the
Arrow 100 Lakeview Canyon Rd. Westlake Village, CA 91362 Volume XL | Issue 2 | November 7, 2017
a taste of
Pages 8–9
Thousand Oaks Blvd. Twelfth Night preview
By the numbers: America’s waste
Should school start later?
Page 3
Page 5
Page 10
2
NEWS
4
What is Bitcoin?
Elective features
11
7
GRAPHIC BY CAELYN PENDER
Community college promotes knowledge
Daylight saving
by the editor team
editorial
Band of brothers
13
Sources: insidehighered.com, cccco.edu & forbes.com
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Stranger Things
Meet Coach Kirksey
14
Cover photo by Caelyn Pender
Spending less and earning more: it’s the dream of every student, worker and provider in the United States, but this ideal always seems so far out of reach. Yet, this goal is highly achievable with the help of the hidden gem of the U.S. education system—community college. This highly–affordable but often stigmatized educational path can lead to a successful career and a wide range of opportunities; therefore, it’s unreasonable that CCs are facing issues such as budget cuts and falling enrollment. According to the Century Foundation, for every $4,000 that a four–year university receives in funding per student, a CC receives only $1. There are social stigmas created by misconceptions attached to the idea of a CC, especially at high–achieving schools such as WHS. These stereotypes present in the community can make students feel unnecessarily embarrassed or ashamed to attend a CC. Some common misconceptions are that CCs do not offer quality education because of their inexpensive tuition or that the degrees students earn will not lead to jobs. Other inaccuracies are that the students at CCs are not smart or qualified enough to get into a four–year university. However, these ideas are not true. Attending a CC can save between $12,000–$66,000 annually as opposed to a similar education at a private or state school. In the long run, the amount of money students can save is incredible and reveals good economic judgment. By avoiding student loans and high interest rates, CC graduates can gain a major headstart in their lives. And just because these schools are cheaper, it doesn’t mean that the quality of education is worse. CCs offer honors programs and challenging courses similar to those offered at four–year universities. The type of college a
theArrow Staff www.westlakearrow.net westlakearrow@gmail.com
opinion section editor
editors-in-chief kay lim & albert zhang
managing editor caelyn pender
@westlakearrow web editors 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225 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.
student goes to is not the most important factor in securing a successful future; instead, the qualifications and experiences of the professors, the work ethics of students and the program opportunities offered are more important. Many CCs offer career– oriented classes, which guide students to steady occupations as soon as they graduate. The students of WHS and other nearby high schools have many viable options when it comes to CCs. The Ventura Community College System —Moorpark College, Ventura College and Oxnard College—are all relatively close to WHS. Moorpark College, the CC closest to WHS, boasts 1,500 classes each semester in over 70 different subjects. It is especially known for its nursing and biotechnology programs, as well as its unique teaching zoo—the only one of its kind in the nation. In 2015, the Huffington Post recognized Moorpark as the fourth best CC in the nation. BestColleges.com ranks Moorpark as the best CC in California. Additionally, many other highly–ranked CCs are located within an hour’s drive, such as Santa Barbara City College, which was ranked as the best CC in the nation by The Aspen Institute. CCs also give students the opportunity to transfer to a four–year university. In fact, California CCs offer students a guaranteed transfer into a UC school after their sophomore year as long as they complete specific credits towards their major. Students who utilize this program cut their college costs in half and come out with the exact same degree as a four–year student. Therefore, students must not fall into the trap of believing that CCs are not a viable post–high school option. The negativity surrounding CCs is not a beneficial influence on students while they try to focus on preparing for the real world. Instead, students, parents and teachers need to embrace the idea that attending a CC is a great educational choice and encourage students who choose to take advantage of what they have to offer.
isra din & connie shi
alex li
opinion editors taylor chen, amanda ju & matt zhang
news section editor milla wu
news editors jamie lee & daryn mink
graphics & photo editor megan king
business manager
arts & entertainment section editor katie reul
michelle hang
arts & entertainment editors prarthana kaygee & sydney rosinski
social media manager sona bhargava
sports section editor
feature section editors marc choi & sydney schlesinger
feature editors nate brenner, akhil gutta, elliot kim & avery pak
lo yarnall
sports editor melanie zhang
adviser karie lynch
NEWS
Drama presents Twelfth Night
3
by michelle hang business manager
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE HANG
The WHS drama department will perform William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the Carpenter Family Theater on Nov. 16–18 at 7 p.m. with a matinee on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. Drama teacher DeEdra Burke chose to perform this play because of the amount of girls she has in the theater class this year. “I have the right cast combination [this year],” said Burke. “[This] is a play that girls can play guys and guys can play girls.” Twelfth Night starts with a shipwreck where twins are separated when washed ashore on the island of Illyria. Throughout the play, they are mistaken for each other. Viola, played by Veronica Miller ‘18, pretends to be a man named Cesario, in order to protect herself since she does not have a guardian figure. “My character has a twin brother, and they get separated at sea, so basically I’m left on my own to try and figure myself out in this new, weird place where I shipwrecked,” said Miller. The play is set in the Renaissance, and key sets include Olivia’s garden, a boat and Duke Orsino’s palace. “[The show] takes place in Illyria,” said Burke. “It’s Mediterranean, and it has a Spanish– Italian influence.” The costuming is also based on the Renaissance era. The costume group’s goal is to find matching costumes that are from the right era, fit everyone and look good. “We have a lot of gender diversity in this play,” said costume designer Gentry Peeples ‘18. “We have a lot of girls playing guys and vice versa, so for the guys we have them in
TAKING THE STAGE (left): Duke Orsino (Pierre Depre ‘20) recites a monologue, slowly noticing that Cesario (Veronica Miller), perceived to be male, has feminine features. MALVOLIO’S MISFORTUNE (above): After Maria (Brianna McCarthy ‘18) writes a letter pretending to be Olivia (Alexa Kasparian) to Malvolio (Paul Hurley ‘19) saying that she is in love with him, she laughs as Malvolio embarrasses himself in yellow stockings in an effort to impress Olivia.
skirts and corsets, and for girls we have them wearing guys’ clothes.” The cast and crew attend daily rehearsals during and after school in addition to preparing individually. “We’re rehearsing every night for so long,” said Alexa Kasparian ‘18, who plays Olivia, an admirer of Cesario. “We’re going over lines and rehearsing during class, and it’s a lot of independent work of memorizing lines and trying to figure out how our characters are.” Burke hopes that people will walk away with a good grasp of Shakespeare after
watching WHS’s production of Twelfth Night. “I want the audience to discover that they love Shakespeare or that they have an appreciation for it, more so than they had before they [attended the show],” said Burke. According to the cast and director, Twelfth Night provides an abundance of comedy. “[The audience] should look forward to how funny and witty the show is. Even though Shakespeare is very difficult to understand, everything [in this play] is so simply said,” said Kasparian. “[The audience] should look forward to the jokes, the passive aggressiveness and the
weird love that goes on between guys and girls.” Even with the obstacles that Burke and the cast face with getting into character, Burke has faith in her students’ abilities and the outcome of the play. “I look forward to seeing everyone rise to the challenge of just really developing their characters and playing as an ensemble to where you feel like you’re there looking into [the characters’] lives,” said Burke. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for students. They can be bought at the door or online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34378.
Measure I bill grants funding to CVUSD schools by taylor chen opinion editor One of CVUSD’s goals is to make school technologically modern and equip students with all the tools necessary to become successful and achieve the educational goals proposed by the state. Because the state does not provide funding for technology and infrastructure, the CVUSD Bond Oversight Committee wrote a bill to allow the school district to draw funding from the local level. In 2014, voters approved the Measure I bill, which alloted a fund worth $197 million in bonds for use by CVUSD with citizens’ oversight, annual audits and no money for administrators. Every year between April and June, the district office takes money out of the Measure I fund and allots funding for each school in the district based on student attendance. The Measure I funding is split into two parts: Measure I Building and Measure I Technology. Measure I Building is directed towards repairing anything related to the infrastructure of the school while Measure I Technology is directed towards electronics including computers, Promethean smart boards, projectors and more. The funding each school receives is based on the number of students currently enrolled in the school proportional to the district’s total students. This year, each school was given $109 per student. “It is up to each school and their technology committees to decide how the money is spent,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Victor Hayek. “The schools are provided with a catalog where the funding must be spent.” The technology committee consists of a group of teachers and administrators who draw up a plan in which they choose how to spend the budget. “After the technology committee deliberates how they will spend the money, they present the plan to the public,” said WHS principal Jason Branham.
GRAPHIC BY ALEX LI
However, the plan that the technology committee proposes does not need to be approved by any other group. This past year, WHS’s technology committee approved the purchase of several flat screen TVs, some Promethean smart boards, more golf carts for the campus supervisors, new computer sets and a few other items. Other schools in the district chose to take an entirely different approach to their Measure I Technology budget. “Thousand Oaks High School decided to implement the 1:1 initiative,” said Branham. “This means that starting this year, the freshmen will all have a personal portable computing device, and within four years all students will have their own device.”
The building part of the Measure I fund is determined through a massive master plan drawn up with the district and school administration. This plan details the infrastructure and the changes, additions and repairs that need to be made to it. “Part of our vision was to add new science lab buildings up where the upper basketball courts are,” said Branham. The Measure I funding not only covers the structural costs, but also the new science equipment needed to create a functional science lab. In the district, the total expenses of the Measure I Technology added up to over $4.1 million and the Measure I Building amounted to nearly $10.5 million.
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NEWS
Local, state and international news PHOTOS COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN
Local
State
The Young Artists Ensemble is performing A Christmas Story, the Musical from Nov. 3–19. YAE is a small Thousand Oaks theater group that has staged performances showcasing kids ages 10 to 19 since 1981; performances include their annual Family Theatre Season, Teen Dramas and Teen Summer Musicals. A Christmas Story, the Musical, is based on the movie that was filmed in 1981. The show is about Ralphie and his family during the holidays as he tries to convince everyone that a B.B. gun is the perfect gift for him. Set during the Christmas season, the musical especially appeals to high school students because of the familiar feelings evoked by the holidays. “We all have something that we want for Christmas,” said YAE performer Claudia Bertagna ‘21, who plays Ralphie’s mother. “In this show, there are scenes of bullying, and I think [high school students can] relate to that the most.” Tickets are $19 for adults and $16 for children, students and seniors; purchase tickets at YAEonline.com or HillcrestArts.com. The Young Artists Ensemble is also offering two discounted performances on Fri., Nov. 10 and Fri., Nov. 17 at $12 per ticket. “I’m most excited for everyone’s reaction to the show,” said Bertagna. “I’m not excited for it to end, but I’m really excited to see how it all comes together.”
In brief
International
California has endured many fires this past year as a result of its drier climate and increasing drought. The drier climate hurts animal habitats and puts people in danger of losing their homes due to fire. Victims of the fires have been forced to relocate and find new places to live as the fires spread and demolish their old homes. The fires also create unhealthy clouds of smoke. Last year, a bill to identify the places most at risk for wildfires and require plans to prevent fires sparked by power lines was brought to Governor Jerry Brown to stop the growth of wildfires in California; however, it was vetoed by Brown. “Since May of last year, … CalFire, [the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, has] been [identifying and preventing fires] through the existing proceeding on fire–threat maps and fire–safety regulations,” said Brown. Yet many, including California senator John Moorlach, are convinced that without this bill, nothing much will be done to further prevent fires from occurring. “[Had the governor signed the bill,] it would have changed things … I think it would’ve given CalFire a whole different set of priorities,” said Moorlach. In the month of October alone, the fires have burned 8,170 acres and resulted in 38 deaths; according to CalFire, four of the top 20 most destructive California fires occured last October alone.
On Fri., Oct. 27, the Catalan parliament voted 70–12 for independence from Spain. Catalonia, one of the 17 autonomous regions of Spain, is located in the northeastern part of the country; however, the region has a different language, culture and history than the rest of Spain. The Spanish government declared the Catalan independence movement illegal on Oct. 1 after a citizen referendum, but the Catalans have refused to listen. Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy dissolved the Catalan parliament in response to the overwhelming vote for independence and declared Dec. 21 as the date for its re–election. “Spain’s central government has taken direct control of Catalonia and sacked officials, following the region’s banned independence referendum,” said a BBC reporter. “Spain’s Guardia Civil— a paramilitary force charged with police duties— raided the offices of the Catalan police force.” On its first day of declared independence, Catalonia took a huge blow, as the leader of its independence movement, Carlos Puigdemont, fled the country to seek asylum in Brussels so he could “speak freely.” As Catalans march down the streets of Barcelona and Girona with their famed Estelada flags in hand, the results of their movement for independence are up in the air.
Compiled by Nate Brenner & Jamie Lee
Bitcoin: currency of the future
WASC
Price in USD
From Oct. 1–4, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges visited WHS to evaluate the school according to a series of predetermined criteria. Although the results of the visit have not yet been reported, the WASC visiting team did identify four areas of needed improvment: more focus on underperforming CP students, increased opportunities for data analysis, providing more alternative career pathways for students and a usage of department and schoolwide summative assessments to increase academic levels.
Open House WHS’s yearly open house will take place on Wed., Nov. 29 from 6–9 p.m. The school will open its doors to the public, welcoming community members and potential students to learn more about the institution. Students will also have the opportunity to demonstrate progress made in their classes since the beginning of the school year. Teachers representing various departments will give brief presentations about class offerings and content and display student projects and other examples of class assignments.
Blood Drive On Mon., Dec. 4 from 7 a.m.–1 p.m., WHS will host its annual blood drive in the gymnasium. Students can sign up to volunteer to become blood donors for patients across the nation. Those interested in donating must be at least 16 to sign up and must meet a minimum height and weight requirement. For more information, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/ students/sixteen.
Compiled by Matt Zhang
GRAPHIC BY ELLIOT KIM
by elliot kim feature editor With its prices and popularity skyrocketing, Bitcoin has quickly become one of the most significant economic innovations of the 21st century. Bitcoin is essentially virtual money, and investors believe that it will become the currency of the future. Created by a person under the pseudonym of “Satoshi Nakamoto,” Bitcoin is a type of “cryptocurrency,” or a type of virtual encrypted currency. The main advantage of cryptocurrencies over other types of currencies is that they are decentralized, which means that they do not have to go through a financial institution for payments or transfers. This has many benefits: Bitcoin transactions cannot be taxed by governments and larger transactions are completed faster than through traditional means.
In addition, Bitcoin payments are safer from human error than bank transfers because instead of being confirmed by humans, they are verified by the Bitcoin network, which is comprised of computers around the world. This means that assets are more secure because they represent a value in the network as opposed to a number in a bank computer. Finally, Bitcoin transactions are all done over a secure network and are all heavily protected, making it ideal for large transfers. All this makes Bitcoin a very attractive asset for investors and, as a result of many people buying it, the price has skyrocketed. Recently, Bitcoin’s price reached an all–time high of $7,617.48. This means that the market cap, or the total value of all Bitcoin, is 125 billion U.S. dollars, which is higher than companies such as Paypal and Netflix. Although many critics argue that Bitcoin itself has no intrinsic value, the computing power and electricity that goes into solving algorithms to “mine” Bitcoin amount to significant real–world value.
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FEATURE
By the numbers: America’s waste
During the fall, Americans waste an exorbitant amount of food and resources.
35% Americans spend about
of all Thanksgiving
turkey goes
$2.5 billion
to waste
on Halloween costumes each year
105 billion gallons of water
is wasted annually on producing turkey that Americans WILL NOT eat
1 lb
1.5 billion pumpkins end up in
landfills
200 million pounds of turkey is wasted by Americans during the Thanksgiving holiday
every year
12,500 tons of landfill waste every year comes from
Halloween costumes
of waste is generated per trick-or-treater on Halloween, which equates to
41 million lbs of waste
Thanksgiving generates greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to
Uneaten food from
800,000 car trips from New York to San Francisco Sources
https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/food/foodwaste-facts https://recyclenation.com/2014/10/scary-factsabout-halloween-costumes/ http://www.usagain.com/upload/2015_Halloween_infographic.pdf https://www.wastedive.com/news/turkey-trash-the-curse-ofthanksgiving-food-waste/409659/ http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/10/30/452856477/arewe-wasting-millions-of-jack-o-lanterns-that-we-could-be-eating https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2014/1021/ How-much-do-Americans-spend-on-Halloween-candy-Eightspooky-stats. Compiled by Nate Brenner & Megan King
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FEATURE
PHOTO B
E MI Y JA
LE
E
Compiled by Alex Li
Nanotechnology is on the rise by elliot kim feature editor Nanotechnology is quickly becoming one of the most significant types of science in modern technology and medicine, and it is used in everything from urine–repellent paint to flexible electronic circuits. The word “nanotechnology” is a general term used to refer to science that deals with objects and materials at a scale of one–100 nanometers called “nanomaterials” that are about the size of a virus. To put this size into perspective, if a marble had a diameter of one nanometer, the entire earth would only be a single meter wide. Nanotechnology was first introduced by physicist Richard Feynman, who is known as the “father of nanotechnology.” He thought of a process that scientists could use to control individual molecules and atoms. When electron microscopes and atomic force microscopes enabled scientists to see at the nanoscale, a whole new, exciting frontier of scientific possibilities was opened. One advantage of nanomaterials is that objects at the nanoscale, while still having the same volume as larger objects, have an exponentially higher surface area. This enables medicine with nanotechnology to spread more efficiently than conventional drugs and allows solar panels to absorb more energy than the silicon panels commonly used today. The benefits do not stop there: new water purification technology using nanomaterials provides a promising way to give drinkable water access for the 1.1 billion people in the world who still lack a clean water source. New medical nanorobots can target and fight specific harmful cells, a much safer alternative to current methods of mass cell destruction.
GRAPHIC BY ALEX LI
Nanotechnology also has many other unique applications. “Nano–rough” surfaces, or surfaces coated with nano–size bumps, provide very effective water resistance. This same type of water resistance can be found in the lotus leaf, in which the super hydrophobic surface makes the water roll off the leaf, cleaning dirt from the surface.
Because nanotechnology is still at a fairly early stage, there is still room for more innovation through new materials such as carbon nanotubes, which are nano–sized tubes of carbon that are long, flexible and conductive. With new discoveries to make objects smaller and more efficient, the future is bright for nano–sized technology.
FEATURE
Students shine in WHS electives
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Technical theater
Computer graphics
AP Studio Art
Technical theater is a branch of theater taught by Tara Krisch that deals with everything behind the scenes of WHS’s productions; whether it’s lights, props or stage design, tech theater is to thank. Every student is in a specific section with different responsibilities to ensure that the production runs smoothly. “Backstage, we organize all the props and make sure the actors are where they’re supposed to be before they go on stage,” said Amy Steinman ‘19. Along with WHS Drama department plays, technical theater helps with all sorts of productions, such as choir, dance team shows and more.
Computer graphics is a class offered to Academy students that teaches students about photo manipulation, digital illustrations and animation. Computer graphics teacher Joseph Lang teaches his students all the tools needed to finish the year confident in their computer graphics skills. The course has an emphasis on the principles of design: rhythm, balance, repetition, proportions and variety. Lang has even had a few students go on and find success making and editing their own Youtube videos. “My goal is to get everybody to be completely self– directed,” said Lang. “They can be real graphic designers by the end of the year.”
AP Studio Art is a nontraditional class in which students prepare to submit a portfolio instead of taking a written AP exam while developing their skills as artists. “I hope the [students] develop their own personal styles, advance their technical abilities and become more in touch with why they’re creating,” said studio art teacher Julia Bush. The class contains three different forms of art: drawing, 2–D design and 3–D design. Whichever form students choose, they must include pieces that focus on breadth, concentration and quality. All three of these focuses intend to develop artists’ abilities to conceptualize, compose and execute their ideas, creating well diversified artists.
American Sign Language
French language
Chinese language
American Sign Language 1, 2 and 3 CP are some of the most enriching classes WHS offers; they provide students with the means to communicate using ASL. To create a positive and safe learning environment, students are viewed as both students and teachers. Since ASL is a visual and gestural language unlike French, Chinese and Spanish, interactions among students and the teacher are highly emphasized. “Every year we [have a] day where we participate in 24 Hour Signing,” said ASL 3CP student Emily Henbest ‘18. “We don’t use our voices [for the whole day].” During the Christmas season, ASL teacher Tina Carlisle chooses a carol for each class to learn. Students from ASL 3 CP go into the 1 and 2CP classes to help the beginners l e a r n the carols. To learn the songs, students are given a “gloss,” which is essentially a script for sign language students.
French 1, 2 and 3CP and AP French Language educate students in what is considered the most romantic language in the world. The two higher levels of French (3CP and AP) emphasize culture and customs more, whereas French 1 and 2CP focus on vocabulary and the basics of the language. “We’re learning about what people do in customs and it’s not as focused on vocab,” said AP French student Grace Hilton ‘18. “I’m actually learning about how French people live.” In order to fully learn the language, French students complete assignments and projects that immerse them in French culture, as well as the language. Recently, AP French Language students completed a group project where they were assigned a famous French couple in history to research. By taking this language pathway, students gain an understanding of European affairs and cultural differences between France and America.
Chinese 1, 2, and 3 CP and AP Chinese Language aim to educate students in the most globally spoken language in the world. According to the Chinese teacher Katherine Chang, the class inspires students to “see things from different cultures and perspectives.” Starting in Chinese 1CP, students are required to complete three to four projects to enhance their understanding of real–world application of the language and comprehend how their own culture connects with Chinese culture. For example, Chinese 1CP students completed a project about Chinese festivals and how their holidays are celebrated. “We give Powerpoint presentations on Chinese culture about all the different festivals,” said Chinese 3CP student Scott Pugh ‘19. “We [also] do little skits with dialogue that we’ve learned in Chinese.”
Compiled by Sona Bhargava, Daryn Mink & Sydney Schlesinger
Keeping up with the clubs: Art Club and Artists for Hire by isra din & matt zhang web editor & opinion editor Passionate art students who are willing to share their creative productions with the community are encouraged to join the WHS Art Club and Artists for Hire. WHS Art Club’s future plans consist of sharing art work around campus and engaging in active community service. Aside from giving students opportunities to advertise their work, the club provides a creative environment for all artists. “It’s really just a supportive environment for budding or self–proclaimed artists,” said Art Club president Lauren Holliday ‘18. “I’ve been part of the Art Club for two years, and I wanted to continue what we’ve been doing for the past couple of years for other people to enjoy.” The club is also immersing itself in the Westlake Village community by sharing and donating their art to people in the surrounding area. “We’re going to start tutorials, so if someone is really good at something, they can teach artists how to do it,” said Holliday. “We’re also going to start community service where [student– artists] can make art for elderly people.” Club members hope to gain recognition for contributing their works of art to people outside of school. WHS Art Club also hopes to create a comfortable and inviting meeting where artists can gather without feeling any pressure concerning their artwork. “Hopefully it will be a fun environment of everyone hanging out; people shouldn’t feel intimidated, or that they’re not a good enough artist,” said Holliday. “We can all support each other at the club.” In addition, the WHS Art Club includes a smaller club branch called Artists For Hire Club, led by club president Jake Breiter ‘19. Breiter hopes to accomplish a more community– engaged club and plan formal meetings.
GRAPHIC BY LAUREN HOLLIDAY
GRAPHIC BY JAKE BREITER
Artists For Hire focuses on doing art–related services for other clubs around school. “A lot of [the new members] are passionate about how our club is going to impact them, which is [giving them] a lot of opportunities,” said Breiter. “How I get [the opportunities] is I spend all my lunch time by going to other clubs and club advisors and planning art affiliated projects.” Some of these art affiliated projects include large school murals— similar to the one behind the Carpenter Family Theater and amphitheatre and small–scale art work requested by other clubs. “We’re doing a mural that has everything in it: robotics, physics, [etc.],” said Artists For Hire treasurer Rose Marcello ‘18.
READY FOR BATTLE (left): “Orange Knight” created by Jake Breiter demonstrates his artistic style: personifying everyday objects. HAUNTED HOUSE (above): Lauren Holliday created this haunted house during the Halloween meeting for Art Club.
“My favorite part of Artists For Hire is that we can do stuff for other people [and] just sort of have our own creativity lasting in the school.” Although the club encourages artists to display their art projects, it is not required; it is up to the students whether or not they want to display their artwork. “All the projects are voluntary,” said Breiter. “I work with each artist to find a project that is going to display his or her artistic talents in the best way possible.” Both the Art Club and Artists For Hire hope to create a lasting and impactful project that future generations will see and admire.
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Thousand Oaks Blvd. is home to a variety of restaurants featuring diverse cuisines and unique atmospheres, such as French–inspired Chocolatine and Peruvian–influenced Mouthful Eatery. 3. Butler’s Pizza
1. Himalaya 720 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Himalaya offers Himalayan–Indian food with a spicy kick in nearly every dish. Meat curries, vegetarian specialties and Tibetan delicacies only touch the surface of the rich menu. The interior is decorated traditionally, and there are two tables with floor seating, something unique to South Asian culture; the restaurant also offers outdoor seating. An average meal costs about $20. Food is served from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Friday, 12 p.m.–10 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Sunday; it is closed on Tuesday.
3
2. Los Dos Amigos
With an open kitchen and cozy interior, Butler’s rings true to New York pizza parlors. Although specializing in thin–crust pizza, the restaurant also offers various Italian dishes like salads and pasta. They even have vegan pizza. Whether for a family outing or just to get a slice, Butler’s is a must–try spot. Slices are under $4, and personal pizzas are $9. It is open seven days a week, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday through Saturday.
4. Bangkok Avenue
2626 E. Thous
5
2
Spacious and lined with urban decor, Bangkok Avenue delights its customers with a taste of Thailand. They have an assortment of authentic Thai cuisine: tempting spicy curries, sweet noodles and Thai iced tea. Every dish at this Thai gem offers unique flavors. It is open 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m–9:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday; it is closed on Sunday. With prices at about $15 per dish, Bangkok Avenue is great for any occasion.
Mouthful is a Peruvian restau sandwiches and salads influ Peruvian ingredients and c cooking). Average meal pr with a variety of sides avai large sizes. Meals can be or a plate with rice. Mouthfu a.m.–9 p.m. Monday throu p.m. Sunday.
6. Thousand Oak
2350 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
1421 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Suite 1 With a lively atmosphere and moderate prices, Los Dos Amigos is a great restaurant to spend time with friends or family. Los Dos Amigos is colorful and welcoming, with menu items ranging in price from $11–30. In comparison to other Mexican restaurants, the prices may seem a bit expensive, but the portions are large and satisfy expectations. The restaurant offers a spin on traditional Mexican food like quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos and tacos, but there are not many vegetarian options. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday.
5. Mouthf
1655 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
2684 Thousan
6
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ousand Oaks Blvd. 2871 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
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ks Meat Locker
nd Oaks Blvd.
watering ribs and barbeque ocker’s menu items range ce. Combinations include d and beans). Take–out is enjoy their meals on the turing picnic tables with The Meat Locker is open 11 gh Wednesday, 11 a.m.–10 urday and 12 p.m.–9 p.m.
9. Streets Bistro
7. Nori Japanese Grill
ful Eatery
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Nori is a family–friendly restaurant perfect for all ages. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m.– 8 p.m. and Saturday 11:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; it is closed on Sunday. Nori offers a wide range of Japanese and Korean style dishes, appetizers and soups. From rolls to ramen, this small eatery has pretty much everything in order to satisfy any Asian food cravings. It has a modern vibe with an authentic Japanese feel. Prices are moderate, ranging from $11–$30.
74 North Skyline Dr.
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With a color–changing bar and a pleasant ambiance, Streets Bistro is an Asian fusion restaurant with dishes ranging from pho to sushi. Other menu options include soups such as soba noodles and bouillebaisse and a variety of fried rices, as well as other soups, salads, appetizers, entrées and specials. Streets indicates which items on their menu are gluten–free. Prices range from $4–$20. They are open 11 a.m.–2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.–2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m.– 9:30 p.m. Saturday; it is closed on Sunday.
8. Badass Tacos
10. Chocolatine
2951 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
2955 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Badass Tacos has made its permanent home on T.O. Blvd., providing authentic Mexican food. Customers pick one of five entrées, then select from a choice of Mexican meat such as cochinita pibil or lechon. Tacos cost $1.95 each, salads are $7.65 and burritos top off the menu prices at $7.95. Badass Tacos is a tasty and affordable meal for students and families alike. It is open 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–12 a.m. Friday through Saturday and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Sunday.
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Chocolatine is a breakfast and lunch cafe open 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. –1 p.m. Sunday. With plenty of tables and chairs and French music playing in the background, the tea house is comfortable and quiet; customers seat themselves. Rated 4.5 stars on Yelp, the cafe serves a variety of French dishes between $4.95–$10.50. Chocolatine offers a soup du jour, or soup of the day, three types of salads and croques, grilled sandwiches served on heart–shaped toasted bread. For dessert, Chocolatine serves an assortment of bakery items including macarons, handmade chocolates and crepes.
Compiled by Michelle Hang, Amanda Ju, Prarthana Kaygee, Megan King, Alex Li, Avery Pak, Caelyn Pender & Lo Yarnall
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O
OPINION
Amandatory Reading
pposing opinions:
should school start later?
by akhil gutta
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AN G
feature editor
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NI LA ME Y B
PHOTO
Putting the “ironic” in Byronic by amanda ju opinion editor I’m ashamed to say that I’ve read and reread pretty much every book in the Twilight franchise. Yes, including the comic books. Even the spinoff where Edward and Bella switch genders. If you stop reading here, I won’t blame you. But the worst part is that there was a period of my life in which I thought Edward Cullen was a total dreamboat. He had everything a sixth–grade girl could ever dream of: hair that defied gravity, cheekbones that could cut steel and enough black leather to put Harley–Davidson out of business. I was obsessed from the moment Bella noticed him across the cafeteria “picking a bagel to pieces with long, pale fingers” (yes, that’s an actual quote from the book; yes, that’s the actual way Stephenie Meyer decided to introduce her romantic hero; yes, I also want to throw up out of my nose). It’s actually scary how much I was willing to overlook about Edward. Even if you put the whole bloodthirsty– vampire–murderer thing aside, if I woke up to anyone staring at me while I sleep they would get fly–swatted out of there faster than you could say “restraining order.” Also making the creeper meter go beep–beep is the fact that he constantly compares himself to Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. If you haven’t read it, Heathcliff falls for his adopted sister (which is kind of a red flag) and digs up her grave ten years after her death so he can lovingly gaze at her decaying corpse (which is definitely a red flag). Did I mention that he hangs his niece’s puppy for fun? I can only speak for myself, but “sadistic, grave–digging puppy murderer” isn’t exactly the first thing I look for in a guy. You might have learned about Byronic heroes in English. Named for British poet, politician and hot mess Lord Byron, they usually display obsessive tendencies, angsty backstories and/or a weird penchant for brooding— like Rochester in Jane Eyre, who hides his crazy wife in the attic to pursue an 18 year– old girl but is somehow still considered swoon–worthy. And that was actually kind of okay because those books were meant for mature, literary audiences. But Twilight is designed so that the hormonal, preteen girl sees herself as Bella, who not only has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, but also romanticizes Edward’s flaws, making girls trying to emulate her and more likely to enter abusive relationships. We see this more and more in pop culture. Take the Harry Potter books. If you didn’t cry like a baby when Snape died, I would recommend getting your vitals checked— but then we forget the other seven years he spent working for the wizarding equivalent of Adolf Hitler, emotionally abusing 11 year–old children or just being a creepy jerkface in general. You see this with the modern superhero, too. Take Batman and Iron Man, who ooze charisma on the silver screen but would just be arrogant poopy heads in real life. Even supervillains like Harley Quinn and the Joker garner huge fanbases despite the fact that they have one of the most abusive relationships in children’s media today. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some drama–drama, but children and preteens rely heavily on the media for life lessons and role models. And when their favorite characters are arrogant, immoral and even psychopathic, we’re setting a pretty awful example for the future. It’s great to love your Jack Sparrows and your Wolverines, your Sherlocks and your Han Solos, but we need to start teaching kids that while showing flaws is healthy, glorifying them is definitely not. And just say no to sparkly vampires.
In favor of late start
I slowly open my eyes to the blaring sound of an alarm. The clock glares “6 a.m.” in a red color that hurts my groggy head. As I pass by a window the sky is still dark, and the street is completely empty. Half–asleep, I trudge to my first period class, almost collapsing on the way. Coffee might help, but there’s no time to stop. By the time I get home, a three–hour nap is my only option for any semblance of relaxation. Millions of high school students wake up each day at times foreign to their bodies’ circadian rhythm, resulting not only in a decrease of mental and physical health, but also a lower level of school performance. While pushing back the school schedule appears difficult, the benefits of a later start time make it worthwhile. For example, California state funding for schools is directly tied to higher attendance. With a later start time, attendance would increase a projected five percent according to the Los Angeles Times. Many people argue that students should simply go to sleep earlier, but a 2017 study done by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine discovered that the biological clock of the average
teenager is wired to go to sleep late and wake up late, directly clashing with the current start times of schools. With students experiencing lower awareness while driving in the morning, the accident rate for teen drivers is exponentially higher for those who commute to school. In fact, a study done by the Department of Motor Vehicles showed that schools that starting at 7:20 a.m. had 65.4 crashes per 1,000 teen drivers while schools with start times after 8:40 a.m. had only 46.2 crashes per 1,000, a twenty–nine percent decrease. For sports, research done by Los Angeles Unified School District showed that nearly two–thirds of athletes getting less than eight hours of sleep a night got injured. Athletic participation dipped as well. The school board should consider implementing changes to district policies regarding start time. With various psychological, academic and safety benefits, CVUSD can successfully implement their mission statement of “promoting individual and family wellness” by introducing a later school start time, ensuring both short and long term positive results.
GRAPHIC BY ALEX LI
by marc choi co–feature section editor
In favor of early start
I love Common Planning days. The class periods are shorter; teachers usually don’t give tests and most importantly, I get to wake up later. At some point in our lives, we have wished that school started later, and it seemed like it would solve all our problems. For example, students would sleep more. More sleep means increased alertness, increased alertness means less stupid mistakes, less stupid mistakes means better grades, etc. However, contrary to popular belief, school starting later would create more problems than it would solve. For starters, parents generally drive their children to school. Currently, school start times within a district are scattered to prevent time conflicts concerning drop off and pick up, but with later start times, schools would need to align start times at various schools in order to prevent students from getting home too late. This would result in parents scrambling in various directions to drop off their children at various schools with the same start times. Additionally, many adults start work at or before 9 a.m. This means that some parents will be rushing to work after they drop their children off at school, or they will have to change their work
schedule to accommodate this change in school schedule. If school were to start later, that means it would end later as well, leading to multiple other consequences. As a result, less sunlight is available for outdoor sports or other extracurricular activities. This restricts students from doing what they love after a long and tiring day of school. After students return home, they are forced to start homework later, ultimately leading them to sleep later, defeating the purpose of starting school later. Furthermore, the purpose of school is to prepare students for the real world. With school starting early, this simulates the need to wake up early in order to make it to work on time. Instead of moving school’s start time later, students can stop procrastinating on homework and go to sleep at a reasonable hour. According to StudyMode, an ed–tech company dedicated to helping students, approximately eighty–seven percent of high school students procrastinate and forty–five percent believe that procrastination regularly negatively affect their grades. Perhaps instead of starting school later, the real solution is to stop procrastinating and go to sleep earlier.
OPINION
Lights out on daylight saving time by milla wu news section editor Nov. 5 marked the end of daylight saving time, so once again, we get home in pitch–black darkness, all because of a law that has outlived its usefulness. Opposition towards DST is hardly new; according to a Rasmussen Poll that asked Americans if DST is “worth the hassle,” only thirty–seven percent responded favorably. DST should be replaced with Standard Time because of its many disadvantages. One of the arguments for having DST is that it saves energy because brighter evenings lead to people turning on lights later, which saves money and electricity. However, a study co–authored by Claremont McKenna College economist Laura Grant and Yale University economist Matthew Kotchen found that residential electricity use actually increased. “We used a policy change in Indiana to estimate DST effects on electricity consumption. Prior to 2007, most Indiana counties did not observe DST,” said Grant. “By comparing households’ electricity demand before and after DST was adopted … we showed that DST had actually increased residential electricity demand in Indiana by one to four percent annually.” As darkness increases from the annual end of DST, “millions can also expect feelings of depression, fatigue, irritability and poor sleep,” said Caitlin Millett, PhD graduate student in Neural and Behavioral Science at Pennsylvania State University.
GRAPHIC BY TAYLOR CHEN
“This form of mental illness, commonly known as the ‘winter blues,’ is Seasonal Affective Disorder,” said Millett. “It is estimated that one to two percent of North Americans have a mood disorder with a seasonal pattern.” The U.S. National Institute of Health estimates that six percent of Americans suffer from the most severe type of SAD, roughly 19 million people, and another 45 million suffer from a lesser form of SAD.
The rough transition in spring, when clocks shift forward by an hour, has even more negative consequences, including an increased number of workplace injuries. “In a study of mining injuries across the U.S., we found a spike in workplace injuries of nearly six percent on the Monday following the shift to daylight saving time,” wrote Christopher Barnes from the University of Washington and David Wagner from the Singapore Management
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University. “An even greater cause for concern is that the severity of these injuries, as measured by days of work lost…, increased by a whopping sixty–seven percent, representing 2,600 more workdays lost.” Millions of dollars are also lost every year because of a decrease in productivity, proving DST economically unviable. “In fact, a recent estimate of this effect put the cost to the American economy at over $434 million annually, simply from a subtle shift of the clocks,” wrote Barnes and Wagner. These are correlations, not definite causes, but mounting evidence strongly suggests numerous drawbacks to the DST system both in the fall and spring. Switching to a standardized time system without DST would mean less discrepancy between places that use DST and places that don’t. Currently, there are anomalies within the US— Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and certain Native American reservations don’t use DST. Only 70 countries in the world use DST, so coordinating between time zones would be easier. Using Standard Time consistently could potentially reduce symptoms of certain mental illnesses, electricity use and injuries in the workplace with very little cost. The California State Legislature considered a bill in 2016 that would put the decision to remain on Standard Time year round to a vote, which was ultimately rejected by the Senate. However, seeing as how only a minority of the U.S. actually favors DST and the increasing new evidence against it, it is feasible that it could pass if brought up again.
Clubbed to death: the madness of too many clubs by sydney schlesinger co–feature section editor From the first day of freshman year, we’ve all heard the same command from permanently smiling faces: “Join our club! It looks great on college applications!” Yes, clubs are a great asset to college applications. However, having 98 different clubs that showcase your clearly fabricated “interests” appears questionable to colleges. It not only shows that you are indecisive, but it also suggests that you are someone who is willing to take shortcuts in what should be hard–earned academic achievements. Participating in a few clubs to actually contribute to the purpose of the club is far more impressive than an endless participation list. Even if this includes only one club, it
demonstrates dedication to a specific cause or objective, which is something to take a tremendous amount of pride in. Passion for clubs dramatically decreases throughout the years as competition for college acceptance increases. Many students mistakenly believe colleges want to look at an expansive list of a variety of interests. In reality, colleges dread looking at application after application and seeing the same, boring list of meaningless clubs that do nothing meaningful with their time. It is more beneficial for applicants to join clubs that have a central focus in a specialized field (extra points if it is related to your major!). According to the College Board, “it’s not the number of activities that’s important. Admission officers want to know what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown from participating in these activities.” Along with the lack of passion for clubs, students are
motivated to start their own clubs in order to guarantee a leadership position that they can record in their college applications. What’s even more foolish is that even these leadership positions can become meaningless as students try to secure their friends these positions as well. The more clubs that pop up, the more absurd the clubs’ focuses are and the less meaningful it is to be president; it becomes a constant, trivial cycle. On a more realistic side, teachers are allowed to advise a maximum of two clubs. With the increasing number of clubs, there will eventually be no available advisors. This halts any potential for the establishment of new valuable and productive clubs. I plead with all club enthusiasts to seek a club with an objective that is meaningful to you and that takes up a fun and useful chunk of your precious time. Recognize quality of clubs versus quantity of them. Together, we can stop this club madness.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Reul Reel
Sir, Please: the band of brothers
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by daryn mink arts & entertainment editor
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A scenic review of Mulholland Drive arts & entertainment section editor “Part one: she found herself inside the perfect mystery. Part two: a sad illusion. Part three: love.” Released in 2001, David Lynch’s cryptic synopsis of his noir masterpiece Mulholland Drive leaves much to the imagination, embodying the open– ended nature of the film as a whole. Set in present day Hollywood, the film interchangeably weaves three different plots at the same time: the first is the success story of Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), a blonde–haired and blue–eyed aspiring actress who has just moved to Los Angeles after winning a dance competition in Vancouver. Next, the movie explores the mystery of Rita (Laura Harring), an amnesiac who has escaped the scene of a fatal car crash and takes refuge in Betty’s custody while looking for clues of her past. Lastly, it follows the creative assault of the up–and–coming Hollywood director Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux), who is forced to hire the actress Camilla Rhodes against his will by an enigmatic “cowboy” figure. Wow. That’s a lot to take in. And the weirdest part is, none of the plotlines get resolved. As the film progresses, the story takes a drastically dark turn, revealing what appears to be a nightmarish visualization of failure in the entertainment industry and an extended metaphor for the loss of identity that Hollywood actors and actresses must suffer. But as opposed to being frustrated by the loose strings the film left behind, I was impressed with its artistry in that it took on a meaning deeper than the typical “it was all just a dream” cliché that some viewers falsely assume after finishing the movie. Instead of simply wrapping up the film with a shiny bow and selling it to viewers, Lynch intentionally fails to provide closure in order to instill discomfort in his viewers. And, believe me, it was successful. I found myself both intrigued and perplexed by Lynch’s use of abstract scenes and objects, such as the Cowboy, who seems to possess villain–like qualities yet only has about five minutes of actual screen time or the eerie, macabre scene in which Rita and Betty randomly go to a Spanish nightclub in the middle of the night. The dark nature of the film is successfully delineated through emphasis on these eerie scenes paired with a drab color palette. Mulholland Drive remains one of the pivotal films of the 21st century, breaking ground in terms of its avant–garde approach to storytelling and abstract coupling of noir and romance. It is a must–see for any film fanatic.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH CRONIN
by katie reul
The Warrior family is filled with young, artistic talent of all kinds, including brothers Shane Cronin ‘18 and Josh Cronin ‘18 who are breaking their way into the music industry. They have been performing together for the past few years and are currently in a band called Sir, Please along with three other members. The two started playing and practicing music in their freshman year. They both sing and play a variety of instruments, including bass, guitar, keyboard and drums, and decided to start their first band: Sir, Please. “I was forced to join choir freshman year by my sister, and then I discovered my voice,” said Shane Cronin. “Then [I] started teaching myself all the instruments.” The brothers grew up around the influence of their father, Kevin Cronin, who is the lead singer of the American rock band REO Speedwagon. However, they both said their dad never pushed them into music. Music was discovered individually by each brother. “[Our dad] never advertised [music] to us,” said Josh Cronin. “He just kind of was like, ‘Oh, I’m Dad and you can be whoever you want!’” Both boys have developed a sense of confidence about their music, rarely getting nervous before performing. They view performing as a fun and liberating experience. “It’s more of an escape rather than a feeling,” said Shane Cronin. “So, if there’s anything going on outside of music, you can kind of let it go or take it out on stage.” The boys’ favorite genres of music are indie
ROCK ’N’ ROLLIN’: Sir, Please performs at The Saban Theater in Beverly Hills on Sept. 23. The band opened up for the famous Southern California rock band Ambrosia.
and classic rock. Their original pieces are influenced by some of their favorite artists and bands. “We love Bad Suns, Nothing But Thieves and, personally, I love Tame Impala, Mac Demarco, Young the Giant and The Growlers,” said Josh Cronin. “They’re pretty versatile with their vibe,” said fan and friend Connor Storrie ‘18. “Their sounds are also really modern; they are kind of sharp and sleek.”
As they get older, the two hope to pursue music, whether it be performing and touring with a band, songwriting or a combination of the two. They are constantly experimenting with their style, and more recently, the name of their band. On Oct. 22, the band officially renamed themselves Sir, Please from their former name Vitals. Shane Cronin said,“[We want] to create a sound that people love and people can connect with.”
GRAPHIC BY ELLIOT KIM
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Stranger Things returns to screen by avery pak arts & entertainment editor Upon its release last year, Stranger Things immediately became a Netflix hit. In honor of the newly released second season on Oct. 27, it’s only fitting to reminisce where the famous show got its roots. Season one follows the supernatural disappearance of young Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and the struggle that members of the small town of Hawkins, Indiana must overcome to reunite Will with his family and friends. Throughout the investigation, many additional factors thicken the plot, such as the government’s secretive role in the matter, the appearance of a mysterious girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and a paranormal creature everyone should be afraid of: the Demogorgon. The show also contains profound elements of love and sacrifice, drawing upon connections that many high schoolers can make. With its ninety–six percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and about 14 million viewers ages 18–49 within the first 35 days of streaming, season one of Stranger Things became the third most viewed Netflix series of 2016, according to Symphony Advanced Media. The eight episode series grasps viewers of all ages, and although the survey highlights ages 18–49, many fans come from WHS. Stranger Things is reminiscent of the 1980s, attracting a wide audience with its blend of the past and current pop culture. It makes references to the iconic bike ride in E.T. the Extra Terrestrial and unexplainable deaths of A Nightmare on Elm Street, two 1980s classics. “The 80s atmosphere inspired me to watch it more because I think that era is very interesting,” said Hadley Barber ‘20. “Everything was in tune with the 80s, and this made it unique.” The 1980s setting not only appeals to
students, but also reaches out to parents and adults alike. While students can admire how the era is seamlessly integrated into pop culture, adults can relate to the time period of Stranger Things because they lived through it as teenagers. “It was really cool because my mom got all of the 80s references, and I liked seeing how it connected to her as well,” said Joey Cacciarelli ‘21. Other than the overall atmosphere, music plays a prominent role in the series. From the recurring 1980s song “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash to the show’s eerie theme song, Stranger Things incorporates the music styles of the past into the present. “I loved the 1980s setting, and the synthesizers that were used for the theme music,” said Jake Kaplinski ‘18. “I liked the sci–fi twist that it had to it.” Stranger Things competes with other paranormal TV shows and movies on Netflix in that it doesn’t follow the horror cliché of blood and graphic imagery. “Stranger Things is definitely more developed [than other shows] and didn’t have just blood, guts, death and jumpscares,” said Milena Radovich ‘19. “It was done much more tastefully, and there were moments of subtle scare and suspense.” But more prominent than anything else, Stranger Things interests many of its viewers with its strong, unique cast of characters. “Eleven appealed to me because she isn’t just a typical girl,” said Kaplinski. “I liked the fact that [the writers] don’t have her speak too much, but she shows a lot of emotion with her facial expressions.” Eleven is not the only character that appears to be a “misfit.” In fact, all four of the middle schoolers, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) and Will Byers, fit into the geeky, outsider archetype and defy the popular high school kid stereotype.
Pass the Aux
Barb 9%
Joyce 3%
Dustin 30%
Mike 23% GRAPHIC BY PRARTHANA KAYGEE
All of the female characters are portrayed as strong, as demonstrated by Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Barbara “Barb” Holland (Shannon Purser). American actress Winona Ryder plays Joyce Byers, the passionate mother of Will Byers, embodying her character’s nearly crazed obsession to find Will. With her frustration and undying determination, Byers demonstrates a mother’s neverending love for her children. “Joyce played a very strong role in the show, mainly because of her fierceness,” said Barber. “Even when nobody believed her, she persisted in searching for her son and went great measures to reunite with him.” Barb, Nancy’s best friend from season one, plays a vital role. Even when Nancy makes
poor decisions and is disloyal, Barb remains sensible and true to herself. “I felt like Barb was a major reason I watched the show,” said Alex Ward ‘21. “Every time Nancy did something stupid, Barb was basically saying what everyone yells at the TV.” Season one left an Eleven impact on its viewers and 36% set up the foundation for the season two hype and excitement. The second season differs from season one in many ways, especially with the introduction of new characters and a more intensified plot. A new member of the “core four” was added: Maxine “MadMax” (Sadie Sink), who moves from California and has difficulty being accepted by Mike but is ultimately a good match for the group’s “outsider” archetype. Her brother seems cruel and careless but struggled with a rough past. “I like how MadMax fits so well with the group,” said Ward. “She is tough, so I’m excited to see how she can handle the danger of the Upside Down.” Joyce Byers also develops a love interest, Bob Newby (Sean Astin), who plays a fatherly role in the Byers family, especially for Will. Many unpredictable relationships and personality changes appear in the season as well. While there is a multitude of unexpected surprises and shockers in season two, only so much can be said without spoiling the firsthand enjoyment of watching it on a comfy couch, warm blanket and snacks in hand. “It had every aspect that was amazing about the first season, but it was expanded and built upon,” said Radovich. “It created new conflict and plot lines that absolutely shocked me.”
What song do you like to “chill out” to?
As school kicks up a notch, students turn to music as a way to de–stress. Open the Spotify app on your phone, click the camera next to the search engine and hover over the scan code located underneath each response to Compiled by Sona Bhargava & Katie Reul tune in to what these Warriors are listening to right now.
Connor Storrie ‘18 “Checkmate” by Dessert
Autumn Jones ‘19 “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
Rilee Roberts ‘20 “Friends” by Justin Bieber
Dylan Lam ‘21 “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
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SPORTS
PHOTO BY NATE BRENNER
WHS football streaks into CIF playoffs
by nate brenner sports web editor
PHOTO BY MICHELLE HANG
WHS football is proving itself as a force to be reckoned with, holding a 7–3 record going into CIF Division III playoffs. The Warriors bounced back from a disappointing 3–8 record last season with new head coach Tim Kirksey leading the team to its best season since 2012. The Warriors started off the season with five straight wins, the first of which came in the season opener against the defending Division II state champions, the Sierra Canyon High School Trailblazers. The WHS defense held strong; they forced five turnovers and grabbed a 25–7 victory. They followed up their first win with another victory at Thousand Oaks High School, as they RAISING THE W: The WHS Warriors started the season off strong with a 57–31 defeated the Lancers in the rivals’ first matchup win against TOHS on Sept. 1. This was the first time in five years that WHS played since 2012. Powered by three touchdowns from its cross–town rival. quarterback Jake Kaplinski ‘18, WHS ran away College on Oct. 20. Kaplinski, who made his first start since he with a 57–31 win. “The game meant something to both teams,” said Kirksey. suffered a concussion in the Moorpark game, led the Warriors “Both teams fought hard in the first half, but we got a bit of an to a 42–18 victory against St. Bonaventure High School with edge and capitalized on it. I’m really proud of the way our guys five touchdowns, three of which were caught by wide receiver Michael Carner ‘18. handled this moment.” “We had some great plays called going into the game to WHS’s arguably toughest win came against top quarterback recruit Cameron Rising and the Newbury Park High School get us wide open,” said Carner. “[Kaplinski] just got the ball Panthers, as the Warriors battled throughout the entire back–and– there every time.” WHS returned home for its next league game against forth game but ultimately reigned victorious in a 42–40 game. Kaplinski threw five touchdowns, and running back Nathan Camarillo High School, and the Warriors struggled early: they were losing 19–10 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Brooks ‘18 ran for 183 yards in his best performance of the year. WHS brought its record up to 5–0 after two straight home When linebacker Pete Tello ‘19 suffered a scary concussion on victories against the Birmingham High School Patriots and the the field, WHS rallied around their injured Warrior and sparked Moorpark High School Musketeers. The Warriors defeated BHS a miraculous comeback highlighted by two fourth–down 40–21, but the game against the Musketeers was much closer: touchdown passes from Kaplinski to Carner, including a 41–yard backup quarterback Brendan Udolph ‘18 rallied the Warriors to Hail Mary to grab the lead. However, with the Marmonte League title on the line, the a 24–21 comeback victory. “[Udolph] has his own unique style,” said Kirksey following Warriors suffered a 42–7 defeat to Oaks Christian High School on Nov. 2. Coach Kirksey is using the loss to motivate his team the game. “We obviously benefitted from that on Friday night.” However, the Warriors faltered in their next two games, as they as WHS moves into CIF playoffs on Nov. 10 against Palos Verdes lost to the Oxnard High School Yellowjackets and the Calabasas High School. “Our offensive play has to get a lot better for us to go deep High School Coyotes without Kaplinski at the helm of the offense. After a tough losing stretch, WHS used its bye week to heal into the playoffs,” said Kirksey. “We just need to be more efficient and prepare for league competition, which kicked off at Ventura on offense, and everything else should take care of itself.”
Kirksey brings Warriors back to top by marc choi co–feature section editor While most people know Tim Kirksey as the head coach of the varsity football team, there is more to Kirksey than just his team’s impressive record. Kirksey began his coaching career as a sophomore in high school, where he played varsity football. He helped to coach a local eight–year–old team alongside his father. “I would walk off the football field from my practice and I would go on to coaching,” said Kirksey. “It was a fun way to start [coaching].” Kirksey’s biggest inspiration to become a coach was his father, who is his role model. Kirksey has learned countless valuable lessons from him. “My dad is still the best coach I have ever played for or coached with,” said Kirksey. “So being around him all the time, there [was] nothing else I wanted to do but to be like him.” Kirksey changed the overall atmosphere of team practices compared to last year. He focuses on teaching his athletes how to become great men because he believes that “wins and losses are a by–product of that mentality.” “A big change from last year and something that a lot of people are noticing is that in the competition periods of practice, everyone gets on each other,” said starting quarterback Jake Kaplinski ‘18. “Everything we do is really efficient and we have really high–energy practices.” Kirksey has really stressed “character and integrity above everything else,” among members of the football team. “[Kirksey] really emphasizes [the idea of], ‘Band of Brothers,’” said Kaplinski. “[It] is in our locker room and I think he really brought back the meaning of it.” When not on the turf coaching, Kirksey enjoys being with his family and spending time at the lake wakeboarding and surfing.
Star players propel team towards success Kamren Fabiculanan ‘19: Cornerback
Victory Vaka ‘21: Defensive Lineman
Michael Carner ‘18: Wide Receiver
Jake Kaplinski ‘18: Quarterback
Fabiculanan, who transferred to WHS from St. Bonaventure High School, is in the middle of a breakout year at the front of the Warriors’ secondary. He scored a fumble recovery touchdown against TOHS. “He’s just an unbelievable football player,” said Tim Kirksey. “We could put him in just about any position on the field, and he would be the dude.” Fabiculanan has received offers from San Jose State University, Brigham Young University, University of Georgia and University of Vanderbilt. Stanford University and University of Washington have also shown interest in him.
Kaplinski, who stands at the helm of the offense as the starting quarterback, led the Warriors to a 7–1 record in his eight starts. In his first six starts this season, Kaplinski threw for 1514 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has also ran for 155 yards out of the pocket. “His talent is great,” said Kirksey. “His leadership ability is what really impresses me about him. He makes some great decisions because he’s an intelligent kid.” Kaplinski is also a strong student, and he was named the Boys Athlete of the Month in September. Compiled by Nate Brenner
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CORNERSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY
Carner leads WHS wide receivers with 43 catches, 740 yards and seven touchdowns. He also plays defense, and he has two interceptions for the Warriors’ secondary. “Whatever it is, he has it,” said Kirksey. “He’s got character. He’s got integrity. He’s got an unbelievable work ethic. He has respect for his coaches. He’s a pure football player: put him at almost any position and he would be successful.” Carner, who is also a stellar student, currently has offers from Cornell University and University of San Diego.
Although he is only a freshman, Vaka is one of WHS’s biggest forces on defense. “Victory Vaka has been an unbelievable talent as a freshman,” said Kirksey. “For him to be as physically and mentally mature at such a young age is a true testament to his ability. He’s going to be a superstar, and we’re very fortunate that he’s on our team.” He stands at 6’3” and 320 pounds, and he is WHS’s biggest lineman in terms of size. He and his family are very involved in the football program.
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SPORTS
What’s in my bag?: water polo
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Boys water polo co–captain Hunter Friedl ‘18 led the team to a 18-14 finish this season. Take a look into his sports bag to see all of his daily essentials at the pool.
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Sunscreen
Tournament Medal
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A D1 Scandal by lo yarnall sports section editor
Towel Sunglasses
Speedo
Compiled by Connie Shi
WHS fall sports summary (as of Nov. 6)
Compiled by Lo Yarnall
The beast that is college recruiting was unveiled with news that the FBI arrested ten people involved in a bribery scandal regarding collegiate basketball recruiting. Five of the 10 arrested were NCAA Division I basketball assistant coaches and the global marketing directors for Adidas basketball. The first plot revealed regarded the assistant coaches, who were receiving money to recruit high school players to their respective universities, then providing said players with an agent that the athlete would be required to use once he joined the NBA draft. The second involved secret funneled money from Adidas to recruits’ families to convince them to attend Adidas–sponsored universities and sign a contract with Adidas after college. These allegations brought about an avalanche of illicit recruiting incidents across all sports, questioning the integrity in college recruiting and taking steps towards showing how college athletics is more of a cut–throat business than perceived. Although costly to maintain, a chunk of top universities’ revenue comes from its sports. According to Business Insider, the top 25 universities earning the most revenue from sports brought in more than $96.9 million in 2016. From ticket sales to merchandise, universities have unlimited access to massive profits. The result is a money–motivated competition to see which school can capitalize the most on college sports culture. The first step towards a good program is good players. For power schools, this means convincing the best players that they will be happier, treated better and more successful at their school than any other. The athletic scholarship became the most sought after thing in sports and families salivated at the concept of free college education. With young players spending more years playing on top teams to get college coach exposure, recruiting morphed into a for–profit industry. Talent flew off high school shelves as power D1 schools claimed recruits, leaving other college coaches scrambling to scoop up any leftover decent players in a graduating class. With recruitment becoming so competitive, the payoff expectancy once those recruits reach college is heightened exponentially, placing immense pressure on college coaches; just because a player is attending their school doesn’t mean they won’t transfer if dissatisfied. In basketball, a coach may only have their recruits for one year before they opt into the NBA draft. Products of the competitiveness in college sports are incidents like the Adidas scandal. Coaches push the limit for successful programs, but the deadly dynamic rewards their efforts with unemployment and jail time instead of a Hall of Fame induction. Responsible for this manipulation of college sports is the usual suspect: money. Universities expect coaches to rack up wins, who in turn expect athletes to commit faster than they can decide what they want for dinner. I believe the solution is to prevent basketball players from being allowed to attend college for one year then join the NBA Draft, known as the “one and done rule.” With the removal of this rule, the amount of bribery coaches could partake in during recruiting would diminish. Changes to a system so deeply flawed will not come overnight, nor will they come after the Adidas scandal has been settled. But the more the public is aware, the more schools and companies will feel obligated to change their ways to keep their revenue up. Let’s put the spotlight back onto the sports and athletes rather than the corruption.
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PHOTO ESSAY
Arrow PhotoContest
Sept. 22 marked the beginning of fall, the season when leaves drop from the trees and crisp weather encourages the wearing of sweaters and the consumption of pumpkin spice lattes. But Southern California residents don’t typically begin to experience the autumn season until late October and early November, making the much anticipated season even more enjoyable.
Luke Jones ‘20
“I really love Halloween and always enjoyed trick–or– treating as a kid, and [I] decided to incorporate something scary and something fun in one image.”
Aly Brook ‘20
“This image best represents how I feel about fall by having the skeleton–like tree represent Halloween, while the brightly colored leaves falling remind me of the joyful reunion of family and friends descending to celebrate Thanksgiving.”
Nina Ferrer ‘19
What does fall mean to you?
“My photo expresses what fall means to me by incorporating beautiful autumn colors, a classic symbol and the overall aesthetic I love associating with fall.”
Anh Thu Van ‘20
“Fall means finding the remnants of summer and following them through excursions.” Compiled by Megan King