoes against tile, hangers tapping against one another and the gentle beeping of cash registers fills the room, harmonizing with the humming of nearby shoppers. The doors are open, welcoming both customers and the autumn breeze into the arms of a patiently waiting sale. Or not.

Online, there is no music, no touchable material, no wide–open doors, only the glaring, artificial light of a computer screen.

Over the past few years, technology has served many purposes, including easy news access, social media and cat memes. One of the biggest uses for the internet today, however, is online shopping.

While online shopping provides the perfect excuse to be lazy, being able to get all shopping done without leaving the house, it is not the most efficient way to shop. It’s not remotely as much fun, and, let’s be honest, it doesn’t come close to the thrill of in–store shopping.

Anyone who has visited the mall during

Online

by sophie robson

feature editor It feels like it has been decades since you went shopping.

You finally cut out time from your busy schedule to go to the daunting mall. Searching for a parking spot, you lose hope and settle for the only one you see: a spot in the row farthest from the entrance. You finally make it to the store of your choice and find the shirt you saw online. You go through rack after rack, but to no avail; they don’t have the shirt available in stock in your size.

Leaving the store empty–handed, you feel defeated, as if the whole trip out was a total waste of time.

Online shopping is superior to in–store shopping due to the convenience of time, accessibility of sizes and stock and many money–saving advantages.

Because one doesn’t have to leave the house

the holidays must know that.

On–site shopping is enjoyable. It provides the opportunity for customers to visit stores in groups, a huge plus when it comes to the social aspect of shopping itself.

Especially for teens, going to the mall with friends can be a relaxing after–school activity and a great break from the constant stress of school.

Now recall the gratifying experience of shopping with friends: eating unhealthy food from the food court, spending way too much money and making fun of those weird shoes that are somehow still being sold at Nordstrom.

Picture them gone. Ceased. Non–existent.

The days of laughter and excitement in that fun activity are gone. And what exactly is left — a website? How entertaining.

Without the ability to socialize and centering around technology, online shopping does not provide the same shopping experiences that in–store shopping does, one of the many things that makes it inferior.

In addition to its social benefits, purchasing items from a store that are displayed clearly for buyers to touch, observe and try on makes it easier for customers to know exactly what they need and compare it to what is in front of them.

Not only this, but often, buyers do not know whether they are interested in a piece of clothing until they actually wear it.

Online, however, with only a tiny photo for a product, it is extremely easy to make the mistake of thinking that one item is similar to what is needed, when in reality, it possesses a flaw or two and causes the buyer to have to start all over again.

Even when online shopping does feel efficient after completed, the pride that swarms up after the “order” button is pushed has to be shoved back down again once the items actually arrive.

When a customer orders clothes, he or she must try them on when they arrive. Say those

clothes don’t fit. For high school students, sending back clothing not only takes more time but also costs more money for shipping: something that is scarce for teenagers.

This fee could easily be avoided. In–store shopping saves people the trouble of having to try on the clothing a few days after they have been ordered, determine whether they fit or not, package boxes back up, get them over to the post office, pay any shipping fees, go back home and start all over again. This process is both painful and unnecessary.

If customers were to take a short period of time out of their day to drive over to the store and try on any clothes before ordering them, they could save themselves from a needless shipping fee.

Despite what some may think, in–store shopping also saves time. And time is something that many people do not have. If someone orders a product online that takes “three to five business days” to arrive, it takes three to five more days than it has to — not to mention the time it takes to try them on and return them.

Customers often turn to online shopping because they do not want to spend the time in a store, searching for something that may not even be available to them. However, in–store shopping usually has a larger variety of items.

Since most online–shopping websites are available for anyone to access and sell their products, including Amazon or Etsy, there is more of a random assortment of items being sold. This can be frustrating compared to traveling to a store that is more specific to what a customer needs.

Therefore, traveling to the store is worth the while as the product that customers are in search for may only be available in store.

Online shopping is time consuming, expensive and, overall, a waste of time.

and carve out time from a busy schedule to take a trip to the mall or a shopping center, online shopping is a time saver. Additionally, students can save gas by shopping online, and many students who do not drive save themselves the hassle of finding a ride by simply accessing the internet. Shopping online takes significantly less time than in–store shopping.

Online shopping improves the accessibility of products. Many stores have a limited stock and don’t carry certain sizes, like plus and petite sizes, or they run out of certain sizes faster than others. Additionally, online stock has a much more diverse range of colors and items that may not be available in store. Returns are also more advantageous online, depending on each company’s return policies.

Shoppers can also avoid overbearing employees, which make one’s shopping experience stressful. In some shops, employees are paid on commission, meaning they get paid for helping customers if said customer buys a product that they recommended. This can cause in–store shopping to be an aggressive encounter and can additionally cause the opposite reaction of what the employees are attempting to accomplish: customers leaving the store empty–handed.

There are many online deals that are not available in store, and shoppers can apply additional coupon codes from places like Groupon, Ebates and RetailMeNot for no

additonal cost.

Some stores do not have a satisfactory sales section in store or do not have one at all, whereas online sale sections are generally vast with more products, sizes and colors. On a student budget, the sale section is a student’s best friend, so online shopping is more beneficial because one can buy more products for less buck. Most sites also have a wish list feature where one can save likeable products and be notified by email when they go on sale.

Some products even go on sale online and not in–store during certain seasons or occasions like Labor Day and Black Friday.

One might object that trying on clothes is not an option for online shopping. The feasible solution to this problem is returns. Returns allow shoppers to try on clothes and products within the constraints of their own busy schedule. Some companies have features like Amazon Wardrobe, in which one can fill a box with clothing, shoes and accessories and return unwanted products within the seven–day try–on–period without being charged for unwanted products.

Most companies have their own return policies, but many of them allow shoppers to return items within a reasonable time frame for free by simply placing the package back in the mailbox or dropping it off at a local post office.

With that being said, let me hop on the Internet and order my homecoming dress!

17

SPORTS

ZH AN G

MLB: winding up for the postseason sports editor

RAIN AFTER A DROUGHT: Houston Astros teammates celebrate a World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. This was their first ever championship in franchise history after a 55 year period without winning one. A blockbuster trade for Justin Verlander, formely on the Detroit Tigers, helped propel the Astros past the Dodgers in seven games.

advantage over other teams as they seek their first World Series victory in 30 years.

Playoff teams in the National League are filled with star players, and there will be plenty of impact players to watch for in the playoffs. The first player to watch is the Cubs’ Shortstop Javier Baez, who is in high contention to win the NL MVP. This is due to his impressive hitting stats across the board and his ability to make elite plays at most positions on the field: the shortstop is regarded as one of the most “electric” and exciting players to watch in the league because of his playmaking and game–changing ability.

Additionally, another player to watch is Milwaukee Brewers’s outfielder, Christian Yelich. Yelich, a WHS alumnus, helped lead the young Brewers team into the playoffs behind his all–star season.

“We haven’t found a way to cool him off,”

said Reds manager Jim Riggleman. “He’s a MVP candidate, so he’s hot against a lot of clubs.”

The American League is also filled with superstars, most notably Boston Red Sox outfielder, Mookie Betts, who is arguably the best player on the best team in the MLB and is the front runner for winning the AL MVP as he leads the league in batting average and is second in on base percentage this year.

In addition, one of the league’s biggest rising stars, the A’s third baseman, Matt Chapman, will be making his playoff debut and has been praised for his talent from the league’s best players.

“He’s probably better than me now,” said Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies all–star and Gold Glove third baseman.

With the conclusion of the wildcard games, the eight teams will continue to battle, each with the goal of being crowned league champions.

Notable WHS pro sports alumni

Over WHS’s 40 year history, the school has produced some notable athletes that have had successful professional careers. These alumni have performed exceptionally well at the highest level of their sports, winning big tournaments and earning impressive accolades.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

Sources: complex.com, lpga.com & mlb.com

EL

AN

NI E

PHOTO COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN

The MLB postseason has officially kicked off with the start of the wildcard matchups which took place on Oct. 2.

The team favored to win the World Series heading into the playoffs is the Boston Red Sox, who finished the regular season with the league–leading and franchise record of 108–54; they have the league’s highest scoring offense and fourth best pitching staff. The Red Sox will have immense support from their fans as its record has given the team home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

However, one team that was not expected to make the playoffs was the Oakland Athletics.

“The A’s have been a great story, benefiting from surprises (Edwin Jackson pitching well), late inning fortitude on both the offensive and the pitching side and the continued maturation of third baseman, Matt Chapman,” said MLB analyst Anthony Castrovince.

Additionally, the 2017 champion, the Houston Astros, is returning to the playoffs. The Astros are heavily favored over the majority of the remaining teams with a chance to repeat their title win.

“This year’s team is better,” said MLB analyst Mike Petriello. “They are the best team in baseball, and no one else is better positioned heading into October.”

Its 2017 World Series counterpart, The Los Angeles Dodgers, was in a highly contested race for first place in its division with the Colorado Rockies, but the Dodgers came out on top and secured a spot in the playoffs. The Dodgers traded all–star players Manny Machado and Brian Dozier before the trade deadline, both of whom have game–changing abilities and add depth to the roster. The team’s playoff experience gives them an

YM PHOTO B

ZH AN G

IE

by peter beer

GRAPHIC BY AKHIL GUTTA & BOB XIA

A EL YM B O T PH O

Right to be wrong by akhil gutta co–sports section editor Sports and society are constantly intertwined, causing some of the most iconic moments and staging the biggest movements throughout history. With a rich history of athletes and political involvement, it is necessary to acknowledge sports contributions outside the field and in the real world. With a country divided on athletes standing up for their beliefs, it is more important now than ever to understand the impact athletics have in the world.

I believe the beauty of sports is the light it shines on athletes, giving them a stage where they can share their story, fueling a cause. Take Billie Jean King, not only a legendary tennis player, but more importantly an outspoken social activist who, without sports, may never have achieved the gender equality she fought for her whole life.

Even Muhammad Ali was stripped of his titles and banned from his sport because he believed in something. His perseverance to further African American and Muslim rights was controversial and bode heavy consequences, yet remaining outspoken about these topics was his personal choice and right, no matter what public opinion was.

People standing up for themselves often led to real social change in this country. The idea that athletes are not in a place to express their opinions or support a cause limits what people, especially celebrity figures, are able to do with their platform. Modern athletes embody much more than their sport, but the age of social media has a vast online presence that reaches fans all around the world.

Take LeBron James, not only a phenomenal basketball player, but someone who has consistently been an outspoken advocate against racism. His global outreach is vast, and while the politics he supports may not please everyone, at least he’s trying to spur change. His decision to be bigger than his sport and take action is something other athletes and celebrities should not only respect, but emulate.

As more modern examples of this controversy have risen, people once again question whether professional athletes are in a position to express their beliefs: to that, I wholeheartedly believe yes. Letting them share and comment on what they perceive is wrong can only help bring forth change.

Athletes are often inspirations to youth, and seeing an idol stand up for personal values, even if it means losing everything, is an admirable quality in any role model.

While many believe that athletes promoting change disrupts the sport, standing up against perceived wrong is important.

Oftentimes, these protests reflect the viewpoints of many Americans and should therefore legitimately be addressed. Athletes have long been some of the most important figures in America, and whether you love or hate them, agree or disagree with them, they deserve to be respected and listened to.

18

SPORTS

boys

Fall Battle of sexes event plays out Sports Stat Box

F

(as of Oct. 3)

ootball

Record: 5W–2L Next game: Oct. 5

vs. St. Bonaventure Location: St. Bonaventure

girls

Field hockey

Record: 2W–5L Next game: Oct. 5 vs. Glendora Location: Glendora

C

ross country

Record: N/A Next meet: Oct. 6 at Central Park Invitational Location: Huntington Beach

boys

Water polo

Record: 9W–9L Next game: Oct. 4 vs. Oaks Christian Location: WHS

girls

T

ennis

by connie shi & bob xia co–web master–in–chief & sports editor

For the first time this fall season, WHS girls tennis will play a game not against another girls team, but rather against a team closer to home: the WHS boys team.

In the first matchup of its kind, WHS’s two tennis teams will face off in a charity event on Oct. 9. The showdown begins at 3 p.m. at the WHS tennis courts, and the public can attend for free.

“The tension should be on the guys,” said boys and girls head coach Scott Yasgoor, who has currently led the girls tennis team to a 10–1 start. “They may already think they already have the win, but the girls are coming at them hard.”

The match takes place on one of the two dates originally scheduled for Marmonte League matches against the Agoura girls tennis team.

However, due to re–leaguing, Agoura is now in the Channel League, so dates were opened up.

“Instead of not playing and not having a match, we did this for fun, and it is productive instead of not playing at all,” said doubles player Rachel Sherrill ‘22.

Both teams have different strengths and weaknesses, but Yasgoor is confident that both will rise to the challenge.

“The guys are a really strong team, but the girls are more consistent,” said Yasgoor.

The girls tennis team boasts a powerful lineup, especially with the addition of many strong underclassmen.

“I’m pretty excited … [to] see what the girls team has ... [and to] see if the boys team is better or not,” said singles player Ryan Lam ‘19.

While only girls tennis is currently in

Varsity f

season, both teams are gearing for the match, practicing both with their teams and on their own time. The boys tennis team has been meeting up on weekends to compensate for the lack of formal practice.

“It’ll be really different because a lot of guys have more kick on their kick serves, so it’ll be different for us dealing with all that spin,” said singles player Samantha Noh ‘20.

Top players from each gender will be matched against each other, both singles players as well as doubles teams. Each player will donate $10, and the winners of the match will decide collectively on a charity of their choice to donate the money to.

GRAPHIC BY CONNIE SHI

“It’s a good bonding experience because it’s not just girls against girls from another school, it’s people we actually know,” said girls captain Lia Robbins ‘19. “And then it’s a group of us donating to the charity of our choice, so it’s a decision that we’re all making together.”

The match will provide a memorable experience for both teams while giving back to the community.

“It’s important for a lot of sports to do this because then it spreads awareness about the sport and about important causes,” said Noh. “It’s important that we have a fun time, but also important that we recognize that this is for a good cause.”

tball welcomes new players

girls

Record: 10W–1L Next game: Oct. 4

vs. Oaks Christian Location: WHS

Volleyball

Record: 29W–1L Next game: Oct. 4

vs. Thousand Oaks Location: WHS

girls

Golf

Record: Next game: Oct. 4

vs. Calabasas Location: Calabasas Country Club For the latest sports updates, stories and scores, visit the WHS athletics website at westlakeathletics.net.

Compiled by Taylor Chen

GRAPHIC BY LAUREN PAK & ABBY THOMPSON

19

SPORTS

Off–season brings new stars west by taylor chen & marc andrew choi sports editor & co–feature section editor The Golden State Warriors were the 2017– 2018 NBA Champions. As predictable as that was, the following offseason was exciting, with numerous blockbuster moves.

From the Los Angeles Lakers’ complete roster change to the dysfunctional San Antonio Spurs, many changes have shifted the NBA landscape, allowing young teams in the Eastern Conference to rise to prominence and make the Western Conference even more competitive.

The Los Angeles Lakers were at the center of offseason. In hopes of acquiring numerous All– Stars like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Demarcus Cousins, general manager Magic Johnson vowed to step down from his position if he could not complete the trades.

“If I can’t deliver, I’m going to step down myself,” said Johnson.

The biggest move this offseason was Cleveland Cavaliers’ star LeBron James. The future Hall–of–Famer ruled the east for the last decade, making the NBA Finals eight years in a row. Directly after this trade, the Lakers signed Lance Stephenson, Javale Mcgee, Rajon Rondo and Michael Beasley, four solid role players with championship experience.

“I love [guys who love to play basketball], and I think [Rob] Pelinka and Magic [Johnson] love that as well, and that’s why they made the signings,” said James. “Lance, JaVale, Beas[ley]

GRAPHIC BY ALEX LI

and Rondo, they’re guys that every day ... wake up [and] think about the game of basketball.”

Known for being one of the greatest franchises in NBA history, there has been much controversy surrounding the Spurs. Starting small forward Leonard was reported injured for the majority of the 2017–2018 season, only playing nine games. His absence made some of his teammates turn against him.

As a result, Leonard requested a trade, and the Spurs sent Leonard with Danny Green to the Toronto Raptors for DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl.

Many Raptors fans and other NBA players were outraged with this situation, disappointed with the organization for trading their franchise all–time leading scorer after executives verbally agreed on a long, prosperous future with Derozan as their star.

“I’m hurt,” said Los Angeles Clippers player Lou Williams. “[Derozan] gave that city and organization his heart and soul. He was loyal to the soil and got stabbed in the back.”

Nevertheless, with the departure of Lebron from the east, the Raptors have a great opportunity to make it to the NBA Finals

for the first time in franchise history. On the other hand, the Spurs will remain a playoff contender but may miss the playoffs in the next couple years.

“The Spurs aren’t expected to keep pace with Golden State in the standings this year,” said Bleacher–Report contributor Tim Daniels.

The Golden State Warriors have been a step ahead of the rest of the league for the last five years. With smart second–round draft picks such as Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, the Warriors built a solid bench. However, this year, the Warriors made a move that terrified the league.

The Warriors signed 28–year–old center Cousins. Cousins, a four–time All–Star, will be the fifth All–Star on the Warriors’ roster this season.

Many NBA fans have commented on how the Warriors’ stacked roster decreases parity in the league, incentivising other teams to tank so they can collect draft picks over winning games.

However, teams such as the Houston Rockets have tried to match the Warriors’ firepower.

“Both teams can go off on a moment’s notice and lay waste to anyone with paralyzing runs fueled by seemingly endless barrages of [threes],” said ESPN contributor Micah Adams. “It’s tempting to view them as one and the same — poster children for today’s pace–and–space revolution.”

The Houston Rockets shocked the world by grabbing the best regular season record last season, behind arguably the best backcourt duo in the NBA: Chris Paul and James Harden. They also picked up veteran star Carmelo Anthony.

This NBA offseason has filled summer headlines with shocking news, leaving basketball fans excited for the upcoming season.

20

PHOTO ESSAY

Want to look good this fall without breaking the bank? When it comes to the autumn aesthetic of your dreams, layering goes a long way. Below, we’ve put together a variety of different looks made from a few core pieces — see if you can get some inspiration for your own wardrobe!

Throw on a sweater, and t he same dress tu rns into a skirt.

weater Spiff up a s on–up with a butt rneath. blouse unde

Amanda Ju

Give a dress/ cardigan comb o a kick with som e heeled booties .

‘19

A classic long– sleeved tee becomes in stantly cooler under a printed button–up.

Neutrals are easy to layer, so you can stay toasty in the morning and cool in the afternoon.

A colored denim jacket is affordable, in–season and rugged chic.

L

PHOTOS BY KATIE REUL

PHOTOS BY KATIE REU

Micah Meyers Micah Meyers ‘20 ‘20

Thrift some unconventional jeans to save money and stand out from the crowd.

Don’t have a belt? A jacket can double as a trendy accessory in a snap.

Compiled by Amanda Ju & Sophie Robson