rowlerantherP NEWBURY PARK HIGH SCHOOL | FRIDAY OCT. 21, 2011 | ISSUE TWO | 456 N. REINO RD. NEWBURY PARK, CA 91320

Justin Buchanan and George NasrProwler Staff Writer and Opinion Editor

Going by tradition - Going by tradition - Despite the landslide number of votes at the Senior Meeting for Dave and Busters, many seniors, including Amber Escudero (above), are still adament about attending grad night at Disneyland.

Th e senior class put their Grad Night options to a vote on Oct. 13 and decided that they will be going to Dave and Buster’s instead of Disneyland for their Grad Night.

Due to policy changes, the longstanding tradition of Grad Night at Disneyland has become diffi cult to arrange. Factors such as cost, crowds, and schedule confl icts have limited this option, making it necessary to secure other options for the senior class to decide on.

“As president of the senior class I want to make it possible for as many people to go to Grad Night,” Steven Barrus said.

At 8:15 a.m. on Th ursday, seniors reported to the gym to learn more about their Grad Night options. Th ey were presented with a video highlighting the options which Kelly Welch, senior class advisor, and Karla Villavicencio, Dean of Activities, discussed further. Seniors could vote to go to Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, or Dave and Buster’s.

At the start of period two of the same day, Barrus announced the voting results.

He stated that tickets for Grad Night at Disneyland would cost roughly $120 and that seniors would only have three or four hours to s p e n d there.

Madison Richeson / ProwlerMadison Richeson / Prowler

Justine SizemoreProwler Entertainment Editor

Changes in Disneyland’s policy for Grad Night create controversy over location

Sravya SingampalliProwler Staff Writer

Penny Wars raise money for sister school

Students support the school by participating in School Cents, a fundraising program sponsored by the Th ousand Oaks Mall in which participants can raise money for their school by turning in receipts, from purchases made between Sept. 1, 2011 and April 30, 2012.

“It’s actually just a program that runs through diff erent shopping centers, I believe, throughout Southern California,” Linda McNicoll, School Cents coordinator, said. “Th ey basically allow various schools to have an opportunity, through turning in receipts from the mall, to earn points. At the end of the program…in April you get a percentage.”

Each of the 30 participating schools wins a fraction of the $15,000 prize. Every school will receive a percentage of the money equivalent to the percentage of the

Additionally, the number of schools that would be allowed to attend Grad Night would be unregulated. Th ere would be a larger crowd and a shorter time frame, leading to longer lines for the rides.

“Th at would mean that you might be able to get on one ride in the four hours that you’re there,” Barrus said.

Welch stated that another confl ict with Disneyland is the senior schedule.

“It does not work with our schedule when we have graduation planned,” she said.

Senior offi cers and administrators were hard at work trying to secure alternative options for Grad Night.

“We hear (the students’) concerns and we say; ‘okay let’s give them options,’”Villavicencio said.

Th e options of Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, Santa Monica Pier, and Dave and Buster’s had

been considered, with Dave and Buster’s looking the most promising.

“When people think of Dave and Buster’s, they think of an adult Chuck-E-Cheese’s, but it (is) pretty cool,” Barrus said.

Dave and Buster’s has many advantages for grad night. Th e price to go to Dave and Buster’s is lower than the price to go to

Disneyland, at $80.“In Disneyland you only get the ticket to the park and the

bussing versus in Dave and Buster’s, you get the food, the busing, the location, and tokens to play games,” Villavicencio said.

Dave and Buster’s would provide the seniors with unlimited dinner and breakfast buff ets all night long. Both buff ets would have a variety of choices for students to choose from.

Dave and Buster’s also off ers several activities for the seniors. Th ey will receive a game card for free access to the video games

and carnival games for the entire night.Other activities include pool tables, shuffl eboard

tables, a DJ and dancing room, a mechanical bull, an airbrush T-shirt station, a popcorn and movie room,

and an unlimited photo booth. “It’s way cooler than it sounds,” Barrus said.

At Dave and Buster’s, souvenirs are free, whereas in Disneyland, seniors would have to pay for

them.

total points it raised. Th e school earns fi ve points for every dollar spent at the stores and restaurants located in the Th ousand Oaks Mall.

“Every time somebody purchases anything at the Th ousand Oaks Mall, including the movies or any restaurant, all they have to do is take their receipt over to the kiosk and then they stamp it and then the school receives points,” Karla Villavicencio, Dean of Activities, said.

Th e top 15 point earning schools are automatically included in the program again the following year. Th e remaining 15 slots are fi lled via lottery.

“I’m really hoping that we’ll push over $500 this year. I really want to see us make the top 15; that’s my goal,” McNicoll said. “We’re really hoping to get this student body on track with it.”

Th e school is currently benefi ting from the money raised last year through the

School Cents program. “We received gift cards to the mall this

year as a prize for the school,” Villavicencio said.

“What we did in turn, is we turned it around and the school was able to give…the STAR gift cards at the beginning of the year…We also did a little bit for the back to school night funds.”

Th ere are extra ways of earning points for the school aside from just shopping and turning in receipts. Each participant who attended the Th ousand Oaks Mall movie nights on Th ursday evenings in September earned the school 500 points. Students can also “like” ShopTh eOaksMall.com on facebook or sign up for School Cents e-mail to award the school 1,000 points.

“It’s a really awesome event…and all you have to do is just bring in your receipts. It’s easy,” Kathy Barker, Activities Secretary, said.

Newbury Park High School has raised over $425 for Hackleburg High School, a high school in Alabama that was completely decimated by a tornado on April 27, 2011.

Hackleburg is looking to rebuild, and since they are also known as the Black and Gold Panthers, Newbury Park’s Associated Student Government

hosted a school wide competition dubbed “Penny Wars.” Classes competed with one another to raise money for Hackleburg.

Hackleburg High School is located i n Hackleburg, Alabama, a town covering 15.3 square miles of land with approximately 1,500 inhabitants. Seventy-fi ve percent of the land was destroyed when the tornado hit, and only one in 30 businesses survived. Over 200 buildings were destroyed, and another 300 damaged. Th e tornado claimed the lives of 18 residents. Even though the school is destroyed, they plan to continue with their year and are right now stationed in mobile buildings.

“At fi rst we were doing it to raise money for ASG, but then we heard about this Hackleburg donation,” said Suzie Smith, freshman, the Commissioner of Committee for ASG. Th e Parent Faculty Association worked in coordination, organizing a separate fundraiser for clothes for the Hackleburg students.

“I think Penny Wars was a good idea because it’s an easy way to get money, because it was originally going to be for ASG, but then we heard about Hackleburg, Alabama,” Katie Willebrand, sophomore and committee member said. Th e idea is a variant of other forms of coin drives, and because of its success, was chosen as the fundraiser. Th e concept behind Penny Wars is that each class tries to raise the most money by putting pennies in their class bin and any other coin in every other class’s. Silver coins result in negative points, and the class at the end of the contest with the most points wins.

“Juniors have about 14000, seniors have about 6000,” Smith said. “Freshman have about 5000, and sophomores have 600.” Although all the classes involved earned diff erent amount of points, the amount raised was more than the projected results of $400, and the members stated their surprise at the high amount of money received. Smith and Willebrands both expressed confi dence at the success of this fundraiser.

“It went better than I thought it would,” commented Willebrand, alluding to the total amount received. Th e ASG plans to send this money to the PFA, who, headed by Lorzel Waltner and Kelly Mason, coordinated with Hackleburg High to send money and other fundraiser items out to help the students.

“We really just wanted to raise a lot of money. We came up with the fundraiser and then we just found the cause,” Erica Vittachi, junior and committee member, said. ASG is now turning their focus to Breast Cancer Awareness for the month of October.

Final ScoresFreshmen

SophomoresJuniors

Seniors

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+840

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Oaks Mall sponsors School Cents fundraising program

I just think that you have to go to

Disneyland.”

My dad went

to Disneyland and everyone goes for grad

night.

“We’re going to

Disneyland. It’s tradition.

Haunted HousesHaunted Houses

Sneak PreviewSneak Preview

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In th

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In th

is Issue:

Continued on page 2

NewsinBrief Th e fi rst football tailgate party of the year took

place Oct. 14 on the outdoor basketball courts. Th e event was organized in order to motivate the team and student body against Saint Bonaventure High School.

Seniors vote Dave and Buster’s for Grad Night location

[continued from page 1] Seniors would have to leave for Dave and Buster’s in buses, at approximately 10:30 p.m. and would arrive at the location in Irvine at midnight.

Knott’s Berry Farm has negative aspects as an option because Grad Night there would take place on the night of the graduation ceremony. Also, the price would not be much lower to go to Knott’s Berry Farm than Disneyland, at $115.

At Knott’s Berry Farm, the seniors would only be allowed access to a small portion of the park and would only be able to go on a few rides. Th e schools attending would be

Sravya SingampalliProwler Staff Writer

separated at Knott’s Berry Farm. Furthermore, seniors would only be allotted one meal ticket for the entire night.

Following the announcement about the Grad Night decision, a heated debate sprang up via Facebook on the NPHS Class of 2012 page.

People posted about their dissatisfaction concerning the decision. Others posted about how the location of Grad Night should not matter; according to them, Grad Night should be one last opportunity for the senior class of 2012 to spend time together with people that they will not see again soon. Still other made pleas to cease the notifi cations.

A petition also surfaced on the Class of 2012 page to instead donate the money that would have been spent on

La primera fi esta “tailgate” del año de fútbol americano se llevó a cabo el 14 de octubre en las canchas de baloncesto al aire libre. El evento fue organizado con el fi n de motivar al equipo y el cuerpo estudiantil antes del juego contra la preparatoria de Saint Buenaventura.

Grad Night to a charitable cause.Th ese seniors are instead raising a fund to send to child

victims in Uganda, who are being sacrifi ced by witch doctors on the belief that it brings health and prosperity.

Seniors are planning an alternative Grad Night that could be put on by the school. Th ey plan to ask local businesses for donations of food. Th ey will charge for admission and all proceeds will be donated to charity.

Lower participation in Grad Night is expected for this year as the seniors will not get to go to Disneyland.

“My hope is that if a group of friends want to, then everyone else will go too because it’s your last opportunity as seniors to hang out together,” Welch said.

News The Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

2

Norma HutchinsonProwler Sports Editor

Tailgate party

NOTICIASNOTICIASENENBREVEBREVE

Performer of the Week

A new NPHS tradition has begun this year with “Performer of the Week” nominations. Every week, a diff erent student is nominated by a teacher or coach for their outstanding contribution to school through the performing arts, band, cheerleading or Mock Trial, amongst others.

Una nueva tradición ha comenzado este año en NPHS con las nominaciones para “artista de la semana”. Cada semana, un estudiante diferente es nominado por un maestro o entrenador por su destacada contribución a la escuela a través de las artes escénicas, la banda, las porras o Mock Trial, entre otras cosas.es

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School website hacked

Th e school website, www.nphs.org, was hacked on Oct. 8. Although the website was out of service for several hours, the problem was fi xed relatively quickly and was available once again the same day. Other school related websites such as Zangle were not aff ected.

El sitio Web de la escuela, www.nphs.org, fue hackeado el 8 de octubre. Aunque el sitio Web estuvo fuera de servicio durante varias horas, el problema fue solucionado con rapidez y el sitio volvió a estar disponible ese mismo día. Otros sitios Web relacionados con la escuela, como Zangle, no fueron afectados.

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The Scarlet Letter activity

Inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Th e Scarlet Letter, students from Christine Hodson-Burt and Seana Mekari’s English 11 IB classes wore their very own “scarlet letters,” which represented personal fl aws or insecurities. Students wore these letters during school hours for two days.

Inspirados por la novela La Letra Escarlata por Nathaniel Hawthorne, los estudiantes de las clases de Inglés 11 Bachillerado Internacional de Christine Hodson-Burt y Seana Mekari llevaron sus propias “letras escarlatas”, que representaban defectos o inseguridades personales. Los estudiantes tuvieron que tener estas letras puestas durante las horas de clase por dos días.

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Labeled -Labeled - Eddy McVarish, junior, holds his flaw depicted as an “H” as he participates in the “scarlet letter” activity.

Madison Richeson / Prowler

Opinion 3The Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

Starting this school year, the Conejo Valley Unifi ed School District required all students in grades 7-12 to receive the Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis vaccine. Th e vaccine itself is an easy and essential way to protect students from contracting these illnesses, but the way the school went about enforcing the rule and the threats of disciplinary action were ineffi cient and unnecessary.

Th e school notifi ed all students who did not turn in a record of immunization that they would receive a Saturday school detention if they failed to bring in a form within the week. Aft er a 30-day grace period, Law SB 614 of the State of California prevents them from returning to school until they can show proof of the immunization.

Requiring students to receive Tdap is a justifi ed measure. Vaccines are vital to protect a school against massive epidemics of serious diseases. However, because the vaccination was not administered on campus and students were expected to receive it by their own fi nancial means, it seems especially unfair to enforce such harsh disciplinary measures without providing several warnings in advance.

Another glaring error in this process was that students and their families were the ones responsible for ensuring that the immunization records were received and recorded by the school. While the school

Time to enjoy the autumn show (part 2)Nadia LynnProwler News Editor

Kirklann Lau / Guest

While the Tdap shot requirment is appropriate, the method of enforcement should be improved.

Fall is the frequency I wish to live by, the delicate light, the gentle breeze, the simple attitude. In the last issue, I wrote about the things that make fall diff erent, the things that make it exciting, and the why’s. Why it’s wonderful, why fall football games are lovely, why the change of seasons is the most spectacular part, and why I love it. But there are so many more reasons to love this season! Many an author has incorporated the wonders of the seasons into their texts, including F. Scott Fitzgerald in Th e Great Gatsby. However, I do not have the luxury of a novel to ramble in, so instead I shall continue my rambles of autumn loveliness.

Beginning with homecoming, that single night of sweaty disgusting dancing that you spend multiple weeks preparing for. Buying dresses, gossiping with friends, looking for shoes, deciding on makeup - it’s all a part of that girly appeal. And then you get there, in your carefully chosen dress, in your gently dolled up hair, in your delicately applied makeup.

And suddenly none of it matters. You already spent the day assuring yourself that you are gorgeous. Th at you are worth it. Th at you are important. So all of that outer beauty, it was really only there to build up that glow inside, because as you lose your painfully towering heels and slip into the sweaty crowd, you realize the outside doesn’t matter. Th e only thing is that beat. Nothing else exists. You no longer care if your dress stays exactly where you want it to. You no longer care that your perfectly overdone makeup is sliding down your

face in those beads of sweat. You no longer care that you’re standing barefoot in something that’s probably not soda. None of that matters. It’s just that deep pounding beat that makes your bones rattle and your hips shake.

But suddenly you need an out, and that’s why it’s fall. Outside. Outside. Outside. You are never more thankful that the night air is crisp and cold on your bare overexposed skin. You sit on the cold concrete, drenched in your own, and possibly other people’s, sweat. And you look up into the brilliant, clear fall sky and count the stars while your head catches up with the speed of your heartbeat.

And Halloween. Oh Halloween! Th at fearful night of frightening

fun. And fall plays along, fall knows its role. People

whisper with the wind, and the wind encourages the scare, it beckons people in while equally luring them away.

And you want to know more, what

everyone’s doing, where everyone’s

going, and the wind seems to know more than the kids do. Th e

pumpkins roll out in front of every grocery store,

and their smell fi lls the air, joining the smell of brittle fallen leaves

and crunchy orchard apples. Pumpkin, cooked or raw, is my favorite smell. Roses are lovely, peaches are divine,

but pumpkin, well, nothing smells as good. And nothing feels as good as extracting the gooey fl eshy guts from the inside of your specially picked

pumpkin with your bare hands. It’s a satisfying sort of gross. One that puts a grin on your face as large as

the one you just carved.

Enforcement of Tdap shot should be revised

Newbury Park High School. Newbury Park High School. 456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320.456 North Reino Road, Newbury Park, California 91320.

(805) 498-3676 x 1103(805) 498-3676 x 1103prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

Editors in ChiefEditors in ChiefMaia LaabsMaia LaabsSophie LiSophie Li

Copy EditorsCopy Editors Norma Hutchinson Norma Hutchinson

Lauren RewersLauren Rewers

Chief PhotographerChief PhotographerMadison Richeson Madison Richeson

Online EditorOnline Editor Courtney BrousseauCourtney Brousseau

News EditorsNews EditorsNadia LynnDrew AndrosDrew Andros

DPS EditorDPS EditorBeth EllisBeth Ellis

Opinion EditorsOpinion Editors Liam Brown Liam Brown George Nasr George Nasr

Features EditorsFeatures EditorsRachel CrossRachel Cross

Patrick RewersPatrick Rewers

Entertainment EditorsEntertainment EditorsJohn DichiricoJohn DichiricoJustine SizemoreJustine Sizemore

Sports EditorsSports EditorsMichelle HumanMichelle Human

Norma HutchinsonNorma Hutchinson

Ad ManagerAd ManagerLauren RewersLauren Rewers

Staff AdviserStaff Adviser Michelle Saremi Michelle Saremi

Staff WritersStaff WritersAnita Agopyan-MiuAnita Agopyan-Miu

Justin BuchananJustin BuchananKishen MajithiaKishen Majithia

Sravya SingampalliSravya Singampalli

The Panther Prowler i s the officia l publication of Newbury Park High School, created and produced by Advanced Journalism students. The Panther Prowler is published every three weeks throughout the school year.

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sent a notice home over the summer and made phone calls to inform students of the new law, the method by which the records were collected was not entirely effi cient – a box was placed in the offi ce and students or parents were responsible for putting them there.

What many fail to realize is that students are usually not the ones in control of their immunization records. Th ere were several issues in faxing, calling and mailing between the school and the vaccination providers, and in many cases the school lost the immunization records and punished the students for their mistake. Many students who had received the vaccine over the summer and assumed the school had received their Tdap verifi cations were notifi ed that no such records existed, and were forced to contact their providers in order to avoid a Saturday school.

Additionally, it seems hypocritical that not all students are required to receive Tdap, while those who did not turn in their proof forms were severely punished. Parents could sign a waiver claiming that the immunization is “contrary to his or her personal beliefs.” However, families could take advantage of this to avoid getting the vaccine for unjustifi ed reasons such as inconvenience. Disregarding circumstances such as religious affi liations and medical conditions, all or none should be required to have the vaccine.

Th ough it is recommended for both adolescents and adults, teachers and faculty are not required to receive Tdap. Because these diseases are contagious and deadly, it only makes sense that these adults should receive the vaccine as well. However, unlike students, they do not face suspension or expulsion from the school if they do not obtain it.

One way to reduce these issues would have been to send home frequent mail over the summer as well as weekly emails and phone calls that informed families of the law and thoroughly explained the consequences if they failed to comply.

Additionally, the records of immunization could have been collected with the emergency card at schedule pick up on the fi rst day of school – the assistants could have disallowed students from obtaining their schedules until the immunization record was turned in.

Lastly, Tdap should be required of all people on campus, including teachers and faculty.

All in all, the Tdap vaccine is an important precautionary measure for all students and faculty, but some should not be exempt while others are punished. Th e ways in which the law was enforced did not benefi t anyone, and could have easily been improved.

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Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall. “LifeLif

”all.all. - F. Scott Fitzgerald

OpinionThe Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

4

The Prowler deeply regrets and apologizes for any errors.

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We strive to get it right, but when we do get it wrong, please contact Th e Prowler at prowler.newspaper@gmail.com with corrections.

It’s Friday night! Justkidding, we did nothing

In the Sept. 23 issue, the Spanish News Brief about TEDxYouth was translated incorrectly. Additionally, the Outdoor Dance ended at 10 p.m.

On page 8, Emily Kocontes’ last name was spelled incorrectly and “Majors and Minors” actually aired at 8 p.m.

Kat Schmidt’s name was also spelled incorrectly, along with Kassie Phillis’s name on page 12.

It all began simply and innocently enough. At some point in time, someone decided it would be hilarious to lie face down and motionless with their arms pinned to their sides, take a picture of themselves doing this, and post it online. Planking.

Who knows why it is blowing up the way it did, but suddenly everyone is doing it. Th e Internet is full to bursting of photos of people forming planks in the most unique locations and formations possible.

I fi nd it very interesting and rather amusing that something as simple as lying on the ground has become so popular so quickly. I mean, when you stop and think about it, how much entertainment can someone possibly get out of remaining completely

motionless? Puzzling as this may seem, I have

arrived at this conclusion: planking, like so many other Internet memes and crazes, was made funny and intriguing merely by its randomness. Aft er all, there’s nothing people like more than the unexpected. Why do you think everyone is so into being “hipster” all of the sudden? Going against the norm is the popular thing to do.

While obscurity may have been planking’s strongest trait, it was also eventually the cause of its downfall. Now don’t get me wrong here, I have nothing against planking itself. But a fad can only become so popular before it stops being original and unanticipated.

Th is is exactly why I think planking has lost its former luster. Aft er planking came owling, which involves perching

on a wall or other high point like an owl. Th en came Batmanning: hanging upside by your feet. Th en there was teapotting, horsemanning, cone-ing, and countless others.

Everyone wants in on the action, so people are constantly trying to come up with the next “big fad.” Somewhere along the line, it all stopped being random and funny and just became repetitive and annoying. Just like with a good joke, when you overuse it, it is ruined forever.

Now, I am not trying to condemn anyone. If you want to go plank or owl or whatever else it is you do, be my guest. But maybe when the next “big thing” rolls around, we could all try using it in moderation. Keep it simple and don’t go trying to change it up too much, because there’s nothing I hate more than seeing a good joke die.

Lately I have been noticing that the people around me aren’t eating, and not because they simply forgot their lunch or lunch money, but because they felt the need to go on a diet. I have also noticed that the diets most of these people go on are fad diets, and some of the most popular are the South Beach diet, the Lemonade diet, and the Cookie diet.

Th e South Beach diet, in which one only eats proteins, the Cookie diet, in which one only eats cookies, and the Lemonade diet, in which one only drinks lemonade, are all restrictive diets. Restrictive diets are diets that deprive the dieter of needed nutrients or foods. While some of these diets may show weight loss, the results are only temporary and the likelihood of someone keeping off that weight in the long run is very slim. When one fi rst starts a restrictive diet, the weight one loses is all water weight, and if the dieter continues to deprive their body of the needed nutrients then they start to lose muscle weight. Not only are

they not losing the fat in their body, they’re reducing their metabolic rate, which causes them to not lose weight as fast as before.

Th e reason their metabolic rate goes down when they “diet” is because their brain tells their body that they’re starving, so it reduces the burning of energy. When one’s diet is fi nished and as they start eating all those foods that they were not eating before, their body doesn’t immediately burn all these extra calories due to the reduced metabolic rate. So if they are only going to become fatter than before, why go on a fad diet anyways? Actually, the real question is why people do things they know aren’t good for them. Unfortunately, due to how reliant we are on the media these days, I believe that the media has a great infl uence on what is “hot” and what is “not” and is one of the reasons people do stupid things such as fad diets. As we get older we continue to be brainwashed by T.V. except we have access to other forms of media that portray a “beautiful” girl as being skinny or relatively skinny, enough to make ourselves feel bad

about our body image. However, that topic infl uences fad diets without directly advertising them.

Th e bottom line is, if someone is considering going on a fad diet, they should seriously think otherwise. Diets don’t work - eating in moderation does. If one can successfully balance all his or her needed food groups without starving and minimize intake of sweets and fats, then that person will lose weight without reducing his or her metabolic rate. Another thing that will help one lose weight while eating all the proper food groups is exercising. If one doesn’t exercise and eats more calories than they burn, this person will start gaining weight. If one does exercise and burns more calories than he or she eats, then weight will be lost. In the end it’s all about how much will power a person has to control themselves and how much dedication a person has to actually lose weight.

Today’s music needs a heroTh ere used to be a time when music was

classical, meaningful and deep. Th e lyrics weren’t just useless words strung together to make rhymes. Lyrics used to be able to carry people to a place where they could just forget about their problems - a place where we could all just live in the moment. Th ese lyrics were produced by the geniuses whose names are so cherished, but also in some ways forgotten by the modern audience.

As each new album is released, and as each new hit song emerges, it seems less and less likely that we will have another Eric Clapton, or another Led Zeppelin, or another Peter Cetera or another Elvis Presley, or another Paul McCartney, or another Notorious B.I.G., or another Jay-Z, or another Dr. Dre, or another Eminem (when he retires), or even another Michael Jackson.

Today’s new hit releases all have to do with either parties or sexual activity. What happened to all the keep-it-real-and-classy lyrics? It seems as if with each new generation comes a diff erent type

of music. Th ere’s really nothing we can do about that. But what we can achieve is attempting to bring back the old hits. Most young children only listen to new and what we like to call mainstream music, because those are the only types of songs that are constantly played on the radio. People should introduce the classicals of the past, such as: “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton, “Hey Jude” by the Beatles, or “Renegade” by Jay-Z and Eminem, to the youth. Not everyone is going to like it, but certainly more people will become aware of the older music. Th e main thing that needs to be brought back is the importance of lyrics.

It seems as if people aren’t putting enough emphasis on meaningful lyrics. Th e general public now only wants a good party song so they can dance to the beat. Th e period of sitting down outside and enjoying good, classic music is now gone. Lyrics just seem to be useless to most new artists. Th e mentality is: as long as there’s a good beat and a catchy chorus, then the song’s good.

Take hip-hop or rap for example. Rap used to be about saying what was real,

without caring about what people thought about the innapropriate lyrics or the insane rhymes. Th ose were the days of the younger Jay-Z, the younger Dr. Dre, and the younger Eminem. Modern rappers make songs just so they will make the top 100 song list on iTunes, or get played on the radio 20 times a day. However, new rappers such as Tyler the Creator and young lyrical sensation Hopsin are emerging, and will, hopefully, save this so called “Rap Game.”

In short, music needs a hero or two. Someone needs to step up and take control of the modern music industry. Somebody needs to have the nerve to break this mainstream trend, rise up, be heard, and most importantly, bring back the lyrical and touching music that we can all come to love and enjoy. Until then, the world of music shall remain uninspired.

Fad diets do more harm than good

Planking has gotten out of hand

It’s a Friday night. Eight o’clock is the approximate time, and the sun is well below the horizon. Th e prison fence around school has been opened and you were released for yard time six hours ago, but your night doesn’t begin until now. Th e only problem is, you live in Newbury Park. You all know what that means; you and your friends are going to spend the next hour or so having the same old conversation:

You: “What do you wanna do?”BFF: “I dunno, what do you wanna do?”You: “I dunno…I asked you fi rst.”BFF: “Yeah but…what do you wanna do?”Sound familiar? I thought so. Everyone whines and

complains about how there is nothing to do in Newbury Park, and to be honest, they are right. I mean, we have Muvico, which is some pretty shiny red apples, but 11 bucks for a movie? I ain’t made of money. And if you decide to go to the mall, that basically just means you’ll be alternating between long stretches of moronic walking and instant buttlock from sitting on rigid benches. I guess we can always make the trek to Camarillo to go bowling at Harley’s, but then again how many times can you do this and have it still be a fun night? Not many.

So you usually end up driving around arguing about where you should go, and sooner or later everyone ends up at In-n-Out. If you don’t go in, then you park in the lot or at the very least drive past it. I wonder if our town is really as lame as everyone thinks. I mean, it could be worse, right? We could live in a dead empty Farmville town and end up doing stupid shenanigans like pushing cows over and stealing tractors for joyrides. Isn’t it sad how that sounds kind of fun?

But what do people who live in New York City, for example, do every Friday? Times Square and all those eccentricities seem pretty freaking awesome to us, but would they really give a hoot since they are around it 24/7? My point is, no matter where you are, you hit a point where there is nothing to do. You know what comes next? Creativity.

Now, we must invent new and exciting things to do with our time. Like play tag with our cars while chucking tennis balls at each other (with no intention to harm our friends of course). Or order a “dance party” at restaurants and groove your tush off when the cashier looks at you like a seagull just pooped on your face. Th e list is really endless folks, you just gotta use your brain.

Maybe instead of being so bored out of your mind to the point that you paint your guy friend’s nails deep purple at 10 p.m., you need to use your imagination a tad more. Tip of advice: drive down to the beach and hang out on the sand. Props of living so close to the shore, peeps. If you don’t drive, go to your friend’s house, get him or her to fall asleep (probably out of boredom), and dip your friend’s hand in warm water to make him or her pee their pants. Comedy at an all time high right there guys.

Bottom line: spend more time making idiot memories than playing verbal ping-pong with your BFFL. “What do you wanna do?” “I dunno…” -__-

Beth EllisProwler DPS Editor

Justine SizemoreProwler Entertainment Editor

Anita Agopyan-MiuProwler Staff Writer

Kishen MajithiaProwler Staff Writer

Anita Agopyan-Miu / Prowler

Anita Agopyan-Miu / Prowler

Troop: 730Grade: SeniorFavorite memory as a Scout: Going to Yosemite National Park during the summer of 2010 and climbing half-dome with his troop. He says that he enjoys how he “actually gets to travel to really cool places” that he would normally never have the chance to see.Eagle Scout Project: Wolfe constructed a large storage container to protect the valuable set pieces outside of the Performing Arts Center from being destroyed by weather conditions. The actual structure was based on his own 3D design- it ended up being 16 feet high, 30 feet long, and 10 feet wide. It took exactly 783 hours to complete and the end cost was 4,700 dollars.Inspiration for his Project: In an attempt to help out and be remembered by NPHS’ tech theater, Wolfe built this container reminiscent of an air-craft carrier. He knew from the start he wanted to create something huge, and according to Wolfe his is the “biggestEagle Scout project in Ventura County in a while.”Number of people in attendance: 14 people in total, including Wolfe, his dad, five of his friends from tech theater, and seven people from his troop.

Troop: 753Grade: Senior

Favorite memory as a Scout: At the age of 10, Morefield went on an amazing five mile

trek up a glacier on his first ever backpacking trip. He says that even though he “was at the front of the group

[he] continued to have a great time despite the wind chill dropping the temperature below -10 degrees.”

Eagle Scout Project: Morefield’s project took place at Cypress Elementary School between 12/19/09 and

12/22/09. This two part project included a goal to improve the quality of the school’s old, wooden picnic tables by repainting and refurbishing 19 of them, and the construction of a mascot for their rallies. Overall it took 316.75 man hours and 41.5 hours of

Morefield’s own planning.Inspiration for his project: Giving back

was on Morefield’s mind when doing his Eagle Scout project. “I have always felt an emotional

attachment to Cypress, and was looking for and felt like I owed it to the school to improve it as

it did me.”Number of people in attendance: 51 people total

attended over a period of three days.

Troop: 753Grade: JuniorBeen an Eagle Scout Since: Jan. 27, 2011Favorite Memory as a Scout: Dees says that his favorite memory as a scout is “making Eagle after my Eagle Board. Knowing I had come so far and putting in so much effort (merit badges, Eagle project, leadership). It just gave me satisfaction that my goal had finally been reached, and before I even became a junior, no less!”Eagle Scout Project: For his project, Dees replaced a 30 foot section of plastic fence with a more appealing wood fence.Inspiration for his Project: Dees says that he got the inspiration for his project when he thought about what some of the Eagle Scouts that came before him did for their project. “I just took a drive over [to the Stage Coach Inn], looked around the place, saw a few things that were safety hazards, and asked the eagle project coordinator if any of the places I saw could be used as an Eagle Project.”How the Project benefited the Community: Dees says that his project benefited the community by “increasing the safety of the Stagecoach, making the outdoor tools that the Inn uses more secure and safe through the use of the fence and allowing the visitors of the Inn to see a safe wood fence that blended in with the rest of the Inn instead of a tacky plastic fence that did not perform a safe enough job of keeping the outdoor tools and garbage of the Inn out of the way of visitors.”

Number of People in Attendance: about 30

scouts

Features 5The Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

Courtney Brousseau and Madison RichesonProwler Online Editor and Staff Photographer

otal,

Features 5The Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

Newbury Park improved by local Eagle ScoutsJeffrey Dees

Aaron Morefield

David Wolfe

What is an Eagle Scout Project?

Anita Agopyan-Miu/Prowler

David Wolfe/With Permission

According to the Boy Scouts of America website, Boy Scouts “provides a program for young people that builds character, trains [scouts] in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.” In this program, scouts advance in rank at their own pace. The highest rank possible is Eagle Scout. In order to achieve this rank, not only does a scout need to learn basic knots, first aid and cooking, but also how to be a leader. A scout needs to hold a leadership position in his Boy Scout Troop for at least

six months. This can be anything from leading

the whole troop of boys to managing

the gear that the troop owns. A

scout also needs to

lead a group

of boys in a project that benefits the community in some way. After this, a scout has a Scout Master Conference, in which he has a conversation with the Scout Master in his troop about his last six months of scouting and his morals. Lastly, an Eagle Scout has to go through a Board of Review, in which the scout goes in front of a group of

adults who ask him about his beliefs and why

he deserves to be an Eagle

Scout.

D

Aaron Morefield / With Permission

saga

Courtney Brousseau / Prowler

Haunted HousesThe Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

Haunted HousesThe Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

6 7

Nightthe haunted houses of newbury park

}The average person thinks of plenty of things for Halloween, including candy, costumes and creepiness, but for Bruce Stanton, director of the Reign of Terror Haunted House in the Janss Marketplace, and his extensive crew, the holiday takes on a whole new spin.

The ROT Haunted House is produced out of the efforts of his pure love for Halloween and the passion of the hobby.

“In a true hobby (you’re) always thinking of ideas and we joke around that the year we say this is as good as it gets, is the year that it’s done,” he said.

The full operation includes 45 rooms of terrifying sights, furnished with props from the TransWorld Halloween Tradeshow, the very same venue that Universal Studios and other well-known haunted houses get their creepy paraphernalia.

The haunted house found its home in the Janss Marketplace after years of displacement. Stanton explains that it originally started at his house, and after eight years of “exponential growth” in the number of visitors he had during the four nights it was open, it “got so big that it was not practical to do in a neighborhood.”

That is when the movement began, and the city of Thousand Oaks decided to pair up with Stanton’s spooky efforts and move the event to the city hall itself, where the House set up camp for just one year.

Now, it has finally found its permanent home above the Gold’s Gym in the Janss Marketplace. “It’s a win-win-win for everybody,” Stanton said. “We get to put this on, we love doing it, we do it totally for free on a volunteer basis, the city gets to put their name behind it and then the mall gets a huge benefit because everyone that’s here goes to the mall.”

However, despite the Haunted House’s permanence, Stanton still explains that it will never be exactly the same every time. “As soon as you think you know where everything is, we’re gonna throw a curve ball at you,” he said.

Because it is not going to be taken down anytime soon, they can spend “more time on details” and the overall environment so that “whatever room you’re in, you truly feel like you’re in.”

Although the space of the building was offered to them because it was not practical for retail space due to

John Dichirico and Nadia LynnProwler Entertainment Editor and News Editor

its location upstairs, it is perfect for the ROT Haunted House. It provides for plenty of flexibility in their plans, stretching a total of 12,000 square feet, of which they have only covered 8,500. They hope to continue expansion every year and have already made plans for a “factory room” for years to come.

Even after all of the effort year round, getting together actors, costumes, buildings, plans, and minuscule details, they do not make a dime. All of the proceeds are split between the Thousand Oaks Teen Center and the Young Artists Ensemble of Newbury Park.

Madison Dederick’s typical Halloween includes all the same scares and haunts as it does for the rest of us, yet this sophomore’s night is spent entirely at home. Every year, she helps her dad, who works on special effects in the film industry, put up and put on a haunted house from home.

Their homegrown horror hut includes all the thrills and shrills of many Hollywood sets thanks to the behind-the-scenes knowledge of her dad: self-opening coffins, a “lab” room of gruesome sights, dropping floors, and even Dederick herself strapped into a harness and swooping down upon frightened visitors.

Dederick herself has her own interest in Halloween that lasts year round, both in her love for Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as her general appreciation for the holiday. “We’ve always done this,” Dederick said, “so as much as it’s (Halloween) always been an interest for me, growing up in it intensifies the whole thing.”

She recalls her involvement in the haunted house when she was younger versus now. “When I was little, I would just jump out and scare people, but now that I’m older I usually direct people and help guide people who are too scared through.” She explains that oftentimes, little kids, and even teens and adults, are too afraid to enter the house without her warnings of what is coming next.

The house has definitely grown in popularity and recognition through the years, on Halloween night large groups will often pull up in cars, walk through the haunted house, and leave satisfied and mildly shaken. “It’s funny, people know our house as the ‘cool halloween house’ so they’ll come to our neighborhood simply for that,” she said. And as for those who “tour haunted houses,” come Halloween, the Dederick house makes the list for many of these haunted house hunters.

Reign of Terror

Hometown Horrors

FrightFright

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}Come to the Band Haunted HouseHaunted

Time: 7-10p.m.Cost: $5

When: Friday Oct. 21 Where: M-2

Bruce Stanton / With Permission

Dare to be scared

FeaturesThe Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

8

Do you know the lyrics?Justin BuchananProwler Staff Writer MEL PRALGO

XX5. “Rolling in the Deep” by AdeleThe scars of your love remind me of us They keep me thinking of riding on a busThe scars of your love, they leave me breathlessCorrect Answer: We could have had it all

Final Score 0

Madison Richeson/ Prowler

XX4. “The Lazy Song” by Bruno MarsToday I don’t feel like doing anything I just wanna lay in my bed Don’t feel like picking up my phone, For fear of bumping my headCorrect Answer: So leave a message at the tone

XX1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen“Bohemian Rhapsody” by QueenI’m just a poor boy Lonely and blue I’m just a poor boy Lonely and blue I’m just a poor boy thinking of youthinking of youHe’s just a poor boy from a poor family,Spare him his life from this monstrosityCorrect Answer: Nobody loves me

XX2. “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5I don’t need to try to control youLook into my eyes and I’ll own you,If you let me I will swaggerI’ve got the moves like JaggerCorrect Answer: With these moves like Jagger

XX3. “Stereo Hearts” by Gym Class Hereos (feat. Adam Levine)My heart’s a stereo,It beats for you, so listen close,I love you dearly, you have a nice noseCorrect Answer: Hear every note

People oft en stereotipically associate extreme sports with extreme people, like the people in Sports Illustrated. Scuba diving, considered a very unique pastime, is one hobby that teachers at NPHS have participated in.

In order to do so, teachers usually have to have met several prerequisites, including having a certifi cation and having the appropriate gear.

“You start with what’s called your open water certifi cation, and then you get an advanced certifi cation, and… there are two main agencies, PADI and NAUI,” said Debbie Dogançay, chemistry, Geographical Information Systems and Th eory of Knowledge teacher.

Although these two main organizations are responsible for most certifi cations, the Navy and some colleges have their own process also.

Drew Andros and Justin Buchanan Prowler Staff Writers

Diving: the thunder from down underIt starts off in a classroom setting

with textbooks and lessons on the basics and background chemistry behind the sport. Aft erward, they are moved to a pool so they can get used to the diving and equipment. Eventually, they learn to go out in the open water and swim with an instructor, who makes them practice certain emergency procedures. Aft er this, they become certifi ed.

“I didn’t feel safe renting gear, because you really want to know your equipment,” Dogançay said.

Gear oft en includes a wetsuit, oxygen tank, a buoyancy control device, a regulator to help you breathe, and a secondary stage, oft en called an octopus. It is necessary to have fl ashlights, especially for cave diving. Besides being a cave diver, Dogançay has also had other unique diving experiences.

“It was the only dive off ered that day from a location I could get to… when I was in the Bahamas, I had one chance to dive,

and the boat I was going out with was a shark dive, and that was crazy because the guy threw out a bunch of bloody fi sh,” Dogançay said. She has also been diving in Florida in the inland caves, as well as the Caiman Islands.

Peggy Walker, Advanced Placement European History and AP/IB Psychology teacher, also dives.

“I love the feeling that you’re suspended, and everything is so fl uid around you,” Walker said. She had been diving for some years, but has not been diving recently. Dogançay started in college when some friends took her. Stephen Svoboda, Geoscience teacher, started in college for a marine biology course.

“My favorite thing is just experiencing all the amazing wildlife down there,” Svoboda said. He originally started diving at University of California at Berkeley. He said that you should always

dive with a buddy. Svoboda originally started diving for his Masters degree, because he was doing a near water studies course at Berkeley. As far as advice, Dogançay has some.

“My advice to new divers is to not stop breathing, which I know is funny, but is generally the mistake that new divers make,” Dogançay said, “…and to relax…to breathe slowly.” She says that because a person is so used to holding their breath under water, they are not used to breathing. She also says that this prevents your lungs from exploding when you come up to the surface, because holding your breath stores expanding gasses as the pressure reduces.

“It’s a lifelong thing to do,” Svoboda said. Th ese three teachers are among the many at NPHS who dive, and prove that extreme sports are not just for the people on the cover page of Sports Illustrated.

SCUBA

Larry Berlin / With Permission

Fun and Affordable Guitar Lessons with FERNANDO HERNANDEZ

Professional instructor for 20 yearsFor beginning to advanced students

Whether you want to learn your favorite songs or prepare for a college audition, Fernando Hernandez can tailor a program just for you.To learn more, call (818) 489-9020 or email FernieAD@gmail.com

Madison Richeson/ Prowler

Entertainment 9The Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

Maia LaabsEditor-in-Chief

I personally listen to Justin Bieber, Coldplay,

and One Republic, their music is very

sentimental.Roohmelah Atayee,

fr eshman

What is your favorite kind of music?tudent oices:??SWhaWha

”“II

”ic is veic is vetimenttiment

I think Taylor Swift is a goddess, (she’s) my girl. I listen to rock, like Rise Again, sometimes Bob

Marley.Austin Ebner,

senior

ll ””I like to listen to reggae mostly. Sublime, Stick

Figure, a lot of stuff .Anna Reeves, junior

”Lady Gaga and usually whatever’s on the Top 10 on iTunes or just the

radio.Lauren Benson, sophomore

I lik

“LadyLadyh

Sravya SingampalliProwler Staff Writer

Madison Richeson / Prowler

Vrite kind kino

“I thiI thi

Mariah Cosner / Guest

Muggles all throughout the school are gearing up for the most magical club on campus; the

Hogwarts Club, which meets every other Wednesday at lunch in D-33. Founded this year by seniors

Kartik Sawant and Lauren Mason, the club enjoys discussing all things relating to

Harry Potter such as books, movies, and ways they can bring J.K. Rowling’s fi ctional world to life. “Now is the time

to transform NPHS into Hogwarts,” Sawant said.

Sawant and Mason decided to form the club this summer aft er Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the last movie in the series, premiered in theaters.

“Since J. K. Rowling has fi nished the series and all the movies have been made, I wanted to continue the Harry Potter spirit. I created the club so people could get together and do something fun and creative,” Sawant said.

Th is summer, Mason won a contest called “Th e Biggest Harry Potter Fan in Ventura County,” and was inspired to form the club to share her long time love of Harry

Potter.On Sept. 30, the club participated in Club Rush,

selling chocolate frogs and spreading the word to potential members. Th ere are currently about 20

members, and they are planning to increase membership by advertising.

“Th e best part of the club is being able to be around people like me all the

time,” Mason said. “We have the same interests and all want to

keep the magic of Harry Potter going.”

At the end of October, a website called

P o t t e r m o r e ,

designed by J.K. Rowling for fans to virtually enjoy the Harry Potter world, will be launched to the public. Hogwarts Club plans to discuss it in depth once its members become active on the site.

Th e club’s ultimate goal is to form a competitive Quidditch team; one of the magical sports of the wizarding world. With the funds they raised at Club Rush, they plan to purchase equipment and practice on weekends a n d aft er school. Th eir fi rst game

is scheduled for the end of October, and eventually, they plan to compete against other schools with Quidditch teams.

Additionally, some club members are interested in writing another book to the series, possibly a story about one of Harry’s children.

Sawant’s favorite part about the club is that it off ers something for everyone. “Th e athletic type [can play] Quidditch…If one is a creative type he or she can write a book. If one is a fan of computer games, Pottermore is always there to make potions. If someone just wants to

meet new people, Hogwarts Club will help them,” he said.

Th e wide range of members adds diversity to the club. “I know that if we actually went to Hogwarts, we’d probably all be in diff erent houses, because we all have diff erent personalities,” Holly King, senior, said. “But we all share a passion for Harry Potter. We all wish we could take potions and charms instead of the required high school classes.”

“I would recommend that anyone who loves fantasy and magic join this club,” Mason said. “Everyone is welcome.”

sp

m

Entertainment10The Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

Liam’s Review Corner

Liam BrownProwler Opinion Editor

Mariah Cosner / Guest

The Ides of March: dirty politics

work for his candidate. Th is puts Myers in a bit of a tight spot, but he sticks to his guns. Th en, when Myers learns something about Morris, something a little…off , it’s even stranger than before. How does he get out of this one?

Th e movie is supposed to be a thriller, and, yes, it’s thrilling in some parts, but there’s one thing that just ruins any semblance of terror the fi lm has: the music. Composed by Alexandre Desplat, it’s almost too mysterious and intense for its own good, and it’s placed in all sorts of weird places in the fi lm that just aren’t suspenseful. For example, one composition starts during a scene in which Phillip Seymour Hoff man’s character is getting a haircut. A haircut! By contrast, one other scene involving a telephone call in an otherwise silent room full of people has no music at all, and it’s pretty intense. Add to that the fact that the twist was a bit of a letdown (still twisty, but not as big as I expected), and overall I got the sense that the movie was just trying too hard.

Two things I did like were the cast and George Clooney’s direction. Most directors who also star in their own movies oft en make themselves the center of the project (I’m looking at you, Tyler Perry). Not Clooney, though. He almost pushes his character to the back of the story, putting Ryan Gosling’s character front and center. Th is movie isn’t about Mike Murray. It’s about Steven Myers, a guy who gets pushed to the limit and decides to take justice into his own hands. Clooney, who also directed Good Night and Good Luck and

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, makes you feel like you’re seeing something that no one else has seen, and also adds a bit of class to everything. Th ere’s one scene in which Ryan Gosling and Paul Giamatti are confronting each other in an offi ce, and the camera’s placed so that we’re looking over Gosling’s shoulder—he’s quite tall. Maybe it’s just his performance, but I think the camera angle just adds to a real “commanding” feeling from him.

One thing Th e Ides of March also has is great performances. Every actor’s very good here. I liked Ryan Gosling as the campaign manager who won’t stop fi ghting for what he believes in. Phillip Seymour Hoff man delivered a powerful monologue about loyalty and Paul Giamatti can play “shady and persuasive” really well; he should be in more movies. Th ere’s a scene between Gosling and George Clooney in a kitchen that’s pretty amazing. When Clooney moves toward the camera and asks Gosling if he really thought it was important to come back and “fi x things”, it’s pretty terrifying.

See Th e Ides of March for some brilliant performances from acting heavyweights, but don’t go looking for anything too earth-shattering in the thriller department.

Most teams and clubs on campus partake in some sort of group bonding activities, but on Saturday, Sept. 24 part of the varsity dance team took bonding to a new level. Th ey did so in the most appropriate way for a dance team – with a fl ash dance mob. Some of the varsity team members took the cake, performing three fl ash dances in one evening.

“One night we were having a team bonding thing and we were like, ‘let’s dress up and go random places and do a fl ash mob,’” Fischer said.

Aft er practice, varsity team members Devon Carlson, Jessica Steinkamp Caitlin Blickenstaff , and Beth Ellis, seniors; Jaylee Merrill and Rachel McCloskeey, juniors; and Analynn Mad, Emily Chea, Ashely Geringer Sydney CarlsonShelby Rini, Maddison Fischer, freshmen, decided to keep the fun going by hanging out for a few hours.

Th e twelve girls fi rst went over to the Carlson’s house, where they dressed up in brightly colored attire that was sure to draw attention. Th ey then piled into Beth Ellis’ and Devon Carlson’s cars and drove to MB2.

Devon Carlson, who works at MB2, was able to play “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO over the store’s sound system for the girls to perform a dance they had all learned at a summer dance camp. Although they were unable to play their music, they still went on to perform their fl ash mobs at In-N-Out and Toppers Pizza.

To make things more interesting, the girls thought of a creative way to start their dance once they entered these restraints. Th ey did so by ordering their dance parties. All it took was the count of 5, 6, 7, 8 for their dance party to begin.

“It’s Funny, the looks on (the employ’s) faces (when you order a dance party),” Devon Carlson said.

Continuing on their adventure, they went to the Oaks Mall and Muvico Th eater. While they didn’t dance there, they were asked by shoppers to take pictures with them in their unusual outfi ts.

All in all, next time you go out to a restraint, be prepared because it sounds like part of the varsity dance team might want to make their fl ash dance mobs a continuous event.

“We should (continue to do fl ash mobs),” Sydney Carlson said.“It’s really fun,” Maddison Fischer said.“It could catch on,” Shelbie Rini said.“Yeah, instead of planking,” Fischer said.“Or coning,” Rini said.So the next time your club or team is looking for a fun bonding activities, try considering a fl ash

dance mob.

Rachel CrossProwler Features

Politicians in movies are either a) shady or b) the guy you’d really want to vote for. Th is movie’s got a bit of both.

Th e Ides of March, directed by George Clooney, centers on campaign manager Steven Myers (Ryan Gosling), currently

w o r k i n g for successful Presidential candidate Mark Morris (Clooney). It’s primary time in Ohio, where the mud starts getting slung and the backs start getting stabbed, and Morris’ entire staff (including Phillip Seymour

Hoff man as senior campaign manager Paul Zara and Evan

Rachel Wood as Molly Stearns, an intern Myers lusts over) is confi dent

that he’s going to win.

Ever y th ing ’s going great for

Myers until he gets a call from rival campaign

manager Tom Duff y (Paul Giamatti), who wants him to leave his current campaign and

Jessica Steinkamp / With permission

Dressing for the occasion: Dance team members Ashley Geringer, junior, Jaylee Merrill, junior, Beth Ellis, senior, Caitlin Blickenstaff, senior, Sydney Carlson, freshman, Jessica Steinkamp, senior, Devon Carlson, senior, Shelby Rini, freshman, Analynn Mah, freshman, Rachel McCloskey, junior, and Madison Fischer, freshman start off their night of group bonding by gathering at the Carlson household to change into bright, attention grabbing outfi ts.

Dance Team bonds through

flash mob activity night

brought to light

Anita Agopyan-Miu / Prowler

Sports 11The Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

Anita Agopyan-Miu Prowler Staff Writer

Due to warm weather, some may fi nd it surprising that the sport of ice hockey is played by many in California, as well as at our own school. Alex Vesling, junior, Karrie Lopshire, senior, andJaguar Lawrence, freshman, are only a couple of people who enjoy the sport in California.

Vesling, who lived in the East Coast when he was younger, picked up ice hockey when he was 3 years old.

“It was just something everyone did,” he said. “Hockey is like the soccer of the East Coast.”Lopshire, on the other hand, began to play hockey for the enjoyment of playing with her

cousins in Michigan. She started playing roller hockey at the age of 7, and then transitioned into competitive ice hockey when she was 9.

Like Lopshire, Lawrence began playing ice hockey because of a relative, his father.“I used to play on these plastic mat hockey rinks, with little sticks to play with on the little

mats,” he said.Ice hockey is also potentially dangerous. While Vesling has been lucky in the injury department,

several of his friends have been knocked out on the ice, have broken bones, and needed stitches. Unlike Vesling, Lopshire has suff ered several injuries while playing ice hockey. Once, she

fractured her skull underneath her eye during a pick-up game when she was not wearing a helmet. Additionally, Lawrence has pulled both his hamstrings and hyper-extended his shoulder.

Vesling and Lopshire decided to quit playing competitively, but still frequently play for fun. Vesling was forced to quit due to his demanding schedule, which did not allow for practices six days per week, yet he still plays in Oxnard with the school’s Hockey Club. Lopshire stopped because it would have required her to move to Canada. However, she still goes to “stick times” and pick-up games.

“It’s a sport I once loved, and I will always enjoy,” Lopshire said. Lawrence, however, continues to participate in ice hockey on the competitive level. “I love the

game, how fast you go, and the contact,” he said. “It just feels great when I score, and it’s a sport where anything can happen.”

Welcome to Arabia - Welcome to Arabia - Neggin Salimi-Moosavi and Julia Clemen, sophomores, and fellow Neggin Salimi-Moosavi and Julia Clemen, sophomores, and fellow members of the Marching Band perform their show during half-time. The band is currently members of the Marching Band perform their show during half-time. The band is currently practicing for furutre exhibitions. practicing for furutre exhibitions.

Marching Band prepares for upcoming performancesMarching Band prepares for upcoming performancesTh ey appear at the home games for the

football team, and they go to their own competitions. Th ey may not be heard over the screaming fans at the games, but they are there, and they are the Newbury Park Marching Band.

Th e band participates in various competitions besides appearances at thefootball games. Th ey recently performed in a showcase at Th ousand Oaks, where all the bands in the Conejo Valley Unifi ed School District, as well as some in Moorpark and Ventura, performed.

“We had a showcase last Saturday, and I think we did really good at it,” said Nick Carrillo, senior. Th e band played “Desert Winds,” an Arabian-themed song. In addition to playing the instruments, Marching Band requires skillful coordination, and Carrillo describes it as very much visual as well as audible.

“We all put on a show for everybody. We march and tell a story with music. It’s like dancing while playing,” he said. Th is requires that the band members practice heavily in order to perfect their playing and coordination. Th e band enjoys playing energetic songs, ones that invigorate the crowd.

“Normally we practice for two hours, four times a week,” said Dennis Crystal, director.

Ice hockey captivates student athletesIce hockey captivates student athletes

He expresses equal emphasis in all areas of marching band. Crystal also teaches Concert Band and Jazz Band, and said they diff er from the Marching Band because the music has a diff erent style.

“Teams need practice, and we’re a team. We can’t just go out there and be awesome,” Carrillo said. “We need to work at it and that’s where the awesomeness comes from.” He and sophomores Kaitlyn Spong and Katie Winter all agree that multitasking is a valuable and necessary skill in Marching Band.

“I think I speak for everybody when I say this. Music is our lives,” Carrillo said. “It’s the thing we do… It’s what we were born to do.” Th e players maintain a level of camaraderie in the group, and enjoy working together.

“Th e kids work really hard every day... it’s hot out there and it’s demanding,” Crystal said. “It takes a lot of time, so they must invest a lot of time as well as energy, but it’s a great activity where they all learn how to work together.” Th e band members are closely knit because of the inherent value placed on teamwork.

“I didn’t do it my freshman year,” Spong said. “I joined this year…but I regret not doing it last time.” Th e members practice to perfect their coordination and their playing skills, to bond and become one unit, and aim to look good at the football games. “Th e band’s our family,” Winter said.

Justin BuchananProwler Staff Writer

Madison Richeson / Prowler

Jaguar Lawrence/With Permission

On the ice - Freshman Jaguar Lawrence plays for the Ventura Mariners as a left wing. He has been playing for 11 years, and plans to continue competing for many years to come.

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”On the ice - On the ice - Freshman Jaguar Lawrence plFreshman Jaguar Lawrence pleen playing for 11 years, and plans to coeen playing for 11 years, and plans to co

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SportsThe Prowler • Oct. 21, 2011

12

Michelle Human and Kishen MajithiaProwler Sports Editor and Staff Writer

SPORT

SHORTS

Madison Richeson / ProwlerMadison Richeson / Prowler

Marking up -Marking up - Juniors Devin Duarte and Zach Okun and senior Oscar Estrada from the defensive line face the Thousand Oaks Lancers. The boys made a total of 73 tackles throughout the game and threatned the Lancer’s claim to the league crown during a fourth quarter rally.

As of today, skateboarding is not considered a “mainstream” sport. Most teenagers are involved in more common sports such as basketball, football, or soccer. However, a small portion of teens prefer to skate for many diff erent reasons.

Although they do not plan on making a career out of skateboarding, some students fi nd joy in riding and learning tricks, and plan to continue with the sport in adulthood.

Ian Temaat, junior, prefers skating to other sports because of the constant change in this sport’s activities. “It’s diff erent stuff every day. You don’t keep doing the same things. It changes constantly,” he said.

Temaat began to skate at a young age and was infl uenced by those around him. “When I was little, my mom owned a daycare center near Borchard Park,” he said. “Every day, I would walk past the skate park and see all these kids skating. It looked fun, and I just wanted to try it.”

While many kids skate with hopes of becoming a professional, Temaat considers skating to be simply a hobby. “Skating is just something that I do for fun. It’s nothing too serious.”

Another student with a passion for skateboarding, Ryan Brar, sophomore, also started skating at a young age. However, he says he did not start becoming “experienced” until age 14.

Brar was infl uenced to become a skater by the people close to him. “I remember watching videos of people skating and I saw that they earned a lot of respect from fellow competitors. I wanted to be like them,” he said. “Once I started, it was really fun, and so I continued to do it.”

Although both Temaat and Brar are still skating, Blake Hamilton, senior, made the choice to give

FOOT

BALL

FOOT

BALL

Aft er last year’s homecoming game, the Panthers are more motivated than ever before to show fans and opponents alike their skills. Th e boys are confi dent in their return to confront Calabasas High School away tonight at 7 p.m., with the advantage of a higher winning percentage.

According to statistics, the Panthers have one of the most threatening defensive bases in the league, including strong safety Cayden Malpasuto, senior, who leads his team in tackles.

Th e off ensive unit is held together by quarterback Ben Okun, junior. His brother, Zach Okun, freshman, plays guard and protects him from the opposing team.

Other key players on the off ensive line are seniors Daniel “Mongo” Ceco and Matt Sipowicz, as well as junior Mason Pashley-Brooks. Meanwhile, junior wide receivers Kurt McCormack and Ricky Davis have received both the ball and recognition as standout athletes.

Compared to last year, the boys claim they have come together not only as a team but as a family, and that they have a new weapon that will guide them to success during the remainder of their current season: resiliency.

Junior David Anderson, defensive tackle, warns opponents: “the boys in black don’t quit until the last whistle blows. Get ready for it,” he said.

VOLLEYBALLVOLLEYBALL

Th ere are four games left in the season for the girls’ varsity volleyball team. Th eir next game is away against rival Th ousand Oaks High School on Oct. 25. According to the team, emphasis is placed on the next few games in order to fi nish their season on a high note.

Th ough they may not hold one of the highest records in the league, the girls have managed to come closer throughout the season. Taylor Varney, junior, believes that the secret to the success of a team can come from friendship, which will refl ect their chemistry on the court.

“It’s brought us together as a team and made us so much closer. We can all talk to each other about everything and trust each other, which, I believe, helps us play better together.”

According to her, the chemistry between the girls has benefi tted the team. However, she said that there is still room for improvement. “I don’t think we’ve met our expectations yet. We have so much room to grow and play to our fullest potential. When we do that, we can beat any team in the league.”

up skating in the hopes of pursuing a career as a fi refi ghter for the Ventura County Fire Department.

In order to reach this goal, Hamilton needed to get away from the dangers the sport posed. “Although I quit skating to become a fi refi ghter, I still love it as much as I used to. My brother got me into skating when I was four, and I just fell in love with it,” he said.

A couple of years ago, Hamilton was sponsored by diff erent companies.

“I became sponsored at age 14 by Revolution Surf Company, and then, at age 15, I got sponsored by Fluid Identity,” he said.

Th e Revolution Surf Company and Fluid Identity are companies that specialize in making surfboards and skateboards. Although Hamilton misses skateboarding, he feels much less pressure not having to compete at a high level.

“I appreciate it more now because I used to do it as a job. Being sponsored meant that I had to skate every day in order to keep up with other competitors. I value it more than I used to, because now, it’s a hobby,” he said.

Now that he has moved on from skateboarding to focus on fi refi ghting, Hamilton spends more time working out in the gym and at the fi re station training with other cadets. Currently, he is a Ventura County Fire Cadet at Fire Station 34.

Despite the fact that he does not skate much anymore, his interest in the sport has stayed the same.

“I still love it as much as I used to, but it just means more to me now,” Hamilton said. “I’m still involved in the skateboarding community, just not as much as I used to be.”

SKATEBOARDING:TRICKS OF THE TRADE

Mad

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Prowler

Drew Andros and Kishen MajithiaProwler Staff Writers

Ryan Brar